The Standard

Politics

Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation

Categories under Politics

Wrecking the country’s climate change response

Written By: - Date published: 11:59 am, November 8th, 2025 - 12 comments

If you thought that your contempt for the current administration had peaked let me disappoint you. This week they have taken steps to undermine the Climate Change Commission and the ability of the public to influence future emission reduction plans.

Some Number 8 Fencing Wire in Gaza

Written By: - Date published: 4:01 pm, November 7th, 2025 - 4 comments

The importance of a New Zealand focus
on the rebuild of Gaza.

Let them eat Michelin Stars

Written By: - Date published: 2:46 pm, November 7th, 2025 - 9 comments

The Government’s class prejudices are now on clear display. In the same week that news emerged that the Government is considering a ban on rough sleepers in major urban town centres further news emerged that it is subsidising Michelin to award Michelin stars to local restaurants.

Treaty what treaty?

Written By: - Date published: 2:47 pm, November 5th, 2025 - 19 comments

The Government’s all out assault on te Tiriti o Waitangi continues. And this time supposed liberal Erica Sanford is engaged in the latest assault.

National’s Measles Gambit

Written By: - Date published: 10:51 pm, November 3rd, 2025 - 52 comments

As measles cases increase, National and ACT have chosen to come over the top of health officials and schools exercising caution.

Tend Health re-brands as Aratataki – A “Charity” – And Lobbied Simeon Brown

Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, November 2nd, 2025 - 90 comments

Cecilia Robinson and Chris Luxon

Ryan Bridges fawns over Tend’s Telehealth corporate model which is subsidised by taxpayers, rewards private equity investors, and costs about $80 per consult

The attempted hostile takeover of Kelston Boys High School

Written By: - Date published: 10:17 am, October 31st, 2025 - 24 comments

Individual State Schools face the prospect of hostile takeover by groups that may wish to change dramatically the way that the school is run. And Kelston Boys High School is a test case for how the process may work.

CGT – The Empire strikes back

Written By: - Date published: 10:06 am, October 30th, 2025 - 140 comments

The usual voices have publicly attacked Labour’s proposed Capital Gains Tax using arguments that do not stack up.

Tax: the debate must continue

Written By: - Date published: 10:35 am, October 28th, 2025 - 46 comments

Today’s leak of Labour’s tax policy is unsurprising. The later Robertson and long-term Parker views are lost. And this position is at odds with much of the thinking in the Labour Party.

Is that it?

Written By: - Date published: 8:13 am, October 28th, 2025 - 151 comments

Labour’s Capital Gains Tax has been released in less than an optimal manner. And the policy is more modest than some would have liked.

Spare a thought for Christopher Luxon

Written By: - Date published: 12:25 pm, October 27th, 2025 - 12 comments

Christopher Luxon successfully contesting his Auckland Council Rates bill will reinforce a strong impression that he is more concerned with personal wealth than the collective good.

More RONS!

Written By: - Date published: 9:40 am, October 25th, 2025 - 23 comments

National has announced it will be spending nearly three times as much on Roads of National Significance as it campaigned on and has justified dubious investment decisions by changing how benefits are calculated.

Judith gets her marching orders

Written By: - Date published: 4:04 pm, October 24th, 2025 - 90 comments

Lauded at the CIA and lectured at the Department of War, Judith Collins last week got her marching orders – prepare New Zealanders to join the next US war against China.

We Deserve Better

Written By: - Date published: 8:57 pm, October 23rd, 2025 - 68 comments

New Zealand’s media landscape is falling apart. We need a publicly-funded media entity covering television, radio and a digital platform

National’s $62 billion budget hole

Written By: - Date published: 1:19 pm, October 21st, 2025 - 14 comments

National’s road plans are fraught with risks, with one of these projects will suck up $1 in every $10 of capital spending over 20 years. Plus: NZIER analysis has been called into question

Labour’s Future Fund is full of promise

Written By: - Date published: 1:09 pm, October 21st, 2025 - 6 comments

Labour’s first cornerstone policy is a solid start

Labour’s Sub-Therapeutic Dose for Economic Sickness

Written By: - Date published: 6:41 pm, October 20th, 2025 - 53 comments

Why is Labour proposing $200 million for a growth fund when New Zealand First got $3 billion?

