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The new right wing party

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:53 am, December 10th, 2013 - 172 comments

With ACT’s imminent demise, the Conservatives appearing to be decided flakey and National losing its free market credentials by engaging in crony capitalism the temptation to set up a new political party on the right is increasing.  And you can be assured that money will not be a problem.

Prosecuting Cunliffe

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 3:06 pm, December 5th, 2013 - 56 comments

No Right Turn writes on what should happen with David Cunliffe screwing up on election day. Sensible advice and commentary on what looks like a typical example of some of the innumerable silly mistakes and accidents that happen during election campaigns. The reaction of some on the right has been pretty damn hilarious when they compare what looks like deliberate concealment of electoral finance with a silly tweeting mistake

Banks to go to trial: confirmed

Written By: karol - Date published: 5:57 pm, December 3rd, 2013 - 117 comments

John Banks will stand trial over an alleged fraudulent electoral return.  Meanwhile Key, running out of untainted friends, is looking to re-instate the, now vindicated, Peter Dunne.  Bit John Key’s role in the inquiry into information leaked to Andrea Vance is looking dodgy. [Breaking: Banks press conference 11am]

Christchurch East by election

Written By: karol - Date published: 7:19 pm, November 30th, 2013 - 39 comments

Updates to follow. Williams leads  by 1978 3,124 votes, on 30% 83% of the votes counted. Poto looking good!  96% of the vote.  I’m calling it!  Williams by 4000+ votes!  Congratulations Poto! 100% votes counted now: Williams by 4,613 votes.

The Christchurch East by election gets weird

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:03 am, November 28th, 2013 - 60 comments

The Christchurch East by election is getting really weird.  We have a National candidate who does not turn up to possibly the most important public meeting of the campaign, a spot of petty vandalism committed using a National MP’s van, a conservative party candidate who implies that legs on a billboard are his when they are not, a conservative party leader who does not rule out the possibility of chemtrails existing despite there being no supporting evidence while denying anthropogenic climate change when there is an abundance of evidence in support and Labour and the Greens contesting kindred votes when strategic voting could produce a positive result.

Confused?

The Right Conservatives

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 3:24 pm, November 27th, 2013 - 98 comments

The Conservatives have a significant constituency and pose an interesting dynamic for the future of NZ politics. Their constituency will possibly letting the left in or sharing power on the right. The Conservatives are fond of saying how close they got in the previous election given how little time they had worked on it.  Colin comes out on top against Paula then be prepared for a real change in the political landscape. They are already having an impact without being in parliament.

The democracy challenge

Written By: Jenny Michie - Date published: 2:20 pm, November 24th, 2013 - 101 comments

I’ve been thinking about what next years’ election is going to be like. Not like 2011 that’s for sure. Labour was in the doldrums and ran a largely negative campaign. Let’s assume that Labour has learnt its lesson about running an effective campaign and ticks all the boxes. The secret weapon that Labour and the Greens have eschewed for as many elections as I can remember is actually working together.

150 years: tell us your NZ Herald Story

Written By: karol - Date published: 10:47 am, November 22nd, 2013 - 29 comments

NZ Herald has a long history as the voice of the (most often white, masculine, middle/upper class, Pakeha) conservative establishment.  Dr Hope shows how this happened in the past.  NZ Herald online provides 21st century support for Key’s government.  Tell us your NZ Herald stories.

Proud to be a westie?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:44 am, November 22nd, 2013 - 56 comments

Formerly proud to be a westie National MP Paula Bennett has decided to seek to become the MP for the new Upper Harbour seat.  Does this mean that she will now give up wearing leopard skins?

Nat government treachery destroys public broadcasting

Written By: karol - Date published: 10:16 am, November 21st, 2013 - 30 comments

Key’s government has destroyed the weak attempts by Labour to enable some public service broadcasting on Freeview.  The NActs have employed ideologically-driven, irrational, bad faith, underhand, agreement-breaking moves to protect commercial monopoly. The CBB is campaigning for non-commercial TV channels.

Key refuses to pay compensation for Pike River

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 6:53 am, November 16th, 2013 - 120 comments

John Key this week ruled out any Government contribution to compensation ordered to be paid by Pike River to the deceased miners’ families despite a strong suggestion by Judge Farrish that this should occur.  Now that the photo opportunities have finished and the effect of the corporate PR spin has worn off the Government’s handling of the issue appears to be deeply cynical and totally unjust.

Crony Capitalism, Chorus and Pike River compensation

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 6:41 pm, November 12th, 2013 - 98 comments

Today in Parliament David Cunliffe neatly skewered John Key with a series of questions that showed the Government will decline to ensure that the Pike River families are paid out because there is no legal obligation to do so, yet it is happy to pay out large sums to its corporate friends even though there is no legal obligation to do so.

Len Brown will today propose a living wage for Auckland Council employees

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:48 am, November 7th, 2013 - 15 comments

Len Brown will today propose to Council that it funds a living wage for all Council and CCO employees.  It is intended that this is funded through savings, particularly with high level wages, and efficiencies and will be brought in over three years if supported by the Council.

Why the 2013 Labour Conference set course for Government in 2014

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 9:15 am, November 4th, 2013 - 11 comments

Ad reports on the 2013 Labour Conference and why the left should take heart for the next election.

Kiwiassure

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:45 am, November 3rd, 2013 - 87 comments

David Cunliffe announced yesterday Labour’s intention when it becomes Government to set up Kiwiassure, a NZ Post Insurance Company that will go in direct competition with the Australian owned insurance companies that dominate the local market.  And today there is talk about an announcement on affordable housing.