Explore the archive
Find articles and conversations by date, subject or search expression.
Searching: posts Sorted by: newest Results: 31–58 of 58
Post
The Clubs and Societies Centre at Otago University stands as both an example of early 1980's architecture and the value of student associations. Demonstrating exceptional foresight, the Otago University Student Association provided the funds necessary to build the centre after the university decided not to…
Post
"It's not easy seeming green" is the title of The Economist's latest article attacking John Key's mining plans. The flagship publication of the global free market says the mining plans for New Zealand's conservation estate undermine our 100% pure brand. The story begins by referencing…
Post
Like most on the left I've pretty much resigned myself to the Herald's current bias toward National but today's effort by Audrey Young is a new low altogether. You see it's not just that she writes up all of John and Paula's lines it's that…
Post
There's a hell of a lot of mis-information and confusing numbers about the economic potential of mining around, and that suits Gerry Brownlee and National because it lets them exaggerate the case for opening up the National Parks. John Armstrong says "Unfortunately for National, cool…
Post
You can't 'force beneficiaries back into work' by 'giving them a kick in the pants' if there's no jobs for them to go into. People on the dole already need to show they are looking for work to get the dole. Forcing them to reapply…
Post
Pita Sharples' speech on race relations day (Sunday), and his comments that followed, certainly set the cat amongst the pigeons. Firstly, and unusually, he commented frankly on working with National: I have to admit that while we have a rangatira to rangatira agreement with the…
auckland supercity democratic participation maori party Maori seats
Post
Open mike is your post. It's open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
Post
John Key is pushing ahead with his mining plan despite all the political trouble that's brewing. The flames of the argument are flicking at his shorts, and as John Armstrong notes, the battle for public opinion "is already half lost". Why then is Key determined…
Post
Oh dear, what a complete stuff up by Gerry Brownlee in the House just now. In Question Time, Steven Joyce's academic record was raised in relation to the restrictions he know wants to put on students who fail papers at Minister of Tertairy Education. At…
Post
Remember back before the election when Key said he'd "love to see wages drop"? Well it looks like that wish is about to come true with the NZIER reporting: Real wages are likely to decline to March 2011 and remain flat through March 2012, which…
Post
Remember John Key's talk about "surgical mining?" It's like "surgical bombing" - there is a lot of collateral damage. A lot of people get hurt. It's no good saying afterwards that he didn't mean for that to happen.
Post
According to Basher Bennett "the dream is over" for solo parents on a benefit. What dream is that Paula? The "dream" of struggling to pay your rent and feed your kids? The "dream" of being a target for every bigot on talkback? The "dream" of…
Post
Even though there are no rare earth metals in the first wave of protected conservation areas that Brownlee wants to open for mining, he can't help but go on about them. Take the first conclusion from the minerals stocktake: 'A key conclusion from this stocktake…
Post
It has taken nearly a year and cost President Obama a lot of his popularity, thanks to the spineless behaviour of many House Democrats, but the final barrier has been passed to the US getting universal health-care. Obama's health reform bill passed the House yesterday…
Post
As most of you will know, on Facebook, you can set up wee ads. You put in a pic, a few lines of text and a link to your product. The cost varies, it works on a bidding system and you can choose to pay…
Post
National Party MP Nikki Kaye is hitting out at her own leader John Key's plan to mine Great Barrier Island. She joins the growing list of conservative opponents against the plan, with Auckland Mayor John Banks also voicing his opposition. According to stuff.co.nz: Auckland Central…
Post
John Key's mining plan released yesterday is true madness. It sacrifices New Zealand's natural heritage to make a buck for a few multi-national mining companies. The full list of changes make it clear: Key is mounting an attack on our conservation areas on a scale that…
Post
Open mike is your post. It's open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
Post
No Right Turn writes on the changes in John Keys intelligence system. Reproduced with permission. While the public has been focusing on the acquittal of the Waihopai Three, there's been a quiet revolution in our intelligence community. The Prime Minister has got himself a private…
Post
A really interesting three-quarter page article by Ben Heather in today's DomPost is titled "Looking for new tools to help exporters." Lord knows we need them. But Stuff.co doesn't seem to think so - you can't find the article on-line, and when I enquired about…
Post
John Key's discussion document is out and is proposing slice more than 7000ha out of our most precious conservation lands. Forest and Bird's information was right. It includes: Coromandel, Paparoa National Park, Great Barrier Island. With Northland and Stewart Island on the wish-list too! According…
Post
I regret to inform the world that John Keys domain has run out of money and is in the process of expiring (much like this government will eventually do). This is a pity as http://johnkey.co.nz has probably has the highest hit rate of any of…
Post
The Standard's authors have had what can only be described as a love-hate relationship with Colin Espiner over the years. On the one hand, his blog showed he had the courage to put his thoughts out their unpolished and honest to an extent no other…
Post
Simon Power, could you sit John Key down for ten minutes and explain our legal system to him? Last week a jury of 12 New Zealanders found that the 'Waihopai 3' were not guilty on charges of burglary and willful damage. Now, John Key is…
Post
How much is the Huljich Kiwisaver figure-fudging scandal hurting John 'the dodgy-director' Banks' mayoral chances? Answer: a lot. Lord Mayor Banks Of Remuera trades on the fact he is a successful businessman. He constantly talks up his strong business credentials as standing him in good…
Post
A tragic prose poem in far too many verses. New Zealand elected a Government that promised to introduce national standards so that every single child could read, write, and do maths when they left school. That is what the country voted for. No matter what…
Post
Open mike is your post. It's open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
Post
Last week, I ran the numbers from the leak of the Government's tax reforms (the Government isn't investigating the source of the leak, confirming its truth). I found that people on low incomes and middle incomes were slightly better off (anything between zero and $3…