political parties

The use of rumour as a political weapon

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:59 am, November 1st, 2022 - 26 comments

US conservative figures are downplaying the right’s involvement in a hammer attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband by spreading completely unfounded rumours. And in Aotearoa rumours continue to be spread about Jacinda Ardern’s pending resignation despite her repeatedly ruling this out. Clearly some see the use of rumours as a valid political weapon even if they are based on complete falsehoods.

Greens: proposal to tax excess corporate profits

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 1:14 pm, October 30th, 2022 - 46 comments

“An excess profit tax would be a simple and effective way for large corporations to pay their fair share, unlocking the resources all of us need to live with dignity, put a roof over our heads and food on the table,” says Green Party Finance spokesperson, Julie Anne Genter.

“Today, we have released a discussion document exploring how an excess profit tax could be designed – and how the additional revenue should be spent. We are also considering the alternative of raising company tax rates so that all profits are taxed more.”

Male privilege is a fragile thing

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:15 am, October 28th, 2022 - 22 comments

Golriz Ghahraman wanted Parliament to condemn the Iranian Government’s oppression of women’s rights. David Seymour moved to block the motion because Golriz had raised points of order against him during a previous speech. Fancy putting your hurt feelings in front of making a statement of support and principle.

Bruce’s Reckons: The increased speculation about Chris Luxon quitting

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:45 pm, October 25th, 2022 - 109 comments

Leader of the Opposition Christopher Luxon turned up to Parliament today and his media spin doctors will be hoping for some good photo opportunities to lift his popularity. But they will be asking a lot.

Labour day

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 12:34 pm, October 24th, 2022 - 13 comments

Enjoying your weekend? Thank a unionist!

What are National’s constituent tribes?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:06 am, October 23rd, 2022 - 25 comments

Russ Jones has described the five tribes of the UK Conservative Party as including One Nation Conservatives, xenophobic English nationalists, wild-eyed libertarians, scatty populist bullshitters and machine politicians.

The lettuce won

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:19 am, October 21st, 2022 - 20 comments

Over in the UK Liz Truss has bowed to the inevitable and has announced her resignation as leader of the Conservative Party.

Sharma Sharma Sharma Sharma Sharma Chameleon

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:31 am, October 19th, 2022 - 74 comments

Gaurav Sharma has announced his immediate resignation from Parliament and that he will contest the by election as leader of a new centrist party. He also claims that the Government was going to waka jump him six months from the next election but unless National agrees this is impossible.

What conflict of interest

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:58 am, October 16th, 2022 - 19 comments

National’s attacks on Nanaia Mahuta for conflicts of interest have suffered a major blow after National MP Barbara Kuriger was forced to resign her portfolios for using official letterhead to harass MPI officials.

Climate change: I think that we are f&*ked

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:02 am, October 13th, 2022 - 88 comments

This week the Government announced plans to bring in a scheme for pricing farming emissions in 2025. National’s response suggests the prospects of political consensus are non existent.

We needed Wayne Brown

Written By: advantage - Date published: 2:01 pm, October 11th, 2022 - 81 comments

The left and the Ardern government need to start appreciating the new Auckland mayor.

RNZ, Three Waters and partisan commentary

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:43 am, October 11th, 2022 - 55 comments

Yesterday on Radio New Zealand’s Political Commentator’s show Bridget Morten said that three waters is a toxic thing for the Government but then declared that her law firm represents a group currently taking the Government to Court over three waters. Should such clearly partisan views be given expression by RNZ?

Sometimes in our quest for what is perfect we forget what has been achieved

Written By: darien fenton - Date published: 11:40 am, October 3rd, 2022 - 36 comments

A list of improvements in workers’ rights that Labour has been able to achieve since gaining power in 2017.

Even more proof that Conservatives are not good economic managers

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:44 am, September 29th, 2022 - 61 comments

There has been this carefully crafted illusion that conservative politicians are somehow better with the finances than progressive politicians. Recent events in the United Kingdom suggest that this illusion is terribly misplaced.

