Two referendum editorials
In the aftermath of the “smacking” referendum I was struck (as I often am lately) by the range in quality of editorial / […]
Social issues
The emerging landowner class
Why are house prices rising at the same time as mortgagee sales are hitting record highs? More people than ever are unable to […]
Rape and Pillage
The Conservation Minister, Tim Groser is quoted today: “If you can extract wealth from that [conservation land], that’s what we should do.” Stuff […]
Reaching out to the ‘No’ vote
I must confess that Key’s position on the repeal of s59 has puzzled me from the moment he started cooperating with the Labour […]
Collins’ smear backfires
Excellent piece by Patrick Gower in the Herald today on Judith Collins’ attempt to smear Corrections Association president Beven Hanlon. Collins has leaked […]
S59, an opening for Winston?
In 2007, 113 MPs voted for the Bradford amendment to s59 of the Crime Act. Eight voted against it. One of them was […]
Apply the brakes, before it’s too late
The real estate agencies and the newspapers, both of which have an interest in a booming property market, are predicting that housing prices will surge […]
Basher bill puts pressure on Key
John Boscawen’s private members’ bill to amend s59 of the Crimes Act has been drawn from the ballot. Essentially it would take us […]
Hoist with his own petard
Last week, Tony Ryall used his time in the big chair for, surprise, surprise, a little preening. He decided to take credit for […]
Beating lobby loses the plot
Beating lobby spokesman Larry Baldock appears to be losing the plot now that it’s dawned on him that his gaming of the smacking […]
It’s not OK, resign
The judgment in the case of ‘high-profile political figure’ involved in a domestic violence dispute has come back. Cameron Slater has published parts […]
Snake oil
I’m surprised that the Maori Party have rolled over so easily on the issue of Maori seats on the Auckland council. I will […]
Healthcare – need or wealth?
I don’t know if you’ve been following the healthcare debate in the States. Obama’s trying to bring in a plan that gets their […]
Drinking Liberally Wgtn – Thursday
Drinking Liberally is taking place again in Wellington this Thursday with guest David Shearer. He’ll be talking about his experiences overseas and on […]
Time for Key to show some backbone
John Key thinks there’s no need to change the law in the wake of the smacking referendum, but he does think there’s a […]
More than just a job
Recently, Bill English has been trying to make excuses for not doing anything about the spiralling numbers of unemployed. He says that the […]
Referendum results
I can’t say I’m all that surprised about the results of the ‘smacking’ referendum. As any good pollster will tell you, if you […]
When preening goes wrong
Tony Ryall had his chance in the big chair yesterday, sitting in for the Prime Minister in Question Time. A chance for self-promotion, […]
Will Key fold?
Interesting times for Key. Rodney is trying to wag the dog over Maori seats. He’s also trying it on over the “smacking referendum” […]
Bridging the Big Ditch
Mr Key is off in Australia this week promoting further measures to bind the two countries into a single economic market, and slash […]
More National sleeze
There’s been an attempt to force Peter Goodfellow, the brand new President of the National Party, to step down. The move came from […]
A really crappy day
I hadn’t been to a protest in months. After everything I’ve been through, activist stuff tends to make me more than a little […]
Smackathon planned
Anti-violence campaigners are urging Auckland parents to be especially vigilant in the wake of news that “Vote No” campaigner Larry Baldock is planning […]
Still lying, Still spying
A media release yesterday from the Justice NOW collective! shows how both police and corporate spies are still taking a major interest in […]
On cultural relativism
It’s a pretty rare thing for a conviction for manslaughter not to lead to some jail time. In the past 28 years, only […]
Nip it in the bud
Reading the Herald on Sunday piece about this senior political figure in the domestic violence dispute, I’m surprised his party hasn’t made him step down […]
On the scrap heap
Call me old fashioned if you will, but I like the idea that reforms of government activity should be concieved and implemented by […]
Reverse Robin hood
John Key’s policy to get kids into sport turns out to be a transfer of dollars from low decile schools to high decile […]
Kohia te kai rangatira, ruia te taitea
For just a moment today, perhaps set aside a little time for reflection on, or to lift a glass and toast those New […]
Malthusian merriment
In the wake of a rather nasty piece of ‘satire’ on another blog earlier this week, I’ve been thinking about over-population. It’s a […]
It’s not OK
You may have noticed the article on Stuff about a ‘senior political figure’ in court today. A woman is seeking a protection order […]
Double bubble trouble
It’s a rare day that I agree with Bill English but he’s right about the danger of another housing boom. The last bubble […]
Standing up for our rights
Remember the petition to state your opposition to Paula Bennett’s attack on our privacy rights. The idea is it will be tabled in […]
Still too far
Farrar has come back with a defence of his icky and outragous ‘satire’ post that proports to be a Green press statement announcing […]
Padding pockets, not houses
Just a month into the Government’s housing insulation programme and John Key has had to launch an inquiry into rorting by contractors who […]
Someone give Rodney a Smack
Rodney Hide is increasingly becoming an embarrassment to the government. The perception that he has created is that he will back to the […]