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Why the America’s Cup is better than Rugby

Written By: - Date published: 10:41 am, June 19th, 2017 - 135 comments

And now for something completely different.  Is the America’s cup a more potent example of New Zealand’s unique place in the world than the Rigby World Cup.

Campbell on the TPP cargo cult

Written By: - Date published: 9:22 am, May 20th, 2017 - 17 comments

Gordon Campbell: “The TPP has literally become a cargo cult ritual that’s being performed in the hope that someday, one day, the Americans will return, bearing gifts.”

Another reason for water pricing

Written By: - Date published: 8:52 am, March 28th, 2017 - 19 comments

The Government will be embarassed by another example of a corporation planning to extract ten billion litres of fresh water a year essentially at no cost which has arisen.

RIP TPP

Written By: - Date published: 8:39 am, January 24th, 2017 - 70 comments

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement and leaving the agreement effectively dead in its tracks.

Hard Brexit

Written By: - Date published: 8:25 am, January 18th, 2017 - 97 comments

Theresa May has finally set out some guidelines on the shape of Brexit. Out of the single market, rejecting the European court, full border control.

English in England

Written By: - Date published: 8:48 am, January 15th, 2017 - 48 comments

The usual media suspects are digging pretty deep to try and find anything supportive to say about English’s UK visit. English himself sounds like he has been put in his place.

TPP: An epitaph for self-interested treaties done in secret

Written By: - Date published: 1:23 am, November 23rd, 2016 - 39 comments

The misogynist buffoon, under-skilled charlatan and ignorant bigot that the Americans have elected to be their constitutional monarch for the next four years appears to have effectively killed the constraint of trade agreement known as the TPP. From a freer trade advocate, avid exporter, and labour movement supporter with a touch of green :- Good riddance.

NZ Tech

Written By: - Date published: 9:01 am, October 21st, 2016 - 45 comments

The top 200 tech “exporters” are now turning over NZD 9.4 billion. This year revenue increased by more that NZD 1 billion. Which is pretty phenomenal bearing in mind the sluggish world economy. It meant that they grew an additional 3000 odd highly paid jobs in just those top companies. Even this intellectually bereft government isn’t proving to be too much of a hindrance to tech business.

TPP – Let it go John

Written By: - Date published: 7:23 am, September 21st, 2016 - 132 comments

So Key has been trying to explain the TPP to America. Apart from looking ridiculous, what did he think he was going to accomplish?

Abrupt climate change: CO2 equivalent now at 485 ppm

Written By: - Date published: 1:23 pm, August 26th, 2016 - 76 comments

We are now at 485 ppm CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas concentrations, up from 250 ppm in the 1700s. And climbing fast.

TPP – with a whimper

Written By: - Date published: 12:41 pm, August 12th, 2016 - 166 comments

Plenty of folk today pronouncing the death of the TPP. This is a victory for activism.

Legalize It

Written By: - Date published: 8:44 am, August 12th, 2016 - 95 comments

Is it time for a referendum on marijuana? There is strong support for the use of medicinal marijuana. Should we just admit that Kiwis like smoking dope and simply legalise it?

Stiglitz on the globalisation revolt

Written By: - Date published: 7:54 am, August 8th, 2016 - 69 comments

Globalisation is facing a popular revolt. Economist Joseph Stiglitz explains why.

Trade retaliation

Written By: - Date published: 1:21 pm, August 3rd, 2016 - 50 comments

The Nats are in a difficult spot here, no doubt about it. The weak steel is a serious issue and it should be investigated. But their usual tactics of deny and lie have been caught out yet again.

TPP teetering on the precipice

Written By: - Date published: 9:31 am, July 27th, 2016 - 51 comments

A silver lining in the depressing chaos of the American presidential process.

#Sheepgate – The Compensation payment for the claim that did not exist

Written By: - Date published: 10:22 am, July 4th, 2016 - 27 comments

The Nation has been doing some digging into #Sheepgate and last weekend broadcast its results.  There were some findings that if confirmed should result in McCully’s cabinet career being ended. Not to mention a potential Privileges Hearing to decide if he has misled Parliament.

We’re going to burn it all, until we burn it down.

Written By: - Date published: 12:11 am, May 20th, 2016 - 173 comments

What does it really mean to reduce NZ’s total fossil fuel use by 50% by 2030: a warm up discussion for an upcoming thought experiment.

Health law expert on the TPP

Written By: - Date published: 12:43 pm, March 9th, 2016 - 20 comments

We won’t be able to say that we weren’t warned.

TPP submissions closing soon

Written By: - Date published: 9:05 am, March 3rd, 2016 - 6 comments

The current closing date for public submissions on the TPP is Friday March 11th. Labour’s David Clark is calling for an extension.

The TPPA could blight public education

Written By: - Date published: 8:03 am, February 9th, 2016 - 178 comments

The TPPA could bring us charter schools on steroids, and threaten policies like free tertiary education. In general its a way of locking in a permanent, international right-wing governance which can limit and constrain the kind of social policies that any future NZ left-wing government might want to enact.

UN experts issue warning on TPP

Written By: - Date published: 8:10 am, February 4th, 2016 - 28 comments

When the UN is issuing warnings on the TPP, don’t you think it would be wise to listen?

The TPPA day of shame

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, February 4th, 2016 - 224 comments

Undated: The TPPA has now been signed, but not ratified, and not (hello NZ Herald!) “passed in to law”. There have been widespread protests throughout Auckland.

RNZ had live coverage with John Campbell.

Garner’s TPP rant rejected by the silent majority

Written By: - Date published: 10:15 am, February 2nd, 2016 - 81 comments

tpp-online-poll

New Day Rising

Written By: - Date published: 12:38 pm, January 31st, 2016 - 80 comments

Goff and Shearer’s disloyal and self serving support for the TPPA has backfired. They’ve shown that the ABC faction are now a spent force and that Andrew Little has the overwhelming support of caucus. The sun has set on the splitters and there is a new day rising.

Message from Andrew Little about TPPA

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, January 29th, 2016 - 275 comments

The text of an email Andrew Little has sent to members.

Little on TPP: “I don’t support it, we don’t support it”

Written By: - Date published: 6:15 am, January 28th, 2016 - 351 comments

The news that the TPP is likely to cost 5 to 6,000 jobs in NZ seems to have been the last straw.

The great big list of John Key’s big fat lies (UPDATED)

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, January 27th, 2016 - 76 comments

How many more lies will John Key tell today in his so-called State of the Nation address? Virtual chocolate fish to whomever guesses the closest number.

TPPA ‘National Interest Analysis’ – get both sides

Written By: - Date published: 1:27 pm, January 26th, 2016 - 85 comments

The Government has released a TPPA ‘National Interest Analysis’. It should be read along with TPP Legal’s extensive analysis of the costs and risks.

Jane Kelsey on TPPA

Written By: - Date published: 7:58 am, January 25th, 2016 - 43 comments

Jane Kelsey on why the TPPA is a bad deal and why we should keep fighting it. Movies courtesy of Bryan Bruce. And don’t forget the public meetings scheduled this week where Jane Kelsey and Lori Wallach will speak.

Kingi Taurua says Government not welcome to Waitangi if TPPA signed

Written By: - Date published: 7:45 am, January 19th, 2016 - 342 comments

Ngāpuhi kaumātua and spokesperson for Te Tii Marae Kingi Tairua has announced that because of the lack of consultation if the TPPA is signed the Government will not be welcome at Waitangi.

TPP circus rolls on

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, January 14th, 2016 - 203 comments

The new year begins much as the old one ended, with secrets, evasions and dissent over the TPP and what it means for NZ.

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