Garner tweets on what he was told was latest UMR poll result
It appears that Duncan Garner has been told about the latest UMR poll results and if they are as tweeted then things are getting very interesting …
mickysavage
The birth of NZ’s very own Birther movement
The right must be very afraid of David Cunliffe. Because they are coming up with the most extraordinarily crazy conspiracy theories to try and discredit him.
Radio New Zealand apologises to David Cunliffe
Radio New Zealand has issued an apology to David Cunliffe following Matthew Hooton’s recent smearing of him. If only Cameron Slater would do the same because he is starting to get pretty obsessional about Cunliffe. This may not be a bad thing as he is rapidly turning the Collins faction of the National Party into New Zealand’s equivalent of the Tea Party
We have just over 400 days to change this Government
David Cunliffe’s reign as leader of the Labour Party has started with a great deal of promise and this morning’s Herald Digipoll is encouraging. Labour is finally looking united and policy statements are sharp and effective. But we may be no more than 400 days to the next election. And unless we want the instability of a Labour Green NZ First Coalition then support for the left and work by its activists will need to be increased dramatically.
Labour’s reshuffle
Details of the Labour Caucus changes are now appearing in the media. The update is Parker, Robertson and Jones will be the core of the economic team, King retains Health, Shearer gains Foreign Affairs and Cosgrove and Hipkins retain their current responsibilities. Mahuta and Moroney are elevated to the front bench and this will help gender balance.
Updated with full list.
Unions Auckland’s list of supported Council candidates
Unions Auckland has released a how to vote card based on candidates who will support a living wage, no privatisation of Council assets and sorting out a fair deal for the POAL workers.
About Judith Tizard
Matthew Hooton has raised the spectre of Judith Tizard working out of David Cunliffe’s office as if it was a bad thing. But this has made me reflect that Judith’s treatment by the right was not fair, and we should not tolerate these sorts of attacks on our own.
Nick Smith and the Ruataniwha dam
Nick Smith says he did not even know a document existed even though he was given a full briefing on it. And after he gets involved a submission critical of the environmental effect the proposed Ruataniwha Dam will have on the Tukituki River is drastically altered. There is something distinctly smelly about this.
Cunliffe declares war on National and the TPPA
Day one of Cunliffe’s leadership and he is into battle mode. He has made it clear that unity in the caucus is expected. And he has deftly raised the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement as a political issue.
Cunliffe wins – now what?
Day one of David Cunliffe’s tenure as Labour leader and the tone is being set. There will be unity in the party and Labour is going to take the fight to National and John Key.
The silver lining of the Australian Election
Despite an overall swing to the Liberal National coalition in the recent Australian election there is potentially one exceptional result where a Liberal front bencher with a 16,000 majority may lose to a community independent in a historically conservative area. No matter what happens this campaign will provide progressives with good learning on the use of social media and how to run a campaign in a conservative area.
TV3 needs to be fact checked
TV3’s analysis of the Labour Leadership contest is leaving a lot to be desired. Rather than reporting on what has happened they are trivialising the leadership campaign and getting important details wrong.
Axe the Copper Tax
A coalition of organisations as diverse as InternetNZ, TUANZ, a number of corporates, Unite Union and even Kiwiblog are starting a campaign to oppose Government plans to stop the cost of copper broadband connections to retail users being reduced to the fair price determined by the Commerce Commission so that Chorus can recover unbudgeted costs on the fibre rollout.
Labour Leadership Contest – the final meeting will be streamed
The final leadership meeting is scheduled for Christchurch this evening. The tour has been an outstanding success for the party and in the interests of the party what has been achieved needs to be consolidated and built on. And tune in to www.3news.co.nz at 7:45 pm for live streaming of the speeches.
Labour Leadership Campaign – Blackball Meeting
Day ten of the Labour Leadership Campaign TOur and the parties are off to Blackball on the West Coast, the spiritual birth place of the Labour Party.
Australia – Labor’s unwinnable election
Australia goes to the polls today and if things go the way that the pollsters are predicting there will be a new Government elected. The way I see it Kevin Rudd has failed to inspire but Tony Abbott is terrifying. If only Rudd had shown some principle things could have been different.
