political parties

Tell the Health Committee: Make our cannabis law fair for those in pain

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:05 am, March 18th, 2018 - 10 comments

“The Health Select Committee is about to consider the government’s changes to medicinal cannabis law. This is your chance to tell politicians they have not gone far enough.”

The Greens have a handy online submission form that you can send as is or add your own thoughts. Submissions close on Wednesday.

Collins: No one cares about National’s abject failure over housing

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:42 am, March 16th, 2018 - 111 comments

Judith Collins thinks that no one cares that National oversaw the creation of a significant housing crisis.

Productivity

Written By: advantage - Date published: 9:00 am, March 14th, 2018 - 32 comments

A more productive economy – and society – has been an elusive goal for many of New Zealand’s previous governments. The last National Government failed. What will Labour do to succeed?

Talking about sexual assault

Written By: weka - Date published: 6:49 am, March 13th, 2018 - 236 comments

As news unfolds about the sexual assaults that took place at Labour’s Summer School last month, it’s time for political communities to look at how they talk about sexual assault and rape culture.

Ardern bans government departments from using private investigator to surveil NZers

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:15 am, March 13th, 2018 - 31 comments

“Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has banned all Government departments from using a firm of private investigators for spying.”

Housing needs a builder not a crusher

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:11 am, March 12th, 2018 - 82 comments

Phil Twyford has the perfect response to National’s claim that Judith Collins’ appointment as Housing Spokesperson would cause him to lose sleep.

National announces new line up

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 3:47 pm, March 11th, 2018 - 121 comments

National’s new line up has been announced. And there are some heavy hints to a few MPs that their careers may be ending soon.

Andrew Little reflects

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:59 pm, March 11th, 2018 - 18 comments

Stuff have published online a video interview with Andrew Little where he goes through the circumstances of his resignation as leader, the ascension of Jacinda Ardern as Prime Minister and his work as a Minister.

Is youth the new political divide?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:21 am, March 11th, 2018 - 44 comments

There is evidence in the United Kingdom and in New Zealand that youth and not class may be the new political divide.

Was National a good economic manager?

Written By: advantage - Date published: 9:30 am, March 10th, 2018 - 75 comments

Bill Rosenberg from the CTU has stated convincingly why National is not and was not a sound manager of the economy.

Doofus of the week March 10, 2018

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:15 am, March 10th, 2018 - 157 comments

An occasional post where we celebrate the extremely banal or bad taste or idiotic behaviour in politics.

Justice for the family carer claimants

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:43 am, March 8th, 2018 - 28 comments

National’s constitutionally outrageous attempt to stifle the claims of family carers for compensation for discrimination should be repealed and a just settlement reached with the caregivers.

We need more ministers like Steven Joyce

Written By: advantage - Date published: 11:45 am, March 7th, 2018 - 123 comments

Rare praise for Steven Joyce from someone on the left.

Who is next?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:03 am, March 7th, 2018 - 65 comments

Steven Joyce’s resignation may be the first of many as National adjusts to the possibility of a lengthy stay in opposition.

Steven Joyce threatens to sue Matthew Hooton and the NBR

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 5:22 pm, March 5th, 2018 - 76 comments

Matthew Hooton has been sacked as a contributor to the NBR and Steven Joyce has threatened to sue him and the NBR over claims that Joyce is not popular in caucus and should be sacked.

Simon Bridges’ not very good first week

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:37 am, March 4th, 2018 - 44 comments

In this very important first week Simon Bridges has committed two major blunders. He has claimed he was environmentally friendly when any view of his Ministerial history would confirm that this is not the case. And he forgot his Government oversaw the stripping of democratic rights from all prisoners, and adjusted his position when his error was pointed out.

James Shaw’s speech to the Green Summer Policy Conference

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:15 am, March 4th, 2018 - 8 comments

Alongside announcing the Greens’ new transparency measures, James Shaw talks about being in government and having the ability to influence, as well as staying true to the Green Party’s values.

Green Party announces new transparency measures

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:10 am, March 4th, 2018 - 28 comments

Green Party Co-leader James Shaw has today announced two important new transparency measures, which will apply to Green Party Ministers, MPs and staff, to help counter the influence of money in politics.

Doofus of the week – March 3, 2018

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:30 am, March 3rd, 2018 - 29 comments

David Seymour has created history by being the first person to win two doofuses of the week awards for blatant misogyny and disrespecting young kiwis who this week won olympic medals.

Genter and Davidson

Written By: weka - Date published: 6:08 am, March 2nd, 2018 - 51 comments

The Green female co-leader candidates did a Q and A last night with Stuff political reporter Henry Cooke. They covered a range of topics, including the Budget Responsibility Rules. The interview gives good insight into how the Green Party works and where they are headed, as well as into the two candidates themselves.

Jacinda 3, Simon 0

Written By: Enzo - Date published: 7:00 am, March 1st, 2018 - 45 comments

Avid watchers of Simon Bridges’ regular breakfast television appearances debating Jacinda Ardern when they were both relatively junior MPs will recall that 9 times out of ten Jacinda wiped the floor with the new Head Tory. Fast forward a few years, and judging by Question Time this week it doesn’t appear that much has changed. […]

Golriz Ghahraman in the House on the TPPA

Written By: weka - Date published: 6:04 am, March 1st, 2018 - 177 comments

“As Greens, what’s particularly chilling to us is that we know elsewhere in the world where ISDS clauses have been accessed to sue Governments, corporates have used them to stop environmental protection.” … “The Indonesian environmental Minister had to admit, ‘If we shut them down, they will need compensation and Indonesia can’t afford it.’ That is chilling.”

Bridges burnt in media reviews

Written By: Natwatch - Date published: 12:38 pm, February 28th, 2018 - 60 comments

It’s pretty grim reading for the new Nat leader this morning. Pundits reckon he has no show in 2020.

Right wing activists are not happy Bridges is leader

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 4:35 pm, February 27th, 2018 - 49 comments

The initial response from right wingers online to the news that National’s new leader is Simon Bridges is a big meh.

National’s new leader is …

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 12:48 pm, February 27th, 2018 - 173 comments

The new leader of the National Party has been announced. It is Simon Bridges with Paula Bennett remaining as deputy.

Who will the new leader of the National Party be?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:49 am, February 27th, 2018 - 52 comments

Today we will find out if National is taking a step backwards. Or two steps backwards.

Respecting our Rights and the New Zealand Constitution

Written By: Matthew Whitehead - Date published: 8:30 am, February 27th, 2018 - 35 comments

The Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister teased a little bit of constitutional change yesterday. Let’s look at what that could actually mean, and how it could upon up old laws for review by Parliament.

Damien Grant thinks National is stuffed

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:00 am, February 26th, 2018 - 44 comments

Damien Grant thinks that National is a relic and should fracture into libertarian and conservative parties.

Why does Criminal Justice have to be so politicised?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:49 am, February 25th, 2018 - 67 comments

Judith Collins has indicated that the chances of a mature debate about Criminal Justice are slim.

Doofus of the week – David Seymour

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 1:00 pm, February 24th, 2018 - 21 comments

Hot on the heels on the news that he is going to spend valuable time dancing with the stars David Seymour has engaged in a good old fashioned piece of fat shaming. From Anna Bracewell-Worrall at Stuff: ACT party politician David Seymour has openly fat-shamed politicians, saying journalists should use a wide-angle lense to figure […]

Little proposes radical shake up of the Criminal Justice system

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:39 am, February 24th, 2018 - 152 comments

Andrew Little has called for a complete change the way criminal justice works. But National’s initial response suggests that the prospects of a mature discussion on the issue are slim.