Author Archive
Politics in the Age of Populism
Written By: - Date published: 9:28 pm, July 6th, 2017 - 3 comments
Bryce Edwards, Stephanie Rodgers and Rob Egan. Connolly Hall, Guildford Street, Wellington, 5:30 pm Friday 7th July.Fabian society, all welcome.
New information on Glenda Hughes?
Written By: - Date published: 8:12 pm, June 28th, 2017 - 43 comments
On 20 June after Melanie Read’s Newsroom interview Andrew Geddis blogged about possible obstruction of justice by a National Party Board member. That was based on new information in the Barclay case, and may be why the Police have since re-interviewed Glenys Dickson.
Follow the money
Written By: - Date published: 10:39 pm, June 22nd, 2017 - 49 comments
Bill English’s texted electorate chair Stuart Davie on 21st February 2016 saying Glenys Dickson was given an extra payout from the Leader’s fund “to avoid potential legal action.” It was the only source available for an extra payout for confidentiality. English said today no-one in February knew there was any issue of illegality. Then what legal action and why an extra payment?
Dirty Politics 2017 style
Written By: - Date published: 4:05 pm, June 8th, 2017 - 27 comments
Latest polls and some anecdotal evidence from the doorstep are showing a move back to the Tories in Britain. If so it may in part be due to last-minute dark and dirty personally targeted Facebook advertising to voters in marginal seats. They cost so will need to be watched later on here.
Hager Hit & Run and NZ’s Asian wars
Written By: - Date published: 8:23 pm, June 5th, 2017 - 13 comments
Nicky Hager will talk about his book Hit and Run, and the issues it raises about New Zealand’s values and role in the world at 5:30pm on Wednesday 7th June at Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace, Wellington. The book is about important events and the incoherence of New Zealand fighting it’s longest ever war in Central Asia. This talk is particularly timely in view of this week’s visit of the American Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson.
Scots git on Q+A
Written By: - Date published: 2:11 pm, March 27th, 2017 - 12 comments
I went to Q+A yesterday in search of political comment and was astonished to see John McTernan aka “Malcolm Tucker without the charm” given ten minutes to burble. McTernan promotes himself as a former political adviser to Blair and Gillard, but his last real job was chief of staff to Jim Murphy who led the Scottish Labour Party to oblivion in 2015.
Social investment meets the surveillance state
Written By: - Date published: 11:14 pm, March 4th, 2017 - 45 comments
First they came for the budgeting services. Now we know that every social service agency has to provide clients’ private personal data to the Ministry of Social Development or get no funding. Apparently it’s essential to Bill English’s much-touted and little understood “social investment” strategy, which is sounding more like something out of Orwell’s 1984. […]
Thanks Annette
Written By: - Date published: 11:38 am, March 3rd, 2017 - 9 comments
I well remember going to see new Minister of Employment Annette King in 1989 to ask for support for group apprenticeship in the motor industry. “Seems like a good idea, we’ll put up $50,000.” she said. I nearly fell off my chair. It was not the usual response from Ministers in those days, but is Annette King to a T – positive, decisive, and supportive.
Good ideas in Gisborne
Written By: - Date published: 1:28 pm, February 17th, 2017 - 97 comments
Andrew Little’s announcement yesterday in Gisborne of Labour’s pledge of up to $20million to build a prefabricated timber plant there is a much-needed boost to the area and a sign that Labour’s 100,000 new house pledge first made by David Shearer in 2012 has legs.
Key gives up on us, keeps International Democratic Union.
Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, February 10th, 2017 - 33 comments
The Herald informs us that Key is going on the speaking circuit and will go back into finance (not that he ever left). Like John Howard before him, he also intends to carry on chairing the International Democratic Union of right-wing parties. Not a surprise.
Prof John Quiggin – After Reform, What Comes Next?
Written By: - Date published: 10:26 pm, February 9th, 2017 - Comments Off on Prof John Quiggin – After Reform, What Comes Next?
University of Queensland Professor John Quiggin, author of Zombie Economics, will speak on this topic for the Fabian Society in Wellington on Monday 13th and Auckland Thursday 16th of this month. All welcome, details and registration inside. Will be interesting.
Peter Thiel’s Libertarian Dream – for New Zealand?
Written By: - Date published: 11:08 am, February 2nd, 2017 - 86 comments
From a Business Insider article in the OIA papers: Thiel is a long-term thinker, so what’s the big picture? What could the contrarian investor see in a country of 4 million people whose economy is based on agriculture and tourism? Maybe Peter Thiel wants to turn New Zealand into the next Silicon Valley. Or maybe even the libertarian utopia of his dreams.”
