political parties

Jacinda Ardern’s child poverty speech

Written By: advantage - Date published: 7:42 am, February 1st, 2018 - 74 comments

In a major speech yesterday on poverty, Prime Minister Ardern has laid out fully and forthrightly what is the problem and what need to be done.

Bill’s Rolling – pros and cons

Written By: Enzo - Date published: 11:10 am, January 31st, 2018 - 27 comments

Since reading the news that the Nats are thinking about ditching Bill English, I’ve been trying to decide what my (completely honest and in no way disingenuous) advice to them would be on the topic. It’s a tough one! There are clearly pros and cons for them. Starting with the cons: Bill is experienced – […]

Bye Bill?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:25 am, January 31st, 2018 - 82 comments

Barry Soper is claiming that the numbers are being done on sorting out a replacement for Bill English and Paula Bennett may be gone as deputy leader as early as next week.

National’s drug conscience

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:06 am, January 31st, 2018 - 35 comments

Helen Kelly championed the liberalisation of drug law to allow those suffering from significant ill health to have access to cannabis for medicinal purposes. National is still struggling with the concept despite it having overwhelming public support.

It’s time to change our cannabis laws (sign the petition)

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 7:00 am, January 31st, 2018 - 42 comments

“Sick New Zealanders deserve access to medicinal cannabis which is legal and affordable.”

Bill your pants may be on fire

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 1:48 pm, January 30th, 2018 - 118 comments

Bill English has criticised the Government for only offering an officer briefing on the day that legislation is due to be introduced into Parliament. But appears to have forgotten an offer made by Jacinda Ardern 48 days ago.

Greening the government: economics

Written By: weka - Date published: 7:39 am, January 29th, 2018 - 92 comments

In his State of the Planet speech, James Shaw lays out the Green Party’s bold vision and plan for a truly sustainable economy to replace the crumbling architecture of the last 30 years.

(image from Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics)

The Standard under a Labour led Government

Written By: advantage - Date published: 9:58 am, January 28th, 2018 - 109 comments

How should the Standard adapt to the new Government?

Manaakitanga

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:30 am, January 27th, 2018 - 74 comments

Jacinda Ardern this week expressed the hope that this Government will bring back Manaakitanga, in other words to show respect, generosity and care for others.

Timeline announced for Green Party Female Co-leadership election

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 11:40 am, January 26th, 2018 - 18 comments

The Green Party will have a new Female Co-leader by April 9, following the announcement today of an early special election for the position and a truncated campaign period of two months.

Employment Relations changes announced

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 1:28 pm, January 25th, 2018 - 20 comments

The Government has announced changes to the Employment Relations law which on the whole are positive and beneficial for workers. But following New Zealand First lobbying the 90 day fire at will provision will be retained for small firms.

Revised TPPA to be signed?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:08 am, January 24th, 2018 - 218 comments

Radio New Zealand is reporting that Canadian concerns about the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement have been addressed and the agreement is scheduled to be signed in March.

What should happen at Waitangi

Written By: advantage - Date published: 12:15 pm, January 23rd, 2018 - 6 comments

The ideal occurrences this year at Waitangi would be …

Jacinda to attend Waitangi day ceremony at Waitangi

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:03 am, January 23rd, 2018 - 29 comments

Jacinda Ardern has announced that she will spend five days at Waitangi leading up to Waitangi day to make full use of the time when people are gathered there to meet together as a government that wants to form open transparent relationships.

Join Marama for an Announcement February 4th

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:19 am, January 23rd, 2018 - 7 comments

Marama Davidson – Kia ora whānau! It would mean so much to me if you would all come and support my event on Sunday 04 Feb at 11am. We’ll be livestreaming the event so even if you can’t physically be there and you’d like to tautoko you can click ‘going’.

Auckland Council by election hypocrisy alert

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:03 am, January 22nd, 2018 - 13 comments

The National candidate for the Maungakiekie Tamaki Auckland Council by election is complaining that if the Labour candidate wins it will trigger a costly by election. But he is ignoring the fact that the three current by elections have all been caused by National endorsed local government representatives resigning.

High Country selloff scandal laid bare

Written By: Simon Louisson - Date published: 2:11 pm, January 21st, 2018 - 35 comments

A feature in yesterday’s Domion Post Weekend lays bare the extent of the scandalous selloff of huge tracts of our high country. The tenure review of the high country has been conducted since 1992 to privatise some of the land and also bringing parts into the conservation estate. The process has been followed by both National and Labour governments.

It’s time to embrace nanny state

Written By: Simon Louisson - Date published: 1:45 pm, January 19th, 2018 - 22 comments

Rather than apologise, it’s time the Left and the new government embraced “nanny state” as a positive, just as the gay community claimed the previously pejorative term “queer”. A nanny state is clearly economically and socially more efficient. We should celebrate our nanny state and not apologise for it.

Can This Government Regain Power on Its Policies?

Written By: advantage - Date published: 11:46 am, January 17th, 2018 - 82 comments

The sixth Labour led Government has made a good start to its term. But what policy results will New Zealand have to vote for and campaign on in 2020?

Is it OK for a woman with an opinion to host TVNZ’s Breakfast?

Written By: Enzo - Date published: 11:03 am, January 16th, 2018 - 128 comments

It’s great news that Hayley Holt has landed a cool new gig hosting TVNZ’s Breakfast show. It’s not so great that before she even gets on the air we have to endure the pontification of some pundits about whether or not it’s “OK”, given she stood as a Green Party candidate in the 2017 election. […]