political parties

Local Leadership

Written By: Mike Smith - Date published: 10:26 pm, February 4th, 2015 - 3 comments

The Labour Local Government Council ran a hui last Friday in Wellington. I went along and it was one of the better Labour events I have been to in a long time – community-based organisers sharing and discussing what works. Crosby/Textor is onto it too.

Andrew Little – principled politician

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:35 am, February 4th, 2015 - 302 comments

Issues surrounding Mike Sabin highlight the handling of the matter by Andrew Little. With commendable restraint he chose to privately notify the Prime Minister’s office that one of his MPs faced problems. And his recollection of matters is clearly better than Key’s recollection.

The Sabin issue timeline

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:08 pm, February 3rd, 2015 - 277 comments

An analysis of the timeline and a reading of Cameron Slater’s comments concerning Mike Sabin raises real questions about the veracity of what Key has been saying to the media. Update: It appears that David Garrett and Rodney Hide have expressed views wondering if Key’s statement about when he was told is actually correct. Update: And Matthew Hooton suggests that the Police may have advised the Government of the invesigation.

How do the Greens grow their base?

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:34 am, February 3rd, 2015 - 105 comments

Following on from yesterday’s discussion of the future for Labour – what next for the Greens?

What did Key know about Sabin’s issues?

Written By: Natwatch - Date published: 11:18 am, February 2nd, 2015 - 116 comments

Now that Mike Sabin has resigned attention is on what John Key knew and when.

How does Labour keep the momentum?

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:11 am, February 2nd, 2015 - 216 comments

Labour have bounced back well from the disastrous election result. But how do they keep up the momentum?

The Northland by-election

Written By: Stephanie Rodgers - Date published: 2:30 pm, January 30th, 2015 - 163 comments

A by-election is imminent – so how does Labour win in a safe National seat?

National MP Mike Sabin resigns

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 11:56 am, January 30th, 2015 - 151 comments

UPDATED: Northland MP Mike Sabin has resigned.

Green Party announcement – Russel Norman to stand down as leader

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 10:50 am, January 30th, 2015 - 237 comments

Twitter has gone berserk about an announced Green Party press conference for 11 am today. Initial speculation is that a Green MP may be standing down. Update: One News has tweeted Russell Norman has resigned as leader. Update: Russel’s Norman’s statement added.

Questions on Key’s housing sell-off

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:12 am, January 30th, 2015 - 71 comments

Key’s state house asset sale policy doesn’t make sense at any level, and the questions are piling up…

NRT: An untenable position

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 3:02 pm, January 29th, 2015 - 27 comments

I/S at No Right Turn on the Mike Sabin situation. “For the sake of propriety and the integrity of our justice system, Sabin must be stood down”…

John Key’s housing announcement

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:00 am, January 29th, 2015 - 119 comments

John Key’s housing announcement contained very little new information. Work has been put in for the past couple of years in developing the policy. The net effect will be that the Government will have more money for other capital projects not related to emergency housing. It will keep its fingers crossed that charities can pick up the slack. And the risk is that not one new house will be constructed at a time of intense need.

Imperator Fish: A clarification

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 3:50 pm, January 28th, 2015 - 31 comments

Sexist right-wingers are lining up to abuse Eleanor Catton for speaking her mind. The odious Sean Plunket is the worst, calling Catton a “hua” (sounds like and sometimes defined as “whore”). Imperator Fish responds…

Labour’s plan vs National’s plan

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 1:34 pm, January 28th, 2015 - 43 comments

The choice is clear.

Andrew Little State of the Nation in 2015

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 8:00 am, January 28th, 2015 - 302 comments

The speech notes from Andrew Little’s State of the Nation speech delivered this morning

Eleanor Catton on NZ

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 5:17 pm, January 27th, 2015 - 212 comments

Award winning author Eleanor Catton has expressed her disappointment and anger with politics in general and the government in particular.

Armstrong and Small on Nick Smith’s RMA reforms

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:05 am, January 24th, 2015 - 26 comments

Senior political reporters Vern Small and John Armstrong have both chosen to pan Nick Smith’s proposed RMA changes using remarkably similar logic. Update: and Fran O’Sullivan has a go too.

