political parties

Racism, middle NZ and Māori

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:36 am, August 22nd, 2016 - 141 comments

In seeking to understand and remedy racism in NZ we should start with the actions of governments and leaders, not with the words of blowhard media constructs.

Metro: A government on the ropes

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 7:04 am, August 20th, 2016 - 58 comments

Metro: “The National-led government — with its laissez-faire approach to homelessness, house prices and mass immigration — is sailing into a ferocious storm. A newly critical mainstream media and a resurgent opposition is a powerful mix.”

America bails on private prisons

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 3:49 pm, August 19th, 2016 - 19 comments

America is bailing on private prisons because they don’t work. What’s the bet that National is ‘too proud and arrogant’ to follow suit.

Cluster f*&k on cluster bombs

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:34 am, August 19th, 2016 - 64 comments

The Government is refusing to accept there are legal issues with Kiwisaver providers investing in manufacturers of cluster bombs. But it is also not ruling out there may be a problem.

Between what we want and what we need

Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:00 am, August 19th, 2016 - 122 comments

New Zealand is slowly losing faith with this Government and this is why.

Tents warehouses and driveways

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:02 am, August 19th, 2016 - 64 comments

Tents and warehouses have been considered as emergency housing. Working people sleeping in cars are looking for driveways to rent. Say – has anyone seen John Key lately?

UNICEF call for action on NZ poverty

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:08 am, August 18th, 2016 - 165 comments

Once again this country under National is rightly shamed in the international media.

NRT: Against anti-whistleblower laws

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 1:48 pm, August 17th, 2016 - 11 comments

I/S at No Right Turn does great analysis of legislation. His coverage of the new spying laws has been excellent. Here he is on National’s clumsy and misguided attempt to re-impose official secrets. Criminalised for reading The Guardian?

Affordable housing fail – we can’t rely on the private sector

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:20 am, August 17th, 2016 - 55 comments

To the complete surprise of no one, private sector developers have largely waited out the “affordable houses” requirement in the special housing areas. Another National failure.

Another Key lie is why this government can’t be trusted with increased spying powers

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:07 am, August 16th, 2016 - 33 comments

When caught abusing new powers the response will be the same as when caught out abusing the old – meh, so sue us.

In praise of David Shearer

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 2:31 pm, August 15th, 2016 - 10 comments

David Shearer has criticised the Australian Government as having lost its “moral compass” in relation to the Nauru Asylum Detention Centre.

The housing crisis and the diseases of poverty

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:01 am, August 15th, 2016 - 122 comments

Rheumatic fever is on the rise again. It is likely that other diseases of poverty are also or will also increase as the housing crisis drags on under National.

Taonga tax

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:33 am, August 13th, 2016 - 77 comments

Tourists are coming for our “clean green” image (however undeserved), no reason why they shouldn’t be happy to help contributing to maintaining / strengthening it.

Green Party Bill to improve the rights of renters

Written By: weka - Date published: 6:55 pm, August 11th, 2016 - 92 comments

It’s time to stop viewing renting as second best, and put some decent laws in place to ensure everyone has the security of a home. The Green Party’s Member’s Bill aims to “strengthen tenants’ rights and promote secure, long-term tenancies.”

Labour on student debt – beware of clickbait headlines

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 12:48 pm, August 10th, 2016 - 125 comments

“Revealed: Labour’s plan to wipe student debt”. Nope. Saved you a click.

On #Planetkey everyone owns a home

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:39 am, August 10th, 2016 - 163 comments

In Parliament yesterday John Key showed a clear lack of understanding of what being poor in New Zealand entails.

PSA

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 10:14 am, August 9th, 2016 - 8 comments

Yeah Happy Birthday JK. But – does anyone actually fall for this?

Labour’s Kiwibuild is popular

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:49 am, August 9th, 2016 - 81 comments

More good news for the political left in the fine print of yesterday’s Newshub-Reid Research poll.

John Key’s Lies Since the 2014 Election (UPDATED)

Written By: BLiP - Date published: 8:03 am, August 9th, 2016 - 19 comments

There is one item on the list concerning whether John Key knew about the brewing trade squabble with China regarding the dumping of cheap steel on the local market.

Newshub Poll: Key Stuffed

Written By: te reo putake - Date published: 6:50 pm, August 8th, 2016 - 113 comments

The latest Reid Research poll is grim reading for the Nats. Labour and the Greens are closing fast.

Wahine toa

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 5:04 pm, August 8th, 2016 - 38 comments

Nanaia Mahuta will tomorrow become the first woman MP to wear the moko in Parliament.

Nats contradicting each other on panicked infrastructure policy

Written By: Natwatch - Date published: 8:40 am, August 8th, 2016 - 29 comments

From Newshub:
nickbillyesno

A timely reminder

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 8:19 am, August 6th, 2016 - 12 comments

sexism-parliament-key-rapists

Fewer police, more crime

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 8:56 am, August 5th, 2016 - 39 comments

The number of police (per head of population) is falling, and crime figures are rising. But no doubt National will play the “tough on crime” card again next year.

Labour plans to crack down on negative gearing

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:31 am, August 5th, 2016 - 130 comments

Labour has announced that it will review tax exemptions for landlords achieved through negative gearing.

Kiwi Treason

Written By: weka - Date published: 8:08 am, August 4th, 2016 - 181 comments

Vegemite and marmite taste the same, rugby is naff, John Clarke’s an Australian. What?

Government puts 15% tax on foreign house buyers

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:11 am, August 4th, 2016 - 32 comments

No, not our government. Though as the average NZ house price just hit $600,000, and Auckland just short of $1m, they really should.

Guest post: Eva Hartshorn-Sanders for Senior Vice President

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 7:00 pm, August 3rd, 2016 - 67 comments

The Standard’s authors have offered candidates for the upcoming Labour Party internal elections the chance to guest post about why they’re running. Eva Hartshorn-Sanders has been nominated for the position of Senior Vice President. Here’s her vision for the role and the party.