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- David Farrar (95)
- dpf (194)
Not PC on John Key’s lies
Written By: - Date published: 2:57 pm, October 12th, 2011 - 17 comments
Trenchant criticism of the beleaguered PM today from an unusual source. Well worth clicking through to read the whole post, here’s the main points…
Let the courts decide
Written By: - Date published: 9:46 am, October 11th, 2011 - 59 comments
The threat of invoking defamation is a standard tactic to intimidate those who can’t afford the legals bills to shut their mouths. Such threats are sometimes known as strategic lawsuits against public participation or SLAPPS. My understanding of Lange v. Atkinson (2000) and the qualified privilege afforded to political commentary that it enshrines, suggests there is no way […]
The right’s weird obsession with Darien Fenton
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 pm, October 3rd, 2011 - 261 comments
Darien Fenton makes a mean comment about a celebrity butcher on facebook and then apologises for it and offers to shout him a drink to make up for it.
No big deal? Well according to some hysterical righties that makes Fenton worse than Hitler.
Diverse hypocrites
Written By: - Date published: 7:22 am, September 7th, 2011 - 69 comments
National is the party of middle aged white guys, but according to their chief spinster we shouldn’t care…
Farrar: Ironically being political and shallow
Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, September 4th, 2011 - 66 comments
Reading the political spin from David Farrar (channeling Bill English) over the weekend, I have to keep reminding myself that he really has very little idea about the practicalities of business. Where he is concerned about political costs, I find from a perspective of an exporter that I’m far more concerned about reliability of services.
Worlds apart
Written By: - Date published: 12:10 pm, September 1st, 2011 - 47 comments
Spotted in an English pub. Check out the artist’s name.
The new political battleground
Written By: - Date published: 9:12 am, August 30th, 2011 - 23 comments
Rijab looks at how social media can be a useful tool for political parties but how it also needs to be used carefully, lest it come back to hurt you. Red Alert and Frogblog are very free, with MPs writing what they want and relatively loose moderation, whereas NationalMPs is insipid and tightly controlled – who has taken the smarter course?
In search of a justification
Written By: - Date published: 7:40 am, August 12th, 2011 - 122 comments
Farrar and others of the Right push for ever lower taxes, but their arguments are laughably flimsy. Tax cuts don’t raise revenue. Tax cuts don’t cause growth. In search of their “superior moral justification for selfishness” the Right are going to have to do a lot better than that…
The answer to violence
Written By: - Date published: 8:08 am, July 25th, 2011 - 71 comments
The tragic events in Norway raise many questions, and there are no easy answers.
Yet more dodgy Nat numbers
Written By: - Date published: 6:56 pm, July 18th, 2011 - 61 comments
If you’re a blogosphere regular, you’ll have noticed that recently every monkey with a copy of the Fountainhead and a crush on John Key has been spouting the line that the top 10% of taxpayers pay 71% of net tax. Sounds incredible, eh? That’s because it’s not credible. It’s more cheap tricks from the Nats.
Distasteful
Written By: - Date published: 10:40 am, July 16th, 2011 - 47 comments
DPF thinks that comparing Lockwood Smith to a KKK member is “a pretty disgusting smear”. Could this be the same DPF who ran a billboard campaign comparing Labour government politicians to brutal dictators?
Cleaning up Kiwiblog
Written By: - Date published: 3:28 pm, July 8th, 2011 - 43 comments
It’s a tough job, but somebody has got to do it…
Why blog?
Written By: - Date published: 12:04 pm, June 18th, 2011 - 59 comments
In which r0b ponders why he blogs, and decides to come out. Very boring and predictable, I promise.
Scaremongering on credit cards
Written By: - Date published: 7:22 am, June 16th, 2011 - 100 comments
The Nats’ blogging poodles are still trying to spread disinformation about credit card details (we have the proof). Are they just stupid, or do they know they’re spreading lies? Either way it amounts to the same thing, they are deliberately trying to upset innocent members of the public. The usual scummy tactics.
