Explore the archive
Find articles and conversations by date, subject or search expression.
Searching: posts Sorted by: newest Results: 121–150 of 226
Post
This letter is getting more media attention than it deserves, because its basically Brash regurgitating his 2025 task force stuff. Key and the Nats have, quite rightly, ignored it once, and they'll ignore it this time too. But I guess it's fun how it has…
Post
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?
Post
Steven Joyce has just announced. "Up to $42 million will be set aside in next week's Budget to train people involved in Canterbury's rebuild." "The package including up to 3000 more construction-related training places in polytechnics around the country." Lets just concentrate on what I…
Post
The free speech / hate speech boundary is always a difficult call. I'm glad to live in a country that tries to err on the side of the former. Even so, this shit really rankles: Anti-Chinese leaflets spark fear and anger A far-right Christchurch group…
Post
John Key didn't much like being called on the emptiness of our "100% Pure" advertising slogan. When confronted on BBC interview program HardTalk with the scientific evidence regarding species loss, and pollution in our rivers, he tried to dismiss it as just one person's opinion.…
Post
The second plank of John Key's economic plan for New Zealand has fallen through. First, the 'national cycleway' became a scattered assortment of cycle paths that were already under construction. Now, the pandas Key was going to rent so we could get rich buying tickets…
Post
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...
Post
Watch Jacinda Ardern clean up Jamie-Lee Ross on Breakfast this morning. Nearly half of the National Government's much-quoted borrowing of $300 million a week is to pay for their tax cuts. That was this government's choice. Now their choice is that everyone else has to…
Post
So now we have a date for what promises to be a fascinating by election: Prime Minister John Key has announced the date for a by-election in Te Tai Tokerau will be Saturday June 25. The by-election follows the resignation of Independent MP Hone Harawira.…
Post
When John Key hears bad news he attacks the credibility of the source. On BBC Interview show HardTalk, confronted with the science on our polluted rivers, he said it was just one person's opinion that he didn't believe. When journalist Jon Stephenson publised "Eyes wide…
Post
John Key has announced National's third reform of Kiwisaver in 3 years, saying the government's contribution will be cut and made up with higher minimum contributions from members and their employers. It's an embarrassing flip-flop from the government that cut default contribution rates and shows…
Post
The media is reporting that the government's cuts to Kiwisaver will be offset by an increase in the minimum contributions made by workers and employers. Not ideal I hear you say but at least it's evenly delivered - with both workers and employers being made…
Post
The doyens at the Herald got their (no doubt large and sensible) knickers in a twist the other day about Labour's attacks on John Key claiming Labour needs to focus on the big issues. The same day Key had a wee whinge about the opposition…
Post
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...
Post
So I have an opponent now: Maggie Barry. She's found the 'lovely electorate' she was casting about for. And I congratulate and welcome her to this side of the bridge. However, it might be polite if kiwiblog, whale oil, the young Nats and even the…
Post
The examples of National's greed and largesse with public money just keep coming. The Nats and their spinsters have tried to write this off as Labour being focused on the "small stuff", but the latest twist to the BMW saga has a real stench about…
Post
From Stuff: Hone Harawira has officially resigned forcing a by-election in his Te Tai Tokerau seat. [...] Labour have selected Kelvin Davis to stand against Harawira and the Maori Party have said they will stand a candidate but have not chosen the person yet. A…
Post
David Cunliffe has addressed Key's truly uninspiring pre-budget speech this morning. National have no economic plan, and it shows. Key's tinkering to fix the massive economic gaps, and his only suggestions are a vague warning that National would reduce the member tax credit, and reverse…
Post
John Key didn't much like being confronted with the facts on our dirty water, so he cynically attempted to trivialise the science as "one person's opinion". He sat there on international TV and tried to pretend that everything is just fine, when it isn't. No…
Post
Labour has decided to stand Kelvin Davis in the Te Tai Tokerau by-election. I wish they hadn’t. First, Davis strikes me as quality and you don’t tarnish quality by making it lose in front of a national audience. Look what happened to Melissa Lee, former…
Post
The Nats have run this country into the ground and say there's no option but to slash Kiwisaver. The actual cuts they announce will be less than foreshadowed, and we will then be expected to be grateful. It's the Nats' old trick. But the reality…
Post
For most of NZ life is chugging on -- albeit bleaker than usual, with wild weather, winter coming on, a nasty budget expected, prices rising, a stalled economy and so on. But spare a thought for earthquake ravaged Christchurch. For much of the city life…
Post
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...
Post
It was good to hear Mike Williams as the voice of the left on Nine to Noon yesterday. It is high time that someone from the broad left had the mike, to coin a phrase. Mike "spat on the altar" and had a friendly go…
Post
I was wondering why Key's team weren't trying to milk his upcoming hardtalk interview for PR like they have with his other international media appearances. I guess now we know: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3yFiNk_Ufw Hattip: Danyl
Post
Is the power of CERA going to Brownlee's head a bit? Seems he's using it to intimidate Christchurch building owners: Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee wants the owners of dangerous, earthquake-crippled buildings to act faster, with a "veiled threat" that they could be punished. Clarendon…
Post
Post
I love that ACToids are always complaining that interest-free student loans are a bad idea because they encourage wasteful, inefficient spending but think that giving out free heart-attack makers is perfectly sensible. By the way, isn't this treating? H/T Dimpost
Post
It took National some weeks to get together a line on their multitudinous spending scandals. When they did, it was rather predictable: 'Labour's focused on the small things'. Pretty rich coming from corgi-boy Key. No defence of the actual excesses either. But, naturally, the Herald…
Post
What a lot of fuss yesterday about Titewhai Harawira and daughter heckling Tariana Turia: Harawira pair's abuse sickens Turia Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia was sickened by what she called "psychological abuse" meted out to her and others by MP Hone Harawira's mother and sister…