Saudi sheepgate coverup continues
What was the payment for, why did the Nats go ahead with it against all advice, and why won’t they release the letter?
Politics
politicans
Reserve bank cuts OCR to record low
The Reserve Bank just cut the OCR to a historic low of 2%. And no it’s not good (economic) news.
On #Planetkey everyone owns a home
In Parliament yesterday John Key showed a clear lack of understanding of what being poor in New Zealand entails.
PSA
Yeah Happy Birthday JK. But – does anyone actually fall for this?
John Key’s Lies Since the 2014 Election (UPDATED)
There is one item on the list concerning whether John Key knew about the brewing trade squabble with China regarding the dumping of cheap steel on the local market.
Wahine toa
Nanaia Mahuta will tomorrow become the first woman MP to wear the moko in Parliament.
Nats contradicting each other on panicked infrastructure policy
From Newshub:
A timely reminder
Labour plans to crack down on negative gearing
Labour has announced that it will review tax exemptions for landlords achieved through negative gearing.
Kiwi Treason
Vegemite and marmite taste the same, rugby is naff, John Clarke’s an Australian. What?
Trade retaliation
The Nats are in a difficult spot here, no doubt about it. The weak steel is a serious issue and it should be investigated. But their usual tactics of deny and lie have been caught out yet again.
The EU thinks that our tax system’s clean bill of health is not so clean
The European Union is considering sanctions against New Zealand for operating as a tax haven and the proposed reforms by John Sherwin may not be enough.
The Unitary Plan will not solve the Housing Crisis
The Unitary Plan has been described as a panacea for the housing crisis by the Government. But will it actually address this most acute of issues?
The Greens take a stand on the housing bubble
“I want to be very clear that we are talking about a responsible, carefully managed reduction in house prices over a period of time like 10 to 15 years.”
Metiria Turei
Metiria speaks the unspeakable – house prices should fall
Not often you’ll catch Metiria Turei and Don Brash in agreement!
Todd McClay gets thrown under a bus
John Key has thrown Todd McClay under a bus and blamed him for dancing on the head of a pin and for no one telling Key that our second major trading nation wanted to dump sub standard steel on the local market.
Predator free a fantastic goal – but…
Feel-good promises for 2050 are easy. Add this one to the list with a cycleway the length of NZ, a secret plan to end Japanese whaling, the War on P, our emissions reduction (hah!) targets, plans to be a “financial hub”, the promise of pandas, and so on and so on.
The phantom phantom hospital waiting lists
According to Health Minister Jonathan Coleman he is right, everyone else is wrong and there is no elective surgery hidden list in New Zealand.
Helen Kelly – still speaking out
“Pain debilitates you and makes you depressed and you can sort of let the depression seep over you, but if you can, get out and live your life.”
National denies/admits Chinese trade reprisals threatened
Yesterday this was the story: Speaking shortly after his arrival in Indonesia for a three-day trade trip, Key sought to pour cold water […]
How to wreck a busway
The Government’s proposal to allow hybrid vehicles to use bus lanes is not only crazy but they did not talk to local authorities before doing so.
O’Sullivan and Watkins – warnings to the Nats
Even National’s fans are worried for them these days. The “third termitis” meme is becoming well established.
Vote for Helen!
Yesterday 10 of the candidates for the UN’s top job faced off in debate. For the first time this was a public event, hosted and broadcast by Al Jazeera.
Panama Papers – Nat U-turn complete
Having ignored the IRD and other advice, having insulted calls for transparency as “barking mad”, today the Nats’ U-turn on disclosure for foreign trusts is complete.
We truly are being run by a bunch of clowns
National is flailing around attempting to divert attention from its failure to do anything meaningful about the homeless crisis.
Nats on HNZ dividend – Yes! No! Maybe!
That’s three positions in 2 days. Stay tuned to see what these headless chooks come up with tomorrow!
A tale of two housing policies – Steven Joyce writing National’s on Twitter
In some kind of panic over Labour’s housing policy package, Steven Joyce was writing Nat policy on Twitter yesterday. The promise to forego 2 years of HNZ dividend appears to have been made up on the fly.
Eagle vs Window Pane
So Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership has been openly challenged.
Andrew Little’s speech: Backing the Kiwi dream of home ownership
Text from Andrew Little’s speech today given in New Lynn to announce Labour’s latest housing policy.
John Roughan on Labour’s birthday
In the Herald John Roughan has offered some very positive comments about the Labour Party and what it stands for.
Labour announcement: Labour will require Housing Corporation to use dividends to build state houses
Andrew Little has announced at the Labour Party’s 100 year special conference that Labour in Government will require Housing Corporation to instead of paying dividends to instead build houses.
Judith Collins is losing a PR battle with a patched Gang Member*
*title borrowed from @shakingstick.
Helen Clark on Iraq
Thirteen years ago Helen Clark said despite intense pressure that the threshold for the use of force against Iraq had not been met. How right she was.
The housing crisis and Key’s combustible pants
2007 Key vs 2016 Key on the housing crisis. Someone is telling lies!
Social bonds negotiations collapse
The Governments attempt to incentivise the provision of social services by greed has failed with the first proposed social bond failing.
Housing bubble inflating faster – Key’s panic now obvious
The housing bubble is inflating faster than ever, and Key is visibly panicking. His political problem is insoluble and his electoral problem is about to get worse.