On The Iran War
Funny…when Russia invaded Ukraine, New Zealand didn’t wait for Putin to tell us whether his aggression was legal under international law. Different story when it comes to the Americans.
Politics
Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation
So much for being the President of Peace
Trump’s attack on Iran is one hell of a way to divert away from the Epstein files.
The United States and Israel attack Iran, again
Trump’s attack on Iran has a high risk of turning into another Afghanistan in which the United States was utterly humiliated.
Don’t fight the last war
Hannah Spencer’s stunning win for the Greens in the the UK’s Gorton and Denton by-election has some lessons for political strategists here as well.
Gangs outnumber police in New Zealand – But That’s Not All
Gang profits have doubled, international organised crime strengthening their hooks, NZ has lost experienced cops, retail crime is up and often being ignored, drug use is at full blown crisis, domestic violence at 8 year highs, and the violent crime numbers are off base
Paul Goldsmith tried to get homeless arrested 18 years ago
Senior National Party Cabinet Minister tried to have police arrest homelessness in Auckland 18 years ago. This year he succeeded
The Tamatha Paul Cycleways vs Water Voter Never Happened As Described
How misinformation was used to discredit Tamatha Paul to divert attention away from genuine issues around Moa Point’s sewage disaster
In support of Chris Bishop
Chris Bishop was forced to eat humble pie this week on his plan to make Auckland a more compact city. And the Government’s backflip on the number of new dwellings makes a mockery of Auckland Council’s recent consultation on Plan Change 120. How councillors are supposed to weigh the new proposal with open minds under that kind of pressure is anyone’s guess.
Fining beggars
Fining beggers will only increase their problems and moving them on will not solve the problem only spread it around.
Should job hiring be fair and transparent?
Honi soit qui mal y pense.
Why can’t Government Ministers say “climate change”?
In the midst of multiple states of emergency caused by climate change induced rainfall Mark Mitchell and Christopher Luxon have reverted to Oil Industry talking points that what is happening is “just weather” and that “weather changes.”
A comparison between the LNG Terminal deal and the NZ Steel deal
A comparison of the LNG Terminal deal and the previous Government’s deal with NZ Steel to replace its coal fired furnace with a renewable energy supplied electric arc furnace clearly shows what this Government’s priorities are.
The Opportunity Party still hates beneficiaries
If you dismantle welfare, you push many New Zealanders into desperate poverty.
Think Big 2.0
The Government has responded to a perceived urgency caused by dry years to the country’s power supply by proposing something that is counter intuitive. Instead of rolling out solar it wants to burn imported Liquified Natural Gas. And use enabling legislation to avoid any overview of the proposal.
New Electricity Tax Coming
National Party, laser focused on the cost of living, threw away ~$1 billion on ferries, introduced Paywave changes that will increase fees & are now levying a new tax on Kiwi families and businesses
2.8% of New Zealand population outbound in 2 years as division widens
OPINION: I visited Facebook recently and noticed some fake accounts (you know the ones with AI pictures depicting Māori in an unfavourable light, along with NZ flags featured prominently, as if love for a country is about a piece of cloth), and there’s a distinct anti-Indian sentiment being cultivated on the platform
Despite Denials, US-NZ Minerals Agreement likely to proceed
The NZ government has shrouded US rare minerals discussions in secrecy, refusing to provide information to Kiwis even as the US confirms talks are in progress. The agreement may requires countries to commit to accelerated and extended mining
Fast Track law fails at the first big hurdle
Environmental groups have cheered the draft Panel’s decision refusing to allow Taranaki’s continental shelf from being smashed up to extract rare earth minerals. But how will the Government respond?
Are whales people? The Green Party Bill to give whales personhood
Save the whales! (and ourselves)
GOOD NEWS: Fast-Track Seabed mining application rejected
TTR were asked to apply for Fast-Track by Chris Bishop after trying and failing for a decade through NZ courts. Yesterday, it looked like they were rejected again
“Surprise” unemployment high masks more damaging developments
Unemployment hits 5.4% in the December quarter, but that doesn’t include the 140,000 plus Kiwi citizens that have fled in the last 2 years
Game on: Labour and the Greens speak to media from Waitangi
Chris Hipkins, Marama Davidson, and Chloe Swarbrick speak on unity, working together while being separate partners, and the upcoming election.
Is Shane Jones really to blame?
NZ First is openly allegiant to commercial fishers, mining (fossil fuels) and tobacco companies, but is it really their fault?
Shane Jones loves fossil fuels
National has allowed Shane Jones to effectively veto the country signing up to a road map away from the use of fossil fuels supported by much of the world that was consistent with current policy settings.
What does Labour do about Winston?
Current polling suggests that we may witness something that has not happened before, a one term National Government. But this may mean Labour making a deal with Winston Peters. What should Labour do?
Mr 8%
2026 school lunches are just as bad, but they are also emblematic of Seymour’s spin and facade
Who would have thunk that slashing Health IT budgets would result in IT outages
A year after the Government slashed a third of Health IT jobs the Auckland hospital system has suffered a massive IT outage.
How the Atlas Network is shaping your life, even if you’ve never heard of it
Australia’s media covers the nefarious rise and links of Atlas Network in Australia and NZ.
Civil war wasn’t inevitable – but it may be
How misinformation and lies created the environment for battle in the US and elsewhere
The rise of Winston follows the rise of Pauline Hansen and Nigel Farage
Ten months to go and there is no political party currently countering the sustained rise of New Zealand First.
Mapping Carney’s speech to our MMP Politics
Carney’s observations of the rupture in the world order and great power rivalry are mirrored in NZ politics.
Atlas NZ Inc: we are (the) good guys
When holding out an olive branch to the Left in your Right hand, you should also show the other hand.
Should Luxon join Trump’s Board of Peace?
Donald Trump invited Christopher Luxon to join a new organisation to oversee the redevelopment of Gaza and eventually the replacement of the United Nations. How should Luxon respond?
Management speech mumbo jumbo
Christopher Luxon’s latest State of the Nation speech suggests that over summer he has been spending more on his Spotify summer list than he should have.
Flooding the zone with Trump trumps Godwin’s law
When intensely watching the orange orangutan in the White House we miss the invisible gorilla in the oval room.
Luxon’s utu
Christopher Luxon is extracting utu on Chris Bishop for his pre Christmas attempted coup by making Bishop eat humble pie on his plans to allow intensification in Auckland’s inner suburbs.