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More thoughts on the Labour-Greens Budget Responsibility Rules
Written By: - Date published: 8:39 am, March 25th, 2017 - 111 comments
The Labour-Green Budget Responsibility Rules announcement this week ought to dispel the notion that Labour and the Greens cannot work together.
Bloomberg warns world of New Zealand’s toxic trusts
Written By: - Date published: 7:56 am, February 12th, 2017 - 21 comments
Bloomberg magazine has highlighted how foreign trusts are damaging New Zealand’s reputation and are being used for criminal activity.
Foreign buyers estimated at 29%
Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, August 25th, 2016 - 75 comments
Most of the media has reported the Government’s “3%” spin on the extent of residential property purchases in NZ going to foreign buyers pretty uncritically. There have been honourable exceptions, and yesterday property editor Anne Gibson in The Herald joined them.
Financial capital is crazy OP. Time to strip it back to basics.
Written By: - Date published: 12:08 pm, August 8th, 2016 - 72 comments
Financial capital is way over powered in our current political economic system. Every aspect of our lives has been financialised and securitised, from our homes to our educations. From our drinking water to our power supply.
Key’s Blind Trust vs Our Blind Faith
Written By: - Date published: 4:19 pm, April 29th, 2016 - 29 comments
So Key’s lawyer reckons the PM directly requested that trust industry leaders lobby the Revenue Minister. On the other hand, PM DunnoKeyo reckons he did no such thing. That leaves some really big questions …
Key’s land tax – too weak
Written By: - Date published: 7:11 am, April 28th, 2016 - 76 comments
Reaction to Key’s land tax has been luke warm at best, with strong calls for more effective action. Labour is promising “a ‘tidal wave’ of big housing reforms”…
Key prepares to backflip on Auckland housing
Written By: - Date published: 8:18 am, April 26th, 2016 - 126 comments
John Key is preparing the ground for a reversal on National’s refusal to do anything about Auckland’s housing crisis.
The problem with free market capitalism
Written By: - Date published: 11:16 am, January 9th, 2016 - 248 comments
This morning’s Herald contains a story about a young man who with a family gift has managed to purchase eleven houses over the past five years and can afford to pay World of Warcraft all day.
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.
NRT: This is wrong
Written By: - Date published: 1:44 pm, July 13th, 2015 - 48 comments
“Auckland’s median house price rising a record 26 per cent to $755,000 over the past year..”. This is what a bubble looks like: when your house “earns” a top-end salary just by existing. And its a perfect example of why we need a capital gains tax.
Rushed policy is bad policy
Written By: - Date published: 7:10 am, May 19th, 2015 - 24 comments
National’s policy opens the door to more effective capital gains tax, thus irritating investors and their base, while probably not achieving anything in practice. The worst of both worlds. Bonus question – does this policy effectively underwrite losses when the property bubble bursts? Plus another bonus John Key lie!
Deborah Russell: Preliminary thoughts on the Government’s new tax
Written By: - Date published: 9:15 am, May 18th, 2015 - 46 comments
Deborah Russell is a senior lecturer in taxation at Massey University and was Labour’s candidate in Rangitīkei in the 2014 general election. In this post she sets out her preliminary views on National’s new tax.
CGT: the focus groups made Key do it
Written By: - Date published: 8:42 am, May 18th, 2015 - 37 comments
According to John Key the proposed tax on capital gains if a property is sold within two years of purchase is not a capital gains tax, there is no housing bubble in Auckland, and the proposed new tax does not represent a complete about face by the Government.
NRT: National’s hand-wringing on housing
Written By: - Date published: 4:12 pm, April 23rd, 2015 - 20 comments
Auckland house prices have exploded again. Houses get more capital gains than their inhabitants do in salaries. So what is the government doing about it? Nothing. They haven’t tried the economic basics.. Capital gains tax to decrease demand, or a building programme to increase supply. Meanwhile National’s landlord MPs laughing all the way to the bank…
Housing and capital gains tax
Written By: - Date published: 10:02 am, April 18th, 2015 - 89 comments
This week the Reserve Bank recommended adopting the Labour / Green capital gains tax, the National party denied and dithered, and Don Brash explained the truth about the property bubble.
(Image credit Foxy.)
Deborah Russell: does New Zealand actually have a capital gains tax?
Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, April 17th, 2015 - 61 comments
A guest post by Deborah Russell responding to Government claims that we already have a capital gains tax on the sale of land.
Thoughts from the crowd on Tuesday night’s debate
Written By: - Date published: 7:50 am, September 4th, 2014 - 51 comments
I was in the front row of the audience at the Press leader’s debate between David Cunliffe and John Key. While the media in Auckland and Wellington might have called it one way, the people in Christchurch were only presented with one leader who understands the issues in this city, and it wasn’t the Prime Minister.
Parker nails English on economic policy
Written By: - Date published: 2:25 pm, August 25th, 2014 - 32 comments
Labour has the bold set of policies to take New Zealand forward into the 21st century – National’s “same old same old” tinkering will see the Kiwi skiff swamped. That was the clear conclusion from the debate between David Parker and Bill English on National Radio this morning.
Polity: MSD dumps on National’s “net tax” nonsense
Written By: - Date published: 3:33 pm, July 10th, 2014 - 47 comments
Rob Salmond has been looking through the newly released Ministry of Social Development’s Household Incomes Report. It really is invaluable.
NRT: Who’d have thunk it?
Written By: - Date published: 2:23 pm, June 27th, 2014 - 60 comments
Capital gains tax is now accepted by a more people than who oppose it. But for a policy long considered a “third rail” of New Zealand politics, its a significant shift. It ought to put paid forever to the idea that parties must go with the flow of public opinion because they are unable to affect it. Weak parties are. But if Labour stops being scared of its own shadow and afraid of its left-wing heritage, it can actually change things, and build the majorities it needs to govern.
This is how it’s done
Written By: - Date published: 11:56 am, October 15th, 2013 - 37 comments
This morning Cunliffe shows how to front the media on current issues, and respond to journalists questions clearly and decisively while being informed on the issues. Questions about Kōhanga Reo National Trust, US government debt crisis, affordable housing, need better skills training, Euthanasia Bill.
