John Key’s dead cat strategy
National is hoping to avoid a proper debate about issues raised by the Panama Papers by raising a series of idiotic diversions.
Economy
capitalism
Fairfax and NZME and merger talks on
As previously discussed here, bad for the media, bad for democracy.
Key lashes out with the smears over tax haven status
Key was disgraceful in parliament yesterday, doing his buffoon act to try and trivialise the tax haven issue, and lashing out with the smears.
APN Fairfax NZ merger?
A healthy democracy requires a healthy media, and in NZ both are getting sicker.
John Key vs the world
Is John Key the only international leader defending tax havens? Includes bonus international media round up of yesterday’s revelations.
Key’s Lawyer is a Mossack Man
Despite the PM’s assurances, it turns out the his lawyer had direct links to Mossack Fonseca. And so did everyone else in the room when Todd McClay was successfully convinced to drop the IRD review into foreign trust. Someone’s been telling porkies …
The link between tax havens, criminals and the amoral rich
“The Panama Papers issue is either illegal, or verging on illegal, it’s tax evasion, rather than tax avoidance,” Brash said.
NZ exporting poverty
By enabling tax evasion for the rich in other (notably South American) countries NZ is exporting poverty. It’s all perfectly legal. And that’s exactly the problem.
Why was John Key singled out by Panama Papers hacker?
Why, out of all the rotten, corrupt and unprincipled nations of the earth, did the Panama Papers hacker single out New Zealand’s John Key for special mention?
Panama leaker’s statement singles out John Key
Over night the Panama Papers leaker “John Doe” released a “manifesto”.
In it he/she mentioned just one national leader by name, singling out our very own John Key, for his “curious silence”…
Another Panama dump on NZ links
Australia’s Financial Review has just published more details of NZ’s starring role as tax haven in the Panama Papers.
Update: Claims that Key’s lawyer never dealt with Mossack Fonseca seem to be – untrue.
Talleys Jump the Shark!
The truly awful Talley’s group have just taken NZ employment relations back a century or two by trying to get the Employment Court to gag the Meat Workers Union. Talley’s regard freedom of speech as a breach of good faith. They also want the union’s Darien Fenton barred from doing her job. Is it too soon to take Sir Peter Talley’s knighthood away from him?
Key’s land tax – too weak
Reaction to Key’s land tax has been luke warm at best, with strong calls for more effective action. Labour is promising “a ‘tidal wave’ of big housing reforms”…
Stalled global economy and helicopter money
The global economy has been stuck in an ongoing crisis since 2008. Printing more money won’t fix it, but it looks like we’re going to try it anyway.
Towards a new economic order
George Monbiot in the Guardian gives a precise and accurate description of neoliberalism and asks the question why has the left not come up with a modern alternative?
Panama papers – the dark side in a nutshell
What tax evasion robs us of
An interesting piece in The Guardian looks at the costs of tax evasion, and how (in America) the missing funds could be used to fund a UBI.
Holding back our productivity
Our “business leaders” are doing an objectively poor job. Perhaps instead of insulting Kiwi workers as “pretty damned hopeless”, Bill English should be taking aim at these captains of industry.
The Divide (Spirit Level – The Movie)
Based on the breakthrough book The Spirit Level, just released film The Divide puts a human face on low wage hell. “Why aren’t we earning enough to live?”
Off-shore Trusts (a simple solution)
I know this won’t happen, but still…
Return of the living dead
Don Brash has been resuscitated and is complaining about privilege and preferential treatment. Not of rich old white people like himself but because Maori rights to Taonga may be recognised.
Key changed the law to extend NZ as a tax haven
John Key personally directed the 2011 law change that turned NZ into an attractive tax haven.
It’s part of a complicated context involving his failed plan to turn NZ into a “financial hub”.
Kiwis to be implicated by Panama papers
Yesterday The Nation interviewed the Centre for Public Integrity’s Peter Bale about the inevitability of New Zealanders being implicated by the Panama Papers.
A Song from John (All your questions answered)
Okay. So rumoour has it that John was merely a co-writer.
Panama vows action – NZ closes its eyes
The cycle of corrupt money. 100% tax haven. And we’re being put to shame by Panama.
A cartoon for Planet Key
Panama tax rort stirs world leaders but not Key
The Panama Papers highlight a significant problem for the countries of the world. The actions of the 1% is robbing countries throughout the world of funds needed to run their countries and underlines that the capitalist system is based on greed. Most leaders see this but not John Key.
Panama Papers: NZ is a tax haven
The Panama Papers show that NZ operates a tax haven. Key’s denials don’t hold up, particularly in the light of at least two three prior warnings that his government has received.
NZ Tax Haven Inc – of the 1%, by the 1%, for the 1%
A huge leak of confidential documents which reveals how the rich and powerful use tax havens to hide their wealth suggests that New Zealand plays its part.
Oliver Stone backs Sanders; attacks pro-war Clinton
Oliver Stone says that the fascism and corruption of big money has poisoned US politics. And Hilary Clinton has embraced it.
House Tales.
If ‘home is where the heart is’ then what’s the story when everything’s heartless?
Glasses and Brick Walls (& woods and trees).
The thing about not having great sight is that sometimes you don’t really see things coming.
Guest Post: Government’s multi billion dollar lies
Amakiwi analyses why foreign corporations are hurting New Zealand’s economy and questions why they should be allowed the estimate their profitability.
Bunnings trying for end run around employment law
Bunnings tries for an end run around employment law by using “paid volunteers”.
Compare and contrast: Little vs Corbyn on immigration
Andrew Little says that NZ should restrict foreigners working as chefs [Update: Not exactly, no]. Jeremy Corbyn says the focus of government should be on health and schools, not restricting immigrants.