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Speaker David Carter has received some complaints about MPs tweeting during Question Time. One of the complaints seems to be about MPs in the House tweeting criticisms of the Speaker (as reported by Parliament Today). Some of us here also have made that complaint of…
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From the I do not believe what I am reading file. The right think that the solution to all of society's woes is more market freedom. Problems are evidence of a restriction of the free operation of markets. Whether it is failing education standards, diminishing environmental protection, declining terms…
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At Polity, Rob Salmond asks:- How an average family would fare under National's do-nothing approach to the housing crisis? YES, IT IS A STOCK PHOTO. Here's an anecdote, which has some numbers in it, too. In 2013, the median household income in New Zealand was…
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Following up on yesterday's post, there have been a couple of interesting bits in the media regarding National's head-in-the-sand attitude to the housing crisis. Criticism has come from their base in the form of a surprisingly critical interview that housing minister Nick Smith endured on…
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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 Policy). Step up to the mike ...
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A guy angry at something John Banks said on Radio Pacific in 1997, and some very sharp photographers have catapulted John Banks, court appearance today onto the front pages: it's all in the image, aided by a bit of drama and conflict. RNZ Reporter Kate…
accountability act activism democratic participation news the praiseworthy and the pitiful
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Key was on morning report today to talk about the latest from the OECD, which is that NZ now has the most over-valued houses in the developed world. Audio Key's responses are dire. In a bored voice, Key channels Muldoon and flatly denies there is…
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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 Policy). Step up to the mike ...
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Here's Key on Radio New Zealand last evening: But Prime Minister John Key said he categorically denied his Government was interested only in helping the rich, saying the Budget aimed to help a wide range of New Zealand families. "I utterly reject those propositions. Twelve…
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No Right Turn turns his attention back to the hapless ministerial fool , Simon Bridges. It turns out that when he approved oil exploration in our biggest forest park without realising that he had, it was also what his advice had been. MoBIE simply didn't consider if…
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The Sir Douglas Robb Lectures for 2014 start tomorrow evening in Auckland. These three free lectures are being given by the authors of "The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better", a book much hated by those amongst us who would prefer…
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Despite the difficulties caused by the breaking of the news of his affair with Bevan Chuang and the attendant fire storm that erupted mayor Len Brown has kept the Auckland Council functioning during this term and it has come through the disruption reasonably well. If there…
drugs greens labour len brown national peter dunne Social issues united future
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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 Policy). Step up to the mike ...
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News today that NZAS appeal against the EPMU's claim for contract shift payments at Tiwai Point has failed is another well-deserved win for workers. True to form, the company is bleating that it might cost it $20million. That would be a drop in the bucket…
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Marama Davidson has been selected by the Green Party to stand as the Green candidate in Tāmaki Makaurau. Davidson is a really promising up-coming politician, and would be an asset to Parliament. The electorate seat is currently held by Pita Sharples, who won't be standing…
activism child abuse child welfare community democracy election 2014 families greens housing internet Maori Issues Maori seats poverty Spying sustainability
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As time goes by and the details of the budget are explored I anticipate there will be some nasty shocks appearing. The first one appears to be that the funding for the Christchurch rebuild has been cut. From the Press: A surprise $300 million boost…
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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 Policy). Step up to the mike ...
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If New Zealanders needed any more proof of the National Government’s total failure on housing, this Budget has given them all they need to know. The Budget does nothing to address New Zealand’s acute housing crisis. There is nothing here for first home buyers. Nothing…
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Rob Salmond at Polity on the housing crisis: Budget 2014 figures show that the housing crisis will get much, much worse under National's do-nothing approach. For every dollar someone uses to pay a mortgage on an average house in 2014, in 2018 a person will need $1.44…
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Briefing Papers, a new website launched by AUT offers alternative briefing papers for incoming governments. The first is by Brian Easton, on the purpose of Budgets. Easton says that while all the debate is about budgets and economic growth, governments in fact can do little…
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National is obviously worried. The headline policies from the budget are those which a Labour Government would normally be associated with. Increasing paid parental leave to 18 weeks, funding for free doctors' visits for young adolescents and funds for Kauri dieback disease research are policies…
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You could tell it was coming. When, about two days out from the Budget, English started trying to downplay expectations, you knew there wasn't enough in it. He had realised that people expect too much politically from National. He had wanted this Budget to be…
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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 Policy). Step up to the mike ...
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I am in the process of watching the videos of Glenn Greenwald, as interviewed on Democracy Now about his new book No Place to Hide. It's posted on the Daily Blog by Selwyn Manning. I am in the middle of the first video. It's mind…
accountability capitalism democracy under attack john key slippery Spying us politics
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Within the next few hours the government will be voting on their Paid Parental Leave bill. Labour's response is a Supplementary Order Paper. If the ammendment passes it will mean the government will have to commit to Labour's policy of 26 weeks leave. But of…
budget 2014 peter dunne political education united future workers' rights
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Rob Salmond at Polity on the budget. Earlier this week I predicted the Budget would be Labour-lite. I was right, but only in part. Extending PPL, more money for ECE, and extending free doctor visits for more kids are all good ideas. But in other…
bill english budget 2014 debt / deficit housing national same old national
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A tiny surplus. After six years. And how much does New Zealand owe six years later? That's right Seventy Five Billion Dollars. Mayby it should be you that apologises, John.
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On May 1, 2014 the New Zealand Herald reported on a complaint that Denis O'Rourke had through Parliamentary Services employed his live in partner to be his assistant. He denied the allegation and at this time no further action is being taken about the complaint. Today the…
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The real story of the coming election is neither corruption nor perceptions of corruption but rather what was revealed in Bill English’s reported pre-budget speech to the National Party’s Southern Region conference at the weekend. He signalled an intention to reduce the proportion of government…
bill english Economy national privatisation Public Private Partnerships public services