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Politics

Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation

Categories under Politics

1 NEWS Colmar Brunton Poll April 2019

Written By: - Date published: 6:45 pm, April 15th, 2019 - 50 comments

The latest 1 News Colmar Brunton Poll is out and it says that a Labour/Greens Government is what NZ wants. Oh, and we quite like Jacinda Ardern.

Nat MP Nuk Karako Quits

Written By: - Date published: 1:58 pm, April 15th, 2019 - 19 comments

Nat List MP Nuk Karako has unexpectedly announced his retirement, effective next month.

National’s culture review shambles redux

Written By: - Date published: 9:19 am, April 15th, 2019 - 32 comments

Simon Bridges has given a train wreck of an interview this morning on Radio New Zealand’s morning report about National’s culture review. It appears that National is keeping the report secret because of fears that the report may be leaked.

Reflections on Free Speech and Public Discourse

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 15th, 2019 - 119 comments

Silencing dissonant voices only leads to more and stronger dissonant voices and further radicalisation.

Assange Must Be Extradited

Written By: - Date published: 11:57 am, April 14th, 2019 - 252 comments

There is no doubt that Julian Assange should be extradited when his UK jail sentence ends. Justice demands it.

Stuart McCutcheon thinks students are too sensitive

Written By: - Date published: 10:08 am, April 14th, 2019 - 39 comments

Auckland Vice Chancellor Stuart McCutcheon has attracted the ire of Auckland students by suggesting that their concern with recent evidence of fascist behaviour at Auckland campus is because they are being too sensitive.

How To Get There 14/4/19

Written By: - Date published: 6:55 am, April 14th, 2019 - 44 comments

Welcome to TS’s Sunday think piece. It’s a blank sheet, a tabula rasa, waiting for your thoughts on the future and How To Get There.  

The latest Reid Research poll

Written By: - Date published: 4:10 pm, April 12th, 2019 - 173 comments

The latest Reid Research suggests that Labour is almost at the stage where it could rule alone.  And National is getting into danger territory.

Assange Arrested

Written By: - Date published: 10:10 pm, April 11th, 2019 - 515 comments

Julian Assange has been arrested by British Police inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London after his asylum was revoked.

UPDATE: Assange has been convicted of skipping bail and the US has requested his extradition.

Black Hole

Written By: - Date published: 8:16 am, April 11th, 2019 - 126 comments

The first image of a black hole has been released. It’s brighter than expected, but kinda underwhelming.

Bridges’ emotional junior staffer problem

Written By: - Date published: 8:04 am, April 11th, 2019 - 36 comments

The emotional junior staffer incident shows that National’s internal discipline is poor and that leaks are continuing.

National’s culture review shambles

Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, April 10th, 2019 - 79 comments

National’s internal cultural review has been completed but two female MPs most affected by recent events were not interviewed.

Tough, swift leadership needed to police social media

Written By: - Date published: 1:45 am, April 10th, 2019 - 73 comments

The government has been rightly lauded for swiftly acting to ban assault weapons after the Christchurch massacre, but is its failure to decisively call social media giants to order just as weak and unacceptable as the failure to act on Aramoana massacre back in 1990?

MSSA Bill reported back

Written By: - Date published: 8:10 am, April 9th, 2019 - 10 comments

The Finance and Expenditure Select Committee has reported back the Arms Amendment Bill which will ban the general availability of military style semi automatic weapons with only modest changes.

Are We Expecting Too Much Of Our Political Leaders?

Written By: - Date published: 11:12 pm, April 8th, 2019 - 122 comments

Political leaders must have expert knowledge on many topics and near-perfect recall. No naps allowed and no room for error.

But, Rugby!

Written By: - Date published: 10:55 am, April 7th, 2019 - 134 comments

On top of RSA bigots baying about the use of a prayer on ANZAC day, rugby fans are getting exercised about the possibility of the Canterbury team changing its obviously offensive name. Apparently empathy with the innocent dead in Christchurch only lasts until kick off.

How To Get There 7/4/19

Written By: - Date published: 6:55 am, April 7th, 2019 - 12 comments

Welcome to TS’s Sunday think piece. It’s a blank sheet, a tabula rasa, waiting for your thoughts on the future and How To Get There.  

This Is Who We Really Are

Written By: - Date published: 1:05 pm, April 5th, 2019 - 146 comments

As we prepare for ANZAC Day, the Kapiti RSA has been viciously attacked for wanting to show solidarity with NZ’s Muslim community. Maggie writes about what that means and suggests who we really are.

Trump’s tax returns and the Mueller investigation

Written By: - Date published: 7:40 am, April 5th, 2019 - 53 comments

Donald Trump and his supporters have been celebrating Mueller’s finding as interpreted by William Barr.  But with Congress formally requesting his tax records and with the Mueller report not being yet released the celebration could be premature.

Why we cannot afford to tolerate fascists

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, April 4th, 2019 - 130 comments

Inn the United Kingdom a neo nazi has been convicted of making plans to kill a female Labour Member of Parliament.

David is delayed

Written By: - Date published: 11:27 am, April 3rd, 2019 - 13 comments

David Seymour has done something even more embarrassing than twerking on Dancing with the Stars.

Life and Death in Aotearoa – Debating Euthanasia

Written By: - Date published: 9:48 am, April 3rd, 2019 - 210 comments

David Seymour’s Private Member’s Bill on euthanasia is back for debate in Parliament. Maggie looks at one of the great social issues of our time.

Brexit: May’s Remaining Options for Leaving

Written By: - Date published: 6:24 pm, April 2nd, 2019 - 28 comments

Theresa May is entering the Brexit death spiral. Her last real chance to get her own preferred deal over the line will happen in a Tory cabinet meeting overnight. But what are the other options?

UPDATE: May has now invited Jeremy Corbyn for talks on a soft Brexit. But will the Labour leader be in a mood to help?

Dumb as a plank

Written By: - Date published: 1:18 pm, April 2nd, 2019 - 80 comments

Pro gun lobby groups are making some outlandish claims about the Government’s proposed gun law changes.

Walking the Human Rights Tightrope in NZ Prisons

Written By: - Date published: 8:45 pm, April 1st, 2019 - 114 comments

The question of prisoners’ rights has hit the news today. That’s rare because we don’t normally care.

A new Guest Post from Maggie puts the case that we walk a tightrope when we seek to simplify the complex issues at play in prison.

The benefits of a Labour led Government

Written By: - Date published: 12:18 pm, April 1st, 2019 - 67 comments

Today marks the day that the largest ever increase in the minimum wage will occur.

Simon Bridges is seeking to join the Labour Party

Written By: - Date published: 6:30 am, April 1st, 2019 - 32 comments

The Standard understands from two reliable sources that Simon Bridges has applied for membership of the Labour Party.  More news as it comes to hand …

James Casson and why YOU should Stand for Council

Written By: - Date published: 7:08 pm, March 31st, 2019 - 168 comments

Hamilton City Councillor James Casson has been exposed as a bigot. You can help rid NZ of people like him in just a few months. