labour
Categories under labour
- No categories
And Fairfax makes three
Written By: - Date published: 11:03 am, December 9th, 2012 - 56 comments
After good news for Labour in the most recent TV1 and 3 News polls, the latest Fairfax poll is the third in the set confirming that the party has emerged from the recent media circus in OK shape. As far as I know that’s the last big poll of 2012, and with the Left / Right gap halved since the election, a reasonable place for Labour to be sitting at the end of the year.
The enemy is still not your friend
Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, December 8th, 2012 - 95 comments
It’s pretty clear: the Greens have managed to hold on to the massive gain they made during the last election campaign, largely at Labour’s expense as it imploded. Labour’s back to its pre-campaign level, at National’s expense. Lab+Green=Nat or thereabouts but the Left needs a good 5% more from the Right to feel confident. So, this is not the time to be listening to John Armstrong’s advice.
Protest! Asset Sales – TPPA
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, December 8th, 2012 - 51 comments
Yesterday evening there was an Aotearoa Not For Sale protest in Auckland: 350,000 signatures achieved! Today, Sat 8 Dec, Day of Action against TPPA: NELSON – noon: AUCKLAND – march leaves Aotea Sq at 2.00 pm sharp! [Update: only news when there’s violence!]
Shearer Says
Written By: - Date published: 5:33 pm, December 7th, 2012 - 40 comments
David Shearer’s weekly e-newsletter, this week on the Auckland tornado, and the emergency response.
We’re happy to post similar newsletters from other opposition leaders – our email is on our contact page.
Just how wrong can you get it?
Written By: - Date published: 9:03 pm, December 6th, 2012 - 164 comments
Word is that a senior Labour MP (who will go unnamed) has been lobbying National Council to put rules in place for party members who participate in the blogosphere.
When ideology fails: a Dickensian Govt
Written By: - Date published: 10:05 am, December 6th, 2012 - 53 comments
The Key government’s sham and failed ideology of freedom and democracy can be seen in two Bills that were before the House this week. This government is increasingly autocratic and anti-democratic, while enabling the powerful to exploit and control the powerless, including children.
Who in the House is for beneficiaries?
Written By: - Date published: 11:01 am, December 5th, 2012 - 64 comments
Yesterday Jacinda Ardern questioned Paula Bennett on WINZ paying for beneficiaries to travel to Aussie to get jobs. Did she highlight the government’s poor record on jobs, or inadvertently trigger more MSM bennie-bashing? Do any MPs raise their voices strongly beneficiaries?
Ministers in a Lab/Green govt
Written By: - Date published: 7:32 am, December 4th, 2012 - 143 comments
Paddy Gower looked fit to burst with excitement over ‘Greens and Labour fighting over Finance portfolio‘ last night. Of course, the actual quote not so exciting – just Russel Norman saying it was one portfolio that would be the subject of negotiations in the formation of a Lab/Green govt. But it does raise a valid question – who would be ministers in a Lab/Green govt?
Taking the gap
Written By: - Date published: 12:23 pm, December 3rd, 2012 - 157 comments
Russel Norman’s taken advantage of the gap in Labour’s economic skills and vague positioning to cement the Greens as the main alternative voice on economics. Labour lacks any strong economic voice now Cunliffe’s on the outer, and they don’t know where they stand – they attack National but essentially adopt their neoliberal approach.
Two good polls for Labour and Shearer
Written By: - Date published: 6:07 pm, December 2nd, 2012 - 122 comments
Individual polls are nothing to get too excited about, it is the trend over time that matters. That said, the TV1 and 3 News polls tonight were both good news for Labour and Shearer.
JT, eh?
Written By: - Date published: 5:05 pm, December 2nd, 2012 - 78 comments
John Tamihere’s been let back into the party. On one hand it’s just a party membership and Labour’s a broad church. On the other hand he’s professed a desire to stand for Labour in Waitakeri, has made a big show and dance about his attempts to join, and was (still is?) a man who regularly had a wine in Ponsonby with the party leader.
Shearer Says
Written By: - Date published: 3:24 pm, November 30th, 2012 - 161 comments
David Shearer’s weekly e-newsletter, this week on “100% Pure”, climate change and our environmental reputation.
We’re happy to post similar newsletters from other opposition leaders – our email is on our contact page.
Make a submission to the manufacturing inquiry – today!
Written By: - Date published: 1:22 pm, November 30th, 2012 - 28 comments
Over the past four years 40,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost (and over a thousand manufacturing companies have shut up shop). The government is in full denial, so the opposition parties have set up their own inquiry. Today is the last day for submissions.
“Name” journalism & voter dis-engagement
Written By: - Date published: 8:55 am, November 29th, 2012 - 76 comments
Criticism of “anonymous” bloggers is a symptom of change that threatens to make politics more democratic. The rise of “name” journalism and infotainment have increased voter dis-engagement. However, well-managed blogging (by any name) can contribute to democratic re-engagement.
The Hobbit episode II… continues…
Written By: - Date published: 11:59 am, November 27th, 2012 - 103 comments
Today The Hobbit employment dispute is revived, exposing gaps between principle and practice. Jackson defends his role; some of Labour’s ABC club will attend the premier; John Key-speak weaves a contradictory path of populist nonsense, linking the movie, 100%Pure, 100% Middle-earth and Macdonald’s.
