Author Archive
Extreme weather
Written By: - Date published: 6:03 am, June 21st, 2013 - 173 comments
I hope everyone in Wellington, and other places affected by last night’s the ongoing storms, gets through it all OK. New Zealand is entering a new phase, extreme weather will become ‘the new normal’.
Slogan politics
Written By: - Date published: 10:32 am, June 20th, 2013 - 82 comments
We have an unfortunate tendency in New Zealand to reduce politics to dumb slogans. The “fart tax” was a classic example. The current case in point is “printing money”.
Strike breaking Bill in trouble
Written By: - Date published: 3:24 pm, June 18th, 2013 - 28 comments
The Nats’ strike breaking Bill is in trouble, with the Employers & Manufacturers Association and Peter Dunne both stating their opposition. Let’s hope it’s another win for workers and for MMP.
Democracy under attack
Written By: - Date published: 7:20 am, June 17th, 2013 - 37 comments
This National government has an unprecedented contempt for democracy. The media keeps noticing pieces of the picture, but never seems to put them all together. Susan Edmunds’ piece in the Herald on Sunday is a rare and welcome exception.
Poverty Watch 35
Written By: - Date published: 7:56 am, June 15th, 2013 - 4 comments
Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, a brief note about a coming episode of “The Vote” on the following topic: “Our kids – The problem’s not poverty, it’s parenting”.
Deep hypocrisy vs government for sale
Written By: - Date published: 9:39 am, June 14th, 2013 - 214 comments
While it was stupid of Labour MPs to muddy the waters, the real scandal goes unremarked.
DPF oops
Written By: - Date published: 10:02 am, June 13th, 2013 - 110 comments
Bad day for National’s favourite blogger yesterday (plus journalist David Fisher on the Kiwiblog comments section).
Classy right wing politics
Written By: - Date published: 8:05 am, June 13th, 2013 - 41 comments
A classic case of classy right wing politics from Australia is currently in the news. Reminds me of a similar example here last year.
Spies and lies – can anyone trust Key?
Written By: - Date published: 6:52 am, June 13th, 2013 - 46 comments
The angles and implications of the GCSB / PRISM / Palantir story are multiplying at a frightening rate, and only a mug would trust anything coming out from the government about it. Key is openly contradicting himself on the GCSB law, it’s farcical.
National standards nonsense
Written By: - Date published: 9:53 am, June 12th, 2013 - 34 comments
If there was a national standard in scientific method than the right wing spinsters talking up yesterday’s national standards results would all fail it.
Hooton spouting nonsense
Written By: - Date published: 9:23 am, June 11th, 2013 - 179 comments
Matthew Hooton is spinning like mad to talk up the economy. Unfortunately his spin sometimes bends the truth beyond breaking point, and there were three examples of that yesterday.
Thin end of the wedge to get thicker?
Written By: - Date published: 11:38 am, June 10th, 2013 - 54 comments
The Nats’ attacks on workers rights and conditions started with the “fire at will” (90 day probation) Bill. No surprise to find pressure from employers to double the duration.
Poverty Watch 34
Written By: - Date published: 1:01 pm, June 8th, 2013 - 5 comments
Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week we take a detailed look at the government’s response to the report on poverty from the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. The media reaction summarised last week is correct – the government response is a joke.
Key Muldoon
Written By: - Date published: 8:41 am, June 7th, 2013 - 45 comments
Outrage over the Key Muldoon comparison? We thinks they doth protest too much. Not only is John Key a big fan of Muldoon, but his list of personal attacks and constitutional shenanigans has already grown more than long enough to challenge the old master.
You can be a leader of nothing!
Written By: - Date published: 2:45 pm, June 6th, 2013 - 67 comments
Well it turns out I was wrong – you can be a leader of nothing! Chaos in Parliament at the Speaker’s ruling.
Slums for Auckland?
Written By: - Date published: 9:05 am, June 6th, 2013 - 28 comments
Housing Minister Nick Smith had ominous words for Auckland. Hands up all you Aucklanders who are keen to sacrifice quality housing?
You can’t be a leader of nothing
Written By: - Date published: 8:50 am, June 6th, 2013 - 19 comments
Peter Dunne’s status as a party leader in Parliament (i.e. funding and perks) is under threat. Seems pretty cut and dried – you can’t be a leader of nothing. Being a sensible type, I’m sure that Peter will agree.
OECD report leans left
Written By: - Date published: 11:56 am, June 5th, 2013 - 24 comments
Both sides of the political spectrum will draw some comfort from the recent OECD report on our economy, but overall the report is much better aligned with Labour / Green policy.
Christchurch schools for sale
Written By: - Date published: 10:32 am, June 4th, 2013 - 17 comments
Recently closed Christchurch schools, which according to the Nats don’t have the student base and/or are too quake damaged to keep running, are going to be sold off for purposes including – charter schools.
The power of blogs
Written By: - Date published: 11:22 am, June 3rd, 2013 - 221 comments
One of the most bizarre aspects of the Collins / Lusk faction’s plans (as per the leaked Lusk paper) was their perception of and plans for blogs.
Stable government?
Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, June 3rd, 2013 - 55 comments
There isn’t a single party in the government coalition that could be said to be stable.
Poverty Watch 33
Written By: - Date published: 8:52 am, June 1st, 2013 - 12 comments
Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week we look a the reaction to the government’s response to the report on poverty from the Office of the Children’s Commissioner.
Hollow Men 2 ?
Written By: - Date published: 11:50 pm, May 31st, 2013 - 62 comments
There are three leaks in play this weekend, similar but different. Someone has taken a media shotgun to the Collins / Lusk faction. Hollow Men 2 ?
The Nisbet cartoons
Written By: - Date published: 8:37 am, May 31st, 2013 - 133 comments
Further reaction to the Nisbet cartoons, and contact details for making complaints.
Nats split on food in schools?
Written By: - Date published: 6:40 am, May 29th, 2013 - 87 comments
Does food in schools show up a split in National between the hardline conservatives who would leave kids hungry in the name of parental responsibility, and pragmatists who will swallow a dead rat every now and again in an attempt to stay popular?
Better than nothing
Written By: - Date published: 12:44 pm, May 28th, 2013 - 156 comments
The government’s expansion of the KickStart breakfast programme is better than nothing – but that’s about all you can say about it.
Priorities: $9.5 Million over 5 years to feed hungry kids – but in 2012 just 4 private schools got $10.9 Million.
The wheels are falling off
Written By: - Date published: 8:32 am, May 28th, 2013 - 60 comments
The Nats have tried to do too much too soon, and now the wheels are obviously falling off their sad “flagship” privatisation programme.
Election narratives
Written By: - Date published: 11:11 am, May 27th, 2013 - 123 comments
National has set out its narrative for the 2014 election. Time for the Left to do the same.
China moving on carbon?
Written By: - Date published: 11:04 am, May 26th, 2013 - 24 comments
Too many “Western” countries use lack of action from big emitters (China, India, Brazil) as an excuse for doing nothing. Well that excuse just got a whole lot thinner. And the pressure on India and Brazil just stepped up.
Nathan Guy a bully
Written By: - Date published: 1:22 pm, May 25th, 2013 - 23 comments
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has been quick to try and blame his own staff for the Chinese meat fiasco. But ultimately it is the fault of National and their war on the public service.
Poverty Watch 32
Written By: - Date published: 9:02 am, May 25th, 2013 - 28 comments
Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week – a final look at the OCC report, and in current news an Amnesty International report cites child poverty as a stain on NZ’s human rights record.
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