Below is a post from Tracey, showing the result of her OIA requests in response to a published comment from Bill English. English's quoted statement is a bit odd. Is he claiming to have found a way to reduce the numbers of single NZ women…
As the government and the media start their crusade to sell off the council's assets, the Press has also found time to champion one of the Right's other pet causes: council amalgamation. One council could well be the answer - but it depends what the…
Reposted from Imperator Fish. #453121610 / gettyimages.com A spokesperson for the IDF sets the record straight. I wish to address on behalf of the Israel Defence Force the growing international outrage over what are perceived to be Israeli war crimes. We are astounded and dismayed by the…
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Other than fixing child poverty, there's probably no more important policy than this. Labour will commit $183 million to a comprehensive Youth Employment Package designed to reach 24,000 young New Zealanders. Labour will get young New Zealanders off the unemployment benefit and into apprenticeships by…
Reposted from Polity. So ACT - party of liberating the poor, don't you know - has a new plan to liberate the poor by slashing taxes on company owners. Sure, company owners tend not to be poor themselves but, you know, trickle down. Naturally, National-backer David Farrar…
Live News is reporting that 40,000 people have been removed from the electoral roll because they have moved address. Their enrolment update packs were returned to sender with the message: "gone no address". So the message we all should be passing on to as many people…
The Epsom seat may be the difference between National winning or losing the next election. So the recent announcement that Christine Rankin will be standing there adds an extra degree of chaos which National may or may not appreciate. She declared confidently this morning on Morning…
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During every revolution there will be winners and losers, change can mean pain for some, especially for the bloodsucking leaches & parasites, that have entrenched their positions, after years of mediocrity. Yes the death of Hollywood and current Music industry would cause financial pain for…
Not satisfied with playing the Maori bashing card and appealing to some people's inherent racism ACT has released a further policy that will appeal to the right's greed. ACT has announced its policy on corporate tax and, surprise surprise, it wants to reduce it. Great…
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Steven Joyce says Labour's opposition to the sale of 13,800ha Lochinver station to Shanghai Pengxin is based on "xenophobia." The benefit from our land should stay here. Joyce's open door has seen rail wagons bought cheap and fixed dear, at the expense of good local…
I know at the Standard that we try to have a civilised debate about current events and allow all points of view to be expressed. I also prefer to discuss the merits of issues and I agree with Labour's positive campaign for this election. But…
As some of you may realise, I (grumpy) cannot by any stretch of the imagination be described as a “leftie” and it may surprise your readers to know that I have been involved in International business for about 30 years and have many close friends…
Reposted from Polity. Here is Adam Bennett in the Herald today: Shaky case for $212m fast-tracked road plan The National Government's $212 million plan to fast-track regional road projects using asset sales cash is not backed by a strong economic case, documents released under the…
The past week has seen a reversal in fortunes for the major political parties. I think that National's attacks on David Cunliffe have been too well planned and too cynical and people are now seeing through this. They have started to realise that they are witnessing a…
This [showering a neighbour with rockets is an act of war, perpetrated by Palestine on Israel and Israel is quite entitled to take out the Hamas military apparatus] is a general argument I’ve often heard in the media, blogs, etc. over the past few weeks.…
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 ... lprent: I'm going to be doing some server changes later in the afternoon.
Reposted from No Right Turn. When National set up charter schools, they promised that they would be more accountable, and that contracts were a better means of enforcing standards than the usual school system. Only if they're enforced: “The Whangaruru contract online shows that the…
Labour is promising to raise the minimum wage to $16.25. "But that will cost jobs!!!" is the usual right-wing response, and we hear it from some economists and most business interests. Other economists disagree, and they get much better support from the actual data, like…
In breaking news John Banks has not applied for a discharge without conviction and a conviction has been entered. This is a realistic choice by him. A discharge was never going to be given in a case like this. But he could have faced reality…
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John Key says he wants to "give Epsom voters a choice." Some choice. First a crook, now a nutter. More like Hobson's choice, and a broken-down nag at that in both cases. Colin Craig was a bridge too far for Key, but Jamie Whyte sounds…
I know at the Standard we rarely post about individual polls and there is danger in relying on a single poll and caution should always be exercised but the latest Roy Morgan poll gives a reason for lefties to smile a bit and it has been…
Reposted from No Right Turn. Today is the last day of Parliament for the term. After spending the morning on non-controversial legislation - including apparently the anti-slave-fishing bill - the House will have its last Question Time and then an adjournment debate. And then they'll be off…
National may have some problems with its desire that Malaysian Diplomat Muhammed Rizalman bin Ismail return to New Zealand to face trial. I had initially thought that Mr Rizalman was going to be ordered to return and would simply comply. It seems however that it will not be that…
Reposted from Local Bodies. This National led Government is strong on ideology, weak on process and reluctant to accept responsibility. The Novopay debacle exemplifies all of these well. When questioned about Novopay, National Ministers will never accept full responsibility. Initially the Government blamed Labour because they had…
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