Posts Tagged ‘credit where it’s due’

Race Relations Commissioner calls on UN to to support inquiry into the abuse of children in state care

Written By: - Date published: 9:53 am, August 16th, 2017 - 14 comments

Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy has called on the UN to tell the government to hold an independent inquiry into the abuse of children and people with disabilities in state care. (Some of us were wrong about Devoy!)

Bravo Young Nats – endorse zero carbon

Written By: - Date published: 11:14 am, July 1st, 2017 - 18 comments

Nat housing announcement – far too little far too late

Written By: - Date published: 1:16 pm, May 16th, 2017 - 83 comments

Useful but – mostly re-announcing existing developments, far too little, far too late, and open to property speculators…

The costs and benefits of having a habitable planet to live on

Written By: - Date published: 3:20 pm, May 3rd, 2017 - 24 comments

I guess any sign of sanity is to be encouraged. But. When the Nats came to power there was a framework for reducing carbon. The Nats dismantled or weakened it. Now, nine long years later, they want Yet Another Study?

NZ is number one – for domestic violence

Written By: - Date published: 9:47 am, March 23rd, 2017 - 96 comments

It’s great that the government is planning some action on this shameful situation. It’s a pity that they are treating the consequences, not the underlying social problems that contribute so much to the causes, and it’s a pity that it’s taken so long.

English puts super back on the line

Written By: - Date published: 1:41 pm, March 4th, 2017 - 93 comments

In what was apparently a pretty dire interview on The Nation this morning, Bill English dropped one bombshell, possible changes in superannuation. For the record I think English is right on this. For a change.

Rocketwerkz – an enlightened employer

Written By: - Date published: 8:27 pm, February 20th, 2017 - 8 comments

We sometimes give employers a bit of a hard time on this blog, so it’s nice to occasionally celebrate a good one. Dunedin gaming company Rocketwerkz is in the headlines for all the right reasons.

Refreshing honesty from English

Written By: - Date published: 12:44 pm, January 13th, 2017 - 58 comments

English – “One of New Zealand’s benefits is because we’re a long way away and fairly small we don’t attract too much attention.” Nice contrast to the usual Nat hysterical style. I guess there’s no need for all that domestic spying apparatus then?

Well done Murray McCully

Written By: - Date published: 7:48 pm, December 24th, 2016 - 287 comments

Murray McCully has had New Zealand co sponsor a successful Security Council resolution condemning Israel for violating International Law through its resettlement policy.

National better late than never on pay equity

Written By: - Date published: 8:04 am, November 26th, 2016 - 5 comments

A 2015 court decision forced National’s hand on pay equity. This week the equity working group reported back. To its credit National is accepting the recommendations, and unions are hailing a big win. But the final form of any law is not yet clear.

Marine reserves and marine disasters

Written By: - Date published: 10:13 am, October 29th, 2016 - 6 comments

Credit where it is due for the success of the Ross Sea marine reserve. Now how about action where it is needed in our own waters?

Progress on plain packaging

Written By: - Date published: 9:57 am, June 1st, 2016 - 48 comments

Yesterday’s announcement of likely new regulations on the “plain packaging” of tobacco products is a good move.

Greenhouse emissions taskforce

Written By: - Date published: 7:20 am, May 22nd, 2016 - 115 comments

With news that NZ’s greenhouse emissions are at a 25 year high the announcement of a new taskforce “to provide advice and ways in which we can drive down our emissions” is as welcome as it is overdue.

Time for progress on drug law

Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, March 31st, 2016 - 82 comments

Welcome signs of new realism on drugs. Sadly, it’s the sort of progress only a right-wing government can propose.

The minimum wage is not a living wage

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, March 1st, 2016 - 110 comments

Credit where it’s due for an increase in the minimum wage – but the gap between that and a living wage keeps growing…

The equal pay initiative

Written By: - Date published: 7:04 am, October 22nd, 2015 - 17 comments

After twice killing off pay equity legislation (2009, 1990), National have been forced to confront the issue again.

