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You may have seen the announcement that there are fewer than 20,000 now getting the unemployment benefit, down from 160,000 odd when Labour became government. And now there's news that there's been a drop of 13,000 of people receiving the DBP, since the introduction of…
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Why did National block Parliament from debating the Auckland Airport sale? Only last Friday, Key was 'fuming' over the Government's decision to prevent the sale, claiming it would be the end of foreign investment in New Zealand and cause a plague of boils to descend on…
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As you know, petrol and food prices are up. These are international prices spiralling up due to growing demand and limited or falling supply. When demand exceeds supply prices rise. Now, when food and petrol goes up, that's inflation. In fact it's most of the…
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Yesterday, Winston Peters said that in any deal with National he would require all National MPs to personally sign the agreement and that he wouldn't require the same conditions of Labour. That is an unprecedented demand and one that no leader could agree to without…
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Police have closed their investigation into the theft of e-mails from former National Party leader Dr Don Brash and have announced that they have been unsuccessful in identifying those responsible for the thefts. Despite Brash's ongoing insistence to the contrary, the police have said that…
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John Key's latest line is to whine that Labour and others (including this blog) are launching personal attacks on him, and would we please stop. Our attacks are not personal, they are political. National wants to be in control of the Government, control an operation…
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Our condolences to all those affected by the Mangatepopo Gorge canyoning tragedy.
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Mike Moreu provides insight into the art of turning news events into images - using as one example his latest piece on asset sales: "National continues to play it safe as John Key announces that his party has ruled out state asset sales at least…
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Word has it that the Press Council will tomorrow uphold the complaint laid against the New Zealand Herald by the Coalition for Open Government that the Herald's December 4 front-page editorial headed "Speak now or forever hold your peace in 2008" was misleading. The Herald's…
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This graph shows the number of people employed in New Zealand, and employment would have been had the number of people with a job as a portion of the working-age population had remained steady at 76% as it was before 1987. Look what happened during…
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Stuff reports that "Principals and teachers have savaged a National Party plan to increase funding for private schools, calling it a thinly disguised tax break for the rich." New Zealand Secondary Principals' Council chairman Arthur Graves called Key's proposal to increase funding to private schools…
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The Herald is really doing its best to help out National. Today it proclaims 'Key's wananga visit undoes Brash legacy'. That nice Mr Key has undone all the harm caused by that nasty old Dr Brash, we're meant to believe. But check the record. It…
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That's what the labour movement is all about: ensuring that people who want to work can find jobs and that they receive fair reward for their labour in decent conditions, so they can afford a good standard of living for themselves and their families. A…
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Just what you may have been waiting for: www.righttosmack.co.nz While we want the government to interfere with people's private activities to some small degree; (outlawing homosexuality, stopping abortions, abolishing civil unions, abolishing legalised prostitution, etc.) - we will not tolerate being told we cannot use…
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National's latest line is that interest rates have doubled under Labour, with the implication that National would magically lower inflation (while simultaneously pouring more money into the economy through lower surpluses) so rates would fall. But, as with so much National says, a quick look at…
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Jordan Carter's just posted a photo of what looks like nine EFA protesters having their say outside the Labour Party Congress on the weekend. Looks like there are two journalists and a cameraman in the shot too so if my maths is right that's a…
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A big thanks to Greens' co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimmons for participating in our 'Interview the leaders' series. Her answers provided an insight into how the Greens view themselves as influencing political culture as much as promoting specific policies. Our next leader is Prime Minister Helen Clark of Labour. The general question…
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Now this is looking better: As usual Gary Morgan's analysis is laughable, attributing the thirty percent increase in the Greens' support to... Earth hour. Yes, Earth hour. Stick to the polling Gaz, and leave the punditry to the pundits.
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The Dom reports that "Fraser Colman - best known for being the cabinet minister on board the frigate that sailed to Mururoa Atoll in 1973 to protest against French nuclear tests - has died aged 83." A year after winning the election in 1972, the…
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Trying to follow National policy is like playing that ‘whack-a-mole' game. Up pops John Key or Bill English or a spokesperson, and they make a clear statement of policy but just as you turn your attention to it, that position disappears and they pop up…
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Despite Key's best efforts to inoculate against the "hidden agenda on asset sales" perception - he's now peddling the story that National won't start selling assets until 2011 - the truth seems to have slipped out. A reliable source close to the party has leaked…
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A reader's just sent us the lyrics to the song sung at Labour Party social and again at the conference as reported in The Herald today. We understand they were penned by Grant Robertson, Labour candidate for Wellington Central. To the tune of "The Gambler":…
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We're really pleased to have Jeanette Fitzsimons respond to your questions as part of our Interview the Leaders series. Question to all leaders: Of which of your achievements in politics are you most proud? Well, there are so many! But probably the Energy Efficiency and…
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A reader sent us this very good video of John Key's repeated memory lapses over where he stood on the Springbok tour: The tour was the defining event of a generation, and it's simply not plausible that a politically aware university student would not have…
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National's current attempt to stop the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union from registering as a third party pretty much proves what we all knew. They have no interest in democracy. Rather than accept the decision of the Electoral Commission and move on they've decided to…
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At the Labour Party congress today, Helen Clark predicted that asset sales would be a key election issue and says the Government was right to veto the Auckland Airport share bid. "The National Party and ACT have made it plain where they stand - 'sell…
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Crime, whether static or out of control, is going to be part of our election year "top ten". I suspect National's $50 fine policy didn't quite get the glowing endorsments they were hoping for (see why here). So when I spotted this story at the…
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There was a reboot on the server last night for some reason about 20 hours ago, and the database process failed to start. The cron job that was meant to restart the process didn't work. It would happen on a day when I was rushing…
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This recent article in the NYTimes illustrates how the way we inform ourselves is changing, and that it's increasing access to some serious topics. 'Bush's War,' was produced for the fifth anniversary of the United States' invasion of Iraq, and is avaiable to watch, online, for free. It…