75th Anniversary Battle of Endau
Written By: - Date published: 4:24 pm, January 26th, 2017 - 9 comments
Today marks 75 years to the day since the suicidal Battle of Endau, when obsolete aircraft were sent to prevent the Japanese landing. Of the 72 aircrew from Nos. 36 and 100 Squadrons who participated in the raids, 27 were killed, seven were wounded and two were captured. My uncle was killed but Ron Reid survived the raid and captivity. He is interviewed by Dave Homewood of WONZ in memory of the day.
2017: Political Year in Prospect
Written By: - Date published: 7:28 pm, January 25th, 2017 - 9 comments
Morgan Godfery, Mike Munro and Stephanie Rodgers will discuss this topic Thursday 26 January at Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace, Wellington at 5:30pm for the Fabian Society. All welcome – will be interesting.
Trump’s First Press Conference
Written By: - Date published: 9:38 am, January 12th, 2017 - 41 comments
You have to say he is not afraid to take on the heavy mob. A very direct attack on Big Pharma – a US version of Pharmac? A very direct attack on the armaments industry’s star program the F-35 fighter-bomber and its cost overruns. Then there is the intelligence community and the mainstream news media. Read the transcript for yourself.
Spy vs Spy
Written By: - Date published: 10:47 pm, January 9th, 2017 - 127 comments
It is MAD. In the frenzy leading up to Trump’s inauguration, we have the extraordinary spectacle of the CIA interfering in the US election by accusing the Russians of interfering in the same election. The CIA used only to interfere in other people’s elections. On the serious side this intervention means the war party hasn’t given up yet, no matter what Trump may say.
Of Leaks and Hacks
Written By: - Date published: 3:23 pm, December 20th, 2016 - 24 comments
Maybe the Russians weren’t coming. Or we must believe that “KGB chief Vladimir Putin put Inspector Clouseau in charge of Russian security and left him to get on with it.” George Washington discusses the evidence. Fodder for the net-savvy
Denial in Politics
Written By: - Date published: 9:26 pm, December 17th, 2016 - 33 comments
There’s a lot of it around. The Democrats and their media and spook allies are in a complete lather over Putin’s supposed personal influence in the US election. Confident of victory and its spoils up till midday on election day, the Clinton team are incapable of assessing just what a debacle of a campaign they ran, still less what they need to do now. Lessons abound.
Cabinet reshuffle – Haere ra McCully?
Written By: - Date published: 9:46 pm, December 10th, 2016 - 31 comments
Bill English gets to name his own cabinet on Monday. It will be interesting to see what happens to McCully. In February McCully announced his intention to stand down in East Coast Bays and that he would seek a list place, but only if he remained as Minister of Foreign Affairs after the next election. It’s an ultimatum he may have cause to regret.
Three’s a crowd
Written By: - Date published: 9:28 am, December 7th, 2016 - 24 comments
The policy wonk, the ambitious change-maker, or the no-bullshit bullshitter – the contenders for National Party Prime Minister set out their stalls yesterday with John Campbell. Just like the Kaikoura quake, their pitches exposed some complex fault-lines. It’ll be a long week in politics.
Fabian Event – 5th Labour Government – 30 October Auckland 1pm
Written By: - Date published: 11:18 am, October 27th, 2016 - 4 comments
All are warmly invited to hear Sir Michael Cullen, Hon Margaret Wilson, Hon David Parker, Mike Williams, and Dot Kettle reflect on the experiences of Helen Clark-led three-term Labour government – its achievements and its legacy and discuss its lessons for the future. Sunday 30 October 1pm-5pm Owen Glenn Centre, Auckland University, Grafton Road. Please register here.
Fifth Labour Govt – Challenges and Lessons
Written By: - Date published: 8:04 pm, October 18th, 2016 - 7 comments
Michael Cullen and Margaret Wilson will speak at the Fabian Society Seminar “5th Labour Government – Lessons from a time of Challenges” at Owen Glenn Centre, Auckland University, Grafton Road on Sunday October 30 from 1-5pm. Mike Williams, Dot Kettle and David Parker will be on the panel. Everyone welcome to discuss and debate. Guaranteed to be interesting – details inside.
Out of the mouths of babes
Written By: - Date published: 1:35 pm, September 29th, 2016 - 15 comments
Watch five-year old Brook Blair give it to Theresa May about homeless people. Got the right answers too. Brilliant!
“Itching Scratches” on Nine to Noon
Written By: - Date published: 6:27 pm, September 26th, 2016 - 61 comments
Matthew Hooton got carried away on Nine to Noon dissing Andrew Little’s views on political strategy and the centre ground that appeared to differ from Helen Clark’s. Stephen Mills piled in too on Jeremy Corbyn and the “missing millions.” All Little said was that he wants to connect with different groups of voters on issues important to them. Can’t argue with that.
