national
Categories under national
- same old national (1,615)
National announces receiving $1.8 million in recent donations
Written By: - Date published: 2:43 pm, April 1st, 2022 - 43 comments
National has gazumped Act’s recently announced significant donations drive and has just announced that it will shortly be filing declarations confirming that it has recently received $1.8 million in donations.
Will John Key stand for National in Tauranga
Written By: - Date published: 7:44 am, April 1st, 2022 - 32 comments
The Standard has learned from a normally reliable source that John Key is considering seeking the National Party nomination for the Tauranga seat.
Who will be National’s Tauranga candidate
Written By: - Date published: 8:18 am, March 29th, 2022 - 66 comments
National is opening up nominations for the Tauranga by election today. The Standard reviews some potential candidates for the seat.
Covid and political capital
Written By: - Date published: 8:28 am, March 28th, 2022 - 141 comments
Jacinda Ardern has burned significant political capital on dealing with Covid. But it is something that a responsible Political leader, of which there are few, would do.
Can This Government Be Saved?
Written By: - Date published: 5:43 pm, March 25th, 2022 - 118 comments
Can Labour win a third term? Here are some pathways up, and some pathways down.
Government announces significant changes to traffic light settings and mandates
Written By: - Date published: 11:52 am, March 23rd, 2022 - 218 comments
The Government has announced changes to Covid policies relating to traffic light settings and mandates.
National’s politicisation of Covid over the past two years
Written By: - Date published: 9:07 am, March 21st, 2022 - 34 comments
A slightly deeper review of National’s response to the Covid epidemic over the past two years. The overwhelming impression is that they have always complained about supposed Government incompetence in handling the pandemic and have always argued for the loosening of restrictions no matter how justifiable.
Who Pays the Price of Sanctions
Written By: - Date published: 4:32 pm, March 20th, 2022 - 194 comments
New Zealand’s sanctions on Russia have not stopped the war in Ukraine. They may have made our parliamentarians feel better, and Tony Blinken was quick to congratulate us on falling into line with the US “high-impact sanctions.” The language is combative, but the evidence shows sanctions do not work. They can have significant blow-back effects, particularly if not combined with effective diplomacy.
The difference between Labour and National
Written By: - Date published: 9:05 am, March 17th, 2022 - 141 comments
There has been the occasional criticism of Labour for not achieving enough progressive change by people who then propose supporting National. What are they thinking?
The Tauranga by election
Written By: - Date published: 7:55 am, March 16th, 2022 - 67 comments
By elections are at the best of times dramatic events. Given current circumstances and a well funded although deeply unpopular anti vaccine movement and the likely candidacy of Winston Peters the Tauranga by election is likely to be a circus.
See you later Simon
Written By: - Date published: 12:13 pm, March 15th, 2022 - 40 comments
Simon Bridges has just announced that he is retiring from politics.
National’s advice to the poor – you are on your own
Written By: - Date published: 8:11 am, March 13th, 2022 - 125 comments
To help the poorest amongst us during the current times of International hyper inflation National has come up with a list of tips to help them. But no money.
The latest poll
Written By: - Date published: 7:54 pm, March 10th, 2022 - 124 comments
National/Act (47%) would beat Labour/Greens (46%) if there were an election held tomorrow, according to the latest One News Kantar poll.
National stuffs up its financial analysis – again
Written By: - Date published: 1:42 pm, March 9th, 2022 - 79 comments
For so called economic geniuses National sure struggles to understand how to properly cost fiscal policy. Its latest response to news that it proposed tax cuts would wipe out all discretionary spending in its first budget is to fudge the dates on which the cuts would be made.
National’s tax policy
Written By: - Date published: 8:14 am, March 7th, 2022 - 107 comments
National has proposed to reverse all tax changes implemented by Labour and claims that the cuts can be managed without damage to the state. But the figure it uses, $1.7 billion a year, includes income tax adjustments only and not the cost of the removal of other taxes.
This is awkward
Written By: - Date published: 7:51 am, March 6th, 2022 - 85 comments
Chris Luxon’s public commitment not to negotiate with the Wellington protestors has been called into question by a Facebook from Maureen Pugh claiming that members of the National Party were talking to the protesters on an almost daily basis.
Everyone is over Covid
Written By: - Date published: 8:46 am, February 22nd, 2022 - 134 comments
Jacinda Ardern said yesterday that everyone is over Covid. She is right. We all want this to end.
Why haven’t the police acted?
Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, February 18th, 2022 - 474 comments
It is day 10 of the Anti vax protest on Parliament’s grounds. More cars are being parked illegally and despite considerable disruption to Wellington’s roading network so far not one car has been towed by the police.
