Merry Christmas! As usual, it's reduced service over the summer break, unless anything big happens. We hope you'll get a good break with those dear to you, and that we'll have some decent weather to enjoy. And if you still need your politics fix... Open…
Heartfelt greetings and commiserations to all in the shaky city. (I'll be joining you soon for Christmas.) Use this post for general discussion of the ongoing quakes in Christchurch.
In a heart-warming Christmas story, 111 workers have stood strong and faced down Canterbury Meat Packers, which locked them out for 2 months to extort a 20% wage cut and make them work harder for less money. It's not a total victory, there will be…
As usual, it's reduced service over the summer break, unless anything big happens. We hope you'll get a good break with those dear to you, and that we'll have some decent weather to enjoy. And if you still need your politics fix... Open mike is…
There's a new union in town and who knows? it might just prove to be the salvation of the union movement (so you can put money on some hard-headed unionists opposing it for ideological reasons!) The concept of Together is simple; if you currently belong to a union and…
CTU President Helen Kelly talks about Pike River and the death of security guard Charanpreet Singh Dhaliwal and what these tragedies tell us about employer accountability for health and safety in the workplace. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzOYFl7KF8g
Shearer's never going to be a Churchill but his address in reply was well-delivered, passionate, issues focused. What a contrast to Key. All he could serve up were the same old lame jokes. Where was the plan for the next 1,000 days? Where was the…
“Once in office, you've got to do something. That is why having a plan matters.” - Simon Power, 2011, valedictory speech to parliament The government's paucity of ideas is such that they could only muster 2100 words in their speech from the throne yesterday. Last term…
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...
Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here —————————————————— A Plea To Jim Hopkins Dear Jim I was thrilled to read your latest column in the NZ Herald. I’m a big fan of…
Despite his very carefully presented image, Key has long been a 'politician'. His snarky performances in the House long ago showed his partisanism, with his writing off any idea that came from the 'wrong' side of the floor. In 2002 he could claim naivety of…
Labour's new leader promised a fresh approach. He's delivered already in his speech in reply today. Gone is the ritual opening denunciation of the government's programme - Shearer begins with where a new Labour government would start. He puts Labour firmly on the path to…
Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here —————————————————— The Round Institute Of New Zealand Business Tables? I am somewhat surprised to read that the Business Roundtable and New Zealand Institute are to…
Irony will be if Anne Tolley gets sacked over a portfolio she no longer holds. And if she's fired, not for turning one of the world's most successful education systems into an ideological warzone over performance pay but, for lying to Parliament about a principal…
I'm really disappointed the New Zealand Institute is merging with the Business Roundtable. It smells like the NZI was out of cash. It's a pity because, since getting rid of David Skilling, the NZI has been producing some good, broad-minded,practical work on the economy's fundamental…
How long until National usurps Christchurch Council? Brownlee's doing the groundwork - creating a crisis, making the councillors to blame (for not automatically agreeing to whatever Parker wants), claiming public support. Reckon he'll wait until rebuilding is just about to start. Then council gets blamed…
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...
Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here —————————————————— Dunne In Stoush Over Caucus Lunch Plan A fierce row has broken out between a Wellington restaurateur and United Future Party leader Peter Dunne,…
There was some pretty low-grade reporting on the Waitakere race that suggested some kind of organised voter fraud may have taken place. Under the title Questions over Waitakere vote, the Herald reporter said 9 dual votes had been found and 393 special votes had been…
It has been a big year for protest internationally. The "Arab Spring" protests in the Middle East. Occupy Wall Street and the world wide Occupation movement. Tahrir Square. Time magazine somewhat controversially chose as it's annual person of the year a representative symbol - "The…
Kim Jong Il's dead. Kim Jong Un's next in line. Could there be a succession crisis in the only nuclear-armed monarchy? I reckon it's an opportunity. Jong Un's a 27 year-old computer nerd now stuck running a broke-arse, backwards country. If Obama really wants rid…
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...
Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here —————————————————— Dr Don Seeks To Sink Santa Former ACT Party leader Dr Don Brash has confirmed he is seeking to replace Santa Claus as the…
David Shearer has released his new caucus line-up, David Parker, Jacinda Ardern, David Cunliffe, Clayton Cosgrove, Shane Jones and Nanaia Mahuta making up the rest of his and Grant Robertson's front bench. A lot of talent, and a definite fresh look from the Goff or…
Readers of this site are probably aware that I think Cameron Slater is a technological idiot. Well he has just proved it again. There was a comment on our site referring to some of the IP/e-mail matching going on at another site recently which I'm…
It's Nelson / Tasman's turn to get hammered by nature. Commiserations to all those affected, especially those who have had their homes damaged or destroyed. After Christchurch I think everyone in the country knows some that this has happened to, and what a heartbreak it…
Trillions have been plowed into bailing out banks, investors, and whole countries during the economic crisis. The cost easily exceeds total investment in tackling climate change. Is it, as George Monbiot argues, that elites just look out for themselves, or are humans just incapable of…
Key: "Of course, if we could have lower personal taxes, we think that would stimulate the economy – but we just can't afford it". But, if tax cuts stimulate the economy, you could make them self-funding. The 2010 tax changes were meant to pay for…
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...