Ihumaatao must be returned to mana whenua says Kiingitanga
“Mana whenua agree they want their land returned, so they can make decisions about its future.”
Social issues
Every day New Zealanders
Simon Bridges thinks that Jacinda Ardern’s international campaign to change the way that social media handles hate speech and terrorism a big talkfest that will achieve nothing, even though Facebook has as a result announced significant changes to its platform.
China, Climate Conference, and New Zealand
At the United Nations Climate Action Summit next weekend the question may be asked what would happen if China stopped buying Australian coal?
The strange case of Oravida and the rupturing of the Ruakaka jet fuel line
An independent inquiry has concluded that an Oravida associated company was most likely responsible for the rupturing of a jet fuel line in 2017.
An unfortunate rush to judgment by the media?
A release of information from Labour Council member Simon Mitchell has raised issues about what members of the Labour Party knew about recent sexual abuse allegations and when.
Legitimate target, daft war
The war that Saudi Arabia and its allies has been waging against the Houthi side in the civil war in Yemen took a […]
How This Government Can Still Win
Some suggestions on how Labour can retain power at the next election.
National’s double standard
National has a rather murky past when it comes to dealing with issues relating to the behaviour of its Members of Parliament.
The biggest loser
Boris Johnson has lost a sixth Parliamentary vote in six days as Britain lurches into a constitutional crisis.
National attacks Labour for not cleaning up National’s mental health crisis quickly enough
National has complained that the Government is not fixing up the problems with the Mental Health system created by National quickly enough.
Te Whare Pounamu #3
Survivor Backs Refuge.
The Civilian has a fish-hook
The Civilian is New Zealand’s pre-eminent source of online news, and indeed the purest form of news that you can consume without having an apoplectic seizure. Today they detail the course of a vaccination on live TV. Please put your hot drinks down before reading.
Forget Brexit
As Brexit fades our British parent country into a globally forgettable social embarrassment, we should remind ourselves that the only international politics of […]
The Free Speech Coalition goes to court
Jordan Williams and the Free Speech Coalition are in the High Court protecting the rights of Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux to express views the details of which Mr Williams does not know.
Te Whare Pounamu #2
Are congratulations in order Ang! Are you perhaps patting yourself on the back for some part you played in RNZ dropping a major […]
Te Whare Pounamu – Are Children Really Safe?
How seriously do Women’s Refuge, the Ministry of Social Development and Te Whare Pounamu management take child abuse concerns? This requires greater scrutiny.
Head Theory
The English team have reintroduced the infamous bodyline approach to their cricket. The 20th century euphemism for it was “leg theory,” in the 21st century it is better described as “head theory.” “It isn’t cricket” used to be the Englishman’s definer for noble values. Not any more.
Te Whare Pounamu #1
When an organisation that exists to help abused people, itself abuses people, I suspect many people will have a lot to say. Here’s my initial take.
Transmission Gully
NZTA have determined to not proceed with tolling the Transmission Gully motorway. Does this make it the country’s largest single transport waste?
Crims gangs and extremists
National has chosen for political reasons to oppose the Government’s proposed gun law changes designed to address weaknesses shown up by the Christchurch terrorist attack.
Toxic masculinity
As the Amazon burns and the world looks on aghast as our lungs go up in flames Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has chosen to respond to an offer of help from the G7 by picking a fight with French leader Emmanuel Macron.
Ross leaks again
Jami Lee Ross has released details showing National avoided restrictions against overseas donations by a New Zealand incorporated company being used to make the donation.
RIP David Koch
David Koch, the man possibly most responsible for the growth of climate change denialism, has died at the age of 79 as the Arctic melts and the Amazon burns.
100 Days of climate vigil
Ollie Langridge doing the climate action mahi at parliament.
I agree with Heather
Heather du Plessis Allan has concluded that National was responsible for leaking details about Winston Peters superannuation overpayment. And believes that it was business as usual for National.
Labour and welfare
Many of us wanted to believe that the Ardern-led compassion would apply to all New Zealanders, but Labour’s defence of highly punitive benefit sanctions tell us it doesn’t.
Talk is cheap Tamihere
I am really not a fan of political candidates bullshitting. John Tamihere – candidate for Auckland city Mayor, is this kind of blowhard. He is the epitome of the kind of fool who seems to keep his brain mounted right next to his testicles to inform his mouth what to say. He released a transport policy fantasy… I’ll vote for Goff.
Police and computers: incompetent or just unbalanced?
I’ve just been reading the decision by the IPCA on their botched and blatantly political searches on Nicky Hager. But there is a more serious problem. The police appear to be technically and legally incapable of enforcing our 2002 legislation about computer crimes. Perhaps a specialist office like the SFO who can garner the skills to deal with it – without political linkages being an issue.
The Government’s prison reforms
The Government has announced policies designed to reduce Maori incarceration rates dramatically.
Cmon Aussie …
In the last week Australia has insulted Pacific nations by refusing to commit to a 1.5 degree maximum increase in global temperatures and by claiming that Pacific Islands will be fine because they can pick Australia’s fruit. And Alan Jones has almost lost his job through misogynist attacks on Jacinda Ardern.
Fertile land is priceless
As Labour moves to protect prime food growing land around our cities, we should be having a wider discussion about food security in New Zealand.
National still does not get MMP
National has shown that it does not understand MMP by being overly concerned that some electorates may be slightly bigger or smaller than other electorates.
Do poor people and women exist in right wing economics land?
David Seymour has written a critique of Deborah Russel’s review of the hard right economic tome “Economics in one lesson”. And totally missed the point of what she was saying.
Bridges emulates Trump
Simon Bridges has borrowed heavily from Donald Trump in releasing a press release saying that Ihumātao protesters should go home.
Police – ignoring their job in Southland
“Allegations of trespassing and intimidation as Southland winter grazing protest escalates” yesterday. The reporter completely missed the most important salient point – the police don’t seem to be doing their job. Leaving a pissed lynch mob of farmers trying to force people out of their house to ‘talk’ to them is pretty clearly an act of intimidation. And that doesn’t even cover the original idiot farmer who is alleged to have rammed someone’s car.
The sociopathology of sanctions
Autonomous sanctions imposed on Iran and Venezuela by the US are expressly designed to drive whole populations into poverty to bring about regime change. They are sociopathic. Based on its values, The National Party wants to make such sanctions New Zealand’s policy. Extraodinary!