Heartless government
A few stories of recent weeks which show exactly what kind of government we have.
Social issues
Housing Bubble
There is always a need for rental properties and the idea that there is not enough supply again comes from the inability for people to purchase housing themselves. This swells the demand above and beyond. So should the Government try to stop people becoming landlords? Of course not. But to raise the standard of living that a landlord must provide will slow demand and give better housing
Daily Review 12/06/2015 #CampbellLives
Slightly redesigned in support of #CampbellLives.
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standarnistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other.
Nick Smith strikes out on housing land
R.I.P Peter Conway
Someone who used his skills and intellect to fight in their corner. Someone who could go anywhere and do a good job on behalf of them
#Sheepgate – it was the official’s fault
National is appearing to be changing tack and trying to now blame a junior official rather than the Labour Party for the failure to complete the Gulf Free Trade Agreement. And the promised release of the relevant cabinet papers proving it was all Labour’s fault has still not occurred.
Nick Smith on housing then and now
In 2013 Nick Smith promised an effective housing WOF. Yesterday he said “People dying in winter of pneumonia and other illnesses is not new.” Has National ever kept a constructive sounding social policy promise?
OECD sounding the alarm
Freeing up Auckland land for private development and sale at market rates isn’t going to cut it.
Another death linked to cold state house
This should not be happening in New Zealand.
NRT: Half-measures on housing quality
I/S at No Right Turn: “Any improvement is better than what we’ve got now .. At the same time, we should recognise that this is pathetically weak.”
Anti-union rant in The Herald
An anonymous editorial in The Herald this morning really is atrocious. Apparently the limited uptake one of the Nats’ pet education policies is all the fault of the unions.
Cameron Slater’s statement on Ben Rachinger
Cameron Slater has posted one statement in response to Ben Rachinger’s allegations. It was by way of a jpg and was not searchable. As a public service broadcast I thought that New Zealand should have the benefit of the text of his response.
Murdoch on state houses then and now
What does courage look like?
I hesitated before writing this. I knew that nothing I could write would do justice to the courage of Ms Seales and her […]
De Boni on privatising mental health
A superb piece by Dita De Boni on the Nats’ plans to privatise mental health. See also (and sign!) Labour’s open letter opposing the “social bonds” scheme.
Government buys a fight with iwi
The Nats seem determined to buy a fight with iwi over Auckland land, practically challenging them to court action. Do they really think this is going to end well for them?
Death by damp house
Geddis on Auckland housing land
Yesterday we covered National’s blunder in not considering Treaty settlement obligations in its plans to free up state land for Auckland housing. Today you can read someone who actually knows what they’re talking about on the issue, check out Professor Geddis’ piece at Pundit.
NZLP Review of Election 2014; the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
The NZ Labour party’s review of election 2015 makes for interesting reading. It’s honest, straightforward and heartening. There is much to be learned from the last election campaign and it looks like the membership have got their points across to the review team. Good work, Labour!
NRT: Rubberstamping surveillance
I/S at No Right Turn on the “poor job the courts are doing of overseeing surveillance”.
Auckland land shambles
The problems for National’s housing plans for keep coming, with Ngati Whatua pointing out that it has first call on the land to be “freed up” under treaty agreements.
National standards aren’t
Further evidence that “national standards” are an omnishambles.
Reid Research Poll: Nats, Key slump.
New Reid Research poll; National, Key tank. Opposition parties nudge 50%. Little, Peters rise in preferred PM. Taxi for Mr Key?
Colmar Brunton poll
I’ll cautiously call the previous Roy Morgan, which caused so much angst, an outlier.
Conservatives and Human Rights
In Australia a recent attempt by Abbott and some supporters to give the Minister of Immigration the power to cancel an Australian’s citizenship status was met by a cabinet revolt. In England there is talk of the UK withdrawing from the European Convention of Human Rights. So much for the Conservative commitment to the rule of law.
Open mike 02/06/2015
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
The stupidest idea this Government has had yet
One News has reported that the Government is on the verge of introducing Social Bonds whereby investors in social services will be rewarded if targets are met.
Schools under pressure
Schools are not adequately funded for the job we ask them to do.
Kelvin Davis’ massive Hikoi
Over the next two weeks Kelvin Davis and supporters will be going a Hikoi through the North to publicise the curse of sexual violence and to get more men to speak out against it.
Auto Kiwisaver
Nice to see English acknowledging the importance of Kiwisaver – thanks Michael Cullen, thanks Helen Clark! I certainly support default enrollment. But – isn’t this Big Government Nanny State Gone Mad?
Students speak on loan cap
Students speak on the lifetime limit on eligibility for student loans. This particularly affects those committed to a long term course of study, such as medical students. They can’t get loans for their final years of study. It’s crazy.
Sheepgate
It has emerged that the New Zealand Government has paid money to a Saudi businessman allegedly to settle a legal dispute that does not exist but more probably to persuade the Saudi Government to enter into a free trade agreement. Update – and maybe there was a threat of legal action but because of the actions of National, not Labour.
Petition: Raise the age of child protection
Currently, child protection law means a young person leaves CYFS care at 17, but other state support, like housing and student allowances, doesn’t start until age 18.
Campbell on the budget
Should have covered this earlier – extracts from Gordon Campbell on the budget.
Open mike 26/05/2015
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Mortgagee sales
A marked drop in mortgagee sales recently. Good news?