I can understand Alfred Ngaro's current frustration. He was an important addition to National's caucus and gave the party which has traditionally been very white and very conservative some needed diversity. He is also a very conservative christian and fitted in easily into the god…
Really good two minute explainer from the Greens on how the Wealth Tax, that would pay for a Guaranteed Minimum Income, would actually work. https://www.facebook.com/nzgreenparty/videos/689344815326033 The gist: wealth over $1m is taxed at 1% (over $2m at 2%). that's the wealth left after taking…
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 …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
I wish they would stop doing this. I want to write about Labour's proposed changes to the RMA. Because they are significant and contain lots of detail that need to be investigated further. But National keeps leaking and self destructing and providing me with more…
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 …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Radio NZ are carrying the story of a woman in isolation who is being denied an appropriate covid test by the local DHB. A woman who suffers from extreme nose bleeds may be forced to stay an extra week in managed isolation because health officials…
It seems every day there is a new catastrophe for Judith Collins to deal with. The latest is National arranging for Party activists to be normal members of the community and also to spontaneously line the side of Ponsonby Road at regular intervals to say…
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 …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
If a party wants to become Government there are a few characteristics that is has to have. Fiscal competence is one. And unity is another. Currently National has neither. Its fiscal strategy is a $10 billion dollar joke. And it is clearly factionalised and divided.…
Last week the current NZ Defence Minister Ron Mark, released Extreme Fire: a changing thread landscape and implications for New Zealand Defence (PDF), a NZ Defence Force (NZDF) Assessment on Extreme Fire Events relating to climate change within NZ. It is an interesting assessment outlining…
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 …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Let's play a game. In the middle of a global pandemic involving an airborne virus where you are the POTUS would you: A - hold a large social gathering with no social distancing for a future Supreme Court nominee, or B - hold off until…
This is a post I have written many times in the past three years with slight variations. But this one, in the middle of an election campaign and suggesting considerable dissent in National’s ranks, is even more significant than most. An internal caucus email from…
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 …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
If Donald Trump is re-elected in 30 days’ time, he will be vindicated and emboldened. What constraints he had will be removed. Whole alliances will come to an end, and democracy as a finely balanced set of ideological refresh and societal warrant of fitness instruments…
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 …
RNZ have reported that a large wildfire has destroyed many homes in the village of Ohau in the Mackenzie Country, and hundreds of people have been evacuated. This is massive for local residents who have lost homes as well as the impact on the community…
Trump is in hospital with covid. Despite amusing conspiracy theories like he's escaped to Russia, this is probably one of the few facts that can be relied upon. As for the rest... Buzzfeed this morning, "I’m old enough to remember the press briefings from Dennis…
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 …
Clearly Paul Goldsmith and National have been hurt by the rank amateurishness of its alternative budget. To recap it was released in a hurry two days after PREFU was released. And boy did it show signs of being hurried. It quickly transpired there was a…
Incredible yet utterly predictable news emerged from the US of A yesterday. Donald Trump has tested positive for Covid. I am not surprised. This is the most evil, effective, transmittable disease imaginable. It spreads easily, does not cause significant problems to the vast majority of…
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 …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
You may have noticed bright yellow and purple billboards around the place advertising the website votesafe.nz and asking people to take a quiz. There are a number of billboards around the place and the site is professionally designed. It has apparently had some serious money…
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 …