Metiria Turei’s speech prepared for Ratana

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 8:00 am, January 24th, 2015 - 88 comments

Metiria Turei’s speech prepared for delivery at Ratana has attracted some attention for her strong criticism of John Key’s revisionism of Aotearoa’s history in suggesting that Aotearoa was settled peaceably.

Nick Smith’s RMA reforms – low cost housing in Epsom?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:32 am, January 22nd, 2015 - 84 comments

Nick Smith has given his housing speech and blamed Auckland’s housing crisis on the RMA. A Treasury commissioned report, based on discussions with developers, has put dollar figures on what the RMA is allegedly costing. The logic of the analysis is that by reducing urban design standards we will make housing more affordable. Updated with link to Rob Salmond Polity post.

But which club?

Written By: Mike Smith - Date published: 3:41 pm, January 21st, 2015 - 7 comments

I think when justifying sending troops to Iraq the club John Key is really talking about is the group of right-wing political parties known as the International Democratic Union. Today Key chairs its Executive in Sarajevo, his first meeting as President. This move by Key to the IDU is calculated; he sees himself as leader of the world right-wing club and this is the first step to his international political career post New Zealand politics.

Beneficiaries falling

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 1:59 pm, January 21st, 2015 - 12 comments

Falling numbers yes, but falling through the cracks.

Who was the better economic manager – Helen Clark or John Key?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 6:59 pm, January 20th, 2015 - 150 comments

Sometimes a simple graph is much more eloquent and powerful than a whole lot of words …

Espiner profile on Andrew Little

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 12:30 pm, January 20th, 2015 - 17 comments

Guyon Espiner has a paywalled profile of Andrew Little up at The Listener.

RMA reforms … be very afraid

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:00 am, January 20th, 2015 - 97 comments

Nick Smith today announced proposed changes to the Resource Management Act. It is likely he will resuscitate the reforms that were stalled after Peter Dunne refused to support them last year. ACT’s David Seymour has said he will support the changes even though he did not know what they are. Treasury are to release a paper with proposals for change. Updated lprent – yep National stupidity reprised.

Andrea Vance on Andrew Little’s game plan

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 8:30 am, January 19th, 2015 - 94 comments

Andrew Little will give his state of the nation speech on 28 January. What can we expect to see in it?

What should John Key do in 2015?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:57 am, January 18th, 2015 - 39 comments

James Griffin has written a tongue in cheek article on what John Key should be doing this year. But the article is full of political fluff and has no real proposals for action. What should John Key be doing this year?

TV3, Cameron Brewer and more of the same

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 2:06 pm, January 17th, 2015 - 39 comments

TV3 recently interviewed Cameron Brewer to provide adverse commentary on a story about Labour seeded by David Farrar and Cameron Slater. And they did not even mention Brewer’s links to the National Party.

Who texts the PM?

Written By: Stephanie Rodgers - Date published: 12:00 pm, January 16th, 2015 - 87 comments

The latest excuse for John Key deleting his texts wholesale is wafer-thin.

Sacrificing our Sovereignty in the name of Free Trade

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 1:24 pm, January 15th, 2015 - 30 comments

The United Kingdom is debating entry into the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which like the TPPA will allow investor-state disputes to be resolved by unappealable unaccountable private arbitration. George Monbiot in the Guardian describes the issue well and has suggestions on how the proposal can be challenged.

Dirty Politics in 2015

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:53 am, January 13th, 2015 - 81 comments

Political Scientists Bronwyn Hayward and Mark Boyd were interviewed on Radio New Zealand yesterday on New Zealand politics in 2014 and what happened during the election. They talked extensively on dirty politics, on the role of the media and how things can be improved in 2015.

The difference between the left and the right

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:10 am, January 10th, 2015 - 250 comments

The recent handling of Charlie Hebdo by the Standard and by Kiwiblog provides a startling contrast. And neatly underlies the reality that the left wing blogs are in no way just the same as the right wing blogs despite what John Key may say.