National has recently been upping the campaign rhetoric but there is a disturbing lack of policy detail. During her Congress Speech Jacinda Ardern reviewed the Government's response so far and set out a five point plan including the following: Investing in trades and apprenticeships.A $1.1…
The Wellington Tramways and Public Passenger Transport Employees Union for 20 years gallantly held the line in protecting employment conditions for bus drivers in the region. Where other unions drivers' unions were taken out in the late 1980's after Richard Prebble and the 4th Labour…
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 …
Go see this film. A documentary about the formation of the Rock Against Racism movement in the late seventies, White Riot is a reminder that much of your favourite rock music was stolen from black slaves by white men. You'll never look at Eric Clapton…
Tena koutou katoaNga tangata whenua o tenei rohe o Pōneke, tena koutou Nau mai, haere mai ki te hui a tau mo te roopu reipa Ko tatou! Ko to tatou mana! Ko to tatou kaupapa kei te kokiri whakamua Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tatou…
Yesterday was a rather brutal day. Kurt Taogaga, who I know and respect, was caught out with some seven year old tweets. He was much younger when he made them. They display a critical view of a particular religion, consistent with a critical view of…
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 …
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 …
It is great to see former Prime Minister Helen Clark join the debate about re-opening New Zealand’s borders. We need it. There is no better time for New Zealand to re-launch itself to the world. The disease has been eliminated within the country, our process…
Holy dog whistling racism. I can't believe this happened. In the past month we have had Todd Muller dying in a ditch about a MAGA hat, a white National Party front bench selected and then this. Clutha Southland MP Hamish Walker has blown really hard…
Idiot/Savant at No Right Turn, Steamrolling democracy again After a sham select committee process which waste submitters' time, the government is planning to use urgency today to steamroll its Muldoonist RMA fast track bill through Parliament. I've talked before about what's wrong with the Bill.…
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 …
On my blog, I've been doing a series about my time in the Trade Union movement. Links to these earlier posts can be viewed below. I thought I would share this reflection on the 2008 dispute as The Standard reported on it at the time:…
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 …
Minister Clark has resigned. It is not remotely surprising that there is some political fallout after the Covid-19 Crisis. Almost more surprising that there hasn't been more before now. It can be left to you gentle reader to list his sins, of which there are…
Embattled Health Minister David Clark has abruptly resigned his portfolio. Clark made the surprise announcement at a hastily called media conference at the Beehive this morning. His resignation came after his demotion down the cabinet rankings following repeated Covid lockdown breaches and ongoing accusations that…
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 …
Richard Northey and Nicky Hager will discuss their experiences with the SIS over the past thirty-five years, what they reveal about the agency's values and culture, and what we might want to see in the forthcoming review of the intelligence and security agencies post the…
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 …
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 …
Poor Matthew Hooton must be wondering about what he has let himself in for. Because it seems pretty clear, even at this early stage, that Todd Muller will not be the saviour for the National Party that they were hoping for. They may as well…
The good ship Muller has sprung a leak. Tova O'Brien is reporting that the National caucus has been told today that Labour are on 55% support and they are 21 points back on 34%. That's one point less than under Simon Bridge's leadership. That the…
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 …
Dear readers. I have gone out on a limb for you all and done something that I would not recommend. I have read the past couple of months' Mike Hosking reckons on Covid and my head hurts. I decided to do this after reading his…
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 …
Paula Bennett has announced that she is standing down from politics and will not seek re-election on National's list at this year's election. A month ago she was deputy leader and head of National's campaign. Now her career is no more. Clearly the message has…
Weka has already written about the Green Party's UBI equivalent but one point that she makes which should be re-emphasised is that Paora Goldsmith is either bereft of literary and/or mathematical skills, or he has been telling porkies. Either is not a good look for…