political parties

NRT: Cronyism in Christchurch

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 8:33 pm, August 8th, 2014 - 26 comments

Yes, National just gave an enormous government contract to an MP’s brother. Now, he may have been the best bidder, but up-front it looks like cronyism, if not outright corruption. Shouldn’t the media be asking some very pointy questions about this?

John Key can’t recall

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 12:26 pm, August 8th, 2014 - 30 comments

A video setting out John Key’s various memory lapses.

NRT: The Greens on transport

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 4:24 pm, August 7th, 2014 - 41 comments

There’s a strong element of planning for the future here: peak oil and climate change mean the days of cheap cars (and therefore of massive motorways) are numbered. But it also reflects the changes we’re seeing now. Road usage is already dropping, while Aucklanders are crying out for a better rail system so they can escape gridlock.

Polity: Shifting ground?

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 11:31 am, August 7th, 2014 - 19 comments

Rob Salmond looks at the recent shifts in media opinion pieces. Perhaps the National strategy of getting the house to rise too early has backfired. It appears to be giving opposition parties more room to showcase their policy, more room for National to showcase its arrogance, and more time for the polls to close.

Greens: Falling milk prices highlight danger of National’s economic strategy

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 7:11 pm, August 6th, 2014 - 39 comments

This press release from the Greens pretty well sums up the situation that National have left the economy in. Once you remove the rebuild effects from the Christchurch earthquakes, our increasingly undiversified economy is looking in pretty poor shape for the decade ahead.

Our Friends in the North

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 6:31 pm, August 6th, 2014 - 225 comments

It’s been an interesting few days in the battle for Te Tai Tokerau. Never mind the bollocks, people. The question for Labour isn’t should we stand aside for Hone in the north or Mana/IP anywhere else. The question is ‘do we need ’em?’. The answer is looking more and more like no.

NRT: 32,000 out of work under National

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 3:21 pm, August 6th, 2014 - 54 comments

The latest Household Labour Force Survey was released today, showing a drop in unemployment. But while its an improvement, there is far less employment than when National came into office 5 years ago. That is a monumental fail.

John Key prepares for Helensville debate

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:15 am, August 6th, 2014 - 86 comments

John Key has agreed to attend one local meet the candidates meeting this year. The rules are however that there will be no debate, questions will be screened and candidates will only be able to refer to each other once. And silence will be demanded. What happened to the good old fashioned election political meeting?

Counting the cost – long time dying

Written By: karol - Date published: 8:00 am, August 6th, 2014 - 54 comments

How much longer do we have to live with this”neoliberal” nightmare? It should have died with the global financial crisis, caused by the unfettered greed of the banksters & socially callous. “Paying the Price” on Al Jazeera; AAAP Mangere Action Impact this week.

Labour campaign launch this Sunday (Auckland)

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 1:00 pm, August 5th, 2014 - 56 comments

David Cunliffe is officially launching Labour’s campaign in Auckland this Sunday and you’re all invited.

Polity: In search of National’s ideas

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 12:19 pm, August 5th, 2014 - 14 comments

Rob Salmond has noticed recently that National likes to talk a lot about everyone else’s ideas, but it prefers not to discuss its own.

Mihingarangi Forbes v Jamie Whyte

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:00 pm, August 5th, 2014 - 81 comments

In a must see interview Native Affairs reporter Mihingarangi Forbes Forbes last night interviewed ACT leader Jamie Whyte with rather startling results.

Tertiary education – a “public good”

Written By: karol - Date published: 11:00 am, August 5th, 2014 - 14 comments

The Green Party is launching their “election priority for students” at Auckland University today from 2-3pm in the Auckland University Quad. Russel Norman and Metiria Turei announced a student Green Card for off peak public transport. Updated

Guest Post: Tracey – Blinglish single handedly reduces teenage pregnancies

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 9:30 am, August 5th, 2014 - 42 comments

Tracey has submitted a series of OIA’s in order to get information about the stats Bill English referred to in relation to the government having reduced the numbers of single mothers. So far…. nothing helpful.

Positive Policy on Youth Employment

Written By: Mike Smith - Date published: 6:09 pm, August 4th, 2014 - 8 comments

Other than fixing child poverty, there’s probably no more important policy than this. Labour will commit $183 million to a comprehensive Youth Employment Package designed to reach 24,000 young New Zealanders.

Polity: Company tax cut-and-slash-and-burn!

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 4:38 pm, August 4th, 2014 - 24 comments

To say that ACT’s new company tax policy is complete and utter drivelling crap would be a bit of an understatement.

Christine Rankin is standing in Epsom

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:13 am, August 4th, 2014 - 86 comments

The Conservative Party’s Christine Rankin has announced that she is standing for the Epsom seat. This will add an extra degree of chaos to what is already an interesting battle. But will she help the National candidate or the ACT candidate?

