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Raging at Metiria is not about the fraud – it’s that she sided with the lepers

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, July 27th, 2017 - 324 comments

Graham Cameron cuts through the obsession over fraud to the cultural values of the last 30 years and the fear beneath.

National will distort MMP for its own benefit, again

Written By: - Date published: 12:02 pm, July 26th, 2017 - 80 comments

Without a cup of tea in sight National has announced that it will asking supporters to vote for Act leader David Seymour in Epsom and United Future leader Peter Dunne in Ohariu.

Did English break the law during Dotcom debacle?

Written By: - Date published: 11:15 am, July 26th, 2017 - 44 comments

David Fisher on the Dotcom spying debacle: “But the legal action which disclosed the extended spying also targets English specifically, saying he acted “unlawfully” when he signed a ministerial certificate intended to bury the spying operation forever.”

The Democrats and Russia

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, July 26th, 2017 - 66 comments

The Trump presidency appears to be in a death spiral because of the Russia issue.  But the Democrats are not taking advantage.  Why?

How much is Mike Hosking paid by TVNZ?

Written By: - Date published: 9:29 am, July 25th, 2017 - 107 comments

Mike Hosking does not want there to be a debate on how much he earns from TVNZ and thinks that there would be an adverse irrational response from the public if the information was released. This is the best reason yet why disclosure should occur.

Let’s get rid of these clowns

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, July 25th, 2017 - 46 comments

The Government’s failure to do anything about the housing crisis or about zombie cannabis is evidence they should be removed from office.

The MoU and social intelligence

Written By: - Date published: 12:23 pm, July 24th, 2017 - 122 comments

The deputy leader of the Labour Party wants to be the Minister for Children and to put a progressive government ahead of her own career. This is the kind of politician we need in government.

National again subsidises their land banking contributors from taxpayer funds.

Written By: - Date published: 8:41 am, July 24th, 2017 - 25 comments

The announcement that National were granting infrastructure funds to develop housing projects in the far north and south of Auckland caused me some amusement.  Wisely Auckland council resisted this boondongle that only benefits land bankers, speculators and their political party (National) for some time. To the point where National used taxpayer funds instead.

Imagine the world without America

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, July 23rd, 2017 - 63 comments

America used to be the most powerful nation in the world.  But things are changing.

Nats won’t follow Australia and UK in crackdown on multinational tax avoidance

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, July 23rd, 2017 - 14 comments

Collins’ excuse is just waffle. Why won’t the Nats follow Australia and UK in a crackdown on multinational tax avoidance?

New Zealand is number 1! *

Written By: - Date published: 7:21 am, July 22nd, 2017 - 127 comments

* in a list of developed nations for homelessness.

#IamMetiria

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, July 20th, 2017 - 35 comments

If you know that feeling of dread when you get a WINZ letter, or if you’ve had roiling anxiety from being  ‘called in’ for a WINZ interview, or sighed with relief when the letter from WINZ turns out to be a replacement community services card, then follow #IamMetiria. And if you just don’t recognise those, then you might want to follow #IamMetiria to find out why others do…

Winston back flips on his abolish Maori seats bottom line

Written By: - Date published: 3:13 pm, July 19th, 2017 - 86 comments

In the space of two days Winston has announced that a referendum on Maori seats would be a bottom line for a coalition but then it should be up to Maori if a change should occur. Update – make that a double backflip …

Labour’s first campaign ad

Written By: - Date published: 7:06 am, July 18th, 2017 - 124 comments

Metiria Turei and Paula Bennett on benefit fraud

Written By: - Date published: 10:46 am, July 17th, 2017 - 241 comments

Turei’s admission that she lied to WINZ back in the day was a political gamble. It could resonate with a big chunk of non-voters – here’s a politician that’s just like us – has been through what we’re going through. On the other hand it gives the usual mean-spirited righties a club to beat her with. Interesting that Paula Bennett is treading so lightly round the issue.

