political parties

Which one’s true, Bill?

Written By: John A - Date published: 2:32 pm, August 6th, 2009 - 13 comments

According to the Speaker, Bill English MP’s “primary place of residence” is in Dipton because Bill has told him it is. But according to the Registrar of companies, Bill the shareholder of Resolution Farms‘ “full residential address” is in Wellington because Bill has told them it is. The Companies Act requires shareholders to provide a […]

English lives where Lockwood says

Written By: John A - Date published: 1:31 pm, August 6th, 2009 - 7 comments

Allowances for MPs accommodation are made according to the Speaker’s determinations. An MP’s “primary place of residence” is where the Speaker says it is. Page 18 of the determination gives the definition: primary place of residence,â€” (a) in relation to a member, means the place of residence that the Speaker determines, by written notice to […]

Uncowed

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 12:57 pm, August 6th, 2009 - 9 comments

Shh. Hear that sound? It’s National’s mud throwing machine gearing up again. Inevitably, they’ve released Labour’s ministers’ spending. No evidence of any rort but the big numbers work into the media narrative. It’s all about taking the focus off ministers ripping us off by taking allowances they shouldn’t and making it ‘gosh, everyone spends lots huh?’. […]

Greens show the way forward

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 10:00 am, August 6th, 2009 - 42 comments

The Greens have presented a sensible and feasible plan to reduce our greenhouse emissions to 40% less than 1990 levels by 2020. Contrary to Nick Smith’s scaremongering, it won’t break the bank. In fact, at current carbon credit prices, they will save us money. phase out fossil fuel plants and set higher energy efficency standards. […]

Flogging our future

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 9:18 am, August 6th, 2009 - 18 comments

Hot Topic has very interesting post up about how Act took a sudden interest in climate change denial after they received $100k from prominent climate change denier Alan Gibbs. As Gareth at HT points out: Hide’s repositioning coincided with a major donation to ACT by Alan Gibbs, a wealthy NZ businessman best known here for […]

The house built on sand

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 8:48 am, August 6th, 2009 - 26 comments

English, now known by the moniker Double Dipton, has decided to give back half the amount to has rorted so far from the taxpayer. Rather than claim the full ministers’ allowance, he’ll pocket ‘only’ $24,000 a year for living in his own family home, thank you very much. His claim that he didn’t know he could charge […]

One law for all?

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 12:30 pm, August 5th, 2009 - 46 comments

Are you? a disgraced former minister who resigned from Parliament in shame? a National MP who rents from a National minister (Judith Collins or Anne Tolley for example), claiming that expense back from the taxpayer while the minister simultaneously rents another place, again on the taxpayer’s tab? a private citizen who dares to publicly oppose […]

Worth the Bill

Written By: the sprout - Date published: 7:05 am, August 5th, 2009 - 35 comments

What would you call it when you collect $900 a week by false pretenses? What would you call it when you tell the Electoral Commission and Ministerial Services that you live somewhere other than where you, your partner and your children actually live and work? And if you did those things while holding an office presumably subject […]

3News on National Ministers double-dipping

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 7:07 pm, August 4th, 2009 - 54 comments

3News covers the story of National Ministers double-dipping at the taxpayers’ expense. UPDATE: ‘BLiP’ has bestowed a new title on Bill English: “Sir Double Dipton”. Gold.

Accountability then and now…

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 12:30 pm, August 4th, 2009 - 47 comments

Then: Labour Minister David Parker accused of financial wrongdoing (filing incorrect returns). He resigns Ministerial portfolios and as Attorney General while the Companies Office investigates. Cleared of all wrongdoing (the returns were correct) and later reinstated as a Minister. Now: National Minister Richard Worth accused of financial wrongdoing (using Ministerial position to seek personal gain). […]

More snouts in the trough

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 9:18 am, August 4th, 2009 - 78 comments

More Nats have been exposed rorting the out of town allowance for ministers. Bludger Bill is claiming the allowance for living in his own house. The others are claiming because they felt like fancier digs. McCully, Groser, Heatley, and David Carter all own homes in Wellington but have moved out of them into more expensive […]

One of these things is not like the other VI

Written By: the sprout - Date published: 7:44 am, August 4th, 2009 - 48 comments

One of these things is not like the other One of these things is not quite the same. Can you guess which one is not like the other Can you tell me before I finish the game?

Use of weapons

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 1:00 pm, July 31st, 2009 - 89 comments

I’ve been thinking about the different ways ministers from the Left and the Right approach governing. I think it goes back to where they come from, where their ideological roots are. Ministers from Labour and other leftwing parties tend to have backgrounds in serving a wider community. Teachers, professors, union officials, public servants. Those roles […]

In bed with bigotry

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 10:00 am, July 30th, 2009 - 34 comments

Maori Party MP Rahui Katene’s Matariki Public Holiday Bill was before the House last night (I understand National is planning to vote it down when it comes to the vote in three weeks). Anyway, as a precursor, Katene asked a question on the Government’s attitude to Maori holidays during Question Time. Chris Finlayson answered with nice platitudes. […]

Bully State

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 3:23 pm, July 29th, 2009 - 42 comments

NZPA reports: An MP from government confidence and supply party ACT today told prison officers who spoke out against private prisons that they had hurt their future job prospects. David Garrett’s remark came hot on the heals of accusations yesterday that the Government attempted to intimidate and silence people. Those claims were sparked by Social […]

Straight answers? Short supply.

