Seymour is dancing with the stars
David Seymour has indicated his commitment to improving ACT’s plight by enrolling for Dancing with the Stars.
Politics
politicans
Labour to reform abortion law
Justice Minister Andrew Little has given the go ahead to change NZ’s archaic abortion legislation.
An in Vogue Prime Minister
Our PM doing girly stuff is quite ok. It’s what else they’re doing that needs looking at.
Then there were three
Amy Adams has announced that she will also be seeking the leader’s position of the National Party.
No Bridges Bridges announces he will seek National leadership
Simon Bridges has announced that he too will be seeking the National Party leadership.
Crusher wants to crush
Judith Collins has announced that she is running for National’s Parliamentary leadership.
Who will be National’s next leader?
Following Bill English’s resignation the question is who will be National’s next leaders. The Standard authors have put their heads together and come up with some suggestions.
Bill is gone. Free for all spectator time
Bill English has resigned. Apparently his confidence of last week had a limited lifespan. RNZ has the live feed. Now we can really speculate on which one of the no-hopers will assume the position to fail at the next election.
Was the political hit on Chris Bishop an inside job?
The disclosure of Chris Bishop’s snapchat engagement with young teenage females raises the question of who leaked the information to the media and why.
Sticking with Bill is the right move for National
National knows what to expect with Bill.
National is united
National is united. There are no murmurings about leadership and Bill English’s and Paula Bennett’s positions are secure.
National claims credit for Waitangi Day
National is claiming some credit for the success of Waitangi day. But the things they claim credit for are because of decisions of others, not the National Government.
Prime Minister Ardern at Waitangi
This is a new day for politics in New Zealand. A female Prime Minister has broken over a century of practise and is doing a main speech at Waitangi. Even more: no drama occurred. Anywhere.
The 2017 General Election electorate expense returns
Last year’s electorate expense returns have now been made public.
Poor Paula’s position’s in peril
Speculation is rife that Paula Bennett’s reign as Deputy Leader of the National Party may be under threat.
Jacinda Ardern’s child poverty speech
In a major speech yesterday on poverty, Prime Minister Ardern has laid out fully and forthrightly what is the problem and what need to be done.
The Dogs of War
At a Union/NDP conference in March 2002 in Ottawa I saw wall-to-wall US TV attacking Iraq in my room. My caucus report that […]
Bill’s Rolling – pros and cons
Since reading the news that the Nats are thinking about ditching Bill English, I’ve been trying to decide what my (completely honest and […]
Bye Bill?
Barry Soper is claiming that the numbers are being done on sorting out a replacement for Bill English and Paula Bennett may be gone as deputy leader as early as next week.
National’s drug conscience
Helen Kelly championed the liberalisation of drug law to allow those suffering from significant ill health to have access to cannabis for medicinal purposes. National is still struggling with the concept despite it having overwhelming public support.
Bill your pants may be on fire
Bill English has criticised the Government for only offering an officer briefing on the day that legislation is due to be introduced into Parliament. But appears to have forgotten an offer made by Jacinda Ardern 48 days ago.
Greening the government: economics
In his State of the Planet speech, James Shaw lays out the Green Party’s bold vision and plan for a truly sustainable economy to replace the crumbling architecture of the last 30 years.
(image from Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics)
The Standard under a Labour led Government
How should the Standard adapt to the new Government?
Rimutaka Prison.
Who are the bigger criminals?
Updated.
Manaakitanga
Jacinda Ardern this week expressed the hope that this Government will bring back Manaakitanga, in other words to show respect, generosity and care for others.
Employment Relations changes announced
The Government has announced changes to the Employment Relations law which on the whole are positive and beneficial for workers. But following New Zealand First lobbying the 90 day fire at will provision will be retained for small firms.
Writehanded: The nature of gendered abuse
Sarah Wilson at writehanded.org writes “Amid accusations that our Prime Minister deliberately mislead the country by getting pregnant and will now be an unfit leader due to “baby brain” and motherhood, I’m reflecting on how it feels to be a woman in the public eye. You can almost always guarantee that when someone shouts “this isn’t a gender issue!” – it is. And the issues are many.”
Revised TPPA to be signed?
Radio New Zealand is reporting that Canadian concerns about the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement have been addressed and the agreement is scheduled to be signed in March.
What should happen at Waitangi
The ideal occurrences this year at Waitangi would be …
Jacinda to attend Waitangi day ceremony at Waitangi
Jacinda Ardern has announced that she will spend five days at Waitangi leading up to Waitangi day to make full use of the time when people are gathered there to meet together as a government that wants to form open transparent relationships.
Obstructionist losers
Despite controlling all three branches of the Government the Republicans have failed to get a funding bill passed and the US Government is facing shut down.
Why President Trump should be opposed by the left
Ten reasons why Donald Trump is anti worker and bad for America’s working class.
Congratulations Jacinda Ardern
Jacinda Ardern has announced that she is expecting her first child.
Can This Government Regain Power on Its Policies?
The sixth Labour led Government has made a good start to its term. But what policy results will New Zealand have to vote for and campaign on in 2020?
Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori
The language is the life force of the mana Māori. Which is why the Government and the Opposition should pledge support to ensure it survives and thrives.
Racist dog whistling
We may think that we now live in more enlightened times where the scourge of racism is finally being dealt to and is no longer considered acceptable but recent events in Australia and the United States suggests that this is not the case.