political parties
Categories under political parties
- act (545)
- Coalition NZ (3)
- conservative party (74)
- greens (1,018)
- internet party (17)
- labour (2,587)
- mana (86)
- mana-party (56)
- maori party (362)
- national (4,495)
- same old national (1,614)
- new conservatives (8)
- nz first (431)
- progressives (20)
- TOPS (10)
- united future (64)
- women's rights party (2)
The long wait – dithering, inexperience and wreckers
Written By: - Date published: 8:58 am, December 4th, 2023 - 48 comments
After 59 days after election day, parliament will finally sit today with a new government. The process has mostly been notable for its incoherent dithering, inexperience, and general stupidity. It is a coalition based on chaos,lack of usable policy and based on wrecking rather than work. It took so long because of wishful thinking and laziness.
Chris Bishop can’t count
Written By: - Date published: 12:26 pm, December 3rd, 2023 - 48 comments
This morning on Q&A and despite being pulled up on it Chris Bishop repeated National’s claim that under the Smokefree reforms there would only be allowed one tobacco retail shop in Northland when there would actually be at least 34.
Labour needs to open the military-political front
Written By: - Date published: 10:13 am, December 3rd, 2023 - 28 comments
The new National coalition cares little about defence. Defence is surprisingly a large and under-appreciated strength for Labour.
Just One Term
Written By: - Date published: 9:06 am, December 2nd, 2023 - 74 comments
There is every reason to believe National will be chucked out in 2026.
Gangs rejoice as Pseudoephedrine is back
Written By: - Date published: 8:51 am, December 2nd, 2023 - 18 comments
For a Government that hates gangs you would think that they would be more circumspect with policies that may enrich gangs and increase illicit drug use. But this is exactly what the current Government is planning.
100 days of chaos
Written By: - Date published: 10:58 am, December 1st, 2023 - 18 comments
National’s 100 days of action is to address the rhetoric of economic difficulties but the announced policies will do nothing to help the pressure that ordinary people are feeling.
Nigel Haworth – Back to the Future?
Written By: - Date published: 10:08 am, November 27th, 2023 - 22 comments
“Labour should be as focused on production as it is on distribution. Labour’s job is not simply to distribute such resources as accrue to the state; it is to promote production and trade that underpin fairer distribution, but under particular conditions.”
The Left Do Not Own Maori
Written By: - Date published: 11:52 am, November 26th, 2023 - 52 comments
Labour, the Greens and liberal parts of the media have not adjusted to the fact that liberal and Maori are different things.
Aotearoa the way you want it?
Written By: - Date published: 11:06 am, November 26th, 2023 - 47 comments
The new Government’s policies give the impression they were formulated by members of a Workingman’s club in the 1970s and negotiated over a few beers.
Highlights quoted out of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement
Written By: - Date published: 9:36 am, November 25th, 2023 - 73 comments
Some of the more unusual policies from the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement.
The long wait still continues
Written By: - Date published: 8:48 am, November 25th, 2023 - 48 comments
On Friday, three parties finally signed agreements to gain a slim majority in parliament. What this means is that some time on Monday Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro will be able to swear in the new ministers of the Executive Council. On Monday Labour and the Greens will have their constitutional muzzle removed. On December 5th parliament will lumber back into work. Then the fun begins for this political blogger.
Strong stable Government?
Written By: - Date published: 10:19 am, November 23rd, 2023 - 102 comments
Today may be the day we have a new Government, that is as long as Act and NZ First can resolve their fight over who is to be Deputy Prime Minister.
The baubles of office
Written By: - Date published: 10:49 am, November 22nd, 2023 - 93 comments
Now that the policy negotiations between Act National and NZ First have been concluded talks have progressed to the most sensitive and difficult area, who will get the baubles of office.
The politics of Palestine
Written By: - Date published: 10:57 am, November 21st, 2023 - 34 comments
Earlier this week the New Zealand Labour Party made a statement on Palestine and it was a good one.
Certainly much better than the positions adopted by its sister Labour parties overseas.
Mergers and acquisitions
Written By: - Date published: 9:24 am, November 19th, 2023 - 105 comments
Christopher Luxon has always talked the big talk about his corporate experience with mergers and acquisitions. But the media are starting to ask questions and his positive rhetoric may not be well placed.
Negotiation of chaos
Written By: - Date published: 8:23 am, November 15th, 2023 - 132 comments
So the coalition negotiations are going as well as I thought they would.
What will National do about special voting rights?
Written By: - Date published: 10:55 am, November 11th, 2023 - 45 comments
One of the most democratic changes that Labour made to the electoral system was to allow people to enroll and vote on election day. The right hate it. And may be planning to change it.
