Written By: - Date published: 8:40 am, August 19th, 2017 - 10 comments
Lawyers for the villagers in the area allegedly hit in Operation Burnham are taking the Government to court over its refusal to hold an independent inquiry. English responds with some particularly vile spin.
Written By: - Date published: 3:10 pm, August 18th, 2017 - 35 comments

Written By: - Date published: 9:12 am, August 18th, 2017 - 87 comments
What Jacinda Ardern has accomplished here is nothing short of astonishing. As a one-off bump in the polls it rivals Brash’s infamous Orewa speech. But Ardern’s rise is based on optimism and positivity rather than racist dog whistles.
Written By: - Date published: 1:05 pm, August 16th, 2017 - 53 comments
Key: “The camera likes Jacinda. Paul Holmes once said to me ‘on TV they see your heart’ – she responds well to that so that works really well for her…”, “Labour made the right decision to make Jacinda Ardern leader”
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, August 16th, 2017 - 163 comments
Over the ditch the Australian Government has accused New Zealand Labour of using Parliament to undermine Barnaby Joyce. But an analysis of the claim suggests that anyone claiming this should be regarded as being a whacka because the media was onto the claim two days before the questions were asked.
Written By: - Date published: 10:44 am, August 15th, 2017 - 65 comments
A list of Labour’s announced policies to date and an easy way to compare them to other parties’ policies.
Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, August 15th, 2017 - 30 comments
English’s “boot camp” policy is pure politics. As much as he tries to deny it, it’s more or less an exact repeat of Key’s failed 2008 attempt, it would do much more harm than good if ever implemented. More than any other flailing to date, this mess is a sign of National’s desperation.
Written By: - Date published: 6:28 am, August 14th, 2017 - 60 comments
Jacinda Ardern at the chippy and James Shaw in the House.
Written By: - Date published: 1:08 pm, August 13th, 2017 - 77 comments
National has announced its policy to deal with youth crime by reannouncing a military service scheme that already exists, proposing a special category for young offenders that will have some young people seek that status and by proposing to fine parents who can’t keep their kids home at night.
Written By: - Date published: 10:14 am, August 13th, 2017 - 60 comments
On current polling the Nats are going to be short at least one of their puppet parties after the election.
Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, August 12th, 2017 - 104 comments
Newshub reports a surge in nominations for Metiria to be the New Zealander of the Year.
I just love this idea and would encourage others to nominate her too.
Written By: - Date published: 9:59 pm, August 10th, 2017 - 36 comments
An excellent account of her time as the longest serving woman MP in the NZ parliament.
Written By: - Date published: 11:49 am, August 10th, 2017 - 33 comments
“Mike Hosking will present the TVNZ election debates again”.
Written By: - Date published: 7:05 pm, August 9th, 2017 - 95 comments
Two polls out tonight show a big surge for Labour and Jacinda Ardern. But we need a strong Green vote too. To those whom Metiria inspired – please don’t give up on voting. The Greens need you now more than ever!
Written By: - Date published: 6:58 pm, August 9th, 2017 - 79 comments
There comes a point…
Written By: - Date published: 6:17 pm, August 9th, 2017 - 13 comments
This post was written and ready to go and then news of Metiria Turei stepping down hit. Some of it might read a little strangely because of that. I’ve changed some of the tenses used.
Written By: - Date published: 5:14 pm, August 9th, 2017 - 195 comments
Metiria Turei has just announced that she will stand down as leader of the Green Party and she may relinquish her position on the Green list.
Written By: - Date published: 11:23 am, August 9th, 2017 - 76 comments
Labour has announced its water policy. Details include higher swimming water quality standards, a work task force to get young people off the dole replanting riperian margins and charges for commercial consumers with the royalties being paid to regional councils.
Written By: - Date published: 9:43 am, August 9th, 2017 - 5 comments
“Here’s a new idea for the Tories: Why not ask a simple question every time you propose a course of action: Is this morally just?”
Written By: - Date published: 8:12 am, August 9th, 2017 - 27 comments
It’s time to hear what poor people have to say about being poor.
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, August 9th, 2017 - 48 comments
Much has been written about the Jacinda Ardern effect that has put Labour so enthusiastically back in the game. But the appointment of Kelvin Davis as deputy is also looking like a very smart move.
Written By: - Date published: 12:05 pm, August 8th, 2017 - 70 comments
Matthew Whitehead on what’s going on with the Greens.
Written By: - Date published: 10:38 am, August 8th, 2017 - 45 comments
The missing Newshub poll question has appeared at last, showing that Bill English has been damaged by his handling of the Barclay scandal. 56% of Kiwis (even 36% of Nats) have lost some trust in English. Updated: The texts have been “deleted”. English refusing to answer questions.
Written By: - Date published: 8:42 am, August 8th, 2017 - 277 comments
Shaw in his own words on where the party is at.
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, August 8th, 2017 - 45 comments
Is Jacinda Ardern’s rise to power evidence of a change of approach to political campaigning by Labour?
Written By: - Date published: 6:52 am, August 8th, 2017 - 45 comments
Yes. Quite seriously.
Written By: - Date published: 6:23 pm, August 7th, 2017 - 405 comments
Newshub is reporting that two Green MPs have quit in protest at Metiria Turei remaining co-leader.
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, August 7th, 2017 - 49 comments
A week is a long time in politics, as the saying goes. The election has been turned upside down. The long pent-up mood for change has found its champion.
Written By: - Date published: 6:45 am, August 7th, 2017 - 31 comments
From the letter – “Prime Minister Bill English is asking National voters in Ohariu to support National with their Party vote and Peter Dunne with their Electorate vote as this year’s General Election.”
Written By: - Date published: 6:29 am, August 7th, 2017 - 126 comments
No doubt those purity pledge campaigners who rained stones on Metiria Turei will be just as keen to get to the bottom of all this, and no doubt Paula Bennett will be keen to take personal responsibility and clear her name.
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