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 […]
Inequity laffs
Make-work don’t work
The Maori Party wants the dole abolished to be replaced by work schemes. It’s a bad idea but it’s not too far from […]
Wouldn’t you be embarrassed if…..?
I have to declare – yes, I am an urban liberal. So I would be embarrassed if a member of my family said […]
A matter of trust
The Youtube debate was a bit of a let down to me because TV1 chose to play the least penetrating questions, allowing the […]
Nat vs Nat on National policy
National wants to introduce a 90 Day no work rights period for new employees. Now, in the face of very strong opposition to […]
The Standard line: Showerheads
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 […]
Advice
Labour has made two serious mistakes in their campaign today. One was specifically rejecting a policy to take the minimum wage to $15 […]
Lying to win
A narrow victory for Key in tonight’s TV1/Youtube debate. A forum where he could repeat his tired slogans to his heart’s content suited […]
Fact checkin’
Live fact-checking of the debate. Key: The unions supported National’s position on Kiwisaver. Lie: The unions do not support National’s plan and never have. […]
Video: TV3 on Key’s campaign day 2
Media coverage of the campaign is coming thick and fast – a helpful reader pointed out this excerpt from TV3 on Key’s day […]
The Standard line: ACC
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 […]
Labour chickens out on $15 minimum wage
Labour, why do you do this to me? One day you’re announcing neo-Keynesian policies to help us through the coming recession, then you […]
Every reason for Key to blitz debate tonight
It is still possible to follow the news without encountering politics at every turn – but it’s getting harder. And the journalists are […]
Wrong time for short-term thinking
National’s Nick Smith has announced that they would cancel the $1 billion fund to insulate New Zealand houses, which the Greens won as part of the […]
Down with literacy
A crusade on illiteracy, surely. Um, I’m not sure we want to entrust these guys with improving language skills. [Update: true to form, […]
Confident or foolish?
So, you’re one of the 900,000 Kiwis who have so far signed up to Kiwisaver. You know that you get $1000 on signing […]