political parties

Curtains for Colin Craig’s career?

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 2:40 pm, June 19th, 2015 - 40 comments

The Conservatives have called a press conference this afternoon and it appears that Colin Craig’s tenure as leader may be terminated. But will he be back?

National muppets

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 2:40 pm, June 19th, 2015 - 23 comments

It’s not what you think…

More Nat infighting

Written By: Natwatch - Date published: 10:57 am, June 19th, 2015 - 24 comments

Williamson lashes out at Bridges. The Nats would usually prefer to handle this sort of conflict behind behind closed doors.

Bridges scandal

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 9:27 am, June 19th, 2015 - 22 comments

Another Nat scandal to add to the list. Rob Salmond demolishes Bridges.

Keep on rocking in the free world

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:19 am, June 19th, 2015 - 25 comments

Donald Trump has attracted adverse comment for using Neil Young’s song “keep on rocking in the free world” during his campaign launch. There are a number of other examples, both local and in the US, where right wing candidates have misappropriated progressive musicians’ music for campaign purposes.

Enter Sandman

Written By: te reo putake - Date published: 6:57 pm, June 18th, 2015 - 52 comments

Nathan Guy reckons he knows what killed hundreds of kiwi taxpayer funded lambs in the dodgy Saudi Arabian model farm. Believe it or not, this time it’s not Labour! No, it’s the Sanding of the Lambs.

Bye Colin?

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:22 pm, June 18th, 2015 - 35 comments

According to 3 News Colin Craig is to be rolled as leader of the Conservatives. Hard to imagine, as Colin Craig is the Conservatives.

A partial list of current scandals

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:01 am, June 18th, 2015 - 64 comments

For those of you who are keeping score at home.

#Sheepgate the cabinet papers

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:26 am, June 18th, 2015 - 18 comments

The Sheepgate cabinet papers have now been released and show no sign of a legal dispute between the Saudi Sheep farmer and the Government, let alone one that required a payment of $4 million dollars. And there are concerning reports that three quarters of the ewes on the “model farm” have died.

The Government’s Auckland Housing policy fiasco grows

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:59 am, June 16th, 2015 - 20 comments

The Herald has reported that, contrary to John Key’s assurances that the Government did not have to do so, one of the pieces of land set aside for the Government’s affordable housing partnership with private developers has already been offered to iwi under right of first refusal.

Smith embarrassed as Iwi propose legal proceedings over Auckland housing

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:51 am, June 15th, 2015 - 60 comments

Ngati Whatua and Waikato-Tainui have announced that they will seek a declaration from the High Court on their rights to participate in the constructing of social housing on Crown land in Auckland. Their proposal that the Crown joins with them in making a joint application is a good one. Surely Nick Smith will agree to this.

Costly government

Written By: Stephanie Rodgers - Date published: 3:00 pm, June 14th, 2015 - 43 comments

This is the true irony of National governments. Their entire platform is one of “fiscal responsibility” and “good economic management” yet time and time again they spend money the way I did when I was a teenager: false economies and short-term wish fulfilment.

Heartless government

Written By: Stephanie Rodgers - Date published: 3:00 pm, June 13th, 2015 - 123 comments

A few stories of recent weeks which show exactly what kind of government we have.

Labour. Horse. Water.

Written By: Bill - Date published: 5:45 pm, June 11th, 2015 - 97 comments

Sometimes…often…I just can’t get my head around people who make obvious and simple things kinda difficult and fraught.

#Sheepgate – it was the official’s fault

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 1:51 pm, June 11th, 2015 - 48 comments

National is appearing to be changing tack and trying to now blame a junior official rather than the Labour Party for the failure to complete the Gulf Free Trade Agreement. And the promised release of the relevant cabinet papers proving it was all Labour’s fault has still not occurred.

Nick Smith on housing then and now

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:02 am, June 11th, 2015 - 66 comments

In 2013 Nick Smith promised an effective housing WOF. Yesterday he said “People dying in winter of pneumonia and other illnesses is not new.” Has National ever kept a constructive sounding social policy promise?

Is this progress?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:40 am, June 10th, 2015 - 259 comments

Richard Harman has broken a story about the formation of a Blairite third way think tank within the Labour Party. Those involved include Stuart Nash, Phil Quin, Josie Pagani and Nick Legget.

Relationships Aotearoa to close today

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:50 am, June 9th, 2015 - 19 comments

Relationships Aotearoa is closing its doors today, as a result of ineptitude and indifference on the part of the Government. Claimed safeguards are looking incredibly shaky. Only three of the five organisations touted to take up the work are prepared to do so. And MSD has caused upset to the Privacy Commissioner by misrepresenting his views.

We need to ACT on the innumeracy of MPs

Written By: lprent - Date published: 11:08 am, June 6th, 2015 - 113 comments

After a mere 5 years, some numerically and legally challenged current and ex-MP have been demonstrating their inability to understand their Three Strikes stupidity. They seem to think that people who have probably been in court or banged up in prison for violent offences have had time to go to court three times. FFS: these dickheads need mandatory remedial maths.

The shame of poverty in NZ

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:11 am, June 6th, 2015 - 30 comments

According to the Ministry of Social Development child poverty is worse in NZ than in any European country. According to the Child Poverty Action Group new figures are going to show an increase in poverty. According to the coroner a damp unhealthy state house contributed to the death of a child. Welcome to the “brighter future”.

O’Brien on health and safety

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 9:22 am, June 5th, 2015 - 22 comments

Tova O’Brien has written an excellent piece on squabbles within National over health and safety legislation, calling it a disgrace and a power-play by the Collins faction.

Sheepgate and National’s last defence: Labour does it too

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:51 am, June 4th, 2015 - 43 comments

John Key yesterday went on the attack and implied that Labour did something about Sheepgate in 2007. What it was he did not say but the implication was that Labour did it too. A brief review of dirty politics shows that this is alway’s National’s desperate last line of defence. Update: Labour tried to table in Parliament the Cabinet Paper that John Key talked about yesterday and National refused leave …

Herald supports Greens on climate change

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:12 am, June 4th, 2015 - 96 comments

Even an anonymous editorial in The Herald supports The Greens’ proposal for discussions with National on climate change. Key needs to acknowledge the facts, get some guts, and stop playing politics with the issue.

NZLP Review of Election 2014; the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Written By: te reo putake - Date published: 5:34 pm, June 3rd, 2015 - 124 comments

The NZ Labour party’s review of election 2015 makes for interesting reading. It’s honest, straightforward and heartening. There is much to be learned from the last election campaign and it looks like the membership have got their points across to the review team. Good work, Labour!

Sheepgate: the McCully mess

Written By: mickysavage - 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.