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Politics

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

Categories under Politics

National’s Brown problem

Written By: - Date published: 9:07 am, February 2nd, 2023 - 64 comments

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is providing National strategists with a rather large headache.

2023: Year of the Long Grind

Written By: - Date published: 10:39 am, February 1st, 2023 - 30 comments

There will be no respite for any of us this year; it’s a politics and a society of endurance.

The Cabinet Reshuffle

Written By: - Date published: 10:25 am, February 1st, 2023 - 15 comments

Chris Hipkins has announced his cabinet reshuffle and there have been some dramatic changes.

Two new polls …

Written By: - Date published: 6:24 pm, January 30th, 2023 - 78 comments

This evening two new political polls have been released both putting Labour ahead of National.

UK Labour – can they finally beat the Tories?

Written By: - Date published: 9:19 am, January 30th, 2023 - 18 comments

The left in the UK needs to accept they alone do not have majority support and need to work with what they term the “soft left” and more centrist factions to win. The current Labour leadership need to ensure that the left still has a stake in Labour winning, and give enough to motivate the left to vote and campaign for Labour. Look at the lessons learnt by the US Democrats.

Super City’s handling of the storm event

Written By: - Date published: 1:40 pm, January 29th, 2023 - 135 comments

As Auckland slowly recovers but ready itself for further storms there is some attention being given to review Council’s response to the super storm. The initial impression, and this is held widely is that the response was sub optimal.

National is showing its class prejudice

Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, January 27th, 2023 - 26 comments

National Deputy Leader Nicola Willis said yesterday that it was a great shame that the minimum wage had increased by so much because it means the Government can’t do it now to help low-income Kiwis make ends meet without stoking inflation.

Can Rishi Sunak save the Conservative Government?

Written By: - Date published: 12:26 am, January 27th, 2023 - 5 comments

Despite everything that has happened, it would be a serious mistake to underestimate the British Conservative Party which has proven time and again to be an electoral force to be reckoned with. In England, where over 80% of British voters live, Tory is the default option in many parts of the country. The polarisation within Britain is high with tensions from the Brexit debate and ongoing calls for Scottish Independence still simmering. The Tories can certainly play these divisions to their advantage in the hope of winning support

Luxon blunders again

Written By: - Date published: 2:38 pm, January 26th, 2023 - 25 comments

Chris Luxon has provided another example of his ineptness by suggesting in an MMP environment that a vote in a Maori Seat is worth more than a vote in an European seat.

There is no misogyny in New Zealand *

Written By: - Date published: 8:48 am, January 24th, 2023 - 62 comments

* sung to the famous tune from Blam Blam Blam.

Jacinda Ardern – How will her five years in power be remembered?

Written By: - Date published: 7:13 am, January 24th, 2023 - 52 comments

It is too soon to say what Jacinda’s legacy will be. She will certainly be remembered for becoming a mother whilst being a world leader. For her presence on the world stage as a voice for feminism and progressive politics. She ushered in a generational and attitudinal change in New Zealand politics. While internationally she offered an alternative to the politics of Trump, Bolsonaro, Scott Morrison, and Viktor Orban.

Behind every strong woman leader are more strong women leaders

Written By: - Date published: 12:49 pm, January 22nd, 2023 - 59 comments

Chris Hipkins and Carmel Sepuloni have been confirmed as the next Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand.

It will be Chippy for PM

Written By: - Date published: 10:36 am, January 21st, 2023 - 101 comments

Chris Hipkins is now set to become prime minister. I rather expected that would be the likely outcome. Helps the election campaign as it will mute the revolting misogynist arsehole conservatives of the right and some on the left. I’m really tired of listening to them, and I suspect that way more than half of the countries population are as well.

Running on empty

Written By: - Date published: 8:23 am, January 20th, 2023 - 180 comments

Jacinda Ardern has realised that she was not in a position to commit to four more years as Prime Minister and has called it quits.  Recent levels of abuse and misogyny shown to her have clearly played their part.

Nick Kelly’s email to Jacinda Ardern

Written By: - Date published: 6:53 am, January 20th, 2023 - 6 comments

In particular, I wish to acknowledge the strong compassionate leadership you took after the Christchurch Mosque attack. Your simple statement “they are us” regarding Muslims living in Aotearoa had a profound impact and broke down barriers of hate and ignorance at a time when tensions were so high. I still tear up thinking about how important your showing humanity and compassion was at that dark time. Thank you.

Jacinda Ardern has announced she is standing down as PM …

Written By: - Date published: 1:08 pm, January 19th, 2023 - 260 comments

Jacinda Ardern has just announced she is standing down as Prime Minister from February 7 and will not seek re-election. Further details will follow.

