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The tax changes that are about to be announced are characterised even by the Government as a 'tax swap'. They are fiscally neutral. The tax burden will not fall. All that will change is who it will fall on. So, it's pretty disappointing to see…
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I've always thought one of the defining features of the Right is their views are based on assumptions and prejudices rather than on knowledge and facts. Today, Tau Henare is reported opposing Labour's suggested policy of taking GST off fruit and vegetables. He said "If…
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The headline for the Herald's editorial today says a lot about where the media are at with National at the moment. The Government and its actions have been savaged by a range of msm outlets this week in New Zealand - and internationally, which in turn became…
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Good news for Auckland in Friday's Herald with Len Brown opening up a strong lead over John Banks. Len Brown's campaign seems to have been quietly gathering momentum since he launched his insurgency last year. He has got himself around the region, striking a positive…
auckland supercity john banks len brown local body elections supercity
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Family First have a history of trying to make political capital out of stacked questions. They're are at it again, distorting the results of a survey question to push for bringing back corporal punishment in schools. They are aided and abetted by some spectacularly bad…
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Open mike is your post. It's open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Following up on the Hey Chubby post a few days ago. It looks like David Farrar has finally made a comment on it... m@tt (83) Says: May 15th, 2010 at 8:24 am David, why did you use the OIA to try and get information on…
blogs democratic participation dpf flip-flop national public services
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The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. They have stated 'It is a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives.' National has taken up the cause wholeheartedly by celebrating the International Year of…
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You sometimes have to wonder about headline writers sometimes (including myself). But take a look at this one from Bloomberg.com, a site with a focus on investment. Windmill Boom Curbs Electric Power Prices for RWE RWE AG is a power utility and wind farm operator…
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Here in NZ we have the issue of mining front and centre, with assurances that it will be done with due process. Gerry Brownlee must be feeling frustrated at the senario in the US which vividly illustrates what can happen when it all goes wrong.…
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You may remember my remonstration of Audrey Young when she filed a reasonably major political story without even bothering to get comment from anyone but the government. It seems that rather than being some kind of aberration the dial for the Herald's political reportage is…
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Make no mistake, John Key's comment about Tuhoe cannibalism was no accident, it was no joke, and it certainly was not 'self-deprecating'. Key didn't just happen to accidentally make a comment that appeals to a deep-seated prejudice that is still current among redneck Pakeha and…
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Open mike is your post. It's open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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A republished post from No Right Turn on the ignorance of the main campaigner wanting a change to our electoral system. You'd think that if you're campaigning for something that you'd at least know what you are campaigning for. But apparently not. Published with permission.…
democratic participation MMP Parliament referendum Supplementary Member
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National and Kiwirail CEO, Jim Quinn, have displayed a pitiful lack of belief in the ability of New Zealand and the kind of knuckle-dragging narrow-mindedness that has been holding this country back ever since the neoliberal revolution. Quinn told Kiwirail workers yesterday that the company…
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The Right has forced the Supercity on Aucklanders who don't want it, don't need it, and won't benefit from it. Already, Aucklanders have been lumped with a bill of $81 million so far to pay for the business elite's takeover of their city. 48.5% of…
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Hey thanks John, you've really helped put New Zealand in the international spotlight yet again. First it was your clown act on Letterman, more recently your cringe-worthy fawning over Biden and attempts to be seen as another Obama, your valiant pro-whaling pandering while leaving a New Zealand…
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Open mike is your post. It's open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Already embroiled in a fraught Treaty settlement with the Crown, Tamati Kruger seems to have made things worse with an inopportune joke. "The good news tonight is that I was having dinner with my whanau as opposed to with the representatives of the Crown in…
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Yesterday, No Right Turn wrote this post pointing out a case where an existing license to prospect on Schedule 4 land exists. The legislation for putting land into schedule 4 needs to be amended to remove such licenses. Republished with permission. The Southland Times this…
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Peter Gluckman is easily one of New Zealand's most over-rated, under-examined public figures. Although little more than a corporate frontman out to extract as many public dollars for private interests as he can lay his hands on, because he's called 'Sir' and he's all 'sciencey' a lot of…
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From Slashdot: Oil Leak Could Be Stopped With a Nuke "The oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico could be stopped with an underground nuclear blast, a Russian newspaper reports. Komsomoloskaya Pravda, the best-selling Russian daily, reports that in Soviet times such leaks were plugged…
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I've been tipped off to a possible issue with Dodgy John 'if I wear my policy on my sleeve, I won't get elected' Banks' most recent mayoral poll. I covered John Banks' first poll release noting that he cheekily weighted his results on 2007 sub-regional…
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Marty Mars said the following in comments This is too far, too much insult it is time for the maori party to leave there is no other option. What he is referring to is this following Radio NZ article Prime Minister John Key has joked…
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John Key was duly pleased when his mate David Cameron came to power this week. In congratulating the Conservative Party leader (with whom he's said to keep in weekly contact) Key said he was confident the relationship between the two countries would go from strength…
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These online polls are always silly, but it's interesting to track the spread of the "smile and wave" meme. (Hat tip mickysavage in comments). The phrase is also used in the article itself: "Ah yes," Mr Goff says, laughing. "Smile and Wave!" It is a…
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Phil Goff has put some good solid (if rather moderate) left-wing substance on the table in his pre-budget speech yesterday. Duncan Garner says that was the right move, but wonders if Labour now needs to focus on the questions surrounding John Key. Garner says in…
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Open mike is your post. It's open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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I've been having a look at the new advice on the civil service code of conduct, which the Herald reported on the other day. It goes far too far and is a clear attempt by the Nats to make sure the civil service is 'politically…
democracy under attack democratic participation human rights public services workers' rights