Open democracy?
According to the Sunday Star Times the Sensible Sentencing Trust and Family First have decided to refuse to comply with the Electoral Finance […]
Reflections on Shawn Tan
There’s a lot of heat but not much light in the debate about the EPMU’s suspension of Shawn Tan. What we know from […]
Foss puts foot in it
Craig Foss annoyed some students in Napier when he described early childhood teachers as “glorified babysitters”, according to a recent story in the […]
The Standard Week: August 15-22
As expected, the polls out last weekend did not show National being hit by the secret agenda tapes scandal because they were conducted […]
Drinking Liberally (AKL) with Laila Harre
WHAT: Drinking Liberally Auckland City WHO: You and any of your left-leaning companeros WHEN: 7.30pm, Wednesday 27th August WHERE: London Bar, cnr Wellesley […]
Greens call for public input on ETS
One thing you can always say for the Greens, they’re democratic to their core. Currently, they find themselves facing a tough choice – […]
Mythbusting: Half of new generation is thermal
Reading National’s energy policy last week I was surprised to learn that of 1942MW of new generation that has come online since 2000 […]
Another leftie in the ‘sphere
We finally get to welcome Chris Trotter to the blogosphere as he’s started a new blog at http://www.policy.net.nz/blog/ I’ve often thought Trotter’s solid […]
Consquences on climate change
Deputy leader Bill English yesterday late afternoon released what could barely be described as National’s policy on climate change. I was sorry to […]
Tasteless
Thank God for those individuals of high morals who are at this moment whipping themselves into a frenzy over Pharmac’s decision to fund […]
Briefly
The coverage of the Australian Dfat* briefing paper on Helen Clark is as unsurprising as it is depressing. Depressing in that this appears […]
Lonely planet loves
The Lonely Planet has a new guide on Godzone and has lavished praise on our beauty but also offers a warning on “the environmental cost, with […]
Did you say “wages”, John?
Watching Key on Breakfast this morning I was surprised to see him talking about the need for higher wages (about two thirds of […]
Key demands we publish full quote
John Key called us to task in his interview with Wammo today: “every leftwing blogger out there has a field-day going on and […]
National’s “major policy shift it talks about behind closed doors”
This revealing quote is buried in the middle of today’s Herald story by Fran O’Sullivan headed “All change on the gravy train”. It […]
Speaking of competence
Kiwis don’t trust Nats
According to the Colmar/Brunton poll, 50% of Kiwis don’t believe National is being open about its plans vs 37% who believe the Nats […]
Leave it to the pros
Thanks to what I can only presume is a technical glitch at the Listener there’s online access to a lot more of their […]
Key and McCain: underdogs rising
The US presidential race in the States took a new direction with the McCain and Obama both appearing at a Forum on faith, held over […]
Ambitious for transport
Why are we spending $1 billion on Transmission Gully when by the time it is finished the price of petrol will be up […]
Reflections on the war in Georgia
What can we learn from the war in Georgia? Without going into the rights and wrongs of the combatants, what I’m interested in […]
The Sensible Centrist
Tracey Watkins is said by some of her colleagues to be spending an ‘unseemly’ about of time hanging out in John Key’s office, […]
Nats: some of us look like youse
National is desperate for you to know its party list is a diverse one. It’s a diverse list alright. I mean you’ve got […]
Reviewing the weekend polls
As I said last week, the polls that came out this weekend can not reflect any impact of the secret agenda tapes. The […]
Jumping the shark
Remember the photos of McDonald’s wrappers strewn on a grass verge that John Key expected us to believe was evidence people had been […]
PM loses a mate
The death at just 59 of alpine legend Gottlieb Braun-Elwert will be greatly mourned around the Tekapo community, and much further afield too. […]
An election strategy, not a governing strategy
When you look at the policy National has released, it’s clear that the focus is on winning the election, not on developing policy […]
Policy by focus group
Colin Espiner on the Nats’ energy policy: …National’s energy policy is conservative and lacking in new ideas… What it has delivered is a […]
The Standard Week August 8-15
Quite a quiet week after the excitement of the secret agenda tapes last week. The Tories are keeping up their hunt for the […]
The Standard turns one
Today’s our first birthday. A year ago I had the privilege of the first post. It was on John Key’s contradictory statements about […]
Drinking Liberally – Palmerston North
A third Drinking Liberally chapter is underway. The first meeting of Drinking Liberally – Palmerston North will be next Friday at the Kingsgate […]
Energy policy fails to energise
A positive and ambitious energy policy that reflects the personality of National leader John Key, was announced today. Old people wiped tears from […]
Renewable energy policy
A policy paper has been released on how the Government’s goal of 90% renewable electricity generation by 2025 can be achieved. Micro-hydro projects and […]
National and the media
A few mini-posts on National’s relationship with the media in light of the secret agenda tapes. _______________________________________________ A signature Crosby/Textor move, seen here […]
Before the polls
There’s a Roy Morgan poll out today or tomorrow, then polls from Fairfax, TV1, and TV3 on the weekend. Naturally, people will be […]
Excel magic
Insight into Mr Key costing his tax policy (lots of clever bits, best viewed in fullscreen) – hosted by 08wire