Comrade Chris wants to solve Aotearoa’s housing crisis

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:05 am, September 28th, 2022 - 64 comments

Something unusual has happened. Chris Bishop, or as we should now call him Comrade Chris, has come out fully in favour of a vast expansion of the provision of social housing for kiwis.

Luxon’s mishandling of the Uffindell report

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:11 am, September 21st, 2022 - 65 comments

The only word that I can think of is clusterfuck. I cannot understand how badly Christopher Luxon has handled the Maria Dew report into what Sam Uffindell may have done when he was a younger person.

Has Uffindell been cleared?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:12 am, September 19th, 2022 - 98 comments

It appears that the Dew report may clear Sam Uffindell and he may be returned to National’s caucus.

The right’s last desperate throw of the dice in Auckland

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:50 pm, September 16th, 2022 - 18 comments

Even though her name is on the ballot paper and people can vote for her National aligned Mayoral candidate Viv Beck has purported to withdraw from the Auckland Mayoral race.

The right is weirdly gleeful about the end of the mask mandate

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 6:59 am, September 14th, 2022 - 40 comments

National MPs and their supporters have been celebrating the removal of the mandate with weird levels of glee.

Who pays the cost of an extra day off?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:45 pm, September 13th, 2022 - 50 comments

The Government has announced that we will all have a day off to commemorate the life of Queen Elisabeth. Act has come out against it on the basis that we are in a cost of living crisis, even though the adverse effect on workers and the poor is essentially nil and even though there is analysis that suggests that holidays are good for the economy.

Newshub’s incredibly bad gang take

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:40 am, September 6th, 2022 - 55 comments

Yesterday the Government announced a slate of new powers designed to address gang violence. Newshub chose that day to imply that Labour was soft on gangs because a gang member said on social media not to vote for National.

National’s PR support springs into action

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:19 am, September 2nd, 2022 - 52 comments

Yesterday National’s PR machine also known as Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB sprang into action to get the message out that National will not negotiate with Destiny Church over support. Even though eight days previously Chris Luxon pointedly did not rule this out.

Viv Beck going full Trump backfires

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:48 am, August 31st, 2022 - 28 comments

Recent leaks and publicity have caused huge damage to Viv Beck’s campaign to become Auckland’s next mayor. They also highlight the stark difference between the left and the right in terms of campaigning.

Sharma keeps digging

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:10 am, August 30th, 2022 - 33 comments

Last night a 4,761 word rant was published on Gaurav Sharma’s facebook page. In it he details information which on the face of it may have breached confidentiality requirements. And the overwhelming effect of the allegations is Meh.

Mark Mitchell is Kim Hilled on National Radio

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:07 am, August 29th, 2022 - 35 comments

National should learn. They should never send an MP into an interview with Kim Hill unless they are completely prepared. As Mark Mitchell learned this morning.

Labour poised to resolve housing supply crisis

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:25 pm, August 25th, 2022 - 89 comments

It is possible that within the next year New Zealand’s housing supply crisis will be resolved.

Selling your soul to the bishop for power

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 2:36 pm, August 24th, 2022 - 52 comments

This morning Christopher Luxon refused to rule out working with Freedoms New Zealand, the Brian Tamaki entity which has held mock trials, alleged senior Government figures should be tried for treason and have professed a desire to make the country ungovernable.

Who will be Wellington’s next Mayor?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:40 am, August 23rd, 2022 - 24 comments

The Wellington Mayoralty is shaping up to be a contest between the incumbent Andy Foster, Labour candidate Paul Eagle who will be a direct challenge to Foster’s support base and Tory Whanau who is standing on a policy basis strong on sustainability including the construction of a comprehensive connected bike network.

Labour’s “tenant tax” is neither a tax nor for tenants

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:16 am, August 22nd, 2022 - 33 comments

National’s media spin team is at it again claiming that removing interest rate deductibility for landlords is a “tenant tax” when it is neither a new tax nor for tenants.

A week of sideshows

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 5:34 pm, August 21st, 2022 - 64 comments

But the past week has been a week of sideshows. One international as elements of the right try to smear Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin for dancing. And one local where rogue Labour MP Gaurav Sharma is running out of excuses for not backing up the extraordinary claims he has made about the Labour Party.