The Standard

Social issues

Categories under Social issues

Special laws for rich people

Written By: - Date published: 1:19 pm, February 24th, 2018 - 47 comments

Queenstown Lake District Council wants to protect the uber wealthy from Labour’s new overseas house buying ban.

Little proposes radical shake up of the Criminal Justice system

Written By: - Date published: 11:39 am, February 24th, 2018 - 152 comments

Andrew Little has called for a complete change the way criminal justice works.  But National’s initial response suggests that the prospects of a mature discussion on the issue are slim.

ALRANZ: 16 reasons to change the abortion law

Written By: - Date published: 6:08 am, February 18th, 2018 - 23 comments

Labour are intending to change NZ’s abortion laws. ALRANZ has 16 good reasons why that’s important (and overview of the current laws).

Labour to reform abortion law

Written By: - Date published: 6:36 am, February 17th, 2018 - 328 comments

Justice Minister Andrew Little has given the go ahead to change NZ’s archaic abortion legislation.

Fletcher Chair resigns but directors retain huge fees despite staggering loss

Written By: - Date published: 4:34 pm, February 14th, 2018 - 123 comments

Fletcher announces more huge losses but directors still laughing all the way to the bank

Was the political hit on Chris Bishop an inside job?

Written By: - Date published: 8:29 am, February 12th, 2018 - 158 comments

The disclosure of Chris Bishop’s snapchat engagement with young teenage females raises the question of who leaked the information to the media and why.

The problem with Charter Schools

Written By: - Date published: 12:38 pm, February 11th, 2018 - 296 comments

The Government is moving to stop the creation of new charter schools and require existing charter schools to integrate with the public system.

The Housing Crisis.

Written By: - Date published: 10:43 am, February 11th, 2018 - 154 comments

Can politics deliver?

NZ Court of Appeal and the Ministry of Health

Written By: - Date published: 6:27 am, February 8th, 2018 - 66 comments

The government has a responsibility to act fairly, centre its services around the needs of people, and treat NZ citizens as human beings.

National can win the next election

Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, February 5th, 2018 - 75 comments

There is a simple strategy for National to follow which may gain them victory in the next General Election.

Middle east Teenagers

Written By: - Date published: 10:01 am, February 2nd, 2018 - 60 comments

In the middle east a Palestinian teenager is detained for a minor assault and for protesting the occupation of her country.  And three Israeli teenagers are apparently trying to sue two New Zealand residents for exercising their rights of free speech.

Did you hear about the killer who got pulled over for speeding?

Written By: - Date published: 6:27 am, February 2nd, 2018 - 36 comments

Re-education may be the key to improving NZ driving habits.

Jacinda Ardern’s child poverty speech

Written By: - Date published: 7:42 am, February 1st, 2018 - 74 comments

In a major speech yesterday on poverty, Prime Minister Ardern has laid out fully and forthrightly what is the problem and what need to be done.

It’s time to change our cannabis laws (sign the petition)

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, January 31st, 2018 - 42 comments

“Sick New Zealanders deserve access to medicinal cannabis which is legal and affordable.”

Bill your pants may be on fire

Written By: - Date published: 1:48 pm, January 30th, 2018 - 118 comments

Bill English has criticised the Government for only offering an officer briefing on the day that legislation is due to be introduced into Parliament.  But appears to have forgotten an offer made by Jacinda Ardern 48 days ago.

Roger Federer

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, January 30th, 2018 - 25 comments

Why Roger Federer is my favourite athlete.

Doofus of the week Anniversary Weekend edition – Damien Grant

Written By: - Date published: 10:14 am, January 29th, 2018 - 43 comments

Damien Grant wins the latest award for penning a column where he claims that University education is a great folly of modern life, contributes surprisingly little to our economic well-being and does not prepare graduates for work.

Ruminations on deprivation

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, January 29th, 2018 - 172 comments

Man gets wet feet. Is reminded of privilege.

Rimutaka Prison.

Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, January 28th, 2018 - 51 comments

Who are the bigger criminals?

Updated.

The Humanity.

Written By: - Date published: 5:57 pm, January 25th, 2018 - 8 comments

Thoughtless thugs. Killers.

Solidarity

Written By: - Date published: 10:40 am, January 22nd, 2018 - 7 comments

History not forgotten.

Women’s March Speech.

Written By: - Date published: 3:58 pm, January 21st, 2018 - 46 comments

Sometimes, someone just knocks it out the park. Viola Davis just knocked it out the park. (h/t Carolyn_nth)

Nuclear Options.

Written By: - Date published: 12:13 pm, January 17th, 2018 - 54 comments

What could possibly be wrong in opting for a nuclear option?!

Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori

Written By: - Date published: 10:56 am, January 16th, 2018 - 68 comments

The language is the life force of the mana Māori.  Which is why the Government and the Opposition should pledge support to ensure it survives and thrives.

Jac-in-da-Box

Written By: - Date published: 6:58 pm, January 15th, 2018 - 48 comments

“Wedger Wayne” Mapp in todays’s Spinoff does his best to stuff Jacinda Ardern into a Tony Blair “Third Way”  box. Too glib by far.  True in 2002 Blair did promise to eliminate child poverty by 2020; but poverty’s now the highest in 20 years in Britain. I’d back Jacinda to do much better. Besides, instead of Mandy she’s got David Parker.

Two Faced Liberalism.

Written By: - Date published: 3:31 pm, January 13th, 2018 - 89 comments

Caring and heartless.

What will 2018 hold for Labour?

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, January 10th, 2018 - 201 comments

What does Labour do this year to make sure this Government is a success and its achievements something that progressives can be proud of?

Up in Smoke.

Written By: - Date published: 2:38 pm, January 5th, 2018 - 23 comments

US reverses Federal marijuana stance.

The Froth Comes off The Beer

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, January 5th, 2018 - 77 comments

Auckland appears to be following the trend set by Melbourne and Sydney of a softening in expected prices for selling houses.

Income related speeding fines – bring it on!

Written By: - Date published: 2:06 pm, January 3rd, 2018 - 159 comments

Dr Jarrod Gilbert has a provocative opinion piece on the Herald website today, proposing that speeding fines become income related. It’s an interesting argument, but not a new one. Gilbert cites sixteenth century French philosopher Montesquieu as one of the first to wonder if there can be equality under the law with monetary penalties that […]

RealMe and online government – good when it works

Written By: - Date published: 2:53 pm, December 27th, 2017 - 24 comments

The only thing worse than standing in queues with lumps of paper is having a website system that isn’t functioning. It is a first world problem I know. But having the government’s systems not be down for maintenance during the holidays is a good idea. There are no queues to form at the passport office because they are on holiday.