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Meet the Candidates.

Written By: - Date published: 11:49 am, October 30th, 2014 - 3 comments

For those interested, a pre-hustings catch up with Labour Party leader contenders in Dunedin today.

Key’s “high ethical standards”

Written By: - Date published: 9:52 am, October 30th, 2014 - 55 comments

Key’s “high ethical standards” were on display in Parliament again yesterday. So many questions. (And a bonus note – apparently Key knows the identity of Rawshark.)

Leadership Election: Candidates Start Painting Themselves Into Corners

Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, October 30th, 2014 - 74 comments

InsideOut has a look at the current state of the labour leadership campaigns. Predictably they plump down on the side of a particular candidate. But they do point to various issues with all of the campaigns.

Meet Nanaia and Andrew in West Auckland this weekend

Written By: - Date published: 11:44 pm, October 29th, 2014 - 40 comments

Labour West are hosting an event this weekend where you can meet two of the Labour leadership candidates.

Dairy Workers back Andrew Little

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, October 29th, 2014 - 35 comments

The Dairy Workers Union has officially endorsed Andrew Little’s bid for the Labour leadership.

ImperatorFish: There appears to be an off button

Written By: - Date published: 9:16 am, October 29th, 2014 - 16 comments

Scott wonders how we can get around the wonder of whether John Key is currently Prime Minister

There is no child poverty in New Zealand

Written By: - Date published: 9:03 am, October 29th, 2014 - 64 comments

A recently published UNICEF report on levels of child poverty amongst developed economies suggests that despite our rockstar economy and our brighter future child poverty levels in New Zealand have stagnated since 2008 while in Australia meaningful changes have been made.

Distractify

Written By: - Date published: 7:07 am, October 29th, 2014 - 28 comments

While shepherding through horrendous housing changes and removing workers’ rights – and hiding from Dirty Politics – John Key needs a big “look over there!”

NRT: Cronyism in Christchurch II

Written By: - Date published: 6:39 pm, October 28th, 2014 - 18 comments

Back in August, National announced they were handing a $284 million contract to build a new convention centre in Christchurch to a consortium which included the Speaker’s brother. From the outside, it looks like cronyism, if not outright corruption…

National losing the middle?

Written By: - Date published: 8:23 am, October 28th, 2014 - 133 comments

In its first term, National was very careful to be incremental – Key hung to the middle, chipping away carefully at workers’ rights without doing anything dramatic. Having gained the public’s trust by continuing (outside the House) to be a clown they’d like to have a drink with, they went with one big hit with […]

All Things Being Equal…

Written By: - Date published: 1:46 pm, October 27th, 2014 - 173 comments

Assuming that all four contenders for leadership of Labour are equally worthy, there is a defining factor that ought to be considered…vulnerability to attack.

Andrew Little’s Palmerston North Speech

Written By: - Date published: 2:18 pm, October 26th, 2014 - 38 comments

Video and the transcript of Andrew Little’s speech at the Palmerston North Labour Leadership meeting

I’m backing Grant

Written By: - Date published: 9:28 am, October 26th, 2014 - 175 comments

We have 4 great Leftie contenders, who all want to take Aotearoa where we want it to go. Whomever wins, I’ll back them to the hilt. But I have a vote and a voice, and I’m backing Grant – here’s why.

Is the Prime Minister in the House?

Written By: - Date published: 8:24 pm, October 25th, 2014 - 14 comments

Or is the leader of the National Party? Or a husband? Or a ‘private citizen’? Or a…

Have a coffee and a yarn with Andrew Little on Labour Day (Auckland)

Written By: - Date published: 3:48 pm, October 25th, 2014 - 17 comments

Servo Cafe, Te Atatu, 2:30 on Monday 27 October.

NRT: Political interference at Maori Television

Written By: - Date published: 5:04 pm, October 24th, 2014 - 11 comments

A government-owned television channel arranges an interview with a former opposition MP, but the government-appointed CEO spikes it. Something from Russia or Cuba maybe? No – according to Hone Harawira its happening right here in New Zealand. National’s specially appointed CEO Paora Maxwell apparently personally doing the gagging of a previously independent Native Affairs show.

