democratic participation

Govt tries to silence dissent

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 9:32 am, December 5th, 2009 - 32 comments

The Government, stung by criticism of its inept education policies, is trying to silence teachers. Their plan is to make teachers, principals, and Board of Trustee members subject to the public service code of conduct. The, which currently applies only to people in the core public service (the ones the Right calls bureaucrats) bars people […]

Equality Trust

Written By: the sprout - Date published: 2:45 pm, November 10th, 2009 - 4 comments

Fancy a link to a well laid-out repository of comparative social statistics with sound credentials, all arranged to demonstrate why inequality is bad for society? Here you go.

$15 minimum wage, it’s only fair

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 1:00 pm, October 29th, 2009 - 4 comments

The campaign for a $15 an hour minimum wage is gathering pace. Initially, Unite kind of set out on their own on this one but I understand they’ve got other unions on boards now. They need a bit over 300,000 signatures to force the government to hold a referendum. They’ve got until May 7, just […]

Battle to keep MMP set to heat up

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 1:00 pm, October 21st, 2009 - 13 comments

It’s a pretty special situation where you get praise just for not cheating but John Armstrong heaps it on Simon Power today. Power has gone with the only acceptable structure for a vote on MMP. A two-stage decision where we first decide whether we want change and indicate our preferred alternative then, if a majority […]

Condoms and democracy

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 12:30 pm, September 14th, 2009 - 36 comments

Have to disagree with Zet’s call for Labour to ‘just put it away‘ on the remit to conference calling for subsidised condoms in shops to help reduce unplanned pregnancies and our high rate of sexually transmitted diseases. Sure, if Labour were putting it up as a policy priority there might be an argument. I’m completely […]

Politically illiterate authoritarian git

Written By: lprent - Date published: 11:00 am, September 3rd, 2009 - 71 comments

There are an interesting couple of posts over at Red Alert about an editorial in the Dominion Post yesterday. Grant Robertson describes it as a bitter diatribe. Trevor Mallard thinks it is a bit over the top. I think that the editor who wrote it is an authoritarian git who really needs to consider why […]

Snake oil

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 1:16 pm, August 25th, 2009 - 18 comments

I’m surprised that the Maori Party have rolled over so easily on the issue of Maori seats on the Auckland council. I will be even more surprised if the Maori people follow suit. Because they have every right to be angry. Remember what Key said of the Hikoi? The hikoi was sparked over the dumping […]

Wellington fundraisers

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 8:59 am, August 12th, 2009 - 5 comments

Two cool fundraisers coming up for the Greens and Labour. The Greens are holding a screening of Kiwi ‘s The Age of Stupid, a movie set in 2055 looking back at today and asking the painful, obvious question – ‘if we could see all these problems of resource exhaustion, pollution, cliamte change, and over-population coming, […]

Uncowed

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 12:57 pm, August 6th, 2009 - 9 comments

Shh. Hear that sound? It’s National’s mud throwing machine gearing up again. Inevitably, they’ve released Labour’s ministers’ spending. No evidence of any rort but the big numbers work into the media narrative. It’s all about taking the focus off ministers ripping us off by taking allowances they shouldn’t and making it ‘gosh, everyone spends lots huh?’. […]

Linton Kwesi Johnson: FITE DEM BACK

Written By: the sprout - Date published: 12:15 pm, August 1st, 2009 - 6 comments

Coverage round-up: Bully Bennett

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 10:22 am, July 29th, 2009 - 71 comments

Sean Plunkett: Being vocal in a democracy shouldn’t mean you lose your rights and protections under the law. Tracey Watkins: “The Privacy Commissioner advises that ministers can release information about an individual who has criticised a department but only that which is “relevant to the issues raised by the individual”. I would take that to […]

Fighting the dittoheads

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 9:03 pm, July 20th, 2009 - 44 comments

One of the great strengths of the Right is that the rank and file supporters are such slavish followers of their leaders. It comes from the whole ‘triumph of the will’ mentality – ‘that dude’s rich and powerful, ipso facto, I must respect him and if I’m gonna get rich and powerful I’ll have to copy him’. It […]

Nats attack workers’ right to protest

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 11:59 am, July 1st, 2009 - 55 comments

I am outraged to learn that the Department of Labour told its employees they were not allowed attend the pay equity rally at Parliament yesterday. A leaked email from the department to its staff said: “Attendance at such a demonstration may well be perceived as crossing the line by criticising a decision of the Government. […]

What is campaigning?

Written By: rocky - Date published: 10:38 am, June 23rd, 2009 - 45 comments

As widely predicted, Christine Rankin is continuing to cause embarrassment for the government. She is now succeeding in making the Prime Minister look weak, as despite blatantly ignoring his warnings, he seems unwilling to sack her. From John Key’s post-cabinet press conference just last week (15th June): Question: The families commission’s come out in support […]

‘Supercity’ Select Committee Submissions Workshop

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 4:30 pm, June 18th, 2009 - Comments Off on ‘Supercity’ Select Committee Submissions Workshop

The University of Auckland’s Political Studies Department is hosting a free public workshop presented by Rob Thomas to assist people interested in making submissions to the Select Committee on Auckland’s Governance. This is a non-partisan community event to encourage community participation in the decision making process. At the workshop we will: Discuss a brief history of the Local […]