national/act government

Categories under national/act government

Sheepgate: the McCully mess

Written By: - Date published: 8:33 am, June 3rd, 2015 - 20 comments

The media have joined opposition demands that Murray McCully’s actions in relation to sheepgate are investigated.  If John Key really expects high standards from his ministers this is the least that should be done.  Update: And a claimed “independent audit” of the tender process was conducted by none other than MFAT.

Government incompetence threatens Relationships Aotearoa

Written By: - Date published: 11:19 am, May 26th, 2015 - 48 comments

Government incompetence, drastic cuts in funding and a refusal to provide a helping hand is likely to cause the closure of Relationships Aotearoa, a charitable entity that has existed in one form or another since 1949.

Is Maurice Williamson jumping ship?

Written By: - Date published: 2:30 pm, May 25th, 2015 - 50 comments

Rumours are surfacing that Maurice Williamson wanted to jump ship to Act but was turned down.

Superannuation and Government forecasts

Written By: - Date published: 9:31 am, May 25th, 2015 - 197 comments

National has again refused to consider doing anything about the future of Superannuation.  Yet its policies of increasing Crown debt, stopping contributions to the Cullen Fund and attacking Kiwisaver have made a discussion about the future of superannuation more important than ever.

Herald praises Cunliffe for CGT policy

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, May 19th, 2015 - 29 comments

The Herald has praised David Cunliffe with changing public opinion about the introduction of a capital gains tax. And rubbished John Key’s suggestion that the announced limited tax on increasing housing values is not a capital gains tax.

CGT: the focus groups made Key do it

Written By: - Date published: 8:42 am, May 18th, 2015 - 39 comments

According to John Key the proposed tax on capital gains if a property is sold within two years of purchase is not a capital gains tax, there is no housing bubble in Auckland, and the proposed new tax does not represent a complete about face by the Government.

Human Synergistics, Richard Prebble, and the end of government

Written By: - Date published: 6:08 am, May 17th, 2015 - 64 comments

Back in March 1988 David Lange had a clear idea about what lay ahead for New Zealanders as the long-term consequences of Roger Douglas’ psychopathic worshipping of the metaphysical Invisible Hand gradually materialised.

Auditor General rules on Dirty Politics allegation

Written By: - Date published: 8:33 am, May 16th, 2015 - 46 comments

The Auditor General has decided that Katherine Rich, head of the Food and Grocery Council which includes Coca Cola as well as Alcohol and Tobacco interests has no conflict in being a member of the Health Promotion Agency, a quango with the role of supporting healthy lifestyles.

Finlayson calls Key wild eyed on National Radio

Written By: - Date published: 8:28 am, May 15th, 2015 - 23 comments

Chris Finlayson has described a comment made by John Key as “wild eyed stuff” on National Radio,

National’s innumeracy and Auckland’s Housing crisis

Written By: - Date published: 10:19 am, May 11th, 2015 - 23 comments

Radio New Zealand’s Todd Niall has investigated figures recently advanced by Simon Bridges and Nick Smith used to attack Auckland Council and has discovered that the figures are somewhat rubbery.

Joyce’s $1,248 taxi ride

Written By: - Date published: 12:02 pm, May 1st, 2015 - 52 comments

Stephen Joyce has spent $1,248 keeping a taxi waiting for him in Sydney for nine hours. The level of  born to rule arrogance displayed has been unmatched for some time.

The implications of Winston Peters’ Northland win

Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, April 4th, 2015 - 90 comments

John Armstrong in the Herald and Tracy Watkins in the Dominion Post have both written opinion pieces on the implications of Winston Peters’ win in Northland which reach very similar conclusions.

Some random thoughts on the Northland result

Written By: - Date published: 9:51 am, March 29th, 2015 - 62 comments

Winston Peters’ win in Northland yesterday was based on turnout that was significantly higher than turnout for any other recent by election.  And occurred in no small part because of some adept handling of messaging of support by Andrew Little.

Anti TPPA Rallies this Saturday

Written By: - Date published: 3:00 pm, March 6th, 2015 - 11 comments

  For details of protest action nearest to you check out the itsourfuture website.

Why are we going to war?

Written By: - Date published: 8:20 am, March 4th, 2015 - 125 comments

National’s justification for going to war against ISIS suffers from two fundamental problems, it is supporting an Iraqi regime that is corrupt and working against the best interests of all of its people, and there is no plan to convert Iraq into a sustainable state.

Politician salary rises and the minimum wage increase

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, February 27th, 2015 - 106 comments

John Key has yet again asked the Remuneration Authority to limit the increase in MPs pay.  And yet again they have said that the law required them to make the decision they did.  So MPs get a hefty raise at the same time that the minimum wage is raised slightly.  And the media report Key’s comments sympathetically.  He is the Prime Minister.  If anyone can change the law he is the person best placed.

Bain’s compensation claim

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, February 20th, 2015 - 293 comments

Amy Adams announced yesterday that $600,000 worth of legal reports about the Bain claim for compensation were going to be junked.  Judith Collins has some explaining to do.

