Written By: - Date published: 3:46 pm, July 19th, 2015 - 7 comments
This week three big things are happening which will show how detached this Government is from the realities of workers and their families working in dangerous workplaces. The private prosecution over the death of Eramiha Pairama Aged 19, killed in a forest in December 2013. Remember that year – 10 dead in forestry. Well this […]
Written By: - Date published: 4:16 pm, July 17th, 2015 - 232 comments
Roy Morgan poll declares a “centrist” NZ First could act to replace the National Government, on latest poll results.
Written By: - Date published: 7:14 am, July 17th, 2015 - 58 comments
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.
Written By: - Date published: 10:27 am, July 10th, 2015 - 127 comments
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.
Written By: - Date published: 8:27 am, July 10th, 2015 - 42 comments
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.
Written By: - Date published: 11:21 am, July 7th, 2015 - 81 comments
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?
Written By: - Date published: 10:19 am, July 2nd, 2015 - 25 comments
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
Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, July 2nd, 2015 - 16 comments
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.
Written By: - Date published: 8:57 am, June 27th, 2015 - 99 comments
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.
Written By: - Date published: 6:08 pm, June 26th, 2015 - 433 comments
A respectful open letter to Andrew Little with suggestions for how to win the next election!
Written By: - Date published: 4:00 pm, June 26th, 2015 - 3 comments
White man behind a desk explores why National is behind the Catholic Church and Shell when it comes time to addressing climate change.
Written By: - Date published: 9:07 pm, June 24th, 2015 - 10 comments
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…
Written By: - Date published: 1:42 pm, June 24th, 2015 - 30 comments
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 dealt with in a way NZ would like… He even has to contradict Tim Groser’s views here and here to try to not make his point. It’s “net positive” for NZ if […]
Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, June 24th, 2015 - 31 comments
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.
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 22nd, 2015 - 89 comments
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 …
Written By: - Date published: 3:35 am, June 18th, 2015 - 17 comments
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.
Written By: - Date published: 12:17 pm, June 15th, 2015 - 30 comments
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?
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 pm, June 12th, 2015 - 27 comments
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.
Written By: - Date published: 3:17 pm, June 11th, 2015 - 5 comments
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
Written By: - Date published: 1:51 pm, June 11th, 2015 - 48 comments
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.
Written By: - Date published: 8:10 am, June 8th, 2015 - 77 comments
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.
Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, June 6th, 2015 - 189 comments
I hesitated before writing this. I knew that nothing I could write would do justice to the courage of Ms Seales and her family and supporters. The recent decision of Justice Collins on assisted death makes legal sense to me. I struggled to understand prior to his decision how he could legally support Ms Seales’ […]
Written By: - Date published: 5:34 pm, June 3rd, 2015 - 124 comments
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!
Written By: - Date published: 7:39 pm, June 2nd, 2015 - 98 comments
New Reid Research poll; National, Key tank. Opposition parties nudge 50%. Little, Peters rise in preferred PM. Taxi for Mr Key?
Written By: - Date published: 11:03 am, June 2nd, 2015 - 53 comments
I’ll cautiously call the previous Roy Morgan, which caused so much angst, an outlier.
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 2nd, 2015 - 169 comments
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 …
Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, May 28th, 2015 - 103 comments
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.
Written By: - Date published: 9:48 am, May 26th, 2015 - 4 comments
Should have covered this earlier – extracts from Gordon Campbell on the budget.
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 26th, 2015 - 69 comments
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 …
Written By: - Date published: 9:31 am, May 25th, 2015 - 197 comments
National has again refused to consider doing anything about the future of Superannuation. Yet its policies of increasing Crown debt, stopping contributions to the Cullen Fund and attacking Kiwisaver have made a discussion about the future of superannuation more important than ever.
Written By: - Date published: 7:09 am, May 25th, 2015 - 75 comments
Extracts from Rod Oram’s piece in the SST as posted on Facebook. “What’s missing from [the budget], and the six before, is any glimpse of the world we live in, let alone the political leadership we need to survive and thrive in it.”
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