The silence of the poodles
Written By: - Date published: 8:31 am, June 15th, 2011 - 87 comments
National’s first dirty tricks operation of the 2011 election campaign has ended in an embarrassing own goal. But they’ll be back with more of the same. Because the last thing National wants is an election campaign focused on the issues.
Blown up in National’s faces
Written By: - Date published: 6:26 am, June 14th, 2011 - 385 comments
National’s raid on Labour donor data was a grubby, amoral little operation, with no point except to intimidate innocent individuals.
Unfortunately for the Nats it has blown up in their faces.
Thank you donors!
Written By: - Date published: 7:34 am, June 13th, 2011 - 126 comments
At 9am today Slater is probably going to publish a list of some of the donors to the Labour Party. A big thank you to every person on that list! To anyone who is angry at being named, please don’t blame some hapless web admin working for Labour. Please blame the people who took this information and illegally made it public.
Blame Goff?
Written By: - Date published: 4:14 pm, June 10th, 2011 - 61 comments
There are far more similarities than differences in the Hughes / Goff and Worth / Key affairs, but that doesn’t stop the Right trying to rewrite history and blame Goff!
How close is too close?
Written By: - Date published: 7:20 am, June 3rd, 2011 - 54 comments
How close should corporate interests be allowed to cuddle up to the government? When is a gift not a gift? If it isn’t influence what is it?
The Greens have raised important questions surrounding Westpac and the Nats.
The Jackel’s week that was
Written By: - Date published: 1:42 pm, May 29th, 2011 - 10 comments
Radioactive elements detected in breast milk due to Fukushima crisis, Ratko Mladic arrested, oil drilling protests here and abroad, tax breaks for rugby organisations (aren’t we already paying for their World Cup?), and Kiwisaver cuts that start this year with no mandate – all in the Jacke’s week that was
Jackel’s week that was
Written By: - Date published: 8:11 pm, May 14th, 2011 - 2 comments
This week in The Jackel’s week that was: deepsea oil protests continue, Prince Charles against business as usual, child poverty, Libya, bees, onshore oil protests, US flooding, Nats prepare for cuts as we pay for their mistakes, ACC’s hardline savings come at a price, Wikileaks, and more!
War Nerd on Al Qaeda
Written By: - Date published: 11:10 am, May 3rd, 2011 - 13 comments
The best US blog is eXiledonline. They’ve done huge work to expose the Tea Party and its shady backers. Their insight into the class issues underlying economic crisis both raw and diamond-sharp. And one of their writers, Gary Brecher aka the War Nerd, covers conflicts with eyes wide open. Here’s his take on Al Qaeda, coincidentally written last week:
Farrar in an act of pure vanity…
Written By: - Date published: 12:57 pm, May 1st, 2011 - 64 comments
In an act of pure vanity, David Farrar is whining about the a by-election that will probably be held in July – less than three months before the House dissolves for the election. Farrar even points out the relevant law Parliament can only resolve not to have a by-election if the resignation occurs within six […]
What is important to voters?
Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, April 23rd, 2011 - 52 comments
DPF reckons “that issues of policy are less important to voters than issues of competence”. What an impoverished view of democracy! Perhaps he should look a little deeper than last week’s poll…
Whambulance needed for P North Nats
Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, April 16th, 2011 - 23 comments
National’s Palmerston North candidate, Leonie Hapeta, is having a cry because the Labour MP, Iain Lees-Galloway, and supporters had an anti-asset sales demonstration that happened to be outside her hotel. It’s one thing for a n00b like Hapeta to cry about politics but surprising that Farwhaa and Wail-oil joined her.
Welcome to the Stroppery
Written By: - Date published: 11:31 am, April 16th, 2011 - 18 comments
The brilliant haranguer and occasional guest poster here Queen of Thorns and a few of her mates have launched a new blog, The Stroppery.
It looks like it’ll be a bloody good read.
