Ryall reveals his hollowness on Agenda
all_your_base has already posted on Tony Ryall’s weasel words on yesterday’s Agenda programme, but what struck me about the interview was Ryall’s utter […]
Politics
Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation
Weasel-words from Tony Ryall
This almost defies belief. Just as I was thinking that Ryall couldn’t screw up the release of their health policy any further… He […]
The Herald lashes National
If you’re National you know you’re in trouble when even the Herald editorial comes out swinging. The National Party was doing very well […]
Burma rally pics
Some pics from Saturday’s rally for Burmese democracy: More at Auckland’s Burning and Indymedia.
Back to the future (again)
So John Key wants to sell our schools. The National caucus must be a strange place to be right now. Feeling kind of […]
DigiPoll: Nats down, Labour up
The Herald DigiPoll survey puts National on 44.8 per cent support, down 5.5 points on the August poll. That’s its lowest rating in […]
More opposition to Nats’ health plans
The Christchurch Press reports that Public health groups are angry at National Party plans to remove caps on doctors’ fees if it wins […]
Support the Burmese uprising
If you’re in Auckland make sure you get along to tomorrow’s rally supporting the Burmese people in their courageous struggle for democracy. These […]
More on National’s privatisation agenda
The Herald reports that Graham Stairmand, president of Grey Power has sent National a stern warning. He believes the Nats’ proposed partial privatisation […]
National: The market will set doctors’ fees
There’s been a bit of debate on The Standard about what National actually stands for. Up until now there have been those who […]
Cyber hypocrisy
All the fuss created by one Rory English, son of National’s deputy leader Bill, exposes some very real and concerning issues. Firstly, just […]
Double Standards
We’ve had a few emails from readers this week asking whether this website has anything to with the NZ Standard posters that having […]
Posable paper people
John Key wants to be all things to all people. He’s always reminded me a little of one of those paper dressup dolls […]
Bill’s agenda
On Agenda on Saturday English admitted that the Nats will consider selling parts of New Zealand’s state owned enterprises. In response, Clayton Cosgrove […]
Support for National on asset sales
Looks like National’s finally got some support for its policy to sell the family silver to pay for tax cuts… from Gordon Copeland. […]
A hollow man
Mark Blumsky’s crocodile tears about the tribal nature of Parliament leaves me absolutely gobsmacked. What planet did this cretin drop from? Before he […]
John Key’s Porirua market adventure
Presumably the Nats are packing themselves about the proposed extension of the campaign spending period and are trying to jam their costs into […]
What is this woman doing in Parliament?
Here’s a tip you can take to the bank: if you’re ever worried you’re no good at your job and need some cheering […]
Trotter on the Electoral Finance Bill
For those who haven’t seen it yet, Chris Trotter had a great piece in yesterday’s Dom Post about the Electoral Finance Bill. In […]
All Black is New Zealand
Symbolism should never be underestimated in life, as it can’t be in sport and politics. Take the Rugby World Cup where the symbolism […]
Rickards charged with alleged misconduct
Last week John Key was calling on the government to force Rickards to go – interfer in an onoing employment matter and essentially […]
Superannuation
Brian Gaynor writes in the Herald about what he calls “the worst economic decision of the last 40 years” – National’s scrapping of […]
More on Hollow Men play
The Herald has a bit more info on the stage adaptation of The Hollow Men. Strange how close Brash and Foreman’s answers are. […]
The Hollow Men stage play
Close Up last night did a quick preview of the stage adaptation of Nicky Hager’s The Hollow Men. I’ll write a review as […]
The knives are out
A reliable Wellington source tells me he had the pleasure of dining at a table next to Bill English and family a few […]
My gran decides she quite likes the gold card
Garth George weighs in on the gold card today in the Herald. While the debate rages about the merits of Winston’s senior card […]
Happy Suffrage Day!
Another of New Zealand’s proud firsts: we were the first to give women the vote in national elections. Clearly as a society we’ve […]
TradeMe talk turns political
A reader has just alerted us that there’s a political discussion raging on a thread over at the TradeMe message boards. Looks like […]
Happy 70th, No 12 Fife Lane, Miramar
Today marks the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Labour Government’s first state house by Michael Joseph Savage. The aim in 1937 […]
Will this man do anything, for any party, anytime?
National’s ad campaign in 2005 was assisted by the creative wit of John Ansell a self-described “wordplaying loon”. Nicky Hager’s ‘The Hollow Men […]
National to sue Southpark creators
UPDATE: Whew! Trey and Matt were evidently thinking ahead.
Is the world voting for.nothing?
In a perceptive potshot at the perennial broadcasting gnome, Paul Holmes, Jane Bowron in her Dominion Post ‘Televiews’ piece of 13 September described […]
PC still going mad, it would appear
One of John Key’s first rebranding exercises after he took over the National Party was to dump Wayne Mapp from his position as […]
“Ban water?” asks Jacqui Dean
In her defense, I don’t remember there being a chemistry component to Play School.
A raw nerve?
Did anyone else see the anti-John Key posters in Wellington yesterday morning? It was every National Party spin doctor’s worst nightmare: a picture […]
Has DPF lost his mojo?
I dropped into the National Party’s Kiwiblog again last week and I must say it looks like party insider David Farrar may well […]