Search Results

  1. Key runs from Waitangi

    Written By:  Anthony R0bins -  Date published: 3:36 pm, February 5th, 2012 -  176 comments
    Categories: activism, john key, Maori Issues
    Tags:

    National’s honeymoon with Maori is well and truly over, as Key beats a hasty retreat from Waitangi.

  2. It’s not about Race or Age or Gender or Religion…it’s about Poverty

    Written By:  Guest post -  Date published: 11:16 am, January 19th, 2012 -  16 comments
    Categories: poverty
    Tags:

    An insightful piece by Pat Brittenden. How can we fix our problems if we won’t acknowledge (and National wants to stop the media talking about) their cause?:
    For a long time I have had a bit of an untested theory. I’ve come to a place where I don’t think the negative statistics in New Zealand are about race, age, gender or religion.  I think they’re about poverty and the by products of poverty.

  3. The political year ahead

    Written By:  Zetetic -  Date published: 8:02 am, January 9th, 2012 -  173 comments
    Categories: Politics
    Tags:

    Here’s a few guesses about what’ll happen in the year ahead in politics. Shearer will cement his leadership by turning his back on the old guard who put him there. The Greens will hold on to their gains. National will go hell for leather. Mana will build as the Maori Party dies. Asset sales and the economy will be the big issues – can the Left win the framing?

  4. Cunliffe, Parker swap roles

    Written By:  Bunji -  Date published: 2:44 pm, December 19th, 2011 -  111 comments
    Categories: david cunliffe, david parker, labour
    Tags:

    The new Labour line-up is announced. Parker Finance, Ardern Social Development, Cunliffe Economic Development (plus Assoc Finance) round out the top five.

  5. Shearer’s Address in Reply

    Written By:  Eddie -  Date published: 11:59 am, December 18th, 2011 -  97 comments
    Categories: david shearer
    Tags:

    David Shearer’s brand is of a new kind of politician. Not burdened by the old rivalries, he is touted as the man that can move New Zealand forwards – a consensus-builder rather than a scarred old warrior. The weekend media coverage has been excellent. His Address in Reply this week will consolidate his brand. Here is what I would say if I were him.

  6. What to do with Cunliffe

    Written By:  Zetetic -  Date published: 10:59 am, December 14th, 2011 -  62 comments
    Categories: david cunliffe, david parker, david shearer, labour, Shane Jones
    Tags:

    There’s talk Shearer might hand Cunliffe the poisoned chalice of foreign affairs. As Clark did her main rival, Goff. That’s no job for a man with a young family. Anyway, Goff’ll want it back ahead of taking the Chinese ambassadorship. Instead, let Cunliffe swap with Parker, who was invisible in economic development and energy, and take on Joyce.

  7. Nanaia Mahuta

    Written By:  Guest post -  Date published: 8:18 pm, December 12th, 2011 -  21 comments
    Categories: labour
    Tags:

    I believe that a strong platform of investment in education, skills and training makes all the difference for many hard working families.

    We need to be relevant to aspirations in the provinces, this means that we need to support our provincial candidates more effectively so that they are not having to fight an election on a single issue and not without the resources and support of the party.

  8. The big win

    Written By:  Eddie -  Date published: 11:22 am, December 12th, 2011 -  41 comments
    Categories: privatisation, united future
    Tags:

    The new government comprises the same parties as the previous one: National, ACT, United Future, and the Maori Party but with 64 votes, not 69. The governing parties’ total vote fell from 51.84% to 50.41%. Even the narrower Nat+ACT bloc fell. National’s ‘big win’ was just one more seat. And the most powerful man in the country now? Peter Dunne.

  9. David Cunliffe

    Written By:  Guest post -  Date published: 11:52 am, December 7th, 2011 -  193 comments
    Categories: david cunliffe, labour
    Tags:

    I am tribal labour. I am the son of an Anglican Minister known as the “Red Reverend” and a stalwart member of Timaru Labour. My political beliefs were instilled into me from birth. For me the foundation is that every human being is of equal moral worth and the structures of our society must give everyone a chance to be the best that they can be. That means leaning against the free market when it undermines human dignity and starves many of the opportunities they need to build a good life.

     

  10. Musings on Mana

    Written By:  Guest post -  Date published: 10:49 am, December 7th, 2011 -  22 comments
    Categories: greens, hone harawira, mana, maori party
    Tags: , , , , ,

    David Small offers his views on offers his views on the Mana party effects on left politics in NZ.

    Where to now for progressive electoral politics in Aotearoa?

  11. Playing to lose

    Written By:  Eddie -  Date published: 10:19 am, December 7th, 2011 -  88 comments
    Categories: election 2014
    Tags:

    “That’s MMP for you” John Key smugly proclaimed in justification of his charter schools policy. Apparently, it’s MMP’s fault that he chose to rort the system and then us the one ACT MP as an excuse for unmandated rightwing policies. But why are the Nats suddenly acting so haughty and pushing through unmandated policies? The answer is MMP.

