political parties

Robbie would be turning in his grave

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:47 am, May 16th, 2015 - 46 comments

Simon Bridges wants to ease Auckland’s congestion by investing more into local roads and less in rail. And by the looks of things he wants to politicise transport funding in a way that has not occurred for decades.

Auditor General rules on Dirty Politics allegation

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:33 am, May 16th, 2015 - 46 comments

The Auditor General has decided that Katherine Rich, head of the Food and Grocery Council which includes Coca Cola as well as Alcohol and Tobacco interests has no conflict in being a member of the Health Promotion Agency, a quango with the role of supporting healthy lifestyles.

Grant Robertson’s pre-budget speech

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 2:59 pm, May 15th, 2015 - 59 comments

Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson gave his pre-budget speech this morning. “So, what would a responsible government be doing in the Budget next week?”…

Finlayson calls Key wild eyed on National Radio

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:28 am, May 15th, 2015 - 23 comments

Chris Finlayson has described a comment made by John Key as “wild eyed stuff” on National Radio,

Spy watchdog to investigate GCSB’s help for Groser’s campaign

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 5:01 pm, May 14th, 2015 - 13 comments

Spy watchdog Cheryl Gwyn has announced an investigation into circumstances surrounding possible spying on our allies by the GCSB in support of Tim Groser’s tilt for the top WTO job.

The surplus lie

Written By: Stephanie Rodgers - Date published: 10:30 am, May 14th, 2015 - 68 comments

One of the biggest political deceptions in our lifetime? Or just an honest mistake by our noble Finance Minister?

Andrew Little’s pre budget speech

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 8:42 am, May 13th, 2015 - 174 comments

“National’s talk now is about how achieving surplus was an “artificial target” and that getting a surplus is “like landing a 747 on the head of a pin.” A lot of effort has gone into glossing over the broken promise. But I see it for what it is – one of the biggest political deceptions in a lifetime.”

ACTing all surprised about it

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:03 am, May 13th, 2015 - 129 comments

ACT’s David Seymour is acting all surprised about the damaging consequences of right-wing policies. It’s like he’s seeing the world for the first time.

Dear NZ Labour. Listen up.

Written By: Bill - Date published: 12:06 pm, May 12th, 2015 - 48 comments

For the sake of reference – Nye Bevan was a Labour mp and the architect of the British NHS. Michael Sheen’s speech was a defense of that institution, but the underpinning message is, well…

Elections in the Anglosphere

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 9:20 pm, May 11th, 2015 - 54 comments

An excellent summary reposted with permission from Dim-Post. “Seems to me that one of Labour’s biggest problems – both here and in the UK – is that they’re faced with an opponent that is (a) better resourced than them and (b) uses those resources to make themselves far, far better at politics than their left-wing opponents.”

PM’s social media advisor lashes out on Twitter

Written By: Natwatch - Date published: 11:14 am, May 11th, 2015 - 49 comments

PM’s staff threatening people on Twitter. Such a good look.

National’s innumeracy and Auckland’s Housing crisis

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:19 am, May 11th, 2015 - 23 comments

Radio New Zealand’s Todd Niall has investigated figures recently advanced by Simon Bridges and Nick Smith used to attack Auckland Council and has discovered that the figures are somewhat rubbery.

Fear, Loathing and Denial.

Written By: Bill - Date published: 2:20 pm, May 10th, 2015 - 49 comments

There’s a major and rather obvious contributory factor to UK Labour’s failure in the UK general election that doesn’t seem to have drawn any comment. Until now…

Same sh*t different election

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:55 am, May 10th, 2015 - 164 comments

The English Election campaign and the results felt like a rerun of the New Zealand 2014 election campaign. Slick Crosby Textor designed attacks on Labour’s stability and on the leader and an imbalance of resources contributed to the result in both cases. How does the left counter this?

UK Election; the lessons.

Written By: te reo putake - Date published: 6:52 pm, May 8th, 2015 - 393 comments

Like a punch drunk boxer, the pollsters didn’t see it coming. Three leaders could be writing their resignation letters over night. David Cameron is pinching himself at how easy it all turned out. And Scotland had another referendum.

Some brief thoughts on the UK Election and what can be learned.

Update: Ed Miliband resigns. Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage have also quit.

Hosking wants Auckland Council deposed

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:00 am, May 8th, 2015 - 45 comments

From the I kid you not files Mike Hosking believes that Auckland Council is to blame for the housing crisis, not immigration, not favourable tax conditions for landlords, not the global financial crisis and not the lack of restrictions on home ownership. And he believes that Nick Smith should step in and Roll Auckland Council.