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 1:45 pm, July 29th, 2009 - 12 comments

Here’s Bennett’s answer to Chauvel’s question in the House yesterday: Charles Chauvel: Was the Minister advised that the individuals concerned had given implied consent to the release of their personal information; if so, on the basis of what precedent; if not, why did the Minister not take advice on that point? Hon PAULA BENNETT: I […]

Goff: yes, stuff-ups: no

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 11:35 am, July 26th, 2009 - 84 comments

Bill Ralston quotes me and some other Left bloggers on the Burgess debacle suggesting it means Goff’s neck is on the line and a leadership challenge might be coming. Well, sorry, but that’s just an old Tory’s daydream. Goff’s leadership is secure. There is no prospect of him being overthrown. His support in Labour is […]

Quick question

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 8:17 am, July 24th, 2009 - 26 comments

What does the Maori Party think of National’s plan to relax rules on foreign investment?

This is the secret agenda

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 10:13 pm, July 23rd, 2009 - 28 comments

Remember the mantra about John Key being a centrist? Doesn’t get much play nowadays does it? And it shouldn’t. Not with the government cutting spending while unemployment rises, dragging Brash and Rankin back from the grave, spending large on private schools, contracting out public services, tax cuts for the rich and the snouts-in-troughs sham that […]

Provoking change

Written By: Dancr - Date published: 2:45 pm, July 23rd, 2009 - 13 comments

Good interview with Labour’s Justice spokesperson, Lianne Dalziel this morning on her private members Bill in the ballot that would remove the defence of provocation (audio on the rnz site, including an mp3 version). It looks like there is a real momentum for change with ‘the Crimes (Abolition of Defence of Provocation) Amendment Bill’ going into the member’s […]

Winston rising

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 11:45 am, July 23rd, 2009 - 32 comments

Like some bad horror movie, from beyond the political grave, it stirs again. Christine Rankin? Unbelievably – yes. Don Brash? Well yes, him too (fresh new thinking from National!). But these are but side shows to the main event. Winston Peters is back. Ironically it is National that has opened the door wide for Winston […]

Phil, get your shit together

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 11:00 am, July 23rd, 2009 - 41 comments

Phil Goff. Please get your shit together. This latest fiasco of running up a guy who owns several properties as a case of a Kiwi hurt by the recession is just inexcusable. I don’t doubt the dude’s having cashflow problems. But using him as your poster boy was only ever going to backfire. There are […]

Matariki Public Holiday?

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 2:20 pm, July 22nd, 2009 - 17 comments

The Maori Party’s Matariki Day Bill was pulled in the ballot. Man, a public holiday in the middle of winter. Currently it’s one long drag from Queens Birthday to Labour Weekend. Will the Tories vote against a public holiday in the middle of winter and, once again, oppose the goals of the Maori Party? We’ll […]

Talking shite

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 9:10 am, July 22nd, 2009 - 28 comments

Right wing rhetoric can be absurdly stupid at times. IrishBill recently reminded us how crazy things were getting near the last election: One of my favourites was Hooton arguing that a fourth term Labour government would abolish the free press! Then there’s the pet attack bloggers, “dragging the discourse to new lows, with vicious, juvenile, […]

Flag it, more important things to do

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 2:00 pm, July 21st, 2009 - 15 comments

I’m just trying to understand this Maori flag thing. The Crown (in the guise of Minister Pita Sharples) has decided that Maori will only get to choose from four designs – the United Tribes (or Busby) flag, the Tino Ringatiratanga flag, the New Zealand Ensign, and the New Zealand flag. The last two are just […]

It’s Brash

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 1:44 pm, July 21st, 2009 - 38 comments

The government has just confirmed Don Brash will head the “productivity” group. Expect a lot of talk about “labour market flexibility” and the like. We’ve been here once and it was shit. Now we’re going back for more.

Recession’s ‘rough edges’ hit families – no help from govt

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 4:20 pm, July 20th, 2009 - 48 comments

Labour leader Phil Goff has called for a temporary relaxation of the rules for getting the dole. Too many Kiwis on low and middle incomes are losing their jobs but are not able to get any assistance from the Government (despite having paid taxes for years) because their partner has a modest income. John Key […]

Keith Locke on tasers

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 11:45 am, July 20th, 2009 - 11 comments

Green MP Keith Locke investigates the claims of safety for tasers, and finds that other countries are concerned that the devices are not as safe as we have been told.

Mike Smith steps down

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 8:48 am, July 20th, 2009 - 16 comments

Labour General Secretary Mike Smith has announced he will retire at the party’s national conference in September. He’s the last of the four – Helen and the three Mikes – who led the parliamentary and party wings during the fifth Labour Government to step down. While Mike Williams ran fundraising, Smith concentrated more on organisation […]

Meme to Labour: Enough of the Should be, more of the Would be.

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 11:17 am, July 19th, 2009 - 87 comments

After 9 months of watching the rich get richer, with their triple dip cuts, first in taxes, then in private school fees, and now in getting subsidies to upgrade insulation in rental homes, and the poor getting poorer with no wage rises and tax cuts cancelled for the next two years, where are Labour? Phil’s […]

Defending the indefensible

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 12:00 pm, July 16th, 2009 - 44 comments

It was disappointing to hear Phil Goff defending the Fourth Labour Government on National Radio the other morning. This was a government whose policies put hundreds of thousands of Kiwis out of work, introduced regressive taxation through GST, began the firesale of our national assets and drove record numbers of our young people to suicide. […]