Brendon Bonner supports Living Wage
Written By: - Date published: 8:11 pm, September 22nd, 2016 - 17 comments
Red/Green/Independent Brendon Bonner is a candidate for the Southern Ward in the Wellington City elections. PSA staffer and declared socialist, he would like Wellingtonians to know that he too supports the Living Wage. His campaign video is here and a list of the policies he supports is here. More information on Facebook.
Warren strips cross-selling bank CEO
Written By: - Date published: 2:02 pm, September 22nd, 2016 - 25 comments
Watch Elizabeth Warren strip Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf alive at a Senate hearing on ‘cross-selling’ of bank products customers didn’t need. Wells Fargo, one of the US’ biggest banks, was fined $185million, and 5300 employees at branch and teller level were sacked. The senior executive in charge was allowed to retire with nearly $100million in stock benefits. Warren thinks the top management should be held accountable. See what you think.
Delivering the Green New Deal
Written By: - Date published: 3:40 pm, September 18th, 2016 - 2 comments
London-based macro-economist Ann Pettifor will speak on this topic at Wesley Church, 75 Taranaki Street, Wellington, on Tuesday 20 September at 5:30pm. Ann is a member of the Green New Deal Group, whose proposition is designed to power a renewables revolution, create thousands of green-collar jobs and rein in the distorting power of the finance sector while making more low-cost capital available for pressing priorities. All welcome; more info inside.
Eileen Brown for CCDHB
Written By: - Date published: 10:01 pm, September 6th, 2016 - 2 comments
Capital Coast DHB candidate Eileen Brown chairs the Newtown Union Health Service Board, a primary care service for people on low incomes. For the last 10 years, Eileen has worked for the Council of Trade Unions as a senior policy analyst; previously she worked in nursing in many areas including mental health and neuro rehabilitation. Eileen is standing as a Labour candidate. She’d be great on the DHB.
Dr Kate Amore on Homelessness
Written By: - Date published: 9:52 pm, August 24th, 2016 - 17 comments
Dr Kate Amore and Rev Tric Malcolm will discuss this issue on Friday 26th August at 5:30pm at Connolly Hall, Wellington. Amore’s research released today shows “As the housing market gets tighter, single people have more flexibility and potentially more options open to them, whereas families with children don’t. People [landlords] are less likely to want them, and they have more requirements of housing,” she said. All welcome.
Leggett in Gollins’ pocket too!!!
Written By: - Date published: 9:46 pm, August 11th, 2016 - 18 comments
It gets worse – another property developer is rattling the tin for Porirua carpetbagger Nick Leggett for Wellington’s mayoralty. Chris Gollins has been asking for donations, with donors having to submit email addresses to nick@gollins.co.nz. It seems Andrew Little might have been right to warn Stuart Nash MP off association with Leggett’s campaign.
Leggett in Parkin’s pocket?
Written By: - Date published: 9:05 pm, August 9th, 2016 - 55 comments
Former Councillor Chris Parkin interviewed in Wellington’s DomPost shared his ambitions – investing in property in central Wellington, and getting Porirua mayor Nick Leggett elected in Wellington, of all places. Word has it that large billboards for Leggett around the town have been funded by Parkin. The last thing Wellington needs is a mayor who’s in a property investor’s pocket.
- China’s Got Talent!
A truly splendid rendition of The Internationale. Enjoy. Video courtesy of YouTube This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...12 hours ago - Drinking river water – Tourism NZ puts visitors at risk
. . When it comes to irresponsibility and incompetence, we are well used to National’s performance over the last eight years. Homelessness and rising unaffordability, under-funding in healthcare and education; corporate subsidies; wasting taxpayers’ money on pointless exercises; increasing ...1 day ago - Hard News: This is bad – very bad
According to a statement issued today by the Chief Coroner and the police, seven deaths in the past month in Auckland have been linked to the use of "synthetic cannabis". A follow-up report in the Herald has more bad news: a St ...1 day ago - Labour’s promise puts future of public tertiary education on the ballot paper
Labour’s promise to ditch the National-led Government’s plans to change the law so that public funds can be diverted to for-profit education offers voters a real choice in this election about the future of public tertiary education, the Tertiary Education ...1 day ago - “No idea” II
Meanwhile, while the government claims it had "no idea" there was a housing crisis or that it would cost so much, social housing waiting lists have hit record highs: The growing demand for social housing in New Zealand is showing ...1 day ago - The Square is the quintessential film festival film – with a twist.
Part social commentary, part satire, the Swedish Palme d’Or winner will draw in festy goers like moths to flames. But is it laughing with, or at, its audience? Photo: NZ International Film Festival The Square is the ...1 day ago - Emerging artists explore housing, political, celebrity issues
Art for more than just art's sake. Theo Macdonald's depiction of himself as David Bowie is one of dozens of artworks. Image: Supplied A slab of concrete will soon be hung on a wall at Victoria ...1 day ago - Hard News: Friday Music: Remembering RoiIn the days before email, when even toll calls were prohibitively priced, we would write each other letters. Rambling affairs, typed single-space (yes, some of us had typewriters – we weren't cave people) and full of news, gossip and extravagant ...1 day ago
- New East-West images
A newsletter from the NZTA yesterday highlighted some new graphics of what the East-West Link will look like. The consent hearings for the project are currently in full swing. The first, and most shocking drawing, is of the East-West Link ...2 days ago - The cost of denialDespite having been warned for years about the housing crisis, National now says it had "no idea" that it was a problem:Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett has admitted "in hindsight" the Government's response to the housing crisis has been too ...2 days ago
- The contrast between Labour and National is clear
2 days ago - Nothing Fresh About Labour’s Approach.
2 days ago - June-2017 Ridership
Auckland Transport have now published the ridership figures for June. The month is one of the most important in the year as it represents the end of the financial year and so the results are what become the official results ...2 days ago - Have the Greens gone ‘radical’?
by Phil Duncan Well, according to the media – and there seems to be quite a consensus – the answer to the question above is a resounding ‘yes’. According to Tim Murphy, co-editor of Newsroom, policies adopted at last weekend’s ...2 days ago - The no go area
By Don Franks In a few short weeks, all New Zealand citizens over 18 not in prison will be entitled to cast a vote electing the countries parliament. This modern set of rights is an undeniable step up from the ...2 days ago - NZ Initiative – Bulk Funding Schools. . Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. – Albert Einstein. . On 6 July, the “NZ Initiative” – a re-branded right-wing think-tank previously known as the NZ Business Roundtable – released a ...2 days ago
- The Singles Life: Theia and the state of post-Lorde pop
Welcome to weekly series The Singles Life, where known experts Katie Parker and Hussein Moses peruse, ponder and pontificate on the latest and (maybe) greatest in New Zealand music. When Lorde first came on the scene four years ago, ...2 days ago - Unprotected disclosuresThe State Services Commission has released the results of its inquiry into retaliation by convicted fraudster Joanne Harrison against staff who tried to blow the whistle on her. They're pretty devastating: Four whistleblowers at the Ministry of Transport suffered "humiliating" ...2 days ago
- Cuts to Otago University support roles puts teaching at riskTertiary Update Vol 20 No 24 University of Otago Vice-Chancellor Harlene Hayne has announced plans to cut 182 full-time equivalent jobs from some of the university’s most vital support services. Professor Hayne told staff at a meeting last Friday that the ...2 days ago
- TEU national secretary honoured for 32 years union serviceThe Tertiary Education Union’s national secretary, Sharn Riggs, was recognised at the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions women’s conference for over 32 years of outstanding service to union women. Speaking to the award on behalf of the Tertiary Education Union ...2 days ago
- Tell your story and take a stand for tertiary educationIf you have a story about how tertiary education has helped you, your whānau, your students or someone you know, the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) is asking you share it in a People’s Submission. National is pressing ahead with plans to ...2 days ago
- Union women oppose National’s tertiary law changeWomen from across the union movement have taken a collective stand against a change in law that could see vast sums of public money being transferred away from public tertiary institutions to private providers. In a remit passed at the ...2 days ago
- People should be paid for their workThe Māori Party's latest immigration policy: slavery for migrants:An internship visa that would require migrants with special skills to train young people in the regions is to be announced by the Maori Party today. The package is part of the ...3 days ago
- Dunkirk is more than a typical Christopher Nolan moneymaker – It’s a masterpiece
War has never looked like this before. Photo: Roadshow Films When news broke that Christopher Nolan had chose a World War Two epic as his next project it was hard not to feel cynical. After all, with ...3 days ago - It’s time to take out the trash
3 days ago - Psychopaths: Mean, misunderstood, and mistreated?
Does your ex drink too much, act impulsively and seem to fear nothing? Turns out, they could be a psychopath. Photo: Steinar Engeland / Unsplash Devon Polaschek is a forensic clinical psychologist and professor of psychology, and of ...3 days ago - A Cautionary Tale From Canada.
