There was a really good article on slave fishing in the latest Sunday Star Times. You won't find much praise for Talley's on this site because of the anti-union tactics they employ in their factories. But, fair dues, they harvest their fish with Kiwi crews…
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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.…
David Cameron has cancelled his planned trip to Japan and New Zealand. He is facing a backbench revolt over European Union membership at the same time as he is trying to intervene in the crucial financial summit trying to sort out problems in the Euro…
Act president Chris Simmons on Don Brash's sudden trip to Europe: Brash's skills were in economic management, not in "glad-handing rugby players and tickertape parades" which he would happily leave to Prime Minister John Key. John Banks: "I'm going to do the photo opportunity with…
As more oil leaks from the Rena, National's beginning to leak too. I've just been hearing about their latest internal polling, and it ain't pretty. As the earlier Horizon poll suggested, the Rena has been an inflection point for National and the masses of soft…
Finally the cup comes back to good old NZ! You beauty! That said, well done the French. It was a much more exciting and tense game than most expected and I don't think there was anyone watching who wasn't on the edge of their seat…
Labour Day celebrates the successful struggle for an eight-hour working day. Its a story that goes back to 1840, when London born carpenter Samuel Parnell arrived in NZ, landing at Petone beach. A fellow passenger asked Parnell to build him a shop, and Parnell's response…
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Now for the final - ABs vs France 9:00 pm at Eden Park - may the best team win. Even we non-rugby fans will have something to celebrate, in just a few hours it will all be over! [whew ... that was close ... imagine…
The Occupation movement in most locations seems to be staying true to its ideals. Decision making is a participatory (not a representative) democratic process. That has advantages, it's inclusive and egalitarian. It also has disadvantages, there's no strong leadership. The movement is often accused of…
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Bill English: "a change in the credit ratings could push interest rates up ... about 0.1 percent." Nek minnit: Since the double downgrade, interest rates on new government bonds have risen by 0.2 per cent for bonds maturing in 2015 and 0.4 per cent for…
I’m not sure where the call for solidarity action on O15 came from. But from scanning through the OWS pages, it didn’t emanate from there. (How could it when no-one speaks for OWS?) From what I can gather, the pre-planning for the occupations in New…
New Zealand's economy, Christchurch, Pike River, Rena - all terrible disasters to befall our country and our Government. It's a massive challenge to respond well to such crises, and nobody really expects a magic wand, but we do have a right to expect some kind of…
I'm of two minds on the matter of supporting the televised leaders' debates. John Key has been allowed to dictate the format, insisting on debating only Goff. I think democracy would be better served by having more party leaders on stage, and I wish that…
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xA good interview with Andrew Little on the Nat's failed attempt to smear him over facebook comments. Nice comments about David Farrar and strong support for the occupy movement. Good to see. By the way, is it just me or is National's obsession with opposition…
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?
A very thoughtful piece from Simon Collins in today's Herald: Deep divisions over $1000 for a Rugby World Cup game as poverty grows Have we gone a bit mad? Or is it all worth it to bring a touch of joy into our lives in…
Wouldn't a Key endorsement of Banks be an admission that a Labour-led government is possible if ACT doesn't make it? Is the delay in Key's endorsement because the Nats are worried that revelations will make Banks unelectable regardless and an endorsement will tarnish Brand Key…
More protests in Tauranga. Simon Bridges blames "out of towners". That'll go down like a cup of cold sick with the angry locals. Guess that's what you get from a first-term MP who has only ever had to ride on Key's coattails and is now…
Unlike some news organisations we don't usually bother reporting Horizon polls here. Their numbers generally sound like wonderful news for the political Left, because they tend to rate National led and Labour led coalitions as pretty much neck and neck. But hyping these results would…
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Another Epsom poll has ACT' stuffed. Goldsmith: 37% Banks: 24% Parker: 17%. However, it also says the blue-rinsers will obediently tick Banks if Key explicitly tells them to. But will he? Will the chance of saving 2% ACT be worth the nationwide loss of votes…
Remember how John Key was busy on the day of the double downgrade. Hosting his *wink* not election ad *wink* on RadioLive? Remember how he promised to "talk to someone important" to stop Coro St being moved to 5:30? Yeah. Another broken promise. Can't even…
I know a family in terrible financial trouble. Their budget is a mess. Here's the summary: their annual income is $21,700 their budgeted spending for the year is $38,200 their shortfall for the year will be $16,500 this will be added to their current debt…
RNZ's Insight is hosting a debate on the Electoral System Referendum next Wednesday in Wellington. It's an excellent panel, with Jim Bolger, Michael Cullen, Ruth Richardson and Jeanette Fitzsimons, as well as Sandra Grey from the Campaign for MMP and Jordan Williams from Vote for…