Where would you spend $26 million?
If you were the NZ government, with $26 million to spend, what would you spend it on?
Social issues
Labour leadership hustings video
In case you haven’t been able to make it to any of the leadership hustings, here’s the speeches from the Nelson meeting last week.
The future of work, income
Automation is changing everything – faster than we think…
The exciting sexy selloff of our State housing
Paula Bennett thinks that selling off much of the country’s housing stock is exciting and sexy and that the market and a group of charities will be able to resolve the country’s housing issues.
NRT: Long past time
How long has it been since homosexuality as a crime was removed from the the law books? It passed into law on the 8th of August 1986. The government is finally considering wiping past convictions under the strange previous laws. It is an action that is more than 18 years overdue.
Time for a real Police Tribunal?
Yesterday the “Independent” Police Conduct Authority released its report into the conduct of Police during the 2012 mass arrest of students at the “Blockade the Budget” protest. In the “About the Authority” section near the bottom the document claims that the IPCA is similar to a court
Lowly science
I’m sure it’s true, but…
Nanaia Mahuta – live Q&A
A statement from Nanaia Mahuta concerning the Labour Leadership contest. She should be available to answer questions this afternoon between 2 pm and 3 pm.
Roast busters – not prosecuted?
Slater sued
Radio NZ has a post up “Tribunal hears blogger privacy case”. A prosecution of Cameron Slater under the Privacy Act for breaching Matthew Blomfields privacy. I suspect that over the next 3-4 days Slater will ponce around acting out courtroom fantasies that have little to do with the law. And will probably get hammered. Good. (Updated)
Emmerson – The bloodsucker’s treat
National losing the middle?
In its first term, National was very careful to be incremental – Key hung to the middle, chipping away carefully at workers’ rights […]
Labour day – thank a unionist
Today is a day to celebrate the rights hard won by workers and unions, past and present. There’s a reason it’s called “Labour Day” not “Free Market Day”…
Collective bargaining? Yeah right …
JAmooches continues their analysis of the effects of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill. Today the focus is on the provisions that negate the requirement for the parties to act in good faith bargaining, in particular for being able to conclude collective agreements.
NRT: National lets Shell drill illegally
Illegal drilling in our “Exclusive Economic Zone” gets let off with a “warning”.
Poverty and the need to belong
I’ve read a couple of thought-provoking accounts of poverty lately. There are common themes – issues that the political right, which can only see “the poor” as separate from “us”, will never understand and acknowledge.
Hager vs police – suppressing debate
The police and Hager are in the process of initiating legal proceedings against each other. The police action against Hager was and is designed to intimidate, to suppress debate. Rod Oram calls shame on dirty politics and the people who perpetrate it.
Raising money for good works
One of the features of recent weeks has been the remarkable success of the online fund raising to allow Nicky Hager required to challenge the police raid. My partner Lyn has similarly had success in raising money for her to transfer skills to charity workers in India. I am now resigned to living on my own for a time while she does good works elsewhere.
Open mike 23/10/2014
Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Measuring poverty
The National government has always been selective about what it likes to measure, and so far refused to measure poverty. Under questioning on Morning Report this morning Key finally made a commitment to do so. We must hold him to it.
NRT: National’s failure on housing
A year ago National rammed through special housing areas promising 9000 homes consented in the first year under it. Over the last year they have managed to build 5 and consented 294. Nick Smith fails maths yet again. This year 13,000 – yeah right!
Hypocrisy and the cost of crime
The Government canned a report on the costs of various kinds of economic crime. RNZ obtained a copy under the OIA, and we can see why the Nats would never have wanted it released…
Strategic voting
It’s all very well taking the moral high ground on strategic voting, but the nice guys are finishing last. Enough already, time for the Left to use the same tactics as the Nats.
Len Brown’s future
The Herald has stated that Penny Hulse will not rule out an attempt at the Super City Mayoralty although she will not do so if Len Brown is standing. Now is a good time for Len to say what he intends to do.
No point in state houses
There’s no point in state houses. Not according to the Nats anyway. Unbelievable.
Sherman Cunliffe
Surely this should put Paddy Gower and co to bed once and for all. With great grace despite Shearer’s baiting, and with great […]
David Parker – my choice for Leader
Heavyweight Cabinet experience, strong egalitarian values, a cool debater, with a passion for manufacturing and a high-value economy, a good deal of steel and with an open mind and a twinkle in his eye – these are the reasons why I support David Parker for Labour Party Leader.
The housing dream
The “Kiwi dream” is over – the housing crisis just gets worse and worse.
Dear David Shearer
David Shearer has chosen to publicly call for unity while at the same time attacking David Cunliffe and the concept that Labour’s leadership should be representative.
Andrew Little: Law changes shaping up to be worse than first thought
Good to see David Cunliffe backing Andrew Little. He’s a strong left-wing candidate who is already taking John Key’s attack on workers rights head-on today. […]
Some thoughts on David Cunliffe’s withdrawal
Some personal comments on news today that David Cunliffe has withdrawn from the Labour leadership contest.
David Cunliffe announces withdrawal from the Labour Party leadership contest
Statement from David Cunliffe I am today announcing that I have decided not to nominate for the 2014 Labour Party leadership contest. It […]
Cunliffe to pull out?
Only a rumour at this stage…
Terrorism and thoughtcrime
Key is considering bringing in thoughtcrime. Guilt by association. Detaining people because they may commit a crime.
And then there were four
David Parker is likely to join the leadership race tomorrow…
Update: Confirmed – David Parker is standing.
Donations still rolling in for Hager
Assisted no doubt by attempts to have the fund shut down, donations are still rolling in for Nicky Hager’s defence.