Distractify
While shepherding through horrendous housing changes and removing workers’ rights – and hiding from Dirty Politics – John Key needs a big “look over there!”
Open mike 29/10/2014
Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Slater sued
Radio NZ has a post up “Tribunal hears blogger privacy case”. A prosecution of Cameron Slater under the Privacy Act for breaching Matthew Blomfields privacy. I suspect that over the next 3-4 days Slater will ponce around acting out courtroom fantasies that have little to do with the law. And will probably get hammered. Good. (Updated)
NRT: Cronyism in Christchurch II
Back in August, National announced they were handing a $284 million contract to build a new convention centre in Christchurch to a consortium which included the Speaker’s brother. From the outside, it looks like cronyism, if not outright corruption…
Emmerson – The bloodsucker’s treat
Questions for the candidates
The live Q&A sessions have been great, but we would like to put some written questions to each of the Labour leadership candidates, so that more detailed answers can be compared. Suggestions please…
National losing the middle?
In its first term, National was very careful to be incremental – Key hung to the middle, chipping away carefully at workers’ rights […]
Open mike 28/10/2014
Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
All Things Being Equal…
Assuming that all four contenders for leadership of Labour are equally worthy, there is a defining factor that ought to be considered…vulnerability to attack.
Save our tea breaks
Labour hopes to collect signatures for this petition over Labour Weekend…
Labour day – thank a unionist
Today is a day to celebrate the rights hard won by workers and unions, past and present. There’s a reason it’s called “Labour Day” not “Free Market Day”…
Open mike 27/10/2014
Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Andrew Little’s Palmerston North Speech
Video and the transcript of Andrew Little’s speech at the Palmerston North Labour Leadership meeting
Collective bargaining? Yeah right …
JAmooches continues their analysis of the effects of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill. Today the focus is on the provisions that negate the requirement for the parties to act in good faith bargaining, in particular for being able to conclude collective agreements.
NRT: National lets Shell drill illegally
Illegal drilling in our “Exclusive Economic Zone” gets let off with a “warning”.
I’m backing Grant
We have 4 great Leftie contenders, who all want to take Aotearoa where we want it to go. Whomever wins, I’ll back them to the hilt. But I have a vote and a voice, and I’m backing Grant – here’s why.
Open mike 26/10/2014
Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Is the Prime Minister in the House?
Or is the leader of the National Party? Or a husband? Or a ‘private citizen’? Or a…
Have a coffee and a yarn with Andrew Little on Labour Day (Auckland)
Servo Cafe, Te Atatu, 2:30 on Monday 27 October.
Poverty and the need to belong
I’ve read a couple of thought-provoking accounts of poverty lately. There are common themes – issues that the political right, which can only see “the poor” as separate from “us”, will never understand and acknowledge.
Opposition to Nats’ attack grows
Labour’s petition against National’s attack on Kiwi’s rights including the right to a break at work is growing like topsy with over 22,000 people signing up to it in the last day and a half.
Open mike 25/10/2014
Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
NRT: Political interference at Maori Television
A government-owned television channel arranges an interview with a former opposition MP, but the government-appointed CEO spikes it. Something from Russia or Cuba maybe? No – according to Hone Harawira its happening right here in New Zealand. National’s specially appointed CEO Paora Maxwell apparently personally doing the gagging of a previously independent Native Affairs show.
Weekend social 24/10/2014
Weekend social is for non political chat. What’s on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no […]
Auckland Labour Day Event
The Mangere Labour Electorate Committee is planning an interesting event on Labour Day in Auckland to commemorate the contributions of three different people to the Labour movement.
Five headed monster
With all due respect to the five-headed monster, I think it’s time for a new version…
A encomium for Nanaia Mahuta
I know Nanaia reasonably well, having worked with her at a regional level in the Labour Party. Her level-headedness, the way she can grasp complex problems and find solutions, her ability to connect with everyone, her ability to stay positive and focused and to find a way through are skills that are desperately needed in the Party right now. [Updated]
Hager vs police – suppressing debate
The police and Hager are in the process of initiating legal proceedings against each other. The police action against Hager was and is designed to intimidate, to suppress debate. Rod Oram calls shame on dirty politics and the people who perpetrate it.
Open mike 24/10/2014
Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Nanaia Mahuta’s email.
Also in the email from a few days ago. As people will have observed I have been more notable by my absence than […]
Will Chris Trotter give up his table?
For many decades Galbraiths has been a local watering hole for some of the unionists, academics, and commentariat on Friday night. I have been known to go along to stir participate in the bemoaning lofty debate and to spend a few coppers. David Parker is going to be there on Friday evening. I suspect I may have to go along to observe. 🙂
Save our tea breaks
Raising money for good works
One of the features of recent weeks has been the remarkable success of the online fund raising to allow Nicky Hager required to challenge the police raid. My partner Lyn has similarly had success in raising money for her to transfer skills to charity workers in India. I am now resigned to living on my own for a time while she does good works elsewhere.
Fisher on the OIA arms race
Over at Public Address, Herald reporter David Fisher has written a long and fascinating piece on his experiences in getting access to public information. Short form – NZ has over the last 25 years gone from a good place to a very bad place indeed.
The first hustings
The leadership contest has kicked off with a bang.
Cullen endorses Robertson
Grant Robertson picked up a heavyweight endorsement yesterday.