He’s a fan
Just in: Coldplay to play at Vector Arena on March 18th. No word yet on whether John Key has managed to get tickets.
Howard – some advice on what questions to ask
Yesterday, Howard Broad made statements about the targets of the SIG (Special Investigation Group) to National Radio. Interview with Howard Broad on his […]
A bad start, don’t expect improvement
We’ve seen a plethora of commentators criticising the National/ACT’s performance thus far. Colin James sums it up well: Key’s past week was mixed […]
No ReStart for Fire at Will even if unfair
So much for all National’s fine words about probation periods and job creation. Today’s Dominion reports that ReStart will not be available for […]
Shameful
And so the Maori Party’s sell-out of its own people continues. Hot on the heels of the party’s vote to take money out […]
Estonians to vote by mobile phone
Last Thursday, while our new government was making it easier for businesses to fire employees, politicans in Estonia were making it easier for […]
From clean and green to grey and grubby
Tourism New Zealand has recently launched its dedicated YouTube channel – Have Your Say – where tourists can post video messages about their experiences while […]
Making a mockery
Shock news as Key’s media trainer praises Key Bill Ralston thinks Key is doing just super, which is perhaps to be expected since […]
US ‘shoes-for-guns’ program in Iraq backfires
[The shoe-thrower is a journo from a Baghdad newspaper taking his opportunity to make his feelings known during Bush’s surprise farewell visit to […]
Rod Oram: The global crisis is real
As usual an insightful analysis from Rod Oram on the need for our political and business sector leaders to better come to grips […]
Cui bono?
I’m no lover of the car industry but it’s interesting to see why the effort to put together a bailout for US carmakers […]
Police Special Investigations – A fundamental lack of humanity
Aside from all the democratic, political and moral issues raised by the Police’s behaviour, there is a fundamental lack of humanity in their […]
No Right Turn: Police State
No Right Turn has written in his cogent style on the police spy issue. With the kind permission of No Right Turn, I’ve […]
Judith Collins – thoughtless idiot
Nothing is quite as important to a democracy as activist groups that engage in peaceful protest for change. In the past these are […]
Sunday Star Times
My niece Rochelle Rees has uncovered some unsavory practices operated by element of the NZ Police directed at peaceful protest groups. You can […]
Back in another life
I’ve actually had time to start reading blogs again. As some people are probably aware (mostly the climate change deniers), my first degree […]
Red ink
Hilarious. Jon’s got a serious point though. Newspapers worldwide are in trouble. Many predict they will soon have to be handed out free […]
Class divide
Taken a matter of minutes ago, the Workers Party protest outside John Key’s multimillion dollar Parnell mansion. Just to remind you that we’ve […]
Dulce et Decorum est
Imagine: you are a new MP. Tens of thousands of your fellow New Zealanders have shown a great faith in you; they have […]
Keith Rankin: Controversy over National’s Tax Cuts
If you’re feeling lost in the discussion around National’s tax plans there’s handy analysis from Keith Rankin who point out: … persons earning between $14,000 […]
Valuing children
I know I won’t be alone in being disappointed in the results of the Unicef survey, which says that “New Zealand has an […]
The Standard Week: 5-12 December
National/ACT won the election, fair enough. They won the right to govern and attempt to pass their laws. What they did not win […]
Calculating
Risk
If you’re still wondering what the Fire at Will Bill (about to become law just over a day after it was first made pubic) is all about take […]
Kids need fun, politicians need to think
It seems like only yesterday that we listened to arguments about how exams unfairly punished some students. The National Party initiated the NCEA […]
Long live the Free Speech Coalition
David Farrar, champion of democracy. We salute you for speaking truth to power, no matter who’s in charge. [Original here]
Minister of Education lies to teachers
Here’s Anne Tolley telling teachers before the election that they would not be covered by the fire at will legislation. Turns out she […]
National’s abuse of Parliamentary process
Audrey Young writes on her blog that National would do well to heed the opinion of the Human Rights Commission who have today […]
Present
I was sent this by a comrade in the union movement. You can download the A3 poster here to do poster runs. There’s […]
On the Mapp defense
Jafapete might be in LA, however that hasn’t stopped him from raising some cogent points on the 90-day bill. His post Nats hurry […]
Training wheels
On the first day of Parliament, Gerry Brownlee made a complete hash of his role as Leader of the House. Despite having repeatedly […]
Tax increases into law
The tax bill has just been passed into law. The Maori Party voted for it. They also voted against the Cullen amendment that […]
Maori Party does the right thing
Well, it’s a relief to see that while the Maori Party might have voted to take money out of the pockets of the […]
No longer so critical?
Our new Attorney-General, National’s Chris Finalyson, on the importance of select committees: Select Committees are the engine room of Parliament. They are also […]
Something to go to in Auckland tonight
We Won’t Pay for Their Crisis Public Meeting convened by Socialist Aotearoa with John Minto, Unite Union Catherine Delahunty, MP Green Party Frank […]
Happiness? How much can you sell that for?
We’re told that every country in the OECD except New Zealand and Denmark has a probation period like National/ACT’s Fire at Will law. […]