Stopping the thugs
The Sunday Star Times reports that Sue Bradford’s security has been stepped up following a series of death threats being made against her […]
Hijacked by climate change?
Richard Black, environment correspondent for the BBC News website asks an interesting question – Has climate change hijacked the wider environmental agenda? If so, […]
To my friend
We haven’t talked lately and that has partly been my fault. Just doesn’t seem that we share as much in common now that […]
The F word
It probably isn’t possible to have rational discussion about the F word. It has been trivialised by overuse as a meaningless term of […]
Rape and Pillage
The Conservation Minister, Tim Groser is quoted today: “If you can extract wealth from that [conservation land], that’s what we should do.” Stuff […]
Guardian readers’ standup: the winner
Last month, the Guardian launched their first YouTube standup competition. They’ve put up their findings here: In the end (and it was close, going […]
10-20% Pure New Zealand
Top 10 reasons why Key’s visiting New York
10. I got lost on my way to Afghanistaniania. 9. It’s much more fun than running the country. 8. Textes from Kevin Taylor […]
Trippin’
How’s this for some positive spin? Australia is coming off worse in the battle for trans-Tasman tourism, with New Zealand reporting a record […]
Minority Report
National is attempting to re-write the Emissions Trading Scheme. The new version it has come up with through the special select committee would be weaker […]
Who do you think you’re fooling, Kate?
“I’m not going to resign” – Kate Wilkinson It’s one of the truisms of politics that when you’re a minister and you say […]
Labour finally on board?
I was shocked but not surprised to hear that National are considering opening our National Parks up for mining. At the same time, […]
100% Pure Opencast
This must be Minister of Tourism John Key’s idea of a sick joke. Letting Gerry Brownlee run rampant and declare NZ National Parks […]
Transport: on the wrong track
The government’s 3-year transport spending plan is out. Where’s all the cash going? Surprise, surpise it’s state highways. We’re going to spend $1.5 […]
Reaching out to the ‘No’ vote
I must confess that Key’s position on the repeal of s59 has puzzled me from the moment he started cooperating with the Labour […]
Collins’ smear backfires
Excellent piece by Patrick Gower in the Herald today on Judith Collins’ attempt to smear Corrections Association president Beven Hanlon. Collins has leaked […]
Contract and converge
There’s a limited amount of carbon emissions we can make as a world in the coming decades if we are to avoid runaway […]
S59, an opening for Winston?
In 2007, 113 MPs voted for the Bradford amendment to s59 of the Crime Act. Eight voted against it. One of them was […]
Apply the brakes, before it’s too late
The real estate agencies and the newspapers, both of which have an interest in a booming property market, are predicting that housing prices will surge […]
NDU catches govt lying
This morning the National Distribution Union put out a statement saying the Minister of Labour, Kate Wilkinson, had refused to attend an executive […]
Basher bill puts pressure on Key
John Boscawen’s private members’ bill to amend s59 of the Crimes Act has been drawn from the ballot. Essentially it would take us […]
Hoist with his own petard
Last week, Tony Ryall used his time in the big chair for, surprise, surprise, a little preening. He decided to take credit for […]
Beating lobby loses the plot
Beating lobby spokesman Larry Baldock appears to be losing the plot now that it’s dawned on him that his gaming of the smacking […]
Rodney and John roger Rodney
Maori seats? Who cares eh? If democratic process is ignored to override the Maori, who cares? But what if it’s some nice Pakeha? […]
It’s not OK, resign
The judgment in the case of ‘high-profile political figure’ involved in a domestic violence dispute has come back. Cameron Slater has published parts […]
If you believe in it, put something on the line
It’s a strange day when you’re praising Tau Henare. But at least he’s standing up for Maori seats, unlike the pathetic display from […]
Our Political Blogosphere
Denis Welch educating the broader public about the New Zealand political blogosphere on RNZ’s 9 to Noon today with Lynn Freeman. A pretty fair […]
The smiling snake bites
The Herald editorial is pretty scathing of Key’s Government for rejecting Maori seats on the super-council but I have to take issue with […]
Stopping family violence: must do better
Shocking to see these figures: Almost a third of Kiwi women and one in five men will experience violence and abuse at the […]
Snake oil
I’m surprised that the Maori Party have rolled over so easily on the issue of Maori seats on the Auckland council. I will […]
Healthcare – need or wealth?
I don’t know if you’ve been following the healthcare debate in the States. Obama’s trying to bring in a plan that gets their […]
Don’t look for help from the bosses’ party
Red Alert continues to get better and better. Beaumont’s latest is one of those powerful stories that deserves to be told, and Red […]
Drinking Liberally Wgtn – Thursday
Drinking Liberally is taking place again in Wellington this Thursday with guest David Shearer. He’ll be talking about his experiences overseas and on […]
Ultra-fast broadband? Eventually, but not now
For what seems like the fiftieth time, we’re being told to expect an announcement from Steven Joyce on the shape of the Government’s […]
Want local democracy? Too bad
Remember when John Key and Rodney Hide were saying that nothing was decided on the super-city, that the select committee would listen […]
Time for Key to show some backbone
John Key thinks there’s no need to change the law in the wake of the smacking referendum, but he does think there’s a […]