National’s nanny state
Seems to me we need some consensus on what a “Nanny State” actually is. Today the Nats have come out in opposition of […]
If I were the Greens’ campaign strategist
This should be the Greens’ time in the sun. For decades, the Green movement has been concerned about the future impacts of climate […]
Canada’s shame
For those of you who saw the title and thought this post was about Celine Dion, sorry, it’s about the seal cull. Every […]
What would Jesus drive?
The Vatican’s update of sins to include issues of social justice and environment reminded me of a conversation I had recently with a […]
Boohoo
Legislated breaks for workers are unnecessary according to Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O’Reilly. His bitter protest against proposed changes to employment […]
Meal breaks
I had planned to write something about the business lobby’s moaning over Labour’s plans to restore workers’ rights to meal and rest breaks, but as […]
“The Panel” on John Key
Looks like people are starting to notice that the emperor has no clothes. powered by ODEO (Hat-tip: BB)
Calling coal to account
New Zealand’s coal industry is a mess of contradictions. We worry about carbon emissions and Kyoto while State-owned Solid Energy exports coal to dirty Chinese […]
Democracy in action
The Press reports that: National’s hunt for a candidate in the new Selwyn electorate continues to cause problems, with one unsuccessful applicant taking […]
The 50 cent tax cut
This morning on Breakfast, John Key repeated his line that capping the size of the core public service (that includes planning staff for health, […]
Creative pitch
With John Ansell now flat out with ACT and the Free Speech Coalition it suddenly stuck me that there might be an opening […]
Kiwisaver breaks half a million
Congratulations to Kiwisaver’s 500,000th member, baby Remy Van Cruysen, whose parents, Jules and Megan, signed him up today. By the time Remy is an […]
Blackball centenary
The weekend marked the centenary of the Blackball miners’ strike. TV3 reported that: “Politicians flocked to Labour’s spiritual home on the West Coast […]
Pressure building for Nats on R&D
Lest you think we are totally urban focused one of our readers sent us this recent editorial in the Rural News. In it […]
The Redolution is now!
Vote for your favourite M&M candydate here (warning, extensive Flash content).
Lies, damned lies, and statistics
David Farrar appears to be throwing his weight in behind National Party’s “New Zealand Sucks” campaign with another misleading post on migration to […]
Policy Summary: Labour v National
The Sunday-Star Times has an interesting list of the policies the election will be fought on and where the two major parties stand on them. Here’s […]
It’s your fault I keep saying contradictory things
Regular readers will remember that one of John Key’s excuses for he ‘we would love to see wages drop‘ quote was that the […]
Obama faces challenging times
Some commentators have been drawing parallels between John Key and Barack Obama’s style of appeal. That was all very well when it appeared […]
Clarke and Dawe on the sub-prime crisis
Steve posted a stick-figure explanation of the sub-prime mortgage crisis earlier in the week. Here are ABC commedians Clarke and Dawe giving their […]
John’s quick act sets up another flip
Two days ago we ran a piece called ‘If I were ACT’s campaign strategist‘ which suggested ‘ACT needs to lay claim to the […]
Whatever, Roger
NZers’ wallets will bulge under Act, says Roger Douglas. Sure they will Roger – with the bills from our kids’ user-pays schools, our […]
Five years of hell
It is five years since the US and allies invaded Iraq, and the war is far from over. Every day, there is fighting […]
Key, the Kiwi Ken
For harmonious holiday gatherings of family and friends it’s sometimes said that the topics of religion and politics are best avoided. At least […]
‘Try the dead rat, it’s delicious’
Hat tip: Chris S in the comments.
GDP up; parents’ time with kids plummets
One of the most interesting questions from the audience at the Stiglitz interview in Wellington last week was whether he thought we were […]
Obama vs Key
With Barack Obama doing so well in the Democrat primaries and being seen as the candidate of change, National wants to paint John […]
Rodney’s weightloss secret revealed! (maybe)
We’d assumed it was all the dancing but perhaps there’s another explanation. Stuff reports that: ACT on Campus – the youth branch of […]
Nats talk up crime, policy absent
As part of its ‘New Zealand sucks’ campaign, National is on its high horse over an international survey that shows New Zealand’s crime […]
Is it a recession Mr Key?
I am intrigued by the recent coverage of the state of the economy. We have reports that things will get bumpy from some […]
If I were ACT’s campaign strategist
What strategy should the parties pursue ahead of the election? This series of posts will attempt to answer that question, party by party, starting with […]
What the hell is the sub-prime crisis?
The sub-prime crisis is at the heart of the world’s current economic problems. It all boils down to financiers playing fast and loose […]
National still evasive over KiwiSaver plans
You do have to wonder sometimes what it takes to get a straight answer out of a National party MP. Having recently given […]
Join the great Sydney exodus
Has the prospect of a Kiwi winter made you think longingly of a move across the ditch? Well if Sydney was your destination […]
Guest post: Simon Tegg on Peak Oil
Meet Guest post. Guest post is 32 years old, he likes long walks on the beach and lively political debate. He is our […]
Counting our collective coin
Check out this groovy little gadget. You put your money in the slot and it gets counted, with the power of ‘digital’! Maybe […]