A Rankin headache
There must be an automatic recoil on the Government benches when Christine Rankin’s name is mentioned. Even Bill Ralston has noticed the difficulty […]
National’s growing silence explained
Judy Callingham (partner of Brian Edwards) has a new post, one of a series of media tips they write on. The latest tip […]
Hiding to nothing
Did anyone else detect a whiff of desperation in Family Fist’s PR offensive today championing the case of a man who lost control […]
Headline fail
This is a classic. Media are reporting that National MP Nick Smith has had an assault complaint lodged against him by a Nelson […]
Electoral finance part deux: have your say!
Guest post by Rob Salmond It is almost time for you to send your submissions on the government’s issues document on electoral finance. […]
Rhetoric & Reality 4: Tertiary Education
National sure does talk a good game before an election. This time we’re looking at their rhetoric on education, especially tertiary education: Key: […]
What is campaigning?
As widely predicted, Christine Rankin is continuing to cause embarrassment for the government. She is now succeeding in making the Prime Minister look […]
1 million Aussies? Don’t get too excited
So 1,001,880 Australians visited New Zealand in the year to May, up 3.7% over the last May year despite the recession Yay? Well […]
The mask slips
The child beating lobby launched its “Vote No” campaign site today. They’ve worked hard in this campaign to present themselves as regular Kiwis […]
Protest for pay equity
Earlier this year the National/ACT government announced it would be closing the Department of Labour’s Pay and Employment Equity Unit, which was set […]
Treasury on swine flu
Here’s the key part of Treasury’s report on the impact of swine flu, released on Friday: Typically Treasury, it’s more interested in GDP […]
It’s got to be the woman’s fault
Now, some might want to look further into David Garrett’s misdemeanours. Some might ask how many strikes does this guy get?: Drunkenly equating […]
I call bullshit
I’d prefer not to wade into the David Garrett sexual harrassment fiasco, but having seen his pathetic blame-shifting in the media I’ve got […]
Knee-jerk wins again
Does anyone understand why prisons are so expensive to construct? They’ve got to be secure They’ve got to be safe for the prisoners […]
Lessons unlearnt
Matt McCarten, who has managed more than a few election campaigns, does a good post facto analysis of where National went wrong in […]
Pigs, kiwis… and a king!
From SAFE: Join Mike King, one of New Zealand’s leading comedians and pig campaigners, launch an exciting new pig-friendly initiative to help end […]
Focussing on the things that matter – to the Aussie banks
What on earth is going on between the National Party and the banks? The week before last Key and English were waxing hot […]
My two cents on Garrett
It’s a good outcome of the Worth scandal that these things are now being dealt with. Worth was known as a man women […]
Roger Douglas on Key and English
Commenting on Key’s policy to force the Guardians of the Super Fund to invest 40% of funds in New Zealand, ACT’s Roger Douglas […]
“I got the sucker”
Obama kills a fly with his bare hands. Awesome.
One hand giveth, the other taketh away
Last night at the Gen-i Public Sector Excellence Awards the New Zealand Police and Porirua City Council won the Prime Ministers Award for […]
Caption Competition
Answers still needed from Key
For some reason, Tracey Watkins’ blog is hidden away deep within the Stuff website, far from the other blogs. Which is a pity […]
Server Glitch
I’m unsure exactly what the server glitch was earlier today. The hosting company had a problem with our database going ballistic, so they […]
Pulling up the ladder behind her
Paula Bennett’s image as a Westie solo mum who’s been on the DPB has been an important part of National’s centrist branding. By […]
Unedifying
The Herald reports Pita Sharples has backed down on his demand to ‘open’ the universities to Maori. Now he says: “he wants Maori […]
The scandal that wasn’t there and the one that was
The Herald really really wants to uncover an expenses scandal like in the UK. Think of the fun they could have. But they’re […]
The Daily Refrain takes on Larry Baldock
So. There’s this dude who writes a song a day (weekdays only) and puts it on Youtube. Calls it The Daily Refrain. He’s […]
Is it any wonder the papers are dying?
Taken just now from the front page of Stuff.co.nz: Here’s something a little more substantial you might enjoy.
‘Supercity’ Select Committee Submissions Workshop
The University of Auckland’s Political Studies Department is hosting a free public workshop presented by Rob Thomas to assist people interested in making submissions to […]
350.org
This is the latest YouTube clip from 350.org, the international movement planning a worldwide day of protest on October 24 to demand our […]
On referenda and democracy
I have to disagree with the guest post below, which argues that because citizens’ initiated referenda tend to be brought by groups peddling […]
Who pays for swine flu?
A lot of people (like a million people or more according to the experts) are set to get sick from swine flu or […]
Do citizens-initiated referenda hamper democracy?
It’s hard to argue with the idea of referenda. What could be more democratic than citizens deciding precisely what issues the New Zealand […]
Still voting yes
I fully understand the political reasons for both Key and Goff not voting in the upcoming referendum. Neither want to have an official […]
Thursday theorisin’
Great quote from Gordon Campbell: “Faced with the dying embers of the Richard Worth scandal at his press conference John Key reached for gasoline” […]