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Quoting out of context

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 11:54 am, November 10th, 2007 - 19 comments

DPF and the National Party have made much of a Helen Clark quote unearthed from her conference speech in 2000 on tax cuts. I’ve just read it on Kiwiblog and was puzzled by the elipsis in the middle. DPF writes: “Tax cuts are a path to inequality… They are the promises of visionless and intellectually […]

Record low unemployment: 3.5%

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 3:09 am, November 10th, 2007 - 3 comments

From Ruth Dyson’s press release: The latest Household Labour Force Survey quarterly results from Statistics NZ confirm the Labour-led government’s employment policies and responsible economic management, says Social Development and Employment Minister Ruth Dyson. “The record low level of unemployment of 3.5 per cent is the lowest rate since the Survey began.”

Why’d you do it Chris?

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 11:03 am, November 8th, 2007 - 19 comments

Chris Knox had a good piece in the Dom Post today explaining why he wrote Labour’s new campaign song. Here’s an extract: Good grief! I’ve gone and written a campaign song for a mainstream political party! Could I possibly be the same Chris Knox who has consistently railed against all forms of conformity, intellectual blandness […]

Running like a well oiled machine

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 9:46 am, November 8th, 2007 - 1 comment

Watching party conference made me think of this old ad – when it all lines up great things can happen. Fortunately for Honda they didn’t have to contend with Len Richards on the set…

Labour’s earworm

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 3:59 pm, November 5th, 2007 - 35 comments

powered by ODEO Written by Chris Knox, the song should come with a warning. Having heard it once, you’re unlikely to be able to forget it. Download it here (MP3 – 2Mb). Lyrics below. It’s a Better Way with Labour Chris Knox We’re a part of the Pacific Independent, proud and free And no power […]

Twins?

Written By: Tane - Date published: 12:26 pm, November 5th, 2007 - 2 comments

A mate just sent through this pic from the Labour Party conference. That’s EPMU president Don Pryde on the left and fellow Dunedinite Chris Trotter on the right, apparently caught as they were heading for the bar. The resemblance is uncanny.

Another challenger for Dunedin South

Written By: Tane - Date published: 4:48 pm, November 1st, 2007 - 14 comments

Newstalk ZB reports that failed Dunedin Mayoral candidate Olivier Lequeux has put his name forward to challenge the Labour selection in Dunedin South. According to ZB: Mr Lequeux says Labour approached him to put his name forward. He is now in Auckland meeting with party officials. This strikes me as highly unlikely. My sources tell […]

Barnett not standing in Chch Central

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 2:29 pm, October 31st, 2007 - 2 comments

Latest reports suggest that Tim Barnett will not be standing for Christchurch Central in next year’s election but may still stand on Labour’s list.

Reshuffle

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 12:39 pm, October 31st, 2007 - 28 comments

Three new cabinet ministers (Maharey’s retiring, Burton’s returned to the backbench, and Benson-Pope’s old place was still open): Steve Chadwick becomes Minister of Conservation, Women’s Affairs, and Associate Health Maryan Street becomes Minister of Housing, Minister for ACC, along with Associate Minister for Economic Development and Associate Tertiary Education Shane Jones becomes Minister for Building […]

Pryde of the South

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 2:33 pm, October 30th, 2007 - 22 comments

Interesting to see EPMU President Don Pryde has thrown his hat in the ring for the Dunedin South seat and has the full backing of his union. Having met Don at a conference a few years ago I’ve got to say I was taken by his level-headedness and the way he’d think before passing comment […]

Key losing his mojo

Written By: Tillerman - Date published: 4:25 pm, October 29th, 2007 - 51 comments

Pol science lecturer and commentator Jon Johansson has given a lucid and scholarly account of the inexorable decline of John Key and National’s prospects. In a speech to the NZ First conference at the weekend. Johansson told delegates that after a promising beginning, Key has started to “unevenly walk the new generation walk…” An excerpt: […]

Debate allegedly turns physical

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 11:35 am, October 25th, 2007 - 31 comments

The Press reports that Trevor Mallard allegedly slapped or hit Tau Henare after the National MP made references to Mallard’s personal life in the Debating Chamber. Henare yesterday wouldn’t say whether he had been struck or not. The PM was reportedly unimpressed and commented “both men should look in the mirror”. Apparently an apology was […]

Social report

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 5:18 pm, October 19th, 2007 - 3 comments

The Ministry of Social Development’s Annual Social Report is worth a read. It shows good progress across a range of social indicators, but also that there’s still more to do. If memory serves me correctly, the importance of an Annual Social Report was a cause championed by Steve Maharey back in 2001 – it’s now […]

Relief?

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 3:23 pm, October 18th, 2007 - 31 comments

Look Mike, I know you know about the polls and I know you’re probably thinking about what you can do to turn things around. Well, I’ve got one little idea. Stop using their language. It’s pretty simple really – I mean it’s not gonna win the game or anything but it’d be a damn good […]

All Black is New Zealand

Written By: Z K Muggletonspofin - Date published: 3:32 pm, September 22nd, 2007 - 5 comments

Symbolism should never be underestimated in life, as it can’t be in sport and politics. Take the Rugby World Cup where the symbolism of the All Blacks has prompted many New Zealanders to scornfully view the French team’s sudden change of playing strip to dark blue. Sacrebleu, what’s going on? This means that, if the […]

TradeMe talk turns political

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 11:52 am, September 19th, 2007 - 1 comment

A reader has just alerted us that there’s a political discussion raging on a thread over at the TradeMe message boards. Looks like users there aren’t so keen to trade Helen and Labour for John and the Nats.

130,000 people have enrolled with Kiwisaver

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 11:33 am, September 6th, 2007 - Comments Off on 130,000 people have enrolled with Kiwisaver

Here’s the press release with a bit more detail.

Mo(o)re on “personal attacks”

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 3:13 pm, August 31st, 2007 - Comments Off on Mo(o)re on “personal attacks”

Item on Stuff yesterday interviewing Barry Gustafson, the author of His Way, a biography of Robert Muldoon (Auckland University Press, 2000): Professor of politics Barry Gustafson said Miss Clark seldom indulged in personal politics and the attack was a bit unfair. “If anyone has been on the receiving end of some pretty nasty rumours and […]

Tempo’s Choice

Written By: Tillerman - Date published: 9:35 pm, August 15th, 2007 - Comments Off on Tempo’s Choice

Ian Templeton, doyen of the parliamentary press gallery, was on Close-up this evening talking about the extraordinary 50 years that he’s been getting up close and personal with politicians. Interesting that he named Helen Clark as the best of the bunch of the dozen or so prime ministers that he’s reported on. And remember the […]