Written By: - Date published: 7:25 am, March 3rd, 2015 - 110 comments
The attack on banking services for Mega is a high profile example of the politicisation of banking. We’re on a very slippery slope here…
Written By: - Date published: 9:33 pm, March 2nd, 2015 - 6 comments
It’s High Noon for the TPPA – Jane Kelsey with others will speak in Wellington at Connolly Hall 5:30pm Wednesday 4 March and in Auckland at Owen Glenn Building 6:30pm (correction 5:30pm) Thursday 5 March. All welcome – more info and register Wn here and Akl here.
Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, March 2nd, 2015 - 53 comments
Whether it’s about election donations or portfolios, some people do seem to think MPs should always get the benefit of the doubt.
Written By: - Date published: 12:21 pm, March 2nd, 2015 - 64 comments
The release of the candidate donation returns has shown us that the National Party are still rorting the system. However, there are issues for the NZ Labour Party as well. Four MP’s have taken money from sources that do not have the interests of the Labour party or, indeed, the majority of Kiwis at heart. Brassneck or bought and sold?
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, March 1st, 2015 - 278 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, February 27th, 2015 - 106 comments
John Key has yet again asked the Remuneration Authority to limit the increase in MPs pay. And yet again they have said that the law required them to make the decision they did. So MPs get a hefty raise at the same time that the minimum wage is raised slightly. And the media report Key’s comments sympathetically. He is the Prime Minister. If anyone can change the law he is the person best placed.
Written By: - Date published: 7:16 pm, February 26th, 2015 - 27 comments
David Parker recaps Key’s bluster on his Donghua Liu dinner, and it’s pure comedy.
Written By: - Date published: 1:19 pm, February 26th, 2015 - 64 comments
Its 100 days since the NZ Labour Party elected Andrew Little as its leader. What an inspired decision that has turned out to be! Little has galvanised the party, united the caucus and looks set to be the next PM. How has he turned Labour around?
Written By: - Date published: 10:26 am, February 26th, 2015 - 49 comments
“The head of the Council of Trade Unions has confirmed she has lung cancer.”
Written By: - Date published: 11:22 am, February 25th, 2015 - 41 comments
The Electoral Commission has now released individual returns of donations and electoral expenses. And the Donghua Liu donation appears in Jamie-Lee Ross’s return. But the vast majority of electorate campaigns recorded head office donations and the overwhelming impression is that cabinet club donations are collected centrally and then distributed. So what happened with the Liu donation?
Written By: - Date published: 5:59 am, February 25th, 2015 - 76 comments
New Zealand banks (which are really Australian banks) are REALLY worried for us (oh, and for themselves).
Written By: - Date published: 5:55 am, February 25th, 2015 - 161 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Written By: - Date published: 11:15 am, February 24th, 2015 - 172 comments
So, we’re off to Iraq. If the answer to ISIS isn’t sending Kiwi troops, what do Standardistas think practical alternatives might be?
EDIT: Key announces 143 troops to go to Iraq and support staff.
Written By: - Date published: 6:33 am, February 24th, 2015 - 133 comments
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, February 23rd, 2015 - 86 comments
National engages in Auckland’s Gay Pride parade by sending two MPs who voted against marriage equality and an Auckland Councillor who on Facebook calls a young man who pointed this out as a “little c*ck”. Way to blow relations with the gay and lesbian community. Update: And Linda Cooper has apologised, sort of …
Written By: - Date published: 10:35 am, February 21st, 2015 - 193 comments
One of National’s first five charter schools is a failure, and applications for new charter schools have been cancelled. Who could have predicted such a mess? Just about everybody…
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, February 21st, 2015 - 48 comments
According to some Ngati Whatua wanting to use Okahu Bay for a Mokopuna day has created something of a crisis. Maybe not for us or anyone who is reasonable but for the rednecks and the rabid right.
Written By: - Date published: 6:30 pm, February 19th, 2015 - 52 comments
A new review of compensation for David Bain. Another fine mess courtesy of Collins/Slater and National.