Nigel Haworth on Labour at the crossroads
Written By: - Date published: 6:10 am, November 8th, 2023 - 42 comments
Former Labour Party President Nigel Haworth: “Any decisions about leadership should follow a careful and comprehensive review of, first, the recent campaign, and second, the broader settings in which Labour has chosen to work in recent years”
Hipkins endorsed
Written By: - Date published: 8:02 pm, November 7th, 2023 - 53 comments
It was never going to be anything else, but two positive emerged. All policy options are back on the table, including tax, and there is a realisation that the main task ahead is to rebuild a strong and progressive party.
Nu phone who dis?
Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, November 6th, 2023 - 37 comments
It is very early days and already, in what appears to be a finely calibrated insult to make David Seymour appear weak, Winston Peters has responded to the first overture from the Act leader for talks by ignoring him.
What happened in the Maori seats
Written By: - Date published: 10:18 am, November 5th, 2023 - 48 comments
The final results in the Māori electorates clearly indicate that there was a great deal of strategic voting taking place.
Greenpeace: Luxon’s threat to roll back climate action at odds with emissions targets
Written By: - Date published: 9:44 am, November 4th, 2023 - 32 comments
Greenpeace Aotearoa is calling on Prime Minister-elect Christopher Luxon to commit to real climate action, as reports reveal New Zealand is now at risk of not meeting its Paris Agreement emissions reduction targets.
2023 Final results
Written By: - Date published: 2:38 pm, November 3rd, 2023 - 166 comments
National loses 2 electorate seats to Labour. Te Pāti Māori picked up two electorate seats from Labour which means that parliament will have a 2 seat overhang. Greens gain a seat. Nact needs a coalition buddy. Now we’re looking at the coalition phase of the long wait. Time to pull out the popcorn.
A point on the long wait
Written By: - Date published: 10:48 am, November 3rd, 2023 - 32 comments
Today we will get the final election counts. It will now include the estimated specials of 20.2% of the vote. This can change the precise balance in parliament. A NAct coalition will probably require a partner party to secure a reliable majority. Unfortunately past political history is going to make that awkward. The chaos will be great for a political blog of the left. Not so good for the country.
Labour’s leadership
Written By: - Date published: 10:06 am, November 3rd, 2023 - 34 comments
Now that the dust is settling it is time for the Labour Party to think about its future.
Has Labour become a cadre Party? Pt 1 Leadership
Written By: - Date published: 4:43 pm, November 2nd, 2023 - 18 comments
In 2021, I voted against Labour’s conference proposal for midstream leadership change to be determined by Caucus alone, saying that it risked Labour becoming a cadre party for elites. A series of posts will start with why the Caucus should not rush to a leadership vote.
National’s gang policy has no foundation
Written By: - Date published: 9:15 am, October 27th, 2023 - 35 comments
National’s Mark Mitchell has proposed a law that will require Gang Members to apply foundation to any gang insignia tattoos before they can go out into the public.
Don’t get angry, get organised
Written By: - Date published: 10:58 am, October 23rd, 2023 - 87 comments
Labour day is a good day for all progressives to start getting organised for the next three years and working on the election of the next progressive Government.
How the special votes may work out
Written By: - Date published: 8:18 am, October 17th, 2023 - 57 comments
Special vote counts may see Labour win back some important electorate seats and see the National/Act majority vanish.
NZ Election result
Written By: - Date published: 6:03 am, October 17th, 2023 - 45 comments
In parliamentary politics, there are no final victories. After losing the 2023 election, Labour must now immediately focus on winning in 2026.
Why are the Greens so happy?
Written By: - Date published: 12:05 pm, October 15th, 2023 - 75 comments
The trad left/right spectrum people are wondering why the Greens are so happy. Didn’t the left just lose?
