john key

Key gambles with Aucklanders’ future

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 11:51 am, July 27th, 2010 - 53 comments

John Key glibly admitted yesterday that the Supercity is “risky”. We’ve been saying it all along and the evidence is all that the Supercity will be expensive, unrepresentative, and unresponsive to local needs.

So, if it’s so risky, why the hell is Key doing it?

The states of John Key – Avoidance

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 3:00 pm, July 26th, 2010 - 8 comments

Fifth of a series by Guest poster Blue.

A Prime Minister refusing to front their government’s Budget is practically unheard of. But John Key avoids being asked any hard questions, possibly because he doesn’t know how to handle them?

The states of John Key – Flexible in telling the truth

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 3:00 pm, July 25th, 2010 - 7 comments

Fourth of a series by Guest poster Blue.

Honesty, transparency and trust were central planks of Key’s 2008 election bid. However the ‘Key wriggle’ was well on the way to becoming a signature dance move

The states of John Key – The Salesman

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 10:36 am, July 24th, 2010 - 18 comments

Third of a series by Guest poster Blue. Now looking at John Key – The Salesman.

An old post of Marty G’s on the Standard says “One of the stories from John Key’s days as a currency trader is that he was always more of a salesman than an analyst.

The states of John Key – Quantum uncertainty

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 9:56 am, July 24th, 2010 - 41 comments

This series by guest poster Blue has a look at John Key now that we know a bit more about him.

Our PM is a marvel of modern physics – with any issue he manages to appear to be on both sides of the fence at the same time.

Retirement age

Written By: r0b - Date published: 7:18 am, July 23rd, 2010 - 20 comments

Brash’s call for a “flexible pension” is the thin end of the wedge leading to a rise in the age of eligibility for super. At the moment National are rejecting his call, as Key would be obliged to resign if the age is raised. But the problem remains. National have weakened Labour’s Cullen fund and KiwiSaver, and they seem to have no ideas of their own…

Key caught out again on 90 day law

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 7:12 am, July 21st, 2010 - 29 comments

Good to see John Key’s lies over the 90 day fire at will law are starting to catch up with him. An employment specialist has come out contradicting Key’s smug assurances that even though his fire at will law will explicitly remove our right to even be given a reason why we’re getting the sack, somehow good faith provisions would still require the employer the give one.

Key tells Maori Party to shove off

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 1:09 pm, July 19th, 2010 - 25 comments

The Maori Party’s support has been a vital element of the sheep’s clothing this rightwing government has worn until now. It has been the fig leaf behind which the true nature of the rightwing agenda of the National Party has hidden. Key’s speech shows, National will no longer be willing to compromise to gain its support and does not particularly want it.

Fat little lapdog

Written By: the sprout - Date published: 8:58 am, July 13th, 2010 - 123 comments

New Zealand hero Pete Bethune isn’t one for mincing his words – now that he’s free to speak them. He’s described the New Zealand Government as a “fat little lapdog” to Japan, eager to roll over and submit to the bullying of any power, no matter how unprincipled its actions, just as long as there’s a promise […]

Should’ve done it before, John

Written By: the sprout - Date published: 2:59 pm, July 9th, 2010 - 44 comments

It seems John Key is now belatedly wading in to look at whether it’s at last time to cut Andy Haden loose as a Rugby World Cup Ambassador. Apparently it was ok for Haden to talk about “darkie quotas” in the Crusaders and still remain a PR face of our nation, but now Haden has […]

Cartoon says it all

Written By: lprent - Date published: 8:34 am, July 8th, 2010 - 29 comments

The Herald has a headline article on John Keys “Party Central”. But their cartoon really said it all. The question is:- How many ‘good’ ideas does it take before John Key manages to get one to actually work?

Mummy! The bad man cut my pre-school’s funding!

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 11:59 am, July 3rd, 2010 - 9 comments

John Key had a busy day playing rodeo-clown yesterday. Before having the Air Force fly him to Ohakune for the opening of 16 whole kilometres of cycleway Key had photo-op with children. It’s is a John Key favourite. The perfect distraction from lying in the House, the weak economy, and Anne Tolley. But the clown show doesn’t always go off without a hitch 🙂

Raise the drinking age

Written By: r0b - Date published: 11:30 am, July 1st, 2010 - 103 comments

I was neutral in the debate on lowering the drinking age back in 1999. There were arguments on both sides. But ten years later it is clear that the experiment has failed. There have been several recent calls to raise the drinking age and take other effective action to restrict the damage that alcohol causes in NZ. Come on Key – show some leadership.

Key comes clean on the ETS

Written By: r0b - Date published: 3:00 pm, June 30th, 2010 - 28 comments

In a moment of uncharacteristic political honesty, John Key has come clean on his ETS. It loads “disproportionate” costs on to householders. National’s scheme is all about keeping things sweet for their business mates – muffling the price signal that an ETS is supposed to send by (as usual) socialising the costs.

Assets the big issue for 2011

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 12:07 am, June 22nd, 2010 - 15 comments

The post-Budget bump for National in the Roy Morgan polls was there but was small and it’s already evaporating. Fundamentally, National’s policies just aren’t popular,as the poll showing 80% opposition to asset sales proves. National is still pursuing privatisation by stealth (whanua ora, PEDA, water etc), giving the Left an opportunity make public assets the big issue of 2011.