Written By: - Date published: 9:10 am, February 19th, 2015 - 70 comments
An alternative view to Te Reo Putake’s proposal that Labour should support Winston Peters in the Northland by election. I believe that Labour should stick to its current plan and endorse Willow Jean Prime.
Written By: - Date published: 8:48 am, February 19th, 2015 - 107 comments
Sometime in the next few days, Winston Peters will announce whether or not he will stand in the Northland by-election. He should run unchallenged by the left and Labour and the Greens should endorse him for the greater good.
Written By: - Date published: 7:56 am, February 19th, 2015 - 102 comments
It was announced yesterday that Novopay has cost the country $45 million more than intended. The Ministry of Education has accepted some responsibility but in terms of ultimate responsibility the Ministers involved, English, Parata and Foss should be held to blame.
Written By: - Date published: 9:35 pm, February 18th, 2015 - 5 comments
Professor Guy Standing will discuss the ideas in his new book ‘A Precariat Charter; from Denizens to Citizens” in Wellington on Thursday 19 February at St John’s Church Hall, Willis Street at 5:30pm. “Throughout history, class-based revolt has led to the creation of charters of demands, from the Magna Carta to South Africa’s Freedom Charter. It is now time for a Precariat Charter.” All welcome
Written By: - Date published: 3:30 pm, February 18th, 2015 - 42 comments
The Government is planning to make charities pay for police background checks. You can’t make this stuff up!
Written By: - Date published: 6:35 am, February 18th, 2015 - 440 comments
It might well be in Labour’s best interests to cut the crap now and go into coalition with the National Ltd™ Cult of John Key. It would be the honest thing to do. Kiwis will then know where the boundaries lie and who actually is working to oppose the implementation of the wider neo-liberal ideology.
Written By: - Date published: 9:22 am, February 17th, 2015 - 188 comments
That may be what it takes to interest charities in becoming “social housing” providers.
Written By: - Date published: 9:44 am, February 15th, 2015 - 69 comments
The John Key led National Government is showing signs of third termitis. Symptoms are a confusion of the national interest with National Party political interests, a willingness to sell state houses and pay the proceeds to large corporates when even your best friends are saying don’t, a staleness and inability to handle issues properly and being completely bereft of new ideas to improve the country. The condition is almost inevitably terminal.
Written By: - Date published: 2:56 pm, February 14th, 2015 - 47 comments
So much to sell, so little time… When this Government is finished selling, we will have sold our right to make laws for ourselves too. Be under no doubt, if the effect of bringing in a law for the health and well being of Kiwis will cost a corporate millions of dollars, part of their lobbying after the TPP, will be threatening to sue the taxpayers of NZ and watch such a Bill slip into obscurity. And those corporates wielding that power? Most will never pay a cent of tax into the coffers of NZ taxpayers.
Written By: - Date published: 7:27 am, February 14th, 2015 - 7 comments
“We are demanding institutions do what is necessary to avert the climate crisis by divesting from fossil fuels. Together, we are making fossil fuels history.”
Written By: - Date published: 8:18 am, February 13th, 2015 - 417 comments
NZ is again being asked to go to war in Iraq. The Clark Labour Government said no a decade ago, but in 2015 there may be a compelling reason to join the fight; this time it’s the right thing to do. New Standard author te reo putake puts the case for NZ entering the battle against ISIS.
Written By: - Date published: 3:36 pm, February 11th, 2015 - 63 comments
It seems that just as the 30’s offered the chance to turn dreams into reality, Syria is offering that chance up to ‘the left’ today. Suddenly, for me, the recent travel bans and the passport confiscation laws etc make sense since we are potentially looking at an international influx of non-nutters and non- psychopaths as happened during the Spanish Revolution of the 30s.
Written By: - Date published: 9:42 am, February 11th, 2015 - 18 comments
This morning the Salvation Army released their state of the nation report – A Mountain All Can Climb. It is mixed news, and most coverage has focused on the impact of the housing crisis.
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