Nats’ polling
Fran O’Sullivan wrote about how she was called by David Farrar’s Curia, National’s polling company, recently. What she was asked is revealing. She […]
Eddie
Key, the ABs, & the election date
I’ve been talking with some people about when John Key will call the next election. Two common points emerge: 1) it will be […]
The many. Not the few
Phil Goff has just delivered his first major speech of the year to state what Labour stands for and where it is going. […]
Minimum wage: what will it be?
The Government is set to announce its decision on the annual adjustment to the minimum wage today. So what’s it going to be? […]
The danger of pre-writing your narrative
It was clear that the Herald had decided how Ratana would play this year: eveyone loves Key, Goff gets the cold shoulder. It […]
Labour needs to be firm on tax
Marty did some really excellent work last week on the Tax Working Group’s proposed tax reforms last week, which Zetetic summed up as ‘tax cuts […]
Subsidising Pandora’s box-office
Gerry Brownlee is defending the $45 million tax break the Government gave the makers of Avatar to do most of their special effects […]
The SAS, the media, and Key
I don’t think the SAS should be in Afghanistan. That said, there are good reasons why the activities of the SAS on deployment […]
Key committed to [insert your priority here]
Last week: “Prime Minister John Key said the Government’s major theme in 2010 would be improving New Zealand’s economy” Today: “He said his […]
Cowardly
This is how Health Minister Tony Ryall announced the Government would be appealing the court decision to try to get out of paying people for […]
The sharpest edge of the recession
“2500 people waited up to seven hours to apply for one of 150 jobs at a new South Auckland supermarket”* OK, maybe 16 […]
Franklin & Papakura want out, Hide says ‘no way’
The people of Franklin and Papakura, who overwhelming oppose becoming part of the National/ACT government’s Supercity experiment, have been denied their request to keep […]
Kiwis back fairer minimum wage
Traditionally, the minimum wage was set at around 60-67% of the average wage. During the Muldoon era and the 1990s, National let the minimum […]
Coddington: exposing secret agendas = bad, attacking sex victims = meh
Deborah Coddington, former ACT MP and author of the filthy racist article “Asian Angst: Is it time to send some back?” that killed North […]
Too far, Fran
Despite almost never agreeing with Fran O’Sullivan, I have respect for her. She comes from the ACT-right and her pieces reflect that but […]
Covering for ‘Vacation John’
Both David Farrar and Cameron Slater have posts up attacking a comment by roger nome in one of our comment threads, and it […]
Dumb and dumber on the dole
So, Tariana Turia has (eventually) come out against Paula Bennett’s pointless policy of making people on the unemployment benefit reapply after a year. Of course, […]
Over-promise, under-deliver on health
Last year, Tony Ryall announced health reforms (ironically, an additional layer of beaurcracy) that he claimed would save $700 million over five years, about […]
Helping Haiti
The enormity of the disaster that has hit Haiti is becoming more apparent by the hour. It is thought that tens of thousands, if not […]
The ‘whaling plan’
Govt drafts deal to end whaling in Antarctica – Herald Key plan to end Southern Ocean whaling – Stuff That sounds like a […]
Bully Brownlee forces SOE CEO to withdraw critical blog
Powershop is a subsidiary of Meridian Energy, an SOE. It is the most highly rated power retailer by its customers, with 92% satisfaction. On […]
John Key, Minister for Overseas Holidays
Happy new year! If you’re lucky enough to be on a bit of a break overseas say ‘Hi’ to Prime Minister John Key […]
Summer service
So politics is winding down for the year. Hopefully you’ll be getting away with your family and friends for some time in the […]
$400 mln xmas gift for banks
The banks, who tried to rip us off to the tune of $2.6 billion, have agreed to pay us $2.2 billion. I don’t […]
How it works
a) Paula Bennett gives a story to Colin Espiner about beneficiary and, apparently, scoundrel Darryl Harris. The release of the information is a clear breach […]
Repeating our past mistakes
Since Marty’s away, no pretty graphs. There’s not much Christmas cheer in the new GDP numbers I’m afraid. The economy grew at just […]
Looking tough, wasting money
So Paula Bennett wants to force people on the dole to reapply after a year. At best, it’s a waste of money by […]
Bennett disappointed by witch-hunt results
Earlier this year, Paula Bennett released the personal details of two women who get the DPB who had opposed her cancelling of a grant […]
Oh yeah, SPEEDholes
Could making the surface of cars rough be a cheap and esay way to boost fuel efficiency, thereby saving oil and helping tackle […]
Whanau Ora: privatisation by stealth
The government is beginning to explain more about its Whanau Ora plan, although it is still startlingly vague considering we’re talking a billion […]
Not welcome
A Papakura local has sent us this story of the would-be Emperor of Auckland’s foray into Papakura. Wannabe Super City Mayor Goofs up […]
Trial needed for national standards
Anne Tolley should have the sense to listen to the teachers, the principals and the eduction experts. She should trial her national standards […]
For God’s sake, its the same name
In what has got to be the ultimate manifestation of this government’s inability to take a simple decision for fear of losing someones […]
The Dom Post’s op-ed pages
Reading the Dom Post’s editorial pages over my morning coffee today, I had one of those moments when you suddenly remember how insufferably, […]
Maori flag, so what?
I’m fine with a flag representing Maori flying on Waitangi Day. Some argue there are constitutional concerns with flying a flag representing Maori […]
Getting it right
Colin Espiner has a piece in the Dom Post today attributing Labour’s four point rise in the polls to Goff’s ‘Nationhood’ speech. He […]