ACT’s voodoo economics

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 6:18 pm, August 3rd, 2014 - 53 comments

ACT has announced its corporate tax policy and a cut in the rate from 0.28c to 0.125c in the dollar is promised. There is a slight problem. The figures do not add up.

Steven Joyce is a pillock

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:16 pm, August 2nd, 2014 - 131 comments

If you need proof watch this morning’s TV3 debate with Grant Robertson.

Polity: Herald on regional roads fiasco

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 12:52 pm, August 2nd, 2014 - 13 comments

The National Government’s $212 million plan has Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee explicitly admitting that it is a massive pork-barreling for government MPs with public funds, and explicitly tells people to piss off if they don’t like it.

National and the Kiwi aversion to arrogance

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:05 am, August 2nd, 2014 - 35 comments

Simon Bridges has spent $237,000 of taxpayers money to wine and dine and house eleven oil executives. And Tim Groser, Murray McCully and Claudette Hauiti have spent up large on the taxpayer tab. Way to reinforce the born to rule feeling National.

NRT: Breach of contract

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:50 pm, August 1st, 2014 - 9 comments

When National set up charter schools, they promised that they would be more accountable, and that contracts were a better means of enforcing standards than the usual school system. That works only if they’re enforced. NZ First has shown that at least one school is completely in violation of at least one part of their contract. So is the National government enforcing a contract? Yeah right….

Labour – Raise the minimum wage

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 4:05 pm, August 1st, 2014 - 298 comments

Labour is promising to raise the minimum wage to $16.25. It’s the right thing to do. And it doesn’t cost jobs.

John Banks convicted

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:54 am, August 1st, 2014 - 86 comments

Updated John Banks has been sentenced to 100 hours community work and community detention for electoral fraud.

Updated links to reactions.

McCully’s incompetence and the ongoing case of the Malaysian diplomat

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:01 pm, July 31st, 2014 - 18 comments

The Malaysian diplomat charged with serious offences has not returned to New Zealand. Despite previous assurances given by John Key it appears that his formal extradition will be required. And as further evidence of incompetence Murray McCully did not read the email advising him that Malaysia had invoked diplomatic immunity for weeks after it had been sent.

Local Bodies: Novopay Exemplifies National’s Governance

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 11:45 am, July 31st, 2014 - 26 comments

This National led Government is strong on ideology, weak on process and reluctant to accept responsibility. The Novopay debacle exemplifies all of these well. When questioned about Novopay, National Ministers will never accept full responsibility. Stephen Joyce has just announced that the Government will be taking over the management of Novopay after almost two years of stress and wide-ranging issues. No matter what National and its Ministers claim, Novopay is largely their fault, and taking responsibility and making apologies are not what this Government does readily.

Wages up – Work secure – Labour policy

Written By: Mike Smith - Date published: 1:03 pm, July 30th, 2014 - 165 comments

Labour has today released its Work and Wages policy. An immediate lift to $15 in the minimum wage, and a raise to $16.25 in April next year. 90 day free sacking option for employers to go in first 100 days. Core public service to get the Living Wage first, others to follow. That’ll put some money where it’s most needed.

What deal do we get?

Written By: Bunji - Date published: 9:38 am, July 30th, 2014 - 94 comments

Key’s promised to do his best to bring in ACT and UnitedHairdo. Last election this brought us the likes of Charter Schools – unmentioned by any party during the campaign. What policies will National foist upon us through this outsourcing deal this time?

Dairy drops further

Written By: lprent - Date published: 8:42 am, July 30th, 2014 - 35 comments

As expected, Fonterra has dropped the milk solid payout from $7 per kilogram to $6. New Zealand needs a different economic approach for a long term sustainable future that doesn’t rely on strip mining soil and water or other resources. National have been consistently mismanaging the NZ economy in putting far too much emphasis on resource extraction and the systematic degradation of our ability to earn our own way in the world. Time to get rid of National’s lack of imagination and long-term planning from the direction of our economy.

When will John Key hold his ministers to account?

Written By: Bunji - Date published: 7:23 am, July 30th, 2014 - 20 comments

The list of National ministers with dodgy dealings is growing. But John seems desperate to keep them all. Higher standards are only something you talk about in opposition apparently. I guess when you have a list that’s brought in the likes of Aaron Gilmore and Claudette Hauiti there’s not much of a pool to be choosing new ministers from; but have National never heard of responsibility for one’s actions?

NRT: National’s roads are pure pork

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 7:03 pm, July 29th, 2014 - 13 comments

The extent that the National minister have been pork-barreling the roading budget for their electorates is crazy. The OIA’s show that most of the $212 million announced by John Key at the National party conference is pure pork for ministers. They are assessed as costing more money to build than they will ever produce in benefits, even using NZTA’s infamously overoptimistic assessments. National MPs and Ministers want to be seen as delivering something for their electorates before the election. So much for assessing needs based on merits. They must be really worried about this election to misuse so much pork.