Fuck the homeless
Those compassionate conservatives of the National Party have a message for the increasing number of homeless who occupy our Brighter Future.
Social issues
Labour’s list of candidates for 2017
The full list of Labour’s list candidates for the 2017 election list. (Updated)
Eminem case could cost Nats big
Eminem’s lawyer on the Nats’ email chain – “Also, the focus is on not just whether it’s an infringement. But whether they can shift liability to someone else.” Typical.
National in court – is “pretty legal” good enough?
Today National, party of personal responsibility and property rights, is in court for allegedly ripping off work the work of Eminem. How stupid do you have to be to make the same mistake twice?
Is the Labour Housing policy even possible?
If Labour wins in September what state infrastructure can it utilise to deliver on its promise to build tens of thousands of affordable homes?
Pencilsword on renting
Pencilsword does brilliant analysis and commentary in cartoon form. Go check out the latest on the invisible rental crisis…
Squatters’ rights
You know things are bad when MPs start thinking squatting is a viable option.
A legacy of poisoned water
We won’t be able to say that we didn’t have ample warning, with a another detailed and damning report on water quality out yesterday. Does National really want to be remembered for allowing the poisoning of our water?
Nick knifed
Parata fleeing education mess
Parata can believe whatever brings her comfort of course, but the fact is that this National government has made, as usual, a mess of education.
Housing affordability data suppressed?
Bill English would have you believe that there is no housing crisis. He desperately needs you to believe it until after the next election. Is Nick Smith deliberately suppressing housing data?
Green power
Lots to like in The Greens’ new power policy.
Missing voices
Former Trump supporter speaks Her Truth
Mental health needs vs. cuts
The People’s Mental Health Review report puts the deterioration of our mental health system firmly in the spotlight. Despite a 60 per cent increase in demand since 2007/08 National has been slashing funding. Lives are at risk.
Thank you health care workers
This is a huge victory for health care workers, and for women. It is also a huge victory for “resurgent unions”. Will it alarm the private sector? I certainly hope so!
(Kristine Bartlett, photo Herald Mark Mitchell)
Helen Clark farewelled by UN
Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
My five books for Donald Trump
What books should POTUS read during this most religious of times.
Canada
Every once in a while, an administration that doesn’t check it’s collective brain out at the door assumes office. That may be the case with Canada’s current government.
Monbiot on the embedded economy
A model for a sustainable economy. Something to ponder on a wet holiday weekend.
Good on you Andrew Little
Andrew Little questioned the actions of this government, as he should, and has fronted up and taken personal responsibility for offense taken by other parties, as he should. He has endured a costly and draining leagal process with a result widely hailed as a victory for democracy. But apparently that isn’t enough, so here we go again.
Weather warnings – be prepared
Newshub: “MetService warns Cyclone Cook will be the worst to hit NZ since 1968, people advised to stock up on food and water”
Stay on the treadmill suckers!
That is the Nats’ advice to aspiring Auckland house buyers.
Motels are full of homeless so now what?
Ordinary people are priced out of home ownership and increasingly out of renting, the state-housing safety net has been deliberately run down, and now the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff is full. National leaps into action – by asking the Salvation Army for ideas…
David Cunliffe’s valedictory speech party
David Cunliffe delivers his veledictory speech today at 5:30 pm. Eanna Doyle, one of David’s most loyal of supporters (there are many tales to tell) will be hosting a veledictory speech party for Aucklanders at his bar at Toucan Bistro in Albany starting 5 pm. The speech will be shown live. Update: Video of the speech added.
Bid for Helen (for Women’s Refuge)
A rescued portrait of Helen Clark is raising money for Women’s Refuge via TradeMe.
Mediawatch on Hit and Run
“Has the meaning of book Hit and Run been obscured by all the claims and counter-claims in the media?” – Yes of course it has, and that is a deliberate strategy on the part of people who are desperate to avoid an inquiry.
Property porn vs. reality
Sick of the property porn on the Stuff and Herald websites? It was refreshing to read the truth for a change.
MSD and our privacy
National’s plans for our privacy and access to social services are a perfect cocktail of over-reach and incompetence.
Dirty Politics done in the Netsafe style – part 3
No further information from either Netsafe or the complainant. I can’t proceed any further apart from writing explicit site HDCA instructions. The Daily Blog has had the samehappen, with an attempt to gag any public debate on their actions by Netsafe. Amy Adams has hurriedly issued a press release saying how wonderful the HDCA is… I guess she doesn’t like debate.
Banks and the Housing Crisis
Because of our our central government’s refusal to build social housing and both NZTA and AT rigorously avoiding urban development integration, the default control of housing supply lies with Australian regulation of New Zealand’s retail banks and their lending.
Nurses ask us to vote for our health
You could vote for three more years of “brighter future”. Or you could listen to the nurses.
Typhoid in Auckland
The typhoid outbreak in Auckland is very bad news. Now would also be a good time to reflect on NZ’s generally poor record on child poverty and disease.
The sure fire way that a young person can own a house in Auckland
The Standard has on your behalf read the Herald’s latest article on how young people in Auckland can own their home and worked out the most important thing a young person can do to buy a home in Auckland.
Scientology awarded major contract by new Ministry for Vulnerable Children
People who do not agree or who wise-up to what’s going on are, as per the instructions of Scientology founder, L Ron Hubbard, to be “disposed of quietly and without sorrow”.
Dirty Politics done in the Netsafe style – part 2
Ok. Round 2. Still no more relevant information from Netsafe.
I’m getting somewhat irritated with them. When exactly are they going to get off their arses and provide the information that we need to make a decision?
Warnings on Auckland Housing
Warnings on the state of the Auckland housing market are coming thick and fast now. People who bought recently (at the peak of prices and low interest rates) are likely to get burned.