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I was disappointed to see Sean Plunket claim as part of a question to David Cunliffe that "archaic party structures" were getting in the way of getting rid of Chris Carter. Not just because the Carter issue is a sideshow but because it showed Plunket's…
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For the last several decades the over-riding mantra across western governments has been that what is important above all else is economic growth. Initially this made sense - the growth lifted people out of poverty, improved lifestyles and so on. But now is the time…
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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...
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After half a government term of insisting they had an economic plan, Finance Minister Bill English and Minister for Economic Development Gerry Brownlee, have been unwilling to answer direct questions in the House regarding the details of the plan. It now appears that they were…
bill english national/act government same old national Satire
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I wouldn't usually write on the same topic two days in a row, but - can't help myself. Yesterday I posted this piece from Bill McKibben: We're Hot as Hell and We're Not Going to Take It Any More Try to fit these facts together:…
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Herald political editor John Armstrong has slammed National's recent behaviour in Parliament saying it verges on "being a disgrace to itself and the institution". This incredibly strong language from a senior journalist is the result of a National government that is undermining democratic accountability by…
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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...
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What's going on in our health care system when the well respected head of a DHB resigns, saying he cannot cut costs any further without undermining patient care. The Dom Post is reporting: Ken Whelan (chief executive of Capital & Coast District Health Board) announced…
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This guest post quotes the statement attributed to Pastor Martin Niemöller in Germany after World War II about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power. The comparison to NACT policies towards the education sector is striking. THEY CAME FIRST for the…
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From the Granny Heralds Sideswipe column. Women blanked by Banks A reader was enjoying a coffee with family at the mall on Sunday. "We were approached by John Banks, who introduced himself to my son and asked him what school he goes to. He then…
auckland supercity democratic participation john banks local government vote smart
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When National rammed through the first version of the 90 day fire at will law it claimed the period would be a 'choice' negotiated fairly between employees and employers. Those of us know the reality of the workplace pointed out that the employment relationship is…
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We're Hot as Hell and We're Not Going to Take It Any More Three Steps to Establish a Politics of Global Warming By Bill McKibben August 04, 2010 "Tomdispatch" -- Try to fit these facts together: * According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the planet…
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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...
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Patrick Gower recently reported an odd proposal by Pita Sharples: Pita Sharples wants Maori flag to fly over prisons Pita Sharples has a plan to improve the rehabilitation of Maori offenders in the justice system: fly the Maori flag at every prison. ... At present…
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Statistics NZ has just released the Household Labour Force Survey for June 2010 and it's grim reading, with an astonishing increase in the unemployment rate from 6.0% to 6.8%. Maori unemployment is now up to 16.4%, Pacific unemployment is at 14.1% and there's been a…
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Reprinted with permission from No Right Turn. Yesterday in the House, John Key made a lot of excuses for his failure to close the wage-gap with Australia. One of those excuses was that In terms of employment, again, if we use absolute numbers, the difference…
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Labour MP Grant Robertson's Ethical Investment Bill came up before Parliament last night. It would have required the government to set some clear and consistent ethical criteria for investments in funds like the Super Fund and ACC. The criteria were pretty uncontroversial. You know, things…
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New Zealand has suffered its first combat death in Afghanistan after an IED killed Tim O'Donnell and seriously wounded two fellow NZDF soldiers and their translator. This is an increasingly deadly war as the foreign forces slowly lose ground. They have suffered nearly two thousand…
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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...
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As a ratepayer in Auckland city, I'm angry at reading that I'm now underwriting the revamping of Eden Park. I don't even watch sport. There are risks that the council already faces that the money could be better spent on. Bernard Osman pointed out yesterday…
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A survey by ASH backs up one by UMR back in May showing that 60% of Kiwis back an end to commercial tobacco sales by 2020. I'm surprised by how strong the public mood for a ban is and not quite sure whether I agree.…
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I don't like Winston Peters and I don't like his narrow minded nasty opportunistic racism. I think Parliament is better off without him and his kind (of which there are far too many in National and ACT). On the other hand, however, I also don't…
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So National are to kick lowering the legal blood-alcohol level into the long grass by having 2 years of "research". This whilst telling us that the government spends too much on policy advice. Whilst that's generally rubbish - and Blinglish's suggestion that they can just…
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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...
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From Gordon Campbell, who offers useful some thoughtful observations on the challenges ahead for Labour when figuring out what lies ahead with Chris Carter. Campbell says: ...much of the content of the notorious anonymous letter concerned itself with a specific statement by Goff on Radio…
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Needed a laugh. Luckily, C Espiner always delivers: "The amount of time Key has put into Asia - and China in particular - is staggering. While his predecessor was fond of visiting Europe, Key has virtually snubbed the northern hemisphere since he has been prime…
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John Key is popular like McDonalds and for much the same reasons. But he's a politician without substance or mana. Substantive politicians don't tell lies, like the ones Key told last week in Parliament about the widening wage gap with Australia. Or this one, that…
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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...
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When even the Herald is admitting this is a crappy government, less than two years after being part of National's campaign propaganda, it's safe to say Key is a disappointment to all. But where's the opposition? As the Herald's editorial says: "In truth, this increasingly…
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As I might have commented before, I don't get too excited about the polls. It's all about the one and only turnout on the day that matters. However, I can't help but being very pleased to report that Labour has leapt to a dramatic 12%…