Author Archive

Written By: - Date published: 5:56 pm, January 12th, 2016 - 15 comments

Te Reo Putake spins the black circle and has a listen to Bowie’s final album, Blackstar.

Little: Labour to Defy TPPA

Written By: - Date published: 8:58 am, January 8th, 2016 - 717 comments

Labour Leader Andrew Little has announced that the next Labour led Government will defy the TPPA’s attack on our sovereignty. Good on Labour – that’s the leadership we need.

When Animals Attack!

Written By: - Date published: 8:57 pm, December 16th, 2015 - 32 comments

Crikey! My Little Ponytail meets the Parnell mind meld. Cancel Xmas, I’ve already got my pressie!

 

This Year

Written By: - Date published: 9:35 pm, December 14th, 2015 - 38 comments

2015’s just about up. Here’s my quick summary of the year here at the Standard. Thanks y’all!

Flagpole Sitta

Written By: - Date published: 5:56 pm, December 11th, 2015 - 138 comments

John Key’s $26 million dollar flag flop bores it’s way to the halfway line tonight. The first referendum closes at 7 PM, first results at around 8.30. $26 million … that’s a lot of cancer drugs, child care centres and elder care we won’t be getting because the PM wants a signature legacy his dreary leadership doesn’t actually deserve.

Key’s Xmas Reshuffle; UPDATE + bonus Winston Peters zinger!

Written By: - Date published: 7:24 am, December 7th, 2015 - 49 comments

John Key has announced that there will be a minor cabinet re-shuffle. Could this mark the return of Judith Collins? If so, what does this tell us about how the post-Key National Party will look?

Hilary Benn: we never should walk by on the other side of the road

Written By: - Date published: 9:57 am, December 4th, 2015 - 147 comments

UK MP Hilary Benn has given one of the finest speeches Westminster has heard in years in the debate over Syria. It will go down as a defining moment in the fight against Daesh and proves that bombing alone is not the answer. Watch it. It’s how politics can be, when done right.

Deportee

Written By: - Date published: 12:48 pm, December 2nd, 2015 - 103 comments

Standard Exclusive:

Te Reo Putake interviews one of the first batch of deportees from Australia under the Liberal Government’s hardline approach to Kiwis who serve jail time in the lucky country.

Chris Cairns: Song of the Tall Poppy

Written By: - Date published: 10:12 am, December 1st, 2015 - 111 comments

The Chris Cairns trial verdict seems to have surprised Kiwis. And some people don’t seem to want to accept he is not a match fixer. Are we that fooled by modern media that our usual decency and sense of fair play has deserted us?

Allahu Quackbar!

Written By: - Date published: 10:55 pm, November 29th, 2015 - 70 comments

4chan bombs Isis. Now that’s the way to hurt them!

Corbyn’s Isis Crisis

Written By: - Date published: 9:25 am, November 27th, 2015 - 89 comments

UK Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn faces his first big test. Can he command the majority in Labour over Syria? Or should he accept he is on the wrong side of history?

Standing in the Shadow of the Red Flag

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, November 25th, 2015 - 47 comments

“Why would Goff stand for the Auckland mayoralty as an independent candidate considering his life-long commitment to the Labour Party?”

Why indeed?

Is it time for Labour to stand candidates in local elections under the party banner? And can the party lift its profile and its general election prospects by being bolder in the provinces?

RWC and rapists: 3 News poll confirms a pretty average week for Key.

Written By: - Date published: 6:51 pm, November 22nd, 2015 - 29 comments

The latest Reid Research/3News poll is out. Key gets nothing from the RWC, and the rapist remarks turn out not to have helped his popularity either. There was a time when talkback radio style outbursts used to make him look strong. Nowadays, not so much. Meanwhile, the opposition are just 1 seat behind …

The Tide is High

Written By: - Date published: 6:39 pm, November 15th, 2015 - 91 comments

I’m pleased about the Roy Morgan result. The last RWC was worth 2-3% in the polls to National.  This RWC … nothing.  And in the days since that poll, John Key has overseen an astonishing attack on the women of Parliament. I think we’ve reached Peak Key.

Power Corruption and Lies

Written By: - Date published: 1:04 pm, November 13th, 2015 - 78 comments

A National List MP has been snapped trying to heavy the Housing Ministry into funding a lift in her personal profile. Remember John Key’s ‘higher standards in Government’? Nick Smith’s Ministerial office apparently doesn’t care too much about about such trifles. Worse, the Housing Ministry has been caught trying to cover up for the Tories by redacting an OIA request. Here’s your Brighter Future, folks. Enjoy.

No Friends: The One about Rachel

Written By: - Date published: 10:51 am, November 11th, 2015 - 21 comments

The latest celebrity gossip is that pseudo journalist Rachel Glucina’s naff website Scout is about to do the walk of shame. Karma’s a truly wonderful thing.

