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With the good services of NZ On Screen, director John Bates with his '1951' documentary. In 1951, New Zealand temporarily became a police state. Civil liberties were curtailed, freedom of speech denied, and the Government used force against its own citizens. This film tells the…
democracy under attack film law and "order" Media Politics Unions video
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On Sunday and Monday, Hone Harawira gave very cogent and candid assessments of where the Maori Party has gone wrong by losing connection with its ideals and base. By the standards of mainstream parties it was extraordinarly blunt and appeared to be a challenge to…
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Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords survived the assassination attempt that killed six others, but the political fall-out has just begun. In the US's strange post-modern politics, President Obama's speech is the most popular thing he's done, while Sarah Palin screwed up by defending the herself and the…
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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 the government, eventually, gets back from its month-long holiday, one of the first decisions it needs to take is the annual minimum wage review. Business, short-termist as ever, wants no increase and the re-introduction of youth rates. A kick in the guts for poor…
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All of us have things we believe are purely public goods that should receive government support. For example, few people outside the Act Party would argue that basic health care or environmental conservation is a private good that individuals should choose to fund, depending on…
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In his column in the Herald on Sunday, Matt McCarten doesn't give a very flattering thumbnail sketch of New Zealand First Leader, Winston Peters. ....in 1996 when Winston Peters went fishing instead of attending coalition talks. Then he jumped into bed with the National Party…
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Wow. The first edition of Hone Harawira's new opinion column in the Sunday Star Times is a jaw-dropping read. He frankly states the party has sold out it values for cabinet seats - put coalition before kaupapa. It's a brazen attack on Tariana Turia, and…
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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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Say what you like about the old school right wingers they at least had the courage of their convictions and a bit of mettle. Your Roger Douglas's and BRT types knew they were right because they had the money and the power and the strength.…
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A typical stalking-horse article for privatisation of assets: Partial listing of some state-owned enterprises deserves a closer look. Potential benefits include better performance - it is thus an opportunity to improve New Zealand's lacklustre growth and productivity. Potential benefits of stabbing my hand with a…
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The government is to introduce a new Courts and Criminal Matters Bill, much of which is sensible. Suspending a repeated speeding fine-dodger's license seems an appropriate sanction. But sending them to prison because they can't afford to pay a fine seems madness. I find myself…
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The "Great Recession" saw a greater spike in unemployment in New Zealand compared to its drop in GDP than everywhere but economic basketcase Spain. An ILO study shows that whilst GDP slumped, unemployment did less so in all but 2 countries across the world: NZ…
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The few neoliberals who can bring themselves to acknowledge that peak oil is inevitable and upon us argue it's not really a problem: 'when prices rise, people will buy alternatives instead, like electric cars'. But peak oil causes recessions and, as new data show, recessions…
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You would think that, to reassure the families and satisfy critics, the government would have released detailed technical analysis showing why re-entering Pike River will never be possible. Instead, we got vague, contradictory statements only after the media pressed Key for answers. Now, a mining…
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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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Recently, I did a post on how Labour should be focused on creating an over-arching narrative that embodies its broad set of policies. This should make Labour's vision loud and clear in election year. While Labour continues to rebuild policy, I have a number of…
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Since it came to office, National has cut the Conservation budget in real terms by 2% and the cuts are going to get deeper. Now, we learn that DoC is looking at contracting out camping areas on the conservation estate to be run for a…
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A strange little article in the Sunday-Star Times praises National's 'rejuvenation' project. Well, excuse me but 3 MPs out of 53 announcing their retirement and 2 quitting under clouds of corruption during a term hardly equals rejuvenation. In fact, National faces the same problem 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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Andrew Little, the National Secretary of the the miner's union, the EPMU, has called for a rethink on sealing the Pike River mine as access may be vital to actually finding out what happened. Of course David Farrar's response to this is to try to…
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This TVNZ report is interesting: It is not an issue of money or time or commitment," Key said today. He said those involved in the operation had done everything they possibly could. "The machine that was used to make the mine inert was meant to…
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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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Is it just me or does this Herald headline about the New Citizen Party make anyone else uneasy? Party meets in Beijing to discuss Botany. I've no problem with a new political party that's targeted at migrants. My concern is the apparent links with the…
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To all those deniers who claimed the record cold in January & February in parts of the Northern Hemisphere (and again in December in Britain) proved global warming was a hoax... In fact globally 2010 equalled 2005 as hottest year ever overall, being 0.62C warmer…
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The New Citizen Party is going to contest Botany, and aims to get at least 6 MPs in the general election. Their plan just announced in Beijing involves winning Botany, and "our party leaders will then be talking with Maori tribes to also get their…
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The Right hates MMP. Back in the good old FPP days, about 20% of voters backed leftwing parties like Values, the Alliance, and Social Credit but got nearly no representation. National could govern alone with just 35% of the vote or fewer votes than the…
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Sad news for Coasters. Recovery of bodies at Pike River abandoned. Key promised 'whatever it takes' to get them out. He's breaking his word. He should front up and justify it. Instead, he's hiding from the media.
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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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Another great piece of work from I/S at No Right Turn: According to a report in the Herald, the Exclusive Brethren have set up their own KiwiSaver scheme. That's not particularly interesting, but what caught my attention is that the scheme will only be offered…