- Save The Children Opposes Proposed Changes To Schools’ Legislated Objectives
Save the Children is extremely concerned the Government’s proposal to narrow the focus of schools’ legislated education objectives to prioritise achievement and remove references to children’s rights will have a detrimental impact on children ...4 days ago - South Taranaki Proves Luxon Right
The New Zealand Taxpayers Union can reveal through the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act that South Taranaki District Council’s new cultural centre (Te Ramanui O Ruaputahanga) has blown out from a starting point of $8 million ...4 days ago
- Disturbing Data In Latest “Assisted Dying” Report
The latest review of assisted suicide / euthanasia was quietly released last month by the Ministry of Health – but it should sound significant and loud warning bells about the law, especially at a time when proponents want it to be liberalised even ...4 days ago
- Government Cuts To Pay Parity Don’t Help Children
All teachers deserve to be paid fairly. We have a shortage of qualified early childhood staff in Aotearoa and are already losing teachers overseas. Reducing pay and conditions for relief teachers won’t make that problem any better. ...4 days ago
- Common Sense (finally) Prevails With Pause On Freshwater Farm Plan Rollout
Federated Farmers says pressing pause on the rollout of freshwater farm plans until improvements can be made is a practical and pragmatic step from the Government. ...4 days ago
- Disabled People Invisible In Too Many Government Announcements
Too many government announcements affecting disabled people don’t even mention disabled people, leaving the community googling for answers, and feeling forgotten or invisible. ...4 days ago
- Canterbury Bridge Blowing Out $13.5 Million Budget With Nothing To Show For It
Despite Kaikōura District Council’s project to rebuild the Waiau Toa/Clarence River Glen Alton bridge after the Kaikōura earthquake being eight years deep, the Council have still not even managed to gain the appropriate resource consents or ...4 days ago
- Misogyny Behind Attacks On Women’s Rights Campaigners And Women Politicians, The Women’s...
A man who threw what turned out to be tomato juice at UK women’s rights advocate Kellie-Jay Keen and Tania Sturt, an organiser of the “Let Women Speak” event in Auckland’s Albert Park on 25 March last year, has been convicted of assault ...4 days ago
- Panel Discussion Featuring Global Experts Will Raise Awareness About Apartheid Against Women In Iran...
The panellists will speak about the importance of formal recognition of gender apartheid, give background as to the situation of women and girls in Iran and Afghanistan and outline a way forward towards greater equality and basic rights for all. ...4 days ago
- Catholic Church Abuse Survivors Respond To Death Of Bishop Denis Browne
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) in Oceania calls on the current bishops of Hamilton, Auckland, and Rarotonga, and all church leaders, to not follow in Bishop Browne’s negligent ways, and instead, support the abused in their dioceses ...4 days ago
- Govt Cuts Mean Salvation Army Frontline Workers Face Axe
The change proposal covers workers in Auckland (Glenfield, Manukau, Royal Oak and Waitakere), Tauranga, Hamilton, Hutt City and Palmerston North. ...4 days ago
- Disappointment By Court’s Decision For No Maximum Water Intake For Griffin Creek
The Court of Appeal recently ruled that the Griffin Creek hydro scheme concession, issued by DOC in 2011, contains no maximum water take. It is now possible that a bigger scheme could be built on Griffin Creek than had originally been proposed. ...4 days ago
- Rail Cuts Set New Zealand Up For Failure
The government’s war on rail is setting New Zealand up for failure, says the Rail and Maritime Transport Union. ...4 days ago
- GPs Should Be Lining Up Around The Block, Too
“We shouldn’t see queues like that anywhere, let alone in a supposedly developed country like New Zealand,” says Dr Buzz Burrell, interim chair of General Practitioners Aotearoa (GPA). ...4 days ago
- IVL Increase Good For MBIE, Bad For The Economy
The Government looks to have cemented New Zealand as one of the most expensive countries in the world for a holiday today by increasing the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) to $100. ...4 days ago
- Greenpeace Slams Govt Decision To Expand Seabed Mining Permit Area
Greenpeace says it’s "unbelievable" that wannabe seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources has been given the go-ahead to nearly quadruple the size of the area it wants to mine in the South Taranaki Bight. ...4 days ago
- $100 IVL Will Dent New Zealand’s Global Competitiveness
Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) is very disappointed the industry’s cumulative voice hasn’t been heard, and is keen to see the government’s investment plan for the funds to be raised from the increase in the International Visitor Levy (IVL) ...4 days ago
- Government to change law stipulating whether workers are contractors or employees
Supporters say the move will provide more clarity, but the Greens say it's the latest in "a series of assaults on workers' rights". ...4 days ago - Education body calls for overhaul of early learning rules, ‘ineffective’ teacher to chil...