Judith Collins’ Open Letter Is Dirty Politics

Written By: - Date published: 1:35 pm, October 19th, 2025 - 15 comments

The senior National Party Cabinet Minister has penned an “Open letter to the people of New Zealand” on the New Zealand Government’s official website

The strange goings on in Papatoetoe

Written By: - Date published: 11:03 am, October 19th, 2025 - 3 comments

In the Papatoetoe subdivision of Otara Papatoetoe Local Board complaints of stolen voting papers and voters being told how to vote inside polling booths and in public places have been referred to the police.

Simeon Brown threatens doctors as mega strike looms

Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, October 19th, 2025 - 5 comments

An exodus of professionals are leaving – with Kiwi citizens fleeing at levels we haven’t seen in 24 years. These incl. community GPs, doctors & nurses – and Simeon is going after those that remain

Hayek’s Acolytes and History’s Judgement

Written By: - Date published: 1:02 pm, October 18th, 2025 - 44 comments

While we should acknowledge Jim Bolger’s life of service to New Zealand we should also recognise the critical and continuing damage done to New Zealand by his government.

Plunket declares war on the BSA

Written By: - Date published: 1:31 pm, October 16th, 2025 - 46 comments

Sean Plunket has threatened to sue the Broadcasting Standards Authority after it released a draft opinion suggesting that broadcasters using the internet should be subject to the same requirements as traditional broadcasters.

Crime Soars Under National

Written By: - Date published: 12:54 pm, October 16th, 2025 - 5 comments

Mitchell, Luxon and Goldsmith

Violent crime, sexual assaults and retail crime soar under National Party

Fiscal Choices: Scandinavia or America?

Written By: - Date published: 10:02 pm, October 14th, 2025 - 88 comments

Brian Easton says we cannot attain a sustainable Scandinavian-type quality of life while keeping the existing tax system in place

Government by the Farmers for the Farmers

Written By: - Date published: 12:14 pm, October 13th, 2025 - 13 comments

In a move that further undermines the country’s response to the climate crisis the Government has halved the methane reduction goal and determined that farms will not pay a price for greenhouse gas emissions.

New Zealand’s latest tourism promo just dropped

Written By: - Date published: 10:41 am, October 13th, 2025 - 3 comments

“The Government of New Zild has made a new tourism ad and it’s surprisingly honest and informative!”

The 2025 Local Government Election results

Written By: - Date published: 11:01 am, October 12th, 2025 - 49 comments

The provisional Local Government election results have shown appalling turnout especially in Auckland and a voter reaction against large rates increases, potentially caused by the shelving of the Three Waters Reform package.

National Crashes in latest poll

Written By: - Date published: 1:03 pm, October 8th, 2025 - 41 comments

National crashing into the 20s in the latest Couria Poll must have increased dramatically the prospects of Christopher Luxon being deposed as Prime Minister.

Do not feed the Droll

Written By: - Date published: 11:05 am, October 7th, 2025 - 57 comments

Martyn Bradbury’s attacks on Winston Peters and an attack on his home has allowed Winston to claim victimhood status and hog the media spotlight.

Voices for Freedom’s local government campaign

Written By: - Date published: 2:22 pm, October 4th, 2025 - 8 comments

Anti vax organisation Voices for Freedom has published a glossy well presented booklet suggesting how local body campaigns should be run. And it looks like a number of right wing campaigns are borrowing heavily from the information in the booklet.

The Department of War

Written By: - Date published: 5:34 pm, October 2nd, 2025 - 60 comments

The United States Department of Defense has been renamed as the Department of War. Nobody can be under any illusions anymore. More war is coming.