Smith not even trying any more
Let them eat cake.
political parties
national
Campbell live to go and a second hair incident
Interestingly two stories have broken during the presentation of the Budget. John Campbell has quit TV3 and a further hair incident involving John Key has hit the news.
Masters of Finance?
Young Labour and sex change ops
Young Labour has proposed that there is public funding for hormone replacement therapy and gender reassignment. Jonathan Coleman described the proposal as “absolutely nuts” but it then emerged that there is already some public funding for this treatment. And the media tried to suggest that some off the cuff comments by Labour MPs is evidence of division.
Polity on Housing
Rob had a couple of great posts on National & Housing yesterday, as they are all over the place on it. Still trying to point the finger at Helen Clark because average house prices in Auckland rose $219,000 in the 9 years of the last Labour government; but it’s no longer crisis after a further $313,000 rise in 7 years of National.
National literally want to hide the costs of inaction on climate change
We the people only learned of Treasury projections on the costs of inaction on climate change (up to $52 billion) because someone screwed up a redacted document. We were never meant to know. And National’s Minister for Climate Change Issues statement on the matter is that Treasury should have done a better job of hiding this vital information from the public.
Curiouser and curiouser
Creepy Key has dodged a question from the Green Party about any contact he may have had with the New Zealand Fox News Herald in the lead-up to Rachel Glucina’s hit job on the cafe worker who’s ponytail he pulled.
Herald praises Cunliffe for CGT policy
The Herald has praised David Cunliffe with changing public opinion about the introduction of a capital gains tax. And rubbished John Key’s suggestion that the announced limited tax on increasing housing values is not a capital gains tax.
Rushed policy is bad policy
National’s policy opens the door to more effective capital gains tax, thus irritating investors and their base, while probably not achieving anything in practice. The worst of both worlds. Bonus question – does this policy effectively underwrite losses when the property bubble bursts? Plus another bonus John Key lie!
Poverty and the budget
The levels of poverty and inequality in NZ are a disgrace. Apparently the budget is to “arrest the decline”, but we have heard such promises again and again from Key.
CGT: the focus groups made Key do it
According to John Key the proposed tax on capital gains if a property is sold within two years of purchase is not a capital gains tax, there is no housing bubble in Auckland, and the proposed new tax does not represent a complete about face by the Government.
Capital gains tax to be introduced
National appears to be doing an about face on a Capital Gains Tax for housing.
Robbie would be turning in his grave
Simon Bridges wants to ease Auckland’s congestion by investing more into local roads and less in rail. And by the looks of things he wants to politicise transport funding in a way that has not occurred for decades.
Auditor General rules on Dirty Politics allegation
The Auditor General has decided that Katherine Rich, head of the Food and Grocery Council which includes Coca Cola as well as Alcohol and Tobacco interests has no conflict in being a member of the Health Promotion Agency, a quango with the role of supporting healthy lifestyles.
Finlayson calls Key wild eyed on National Radio
Chris Finlayson has described a comment made by John Key as “wild eyed stuff” on National Radio,
Spy watchdog to investigate GCSB’s help for Groser’s campaign
Spy watchdog Cheryl Gwyn has announced an investigation into circumstances surrounding possible spying on our allies by the GCSB in support of Tim Groser’s tilt for the top WTO job.
The surplus lie
One of the biggest political deceptions in our lifetime? Or just an honest mistake by our noble Finance Minister?
Elections in the Anglosphere
An excellent summary reposted with permission from Dim-Post. “Seems to me that one of Labour’s biggest problems – both here and in the UK – is that they’re faced with an opponent that is (a) better resourced than them and (b) uses those resources to make themselves far, far better at politics than their left-wing opponents.”
PM’s social media advisor lashes out on Twitter
PM’s staff threatening people on Twitter. Such a good look.
National’s innumeracy and Auckland’s Housing crisis
Radio New Zealand’s Todd Niall has investigated figures recently advanced by Simon Bridges and Nick Smith used to attack Auckland Council and has discovered that the figures are somewhat rubbery.
Same sh*t different election
The English Election campaign and the results felt like a rerun of the New Zealand 2014 election campaign. Slick Crosby Textor designed attacks on Labour’s stability and on the leader and an imbalance of resources contributed to the result in both cases. How does the left counter this?
Hosking wants Auckland Council deposed
From the I kid you not files Mike Hosking believes that Auckland Council is to blame for the housing crisis, not immigration, not favourable tax conditions for landlords, not the global financial crisis and not the lack of restrictions on home ownership. And he believes that Nick Smith should step in and Roll Auckland Council.
More jobs gone at Solid Energy – thanks Bill English
113 more jobs to go at Solid Energy’s Stockton Mine. Bill English killed Solid Energy, these job losses are his.
The state housing sell-off
If National were serious about their “social housing” spin they would place restrictions on the use and resale of these houses. Without such protections its just another privatisation of public assets.
National Ltd™Plays The Race Card
The Auditor General found that no one in National Ltd™, the Māori Party, Te Puni Korkiri, or any other of its apologists can detail exactly what Whānau Ora is supposed to be doing, provide evidence of its outcomes, or explain why up to 33% of the money is being paid in “administration”. In other words, Whānau Ora is a shambles. And dodgy.
NRT: There is too much money in our politics
Our political system is awash with money. There is clearly an arms race going on where National is trying to spend everyone else into the ground. National includes significant funding from Auckland property developers and real estate agents, and probably explains their effective disinterest in fixing Auckland housing.
Government cuts emergency dental loans for beneficiaries
Over the past few years the amount WINZ has lent to beneficiaries for emergency dental work has been slashed. Update: Seems to have been an error- OIA chaos in the Ministry of Social Development
Crunch time for Collins
If Key survives the next few weeks Collins will likely have missed her chance until after the next election.
The rise of Collins and the decline of Key
John Key is back in the country and going by his interview on Morning Report this morning has been affected significantly by ponygate. And Judith Collins has suddenly burst back into public view with the obvious goal of seeking a return to cabinet. Or is it that she wants to be the next National leader?
Joyce’s $1,248 taxi ride
Stephen Joyce has spent $1,248 keeping a taxi waiting for him in Sydney for nine hours. The level of born to rule arrogance displayed has been unmatched for some time.
Nasty little bloggitses
The Herald today has editorialised suggesting that on the basis of part of a poll Ponygate has had no effect. It also claims that fair minded people are defending Key.
Spot the difference: Nats on capital punishment
One of these principled statements is not like the other.
I Fought the Law
A quick look at the legalities of Ponytailgate as it affects the worker, the cafe, the NZ Herald and the PM. There could be court, tribunal and commission hearings that drag on for months, with potential big financial and political implications for the players.
The waitress the bloggers and the main stream media
The Ponygate story provides a fascinating example of the use of social media to break a story. The simple lesson is to tell a story without a political agenda. And the response from the right shows a level of disarray progressives can take heart from.
A Friend first, and a Boss second, probably an Entertainer third.
“I’m a friendly guy that likes to interact with the public. I do like to have a bit of a laugh and I’m probably the most casual Prime Minister New Zealand has had.”
John Key’s week has turned from drama to farce. David Brent looks good next to this clown.
Pillock of the week
Although John Key clearly wins the award this week for unbecoming insensitive and bizarre behaviour there is a media figure who did their best to provide him with competition. And it is not Rachel Glucina.