It’s your choice
Now that both Labour and National have all their major spending promises out, we can compare the options. Remember, whatever happens one of […]
zzero use
election 2008
Sensible Sentencing Trust in drag?
Act have run an anti-crime protest outside of Mt Eden today and it was particularly theatrical by the sound of it with lots […]
Spending ends
At the Labour party’s Wellington launch this afternoon Helen Clark has declared there will be no more spending promises from Labour. This was […]
Guest post: The clever dealer?
Many people laud John Key’s experience in the business world, and say that the smiling assassin’s ability to play hard-ball when required means […]
Not a game
National has a press release out blaming Labour for a supposed increase in assaults on police. Now, there are more people and more […]
Vote smart: Progressives and Wigram
Vote smart is a series of posts on tactical voting for people who support certain parties or live in certain electorates to help […]
Tranzrail eyes
It’s possible to win a battle but, in doing so, lose the war. Like most commentators, I thought Key came off best from […]
What exactly did Mr Key say?
We see this morning that: John Key concedes he has privately indicated to the Maori Party that National’s policy to abolish the Maori seats […]
Telling lies
With the wit we’ve come to expect, 08wire has Key up on his many lies during the Tuesday debate. To my surprise, TV […]
Key vs Sharples, who do you believe?
On September 28, Key released National’s policy on the Maori seats. It is unequivocal (if light on the details): “At the conclusion of […]
Make-work don’t work
The Maori Party wants the dole abolished to be replaced by work schemes. It’s a bad idea but it’s not too far from […]
Wouldn’t you be embarrassed if…..?
I have to declare – yes, I am an urban liberal. So I would be embarrassed if a member of my family said […]
A matter of trust
The Youtube debate was a bit of a let down to me because TV1 chose to play the least penetrating questions, allowing the […]
Nat vs Nat on National policy
National wants to introduce a 90 Day no work rights period for new employees. Now, in the face of very strong opposition to […]
Lying to win
A narrow victory for Key in tonight’s TV1/Youtube debate. A forum where he could repeat his tired slogans to his heart’s content suited […]
Fact checkin’
Live fact-checking of the debate. Key: The unions supported National’s position on Kiwisaver. Lie: The unions do not support National’s plan and never have. […]
Video: TV3 on Key’s campaign day 2
Media coverage of the campaign is coming thick and fast – a helpful reader pointed out this excerpt from TV3 on Key’s day […]
Labour chickens out on $15 minimum wage
Labour, why do you do this to me? One day you’re announcing neo-Keynesian policies to help us through the coming recession, then you […]
Every reason for Key to blitz debate tonight
It is still possible to follow the news without encountering politics at every turn – but it’s getting harder. And the journalists are […]
Wrong time for short-term thinking
National’s Nick Smith has announced that they would cancel the $1 billion fund to insulate New Zealand houses, which the Greens won as part of the […]
Down with literacy
A crusade on illiteracy, surely. Um, I’m not sure we want to entrust these guys with improving language skills. [Update: true to form, […]
Confident or foolish?
So, you’re one of the 900,000 Kiwis who have so far signed up to Kiwisaver. You know that you get $1000 on signing […]
The problem for National in fewer than 100 words
OK – they are not my words. I could do it – but then again I really liked what Gordon Campbell wrote: The […]
‘Give me warning next time’, Key whimpers
While Key was blathering on about who-cares-what yesterday, Clark announced a radical and forward-looking economic stimulus package. Now, Key is having a cry over […]
Universal allowance – Labour joins rest of Left
Good to see Labour joining the Greens and Progressives with a universal student allowance policy. It has been a crying shame that many […]
Working our way forward
It was inevitable that the focus of media coverage of Labour’s announements yesterday would be the deposit insurance, it’s a good self-centred middle-class story. […]
Labour takes bull by the horns, Nats left standing
One of the first rules of politics is don’t set yourself up to be snookered; don’t position yourself in a way that your […]
Tories still bigots at heart
When I saw this guy using the guise of a Youtube debate question to attack Clark on her appearance, I felt sorry for […]
Trickle-down
A few thoughts from today’s Agenda: Questioned about why National would introduce another tax rebate, having endlessly criticised Working for Families because of […]
Getting it right matters
I don’t want this post to be taken as overly critical; it’s just meant to offer some constructive advice. John Armstrong’s piece in […]
Words to watch
Two headings in today’s Herald caught my eye. One from John Armstrong (who I don’t always agree with but who is most often […]
From the jaws of victory
My sources tell me Key has a big surprise planned for National’s campaign launch tomorrow. In a break with tradition, Key will not […]
TV3 poll shows movement
From TV3 A full 3 News political poll shows Helen Clark is back up off the canvas, while John key has taken a […]
Roy Morgan poll
The new Roy Morgan poll is out today. It was taken between Sep 22 and October 5, and has National’s vote collapsing by […]
Nats letting the facade drop
We’ve been receiving reports of some appalling statements by National MPs on the campaign trail. They mesh with the arrogance and heartlessness that […]
What happens if Nats gut Kiwisaver?
I was going to write about the economic effects of taking money out of Kiwisaver and spending it on tax cuts but this […]