The Standard

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Frack Free NZ

Written By: - Date published: 4:30 pm, April 13th, 2012 - 33 comments

Christchurch has declared itself a fracking free zone. Symbolic gesture? Perhaps – but this was how Nuclear Free New Zealand got started…

Consultancy blowout

Written By: - Date published: 10:16 am, April 12th, 2012 - 34 comments

In opposition the Nats were critical of Labour’s spending on consultants. Thanks to Keith Ng we now have some figures on sending under the Nat government. Guess what…

Romney vs. Obama

Written By: - Date published: 11:42 am, April 11th, 2012 - 28 comments

With the effective withdrawal of Rick Santorum from the Republican primary process, Mitt Romney is now all but certain to be the Republican nominee to go up against Barack Obama in the Presidential election this year.

Grubby politics

Written By: - Date published: 9:32 am, April 10th, 2012 - 8 comments

Cronyism. The politicisation of the public service. Internal power struggles. It’s all just grubby Nat politics as usual. Why do we put up with it?

Will the Greens lead the next government?

Written By: - Date published: 9:20 am, April 8th, 2012 - 195 comments

Two recent pieces in The Herald draw opposite conclusions from recent polls (one of them, alas, is drivel). Matt McCarten asks if National’s free fall, and the rise of the Greens, foreshadows a Green led government in 2014…

Easter trading

Written By: - Date published: 8:11 am, April 7th, 2012 - 297 comments

It’s the annual Easter ritual – a slap on the wrist for the many shops caught flouting the trading law.

Another “Zero budget”

Written By: - Date published: 9:34 am, April 6th, 2012 - 72 comments

Another “Zero budget” has been signaled. Some commentators think it’s a bold move. I beg to differ.

Advice on pokies

Written By: - Date published: 7:20 am, April 5th, 2012 - 83 comments

“Prime Minister John Key says hundreds of extra pokies at Sky City Casino will not increase gambling addiction”. Key is lying and he knows it. That’s why the Nats won’t release the official advice they have received on this topic…

The lie of the “fiscally neutral” tax cuts

Written By: - Date published: 3:50 pm, April 4th, 2012 - 46 comments

The “fiscally neutral” tax cuts never were neutral at all, and a lower than expected tax take is hitting the government’s books. But Key is still out there repeating the lie.

TV1 Poll

Written By: - Date published: 9:40 am, April 2nd, 2012 - 40 comments

A TV1 poll yesterday had Key falling as preferred PM, but no significant change for the major parties.

POAL falling apart

Written By: - Date published: 2:29 pm, March 30th, 2012 - 47 comments

Things are not going so well for Ports of Auckland. “Ports of Auckland lifts lock-out amid board rift” sums it up…

Key linked to Pullar claim

Written By: - Date published: 7:22 pm, March 29th, 2012 - 153 comments

Close Up tonight led with the allegation, based on a leaked document, that John Key (and other prominent Nats) were listed as supporting a $14 million dollar insurance claim by Bronwyn Pullar.

No charge for “teapot” cameraman

Written By: - Date published: 3:14 pm, March 26th, 2012 - 12 comments

In breaking news 3News reports that there will be no charge against “teapot” cameraman Bradley Ambrose.

Tough on crime

Written By: - Date published: 9:22 am, March 26th, 2012 - 85 comments

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of imprisonment in the world, and an international study has just highlighted the fact.

Meanwhile the economy…

Written By: - Date published: 10:54 am, March 23rd, 2012 - 15 comments

Plenty of high-profile bad news headlines for the Nats. At least it takes the focus of the boring old economy.

Labour moving to the right?

Written By: - Date published: 11:09 am, March 18th, 2012 - 153 comments

Many commentators have interpreted David Shearer’s recent speech as signaling a “move to the right”. I think it’s too early to tell. But if it’s true, I think it’s good news for lefties…

Port developments

Written By: - Date published: 9:15 am, March 17th, 2012 - 97 comments

Ports of Auckland management may be starting to realise that they have bitten off more than they can chew.  Faced with international union action, they have called a halt to the redundancy process.

National standards aren’t

Written By: - Date published: 9:32 am, March 16th, 2012 - 34 comments

The predicted problems created by a “national standards” system are coming home to roost already.

Reining in student loans

Written By: - Date published: 2:28 pm, March 13th, 2012 - 133 comments

Student loans will remain interest free, but the Nats are planning to rein them in “in a big way”. I guess that means that typical Nat slash-and-burn thinking will result in damaging restrictions to educational access in due course.

Shearer taking shape

Written By: - Date published: 2:54 pm, March 12th, 2012 - 45 comments

It’s been encouraging seeing a bit more of David Shearer recently. His leadership is slowly taking shape

Port protest gone international

Written By: - Date published: 11:12 pm, March 10th, 2012 - 48 comments

The labour dispute is turning into a fiasco for Ports of Auckland. Thousands marched today through Auckland in protest, and cargo loaded by non-union labour is being blacklisted internationally. How long will Ports of Auckland stay on their self-destructive course?

Postcards from the “brighter” future

Written By: - Date published: 11:32 am, March 10th, 2012 - 24 comments

Hey John – where’s our “Brighter Future”? Hey National voters – was this what you voted for?

Excuses excuses

Written By: - Date published: 9:41 am, March 7th, 2012 - 32 comments

Tax revenue is down, blowing a big hole in all the government’s financial projections. The Nats are in trouble and instead of looking for solutions, they’re looking for excuses.

False economy

Written By: - Date published: 11:13 am, March 6th, 2012 - 16 comments

Nationals bungling on the economy continues to damage NZ. Even their misguided state sector job cuts have failed to make significant savings…

Let a garden grow

Written By: - Date published: 12:45 pm, March 5th, 2012 - 15 comments

Christchurch is changed forever and there’s no going back. Let the heart of the old city become its memorial.

We don’t know how lucky we are

Written By: - Date published: 7:10 am, March 5th, 2012 - 16 comments

Wikileaks have given us another glimpse at the reality behind the curtain of international diplomacy, and a “full and frank” assessment of New Zealand’s geopolitical insignificance…

Weather bomb

Written By: - Date published: 9:12 am, March 3rd, 2012 - 113 comments

Keep safe during the “weather bomb”. It will be good practice for the future.

FIFY

Written By: - Date published: 2:05 pm, March 2nd, 2012 - 25 comments

Bill English: “A government can’t have a lot of impact on the job market. It is what it is.” He’s only half right.

Roads to nowhere

Written By: - Date published: 3:34 pm, March 1st, 2012 - 22 comments

There never was a good business case for holiday highways. Now it’s even worse.

The courage of their convictions

Written By: - Date published: 11:21 am, February 26th, 2012 - 68 comments

While most of us talk about “saving the world” some people act.

Life in the front lines

Written By: - Date published: 12:36 pm, February 23rd, 2012 - 33 comments

Hey remember how the Nats weren’t going to cut frontline staff? How’s that working out?