The future of the public service – public meeting in Ōhāriu
Something to go to in Wellington this Wednesday
Social issues
uncategorized
Timeline: Key responsible for SIS release
[Reposted] Key is responsible for the release of SIS briefing notes to Cameron Slater – one of the main issues summarised in Dirty Politics. Here’s the timeline in detail.
Update: Hooton and Williams on Nine to Noon – Key not credible
Labour’s housing plan is much better
National has announced its housing policy using Labour’s Kiwisaver scheme to provide extra money to first home buyers. But the policy will only add to housing inflation instead of addressing it.
The opening addresses of Election 2014
Last night the opening party political addresses were broadcast on TV One, simultaneous with an All Blacks match and a live-tweeted crowd viewing of Labyrinth. So if you missed out (and don’t follow my every thought on Twitter), here’s my reaction! [Update: more links to videos!]
Looking at the big policy picture
Despite John Key’s key message du jour, the parties of the Opposition are talking policy.
Greens, Labour, NZH Hot Seat: coalitions
In the NZ Herald panel interviews, Green & Labour Party leaders come across extremely well. The leaders are confident, considered and ready to govern.
Dirty politics – the South is revolted
Plenty of editorial comment is decrying Key’s dirty politics. Two pieces from the Deep South yesterday were particularly forthright. Can Key walk on sewerage?
“Having a Whale of a time”
In July 2011, John Key was on holiday in Maui “having a whale of a time” – and also on Q+A in New Zealand letting the world know that Phil Goff was briefed by Tucker. So they do have the telephone in Hawaii.
John Key – The End Game
It is one of the wonders of the modern world that the democracy that past generations fought and died for is regarded as […]
John Key’s groundhog day
Poor John Key must think he is in the movie Groundhog Day. The media clearly do not accept his explanation for Dirty Politics. And each day further information comes out which casts more and more doubt on the veracity of what he has been saying.
Taxenophobia
Chalkie has a fascinating article in today’s DomPost on why foreigners are so keen to buy New Zealand assets – tax. He discusses Wellington Electricity Network and Lochinver to make the point that “the real appeal of investing in New Zealand is how easily foreign companies manage to avoid paying tax” – anywhere. Labour’s tax avoidance clampdown will benefit Kiwis much more than National’s soundbite approach to policy exemplified in Joyce’s bullying.
Mr Clean talks Dirty Politics: Key standup transcript pt2
In this part of the transcript of John Key’s Aug 14 standup, Key repeats dubious spin lines, & tries to maintain his Mr Clean image. Topics include Jason Ede, Judith Collins, Bronwyn Pullar. Key tries to implicate left wing blogs, naming The Standard
National’s campaign video and Eminem
In 2008 National breached copyright by using a song suspiciously like Coldplay’s Clocks. The DVD had to be withdrawn. It may not have learned as its latest campaign video has music that sounds suspiciously like an Eminem song. Has it learned and does it have permission?
Polity: Through the looking glass
John Key has been running a pretty simple diversion strategy over the past week asserting that Labour knew about Hager’s book (they didn’t), that they aren’t interested in policy (our mailbox is full of their policies), and that the public will ignore the book (our stats are skyhigh). He is a loser. Rob Salmond puts his view.
Dirty Politics roundup
Pot pourri, grab bag… Nicky Hager’s sister’s response, Media Take, John Key’s wanting to talk about policy, political passion, at the end of the day…
The real John Key?
Swearing is not often a major factor in the political debate. Yet John Key’s alleged use of the “f-word” seems to have assumed considerable significance in the run-up to election day in the light of the Slater debarcle. National has a lot invested in John Key’s nice guy facade.
“Mr Slater’s made it quite clear”: Key standup transcript pt1
How slippery is John Key? Part one of transcript of Key’s press standup last Thursday. On accessing Labour’s website private details, OIAs to the SIS, Dirty Politics, Nicky Hager and Mr Slater. [Updated]
Valuing child care: beyond ‘show me the money!’
Simon Collins has published a very good article comparing various parties policies on social security. As is the current trend, he doesn’t fully examine the deep and lasting contribution good child care & education make towards society & the economy. It’s about material and social well-being.
