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"The Ministry of Health has spent more than $1 million fighting court action by families who want to be paid for looking after severely disabled relatives. New figures show the Ministry has spent $1.2 million so far fighting seven families who the High Court has…
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The signs are clear that the Goverment is ploughing ahead with spending cuts and that Budget 2011 will contain yet more cuts to public services and still maintain tax cuts for the wealthy. Unlike Britain where they've taken an axe to public spending and preannounced…
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John Armstrong doesn't get much wrong in his assessment of the Brash takeover: Ruthless Brash now National's problem ... But his politeness, his disarming demeanour, his seeming reasonableness, the reasoned nature of his arguments, his seeming frankness ("frankly" is one of his favourite words), his…
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The week that was - 22 to 29 April Written by The Jackal at 8:09 AM Last Friday, 11 brave activists occupied the world's second largest oil rig, the Leiv Eiriksson, which was en route from Turkey to Greenland to begin drilling in Arctic waters. …
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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The government has spent $1 million so far on 350 campervans for Christchurch. One person stayed in them. For that money, better to put them up at Premier House and commute them by Iroquois. There is a massive housing need in Christchurch - apparently thousands…
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Weekend social is for non political chat. What's on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no aggro, why can't we all just get along?
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The Royal family have banned humorous comment on the royal wedding. Clarence House has banned a satirical sketch from ABC's programme "The Chaser". Reminds one of Victoria's classic oft-quoted line - "We are not amused". Charles has got a lot more pompous since his days…
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Dear friends, I am writing to urge all supporters of genuine left politics to support and if possible participate in the new Mana Party led by Hone Harawira to found a new movement for radical social change in Aotearoa/New Zealand.The Mana Party is being launched…
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The latest Roy Morgan poll is out. Support for government parties is up 1% to 56%: National Party 51% (unchanged), Maori Party 3.5% (up 2%), ACT NZ 1% (down 1%) United Future 0.5% (unchanged), Support for Opposition Parties is down 1% to 44%: Labour Party…
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The Left are rubbing our hands with glee at the prospect of taking on BrashKey, but make no mistake, Key wanted this coup too. Think about it: former Nat Leader Don Brash, former Nat Minister John Banks, Nat money man Alan Gibbs, former Nat President…
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National continue to target the vulnerable with their cuts. Their latest moves in cutting the budgets of Womens' Refuges and a national Self-Defence course for girls are merely the latest example. Womens' Refuges face a nearly $700,000 cut in their budgets, which will severely affect…
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Some National memes that they've been running against the opposition parties are somewhat ruined by A Brash Act... The public are outraged at Labour fiddling their list to allow someone in the 40s on their list to be leapfrogged by someone else a little further…
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Parliament now puts all of its discussions online through youtube which you can view at In The House. It is an excellent addition to the public sphere as it allows people to see the quality and nature of MPs speeches far more easily. Previously people…
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So, just as Irish predicted, Calvert was the swinging voter, and Brash has now achieved his hostile takeover of ACT. Goodbye Rodney, and good riddance. What happens next? Here are some preliminary thoughts. In the short term there's the possibility that Key will use the…
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Rodney Hide has resigned as Leader of the ACT Party. While not actually a member of the Party, Don Brash will now lead ACT.
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In the past year and a half John Key has clocked up nearly a full week of flights on RNZAF aircraft. The bill for the more than 125 hours of flights extends into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Apart from a few flights to…
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The Guardian has obtained a mass of files relating to detainees at America's infamous Guantánamo Bay: Guantánamo leaks lift lid on world's most controversial prison • Innocent people interrogated for years on slimmest pretexts • Children, elderly and mentally ill among those wrongfully held •…
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Morgan Godfery at Maui Street blog is reporting the following (I cleaned up the links). Dayle Takitimu, spokeswoman for Te Whanau a Apanui, informs me that the Police are planning “raids” against protestors. Terror raids in Te Whanau a Apanui Terror raids in Te Whanau…
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ACT's newest MP Hilary Calvert is reported by the Herald this morning to have changed her support from Hide to Brash. That means Brash has the numbers to roll Hide, and the leadership of New Zealand's most rightwing party will transfer to someone who isn't…
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Ben 'Blanket Man' Hana has thrown his loin cloth into the contest for ACT's leadership. Despite not having any political experience, Blanket Man says he is the man for the job due to his firm commitment to laissez-faire economics, his excellent face recognition, and the…
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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"Make The Politician Work" is a new "reality" series from TVNZ, with its first episode on Easter Sunday. I don't particularly like the premise, as the vast majority of our politicians work very hard. But despite that, and the shonky reality stylings, the first episode…
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Public notice: Auckland Campaign for MMP are having a Quiz Night. Food provided and Great Prizes. Friday 13 May, 7pm. Fickling Convention Centre (Corner Mt Albert/Mt Eden Roads). $120/table of 6. If you want to book a table: votemmp . auckland @ gmail . com…
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The current Herald poll has the preferred ACT leadership at 61% in favour of Brash. Consider that result against a backdrop of Hide's taxpayer-funded trips to Disney for his girlfriend, the Heather Roy debacle, the David Garrett fiasco, the constant, merciless undermining and treachery from Roger Douglas, perceived responsibility for…
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The latest Horizon Poll has been released. Horizon is different to the more common Roy Morgan, Reid Research, Digipoll or Colmar Brunton polls in that Horizon questions an online panel as opposed to calling people at random. Because the panel is self selecting Horizon gives…
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As part of his pre budget softening up exercise, Bill English has already announced that ‘lower value spending’ will be identified to free up cash for higher priority activities. This is a clear priority for his third budget. It should be possible to test this…