Election 2017: the battle lines are drawn

Written By: - Date published: 8:57 am, July 17th, 2017 - 77 comments

The 2017 election campaign has been set alight by the Greens adopting brave policies that Jeremy Corbyn would be proud of and NZ First adopting policies that would meet with Donald Trump’s approval.

Nats default to bully mode over Barclay scandal

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, July 17th, 2017 - 26 comments

The ongoing Barclay scandal has taking a familiar turn, with the PM’s office trying dirty tactics on journalists. Meanwhile the pressure builds on English over Barclay’s taxpayer funded disappearing act.

Lefties on fire

Written By: - Date published: 6:30 am, July 17th, 2017 - 95 comments

The best of twitter from the weekend.

This is not an image of a Low Flying Penguin.

Written By: - Date published: 1:40 pm, July 16th, 2017 - 62 comments

It’s also is not a picture of a person claiming entitlements who has not felt compelled to bend the truth when dealing with WINZ. Both images would be equally difficult to find.

The Greens’ new welfare policy

Written By: - Date published: 12:24 pm, July 16th, 2017 - 312 comments

“Green co-leader Metiria Turei described it as one of the most important Green policies in her 15 years in Parliament.”

Why there should be work and drug test obligations for National MPs

Written By: - Date published: 8:55 am, July 16th, 2017 - 52 comments

Todd Barclay has not been seen at work lately but has been seen at a Queenstown pub.  And is still being paid $3,000 a week to represent the people of Clutha Southland.

National’s brighter future

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, July 16th, 2017 - 11 comments

The homeless crisis is getting that bad in Auckland that people are dying because they have nowhere to live.

James Shaw Speech to the Green’s conference – Greening the Government

Written By: - Date published: 2:21 pm, July 15th, 2017 - 25 comments

The text of James Shaw’s speech to the Greens Conference focussing on the Green’s policy response to Climate Change.

Breeding for a business

Written By: - Date published: 12:08 pm, July 14th, 2017 - 23 comments

It looks like ACT the party of less government will be focussing on pregnant beneficiaries this election.

Waimea a good dam?

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, July 14th, 2017 - 54 comments

The proposed Waimea Dam in Nelson is attracting opposition from the Green Party but support from the Labour Party.  Is there such a thing as a good dam project?

Non-news News and News Non-news

Written By: - Date published: 12:22 pm, July 13th, 2017 - 100 comments

A politician said their party would insist on being a part of government depending on the vote falls in September, while another gets called out for his habitual stirring at the pot of ethnic division. In a place like the South Africa of old, we all know which one would be the story. But this is New Zealand and this is now.

Peters posturing

Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, July 10th, 2017 - 95 comments

As usual in election year, Peters is posturing left and right.

“Ongoing cover-up” on Operation Burnham

Written By: - Date published: 8:11 am, July 9th, 2017 - 14 comments

David Fisher in The Herald exposes yet another NZDF “error” on Operation Burnham. Intelligence analyst Dr Paul Buchanan: “I’m absolutely certain that what we’re seeing is part of the ongoing cover-up.”

The Government is misrepresenting the effect of the Ruataniwha Dam decision

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, July 9th, 2017 - 21 comments

The Government has responded to the Supreme Court decision which puts a halt on the Ruataniwha Dam by claiming wrongly that the protected land was of low quality and by stating that a law change, possibly retrospective, will occur.

What happened to the Newshub article about Nick Smith and the Pike River film?

Written By: - Date published: 9:56 am, July 8th, 2017 - 41 comments

A Newshub article where Nick Smith contradicts the Police and Solid Energy about the existence of video showing a body in Pike River has disappeared …

Does the left do more of the same or does it get radical this election?

Written By: - Date published: 11:12 am, July 7th, 2017 - 252 comments

Andrew Dean has written an opinion piece for Stuff where he suggests that to win this election Labour and the Greens have to become more radical.