Lost in translation
UMR has just released a poll [PDF link] measuring support for a supercity. Stuff reports on it under the headline “Voters back Auckland […]
About time
It’s good that Labour has rejoined good leftwing principles over the foreshore and seabed. Labour was spooked by the popularity of National’s race […]
Aucklanders must have their referendum
In 1999, Napier and Hastings had a referendum over whether their councils should merge. They voted against it. In 2005, there was a […]
Phil Twyford not seeking Mt Albert nomination
Breaking news… Labour MP Phil Twyford announced today he will not be seeking the nomination for the Mt Albert by-election. Twyford said he […]
Has National changed its policy on the super-city?
Yesterday I pointed out that the Local Government Act requires referenda on boundary changes such as are envisaged for Auckland. To not do […]
Govt still refuses to act on youth smoking
A couple of months ago you may remember Tony Ryall rejecting a health select committee recommendation that cigarettes and tobacco be kept out […]
Rob Thomas: Taking the Local out of Local Government
A long contribution from someone in centre of the local body issues in Auckland. Despite its blatant electioneering, it is interesting enough to […]
Arrogance
John Key on criticism that the Government is arrogantly ramming through its Supercity plans without consulting Aucklanders: “The Government is not so arrogant […]
Memo: Re: Torture
“You know what is in room 101, Winston. Everyone knows what is in room 101” The release last week of four memos from […]
I (am) like Obama
Uncanny spoof of John Key. Has all of the mannerisms…
High quality government spending
I suppose the Herald means for us to recoil in horror at the headline “$325,000 bill to save 57 jobs” but I’m fine […]
Johnny plays general
This morning on Breakfast, Key said we’ll send in troops to Fiji as part of a multi-national force if need be. At the […]
Mt Albert date set
From Newsroom: The bi-election for the Mt. Albert seat vacated by Helen Clark is set to be held on Saturday June 13, according […]
Transparency
The Government announced two nine day fortnights today. Interestingly, they’re refusing to tell us who one of them is. From the Government’s press […]
When is the required referendum?
I agree with the title of the Herald’s editoral today: “Let citizens have say on Super City“. Unfortunately, the editoral itself is wishy-washy. […]
Leaping into inaction
Cycling is a great way to travel, so it’s great that the government is going to back more cycleways around the country to […]
How did we miss the sweet spot?
This fascinating article (with many links) describes some of the radical technologies America is considering to address the urgent problem of global warming. […]
Vote Yes
Why are the questions in citizens-initiated referenda always written by idiots? You want people to vote for your cause, right? So frame the […]
Veitch saga shows it really is no longer OK
I know it’s not The Standard’s style to follow the media in the disgusting practice of turning real people’s lives into soap opera but there […]
Recap: China syndrome
This post was originally published last year but it’s relevant in the light of the naive comments from McCully on Q+A today about […]
Workers stand up to exploitative bosses
Head of the Unite union, Matt McCarten, writes about the Synovate lockout and how foreign-owned businesses try to exploit New Zealand workers: [The] […]
Elizabeth Warren on the bailouts
The best news source in America, the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, interviews the woman responsible for making sure their bailout money is […]
Turning a blind eye
Unlike some of the other Standard writers, I don’t usually find Fran O-Sullivan too bad but her reporting of Key’s trip to China […]
Bad medicine
The sensible bits
Brian Rudman has a piece in the NZ Herald looking at the good side of the Auckland reorganisation. The potential for pooling resources. […]
The fightback begins
This morning I picked up the local newspaper out of the mailbox – Harbour News. On the front page was this extraordinary editorial […]
One of these things is not like the other III
One of these things is not like the other… One of these things is not quite the same. Can you guess which one […]
Wtf?
A reader writes: $30 million for an expo pavillion? Sounds a bit steep. Why, John Key could could build you a cycleway 60% […]
More pain ahead
The current financial crisis originated in America with a wave of defaults in “sub prime” mortgages. The excellent presentation found here covers a […]
What plan? Government incoherent
Peeking through the OECD policy brief there were some interesting issues when looking at the short-term economic issues over the next few years. […]
So much for accountable government
Five months in office and ministers are already so aloof and out of touch that you can read things like this in the media almost […]
Worth mired in corruption again
(click the picture for the video) Why would Worth visit the Sandhu family to whom he was a stranger and who had nothing to do with […]
Questions
We should expect National as the political arm of business to surround itself with dirty money and conflicts of interest. As a self-proclaimed […]
Johnny’s next big idea
In two days, John Key will be bouncing from cloud to cloud on his way back home from China. With him on the […]
Nats still involved in dodgy donations
The Herald covers some of the donations to parties and candidates before the election. One of the big donors was the Road Transport […]
NZ’s debt in perspective
Remember when John Key used to say “New Zealand has a growth problem, not a debt problem”? He doesn’t say that anymore, which […]