What is it about New Zealand media? Seems if you're an old, privileged white man, you get a podium to say whatever nonsense you want - Henry, Laws, Armstrong, George, Du Fresne. And Deaker. The old twerp's latest is to attack Sonny Bill Williams saying…
The support for the workers at POAL is growing by the day. Thousands of people turned out to march yesterday and the mainstream media has woken up to just how vicious the port's tactics are. But it's not just the public support that is with…
"What the public of New Zealand really do not like is politicians who say one thing before an election and do something else after it. And I invite every member of this House to look at every statement United Future made prior to the election…
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...
The labour dispute is turning into a fiasco for Ports of Auckland. Today thousands of people marched through Auckland in protest: Thousands rally for sacked Ports workers ... ONE News reporter Stephen Smith said around 5000 protesters, including firefighters, meat workers, rest home nurses, even…
I’m no fan of the people who threw the Lamington at Len Brown. They are the same crew who waltz into every social movement in Auckland, suck the life out of it and move on. (And, those of you who read my Dear Len letter…
Treasury warns of deficit blowout Treasury says the government's corporate tax take may miss forecasts for the rest of the financial year, leaving the Crown vulnerable to a bigger-than-expected annual deficit. The government's tax revenue was 2.9 percent short of forecast at $31.36 billion in…
David Cunliffe turned his sights on Peter Dunne in the first reading of the Mixed Ownership Bill (which Winston Peters said should be called the 'National Party makes Quisling look like a Patriot Bill'), pointing out that Dunne has the single vote that determines whether…
Josie Pagani has this to say about casualisation and the POAL dispute: On Sean Plunket's ZB show today. Talking about the ports. 'Casualisation' scares us because it sounds like short hand for bad hours, low pay and no annual leave. It sounds like life in the…
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. The Finance Minister said this morning that the asteroid speeding towards the country presented opportunities for New Zealand. Scientists yesterday announced that a giant asteroid is…
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?
Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here. It was another masterful display in the House yesterday, as the Prime Minister ran rings around the Opposition yet again. First up was a question…
Labour leaders face a problem across the world. Ed Miliband, David Shearer (and Phil Goff previously) and Julia Gillard all seem to be unable to create a lasting and inspiring approach to engages volunteers, activists and voters in a vision. Len Brown had it- his…
A contrite Mayor Len Brown today offered his apology to Port workers for causing their redundancies by demanding higher port profits then giving them the cold shoulder. "I turned my back on the working class I claim to represent. That 'we're on a journey' BS…
Can anyone tell me why the Nats are spending $300m to build and $36m pa to run a 960-bed PPP prison when there are 2000 spare beds in the system and prisoner numbers are projected to fall? Or why Joyce is cutting a dirty 'convention…
I only recall ever picking up Management magazine once. It was back in 2009, I think, and John Key was on the cover. The article was like Playboy for managers, porn for stuffed suits. Breathless adoration of their god-king. Now, even the capitalist class is…
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...
Does anyone have a job for a 60 year old? Job experience as follows: 7 years on the Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council (maintains strong industry relations), Minister of Revenue with 3 governments (4-time winner of least memorable minister award), member of 4 political parties (proven…
Stuff has a report telling us what we already know: an old boys' network keeps women out of the boardroom in Australia and New Zealand. This clubbiness is just one of the reasons we're such an unequal country. A small network of white middle-class males…
Ports of Auckland wants to increase profits by slashing pay-packets by 20% - $6m. It won't make the containers move faster. It will increase profits only by taking bread out of the mouths of port worker families So far, the process has cost them at…
John Key's Cabinet meet to discuss the economic situation Widespread industrial action, economic growth projections revised downwards, more job losses, attacks on the welfare safety net, selling our strategic assets, and no strategy to grow our economy. For those of you who thought John Key's…
Dear Len, I know you have been doing a lot. The Auckland Plan is looking great. But I’m afraid we’re going to have to break up. I delivered your leaflets in the rain. I erected your hoardings across Auckland. I phoned and canvassed support for…
Nobody will be surprised to learn that Treasury is forecasting a deficit blowout. Treasury forecasts always have to be taken with a grain of salt, but the tendency in recent times has been for Treasury forecasts to be unduly optimistic. The fact that the news…
The $340K contractors hired to show our diplomats the door have told them that, to cope with stress, they could pray, take a bath, or get a cat. What else do you think was on the list?: Suggestion 4: Whistle while you don't work... Suggestion…
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...
Yesterday Shearer asked Key: "Is it correct that under the current provisions of the bill half a dozen foreign investors could legally purchase all the listed shares?". Key answered "No, because the limit is 10 percent, 6 times 10 is 60, and the Government is…
Some quizzes to see if you can identify the US Republican Presidential Contender from the misanthrope. From Mad Magazine: . And from Foreign Policy, a link to a similar quiz to distinguish Rick Santorum from Ayatollah Khamenei. -- Answers to Mad Quiz above: Romney: 1,…
Today Ports of Auckland sacked 292 employees in the pursuit of the unobtainable by the idiotic. The Ports of Auckland documents showed that, from the start, they intended to provide a conflict with the intent of sacking all the workers and rehiring them on worse…