Pike River – who to believe?
The Pike River families call Bill English a liar.
Politics
Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation
Labour’s list of candidates for 2017
The full list of Labour’s list candidates for the 2017 election list. (Updated)
Protecting our biggest export income earner
Tourism Export Council: “The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) in its current form is nothing more than a PR-stunt from Government who continue to ignore scientists and expert opinion re the state of our freshwater. The NPS-FM does not address the serious problems facing our waterways and, in fact, will make them worse.”
Eminem case could cost Nats big
Eminem’s lawyer on the Nats’ email chain – “Also, the focus is on not just whether it’s an infringement. But whether they can shift liability to someone else.” Typical.
Jackson’s list position
Willie Jackson accepts his (rumoured) list position without the need for an over-hyped “crisis meeting”.
Pike River – what did the government know and when did they know it?
Bill English claims to have been unaware of the video footage, but the night before Nick Smith’s spokesperson said the government had been “advised”. It would have been extraordinary if they had not. Pike River families deserve the truth.
National in court – is “pretty legal” good enough?
Today National, party of personal responsibility and property rights, is in court for allegedly ripping off work the work of Eminem. How stupid do you have to be to make the same mistake twice?
Government misled families about Pike River
TV3 has released video confirming that the atmosphere in the Pike River Mine was inert and raising major doubts about the claim that the mine was too unsafe to extract the bodies or to investigate the causes.
Is the Labour Housing policy even possible?
If Labour wins in September what state infrastructure can it utilise to deliver on its promise to build tens of thousands of affordable homes?
Billions of lies
The Nats are settling in to election mode – smoke and mirrors. Steven Joyce feeds us billions of dollars worth of lies.
Hickey’s chart of the week
Greens launch nationwide Māori Caucus tour
The Green Party’s Māori Caucus is on a national outreach tour to engage with Māori communities, starting in Northland today.
Environment Southland won’t talk in public about water quality
Discussions of the MfE Our Fresh Water 2017 report to be held in workshop that excludes the public and the media.
RNZ: The 9th floor – Shipley
“During the day we spent with Shipley she said New Zealand needs to take the “blowtorch” to middle class welfare, with student allowances and healthcare areas where middle and higher income earners should pay more.” “I believe in leadership, not political occupancy.”
A legacy of poisoned water
We won’t be able to say that we didn’t have ample warning, with a another detailed and damning report on water quality out yesterday. Does National really want to be remembered for allowing the poisoning of our water?
Stewart: “Dying days of democracy”?
Probably not, but after 9 years of Brighter Future / Dirty Politics it certainly can feel that way.
Donald Trump and Florida
The US economy may start unravelling when because of rising sea levels boats in Florida are no longer able to clear canal bridges.
When a wannabe politician’s social media goes wrong
Over in Australia a One Nation candidate has withdrawn his candidacy after a merciless twitter attack and a photo of him in front of a swasticker mowed into a lawn and giving a nazi salute appeared.
Immigration debate – Peters goes full racist
Yesterday Winston Peters chucked a gallon of petrol onto the smouldering immigration debate.
NRT: Spying for the whales
I/S at No Right Turn: “spies are corrosive of our values. Its one thing to spy in wartime, out of military necessity. Its quite another to do it in peace, on your friends, for self-advantage.
Nick knifed
The French Presidential Runoff
The French Presidential run off presents worrying signs for progressives. Why is the electorate sliding to the right?
Utopian Musings: Companionship, Community, Compassion, Passion
Incognito muses on the state of society, and that despite many of us feel relatively happy & content there seems to be an increasing feeling of ‘unease’, that something is not quite right in/with our society and where things might be heading. Rather than the ideologies and buzzwords, Incognito focuses on the factors that make humans happy in community.
Anzac Day
There is a list of Anzac Day services here, and a list of peace vigils here.
An appropriate day to contemplate “the meaning of honour”.
Thank you Charlie.
I took myself along to Dunedin’s March for Science last Saturday. There was a high point.
Parata fleeing education mess
Parata can believe whatever brings her comfort of course, but the fact is that this National government has made, as usual, a mess of education.
The first 100 Global Trump days
Donald Trump’s had his first 100 days ruling his big chunk of the world. Things have changed dramatically from Barack Obama’s time.
Reshuffle
Bill English is to announce a cabinet reshuffle today. What should he do?
Left Rising.
In something over 24 hours time from now, the results from the first round of the French Presidential elections will be in.
Dog’s Breakfast.
If politicians are meant to represent people, then shouldn’t they explore ways to ensure that the people they represent get represented in government?
The NZDF’s transparent fig leaf
According to David Fisher (Herald) the NZDF never investigated allegations of civilian deaths at the time of Operation Burnham. They received only a summary of the whitewash ISAF report. They refuse to look further. This is the behaviour of an organisation with plenty to hide. Hager and Stephenson have facts, the NZDF are hiding behind a transparent fig leaf of deliberate ignorance.
Housing affordability data suppressed?
Bill English would have you believe that there is no housing crisis. He desperately needs you to believe it until after the next election. Is Nick Smith deliberately suppressing housing data?
RNZ: The 9th floor – Bolger
“He says neo-liberalism has failed and suggests unions should have a stronger voice. He says Treaty of Waitangi settlements may not be full and final and that Māori language tuition should be compulsory in primary schools.”
New ambassador will represent Trump well.
Trump has nominated a failed senator Scott Brown to be the ambassador to New Zealand. As a Fox presenter of alt-facts and a supporter of waterboarding to produce them, he sounds like a ignorant dickhead. A worthy representative of the Donald.
March for Science
“We, the people, march for science and knowledge to be reaffirmed as fundamental to the democratic decision making that supports society in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We add our voices to the chorus supporting US and international scientists who oppose recent political events that damage and undermine science and its use in the public interest.”
Green power
Lots to like in The Greens’ new power policy.