Pay parity is "the single most vexatious challenge" facing services and teacher pay should be deregulated, the Early Childhood Council says. ...4 days ago
- PM Luxon, Police Minister Mark Mitchell say Auckland assaults are dropping
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Police Minister Mark Mitchell have announced a 22 percent drop in assaults in the Auckland CBD in the past year. Follow our live coverage here. ...4 days ago
- Police Minister Mark Mitchell to speak to media
Police Minister Mark Mitchell will speak to media on Sunday afternoon at the Auckland Central Police Station. Follow our live coverage here. ...4 days ago
- Australia can’t afford an AUKUS about-face: 5 things the critics are getting wrong
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University Three years have passed since the United States, Australia and United Kingdom announced on September 15 2021 that they would enter into a security partnership called AUKUS. A major part of ...4 days ago - Pope Francis – a message of peace and real change in Pacific political struggles
COMMENTARY: By Laurens Ikinia in Jakarta Pope Francis has completed his historic first visit to Southeast Asian and Pacific nations. The papal apostolic visit covered Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore and Timor-Leste. This visit is furst to the region after he was elected as the leader of the Catholic Church ...4 days ago
- Aukus Pillar Two: Australia gets new quantum atomic clocks
Quantum technology is one of eight technologies the US, Australia and UK are sharing more of under the controversial defence pact. ...4 days ago
- Columnist and political media expert John Bishop dies
He was father of National Party MP Chris Bishop, a former RNZ and TVNZ journalist and chairperson of the Taxpayers' Union. ...4 days ago
- Transport minister pushed ahead with weaker tailpipe standards to meet car industry’s deadline
Environment officials tried to warn Cabinet the move risked blowing NZ's climate targets - but were told they were too late. ...4 days ago
- The House: Leading in opposition and building an alternative government
One vestige of the pre-MMP era is the term 'leader of the opposition' - but why does the term still exist, and what does the leader do? ...4 days ago
- RSF calls on UN to investigate Israeli attack killing photojournalist Issam Abdallah
Pacific Media Watch A month before the anniversary of the death of photojournalist Issam Abdallah — killed by an Israeli strike while reporting in southern Lebanon — Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and 10 organisations have sent a letter to the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including ...4 days ago
- New Rail Deviations Needed To Improve Productivity
In light of the governments shopping list of roading projects, TRAC would like to draw attention to the governments total wilfully neglectful attitude to rail, climate change, pollution, road congestion and road safety. ...4 days ago
- Watchdog Report On Places Of Detention Highlights Ongoing Harm
The 2022/23 annual report by the National Preventive Mechanism on the Optional Protocol to the United Nation’s Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) has been tabled in Parliament (Friday, 3pm) ...4 days ago
- NRC Pleased To See RONS And RORS Funding Allocation
National Road Carriers Association (NRC) is pleased to see the Government’s announcements today allocating funding to Roads of National Significance (RONS) and Roads of Regional Significance (RORS). ...4 days ago
- New Zealand Catholic Church Suppresses Abuse Report
Catholic Church leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand have refused to fully disclose an independent report on how they have handled abuse complaints. ...4 days ago
- Local MP Opposes Greenwoods Car Park Removal
ACT Leader and MP for Epsom David Seymour has written to Auckland Transport and the Albert Eden Local Board in opposition to removing car parks from the West Side of Manukau Rd at Greenwoods Corner. ...4 days ago
- Donations Available To Support Community Waitangi Day Celebrations
The 2025 Waitangi Day Celebration Fund (the Fund) is open until Monday, 7 October. ...4 days ago
- Clubs Facing Extinction Should Be Empowered To Do Good
Kiwis shouldn’t have to sacrifice their membership of a rowing club or bridge club just because a piece of legislation loaded on costs in a cost-of-living crisis. The people running these clubs are busy parents, grandparents, and hobbyists building ...4 days ago
- Striking Social Service And Support Workers To Rally For Decent Wages
Union members are calling for a 5% increase for all members to keep up with the cost of living. This is their second strike in three weeks, after eight months of negotiations led to Visionwest offering meagre pay increases ranging from 0% to 2.6%. ...4 days ago
- Shane Jones Called Out For Seabed Mining Misinformation
The minister for mining and burning, Shane Jones, is trying to take New Zealanders for fools with inflated claims and misinformation about seabed mining off the coast of Taranaki, says Greenpeace. ...4 days ago
- NZ Needs A Safe Rates System To Protect Transport Drivers And Other Road Users
Lance Gush, FIRST Union organiser, emphasised the importance of a Safe Rates system in Aotearoa for both drivers and other road users. ...4 days ago
- Submissions Open On Amendment Paper No 84 To The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment...
We have decided to extend the deadline for submissions on the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill to invite submissions on amendments proposed by the Minister for Economic Development, in Amendment Paper No 84. ...4 days ago
- Fertiliser Pollution Set To Continue Under Ballance’s Call For More Fossil Gas
Greenpeace Aotearoa is denouncing Ballance Agri-nutrients’ call for more fossil gas production, maintaining that urea needs to be phased out altogether. ...4 days ago
Recent Comments
Unemployment is definitely up.
Unemployment is definitely up.
Unemployment is definitely up.
Unemployment is definitely up.
Unemployment is definitely up.
Unemployment is definitely up.
Unemployment is definitely up.