The Standard

Author Archive

Fear and loathing in Aotearoa

Written By: - Date published: 8:47 am, September 18th, 2017 - 55 comments

It is difficult to understand National’s election campaign. Instead of campaigning on what they have achieved and what they plan to do they are using fear of Labour to try and win the election. And saying some palpably untrue things on the way.

This is how you change the Government – enrol and vote at the same time*

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, September 17th, 2017 - 14 comments

* option only available before election day.

The Herald reverts to type

Written By: - Date published: 12:27 pm, September 16th, 2017 - 45 comments

John Armstrong has come out in the Herald swinging wildly and claiming without evidence that Jacinda Ardern’s campaign has stalled, and criticized her policy positions but because he thinks they are only a bit better than National’s.

#sheepgate: National paid out money to settle a non existing dispute without legal advice

Written By: - Date published: 9:57 am, September 15th, 2017 - 26 comments

In a case of extraordinarily bad timing for National it has been confirmed that despite claims to the contrary MFAT never provided National legal advice about the merits of any possible claim made concerning New Zealand’s banning of live sheep exports.

National candidates turn chicken

Written By: - Date published: 7:46 am, September 15th, 2017 - 34 comments

Out west National candidates are that afraid of their Labour conterparts they are refusing to attend public debates.

Lets talk about tax policy

Written By: - Date published: 8:29 am, September 14th, 2017 - 283 comments

Tax is emerging as the big issue of this campaign.  How valid are National’s claims that Labour will introduce a variety of new taxes and what has National’s record been like?  Update: in a smart tactical move Labour has promised no new taxes will be introduced until after the next election.

National MP Jian Yang was investigated by SIS for possible ties to Chinese Government

Written By: - Date published: 2:04 pm, September 13th, 2017 - 168 comments

Newsroom and the Financial Times have reported that National MP Dr Jian Yang was educated at a Chinese University specialising on training spies and was investigated by the SIS for possible links to the Chinese Government.

National use opening of Christchurch Justice Precinct for political purposes

Written By: - Date published: 7:43 am, September 13th, 2017 - 21 comments

National has acted in breach of State Services Commission guidelines for the pre election period by having a flash opening of the Christchurch Justice Precinct even though it was not finished.

This is how you change the Government – electorate vote Goldsmith if you are on the Epsom roll

Written By: - Date published: 1:05 pm, September 11th, 2017 - 32 comments

For progressive Epsom voters the best way to change the Government may be to give your electorate vote to Paul Goldsmith.

The decline and fall in National’s polling under English

Written By: - Date published: 4:19 pm, September 10th, 2017 - 144 comments

National’s current polling under Bill English is showing the same dramatic slide that it did in 2002, the last time he was leader.

After nine long years National discovers there is child poverty in New Zealand

Written By: - Date published: 7:57 am, September 10th, 2017 - 98 comments

Bill English has finally committed the Government to doing something about Child poverty.  But why has he and National taken so long?

National enters panic mode and goes tough on beneficiaries

Written By: - Date published: 8:38 am, September 8th, 2017 - 27 comments

National has tried to divert attention from the budget hole fiasco by promising to get even tougher on beneficiaries.

Joyce keeps digging

Written By: - Date published: 8:08 am, September 6th, 2017 - 11 comments

Steven Joyce is spinning furiously and is now claiming that Labour has set aside no money for budget increases for many Government Departments. But when Labour’s figures are compared to PREFU it is clear that Labour is planning to maintain or exceed National’s propose future spend.

Even Kiwiblog won’t defend Joyce’s $11.7 billion claim

Written By: - Date published: 11:58 am, September 5th, 2017 - 15 comments

David Farrar has put up and then amended a post suggesting that there is a $11.7 billion hole in Labour’s policy financials. It appears that even he does not believe there is a $11.7 billion discrepancy in Labour’s accounts.

