Politics

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

Categories under Politics

Celebrating the ending of a policy that no longer exists

Written By: - Date published: 9:22 am, May 15th, 2024 - 31 comments

As part of its coalition agreement NZ First is wanting to end a policy that has already ended. And the Government is struggling to work out what to do.

Court of Appeal rules against Chhour

Written By: - Date published: 7:51 am, May 15th, 2024 - 16 comments

The Court of Appeal has ruled that the summons issued to Children’s Minister Karen Chhour was valid but decline to enforce it as the date has passed. And the Government has hastily introduced the bill to stop any further action being taken by the Tribunal.

The Waitangi Tribunal v Karen Chhour

Written By: - Date published: 10:08 am, May 12th, 2024 - 109 comments

The Waitangi Tribunal has released a scathing interim decision relating to the Government’s intention to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989.

BHN livestream: Foreshore and Seabed doco, Fast Track protests, and Whaikaha name removal

Written By: - Date published: 7:19 pm, May 8th, 2024 - 3 comments

Livestream from 9pm tonight.

A one term Government?

Written By: - Date published: 10:16 am, May 5th, 2024 - 86 comments

The Government is less than 12 months away from a change in the Deputy Prime Ministership and the transition will be a smooth one. Labour needs to be getting ready now. Because for the first time in this Country’s history this could be a one term National led Government.

In defence of Julie Anne Genter

Written By: - Date published: 9:01 pm, May 2nd, 2024 - 203 comments

Yesterday in Parliament Julie Anne Genter lost her cool when Matt Doocey misrepresented what the last Government’s NLTP priorities were. Should she be sanctioned? Or should she get a medal for pointing out that Doocey was totally wrong?

MPs pay increases

Written By: - Date published: 8:57 am, May 1st, 2024 - 94 comments

The Remuneration Authority has announced that MPs will be getting a 10% increase in their salaries during the course of this Parliament.

Right wing plunges in latest poll

Written By: - Date published: 6:05 pm, April 29th, 2024 - 52 comments

The latest One News Verian poll suggests that the right is in trouble.

The Treaty of Waitangi and Oranga Tamariki

Written By: - Date published: 4:35 pm, April 29th, 2024 - 8 comments

Treaty of Waitangi

Minister for Children Karen Chhour has resisted attempts by the Waitangi Tribunal to get her to explain how removing requirements to improve outcomes for Māori children is not a breach of the Treaty.

The Jack Tame and James Shaw korero

Written By: - Date published: 9:54 am, April 29th, 2024 - 22 comments

This is politics as it should and could be: human, honest while retaining boundaries, insightful without the need for politicking.

This is fine

Written By: - Date published: 8:50 am, April 27th, 2024 - 8 comments

There is absolutely nothing to worry about if the Fast-track Approvals Bill gets passed into law and Shane Jones gets extraordinary powers to decide on consent applications which normally would be subject to enormous rigour and oversight.

NZ White Rural Rage

Written By: - Date published: 7:58 am, April 27th, 2024 - 14 comments

What is really going on in the minds of

New Zealand Needs a Security Alliance Fast

Written By: - Date published: 12:09 pm, April 25th, 2024 - 21 comments

Who will defend us when the military chaos now expanding in the world finally hits hard in our region, because that is what is really happening.

Goneburger

Written By: - Date published: 1:04 pm, April 24th, 2024 - 55 comments

As predicted 10 days ago the first Ministerial goneburger has occurred and it is Melissa Lee.

What does this Government have against the environment

Written By: - Date published: 11:05 am, April 24th, 2024 - 5 comments

It is almost as if the environment was really cruel to senior members of the Government when they were kids. But whatever the reason this Government appears to be intent on wrecking the local environment with a degree of vengeance and stupidity not seen before.

It’s not a culture war, it’s a class war, and the left should be naming it as such

Written By: - Date published: 10:23 am, April 24th, 2024 - 34 comments

The culture wars exist, and they are a tool weaponised in the class war.

The list

Written By: - Date published: 10:14 am, April 21st, 2024 - 11 comments

Making a major infrastructure deal happen takes years of planning, exceptionally qualified people on all sides, and in New Zealand it takes about ten years of your life. Until now.

The Liz Truss of the South Seas

Written By: - Date published: 9:43 am, April 21st, 2024 - 35 comments

Liz Truss’s short reign as UK Prime Minister foundered after her budget requiring borrowing to fund tax cuts was released. The budget tanked the UK economy and caused Truss’s resignation. This week amongst announcements of massive cuts it has emerged that the Government is also planning borrowing for tax cuts.

Towards Banana Republic Status

Written By: - Date published: 10:25 am, April 17th, 2024 - 27 comments

There is a bill before Parliament right now that has the potential of blowing a rather big hole in our reputation as an open and transparent democracy.

At least Chris Bishop sleeps in a well made bed

Written By: - Date published: 8:26 am, April 17th, 2024 - 85 comments

Having a decent home is a human right

On Newshub and economic voice

Written By: - Date published: 1:21 pm, April 14th, 2024 - 16 comments

Nigel Haworth writes on some of the historic implications and strategy of the worker plans for companies in the context of the worker initiated initiatives for allowing Newshub to survive.

The first Ministerial scalp?

Written By: - Date published: 10:34 am, April 14th, 2024 - 27 comments

Already we have what looks like an odds on favourite for the first Ministerial scalp.

National only wants to help tenants *

Written By: - Date published: 10:22 am, April 12th, 2024 - 48 comments

* get evicted more easily.

A sustainable environment should be a human right

Written By: - Date published: 9:18 am, April 10th, 2024 - 47 comments

James Shaw’s attempt to create a right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is expected to be voted down soon by Parliament. But the New Zealand Supreme Court as well as the European Court of Human Rights have shown a willingness to recognise a right to a sustainable environment that some politicians refuse to.

Back on Track?

Written By: - Date published: 11:05 am, April 7th, 2024 - 71 comments

National campaigned on the promise of getting the country back on track. How is it going?

The Government thinks that Local Government should determine what works best for them*

Written By: - Date published: 9:07 am, April 5th, 2024 - 22 comments

* unless they want to set up Maori wards.

Greenpeace: Luxon bulldozes on in war on nature with 90-day ‘hit list’

Written By: - Date published: 3:17 pm, April 2nd, 2024 - 5 comments

Greenpeace is calling the Government’s new policy priority list “the next onslaught in the war on nature” following Christopher Luxon’s announcement this morning.

The future of UK Labour and what it means for Aotearoa

Written By: - Date published: 10:09 am, April 2nd, 2024 - 55 comments

It appears almost inevitable that Keir Starmer will be the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. But his taking the party to the right and an active drive to rid the party of left wingers raises the spectre that his Goverment would be a pale immitation of its predecessors.

Guest Post – I was wrong about rainbows

Written By: - Date published: 11:41 am, April 1st, 2024 - 13 comments

Brian Tamaki, recent victim of self/God?-inflicted burns. Don't be like Brian.

Guest post by Brian Tamaki where he shares his change of thinking about rainbows.

The Culture War Coalition

Written By: - Date published: 10:57 am, March 29th, 2024 - 53 comments

We have just had yet another week of the Government manufacturing culture wars and picking fights while ignoring the big issues. Like dealing with climate change, child poverty and homelessness.

CANA: Shane Jones, Chris Bishop, and Simeon Brown want the power to authorise mines and motorways on behalf of their mates with the click of a pen. Here’s how to fight back.

Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, March 27th, 2024 - 29 comments

In reality, the Government knows that New Zealanders will be even more outraged if they see the list of environment- and climate-wrecking projects that these Ministers and their donor & industry mates have cooked up.