Left wing blogs aren’t “the same”
Part of John Key’s frantic spin is that left wing blogs are just the same as Whaleoil. As a left wing blogger I take personal umbrage – there is no equivalence. [Update: As also stated by RNZ political reporter Brent Edwards on Morning Report this morning (7:25am)]
The moral low ground
Revulsion. That’s what’s coming out from a range of people who have ploughed through the inner thoughts of Slater, Farrar, Ede, Collins, Lusk, Odgers, Jordan Williams – they’re all repulsive. It’s the strength of that gut feeling in response that will sink their plot. Despite all John Key’s efforts to move as quickly as possible to the end of the day, …it’s still not ok. Key’s try at cover up is pathetic, and doomed to be futile. But what it shows is that he has chosen the moral low ground with the rest of them. TeamKey indeed.
Casualty of Dirty Politics?
Has Jordan Williams been dumped from Franks & Oglivie? Or is it merely coincidence that he disappeared from the web pages within days of the release of “Dirty Politics”? Could this be contributing to his foul mood?
#TeamKeySlater
Muddying the waters: transcript Key on RNZ
Guyon Espiner’s interview on Radio NZ today, exposes the moral failings of John Key’s leadership -as Key attempts to divert, & justify the dirty game that NZ politics has become under his watch. Partial transcript of the interview: to be continued Updated: Transcript completed
Why does Jason Ede still have Beehive access?
Andrea Vance has reported that as late as last week Jason Ede still had access to the Beehive. And Key’s replies to her questions concerning this suggest that there is a lot that he does not know. It makes you wonder why he can be so insistent that Nicky Hager’s allegations are wrong when he has such little information.
TVNZ’s Vote Compass
TVNZ has launched a new interactive online tool, to encourage voters to match their priorities with those of political parties. TV NZ aims to use the data from the responses for their election coverage. [Updated]
What is the bet that Slater gets it wrong?
Apparently Cameron Slater is going to “out” the identity of who got the emails off his system. What is the bet that he has it wrong – again? Hopefully the gibbering idiot has someone else helping him. It’d be good if he got it right for a change. Updated: Blustering about a txt that looks like it was related to court cases. Cameron is a moran….
The Left on policies and values
In spite of what John Key & some of the media claim, Labour & the Greens have continued to campaign positively on policies and values throughout the week. The Greens officially launch their campaign tomorrow.
Helen Kelly on Vote Chat: Questions for PoA & Key?
Helen Kelly is interviewed on Vote Chat. Kelly raises questions about the Ports of Auckland & Key’s role in Dirty Politics. She has read some of Dirty Politics, & was axed from today’s the Nation Panel, then replaced by Josie Pagani.[Updated]
Shadow play: Key’s 2-track politics
Nicky Hager’s Dirty Politics tells of the “two track strategy” of John Key’s leadership of the National Party & the country: a smiley nice front, & vicious, covert black ops behind the scenes. Key has overseen one of the darkest, nastiest periods in NZ politics. Vote Left for necessary, democratic change, for people-centred governance.
Freedom for Palestine – National day of action
Nationwide protests in support of Palestine are planned for this weekend.
GCSB, privacy & Facebook messaging
How private are communications on social media platforms such as Facebook? It is claimed that the GCSB law’s definition of “privacy” leaves a loophole for warrantless surveillance of messaging by Kiwis on platforms like Facebook.
But the door was open…
The intention of this post is to examine the similarities and differences between the hacking of Cameron Slater’s communications on the one hand, and the hacking of the Labour Party donor database on the other. There are two important issues to determine in both cases and I will cover them separately. The first is the legality of the hacking and the second is the ethics of using the resulting information regardless of whether the obtaining of the information in the first instance was unlawful.
Join the dates
According to John Key, allegations about Jason Ede’s muckspreading activities in cahoots with Cameron Slater are nothing to do with him because Ede now does not work any more on the 9th floor of the Beehive for the “Office of the Leader of the National Party.” The National Party employs him apparently. I would like to know exactly when Ede changed employers and email dates should establish exactly who paying for and managing him when the comments were made. Leader or Office – it’s the National Party spreading dirt – and many good people who are members will not be happy.
Slater and Christchurch – your thoughts?
Cameron Slater expresses his thoughts on Christchurch and the effects of the second Christchurch Earthquake. John Key thinks that he is a “pretty colourful character”. What do you think?
New Zealand women, first to vote
New Zealand was the first country to give women the vote – and this year all New Zealand women have an opportunity to honour that achievement by voting in the general election.
Random tweets on Dirty Politics
In no particular order, some tweets from those in Wellington with the book. Or those who have read something more than I have.