A brief musical interlude
If only I’d been around in 1969, and hanging out in upstate New York. Hard to believe that the best we can do […]
Politics
Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation
TVNZ and the Nats
As Paul Henry continues his party political broadcasts for the National Party on Breakfast TV, a curious coincidence of timing occured on Sunday. John […]
ACT: tax cuts for the rich, please
Rodney Hide is calling for the Budget’s tax cuts to take the form of raising the thresholds to account for inflation since 1999, […]
Key’s performance in the House embarrassing
I’ve just watched the first Question Time in 3 weeks. After 3 weeks’ recess and lots of potentially juicy material to use, here […]
Interview the Leaders VIII: NZ First
We’ve chosen the questions for John Key in the seventh installment of our “Interview the Leaders” series. The first question remains the same, […]
“Obama in 30 seconds” winner
After over 1100 submissions and more than 5.5 million total votes cast, MoveOn.org have announced the winner of their “Obama in 30 seconds” homemade […]
More on benefit levels
It was disappointing to hear National Radio this morning summarise the recent debate over benefit levels as ‘benefits are not keeping up with […]
Roy Morgan
There was a new Roy Morgan poll out on Friday. No major changes – Labour continues to hover around the mid-30s and National […]
Mythbusting: ‘Book value’ & ‘over the odds’
In an attempt to find a non-ideological ground to justify opposing the Government’s buyback of the rail system, John Key and others have […]
Peter Dunne answers your questions
We’re very pleased to have UnitedFuture Leader Peter Dunne respond to your questions as part of our Interview the Leaders series. Question to […]
Mythbusting: Winning a fourth term is impossible
It has become a media mantra that winning a fourth term of government is nigh on impossible, but is that claim actually based […]
Undo the cuts
Good to see Ruth Dyson finally admitting we have left beneficiaries behind. I would hope now that there would be a lot more […]
Clarkson not standing in Tauranga
Clarkson has jumped before he was pushed – he won’t be standing in Tauranga. Peter’s hasn’t confirmed yet whether he will stand or […]
Norman coming into his prime
The Greens have started to use Russell Norman as their primary spokesperson, instead of Jeanette Fitzsimons. Fitzsimons has never been great with the […]
Get your questions in for Key
Our ‘Interview the Leaders‘ series is going well and this week it’s your chance to submit questions to the man who wants you […]
A hand-up, not a hand-out
Last night, while walking the tiles, I came across a group of young people. These were ambitious young people, and their ambition was […]
It’s alright when he does it
A reader sent us this letter to the Herald’s editor, which the Herald has refused to print. When the government moved to block […]
If I were New Zealand First’s campaign strategist
In some ways, there’s little to tell New Zealand First, other than let Winston Peters be himself. Peters has been (along with Helen […]
Tariana Turia answers your questions
We’re very pleased to have Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia respond to your questions as part of our Interview the Leaders series. Question […]
Prebble out of step with Mainfreight board
This morning on Breakfast Prebble called the government buy-back of trains and ferries “loony”. What’s alarming is that Prebble is on Mainfreight’s board […]
The 40 cent tax cut
National and some of the more wacky commentators are complaining that the $655 million used by the Government to buy back the rail […]
Transport’s inclusion in ETS delayed
The Government has delayed the inclusion of transport in the Emissions Trading Scheme from 2009 to 2011. On the surface, that seems to […]
How Boris won London by not being Boris
Tory candidate Boris Johnson has triumphed in the mayoral race for London in a campaign masterminded by the Australian political tactician Lynton Crosby. […]
Interview the Leaders VII: National
The Maori Party has asked for an extension on the replies for Tariana Turia and we’re happy to oblige. In the meantime, here […]
Key: National’s great white hype
Tom Frewen’s latest column seems to have somehow slipped through the usually rigourous editorial process at the NBR. The sidebar reads: “John Key’s […]
For whom the Toll bells
The Government has bought back the rail stock and ferries from Toll for $655 million. The privatisation of these vital assets, which are […]
CTU Secretary selected for Maungakiekie
CTU Secretary Carol Beaumont is set for a change of career later this year. She’s been selected as the Labour candidate for the […]
Talking down the economy
National is a party weak on policy. It has had to drop nearly every one of its principled but unpopular policies to get […]
Simon’s semantics
Never one to miss an opportunity to stir up fear over crime, Simon Power now wants us to believe that we’re less safe […]
Government to fully fund virus vaccine
Vernon Small reports that the PM is due to announce an immunisation programme for teenage girls targeting human papilloma virus. The programme is […]
Get your questions in for Dunne
Do you have a burning question to ask Peter Dunne? Does it not involve his hair? If so, submit your question here by […]
Mission Accomplished
Today is the fifth anniversary of Bush’s infamous “Mission Accomplished” speech in which he stated that “Major combat operations in Iraq have ended”. […]
Electoral donations reported
The Electoral Commission has published the parties’ donation returns for 2007. It is worth noting from the outset that under the electoral law […]
Know your Nat: Judith Collins
If National were the Government, Judith Collins would be Social Services Minister. That should be enough to send shudders down the spine of […]
The Golfball and Sickle
Personally, I think it’s hilarious. A brilliant piece of activism that got the public’s attention and raised the issue of why we have American […]
Right answer, wrong question
It’s not often National gets something right but their latest flip-flop, on bio-fuels, is a good policy (well, partially and for the wrong […]