The Standard

Author Archive

Everyone applauds Labour’s homelessness plan … except National

Written By: - Date published: 9:56 am, May 5th, 2018 - 133 comments

Labour’s announcement of $100 million spending on homelessness has attracted praise from everyone, except National.

So there was sewage leaking into Middlemore hospital’s walls

Written By: - Date published: 8:21 am, May 4th, 2018 - 87 comments

In further horror news about our health system the leaks of sewage into the walls of Middlemore Hospital has been confirmed and its discovery occurred in 2010. And in 2015 the chair of cash strapped Canterbury DHB signed a Ministry of Health drafted letter saying it did not need further funding despite an urgent need for further funds.

The real conspiracy facing New Zealand

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, May 3rd, 2018 - 55 comments

Rhys Darby has discovered the real conspiracy facing New Zealand by judicious use of the Internet.  And Clarke Gayford does not feature.

National wants to add to Auckland’s gridlock

Written By: - Date published: 4:11 pm, May 2nd, 2018 - 16 comments

National has promised to overturn Auckland’s Regional Fuel Tax.  But has no proposal for how the funding will be replaced.

Police scotches dirty politics rumours about Clarke Gayford

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, May 2nd, 2018 - 209 comments

The police have publicly scotched rumours that have been circulating about Clarke Gayford by saying that Gayford is not and has not been the subject of any police inquiry and has not been charged in relation to any matter.

National is yeah nah on climate change

Written By: - Date published: 8:21 am, April 30th, 2018 - 34 comments

National’s Blue Green conference on the weekend suggests that the party has moved on from outright denial that cliamte change exists to grudging acceptance that it is a phenomenon but “balance” requires that it is tolerated.

National’s fiscal ineptitude over Auckland transport

Written By: - Date published: 9:03 am, April 29th, 2018 - 32 comments

National has responded to Labour’s ATAP proposal by refusing to accept there is a problem, drumming up anti Auckland resentment in the rest of the country and claiming they would have done the same thing.

Doofus of the week – April 28, 2018

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, April 28th, 2018 - 23 comments

This week’s winner is a National MP who has perfected the ability of cutting and pasteing but has no idea about the dark art of social media.

David Tamihere was framed

Written By: - Date published: 8:01 am, April 27th, 2018 - 25 comments

The identity of the secret witness who assisted in the conviction of David Tamihere for the murder of two Sweedish tourists has been revealed.  And the incident shows the danger of using secret witnesses.

Bottom feeding fish

Written By: - Date published: 8:35 am, April 24th, 2018 - 99 comments

Yesterday the Herald said something stupid about Clarke Gayford, reported his response and then reported at how the country was divided by the article.

Is capitalism obsolete?

Written By: - Date published: 8:10 am, April 23rd, 2018 - 303 comments

Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has given a speech where he has stated that capitalism is coming to an end because it is making itself obsolete.

Jacinda Ardern is just like Donald Trump

Written By: - Date published: 9:15 am, April 22nd, 2018 - 77 comments

In a gross example of click bait journalism a senior political commentator at a major media outlet has claimed that Jacinda Ardern and Donald Trump are similar.

Doofus of the Week – April 20, 2018

Written By: - Date published: 9:07 am, April 21st, 2018 - 73 comments

Doofus of the week this week goes to a television personality who is upset that his sexist comment that employers should be allowed to know what their female employees breedings plans are was taken out of context.

The right to free speech

Written By: - Date published: 9:05 am, April 20th, 2018 - 105 comments

This week has seen a number of examples where right wing and religious men have said stupid things and then had their statements defended on the basis that free speech should be protected.

The political honeymoon that keeps on ending

Written By: - Date published: 9:01 am, April 18th, 2018 - 43 comments

Media pundits are claiming on the evidence offered by one poll that the Government’s political honeymoon is over. But the same claim was made four months ago.

The Northcote by-election

Written By: - Date published: 7:59 am, April 17th, 2018 - 86 comments

Labour and National have both selected their candidates for the Northcote by election.  Labour’s candidate is Shanan Halbert who cut significantly into Jonathan Coleman’s majority at the last election.

The Government’s response to the Syrian crisis

Written By: - Date published: 9:58 am, April 16th, 2018 - 203 comments

Jacinda Ardern has accepted the US, UK and French response to the Syrian crisis.  Should she have instead condemned it?

Dear Judith burning Oil and Gas is the worst thing for the climate

Written By: - Date published: 8:45 am, April 14th, 2018 - 73 comments

National now seems to adopt the position that climate change is real and has to be addressed.  But it is refusing to accept that to address the problem New Zealand is going to have to give up its reliance on oil and gas.

Homeless families are living in cars … and tents

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, April 13th, 2018 - 84 comments

Remember how early on during his reign as National leader John Key talked about the underclass and how they were a blight on New Zealand society?  Well over the past year WINZ has been giving grants to homeless families to live in tents.

Daily Review 12/04/2018

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, April 12th, 2018 - 23 comments

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 …

Government blocks off shore oil and gas drilling

Written By: - Date published: 10:13 am, April 12th, 2018 - 158 comments

The Government has announced that there will be no new offshore oil and gas exploration permits issued under the block offer process.

We did not know it would be this bad

Written By: - Date published: 9:10 am, April 11th, 2018 - 173 comments

Marama Davidson’s question to Jacinda Ardern in Parliament yesterday allowed Jacinda to outline the enormous mess the last National Government has left the country in.

The hidden infrastructure fiscal crisis gets real

Written By: - Date published: 8:19 am, April 10th, 2018 - 245 comments

Steven Joyce’s $11.7 billion fiscal hole is becoming more and more of a reality although it is in hidden infrastructure costs that National had suppressed in search of the elusive surplus.

Mike Hosking reckons: Minimum wage increase will be terrible for everyone

Written By: - Date published: 9:55 am, April 9th, 2018 - 159 comments

Mike Hosking reckons that an increase in the minimum wage will increase housing unaffordability and cause job losses and business closures.

Doofus of the week – April 7, 2018

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, April 8th, 2018 - 17 comments

Another easy decision. Gerry Brownlee wins for overseeing a $210 million blow out in EWC’s liability for Christchurch earthquake re-repair work and for being upset when Megan Woods called him on it.

Ardern was right to hold back on Russia

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, April 7th, 2018 - 88 comments

Remember two weeks ago when Jacinda Ardern’s handling of the Russian poisoning scandal was considered to be a major misstep?  Well with the benefit of hindsight it appears to have been a very balanced nuanced response to an incident that is not as clear cut as it was presented.

Regrets, John Key’s had a few *

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, April 6th, 2018 - 43 comments

or more accurately one.  A failed vanity flag referendum.

National’s strong economic management …

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 6th, 2018 - 47 comments

Between the crisis facing Middlemore Hospital’s buildings and the farce surrounding the cost of repairs of repairs of the Canterbury rebuild, National’s claim that it is a party of strong economic management looks at least misguided.

Labour aims to make transport system more sustainable

Written By: - Date published: 1:03 pm, April 4th, 2018 - 89 comments

The Government has released a draft Government Policy Statement on Transport for consultation.  A radical shake up of the Transport system is being proposed.

Hallelujah Parliament to pass law allowing for wiping of convictions for engaging in homosexual behaviour

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 3rd, 2018 - 13 comments

It is predicted that today Parliament will pass a law allowing for the expunging of convictions of adults for engaging in homosexual behaviour.

Doofus of the week Easter 2018 edition

Written By: - Date published: 12:24 pm, April 1st, 2018 - 55 comments

This week the award goes to a Fairfax reporter for writing as fawning a review of a political career as you can imagine.