  12. The John Key Party

    Written By:  Eddie -  Date published: 8:24 am, December 1st, 2011 -  121 comments
    Categories: brand key, national
    Tags:

    Ubiquitous Tory blonde #5 (Jo Goodhew?) was on Backbenches last night. At the factory where Nat backbenchers are stamped out, they’re programmed to say ‘John Key’ whenever possible. It went wrong, though, when Goodhew said she was proud to be a reelected member of the John Key Party. It was a slip that told the truth: National, and the Right, is now completely dependent on one man.

  13. Bugger the polls

    Written By:  Anthony R0bins -  Date published: 9:48 am, November 28th, 2011 -  141 comments
    Categories: election 2011, polls, spin
    Tags: , ,

    Pundit’s poll of polls tracked 57 individual polls this year, four of them appearing just a day or so before the election.  Every single poll predicted National with the seats to govern alone.  Didn’t happen.  The polls over estimate Nat support to the tune of about 4%.  They need to rethink their methods.

  14. Election night roundup

    Written By:  notices and features -  Date published: 7:00 pm, November 26th, 2011 -  350 comments
    Categories: election 2011
    Tags:

    We will try to keep updated with the results of the election as they come through. And we hope that you will do the same in comments. Hopefully we’ll keep the level of punditry down to a less boring level than dead time fill requires for broadcast media. Feel free to tell us what you’re […]

  15. Vote for MMP, anything else is just crazy

    Written By:  lprent -  Date published: 6:51 am, November 24th, 2011 -  40 comments
    Categories: electoral systems, First Past the Post, MMP, Supplementary Member
    Tags:

    I see that the Nats in drag anti-MMP campaign have brought space on our banner. Now I know the mood of the authors on this subject.  They’d like MMP with tweaks – which will happen in 2014.

    I looked at the anti’s pathetic ad, and decided that it was more effective to take their money, counter it (like the Standards enhanced logo?) and comment on it.

  16. Will Key sign pledge not to sell Kiwibank?

    Written By:  Eddie -  Date published: 11:42 am, November 23rd, 2011 -  97 comments
    Categories: bill english, john key, labour, phil goff, privatisation
    Tags: ,

    Phil Goff has signed a pledge that Labour will not sell Kiwibank if it becomes government. Other party leaders have been invited as well. I expect the Greens, New Zealand First, Mana, and the Conservatives will (who knows about the Maori Party). But will Key sign? National is secretly itching to sell Kiwibank, Bill English got caught out admitting as much.

  17. Labour’s fantastic children’s policy

    Written By:  Eddie -  Date published: 7:42 am, November 8th, 2011 -  272 comments
    Categories: child welfare, class war, families, poverty
    Tags:

    Labour released its excellent children’s policy yesterday  that will lift 150,000 children out of poverty and enhance families’ quality of life. The Right is wailing. Fuck ’em. They’ve turned a blind eye while 32,000 more kids have fallen into poverty.  Only a Labour-led government will have the policies for a truly brighter future for all Kiwis, especially our kids.

  18. Insight on poverty

    Written By:  Anthony R0bins -  Date published: 6:56 am, November 7th, 2011 -  49 comments
    Categories: child welfare, class war, poverty
    Tags: , , ,

    Sunday morning’s RNZ Insight program was an excellent examination of poverty in NZ. Labour’s policies were slowly reducing poverty.  National’s are making it worse again.  How much do we care?

  19. TVNZ and Herald polls

    Written By:  Anthony R0bins -  Date published: 8:35 am, November 4th, 2011 -  53 comments
    Categories: election 2011, polls
    Tags: , , ,

    Two polls out yesterday show no significant changes, with National well in front.   Don’t panic!  The campaign has only just started. Events always take a while to show up in the polls.  The Left needs to see movement soon – time’s running out fast – but it isn’t a surprise not to see it yet.

  20. Nats’ biggest ever drop in 3 News poll

    Written By:  Anthony R0bins -  Date published: 7:11 am, October 31st, 2011 -  68 comments
    Categories: election 2011, polls
    Tags:

    The latest 3 News / Reid poll has National down 5.1%, their  largest drop (in this poll) since becoming the government.  Labour is up 3.6%. A long way to go yet, but it’s an encouraging start to the election campaign for the Left.

  21. Ashcroft – the photo-op Key didn’t want

    Written By:  Mike Smith -  Date published: 9:08 pm, October 26th, 2011 -  24 comments
    Categories: crosby textor, democracy under attack, john key, polls, same old national, uk politics
    Tags:

    Paddy Gower at TV3 reveals Lord Ashcroft, billionaire Tory donor and International Democratic Union treasurer, has come to talk to Key again. Just discussed politics generally, said Key. Politics yes, generally no. Ashcroft’s interests are now devoted to polling and blog communication, and he is very interested in our election. Having seen Cameron miss out on a majority,  he’ll want to help Key to one here.