A new house every 13 minutes
Written By: - Date published: 10:58 am, November 27th, 2012 - 82 comments
KiwiBuild has the Nats rattled. It’s difficult to oppose a program that creates both affordable housing and jobs, but they’re doing their best. One of their lines is that NZ can’t build houses that quickly. They’re wrong – here’s why.
Doing Shearer’s job for him
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, November 27th, 2012 - 54 comments
I’m tired of watching Labour flounder over how it will build $300K homes in Auckland. The answer’s simple: they’ll mostly be apartments, units, and townhouses. Not much land cost. Reduced build cost per dwelling. Check out Trade Me, houses for sale in Auckland, 2 bedrooms+, priced $250-$300K. There’s hundreds (but not enough). Clearly, it can be done.
Medium density housing is now the Auckland way
Written By: - Date published: 9:19 am, November 27th, 2012 - 35 comments
It was clear that someone wasn’t doing their job in briefing. Sure a section of land sufficient to build a traditional 3 bedroom house in Auckland is bloody expensive and would cost as much as Labour’s budgeted amounts in KiwiBuild. That is obvious. So don’t build those types of property. Build something that requires less land. A brief lookup on my single bedroom studio Grey Lynn/Newton apartment shows a land value of $85k. A 3 bedroom townhouse down the road has a land value of $170k
Why I will party vote for the Greens
Written By: - Date published: 2:24 pm, November 26th, 2012 - 169 comments
I’m tired of watching the Labour caucus screwing up the left’s chances of winning the treasury benches. I don’t really trust them to be competent to implement any new ideas if they control parliament. And most of their recent ideas are just warmed over ideas from the Greens. The caucus stupidity over the last week has convinced me to eliminate the middle-man and leave the Labour whips to enjoy their busted trophy.
The Auckland property market
Written By: - Date published: 7:29 am, November 26th, 2012 - 195 comments
The Auckland property market is back through the roof again, as well covered in The Herald this weekend. Labour’s solution is to build more houses. National’s “solution” is to complain about Labour’s solution.
Shearer Says
Written By: - Date published: 11:45 am, November 24th, 2012 - 131 comments
David Shearer’s weekly e-newsletter, this week on Labour’s Conference, and leadership.
We’re happy to post similar newsletters from other opposition leaders – our email is on our contact page.
A stronger mandate for the Labour leader?
Written By: - Date published: 9:25 am, November 24th, 2012 - 199 comments
A Labour Party member writes, praising Labour for the new democratic reforms, and calling for David Shearer to submit his leadership to the new Party selection process: “David Shearer, you need a mandate from this new organisation, not a prop-up from the shards of the old one. Give us this chance to really unite behind you, or your successor, and give you the backing you surely will have earned”.
Poverty Watch 13
Written By: - Date published: 8:28 am, November 24th, 2012 - 24 comments
Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, while National sits on its hands, Labour set out a policy that addresses poverty, housing and health…
Democracy is not the problem
Written By: - Date published: 8:50 am, November 23rd, 2012 - 47 comments
During the Labour conference, Armstrong patronisingly wrote “delegates were so blinded and so intoxicated by the prospect of securing a say in the election of future leaders that they did not think through the consequences”. Old Tories hate democracy. But it’s disappointing that Garner made the same mistakes. Democracy doesn’t weaken, it strengthens – ask the Greens.
A party finds its voice
Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, November 23rd, 2012 - 77 comments
After Labour’s Conference a lot of media attention has focused on the constitutional changes relating to leadership. But other changes were even more important. Members will develop policy, and the process has become much more effective and more open. The policy platform will be binding on MPs – and is the package that will be taken to the electorate.
Gender, politics & NZ LP conference 2012
Written By: - Date published: 10:38 am, November 22nd, 2012 - 140 comments
The Labour Party are giving serious attention to the unacceptable gender inequalities in MP numbers and in pay. The Greens are leading in tackling the underlying masculine framework of politics and employment, and, along with Mana, unpaid work.
A good time to join Labour
Written By: - Date published: 8:05 am, November 22nd, 2012 - 185 comments
Well there’s not been so much focus on the Labour Party for a long time so I figure now’s the time to point out that, thanks to rule changes (and not just the contentious ones) holding a Labour Party membership has never meant so much in terms of having a say in where the party (and hopefully, after 2014, the country) goes.
KiwiBuild roundup
Written By: - Date published: 7:41 am, November 22nd, 2012 - 144 comments
Media reaction to KiwiBuild has been largely positive, the policy is described as “bold”, “brave”, and (just as important!) – “do able”. I’m sticking with my first reaction, this is a historic policy.
After the firefight
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 pm, November 21st, 2012 - 128 comments
The results are in, the dust is settling – but where to now for Labour when the cries for “unity” seem to be more about making one side STFU?
In other news: the failings of Key’s government
Written By: - Date published: 10:57 am, November 21st, 2012 - 20 comments
John Key’s crony-capitalist, neoliberal government is failing NZ on the environment, affordable housing, and a living wage. Mana and the Greens are leading the way on affordable housing and anti-poverty campaigns. The Greens still lead the way on pressing environmental issues.
KiwiBuild vs. what?
Written By: - Date published: 10:04 am, November 21st, 2012 - 50 comments
KiwiBuild is an excellent policy that would make a real difference to housing, jobs, and the economy in NZ. John Key’s critique had all the credibility you’d expect from the man whose major economic policy was a cycleway.
The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.
Recent Comments