We often hear from this government that they are "doing all they can", on emergency housing, on families in financial distress, on the impact of high interest rates, on the mess in Christchurch, on closing tax loopholes, on water quality, and so on. "All they…
Water is an issue that has been hurting this Government. From its expansion of dairying and the destruction of so many of our waterways, to the use of the fast forward fund to provide extra irrigation for Canterbury farmers, to the financial support supplied by…
A very useful visualisation from Peter Ellis at Peter's Stats Stuff (go see the post for interactive version, plenty more, and also the provisos that relate to this data). One of the main takeaways is that only half of the "did not vote" block is…
Climate change and our increasing numbers of cows means that New Zealand needs to plant trees, lots of trees. And Christchurch has a major issue with land in the red zone that that is not suitable for building on and needs to have some use…
A major policy announcement from The Greens over the weekend: Budget for All Mothers The Green Party wants to help parents when they need it the most, by ensuring they have time and money to focus on raising happy, healthy kids Too many parents in…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Mensch and Taylor report that: Judiciary Committee considering Articles of Impeachment "Multiple sources close to the intelligence, justice and law enforcement communities say that the House Judiciary Committee is considering Articles of Impeachment against the President of the United States." Sources further say that the…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiEs34TNY6w Over in England things are getting interesting. The unloseable election called at a time when Labour was at its weakest and most messiest was meant to be a cake walk for the tories. An increased majority was a foregone conclusion and the future of…
Back in March we had a book club that looked at E. F. Schumacher's Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if people mattered. It reminded me that a few years ago I reviewed a couple of interesting books. Since it's been a while, perhaps no harm…
So Cameron Slater and Colin Craig are in court. Seeking damages from each other. Right wingers have this thing about how state resources should be used only for essential purposes. I agree. Tying up weeks of the High Court's time with a case that in…
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This post by Auckland journalist Branko Marcetic was first published in Jacobin in March 2017. Written for a US audience, it's an easy-read, long form piece on NZ's descent into neoliberalism. A few years ago, when the 2008 global financial crisis was just one or two…
I see that Martyn Bradbury finally noticed that I dropped the public accessible statistics about The Standard in April at Open Parachute. He characteristically titled it with his usual humility as "Blog Rankings: TDB second largest blog in NZ". I thought that maybe we should start a movement…
Gordon Campbell has always followed the TPP issue closely. Here he is on the latest developments: Gordon Campbell on Bill English’s bizarre new/old trade deal So, according to the Prime Minister, we all have an obligation to get in behind his zombie TPP deal, because…
Last night news broke regarding Julian Assange: Swedish prosecutors drop Julian Assange rape investigation Swedish prosecutors are to drop a preliminary investigation into an allegation of rape against the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, bringing to an end a seven-year legal standoff. According to a brief…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Good piece by Andrew Little (appearing in The Herald) where he addresses the arguments of the property speculators: Andrew Little: Removing rental write-off will not hurt long term investors We all know there's a housing crisis in New Zealand today. As Jacinda and I travel…
The future of Auckland's port has become the subject of some media attention recently. Is it going to be privatised? The conjecture started with this article by Bernard Orsman in the Herald. It said this: High level discussions are under way over the future of…
Here are some recent headlines on suicide in NZ: NZ suicide stats highest ever recorded The highest rate of teen suicide in the developed world The Horror of NZ's Suicide Rates NZ suicide toll: More discussion needed to bring down 'unacceptably high' rate, Chief Coroner…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Poor wee chap is obviously desperate for some attention, if this latest incoherent thrashing on the dead TPP is anything to go by - Bill English has saved TPP. The TPP is on again - and it is thanks to Bill English. They are not…
John Armstrong is still out there, and he is not impressed: Government's handling of housing crisis lurches from chaotic to shambolic National's persistent and longstanding refusal to acknowledge that the Auckland housing crisis is a crisis has been a textbook example of the kind of…
I have little doubt now that Vladimir Putin has now done an effective job on President Trump. A little needling here, a substantial incursion and land take there, a good poke at a weak administration, and then sit back at the ice hockey and let history slide.…
Labour's conference in the weekend was a vibrant success and the main policy announcement on removing a tax incentive for property speculation was well received. But there was another conference that weekend, National's in Northland. Seems it didn't go so well. Richard Harman on the…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …