It looks like while many of us on the Left are focused on a struggle for the political direction of NZ, John Key is steaming ahead in selling NZ. Today he is acting as wing-man to Obama, to ensure the success of the TPP in…
So, obviously I don’t know what the outcome of the caucus meeting will be. Truth is, I don’t think it matters. Cunliffe has been on TV stating he will endorse Shearer. TV reporters have stated he will be demoted. Whatever. It's just not that important…
The minister for tertiary education, Stephen Joyce, may think he’s above the law but we don’t. He has told the New Zealand Herald “he would step in to force change at Auckland University” if necessary. What change does he want to force? He wants to determine what…
Labour is the oldest party in New Zealand. Those who control it at any given time are on the shoulders of giants. They have the duty to preserve and build upon the work of their forebears and the current members - not just Savage, Fraser,…
The ABC club would have us believe that David Cunliffe has ‘openly undermined’ both David Shearer’s leadership and Phil Goff’s before him. They appeal to the need for a ‘unified team’ and want David Cunliffe shot at dawn for supposedly threatening it. These attempts to…
I wasn't paying much attention to politics back in the 80's, so the current leadership stoush within Labour is quite an eye-opener for me. I have friends, people I admire, well informed people whose opinions I greatly respect, in each of the two Camp Davids.…
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I'm reading "The Life and Times of Lyndon Johnson." It's in four volumes. It's fascinating, beautifully written, a must-read for anyone with an interest in politics. I recommended it recently to David Cunliffe over lunch, and he told me soon after he had got all…
I want to apologise. I was one of the flood of lefties who posted anti-Shearer statements in the week ahead of the conference. I advocated for David Cunliffe as a prospective leader - indeed, the only leader with the potential for success in 2014, by…
Two years ago, on this day, the Pike River tragedy began. Twenty nine miners lost their lives, may they rest in peace. Their families are living with the aftermath. A private gathering for around 150 family members is in progress at the Pike River memorial…
Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here. 5:08 am Just asked David Cunliffe the big questions: "Does David Shearer have your full support? How will you vote if the leadership issue is…
Why it’s to the detriment of us all, and we need to move on. For now. At the end of this weekend’s Labour Annual Conference, delegates were happy. Speaking as a delegate, we had made the first and most important changes to the party in…
Democracy is never given. Democracy cannot be asked for. Democracy must be demanded. And then it must be taken. It’s always been this way. And it is only through being continually and uncompromisingly exercised that it is defended. At the Labour Party conference, rank and…
A closer look at the Household Labourforce Survey reveals startling facts: in the four years since the 'brighter future' began, in which time the adult population grew by 156,000, the number of fulltime jobs went down by 700. The number of part-time jobs is up…
While most of us have been strongly focused on the Labour Party Conference, an appalling act of slaughter has been going on. This from Al Jazeera: An Israeli air attack has killed 11 members of one family in the Gaza Strip, just hours after Benyamin…
Talk of a Labour leadership vote to be held this Tuesday blossomed and then faded on Sunday as we went from escalating tension to peace suddenly breaking out. Here's what went down. The Mallard-led old guard - having already run a failed attempt at making…
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