Freakin useless
Written By: - Date published: 2:58 pm, February 10th, 2022 - 114 comments
Maureen Pugh has posted a post on facebook supporting the Wellington protestors, deleted it when it was pointed out to her the protestors were anti vaccination, and then claimed she did not realise many of the protesters were against Covid-19 vaccination.
Chris Bishop – manipulated, lying, or just plain stupid?
Written By: - Date published: 12:55 pm, February 9th, 2022 - 24 comments
Roche, a major manufacturer of RATs, issued a statement to media on Tuesday night saying none of its stocks had been diverted or seized by the Government.
“RAT kits have been, and will continue to be, supplied to all New Zealand customers, including the Ministry of Health, in the sequence that purchase orders were placed,”. Chris Bishop MP is still claiming mythical evidence from local suppliers.
Luxon under pressure after latest Newshub Poll
Written By: - Date published: 10:08 pm, February 7th, 2022 - 93 comments
I am going to channel my Matthew Hooton left wing alter ego in the writing of this post. The latest Newshub poll shows a resounding level of support for the Labour Party and there are murmurs of discontent about Chris Luxon after support for the right plummets.
David Seymour should stick to twerking
Written By: - Date published: 12:35 pm, February 4th, 2022 - 306 comments
David Seymour has responded to slumping poll results by claiming that the Treaty of Waitangi should be trashed.
About the latest Colmar Brunton poll
Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, January 28th, 2022 - 52 comments
The latest Colmar Brunton (now Kantar) poll has now been released and some of the commentary and analysis is pretty ordinary.
The importance of proper mask wearing
Written By: - Date published: 8:58 am, January 27th, 2022 - 55 comments
With an Omicron surge appearing to be inevitable the importance of proper mask wearing has never been more important.
Omicron is coming
Written By: - Date published: 10:54 am, January 21st, 2022 - 113 comments
So far the country has fought back and eliminated the original Covid infection, won a couple of skirmishes and then and fought and quelled the Delta incursion. But it looks like Omicron is coming …
What does Luxon do about Hipango?
Written By: - Date published: 9:31 am, January 11th, 2022 - 49 comments
Harete Hipango is in the news again, this time for posing with a group of anti vaxxers and posting a photo and making some pretty way out there comments on social media.
A few random predictions for 2022
Written By: - Date published: 11:30 am, January 1st, 2022 - 117 comments
A few random predictions for 2022.
The Standard’s 2021 political awards
Written By: - Date published: 7:34 am, December 28th, 2021 - 68 comments
It is that time of year where nostalgia kicks in and the desire to review current events dims. So much has happened this year. It has truly been twelve months of the praiseworthy and the absolutely pitiful. And it is time to reflect on the personalities who made us smile, made us frown and made us raise our eyebrows to breaking point.
V Day!
Written By: - Date published: 8:16 am, December 17th, 2021 - 319 comments
Yesterday was Aotearoa’s V day, the day that we reached the goal of having 90% of the target population vaccinated against Covid.
The country’s books are in remarkably good shape
Written By: - Date published: 8:44 am, December 16th, 2021 - 79 comments
As the country rebounds out of partial lockdown the Treasury’s recently released half yearly Economic and Fiscal update suggests that the Country’s accounts are in remarkably good shape.
New Zealand moving Green
Written By: - Date published: 11:36 am, December 14th, 2021 - 89 comments
Long overdue, the recent Green upward trend continues.
- New Zealand Vote At UNGA Needs Follow-Through With Sanctions
However, this vote will only have practical meaning if New Zealand follows through on the resolution’s requirement that we ban imports from companies operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. ...1 week ago - The ACC’s Game of 2 Halves reboot is a reminder quiz shows can be about the quiz
Duncan Greive reviews Sky’s reboot of the hit sports comedy quiz show. Blame 7 Days. It’s among the most successful shows in New Zealand television history, currently in its 16th season, still hauling in tens of thousands of viewers on linear TV with a format which features comedians cracking a ...1 week ago - A day at the (home) nail salon
A trip to the nail salon can leave you feeling like a walking art piece, and totally at peace. Lyric Waiwiri-Smith sits in at Natalie Tan’s Savage Nails. Would you like it bow-themed, Brat or Bluey? Perhaps a set that looks like sushi? Natalie Tan’s Savage Nails isn’t your regular ...1 week ago
- Are we treating te reo Māori as a sometimes food, or daily bread?
Bea Joblin (Ngāti Pākehā ki Airangi me Kōtirana), a registered translator and a teacher of te reo Māori to children and adults, examines the importance of making te reo a daily staple for future generations. Food is a rich source of figurative language in most cultures (“biting off more than ...1 week ago
- Help Me Hera: How can I stop being the most annoying person in every room?
