political parties

Helen White wins Mount Albert selection

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 3:24 pm, March 11th, 2023 - 25 comments

In breaking news Helen White has won the selection for the Mt Albert seat over Camilla Belich. This is something of an upset as Belich was rumoured to have head office support.

Triangulating climate change

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:12 am, March 7th, 2023 - 78 comments

Yesterday morning there were suggestions that the Government would properly address climate change by placing greater emphasis on public transport and walking and cycling. But by the afternoon the proposition had been watered down.

National’s childcare announcement

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 1:43 pm, March 6th, 2023 - 21 comments

National’s proposed child care subsidy policy is essentially an increase to existing grants that will fuel inflation and costs increases in the child care sector.

How Activism Dies

Written By: advantage - Date published: 9:33 am, March 4th, 2023 - 40 comments

If anything progressive is to come out of this current government other than disaster recovery, really focused protest must prevail. It isn’t.

Mt Albert Labour selection

Written By: lprent - Date published: 12:24 pm, March 2nd, 2023 - 36 comments

The candidates for the Mt Albert Labour selection to replace Jacinda Ardern are Helen White MP and Camilla Belich MP. The selection meeting is on Saturday 11th March at 10am in the Western Springs School Hall. This is an important electorate for Labour which has held it since 1947 through changing demographics. I have my preference.

Greens: Tax the banks

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 8:25 am, March 1st, 2023 - 60 comments

Instead of creating an appeal fund and one-off lotto draw, the Labour Government could tax the billions of dollars banks have made in unearned, excess profits and use the money to support people.

Where is the Free Speech Union when you need it?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:25 am, February 28th, 2023 - 97 comments

Rob Campbell is under some pressure from National and Act for calling out publicly the right’s dog whistle attacks on co governance. But so far self appointed protector of the right to freedom of speech, the Free Speech Union, has been very quiet. Why is this?

National’s three waters policy

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 1:21 pm, February 26th, 2023 - 44 comments

National has announced its alternative to the Three Waters Policy with the standout feature being greater central control of asset management and investment plans than offered by Three Waters and even greater loss of local control.

Climate change – do we mitigate or do we adapt?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 1:32 pm, February 25th, 2023 - 21 comments

The political debate about climate change is coming to an end as the North Island is battered by the third huge climate change induced storm in a month. The focus will not be on what to do? Do we still mitigate the effects by reducing greenhouse gas emissions? Or do we dig in and adapt?

Is Labour heading for Muriwai-scale landslide win?

Written By: Simon Louisson - Date published: 8:15 am, February 22nd, 2023 - 37 comments

Here’s my prediction: Labour will not just win the October election, but it will complete a landslide of similar proportions to the 2020 election. It has been Labour’s response to the cyclones that will be the decisive factor in October. Luxon’s low energy performance helps.

This is really awkward

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 3:13 pm, February 21st, 2023 - 63 comments

National MP Maureen Pugh has questioned the existence of human induced climate change.

Towards National Recovery

Written By: advantage - Date published: 7:00 am, February 20th, 2023 - 42 comments

Just over seven months from the election the Labour government has been granted as great a political momentum as that leading into the 2020 election.

Natural disasters test new leaders in New Zealand – some did better than others.

Written By: nickkelly - Date published: 4:48 am, February 19th, 2023 - 1 comment

After the Auckland flood, Wayne Brown’s election will now be viewed as a cautionary tale. What can happen when someone who is inexperienced and unsuited to political office is elected to important political leadership roles. The blowback of this on the New Zealand right should not be understated, it is bad news for them.

Prime Ministerial

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:38 am, February 17th, 2023 - 31 comments

Chris Hipkins has so far not put a foot wrong. Since he became PM he has quickly and competently reformed the Cabinet and jettisoned policies that were for one reason or another causing problems. And he has quickly asserted control over two massive storms, the first which pummeled the country’s major city and the second which has caused massive floods to much of the East Coast of the North Island.

Luxon’s little experiment

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:32 am, February 12th, 2023 - 30 comments

It is really difficult trying to appear to be Prime Minister material and inclusive and to appeal to racists at the same time. Christopher Luxon this week has shown how difficult it is.

Green Party announces [former Standard contributor] as candidate for Ōhāriu

Written By: Stephanie Rodgers - Date published: 2:02 pm, February 10th, 2023 - 15 comments

“This election is a pivotal one. We have a choice between maintaining the status quo or building a bright green future for everyone in our community; between divisiveness or solidarity; between quibbling over the definition of “crisis” or taking real action to address the cost of living, housing, climate change and environmental exploitation.”

The great reset

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:45 am, February 9th, 2023 - 109 comments

Chris Hipkins has announced the great policy reset and there are no surprises.

The Cabinet Reshuffle

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:25 am, February 1st, 2023 - 22 comments

Chris Hipkins has announced his cabinet reshuffle and there have been some dramatic changes.

Two new polls …

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 6:24 pm, January 30th, 2023 - 78 comments

This evening two new political polls have been released both putting Labour ahead of National.

Super City’s handling of the storm event

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 1:40 pm, January 29th, 2023 - 135 comments

As Auckland slowly recovers but ready itself for further storms there is some attention being given to review Council’s response to the super storm. The initial impression, and this is held widely is that the response was sub optimal.

National is showing its class prejudice

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:54 am, January 27th, 2023 - 26 comments

National Deputy Leader Nicola Willis said yesterday that it was a great shame that the minimum wage had increased by so much because it means the Government can’t do it now to help low-income Kiwis make ends meet without stoking inflation.

Luxon blunders again

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 2:38 pm, January 26th, 2023 - 25 comments

Chris Luxon has provided another example of his ineptness by suggesting in an MMP environment that a vote in a Maori Seat is worth more than a vote in an European seat.

Jacinda Ardern – How will her five years in power be remembered?

Written By: nickkelly - Date published: 7:13 am, January 24th, 2023 - 52 comments

It is too soon to say what Jacinda’s legacy will be. She will certainly be remembered for becoming a mother whilst being a world leader. For her presence on the world stage as a voice for feminism and progressive politics. She ushered in a generational and attitudinal change in New Zealand politics. While internationally she offered an alternative to the politics of Trump, Bolsonaro, Scott Morrison, and Viktor Orban.

Behind every strong woman leader are more strong women leaders

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:49 pm, January 22nd, 2023 - 59 comments

Chris Hipkins and Carmel Sepuloni have been confirmed as the next Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand.

It will be Chippy for PM

Written By: lprent - Date published: 10:36 am, January 21st, 2023 - 101 comments

Chris Hipkins is now set to become prime minister. I rather expected that would be the likely outcome. Helps the election campaign as it will mute the revolting misogynist arsehole conservatives of the right and some on the left. I’m really tired of listening to them, and I suspect that way more than half of the countries population are as well.

Running on empty

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:23 am, January 20th, 2023 - 180 comments

Jacinda Ardern has realised that she was not in a position to commit to four more years as Prime Minister and has called it quits. Recent levels of abuse and misogyny shown to her have clearly played their part.

Nick Kelly’s email to Jacinda Ardern

Written By: nickkelly - Date published: 6:53 am, January 20th, 2023 - 6 comments

In particular, I wish to acknowledge the strong compassionate leadership you took after the Christchurch Mosque attack. Your simple statement “they are us” regarding Muslims living in Aotearoa had a profound impact and broke down barriers of hate and ignorance at a time when tensions were so high. I still tear up thinking about how important your showing humanity and compassion was at that dark time. Thank you.