Elitist Nats divorced from everyday Kiwis
Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, April 15th, 2011 - 49 comments
National pollster David Farrar reckons that its sweet for the elite to spend $100 a head on meals at the taxpayer’s expense. Same time as he’s sneering at a woman struggling to get by feeding four people on $200 a week. This is National’s New Zealand. The best for the elite. Cat food for the rest.
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?
Some free advice for National
Written By: - Date published: 10:59 am, March 9th, 2011 - 20 comments
Hey National – stop lying and inventing dodgy stats to try and prove that we’re all better off. The tax cut received by most people was derisory, and the cost of living is shooting up fast. Even the Kiwiblog heartland isn’t buying the lies. If you can’t convince them, you can’t convince anyone…
Farrar fluffs food figures
Written By: - Date published: 11:28 am, March 7th, 2011 - 51 comments
I thought that with a devastating earthquake, a record oil/food price spike, an unemployment tsunami, and a double-dip recession that the Nats’ apologists might have realised it was time for honest discussion of the issues and solutions. Instead, they’re still trying to bury our heads in the sand.
Truly Stranded
Written By: - Date published: 11:30 am, March 4th, 2011 - 21 comments
One of the names that the self-inflated blogs who consider themselves to be the “taste police” give us is the unimaginative juvenile name of The Stranded. Typically this is when they are writing a silly post trying to tell us why we should think like them (I guess everyone is entitled to a unrealistic dream). Anyway I thought I’d give them some real bad taste to moan about in a Friday Fun post (warning – written in the Cactus Kate style).
- Submissions Open For The Gambling (Definition Of Remote Interactive Gambling) Amendment Bill
The Gambling (Definition of Remote Interactive Gambling) Amendment Bill, as introduced, would amend the Gambling Act 2003 to permanently exempt class 3 gambling in the form of a lottery from the prohibition on remote interactive gambling, allowing it to ...2 weeks ago - Government Shows Little Understanding Of Climate Change
TRAC National Coordinator Niall Robertson says that this line could be built a lot quicker and connect with the rebuilt NAL taking thousands of road damaging trucks off SH1, improving road safety, reducing carbon emissions and polluting particulate. ...2 weeks ago
- Order In Council Rarely Appropriate For Firearms Law
COLFO strongly encourages Governments to use the full legislative process, including public consultation with vulnerable communities, for significant changes, to create enduring firearms laws that increase public safety. ...2 weeks ago
- Global Indigenous Leaders Condemn New Zealand Government Treatment Of Māori
Global Indigenous leaders and environmentalists condemn New Zealand's Treaty Principles Bill as a significant affront to Māori rights and democratic processes, urging government respect for Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ...2 weeks ago
- NZCTU Slams Govt For Failing Mill Workers
NZCTU criticises the Government for neglecting to save 300 jobs in Ruapehu after Winstone Pulp International's mill closures, highlighting regional economic impacts and the need for proactive support. ...2 weeks ago
- Closure Of Winstone Pulp International Shows Need For Urgent Change In Electricity Market
Octopus Energy's COO warns that New Zealand's prolonged high electricity prices necessitate urgent regulatory changes for increased market competition and improved investment. ...2 weeks ago
- Wadestown Residents Reject Wadestown Connections Proposal
Wadestown residents firmly oppose Wellington City Council's proposed cycle lanes and parking management changes, demanding a comprehensive re-evaluation that prioritises community input. ...2 weeks ago
- BSA Report Bangs Drum For Censorship By Claiming Freedom Of Expression Causes ‘harm’, From Self-...
