political parties

Why does the right control the English speaking world?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:31 am, November 16th, 2014 - 116 comments

Jason Wilson in the Guardian has asked a very relevant question. Why is the right currently dominant in the English speaking Western World and what does the left have to do to change this?

Andrew Little: My vision for Labour

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 4:25 pm, November 15th, 2014 - 87 comments

There are choices that as a country we can make, and the choices we make are whether everybody gets to benefit, or just a few.

He Whakaputanga me te Tiriti – The Declaration and the Treaty

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:00 am, November 15th, 2014 - 50 comments

The Waitangi Tribunal has released an important decision stating its opinion that chiefs never intended to cede Maori sovereignty when signing the Te Reo version of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Standard questions: David Parker

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 10:33 am, November 14th, 2014 - 59 comments

A couple of weeks ago we asked readers to suggest questions for written answers from the candidates. We chose / edited six questions, and sent them to the four campaigns. Here are David Parker’s answers.

Nats’ economic genius at work in the property market

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:35 am, November 14th, 2014 - 45 comments

On Monday Bill English reckoned that pressures in the property market were “easing”. Yesterday’s headline “Spring house price surge in October”…

Slater’s OIA requests about David Bain

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 2:33 pm, November 13th, 2014 - 12 comments

Megan Woods has discovered that three OIA requests processed within the same day by Judith Collins’ office for Cameron Slater were not entered in a log of successful OIA requests recently released by Amy Adams.

Standard questions: Andrew Little

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 10:50 am, November 13th, 2014 - 64 comments

A couple of weeks ago we asked readers to suggest questions for written answers from the candidates. We chose / edited six questions, and sent them to the four campaigns. Here are Andrew Little’s answers.

Nanaia Mahuta: Let’s Get Back On Track

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 9:37 am, November 13th, 2014 - 26 comments

A message sent out by Nanaia Mahuta last night to all Labour members.

Lauranora – National’s biggest achilles heel?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:14 am, November 12th, 2014 - 33 comments

The Phillip Smith story is going to hurt National. It was warned two years ago about the relationship between passports and multiple identities yet nothing seems to have been done.

Lessons from the ’30s and 40’s: culture and the left

Written By: karol - Date published: 2:05 pm, November 10th, 2014 - 70 comments

We often look to the first Labour Government for core left wing values, & a political way forward. As well as massively restructuring of the NZ economy, work, welfare & housing, that Government aimed to restructure NZ culture & to combat capitalist-dominated popular culture.

Standard questions: Grant Robertson

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 10:11 am, November 10th, 2014 - 82 comments

A couple of weeks ago we asked readers to suggest questions for written answers from the candidates. We chose / edited six questions, and sent them to the four campaigns. Here are Grant Robertson’s answers.

The final Labour leadership contest meetings

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 9:00 am, November 10th, 2014 - 10 comments

Details of the final two Labour leadership meetings to be held in AUckland tonight and tomorrow night.

Andrew Little’s plan for Labour

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 3:22 pm, November 9th, 2014 - 103 comments

One of the most important challenges we must confront is rebuilding our Party and our movement.

Andrew Little in Auckland on Sunday and virtual hustings

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 1:00 pm, November 8th, 2014 - 31 comments

The Labour leadership race continues!

Paid parental leave bill faces defeat

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:00 pm, November 6th, 2014 - 9 comments

The first repercussion of the election result is the almost inevitable defeat of Sue Moroney’s Paid Parental Leave private member’s bill. The Government is clearly determined to prevent her from getting credit for raising and highlighting an issue of importance to Kiwi families.

Turei for peace & freedom: rejects politics of fear

Written By: karol - Date published: 3:00 pm, November 5th, 2014 - 102 comments

Metiria Turei delivered a very strong speech in response to Key’s ministerial statement on national security. I give her a standing ovation! Update #1: link to video of Turei’s speech. #2 -YT video Turei’s speech. Link to Kennedy Garham’s speech

Campbell Live on ‘Feed the Kids Bill’

Written By: karol - Date published: 11:24 am, November 5th, 2014 - 14 comments

The main message from Campbell Live last night is we really need the “Feed the Kids” Bill to pass it’s first reading: then the Bill will go to Select Committee, so everyone can have a conversation. Update: reading postponed ‘cos Key’s war statement debate gets priority.

Partially Privatised Power Companies Chief Executives’ salaries surge

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:00 am, November 5th, 2014 - 13 comments

Chief executive remuneration packages in the privatised power companies have surged post float.

Housing policy shambles

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:43 am, November 5th, 2014 - 30 comments

National’s sale of state housing assets and other aspects of housing policy is stupid at all levels. Which is probably why they are confused themselves about it.

Feed the Kids Bill – act today

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 2:03 pm, November 4th, 2014 - 9 comments

Only one day to support the Feed the Kids Bill.

About climate change …

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 1:11 pm, November 3rd, 2014 - 162 comments

The IPCC has released a further report refining previous research and announcing with practical certainty that climate change is happening because of the production of greenhouse gasses. It proposes that we stop burning fossil fuels, and change the electricity generation system so that by 2050 the vast bulk of the world’s power is produced by renewable means. The diagnosis is clear as are the remedies. And meanwhile Tim Groser thinks the Greens are to blame for the recent drop in the milk price …

Labour leadership hustings video

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 7:30 am, November 3rd, 2014 - 12 comments

In case you haven’t been able to make it to any of the leadership hustings, here’s the speeches from the Nelson meeting last week.

Moving away from the politics of fear

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 8:30 pm, November 2nd, 2014 - 53 comments

Politics from a position of fear is never going to be successful. Politics based on conviction and the ability to put forward a sound argument is a much better strategy. Yes, anyone selected is going to be subject to attack. But there’s no point in allowing that to cloud our judgement.