Housing: the options, the new left narrative?
Written By: - Date published: 11:07 am, September 13th, 2013 - 75 comments
The response to Metiria Turei’s sttements about affordable housing on The Vote, raises questions about political narratives are told to the general electorate? The Greens, Mana and Cunliffe have stressed their “vision“. How to tell it so it reaches the hearts of New Zealanders?
Ode to Phil Twyford
Written By: - Date published: 6:08 am, June 6th, 2013 - 22 comments
I was impressed by Phil Twyford’s analysis of the Government’s housing policies announced in the budget. I thought his best point was that only this Government could announce a housing affordability policy with the eviction of 3000 state housing tenants as its centre piece!
It’s not us: it’s the big banks
Written By: - Date published: 10:01 am, April 29th, 2013 - 30 comments
MSM articles show the big Aussie banks are making record profits, Kiwis can save, and Adam Smith worshiping think tanks are not to be trusted. Cunliffe & Norman said it a while back – NAct policies and government spending cuts are not the answer.
Why Doug Heffernan wants you to keep paying too much for power
Written By: - Date published: 7:32 am, April 29th, 2013 - 49 comments
John Key has committed to giving up the National Party’s leadership if he loses the next election. That didn’t stop him from committing the next National Government from reversing NZ Power and putting up electricity prices whenever it comes to power . It got me thinking about the people who are so keen to kill NZ Power in its cradle and why. Today: MRP CEO Doug Heffernan.
Dumping on Dunne’s taxes
Written By: - Date published: 9:48 am, March 20th, 2013 - 13 comments
The Nats are in trouble with their budget deficits and looking to raise money via increased taxes. But they are tinkering at the edges of the problem, and were quick to chuck Peter Dunne under the bus when the latest proposals didn’t fly.
Akl Unitary Plan: the good, the bad & the debatable
Written By: - Date published: 10:44 am, March 17th, 2013 - 39 comments
The Draft Auckland Unitary Plan has much to commend it. It focuses on resource management, responds to the reality of climate change & aims for a more dense but ‘liveable’ city. It has weaknesses, embraces destructive “growth” and raises questions: e.g. about affordable housing & environmental management.
“Minister for Small Things”
Written By: - Date published: 9:37 am, March 1st, 2013 - 51 comments
Yesterday, David Cunliffe,on Peter Dunne’s Student Loan Amendment Bill, & the related inter-generational swindle, labelled Dunne as “Minister for Small Changes” & “for Small Things”. Dunne further showed his support of the “neoliberal” swindle, with a couple of tweets on non-residents buying NZ property, smearing the Greens as racist.
Hands on Labour
Written By: - Date published: 9:51 pm, August 16th, 2012 - 31 comments
Fresh ideas to grow a stronger manufacturing sector, on top of the major changes Labour has already signalled featured in a speech given today by David Parker to a union audience in Wellington. David Cunliffe was there too, and I particularly liked the discussion afterwards. The key players are receptive to good ideas and it looks like Labour will have a real alternative to offer at the next election.
CGT Now!
Written By: - Date published: 10:45 am, June 5th, 2012 - 32 comments
The “tradeable” sector is still shrinking. The property market is heating up again. We need a capital gains tax now.
House Price Inflation
Written By: - Date published: 10:58 am, May 6th, 2012 - 59 comments
Land prices rising much faster than wages. Shares, derivatives, hedge funds or other financial instruments are designed so that banks can gamble with our money. Win or lose they always get a cut. Loss comes out of our pensions and other savings. Or, if they really stuff it up, taxpayers are expected to borrow more from them to pay for it. Banks following their own self interest and are compounding economies to oblivion. The “invisible hand” has failed..
- 2017 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #33
A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook page during the past week. Editor's Pick July 2017 equaled record July 2016 A global map of the June 2017 LOTI (land-ocean temperature index) anomaly, relative to ...3 hours ago - We are beneficiaries: “It was hell then and it is still hell now”
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The Spinoff website recently carried two worthwhile retrospective articles looking at the impact of Nicky Hager’s book Dirty Politics. Read them if you’re interested via the links below. First, ‘Sunlight did what sunlight does: Nicky Hager on Dirty Politics, three ...14 hours ago - Who’s to blame for Barnaby Joyce?
14 hours ago - PM runs from equal pay
17 hours ago - Beyond the Beehive: Rodney
In episode three of Beyond the Beehive, our epic election road trip series, we ask: Will Rodney stay true blue for National? Beyond the Beehive is presented by Max Towle. Produced by Max Towle, John Lake and Lucy Smith. ...22 hours ago - Flashback Saturday: Snapper off the Menu?
This post by Cam Pitches originally appeared in August 2012. With integrated ticketing and integrated fares now completed, it’s interesting to remember how tortuous the process was. Brian Rudman writes in today’s Herald that Auckland Transport board members gather in ...23 hours ago - From TV’s “The Nation” – Patrick Gower and James Shaw have a heart-to-heart
. . Saturday, 12 August – On TV3’s ‘The Nation, Patrick Gower interviewed the Green Party’s remaining co-leader, James Shaw; . . For a while, the interview was low-key, with Gower exercising old school journalistic professionalism. It’s as if ...23 hours ago - PM confused over latest court action
24 hours ago - José Carlos Mariátegui book now available: History of the World Crisis and Other Writings
212 pages; softcover. Price: $20.00 USD (plus shipping: $5.00 US, $22.50 int’l); published by Marxists Internet Archive; ISBN: 978-0-692-88676-2 Orders: http://www.erythrospress.com/store/mariategui.html José Carlos Mariátegui (1894-1930), the founder and director of the seminal journal Amauta and of the Peruvian Socialist Party, is regarded ...1 day ago - Problems For Oil
The importance of oil should not be underestimated as an energy source – and a pollutant. Almost every form of transport is dependent on it and its refined products and the present economy would not have been created without it. ...1 day ago - Suing for justice
In August 2010, NZ SAS soldiers murdered six civilians in a revenge raid in Afghanistan. When the raid was exposed, the government denied everything and refused to investigate. But now, their victims are going to court to force an inquiry:The ...2 days ago - Weekly Reading: Best longreads on the web
Our weekly recap highlighting the best feature stories from around the internet Neo Nazis, Alt-Right, and White Supremacists march in Charlottesville, Virginia. Photo: AFP The New Uniform of White Supremacy, by Cam Wolf, GQ “A weekend that ...2 days ago - The Jacinda Files (1)(Jacinda illustrations from John Moore facebook page) Jacinda – Labour’s most pleasant leader Jacinda redefines fairness Jacinda’s aspirational fluff Jacinda’s plan of hitting workers with more indirect tax Jacinda’s party ...2 days ago
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Winston Peters has sued AM Show presenter, former Black Cap opener, and general larrikin Mark Richardson for defamation. The NZ Herald summarises the offending statements: Richardson said Peters was a “political predator” and took advantage of civil unrest to grandstand, attaching ...2 days ago - Weaponised nicenessThe citizenship insanity continues in Australia, with National deputy leader Fiona Nash admitting that she is a British citizen. Unlike other Senators who have found themselves in this situation, she has neither resigned, nor stood aside - and seems to ...2 days ago
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I confess, it had escaped me that there had not been a Disasteradio album for seven years. It's not as if Luke Rowell had been idle: he's made a bunch of records as his alter-ego Eyeliner in that time. But ...2 days ago - What to know what’s happening in Charlottesville?Do yourself a favour and watch this. ...2 days ago
- Kiwi petition ignored by National
2 days ago - Don’t You Dare, Jacinda Ardern! Don’t You Dare!
