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NRT: More OIA skullduggery from National

Written By: - Date published: 2:50 pm, September 1st, 2014 - 8 comments

Another day, and more evidence the National government is manipulating the OIA process. Judith Collins’ office processed an Official Information Act request in just two days. The problem here isn’t that someone got their response within two days – its that other people didn’t…

Why Is John Key Not Compelled to Give Evidence Under Oath?

Written By: - Date published: 12:13 pm, September 1st, 2014 - 75 comments

I have today sent an open letter to the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security to ask why Mr Key is not required to attend her inquiry and to give evidence under oath.  The letter is attached.

All the way to Key

Written By: - Date published: 11:19 am, September 1st, 2014 - 30 comments

All credit to Guyon Espiner for another hard-hitting interview with Key on Morning Report today. Espiner tries to get a straight answer from Key over his personal contacts with Slater. Tries and tries and tries, to no avail. It is clear that Key, personally and through his office, is up to his neck in dirty politics.

Dirty Filthy Red Herring

Written By: - Date published: 10:54 am, September 1st, 2014 - 105 comments

Big fish and little fish.

From Twitter

Written By: - Date published: 8:18 pm, August 31st, 2014 - 34 comments

All your trashing the SFO connections. h/t DebsHancock

Well that deteriorated quickly

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, August 31st, 2014 - 170 comments

The Sunday Star Times has reported on the Hotchin – Slater attack on SFO boss Adam Feeley.  The email which caused John Key to effectively sack Judith Collins as a Minister was provided by Cathy Odgers.  The intent was to put off a SFO/FMA investigation into Hotchin.  This is third world stuff.

Some thoughts…

Written By: - Date published: 2:04 pm, August 30th, 2014 - 113 comments

The English faction is now calling the shots inside the National party.

Crusher crushed

Written By: - Date published: 12:39 pm, August 30th, 2014 - 228 comments

Press conference is running late, but Judith’s statement is out – resigning as Minister, but not as MP.

New allegations of her undermining SFO head Adam Feeley have finally been too much.

Update: email attached to post

Is Judith Collins gone?

Written By: - Date published: 11:57 am, August 30th, 2014 - 39 comments

Judith Collins’ tenure as a Minister may be in some doubt.

“VRWC” exposes rift at top of National

Written By: - Date published: 11:48 am, August 30th, 2014 - 18 comments

There is a self-appointed “Vast Right Wing Conspiracy” in New Zealand. Odgers and Slater are key members. Search VRWC on Slater’s website and you’ll find their activities.  After Pansy Wong’s forced resignation from Cabinet for misuse of her travel perk the VRWC thought the National Cabinet needed “some serious steel going forward.” You can read the minutes of their virtual white-board session on post-it cards – the rifts at the top are deep and nasty.

Fairfax Media’s polling on Dirty Politics

Written By: - Date published: 9:07 am, August 30th, 2014 - 44 comments

The latest Dominion Post contains survey data on people’s responses to Dirty Politics but attempts to manufacture a message by quoting selected interviews suggesting that Labour and not National have been hurt by Hager’s revelations.  The headlines though are that half of all New Zealanders think less highly of John Key and 7.9% of voters are considering changing their vote.  National should be afraid.

Key can’t work with the Greens because…

Written By: - Date published: 4:37 pm, August 29th, 2014 - 85 comments

They care about Child Poverty (and presumably he doesn’t)

Peters v Collins

Written By: - Date published: 1:53 pm, August 29th, 2014 - 69 comments

Peters is standing by his claim that camp Collins approached him about working with her as PM.  Peters says he will “swear an affidavit”, strong language indeed, and Collins has every reason to lie.  Why is she still a Minister anyway?

National: Not Our Future marches across New Zealand Aotearoa

Written By: - Date published: 1:52 pm, August 29th, 2014 - 52 comments

Three weeks before the election, action is being taken across the country voicing a rejection of the National Government’s track record and direction. Rallies are being held in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin to oppose National’s attacks on workers, abuse of the environment, inequality, cronyism and dirty politics.

Does Key want it?

Written By: - Date published: 12:07 pm, August 29th, 2014 - 66 comments

Last night there was one participant in the debate who looked disinterested and unhappy to be there: John Key. Has he had enough?