The Jacinda Phenomenon

Written By: - Date published: 8:34 am, September 5th, 2017 - 130 comments

Some thoughts on the Jacinda phenomenon based on my observations of her campaigning last Sunday in West Auckland.

Steven Joyce’s comprehension fail

Written By: - Date published: 3:03 pm, September 4th, 2017 - 43 comments

Steven Joyce’s claim that Labour’s budget forecasts have a $11 billion dollar hole in them raises some concern with his ability to actually understand Government budgetary processes.

National plays the lauranorda card

Written By: - Date published: 8:47 am, September 4th, 2017 - 42 comments

National is panicking and Paula Bennett has gone full dog whistle in claiming that gang members should have less rights than others.

National’s New Lynn candidate is not having a good campaign

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, September 2nd, 2017 - 24 comments

Paulo Garcia, National’s New Lynn candidate has some very conservative world views and a recent interview suggests that his knowledge of the local area and the seat are less than optimal.

This is how you change the Government – Enrolments

Written By: - Date published: 12:19 pm, September 1st, 2017 - 6 comments

The first of what will be a series of posts on practical steps that people can take to elect a progressive Government.  In this post the importance of getting as many people enrolled as possible.

The making of National’s campaign ad

Written By: - Date published: 9:35 am, August 31st, 2017 - 55 comments

National’s campaign video was created using actors who were not paid but handled petrol or shopping vouchers and wanted a young boy of “mixed blood” …

Mike Hosking feels used and wants to take a shower

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, August 30th, 2017 - 48 comments

Mike Hosking is decrying National’s cynical election campaign and release of its paid parental leave policy and claims that it is nothing more than a corrupt retail exchange.

National does u turn on paid parental leave

Written By: - Date published: 12:16 pm, August 29th, 2017 - 16 comments

National has announced a policy of increasing paid parental leave after complaining last year that it was unaffordable.

National is telling fibs on housing

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, August 29th, 2017 - 16 comments

During the weekend one of National’s rising stars Amy Adams debates housing with Labour’s Phil Twyford.  Adams was supremely confident but the data she relied on appears to have problems …

National’s political hit job on Winston Peters

Written By: - Date published: 7:22 am, August 29th, 2017 - 231 comments

The hit job that has just been performed on Winston Peters is a sign of how desperate National is to divert attention from Jacindamania.  But I suspect the attempt will backfire.

Bomber Bradbury wins privacy complaint against Police

Written By: - Date published: 9:32 am, August 28th, 2017 - 47 comments

Bomber Bradbury has succeeded in getting the Privacy Commissioner to rule that Police accessing his bank records without a search warrant was illegal.

National’s new copyright problem

Written By: - Date published: 4:07 pm, August 25th, 2017 - 58 comments

National may have further copyright problems with the song used in its campaign video sounding remarkably similar to an old Bob Dylan song.

National endorses Dunne in Ohariu – Nek minnit

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, August 22nd, 2017 - 34 comments

National’s supposedly well oiled campaign machine is resembling an episode of the Thick of It rather than a Crosby Textor training video.

Dunne and dusted

Written By: - Date published: 1:09 pm, August 21st, 2017 - 140 comments

Peter Dunne has announced that he will resign from Parliament at the next election.

The SST does not understand electoral law

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, August 21st, 2017 - 32 comments

The Sunday Star Times has hinted that there is something sinister with Labour’s art auction fundraisers. But a closer look suggests that the rules are being followed assiduously.

Bye bye Bannon

Written By: - Date published: 2:30 pm, August 19th, 2017 - 26 comments

Breitbart’s loss is the White House’s gain as the revolving door continues.  And the question will be asked.  Was it Trump’s appallingly bad handling of the Charlottesville riots that caused Bannon’s demise?

What will the next Labour caucus look like?

Written By: - Date published: 1:32 pm, August 18th, 2017 - 74 comments

Early days but Labour’s surge should result in an outstanding array of talent entering Parliament.