An effective protest: Protestors float poo shaped inflatables in Waikato River Inflatable poos have been floated on the Waikato River in protest of the Government's new freshwater standards. Campaign group Action Station hastily organised the stunt to capture a visual message in advance of a…
People are still trying to pretend that English's "social investment" is a new idea, and that it is somehow a "problem" for Labour. Audrey Young: Social investment a dilemma for Labour ... The dilemma has been what to say about it. Until now Labour has…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Good work by Lane Nichols in The Herald, a window into the minds of what we must hope is small subset of "property investors": Auckland property investors urged to target deceased estates, 'dummies' and 'divorcees' Property investors are being encouraged in a tutorial video to…
Those compassionate conservatives of the National Party have a message for the increasing number of homeless who occupy our Brighter Future. Fuck you: No further homeless policies needed - Govt An unofficial inquiry into homelessness has not convinced the Government to take any further steps…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
I/S at No Right Turn writes… This is why we can't have nice things Writing in the Herald, Brian Fallow examines National's new net debt target of 10 - 15% of GDP - and specifically, what it will cost us: We are not talking about…
The same study that trumpeted Wellington as the most liveable city in the world, has Auckland as the 3rd most expensive in the world for Public Transport, behind only London and Dublin. Now London and Dublin's PT is a little more advanced than Auckland's, but still…
What a surprise - Gerry Brownlee's Aussie trip nothing but a fizzer For a few days this week, the New Zealand Government hinted it would be taking a tougher stand on Australia's approach to New Zealanders, apparently angered by the sudden and unexplained cutting of…
Guyon Espiner’s excellent RNZ series The 9th Floor, consists of interviews with five ex NZ PMs: Geoffrey Palmer, Mike Moore, Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley, Helen Clark. Here's the one we've all been waiting for - Helen Clark: The Commander - Helen Clark In part five…
From Meka Whaitiri's Facebook page: Labour's 6 Maori MPs opted off this year's party list to enable other Maori candidates to come through. On current polling of 30% and if every Labour Maori MP retains their seat, election 2017 will produce 12 Labour Maori MPs…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
I/S at No Right Turn writes... Inflation and poverty The CPI is out today, and it shows that the poor are getting poorer: A recent jump in the cost of living hit the lowest paid Kiwis much harder than the big spenders, new figures show.…
This is an astonishing admission from Bill English: Prime Minister Bill English 'puzzled' by high numbers out of work and education Both the Government and social agencies say they're struggling to reach at-risk youth. There are approximately 92,700 Kiwis aged between 15 and 24 who…
The French presidential election has come down to a choice between two evils – one greater and one lesser. Liberals ‘everywhere’ are demanding that voters put their cross, tick or mark next to the neo-liberal banker Macron to thwart the chauvinistic nationalism of Le Pen.…
I attended the recent campaign launch of Romy Udanga who is the Labour candidate for the North Shore. He is a phenomenally good candidate, well networked in the Philippine community and his politics are heavily related to his Catholic faith and his belief that we…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
In "most frustrating news of the day": Govt orders stocktake for how NZ can meet carbon promise The Productivity Commission has been asked to look at the cost and benefits of moving to a low-carbon economy. Having deleted my initial unprintable reaction, let's try again.…
Pushing the boat out on the edges of the social democratic project is a group called the Patriotic Millionaires. They don’t want tax cuts. They want higher taxes. They are a group of high net-worth Americans committed to building a more prosperous, stable and inclusive…
As widely reported this morning, the Commerce Commission has declined the proposed merger of the country's two biggest media companies. NZME and Fairfax merger declined Commerce Commission sinks Fairfax/NZME media merger It’s NO to StuffMe merger See Tim Murphy's backgrounder: Media merger D-day looms If…
Labour has delivered a list of diversity and renewal. Good to see it getting the recognition it deserves. Sam Sachdeva at Newsroom: Little focuses on diversity, not division at Labour list announcement ... Speaking at the party’s Wellington headquarters, Little said he wanted a list…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Amidst the confusion over the Pike River videos, the Pike River families are sure of one thing, Bill English is lying. Newshub: Pike River families say they were never shown video - despite police and PM's claims A spokeswoman for the Pike River families says…
After a very slight delay Labour's 2017 election list has now been released. And the candidates are: 1 Andrew Little 2 Jacinda Ardern 3 Grant Robertson 4 Phil Twyford 5 Megan Woods 6 Chris Hipkins 7 Carmel Sepuloni 8 David Clark 9 David Parker 10…
An interesting shift for NZ: Tourism roars past dairy as NZ's biggest export earner New Zealand's tourism boom has propelled the industry past dairy as the top export earner as the number of visitors increased by one million in the past six years. For the…