3 days ago - Te Ara Raro – The Underline
Auckland’s hills help to define our city, sometimes they’re a blessing, sometimes they can be a bit of curse but occasionally they also present a unique opportunity. Nick, who regularly comments and sometimes posts here, has been part of a ...3 days ago - Te Ara Tomo – The UnderlineAuckland’s hills help to define our city, sometimes they’re a blessing, sometimes they can be a bit of curse but occasionally they also present a unique opportunity. Nick, who regularly comments and sometimes posts here, has been part of a ...3 days ago
- National culpable for youth suicide
The youth suicide rate in New Zealand is atrocious! Every year it stands as an embarrassing failure of our system to look after and value young people properly. But why have things got so bad? Well one reason is a ...3 days ago - Gordon Campbell on the ch-ch-changes at IRD
First published on Werewolf New Zealand may pride itself on being relatively free of political corruption, but the corruption of our political language has built up a fine head of steam. On any number of issues we’re now supposedly engaged ...3 days ago - Nats targeting overseas voters
Today an interesting thing happened to me. I visited the Otago Daily Times’ website to take a look at their coverage of Labour MP Clare Curran’s homelessness protest in Dunedin. She’s doing a great job, check it out. However, one ...3 days ago - Hard News: 100 Men and a million storiesPaul Oremland was born gay in a New Zealand where homosexual conduct was a criminal offence, to deeply religious parents who regarded it as a mortal sin. Not long after a disastrous attempt to pray away the gay by studying ...3 days ago
- Comment on Failure looks like social policy that makes life harder for people by Matthew Horrocks
Great article Jess. The research into the effects of stress on people with low incomes as described here is compelling. Its not just low-income groups affected. Anecdotally I’d say the financial pressures you describe are also having a devastating effect ...3 days ago - Who needs tax collectors anyway?New Zealand has a problem with tax cheats. Large multinational corporations, rich pricks, dodgy tradespeople, all not paying their fair share. So naturally, National is gutting the IRD:Staff at Inland Revenue offices around the country have been told 30 percent ...3 days ago
- Meet the GirlBoss getting young women into science and tech
Flying high. Photo: Supplied Alexia Hilbertidou has just returned from the edge of space and is determined to break down boundaries for young women in male-dominated scientific industries. The 18-year-old with Samoan and Greek heritage founded GirlBoss ...3 days ago - If this is “terrorism”, we should all be “terrorists”Turkey has arrested six human rights activists for "terrorism":Amnesty International urged the British government to end its silence over Turkey’s slide into authoritarian rule on Tuesday after its local director and five other activists were remanded in custody on accusations ...3 days ago
- My White Car Theory
3 days ago - Farmers never learnThe dairy lobby is trying to tell us that farmers are cleaning up their act and polluting less. Meanwhile, a Waikato farmer has been convicted for the second time of pouring his cowshit into the local river:A south Waikato dairy ...3 days ago
- A game of hide and seekRadio New Zealand reports on the Ministry of Transport's attempts to bury information about its resident fraudster Joanne Harrison:Emails from the Transport Minister show he told his own ministry that its plans to withhold information from a Labour MP were ...3 days ago
- Failure looks like social policy that makes life harder for people
With the discussion we are having about social policy at the moment I thought it would be good to discuss the science of what happens to anyone who lives on a low income, especially over any prolonged period of time, ...4 days ago - Labour finally opens its walletLabour has announced a massive spending package this morning, aimed at restoring our health, education and welfare systems after National's neglect:Labour has run its numbers and opened its books, promising multi-billion-dollar injections into health and education. If elected, Labour ...4 days ago
- Noticing Neoliberalism’s Nakedness.
4 days ago - Further thoughts on the CRL accessibility issue
Following on from my post the other day about The Spinoff’s interview with the City Rail Link team and some of their concerning comments, I thought I’d take a look at a few issues from a slightly different angle. In ...4 days ago - The polarised immigration debate
4 days ago - Back to School — School Zones in New Zealand vis-a-vis the Netherlands
New Zealand has — compared to most countries around the world — done fairly well of late. We’ve avoided the disastrous youth unemployment afflicting many countries in Europe (although thankfully they appear to have turned the corner) and our Government’s fiscal ...4 days ago - Inferno V: into the unseeing world
We are at the edge of the second circle of Hell, finally stepping into il cieco mondo, the unseeing world. But we are also in a high school classroom in late 1987. It’s winter, and the large rotating windows of ...4 days ago - Gordon Campbell on the Greens’ room for political pragmatism
First published on Werewolf Try and guess which party I’m talking about. They’ve led the way in promoting women to leadership positions, and in allowing their MPs to vote according to their conscience. They’ve never won much in the way ...4 days ago - Is energy ‘dominance’ the right goal for US policy?
