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As a piece of political theatre it's good and people who walk to work, including myself, enjoyed the unusual sight and gave them a wave (some people stuck in traffic didn't find it so fun, though). But just remember, this was a set-up - truck companies did…
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13% of people are living in poverty in New Zealand (defined as less than 60% of the median income, less than $40K a year for a household, $16K for an individual) compared with 17% in 2004 and 23% in 1994. Child poverty dropped 7% between…
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The Government's new core benefit will see all beneficiaries given the same treatment and the same assistance to get into work if they are able. The changes will reduce monthly costs for both beneficiaries and MSD. The more efficient system will save $40 to $70…
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In four separate interviews this week, John Key used more or less exactly the same line to divert from questions on his use of Crosby/Textor: 'I'm the Leader of the party and I'll set the tone of the campaign. And it will be a positive, ambitious, outlooking…
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The truck companies are going to blockade our motorways tomorrow morning to protest being forced to pay a levy to cover the damage their trucks do to the roads. They expect us to pick up the tab instead. Well, hey, we all like a free-ride, don't…
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Some of the more excitable righties on the blogosphere and John Key have taken a throw-away comment in Audrey Young's blog to mean that Helen Clark said Labour will be doing push-polling. Here's what was actually said, according to Young's recording: Reporter: Will Labour use…
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So, let's get this straight the Government has increased road user charges for diesel vehicles by half the amount recommended by the Ministry of Transport to cover the roading costs of those vehicles. The increase is 7-8%. Road user chargers account for 10% of trucking…
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Don't forget Drinking Liberally tonight. The weather's crap but the good people at Southern Cross have provided their function room, so you won't get wet. Nicky Hager will be drawing a big crowd and there should be plenty of lively discussion in the light of…
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Howcome when capital goes on strike over political issues it's seen as a legitimate part of democracy, but if workers tried the same thing it would be illegal under the Employment Relations Act? [UPDATE: Seems frog had similar thoughts over here.]
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Some excellent journalism by Vernon Small has revealed that Australian insurers expect National to privatise the ACC scheme and they see $200 million profit in it for themselves. National has now been forced to admit its policy is to allow private competitors for workplace and…
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A shame to hear that our mates at blogblog have called it quits for now but a delight to see that our friends from keepleftnz.org - active at the last election - are kicking off "the smartest political fun in the galaxy" on July 7:…
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A day into the renewed public ownership of our railway system and it has emerged that not only did John Key help sell it in the first time and make a profit off the asset-stripping that followed. Further, his party's policy of keeping the rail…
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Let's go back to the heart of this story: it is not about push-polling or whatever, this is about how Brand Key has been purpose-built by a company world-renowned for its secretive, anti-democratic practices. Crosby/Textor are not just some consultants like parties might use to…
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A classic 'cake and eat it' from Crosby/Textor National has been their approach to climate change - stating they support tackling this issue but opposing every policy that has been developed. The latest example is their position on the ETS, which No Right Turn explains…
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It's refreshing to see some proper investigative journalism in this morning's Dominion Post, with a revelation from Vernon Small that while National continues to try and downplay ACC and talk about "no privatisation in the first term," a report from John Key's old firm Merrill…
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TVNZ7 have some great content. Looks like some serious effort's going into their advertising as well. Here's one that caught my attention the other day. If your eyesight's anything like mine you might want to click for a larger version.
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Crosby/Textor, an outfit renowned for its anti-democratic, secretive practices, has built the public image of John Key (Brand Key) from the ground up. That's why Key is seen as 'nice' but people, including National supporters, say they don't know what he stands for and can't…
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A classic headline that says it all. Here's the three lines: 'Give schools additional resources over time to ensure more students can take part in extra-curricula organised sport. Ensure more of the government's sport spending gets through to the front line.' Stop it, John. It's…
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John Key has his round of five interviews tomorrow morning (Breakfast, Sunrise, ZB, KiwiFM, bFM) and will undoubtedly face questions on his use of Crosby/Textor. So, what line will C/T have him parrot repeatedly? He's already trying "I get most of my advice from the…
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Remember that Drinking Liberally Auckland is having its inaugural session tomorrow with David Slack. Note it in your schedules and tell your left-leaning and green friends where the action is. In fact phone a techno-phobe friend now! WHAT Drinking Liberally Auckland WHEN 7:30pm, Wed 2…
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I wish some journo would ask Key whether Crosby/Textor helped him with lines on how to handle questions about his using them - they must have a standard set they give their clients. Would Key really have thought of this one himself: John Key says…
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While more questions will no doubt be asked about Mr Key's choice of hiring infamous Aussie spin-stars, Crosby/Textor, (no doubt some more of them will feature here) I thought this point raised by Barry Soper yesterday was a good one: There's clearly a concern how this information is…
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Today marks the launch of KiwiRail. It's great to have rail back in Kiwi hands, after a decade of asset-stripping. Now comes the task of building up the network so it can provide cheap and clean transport. Businesses are keen to take more freight off…
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It was bound to happen. The Herald did it about a year ago and now Fairfax is following suit. Getting rid of subeditors who actually live in the same town as the paper for which they write. In their place Fairfax is offering New Zealander…
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Former National Party MP Marilyn Waring wrote in the introduction to The Hollow Men: I must admit to a sense of anticipated despair about the treatment [the book] might receive... The focus may be on looking for and condemning the leakers as opposed to scrutinising…
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This is one not to be missed. Nicky Hager will be speaking at Drinking Liberally - Wellington this coming Thursday. Hager, author of The Hollow Men - shortly to screen as a movie at the International Film Festival - is back in the spotlight this week…
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It comes as no surprise that Brand Key has been a Crosby/Textor project from Day 1. The hit and run, the bait and switch, the cake and eat it, the shoot the messenger, the misdirection, the dog-whistle, wedge politics, the outright lie - these are…
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Remember Noelle McCarthy's 95bFM interview with Brash in which she got him to admit to knowledge of the Brethren pamphlets? Student radio has done it again. Hager's weekend article in the Sunday Star Times detailed an ongoing advisory relationship between the National Party and political consultants Crosby Textor. But RDU's Kate Gorgeous…
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Brand Key on Waatea news: "A National government will be a lot more demanding about educational standards, a lot more demanding about under-performance in schools, a lot more demanding on failing schools" There is no 'how we will fix things' here, simply a statement of…
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There's a standard formula that Crosby/Textor has its clients use when damaging information comes out. a) refuse to engage. The most senior public response to the revelation that Brand Key has been created by exactly the same people who ran Brash's divisive, racist campaign in…