Incoherent, unfair and unaccountable
That is how officials from the Ministry of Social Development described the emergency housing system to Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett – a year ago. What has Bennett done in the year since?
Social issues
human rights
Portugal
There are bits of good news out there, but there’s a lot of denial around the mess we’re in.
What has the ECHR ever done for the British?
Well nothing apart from …
NRT: Bill English wants to end your privacy
I/S at No Right Turn the “data supermarket” and privacy concerns. “The government wants to be able to effectively spy on and database everyone, so they can save a few dollars here and there.”
A quick question (again)
“More than 2400 benefits suspended since 2013”. I have a quick question…
House Tales.
If ‘home is where the heart is’ then what’s the story when everything’s heartless?
Go, technology, inequality, the future of work
Miscellaneous Sunday morning meanderings on technology, inequality and the future of work.
New report on GCSB spying powers
A Government-ordered review of NZ’s spy agencies has just been released. Key wants Labour’s support for increased power to spy on Kiwis.
The minimum wage is not a living wage
Credit where it’s due for an increase in the minimum wage – but the gap between that and a living wage keeps growing…
Voluntary euthanasia
Voluntary euthanasia is very much in the news. We have until Feb 1st to make submissions on the Bill currently before Parliament. It’s a very emotive debate, but I think the case for euthanasia choice is clear.
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.
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.
Robertson / Labour on the future of work
It’s a good thing that one of the major parties is thinking seriously about the future…
How to improve pay gender equality
It’s been a hardy annual finding of late – the pay gap between males and females is getting steadily worse. History suggests that Labour governments have some answers…
Life and Death and Cannabis
I am taking Cannabis Oil to manage my pain as my lung cancer takes over my body. It’s sort of as simple as that really. For some people talking about dying is confronting but actually talking about it allows us to think about how it happens – it is actually as much a social event as a physical one and knowing someone is comfortable, getting good treatment and pain relief is very much part of the social dimension as the physical one.
House arrest for Paris activists
Why are the so called leaders meeting at COP21 so afraid of public demonstrations? Let the people have their say…
Jarrod Gilbert 1 – Windmills 0
About time the Police got around to becoming a “very evidence based” service. Building great relationships with academia is a sensible way to start.
Jarrod Gilbert is tilting at windmills
The Official Information Act is now moribund and access to information beyond its scope is granted only to a chosen few and under strict conditions.
Dope-growing, cross-dressing BDSM male prostitute police officer convicted of harassment
A recent surge in the level of systemic criminality, thuggery, and general incompetence which now defines the New Zealand Police Force.
Stuff report on child abuse
Not exactly light or cheerful Saturday morning reading – but we should all read it anyway. Stuff’s (Katie Kenny & Blair Ensor) excellent special investigation on child abuse in NZ.
Please don’t go there America
Donald Trump won’t rule out “tracking Muslim Americans in a database or giving them “a special form of identification that noted their religion””. Brings to mind an F word.
Hikoi for Homes.
Saturday in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Homeless children
RNZ covered a Salvation Army report on housing this morning. These figures are a national disgrace.
Slack on our craven human rights record
David Slack is on fire this morning with his take on our craven human rights record – in the form of imagined NCEA questions.
Petition: It’s Not OK Prime Minister
This petition at ActionStation is closing in on 5,000 signatures.
International shame – again
Key and Carter have brought NZ international shame yet again. Males in a position of power using rape as a cheap political tactic and then punishing women for speaking up. Brighter Future.
Petition on Slater’s hate speech
“A creeping authoritarianism from the current government”
The reaction to Westpac handing over Nicky Hager’s data to police is still playing out. Rob Hosking observes “a creeping authoritarianism from the current government”.
NZ number one in the world – and it’s all bad news
Rachel Stewart writes about a disaster for this country.
Kelvin Davis on Christmas Island
Today Key is trying to dress up Aussie platitudes (on detained Kiwis) as scraps of progress. But Labour MP Kelvin Davis is taking action…
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.
WMBAD: Global goals
The White Man Behind A Desk is back, looking at the big picture, why we hate politicians, and why you need to tweet John Key.
Nats and reproductive rights
The Nats are obsessed with the reproductive rights of those they deem “unfit”. Once again they are floating the idea of compulsory controls.
In Our Back Yard – Manus Island and Nauru
As the photo claims, refugees are human beings. We can tell this from general expressions of resignation, desperation and misery.
But what about our own expressions of humanity?
Those who would censor
NZ’s first book banning in over 20 years. Another own goal from “Family First”.
Geddis on Key’s guts
Andrew Geddis on Key’s bravado when it comes to sending other people to fight in a war, and his prevarication when it comes to helping war’s victims.