What is to be done?
Kudos to the Maori Party’s Rahui Katene for using her position to highlight the situation at Sealord in Parliament today. But it’s Paula […]
Politics
political parties
Buyer’s remorse
It’s well known that David Garrett is only in Parliament as ACT’s payoff for their support from the Sensible Sentencing Trust. I’m guessing […]
Welcome to the real ACT party
This their slogan: “ACT – the liberal party” This is the reality: “We’ve got too hung up on people’s rights.”
Key writes off Sealord jobs
Despite making sound profits Sealord are laying off 180 workers in Nelson. They claim the move is part of restructuring and that there […]
Documenting Act
One of the things I’ve been following in the last few weeks and keep meaning to post about is Bryce Edwards’ series on […]
Running the lines
No surprise to see The Herald editorial still running National’s lines. Now that Key’s equivocating on National’s planned tax cuts Granny’s right in […]
Now comes the hard part
I get why the government is riding so high in the polls. John Key looks confident amd relaxed albeit a little goofy sometimes […]
Act MP caught out
Rethinking Crime and Punishment Director, Kim Workman, has caught Act MP David Garrett being less than honest about how many extra prisoners his […]
Flashback from way back
Anyone else read Audrey Young’s interview of Bill English in the New Zealand Herald and get a massive feeling of deja vu? Here’s […]
Fitzsimons to step down from Greens’ co-leadership
Jeanette has announced she will be stepping down at co-leader of the Greens. Technically, she will just not be putting her name up […]
Actions speak louder than words
Remember this infamous PowerPoint presentation from National’s 2005 campaign? Remember the Nats’ vote-winning strategy of targeting female voters as outlined in The Hollow […]
Thankfully, the election isn’t tomorrow
When John Key and Pita Sharples were jostled by two Maori men opposed to the National-Maori Party alliance, the thing that stuck in […]
On ACT’s three strikes policy
ACT’s infamous three-strikes-and-you’re-out policy will get a first airing in the House tomorrow when the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill is introduced. Violent […]
Fueling the PR machine ain’t cheap
Just like petrol prices, the cost of fueling National’s PR machine is on the rise. Tracy Watkins reports that “National has employed 18 […]
So much for democracy
The Greens have released advice from the Ministry of Justice confirming that the Government’s rushed RMA changes will prevent legitimate cases going to […]
Sold out
According to the Dom Post Judith Collins is preparing legislation to reintroduce private prisons into New Zealand’s corrections system. The arguments against privatisation […]
Love’s Labour’s lost
There were few Valentine’s Day sentiments for Labour in John Armstrong’s column today: It is difficult to put a finger on it, but […]
Ralston on Ryall
Ralston’s latest column – Ryall’s disabled thinking – covers Tony Ryall’s decision to ignore a select committee recommendation that National set up a Disabilities Commission, […]
More than words
I see the Maori Party has come out saying the increase in the minimum wage to $12.50 an hour isn’t enough, and that […]
Labour calls for $13 minimum wage
Phil Goff has come out strongly in anticipation of today’s minimum wage announcement from the Government with a call for an immediate increase […]
Rainbows tame Waitangi
Gosh what a difference a few years can make when it comes to symbols of national identity. Not so long ago National had […]
Always look on the bright side
Clown incites lawbreaking.
Clown Rodney Hide is the Minister of Local Government. He is also the lead clown of the long-time opposition circus that is the […]
Car crushing fist of the State
Despite being remarkably quiet throughout a spate of serious police controversies, Police Minister Judith Collins has finally risen to the challenge of leadership […]
No room for Roger
Roger Kerr from the Business Roundtable is full of advice for the Government’s upcoming jobs summit in today’s Dom Post. Which is unfortunate […]
New Left blog
Dread Times, a new blog by former Green MP Nandor Tanczos. Hat tip: No Right Turn.
So what’s the plan again?
Labour got a fair amount of mileage during the election campaign out of harassing National about its lack of distinct policy. I guess […]
Identity Politics
In 2007 Te Ata Tino Toa applied to Tranzit New Zealand to have the Maori Sovereignty flag flown on the Auckland Harbour Bridge […]
Fonterra’s Corporate Accountability
Despite very serious allegations from former Sanlu CEO Tian Wenhua that an unnamed Fonterra board member influenced her decision to not cease production […]
Thank God somebody’s awake at Granny Herald
Surprise, surprise, it’s Garth George. “The economic situation is without a doubt the most urgent of predicaments to be dealt with, but so […]
The Neo-Liberal Front
National’s two main internal factions consist of the Conservatives, and the Neo-Liberals. Overall the Conservatives want to keep things pretty much as they […]
Conservatism and Progressivism
Conservatism is all about maintaining the status quo. It assumes that the status quo is essentially ok, while change is best avoided. The […]
Worrying, or what I did with my holidays
I’ve meaning to write a wee post thanking Young Labour for inviting me along to speak at their Summer School the other weekend. […]
A topic for the NACT talk-fest. Needs a slogan for success.
My favourite indicator for a deep recession is showing up. The applications and enrollments for colleges and graduate programs appears to be significantly […]
Imperfect but far better than the alternative
It’s good to see Kiwipolitico taking a critical view of the Left from the Left – it’s certainly better than any critiques we […]
