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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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...
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 •…
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…
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…
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…
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...
"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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
The same scenario of tax cuts, national debt, and public spending cuts is being played out in New Zealand, Britain and the USA. Here's the right wing argument in a nutshell...
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...
Perhaps the most interesting comment in the whole ACT leadership saga thus far has come from ACT president Chris Simmons who has said: Rodney Hide has enough support in the caucus to stay, but says the board would not stand in the way of a…
John Armstrong: The political graffiti are now writ large on the wall for Rodney Hide's leadership of Act after the apparent Easter rising within the party. Hide has to go. Tracy Watkins: ACT is now so discredited that even some on the Right Wing are…
"Reconstructing Christchurch" with Peter Harris and Hon Lianne Dalziel. Venue: St John's Church Hall, 176 Willis St, Wellington When: April 27th, 5:30 PM
Canada will go to the polls on May 2. That election has just got a whole lot more interesting. The latest poll has the New Democrat Party at 28% and rising, while the Conservatives, Liberal and Greens are falling. Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper has…
It seems to me that as the years roll on and there are fewer and fewer veterans of the World Wars left, our involvement in those wars is becoming glorified into the basis of a national myth: 'our heroes' noble sacrifice for us', which is…