‘Cos I say so
Following Tony “cos I say so” Ryall’s media success with his plan to cut down waiting lists using the King Canute model of […]
Politics
Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation
Ryall: do it or else
Health Minister Tony Ryall’s first policy will be to impose maximum waiting times for hospital emergency departments. No word on extra funding for […]
Why is there a media honeymoon?
Why do new leaders get honeymoons? When you think about it, there’s no objective reason why a leader should get an easy run […]
All the facts
National’s David Farrar has been running a series for some time trying to paint NZ Labour as out of step with Labour Parties […]
Signature performance
Before our new Prime Minister went to APEC I wrote “it’s not an opportunity to get some names in your autograph book”. I […]
In the driver’s seat
Labour’s lessons
54,982 votes, 2.3% of the total. That was difference in the election. If Labour had lost 55,000 fewer votes to National (it lost […]
Key’s first test – fail
Well, John Key took my advice and gave a speech at APEC different from the pro forma MFAT-written speech that might have been […]
X-rated
There’s a lot of fuss about at the moment over Ayman al-Zawahri’s labelling of Barack Obama as the kind of “house negro” described […]
Do we want to be a world-leader or a global joke?
According to a leading financier, carbon credit broker Nigel Brunel, of OMF Financial, New Zealand has become “a bit of a joke” in Europe […]
In praise of the welfare state
It’s very easy in our individualist, consumerist, capitalist society to say ‘if you’re poor, it’s your fault, don’t come looking to the rest […]
Farmers workers protest today
Workers from Farmers stores in the Auckland area will take part in a ‘Skinny Santa’ parade down Queen Street today to protest against […]
Bill, tempted to drop the Acting?
Psst, Bill. Hey, Bill. Sitting in the big chair is pretty cool, eh? Bet you never thought you would get your chance after […]
“NZ Herald Staff” dribble
Bomber over at Tumeke has pointed out a stupid news story about the blogosphere from the Granny Herald. It either shows a selective […]
Musical Interlude: Forgot about Key
Some jokers have given new lyrics to the Dr. Dre and Eminem classic. Hilarious. My favourite part is Hide’s cameo. Hattip: Dolla$Trada
Goff announces shadow cabinet
Labour leader Phil Goff has announced his shadow cabinet. As announced already Cunliffe takes finance, Clark takes foreign affairs, Hughes and Chadwick are […]
NZ Labour supporters site launched
NZ Labour Supporters has been launched as an unofficial online hub for Labour supporters. It looks like a good wee site. Along the […]
Delaying tactics
The National Party’s decision to resurrect the idea of a carbon tax is one of the most cynical plays I’ve seen in a […]
A chance to make his mark
John Key’s off on his first trip as PM tomorrow – APEC in Peru. When I saw him interviewed about this he seemed […]
Farewell
A crowd several hundred strong turned out this morning to farewell Helen Clark as she left Parliament as Prime Minister for the last […]
Credit where it’s due
It’s exam season for high school students. So, for 10 points explain how the following statement (in the ACT-National agreement and repeated uncritically […]
A break from the honeymoon
While most of the big media are giving John Key his criticism-free honeymoon (“OMG! A solo mum! An Asian! And a gay chap!”) […]
What should Clark do?
There’s a lot of talk about Helen Clark leaving Parliament in a year or so to head for an international role. While Clark […]
Right plans give away to rich at your expense
Part of the National/ACT government’s agreement is that a top tax rate of 30% will be the target for the ‘medium term’. Such […]
Retro
It seems 80’s retro has finally moved from being manifest only as the return of skinny jeans and naff facial hair and is […]
Cabinet announced
National’s cabinet has been announced. No major surprises, though Maurice Williamson has been dumped outside cabinet and unpopular newcomer Steven Joyce has taken […]
Undefeated
Paul Holmes wrote yesterday: “While Labour moves to the Opposition benches, it does so weirdly unmolested by the election defeat, weirdly undefeated” Damn […]
John Key’s victory parade
No, not the one the Herald’s organising. Over at Scoop Lyndon Hood’s unveiled his own victory parade for John Key and I gotta […]
Key reneges on PSA promise
Well, just days after a high profile meeting with PSA head Brenda Pilott and a promise to engage with unions John Key has […]
Local Govt minister wants to privatise water
As you’ll have read, John Key has made ACT leader Rodney Hide his Minister of Local Government. So, what’s ACT’s local government policy? […]
Some questions
The Maori Party voted against the ETS because they thought it doesn’t go far enough; they want a stronger ETS. Will they be […]
Snouts in the trough
No Right Turn blogs on the National/ACT coalition agreement. Of particular interest is the clause he’s pulled out that shows ACT will be […]
Nats step to the right with ACT
As we predicted, National has used a confidence and supply agreement with ACT as a vehicle for its true right-wing agenda. National has […]
Crosby/Textor on repeat
The topic of Crosby Textor has emerged again with a story in the NZ Herald. While it is unsurprising to read that Crosby […]
Chainmail
Thanks to the two people have mailed election leaflets authorised in my name back to me. And such lovely messages you’ve attached to […]
Playing clever but playing with fire
On one level, the Maori Party’s dealing with National is smart work. Key needs to look inclusive even though he doesn’t need the […]