Author Archive

‘Finn angry

Written By: - Date published: 3:54 pm, March 26th, 2012 - 45 comments

The ever-diplomatic Gerry Brownlee has got New Zealand coverage in the European press. In an effort to try and score a point against David Shearer the former woodwork teacher called the country with the best education system in the world “uneducated,” and claimed that an economy with higher GDP per capita and faster growth than […]

John Key: Aussie miners’ stooge

Written By: - Date published: 2:39 pm, March 22nd, 2012 - 14 comments

John Key was busy last night working for the causes of Aussie miner Bathurst, “officiating” at the opening of their lobbying office, and pressuring DoC to give them concessions to the Denniston plateau and help them destroy a unique ecosystem. How much more of him can NZ’s “clean, green” image take?

More from the Port…

Written By: - Date published: 7:25 am, March 14th, 2012 - 6 comments

Emergency Council Meetings, mediation, court action – the fight continues on a number of fronts. But at the core of the dispute is the SuperCity structure National set up – to give Council company boards free-rein, and democratically elected members no say.

Republican Humour

Written By: - Date published: 4:29 pm, March 7th, 2012 - 10 comments

With Super Tuesday closing inconclusively in the US Republican Party Presidential Nominee race, here’s a chance to laugh at the contenders…

Disgusted by the Poor

Written By: - Date published: 7:40 pm, February 16th, 2012 - 46 comments

“The idea that ultimately the poor must help themselves as social mobility grinds to a halt is illogical; it is based on a faith for which there is scant evidence. Yet it is the one thing that has genuinely ‘trickled down’ from the wealthy, so that many people without much themselves continue to despise those who are on a lower rung.”

Save our Port

Written By: - Date published: 12:15 am, February 9th, 2012 - 186 comments

It’s slipped down the news agenda but is about to come back up it: The Ports of Auckland Dispute. Tony Gibson is wasting our money on his union-busting campaign that will result in reduced profits  for ratepayers. Sign up to make him see sense.

Congrats on raising the minimum wage John

Written By: - Date published: 1:59 pm, February 8th, 2012 - 66 comments

Shame you couldn’t raise it to a living one though. The working poor will appreciate the extra $1000 per year coming this April, but it still won’t cover their bills…

Maori Party to quit Govt?

Written By: - Date published: 2:04 pm, January 31st, 2012 - 86 comments

News in on the Herald says the Maori party are talking the talk over National’s latest insult to Maori.

Will they quit the Government?  Or will the smell of those limo seats  mean another backdown in a couple of weeks?

Banks a fine ACT MP…

Written By: - Date published: 11:31 am, January 24th, 2012 - 39 comments

There are a couple of nice pieces in the Herald today on upstanding ACT MP John Banks – on his advising arrested Kim Dotcom on residency and the Overseas Investment Commission, and on his “National” billboards…

Why bringing the bankers to heel is so important…

Written By: - Date published: 11:33 am, January 13th, 2012 - 88 comments

Ecological economist Brian Davey explains how while we need to fix the problems of peak oil and climate change, we’re not going to get anywhere until we deal with the psychopathic elite of bankers who have control of the world economy.

Key the politician

Written By: - Date published: 5:00 pm, December 21st, 2011 - 25 comments

Key’s anti-politician image is slipping – particularly as Labour’s new ‘anti-politician’ leader shows it up. Reasonable? Willing to accept good ideas from the other side of the house? That man is not Key…

Cunliffe, Parker swap roles

Written By: - Date published: 2:44 pm, December 19th, 2011 - 111 comments

The new Labour line-up is announced. Parker Finance, Ardern Social Development, Cunliffe Economic Development (plus Assoc Finance) round out the top five.

Bell Pottinger: Lobbying unmasked

Written By: - Date published: 11:36 pm, December 16th, 2011 - 5 comments

Investigative journalism (remember that?) has opened up Bell Pottinger, the UK’s top PR/lobby firm. Inside they’ve found some seriously dodgy dealing that goes right to the top of British Government. There’s a call for a register of lobbyists and their interests – isn’t that something we should have here as well?

And the decision is…

Written By: - Date published: 11:11 am, December 13th, 2011 - 340 comments

Labour have come out of their caucus after their vote on who should succeed Phil Goff as leader.  The new leadership team is David Shearer and Grant Robertson.

Sunday afternoon poetry

Written By: - Date published: 3:36 pm, December 11th, 2011 - 91 comments

This is for anyone who’s struggled to keep up with the Labour leadership contest, whether currently at the Auckland meeting or not.

