the praiseworthy and the pitiful

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A tale of two hospital announcements

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:39 am, August 26th, 2017 - 54 comments

There were some notable differences between Labour and National’s accouncements of a new Dunedin hospital…

National’s new copyright problem

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 4:07 pm, August 25th, 2017 - 58 comments

National may have further copyright problems with the song used in its campaign video sounding remarkably similar to an old Bob Dylan song.

National endorses Dunne in Ohariu – Nek minnit

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:30 am, August 22nd, 2017 - 34 comments

National’s supposedly well oiled campaign machine is resembling an episode of the Thick of It rather than a Crosby Textor training video.

Vision vs roads

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 8:26 am, August 21st, 2017 - 18 comments

The weekend offered up a pretty clear contrast between Labour and National. Address the problems facing New Zealand, or build more roads that make no long-term sense.

The SST does not understand electoral law

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:30 am, August 21st, 2017 - 32 comments

The Sunday Star Times has hinted that there is something sinister with Labour’s art auction fundraisers. But a closer look suggests that the rules are being followed assiduously.

National promises to get tough on youth crime

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 1:08 pm, August 13th, 2017 - 77 comments

National has announced its policy to deal with youth crime by reannouncing a military service scheme that already exists, proposing a special category for young offenders that will have some young people seek that status and by proposing to fine parents who can’t keep their kids home at night.

Gower rightly apologises to Greens

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 11:44 am, August 10th, 2017 - 35 comments

“Newshub political editor Patrick Gower has apologised to Green Party leader James Shaw for suggesting a bad poll result drove his co-leader to quit.” If you are angry about this – use your vote…

Corbyn-esque NZ

Written By: Bill - Date published: 6:17 pm, August 9th, 2017 - 13 comments

This post was written and ready to go and then news of Metiria Turei stepping down hit. Some of it might read a little strangely because of that. I’ve changed some of the tenses used.

Bill English’s texts leaked

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 10:00 am, August 9th, 2017 - 21 comments

Some of Bill English’s texts have been released. And they are not what you might expect.

Breaking: calls for Paddy Gower’s resignation as MSM slips in its own bullshit

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 7:05 am, August 9th, 2017 - 24 comments

Last night all the excitement finally caught up with them, leading to calls for Paddy Gower to resign and for MSM organisations to delete their social media accounts.

Metiria for PM

Written By: Bill - Date published: 6:52 am, August 8th, 2017 - 45 comments

Yes. Quite seriously.

National’s Auckland Transport announcement

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:33 am, August 6th, 2017 - 15 comments

In an attempt to take the thunder away from Labour’s Auckland Transport announcement National’s offer was leaked this week to the Herald. But it is uninspiring, and shows a continued commitment to roading as providing a solution.

Paula Bennett says Jacinda lacks “the kind of brain” to lead

Written By: Natwatch - Date published: 8:25 am, August 6th, 2017 - 83 comments

Back in May the Nats chose Nikki Kaye as their vehicle to attack Jacinda Ardern. It didn’t work so well. This time round they’ve lead with Paula Bennett. According to Bennett, Ardern lacks the right kind of brain. Keep talking Paula…

The big mo #LetsDoThis

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:19 am, August 3rd, 2017 - 18 comments

Jacinda Ardern’s ascension to Labour’s leadership appears to have given the Party that most important of campaign phenomena, momentum.

Helen Clark burns Matthew Hooton

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 6:20 pm, August 1st, 2017 - 65 comments

Matthew Hooton has been incinerated by a former leader of the Labour Party.

Paula Bennett gets owned by Phil Twyford in question time

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 4:35 pm, July 27th, 2017 - 22 comments

This afternoon in Parliament during question time Paula Bennett showed clearly that this Government has no idea what to do about the housing crisis.

Lies. Damned Lies. And Diesel.

Written By: Bill - Date published: 2:12 pm, July 26th, 2017 - 48 comments

Britain follows France in banning the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles from 2040. Good news?

How much is Mike Hosking paid by TVNZ?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:29 am, July 25th, 2017 - 107 comments

Mike Hosking does not want there to be a debate on how much he earns from TVNZ and thinks that there would be an adverse irrational response from the public if the information was released. This is the best reason yet why disclosure should occur.

Delivering pizza for NZ

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:19 am, July 24th, 2017 - 16 comments

Full marks to Nathaniel Watson for what Newshub called “an incredible work of graphic design satire”:

New Zealand is number 1! *

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:21 am, July 22nd, 2017 - 127 comments

* in a list of developed nations for homelessness.

There is something rotten in the Ministry of Transport

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:29 am, July 20th, 2017 - 28 comments

Radio New Zealand is reporting that the State Services Commission will report today that it believes that the convicted fraudster Joanne Harrison forced whistleblowers out of the Transport Ministry in 2015. Updated with link to formal announcement.

David Seymour is the smeghead of the year

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:44 am, July 18th, 2017 - 73 comments

David Seymour has managed to make the most stupid statement by a politician this year, and it is only just over half way through.

Who are the real enemies of the centre left?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:22 am, July 15th, 2017 - 80 comments

Simon Wilson recently claimed that left wingers and party members are problems for and enemies of Labour and the Greens. This is why I think he is wrong.

Breeding for a business

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:08 pm, July 14th, 2017 - 23 comments

It looks like ACT the party of less government will be focussing on pregnant beneficiaries this election.

Non-news News and News Non-news

Written By: Bill - Date published: 12:22 pm, July 13th, 2017 - 100 comments

A politician said their party would insist on being a part of government depending on the vote falls in September, while another gets called out for his habitual stirring at the pot of ethnic division. In a place like the South Africa of old, we all know which one would be the story. But this is New Zealand and this is now.

The Rainbow Warrior was sunk 32 years ago today

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:15 am, July 10th, 2017 - 19 comments

Thirty two years ago today the French Government committed an act of Terrorism on New Zealand soil on a peaceful organisation dedicated to protecting our environment.

The magical disappearing Foreign Trust industry

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:03 am, July 6th, 2017 - 22 comments

National’s original claims that New Zealand was not a tax haven are in tatters as the Sherwan rule changes have resulted in the mass exodus of Foreign Trusts from New Zealand.

Special Housing Area provisions are failing but Nick Smith thinks everything is fine

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:50 am, July 4th, 2017 - 25 comments

Nick Smith is attempting to rewrite history by claiming that the Government never thought the special housing area affordable housing provisions would work and that the housing crisis is improving.

The MP that Clutha-Southland could have had

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:04 am, June 30th, 2017 - 33 comments

The debarclay rumbles on. The Nat’s deploy the Game of Hats gambit. The vultures circle over the remains of Todd B in Clutha-Southland while his zombie vote is exploited to squeak through legislation. It could all have been so very different if the electorate had chosen the best candidate in 2014. Their loss is Invercargill’s gain – Liz Craig in 2017!

Thiel shows commitment to New Zealand by spending 12 days in it

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:52 pm, June 29th, 2017 - 49 comments

Following an intervention by the Ombudsman the Government has been obliged to disclose the number of days that Peter Thiel spent in New Zealand in the five years leading up to his grant of citizenship. The answer is very few.

The Todd Barclay debacle enters the sixth day of the news cycle

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:34 am, June 26th, 2017 - 61 comments

Through his never ending changing of the description of what happened in the Todd Barclay issue Bill English has kept the story prominently placed for six days in a row.