Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation
Written By: - Date published: 10:05 am, July 27th, 2024 - 5 comments
Just as with the Three Strikes Policy National has never seen an irrational itch it will not scratch for political advantage. Despite the reality.
Written By: - Date published: 9:12 am, July 26th, 2024 - 15 comments
It has emerged that National has sneakily reduced child poverty targets.
Written By: - Date published: 10:53 am, July 25th, 2024 - 24 comments
The Royal Commission’s recently released report into abuse in care has highlighted how unsuccessful and how damaging boot camps can be at the time the Government is celebrating the opening of its latest attempted version of a boot camp.
Written By: - Date published: 11:25 am, July 23rd, 2024 - 95 comments
Christopher Luxon and Shane Reti took the extraordinary step of removing the Health NZ Board and replacing it with a Health Commissioner. Why did they do that and will it help the real issues facing our health system?
Written By: - Date published: 9:26 am, July 22nd, 2024 - 80 comments
“My intention is to earn and win this nomination’
Written By: - Date published: 10:22 am, July 21st, 2024 - 70 comments
I can’t remember American politics ever being this weird. Donald Trump is riding a wave of support and risks being returned to the White House as President. And Joe Biden is considering his options.
Written By: - Date published: 7:26 pm, July 18th, 2024 - 16 comments
It is now clear why Simon Watts rushed out a three page brochure setting out what this Government’s response to climate change will be. It knew that the latest Climate Change Emissions Reduction Plan was coming out for consultation. And that it could not come up with a credible plan.
Written By: - Date published: 4:17 pm, July 18th, 2024 - 3 comments
The PSA just won an important case in the Employment Relations Authority against the Ministry of Education about collective agreements. There are significiant downstream implications to planned layoffs, legal fights, and Nicola Willis’s already tax cut strained budget.
Written By: - Date published: 3:53 pm, July 18th, 2024 - 10 comments
A track record of deception and pro tobacco industry policies is becoming evident in the Coalition. Casey Costello is at it again, this time quietly halving excise tax for some tobacco products. This is the first time in NZ’s history to have reduced excise on tobacco. We should all ask ‘Why now?’
Written By: - Date published: 8:20 am, July 18th, 2024 - 32 comments
Chris Bishop’s plan to “flood the market” with housing development described as being “unaffordable, unworkable and unfair” is also “unsustainable” and even “unhinged”.
Written By: - Date published: 6:30 am, July 18th, 2024 - 4 comments
Simeon Brown is working on National’s New 3 Waters called “Local Water Done Well.” But is it just a more expensive version with a privatisation catch?
Written By: - Date published: 2:44 pm, July 16th, 2024 - 15 comments
The drumbeat of health warnings continues from hospitals, doctors and nurses. But is the Government prepared to listen?
Written By: - Date published: 3:53 pm, July 15th, 2024 - 25 comments
The National Government has won in its long standing pay dispute with New Zealand police. With Australia offering $20,000 cash bonuses and attractive packages to poach our cops, what’s going to happen to an already demoralised and stretched police force?
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, July 15th, 2024 - 73 comments
Trump’s shooting has left the world shocked and bewildered. But what, if anything, does it mean for us here in New Zealand?
Written By: - Date published: 11:37 am, July 14th, 2024 - 142 comments
In breaking news Donald trump has been shot in a Pensylvania. Film suggests that he is fine although suffered a wound to his ear. The implications for the US elections are profound. This is a post for general discussion and will be updated as matters develop. Updates 1305: BBC interviewed a witness who is talking […]
Written By: - Date published: 11:29 am, July 14th, 2024 - 6 comments
This week Change Minister Simon Watts showed the depth of the Government’s thinking by releasing a three page brochure outlining its collective thoughts. If the Government is at that level of thinking the country is well and truly stuffed. And meanwhile ACT’s Mark Cameron wants to prevent local government from considering climate change when formulating regional plans.
Written By: - Date published: 1:22 pm, July 12th, 2024 - 16 comments
National activist Sunny Kaushall is to head a committee with a budget of $3.6 million over two years to advise the Government on complex legal and privacy issues for which Kaushal’s qualifications are not clear.
Written By: - Date published: 11:06 am, July 12th, 2024 - 5 comments
As reports confirm that the Government intends to sell off Kiwirail ferries, the question has to be asked: “Why is the Government paying thousands of dollars to former National Party members for advice” and when is independent advice not reliable?
Written By: - Date published: 11:33 am, July 11th, 2024 - 15 comments
My ire was raised this morning when I read a pile of PR drivel from acting PM Winston Peters about the Interislander. If he wanted to be useful looking at “critical part of our infrastructure” – then there are number of better things he could usefully do – rather than chasing headlines.
Written By: - Date published: 7:57 am, July 11th, 2024 - 40 comments
Nicola Willis’s decision to cancel the Kiwirail i-Rex contract without a back up plan is coming back to bite. As costs pile up for the taxpayer, we have already lost half a billion dollars, but that won’t be the final bill. And there are still no ferries.
Written By: - Date published: 11:06 am, July 10th, 2024 - 18 comments
The Government is hoping that Carbon Capture and Sequestration will reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emission levels. But it is refusing to protect forests and trees, which are the best Carbon Capture and Sequestration devices going.
Written By: - Date published: 10:34 am, July 9th, 2024 - 12 comments
With all of the issues about Green party MPs, who have been having issues recently, I was intrigued to run across the article in the Guardian “Reform UK under pressure to prove all its candidates were real people” after the recent election in the UK.
Written By: - Date published: 10:59 am, July 7th, 2024 - 11 comments
Minister for Workplace Relations and Health & Safety Brooke van Velden hasn’t met with the CTU Te Kauae Kaimahi since November last year. And has announced major proposed changes to workers rights and job conditions.
Written By: - Date published: 10:58 am, July 7th, 2024 - 6 comments
Last week the Coalition Govt said they were doing away with the name “fast-track.” This is a Govt of professional lobbyists so I am not surprised by their attunement to marketing. “Fast-track” became bad for business. The name had to go. They have also weakened regarding fast-track because of opposition.
Written By: - Date published: 10:48 am, July 7th, 2024 - 79 comments
What should New Zealand Labour learn from UK Labour’s success in the recent election?
Written By: - Date published: 8:38 am, July 5th, 2024 - 98 comments
A generic post to cover the United Kingdom election results as they come in. UPDATED
Written By: - Date published: 12:39 pm, July 4th, 2024 - 36 comments
Chris Bishop has announced proposed changes to planning laws that will increase urban sprawl and damage to the environment.
Written By: - Date published: 1:58 pm, July 1st, 2024 - 1 comment
The bastard son of the three strikes law alka the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill was introduced into Parliament. And other measures announced will mean added cost, misery and injustice to the operation of our justice system.
Written By: - Date published: 12:29 pm, June 29th, 2024 - 14 comments
Are things back on track? How about for those who can least afford to feed themselves? It appears not with reports that funding for food banks is being slashed. And the consequence could be dire.
Written By: - Date published: 10:31 am, June 29th, 2024 - 30 comments
Jo Biden’s recent debate with Donald Trump did not go well.
Written By: - Date published: 2:45 pm, June 27th, 2024 - 6 comments
About time. Not that I have that I really have that much sympathy with Julian Assange. Always seemed like a bit of a narcissistic dickhead to me. But I get really pissed off with the level of US over-reach with their laws. Seems to me that this is a good time to rework our extradition treaties with them.
Recent Comments