#Talleyban. Standard Exclusive: MWU Blacklisted by Boss

Written By: - Date published: 10:07 am, August 10th, 2015 - 83 comments

Talleys has de-recognised the Meat Workers Union and refused to bargain with them. They have told the workers to set up a new, yellow union. Or else. Brighter Future? Not under National. This is what the recent changes in employment law were intended to achieve. It’s union busting in a brutal, thuggish form.

# Talleyban

Written By: - Date published: 5:50 pm, August 4th, 2015 - 47 comments

Talleys have fired the first shots in National’s new class war. You can stand with the AFFCO workers and reject the Tories new anti-union law. Boycott Talleys. Make a stand for your fellow Kiwis.

Let’s Lynch the Landlord

Written By: - Date published: 9:45 am, August 3rd, 2015 - 53 comments

As The Standard said at the time, the Government’s decision to destroy Relationships Aotearoa could be a colossal stuff up. And this morning we learn that a Canterbury landlord has allowed access to the sensitive files left behind when RA closed. Anne Tolley must act or Anne Tolley must go.

Parasite Drive; the NBR Rich List

Written By: - Date published: 10:50 am, July 31st, 2015 - 98 comments

The NBR’s annual list of the one percent is out. No surprises that the growing inequality in New Zealand is working well for the parasites at the top of the hill.

3News Poll: National Lose Lead

Written By: - Date published: 6:55 pm, July 26th, 2015 - 109 comments

The latest 3News/Reid Research poll continues the trend of bad results for National. On these numbers, National are knackered. And, surprise, surprise, Kiwis don’t want non-residents buying up our houses.  Not a great way to finish a conference weekend, is it?

ABC: The Lexicon of Labour

Written By: - Date published: 9:10 am, July 23rd, 2015 - 63 comments

In a major shock, it appears veteren socialist Jeremy Corbyn is set to win the leadership of the UK Labour Party. Can his anti-austerity platform lift Labour up following their drubbing at the general Election? And can his ideas impact on our Labour Party here?

TV One Colmar Brunton Poll

Written By: - Date published: 6:10 pm, July 19th, 2015 - 119 comments

The latest One News Colmar Brunton poll is out. National drop one to 47%, Labour gain that point to lift to 32% , the Greens rise to 13% and NZ First are steady on 7 %. Consumer confidence plummets 9% points to just 36%.

Doledrums

Written By: - Date published: 10:08 am, July 18th, 2015 - 33 comments

C’mon people, sing along!

‘The benefit arrives and life goes on, the benefit arrives and life goes on …’

National have failed and they have no idea what to do about it. But I do.

Election now, please.

An Open Letter to the Real Estate Whistleblower

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, July 16th, 2015 - 375 comments

We don’t know who the real estate whistleblower is, but we do know they have done New Zealand a significant service. Courage takes many forms, but risking your career to alert your country to a hidden crisis should be recognised for the bravery it is. Thank you, you’ve done us proud.

Parnell Ponzi; When are National going to Act on Housing?

Written By: - Date published: 9:22 am, July 15th, 2015 - 176 comments

National need to act now to end the housing crisis. The market has failed and doing nothing is going to blight the future of Kiwis. The answer is easy. End speculation, build houses. But do National have the guts to do the right thing?

We Have aGreekment!

Written By: - Date published: 8:02 pm, July 13th, 2015 - 124 comments

A deal has been struck for Greece. No Grexit, this time.

Twyford Responds

Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, July 13th, 2015 - 325 comments

Labour’s Housing Spokesperson Phil Twyford responds to accusations of racism and points to the way forward. The Labour Party will limit foreign speculation, build affordable houses and replenish the State Housing stock.

China Crisis

Written By: - Date published: 12:43 pm, July 12th, 2015 - 199 comments

Good on Labour for saying what needed to be said. Can they, the Greens and NZ First save the next generation of Kiwis from being tenants in our own land?

Includes Bonus Seinfeld reference!

Blood on the Tracks

Written By: - Date published: 10:27 am, July 10th, 2015 - 127 comments

Bill English’s budget has thrown a two year lifeline to Kiwirail. But it’s not nearly enough and its hopelessly shortsighted. Rail isn’t a cost, it’s a benefit. What’s needed is investment and planning, not slash and burn.

Common People; Yanis Varoufakis is all Class.

Written By: - Date published: 11:21 am, July 7th, 2015 - 81 comments

The Greek Finance minister has unexpectedly quit. He had already said he would resign if the referendum was lost; nobody expected that he would go after such a stunning win. But it was the strategically correct thing to do. Why can’t some of the veterans in the NZ Labour Party take the hint?