Written By: - Date published: 10:33 pm, November 22nd, 2014 - 38 comments
John Key’s election as chair of the International Democratic Union is significant. Key succeeds John Howard who has led the IDU for the past 12 years. Key’s acceptance signals that like four-time winner Howard, Key plans a long career as Prime Minister of New Zealand. This news should be a wake-up call for the Labour Party’s review of its election organisation and party structure.
Written By: - Date published: 10:11 am, November 21st, 2014 - 24 comments
We all know that Child Poverty is one of New Zealand’s major problems. In an attempt to finally get a response from the National government to the problem ex-Family Court judge Graeme MacCormick has issued a “Children’s Plea” to get the government to do something serious in their next budget. You can sign it here. […]
Written By: - Date published: 6:35 am, November 21st, 2014 - 95 comments
Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Written By: - Date published: 3:58 pm, November 20th, 2014 - 17 comments
Community groups have a vital role in New Zealand. They speak on social problems such as poverty, mental illness and addiction. They also often have a direct role in fixing them via government funding. The tension between those two roles is one that National is ruthlessly exploiting to stifle dissent.
Written By: - Date published: 9:10 am, November 20th, 2014 - 77 comments
And, as ever, one for the poor.
Written By: - Date published: 9:14 am, November 19th, 2014 - 101 comments
I have no real opinion about the details of the complaint against Roger Sutton, there simply isn’t enough information in the context. That would require seeing the report. However I do have strong opinion about someone who breaks the confidentiality clauses of any agreement. Throw the book at them
Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, November 16th, 2014 - 20 comments
Hamilton City Council currently has plans to sell of its remaining pensioner housing stock. It already sold off a block of them in 2012. Of those sold, only 12 out of 53 units are available for seniors to rent at affordable rates. This is because 27 were sold as there was no social service provider able to buy them. So now Council want to sell the rest.
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, November 15th, 2014 - 95 comments
Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Written By: - Date published: 7:35 am, November 14th, 2014 - 45 comments
On Monday Bill English reckoned that pressures in the property market were “easing”. Yesterday’s headline “Spring house price surge in October”…
Written By: - Date published: 9:08 am, November 12th, 2014 - 46 comments
Is Key planning to flog off state houses at half price to a liquor company?
Written By: - Date published: 7:39 am, November 12th, 2014 - 219 comments
Key’s apology isn’t genuine, he is still playing the political weasel. Key didn’t “misinterpret the question”, he was just displaying the same level of empathy as his favourite blogger.
Written By: - Date published: 1:45 pm, November 11th, 2014 - 169 comments
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, November 11th, 2014 - 38 comments
When John Key takes to the media to over-hype the risks of ISIS terrorism to NZ, there is a cost.
Written By: - Date published: 6:25 am, November 11th, 2014 - 107 comments
Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Written By: - Date published: 9:22 am, November 9th, 2014 - 79 comments
Fifty year mortgages are here, and as usual the game is rigged against the ordinary buyer. Madness.
Written By: - Date published: 10:47 am, November 7th, 2014 - 29 comments
The Nats have been manufacturing “good news” stories in health by creating a system that turns away one third of the patients in need.
Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, November 7th, 2014 - 9 comments
A wonderful speech given by Noel Pearson given at the State Memorial Service for Gough Whitlam. Well worth a watch.
Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, November 6th, 2014 - 82 comments
Governments have always used external threats (real or not) to expand their powers. Supposedly “small government” types seem the most keen to grab more powers, for some strange reason.
Written By: - Date published: 11:24 am, November 5th, 2014 - 14 comments
The main message from Campbell Live last night is we really need the “Feed the Kids” Bill to pass it’s first reading: then the Bill will go to Select Committee, so everyone can have a conversation. Update: reading postponed ‘cos Key’s war statement debate gets priority.
Written By: - Date published: 8:49 am, November 5th, 2014 - 11 comments
John Key’s latest answer to the housing crisis: bigger subsidies for private landlords! Subsidies to private landlords simply result in rent increases. It doesn’t increase the housing supply. But ole JK just likes screwing over young first home buyers..
Written By: - Date published: 7:43 am, November 5th, 2014 - 30 comments
National’s sale of state housing assets and other aspects of housing policy is stupid at all levels. Which is probably why they are confused themselves about it.
Written By: - Date published: 2:03 pm, November 4th, 2014 - 9 comments
Only one day to support the Feed the Kids Bill.
Written By: - Date published: 8:23 pm, November 3rd, 2014 - 34 comments
Prime Minister John Key, in his capacity as Prime Minister, promised no asset sales this term in the run up to the last election. But now they are selling assets – state houses.
Written By: - Date published: 8:25 am, November 3rd, 2014 - 52 comments
If you were the NZ government, with $26 million to spend, what would you spend it on?
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, November 3rd, 2014 - 12 comments
In case you haven’t been able to make it to any of the leadership hustings, here’s the speeches from the Nelson meeting last week.
Written By: - Date published: 9:22 am, November 1st, 2014 - 188 comments
Automation is changing everything – faster than we think…
Written By: - Date published: 8:18 am, November 1st, 2014 - 78 comments
Paula Bennett thinks that selling off much of the country’s housing stock is exciting and sexy and that the market and a group of charities will be able to resolve the country’s housing issues.
Written By: - Date published: 5:20 pm, October 31st, 2014 - 4 comments
How long has it been since homosexuality as a crime was removed from the the law books? It passed into law on the 8th of August 1986. The government is finally considering wiping past convictions under the strange previous laws. It is an action that is more than 18 years overdue.
Written By: - Date published: 4:30 am, October 31st, 2014 - 21 comments
Yesterday the “Independent” Police Conduct Authority released its report into the conduct of Police during the 2012 mass arrest of students at the “Blockade the Budget” protest. In the “About the Authority” section near the bottom the document claims that the IPCA is similar to a court
Written By: - Date published: 5:42 pm, October 30th, 2014 - 15 comments
I’m sure it’s true, but…
Written By: - Date published: 8:53 am, October 30th, 2014 - 44 comments
A statement from Nanaia Mahuta concerning the Labour Leadership contest. She should be available to answer questions this afternoon between 2 pm and 3 pm.
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