How many children is 200,000 in the context of New Zealand's population? Statistics New Zealand says between June 2008-2011 around 62-64,000 children were born each year. So 200,000 amounts to every single child born in this country since National came to power three years ago,…
National would get the books back into the black with a $1.5b surplus by 2014/15. It's on their ads, it's in the PREFU. So, it's gotta be true, eh? Well, we already know they've cooked the books by claiming both that they would have the…
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National want it both ways. They've brought us economic recovery through their brilliance (we've just not felt it yet), but also the lack of a recovery is not their fault and is in fact why all the stats are so bad. Just a wee reminder…
As usual the polls are sending us mixed messages. The Fairfax Research International poll looks disastrous for Labour on 25.9%, while National is in a strong position on 52.5%. I'm going to do something I believe that I've never done before (check my record!) and call…
There's a line in, I believe, a Terry Pratchett book that goes 'a leader has to get up very early in the morning and work hard all day long to make a society go backwards'. I was reminded of that when Key said "I work…
All these things operate underground. There are two near identical pairs. But only one of these things is really not like the other. Let's not forget John Key's mirror trust that let's him keep an eye on the investments that are supposed to be held…
At the end of last Sunday's Insight program on RNZ, which focused on the issue of poverty, one of the experts featured (Ruby Duncan from charity Oasis) left us with this: Children are dying, children are being killed in their own homes, we know all…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
It may not be as fun as a Letterman Top Ten, but John Key deserves to be judged on his record as all prime-ministers are: Unemployment has increased by 50 per cent, leaving 157,000 New Zealanders out of work. (Source: Statistics New Zealand, Household Labour…
Interesting that the first member of the public to give Key a hard time on the campaign trail was not a Leftie, but an (the?) ACT supporter: PM hassled on lack of Act 'deal' Prime Minister John Key was bailed up by an Act Party member…
I was going to write about the release of Labour's environmental policy - and the resounding silence from National - but NRT has done a great job aleady. -- r0b Labour on the environment Labour released a package of environmental policies over the weekend, covering climate…
Labour released its excellent children's policy yesterday - a range of precise, focused policies that would lift 150,000 children out of poverty and make the lives for families with kids much easier. Ensure every 3 and 4 year old has access to free 20 hours…
Is there an "aggressive recovery"? No. Are we "roaring out of recession"? No. Have we had a double credit downgrade from international rating agencies? Yes. So the Nats' so called "competent economic management" was already pretty much a myth. But now as the focus of…
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Amazing! "Protests voice of wider unease" In an Editorial that would not have been out of place as a post on 'The Standard' The Herald praises the Occupiers of city squares around the country, (and around the world). The Herald in defending the Occupiers, takes…
Interesting to see a high profile, popular celebrity come out and speak her mind on John Key. Here are some of the highlights: Robyn Malcolm's vitriolic PM attack The Greens' election campaign opened with a vitriolic attack on Prime Minister John Key and his Government…
We’re three weeks out from the election, and there’s something funny going on. National has hardly any policy out. Parties typically go into an election with a pretty comprehensive lineup of policy covering a very wide range of issues. National have announced asset sales, welfare…
The number of people attending adult community education has fallen by 80% since National's cuts in 2009. National's cuts have saved only $24m (vs the $1.1b cost of the 'fiscally neutral' tax cuts) but have denied over a quarter of a million people the opportunity…
Women got the vote in this country in 1893. We've had two women PMs. But apparently more than a few men are still having a problem coming to terms with the idea of political equality. How else to explain this widespread tendency to dub the…
We live in a time of inter-related crises of the environment and the capitalist economic system. So, I guess it's not surprising to see Labour becoming more environmentally aware at the same time as the Greens propose economic policies that would normally be out of…
Goff did an excellent job last night on Prime tv's Election Special: Campaign 2011. He faced an unusually intensive and detailed grilling and acquitted himself very well indeed. Excellent recovery from last Wednesday's problems in the second half. Now let's hope Barry Soper and his Prime…
Sunday morning's RNZ Insight program was an examination of poverty in NZ. It was an excellent piece. It is broadcast again on Monday at 9:06pm during Nights with Bryan Crump, or you can get the audio from the page for Sunday 6th November. Catch it if…
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Bill Rosenberg from the NZCTU and Massey's School of Banking Studies David Tripe will speak tomorrow at St John's Church in Wellington at 5:30pm on the credit down grade and the banks. All welcome, register at www.fabians.org.nz. Bernard Hickey in today's Herald was also interesting…
If anyone ever writes a book on the short, inglorious history of the New Zealand First Party, today's announcement will make an interesting footnote. Here's Tracy Watkins at Stuff: NZ First rules out working with other parties NZ First leader Winston Peters says the party…
John Key has been asked if he will be giving an explicit order to National voters in Epsom to vote for John Banks. He said 'not today'. He said that a few weeks ago too. No photo-op of Key shaking Banks' hand either. Why the…