The Dummies’ Guide to National’s wage policy
I never really understood how National planned to make wages grow because every time our man John Key is asked about our wage-gap […]
Getting emotional about economics
Michael Shermer of the LA Times asks: “Would you rather earn $50,000 a year while other people make $25,000, or would you rather […]
Affordable housing
Not in my back yard. Alright, maybe in my back yard but only if the state isn’t involved. UPDATE: No Right Turn has […]
Key hopping on Hobsonville
Just spotted this statement from Maryan Street up on Scoop which suggests at least one reason why Mr Key would like the issue […]
Own home dream
Is tax really the answer to housing affordability? The editorial in the NZ Herald today motivated a reader to send us these observations: […]
For use tomorrow
Via Bureau of Communication.
Australia says sorry
Howard couldn’t bring himself to do it, instead expressing “regret”. Today, Labor’s Kevin Rudd said sorry in a formal statement to the stolen […]
Is inequality closing down our concern for others?
Jenny Russel of the Guardian writes, “As the middle classes feel the pain of comparison with the super-rich, we lose all enthusiasm for […]
Positions on tax cuts: a summary
Both the Labour-led government and National have promised income tax cuts to follow the government’s family and business tax cuts. Neither has given […]
National’s last moderate falls on her sword
Katherine Rich was one of only 2 women on National’s front bench and its last moderate MP. The only surprise in her resignation […]
Rich resignation a huge blow for the Nats
The Press reports that “Senior National front-bencher Katherine Rich has resigned her education portfolio and will quit politics altogether at the election…” Rich […]
Every cloud
The latest in a long line of failed protests on the Electoral Finance Act has ended badly with Steven Franks taking legal action […]
Curia-ser and Curia-ser
You’ll probably know about the rumour around the traps that blogger David Farrar is running his polling company Curia out of National Party […]
Key disappoints
I’ve just listened to Key’s reply to the PM’s speech. I’m underwhelmed. Instead of using it to promote any sort of policy platform […]
Clark targets housing affordability
In her speech today, the Prime Minister announced a slate of government plans on housing affordability. New land will be freed up for […]
Swan to build surplus as economic stabiliser
Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan has announced that he intends to lift the target for the budget surplus, so that fiscal policy can help […]
Key conjures up cuts
John Key tells us that he would cut ‘wasteful government spending’ to pay for upper-bracket tax cuts bigger than Labour’s cuts. But do […]
Roy Morgan
Roy Morgan’s latest poll is out. It shows a big drop of 6.5 for National and a corresponding swing to Labour and the […]
Getting ALL the facts right
This contribution was sent through by a reader who did some digging after reading that Helen Clark’s research is letting her down in […]
Salvation Army report finds poverty in Godzone
A report out today from the Salvation Army acts as a reminder that despite a suite of policies designed to improve the lives […]
Congrats to the Conchords
Stuff reports that Wellingtonians of the year, “Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, who play marginally talented folk singers struggling to make it in […]
Peters ought to stop playing the race card
Winston Peters vexes me. He has a long list of worthy achievements, including free doctor visits for under sixes and crippling the last […]
Rich call for tax cuts for rich
Four associations representing wealthy New Zealanders are saying tax cuts should be in the form of making the top tax rate 30 cents […]
Simpsons evolution
This evening’s Simpsons – Best. Intro. Ever.
Media and our National Day
The decision of TVNZ’s CloseUp to pay to assist Tame Iti to travel to Waitangi this year was the focus of Media Watch […]
Say chee$e
At the supermarket earlier this week I was browsing the aisles and noticed the price of cheese. It seems now that for a […]
When politics and music video collide
From CNN earlier in the week – Jeanne Moos presents her very own Super Tuesday Political Video Awards. A good summary of some […]
Push polling
Tony Milne responds to National Party blogger, David Farrar’s recent post on push polling. Tony points out that any push polling undertaken during […]
Solution to wage-gap in hands of business
Larger (but still small) numbers of kiwis are leaving for Australia and higher incomes are part of the attraction. At the same time […]
KiwiSaver – what if…
Kiwis are showing their canny side in the way we’ve been flocking to sign up to KiwiSaver – now over 400,000 strong and […]
Greens/Maori Party cooperation good for the Left
The Maori Party and the Greens are discussing an informal alliance ahead of the election. This makes a lot of sense. The two […]
Cullen puts tax cuts in context
In a speech today to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce Cullen has further differentiated the role of tax cuts under National and Labour. […]
Unemployment at record low (again)
From Stuff: Growing numbers of women in the workforce pushed New Zealand’s unemployment rate down to a new record of 3.4 per cent […]
Key not competent to lead New Zealand
The Sunday Star-Times had an article titled ‘Who Is John Key?’. It’s remarkable that we’re still asking this question a year after Key […]
TV3 poll presents challenge
The latest TV3 poll comes hot on the heels of Labour MPs gathering for their first caucus meeting of the year. “National can […]