Slater and Lusk limp again

Written By: - Date published: 9:53 am, January 19th, 2023 - 2 comments

Cameron Slater and Simon Lusk have been accused of engaging in underhand tactics to upset National’s Tukituki selection process.

The rich want their country back

Written By: - Date published: 9:44 am, January 18th, 2023 - 61 comments

The Electoral Commission has published that National raised $2.3 million dollars in large donations alone over the past 12 months.

The importance of political narrative

Written By: - Date published: 9:54 am, January 15th, 2023 - 37 comments

Wayne Brown’s campaign techniques used in the Auckland Mayoral election are likely to be used by National in the election campaign this year.

Boris Johnson – why he fell and can he come back?

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, January 15th, 2023 - 1 comment

It is risky to make predictions, but it is safe to assume we have not heard the last of Boris Johnson. And much like Berlusconi in Italy, the results will undoubtedly be bad both for politics and the country.

The Occupy Movement and the response to the 2008 financial crisis

Written By: - Date published: 1:39 am, January 14th, 2023 - 4 comments

We are the 99%

As the world currently goes through a post-pandemic and Russian invasion of Ukraine fuelled economic crisis, it is interesting to reflect on the economic crisis of over a decade ago and how the public responded at that time.

Dog whistling climate change

Written By: - Date published: 11:24 am, January 12th, 2023 - 30 comments

National MP Stuart Smith has tweeted suggesting that students should not be taught about climate change but should instead be taught the skills to decide for themselves if it exists.

Solidarity and ostracism

Written By: - Date published: 6:04 am, January 12th, 2023 - 80 comments

The mechanism for ostracism destroys solidarity and has serious implications for the left.

The end of the post war boom

Written By: - Date published: 7:56 am, January 11th, 2023 - 87 comments

Tendancy for the rate of profit to fall

Throughout my time being active in politics, people have discussed the rise of Neo-Liberalism and the free market that occurred throughout much of the world from the late 1970s onwards. Yet few seem to really understand the reasons for this significant shift in economic policy at that time, which continues to shape our society today.

Why is everything always Jacinda’s fault?

Written By: - Date published: 9:35 am, January 10th, 2023 - 57 comments

Son of former National MP and former Political reporter and currently self branded travel reporter Brook Sabin has produced potentially the most ridiculous article of the year by blaming the Government for not sorting out Auckland Airport’s baggage handling problems.  And we are only 10 days in.

The 2022 midterms and what happens next in US politics

Written By: - Date published: 12:04 am, January 10th, 2023 - 3 comments

Overall, the 2022 midterms were the best for any sitting Democrat President since 1978. Whilst losing control of the House is disappointing, the Republican majority is slim. Should hardliners try to block the Biden agenda as they did with Obama, they risk moderate Republicans breaking ranks. Further, hardline Republicans overplaying their hand in Congress may scare moderate voters away from the party and at the same time motivate the Democrat base to win back the House in 2024. Add to that the prospect of Trump returning in 2024, it could be about to get very messy in the Republican Party.

The weather sucks

Written By: - Date published: 10:39 am, January 9th, 2023 - 48 comments

I’m back at work at my home office desk today and the weather sucked in Auckland and the north of the North Island over my break. Waiting for Luxon and minons blaming the government for not controlling La Niña – now in the third year of her current reign.It seems like all that National can do these days – blame the government for external events.

New Zealand is in a terrible state *

Written By: - Date published: 10:55 am, January 6th, 2023 - 116 comments

* or is it?

Will the 1923 record be beaten?

Written By: - Date published: 10:36 am, January 5th, 2023 - 86 comments

Been watching C-SPAN in the US House of Representatives trying to elect a speaker. Last time that there was more than one vote to get a speaker was in 1923. This figures, the author of this political madness, Donald Trump seems to be a law and tax evading crook worthy of the 1920s or 1930s US.

National’s Andrew Bayly is incompetent about earthquakes.

Written By: - Date published: 10:09 am, January 4th, 2023 - 23 comments

This morning a estimated 5.1 earthquake close to Te Aroha shook Hamilton, Tauranga, Auckland and Rotorua a region of half of our population. Only a day earlier National’s number 3 14 stupidly criticised a programme designed to diminish the risks in earthquakes. As usual National has no policy on dealing with earthquake risks that I can see. National simply aren’t ready for government.

The Three Sly Donkeys

Written By: - Date published: 12:50 pm, January 3rd, 2023 - 41 comments

There are no single truths in politics and wicked problems have no easy solutions if at all.

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