More jobs gone at Solid Energy – thanks Bill English

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:58 am, May 8th, 2015 - 11 comments

113 more jobs to go at Solid Energy’s Stockton Mine. Bill English killed Solid Energy, these job losses are his.

The state housing sell-off

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:02 am, May 8th, 2015 - 7 comments

If National were serious about their “social housing” spin they would place restrictions on the use and resale of these houses. Without such protections its just another privatisation of public assets.

#milifandom! Labour are going to win the UK Election. Fact!

Written By: te reo putake - Date published: 10:21 am, May 7th, 2015 - 243 comments

Ed Miliband is dominating social media in the UK on the eve of the election. #milifandom is the meme of the day!

UPDATE: Exit Poll suggests Tory win, Lib Dem’s smashed. SNP dominate in Scotland, Greens may win 2 seats. UKIP stuffed, Farage to lose in his seat. Labour still a possibility to govern.

UPDATE 2: Rumours that both Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg will resign in the morning. George Galloway loses his seat, UKIP have flopped and it appears Nigel Farage will not be an MP. However, Tory win not yet confirmed.

National Ltd™Plays The Race Card

Written By: BLiP - Date published: 9:36 am, May 7th, 2015 - 16 comments

The Auditor General found that no one in National Ltd™, the Māori Party, Te Puni Korkiri, or any other of its apologists can detail exactly what Whānau Ora is supposed to be doing, provide evidence of its outcomes, or explain why up to 33% of the money is being paid in “administration”. In other words, Whānau Ora is a shambles. And dodgy.

NRT: There is too much money in our politics

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 3:27 pm, May 6th, 2015 - 60 comments

Our political system is awash with money. There is clearly an arms race going on where National is trying to spend everyone else into the ground. National includes significant funding from Auckland property developers and real estate agents, and probably explains their effective disinterest in fixing Auckland housing.

Government cuts emergency dental loans for beneficiaries

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:00 am, May 5th, 2015 - 38 comments

Over the past few years the amount WINZ has lent to beneficiaries for emergency dental work has been slashed. Update: Seems to have been an error- OIA chaos in the Ministry of Social Development

Crunch time for Collins

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 8:08 am, May 5th, 2015 - 49 comments

If Key survives the next few weeks Collins will likely have missed her chance until after the next election.

The rise of Collins and the decline of Key

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:48 am, May 4th, 2015 - 82 comments

John Key is back in the country and going by his interview on Morning Report this morning has been affected significantly by ponygate. And Judith Collins has suddenly burst back into public view with the obvious goal of seeking a return to cabinet. Or is it that she wants to be the next National leader?

Miliband:Dangerous Muppet?

Written By: Bill - Date published: 12:58 pm, May 3rd, 2015 - 40 comments

Is Ed Miliband fighting democracy? Well…

Joyce’s $1,248 taxi ride

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:02 pm, May 1st, 2015 - 52 comments

Stephen Joyce has spent $1,248 keeping a taxi waiting for him in Sydney for nine hours. The level of born to rule arrogance displayed has been unmatched for some time.

Nasty little bloggitses

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:46 pm, April 29th, 2015 - 76 comments

The Herald today has editorialised suggesting that on the basis of part of a poll Ponygate has had no effect. It also claims that fair minded people are defending Key.

Spot the difference: Nats on capital punishment

Written By: Stephanie Rodgers - Date published: 12:00 pm, April 29th, 2015 - 7 comments

One of these principled statements is not like the other.

I Fought the Law

Written By: te reo putake - Date published: 8:28 pm, April 28th, 2015 - 148 comments

A quick look at the legalities of Ponytailgate as it affects the worker, the cafe, the NZ Herald and the PM. There could be court, tribunal and commission hearings that drag on for months, with potential big financial and political implications for the players.

The waitress the bloggers and the main stream media

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:31 am, April 27th, 2015 - 150 comments

The Ponygate story provides a fascinating example of the use of social media to break a story. The simple lesson is to tell a story without a political agenda. And the response from the right shows a level of disarray progressives can take heart from.

Thanks David!

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 6:34 am, April 27th, 2015 - 32 comments

I’m planning to enjoy a day off today – the first “mondayised” public holiday – thanks to the work of David Clark, Grant Robertston, and others in Labour and the parties that supported the Bill. National and ACT voted against this holiday.