political parties

Maori Party schism inevitable

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 3:22 pm, November 13th, 2009 - 39 comments

The Maori Party was never going to be a sustainable political vehicle. No political movement that tries to exist in defiance of the material conditions of its constituents can be, and the economic interests of the wealthy Maori elite and the Maori working class are simply incompatible. The Maori Party has to continually choose which […]

Ngapuhi embarrassed by Harawira

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 10:32 am, November 11th, 2009 - 19 comments

Check out this press release: Maori Leader Rejects Harawira Apology as “Embarrassing” and issues his own apology Ngapuhi Leader and senior relative to Hone Harawira, David Rankin, says he is embarrassed by the apology the MP has given. “Harawira has disgraced our iwi with his gutter language, and has casued more racial division in New […]

Yeah, nah, too far

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 12:46 pm, November 10th, 2009 - 81 comments

We all use language sometimes that’s too stong and we regret. Hone Harawira apologised today over his choice of words in the “white motherf**kers” email. Unfortunately, he followed that up by saying Phil Goff “should be lined up against the wall and shot” over the foreshore and seabed law. It looks to me like his […]

Rodney puts on his best chastened little boy voice

Written By: the sprout - Date published: 12:04 am, November 9th, 2009 - 28 comments

You just have to listen to this. After “solid reflection” Rodney has realized that despite being adamant for several days that he’d done no wrong, he now understands that no, he has done wrong and has already returned the cash to the government coffers. Did it last week apparently, which is a bid odd in […]

Hone to leave Maori Party?

Written By: Michael Foxglove - Date published: 8:50 am, November 7th, 2009 - 82 comments

The Dom Post reports that Hone Harawira is considering leaving the Maori Party. Hone told the Dom this before Hone’s offensive email hit the media later in the week. Firebrand Maori Party MP Hone Harawira under attack for an explosive email says he could quit at the next election over his party’s support for National. […]

Act as we say, not as we do

Written By: the sprout - Date published: 2:43 pm, November 6th, 2009 - 31 comments

Why National really hates proportional electoral systems

Written By: the sprout - Date published: 2:22 pm, November 5th, 2009 - 25 comments

These data, taken from the Elections NZ site, show election results since National’s inception up until the last First Past the Post (FPP) election in 1993. I think they show fairly clearly why National is so keen to dump our proportional electoral system in favour of FPP or its drag cousin Supplementary Member (SM), which […]

Key “doesn’t do anything” – Hide

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 8:57 am, November 5th, 2009 - 45 comments

It took a few cocktails to loosen Bill English’s tongue when he thought he was among friends. Rodney Hide just needed his coco pops. At his highly dubious ministerial function/ACT fundraiser breakfast*, Hide told his table that John Key “doesn’t do anything”. The only ‘achievement’ by Key that Hide could identify was the cycleway, which, […]

Restoring the right to a day in court

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 7:41 am, November 3rd, 2009 - 49 comments

I see that repeal of the Foreshore and Seabed Act is finally a foregone conclusion. There’s going to be some dithering about what to put in its place but there shouldn’t be. Instead the Act should be repealed, nothing should be put in place and Maori should get their day in court. I’m not alone […]

Voters see Nats’ feet of clay

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 12:20 pm, October 31st, 2009 - 25 comments

Amongst all the puffery from the right-wing commentators in the Herald today, a very interesting piece – interviews with ordinary people from New Zealand’s most marginal electorate, New Plymouth. she voted National because it was “time for a change”. “I’m quite impressed with John Key. He’s coped with a lot of situations. Compared to the […]

Nats flying high, on your dime

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 3:30 pm, October 29th, 2009 - 16 comments

Why is our agriculture minister spending as much as the Prime Minister on international travel? David Carter has spent $72,000 on international travel in nine months Peter Dunne, Minister of Revenue, has spent $76,000 Judith Collins, $70K. Anne Tolley $79,000. 70-80K each – we’re talking about enough money to buy half a dozen last minute […]

Question

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 2:23 pm, October 28th, 2009 - 20 comments

Why on earth is Labour supporting this police state bullshit? The article says Labour MPs were concerned about the extent of powers being given to the police, and Charles Chauvel tried to amend the bill so a judicial warrant would be needed. Amendment was voted down, but Labour went and voted for it anyway. Some […]

National’s polling hypocrisy

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 7:29 pm, October 27th, 2009 - 45 comments

Having previously led the charge on the Labour polling story, John Key has gone very quiet on the issue now that a former National supporter has blown the whistle on National doing the exact same thing. Thanks to this former supporter we know that under Bill English’s leadership National told volunteers to say they were from […]

Send Nats to Scandinavia

Written By: r0b - Date published: 7:40 am, October 26th, 2009 - 13 comments

Want to send some Nats to Scandinavia? Me too! The one above should be self explanatory. Support Sign On and send John on his way. But while we’re at it let’s send Steven Joyce to Finland! He’s making such a mess of National’s broadband plans. He clearly needs to learn a thing or two about […]