Daniel Raimi, Senior research associate (Resources for the Future), Lecturer (University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy), University of Michigan This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. In recent weeks, a new energy buzzword ...4 days ago - Dealing with the tax cheatsNew Zealand has a problem: large multinational companies like Facebook, Amazon, and RT cheating ontheir taxes. Now Labour is proposing a solution: a diverted profits tax:Labour is promising to claw back hundreds of millions of dollars a year from multinationals ...4 days ago
- But they still hate catsGareth Morgan's Opportunities Party has announced a $200 a week youth UBI:All New Zealanders between 18 and 23 will be given an obligation-free $200 a week under an Opportunities Party policy announced this afternoon. The policy would allow young people ...4 days ago
- Gareth Morgan wants to give $200 each week to every young NZer, no strings
Forward-thinking or election bribe? Photo: 123rf Gareth Morgan’s Opportunities Party wants to give $200 each week to every New Zealander aged between 18 and 23, but an economic expert says that’s not enough to help the people ...4 days ago - Why we should price water IVAt their campaign launch in Nelson the Greens announced a 10 cents a litre levy on bottled water. So how much is that worth? Up to $2 billion:Right now, 73 companies hold consents to take up to 23.7 billion litres ...4 days ago
- Oceanic stories for the 21st century
A new collection of writing creates a conversation about kinship across the Pacific. Cover art from Black Marks on a White Page. Illustration: James Ormsby Black Marks on a White Page, a new anthology of writing ...4 days ago - The same questionAnother day, another case of unjustified taser use:The police watchdog has found that a sergeant's use of a Taser on a young man in south Auckland was "excessive and unjustified". [...] "Police policy clearly states that a Taser must only ...4 days ago
- Police are not entitled to special treatment
All too often in New Zealand people get away with serious crimes simply because of who they are or what they do. It’s a fault of our justice system, which often treats people differently and hands down sentences disproportionate to ...4 days ago - The Warehouse: Subsidised by forced labourSocial Development Minister Anne Tolley is proudly announcing a new "youth initiative" with The Warehouse to give young people work experience. Which sounds great, until you realise that that work experience, lasting 15 days, is unpaid. So what this really ...4 days ago
- Station gating underway at Henderson
As part of changes to the rail network, Auckland Transport are gating a number of stations to complement the stations that are already gated. The gates are going in at Otahuhu, Henderson, Manurewa, Papatoetoe, Middlemore, Parnell, Papakura and Glen Innes stations. ...5 days ago - ‘It’s not a happy place’ – Life in the Kayan villages of Thailand
Photographer Charlotte Curd learns there are questionable ethics behind the scenes of villages that are billed as tourist attractions. Photo: Charlotte Curd Close to the border of Thailand and Burma (Myanmar), tourists traipse through a quaint village, ...5 days ago - For Metiria …
“We will not be a government that uses poverty as a weapon against its own people.” - Metiria Turei, Co-Leader of The Greens Video courtesy of YouTube This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...5 days ago - National’s suicide rate fiasco
5 days ago - Corbyn and the British left: a Dunedin talk/discussion, Friday, July 21A visiting activist from Britain will be speaking on this subject in Dunedin on Friday, July 21. The meeting is from 6-7.30pm in the central city. Dani is a zero-hours contract worker and active in a community housing campaign ...5 days ago
- Violence against Indigenous peoples destroys our common home
In May this year, two brothers, Vázquez and Agustín Torres, were murdered near Guadalajara in Jalisco, Mexico. They were Wixárika (Huichol) leaders, working to preserve their land from incursion by cattle ranchers and drug cartels. This tragedy of greed and ...5 days ago - The Bright Sunlit Uplands Of Radicalism: Metiria Turei And The Greens Set The 2017 Election On Fire.
5 days ago - Don’t rely on sources – follow the evidence
CNN pushes this mantra but many believe they promote fake news When scientists evaluate published research we are more interested in evidence than in conclusions. In fact, the same evidence may lead scientific readers to different conclusions. That’s not surprising as in ...5 days ago - Lies and Lies and Lies
When Shepard Smith of the Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox News lambasted Donald Trump on-screen this week for ‘lie after lie after lie’, it was a hugely significant turning point for the Trump presidency. The President has hitherto been able to rely ...5 days ago - The confusing politics of immigration
Immigration is likely to be one of the major issues in the election that’s coming up in September – or at any rate, some parties think that it will be, and are trying to push the topic forward. Immigration is ...5 days ago - House prices relative to inflation
This Briefing Paper is part of a longer report on housing prices, available on The Policy Observatory website, here. Historically housing prices in New Zealand have risen a little faster than consumer prices, but the increase has been ...5 days ago - Support “Not Voting is a Political Act”People from this blog and people from AWSM (Aotearoa Workers Solidarity Movement) are currently working together to encourage people not to vote, and do so as a conscious political choice, in the September general election. The facebook page will, in ...5 days ago
- Is the basic income “barking” or an idea whose time has come?
"Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons" Woody Allen.Many years ago, I took part in a public forum where the keynote speaker advanced the radical idea that a Basic Income (BI) be paid unconditionally to all residents.read ...5 days ago - Gordon Campbell on humane welfare, child support and tax
First published on Werewolf It made for an unusual Venn diagram, but Greens co-leader Metiria Turei and Finance Minister Steven Joyce were briefly sharing some common elements this week in the set that says – hey, don’t use the powers ...5 days ago - Turei’s confession: What’s good for the goose…The response to Greens co-leader Metiria Turei's admission that she lied to Work & Income (WINZ) while she was a solo mum in the 1990s seems to have split, rather predictably, along ideological lines. Saint or sinner, criminal or victim. ...5 days ago
- 50 hot takes from the Game of Thrones season premiere
Welcome back to Westeros. Daenerys Targaryen comes home. Photo: HBO After what felt like an interminable wait, season seven of Game of Thrones is underway. With two seasons left, TV’s most popular drama is fast nearing ...5 days ago - Surrendering to fear brought us climate change denial and President Trump
This story picks up where an earlier post left off a few weeks ago. Then, I discussed some of the political realities associated with inaction on climate change. In that post, I said I would revisit the question of why so many ...5 days ago - And he says he’s not racist…Last week, Winston Peters was in full outrage mode because the Greens had dared to speak the truth and call him what he was: a racist. This week, he wants Pakeha to have a vote on whether Māori should be ...5 days ago
- Time for a breather on immigration
National has no idea how to house the record number of people entering New Zealand, let alone cope with the pressure on health, education, and transport from this record population growth, says Labour’s Immigration spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway. ...1 day ago - Labour to invest $4 billion in educationLabour’s Education Manifesto will bring positive change across the education sector and is backed by a massive investment, says Labour’s Education Spokesperson Chris Hipkins. “Labour’s plan will see an extra $4 billion invested over the next four years. It’s organised ...1 day ago
- National’s shame: worst homelessness in the OECDNational’s legacy is a housing crisis that has given New Zealand the worst homeless rate in the developed world, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...2 days ago
- Labour taking action on school donationsLabour will end so-called voluntary school donations for the majority of parents across the country under its $4 billion plan to revitalise the education sector, says Labour Leader Andrew Little. “Labour has always been committed to a world-class free education ...2 days ago
- Labour to work with Queenstown to build more housesLabour will work with Queenstown-Lakes District Council, iwi, and the Community Housing Trust to build the modern, affordable housing Queenstown desperately needs, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. ...2 days ago
- Nats blow the Budget on motels after bowling state housesNational is spending $140,000 a day putting homeless families in motels, the legacy of nine years of selling off and knocking down state houses, says Labour Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...2 days ago
- New revelations in Joanne Harrison reportThe State Services Commission’s report into the treatment of whistle-blowers by Joanne Harrison has revealed new accusations against the convicted fraudster, says Labour MP Sue Moroney. “The report found that four staff inside the Ministry of Transport who had raised ...2 days ago
- Snafu at Princess MargaretJonathan Coleman has to stop the stalling over a new building for mental health services in Christchurch to replace the quake damaged Princess Margaret Hospital, says Labour’s Health spokesperson David Clark. “The Government must accept that Christchurch is still recovering ...3 days ago
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- National’s youth work scheme too little too lateAfter nine years, National’s belated attempt to provide work opportunities for unemployed youth should be seen for what it is, a half-hearted, election gimmick from a party that’s ignored the problem till now, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. ...1 week ago
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- Minister faces questions over dam debacleToday’s Supreme Court ruling dismissing an appeal to allow a land swap for the controversial Ruataniwha Dam is a victory for our conservation estate and Hawke’s Bay ratepayers, but leaves the Conservation Minister with serious questions to answer, says Ikaroa-Rāwhiti ...2 weeks ago
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- State of Government Recordkeeping 2015/16 ReportThe Chief Archivist’s 2015/16 annual report to the Minister of Internal Affairs on the state of government recordkeeping was presented to the House of Representatives today. Prepared under the Public Records Act 2005, the production of this annual ...1 day ago
- Resignation of Debbie Chin, CEO CCDHBThe New Zealand Resident Doctors’ Association (NZRDA) congratulates Debbie Chin for her work at Capital and Coast DHB. Earlier today, Debbie Chin announced her resignation from CCDHB, to take effect later this year. ...1 day ago
