politicans

Categories under politicans

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.

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.

How not to make friends and influence people

Written By: - Date published: 10:06 am, November 28th, 2023 - 130 comments

An increase in lung cancer rates and a decrease in the amount that working families receive so that tax credits for landlords can be put in place tells you everything you need to know about the priorities of this Government.  Your blood should be boiling by this stage and it is only two days in.

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.

War crimes in Palestine

Written By: - Date published: 9:39 am, November 12th, 2023 - 88 comments

There is a growing recognition that Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip constitute war crimes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Political Cowardice of David Seymour and Chris Luxon

Written By: - Date published: 3:53 pm, October 28th, 2023 - 26 comments

Secrecy and silence are signs of cowards.

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.

Let’s do the time warp again

Written By: - Date published: 10:53 am, October 26th, 2023 - 39 comments

Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary Winston Peters has accused Jacinda Ardern of hiding the fact that her office received the Christchurch Massacre shooter’s manifesto shortly before the massacre occurred.

About last night’s debate

Written By: - Date published: 8:21 am, October 13th, 2023 - 42 comments

It is very clear now why National did not agree to a further debate between the leaders. Last night’s debate between Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luzon was totally one sided.

Winston Peters? I barely know him

Written By: - Date published: 10:50 am, October 9th, 2023 - 46 comments

National has over the past couple of weeks indicated that it will ring Winston if it needs his votes, then saying that if he negotiates too hard it will seek a further election. This is real coalition of chaos stuff.

Like two cats in a sack

Written By: - Date published: 1:38 pm, October 6th, 2023 - 15 comments

The minor leader’s debate last night confirmed the fact that David Seymour and Winston Peters hate each other.

National’s credibility problem

Written By: - Date published: 9:34 am, October 6th, 2023 - 31 comments

National has suffered further damage to its credibility with its promise of a $250 tax cut per fortnight for an average family only being realised if that family spent at least $300 per week on childcare and was a two income family with each adult earning between $53,500 and $66,000.

National set to renege on Paris Agreement

Written By: - Date published: 10:10 am, October 5th, 2023 - 16 comments

National says it is not interested in meeting its financial obligations under the international Paris Agreement on climate change, signed by the previous National government. Reneging on the accord will have huge trade, diplomatic and reputational damage implications.

The weird and wacky 2023 election campaign

Written By: - Date published: 11:22 am, October 4th, 2023 - 30 comments

In a week of weird events National’s decision not to debate Labour in the Press’s leader’s debate has been a massive own goal because the country will be able to see how toxic David Seymour’s and Winston Peters’ relationship is.

Why won’t Winston Peters answer straight forward questions about NZ First policy?

Written By: - Date published: 10:49 am, October 2nd, 2023 - 116 comments

Jack Tame vs Winston Peters.

Skyfall comes to Wellington

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, October 1st, 2023 - 5 comments

Skyfall was 10 years ago but it has a message for all public servants local or central as you choose your vote.

Hipkins goes on the offensive

Written By: - Date published: 8:46 am, September 29th, 2023 - 39 comments

Chris Hipkins has upped the ante in the election campaign by directly calling out the right’s use of dog whistle racism.

Tax or quality public services – which is more important to NZ voters?

Written By: - Date published: 10:31 pm, September 27th, 2023 - 16 comments

Earlier this year Andrew Marr wrote in the New Statesmen, that Britain’s problem was that it wanted Scandinavian levels of Public Services and North American levels of taxation. His view was that Britain was overdue for an honest debate about tax and public spending. In New Zealand, there is a similar challenge.

Winston adds to National’s tax cut credibility problem

Written By: - Date published: 2:18 pm, September 27th, 2023 - 26 comments

National’s failure to adequately explain how its new revenue policies will work has seen its support sag. And its problem is that if it depends on Winston Peters for confidence and supply he has expressed major reservations about these policies and there is no guarantee he will support them. And a significant majority of New Zealanders understand this.

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