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Angry Simon implodes on Campbell Live

Written By: - Date published: 8:32 pm, October 14th, 2013 - 239 comments

This must be one of the worst “interviews” given by an NZ cabinet minster tonight on Campbell Live.  Simon Bridges all bluster, anger, spin and diversions, and fails to answer the real questions about the dangers of the deep sea drilling off NZ’s coast.  The ugly face of John Key’s government. [Update: Youtube video of the interview]

Well done Greens!

Written By: - Date published: 8:16 am, October 13th, 2013 - 115 comments

Yesterday was a very good day for the Greens (and the left).  Congratulations!  It’s hard to predict outcomes for next year’s parliamentary elections based on local elections, especially when the voter turnout is so low.  But the left does get a boost from the results.  Local councils need to be improved so that are more democratic. [Update: Clow (Labour) for Whau- preliminary result. Waitakere Ranges Board]

EDS attacks Nick Smith’s Ruataniwha Dam process

Written By: - Date published: 8:39 am, October 11th, 2013 - 19 comments

The Chair of the Environmental Defence Society has heavily criticised the Ruataniwha Dam process for requiring the voluntary sector to test the scientific evidence, for requiring the analysis of highly technical scientific evidence within a very short time period, and for not including a freshwater expert on the Board of Inquiry.  He has described the process as being fundamentally flawed and has stated that the process appears to be designed to facilitate the granting of consents.  There is something wrong going on here.

The many and varied problems with the Ruataniwha Dam proposal

Written By: - Date published: 11:39 am, October 6th, 2013 - 26 comments

The Ruataniwha Dam issue raises a number of issues, from a Board of Inquiry without scientific expertise being selected, a DOC submission inviting the Board to get more information and seek a peer review being dumped, submitters not being able to access the site, a model which NIWA is refusing to allow to be analysed, and a GNS Science contract being terminated because the scientists wanted a disclaimer inserted into their report.  There is something fishy going on here.

“Dark, dirty and heartless” – Nats & Nick Smith

Written By: - Date published: 10:56 pm, September 25th, 2013 - 52 comments

Two very good speeches in the General Debate in the House  from opposition leaders.  They highlight Nick Smith’s dodgy record, & why he should be stood down as a Minister in Key’s “Dark, dirty & heartless” government. [Update: Key – on (dis)honesty]

Key loses his “Centre”, Herald spins right, Smith on the ropes

Written By: - Date published: 11:31 am, September 25th, 2013 - 35 comments

Cunliffe’s moderate, centre left Labour is on the rise; MSM-supported, NAct smears & negative spin is in over-drive.  John Key and the NZ Herald editorial  spin from the radical “neoliberal” right.  Slippery Nick Smith, a NAct weak point, is under concerted pressure. [Updated]

ImperatorFish: I did not order this

Written By: - Date published: 8:09 am, September 25th, 2013 - 11 comments

Just to be clear: Nick Smith did not order the Big Brunch Fry-up, no matter what he might have said.

What’s in the friday dump this week?

Written By: - Date published: 2:10 pm, September 20th, 2013 - 18 comments

The spinners in parliament and government are rather predictable. They dump their embarrassments late on a friday, preferably on a long holiday weekend or with a sporting event. I’m picking that today we will see some material dropping off the rear of DOC related to what Nick Smith saw and can no longer remember….

NRT: More lies from Smith

Written By: - Date published: 1:19 pm, September 20th, 2013 - 11 comments

Yesterday in Question Time Nick Smith continued to pretend that he had not forced DoC to shitcan its submission on the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme. He even went so far as to claim that he had no idea that the submission even existed until this week. But it was just more lies

Nick Smith and the Ruataniwha dam

Written By: - Date published: 8:24 am, September 19th, 2013 - 37 comments

Hollow-menNick Smith says he did not even know a document existed even though he was given a full briefing on it.  And after he gets involved a submission critical of the environmental effect the proposed Ruataniwha Dam will have on the Tukituki River is drastically altered.  There is something distinctly smelly about this.

How far care for the Environment has fallen …

Written By: - Date published: 8:24 am, September 1st, 2013 - 41 comments

100-pureIf you want to understand the National Government’s view of the environment then DOC’s latest vision statement is a much read.  Warning, the contents are likely to disturb and make you feel nauseous.

It wasn’t a dirty pipe

Written By: - Date published: 8:27 am, August 15th, 2013 - 205 comments

It wasn’t a dirty pipe. That is the claim made by veterinarian and farm performance consultant Frank Rowson, as reported by Stuff yesterday. Rowson says “This disease originates in contaminated feed and animal manure”. Let the enquiries begin – we need to be honest about the problem and fix it.

Key needs to get real on Fonterra crisis

Written By: - Date published: 12:11 pm, August 11th, 2013 - 128 comments

The Fonterra fiasco is turning into a genuine crisis and a huge risk to our economy. John Key needs to stop playing politics and get real. It’s urgent.

