Politics

Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation

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“As long as it takes”

Written By: - Date published: 3:36 pm, February 13th, 2025 - 119 comments

Well it didn’t take that long: from one SecDef to another in a matter of a month. It’s time for a rethink on Ukraine and much else.
Update: Hegseth’s speech video

NZ Fabian Society event: Brian Easton on Transforming New Zealand

Written By: - Date published: 9:21 am, February 13th, 2025 - 7 comments

“Why is the Left failing?”

State of the Nation – dire

Written By: - Date published: 8:23 am, February 12th, 2025 - 18 comments

Remember National’s promise to get us back on track? Salvation Army’s latest state of the nation report suggests that for ordinary people things are getting much worse.

The latest polls suggest a change in Government

Written By: - Date published: 8:39 pm, February 11th, 2025 - 15 comments

Two recent polls both predict a one term National Government.

Kieran McAnulty is underrated: How Chris Bishop Got Away with Blowing Up Kāinga Ora & State Housing Momentum

Written By: - Date published: 9:39 am, February 11th, 2025 - 13 comments

Kieran McAnulty’s points are fair and important – so why is media ignoring most of them? Also – Labour delivered 14,000 homes in government – so why is Chris Bishop blowing that trajectory up?

Bring us your wealthy and your privileged …

Written By: - Date published: 7:05 am, February 11th, 2025 - 11 comments

National wants more wealthy people to come to New Zealand to increase investment fund levels. But what if we created the situation so that locals could increase investment through Kiwisaver contributions?

Leadership D.O.A.

Written By: - Date published: 8:41 am, February 10th, 2025 - 31 comments

As we approach the half-time oranges for his government, I thought I’d give Mr Luxon some feedback and a few suggestions on how he might turn things around – if becoming a real leader interests him.

Why get upset with solar power?

Written By: - Date published: 9:12 am, February 9th, 2025 - 56 comments

You have to hand it to the right. They have succeeded in making ordinary people oppose the most beneficial projects imaginable. Like a group of residents in North Canterbury that is opposing construction of a solar farm.

Dear Mum and Dad

Written By: - Date published: 5:05 pm, February 4th, 2025 - 5 comments

I had a great week at school!

What does Trump have against Canada?

Written By: - Date published: 11:28 am, February 4th, 2025 - 50 comments

And why isn’t New Zealand backing Canada against Trump’s self declared trade war?

Standing for Auckland

Written By: - Date published: 1:47 pm, February 2nd, 2025 - 16 comments

Can Kerrin Leoni pave the way as Tamaki Makaurau’s first wāhine Māori Mayor? Open to all today from Nick’s Kōrero…

Cancun Cruz’s crazy tweet

Written By: - Date published: 12:12 pm, February 2nd, 2025 - 16 comments

Ted Cruz has criticised New Zealand for requiring all Israelis to detail their military experience before coming to New Zealand. But there is a problem with this. He is wrong.

Tim Jago is part of a bigger ACT Party issue

Written By: - Date published: 11:51 am, February 2nd, 2025 - 95 comments

The former ACT Party President’s name suppression ceased 2 years after Jago was charged, allowing ACT to bypass critical scrutiny during the 2023 election

The Second Major Offensive of Neoliberalism in New Zealand Since the 80s

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, February 2nd, 2025 - 28 comments

The Coalition is fighting a multi-front blitzkrieg to entrench neoliberal hegemony in NZ.

David Farrar’s Curia Market Research Woes

Written By: - Date published: 12:01 pm, February 1st, 2025 - 16 comments

What happened to the Curia Market Research suspension? David Farrar responded after RANZ hired an independent sub-committee to investigate complaints about polling integrity

What will he do next?

Written By: - Date published: 10:18 am, February 1st, 2025 - 29 comments

I did not think it possible but it seems that every week Donald Trump does something that makes me think even worse of him.

Better Late than Never?

Written By: - Date published: 6:13 pm, January 31st, 2025 - 10 comments

Davey Seymour’s Disgusting School Dinners, and the faster you go, the bigger the mess, but does Chris Bishop look bothered?

Keep on Digging

Written By: - Date published: 3:44 pm, January 30th, 2025 - 30 comments

The latest outbursts and brain farts from the great Kumara of the North…

Open to all today in Nick’s Kōrero – Shane Jones calls climate change ‘woke’ and says, ‘Send the Mexicans home’.

Most kiwis blame Willis for Ferry Fiasco

Written By: - Date published: 9:19 am, January 30th, 2025 - 9 comments

Recent polling suggests that two thirds of kiwis disagree with Nicola Willis’s decision to cancel the replacement Inter Island ferries contract.

Later Stuart

Written By: - Date published: 5:06 pm, January 29th, 2025 - 14 comments

Stuart Nash has suggested that Labour is losing support for not sticking to its values. But his suggested policy solution would have Labour resemble National lite, not deepest red Labour.

If that’s Luxon’s Plan, What About Labour? 

Written By: - Date published: 1:05 pm, January 26th, 2025 - 56 comments

It’s time to highlight what a Labour plan for the New Zealand economy under a 2026 government would look like. And ask questions. 

New Zealand’s worst leadership speech since 2008

Written By: - Date published: 9:31 am, January 24th, 2025 - 22 comments

The PM’s ‘State of the Nation’ speech about the New Zealand economy titled “economic growth the key to better days ahead” was a bag of words with no plan.

Selling NZ off to the highest foreign bidder. Is it still NZ First?

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 pm, January 23rd, 2025 - 17 comments

For a year, Luxon and Seymour have been prepping the Overseas Investment Act to sell NZ off to wealthy foreigners. But who is running the show? Libertarian interests of course. And Winston Peters might find the money good enough to fold.

In Defence of Golriz Ghahraman

Written By: - Date published: 2:11 pm, January 22nd, 2025 - 39 comments

Golriz Ghahraman didn’t shoplift “again” – but recent media reports made it sound like she did. This article looks back on her history and her treatment by NZ’s political and media class.

The difference between Christopher Luxon and Donald Trump *

Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, January 22nd, 2025 - 23 comments

* is not as great as you think.

America would never happen here!

Written By: - Date published: 9:49 am, January 22nd, 2025 - 42 comments

Why corporate fascism may no longer be a distant dream – and how it’s closer than you might think

The future dystopia

Written By: - Date published: 11:28 am, January 21st, 2025 - 55 comments

He’s baack. The man least suited to running the world’s most powerful country is now President again.

Luxon’s panicked reshuffle

Written By: - Date published: 1:12 pm, January 20th, 2025 - 61 comments

Christopher Luxon has conducted a major Cabinet Reshuffle with the stand out feature the demotion of Shane Reti and the transfer of Health from Reti to Simeon Brown.

The World has too many Oligarchs

Written By: - Date published: 3:27 pm, January 19th, 2025 - 14 comments

In his final speech Joe Biden has warned the world about the dangers posed by Oligarchs supporting the right into democratic power. He is right.

Clearing the Decks: Government replaces half of the Waitangi Tribunal

Written By: - Date published: 10:07 pm, January 17th, 2025 - 33 comments

The government has replaced half of the Waitangi Tribunal, removing three of NZ’s most highly regarded experts in mātauranga Maori.

Latest opinion poll – Labour overtakes National

Written By: - Date published: 2:21 pm, January 17th, 2025 - 62 comments

luxon sheep

That grinding noise you can hear from the Parliamentary precinct is the sound of National backbenchers sharpening their knives getting ready for a change of leadership. Because the latest Curia poll shows National has fallen behind Labour in the preferred party stakes.