Patu online
There’s been a bit of fuss about the ’81 tour lately and whether it is pertinent to today’s politics. For years now I’ve […]
Drinking Liberally – Palmerston North
When: 24th of Oct, 7:30pm Where: Zoe’s Bar – Bottom floor of the Kingsgate hotel, Fitzherbert ave Who: guest speaker Green MP Keith […]
Scratch a Tory…
…and you still reveal a bigot, it seems. Here is National’s Immigration spokesperson, Lockwood Smith, (he who likes to swallow dead fish) on […]
Drinking Liberally – Auckland
WHAT: Drinking Liberally Auckland City WHO: You and any of your left-leaning comrades WHEN: 7.30pm, Wed 22nd October WHERE: London Bar, cnr Wellesley […]
Transport policy clarified
The National Party has today been forced to clarify its policy for more public-private partnerships in transport after an embarrassing leaked photograph found […]
Vox pop
Spotted in central Wellington:
Vote smart: Epsom
I’ve come in for a bit of flak for this ‘Vote Smart‘ series of posts on how people can make the most of […]
Inflation up but already on way down
Inflation hit 5.1% for the year to September driven by the mammoth spike in oil, food, and other commodity which has abated since […]
Highly principled statements
Yesterday, Bill ‘do whatever it takes to win’ English was out trying to assuage Kiwis fears of National’s secret agenda (which his recorded […]
Williamson on tolls for roads (again)
I see Maurice Williamson has again confirmed that we will be paying more for driving on some roads under National: Williamson: “If it […]
John vs John
Labour’s new television ad is up on Youtube and I’m pleased to see it’s actually pretty bloody good. They’ve managed to draw attention […]
Right questions, wrong answer
Colin James has a column in today’s Herald in which he lays out the difference between perception and reality in New Zealand politics. […]
New posters/leaflets
I have to say, these are my favourite so far. There are some talented people out there. There’s eight versions of this new […]
It’s your choice
Now that both Labour and National have all their major spending promises out, we can compare the options. Remember, whatever happens one of […]
The Standard line: crime
So, you’re talking with someone about politics and they say something really dumb and wrong and you know it’s wrong but you don’t […]
Clark’s eye on the ball
While John Key worried today about fine-tuning guarantees for bank deposits, Helen Clark was outlining how a Labour government if re-elected is already planning […]
Sensible Sentencing Trust in drag?
Act have run an anti-crime protest outside of Mt Eden today and it was particularly theatrical by the sound of it with lots […]
Spending ends
At the Labour party’s Wellington launch this afternoon Helen Clark has declared there will be no more spending promises from Labour. This was […]
Fact checkin’ – Sunday addition
From Agenda Rawdon Christie: Maori make up 7.7% of unemployed compared to 3.9% of the rest of the population. Incompetent: The unemployment rate […]
The best they’ve got?
When I heard a Chinese national had been approved for citizenship by a minister against the advice of officials and with a letter […]
Aspirational politics laffs
Party like you matter
There’s so much to comment on about the policies and parties that matter that we hardly ever get to time to mention ACT. […]
Childish
We live on a finite planet. We can’t just keep adding 75 million people a year to the human population while also increasing […]
Guest post: The clever dealer?
Many people laud John Key’s experience in the business world, and say that the smiling assassin’s ability to play hard-ball when required means […]
Video: 12 Flip Flops from Mr Key
National policy on Maori seats (2007): “The Caucus today confirmed that the Maori seats will be abolished, which we anticipate will take place around […]
Not a game
National has a press release out blaming Labour for a supposed increase in assaults on police. Now, there are more people and more […]
The Standard Week: 10-17 October
The polls are closing, National dropped 7% and 4% in the Roy Morgan and TV3 polls, respectively, as the full impact of Key’s […]
Vote smart: Progressives and Wigram
Vote smart is a series of posts on tactical voting for people who support certain parties or live in certain electorates to help […]
Tranzrail eyes
It’s possible to win a battle but, in doing so, lose the war. Like most commentators, I thought Key came off best from […]
What exactly did Mr Key say?
We see this morning that: John Key concedes he has privately indicated to the Maori Party that National’s policy to abolish the Maori seats […]
Pita falls for the lines – but not for long
I have some sympathy for Dr PIta Sharples over the fallout of Mr Key’s promises. He’s clearly been left high and dry by […]
Maintenance
There will be some scheduled maintenance at the hosting company tonight between 10pm and 6am. During that period the site may be offline […]
Telling lies
With the wit we’ve come to expect, 08wire has Key up on his many lies during the Tuesday debate. To my surprise, TV […]
Key vs Sharples, who do you believe?
On September 28, Key released National’s policy on the Maori seats. It is unequivocal (if light on the details): “At the conclusion of […]
Where were you then (and do you care?)
Lots of comments continue over the leaders debate. One of the bits that made it through the usual dinner time madness in my […]
Campaign hub rolling on
Good to see so many people coming to the Campaign Hub for materials and info. Apologies for the delay in the events diary […]