Fonterra scandal and deregulation

Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, August 9th, 2013 - 72 comments

Stuff’s Pattrick Smellie makes the case that the Fonterra scandal is a product of deregulation. The lesson here is that Mike Joy and other scientists are right. To protect its environment, its brand, its exports and its economy, NZ needs to strengthen regulatory protections and clean up its act.

The view from China

Written By: - Date published: 10:20 am, August 6th, 2013 - 103 comments

The world has become a very strange place when NZ is getting lectured by China. Problem is, they aren’t wrong.

“The Big Issue”: councils & transport

Written By: - Date published: 10:57 am, August 5th, 2013 - 16 comments

Campbell Live last Wednesday focused on transport: funding & Auckland versus the regions; public transport & roads; the revolutionary Congestion Free Network plan.  City Vision (supported by Labour & the Green Party – with a major focus on transport) & 2 Future West candidates launch their Auckland council campaigns.

New blog – Anton Oliver

Written By: - Date published: 5:20 pm, July 24th, 2013 - 46 comments

Check out this post by former All Black Captain Anton Oliver on the blog over at New Zealand Story.

No Milford tunnel

Written By: - Date published: 3:53 pm, July 17th, 2013 - 40 comments

Nice to be able to congratulate the Nats on an environmental decision for a change!

John Key, Crosby & corporate lobbyists

Written By: - Date published: 10:26 am, July 16th, 2013 - 40 comments

Joining the dots: David Cameron is under fire for his links with lobbyists for big tobacco & big oil, via his link with Lynton Crosby.  John Key, with links to Crosby Textor, has also bowed to big tobacco. Networks of Influence.

Protest at sea

Written By: - Date published: 9:07 am, June 16th, 2013 - 44 comments

kirk-sea-protest

Water under pressure

Written By: - Date published: 8:12 am, June 15th, 2013 - 38 comments

Water is becoming a precious resource, under threat from pollution, over use, population growth, & commercial profiteering. The Green & Labour Parties are very critical of Key’s government weakening the RMA in favour of commercial gains, while over-riding local government plans.

Labour to repeal RMA changes

Written By: - Date published: 2:10 pm, May 27th, 2013 - 35 comments

Good to see a case where Labour is clear about repealing some of National’s damaging law changes.

The shameless Nick Smith

Written By: - Date published: 10:43 am, May 24th, 2013 - 31 comments

Nick Smith has a long history of slippery dealings.  He apologises but accepts no blame, then is resurrected: contempt of court, a defamation case, the Pullar-ACC “conflict of interest”, bad faith negotiations with Auckland Council, the Denniston Plateau deal. Yesterday on RNZ, Smith exposed the government’s agenda on mining conservation land.

Save the Denniston Plateau

Written By: - Date published: 1:56 pm, May 23rd, 2013 - 53 comments

denniston300

Cynical

Written By: - Date published: 11:37 am, May 23rd, 2013 - 82 comments

It looks like Nick Smith will today grant access to West Coast conservation land for mining.  This looks like a cynical attempt to enforce the government’s anti-conservation agenda by avoiding the legal and democratic requirement for public consultation. When will the NZ Herald headline: “Democracy Under Attack!”? [updated]

A poorer world

Written By: - Date published: 4:50 pm, May 5th, 2013 - 59 comments

The Great Barrier Reef is dying. We are leaving the next generations a poorer world.

Networks of influence: Key & Anadarko Petroleum

Written By: - Date published: 12:25 pm, May 2nd, 2013 - 18 comments

John Key’s networks of influence include the bosses and directors of Anadarko Petroleum, which is doing some oil exploration in NZ. Gordon Campbell’s excellent piece of investigative journalism shows Anadarko and it’s bosses are not to be trusted.

Networks of influence: (dis)Advantage NZ

Written By: - Date published: 9:33 am, April 30th, 2013 - 21 comments

An Advantage New Zealand conference at SkyCity is the centre of major PR for John Key-backed, big oil exploration in NZ. While promoting and backing each others’ destructive profiteering, and endangering NZ’s environment, they are nurturing their networks of influence over expensive dinners and on the golf course.

Cuts that could kill

Written By: - Date published: 7:55 am, April 26th, 2013 - 47 comments

DOC is being cut to the bone. DOC staff, Labour and the Greens have all warned that these cuts risk another Cave Creek disaster.

Two videos & a documentary

Written By: - Date published: 12:09 pm, April 25th, 2013 - 6 comments

A Jackson PR video promoting NZ scenery as a beautiful backdrop for the Hobbit & tourism; a Campbell Live video on a Dannevirke protest against Big Oil exploiting their area; an anti-fracking Canadian team filming in NZ.

The stealthy dismantling of democracy

Written By: - Date published: 9:44 am, April 12th, 2013 - 27 comments

John Key’s government has been gradually dismantling NZ’s democratic processes. Various activities this week are a major part of a frightening shift: a Bill enabling mining conservation land; punitive social security Act; Key’s control over NZ’s “intelligence community”.

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