The BSA's report on harmful speech raises concerns about subjectivity and potential censorship of controversial views, according to Free Speech Union’s Chief Executive Jonathan Ayling. ...2 weeks ago
- IRD Betrays Taxpayers By Leaking Personal Information
Concerns arise over IRD allegedly sharing sensitive taxpayer data with tech giants, prompting calls for accountability and privacy protection from the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union. ...2 weeks ago
- 400 Christian Leaders Call On MPs To Vote Down The Treaty Principles Bill
Over 440 Christian leaders oppose the coalition's Treaty Principles Bill, asserting it undermines Te Tiriti o Waitangi's recognition of Māori rights and relationships with the Crown. ...2 weeks ago
- NZTA Commitment To Accessibility Questioned Following Block Of E-scooter Remote Piloting
Disability advocacy groups criticise NZTA’s decision to block Ario’s remote e-scooter reparking technology, arguing it undermines accessibility and safety in urban environments. ...2 weeks ago
- Metlink Spends More Than $1.3 Million On Seven Toilets
At an average cost of over $185,000 per toilet, it makes you wonder – are the seats made of gold? ...2 weeks ago
- MUNZ Back Struggle Of Australian Unions Against Anti-Union, Anti-worker Laws
The Maritime Union of New Zealand is federated with the Maritime Union of Australia, and the MUA and the wider CFMEU have our full support in their struggle. ...2 weeks ago
- Aotearoa’s Moral Crossroads – The True Cost Of Live Animal Exports
Defending Aotearoa's Moral Victory - The Fight to Preserve Our Live Export Ban ...2 weeks ago
- Two Prominent Free Speech Advocates To Tour New Zealand With Free Speech Union Before End Of The Yea...
We’re thrilled to announce that Distinguished Prof. Nigel Biggar (Oxford University) and Dr. Peter Boghossian (Portland State University) will both tour New Zealand with the Free Speech Union before the end of the year, says Nathan Seiuli, the Free Speech ...2 weeks ago
- Confirmed Candidates For 2024 TECT Trustee Election
Nominations for the 2024 trustee election for the TECT Community Trust closed at 12 noon, Wednesday 4 September. The following 9 nominations were received for the 3 vacancies on the Trust: ...2 weeks ago
- Footage Released By Greenpeace Reveals Damage In The Deep Ocean From Industrial Fishing
The compelling evidence emphasises how this precious ecosystem has been decimated by years of bottom trawling, which involves dragging heavy weighted fishing gear across the sea floor, destroying fragile communities that take thousands of years ...2 weeks ago
- Wellington City Council Taking Ratepayers For A Ride With $563k Bike Rack
“These latest figures on the costs of Wellington City Council’s latest bike rack have truly humbled the Taxpayer’s Union. Imagine a Council so incompetent it can make its previous $84k bike rack blowout look almost reasonable in comparison. ...2 weeks ago
- Save The Children Opposes Proposed Changes To Schools’ Legislated Objectives
Save the Children is extremely concerned the Government’s proposal to narrow the focus of schools’ legislated education objectives to prioritise achievement and remove references to children’s rights will have a detrimental impact on children ...2 weeks ago
- South Taranaki Proves Luxon Right
The New Zealand Taxpayers Union can reveal through the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act that South Taranaki District Council’s new cultural centre (Te Ramanui O Ruaputahanga) has blown out from a starting point of $8 million ...2 weeks ago
- Disturbing Data In Latest “Assisted Dying” Report
The latest review of assisted suicide / euthanasia was quietly released last month by the Ministry of Health – but it should sound significant and loud warning bells about the law, especially at a time when proponents want it to be liberalised even ...2 weeks ago
- Government Cuts To Pay Parity Don’t Help Children
All teachers deserve to be paid fairly. We have a shortage of qualified early childhood staff in Aotearoa and are already losing teachers overseas. Reducing pay and conditions for relief teachers won’t make that problem any better. ...2 weeks ago
- Common Sense (finally) Prevails With Pause On Freshwater Farm Plan Rollout
Federated Farmers says pressing pause on the rollout of freshwater farm plans until improvements can be made is a practical and pragmatic step from the Government. ...2 weeks ago
- Disabled People Invisible In Too Many Government Announcements
Too many government announcements affecting disabled people don’t even mention disabled people, leaving the community googling for answers, and feeling forgotten or invisible. ...2 weeks ago
- Canterbury Bridge Blowing Out $13.5 Million Budget With Nothing To Show For It
Despite Kaikōura District Council’s project to rebuild the Waiau Toa/Clarence River Glen Alton bridge after the Kaikōura earthquake being eight years deep, the Council have still not even managed to gain the appropriate resource consents or ...2 weeks ago
- Misogyny Behind Attacks On Women’s Rights Campaigners And Women Politicians, The Women’s...
