So National have begun a new strategy in their battle for power in 2014. And it's just blatant attack politics, no substance necessary. They intend that if they're becoming less popular, they'll take Labour and the Greens down with them. Vicious attacks that lower the…
In front of a room full of rich people, John Key confirmed today that, when they buy our shares in our company they will also get a free hand out from the Government if they hold on to their plunder for 3 years. There's no…
An all-time record 53,900 people left New Zealand for Australia last year. Remember when John Key was going to stop the exodus by closing the wage gap? Yeah, that was a pretty funny joke. Now, here's the punchline: Bill English now says that it's a…
My regular Sunday piece of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. It’s also a chance for you to share what you found this week too. Those stimulating links you wanted to share, but just didn’t fit in anywhere (no linkwhoring). This week:…
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...
Today's big announcement from Paula Bennett at the National Party Conference was that those on the run from police will have their benefits stopped. But the question needs to be asked: how many people on the run are collecting the benefit? (Even if they're on…
This weekend the National Party is holding its annual conference at SkyCity (how appropriate) in Auckland. Protests are planned: Press Release – Aotearoa Is Not For Sale The weekend of July 20-22 is the National Party’s Annual Conference in Auckland. Actions are being held by…
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...
We know that more sprawl is actually twice as expensive to the rate- and tax-payer than increasing density within existing urban limits because of all the additional infrastructure that's needed. But there's added cost to the residents of the sprawl as well. Not just more…
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?
In the dictatorship game, you know that you're in trouble when you're shelling your own capital. That's what Syria's Assad has been reduced to as the rebellion rolls on. Initially, it appeared the fighting in Damascus could have been a repeat of Homs - drawing…
Here's a guest post from an Auckland Labour Party member with a different take on the constitutional changes. It's interesting and challenging. Good food for thought. - Let us consider Labour's proposed constitutional reforms in its moment. New Zealand's progressives continue to splinter, just as…
John Key really is the master of being whomever his audience wants to believe he is. For years, he talks positively about Maori water rights and interests to Maori. But, when an opportunity comes to split the Maori and Pakeha opposition to asset sales, he's…
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...
Two interesting comments in another post deserve to be a post of their own: gobsmacked: Looks like last night’s piece of paper is going to be even more short-lived than the one Neville Chamberlain waved at the airport. No peace in our time … From…
From I/S at No Right Turn: Privileged! Gerry Brownlee's appalling performance in the House yesterday over the cancellation of the Levin - Otaki Road of National Signficance has already attracted criticism elsewhere, and now Labour's Phil Twyford has responded by lodging a complaint for breach of Privilege. Obviously, Brownlee's…
So over the last few weeks Maori in general, and the Maori Party in particular, have been: Insulted - PM's Waitangi Tribunal comments 'insulting' - Maori Party Kept waiting for a week - Key too busy to meet Maori party this week Insulted again -…
Whether you accept the evidence that the consumption of oil is currently peaking or not, it is undeniable that a) the world's fossil fuel resources are finite and we've already consumed a large fraction of it and b) we won't keep consuming evermore per day…
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...
Never let this scumbag government tell you that they're making responsible cuts in tough times. When the Greens tried to amend the social welfare bill currently before Parliament to ensure no kids would "unduly suffer", National vetoed it saying that would eliminate $128m of the…
Media Release: The Environmental Defence Society, Forest & Bird, WWF-New Zealand and Ecologic have released an open letter to the Hon Amy Adams, Minister for the Environment, expressing "profound concerns" with the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill. "The open letter from…
Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here. This report has been prepared for the purposes of verifying the Prime Minister's statement on Tuesday 17 July 2012 that it was…
There's a great piece in Harper's Magazine about modern day America's monopolies and cartels. Google, Apple, Intel, Pixar and other Silicon Valley corporations have formed a labour cartel, refusing to poach each other's staff so that they can keep wage costs down and hours worked…
One of the characteristics of this blog is that we really don't emphasize the ego of the authors that much. We're here to provide our opinions and the argument that supports them and to let everyone have a good go at arguing about them robustly.…
Key says the odds of a delay in the sale of Mighty River are like the "chance a meteorite will hit the Earth this afternoon”. It turns out, that's a near certainty. So, Key was accidentally, telling the truth - the odds of a delay in…
Our PM seems determined to insult Maori at every turn at the moment. What to make of this odd little outburst last night? Maori claims 'opportunistic' – Prime Minister The Prime Minister has hit back at the Maori Council, describing its Waitangi Tribunal claim 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...
I've just got my summary report on Labour's organisational review, emailed to me as a member from President Moira Coatsworth, with a link to the website - things have certainly got better since my day! On a quick first look, it seems to be a…
A cynic might ask if Peter Dunne is out to eliminate the competition of his mates and (it is widely thought) donors in the alcohol and cigarette industries by setting ever higher barriers for other legal highs. And I'm that cynic. I'm not against anyone…