Fidel Castro has died
Fidel Castro has died aged 90.
The Mount Roskill by-election and the strange case of the missing horse shoe
One News has reported on the strange case where a local Mt Roskill resident was threatened by someone describing themselves as Parmjeet Parmar’s right hand man, had a horse shoe thrown at him, complained to the police, but was subsequently told that the horse shoe had been destroyed.
Audrey Young on resurgent unions
Audrey Young writes on growing union numbers, strengths, and wins for their members. Excellent!
National better late than never on pay equity
A 2015 court decision forced National’s hand on pay equity. This week the equity working group reported back. To its credit National is accepting the recommendations, and unions are hailing a big win. But the final form of any law is not yet clear.
Open Mike 26/11/2016
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For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
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Daily Review 25/11/2016
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 …
Three strikes – seven years – for bottom pinching
The first application of “three strikes” is an example of exactly one of the main problems that opponents of the law raised. Remove discretion and you can get perverse outcomes.
Mana and Māori Party ‘unification’?
Although the personality obstacles probably retired with Turia and Sharples, it is hard to see how Mana’s left wing policies can be reconciled with the Māori Party’s record propping up the Key government.
National plans to sell Housing Corp home Key grew up in
John Key, the state house tenant turned good who has relied heavily on his humble upbringing is overseeing the sale of the state house he grew up in.
Earthquakes v Climate Change
Have the recent earthquakes and the likely political response altered the emphasis that will being given to addressing climate change?
Sale of Key’s old house a powerful symbol
English admits that the government has done a poor job of maintaining state houses, and uses it as an excuse for privatisation – its by design. The attempted sale in Christchurch, incuding Key’s childhood home, is a powerful symbol of the way this government likes pulling up the ladder that they used behind them.
Open Mike 25/11/2016
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For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
Daily Review 24/11/2016
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 …
Elf & Safety
It was disappointing to see Michael Woodhouse’s complacency for the government at one worker each week dying on the job. That can’t be […]
Mining engineer: Solid Energy’s decision is “irrational”
An engineer’s report concluded it would be safe to enter the mine to look for evidence of the cause the blasts which killed 29 men.
To be fair they probably don’t have much experience with spades
RNZ on suppressed child abuse report
RNZ this morning describes a 2011 report by the Chief Human Rights Commissioner on historical child abuse in NZ. “It was never published because, she says, the Attorney General Chris Finlayson did not like its recommendations.”
Politik on Labour/ Greens
I was rather amused reading Politik’s “Despite the pact Shaw takes on Robertson“ and was struck by the strange way that some political commentators (and probably some politicians) view the world at the political coalface. They really need to start to think about political parties as being like any other organisation. Tactical compromises without a strategic focus will always kill any organisation – eventually.
Open Mike 24/11/2016
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For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
Note: Open Mike is now for US politics too.
Daily Review 23/11/2016
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 …
The sharemarket moved because…
This is just something that gets my goat, and there was a particularly egregious example on the RNZ Business News this morning. Apparently […]
Has Key abandoned Parmar in the Mt Roskill by election?
As National’s Mt Roskill by election campaign starts to implode John Key’s absence is becoming very noticeable.
What skills do we need in the age of fake news?
Revelations surrounding the role of fake news in the American election have been stunning. And the critical thinking skills that democracy needs to survive this trend are under attack in our education system.
Nat state house selloff in tatters
Another fail in National’s plan to sell off state houses is good news for those of us who believe that it is the government’s responsibility to take care of society’s most vulnerable.
Open Mike 23/11/2016
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 …
Note: Open Mike is now for US politics too.
TPP: An epitaph for self-interested treaties done in secret
The misogynist buffoon, under-skilled charlatan and ignorant bigot that the Americans have elected to be their constitutional monarch for the next four years appears to have effectively killed the constraint of trade agreement known as the TPP. From a freer trade advocate, avid exporter, and labour movement supporter with a touch of green :- Good riddance.
Daily Review 22/11/2016
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 …
QC describes Pike River mine as a ‘homicide scene’
On Checkpoint Nigel Hampton QC described the Pike River mine as a ‘crime scene’ and a ‘homicide scene’, and he questioned the motives of those rushing to seal the mine.
Brownlee should stop vilifying scientists
Gerry Brownlee has attacked a public servant firstly for not approached the Government for increased Geonet monitoring and then for raising the issue but not telling him personally.
Chester Borrows goes to trial, Barry Soper goes to pieces
Nat MP Chester Borrows is to stand trial for injuring a protestor with his car. Barry Soper is outraged, because “elderly female, placard waving protesters” just don’t deserve the protection of the law.
Open Mike 22/11/2016
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 …
Note: Open Mike is now for US politics too.
Daily Review 21/11/2016
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 …
More fossil awards for NZ
With two more Fossil awards to add to its collection, New Zealand is called out yet again for its lack of action on climate change.
Brownlee bullies GNS staff
Gerry Brownlee has chosen to respond to the cautious words of a public servant by publicly attacking him.
The eternal tax-cut mirage
Despite the unknown cost of the quakes, and the host of other urgent needs, Key is once again talking up election-bribe tax cuts.
Post-US election post
A general discussion thread about the US election.