A man who threw what turned out to be tomato juice at UK women’s rights advocate Kellie-Jay Keen and Tania Sturt, an organiser of the “Let Women Speak” event in Auckland’s Albert Park on 25 March last year, has been convicted of assault ...2 weeks ago
- Panel Discussion Featuring Global Experts Will Raise Awareness About Apartheid Against Women In Iran...
The panellists will speak about the importance of formal recognition of gender apartheid, give background as to the situation of women and girls in Iran and Afghanistan and outline a way forward towards greater equality and basic rights for all. ...2 weeks ago
- Catholic Church Abuse Survivors Respond To Death Of Bishop Denis Browne
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) in Oceania calls on the current bishops of Hamilton, Auckland, and Rarotonga, and all church leaders, to not follow in Bishop Browne’s negligent ways, and instead, support the abused in their dioceses ...2 weeks ago
- Disappointment By Court’s Decision For No Maximum Water Intake For Griffin Creek
The Court of Appeal recently ruled that the Griffin Creek hydro scheme concession, issued by DOC in 2011, contains no maximum water take. It is now possible that a bigger scheme could be built on Griffin Creek than had originally been proposed. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt Cuts Mean Salvation Army Frontline Workers Face Axe
The change proposal covers workers in Auckland (Glenfield, Manukau, Royal Oak and Waitakere), Tauranga, Hamilton, Hutt City and Palmerston North. ...2 weeks ago
- Rail Cuts Set New Zealand Up For Failure
The government’s war on rail is setting New Zealand up for failure, says the Rail and Maritime Transport Union. ...2 weeks ago
- GPs Should Be Lining Up Around The Block, Too
“We shouldn’t see queues like that anywhere, let alone in a supposedly developed country like New Zealand,” says Dr Buzz Burrell, interim chair of General Practitioners Aotearoa (GPA). ...2 weeks ago
- IVL Increase Good For MBIE, Bad For The Economy
The Government looks to have cemented New Zealand as one of the most expensive countries in the world for a holiday today by increasing the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) to $100. ...2 weeks ago
- Greenpeace Slams Govt Decision To Expand Seabed Mining Permit Area
Greenpeace says it’s "unbelievable" that wannabe seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources has been given the go-ahead to nearly quadruple the size of the area it wants to mine in the South Taranaki Bight. ...2 weeks ago
- $100 IVL Will Dent New Zealand’s Global Competitiveness
Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) is very disappointed the industry’s cumulative voice hasn’t been heard, and is keen to see the government’s investment plan for the funds to be raised from the increase in the International Visitor Levy (IVL) ...2 weeks ago
- New Rail Deviations Needed To Improve Productivity
In light of the governments shopping list of roading projects, TRAC would like to draw attention to the governments total wilfully neglectful attitude to rail, climate change, pollution, road congestion and road safety. ...2 weeks ago
- Watchdog Report On Places Of Detention Highlights Ongoing Harm
The 2022/23 annual report by the National Preventive Mechanism on the Optional Protocol to the United Nation’s Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) has been tabled in Parliament (Friday, 3pm) ...2 weeks ago
- Local MP Opposes Greenwoods Car Park Removal
ACT Leader and MP for Epsom David Seymour has written to Auckland Transport and the Albert Eden Local Board in opposition to removing car parks from the West Side of Manukau Rd at Greenwoods Corner. ...2 weeks ago
- NRC Pleased To See RONS And RORS Funding Allocation
National Road Carriers Association (NRC) is pleased to see the Government’s announcements today allocating funding to Roads of National Significance (RONS) and Roads of Regional Significance (RORS). ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand Catholic Church Suppresses Abuse Report
Catholic Church leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand have refused to fully disclose an independent report on how they have handled abuse complaints. ...2 weeks ago
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