  22. Why are the Right acting like losers?

    Written By:  Eddie -  Date published: 9:35 am, October 26th, 2011 -  165 comments
    Categories: election 2011, national
    Tags:

    It was meant to be so easy. With high polling and several possible support partners, National would breeze into a second term thanks to Brand Key. The man himself would carried around the country by crowds of adoring locals. It would be more coronation than campaign. So, why are National weather-vanes, Farrar and Slater, hitting the panic-button?

  23. Slave fishing – NZ’s shame

    Written By:  Eddie -  Date published: 6:48 am, October 25th, 2011 -  13 comments
    Categories: Environment, ETS, food, human rights, sustainability, workers' rights
    Tags: ,

    You won’t find much praise for Talley’s on this site. But, fair dues, they harvest their fish with Kiwi crews and have this to say on slave fishing: “If it is uneconomic to harvest a New Zealand resource under New Zealand labour conditions and costs then it is not a resource. Blood diamonds and Asian textile sweatshops use the same justification”

  24. Goff impressive in Native Affairs debate

    Written By:  Mike Smith -  Date published: 11:05 pm, October 24th, 2011 -  22 comments
    Categories: john key, phil goff, tv
    Tags: ,

    The first leaders debate took place on Native Affairs tonight. Key and Goff were interviewed by Julian Wilcox. Key was lacklustre – if New Zealanders were  finding it tough to make ends meet it was all down to global circumstance, nothing to do with him. Goff by contrast was impressive – blew that argument apart with the observation that it was the choices Key’s government made inside New Zealand that mattered. One could see why Key does not like being face to face with an incisive interviewer. [Eddie: Video now up]

  25. Mishandled Rena costing Nats votes

    Written By:  Anthony R0bins -  Date published: 8:02 am, October 21st, 2011 -  51 comments
    Categories: disaster, election 2011, polls
    Tags: , ,

    A recent poll confirms that the expected loss of Nat votes over the Rena disaster is a real effect.

  26. Average Joe: Don Brash withdraws from Treaty debate…why?

    Written By:  notices and features -  Date published: 12:46 pm, October 11th, 2011 -  51 comments
    Categories: act, don brash, Maori Issues, the praiseworthy and the pitiful
    Tags:

    Dr. Don Brash has pulled out of a debate on Treaty issues to be held on TV3’s ‘The Nation’. Which is curious considering Act’s ‘one law for all’ policy is directly concerned with treaty issues. Average Joe points out his take on why Act isn’t there. Plaudits to The Nation for having the debate, brickbats to Act for avoiding the debate – at least send along the person who knows the policy….

  27. Farrar poll sounds ACT’s death knell

    Written By:  Eddie -  Date published: 12:09 pm, October 8th, 2011 -  40 comments
    Categories: act, don brash, election 2011, john banks, polls
    Tags: ,

    National Party pollster David Farrar has been polling in Epsom and the results are not good for the Right. Epsomites are pissed off with their seats being used as a backdoor for ACT into Parliament. They don’t like the gall of the Nats taking out Hide, slotting in Banks and expecting nothing to change. They don’t like dopey Brash.

  28. Losing the class war

    Written By:  Zetetic -  Date published: 12:32 pm, October 7th, 2011 -  73 comments
    Categories: capitalism, class war, cost of living, wages
    Tags:

    The median (‘typical’) Kiwi income has fallen 6% under National after inflation. It’s worse if you’re Maori – 16%. And if you’re PI? 21%. That’s more than a hundred dollars a week. It’s a disgrace. In fact, ordinary people’s incomes have shrunk faster than the economy under National. Their policies have driven more of what’s left to the rich.

  29. None so blind

    Written By:  Eddie -  Date published: 7:24 am, October 7th, 2011 -  81 comments
    Categories: jobs, unemployment, wages
    Tags:

    National’s economic credibility was shot to pieces last week when Fitch and Standard & Poor’s gave them ‘not achieved’ marks. Less than a quarter of the OECD has been downgraded. New Zealand is one of them. The Nats won’t admit there’s a problem. When the statistics are laid in front of them, they say they’re wrong. In the Nats’ war with reality, we’re the victims.

  30. A week of polls

    Written By:  Anthony R0bins -  Date published: 8:25 am, October 3rd, 2011 -  70 comments
    Categories: election 2011, john key, polls
    Tags: ,

    What a bizarre week of polls. The Fairfax poll and the Roy Morgan polls both showed swings from National to Labour. The TVNZ poll and the TV3 poll did not. (Hey TV3 – that’s some pretty sloppy writing!)  In other news, Key finally equalled Helen Clark’s peak rating as preferred PM.

  31. Gap closes in latest Morgan poll

    Written By:  Anthony R0bins -  Date published: 11:22 am, October 1st, 2011 -  86 comments
    Categories: election 2011, polls
    Tags:

    Like the recent Fairfax poll, yesterday’s Roy Morgan shows a significant swing from National to Labour.

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