One of these things is too like the other
Now TVNZ is pulling the Bill English ad, I notice the web ad is also gone. In it’s place is something so vapid that I pray it […]
Politics
Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation
Outdoor smoking ban stupid
According to Radio NZ the Western Bay of Plenty District Council is declaring a ban on smoking outdoors. The ban covers 30 beaches […]
Sue Bradford’s valedictory
Some highlights from Sue Bradford’s valedictory speech. We’ll link to the full version once the Greens get it up. Update: Frogblog has a […]
Nats flying high, on your dime
Why is our agriculture minister spending as much as the Prime Minister on international travel? David Carter has spent $72,000 on international travel […]
Anyone remember this guy?
With all the noise around Obama you don’t hear much about this guy now. He was politically naive but knowingly and willingly acted […]
$15 minimum wage, it’s only fair
The campaign for a $15 an hour minimum wage is gathering pace. Initially, Unite kind of set out on their own on this […]
Political marketing expert fooled by English ads
If you thought TVNZ’s promo ad for its Plain English series looked like an ad for the National Party you’re not alone. Seems […]
Good on you Sue
Ever since the Greens were elected into Parliament for the first time, Sue Bradford has been one the MPs I have admired the […]
Bill’s latest rort
I hadn’t seen the Bill English ad until now. I guess I had kind of assumed it couldn’t be that bad – surely […]
English condemned
Bill English stands condemned. Only in part by the Auditor General. Her report is ambiguous: The result was that the Crown was renting […]
Caption Competition
Question
Why on earth is Labour supporting this police state bullshit? The article says Labour MPs were concerned about the extent of powers being […]
Examples of rest break exploitation
Over at Kiwiblog, David Farrar is doing his usual apologetics for National by trying to spin its removal of guaranteed rest and meal […]
What’s so urgent?
As we endure the 6th consecutive week of National putting Parliament into urgency, new stats show that this government is abusing urgency to […]
Get back to work!
The reprieve from the rain may have been the only thing worth celebrating this Labour Day. Probably pissed that there isn’t a holiday […]
National wants to take a break – yours
You’ll have seen in the paper that National is going to legislate, most likely under urgency, to let employers deny workers the right […]
Remember who they’re fighting for
This memo was sent by the Insurance Council to its members in 2005 but it may as well have been sent this week. […]
Banks threatens your council services
John ‘in your guts you know he’s nuts’ Banks has isolated himself out to the right of Rodney Hide when it comes to […]
National’s polling hypocrisy
Having previously led the charge on the Labour polling story, John Key has gone very quiet on the issue now that a former […]
MMP strengthening our democracy
As the assorted rich, white old men behind Peter Shirtcliffe start their campaign to dump MMP, it’s worth remembering that the diversity we […]
Taxpayer foots bill for Hide’s fundraising
Norightturn reports that taxpayers are footing the bill for Rodney Hide’s fundraising trip to Christchurch: Thanks to some clever scheduling, we’re effectively footing […]
State Services to fold into DPMC?
I’ve heard the State Services Commission are investigating their own demise, by looking into whether its functions should fold into the Department of […]
Do as I say – not as I do!
Bill English knows a thing or two about screwing every possible cent out of the system. He gets his generous $276,000 salary. For […]
Guest post: polling hypocrisy
I read John Key’s criticism of Labour’s polling methods with a smiling interest. It’s not a good look is it, for a political […]
Send Nats to Scandinavia
Want to send some Nats to Scandinavia? Me too! The one above should be self explanatory. Support Sign On and send John on […]
Aussie Minister shows guts, foresight and concern; ours… not so much
Australia’s Federal Industry Minister Kim Carr has criticized Bridgestone’s closure of its Australian and New Zealand operations and the 1000 redundancies it’ll bring. […]
Wee gripes: spineless business
New World has dropped the 5 cent levy on plastic bags in its South Island stores. Plastic bag use was down 65%. Many shoppers […]
Nanny wins
Remember when the world was going to end because Nanny State was going to make us get compact fluorescent bulbs? It all seems […]
Big business demands to pillage state
Fran O’Sullivan runs up some more big business proposals today unsubtly reminding Key that big business, which put up the cash to get […]
John Key, Edication Espert
Well what a fiasco yesterday’s launch of National’s brave new $36 million education policy was. Despite Key claiming the plan was one of […]
Right by accident?
We’ve been pretty hard, although justifiably so, on Colin Espiner recently and I’m loath to do it again. He does put himself out […]
Labour stands up for ACC
So – Labour have stood up for ACC. Bravo! History repeats. In the last year of the last National government (1999) they flogged […]
Where’s Hone?
Heard an interesting piece of gossip last night. Word has it Hone Harawira’s gone awol from the Maori Party. Apparently he’s somewhere in […]
One of these things is not like the other VIII
One of these things is not like the other, One of these things is not quite the same… Can you guess which one […]
National/Citrats abandon Tamaki-Maungakiekie
Last night C&R councillor and National Party MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga ended his double-dipping charade and quit the Auckland City Council. By way […]
Colonial mentality alive and well
Radio NZ reports: The head of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee of the New Zealand Parliament wants to end self government in the […]