Stephen Jack is cancelled by the National Party
So National has yet another candidate problem. His name is Stephen Jack and he clearly has difficulties in negotiating reality.
Politics
Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation
Really Small States in Really Big Conflicts
We didn’t need the Russian invasion of Ukraine to tell us that great power competition is back, since China and the United States and Russia had been going at it well before even COVID temporarily messed up the multilateral trade system upon which we had built our little country. But it’s made it worse, and so we’re picking a side, and that side is NATO.
Lonely on the right side of history?
Musing after the recent IMF/World Bank meetings, Former White house economist and US Treasury secretary Larry Summers said “it’s looking a bit lonely on the right side of history..as others are increasingly banding together in a whole range of structures.”
Extinction Rebellion: The Big One
XR are back. New strategy, same smart and bold action.
National’s problem with its candidates
Another day, and yet another report a National candidate has done something really stupid.
About Wayne Brown’s dereliction of duty
Dear journalists, please do not let Mayor Wayne Brown off the hook regarding his appalling dereliction of duty.
Three Waters becomes Affordable Water
Three Waters mark two has been announced. And Kieran McAnulty has given a text book example of clarity in political speak when making the announcement.
Greens: Three waters rebrand insufficient
Today the Government adopted a long held Green Party position to increase the number of water entities to ensure a closer connection with communities they serve. However, despite the rebrand, significant concerns remain.
Labour’s new water infrastructure policy
We’ve listened to the feedback from Local Government and today we’re announcing our new regionally-led plan to guarantee New Zealanders affordable water, for generations to come. – Labour
What does Luxon think about minimum wage increases and holidays?
It is hard to reconcile Christopher Luxon’s deep christian beliefs with his desire to trash Easter Sunday as a holiday or to refuse to support increases in the minimum wage.
An Easter Meditation
In his …and forgive them their debts, my favourite economist and Jubilee advocate Michael Hudson states that Jesus driving the money-changers from the Temple was “the act that inspired the city leaders to plot his death.”
Jacinda’s Valedictory Speech
Video of Jacinda Ardern’s Valedictory speech given today in Parliament.
Go well Jacinda
Today is Jacinda’s official last day on the job as a member of Parliament.
RMA reform will not solve the climate crisis
National has proposed RMA reform as the basis for accelerating the roll out of renewable energy generation. It appears that it has never met a problem for which the solution is either a tax cut or RMA reform.
We should have a chat about Artificial Intelligence
As we adjust to the advent of civilisation threatening climate change there is a new threat that is emerging, the unregulated development of artificial intelligence.
Trump indicted
Breaking news that Donald J Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury. More details to follow …
Nash is goneburger
Stuart Nash has been summarily sacked from Cabinet after an email to donors emerged indicating he had told them about sensitive Cabinet discussions on issues concerning them.
The real reason New Zealand’s literacy standards are tanking *
* the answer is National Standards, the effects of which are still being felt.
Wayne’s budget has nothing to do with saving money
We have heard numerous claims from Auckland mayor Wayne Brown and his supporters that the proposed budget is about saving money and getting rid of a nearly $300 million hole. This is a huge disservice to Aucklanders and hugely misleading.
Letting women speak in Aotearoa New Zealand
A progressive online space for discussion about the Let Women Speak events this weekend.
Debating with nazis
So Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull aka Posie Parker is coming to Aotearoa New Zealand and intends to spread her message. Wikipedia describes her as someone […]
She who channels her inner Monroe
A Guest Post on the vexed questions posed by Kellie Jay Keen Minshall, her apparent preparedness to ally with religious fundies and right wing extremists, and the predictable calls from sections of the left for her to be banned from entering/speaking in Australia and NZ.
Climate change – the final final warning
The latest report from the International Panel on Climate Change has synthesised reports on the climate crisis from hundreds of scientists over the past eight years and has boiled it down to one message: act now, or it will be too late.
Women’s Liberation Aotearoa Statement on Let Women Speak events, March 2023
We strenuously oppose far right activists using the events to publicise their reprehensible views as we have seen happen in the UK, the USA and most recently in Melbourne.
The Drums of War – Again
On 20 March 2003 the US invaded Iraq, on the basis that it had and could use weapons of mass destruction. That was a lie. Australia joined President Bush ‘coalition of the willing’, New Zealand did not. The drums of war beat strong then, they are doing so again now. This time China is the target.
Gender recognition: woke-ism or human rights?
This debate is about every teenager, anywhere in the world, questioning their gender and sexual identity. This is about the person who after years of suffering, at some point in their lives decides they wish to identify as having a gender identity different to that of their birth.
Wailing and Nashing of teeth
It is pretty clear to me that leaders acting tough and beating up on members of their team leads to political advantage. I […]
Making s%*t up
Is it just me or is Mike Hosking becoming more unbalanced? The recent misrepresentation of a speech from Deborah Russell would suggest that he is getting worse.
The great policy bonfire
Chris Hipkins continues with his shock and awe campaign and has torched a number of policies that National and Act were using to foment unrest.
Luxon slumps in latest Colmar Brunton poll
The latest One News Kantar Poll result has been released and it is a doozie.
Saudi/Iran peace deal brokered by China
Veteran Indian diplomat MK Bhadrakumar describes the resumption of diplomatic relations between Shi’ite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia brokered by China as a “Suez moment” in the history of the Middle East. Peace in Yemen is only one of the possible benefits.
Helen White wins Mount Albert selection
In breaking news Helen White has won the selection for the Mt Albert seat over Camilla Belich. This is something of an upset as Belich was rumoured to have head office support.
Chloe Swarbrick: We don’t live in a game of Monopoly
The case for redistribution of wealth in New Zealand.
The government needs to understand that climate mitigation and adaptation are twins
James Shaw and Greenpeace on why mitigation and adaptation need to be paired.
Triangulating climate change
Yesterday morning there were suggestions that the Government would properly address climate change by placing greater emphasis on public transport and walking and cycling. But by the afternoon the proposition had been watered down.
Will Australia Hear The Voice?
Australia’s Prime Minister Albanese is trying to get actual indigenous representation into the Australian Parliament with a referendum. Going to be tough.