National is telling fibs on housing
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 …
Politics
elections
Ardern’s war paint
John Armstrong coined a memorable headline: That ain’t lipstick – it’s war paint. Jo Moir writes on the Jacinda tsunami in South Auckland, and Liam Dann gives Labour the economic thumbs up. Not a bad weekend for Labour!
Greens commit to Zero Carbon Act in first 100 days
“The Act will mean that climate targets are legally binding, and the Government will be obliged to have a detailed plan about exactly how it will meet those targets, detail that has been desperately missing under National. This is what real action on climate change looks like.”
Armstrong: The tide going out on National
John Armstrong writes on the tide going out on National, and the big swing towards Labour in Ohariu.
PREFU
Today is the day for Treasury’s Pre-Election Fiscal Update (PREFU).
Labour’s new campaign ad as Nats go negative
Labour’s new campaign ad is great! Compare and contrast with Nat attack ads…
Election Aotearoa Leaders Debate tonight
The most interesting political parties debate on Māori Television (and livestream), tonight 8pm.
National endorses Dunne in Ohariu – Nek minnit
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
Peter Dunne has announced that he will resign from Parliament at the next election.
Jacinda’s campaign launch speech
The text of Jacinda Ardern’s campaign speech delivered today.
Labour closes gap to 3%
Labour rising, National falling in the latest poll. Greens steady at 8%. Jacinda Ardern buries Bill English in the “favourability” rating. Will Labour overtake Nats before the election?
Update: Live Labour launch video.
Lefties on The Standard: MMP
Another experimental post on The Standard, providing a discussion space for left-wing and progressive people only.
Equal pay protestors chase the Government out of the Dunedin hospital
They ran away from equal pay.
Labour Campaign Launch this Sunday
Labour’s campaign launch is this Sunday in Auckland.
Green Party makes astounding poll recovery in 24 hours!
Can we please get on with the real mahi now?
Guest post – Marja Lubeck – Labour list candidate
Guest post by Labour list and Rodney candidate Marja Lubeck on why she became involved in politics.
Messages to vote for
That 5% threshold and recent polling
Matthew Whitehead on MMP and the threshold, along with some commentary on the current polling situation.
Jacinda Ardern helps fix Nat billboard – classy!
What will the next Labour caucus look like?
Early days but Labour’s surge should result in an outstanding array of talent entering Parliament.
Labour’s momentum – Nat’s fall
What Jacinda Ardern has accomplished here is nothing short of astonishing. As a one-off bump in the polls it rivals Brash’s infamous Orewa speech. But Ardern’s rise is based on optimism and positivity rather than racist dog whistles.
Getting out the vote
Tips on helping people to enrol to vote.
Greens commit to Tauranga – Hamilton – Auckland passenger rail service
National has let regional rail services rust away but the Greens in government will restore rail as the backbone of New Zealand’s transport system, for freight and for people
Are Government-business Think Tanks worthwhile?
In America Donald Trump has abandoned business think tanks that he established not that long ago. During the last Labour Government Helen Clark established the Growth and Innovation Advisory Board with mixed results. What should a Jacinda Ardern led Labour-Green coalition do?
Strewth Cobbah
Over the ditch the Australian Government has accused New Zealand Labour of using Parliament to undermine Barnaby Joyce. But an analysis of the claim suggests that anyone claiming this should be regarded as being a whacka because the media was onto the claim two days before the questions were asked.
Labour’s policies
A list of Labour’s announced policies to date and an easy way to compare them to other parties’ policies.
Labour’s School Leavers’ Toolkit
“Labour’s School Leavers’ Toolkit will help students learn to drive, understand practical budgeting, be equipped with workplace skills, and learn how our political system operates through civics education at school. Every secondary school will be resourced to provide these courses.”
Leaders in the progressive government-in-waiting
Jacinda Ardern at the chippy and James Shaw in the House.
National promises to get tough on youth crime
National has announced its policy to deal with youth crime by reannouncing a military service scheme that already exists, proposing a special category for young offenders that will have some young people seek that status and by proposing to fine parents who can’t keep their kids home at night.
The Greens: solidarity and resistance
Ahead of the Green Party’s election campaign relaunch this afternoon, let’s get a few things straight about who and what the Green Party is.
Green Party campaign relaunch 1.30pm Sunday
The Green party resets its election campaign.
Do you?
In the interests of keeping it simple, an obvious fact or two and a basic proposition.
NZF is finished
Here’s a prediction for you.
Petition to Replace Mike Hosking as Election Debate Presenter
“Hosking is an inappropriate choice to present the election debates in a fair, unbiased manner.”
Election debates to be 2 vs. 1
“Mike Hosking will present the TVNZ election debates again”.
Gower rightly apologises to Greens
“Newshub political editor Patrick Gower has apologised to Green Party leader James Shaw for suggesting a bad poll result drove his co-leader to quit.” If you are angry about this – use your vote…