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So there was a housing crisis after all

Written By: - Date published: 8:05 am, November 4th, 2017 - 403 comments

The briefing to incoming Housing Minister Phil Twyford shows clearly that a crisis in housing developed under National’s watch.

National reverts to type

Written By: - Date published: 7:47 am, November 3rd, 2017 - 225 comments

Bill English has claimed that it is not the role of National to make Parliament run properly.

She’s back …

Written By: - Date published: 3:58 pm, November 2nd, 2017 - 77 comments

National’s Parliamentary list has been announced.  The big mover is Judith Collins who has jumped 7 places to number 9 and she is on the front bench.

Auckland’s impending environmental crisis

Written By: - Date published: 11:30 am, November 2nd, 2017 - 12 comments

Unless Auckland Council finds more funding for the environment the predictions for what will happen are dire.

Three strikes law to go

Written By: - Date published: 3:04 pm, November 1st, 2017 - 147 comments

Andrew Little has announced that Act’s three strikes for offenders legislation is going to be repealed.

Labour plans to stop overseas purchases of residential properties

Written By: - Date published: 9:41 am, November 1st, 2017 - 192 comments

Labour has announced plans to prevent foreign residents from buying residential homes in New Zealand.

Trump spins as Manafort is charged

Written By: - Date published: 4:14 pm, October 31st, 2017 - 104 comments

The indictments have been laid and the recriminations are starting.  Looks like the Trump Whitehouse is starting to self destruct.

Teachers will be dancing in the streets at the latest Education announcement

Written By: - Date published: 2:59 pm, October 30th, 2017 - 58 comments

Chris Hipkins has announced that significant changes will be made to testing regimes for Primary and Secondary schools.

Who’s in trouble in the USA?

Written By: - Date published: 7:24 am, October 30th, 2017 - 73 comments

More trouble for Donald Trump as it is expected someone in his camp will shortly be charged with offences by the special prosecutor Robert Mueller.

The repeal of the Hobbit law

Written By: - Date published: 12:24 pm, October 29th, 2017 - 70 comments

Labour has indicated that as a priority it wishes to repeal the Hobbit law, a clumsy attempt in breach of International Law to prevent workers in the film industry from organising collectively and to divert attention from the fact that the National Government had been played by Warner Brothers.

Strewth, Aussie Government loses majority

Written By: - Date published: 4:53 pm, October 27th, 2017 - 51 comments

Kiwi of the year nominee and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has been ruled ineligible to hold his seat and the Liberal National Government has lost its majority.

Spare a thought for Steven Joyce

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, October 26th, 2017 - 36 comments

Steven Joyce had a bad day yesterday. His claim that National’s use of one of Eminem’s song was “pretty legal” was shown to be anything but. And he stuck to his claim that there was a $11 billion dollar hole in Labour’s budget, casting doubt either on his honesty or on his competence.

National loses itself

Written By: - Date published: 3:46 pm, October 25th, 2017 - 86 comments

It seems that National’s use of Eminem’s song lose yourself was not so legal.

Say goodbye to roads of national significance

Written By: - Date published: 7:29 am, October 25th, 2017 - 55 comments

National’s roads of national significance programme looks to be no more with an early casualty being the East West Link in Auckland, which per kilometre was destined to be the most expensive transport project the world has ever seen.

The new cabinet

Written By: - Date published: 8:03 am, October 24th, 2017 - 78 comments

Details about how the next Cabinet may be made up are emerging. Winston Peters may regain the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as being Deputy Prime Minister.

The next Prime Minister is …

Written By: - Date published: 6:58 pm, October 19th, 2017 - 416 comments

Winston Peters has announced that he will be going into coalition with Labour and Jacinda Ardern will be the next Prime Minister. Let the attacks from the right about how unfair it is that a minority party did not ascend into Government and how MMP needs to be reformed begin. For the rest of us – this is a time of hope…

This is the day *

Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, October 16th, 2017 - 120 comments

* but delays are possible.

Every body wants to rule the world

Written By: - Date published: 9:19 am, October 12th, 2017 - 195 comments

D day approaches. What will happen? Will we have a decaying toothless National Government moderated by coalition with New Zealand First or will we have something more exciting?

Why Labour may form the next Government

Written By: - Date published: 8:39 am, October 8th, 2017 - 173 comments

The prospects of a Labour led Government have improved dramatically following the release of the final election results.

And the final result is …

Written By: - Date published: 2:10 pm, October 7th, 2017 - 206 comments

The final election results have been announced with Labour and the Greens each picking up an extra seat.

Cameron Slater makes valuable contribution to blog defamation jurisprudence

Written By: - Date published: 9:04 am, October 5th, 2017 - 55 comments

Cameron Slater and friends and clients are in the High Court defending a claim that he defamed three health researchers.  They tried to have the case kicked out but failed.  The judgment makes for an interesting read.

Guns

Written By: - Date published: 10:42 am, October 3rd, 2017 - 155 comments

Another gun massacre has occurred in the United States.  And the well worn excuses and justifications by the right and the gun lobby are again being used.

National no friends

Written By: - Date published: 8:27 am, October 2nd, 2017 - 194 comments

In a sign of desperation Bill English rang Winston Peters on the weekend but the call was not answered.  Clearly National realises that waiting for the special votes to be released will significantly weaken its bargaining position.

The Herald doesn’t want Winston to go with Labour

Written By: - Date published: 11:58 am, October 1st, 2017 - 132 comments

The Herald has offered a number of opinions this weekend saying that Labour forming a coalition with New Zealand First would be a very bad thing.

Good work if you can get it

Written By: - Date published: 8:37 am, September 27th, 2017 - 116 comments

During the election campaign elements of the farming community protested the possibility of a water tax and of farming being in the ETS on the basis the sector could not afford it.  In awkward news it has since come to light that the Chief Executive of Fonterra and senior executives are being paid huge salaries.

Spare a thought for ACT and David Seymour

Written By: - Date published: 9:12 am, September 25th, 2017 - 45 comments

David Seymour and the ACT Party are back in Parliament but their role this term will be nothing other than nodding lap dog.

Where did Labour gain its extra votes?

Written By: - Date published: 4:59 pm, September 24th, 2017 - 66 comments

Some analysis of where the increase in party vote for Labour occurred.

The election result

Written By: - Date published: 8:39 am, September 24th, 2017 - 361 comments

Some thoughts on the morning after a bitter sweet election result for Labour and the Greens.

Two ticks red

Written By: - Date published: 7:33 am, September 22nd, 2017 - 25 comments

Who I am going to vote for and why.

Daily Review 21/09/2017

Written By: - Date published: 5:33 pm, September 21st, 2017 - 155 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 … Graphic courtesy of the outstanding @nzsaysfun

Vote for compassion and competence

Written By: - Date published: 9:46 am, September 21st, 2017 - 44 comments

National has created the perception that it is a better manager of Government than Labour and is suggesting that it is more compassionate. Neither claim is true.