I leave every social interaction cringing at my own behaviour. How do I stop being so insufferable? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nz Dear Hera, I’m writing you this off the back of a meeting in which I was the most annoying person alive. I don’t know what it is about ...1 week ago
- Recession or not, the short term economic outlook is murky
The state of the economy will be laid bare later this morning, and it might not be good news, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in your inbox every weekday morning, sign up here. ...1 week ago
- New Zealand Must Sanction Israel Over Its Inflammatory Attempts To Widen The War In The Middle East
“With this latest attack our government must condemn Israel” says PSNA National Chair John Minto. “Israel is an out-of-control rogue state which is an imminent danger to peace and security the world over” ...1 week ago
- Free-to-air sports are suddenly back. Why – and what does it mean for NZ Rugby?
The Breakers are just the latest team to find a free-to-air home. What’s driving the reversal of a 30-year trend? For decades, New Zealand has been a global outlier when it comes to big time sports. With a few exceptions – the occasional America’s Cup, Olympics or Rugby World Cup, ...1 week ago
- The snow is melting – so what are skiers and mountaineers doing about it?
Trampers, skiers and mountaineers are among the first to see the climate changing, but are they making their own changes in response? Tom Hadley and his partner Tōrea knew exactly where they wanted to go. They had pored over maps, called people for information about the incredibly remote area they ...1 week ago
- Fast track, high costs: How short-term thinking could cost us everything
Opinion: It’s hard to overstate how much New Zealand’s economy depends on the environment. Our two largest sectors – agriculture and tourism – are directly dependent on factors like healthy ecosystems, biodiversity and clean water. In fact, the Sustainable Business Council notes that 13 of our top 20 export commodities, ...1 week ago - Daily crossword, Thursday 19 September
The post Daily crossword, Thursday 19 September appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 19 September
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 19 September appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Govt urged to release list of fast-track projects and extend scrutiny deadline
After Forest & Bird’s petition to name the listed projects, one legal expert says current fast-track design ‘makes a mockery’ of due process The post Govt urged to release list of fast-track projects and extend scrutiny deadline appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- De-spear as Holly turns to her big shot
A Paris 2024 bronze medal hangs by Paralympian Holly Robinson’s bed. A reminder, as she wakes each morning, of more than a decade of work, culminating in both crushing disappointment and redemption.It’s the third medal Robinson has earned across four Paralympic Games, this year returning as the most experienced female ...1 week ago
- Book of the Week: Airana, in light
The main concern I have with Airana Ngarewa, even though he has received good reviews and very good media for his bestselling debut novel The Bone Tree, published last year, and has already won more approval for his new book, the short story collection Pātea Boys, there is something patronising ...1 week ago
- Luxon a long way from joining legion of strong leaders
Opinion: PM’s focus should be more about ensuring his own party’s agenda is implemented than worrying about the policies of coalition partners The post Luxon a long way from joining legion of strong leaders appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Trump-backing venture capitalist meets Luxon in NZ visit
Cryptocurrency advocate and US investor’s mystery trip comes as venture capitalists show growing interest in NZ The post Trump-backing venture capitalist meets Luxon in NZ visit appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Jones open to Govt signing decades-long gas deal
The Māui gas contract locked the government into 30 years of buying gas it didn’t need, but Shane Jones sees it as a model deal The post Jones open to Govt signing decades-long gas deal appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- How NZ is failing at HPV-related cancer prevention
An estimated 32,000 young people are missing from a vital vaccination programme after they didn’t get their shots during the Covid pandemic.They are the Year 7 and 8 cohort of children who were in lockdown instead of being at school.But in spite of the fact that this vaccine actually prevents ...1 week ago
- Celebrity Treasure Island power rankings: Cully goes to Hollywood
Alex Casey ranks week two of Celebrity Treasure Island NZ. This week on Celebrity Treasure Island was all about craving. Old drama school friends craving a hug and a cry in a caravan, broadcasters craving more than one seventh of a cream donut, former deputy prime ministers and drag queens ...2 weeks ago
- Surrogacy Commodifies Women, Says Women’s Rights Party
While commercial surrogacy is technically illegal in New Zealand, the involvement of fertility services in surrogacy through assisted reproductive technology is a commercial activity paid for by intending parents, with potential harm for birth ...2 weeks ago
- Gone By Lunchtime: David Seymour and the zombie utopia
The treaty principles bill is dominating 2024 political headlines. Is it really all about 2026? Church leaders oppose it. Christopher Luxon is increasingly exasperated by getting asked about it. And David Seymour has reworded a critical part of it. Is the Act leader on the back foot over a ...2 weeks ago
- The changes to author payment scheme the Public Lending Right, explained
