political parties
national
Peters for Northland
Vote Winston (did I say that?) Update: Former Labour Cabinet Minister Colin Moyle thinks the same.
Osborne dodging questions over review
Mark Osborne is the manager of a controversial ratepayer funded project that is the subject of a governance and funding review by the Far North District Council after major losses in its first two years. According to the NBR he is refusing to answer questions about it. Aren’t the voters of Northland entitled to some answers before they vote?
A tale of two no surprises disclosures
Anne Tolley was told about the prosecution of Beverley Sepuloni under the no surprises policy nearly a month before the news became public. Release of this information makes you wonder why we cannot be told the date that the Government was told about Mike Sabin’s difficulties.
Can National lose Northland?
Is Northland getting sick of National’s panicked invasion? Will having Osborne fail to front Peters in the studio help? Could National actually lose Northland?
GCSB spied on foreign communications to help Groser’s WTO bid
More embarrassment for the Government as it is revealed that the GCSB spied on internet communications involving diplomats competing with Tim Groser in his bid to be elected as the Director General of the World Trade Organisation.
Northland’s ghost jobs
One of National’s big claims in the Northland buy election was that they had created 7500 new jobs in Northland. Lies lies lies.
National still attacking democracy in Canterbury
The Nats’ takeover of Environment Canterbury is the greatest attack on democratic rights ever seen in this country. They are about to extend the period of imposed rule, because a fully elected body carries “too many risks”. If you think the people of Canterbury can actually be trusted with democracy you can sign the petition.
National wants to take away our right to silence
A bill designed by Mike Sabin has resurfaced this week. The intention is to take away the right to silence by allowing a Court to draw an adverse inference if someone choses to say nothing when facing certain charges. This proposal needs debate.
Collins confirms Dirty Politics
Video from last night in Parliament where Judith Collins essentially confirmed the veracity of the information contained in Dirty Politics. And David Cunliffe had the most exquisite put down of an opponent I have seen in a long time.
Who said it? Shane Reti vs. Aaron Gilmore
All these National backbenchers with delusions of grandeur sound the same to me …
Northland by election – National gets desperate
National is obviously deeply afraid of losing the Northland By Election as is clearly shown by the liberal application of pork barrel politics, the misuse of statistics, the use of Ministerial resources to help campaigning and now the bullying of a local group seeking to have a local road improved.
Shame shame shame
Last night in Parliament National voted down Harawira / Turei’s Feed the Kids Bill, David Shearer’s Food in Schools Bill, and Phil Twyford’s Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill.
How much is National’s Northland panic costing the taxpayer?
So our PM is cutting short state business for the purposes of party campaigning. Since Key invented the whole silly hats game, I guess it’s fair to ask if he still gets paid as PM when he is acting in his capacity as Party Leader? If so, why?
Two views on Titirangi’s Kauri
Rodney Hide has published a column about the ancient Titirangi Kauri which predictably argues that land owners should do what they want. But John Roughan has argued to the contrary in an article that will make you wonder if he is actually a greenie at heart.
Nats now threatening Northland
The Nats are now threatening Northland voters with the loss of roading projects and more. Classy.
NRT: Legislate in haste, repent before you’ve even started
I/S at No Right Turn on the latest Nat omnishambles – these financial “geniuses” can’t even calculate their own pay rates correctly.
National’s Epsom branch to back National in Northland
No need for Mr Gower to get all hot and bothered over this “dirty deal”, it’s just National’s Epsom branch backing the National candidate.
Key crosses a bridge too far
I kid you not but John Key thinks that Dotcom and Hager prevented him from announcing the Northland bridge decaboondoggle. And Sabin is having no effect on the by election campaign.
Save the Paturoa Kauri
A message from the team at #saveourkauri who are attempting to preserve a 500 year old Titirangi Kauri facing the chop. Update: Auckland Council has narrowly voted against supporting the Waitakere Ranges Local Board’s opposition to the felling of the tree.
Northland’s decaboondoggle bridge building programme
National’s proposal to double lane ten Northland bridges has some unusual aspects. Seven of them were not in the region’s Regional Land Transport Program such was their priority in the scale of things. And one is apparently right next to National candidate Mark Osborne’s home …
John Key’s weird “gotcha” moment on ACC
John Key and his MPs were acting like they’d scored a real hit on Andrew Little in Question Time. The reality is … not so impressive.
Polity: Pork bridges
A sudden enthusiasm for local infrastructure projects on the eve of a tight by-election. What a remarkable coincidence! I wonder whether the cost/benefit ratios on these bridges are up to scratch? Last year National bribed people in the general election. OIA time
Little: ACC levies need to come down
A National government which loves to cut taxs + workers and business being overcharged ACC levies = levy cuts, right? Wrong!
Key’s credibility and the Snowden leaks
The Sunday Star Times has reported on the set up and reach of the Waihopai Spy Base. Key’s statement that the GCSB does not have the physical capability to conduct mass surveillance appears to be not true.
Gender pay gap still growing – of course
Tomorrow is International Women’s Day. In New Zealand the gender pay gap is growing – perhaps because National abolished the Department of Labour’s Pay and Employment Equity Unit.
Northland Polls; Horrorshow for National
The first polls in the Northland by-election are grim reading for National. It looks likely that Winston will win and National will lose their Parliamentary majority. Have the Tories snatched defeat from the jaws of victory?
Is mass surveillance of Kiwis occurring?
The latest Snowden revelations that New Zealand has been collecting bulk data from various Pacific Islands and handing it to the NSA suggests that mass surveillance of New Zealanders is happening, despite promises to the contrary.
Expect more zero-hours crisis cases
Today is not a good day for workers. Employment law changes that take effect today weaken workers’ rights and will result in more cases of zero-hour contract “excesses”. Labour’s Iain Lees-Galloway has been doing good work on this issue (sign the petition). In contrast National’s position now appears confused, with Workplace Relations & Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse acknowledging problems even as today’s changes make matters worse.
NZ spies on its Pacific neighbours
Nicky Hager and the Herald have reported that the GCSB has been collecting data en masse from New Zealand’s pacific neighbours and handed it over to the Americans for inclusion in xkeystore.
On Northland
I’ve been getting tired of the fantasy elections that some political commentators seem to enjoy playing. Currently the fantasises is in Northland, with the same old tiresome lines. It is a pity that most of those playing this game don’t ever seem to think about the behaviours of real voters, real candidates, and real parties.
Nats getting squeamish on zero hour contracts
Zero hour contracts are the logical end point of National’s agenda for employment legislation. But last night Workplace Relations & Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse promised legislation to “prohibit the worst excesses”. “Excesses” in the free market – who would have thought?
Why are we going to war?
National’s justification for going to war against ISIS suffers from two fundamental problems, it is supporting an Iraqi regime that is corrupt and working against the best interests of all of its people, and there is no plan to convert Iraq into a sustainable state.
Local Bodies: A Luddite Led National Government
The development of new knowledge and technology is growing at a faster rate than ever before and successful businesses generally have to remain at the cutting edge of their industries to survive. But National likes the obsolete extractive industries from early last century.
Political donations and conflicts of interest
Whether it’s about election donations or portfolios, some people do seem to think MPs should always get the benefit of the doubt.
Slane: National’s clubs
