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There's a lot going on with the Qantas lockout that isn't being reported in our media. This guest post from a reader who's an aviation industry expert gives the dispute some context. I didn’t believe it yesterday when I was told yesterday that Qantas had…
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Labour has just over-shadowed Key's big smile and wave show today - where he is expected to reannounce spending - with another big policy. Labour will cancel National's Holiday Highway. With the money saved, they will make the existing road safe, and go 50-50 with…
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National has already booked the revenue from asset sales - despite people opposing them 4 to 1. The Budget docs say capital spending will be funded from the 'balance sheet': ie. buying new assets like schools and hospitals with revenue from selling the power companies.…
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To: Sir John Key (former PM of New Zealand) Address: Somewhere warm and comfortable Date: August 6, 2026 From: New Zealanders born from 2002 to 2011, living in New Zealand, Australia, UK, US and Asia. Subject: Happy 65th birthday Dear Sir John, We congratulate you…
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Five million kilos of radioactive yellow cake uranium are being shipped through New Zealand ports every year. ERMA was unaware this practice has been going on for the last 15 years and only learned of it in 2009, but not to worry, according to John…
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Jeez some people just can't catch a break. Not only is John Banks coming second in an election race to a guy specifically chosen to lose to him but now the word is some scoundrel's stolen his Harley Davidson. If I know Banksie he'll have…
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The first of the leaders' debates is on tomorrow (it would have been on Thursday on Labour's savings policy, but Key refused to show). Key's strategy is clear: 'I'm a safe economic manager, these guys will fuck it up'. Goff can't let a single attack…
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John Key has been running a "small target" strategy. Letting the public form an impression of him based on "friendly" interviews, and goofy Letterman appearances and the like. Avoiding the tough questions and the challenging political interviews (though he slipped up once there on HardTalk).…
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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...
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Opening addresses from the remaining parties screen on TV1 starting at 7:30pm. Should be good fun for political junkies, make sure you tune in... Quick impressions: ACT's editing was bad but not nearly as bad as the Maori Party's, which looked like it was done…
act election 2011 mana maori party nz first tv united future
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Guts. Backbone. Chutzpah. Grit. Will. Vision. Courage. The one thing all of these words have in common is that Phil Goff could quite easily have used them instead of "balls" when he said: It's time to make a decision that will build a stronger future…
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Sprout's post says it all. Labour's opening address blew National's out of the park. But I can't help myself, I have to put in my analysis of why National's was so awful and Labour's so good. I tried to watch National's opening address from the…
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Labour's opening address shows that the Party has rediscovered its heart. It's policies show that its rediscovered its balls as well! I've written on this recently (and I also welcome the focus on policy rather than personalities). But I'm not the only one, the accolades for…
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In case you missed them last night, here are the National, Labour and Green election opening addresses, collected for your convenience. The other parties' addresses are all on TV1 tonight, starting at 7:30pm... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m46wbNdc0R0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN5DZC4MimQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csuQcYa4nxo
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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...
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Amazing. Brilliant. I've seen a lot of political television, and that would have to be the best piece of contemporary political television by a political party I can remember. Could not have been better. National utterly trounced.
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I've had a great idea on how to save the world. In the wake of the Global Financial Crisis governments around the world bailed out banks and credit companies to the tune of around eight trillion dollars . I've said this before but I'll repeat because it's…
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Labour's election Opening Address will be broadcast on TV1 at 7:50pm tonight. Labour is hinting that the address will be something different, and unlike anything we have seen before. Given their gutsy campaigning so far, anything could happen! Make sure you tune in...
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Weekend social is for non political chat. What's on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no aggro, why can't we all just get along?
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On RNZ today: Mr Goff said Prime Minister John Key did not have the "guts" to debate him. "It's time to make a decision that will build a stronger future for New Zealand. We've got the balls to do that. John Key doesn't."
campaigning election 2011 john key labour leadership national phil goff
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Net benefit of hosting the Rugby World Cup $280m over 7 weeks ($780m tourist spending minus $500m investment and operating losses). Cost of an 8cm welding crack in the Maui pipeline: $350m after 2 days. Guess it pays to mind the small stuff. Least it…
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Got to hand it to Labour, they have no shortage of guts! The capital gains tax was supposed to be electoral suicide, but in fact Labour's policy was almost universally well received (except by the incoherent Nats). Confronting the huge "untouchable" issue of the approaching superannuation…
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John Key has announced National's employment policy and it's all about making Kiwi workers pay. It includes: A partial return to youth rates. Allow employers to opt out of Multi Employer Collective Agreements - this would mean the end of any industry bargaining and damage…
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The Nats want to extend the new entrants wage from 200hrs/3 months to 6 months. Won't create jobs. Most businesses don't bother with the new entrants wage anyway. word is, though, that the NE wage is a red herring. The guts of the policy will…
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Well, they said they were going to run this campaign on policy and make the bold moves, and Labour proved that with their savings policy. National is been left floundering. Labour has the policy-focused discourse it wanted and Key will look silly parading in front…
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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...
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Labour's savings policy is taking care of future generations by making KiwiSaver universal and compulsory for all wage and salary earners, by re-starting contributions to the New Zealand Super Fund, and by gradually increasing the age of eligibility for New Zealand Super from 65 to…
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbhEOwHrFtE
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It's not surprising that National are trying to run a presidential, personality based election campaign - after all, their policies aren't going to win many votes from those middle and lower income kiwis who understand them. And up till now, presidentialism has worked very well…
accountability campaigning election 2011 john key labour leadership national phil goff privatisation
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Does anyone have a copy of National's real TV ad? I hear it's weird and doesn't really say anything, just kind of blandly asserts that the party that has borrowed $38 billion in three years and has achieved zero growth is better than the one…