politicans
john key
The Wall Street Journal gets it
Despite all the claims of “centrist” and “centre-right” none other than the the Wall Street Journal has pointed out that John Key’s government […]
PM eyes fetching tiara
The world may be going to hell in a hand-basket and National may have been pretty derelict so far in coming up with […]
An empty shell
Question Time yesterday was extraordinary. There’s too much to quote it all: ministers attacking ACC, refusing to back the minimum wage for all […]
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 […]
It’s raining men
A reader just sent us this one minute montage of photos from John Key’s jobs summit. Enjoy.
‘Iconic’ bailouts
Bailing out a company like Air New Zealand is one thing. It has a multiplier effect on the local economy in tourism marketing, […]
Granny’s baked some patsies for you, dearie
Can you spot the question that wasn’t asked of Key by Armstrong and Young in their six page interview with him in today’s […]
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 […]
In for a penny
Key’s old arm cast has sold for $18,500 on Trademe. The money will go to the Fred Hollows Foundation to help blind people in […]
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 […]
Half truths
Across the Tasman Kevin Rudd has announced a huge recovery package. Here at home, National is merely tinkering around the edges. Key’s standard […]
Fonterra set to simmer
Lawyer Stephen Price has rubbished Fonterra’s claim that the Chinese sub judice status of the Sanlu case prevents Fonterra releasing documentation of their communications. Price […]
So that’s the plan
Well it may not have been particularly self-evident just what National have been doing since the election, but clearly John has some kind […]
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 […]
John Key keeps disappearing into satire
Danyl at The Dim-Post has been indulging in his favored pastime again – satire. In this case Cabinet expresses concern over missing PM […]
Obama implements pay freeze for some aides
President Obama has announced his intention to institute a pay freeze on the salaries of senior White House aides earning over $US100,000. He says […]
Still swilling the small beer
John Key has written to the Remuneration Board imploring them not to increase wages for MPs and judges in the annual review later this […]
Time to pony up with some policy
After three years of solid growth, the latest stats show international tourist numbers collapsing 8% last November compared to November 2007 due to the global recession. […]
Easily impressed
John Key in person is extremely amiable; talking to him face to face, it’s hard not to like the bugger. I guess that […]
Time to reconsider Hobsonville
After initially saying they would cap the number of state houses, National/ACT’s Housing Minister Phil Heatley actually got informed. Despite the good work […]
Class divide
Taken a matter of minutes ago, the Workers Party protest outside John Key’s multimillion dollar Parnell mansion. Just to remind you that we’ve […]
The Secret Diary of Prime Minister John Key aged 47 1/3
If someone sent me this to put up as a guest post on The Standard, I would probably reject it as too childish. […]
Off the Agenda
Well, if that was the best they could manage for the final Agenda then we haven’t lost much. There was one decent question […]
It’s 3am again
Armstrong’s a little more charitable in relation to National’s dithering on the evacuation of Kiwis from Bangkok than I would have been. Yes, […]
Fiasco
John Key’s first test as Prime Minister in a crisis is turning into a bloody fiasco, with the leader of the opposition having […]
First days on the job disappoint
The journos don’t seem to have been very impressed by Key now that he has returned to take up the reins of government. […]
More to worry about
John Key said yesterday that he expects growth in “the next financial year to be pretty close to zero”. That means he’s anticipating […]
A plea to National
Don’t let Key go abroad representing us again until he has had some diplomacy training. I can’t believe, I literally can’t believe, the […]
The departed
The UK has announced plans to increase departure tax from its airports for flights outside Europe to pay for offsetting their carbon emissions. […]
Signature performance
Before our new Prime Minister went to APEC I wrote “it’s not an opportunity to get some names in your autograph book”. I […]
Key’s first test – fail
Well, John Key took my advice and gave a speech at APEC different from the pro forma MFAT-written speech that might have been […]
Musical Interlude: Forgot about Key
Some jokers have given new lyrics to the Dr. Dre and Eminem classic. Hilarious. My favourite part is Hide’s cameo. Hattip: Dolla$Trada
A chance to make his mark
John Key’s off on his first trip as PM tomorrow – APEC in Peru. When I saw him interviewed about this he seemed […]
John Key’s victory parade
No, not the one the Herald’s organising. Over at Scoop Lyndon Hood’s unveiled his own victory parade for John Key and I gotta […]
The first test
Michael Cullen has released the latest economic and fiscal update, the one Key commented on in today’s papers but which he refused to […]