Iran in the vortex – what’s really going on?
To understand what’s going on in Iran, abandon what the Persians invented centuries ago: Manichaeism, black-and-white, political framing.
Politics
Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation
Our Quiet Tyranny
The attack on the NZ Reserve Bank is lock step with Trump.
MCERT V MAF V MBIE V Treasury
The merger of many functions of the central public sector concerned with cities, the environment, housing and urban development, and transport, was announced in the week before Christmas and is now underway. There’s plenty of good on the face of it.
Peters attacks Reserve Bank Governor
Winston Peters has attacked the REserve Bank Governor Anna Bremen for publicly expressing concern about politically inspired Department of Justice attacks on US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell.
The C Word
Mountain Tūī Opinion and Analysis on New Zealand’s “C” word
Simeon Brown & Van Velden VERSUS NZ Firefighters
Brooke Van Velden, responsible for refusing a firefighters’ levy increase in 2024, piled on to firefighters who have been struggling for over a year to be heard – leading to catastrophic losses & risk
The death of truth
The competing social media takes based on video that clearly shows that the shooting of Minnesota woman Renee Good was totally unjustified shows how dominant social discord is now considered to be more important than truth.
A Radical Gets Real Power and Runs Something Big
Tim Shadbolt’s passing shows what it’s like when a bona fide radical activist gets into power for long enough to make a permanent difference.
Some random and unusual responses to the US invasion of Venezuela
Among a significant number of leaders claiming they are actively monitoring the situation in Venezuela after the US invasion and the kidnapping of President Maduro are some pointed and very relevant comments from some unusual sources.
Simeon Brown sidesteps key issues in “catastrophic” Manage My Health breach
The company has been accused of using outdated encryption protocols, and has been slow to respond to community concerns. And importantly, has National put our other public health data at risk too?
What David Seymour did during the holidays
David Seymour has spent some of his holidays meeting Argentine leader Javier Milei and praising Milei’s far right inspired destruction of local Government institutions.
Some random predictions for 2026 …
What will election year 2026 bring to Aotearoa?
Israel only country in history to ban Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontière)
Israel bans 37 NGOs from Gaza including the world renowned medical charity Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontière)
Happy New Year from The Standard
Happy New Year to all the readers, commenters, and fellow authors/mods at The Standard
Politician of the year?
Chris Bishop is thought by some to be the politician of the year, mainly for drafting a couple of bills plaigarised from the work of David Parker and untested promises to build hugely expensive roads of National significance. But they are ignoring the most extraordinary performance by an opposition leader in recent decades.
Greenpeace NZ: 2025: A year of wins, action and resistance
“It was a year of people power, hard-fought wins, and standing up against political and corporate harm.”
Peters spits the dummy over India Free Trade deal
“National preferred doing a quick, low-quality deal over doing the hard work necessary to get a fair deal that delivers for both New Zealanders and Indians.”
Advantage’s 2026 predictions
Advantage gets out the crystal ball and postilated what may happen next year.
Ozzy Man on Bondi
Some of the best video media coverage of a terrorism event I’ve seen, from the human side.
Good work if you can get it
National’s Ministerial Retail Advisory Group leader Sunny Kaushall has hit the headlines for huge catering costs inluding paying $9 for bottles of coke worth $5.50. But the deeper story should be why his activity, which is clearly political in nature, being funded by a fund set aside for victims.
Pirates of the Caribbean and the Indo-Pacific. The White House National Security Strategy.
the US administration stresses that countries like Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan will need to militarise as never before in peacetime to keep China in its place.
Much ado about nothing
The Taxpayer’s Union campaign against Nicola Willis’s Socialist handling of the economy, complete with novelty fudge has crashed unceremoniously. The sponsors have clearly spoken.
National takes $90 million awarded for Wairarapa Masterton Hospital – for itself
Masterton hospital has been deemed structurally unsafe with money awarded for its remediation after a long court case.
Holy feck
The last poll of the political year and it is a doozie. Labour is 8 points ahead of National.
NZ First repeals Foreign Home Buyers Ban Under Urgency, Late At Night, During X’mas Period
PLUS: Brooke Van Velden overturns historic Supreme Court Uber ruling, after Uber lost their appeal unanimously last month
It’s Changed Too Much For The Nostalgia Cure
If Labour wins government in 2026, many things won’t be recoverable.
i-Rex ferries would have started arriving today
NZ previously secured next-gen, hybrid ferries for 40% less than market price during Covid. The cancellation of these partially built 2026 ferries resulted in a loss of $700m to more than $1bn
$270 a year more in energy costs for householders – Government pushes fossil fuel / agricultural corporate welfare
Under a series of science driven policy options, National / ACT and NZ First unanimously choose “catastrophic peril”. Anything for the fossil fuel and farmer industry, but at what cost, NZ?
Atlas Shrugged. Part One: Trump’s Security Strategy blows up the American world order.
“The days of the United States propping up the entire world order like Atlas are over.” White House National Security Strategy, 2025
Accelerating climate change under urgency
The Government is legislating to halve methane emission reduction targets and remove the requirement for the ETS to accord with Paris Accord obligations. And intends to pass these changes under urgency despite there being no requirement to do so.
Privatisation and Plunder
Privatisation and Plunder is essential reading for those who want to work for a society where prosperity for all is the aim.
“National is Getting NZ Back on Track”?
That’s the headline of the pamphlet in the letterbox. But from their own measures is that true?
Why the next election will not be easy for Labour
This may be a one term National Government. But electoral law reform, the state of Labour’s coalition partners, a possible economic upturn and a change in National’s leader threaten this.
The Government’s 59 policy changes that are destroying the country’s climate response
Count them and weep.
New Zealand losing democracy rapidly
Many unaware as what we hold dear and for granted slips.
Is National planning to welch on Paris Climate obligations?
It appears to be more and more inevitable that National will welch on the country’s Paris Accord obligations.