Panama Papers – Mossack Fonseca founders arrested
In the story that keeps rolling on, Mossack Fonseca founders arrested for money laundering.
Natwatch
Support party exposes National’s lie – government in disarray!
With this vicious infighting exposed the government is clearly in total disarray.
Rogue MP publicly disagrees with leader – party in disarray!
With these deep divisions exposed the party is clearly in total disarray.
“Middle East leftovers”
Compassionate conservatism in action. No wonder English was so tame in his criticism of Trump’s Muslim ban.
The constitution is screwed
Trump goes full fascist and fires the acting Attorney General for daring to question his Muslim Ban order.
Will English speak up on Trump’s ban?
World leaders are condemning Trump’s Muslim ban. What does the PM of our country have to say on the matter?
Auckland’s shit beaches
Not meant as a general criticism. Auckland has lovely beaches. When they aren’t drowning in shit that is.
The shame of homelessness
A rich old white idiot, who would only be amused at our anger, has vented about the homeless, in a piece that shouldn’t be rewarded with our clicks.
English’s three strikes
The Herald’s John Roughan is not impressed with Bill English so far. And today English put his foot in it again.
English in England
The usual media suspects are digging pretty deep to try and find anything supportive to say about English’s UK visit. English himself sounds like he has been put in his place.
Refreshing honesty from English
English – “One of New Zealand’s benefits is because we’re a long way away and fairly small we don’t attract too much attention.” Nice contrast to the usual Nat hysterical style. I guess there’s no need for all that domestic spying apparatus then?
Screwing more out of Auckland renters
Already sky-high Auckland rents are set to rise further.
English won’t attend Waitangi Day
I don’t think it does a PM any harm to shut up and listen for a change instead of talking, but this does not seem to be possible for the Nats.
Crushed Collins to ACT?
What next for Collins? Burning ambition, a significant personal following, no future in National. Time jump to ACT? She must fancy her chances of taking over that pretend party and building it up to a “kingmaker” role.
English honeymoon over already
The English honeymoon came to an abrupt end yesterday as the new PM copped an earful in Kaikoura. And bad goes to worse as Brownlee loses his rag (again). Key would have handled it better.
Nats continue to have a quid each way on tax cuts
Tax cuts – the Nats are continuing to rule them both in and out for the election. Incoherence or deliberate strategy? Either way – Key got away with this kind of bullshit for 8 long years – are we going to let it continue?
Charter schools fiddling their results
Charter schools are fiddling their results. Just another example of the way that education for profit is all about profit, with education hardly getting a look in. All of National’s ideological interventions in education are failures.
Nat MPs one week window of relevance
Key has been so dominant for so long that Nat MPs have become invisible. But now, for one glorious week, they enjoy a brief window of relevance. And the infighting has begun.
Key’s 4th term – something doesn’t add up
Key has long craved a “historic” 4th term. Interviewed on 24 September he was still saying he wanted it, he now claims he had already decided to quit. While rumours are hard to believe, something doesn’t add up here.
Key “concedes” Mt Roskill by election
Key says he expects National to lose in Mt Roskill – under the bus for Parmjeet Parmar. He won’t be attending the wake either, and he spins another lie just for good measure.
Massive education fail
Thanks National: “NZ kids worst at maths in English-speaking world”.
Labour Green seat deals – about bloody time
Reports that Labour and the Greens will cooperate in some seats. Watch Patrick Gower’s head explode! But this is no Epsom.
Three strikes – seven years – for bottom pinching
The first application of “three strikes” is an example of exactly one of the main problems that opponents of the law raised. Remove discretion and you can get perverse outcomes.
Sale of Key’s old house a powerful symbol
English admits that the government has done a poor job of maintaining state houses, and uses it as an excuse for privatisation – its by design. The attempted sale in Christchurch, incuding Key’s childhood home, is a powerful symbol of the way this government likes pulling up the ladder that they used behind them.
Chester Borrows goes to trial, Barry Soper goes to pieces
Nat MP Chester Borrows is to stand trial for injuring a protestor with his car. Barry Soper is outraged, because “elderly female, placard waving protesters” just don’t deserve the protection of the law.
Rewarding incompetence with a 4th term?
Disaster response is about more than showing up for photos and cancelling a trip or two. National has made a mess of Christchurch and comprehensively failed to learn its lessons. They should in no way be rewarded with a 4th term.
Nats politicising earthquake response
Oh look, National are nakedly politicising government earthquake response.
Pike River Mine can be safely re-entered – but the Government says no
Damien O’Connor and Denise Roche have taken it to Nick Smith in the House today over the government’s plan to seal Pike River mine forever.
Dirty politics past and present
A couple of dirty politics related stories that slipped under the radar in the last hectic week.
Nat allegations about Michael Wood a pack of lies
I trust the truth will be reported by all the media that reported the lies.
Flogging the dead TPP horse
The Nats are determined to keep flogging the TPP horse in Parliament. Someone should buy them a newspaper.
So sheepgate was Key’s fault
According to Fran O’Sullivan the cause of Sheepgate was Key’s decision to abandon leadership of a business mission in 2010. As to the subsequent scandal – Watkin and Hooton voice the anger we should all be feeling.
Conservative, honky males in suits
As a government National is no friend to women, and as a party National has structural problems with selecting and supporting women. Stacey Kirk in the SST writes on National’s lack of female depth.
Spinning Key’s India fail
Key’s India trip started off going nowhere fast, and ended up the same way. Gotta love the spin though.
Meth and housing
Why has Housing NZ ignored repeated advice and misused meth tests to evict tenants? RNZ: “Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell said Housing New Zealand had caused a huge amount of harm by knowingly misusing the guidelines.”
Tory MP resigns on point of principle
No, not in NZ, of course. With bonus notes on a “grotesque folly”.