The TPP11 negotiations: ISDS provisions are gone – almost
David Parker has confirmed that the TPP11 negotiations have resulted in a considerable minimising of the ISDS provisions. But will this be enough?
Politics
political parties
Can Ben Mack please make his mind up
Herald lifestyle columnist has published two recent opinion pieces, the first wondering if Jacinda Ardern will be able to address the many and varied problems the country faces and the second suggesting that the Government is under the control of the extreme right. Can he please make up his mind.
The House’s Man
How is Trevor Mallard doing as speaker? Early signs are good.
Fair trade
Did the TPPA-11 negotiations just collapse? A breathing space to look at global economics in the context of sovereignty, democracy, fairness, social justice and ecological limits.
Doofus of the week
The award for doofus of the week this week goes to David Bennett for one of the most nonsensical speeches Parliament has ever seen.
Green Party portfolio list
The Green Party have confirmed their newly assigned MP responsibilities.
This TPP…
Some aspects of the TPP no-one’s mentioning.
The Missing Noun.
When they said they wanted to eradicate poverty, I didn’t suspect they simply meant to expunge the word.
Justice for Teina Pora
Andrew Little has announced that the Government will increase the payout to Teina Pora by adjusting for inflation and by paying costs on Pora’s successful judicial review of the previous Government’s decision.
Suck it up political sleazers.
Winston Peters has launched a legal fishing expedition to identify who exactly breached privacy on his superannuation over payments. A problem that he shares with about 50 thousand other pensioners. Unlike them, his problem wasn’t trying to find money to repay it. It was that the breach was deliberately timed to be a classic dirty politics ploy, almost certainly by National, in the leadup to the recent election. I wish him good fishing.
Build a bridge and get over it
Finally conceding the government’s majority, Bridges is complaining that Labour has struck back on his boss’ plan to obstruct the government on select committees by following through on his own plans to reduce their size.
The days of National dick waving
The spin that National are running is that they are unhappy with the move to reduce the MPs in select committees. That their dick size opposition party is the largest make me see teenage boys being idiots. Because there is no substantive difference to parliament from when this was recommended and now.
Paradise lost
The Paradise Papers have provided further evidence of a small group of very wealthy people are using complex trust arrangements based in tax havens to avoid paying tax.
Australia, you’re being a dick
Australia has refused New Zealand’s very generous offer to take 150 Manus Island refugees.
Labour and rural voters
In recent years Labour has allowed National to dominate rural politics. Maybe it is time for Labour to think about reaching out to rural voters and suggest to them that a progressive vote is in their interests.
Jian Yang and his residence application
Just before the election news broke that National MP Jian Yang had previously taught in a Chinese University training spies. A recent OIA release of his immigration application raises further issues.
Trust, Labour and the TPPA
A look at Labour’s PR around the TPPA-11, and a campaign by Action Station to stop the signing.
So there was a housing crisis after all
The briefing to incoming Housing Minister Phil Twyford shows clearly that a crisis in housing developed under National’s watch.
The Green Party goals in government
“This is an incredible opportunity for the Green Party to make that good, green change that we’ve talked about – since ages ago!”
Let’s do this
With a change of Government it is a time for a change in the public entities that run New Zealand.
No renewal for National
Bad luck you back benchers!
National reverts to type
Bill English has claimed that it is not the role of National to make Parliament run properly.
She’s back …
National’s Parliamentary list has been announced. The big mover is Judith Collins who has jumped 7 places to number 9 and she is on the front bench.
Three strikes law to go
Andrew Little has announced that Act’s three strikes for offenders legislation is going to be repealed.
Labour plans to stop overseas purchases of residential properties
Labour has announced plans to prevent foreign residents from buying residential homes in New Zealand.
Deary me.
It would seem Labour’s got nuffin when it comes to the TPP.
Teachers will be dancing in the streets at the latest Education announcement
Chris Hipkins has announced that significant changes will be made to testing regimes for Primary and Secondary schools.
The repeal of the Hobbit law
Labour has indicated that as a priority it wishes to repeal the Hobbit law, a clumsy attempt in breach of International Law to prevent workers in the film industry from organising collectively and to divert attention from the fact that the National Government had been played by Warner Brothers.
Why is James Shaw our new Minister for Statistics?
Why statistics? Some speculation as to how this fits together with James Shaw’s other portfolios, and what the motivations and goals were taking up what is seemingly a minor ministerial position as part of a confidence and supply agreement.
The Green Party on 1080 and predator control
Let’s clear up some misconceptions about the Green Party’s Conservation Policy.
The new government and the TPPA-11
An update from Professor Jane Kelsey on the TPPA-11, a look at the issues for the new Labour-led government, and reasons why we still need to be concerned.
The new Green Ministers and Undersecretary
An outline of the Green Party positions in the new government, and which Green MPs hold them.
Spare a thought for Steven Joyce
Steven Joyce had a bad day yesterday. His claim that National’s use of one of Eminem’s song was “pretty legal” was shown to be anything but. And he stuck to his claim that there was a $11 billion dollar hole in Labour’s budget, casting doubt either on his honesty or on his competence.
Critiquing A Modest National Party Proposal
Some National supporters are proposing the Governor General direct coalition talks in the future. How would that actually work out?
National loses itself
It seems that National’s use of Eminem’s song lose yourself was not so legal.
The new cabinet
Details of the new cabinet have been announced.