Cunliffe 1 Key 0

Written By: - Date published: 8:39 am, August 29th, 2014 - 73 comments

Two new polls with different conclusions drawn and the first Leadership debate with a win to David Cunliffe. He may be a sterling campaign away from being the next Prime Minister.

And the winner is…

Written By: - Date published: 10:07 pm, August 28th, 2014 - 119 comments

The pundits say: Cunliffe

I think that most New Zealanders…

Written By: - Date published: 12:35 pm, August 28th, 2014 - 17 comments

Our PM is fond of telling us all what we think. In the wake of Dirty Politics he is working it overtime, telling us all that we believe his spin. Interesting then to get some actual data on what (extrapolating from a sample) most New Zealanders really do think. Many thanks to the Horizon polling people for putting this up on line.

The first head-to-head debate – tonight!

Written By: - Date published: 7:45 am, August 28th, 2014 - 315 comments

The first head-to-head debate between David Cunliffe and John Key (tonight, 7pm, TV One) could be a real turning point of the election.

Judith Collins raises doubt about which dimension she occupies

Written By: - Date published: 8:06 am, August 27th, 2014 - 39 comments

Judith Collins claims to have been exonerated of claims that she breached the rights of privacy of a public servant by giving his details to Cameron Slater. There is one problem with her claim. She is totally wrong. Update: RNZ is now reporting she is backing away from her claim.

Caption competition

Written By: - Date published: 2:15 pm, August 26th, 2014 - 82 comments

key-throwing-sausage

Polity: Hooton on Key on SIS: Bullshit!

Written By: - Date published: 9:41 am, August 26th, 2014 - 118 comments

Rob says: Key was either complicit in the SIS document release to Whaleoil, or he has a gross dereliction of duty. Let’s hear what his answers are to that.

Dirty pictures

Written By: - Date published: 9:14 am, August 26th, 2014 - 28 comments

Cartoons and other images of Dirty Politics.

Interview with “Key”…

Written By: - Date published: 6:42 am, August 26th, 2014 - 16 comments

Billed as “Decision 2014 Part 1”, Here’s Michael Hurst staring as John Key’s office…

Tax cut cynicism

Written By: - Date published: 6:20 pm, August 25th, 2014 - 52 comments

According to the PM, Bill English saying there won’t be tax cuts was both true and untrue at the same time, like a fiscal Schroedinger’s Cat.

Parker nails English on economic policy

Written By: - Date published: 2:25 pm, August 25th, 2014 - 32 comments

Labour has the bold set of policies to take New Zealand forward into the 21st century – National’s “same old same old” tinkering will see the Kiwi skiff swamped. That was the clear conclusion from the debate between David Parker and Bill English on National Radio this morning.

Just answer the questions John

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, August 25th, 2014 - 41 comments

John Key has taken to answering relevant questions about Dirty Politics by refusing to answer them.  But these questions go to the heart of the issue of whether he is fit to be New Zealand’s Prime Minister and deserve to be answered.

Labour’s housing plan is much better

Written By: - Date published: 4:03 pm, August 24th, 2014 - 65 comments

National has announced its housing policy using Labour’s Kiwisaver scheme to provide extra money to first home buyers.  But the policy will only add to housing inflation instead of addressing it.

The opening addresses of Election 2014

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, August 24th, 2014 - 32 comments

Last night the opening party political addresses were broadcast on TV One, simultaneous with an All Blacks match and a live-tweeted crowd viewing of Labyrinth. So if you missed out (and don’t follow my every thought on Twitter), here’s my reaction! [Update: more links to videos!]

An ethical example

Written By: - Date published: 8:48 pm, August 23rd, 2014 - 12 comments

National’s membership website had an open backdoor that’s just been closed. The hacker who found it didn’t do what John Key reckons anyone would do and take advantage; he reported. Careful John Key – your ethics are showing.

We Are Asking the Wrong Question

Written By: - Date published: 1:18 pm, August 23rd, 2014 - 63 comments

The Prime Minister has so far managed, by the skin of his teeth, to avoid censure by claiming that he was not personally involved in the disreputable behaviour about the SIS OIA that has come to light. But he has been able to do so because we have been asking the wrong question.