#JKLovePoetry
Odes to the very special love and yearning that John Key seems to feel for Richie McCaw.
Politics
politicans
Key not taking us with him on the flag
John Key’s antics trying to drum up support for a flag change are getting increasingly desperate, but NZ isn’t listening.
Wallowing in extravagance
“Wallowing in extravagance” is how Labour described the latest news of extreme spending from Steven Joyce’s MBIE.
Paula Bennett and the social housing crisis
Paula Bennett has uncovered the most significant risk that New Zealand faces. Or has she?
Russel Norman’s valedictory speech – activists and agitators
Russel Norman gave his valedictory speech today in Parliament.
John Oliver on Key: Every pic is a dic pic
John Key provides a never ending flow of material for John Oliver’s show Last Week Tonight.
TVOne’s reporting of the latest Colmar Brunton Poll result
The latest Colmar Brunton poll shows that the opposition block is solidly ahead of National. Yet One News chose to concentrate only on the preferred Prime Minister result and attack Andrew Little because of marginal change.
Labour’s position on TPPA
The last fortnight has not been a great time for Labour when it comes to the TPPA. But a couple of imprecisely worded comments may have had far too much read into them. And the left and the media may have fallen into a trap set by the right.
Our influence in Australia
Key has failed to budge Australia on the detention and deportation of Kiwis. Apart from the photo ops and the mutual admiration society, our actual influence is zero.
Rugby or global leadership?
John Key seems to prefer that New Zealand provides leadership in entertainment than in the areas that really matter.
Collins touting cars with her buddy Cam
Judith Collins is a tout (sorry “Brand Ambassador”) for a car dealer, and it looks like she’s using Cameron Slater’s blog to give her a hand.
Has John Key had a wank recently?
Apparently this is a question we ask in the media nowadays. Remember when the office of PM used to have a little dignity?
Christine Fletcher’s dear Phil letter
Christine Fletcher has penned an open letter to Phil Goff where she criticises in trenchant terms super city’s current performance and offers some thoughts on where improvement can be made.
Labour’s deputy
An anonymous editorial in The Herald this morning is a mostly well balanced discussion of the issue of Labour’s deputy leader.
Thanks Canterbury for the surplus
The Government books have hit surplus. But it looks like treatment of the financials for the Canterbury Earthquake may account for pretty well all of it. Update: Underspending on special education accounts for much of the “surplus”.
Just another coverup
The Nats changing lines on the Taji report look like just another routine coverup of just another routine lie. At least, I hope so, because not knowing / caring about the report would be worse.
The Taji report
An American report which came out shortly before Key’s visit to our troops at Taji camp in Iraq is strongly critical of conditions there, and of the efficacy of the training process. Key claims he didn’t know, yet another of his outbreaks of “convenient ignorance”.
Nats endorse Goff for mayor?
The NBR reckons the Nats are tacitly endorsing Phil Goff for mayor of Auckland.
More charter school hypocrisy
Turns out the Education Minister overrode Ministry advice to protect National’s pet charter schools from being evaluated on their actual outcomes. Plus a bonus side order of hypocrisy on class sizes.
Caption Contest
The normal rules apply. Keep it seemly …
Labour to defy TPP on property ownership?
If this report is accurate it opens an interesting can of worms!
As expected, TPPA gives a peanut return
In 15 to 25 years, long long after I have retired, and the TPPA is fully realised. It may be worth an extra $260 million per year in possible tariff benefits. By contrast, the China Free Trade Agreement within 5 years was increasing our exports each year by an extra $350 million. But the costs for the TPPA start as soon as it is signed. We may make a profit off it in 10 years. This is not a good deal.
TPPA agreement reached
The TPPA has been agreed to. Dairy access improvement is minimal, there will be a cost hit on Pharmac and every industry but Tobacco will be able to access the investor state dispute resolution procedure.
Hekia has gone rogue
Hekia Parata has announced that student achievement and not need caused by poverty will be a central part of any future funding system.
TPPA deal close?
The TPPA is said to be close to being concluded with resistance to change in Pharmaceutical rules being provided by Australia, not New Zealand. And John Key says that the deal isn’t a very good deal for Dairy.
Hide on the Collins challenge
Rodney Hide also reckons that Collins is positioned to challenge Key.
Where is Peseta Sam?
This week we have had the release of the Priestley Report into the escape of Phillip Smith which details a litany of problems within Corrections and overnight there have been reports of rape and assault on a person moved from segregation in Serco managed South Auckland Correctional Facility. But no sign of Corrections Minister Sam Lotu Iiga. Where is he?
Speech to UN height of hypocrisy
Key’s little lecture to the UN would have been delivered with a lot more moral authority if it wasn’t built on the heights of hypocrisy.
An R-101 Post
Someone once made an art-work of a brick with some ‘guy ropes’ attached to represent the ill fated R-101 airship…
Three minutes to midnight. John Key incoherent.
Same ole, same ole. Except, this time, US neoconservative imperalism might have a problem. Russia.
Stephenson beats his critics
Respected journalist Jon Stephenson has extracted an apology and payment from the NZ Defence Force for their attack on his work in 2011. He is owed an apology from John Key too…
Andrew Little: A better future for Auckland
The text of a speech Andrew Little gave to the Committee for Auckland about Auckland’s future.
BSA: Hosking wrong on ponytail case
The echos of John Key’s ponytail pulling harassment of a waitress continue.
Dunne: Our foreign policy lacks any commitment to human rights
Peter Dunne doesn’t hold back in his assessment of the craven foreign policy – that is the creation of his government.
English: it’s all the planners’ fault
A guest post from Ad analysing Bill English’s speech where he blames planners for Auckland’s housing woes.
Key pinches Labour’s Kermadec Sanctuary Policy
National’s announced intention to create a marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands looks remarkably like Labour’s policy from the last election. And why did John Key not tell his caucus beforehand?