Greens commit to Tauranga – Hamilton – Auckland passenger rail service
National has let regional rail services rust away but the Greens in government will restore rail as the backbone of New Zealand’s transport system, for freight and for people
Politics
political parties
Labour addresses urgent mental health need in Canterbury
In the wake of devastating earthquakes in Canterbury, National’s treatment of mental health needs in the region has been absolutely shameful. Yesterday Jacinda Ardern released new policy to help address the crisis. Great work from Labour in an area that National have cruelly neglected.
Are Government-business Think Tanks worthwhile?
In America Donald Trump has abandoned business think tanks that he established not that long ago. During the last Labour Government Helen Clark established the Growth and Innovation Advisory Board with mixed results. What should a Jacinda Ardern led Labour-Green coalition do?
National – Delivering no pay rises for NZ
Expect plenty of Nat boasting on “the economy” in the election campaign. They’ll be desperate to hide the inconvenient fact that ordinary workers are going backwards.
Hager: Dirty Politics three years on
In an excellent piece on The Spinoff, Nicky Hager reflects on three years after Dirty Politics.
Time now to sweep the party of these disgusting tactics out of office and #ChangeTheGovernment.
Key praises Ardern and Labour
Key: “The camera likes Jacinda. Paul Holmes once said to me ‘on TV they see your heart’ – she responds well to that so that works really well for her…”, “Labour made the right decision to make Jacinda Ardern leader”
Strewth Cobbah
Over the ditch the Australian Government has accused New Zealand Labour of using Parliament to undermine Barnaby Joyce. But an analysis of the claim suggests that anyone claiming this should be regarded as being a whacka because the media was onto the claim two days before the questions were asked.
Labour’s policies
A list of Labour’s announced policies to date and an easy way to compare them to other parties’ policies.
NRT: National resorts to racism on water
I/S at No Right Turn: ”
This isn’t a “Pandora’s box”. The model for an easy, full and final settlement to resolve this exists, and iwi are keen. What is lacking is goodwill from the government to sign it. And Finlayson knows all this – so he is actively trying to mislead the New Zealand public about it, trying to appeal to the racism of rednecks in order to protect the stolen “rights” of a privileged few”.
Nats repeat failed bootcamp policy in plea to rally their scared angry base
English’s “boot camp” policy is pure politics. As much as he tries to deny it, it’s more or less an exact repeat of Key’s failed 2008 attempt, it would do much more harm than good if ever implemented. More than any other flailing to date, this mess is a sign of National’s desperation.
Labour’s School Leavers’ Toolkit
“Labour’s School Leavers’ Toolkit will help students learn to drive, understand practical budgeting, be equipped with workplace skills, and learn how our political system operates through civics education at school. Every secondary school will be resourced to provide these courses.”
Chaos between supposed coalition partners
Open warfare between supposed coalition partners in the run-up to the election. Just imagine what would happen if the Greens were attacking Labour like this.
National’s weekend of blind panic
What a weekend of National panic that was. From desperate lies on water costs to repeating failed policy from 2008 to plans to wake parents up in the middle of the night to administer “instant fines” in a youth curfew. Jacinda Ardern’s Labour has got them on the run.
Leaders in the progressive government-in-waiting
Jacinda Ardern at the chippy and James Shaw in the House.
National promises stronger, more skilled criminals
National are going to send our most “hardened” youth offenders to the Army to be trained up. If that fails, they’ll send them to adult prisons to learn their craft better.
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.
The Greens: solidarity and resistance
Ahead of the Green Party’s election campaign relaunch this afternoon, let’s get a few things straight about who and what the Green Party is.
Green Party campaign relaunch 1.30pm Sunday
The Green party resets its election campaign.
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.
Dylan Horrocks cartoon fundraiser for the Greens
…the original black & white art for page 152 of Dylan Horrocks’s graphic novel Sam Zabel and the Magic Pen (published 2014, nominated for an Eisner Award)
Impressed with James Shaw
I have been impressed with James Shaw lately. The Greens may have lost Turei, but they have seen Shaw grow in stature.
NZF is finished
Here’s a prediction for you.
Gower rightly apologises to Greens
“Newshub political editor Patrick Gower has apologised to Green Party leader James Shaw for suggesting a bad poll result drove his co-leader to quit.” If you are angry about this – use your vote…
Green MP Marama Davidson on keeping the faith
“We will not forget the thousands of you who came to us with your stories of hardship”
How high will Ardern’s Labour go?
If Jacinda Ardern’s Labour can get a jump to 33-36% in the polls in just one week, how high can it go for the election? We need to see further gains coming from National – and they will. We need to see the Green vote recover – and it will…
Nat insults Indian community
Lots of big stuff going on at the moment, but other stories are significant too. The extent of the coverage of this blunder will be worrying the Nats.
It is National’s time for the brown trousers
If you want to know why the right is farting so much personal smoke, take a look at the poll trends 2011, 2014, 2017. It’s not a pretty picture for the Nats.
Two good polls for Labour – and a call to arms for the Greens
Two polls out tonight show a big surge for Labour and Jacinda Ardern. But we need a strong Green vote too. To those whom Metiria inspired – please don’t give up on voting. The Greens need you now more than ever!
Corbyn-esque NZ
This post was written and ready to go and then news of Metiria Turei stepping down hit. Some of it might read a little strangely because of that. I’ve changed some of the tenses used.
Metiria to resign as leader
Metiria Turei has just announced that she will stand down as leader of the Green Party and she may relinquish her position on the Green list.
Labour’s water policy – Clean rivers for future generations
Labour has announced its water policy. Details include higher swimming water quality standards, a work task force to get young people off the dole replanting riperian margins and charges for commercial consumers with the royalties being paid to regional councils.
The Kelvin Davis effect
Much has been written about the Jacinda Ardern effect that has put Labour so enthusiastically back in the game. But the appointment of Kelvin Davis as deputy is also looking like a very smart move.
Le Matte Juste: More resignations!
Matthew Whitehead on what’s going on with the Greens.
James Shaw: “I completely support what Metiria has done”
Shaw in his own words on where the party is at.
Reviving
Is Jacinda Ardern’s rise to power evidence of a change of approach to political campaigning by Labour?
ACT wants to subdivide the Waitakere Ranges (or at least the foothills)
Act has announced a policy that would undermine current protection given to the Waitakere Ranges. If it gets a chance …