Steven Joyce – liar or fool?
The economists have spoken, and Steven Joyce’s claim that there is a $11.7bn “hole” in Labours’ fiscal plan shows him to be either a liar or a fool. Shame on Bill English for repeating it in the debate.
national
same old national
Steven Joyce’s comprehension fail
Steven Joyce’s claim that Labour’s budget forecasts have a $11 billion dollar hole in them raises some concern with his ability to actually understand Government budgetary processes.
National plays the lauranorda card
National is panicking and Paula Bennett has gone full dog whistle in claiming that gang members should have less rights than others.
Why is Farrar smearing the superannuation shit?
A lot of politics and political blogging is all about the details. This includes National’s pollster David Farrar who falsely asserted yesterday that Winston would have received 7 annual letters about his superannuation status. So why is National trying to irritate their only possible coalition partner?
Tegg Talk – Second Climate Change Report Withheld By Government
Denis Tegg reports that the Government is hiding a second critical report on climate change until after the election.
The making of National’s campaign ad
National’s campaign video was created using actors who were not paid but handled petrol or shopping vouchers and wanted a young boy of “mixed blood” …
Mike Hosking feels used and wants to take a shower
Mike Hosking is decrying National’s cynical election campaign and release of its paid parental leave policy and claims that it is nothing more than a corrupt retail exchange.
No one can have any confidence in a Nat NZF coalition
Peters is enraged by the presumed Nat hit on him over super. Earlier he was calling on Bill English to resign over the Barclay scandal. Given these conflicts, no one can have any confidence in a post-election Nat NZF coalition. They hate each other.
National does u turn on paid parental leave
National has announced a policy of increasing paid parental leave after complaining last year that it was unaffordable.
National’s political hit job on Winston Peters
The hit job that has just been performed on Winston Peters is a sign of how desperate National is to divert attention from Jacindamania. But I suspect the attempt will backfire.
National’s new copyright problem
National may have further copyright problems with the song used in its campaign video sounding remarkably similar to an old Bob Dylan song.
Labour’s new campaign ad as Nats go negative
Labour’s new campaign ad is great! Compare and contrast with Nat attack ads…
What will the next Labour caucus look like?
Early days but Labour’s surge should result in an outstanding array of talent entering Parliament.
National promises to get tough on youth crime
National has announced its policy to deal with youth crime by reannouncing a military service scheme that already exists, proposing a special category for young offenders that will have some young people seek that status and by proposing to fine parents who can’t keep their kids home at night.
CTU President: All the way for equal pay
CTU President Richard Wagstaff writes on today’s actions about his opposition to the government attempt to dismember the historic decision in the Court of Appeal for pay equity by Kristine Bartlett and E tū. National has distorted the recommendations of the Joint Working Group to restrict or even eliminate equal pay for equal work.
National’s Auckland Transport announcement
In an attempt to take the thunder away from Labour’s Auckland Transport announcement National’s offer was leaked this week to the Herald. But it is uninspiring, and shows a continued commitment to roading as providing a solution.
National’s 2017 election list
National’s 2017 list has been announced and it has a very same old same old feel about it.
A tale of three immigrants
The Government is refusing to allow a Tongan family with a very sick child and an American family who ran a very successful cafe from staying in New Zealand but rolled out the red carpet to an uber rich American who did not meet all of the requirements.
Paula Bennett gets owned by Phil Twyford in question time
This afternoon in Parliament during question time Paula Bennett showed clearly that this Government has no idea what to do about the housing crisis.
National will distort MMP for its own benefit, again
Without a cup of tea in sight National has announced that it will asking supporters to vote for Act leader David Seymour in Epsom and United Future leader Peter Dunne in Ohariu.
Let’s get rid of these clowns
The Government’s failure to do anything about the housing crisis or about zombie cannabis is evidence they should be removed from office.
Transport in Auckland and National’s deliberate incompetence
National appear to be completely uninterested in spending Aucklander’s transport taxes on Auckland. Instead they want to put in roads that have no economic measurable benefits for Auckland except to increase the road congesting trucks on our roads. Why do National hate Auckland?
New Zealand is number 1! *
* in a list of developed nations for homelessness.
Why be a public servant?
Today thousands of IRD workers face the prospect of losing their jobs while two MOT workers who lost their jobs for whistle blowing are vindicated. Who would be a public servant?
There is something rotten in the Ministry of Transport
Radio New Zealand is reporting that the State Services Commission will report today that it believes that the convicted fraudster Joanne Harrison forced whistleblowers out of the Transport Ministry in 2015. Updated with link to formal announcement.
Election 2017: the battle lines are drawn
The 2017 election campaign has been set alight by the Greens adopting brave policies that Jeremy Corbyn would be proud of and NZ First adopting policies that would meet with Donald Trump’s approval.
Why there should be work and drug test obligations for National MPs
Todd Barclay has not been seen at work lately but has been seen at a Queenstown pub. And is still being paid $3,000 a week to represent the people of Clutha Southland.
National’s brighter future
The homeless crisis is getting that bad in Auckland that people are dying because they have nowhere to live.
Two polls
Two recent polls, both suggestion that Labour+Green is within touching distance of National.
Breeding for a business
It looks like ACT the party of less government will be focussing on pregnant beneficiaries this election.
The Government is misrepresenting the effect of the Ruataniwha Dam decision
The Government has responded to the Supreme Court decision which puts a halt on the Ruataniwha Dam by claiming wrongly that the protected land was of low quality and by stating that a law change, possibly retrospective, will occur.
What happened to the Newshub article about Nick Smith and the Pike River film?
A Newshub article where Nick Smith contradicts the Police and Solid Energy about the existence of video showing a body in Pike River has disappeared …
The magical disappearing Foreign Trust industry
National’s original claims that New Zealand was not a tax haven are in tatters as the Sherwan rule changes have resulted in the mass exodus of Foreign Trusts from New Zealand.
Special Housing Area provisions are failing but Nick Smith thinks everything is fine
Nick Smith is attempting to rewrite history by claiming that the Government never thought the special housing area affordable housing provisions would work and that the housing crisis is improving.
Thiel shows commitment to New Zealand by spending 12 days in it
Following an intervention by the Ombudsman the Government has been obliged to disclose the number of days that Peter Thiel spent in New Zealand in the five years leading up to his grant of citizenship. The answer is very few.
New information on Glenda Hughes?
On 20 June after Melanie Read’s Newsroom interview Andrew Geddis blogged about possible obstruction of justice by a National Party Board member. That was based on new information in the Barclay case, and may be why the Police have since re-interviewed Glenys Dickson.