The Taji report

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, October 13th, 2015 - 17 comments

An American report which came out shortly before Key’s visit to our troops at Taji camp in Iraq is strongly critical of conditions there, and of the efficacy of the training process. Key claims he didn’t know, yet another of his outbreaks of “convenient ignorance”.

Fact checking Key on government performance

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, September 21st, 2015 - 22 comments

A year after the last election John Key lists his government’s achievements. It’s a pretty desperate effort.

Sale of Lochinver Station declined

Written By: - Date published: 12:58 pm, September 17th, 2015 - 38 comments

The government has overruled the Overseas Investment Office and turned down a bid to buy Lochinver Station. It’s the first time a bid for a significant landholding has been rejected since 2012.

A win on rental standards

Written By: - Date published: 12:56 pm, July 9th, 2015 - 105 comments

This is a good example of a policy win from opposition. More please!

Only ACT standing up for free speech?

Written By: - Date published: 8:46 am, June 26th, 2015 - 76 comments

ACT has withdrawn support for the Harmful Digital Communications Bill. Bravo. Labour, Greens – where do you stand on this badly drafted and damaging bill?

Bravo big business!

Written By: - Date published: 7:11 am, June 12th, 2015 - 87 comments

Bravo to those “big business” leaders who have come out in support of strong universal health and safety legislation. Shame on the Collins faction in Cabinet who are fighting to water it down.

NRT: Half-measures on housing quality

Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, June 9th, 2015 - 71 comments

I/S at No Right Turn: “Any improvement is better than what we’ve got now .. At the same time, we should recognise that this is pathetically weak.”

Some Nats growing a spine on health and safety?

Written By: - Date published: 3:00 pm, May 27th, 2015 - 18 comments

Helen Kelly and the CTU have done a great job raising the issues of workplace health and safety. Have they even got the attention of some Nats? Apparently there are delays to proposed changes as some in caucus resist.

Budget 2015 – A reactive budget

Written By: - Date published: 6:30 am, May 21st, 2015 - 161 comments

A panicked response to the Auckland property crisis. A welcome (albeit inadequate) adjustment to benefit rates. Public pressure is forcing action on the Left’s political agenda. Still no surplus, and no one believes the projected one next year. A reactive budget – there is no vision.

Key on ISIS

Written By: - Date published: 12:34 pm, November 5th, 2014 - 136 comments

Key’s much heralded speech on terrorism / ISIS is a mixed bag. As expected it will be used to justify unnecessarily increased surveillance powers. But at least we aren’t sending combat troops.

No Milford tunnel

Written By: - Date published: 3:53 pm, July 17th, 2013 - 40 comments

Nice to be able to congratulate the Nats on an environmental decision for a change!

Dunne not convinced on GCSB Bill

Written By: - Date published: 7:47 pm, July 8th, 2013 - 22 comments

Key has started making concessions in an effort to pass his GCSB bill to spy on Kiwis – but Peter Dunne is not convinced.

Strike breaking Bill in trouble

Written By: - Date published: 3:24 pm, June 18th, 2013 - 28 comments

The Nats’ strike breaking Bill is in trouble, with the Employers & Manufacturers Association and Peter Dunne both stating their opposition. Let’s hope it’s another win for workers and for MMP.

Better than nothing

Written By: - Date published: 12:44 pm, May 28th, 2013 - 156 comments

The government’s expansion of the KickStart breakfast programme is better than nothing – but that’s about all you can say about it.

Priorities: $9.5 Million over 5 years to feed hungry kids – but in 2012 just 4 private schools got $10.9 Million.

Dunne abandons charter schools

Written By: - Date published: 9:15 am, April 19th, 2013 - 33 comments

Peter Dunne is concerned about the use of unqualified teachers in charter schools. As well he should be – the Ministry of Education has issued a detailed warning against this daft policy.

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