Sign the petition: no charging charities for police vetting
Labour MP Poto Williams is running an online petition urging the Government not to proceed with a proposal to charge charities for new compulsory police vetting.
Weekend social 04/07/2015
Weekend social is for non political chat. What’s on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no […]
Open mike 04/07/2015
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 03/07/2015
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.
A NZ First First; Winston outvoted in Caucus
The extraordinary battle for the Deputy Leadership of NZ First is over. Winston’s pick has been rejected by the NZF caucus and his grip on the party has loosened significantly. But what does this mean for Labour, the Greens and the prospects of a better Government?
Guest Post – What is Little’s vision for New Zealand?
A guest post from Ad following up from Mandy Hager’s recent post on Andrew Little exploring the question on what should be Labour’s, the Green’s and New Zealand First’s vision for New Zealand’s future.
Nick Smith; Thick as a Short Plank?
National’s Nick Smith appears to have misled Parliament over the illegal export of Kauri logs. Thankfully for Smith, it’s nothing to do with the rumours swirling around who is responsible for the loss of our irreplaceable heritage timber, but more to do with the Minister’s inability to understand a clear and explicit piece of legislation.
Press Council finds against Herald over ponygate reporting
The Press Council has ruled that Rachel Glucina and the Herald breached the requirement of independence contained in the Press Council’s principles.
Sanders vs Trump
It will probably turn out to be Clinton vs Bush of course. But wouldn’t Sanders vs Trump be more fun? And wouldn’t Sanders be a fascinating POTUS?
Open mike 03/07/2015
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 02/07/2015
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.
Open letter on Nauru
Twenty eight legal academics have written an open letter to Murray McCully expressing their concern at the worsening rule of law situation in Nauru.
Greece – damned if they do
Secret documents seen by The Guardian describe just how bad things will be for Greece if they accept the demands of the IMF / “troika”.
New Powers to Ministers to screw Iwi
The Social Housing Reform (Transaction Mandate) Bill allows designated Ministers to sell off state houses. Currently Housing New Zealand has no such power. Interestingly however this Government could introduce a Bill with criteria to enable sales to be signed off by the CE of Housing New Zealand but instead they are seeking that power for themselves. But within it there is a fishhook for iwi. UPDATE: comment from Turei and response from Bennett
It’s great to be a charter school!
A charter school banks an “operating surplus” of $2.4 million, while state schools remain chronically underfunded.
Bust up in New Zealand First?
Radio New Zealand has reported on sources claiming that New Zealand First Deputy Leader Tracy Martin will this week be replaced as deputy by Ron Mark.
Rio Tinto brinkmanship
Rio Tinto has delayed the signing of an electricity supply agreement with Meridian Energy by a month giving rise to the possibility that more corporate welfare will be demanded from the Government.
Open mike 02/07/2015
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 01/07/2015
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standarnistas 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.
Marching backwards to diesel
Replacing electric trains with diesel is the kind of short-term stupid decision making that is unfortunately typical of the way NZ is currently run.
The Cyber bullying law and Dirty Politics
The cyber bullying legislation is a cynical piece of law which allows National to claim that it has left dirty politics behind.
Greece defaults
As the last Global Financial Crisis taught us, we’re in for another round of protecting the banks and letting the people suffer.
The police should be above the law
Well that’s the opinion of Judith Collins at least.
Open mike 01/07/2015
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 30/06/2015
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standarnistas 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.
Greens allow split vote on online speech bill
The Greens will split their vote on the Harmful Digital Communications Bill.
Update: The Bill has passed.
Caption Contest
Keep it seemly.
Greece and the Euro crisis
The invisible hand of the market is busy punching itself in the face today. Some observations on Greece and the Euro crisis, from the factual to the fun, courtesy of Twitter this morning.
Another disease of poverty making a comeback
Add another disease of poverty to the list of those that are making a comeback in NZ.
Kia ora Gaza
Native Affairs reporter Ruwani Perera and cameraman Jacob Bryant have been arrested by Israeli forces for being part of a peace flotilla wanting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. If Murray McCully wants to achieve peace in the Middle East he could start by demanding that they be released and that the delivery of aid to Gaza be allowed.
Open mike 30/06/2015
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 29/06/2015
[Picture to commemorate the last Native Affairs show with Mihi Forbes’ involvement] Daily review is also your post. This provides Standarnistas 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.
Will New Zealand social housing soon subsidise Australian social housing?
John Key’s interview on Morning Report this morning suggests that National does not know what it is doing with its social housing policy. Are we approaching a situation where profits from New Zealand social housing is going to underwrite the cost of Australian social housing?
Watch Native Affairs tonight
Watch Native Affairs on Maori Television tonight.
Youth rates and youth employment
Remember how National’s youth rates were going to raise levels of youth employment? Turns out not so much.
Inequality – Treasury report
Last week Treasury came out with a detailed and interesting report, Inequality in New Zealand 1983/84 to 2013/14. It is no surprise to find that the last Labour government acted to reduce inequality, the current National government has acted to increase it.