2 days ago - In the Name of God, Go!
As storm clouds gathered over Europe in 1938, Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, went to Munich where he believed that he had obtained undertakings from Hitler to the effect that Germany would not launch further attacks on its neighbours. ...2 days ago - 2017 Rail Station Boardings
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2 days ago - Beyond the Beehive: Kaikohe / WhangareiIn the lead-up to the election, journalist Max Towle is on an epic road trip taking the political pulse of young New Zealanders. The Whangarei electorate has been a safe National seat. Is that about to change? Beyond the ...2 days ago
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- Metiria Turei has started something. . When Metiria Turei announced her resignation as co-leader of the Green Party, on the afternoon of 9 August, it could be said that the bullies had won. The reactionary media pack – led chiefly by so-called “journalists” ...2 days ago
- National would tax water as well
3 days ago - Change happens when we stand together
Tertiary Update Election Edition Vol 1 No 1 Together we have stopped National’s attempt to change the law to funnel public money to private tertiary education. Over the past few months, nearly 5,000 people have joined our campaign to keep tertiary education ...3 days ago - Your university, pay and the living wageDr. Wayne Linklater, co-president of the Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) branch of the Tertiary Education Union, discusses how paying the Living Wage would help advance the values of public institutions like VUW. Universities are the engine of progress. They train ...3 days ago
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- Our own memorial problemThis week we've all been made aware of the problem of the USA commemorating the leaders of the racist, slave-owning Confederacy with public monuments. Meanwhile, there's a similar problem in New Zealand. Via Twitter, I was pointed at a map ...3 days ago
- No protection for whistleblowers in NZThere's been some debate about the need for increased whistleblower protection in New Zealand. And today, we have a perfect example of why it is needed: because the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki has just got the Employment Relations ...3 days ago
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As the finger wagging continues both here and over the ditch about Australian MP Barnaby Joyce being outed as a New Zealand citizen (oh the horror!) it's probably work pointing out just how bad our political relationship with our closest ...3 days ago - Voter Motivators 2017: Water.
3 days ago - Are we all anti-fascist now?
US neo-Nazis and fascists supporters march in Charoltsvill, USA. Image credit: Alejandro Alvarez/News2Share via Reuters Wouldn’t that be nice? What if the current almost universal condemnation of fascism by the main stream media and social media commenters were genuine.? That it represents an ...3 days ago - Beyond the Beehive: The Far NorthIn the lead-up to the election, journalist Max Towle is on an epic road trip taking the political pulse of young New Zealanders. Drugs, jobs and housing are on the minds of people in the Far North. Beyond ...3 days ago
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- The Real Reason for Housing UnaffordabilityThe news that the number of houses being sold is falling and that prices are rising more slowly has been greeted in some quarters with responses that are – sadly – all too predictable. The consensus is that these shifts ...4 days ago
- Renting in New Zealand (and what politicians are promising to change)
As politicians talk up their housing policies ahead of the election, renters share stories of stress, illness and why the current system doesn’t work. Photo: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Jared Kelly / Flickr Cleaning the house of mould and ...4 days ago - National fails miserably on housing
I don’t know about you, but I’m not very happy with all the homeless people wandering the streets and sleeping rough in the cold, some of whom are dying on park benches. But instead of blaming the victims, I think ...4 days ago - Check this outThe Spinoff has a terrific tool that lets you see and compare the leading parties’ election policies. You can tick your favourites and then see which way you lean based on your policy choices. It is beautifully done. It almost ...4 days ago
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- “Let’s Tax This?” – “Hell, Yeah!”
