English wants Pike River out of the headlines in election year
Any sign of progress is welcome, but let’s hope English is not deliberately stringing along the Pike River families with false hope.
Politics
Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation
What’s the deal? There isn’t one.
What are the Greens up to then?
Fires are the new normal
Hey Bill English, it’s not the case that “no one could have anticipated the large-scale fire on the Port Hills”. Just about every relevant organisation could and did predict it. Most of the other predictions relating to climate change will come true too.
Kia Kaha Canterbury
It seems almost inevitable that the recent fires in Canterbury and the Hawkes Bay are the result of climate change and the harbingers of things to come.
Marama Fox vs Bill English – who will blink?
Marama Fox and Bill English have painted themselves into a bit of a corner, and Fox is threatening to “walk away from the Government”. Key would have handled this better.
Your government MPs in the news
Who can even keep up with it all?
Human Rights Commission calls for an inquiry – English says no
English “will be taken down by housing”
In the middle of a housing crisis “Housing New Zealand documents obtained under the Official Information Act show that there are nearly 2,500 empty state houses, more than 500 of which have been empty for over a year.”
Government will not support victims of domestic violence
The Government is refusing to support Jan Logie’s bill aimed at helping the victims of domestic violence despite the bill receiving support from the ANZ and Business New Zealand supporting the bill going at least to select committee.
Greens stand aside in Ōhāriu
Putting aside misgivings for the sake of the greater good is a mark of political maturity which many politicians and commentators could learn from.
Is this the impossibility turning point?
There’s a wonderful fiction still propelling the world that the 21st century will bring an ever-expanding arc of freedom and prosperity to the vast majority of humanity but the reality seems to be anything but.
We Are All ‘Identarian’ Now
There has been an unfortunate trend developing in recent weeks, of negatively labelling people who dare to have a different opinion on equality to the labeller, as identarian. This description is something to be appreciated in these times when dark forces appear to be on the rise again.
Watch Bill English lying through his teeth on housing
English is a less convincing liar than Key.
First major party leader in 15 years to not speak at Big Gay Out
Greg O’Connor selected for Ōhāriu
The former Police Association president has been confirmed as a Labour’s candidate for Wellington’s Ōhāriu electorate.
Bloomberg warns world of New Zealand’s toxic trusts
Bloomberg magazine has highlighted how foreign trusts are damaging New Zealand’s reputation and are being used for criminal activity.
Deborah Russell for New Lynn
Senior Lecturer and tax law expert Deborah Russell has won the Labour selection for New Lynn – congratulations! You’re going to make a fantastic MP! Also Paul Eagle selected for Rongotai.
Heroes
All the “nobody” people.
Support party exposes National’s lie – government in disarray!
With this vicious infighting exposed the government is clearly in total disarray.
Key gives up on us, keeps International Democratic Union.
The Herald informs us that Key is going on the speaking circuit and will go back into finance (not that he ever left). Like John Howard before him, he also intends to carry on chairing the International Democratic Union of right-wing parties. Not a surprise.
Poto Williams’ statement after meeting with Willie Jackson
“Reducing our shocking rates of sexual and domestic violence is something I am passionate about and I am proud to be Labour’s spokesperson on these issues. It’s one of the reasons I want to change the Government and I am totally focused on helping win this election for Labour.”
Michael Wood’s maiden statement
Having soundly thrashed National in the Mount Roskill by election, new MP Michael Wood made his maiden statement to Parliament yesterday.
Rogue MP publicly disagrees with leader – party in disarray!
With these deep divisions exposed the party is clearly in total disarray.
29 lives lost. No justice for their families.
Solid Energy trucks have refused to cross the picket line at Pike River this morning after the families set up effigies of their dead men.
Medicinal Cannabis law reform
The Government is finally moving to adopt Labour policy and loosen requirements for the use of medicinal cannabis.
“We’ve got the vibe, they’ve got the shivers”
Green Party co-leader James Shaw’s 2017 Parliamentary Commencement Speech
Low bar diplomacy
So apparently the PM managed to get through a 15 minute call without “upsetting” Trump. That’s where we set the bar these days.
The SOE sell down three years on
Some time in the next 12 months it is likely that the forgone dividend payments and loss in share value from the Power Company shares and Air NZ share sale will be greater than the amount received, only three years after the sale.
English – “8 months to answer Labour’s challenge”
Anonymous Herald editorial: “Bill English has 8 months to answer Labour’s challenge”.
Willie on the unions
“Matt McCarten is one to watch. He’s developing his union. I don’t have much time for [the established unions]. I hope my mate Matt destroys them.” – 2005 – link
Waitangi Day 2017
Well the lead-up to Waitangi Day this year has certainly had its fair share of drama!
You can read Andrew Little’s thoughts on the day here: Andrew Little: Waitangi a day for all of us to come together
Labour Spokesperson for Family and Sexual Violence Poto Williams on Willie Jackson
“As the Labour Party Spokesperson for Family and Sexual Violence, I am concerned that Willie Jackson is becoming a Labour Party candidate with a prominent ranking on the list.”
We need to talk about immigration
How does the left discuss the immigration debate so that it can counter the anti immigration sentiments fostered by the likes of Donald Trump, Theresa May and Malcolm Turnbull?
Smartest guy in the room
The Government signed a deal with Peter Thiel that socialised the losses and allowed him to privatise the gains of the joint venture fund that the parties entered into.
A good week for Labour and Greens
Following on from their joint “state of the nation” it’s been a good week for the political left in NZ. Here’s a roundup.
“Middle East leftovers”
Compassionate conservatism in action. No wonder English was so tame in his criticism of Trump’s Muslim ban.