Open mike 13/04/2015
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 …
Social issues
uncategorized
The magical disappearing surplus
John Key and National have staked a huge amount of their credibility on returning the country’s books to surplus this financial year. Looks like they are going to fail.
Daily review 10/04/2015
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.
Open mike 10/04/2015
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 education horse race
On the one hand the government are pushing for more and more NCEA passes to feed the league tables, and on the other they are acknowledging that those passes are no longer enough to suggest success at Tertiary level and tightening criteria to exclude students. Mixed messages, perverse incentives, a giant shambles.
The Winston Principle
Some people, Left and Right state they won’t vote for New Zealand First while Winston is its leader. Various reasons are given including […]
Open mike 09/04/2015
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 …
West Auckland Labour meeting on housing
Details of a public meeting hosted by the West Auckland Labour MPs about housing issues to be held tomorrow night.
What is happening in the National Party?
Trouble is brewing in National’s ranks. In a series of recent tweets occasional Standard commenter Matthew Hooton outlines his reasons for now opposing John Key’s Government.
The implications of Winston Peters’ Northland win
John Armstrong in the Herald and Tracy Watkins in the Dominion Post have both written opinion pieces on the implications of Winston Peters’ win in Northland which reach very similar conclusions.
Drill baby drill will not work
Simon Bridges announced yesterday the release of the 2015 block offer. Potentially oil companies could be drilling in deep sea pristine environmental areas off the West Coast where the endangered Maui’s Dolphin lives. He calls for a “mixed balance” of energy generation. But all this means is that he wants the good mixed with the bad.
Have your say on our electoral system
Make a submission about how our voting system should be improved.
Twelve mistakes National made in Northland
There are many specific reasons why National lost Northland, but arrogance is the thread running through all of them.
Open mike 28/03/2015
Today being buy election day in Northland means that everyone should refrain from making comments about the buy election until polling booths close at 7:00 pm. There will be a post up at 7:01 pm where you can comment to your heart’s content. Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step right up to the mike …
Caption competition
Peters for Northland
Vote Winston (did I say that?) Update: Former Labour Cabinet Minister Colin Moyle thinks the same.
Collins confirms Dirty Politics
Video from last night in Parliament where Judith Collins essentially confirmed the veracity of the information contained in Dirty Politics. And David Cunliffe had the most exquisite put down of an opponent I have seen in a long time.
Len Brown is toast
Bernard Orsman has reported in the Herald today that Len Brown’s campaign team no longer back him and are considering support for a Phil Goff run for the mayoralty.
PM can’t calculate GST
Gotcha politics is all good sport when the opposition makes a mistake. How about Key’s self-inflicted blunder?
Two views on Titirangi’s Kauri
Rodney Hide has published a column about the ancient Titirangi Kauri which predictably argues that land owners should do what they want. But John Roughan has argued to the contrary in an article that will make you wonder if he is actually a greenie at heart.
Time for the Greens to transcend left vs. right.
The co-leadership race within the Greens has shown that they’re alive and kicking – if nursing a few wounds from the last election. […]
Kathryn Ryan – Let the man talk!
One of my real pet peeves is interviewers who don’t let incredibly knowledgeable people speak to the topic on which they have been invited. Today Judge Peter Boshier was being interviewed by Kathryn Ryan in his capacity as a Law Commissioner.
Key: I Apologise for Not Being a Man
It’s hammer time! Prime Minister John Key apologises for not being a man …
The Bay Wide Boys
The Tribunal made specific mention of the apology Baywide Chief Executive Gavin Earle read to the victim during the hearing noting that it ” . . . was delivered without any detectable note of sincerity . . . “
Key’s credibility and the Snowden leaks
The Sunday Star Times has reported on the set up and reach of the Waihopai Spy Base. Key’s statement that the GCSB does not have the physical capability to conduct mass surveillance appears to be not true.
Open mike 07/03/2015
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 …
Is Human Resource Management in New Zealand Ethical?
The behaviour at NZCU Baywide presents HRINZ with a rare opportunity to demonstrate that it is a body made up of professionals, serious about their work, concerned about standards, and intent on ensuring the safety of others
Politicising banking
The attack on banking services for Mega is a high profile example of the politicisation of banking. We’re on a very slippery slope here…
Kelsey et al on TPPA Wn 4 & Akl 5 March
Political donations and conflicts of interest
Whether it’s about election donations or portfolios, some people do seem to think MPs should always get the benefit of the doubt.
Brassneck
The release of the candidate donation returns has shown us that the National Party are still rorting the system. However, there are issues for the NZ Labour Party as well. Four MP’s have taken money from sources that do not have the interests of the Labour party or, indeed, the majority of Kiwis at heart. Brassneck or bought and sold?
Open mike 01/03/2015
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 …
John Key channels Clarke and Dawe
David Parker recaps Key’s bluster on his Donghua Liu dinner, and it’s pure comedy.
Andrew Little; leadership, loyalty and lasting the distance.
Its 100 days since the NZ Labour Party elected Andrew Little as its leader. What an inspired decision that has turned out to be! Little has galvanised the party, united the caucus and looks set to be the next PM. How has he turned Labour around?
National’s electoral returns and the Donghua Liu donation
The Electoral Commission has now released individual returns of donations and electoral expenses. And the Donghua Liu donation appears in Jamie-Lee Ross’s return. But the vast majority of electorate campaigns recorded head office donations and the overwhelming impression is that cabinet club donations are collected centrally and then distributed. So what happened with the Liu donation?