4 days ago - Barnaby Joyce – Asshole of the Week
4 days ago - Letters from America, take three: a scab got picked.Donald Trump picked a scab during his campaign for the presidency and now the puss is draining out. It will be a while before the wound is cleansed. The puss is racism, xenophobia and bigotry. When I left the US ...4 days ago
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Timing is just so important in politics, as in so much of life. Plenty of able people don't have the luck – or planning – to be in the right place at the right time. But right now, timing may ...4 days ago - Pouring gasoline on the housing fire
Yesterday, Prime Minister Bill English announced that he would encourage the Reserve Bank to remove the loan to value ratio (LVR) rules that it put in place to take the heat out of rising house prices. As reported in Newsroom: ...4 days ago - Inferno VII: The circle of capitalists
"Pape Satàn, pape Satàn aleppe!" If these words ever meant anything in any language, or were otherwise intelligible to the contemporaries of Dante Alighieri, that meaning is lost. What’s left to us is the beginning of a curse, or a ...4 days ago - Gordon Campbell on why Labour isn’t responsible for Barnaby Joyce
First published on Werewolf As a desperate Turnbull government tries to treat the Barnaby Joyce affair as a Pauline Hanson fever dream – blame it on the foreigners! We’re the victims of the dastardly New Zealand Labour Party! – our ...4 days ago - Media Release: TIME TO TURN UP THE PRESSURE ON CANDIDATESFor Immediate Release Tuesday 15 August 2017 TIME TO TURN UP THE PRESSURE ON CANDIDATES Polls are showing that inequality is a top voter concern (Roy-Morgan and UMR Polls). The income equality group Closing the Gap is urging New Zealanders ...4 days ago
- Ardern stands up for kiwisToday politics seems to be dominated by Australian ridiculousness, after the Australian government blamed Chris Hipkins (rather than hard-working Australian journalists) for exposing Barnaby Joyce as a New Zealand citizen, and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop interfering in our election ...5 days ago
- Editors put the boot into National
5 days ago - Civil Disobedience Against Big IrrigationConstruction has started on huge irrigation schemes in Canterbury. When they start working, it’s going to be disastrous for our rivers - most of which are already struggling. More irrigation means more cows and that means more pollution.A few weeks ...5 days ago
- Climate change: The Cullen fund divestsClimate change is now undeniable, and if we are to survive it, the fossil fuel industry has to die. And now the Cullen Fund has recognised that fact, and started divesting its risk:The New Zealand Superannuation Fund has sold shares ...5 days ago
- Dirty farmersSurprise, surprise - Waikato's dairy farmers are failing to comply with their resource consents:The Waikato Regional Council says dairy farm effluent compliance rates are heading in the right direction despite less than one quarter of farms monitored last year deemed ...5 days ago
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It’s often amazing to see the ill-conceived political arguments that make it to print in New Zealand sometimes. Perhaps one of the least canvassed areas of voting preference is that of religious beliefs, and where those beliefs coincide with a ...5 days ago - “As soon as reasonably practicable”
The Official Information Act requires agencies to decide on requests "as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case not later than 20 working days after the day on which the request is received". But over the decades that the ...5 days ago - Wijkontsluitingsweg
This is another post about my recent trip to the Netherlands. The Netherlands has a standard road classification system with ideally three types of roads: flow roads (motorways), distribution roads (arterials), and local roads (residential roads). This system does not ...5 days ago - Eyewitness report from Charlottesville by Redneck RevoltREPORTBACK: CHARLOTTESVILLE: August 13, 2017 by Redneck Revolt members The situation on the ground in Charlottesville, Virginia, is still developing and unstable, but a few of our Redneck Revolt members on the ground took some time to provide the ...5 days ago
- Government must apologise over rebuild debacle
The Prime Minister owes the public of Otago and Southland an apology and then he must come up with an unredacted copy of the business case for the Dunedin hospital rebuild, says Labour’s Health spokesperson David Clark. "For too long the interests of ...2 days ago - Government caves to multi-national tax avoiders in the shadowsNews that the Government has secretly caved in to the demands of multi-national tax avoiders come as no surprise, but will disappoint Kiwi taxpayers, says Labour’s spokesman for Revenue Michael Wood. “It has been revealed that a United States ...3 days ago
- Cheaper to stay at The Langham than emergency housing motelsLabour’s comprehensive plan to fix the housing crisis and ensure there’s enough state housing, means we won’t be paying through the nose for emergency accommodation like the current Government has to, says Labour’s Social Development spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni. “National has ...3 days ago
- Government must come clean on waterNews that the National Government is secretly working behind closed doors on its own water charging schemes shows their utter hypocrisy on this issue, says Labour’s water spokesperson David Parker. “They have been carping on about Labour’s plan for ...3 days ago
- Government pays twice the price for emergency housing motels – with two more on the wayUnder Labour’s plan to build at least 1000 state houses each year, New Zealand wouldn’t be paying more than double the valuations for motels to house Kiwis needing emergency housing, says Labour’s Social Development spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni. “Under questioning today, ...4 days ago
- HAM shows country needs Labour on housingThe latest Housing Affordability Measure report shows affordability dramatically worsening for Auckland first home buyers, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...4 days ago
- Canterbury kids get more support for mental healthChildren in Canterbury and Kaikoura will get dedicated mental health support to help them overcome the trauma of the earthquakes, says the Leader of the Opposition Jacinda Ardern. “We’ll fund an extra eighty mental health professionals for the next three ...4 days ago
- Statement on Julie Bishop’s commentsIt is highly regrettable that the Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has chosen to make false claims about the New Zealand Labour Party. I have been utterly transparent about this situation. I stand by my statements this morning that I ...5 days ago
- Labour stands with Pike familiesA Labour Government will stand with the families of Pike River and reaffirm its commitment to safe workplaces by ensuring there will be a Minister responsible for Pike River, says Leader of the Opposition Jacinda Ardern. “The Pike River disaster ...5 days ago
- Yes to Sallies – Labour will build more state housesThe Salvation Army’s latest report ‘Taking Stock’ shows why New Zealand needs a Labour-led Government committed to a massive house building programme, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. “When the Sallies say the country needs 2000 extra state houses a ...5 days ago
- New Zealanders deserve better than scaremongering over waterNew Zealanders need to hear from National about how they will fund the clean-up of our rivers and lakes for future generations. Instead, National has broadened its scare-mongering, says Labour’s Water spokesperson David Parker. ...6 days ago
