The Greens have got hold of an official report that National has had for 2 years showing that the SkyCity deal will add just 18 jobs to the economy as a whole. Joyce in his 'defence' says the report looks at the wider economic impact…
Someone must have slept in ... Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
If you are looking for something exciting to do this weekend there will be three Labour Leaders candidates meetings to go to. The first will be at the Horowhenua Events Centre, A&P Show Grounds in Levin on Saturday August 31 from 1 pm to 3…
Last Night TV3 showed a very important documentary by Bryan Bruce: important because it put before the general population the damaging impact of income inequality in a clear and straightforward manner. Preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwgr2gG6-Fk At the moment the documentary, Inside New Zealand: Mind the Gap:A Special…
If you had $3 billion to spend on transport over 25 years, what would you do with it? Increase spending on cycling facilities six-fold and give all our cities Amsterdam-like sustainable transport? Increase the amount spent on public transport by over a third? Or, build…
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Once upon a time, the cynic within me used to listen to and then read between the official lines western governments peddled when they wanted to take military action. What I found was that this could give a reasonable approximation of the real reason that…
No Right Turn looks at the police decision on the unlawful GCSB interceptions of DotCom's communications. Of course getting the police to investigate their own requests for the GCSB to perform an unlawful activity is like putting a stoat in charge of kiwi chicks. Perhaps a private…
Inside New Zealand: Mind the Gap: A Special Report on Inequality Bryan Bruce's new documentary on Inequality in New Zealand will screen tonight (Thurs 29 Aug) on TV3, 7.30pm (Click for sneak preview). Bryan's last documentary INSIDE CHILD POVERTY triggered a nationwide debate on the plight of our…
Here's Key again in his 'perky' performance on Tuesday. This time, he's laughing hysterically at his own old man jokes about unemployment. That's right, he's making jokes about the 153,000 people who are unemployed on his watch. Yeah, any fool can see the opportunity to…
So not only will we not be permitted to protest at sea against deep sea oil drilling, but the Government is planning to remove our ability to object to applications for consent for deep sea exploratory drilling. From Stuff this morning: The Government is planning to…
Somehow, National managed to spend $66 million on selling Mighty River Power. That's twice what they promised it would cost. For comparison, it's the same amount as it costs to put 750 kids through school, all the way from Year 1 to 13 - and…
I missed this news somehow - no doubt in the excitement of the Labour leadership contest - but the government suffered a major court ruling against it over their ungenerous Christchurch earthquake pay-outs. Their 50% offer for uninsured land (including vacant land that cannot be…
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No Right Turn makes the point on what the NZ Herald considers a "democracy under attack" to be. Their track record indicates it only ever happens if they find it harder to get advertising revenue or some of their audience finds harder to make money…
If you invested in Mighty River, you've lost 13% of your money so far. That's hardly the 'licence to print money' that 'mum and dad' though they were getting (a belief that the government did little to discourage). The word is the current plunge is…
Much has been made of Key's bizarre performance in the House yesterday. Some are naturally questioning his medical intake after his unhinged laughing at his own weak pre-written jokes in answer to Labour questions. But, for me, it was his response to Russel Norman's questions…
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Labour’s first ever Leadership Election College process is now roaring into action. We last wrote to you five days ago, on the evening that the election was triggered. Since then: The New Zealand Council, the governing body of our Party, has finalised the Rules under…
The contest for the leadership of the Labour party heralds a new era of democracy for the Labour party, and for New Zealand, and people are quite rightly excited about it. As I've said before, this is a great opportunity to bring unity to the…
So, it's all drama drama today as the intrepid Patrick Gower discovers that Labour's leadership candidates are using their parliamentary flight allowance for the leadership debates. As if, you know, selecting the leader of a parliamentary party isn't clearly a parliamentary purpose. If you're going…
I have been reading through the submissions released to date on the Employment Relations Act Amendment Bill. Air New Zealand take the prize for most oppressive demands. They start off moaning that they have 40 Collectives. Rob Fyfe tried that line on me once. I…
John Key claims he doesn't care who becomes the next parliamentary Labour leader, while trying to drive a wedge between candidates. NZ Herald today Prime Minister John Key says he does not care who takes over the Labour leadership, and the race would reveal deep divisions…
While much of the MSM is focusing on the very important and energising Labour leadership election, the Key-Dunne government has slipped out a discussion paper on Dunne's proposal for flexible superannuation. Make no mistake, this is a U-Turn for Key, while he hides behind it…
In the odd moments that I have to view and write about politics outside NZ at present, I happened upon a Wall Street Journal article this morning about the election contest in aussie that got me thinking. Australia is leaning toward electing its first conservative government…
The Right has been doing a massive amount of speculation on the Labour leadership race (sure, the Left would do the same if National ever let its members choose it's leader, but you wouldn't expect to be treated as neutral observers). The Right's latest theory…
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And then there were three. David Cunliffe has announced that he is also entering the race to become Labour's next leader. His speech can be read here. In it he sets out his vision for the country's future. Some highlights: Like all of you, I am…
Grant Robertson seemed to grab the early attention by announcing he is standing for the Labour leadership first. However, Cunliffe seems to be taking a more considered approach. Expectation is mounting - news is dripping out that he intends to make an announcement in his…
As I understand it, the vote by Labour party members for the leadership will be by a Single Transferable Vote (STV) method. What this means is that you vote for your preferred candidate, then for your next preferred candidate, and so on until all of…