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Open mike 13/04/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 13th, 2015 - 67 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 …

James Shaw responds to Rodney Hide’s Herald column on the Greens leadership

Written By: - Date published: 11:46 am, April 12th, 2015 - 41 comments

Rodney Hide suggested in the Herald this morning that if James Shaw was leader of the Greens there would be a greater chance they could go into coalition with National.  James Shaw does not think so.

The magical disappearing surplus

Written By: - Date published: 10:36 am, April 11th, 2015 - 67 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 6:30 pm, April 10th, 2015 - 33 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 10th, 2015 - 64 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 …

The education horse race

Written By: - Date published: 11:38 am, April 9th, 2015 - 15 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 9:14 am, April 9th, 2015 - 84 comments

Some people, Left and Right state they won’t vote for New Zealand First while Winston is its leader. Various reasons are given including not trusting him, being self obsessed (only after the baubles of office) and loyal only to himself. My question is: Will the National voters who feel that way, still vote for National […]

Open mike 09/04/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 9th, 2015 - 203 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 …

West Auckland Labour meeting on housing

Written By: - Date published: 2:37 pm, April 8th, 2015 - 10 comments

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?

Written By: - Date published: 8:03 am, April 8th, 2015 - 172 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, April 4th, 2015 - 90 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 11:14 am, March 31st, 2015 - 25 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 3:22 pm, March 30th, 2015 - 25 comments

Make a submission about how our voting system should be improved.

Twelve mistakes National made in Northland

Written By: - Date published: 7:39 am, March 30th, 2015 - 86 comments

There are many specific reasons why National lost Northland, but arrogance is the thread running through all of them.

Open mike 28/03/2015

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, March 28th, 2015 - 186 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 4:27 pm, March 26th, 2015 - 79 comments

key-kumara

Peters for Northland

Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, March 25th, 2015 - 166 comments

Vote Winston (did I say that?) Update: Former Labour Cabinet Minister Colin Moyle thinks the same.

Collins confirms Dirty Politics

Written By: - Date published: 4:00 pm, March 19th, 2015 - 57 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, March 18th, 2015 - 119 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 7:24 am, March 18th, 2015 - 66 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 12:24 pm, March 15th, 2015 - 24 comments

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.

Written By: - Date published: 5:00 am, March 14th, 2015 - 267 comments

The co-leadership race within the Greens has shown that they’re alive and kicking – if nursing a few wounds from the last election. Both Kevin Hague and Gareth Hughes have managed to enter the race with minimal belittlement – an impressive feat in itself, for a party as controversial as the Greens. Most interesting of […]

Kathryn Ryan – Let the man talk!

Written By: - Date published: 12:07 pm, March 11th, 2015 - 64 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 12:04 pm, March 10th, 2015 - 61 comments

It’s hammer time! Prime Minister John Key apologises for not being a man …

The Bay Wide Boys

Written By: - Date published: 1:10 am, March 10th, 2015 - 8 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 9:03 am, March 8th, 2015 - 71 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 7:15 am, March 7th, 2015 - 205 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 …

Is Human Resource Management in New Zealand Ethical?

Written By: - Date published: 2:21 pm, March 4th, 2015 - 63 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 7:25 am, March 3rd, 2015 - 110 comments

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

Written By: - Date published: 9:33 pm, March 2nd, 2015 - 6 comments

It’s High Noon for the TPPA – Jane Kelsey with others will speak in Wellington at Connolly Hall 5:30pm Wednesday 4 March and in Auckland at Owen Glenn Building 6:30pm (correction 5:30pm) Thursday 5 March. All welcome – more info and register Wn here and Akl here.

Political donations and conflicts of interest

Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, March 2nd, 2015 - 53 comments

Whether it’s about election donations or portfolios, some people do seem to think MPs should always get the benefit of the doubt.