The teachers’ strike
Teachers have indicated they will also be seeking a significant catch up in salaries and job conditions after a decade of neglect.
political parties
greens
The zero carbon bill
The Ministry for the Environment has released a discussion paper on a Zero Carbon Bill. But one proposal is to exempt methane which would mean that effectively half of New Zealand’s greenhouse gasses would not be subject to limitation.
Does National really want climate change to be a bipartisan issue?
National has cautiously pledged to support the Government’s proposed Climate Change Commission. But is it looking for opportunities to delay or weaken urgent action that New Zealand needs to be taking now rather than signing up for urgent action being started now?
Government announces living wage to be paid to all core public servants
The Government has announced that all employees in the core public service will be paid a living wage from September 1, 2018.
In defence of Eugenie Sage
Eugenie Sage has been criticised for granting OIO consent to the foreign buy out of a water bottling company and a piece of sensitive land. But from the looks of the details that have been released she may have had no choice.
Who gives a hooton about climate change?
Matthew Hooton and Fran O’Sullivan have claimed that the Government’s decision to ban off shore petroleum exploration is “Orwellian”, part of an attempt to divert attention from other issues, bad for the environment and bad for jobs. Are they right?
The Carbon Zero Legislation
If you have useful thoughts on how we should deal with climate change, now is the time not to have defeatist or pessimistic thoughts. Now is the time to put pen to paper and get your thoughts straight to James Shaw and help shape this legislation before the first draft hits Parliament.
Reclaiming the Mountain
Central and local Government have announced new funding for projects to preserve and enhance the natural environment in Taranaki.
Pollwatch: Colmar Brunton 28/5/2018
Hot on the heels of Reid Research, TVNZ has also been doing post-budget polling, and this one paints a bit of a different picture.
Pollwatch: Reid Research, 27/05/2018
The latest Newshub/Reid Research poll is out, and it continues to be less than stellar news for the opposition, but also for New Zealand First.
A belated congratulations
Post Immigration New Zealand Spreadsheet debacle, Ministers Curran and Shaw announce a stocktake and review of all government algorithms.
New Zealand’s Energy Future
New Zealand has a low carbon energy future plan. What is the strategy to achieve this?
Marama Davidson – This is what a real Government looks like
Marama Davidson’s speech to Parliament during the Budget debate.
Fudget for Austerity
Some proposals on why we just got the budget we did.
The Budget
An evolving post to cover budget announcements.
Most kiwis support more tax
The CTU have commissioned UMR to poll kiwis on their attitude to tax. The vast majority believe that more money is needed to fix infrastructure. And a remarkable number support the imposition of a Tobin Tax.
The election year party donations returns
The election year donation returns have been released and show a surge of donations for Labour but National still well ahead.
National is yeah nah on climate change
National’s Blue Green conference on the weekend suggests that the party has moved on from outright denial that cliamte change exists to grudging acceptance that it is a phenomenon but “balance” requires that it is tolerated.
Pollwatch: Colmar Brunton, 16/4/18
In this third edition of Pollwatch, we note Simon Bridges’ leap out of the gate to a hiss and fizzle, and with Roy Morgan still on an unexplained hiatus, our second poll of the year has arrived from Colmar Brunton, with the government’s support down very slightly, but its support partners both in a much more stable position.
The political honeymoon that keeps on ending
Media pundits are claiming on the evidence offered by one poll that the Government’s political honeymoon is over. But the same claim was made four months ago.
The Northcote by-election
Labour and National have both selected their candidates for the Northcote by election. Labour’s candidate is Shanan Halbert who cut significantly into Jonathan Coleman’s majority at the last election.
The Government’s response to the Syrian crisis
Jacinda Ardern has accepted the US, UK and French response to the Syrian crisis. Should she have instead condemned it?
Global finance and climate change
The two greatest powers at work in the world right now are the roles of global finance, and climate change. In New Zealand we don’t yet see how these intersecting worlds of finance and climate change are interacting, or the government’s role in forming that interaction. But this is close.
Government blocks off shore oil and gas drilling
The Government has announced that there will be no new offshore oil and gas exploration permits issued under the block offer process.
We did not know it would be this bad
Marama Davidson’s question to Jacinda Ardern in Parliament yesterday allowed Jacinda to outline the enormous mess the last National Government has left the country in.
What did we want from Marama Davidson?
While there has been some informed commentary on Marama Davidson’s ascension as co-leader of the Green Party, some of the more right-wing outfits have failed to understand the dynamics within the party right now. What did Marama promise, and what were Greens expecting of her?
Explaining is losing (but only in politics)
Politics is war by other means and nobody likes losing.
Green Party female co-leader announcement: Marama Davidson (updated)
Marama Davidson is the new female co-leader. Speech and transcript, with a bit of analysis of what this means for the party and NZ politics.
Labour aims to make transport system more sustainable
The Government has released a draft Government Policy Statement on Transport for consultation. A radical shake up of the Transport system is being proposed.
Local Bodies: NZ Politics, a rocky road ahead.
Dave Kennedy at Local Bodies looks at the tough task ahead for Labour, and where retired MPs are landing.
Marama Davidson – Te Pire Haeata ki Parihaka – Parihaka Reconciliation Bill – First Reading
“I will apologise to the people of Parihaka who are here, while I do recount some of the important history that they have heard and know and live and breathed, but that still today, too many in our country are not aware of and are not familiar with and so I seek to put it on record in the House as part of my contribution.”
Green Party statements on giving their parliamentary Questions to the Opposition
“As Greens, we’ve always stood for modernising our democracy, making MPs more accountable and giving the public better access to the levers of power.”
Greens give National their primary questions for oral answer
The Greens have offered National their Primary Questions for oral answer in Parliament without conditions.
Tell the Health Committee: Make our cannabis law fair for those in pain
“The Health Select Committee is about to consider the government’s changes to medicinal cannabis law. This is your chance to tell politicians they have not gone far enough.”
The Greens have a handy online submission form that you can send as is or add your own thoughts. Submissions close on Wednesday.
Is youth the new political divide?
There is evidence in the United Kingdom and in New Zealand that youth and not class may be the new political divide.
James Shaw’s speech to the Green Summer Policy Conference
Alongside announcing the Greens’ new transparency measures, James Shaw talks about being in government and having the ability to influence, as well as staying true to the Green Party’s values.