National has set out its narrative for the 2014 election. Election between centre right and far left - Key National is facing the "notoriously difficult" task of winning a third term against an Opposition increasingly dragged to the "far left" by the Greens, Prime Minister…
John Key has been shamed by Hone Harawira's "feed the kids" private members Bill, and is attempting to regain the upper hand . He is responding with a sly, use of PPPs and charities to absolve the government of responsibility, while falsely presenting a caring…
When even the notoriously right-wing NZ Herald Editorial is pleading for Meridian not to be sold (just now), you know that the government's asset sell-down is in trouble. Add to that the fact that Mighty River Power shares are languishing three cents below their float…
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Once again the MSM reports John Key's assessment of his party's place on the political spectrum without any critique. This time Adam Bennett in the NZ Herald quotes John Key as saying: "Normally elections are fought between the centre left and the centre right. That…
I've always been in favour of contested selection for parliamentary candidates - in my view, and I've been involved in a few, the more contest the better. Parliament is not a place for placemen or placewomen, and being a Member of Parliament requires commitment, energy…
Marama Davidson has been selected as the Green Party candidate in the Ikaroa-Rahiti by-election. She expressed herself extremely well at a meeting about Sue Moroney's paid parental leave private member's bill that I attended last year. She also had a very compelling and inclusive green left…
A while back I wrote a post noting China's advances in green technology. It finished by expressing the hope that China would move on carbon emissions. Maybe I am going to see my wish granted. China agrees to impose carbon targets by 2016 Beijing’s thaw…
A Sunday feature - each week a random section scanned from a copy of The Standard, September 15th, 1938. Find out more here. Click the image for a larger version.
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Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has been quick to try and blame his own staff for the Chinese meat fiasco: 'Simple' mistake has Guy disappointed in officials Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has heaped blame for a major Chinese trade block at the feet of…
In Poverty Watch this week our final look at the Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCCC) 2012 report "Child Poverty in New Zealand evidence for action". Chapter 4 set out priority recommendations, Chapter 5 was the full list. The final Chapter 6 is short, I'm…
William Binney, a whistle blower from the US NSA (National Security Agency) claims that a surveillance device, Thin Thread was sent to spy agencies in places like NZ, Canada,, Australia, Germany and the UK in 2000-2001 for testing. According to author Tim Shorrock, ThinThread monitors…
Winston Peters is up to his old tricks again: Peters: Immigrants, brothels and sin city NZ First leader Winston Peters has launched an attack on immigration policy and questioned whether Auckland is becoming "the supercity of sin", linking crime and other problems to immigration from…
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A recent survey of two thousand Kiwis show that a third cannot afford to heat their homes properly. That's a third of the population who are vulnerable to illness, whose children are at risk, and who are being left behind as the electricity companies are…
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?
People are starting to notice that the Nats are taking us into banana republic territory: Official reports open up NZ to 'banana republic' allegations Several official reports out this week raise questions about the integrity of public life in New Zealand. The latest is the…
The current MP for Nelson and government Minister of Conservation and Housing has a shameful record. He has been a Bill English supporter amidst National Party leadership struggles, resulting in accusations of irrational, self-aggrandising behaviour when English became leader in 2003. He was found guilty…
The myth that National sold Mighty River Power to 'mum and dads' is dead. New analysis shows that half the retail shares went to just 12,844 people. A tiny group of 394 people bought 10% of the retail shares. Only 13.4% of the company is…
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This. This is fascism. This is fascism published by our national newspaper. Note the lack of logic. Giving spies the powers that they have in the States could prevent the kind of terrorism that just happened ... in the States. Note the complete faith in…
Labour will hold three selection meetings in the very large electorate, one at Kokiri marae in Seaview starting at 7pm, one at Hauiti marae in Tolaga Bay at 2 pm on Saturday, and the final one in Napier at St Joseph's Maori Girls College at…
It looks like Nick Smith will today grant access to West Coast conservation land, with high conservation values, for open cast mining. This looks like a cynical attempt to enforce the government's anti-conservation agenda by avoiding the need for public consultation. He is travelling to Denniston…
Charter schools are a bad idea: Charter schools 'harmful' says study Former director: Introducing charter schools 'horrendous' Charter schools a 'failed experiment in New Orleans' Charter schools damage students and teachers To make them even worse, they aren't going to be subject to the usual…
In the 50s and 60s, two eminent jurists by the names of Hart and Fuller debated what makes a legal system. Nazi Germany was their real-world example. Hart was a positivist* - he said a legal system is a legal system if people call it…
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