It just got easier for authors to get paid for the use of their books by libraries. But is it enough? What is the Public Lending Right scheme and why am I hearing about it now? The Public Lending Right scheme (PLR) is an annual payment to New Zealand authors ...2 weeks ago
- ‘I am a proud reader of some objectively terrible books’: Time Out’s Abby Irwin-Jones
Welcome to The Spinoff Bookseller Confessional, in which we get to know Aotearoa’s booksellers. This week: Abby Irwin-Jones, book buyer at Time Out in Mt Eden, Auckland. Weirdest question you’ve ever been asked on the shop floor I had a very well-dressed, charismatic young man come in right before closing ...2 weeks ago
- Celebrating the lynchpin of our democracy, parliament’s online petitions page
Ban all fireworks. Give everyone fireworks. Rewrite the national anthem. Stop politicians blocking me on social media: parliament’s online petitions page is a trip inside the nation’s raw, unfiltered political id. If you asked people to point to the centrifugal force powering New Zealand’s democracy, most would name the parliamentary ...2 weeks ago
- It’s time we called out Māori brands too
We seem to have a double-standard when it comes to businesses using Māori cultural elements. So where should we draw the line? Ātea editor Liam Rātana argues with himself about it. In a society arguably at the peak of cancel culture, cultural sensitivity can be a minefield for brands to ...2 weeks ago
- I’m a school principal. Here’s why I’m worried about the new curriculum
Rushed-in changes risk burning out teachers and overwhelming our most vulnerable students, argues principal Martyn Weatherill. Parents may be wondering why teachers and principals asked the government last week to pause the fast-track implementation of new structured maths and English curricula by Term 1 next year. It isn’t because we ...2 weeks ago
- 75 jobs lost as high power prices close Penrose mill
Soaring power prices have claimed a third mill and 75 jobs, and left an Auckland community reeling.Oji Fibre Solutions has told staff it has no choice but to close its Penrose mill, following Winstone Pulp’s Ruapehu mills two weeks ago.Now, associate energy minister Shane Jones is “hoping and praying” the ...2 weeks ago
- Complaint about high prices in airport retail monopoly
A multinational you’ve never heard of has negotiated exclusive deals with airports to sell us $219m of high-priced confectionery, soft drinks and pulp novels The post Complaint about high prices in airport retail monopoly appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 weeks ago
- What’s up with the changes to employment law for contractors?
A new test for workers who want to challenge their employment status as contractors is on its way. Here’s everything you need to know. On Monday, workplace relations and safety minister Brooke van Velden strode onto parliament’s tiles with a fuchsia-coloured clutch, perfectly matching her signature coat. Granted, it was ...2 weeks ago
- Inside the government’s beleaguered bid to reduce violent crime
The target for reducing violent crime is already looking shaky, just months into a five-year plan. Documents released under the Official Information Act give a glimpse of what’s been going on behind the bold claims and big promises. Just over four months into his government’s first term, all the random ...2 weeks ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 18 September
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 18 September appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 weeks ago
- Parental leave helps us help our kids help themselves
Analysis: Part of the excitement of youth is that it is a time to experience new opportunities, learn new skills, rise to challenges and develop our identities.But in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2024 the real world isn’t quite so accommodating for too many. A large and growing cohort of young ...2 weeks ago
- Daily crossword, Wednesday 18 September
The post Daily crossword, Wednesday 18 September appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 weeks ago
- Just say the words, minister: Military. Style. Weapons. Will. Remain. Banned
Opinion: Military-style semi-automatic weapons should have been banned after the mass shooting at Aramoana in 1990 The post Just say the words, minister: Military. Style. Weapons. Will. Remain. Banned appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 weeks ago
- Slow down, Mr Brown
Comment: The Government’s proposed blanket speed-limit increases will go down in history as yet another thing imposed on people that no one asked for, for example when Coca-Cola switched to New Coke or when Apple forced U2’s Songs of Innocence album into everyone’s iTunes account.After years of careful consideration, detailed ...2 weeks ago
- Government’s Contractors Proposal “Designed To Lock In Exploitation”
“Our message to the Government is simple: scrap this proposal, and stop the attacks on workers and our communities.” ...2 weeks ago
- Kyla | Takeout Kids | The Spinoff
“I almost broke my extensions again. And my nail polish came off.” | Watch the full series: https://thespinoff.co.nz/videos/takeout-kids ✏️ Kyla shares her pepeha with clients while waiting for her mum to finish up in her nail salon. In the school playground, she deals with more serious issues: love and crushes. ...2 weeks ago
- Screw it, build Wayne Brown’s weird bridge
It’s not a good idea, but it’s not going to make congestion worse while bankrupting the country, and that’s the best we can hope for at this point. The Waitematā Harbour drops down 29m at its deepest point, which is almost enough space to contain all the dumb ideas on ...2 weeks ago
- Takeout Kids: Kyla
Takeout Kids returns for season two. Meet Kyla, of Whakatāne’s City Nails. Building on the success of its 2022 launch, Takeout Kids returns for a second season, following five tamariki and rangatahi growing up in the small businesses owned by their immigrant families. The latest season features young ...2 weeks ago
Recent Comments