Child abuse and poverty – still with us
As topics like Trump and the quakes take the limelight, the slow tragedies unfolding in NZ carry on in the background.
Politics
political parties
NRT: “A stupid idea”
I/S at No Right Turn on Key’s statement that a gender-balanced cabinet is “a stupid idea”.
Treasury predictions – not good
Brian Fallow in The Herald summarises the take-home messages from the latest Treasury report. National have us on track to disaster.
The Mount Roskill by-election and the strange case of the missing horse shoe
One News has reported on the strange case where a local Mt Roskill resident was threatened by someone describing themselves as Parmjeet Parmar’s right hand man, had a horse shoe thrown at him, complained to the police, but was subsequently told that the horse shoe had been destroyed.
National better late than never on pay equity
A 2015 court decision forced National’s hand on pay equity. This week the equity working group reported back. To its credit National is accepting the recommendations, and unions are hailing a big win. But the final form of any law is not yet clear.
Mana and Māori Party ‘unification’?
Although the personality obstacles probably retired with Turia and Sharples, it is hard to see how Mana’s left wing policies can be reconciled with the Māori Party’s record propping up the Key government.
National plans to sell Housing Corp home Key grew up in
John Key, the state house tenant turned good who has relied heavily on his humble upbringing is overseeing the sale of the state house he grew up in.
Sale of Key’s old house a powerful symbol
English admits that the government has done a poor job of maintaining state houses, and uses it as an excuse for privatisation – its by design. The attempted sale in Christchurch, incuding Key’s childhood home, is a powerful symbol of the way this government likes pulling up the ladder that they used behind them.
Politik on Labour/ Greens
I was rather amused reading Politik’s “Despite the pact Shaw takes on Robertson“ and was struck by the strange way that some political commentators (and probably some politicians) view the world at the political coalface. They really need to start to think about political parties as being like any other organisation. Tactical compromises without a strategic focus will always kill any organisation – eventually.
Nat state house selloff in tatters
Another fail in National’s plan to sell off state houses is good news for those of us who believe that it is the government’s responsibility to take care of society’s most vulnerable.
Brownlee should stop vilifying scientists
Gerry Brownlee has attacked a public servant firstly for not approached the Government for increased Geonet monitoring and then for raising the issue but not telling him personally.
Brownlee bullies GNS staff
Gerry Brownlee has chosen to respond to the cautious words of a public servant by publicly attacking him.
The eternal tax-cut mirage
Despite the unknown cost of the quakes, and the host of other urgent needs, Key is once again talking up election-bribe tax cuts.
Andrew Little: Promises to Pike families must be kept
Yesterday marked the sixth anniversary of the Pike River disaster. Here is a statement released by Andrew Little urging that the mine not be sealed and the deaths of the miners be investigated and their bodies brought home.
Rewarding incompetence with a 4th term?
Disaster response is about more than showing up for photos and cancelling a trip or two. National has made a mess of Christchurch and comprehensively failed to learn its lessons. They should in no way be rewarded with a 4th term.
National tries to have it both ways
Despite the Kaikoura earthquakes, the damage to the Capital and the fact the EQC fund is now in deficit, the Government is still holding out the possibility of tax cuts in election year.
Nats politicising earthquake response
Oh look, National are nakedly politicising government earthquake response.
Dirty politics past and present
A couple of dirty politics related stories that slipped under the radar in the last hectic week.
Andrew Little: The Kaikoura Earthquakes
Andrew Little on the Kaikoura Earthquakes.
Fear and loathing in Mt Roskill
Members of the National Party in Mount Roskill are trying to make a story out of Michael Wood after he responded directly to public insults made against his wife.
Chloe Swarbrick steps up for 2017
“The world is changing, people are angry, and more than ever, we need open minds and compassionate action. I’m joining the @NZGreens”
Nat allegations about Michael Wood a pack of lies
I trust the truth will be reported by all the media that reported the lies.
Flogging the dead TPP horse
The Nats are determined to keep flogging the TPP horse in Parliament. Someone should buy them a newspaper.
Trump scooped up the white vote that Democrats abandoned
Trump laid siege to the Democrat’s “Blue Wall” and they didn’t respond to or recognise his strategem until far too late.
RMA changes back on agenda
A good day to dump bad news. Looks like RMA changes are back on agenda, courtesy of the Maori Party.
Grant Robertson: Future of Work
At the Labour Conference over the weekend, Grant Robertson announced the results of the Future of Work Commission. Ideas for policy to cope with a new age of work.
The media double standard
Andrea Vance has attacked Labour’s Ready to Work policy and claimed that the policy does not add up, despite being told how the figures had been arrived at.
Andrew Little At Labour Conference
Here’s the video of his speech for you to get the full rousing impact.
There is no housing crisis
Paula Bennett has announced a new spend of $300 million to address the non existing housing crisis. But the announcement appears to be little more than a refinancing of Housing Corp and an admission that the Government should have stopped taking Housing Corp dividends years ago.
Deficient newshrub
According to the deficient newshrub on Saturday night there was a distinct lack of support from Labour for the Mt Roskill campaign. In reality 4 buses carrying more than 200 door-knockers including all the Labour MPs other than Little, went to Mt Roskill on Saturday afternoon.
All the best to Michael Wood, who got a great reception on the doorstop.
Good coverage for Labour’s conference
Good coverage for Labour’s conference, Little’s speech, and the “substantial investigation into the Future of Work”.
Andrew Little speech: Ready for work
Text of Andrew Little’s speech to the 2016 Labour Party Conference.
John Key’s Paradise
This really happened. Contains crimes against music, dance, fashion, and irony. Also some recent headlines from “John Key’s Paradise”…
Grant Robertson Speech: Future of Work Commission results
Text of a speech from Grant Robertson to the 2016 Labour Party Conference concerning the results from the Future of Work Commission.
Re-post: Eva Hartshorn-Sanders for Senior Vice President
Earlier this year the Standard’s authors offered candidates for the upcoming Labour Party internal elections the chance to guest post about why they’re running. We’re reposting them now ahead of tomorrow’s vote.
Re-post: Tane Phillips for Māori Vice President
Earlier this year the Standard’s authors offered candidates for the upcoming Labour Party internal elections the chance to guest post about why they’re running. We’re reposting them now ahead of tomorrow’s vote.