Open mike 29/09/2015
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Daily Review 28/09/2015
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Groser don’t go
Greenpeace, 350 Aotearoa and the Coal Action Network have jointly urged John Key not to send Tim Groser to Paris for the climate change talks because the Government’s policies and proposed response will embarrass New Zealand and damage its international reputation.
Campbell: The TPP dairy deal is done
Gordon Campbell (one of the last known practitioners of the dying art of journalism) claims that the TPP dairy deal is already done. He makes a convincing case.
The problem is child poverty not CYF
The Rebstock Panel inquiry could be read to confirm that Child Youth and Family is unable to perform its job properly because of it is not properly resourced to provide the job. But it is clear that National is loathe to provide it with any more resources. And the elephant in the room is that the Government fails to understand that escalating child poverty is the cause the crisis.
From out of the Shadows
Goff has attempted to throw a fire-cracker into the notion of the National Party leadership and caucus being one big happy family. Is this the Labour Party’s way of sowing seeds of discontent without tainting the image of their leader? It is NOT Dirty Politics by any normal understanding of that term as captured in the book of the same name. Is this Goff’s role now? To box from the shadows?
Goff: Collins planning her move
Goff: “Judith’s column this week is the opening shot in her campaign to succeed John Key as National’s leader.”
Nats and reproductive rights
The Nats are obsessed with the reproductive rights of those they deem “unfit”. Once again they are floating the idea of compulsory controls.
Open mike 28/09/2015
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The decline of the Herald
Mass redundancies at the Herald have been described as a blood bath and are clearly having an effect on its quality. Such is its quality there is a question whether the political column this morning was written by a part time travel writer or by Heather du Plessis-Allan.
Oil drilling in Maui’s Dolphin’s habitat
The Government this week proposed at considerable expense the purchase of a couple of panda. But at the same time the Government is again proposing to allow the drilling for oil in the habitat of Maui’s Dolphin which is facing extinction.
Open mike 27/09/2015
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Bunnings strike
Bunnings staff are striking today after rejecting unfair contracts.
NZ doing more harm than good on climate change
“Key told not to attend Paris and to pull NZ delegation”.
“It would be better for humanity if John Key were to stay home, and instruct Minister Groser and the delegation to do likewise.”
Pope Francis speaks
Pope Francis has given two important speeches recently.
Open mike 26/09/2015
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Daily Review 25/09/2015
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Green Politics
Think the Green Party have just sold out and will do a deal with National next election? Think again…
AgResearch cuts include greenhouse gas research – of course
Cutting research into greenhouse gases? With our emissions profile? Now? This can’t possibly be mere stupidity. This must be willful blindness.
NOx-ious shit all around.
Been trying to get my head around the implications of Volkswagen’s rigged diesel performance tests. Predictably, and unlike most stories covering this, I couldn’t give a rat’s arse for the financial woes the company might be facing.
The political machinations of the flag debate
The Green’s agreement with National to allow for Red Peak to be a referendum candidate potentially helps John Key out of a major difficulty and raises issues about the state of the Labour-Green relationship.
Welcome returns
Great to see two much needed voices back on line, Dita de Boni now writing for TVNZ, and John Campbell doing what he does best for RNZ. (Update with Andrea Vance’s more to TVNZ).
Open mike 25/09/2015
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Daily Review 24/09/2015
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OIA on Zero Hours reveals just what an attack on workers it is.
We have the documents leading up to the what can only be described as a dreadful piece of law legalising employment agreements which tie workers to an employer without any of the reciprocity of guaranteed hours of work. At a time like now – where work in this country is so badly paid, with so little protection – we get this.
Auckland Council Mayoral candidates – Mark Thomas
Mark Thomas who has close ties with the National Party has announced that he is going to run for the Auckland Mayoralty next year.
Government by Twitter
We have passed an interesting milestone in the evolution of NZ politics. Key’s poll-driven pandering has just been taken to the next level. Political / media dinosaurs will never be able to dismiss “The Twitterati” again.
Open mike 24/09/2015
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Daily Review 23/09/2015
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Flagging a dead horse
Gareth Morgan pulls no punches on the flag fiasco, and a breaking story on the Greens’ move to add Red Peak.
Paula Bennett’s loopy rules do not actually exist
The Government has admitted that at least some of the loopy rules mentioned by Paula Bennett in support of the Loopy Rules review do not actually exist.
Increase productivity. Make builders subject to criminal charges.
Nick Smith is being his usual dickhead self again suggesting that self-certifying electricians, directly subject to criminal prosecution, are the same as self-certifying builders who do not. The Government’s rules reduction taskforce is repeating the same mantras from the 1990s that lead directly to the destruction of productivity by National’s policies to create leaky buildings.
Folding on the TPP
As last ditch efforts to pass the TPP continue, Key is softening us up to sign a bad deal. Coincidentally, two articles yesterday highlight the risks to NZ.
Open mike 23/09/2015
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Daily Review 22/09/2015
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Pandas for everyone
John Key is trying to divert attention away from the numerous problems the country is facing by talking about pandas.