Peters in super trouble

Newsroom and Newshub have broken a story about Winston Peters receiving, for the last 7 years, a single person’s super payment that he was not entitled to because he was living with an (undeclared) other person. Peters denies this but has already payed back the excess from an “innocent mistake”.

Open Mike 28/08/2017

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Middle East Changes

If there is a change of Government what should Labour do about requests for military assistance in the Middle East?

Greens announce plan to turn trash into cash

The Green Party today announced a progressive plan to protect our oceans and the places we love with a ban on plastic bags, refunds on drink containers, a phase-out of plastic packaging, and a commitment to sending zero waste to landfill by 2050.

Ardern’s war paint

John Armstrong coined a memorable headline: That ain’t lipstick – it’s war paint. Jo Moir writes on the Jacinda tsunami in South Auckland, and Liam Dann gives Labour the economic thumbs up. Not a bad weekend for Labour!

Congratulations Black Ferns!

The All Blacks won a game last night, but it is the Black Ferns who own the front page of the (online) Herald today. An overdue sign of changing times. Good stuff.

Open Mike 27/08/2017

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Greens commit to Zero Carbon Act in first 100 days

“The Act will mean that climate targets are legally binding, and the Government will be obliged to have a detailed plan about exactly how it will meet those targets, detail that has been desperately missing under National. This is what real action on climate change looks like.”

A billion Indians

The Indian Supreme Court has ruled that privacy is a fundamental right to life and liberty under India’s constitution.  Other countries recognise the right to privacy against the state.  But commercial interest through social media have access to huge amounts of private information.  Why should there be a right of privacy against the state but not corporate interests?

Open Mike 26/08/2017

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Daily Review 25/08/2017

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Political Statues

America is experiencing difficulties because of the celebration by the right of statutes of their racist heroes.  Why does New Zealand not have this problem?

More Nat ACT conflict

ACT is attacking the Nats yet again, calling out their record on housing and crime. Anyone for a coalition of chaos?

A personal view of a decade of The Standard 2.0

With the distraction of the a looming election, one that is likely to ditch the dead hand of National’s cronyism on our economy and society, I missed that we’d managed to make this site survive and thrive for a decade. I think that deserves some recognition …

Open Mike 25/08/2017

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Daily Review 24/07/2017

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English on poverty – hasn’t read his own PREFU

After nine long years the election is forcing National to acknowledge the poverty in NZ. Bill English is promising to throw money at bootcamps and “social investment” (targeting) – but he hasn’t read his own PREFU.

Open Mike 24/08/2017

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Daily Review 23/08/2017

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Light Rail no Panacea for Wellington transport

In just a couple of month’s time the Greater Wellington Regional will start an $11m project to dismantle the trolley bus system. Council Tramways Union Vice President Chris Morley talks about why light rail for Wellington is unlikely to ever happen, and why it doesn’t need to.

Ardern cautious on capital gains tax

Jacinda Ardern will not campaign on a capital gains tax, but will seek advice and will not rule it out in a first term. The Nats have introduced a week form of CGT already. A more robust version needs serious consideration.

Open Mike 23/08/2017

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Daily Review 22/08/2017

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