- School Leavers’ Toolkit to equip young people for adult lifeLabour will give school leavers the practical skills and knowledge they need for adult life with a new School Leavers’ Toolkit, says Leader of the Opposition Jacinda Ardern. “Our teachers and schools do a great job of teaching our children ...6 days ago
- Pay equity to be a priority for LabourLabour will make sure that the country’s mental health workers are a priority when it comes to pay equity negotiations, says the Leader of the Opposition Jacinda Ardern. “It is very important for me to right the wrong created ...1 week ago
- Labour’s positive education planToday’s announcement on learning support is more tinkering and proof that only a Labour Government will deliver the resources that schools and parents are crying out for, says Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins. “We have a positive vision for a ...1 week ago
- Pike footage raises questions over government’s actionsThe Government’s seeming determination to turn a blind eye to new questions about what happened at Pike River Mine is troubling, says Labour’s West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O’Connor. ...1 week ago
- Solution to rent rises lies in building houses and stopping speculatorsThe spread of rental increases from the big cities to the surrounding regions shows why we need to get on top of the housing shortage build homes our families can afford, and lock out the speculators, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson ...1 week ago
- Clean rivers don’t cost $18 a cabbageNational is falling into a bad pattern of promising the world and not saying how they will fund it, says Labour’s Water spokesperson David Parker. ...1 week ago
- Time for honest answer on transport fundingNational needs to explain how they will fund the $6 billion funding gap in their 10-year Auckland transport plan, says Labour’s Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...1 week ago
- Time for true numbers on overseas speculatorsIt’s time for the Government to give accurate figures on the number of houses being bought by overseas speculators, says Labour’s Land Information spokesperson Raymond Huo. ...1 week ago
- Fair and sustainable trade: A Green Party vision for New Zealand’s trading relationships
Trade is a cornerstone of the New Zealand economy. It provides us with the things we want and need, and enables us to pay for those with exports that generate business opportunities and jobs. However, it should be recognised that ...1 week ago - Clean rivers for future generationsLabour will lead a nationwide effort to restore our rivers and lakes to a clean, swimmable state, says Leader of the Opposition Jacinda Ardern. ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand really can do better on healthLabour’s commitment to affordable access to high quality healthcare will provide a better service for New Zealanders than the current Health Minister, who will not apologise for statements that he made that wrongly criticised hard-working staff in the Southern DHB’s ...2 weeks ago
- Labour’s plan the answer to motorway chaosLabour’s plan to build a light rail network and improve heavy rail and bus services across Auckland is the only answer to the kind of motorway congestion Aucklanders endured this morning, says Labour Transport spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...2 weeks ago
- Labour to build rail to Auckland AirportA world class city needs a rail connection from the CBD to its international airport – that’s why Labour will build light rail to Auckland Airport as a priority, says Leader of the Opposition Jacinda Ardern. “Let’s get Auckland moving ...2 weeks ago
- Is pay equity just too hard for this Govt?You are hard pressed these days to find someone that openly admits their misogyny, that men should still be paid more than women. Politicians proclaim that they want to see women paid more, but do their actions back it up? ...2 weeks ago
- Labour’s commitment to our Rainbow nationThe Labour Party has reaffirmed its commitment to New Zealand’s rainbow community with its 2017 Rainbow policy, featuring the goal to end HIV in New Zealand by 2025. Grant Robertson says Labour continues a long and proud tradition of advocating ...2 weeks ago
- Labour’s vision for Auckland more than reheated roadsLabour is more ambitious for Auckland than the reheated set of transport projects proposed by National, says Labour’s Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...2 weeks ago
- Waiting urology patients are the tip of the icebergThe 10 patients waiting for urology surgery at Dunedin Hospital are just the tip of the iceberg, says Labour’s Health spokesperson David Clark. "Hundreds of patients are waiting for follow-up appointments, but they are not deemed serious enough to be ...2 weeks ago
- Maori Landowners Misled by Maori PartyMāori landowners are being misled by Government hui being held throughout the country promoting the troubled Māori Land Service (MLS), which underpins the Crown’s unpopular Ture Whenua reforms, says Labour’s Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri. ...2 weeks ago
- Government’s Johnny-come-lately approach to multinational tax won’t washIt’s a case of baby steps for a Government that still allows multinational companies to avoid paying their fair share of tax, says Labour’s Revenue spokesperson Michael Wood. “After nine years in government, five years after the issue of multinational ...2 weeks ago
- Auckland congestion up there with the world’s worstTraffic congestion is costing Auckland up to $2 billion in lost productivity according to the latest report from the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, says Labour’s Transport spokesperson Michael Wood. “This is a disaster and underlines the need for ...3 weeks ago
- Experience in Youth Parliament 2016
Being a Member of Youth Parliament was an unexpected, but fabulous opportunity for me. It provided me a way to connect with other young people who have some things in common, and to learn what it is like to be ...3 weeks ago - Labour backs renters’ call for warm, healthy homes80 per cent of renters wish their home was warmer and drier, and that’s what Labour will deliver, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...3 weeks ago
- We can – and must – do better for Kiwi jobsLabour has the plan to get more young New Zealanders into jobs and tackle concerns raised in the latest statistics which show an extra 3000 young Kiwis are neither earning or learning compared to the same time last year, says ...3 weeks ago
- Statement from Jacinda Ardern, Leader of the New Zealand Labour PartyI want to start by giving my thanks to Andrew. His announcement today and the situation we have found ourselves in is not what anyone expected or wanted In my time working with Andrew I know one thing to be ...3 weeks ago
- Support for cannabis law reform remains high
Public support for cannabis law reform is as strong as ever, a new poll conducted for the NZ Drug Foundation shows. The Drug Foundation is urging political parties to make firm commitments to health-focused drug law during this election campaign. ...11 hours ago - Flawed Public Private Partnership model“A new public hospital for Dunedin is long overdue and very welcome but it needs to be fully funded by the Government instead of allowing private investors to profit at the expense of patient care,” says Ian Powell, Executive Director ...11 hours ago
- Horticulture New Zealand also threatened on water taxFarmers in Ashburton are not the only group that has been threatened by Labour over its water tax, Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman says. ...17 hours ago
- On The Nation: Housing DebateA Salvation Army report says 2,000-2,500 new social houses are needed every year just to keep pace with demand. Neither National nor Labour will commit to that figure - Phil Twyford says Labour will build enough social houses to have ...18 hours ago