Labour Leadership Campaign – Weekend Edition
Days 7 and 8 of the Labour Leadership Campaign tours and the candidates are approaching the final straight. This weekend there will be Labour Leadership meetings in Nelson, Wellington and Dunedin. And TV3’s poll results on the leadership will no doubt attract intense attention.
Labour Leadership Campaign – days six and seven
Day six of the Labour leadership marathon and the parties are off to Hamilton. David Cunliffe and Grant Robertson have released campaign videos and a virtual meeting is being scheduled. And a day off tomorrow which I am sure the parties will be pleased about.
Labour leadership campaign – day five
Day five of the leadership campaign and the contenders meet tonight in Tauranga.
Labour leadership campaign – day four
Day four of the Labour Leadership campaign and the parties are heading to the Hawkes Bay. The meetings so far have been positive, happy affairs and the candidates have been on their best behaviour. May this unity continue.
Labour Leadership Campaign – day three
Day three of the Labour Leaders campaign tour of the country and tonight the contenders meet in Whangarei.
How far care for the Environment has fallen …
If you want to understand the National Government’s view of the environment then DOC’s latest vision statement is a much read. Warning, the contents are likely to disturb and make you feel nauseous.
Labour leadership campaign – day two
Today is day two of the travelling roadshow that is the Labour Leadership contest. Two meetings are planned in Auckland.
Labour leadership candidates meetings this weekend
The first three Labour Leadership candidates meetings are being held this weekend. Details follow.
Opposition to deep sea oil drilling will not be tolerated
The Government is planning to kowtow to the oil companies again and is intending to introduce by way of a SOP law changes to prevent us from submitting when oil companies apply for consent to drill exploratory oil wells at sea. The Government obviously listens intently when the Oil Companies speak but does not want to listen to us.
David Cunliffe enters the leadership race
As anticipated David Cunliffe has announced that he is entering into the race for Labour’s leadership. Let the contest begin!
Shane Jones the smoko room candidate
Shane Jones has announced his candidacy for the Labour leadership and has promised to take his campaign to the smoko rooms of the country.
Grant Robertson announces his candidacy
Grant Robertson is the first Labour MP to announce that he is seeking the leadership of the Labour Party.
Solidarity forever …
Labour activists want a united Labour Caucus that focusses on the issues that matter. For the sake of the party we need to have a good humored leadership contest and then unity.
Eligibility to vote in Labour’s leadership election process
Has your Labour Party membership lapsed because you forgot to pay your membership fee or were upset? Do not despair. You may still be able to rejoin and have a vote in the leadership election process if you meet the criteria.
Big announcement at 1:30 … Shearer stands down as leader
It is confirmed that David Shearer has announced that he will stand down as Labour’s leader after a new leader is selected. The leadership will now be decided under the Party’s constitution.
Disgusting
Chris Finalyson’s contribution to the GCSB debate yesterday was a strong reminder that the job description for National MPs includes a requirement that they be rude and arrogant and a belief that they are somehow superior to the rest of us.
Is this a question buddy?
Yesterday Scoop’s Alastair Thompson started to ask John Key a really difficult question essentially about the unprecedented powers that Key is giving to the GCSB. Key responded by walking out of the post cabinet press conference. So much for being on top of his game. And last night’s Auckland Town Hall was a stunner. The Bill is due to be debated again today. If only a Government MP or Peter Dunne would develop some principles …
Paula Bennett plans legislative witch hunt
Paula Bennett’s latest idea is to remove the rights of natural justice for state employees who do not take the proposed child abuser vetting test, even though the test has not even been designed. Even for Paula the stupidity of this idea is extreme …
Auckland Council Elections out west
Some thoughts on the battles out west for seats on the Auckland Council.
Auckland Council Elections
Nominations are closed and Auckland Super City’s candidate lists have been published. Following are some comments on the Mayoral candidates. I also hope to post on the Councillor contests, where interest will be greatest.