Yesterday was an interesting day. Jacinda Ardern managed to ace an interview during the middle of an earthquake while at the same time poking a bit of fun at her partner Clark Gayford's love of sheds. She again attracted International attention and reinforced what a…
All sectors of our economy are affected. But some are more likely to be changing faster and deeper than others. It's devastating. To lives, families, workers, children. A further support package from yesterday recognized this. But the effects are personal. We've seen the government respond…
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 …
Usually when someone becomes unemployed through no fault of their own, they can apply for a basic benefit of $250 p/w after tax. And there are many hurdles and hoops to navigate in order to obtain that $250. But whaddya know! The government in its…
Todd Muller has spent the weekend talking about his aims and aspirations for the National Party. No sorry that is a joke, he has been talking all weekend about his MAGA hat. Sure it is something that an affectionado of American Politics would collect. Like…
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 …
I'm kind of shocked at the conuptions in the National party this week. Plus all of the soft focus bumf that the media have been pushing out since Simon Bridges announced that Todd Muller would be challenging. However the thing that really has me aghast…
Catherine Delahunty recounts her impression of Todd Muller from her days as an MP. A few years ago I was heading to Waitangi with other MPs but the flights from Auckland to the Bay of Islands were cancelled. I cannot recall if it was fog…
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 …
It was a big day yesterday. I thought National's abysmal polling would take its toll and it did. Simon Bridges is now a footnote in the history of New Zealand and Paula Bennett is neither deputy leader nor proud to be a westie. Todd Muller…
This long read essay by British academic and freelance researcher for civil society organisations, Carys Hughes, explores how governance affects the imagination of the people to effect political change. Cross posted from opendemocracy.net Glazed eyes are probably the most frequent response if you mention the…
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 …
The race to be the person blamed for National's coming electoral thrashing is nearing a close. The job of temporary leader of the Tories until Christopher Luxon takes over is a vital part of NZ's democratic processes. Probably. Simon Bridges has the significant advantage…
It was weird to see the Prime Minister muse about a four-day week recently. She is encouraging businesses to think about it. The Prime Minister has also mused this week about more public holidays. These are not small changes to our society. Unfortunately the government…
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 …
This is probably the most anticipated poll in the history of New Zealand politics. If National is under 30% Bridges must be gone tomorrow, too many MPs will lose their jobs to put up with his leadership. If it is over 34% he can…
Simon Bridges is not going down without a fight. First he outs the challenge to displace him although he does not say who the challengers are. This is left up to an anonymous source leaking the details to media. The names have been among those…
Two posts from No Right Turn on the COVID-19 Bill. ___________________________________________________________ Friday, May 15, 2020 Some belated scrutiny On Wednesday morning, Parliament passed the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020. Because it was passed under urgency, the Act did not receive the usual select committee…
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 …
Jason Wall, a political reporter with the NZ Herald based in the Press Gallery, tweeted this earlier today, https://twitter.com/Jasonwalls92/status/1262871616851046400 That's meant to represent what Coffey said at the Epidemic Response Committee this morning. NZH also ran the same 'interpretation' on their website, in an article…
More than 110 nations have backed a call for the World Health Organisation to investigate the origins of the Covid-19 virus outbreak. New Zealand is one of them. This is the text of the relevant clause of the World Health Assembly document on Covid-19 which…
The vultures are gathering. When you are the leader of a party whose basic membership qualification is that they have to believe they are born to rule failure is not tolerated. The media is reporting that there will be a vote of no confidence held…
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 …
Here at the Standard we do not normally offer advice to the National Party. Well we do but we do not expect them to take it seriously. But on this occasion as National faces annihilation in the next election we wish to endorse recent comments…
(original poll at Newshub) I'm back with a new edition of Pollwatch for those of you who like some statistical analysis with your speculation! This was a doozy, definitely proving that UMR wasn't off-base with the leaked results and that National is giving a disastrous…
Last night's Reid Research Newshub poll result will be reverberating through National's caucus. Their basic problem is that their support is in steep decline and this decline shows no signs of slowing down. Whatever they are doing it is not working. With support down to…
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 …
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 …
Well yes Martyn, there is. Last time I looked the Greens were still needed for Labour to be leading our centre/left government. Labour's 36.9 + NZF's 7.2 =/= 50%. It equals 44.1%. Where did the other 6% come from? This is not rocket science, or…