The reeferendum fails
The referendum seeking to decriminalise cannabis appears to have failed narrowly although special votes are still to be counted.
Social issues
Could the real Labour Party please stand up
We need to get the Labour government to focus on decreasing inequality and poverty in all its forms and effects. The new government needs to show that Labour has changed the country for good. Otherwise there’s no reason to vote for them in 2023.
Aotearoa New Zealand is a hell hole paradise dystopian democracy
Fox News has seized upon a four month old video of Jacinda Ardern to suggest that New Zealand has a terrifying new response to the disease and are throwing people into quarantine camps.
The boy from Matamata
Trump deputy chief of staff Chris Liddell, who is also a Kiwi, has announced his candidacy to be head of the OECD. The Greens have announced their opposition because he has been part of inhumane decisions and also decisions that undermine international institutions. The right back him because he is a kiwi. What should Labour do?
Justice Coney Barrett appears to be a climate change denier
Newly appointed Republican and Trump supported Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett is not convinced that humans are changing the world’s climate. Meanwhile China and Japan are convinced and have announced dates by which time they intend to be carbon neutral.
Melbourne gets on top of Covid
Yesterday the city of Melbourne recorded its first day of no new reported covid infections in nearly five months. At the same time in America the White House has effectively said that control is too difficult and that it is giving up.
Labour day
Enjoying your weekend? Thank a unionist!
What should Labour do in the next three years?
With the hand brake gone and the Government’s policy platform already complete what should the Labour Government set out to achieve this term?
Kelvin for DPM
Some thoughts on who the country’s Deputy Prime Minister should be.
Rangitata and the Future of the National Party
As National reels from the disastrous 2020 election result could a policy based on high tech agriculture represent a way back?
The Trump Biden debate
Discussion post for this afternoon’s live US Presidential debate.
Why Can’t The Ministry of Works Just Build Houses Like 1935?
We don’t have a government like the Labour government that formed in 1935.
Some consequences of Chloe Swarbrick’s win
What are the lessons to be learned from Chloe Swarbrick’s election night win of Auckland Central.
NZ election 2020: Labour win is a watershed moment in the country’s history
The 2020 election was more than just a victory for Labour and more than a crushing defeat for the National Party (New Zealand’s main centre-right political party). This result marks a significant watershed in New Zealand politics which will likely have implications long after this parliamentary term.
Later Jami-Lee
It appears that this election will be the swan song of Jami-Lee Ross’s political career with his final political act being eviscerated publicly by Tova O’Brien in an interview.
O Winston I love you
Some reasons for us to miss Winston’s exit from politics.
Jacinda or Judith?
With election day tomorrow those who have not voted already need to decide, do they want Jacinda Ardern or Judith Collins to be the next Prime Minister.
Latest Colmar Brunton – Labour Greens ascendant
Labour is coming off strastopheric polling but the Greens are looking safer. And National is still on the decline.
Legalise it! The Socialist case for Cannabis reform
Maria Hoyle of Socialist Aotearoa argues that from a socialist perspective the legalisation of the possession of cannabis should occur.
Backbench National MP proposes radical new tax to address deficit *
* but I am not sure that all of his caucus colleagues would be happy with the proposal.
Latest UMR Poll – National sinking
Leaked results of the latest UMR poll suggests that National is under 30% and that Judith Collins campaign techniques are not working. She responded by calling the Prime Minister a liar and fat shaming the population.
How not to campaign in an MMP environment
A recent series of advertisements placed by National MPs in Auckland seeking electorate votes and not seeking party votes show that central control of National’s campaign and discipline are completely lacking.
NZ Medical Association drops its opposition to the legalisation of cannabis
“So after staunchly opposing the legalisation of cannabis all year NZ Medical Association chair Kate Baddock has issued a statement and apology, in the middle of voting, saying actually the NZMA has “no position regarding the cannabis referendum”” – TVNZ political journalist Benedict Collins
Labour Increases Protection for Kauri Dieback
In an announcement that will probably gain them few extra votes but still warms the cockles, Labour have promised to put Kauri Dieback on the same scale of national disease response as Bovine Tuberculosis and Kiwifruit PSA.
Ngaro goes negative
National list MP Alfred Ngaro has shown that National’s message discipline has broken down completely by going negative and making some outlandish claims against Labour’s Phil Twyford.
Is this woman being coerced into unsafe healthcare by the DHB’s handling of covid testing?
Why is the Ministry of Health not stepping in to ensure nationwide standards for covid testing, and ensuring that isolation facilities meet our Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights?
The Trump Covid game
Let’s imagine a scenario where you are the President of the United States and it is in the middle of a pandemic. You then contract the virus yourself. How would you rate compared to Donald Trump?
National leaks again
A highly critical email about Judith Collins written by National Maungakiekie MP Denise Lee has been leaked and indicates that National’s Auckland policy was made on the hoof and without reference to the person in caucus with actual responsibility for the subject.
Meanwhile, the climate crisis
A large wildfire has destroyed many homes in the village of Ohau in the Mackenzie Country, and hundreds of people have been evacuated.
Trump’s not so bad: the holding our breath edition
An occasional series
Paul Goldsmith should stop digging
Paul Goldsmith has shown yet again his complete inability to understand how Government finances work by claiming there is a $10 billion dollar hole in Labour’s fiscal plan where there is none.
POTUS, Covid and the New Zealand election
News that Donald Trump has tested positive for Covid will have a significant effect on the US election as well as our local election. It raises the issue who will you trust to lead the country against this most agile yet deadly virus?
The Votesafe campaign
A well funded organisation has emerged from nowhere and is potentially having a significant effect on one of the referendum topics this year.
Leaders’ debate post
Post for discussion of the latest leaders’ debate scheduled for this evening. Be kind to each other.
Jacinda Ardern and New Zealand Health
Jacinda Ardern is a contender for winning a Nobel Peace Prize. If she were to get it for anything, it will be for her leadership response to the national health crisis response to COVID19.
NZ First and the SFO
Some random musings on the news yesterday that persons associated with NZ First had been charged by the Serious Fraud Office.