Written By: advantage - Date published: 7:30 am, October 1st, 2023 - 4 comments
Skyfall was 10 years ago but it has a message for all public servants local or central as you choose your vote.
Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 4:30 pm, June 25th, 2023 - 4 comments
It is a given that the right in power want to sell public assets off and the left want to retain those assets. And it appears that the right’s eyes are on Ports of Auckland.
Written By: advantage - Date published: 4:20 pm, June 25th, 2023 - 10 comments
In the absence of any political party stating clearly that public ownership of major infrastructure is a very good idea, here’s 10 good things public ownership of infrastructure does that private ownership doesn’t.
Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:59 am, June 23rd, 2023 - 22 comments
Fresh from his success at selling off part of Auckland Council’s Airport shares Wayne Brown has proposed another privatisation, that of Ports of Auckland Operations by way of the granting of an operating lease for the Port’s activities.
Written By: Mike Smith - Date published: 10:02 pm, April 7th, 2023 - 16 comments
In his …and forgive them their debts, my favourite economist and Jubilee advocate Michael Hudson states that Jesus driving the money-changers from the Temple was “the act that inspired the city leaders to plot his death.”
Written By: nickkelly - 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.
Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:30 am, November 15th, 2022 - 25 comments
FIRST Union, NZCTU, and 350 Aotearoa have just released a joint report suggesting that the privatisation of our power companies by National were not only disastrous for the country’s finances but also disastrous for the planet.
Written By: advantage - Date published: 7:00 am, September 8th, 2022 - 60 comments
This COVID era is the decade in which the state is back, bigger and faster than ever before. But the one area this government won’t let the state expand again is the one area in which New Zealand is the most vulnerable: electricity generation. It needs to change.
Written By: advantage - Date published: 10:02 am, July 21st, 2022 - 57 comments
Europe is leading the global fight against climate change by rapidly shifting away from fossil fuels. This now includes fully renationalising energy companies and forced decreases in gas use. What could New Zealand learn?
Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:32 am, July 18th, 2022 - 37 comments
I watched the Rugby test on Saturday night. One side played with passion and vigour. Their forward pack dominated and the defensive effort from the backs was superb. The other side was the All Blacks who displayed all the passion and vigour of a National Party conference.
Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:29 pm, May 11th, 2022 - 41 comments
Act has publicly released its proposal to decimate the state should it have a say in the next Government. Its Real Change Alternative Budget may be wet dream inducing for Ayn Rand acolytes but for the rest of us the proposals should instill a deep sense of dread.
Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:55 am, July 27th, 2021 - 31 comments
Leader of the Opposition David Seymour has proposed that private enterprise should provide quarantine services. The recent experience of Melbourne where private security firms failed dramatically to properly managed quarantine facilities suggests that this is a really stupid idea.
Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:36 am, April 30th, 2021 - 45 comments
The New Zealand Rugby Union is currently in the process of selling its soul to the devil, in this case a private equity firm called Silver Lake. This made me reflect on what the NZRU is selling.
Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:10 am, April 20th, 2021 - 19 comments
A damning report into National’s PPP contract for construction of Transmission Gully has concluded that the maximum price the government would pay was set too low, project bidders soon worked this out and that proposals were “value managed down” or made cheaper on designs and timelines that created risks that would eventually manifest themselves after procurement once construction commenced.
Written By: advantage - Date published: 7:24 am, September 11th, 2020 - 21 comments
National’s proposed Infrastructure Bank is an accounting trick, with very high risks that the entire power of our political order for anyone affected by these monster projects will weaken citizens’ rights.
Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:09 am, June 25th, 2020 - 16 comments
There is a solid silver lining to the delay in the Auckland light rail to the airport project.
Written By: lprent - Date published: 10:46 am, May 7th, 2020 - 56 comments
I’d agree with what No Right Turn says..
“The entire project looks to be an expensive failure. Rather than transferring risk to the private sector, it turns out to be the usual scam of privatising profits and socialising losses.”
Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:33 am, July 3rd, 2019 - 98 comments
John Tamihere has caused jaws throughout the region to drop by proposing that half of Watercare is privatised.
Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:50 am, June 28th, 2019 - 105 comments
On behalf of the National Party Judith Collins has offered to help Labour deal with the housing crisis, the one that National is responsible for.
Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:20 am, January 17th, 2019 - 318 comments
Five years on how are the benefits from the Mixed Ownership Model privatisation process the last Government engaged in working out?
Written By: Bill - Date published: 11:19 am, August 10th, 2018 - 30 comments
No-one reading this blog would willfully offer support to an ideology that’s killing people, right?
Written By: Guest post - Date published: 4:12 pm, June 18th, 2017 - 19 comments
The Wellington Regional Council has contracted its bus services but not protected its drivers’ incomes. They stand to lose an average of $200 a week.
And Wellington risks losing the great public transport system it is so proud of.
Written By: notices and features - Date published: 12:01 pm, June 9th, 2017 - 24 comments
Two public meetings are being held next week to shine a light on the government’s Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. It would allow the Minister for Tertiary Education – currently Epsom’s Paul Goldsmith – to take public funds away from universities, polytechs and wānanga and give them to private companies. It’s another […]
Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:59 am, May 19th, 2017 - 134 comments
The Government is attempting through coercion and cajoling to get Auckland Council to privatise Ports of Auckland.
Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:30 am, February 7th, 2017 - 78 comments
Some time in the next 12 months it is likely that the forgone dividend payments and loss in share value from the Power Company shares and Air NZ share sale will be greater than the amount received, only three years after the sale.
Written By: KJT - Date published: 12:21 pm, July 15th, 2016 - 23 comments
The fiction that National is doing a competent job of managing the economy is entirely due, now that the boom from Dairy and Christchurch rebuilding is ending, to immigration and rising house prices.
They are now riding a bolting horse that they cannot dismount, caused by their own inaction.
Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:24 am, May 28th, 2016 - 172 comments
It’s naked panic now. In response to the crisis that isn’t a crisis Key is going to overrule the council that his government created and screw over Auckland democracy just like he screwed over Canterbury. What do you think of that Aucklanders?
Written By: Colonial Viper - Date published: 10:23 am, May 8th, 2016 - 28 comments
Lynton Crosby on his knees receiving a knighthood for services to conservative politics. To me, this really signals who is running the show, who is still running the show, and what their values are.
Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:42 am, March 31st, 2016 - 67 comments
Flogging off Kiwibank is not an option.
Written By: BLiP - Date published: 9:30 am, February 16th, 2016 - 101 comments
‘ In between slurping simpers during his most recent session of MediaWorks virtual fellatio, John ‘The Liar’ Key managed to express concern for the emotional well being of Cantabrians after yet another earthquake rattled their region. Whether John Key is actually concerned is moot, but he is certainly in a position to know there is real […]
Written By: notices and features - Date published: 1:16 pm, February 10th, 2016 - 50 comments
“There is a pristine piece of beach and bush in the heart of the Abel Tasman up for private sale. Together we can buy it and gift it to NZ.”
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