Novopay cost us $45 million

Written By: - Date published: 7:56 am, February 19th, 2015 - 102 comments

It was announced yesterday that Novopay has cost the country $45 million more than intended. The Ministry of Education has accepted some responsibility but in terms of ultimate responsibility the Ministers involved, English, Parata and Foss should be held to blame.

Third termitis

Written By: - Date published: 9:44 am, February 15th, 2015 - 69 comments

The John Key led National Government is showing signs of third termitis.  Symptoms are a confusion of the national interest with National Party political interests, a willingness to sell state houses and pay the proceeds to large corporates when even your best friends are saying don’t, a staleness and inability to handle issues properly and being completely bereft of new ideas to improve the country.  The condition is almost inevitably terminal.

Aussies & US mount opposition to TPPA – but in NZ we just keep nodding

Written By: - Date published: 2:56 pm, February 14th, 2015 - 47 comments

So much to sell, so little time… When this Government is finished selling, we will have sold our right to make laws for ourselves too. Be under no doubt, if the effect of bringing in a law for the health and well being of Kiwis will cost a corporate millions of dollars, part of their lobbying after the TPP, will be threatening to  sue the taxpayers of NZ and watch such a Bill slip into obscurity. And those corporates wielding that power? Most will never pay a cent of tax into the coffers of NZ taxpayers.

 

 

Paula Bennett and beneficiaries should be given the benefit of the doubt

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, February 13th, 2015 - 33 comments

A staffer in Paula Bennett’s ministerial office has apparently mistakenly withdrawn cash from the Ministerial credit card.  The money has been paid back and no harm caused and no further action should be necessary.  If only Bennett extended to beneficiaries the same tolerance of predictable mistakes.

Police told the Government about Sabin’s problems

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, February 7th, 2015 - 218 comments

Police Commissioner Mike Bush has essentially confirmed that under the no surprises policy the Police told either Anne Tolley or Michael Woodhouse or both about the Police investigation into Mike Sabin. The issue will be when they were told. If this occurred before the time that Labour told the Prime Minister’s office about Sabin’s difficulties the veracity of what John Key has told us will have to be questioned.

A calculated feeding of the beasts within

Written By: - Date published: 2:13 pm, February 5th, 2015 - 76 comments

The social democracy of my youth has radically collapsed into our current culture of individualism, privatisation and personal greed.

The Sabin issue timeline

Written By: - Date published: 12:08 pm, February 3rd, 2015 - 277 comments

An analysis of the timeline and a reading of Cameron Slater’s comments concerning Mike Sabin raises real questions about the veracity of what Key has been saying to the media.  Update:  It appears that David Garrett and Rodney Hide have expressed views wondering if Key’s statement about when he was told is actually correct. Update:  And Matthew Hooton suggests that the Police may have advised the Government of the invesigation.

John Key’s housing announcement

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, January 29th, 2015 - 119 comments

John Key’s housing announcement contained very little new information. Work has been put in for the past couple of years in developing the policy. The net effect will be that the Government will have more money for other capital projects not related to emergency housing. It will keep its fingers crossed that charities can pick up the slack. And the risk is that not one new house will be constructed at a time of intense need.

RMA reforms … be very afraid

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, January 20th, 2015 - 97 comments

Nick Smith today announced proposed changes to the Resource Management Act. It is likely he will resuscitate the reforms that were stalled after Peter Dunne refused to support them last year. ACT’s David Seymour has said he will support the changes even though he did not know what they are. Treasury are to release a paper with proposals for change. Updated lprent – yep National stupidity reprised.

Where have all the houses gone?

Written By: - Date published: 7:10 am, January 20th, 2015 - 131 comments

Yesterday it was announced that Auckland is the ninth least affordable city in the world requiring 8.3 times their average wage to buy a home. Reducing regulation hasn’t worked, otherwise more than 20 homes would have been built under the 2013 fast track accord. The problem is a shortage of affordable housing.

What should John Key do in 2015?

Written By: - Date published: 9:57 am, January 18th, 2015 - 39 comments

James Griffin has written a tongue in cheek article on what John Key should be doing this year. But the article is full of political fluff and has no real proposals for action. What should John Key be doing this year?

The Hypocrisy of Hate

Written By: - Date published: 4:07 pm, January 11th, 2015 - 223 comments

You’d think that with all the WW1 commemorations going on at the moment it would make us more vigilant about our freedom and security, not sleep-walking towards another Holy Crusade (in the name of the God of Money and Father of Fossil Fuels), seduced by slick liars and the gods of commercialism and greed.

One word away from needing food parcels

Written By: - Date published: 1:05 pm, December 24th, 2014 - 71 comments

The smug middle class National voter seems oblivious to how close they are to financial hardship…

Power poverty on the up

Written By: - Date published: 8:18 am, December 19th, 2014 - 56 comments

The government has failed to tackle NZ’s on-going housing crisis. Fuel/energy poverty is increasing, with a higher proportion of households unable to afford any heating.  More Kiwis are renting than in the 2006 census, & more Aucklanders live in over-crowded households.