Open mike 07/06/2015

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 …

We need to ACT on the innumeracy of MPs

After a mere 5 years, some numerically and legally challenged current and ex-MP have been demonstrating their inability to understand their Three Strikes stupidity. They seem to think that people who have probably been in court or banged up in prison for violent offences have had time to go to court three times. FFS: these dickheads need mandatory remedial maths.

The shame of poverty in NZ

According to the Ministry of Social Development child poverty is worse in NZ than in any European country. According to the Child Poverty Action Group new figures are going to show an increase in poverty. According to the coroner a damp unhealthy state house contributed to the death of a child. Welcome to the “brighter future”.

Open mike 06/06/2015

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 05/06/2015 #CampbellLives

Slightly redesigned in support of #CampbellLives.

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.

Kia kaha Mihingarangi Forbes

Mihingarangi Forbes resigned yesterday as a reporter for Marae Televison apparently because of managerial interference in a story she intended to run.  In the week since Aotearoa lost Campbell Lives it has now lost arguably the best investigative reporter that the country has.

Open mike 05/06/2015

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 04/06/2015

Slightly redesigned in support of #CampbellLives.

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.

Sheepgate and National’s last defence: Labour does it too

John Key yesterday went on the attack and implied that Labour did something about Sheepgate in 2007.  What it was he did not say but the implication was that Labour did it too.  A brief review of dirty politics shows that this is alway’s National’s desperate last line of defence. Update: Labour tried to table in Parliament the Cabinet Paper that John Key talked about yesterday and National refused leave …

Herald supports Greens on climate change

Even an anonymous editorial in The Herald supports The Greens’ proposal for discussions with National on climate change. Key needs to acknowledge the facts, get some guts, and stop playing politics with the issue.

Geddis on Auckland housing land

Yesterday we covered National’s blunder in not considering Treaty settlement obligations in its plans to free up state land for Auckland housing. Today you can read someone who actually knows what they’re talking about on the issue, check out Professor Geddis’ piece at Pundit.

Open mike 04/06/2015

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 03/06/2015 #CampbellLives

Slightly redesigned in support of #CampbellLives.

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.

Auckland land shambles

The problems for National’s housing plans for keep coming, with Ngati Whatua pointing out that it has first call on the land to be “freed up” under treaty agreements.

Sheepgate: the McCully mess

The media have joined opposition demands that Murray McCully’s actions in relation to sheepgate are investigated.  If John Key really expects high standards from his ministers this is the least that should be done.  Update: And a claimed “independent audit” of the tender process was conducted by none other than MFAT.

Open mike 03/06/2015

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 02/06/2015

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.

How Did We Come to This?

When did New Zealanders become convinced that the care of the most vulnerable in our society, and particularly of those suffering mental illness and disability, should be treated as an opportunity to make a profit rather than as a community responsibility?

Conservatives and Human Rights

In Australia a recent attempt by Abbott and some supporters to give the Minister of Immigration the power to cancel an Australian’s citizenship status was met by a cabinet revolt.  In England there is talk of the UK withdrawing from the European Convention of Human Rights.  So much for the Conservative commitment to the rule of law.

Open mike 02/06/2015

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 …