Rally: Lift the freeze on low pay
Just a reminder, thousands of hospital support staff, school support staff and other low-paid public sector workers are rallying in 27 centres nationwide […]
The evidence on warming
Much ado about nothing in the last few days, with the release of materials related to climate change and warming on both the […]
Tax reform for everyone, not just the rich
Why is it that whenever you see discussion of introducing capital gains tax, land tax etc, the assumption is always that the money […]
Open mike 27/11/09
Topics of interest, announcements, general discussion. The usual rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the […]
Shame on you
Never in the history of New Zealand politics has so much taxpayers’ money been hurled into the chasm with such contempt for the […]
Brash report tipped to be toxic
Jenni McManus reports in The Independent [offline]: The first report from the 2025 Taskforce is due on Monday and the word is its […]
Rolling maul of disasters
In case you’re just waking up to it, this government is a disaster zone. If it’s not one or the other of the […]
Maori Party meltdown
How long can the Maori Party survive before it collapses under the weight of its own contradictions? The idea of a single party […]
Our word is our bond
Maori Party policy on the environment: We aspire to work together to make the economy great but not at the expense of our […]
Open mike 26/11/09
Topics of interest, announcements, general discussion. The usual rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the […]
National / Maori ETS now law
So, the National / Maori ETS is now law. Waiho mÄ te WhakamÄ e Patu. Shame on those who supported this appalling legislation […]
New Zealand Political Studies Association Annual Conference
The New Zealand Political Studies Association is holding its Annual Conference from Nov 30 – 1 Dec in Auckland, hosted by the University […]
As newspapers die, what comes next?
The recession, combined with the long-term shift to internet-based media struck a king-hit to US newspapers over the last year. Circulation fell 10.9%. […]
Sharples and the Maori Party revolt
Via Newsroom [offline], Pita Sharples has confirmed reports of an internal revolt within the Maori Party over its support for National’s ETS. The […]
Education flaws: Just plain scary
Primary school education has been the focus of debate here in NZ with the introduction of ‘national standards’. Today we hear on RNZ […]
Reminder – Drinking Liberally Auckland
Just a reminder the next Auckland Drinking Liberally features Labour Party leader Phil Goff discussing his political values and the challenges facing the […]
Thickest. Minister. Ever.
So, imagine you’re the Minister for Education. You’re meeting with the PPTA executive, and sometime soon you’re expecting to announce big teacher layoffs. […]
Maori Party caucus divided on ETS?
Maori Party whip Te Ururoa Flavell is doing what he can to play down internal divisions that suggested the party could vote against […]
Rod Oram on ETS and Monetary Policy
Rod Oram did a business segment on Nine to Noon yesterday. As usual he went quite deep into the issues. A welcome contrast […]
Armstrong on Calamity Nick
Wrapped in a bit of fluff, John Armstrong has some pretty damning things to say about Nick Smith today: He can be headstrong. […]
ETS – last chance!
Breaking news. It seems that turmoil within the Maori Party may derail the ETS after all: EXCLUSIVE: An 11th hour revolt within the […]
Employers ripping off job ops money
National has only come up with one employment policy to counter the recession. No, not the cycleway – ‘job ops‘. It works like […]
Who’s next?
I was watching that vid by the Greens on ACC and bikoi. What caught my attention was the bikers’ chant: “who’s next, who’s […]
Key’s busy day
Ha! But seriously, I doubt that Key changes his own oil.
With friends like these…
John ‘Mayor for Remuera’ Banks would’ve been gagging on his morning gruel after reading this headline on page two of Monday’s Herald: Jeers […]
Open mike 25/11/09
Topics of interest, announcements, general discussion. The usual rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the […]
Shane Jones on National’s ETS
Not all ETSs are created equal
On his blog, Colin Espiner writes: “it’s also extremely ironic to hear Labour wringing its hands about the impact of the ETS when…HELLO…Labour […]
CCDs. Worms perhaps?
It has been fascinating over the last few days watching the CCDs (Climate Change Deniers) make an another attempt to scale the bastion […]
Gerrymandering Auckland city
Due to recovering from a cold over the weekend, I haven’t had time to blog about the super-shitty electoral boundaries released on friday […]
Lunch time quiz
1) National MP Paul Quinn is under investigation for breaching the State Services Act and the neutrality of the public service by holding […]
Zero percent won’t pay the rent
If you can, get along to support the hospital support staff, the school support staff, and all the other low-paid public sector workers […]
A plague on both your houses
So, as far as National and Maori leaders are concerned, it’s a done deal: “Maori Party to support ETS – bill to become […]
It’s not spin, the govt told me
The Dompost reports: “The number of places available on a programme to get young people off the dole will be increased after the […]
Harawira and Katene to cross the floor?
National wants to get its shambolic ETS through the House this week. It’s not quite clear what the hurry is; there’s no actual […]
Classic
Spotted on Stuff.