National’s interest rates record
National’s latest line is that interest rates have doubled under Labour, with the implication that National would magically lower inflation (while simultaneously pouring […]
Labour Congress EFA protest
Jordan Carter’s just posted a photo of what looks like nine EFA protesters having their say outside the Labour Party Congress on the […]
Interview the leaders IV: ACT
A big thanks to Greens’ co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimmons for participating in our ‘Interview the leaders’ series. Her answers provided an insight into how the Greens […]
Roy Morgan
Now this is looking better: As usual Gary Morgan’s analysis is laughable, attributing the thirty percent increase in the Greens’ support to… Earth […]
Fraser Colman has died
The Dom reports that “Fraser Colman – best known for being the cabinet minister on board the frigate that sailed to Mururoa Atoll […]
National’s ‘whack-a-mole’ game
Trying to follow National policy is like playing that ‘whack-a-mole’ game. Up pops John Key or Bill English or a spokesperson, and they […]
National to sell TVNZ
Despite Key’s best efforts to inoculate against the “hidden agenda on asset sales” perception – he’s now peddling the story that National won’t […]
John Key – The Gambler
A reader’s just sent us the lyrics to the song sung at Labour Party social and again at the conference as reported in […]
Jeanette Fitzsimons answers your questions
We’re really pleased to have Jeanette Fitzsimons respond to your questions as part of our Interview the Leaders series. Question to all leaders: […]
“I can’t even remember”
A reader sent us this very good video of John Key’s repeated memory lapses over where he stood on the Springbok tour: The […]
Bad politics
National’s current attempt to stop the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union from registering as a third party pretty much proves what we all […]
To sell or not to sell
At the Labour Party congress today, Helen Clark predicted that asset sales would be a key election issue and says the Government was […]
Tough on crime, tough on the parents
Crime, whether static or out of control, is going to be part of our election year “top ten”. I suspect National’s $50 fine […]
Oops.
There was a reboot on the server last night for some reason about 20 hours ago, and the database process failed to start. […]
Bush’s war – online documentary on Iraq
This recent article in the NYTimes illustrates how the way we inform ourselves is changing, and that it’s increasing access to some serious topics. ‘Bush’s […]
Student debt, it’s the interest that matters
Today, outstanding student loan debt reaches $10 billion. That’s a fair old swag of money but what has been ignored in the coverage […]
Still no apology
Last Tuesday Bill English stood up in Parliament and accused the CTU and the PSA of breaking the Electoral Finance Act. Problem for […]
National forced to support meal breaks
National has found itself politically unable to oppose the amendment to the Employment Relations Act that will ensure workers are entitled to meal […]
NZ Growing Faster Than Aussie, US, Japan, and UK
The Reserve Bank produces a series of helpful tables of economic data. One table compares our growth to that of Australia, the US, […]
Too stupid for words
I’m not usually big on the Bush-bashing, but this is classic: Say what you like about Reagan, at least the dude could read […]
Beware the Tory wolf in liberal clothing
Polly Toynbee of The Guardian writes: “Beware the lesson of the Tory wolf in liberal clothing: Sweden’s great social democracy has been transformed […]
Key’s plan for NZ to require lots of tug-boats
From Key’s speech to the NZ Institute of Foreign Affairs on emulating the ‘Celtic Tiger’: “Thirty years ago, Ireland was a total basket […]
Winston and the FTA
New Zealand First’s opposition to the China FTA is no surprise but it is interesting to reflect on the grounds for it that […]
National under fire over unauthorised advertising
Annette King has hit back at National in the House today, producing two items of electoral advertising from them, neither of which is […]
Sensible Sentencing: Disgusting
The Sensible Sentencing Trust is a backward, reactionary organisation at the best of times but this is a new low. Responding to comments […]
Fair and balanced
The Herald could barely contain its self-satisfaction when National’s David Farrar complained to the Electoral Commission that the country’s largest private sector union, […]
Finlay MacDonald: The Audacity of Hype
A reader wrote to us to say that they’d recently seen Finlay MacDonald speak at Otago University as part of the Distinguished Communicator […]
Interview the leaders III: Labour
A big thanks to Progressives’ leader Jim Anderton for being the first participant in our ‘Interview the leaders’ series. The quality of his […]
A dereliction of duty
John Key’s failure to ask a parliamentary question last week exposes a crisis of confidence in National’s ranks. It is unprecedented for an […]
Jim Anderton answers your questions
Today we’re posting the first of our “Interview the leaders” segments – where you get to ask the leaders the questions you want […]
Sir Ed and Helen Clark – admired Kiwis
From the Sunday Star Times: A new poll suggests that National Leader John Key may be up against a bigger obstacle than he thought in […]
Helen Clark on BBC’s “Hardtalk”
Sarah Montague from BBC’s Hardtalk interviews Helen Clark – starting with a question about whether the time might be right for a New […]
Me-too but Cool
Do you have a fascination with ads? Ever wonder where they come up with their ideas or feel like you’ve seen an ad […]
China Syndrome
Liberal democracy (ie. democracy where there are truly competitive elections) is the dominant ideology of government of our time, having seen off monarchy […]
What’s Eating Slippery John?
Slippery John and his mates seemed pretty down in the dumps in the House this week. I know that no one, but a […]