Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation
America has had an interesting week with Kavanaugh’s appointment to the Supreme Court all but confirmed, Donald Trump’s finances being the subject of an intensive review by the New York Times and Trump being filmed boarding Air Force One with a piece of toilet paper stuck to his shoe.
Veteran Auckland political activist Penny Bright has died.
The Taxpayers’ Union’s focus on Callaghan Innovation may be evidence of an ongoing civil war within the right’s ranks, rather than evidence of socialist largesse.
Newshub has been leaked a copy of an email from Paula Bennett sent to National Party staffers advising that the inquiry into who leaked Simon Bridges’s travel expense information now includes them.
David Fisher in the Herald has reported that the Taxpayer’s Union has used numerous fictitious identities to make Official Information Act requests.
I’m willing to bet you probably didn’t know that.
National’s leak problem is developing into a full blown crisis as it struggles to deal with the repercussions of Jami-Lee Ross standing down.
Jami-Lee Ross has announced he will be taking time out for personal health reasons.
Anti-Vaxxers are targeting South Auckland families in their latest bid to spread the virus of ignorance. You can help needle the pricks. The Standard shows you how.
UPDATE: The billboard is coming down!
While the local right have spent the last week nit picking at Jacinda Ardern something significant has happened internationally. Jacinda Ardern has emerged as the western leader who is the antithesis of Donald Trump.
New Zealand First at its conference on the weekend passed a remit to calling for immigrants and refugees to “respect New Zealand values” which are founded on Christianity.
People are losing their people skills rapidly and it is having an effect on society.
In Australia this week the Liberal Government has become embroiled in a scandal relating to political pressure being brought to sack the head of the ABC and one of its most senior reporters. Failed estate has the details.
The Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearing last week showed two extremes, one person describing a painful event in her past life and another person angrily denying that anything happened and claiming it was all about him.
“I am a child of the 80’s. A period in New Zealand’s history where we didn’t just observe international events, we challenged them. Whether it was apartheid in South Africa, or nuclear testing in the Pacific, I grew up learning about my country and who we were, by the way that we reacted to international events.”
National has another potential copyright problem involving the use of music without permission.
Politik has reported that Derek Handley has been receiving PR advice from Michelle Boag.
Video of Jacinda Ardern on Stephen Colbert’s Late Show.
The Herald claims to have been leaked a draft copy of the report into Meka Whaitiri. And the indications are that it may have come from a National Party source.
What Jacinda Ardern said to the United Nations about Nelson Mandela on the 100th anniversary of his birth.
National has launched an online petition against the culling of Tahrs, an animal that has been culled for years pursuant to a plan that was finalised by National in 1993.
Jacinda Ardern is storming New York. In an interview has set out her beliefs on leadership and rebelled against the idea that politics should only be about scoring hits against opponents. National has replied by trying to score political hits against her.
What can one say about Trump’s daft bragging at the UN, that raised a chorus of laughter at what he was saying. Clearly his toad is out of control.
A schoolgirl correctly identified exactly what caused the stink at Carterton South school. Why wasn’t she listened to?
Jacinda Ardern has announced that New Zealand will not sign up to Donald Trump’s global call to action on drugs. Will Simon Bridges do the responsible thing and agree with her that the announcement is a misplaced attempt to continue the currently failing approach to drugs?
The most dumbarse thing I have seen Simon Bridges quoted on was in an article about climate change issues saying that Jacinda Ardern should promote for more international tourism. After vast increases in visitors, we’re close to our current tourism capacity and we want to burn more carbon to get more tourists? WTF?
In one interview Simon Bridges shows that he cannot do basic maths in his head and does not know a core feature of a law change he wants to support.
National’s chicken little the sky is falling mantra about New Zealand’s economy has been dealt a large hole by Moody’s confirming New Zealand’s Aaa AAA credit rating.
Winston Peters said in Parliament this week that he believes he knows who the leaker of Simon Bridges’ travel information is.
Three months ago National apoligised for getting dud advice and evicting hundreds of state house tenants where miniscule amounts of methamphetamine were discovered. This week National backed off from that very proper apology.
Jacinda Ardern has made the right call by sacking Meka Whaitiri as a Minister.
Two prominent men chose to celebrate Suffrage day yesterday, one by having himself photographed in front of female members of his caucus and the other by complaining that at different times different groups of men also did not have the vote.
News of the Coalition’s bad health appears to be something of a beat up.
In short, I think not.
Andrew Little is seeking a Youth MP using an unusual technique.
A quick smorgasbord of reported news from Syria, to China and Sweden, to antisemitism and (hidden behind the links) an interview with (hopefully) the first woman who will serve as President of the USA.
Updated