- Māori Party Housing Strategy brings HOPE for Pasefika AigaMāori Party Housing Strategy brings HOPE for Pasefika Aiga to Own a Home. A Pasefika Perspective ‘Pasefika and Māori aiga and whānau have the lowest rates of home ownership; the highest rates of homelessness; and the highest rates of poverty’… ...18 hours ago
- The Nation: Patrick Gower interviews Martin O’MalleyOn The Nation: Patrick Gower interviews Martin O'Malley Patrick Gower: OK, welcome back. Well, racism is well and truly back on the political agenda in the United States of America, with President Donald Trump roundly criticised this week for his ...18 hours ago
- MPs Want Birth Certificates Based on Feelings, Not BiologyFamily First NZ says that politicians have deemed birth certificates meaningless as a result of a decision by the Government Administration select committee to recommend that birth certificates be based on the choice of the person. “By choosing your ...18 hours ago
- Protest at Prime Minister’s Dunedin Hospital visitYesWeCare.nz Press release for immediate release Saturday 19 August 930am Protest at Prime Minister’s Dunedin Hospital visit 100 life-sized cut-outs of missing health workers will greet Prime Minister Bill English and Health Minister Jonathan Coleman ...19 hours ago
- Dotcom and others at Internet Party #AntiSpyBill EventAcclaimed CIA torture whistleblower John Kiriakou and other special guests will join tech entrepreneur and Internet Party founder Kim Dotcom on the panel of the next #AntiSpyBill live event this Sunday night. ...1 day ago
- Roy Morgan Poll July 31 to Aug 13Jacinda Ardern’s ascension to leadership revitalises Labour, up 2% to 32.5%; Turei scandal costs Greens support, down 4.5% to 9% ...1 day ago
- Seven years of National Standards and nothing to show18 August 2017 National Standards should be scrapped because results released today show that they make no difference to student achievement, NZEI Te Riu Roa says. ...2 days ago
- National Government Wimps Out to Giant MultinationalsRt Hon Winston Peters New Zealand First Leader Member of Parliament for Northland 18 AUGUST 2017 National Government Wimps Out to Giant Multinationals ...2 days ago
- Protect Hawke’s Bay’s Ngaruroro RiverThe clock is ticking for New Zealanders wanting to ensure Hawkes Bay’s Ngaruroro and Clive Rivers are protected by a rarely-issued Water Conservation Order. ...2 days ago
- Eliminating Child Poverty in NorthlandChild Poverty Action Group in Whangarei are hosting a political forum next Wednesday 23 August, to hear from local candidates standing in the Whangarei General Electorate, Northland General Electorate and Tai Tokerau Maori Electorate, about their vision ...2 days ago
- Whakatōhea signs Agreement in Principle with CrownWhakatōhea Pre-Settlement Claims Trust has today signed an Agreement in Principle with the Crown at Parliament, which it says is a positive step towards settling its historical Treaty of Waitangi claims. ...2 days ago
- New Zealand First announces its candidatesRt Hon Winston Peters New Zealand First Leader Member of Parliament for Northland 18 AUGUST 2017 Public meeting Red Square, Central Business District, Tauranga 12.30pm ...2 days ago
- Labour’s Let’s do this election hoardings unveiledThe New Zealand Labour Party has released its new hoarding designs today, ahead of the campaign launch on Sunday. ...2 days ago
- PSA Launches Progressive Thinking on Housing BookletWHAT: The launch of the PSA’s Progressive Thinking: ten perspectives on housing; a booklet featuring ten leading authors, academics and campaigners writing journalistically on a range of topics in housing. It includes contributions from Alan Johnson (Salvation ...2 days ago
- NZ First Announces More CandidatesNew Zealand First Announces Tauranga, Rotorua, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and East Coast Candidates CLAYTON MITCHELL MP TO CONTEST TAURANGA FOR NEW ZEALAND FIRST AGAIN Tauranga-based list MP and businessman, Clayton Mitchell , will again contest the ...2 days ago
- Opening the Election – Scoop Launches New Q&A WebsiteScoop is launching the Any Questions website for the 2017 election today. Any Questions is a Q & A website where New Zealanders can ask the questions of political parties in the lead up to the election. This is part ...2 days ago
- Social Worker Registration Costs a ConcernSocial Service Providers Aotearoa national manager Brenda Pilott has welcomed the Social Worker Registration Bill being referred to a select committee. The Bill had its first reading on the last sitting day of Parliament. ...2 days ago
- Complaint laid for Andy Foster’s use of WCC ressourcesComplaint laid for Andy Foster’s use of Wellington Council resources for NZ First campaigning ...2 days ago
- TPP agreement will give New Zealand a competitive edgeA long awaited Trans Pacific Partnership(TPP) agreement can’t come quick enough with approval for a mandate to negotiate good news says Federated Farmers. ...2 days ago
- “Saying goodbye to what has been my life for so many years”Last week I made my valedictory statement to Parliament. After 12 years as an MP, firstly for Aoraki and then Rangitata, it is an odd feeling saying goodbye to what has been my life for so many years. ...2 days ago
- NZ Government Fails! No Answers over Injustices at IhumātaoThe New Zealand Government delegation to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racism and Discrimination in Geneva yesterday failed to answer multiple questions about the development of a Special Housing Area on confiscated Māori land at Ihumātao ...2 days ago
- RACP: make healthy housing the normThe Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) is calling for politicians to take urgent action to make ‘healthy housing’ the norm. ...2 days ago
- Social Housing Minister stifles debate on critical issuesSocial Housing Minister Amy Adams is refusing all requests to front up and justify the National government’s plan to sell 2,500 state houses in Christchurch after the election. ...2 days ago
- Armed Robber Gets Hand SmackedDouglas Roake committed six aggravated robberies and shot two innocent members of the public during an armed home invasion – gets smack on the hand.SST ...2 days ago
- Local Government Leaders failing New ZealandIt is a sad coincidence that newly elected head of Local Government New Zealand is facing his own water crisis in North Dunedin – with it being exactly one-year since his predecessor's Council killed three people and caused 6,000 to ...2 days ago
- DoC Missing In Action – AgainThe NZ Outdoors Party is reminding the Minister of Conservation of her statutory duty of protecting and preserving our public conservation estate and wild places as there have been two particularly disturbing instances where Department of Conservation ...2 days ago
- CBB welcomes NZ First Broadcasting and ICT policy17 August 2017 The Coalition for Better Broadcasting (CBB) welcomes the NZFirst Broadcasting and ICT policy . ...2 days ago
- ANZASW expresses its appreciation of Turei’s contributionThe Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers wishes to place on record its appreciation of Metiria Turei’s contribution, both at the political and grassroots level. Throughout her 15 years in Parliament Metiria has been an advocate for the ...3 days ago
- The Battle for Te Tai HauaruTe Tai Hauauru MP Adrian Rurawhe hasn’t put himself in the spotlight in his first term, but how will that translate into votes against two high profile opponents? ...3 days ago
- Microbead policy a “good start”Greenpeace is welcoming the Government’s latest announcement on microbeads as a good start. ...3 days ago
- Cheaper to stay at The Langham than emergency housing motelsLabour’s comprehensive plan to fix the housing crisis and ensure there’s enough state housing, means we won’t be paying through the nose for emergency accommodation like the current Government has to, says Labour’s Social Development spokesperson ...3 days ago
