Desperate Nats reduced to bounties and bribery
When there’s a strike on, it’s common practice for bosses to offer individual workers a bonus payment to scab on their comrades and […]
On botox and pet grooming
Pansy Wong’s supposed outrage over ACC “shelling out $750,000 for staff to indulge in day spas, manicures, and botox” has nothing to do […]
When you smile….
Hitting the email circuit is a video on the leaks within the National party over the Hollow Men.
The Standard Week: August 1-8
What a week. National has been in meltdown over the secret recordings. Bill English’s incredible initial reaction seemed like the launch of a […]
Key-nesian economics
I’m really starting to wonder why it’s the worst academics who seem to get the most media, Maybe it’s because the good ones […]
Quote of the week
Maybe we should take submissions in the comments but my vote’s with Michael Cullen’s assertion from the House yesterday that the leaked tapes […]
It’s about principle
The clamour for ‘policy’ from National is actually a slight misnomer. What Kiwis want to know is the principles that National stands for […]
Cui bono?
So, who stands to gain from National borrowing $5 billion if it becomes the Government? Ultimately, the people who lend the money are […]
Academic, youse are paid too much
Professor John Gibson from Waikato University says public servants should be paid less because they get paid more than their private sector equivalents […]
Gordon Campbell on the ethics of taping politicians
You’d be hard pressed to have missed the story on what some National MPs have been caught saying behind closed doors. We’ve seen discussions over the […]
Unemployment to 3.9%
Unemployment rose again last quarter but remains under 4%. It has now been under 4% for 16 of the last 17 quarters. Interestingly, […]
Break-in
This just in from Radio NZ: Police are investigating a break-in at the electorate office of a senior Labour MP, David Cunliffe, in […]
English calls for own resignation
A reader has alerted us to this article from the NZ Herald where Bill English explains why he should resign or be sacked […]
Honeymoon. Over.
Here’s Close Up from last and Mike Hosking giving John Key an absolute bollocking. Key tries to run Crosby Textor’s new lines: “dirty […]
Nats, have some pride in what you believe
So, now we know that three National frontbenchers were recorded talking about a secret agenda at the cocktail do last Friday. Think about […]
The National Party Old Boys’ Club
Tane’s made the point before but it’s worth making again: National may have a new frontman but at its core is largely unchanged […]
Rubbish
John Key’s claims that Labour has been digging through the rubbish outside his Helensville electorate office have been dismissed by Michael Cullen this […]
Hide on Nats’ woes
“the best solution is to say in private what you say in public” * Simple, really.
Collins beats up on the sick, again
The dreadful Judith Collins is once again peddling lies about sickness beneficiaries to try and soften the ground for National to throw our […]
TV3 on the leaks from National’s conference
Here’s the recent coverage from TV3 and political reporter Duncan Garner. On Bill English’s comments regarding the sale of Kiwibank (aired August 4, […]
Judy Kirk – “It was a young Nat”
Sources tell us that National’s President was overheard yesterday to remark “We think it was one of our Young Nats” regarding the National […]
Mallard to speak at Drinking Liberally, Wellington
After a mysterious three week absence, Drinking Liberally Wellington is back tomorrow evening. Here’s the email: We’re only half way through a week […]
Fallout
National’s attempt to contain the meltdown from Bill English’s secret agenda comments at the National conference and on TV1 collapsed when it emerged […]
Déjà vu
If you didn’t already have enough doubts about whether to trust John Key, Bill English and Lockwood Smith by virtue of the recent revelations here’s another […]
The stolen emails defence
So National has finally reverted to the ‘stolen emails’ defence to combat the damaging recordings from the weekend’s party conference. I’m only surprised […]
Wolf at the door of National’s ‘house of sticks’
08wire on Nats’ Kiwibank secret agenda
08wire.org, your videos make me smile.
Nats’ policy top 10, what’s missing?
Here’s the top 10 policy priorities that John Key bullet-pointed at the conference on Sunday. See if you can spot what’s missing: 1. […]
Did Lockwood mis-speak too?
It has been revealed that Bill English isn’t the only senior Nat who has been discussing a secret agenda behind closed doors. On […]
Kiwisaver cuts to fund Nats’ tax cuts?
So, the rumour is that Kiwisaver will be slashed to fund National’s tax cut policy. Currently, the Government spends up to the following […]
Clown princes
The ‘Key-English secret recording followed by denial followed by excuse followed by apology’ debacle is, well, an utter debacle. If these clowns ever […]
Key’s shell-game wears thin
On National Radio’s Morning Report and Nine to Noon yesterday, Key ran the ‘not telling’ line once again and it was once too […]
News coverage of English revelations
Here’s the segment on the English meltdown from TV One last night. [I wanted to put up TV3’s as well – it’s good […]
Sarcophagus
After a stunning attack on John Key last night, Bill English is now reverting to more standard National techniques for handling ‘accidental frankness’. […]
Meltdown
The English tape has exploded into a massive scandal. You’ll be familiar with the content of the recording: – English mocks voters as […]
Employment, wages up
Despite the economic slowdown, the labour market is holding up well and wages are up at the record rate. The average hourly wage […]