Five headed monster

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, October 24th, 2014 - 56 comments

With all due respect to the five-headed monster, I think it’s time for a new version…

A encomium for Nanaia Mahuta

Written By: - Date published: 8:27 am, October 24th, 2014 - 62 comments

I know Nanaia reasonably well, having worked with her at a regional level in the Labour Party. Her level-headedness, the way she can grasp complex problems and find solutions, her ability to connect with everyone, her ability to stay positive and focused and to find a way through are skills that are desperately needed in the Party right now. [Updated]

Nanaia Mahuta’s email.

Written By: - Date published: 9:20 pm, October 23rd, 2014 - 22 comments

Also in the email from a few days ago. As people will have observed I have been more notable by my absence than my presence in the last few days. But I finally found some time to read back in my email today. Weka particularly asked for this to be put up, and I see […]

Will Chris Trotter give up his table?

Written By: - Date published: 9:05 pm, October 23rd, 2014 - 64 comments

For many decades Galbraiths has been a local watering hole for some of the unionists, academics, and commentariat on Friday night. I have been known to go along to stir participate in the bemoaning lofty debate and to  spend a few coppers. David Parker is going to be there on Friday evening. I suspect I may have to go along to observe. 🙂

The first hustings

Written By: - Date published: 8:29 am, October 23rd, 2014 - 128 comments

The leadership contest has kicked off with a bang.

Cullen endorses Robertson

Written By: - Date published: 6:50 am, October 23rd, 2014 - 137 comments

Grant Robertson picked up a heavyweight endorsement yesterday.

Question time this year

Written By: - Date published: 2:44 pm, October 22nd, 2014 - 68 comments

Question time this year isn’t going to be much fun for Dirty John. Here’s today’s Question 3 as told by Twitter.

Parker on cults and colours

Written By: - Date published: 8:31 am, October 22nd, 2014 - 152 comments

David Parker is reported in The Herald this morning with some comments which seem likely to provoke a strong response! His email pitch to party members also arrived today…

EPMU endorses Andrew Little for Labour leader

Written By: - Date published: 9:07 am, October 20th, 2014 - 67 comments

The EPMU have just announced they’re endorsing Andrew Little for Labour leader.

Labour’s Leadership campaign heats up

Written By: - Date published: 7:44 am, October 20th, 2014 - 101 comments

The Labour leadership campaign is now under way and the first meet the candidates meetings are scheduled for this week.

David Parker live Q&A

Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, October 19th, 2014 - 161 comments

David Parker joins us here live on Sunday at around 3pm. Post your questions for David here. As usual all comments / questions will be strictly moderated.

Let them go to war

Written By: - Date published: 12:06 am, October 19th, 2014 - 35 comments

Back when I was a teenager, a mate of mine decided that he was going to give up on school and would get in some combat. So he worked his way into the Rhodesian Light Infantry. A few years later I heard that he’d been killed in action. Other young men going overseas with similar excitement issues have came back a lot less interested in excitement. Sounds safer to me than letting them have a car.

David Parker live here Sunday

Written By: - Date published: 12:20 pm, October 18th, 2014 - 34 comments

David Parker will be joining us here live on Sunday at 3pm. A post will go up Sunday around 2 for questions, as usual this will be strictly moderated.

Which West Wing politicians do the Labour Leadership candidates most closely resemble?

Written By: - Date published: 8:25 pm, October 17th, 2014 - 14 comments

So which West Wing politician do the current Labour Leadership candidates most closely resemble?  Dedicated to one of the best political activists I know.

OIA: Rotten

Written By: - Date published: 5:42 pm, October 16th, 2014 - 70 comments

As story after story comes out, it shows how much contempt for transparency and the law this government has, and how little  it intends to be held to account.