Fight to save Christchurch’s trees
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Politics
politicans
Key booed by rugby crowd
Key went to the rugby on Saturday, but his grandstanding didn’t go as planned.
The Whitehead Report does not exonerate Murray McCully
The Whitehead report into the circumstances surrounding the failed waiver of diplomatic immunity for the Malaysian attache charged with sexual assault charges has been released and blames the incident on an inadvertently worded email. But questions remain about why Murray McCully only took active steps after media broke the story and the effects his reorganisation of MFAT has had on its ability to do its job.
PM should get over Waitangi problems
From the archives.
The TPPA day of shame
Undated: The TPPA has now been signed, but not ratified, and not (hello NZ Herald!) “passed in to law”. There have been widespread protests throughout Auckland.
RNZ had live coverage with John Campbell.
Key’s second waitress bungle
Key’s badly dented “political antennae” took another solid beating yesterday, with his second high-profile bungle involving a waitress.
A tale of two States of the Nation speeches
The State of the Nation speeches provide an interesting start to the political year. John Key’s speech borrowed Labour Green policy that until now the Government has consistently derided and tried to present it as a “kickstart” while Andrew Little’s tertiary education policy announcement has received almost universal support and National is struggling to work out what attack lines to use.
Andrew Little: The working futures plan
The text of Andrew Little’s state of the nation speech delivered this afternoon.
New Day Rising
Goff and Shearer’s disloyal and self serving support for the TPPA has backfired. They’ve shown that the ABC faction are now a spent force and that Andrew Little has the overwhelming support of caucus. The sun has set on the splitters and there is a new day rising.
Andrew Little’s State of the Nation Speech
All good progressives are invited tomorrow afternoon to Albert Park in Auckland to hear Andrew Little’s state of the nation speech. Update: because of possible bad weather the speech will start at 1 pm. Bring an umbrella!
Message from Andrew Little about TPPA
The text of an email Andrew Little has sent to members.
National – trying to provoke TPP violence?
The police are “visiting” TPP activists – Key is cynically trying to blow the “law and order” dog whistle. But would he really go so far as to try and provoke open violence for political gain?
Nats split on rail link?
Key and Joyce at loggerheads on funding the City Rail Link?
New Zealand drops down World corruption free index
New Zealand used to be rated as the least corrupt country in the world. Over the past couple of years we have dropped to second and now to fourth. The cynical way that the Government handles OIA requests is the main reason for this occurring.
Little on TPP: “I don’t support it, we don’t support it”
The news that the TPP is likely to cost 5 to 6,000 jobs in NZ seems to have been the last straw.
The great big list of John Key’s big fat lies (UPDATED)
How many more lies will John Key tell today in his so-called State of the Nation address? Virtual chocolate fish to whomever guesses the closest number.
Metiria Turei: The state of the Nation
Metiria Turei is due to deliver her state of the nation speech today at 12:30 pm. This post contains links to the livestream of the speech and the speech notes will be added when they are available. Updated with speech notes.
War Veteran’s superannuation cancelled because of Government policy
National is the master of micro changes to policies which give it the appearance that it is being hard on beneficiaries. But in extreme cases the policies produce ridiculous results. Such as the 89 year old war veteran who lost his superannuation and was forced to beg after had an arrest warrant issued for trespass.
Key deserved boos for his TPP lies at Ratana
Key’s “strident” defence of the TPP was booed at Ratana yesterday. With good reason, because his glib assurance that “Not a single part of TPP cuts across the Treaty of Waitangi” is yet another Key lie.
Ratana – LIVE
Te Reo Putake is live blogging the visits of politicians to Rātana pā during the weekend celebration of the life of church founder Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana. The shadow of the TPPA hangs over the weekend; how will our political leaders address this latest attack on Te Tiriti o Waitangi?
Fisiani Gets it Right
Let’s get this straight. Fisiani’s on-going sycophantic love-in with John Key may be nauseatingly embarrassing to read, but this does not make him […]
Fourth term Key?
Key confirms that he will be standing at the next election – he wants that fourth term. Not sure why.
Another housing policy screwup?
Bennet’s proposal to incentivise / coerce state housing applicants to leave Auckland for housing elsewhere seems to have hit a snag…
National’s vision for New Zealand’s future
Stephen Joyce has had published an opinion piece in this morning’s Herald which extolls the virtue of free trade and ignores the pitfalls. Such as those shown this week when TransCanada sued the US Government for rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline contract.
The problem with free market capitalism
This morning’s Herald contains a story about a young man who with a family gift has managed to purchase eleven houses over the past five years and can afford to pay World of Warcraft all day.
Little: Labour to Defy TPPA
Labour Leader Andrew Little has announced that the next Labour led Government will defy the TPPA’s attack on our sovereignty. Good on Labour – that’s the leadership we need.
The myth of drug dependancy and poverty
New research from Morgan Foundation suggests that poverty can be alleviated by increasing incomes and that the beneficiaries will be children of poor families not vendors of alcohol and cigarettes.
The great carbon credit swindle
On December 17, 2015 the Government released a series reports suggesting that New Zealand is complying with Kyoto Protocol obligations. A dig into the reports confirms however that the compliance is in name only and is for spin purposes rather than a real attempt at addressing the world’s most pressing problem.
The media in 2015
Some random musings on what happened in New Zealand’s media this year.
John Key – the White Ribbon Ambassador
A comprehensive run through of behaviours and attitudes associated with a White Ribbon ambassador.
Rudd v Clark
Helen Clark is considered to be to be a front runner for the position of next United Nations Secretary General. But Kevin Rudd is also being talked about as a candidate. And if his previous behaviour is repeated it could be an interesting contest.
Treachery and silly season political snippets
There’s still a few MPs “on duty”. Their function is to maintain the semblance of active government and to roll out a bunch of announcements they hope will escape full scrutiny.
Ladies and Gentlemen this is your Prime Minister
Video of John Key’s recent interview with The Rock.
Rachel Stewart eviscerates John Key
Rachel Stewart has penned an opinion piece highlighting John Key’s avoidance of serious media in preference to engaging in rude, crude and highly unattractive stunts on commercial radio.
Key – too far even for his fans
While there is a certain amusement value in having a performing monkey for a PM, his participation in the great rape jape yesterday was too far even for his fans.
When Animals Attack!
Crikey! My Little Ponytail meets the Parnell mind meld. Cancel Xmas, I’ve already got my pressie!