Parsing John Key on TPPA
John Key made some outlandish claims about TPPA opponents this morning on the Paul Henry show. And in response, as usual, he was not pulled up on his claims by his interviewer.
Social issues
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TPPA Dairy Trade provision on the ropes?
The Herald is reporting this morning that the TPPA may not actually improve access for New Zealand’s Dairy exports to overseas markets.
Daily Review 13/08/2015
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas 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.
TPPA Protests this week – Its our future
A large anti TPPA protest is scheduled for Saturday in Auckland and throughout the country during this week.
David Seymour is a Puppet
Bruce Robertson and Key have played Seymour like a Puppet. It’s like this was all ready to go. Just needed the right person […]
Corbyn and the Overton Window
A recent YouGov poll in the Times predicts Jeremy Corbyn will win the UK Labour leadership on first preferences alone. If he does win, Corbyn will shift the “Overton Window” of acceptable ideas leftward in the face of formidable opposition.
#Sheepgate and the war of metaphor
The war of metaphor requires the continuous repetition of a simple statement in the hope it becomes the accepted truth. Most of the time it works. But with #sheepgate it is starting to unravel.
Sunshine Coast holiday a life changing experience for our Children
…is swimming all day in a pool at the luxurious Denarau suite of high class hotels a learning experience? Spending days in water parks in Queensland life expanding? Is this sufficient to justify thumbing your nose at our education system, its principles (and principals) and making teachers re-teach these children to catch them up? What happened to the notion of “one law for all”?
Colin Craig’s electoral return
John Stringer has accused Colin Craig of filing a false electoral return. But even now it looks like the complaint may be doomed to failure.
National’s terrible deal making
A brief analysis of a number of deals that National has negotiated suggests that its reputation as a supposedly tough dealmaker is misplaced.
The Flag will make us rich
John Key thinks the new flag will make us all rich and be worth billions.
The dump of the #sheepgate papers
The sheepgate papers have been dumped and despite John Key’s claims to the contrary the only evidence of a change in position on live sheep exports is that of the National Government, not the previous Labour Government.
The modern precariat and the Unconditional Basic Income
A UBI would allow ordinary people to shift their daily focus from doing paid jobs making money for others, to doing useful work of their own choice, under their own control.
Maori language is not boring, John Key
John Key has managed to insult an idealistic young woman and Maori at the same time by saying that her suggestion that Maori Language week should be extended was boring.
Breathless children
Tim Groser has some advice for us on the TPP – “We need adults to do this, not breathless children to run off at the mouth when the deal is not actually finished.”
The great state house sell off – small groups need not apply
Treasure has indicated that the sell off of State housing should occur in minimum lots of a hundred houses. Only large wealthy organisations need apply and claims that the sale was about the building of capacity amongst local social service providers cannot be reconciled with this.
The two realities of Health and Safety at work will be on show this week
This week three big things are happening which will show how detached this Government is from the realities of workers and their families […]
RM: Labour jumps 6% – LAB/GR coalition leads
Roy Morgan poll declares a “centrist” NZ First could act to replace the National Government, on latest poll results.
Auckland house prices – the good ol’ days ’05
Home ownership rates have been crashing since the 1990’s. Auckland house prices have been classed as “seriously unaffordable” since 2006 or earlier. The answer is to make sure that houses are no longer considered a financial asset for capital gains.
Blood on the Tracks
Bill English’s budget has thrown a two year lifeline to Kiwirail. But it’s not nearly enough and its hopelessly shortsighted. Rail isn’t a cost, it’s a benefit. What’s needed is investment and planning, not slash and burn.
Another #Keyfib about Kiwisaver
The treasury release of budget policy advice suggests that John Key’s claim that changes to Kiwisaver would not have any effect on participation numbers was, ahem, erroneous.
Common People; Yanis Varoufakis is all Class.
The Greek Finance minister has unexpectedly quit. He had already said he would resign if the referendum was lost; nobody expected that he would go after such a stunning win. But it was the strategically correct thing to do. Why can’t some of the veterans in the NZ Labour Party take the hint?
New Powers to Ministers to screw Iwi
The Social Housing Reform (Transaction Mandate) Bill allows designated Ministers to sell off state houses. Currently Housing New Zealand has no such power. Interestingly however this Government could introduce a Bill with criteria to enable sales to be signed off by the CE of Housing New Zealand but instead they are seeking that power for themselves. But within it there is a fishhook for iwi. UPDATE: comment from Turei and response from Bennett
Bust up in New Zealand First?
Radio New Zealand has reported on sources claiming that New Zealand First Deputy Leader Tracy Martin will this week be replaced as deputy by Ron Mark.
Amazing Grace
Barack Obama sings the spiritual Amazing Grace during the eulogy for Clementa Pinckney, one of those killed by a racist gunman in Charleston. Not completely in tune, but he hits the right note. As his Presidency winds down, Obama has one last opportunity to move the American mindset. The rule of the gun must end.
An open letter to Andrew Little
A respectful open letter to Andrew Little with suggestions for how to win the next election!
White man behind a desk: Climate Change
White man behind a desk explores why National is behind the Catholic Church and Shell when it comes time to addressing climate change.
Gender, Power and Culture
Catriona MacLennan and Prue Hyman will discuss this topic at Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace, Wellington, Thursday June 25th at 5:30pm. All welcome. Read more…
John Key excited that TPP deal close but
admits it doesn’t adequately address dairy products (one of NZ’s main export products). That’s right, the PM acknowledges that dairy products are not […]
Do petitions work?
The increased use of petitions is a very clever innovation by the Labour Party because this Government has proven to be a weather vane lot, guided by polls.
Open mike 22/06/2015
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 …
Scary programmer
As some of you will be aware, I’m a dedicated computer programmer. So the Underhanded C Contest is just fun. That is to write code that is as readable, clear, innocent and straightforward as possible, and yet it must fail to perform at its apparent function. To be more specific, it should do something subtly evil. This years winner really takes the cake on that.
Snakeheads
It is looking likely that the Australian Government has broken its own laws and international treaties by paying off people smugglers. Did John Key know? Did he approve of what may be criminal activity?
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.
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.