Written By: - Date published: 12:04 pm, March 12th, 2013 - 40 comments
The Bill to Mondayise holidays seems certain to progress. A nice win for David Clark and for Labour, and an all too rare example of MMP working as it should.
Written By: - Date published: 8:25 am, March 9th, 2013 - 3 comments
Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, our final look at the Children’s Social Health Monitor 2012 Update Report, and I’ll suggest some conclusions that can be drawn.
Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, March 7th, 2013 - 21 comments
Even Peter Dunne is getting disgusted with Key’s arrogance. Trouble is, Dunne assumes that being popular makes it OK. It doesn’t.
Written By: - Date published: 5:45 pm, March 6th, 2013 - 5 comments
Parata was told it was too early to make Christchurch school decisions by her ministry and why aren’t we allowed to know how much the state paid off Don Elder when he resigned over Solid Energy’s rapid decline?
Written By: - Date published: 11:08 am, March 6th, 2013 - 88 comments
I know we’re meant to make do with what we have. Sometimes wonder what we would have if a couple more MPs had thought beyond themselves, given the party membership the choice. Here’s two guys. One talking Labour values, recognising injustice arises from an unjust system. The other looking at a half mil house will touting affordable housing.
Written By: - Date published: 8:20 am, March 6th, 2013 - 40 comments
Amidst the froth of predatory “excitement” about the sale of our power generation assets, it was refreshing to read in The Herald yesterday a single lone voice who was thinking long term.
Written By: - Date published: 8:17 pm, March 4th, 2013 - 88 comments
After reading Queen of Thorns complaint about the limited gender options in the census, I was considering the census. For me and almost everyone else I know (apart from my brother and a few others) we are devotedly irreligious. But every census they ask us that same old rather meaningless question… Obviously voting Jedi didn’t work. However […]
Written By: - Date published: 10:42 am, March 4th, 2013 - 140 comments
One of the promises that Key made about asset sales was that Kiwis would be “at the front of the queue”. So why will up to 30% of the current offering be heading overseas?
Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, March 3rd, 2013 - 154 comments
Why must we turn welfare, an important safety net and part of the social fabric / contract of our country, into a stupid pissing match about a minister’s “reputation”?
Written By: - Date published: 11:18 am, March 2nd, 2013 - 13 comments
Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, more from the Children’s Social Health Monitor 2012 Update Report, and the British government’s maneuverings on the definition of poverty…
Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, March 1st, 2013 - 49 comments
Yet again, Patrick Gower digs deep to find a story where there really isn’t one.
Written By: - Date published: 7:15 am, March 1st, 2013 - 22 comments
Come one, came all to National’s fire sale! See how fast we can flog off your assets! Low prices, great returns to foreign investors!
Written By: - Date published: 7:51 am, February 28th, 2013 - 34 comments
Another excellent Cunlife speech last night, speaking to the Child Support Amendment Bill (Committee Stage Schedule 2). An “almost” Bill showing the government’s callous disregard of child poverty and single/separated (usually women) parents.
Written By: - Date published: 1:21 pm, February 27th, 2013 - 25 comments
Good news, as Louisa Wall’s Marriage Equality Bill progresses through select committee.
Written By: - Date published: 10:42 am, February 27th, 2013 - 90 comments
The minimum wage should be at least $15 per hour. A living wage is estimated at $18.40 per hour. So what have the Nats done? Raised the minimum wage by $0.25 per hour to $13.75. It’s a derisory increase. Even their own supporters think so.
Written By: - Date published: 8:58 am, February 27th, 2013 - 219 comments
The Nats lied over the hobbit movie. What are we as citizens to do when a government deliberately and shamelessly lies to us? How can we stop this kind of barefaced lying from happening again?
Written By: - Date published: 6:12 pm, February 26th, 2013 - 30 comments
John Key is keen that the ACT party is “regenerating” and National will be there for them. That’s if a party that registered 0%, 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.5% in the latest round of polls can be called “regenerating”: I’ve seen (other) zombies more full of life…
Written By: - Date published: 8:35 am, February 26th, 2013 - 49 comments
I think the Labour reshuffle is quite clever in how it signals the portfolios that its willing to give to the Greens and encourages them to set about being lead opposition spokespeople on those topics. Sure, the reshuffle has some weird stuff in it – ChCh Earthquake spokesperson a backbencher!, 6 ex-staffers in the top 10, Mallard’s ‘demotion’ that isn’t. But there’s some smarts there too.
Written By: - Date published: 2:22 pm, February 25th, 2013 - 82 comments
A few quick thoughts on the Labour reshuffle.
Written By: - Date published: 1:49 pm, February 25th, 2013 - 211 comments
Shearer announced his reshuffle at 1pm today
Written By: - Date published: 8:09 am, February 25th, 2013 - 82 comments
Claire Trevett is picking Annette King to take health in a Labour party reshuffle
Written By: - Date published: 7:21 pm, February 24th, 2013 - 71 comments
Word is Labour’s reshuffle will be announced tomorrow.
Written By: - Date published: 12:24 pm, February 24th, 2013 - 15 comments
Looks like we’re in for another round of nonsense in mathematics education from a bunch of politicians who know more about their own prejudices than they do about teaching and learning.
Written By: - Date published: 9:01 pm, February 23rd, 2013 - 71 comments
According to ex-leader Rodney Hyde’s address to the ACT conference ACT hates the poor, hates Maori, and hates the unions. As far as I can tell this is not a joke. But clearly ACT is.
Written By: - Date published: 3:51 pm, February 23rd, 2013 - 186 comments
The list of National’s failures is long – and getting longer. So what have the Nats got right in their 4 years in office? What have they accomplished? Genuine questions, Nat supporters, I’m interested to know what you think Key and co. have achieved.
Written By: - Date published: 9:05 am, February 23rd, 2013 - 15 comments
I/S from No Right Turn describes another brick in National’s wall of stupid. “New Zealand will be locked out of the international carbon market in retaliation for our refusal to sign up for Kyoto’s Second Commitment period.”
Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, February 23rd, 2013 - 11 comments
Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, more from the Children’s Social Health Monitor 2012 Update Report, and poverty in Christchurch…
Written By: - Date published: 12:11 pm, February 22nd, 2013 - 41 comments
The Government is currently attempting for a second time to remove blanket tree protection from Auckland’s district plan. Submissions close on February 28, 2013 – Greg Presland tells us why and how you can have your say.
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, February 22nd, 2013 - 22 comments
Today is the second anniversary of the most destructive of the Christchurch earthquakes. Condolences to the friends and families of the dead. Greetings to all who lived through it and remember. Commiserations to those who have been forgotten by this government…
Written By: - Date published: 9:23 am, February 21st, 2013 - 22 comments
As John Armstrong puts it the AG’s report on the Sky City bid was “deeply disturbing” and “verging on banana republic kind of stuff without the bananas”. One of the competing bidders is talking about a refund of costs “wasted on a bid that was never seriously considered”. And why wouldn’t they?
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