Written By: - Date published: 11:42 am, December 17th, 2012 - 7 comments
I’m sure our thoughts are all with Fiji as it braces itself for disaster.
Written By: - Date published: 7:15 am, December 17th, 2012 - 106 comments
Key was wrong about boot camps. He’s wrong about education, the environment, the democratic rights of Canterbury, the miraculous power of cycleways, the economy, New Zealand’s international obligations on climate change, and much more besides. Every year in office this arrogant government does yet more damage.
Written By: - Date published: 10:19 pm, December 16th, 2012 - 14 comments
Looking for Christmas gift ideas? There are plenty of ways to give a gift that will really make a difference. Here’s a small selection.
Written By: - Date published: 11:56 am, December 15th, 2012 - 143 comments
Heartfelt condolences to the family and friends, and the many victims of America’s latest shooting incident. It’s the seventh in 2012, part of a rapidly increasing trend. I don’t think America will ever seriously confront the gun lobby and take steps to end this madness. That’s America’s real gun tragedy.
Written By: - Date published: 11:16 am, December 15th, 2012 - 14 comments
Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, two damning reports on child poverty, and the Nats refuse to act.
Written By: - Date published: 7:36 am, December 14th, 2012 - 34 comments
Tariana Turia’s on-again off-again retirement is on-again. She will not be standing in 2014, and is looking to her “legacy”. Unfortunately, Whanau Ora is profoundly flawed. But if Turia wants a legacy to be proud of she still has time…
Written By: - Date published: 4:46 pm, December 12th, 2012 - 148 comments
David Shearer was on fine form in this speech yesterday, rounding up the year with thanks to Parliament’s workers, greetings to the opposition “family”, a friendly dig at the Press Gallery, the year of “Partial Recall” and memory dot gone, and finally the serious business of holding the Nats to account on their appalling record. Good work.
Written By: - Date published: 9:40 am, December 12th, 2012 - 14 comments
The Maori Party has publicly called on National to act on the child poverty report. Was this a token protest for form’s sake, or will the Maori Party actually make a stand for kids?
Written By: - Date published: 6:48 am, December 11th, 2012 - 10 comments
Auckland City Council is developing a computational model of the predicted sewage-related pollution at its beaches. A forecast for sewage, a Shitcast if you will. I’m not protesting the idea of forecasting pollution. I’m protesting the sad fact that it is necessary in “100% Pure” NZ. I think John Key needs to find himself some different advisors to tell him it isn’t so.
Written By: - Date published: 2:12 pm, December 10th, 2012 - 14 comments
The climate change talks still grind on every year, but nothing useful seems to happen as a result. The recently concluded Doha talks are no exception. By the time the Power Shift generation takes over they will be facing a near impossible task.
Written By: - Date published: 11:03 am, December 9th, 2012 - 56 comments
After good news for Labour in the most recent TV1 and 3 News polls, the latest Fairfax poll is the third in the set confirming that the party has emerged from the recent media circus in OK shape. As far as I know that’s the last big poll of 2012, and with the Left / Right gap halved since the election, a reasonable place for Labour to be sitting at the end of the year.
Written By: - Date published: 9:49 am, December 8th, 2012 - 10 comments
Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, poverty and eduction, and a special edition of Poverty Watch coming up…
Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, December 7th, 2012 - 72 comments
Another sad chapter in the ongoing collapse of manufacturing in NZ. A particularly bitter chapter, because it didn’t have to be this way.
Written By: - Date published: 10:35 am, December 4th, 2012 - 66 comments
Climate Change Minister Tim Groser has defended the Nats’ decision to drop out of the Kyoto treaty, describing the move as “ahead of the curve”. Quite apart from being absolutely stupid short-term thinking and a pathetic abdication of leadership, the idea that this retreat is “ahead of the curve” is a rather unfortunate turn of phrase.
Written By: - Date published: 6:07 pm, December 2nd, 2012 - 122 comments
Individual polls are nothing to get too excited about, it is the trend over time that matters. That said, the TV1 and 3 News polls tonight were both good news for Labour and Shearer.
Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, December 1st, 2012 - 27 comments
Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, the return of Inside Child Poverty, and the view from Planet Key…
Written By: - Date published: 1:22 pm, November 30th, 2012 - 28 comments
Over the past four years 40,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost (and over a thousand manufacturing companies have shut up shop). The government is in full denial, so the opposition parties have set up their own inquiry. Today is the last day for submissions.
Written By: - Date published: 7:44 am, November 30th, 2012 - 33 comments
I have a suggestion.
Written By: - Date published: 7:14 am, November 29th, 2012 - 60 comments
In August we were sold a “success story” – the number of elective surgeries was up and waiting times were down. Last night we learned the untold backstory, with reports of complex procedures being dropped to focus on making the numbers look good. Yet another example of the Nats’ micro-management gone wrong.
Written By: - Date published: 8:53 am, November 28th, 2012 - 111 comments
With its head deep in the rapidly warming sands, John Key and the National government have been rolling back climate change measures. We are not even “fast followers”, we are stand-out obstacles to progress, and subject to international ridicule. On climate change they have made me ashamed to be a New Zealander. They shame us all as a nation.
Written By: - Date published: 10:58 am, November 27th, 2012 - 82 comments
KiwiBuild has the Nats rattled. It’s difficult to oppose a program that creates both affordable housing and jobs, but they’re doing their best. One of their lines is that NZ can’t build houses that quickly. They’re wrong – here’s why.
Written By: - Date published: 7:29 am, November 26th, 2012 - 195 comments
The Auckland property market is back through the roof again, as well covered in The Herald this weekend. Labour’s solution is to build more houses. National’s “solution” is to complain about Labour’s solution.
Written By: - Date published: 8:28 am, November 24th, 2012 - 24 comments
Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, while National sits on its hands, Labour set out a policy that addresses poverty, housing and health…
Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, November 23rd, 2012 - 77 comments
After Labour’s Conference a lot of media attention has focused on the constitutional changes relating to leadership. But other changes were even more important. Members will develop policy, and the process has become much more effective and more open. The policy platform will be binding on MPs – and is the package that will be taken to the electorate.
Written By: - Date published: 7:41 am, November 22nd, 2012 - 144 comments
Media reaction to KiwiBuild has been largely positive, the policy is described as “bold”, “brave”, and (just as important!) – “do able”. I’m sticking with my first reaction, this is a historic policy.
Written By: - Date published: 10:04 am, November 21st, 2012 - 50 comments
KiwiBuild is an excellent policy that would make a real difference to housing, jobs, and the economy in NZ. John Key’s critique had all the credibility you’d expect from the man whose major economic policy was a cycleway.
Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, November 20th, 2012 - 152 comments
There is a Labour caucus meeting later today where, it is widely reported, Cunliffe is going to be demoted. I understand the temptation for Shearer. When challenged on his leadership he wants to portray the strong leader. But there is a better way. What we need now is reconciliation.
Written By: - Date published: 1:16 pm, November 18th, 2012 - 27 comments
David Shearer’s speech to conference was everything that it needed to be – and more. The headlines will be about KiwiBuild, as they should be, it’s a stunning policy. But just as important for the future of the country is the strong commitment to active government.
Written By: - Date published: 1:13 pm, November 18th, 2012 - 216 comments
100,000 new entry level homes. The biggest public building programme in over fifty years. Hope for young families and households. A massive boost to jobs and the economy.
This is a historic policy.
Written By: - Date published: 8:36 am, November 17th, 2012 - 12 comments
Welcome to Poverty Watch, a weekly update on National’s lack of response to the urgent and growing issue of poverty in NZ. This week, children bear the brunt of the Nats beneficiary bashing, and Peter Dunne challenged to make good on his promises and big words…
Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, November 15th, 2012 - 29 comments
Unemployment at record highs, current account deficit in trouble, the economy is stagnant, exodus to Australia, National is failing by every performance measure that they set themselves. The completely frustrating thing is that there is a clear and rational way forward, if only we have the wisdom to take it.
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