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.
Open mike 29/06/2015
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 …
Older white men paid double young ethnic women
That’s not my headline. That’s Stuff’s business section’s headline.
Auckland Council and the latest rates rise
Auckland Council’s budget which should have been passed on a pro forma vote succeeded this week by the narrowest of margins with a transport levy that Sky City pays the same amount as a Piha resident and where the share of rates that business pays continues to decrease. Time to rethink supercity?
Selling state houses to Australia
English needs to explain why the government can’t find NZ buyers for their “social housing” plans. The Nats to explain how selling state houses helps a single family in need.
Australia where the bloody hell are you on gay marriage?
Following on from New Zealand, Ireland and many other states the United States Supreme Court has recently ruled that banning same sex marriages is a breach of the 14th amendment’s right to life and liberty. It makes you wonder when Australia is going to institute change.
Open mike 28/06/2015
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 …
Armstrong is Craig’s last fan
John Armstrong is apparently the last political “commentator” to take Colin Craig seriously. It’s really quite sweet.
Gagging scientists
Forty percent of scientists surveyed feel that they are unable to speak out on issues within their areas of expertise because of management policy or concern over losing funding.
Damn right I’m angry
The term “tone argument” refers to the regular pleas directed at feminists, anti-racism activists, etc to stop being so aggressive and ask nicely for fundamental human rights and dignity instead of shouting so much. It’s a derailment, a troll move, a way to undermine and ignore the actual arguments being made.
Amazing Grace
Barack Obama sings the spiritual Amazing Grace during the eulogy for Clementa Pinckney, one of those killed by a racist gunman in Charleston. Not completely in tune, but he hits the right note. As his Presidency winds down, Obama has one last opportunity to move the American mindset. The rule of the gun must end.
Open mike 27/06/2015
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 …
An open letter to Andrew Little
A respectful open letter to Andrew Little with suggestions for how to win the next election!