- Labour And National Fiddling While Housing Crisis Burns onAfter Labour’s announcement yesterday that it would look to conduct a “review” of taxation mechanisms to deal with the housing crisis, it is now obvious that both old establishment parties have zero commitment to deal with the root causes of ...3 days ago
- National Scheming to Lock in TPPARt Hon Winston Peters New Zealand First Leader Member of Parliament for Northland 17 AUGUST 2017 National Scheming to Lock in TPPA So Future Govt Has No Influence ...3 days ago
- Local Government stepping stone to Parliament stingRatepayers should not be paying councillors for one job while they are out campaigning for another, says the Taxpayers’ Union. At least four candidates in the three main centres are still enjoying salaries over $90,000 while they campaign for seats ...3 days ago
- Oranga Tamariki’s staff exodusThe number of social workers leaving Child, Youth and Family during the formation of Oranga Tamariki was largely down to the expertise of long-serving staff being ignored in the review process and a costly and wasteful Expert Advisory Panel (EAP) ...3 days ago
- Volunteers collect shoes for suicide preventionVolunteers are collecting hundreds of shoes across the country to draw attention to our alarming suicide rates, says YesWeCare.nz . ...3 days ago
- Earlier ban on microbeads welcomedWater New Zealand welcomes the earlier than expected ban on the manufacture and sale of wash-off products containing microbeads. ...3 days ago
- The success of Te Taka Keegan – a modern day tohungaTe Reo Māori in a Changing World: The success of Te Taka Keegan – a modern day tohunga ...3 days ago
- Garner, Gower And Owen to Front Decision17Duncan Garner will be hosting Three’s election night special from 7:00pm on September 23rd, 2017. With close to 20 years press gallery experience and host of The AM Show, Garner will be joined by Newshub Political Editor Patrick Gower and ...3 days ago
- Labour Party spot on – not government’s role to own hotelsThe Taxpayers’ Union agree with Labour: the use of millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money for the Government’s desperate attempts to pepper over the housing crisis by buying its own hotels, is ridiculous. Responding to Carmel Sepuloni's comments ...3 days ago
- Tourism supports call for better biodiversity managementProtection of New Zealand’s unique biodiversity is imperative to our social and economic future, Tourism Industry Aotearoa says. ...3 days ago
- Addressing the Freshwater Crisis – It’s Time for ActionWater is a hot topic at the moment. The Māori Party has long been advocating for water to be recognised as a taonga, not just at election time. We have always said that the absolute priority is for all New ...3 days ago
- Rahui Papa – why criticize Metiria Turei?The status quo is not working for our people – we need a higher level of care ...3 days ago
- Ministry of Defence Major Projects Report 2016 PublishedIn 2008, the Office of the Auditor-General identified a need for the Ministry of Defence and the New Zealand Defence Force to report better and more complete information to show how well they manage projects to acquire new defence capability. ...3 days ago
- Why will the least swimmable rivers receive less funding?IrrigationNZ is continuing to challenge the logic of Labour’s water tax proposal, after finding that regions with more swimmable rivers will receive more funding from the water tax, while those with the least swimmable rivers will receive less funding ...3 days ago
- REINZ applauds voluntary Rental Warrant of FitnessThe Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) applauds moves by the Wellington City Council today to launch a voluntary Rental Warrant of Fitness for minimum housing standards in Wellington. The Council has partnered with the University of Otago to ...3 days ago
- How to help people do drugs safely: let them know what they’re really taking
For nearly 25 years Dr Fiona Measham has documented how and why humans do drugs. She spoke to Simon Day about how helping people know what exactly they’re taking is making doing drugs safer in the UK.For all of human ...14 hours ago - Climate change is already destroying lives in the Pacific
Climate change is the defining challenge of our times. The Spinoff is devoting a week of coverage to the issue, its advocates, complexities, and solutions. Today, former President of Kiribati Anote Tong says that while the rest of the world ...18 hours ago - National says drop in social housing being addressed
National says the number of social houses has fallen while it's been in government, but it's promising to change that if re-elected. ...18 hours ago - Outside the Asylum: chapters one and two of Eric Crampton’s epic essay situating New Zealand as an...
Living in New Zealand and focusing on our very real social issues, it’s easy to forget that there are many things we do quite well. Or, to put it another way, that things are frequently a lot worse in other ...24 hours ago - NZ’s Labour Party needs to ‘reach back into Pacific community’, says panel
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- Best Songs Ever: Takin’ a ride on Neil Finn’s disco VespaOur regular round-up of new songs and singles, this week featuring Neil Finn, P!nk, Robert Plant, Kings and more…SONG OF THE WEEKNeil Finn – ‘Second Nature’The second single from Neil’s month-long live-streaming projectEvery Friday this month, Neil Finn and a ...2 days ago
- Bryce Edwards Analysis: Political Roundup – Bittersweet “Pollquake” for the left
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- They’re putting burger ads in your games, and you can’t opt out
Not content with plastering billboards and bus stations in the real world, fast food giant Wendy’s are inserting themselves inside virtual worlds too. It’s a trend that makes Don Rowe feel nauseous. Anyone halfway familiar with the term microtransaction is well ...2 days ago - Unity Books best-seller chart for the week ending August 18The best-selling books at the two best bookstores known to God.WELLINGTON UNITY1 Strange Beautiful Excitement: Katherine Mansfield’s Wellington 1888-1903 by Redmer Yska (Otago University Press, $40)Brilliant retracing of KM’s footsteps when she lived in Wellington. Charlotte Grimshaw’s review is due to run ...2 days ago
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- Zinger-power-ranking the valedictory speechesIf it’s your last speech in parliament, you might as well throw a little shade around, right? Sam Brooks reads the politicians’ farewell addresses so you don’t have to.When the Spinoff politics editor asked if anybody would be keen to pull ...2 days ago
- A youth worker to New Zealand parents: You need to help our young people
Connor Mcleod is a youth worker and activist with InsideOUT, an organisation that is trying to make New Zealand a safer place for our children. He’s calling on parents to help in this vital and important work.Young people of minority ...2 days ago - Climate change is happening – but don’t bother trying to convince a denier
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New Zealand and Australia have always enjoyed a well, special, sporting relationship. But if this week has proved anything it is that the Wallabies and the All Blacks barely have a relationship at all any more, writes Scotty Stevenson. Once ...2 days ago - If an insect goes extinct in the forest, and nobody records it…
New Zealand has a long history of introducing foreign insect predators to control crop pests and weeds. How risky is that? Thanks to a lack of long-term monitoring of our native insect populations, nobody really knows, explains the University of ...2 days ago - Amid all this political turmoil, where are the policy faultlines?