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- USA Public Slam NZ Biotech Company”s GE TreesNew Zealand-owned tree biotechnology company ArborGen [1] faces near unanimous opposition to commercial deregulation of their genetically engineered eucalyptus trees. ...1 day ago
- Memorial to recognise bonds of warThe bond formed between Belgium and New Zealand during the First World War will be recognised today (Eds 21 July 2017) with two special ceremonies at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. Outgoing Belgian Ambassador Jean-Luc Bodson will break the ground ...1 day ago
- Educators welcome Labour’s plan to fix public educationEducators welcome Labour's commitment to put the 'free' back into free public education and to developing a plan to fix the chronic teacher shortage, NZEI Te Riu Roa says. ...1 day ago
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- People Trafficking ConferencePRESS RELEASE: JULY 2017 The Anglican Diocese of Wellington The Embassy of the United States of America The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG Addressing exploitation and trafficking in persons through Aotearoa New ...1 day ago
- PSA health workers bidding farewell to CCDHB bossThe Public Service Association expresses regret at the decision of Capital and Coast District Health Board Chief Executive Debbie Chin to stand down at the end of the year, and are concerned that top public servants like her are bearing ...2 days ago
- Police Association condemns horrific attackPolice Association President Chris Cahill has expressed concern for the police officer who was seriously assaulted while on duty overnight in Rotorua. ...2 days ago
- CE Debbie Chin standing down at the end of the yearCapital & Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) Chief Executive Debbie Chin today announced her intention to stand down at the end of 2017. ...2 days ago
- Opportunities Party Announces David Hay as List CandidateThe Opportunities Party is pleased to announce Auckland Policy Researcher David Hay as a list candidate for the 2017 General Election. ...2 days ago
- Nurses express support for Debbie ChinNZNO is alarmed to hear today of the resignation of Debbie Chin, Chief Executive of Capital and Coast DHB. Many members and staff are personally upset to see how the ongoing underfunding of the DHB has caused a highly capable ...2 days ago
- Think Tank Welcomes Social Investment ApproachAUCKLAND - The New Zealand Powerhouse Institute, a classical liberal, free market think tank, has welcomed the development of a social investment approach by the National-led Government under Bill English. ...2 days ago
- Migration reaches another record highAnnual net migration in the June 2017 year reached a new record high of 72,300, Stats NZ said today. Migrant arrivals were a record 131,400 and migrant departures were 59,100. ...2 days ago
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- SPCA supports new Animal Welfare RegulationsThe SPCA supports the new animal welfare regulations announced this week by Ministry for Primary Industries and believes they are a win for animal welfare in New Zealand. ...2 days ago
- Minister’s guidance misses the ‘U’ wordMinister’s guidance misses the ‘U’ word The 'Guidance on closing the pay gap' released today by Women’s Minister Paula Bennett is silent on the role of unions. "Given the critical and leading role unions have played historically in the ...2 days ago
- Three concerns for the coming electionThe New Zealand Seniors Party have many concerns going into this coming election, below we have outlined 3 of them to comment on. ...2 days ago
- Most Kiwis are satisfied with lifeMost Kiwis are satisfied with life and feel connected to family and Aotearoa – Media release ...2 days ago
- Māori Bursary Fund for Social Enterprise World Forum closingHe kai kei aku ringa in conjunction with Ākina Foundation are sponsoring 30 Māori entrepreneurs to attend the Social Enterprise World Forum in Christchurch in September 2017. ...2 days ago
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- Workplace “speak up” culture must be promoted – PSAThe Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi welcomes the findings of the investigation into treatment of whistleblowers at the Ministry of Transport. ...2 days ago
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- Report of investigation into whistle-blower treatmentState Services Commissioner Peter Hughes has today published the report of the investigation into the treatment of Public Servants within the Ministry of Transport who raised concerns about the conduct of jailed fraudster Joanne Harrison. ...2 days ago
- ACT Announces Roger Greenslade as Candidate for WairarapaACT is proud to announce that Roger Greenslade has been selected as the candidate for the Wairarapa Electorate and party list. ...2 days ago
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- Prioritising public services and health underfundingThe PSA’s call to restore funding to public and community services has been heard, with the Labour Party committing to refund health sector spending and invest in core public services in its fiscal plan. ...2 days ago
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There’s an aspect of Edgar Wright's new heist flick, Baby Driver, that deserves to have the greatest noise made about it. ...3 days ago
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