Politics
political parties
National looking after its own
Yesterday NZ First’s Brian Donnelly said schools were “not a commodity to be exploited for profit by National’s privatising mates” and rightly asserted […]
Nats start to pay off debt to Exclusive Brethren
No wonder National’s education policy (what we know of it so far, anyway) includes more money for private schools. I know a staff […]
Ryall reveals his hollowness on Agenda
all_your_base has already posted on Tony Ryall’s weasel words on yesterday’s Agenda programme, but what struck me about the interview was Ryall’s utter […]
Weasel-words from Tony Ryall
This almost defies belief. Just as I was thinking that Ryall couldn’t screw up the release of their health policy any further… He […]
The Herald lashes National
If you’re National you know you’re in trouble when even the Herald editorial comes out swinging. The National Party was doing very well […]
More opposition to Nats’ health plans
The Christchurch Press reports that Public health groups are angry at National Party plans to remove caps on doctors’ fees if it wins […]
More on National’s privatisation agenda
The Herald reports that Graham Stairmand, president of Grey Power has sent National a stern warning. He believes the Nats’ proposed partial privatisation […]
National: The market will set doctors’ fees
There’s been a bit of debate on The Standard about what National actually stands for. Up until now there have been those who […]
Cyber hypocrisy
All the fuss created by one Rory English, son of National’s deputy leader Bill, exposes some very real and concerning issues. Firstly, just […]
Bill’s agenda
On Agenda on Saturday English admitted that the Nats will consider selling parts of New Zealand’s state owned enterprises. In response, Clayton Cosgrove […]
Support for National on asset sales
Looks like National’s finally got some support for its policy to sell the family silver to pay for tax cuts… from Gordon Copeland. […]
A hollow man
Mark Blumsky’s crocodile tears about the tribal nature of Parliament leaves me absolutely gobsmacked. What planet did this cretin drop from? Before he […]
What is this woman doing in Parliament?
Here’s a tip you can take to the bank: if you’re ever worried you’re no good at your job and need some cheering […]
All Black is New Zealand
Symbolism should never be underestimated in life, as it can’t be in sport and politics. Take the Rugby World Cup where the symbolism […]
Superannuation
Brian Gaynor writes in the Herald about what he calls “the worst economic decision of the last 40 years” – National’s scrapping of […]
More on Hollow Men play
The Herald has a bit more info on the stage adaptation of The Hollow Men. Strange how close Brash and Foreman’s answers are. […]
The Hollow Men stage play
Close Up last night did a quick preview of the stage adaptation of Nicky Hager’s The Hollow Men. I’ll write a review as […]
The knives are out
A reliable Wellington source tells me he had the pleasure of dining at a table next to Bill English and family a few […]
My gran decides she quite likes the gold card
Garth George weighs in on the gold card today in the Herald. While the debate rages about the merits of Winston’s senior card […]
Happy Suffrage Day!
Another of New Zealand’s proud firsts: we were the first to give women the vote in national elections. Clearly as a society we’ve […]
TradeMe talk turns political
A reader has just alerted us that there’s a political discussion raging on a thread over at the TradeMe message boards. Looks like […]
Happy 70th, No 12 Fife Lane, Miramar
Today marks the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Labour Government’s first state house by Michael Joseph Savage. The aim in 1937 […]
Will this man do anything, for any party, anytime?
National’s ad campaign in 2005 was assisted by the creative wit of John Ansell a self-described “wordplaying loon”. Nicky Hager’s ‘The Hollow Men […]
PC still going mad, it would appear
One of John Key’s first rebranding exercises after he took over the National Party was to dump Wayne Mapp from his position as […]
“Ban water?” asks Jacqui Dean
In her defense, I don’t remember there being a chemistry component to Play School.
Has DPF lost his mojo?
I dropped into the National Party’s Kiwiblog again last week and I must say it looks like party insider David Farrar may well […]
The view from the back of the National class….
Last night’s debate on the Youth Minimum Wage Bill was (as noted earlier) a triumph for progressive politics and for young people. It […]
National and climate change
Greenpeace seems strangely surprised at John Key’s statement that George Bush and John Howard are “going in the right direction” on climate change […]
What else have the Nats got to hide?
The Herald ran an article yesterday detailing the Nat’s refusal to support legislation that would strengthen the Auditor-General’s powers to investigate MP’s lists […]
130,000 people have enrolled with Kiwisaver
Here’s the press release with a bit more detail.
True blue genius
The depth of National’s talent is a constant source of amusement. Jackie Blue, allegedly one of National’s slightly-brighter-than-average young things (speaking of, has […]
National fights for its right to outspend others?
I was having a look at David Farrar’s National Party blog this morning and I came across an interesting comment from one of […]
Mo(o)re on “personal attacks”
Item on Stuff yesterday interviewing Barry Gustafson, the author of His Way, a biography of Robert Muldoon (Auckland University Press, 2000): Professor of […]
Family-friendly facade
Yet another policy inoculation today from the Nats, this time on paid parental leave. Judith Collins is now “generally not against it” and […]
Behind the veneer
Russell Brown writes in Hard News: “It was always odds-on that Judith Collins MP would top her previous efforts at public nastiness – […]