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Kim Jong Key Is Missing

Written By: - Date published: 11:45 am, October 16th, 2014 - 45 comments

The Latest News Bulletin from CNN   “Concern is mounting in New Zealand over the whereabouts of the country’s leader, Kim Jong Key. The Great Leader has not been seen on television or heard on radio for over two hours. Observers say that his disappearance for such a long period is unprecedented. Speculation is rife […]

Off to war

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, October 16th, 2014 - 70 comments

Broken promise. Lies. War. The Herald willing to believe anything to defend Brand Key. Just another day in NZ politics.

Grant Robertson campaign launch

Written By: - Date published: 1:59 pm, October 15th, 2014 - 50 comments

GrantRobertsonCampaignLaunch

David Parker – my choice for Leader

Written By: - Date published: 7:12 am, October 15th, 2014 - 199 comments

Heavyweight Cabinet experience, strong egalitarian values, a cool debater, with a passion for manufacturing and a high-value economy, a good deal of steel and with an open mind and a twinkle in his eye – these are the reasons why I support David Parker for Labour Party Leader.

Dishonourable Judith Collins

Written By: - Date published: 6:25 pm, October 14th, 2014 - 62 comments

Even John Key can’t bring himself to call Judith “Honourable”

And then there were four

Written By: - Date published: 4:21 pm, October 14th, 2014 - 173 comments

Twitter is suggesting that Nanaia Mahuta will enter Labour’s leadership race. Update: Her candidacy is confirmed.

Some thoughts on David Cunliffe’s withdrawal

Written By: - Date published: 2:30 pm, October 13th, 2014 - 111 comments

Some personal comments on news today that David Cunliffe has withdrawn from the Labour leadership contest.

David Cunliffe announces withdrawal from the Labour Party leadership contest

Written By: - Date published: 2:11 pm, October 13th, 2014 - 336 comments

Statement from David Cunliffe I am today announcing that I have decided not to nominate for the 2014 Labour Party leadership contest. It has been a hard decision to make but it is one that I believe is in the best interests of the wider Labour Party. There is so much work to do on […]

Q&A with Andrew Little

Written By: - Date published: 2:45 pm, October 12th, 2014 - 188 comments

I’d like to say thanks to the Standard for hosting me today. I’ve always enjoyed robust political meetings and I’m a firm believer in fronting up and answering the hard questions. Labour is a great party. Our movement’s values are values that New Zealanders share – we’re a party and a nation that believes deeply […]

Progressive social media

Written By: - Date published: 9:27 am, October 10th, 2014 - 70 comments

Now that the dust is settling on the 2014 general election it is a good time for progressives to review our and our opponents’ use of social media and what can be done better.  And how do we respond effectively to the approach of the right which is now thanks to Nicky Hager painstakingly clear.

Even the police sense the hypocrisy

Written By: - Date published: 4:20 pm, October 9th, 2014 - 89 comments

It looks like even the police can sense the rank smell coming off their theft of Nicky Hager’s systems and documents. They ignored a complaint about Cameron Slater two years ago. But the police are still on a holiday. This looks like a limp PR exercise by the police to prove that they aren’t John Key’s poodles. Updated.

Harawira’s recount bid did not “backfire”

Written By: - Date published: 3:17 pm, October 9th, 2014 - 155 comments

The usual Tory cheerleaders have been quick to heap further bile on Hone Harawira.

The terrorism card

Written By: - Date published: 7:35 am, October 9th, 2014 - 46 comments

Terrorism is whatever John Key wants it to be.

NRT: We don’t need new laws to fight terrorism

Written By: - Date published: 2:14 pm, October 8th, 2014 - 10 comments

John Key has been busy lying about the need for yet more ‘anti-terrorism’ laws. How many do the police and security forces need? As NRT points out, are they just too lazy to use the ones they already have? Or is this just because John Key wants to get his own plastic sword? Surely we pay him enough to buy his own?

John Key’s police poodles

Written By: - Date published: 8:41 am, October 8th, 2014 - 194 comments

The search of Nicky Hager in response to a complaint by Cameron Slater contrasts strongly with the lackadaisical investigation of a similar complaint by Matthew Blomfield against Cameron Slater. I guess the police take things seriously if you are a friend of John Key, just as they did in 2011 with the teapot tape saga. How far has John Key corrupted the police?