Joyce knows best

Written By: - Date published: 7:09 am, December 6th, 2011 - 35 comments

Steven Joyce isn’t a big believer in democracy. He has overruled Treasury, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry for the Environment to make sure that the government keeps control of Auckland’s transport funds, and Auckland Transport is unaccountable to Aucklanders.

A two horse race

Written By: - Date published: 6:50 am, December 4th, 2011 - 194 comments

A tough decision for Labour looms – go for the gamble on the hero, or back the proven performer? (This post should have been on Friday night but got munched by Wordpress…)

Annette, Save Us!

Written By: - Date published: 2:18 pm, November 30th, 2011 - 47 comments

Labour would do well out of a long, positive leadership contest with all the contenders getting well-known by the country as they express their vision. If we can’t get Phil to stay, how about we have Annette hold the reigns as interim leader for the duration of the contest?

Leadership Elections: Getting it Right

Written By: - Date published: 4:35 pm, November 28th, 2011 - 37 comments

In 2005 the UK Conservatives badly lost a third election in a row and their leader announced his intent to resign. But they organised a well-run contest to replace him, and by the time he won David Cameron had gone from unknown outsider to popular public figure, and the once ‘toxic’ Conservatives were electable again.

Hone resigns

Written By: - Date published: 5:03 pm, May 11th, 2011 - 33 comments

Hone has done what he said he would and resigned, effective May 20. There will be a by-election in Te Tai Tokerau.

Leadership rumours: Foreshore Bill passed

Written By: - Date published: 10:39 pm, March 26th, 2011 - 64 comments

The latest media frenzy about a Phil Goff coup is rapidly dying down.  The Government passed some controversial legislation in double-quick time with little coverage and somebody made a killing on iPredict.  Coincidence?

Cuts! Cuts! Cuts!

Written By: - Date published: 12:42 pm, March 21st, 2011 - 42 comments

There was already going to be too little money in Budget 2011 for maintenance of public services. Now what little there was is being further slashed in the name of Christchurch. An Earthquake Levy is not an option, rather we’ll all pay through increased borrowing and 25% cuts in services like police, transport, justice and social services.

Action in Libya

Written By: - Date published: 10:07 am, March 20th, 2011 - 69 comments

US, UK and French forces have begun attacks on government targets in Libya. French planes flew reconnaissance yesterday and fired the first shots today.  They have destroyed a number of armoured vehicles and tanks. UK submarines have attacked air defence targets and their planes have fired missiles.  In total US & UK forces have fired […]

Government reneges on Pike River

Written By: - Date published: 8:04 am, March 13th, 2011 - 38 comments

Gerry Brownlee promised the West Coast a stimulus package.  The government has now ruled that out. Those with whom John Key so public sympathised will not get what they were promised; they’ll be left to pick up the tab, whilst he works on his next PR opportunity.

Auckland: a sprawling car future?

Written By: - Date published: 7:17 am, March 12th, 2011 - 77 comments

National will reject Auckland Council and Aucklanders’ view on what their future city should look like. Instead they propose One ever more sprawling city, with ever more sprawling motorways, ever more cars clogging its veins, ever less community, and ever less government money.

Mergers & Schisms

Written By: - Date published: 10:55 am, March 11th, 2011 - 13 comments

Last National government: split Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. This National government: merge Agriculture and Fisheries. In times of economic recession and disaster National know the really important things to focus on. Just as long as they keep those civil servants busy and away from helping the public we’ll all be fine.

Today’s Economic Roundup

Written By: - Date published: 10:16 am, March 10th, 2011 - 34 comments

Digested: the Reserve Bank cuts rates, the dollar weakens, oil prices rise and Sovereign Homes goes out of business.

National continues ECE assault

Written By: - Date published: 6:35 am, March 10th, 2011 - 49 comments

National are to allow battery farming style early childhood education.  From July the government will allow 75 stressed under-2 year-olds in one room, unable to form a relationship with any one teacher.

National hates Public Broadcasting

Written By: - Date published: 6:15 am, March 8th, 2011 - 41 comments

TVNZ7, and New Zealand public service television as a whole, looks to be coming to an end in June next year.  TVNZ has been told their only responsibility is to return to the government a 9% return on investment per annum; their response is that they see pay-TV as their future.  Sky is now “a frenemy”.

Football news

Written By: - Date published: 9:11 am, March 4th, 2011 - 71 comments

New Zealand has won the rights to host the U20 Football World Cup in 2015.

Shock Retirement

Written By: - Date published: 12:25 pm, March 2nd, 2011 - 37 comments

Simon Power is not going to stand for re-election in November.