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- Beyond the Beehive: Whangarei and KaikoheIn the second video in this series, Max Towle investigates whether Whangarei's status as a safe National seat is likely to change on election day. ...2 days ago
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- AFL’s Wellington foray failed – so how does the game survive here?
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Paula Bennett shares her thoughts on Jacinda Ardern, Bill English's personality and the policy that could define National. ...2 days ago - Amazon looms, but NZ’s not powerless
NZ isn't jumping for joy at Amazon setting up shop across the ditch, but we shouldn’t allow ourselves to worry excessively, writes Thomas Coughlan. ...2 days ago - Ardern turns the worm, but Green losses threaten leftPoll of Polls - Jacinda Ardern has dramatically lifted Labour's polling since becoming leader on 1 August, writes Colin James ...2 days ago
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It was a dark but not very stormy night. The school hall was filled with people, and home baking. And some politicians. Simon Wilson was also there.“It’s good fun to kill small furry animals. I can do that.”Some things you ...2 days ago - Election 2017: It’s ‘game on’ for Jacinda vs Bill
The 'Jacinda effect' and the implosion of support for the Greens has transformed the election campaign and could change the Government, a fresh poll shows. ...2 days ago - Greens are goneburger in new poll which shows English and Ardern level pegging
Pollwatch: 1 News’s Colmar Brunton survey puts the Greens out of parliament, in a nostalgic National vs Labour race. MMP was meant to make multi-party politics the norm, and so it has: we’ve never seen a majority one-party government. But the ...2 days ago - Poll puts Greens below threshhold as Labour surgesA new political poll has the Green Party plummeting to just 4 percent, while Labour has risen to 37 percent under new leader Jacinda Ardern. ...2 days ago
- Poll puts Greens at 4%, Labour at 37%A new political poll has the Green Party plummeting to just 4 percent support - below the threshold to re-enter Parliament. ...2 days ago
- Winston takes on Mediaworks over Richardson remarks
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- What Rainbow Families need teachers to know – and how you can support this kaupapaKath Cooper, an early childhood lecturer who parents four children with her wife, believes all parents need to actively support LGBTQI-friendly environments at their children’s schools. With input from the Rainbow Families NZ community, she’s sharing this article in the ...3 days ago
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- Watch: MPs’ last question time before electionThis parliamentary term is coming to an end as MPs prepare to hit the road for the election. Watch the final question time here. ...3 days ago
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Z Energy is the largest retailer of petrol in New Zealand, yet is paying to promote Al Gore’s climate change movie An Invonvenient Sequel. Duncan Greive meets Z CEO Mike Bennetts and asks what’s up with that.The CEO stood atop ...3 days ago - I studied in Charlottesville as an Asian New Zealander and racism was… selective
The horrific events of last weekend at the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, brought back memories for Hye Ji ‘Erica’ Lee, a Korean New Zealander who studied there six years ago.In 2011 I was a student at the University ...3 days ago - Tears as petition for Family Court inquiry handed over
Rain in the capital has not stopped an advocacy group delivering tearful demands for family law reform to Parliament following a Newsroom investigation. ...3 days ago - Which online political tool is best for you? Use our online tool to help you find the best online to...
Confused by all the online tools analysing which party you align with best? Don’t worry, Hayden Donnell is here to help.With the general election only eight weeks away, New Zealand is suddenly drowning in quizzes. Everywhere you turn on the ...3 days ago - Watch LIVE: MPs’ last question time before electionThis parliamentary term is coming to an end as MPs prepare to hit the road for the election. Watch the last debate LIVE here. ...3 days ago
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Lucy Zee revisits the sensual Toffee Pops ad of the 90s starring Carlos Spencer and a whole lot of lust. The best factory produced, mid-range, supermarket shelf, chocolate coated cookie in New Zealand according to this statistically accurate twitter poll is: ...3 days ago - Chartlander: What we were listening to the day Helen Clark became Prime Minister
Every week Chartlander travels back through time, landing in a different year on the official New Zealand singles chart in the hopes of (re)discovering forgotten Top 40 gold. Today we go back to the last time the Labour Party came ...3 days ago - A showdown in Winton
Last night the Clutha Southland National Party selected Hamish Walker, a 32 year old business advisor from Dunedin, as the replacement for disgraced MP Todd Barclay. But if National think that will put to rest the questions swirling around their ...3 days ago - The ETS is ready to reduce New Zealand’s emissions
So far our Emissions Trading Scheme has been deemed largely ineffectual by low-integrity overseas credits and low emission prices. Motu’s Catherine Leining believes recent global and local changes mean the ETS can do its job – if we are ready ...3 days ago - Bryce Edwards Analysis: Political Roundup: NZ (and Australia) needs better political scandals
Bryce Edwards Analysis: Political Roundup: NZ (and Australia) needs better political scandals Trans-Tasman rivalry between New Zealand and Australia.Dr Bryce Edwards.The current trans-Tasman citizenship saga doesn’t warrant the level of hysteria coming from politicians in both countries, on both sides ...3 days ago
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