NRT: A surprise policy

Written By: - Date published: 7:12 pm, October 7th, 2014 - 32 comments

Remember National’s social housing policy? The one they campaigned on? The one that talked about how much money they were spending and was all about upgrading and investing in state houses? Somehow, post-election, its transmogrified into selling off a third of the state housing stock. John Key lying to voters as usual eh?

Two tier strategy on spying

Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, October 7th, 2014 - 30 comments

Key ditching responsibility for the GCSB and SIS, and adopting the newly created title of Minister for National Security and Intelligence, is another example of the dirty politics two tier strategy.

About those other police complaints …

Written By: - Date published: 6:51 pm, October 6th, 2014 - 52 comments

Police action in obtaining a warrant to search Nicky Hager’s home in politically charged circumstances raises issues why in other politically charged incidents no similar action has been undertaken.

Polity: National’s new ministry: Key fires himself!

Written By: - Date published: 12:53 pm, October 6th, 2014 - 36 comments

Key has basically fired himself from most of his Security and Intelligence responsibilities. This is a big change.

A paean about Grant Robertson

Written By: - Date published: 12:40 pm, October 3rd, 2014 - 385 comments

Like many on the left, I was disillusioned with the election result. It felt pretty hopeless on election night that John Key could romp home to victory on the back of dirty politics. But there is hope. Here are my ten key reasons why I am voting for and supporting Grant Robertson to be our next Prime Minister.

First they sold Auckland, then the rest of NZ…?

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, October 3rd, 2014 - 28 comments

A quiet shift in a dodgy Key govt-SkyCity deal: TVNZ land, sold to SkyCity for its convention centre, is to be used for a new hotel.  Plus: non-mandated deal between Auckland Transport Authority & a US corporate – intense surveillance of Aucklanders’ diverse activities.

New Zealand’s brighter future

Written By: - Date published: 4:00 pm, October 2nd, 2014 - 139 comments

The early election has meant that National has avoided the bad news of the collapse in international milk prices during the campaign period.  And the Reserve Bank has finally taken action to drive down the value of New Zealand’s currency.  It may be that the brighter future promised by National is not going to be so bright.

The politics of poverty

Written By: - Date published: 8:34 am, October 2nd, 2014 - 86 comments

Every election Key is confronted with the issue of poverty. His response is always pure politics with no effective action, and this election has been no different. We will be here again in 2017.

NZ troops to Iraq?

Written By: - Date published: 8:41 am, October 1st, 2014 - 109 comments

Key’s public position on sending troops to Iraq has (surprise!) changed since the election. His private position on the topic probably hasn’t changed since 2003.

Parker as interim leader

Written By: - Date published: 1:43 pm, September 30th, 2014 - 80 comments

According to early reports (Twitter) David Parker is interim leader of the Labour Party, with Annette King as deputy.

Grooming Bennett

Written By: - Date published: 7:20 am, September 30th, 2014 - 85 comments

Key is grooming Bennett for a finance role and eventual succession. No point in Nat members making a fuss, they don’t get a say in who leads them.

Robertson announces that he is standing for leader

Written By: - Date published: 9:05 am, September 28th, 2014 - 193 comments

Grant Robertson is the second Labour MP to announce that he wishes to seek the party’s leadership.

Key rorts system

Written By: - Date published: 8:48 am, September 26th, 2014 - 52 comments

There is a rort being negotiated in Parliament that will cost the thick edge of $1 million a year. Where is the Taxpayer’s union on this?

WANTED: new ideas on child poverty

Written By: - Date published: 1:00 pm, September 24th, 2014 - 88 comments

It’s great to see John Key taking a sudden interest in addressing child poverty in New Zealand. But why the change of heart?

Clean it up

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, September 23rd, 2014 - 70 comments

Action Station has a full page ad in today’s NZ Herald, asking to clean up dirty politics. Dirty Politics is not any isolated attack politics or criticism of those in power.  It is a relentless two track strategy, an orchestrated smear machine, aimed at moving politics rightwards & disengaging (left wing) voters. Update: Hager comments on the election.

The lurch to the right begins

Written By: - Date published: 9:20 am, September 22nd, 2014 - 129 comments

Expect to see a lot of drastic rightwing policies this term as John Key redefines the term “centre ground.”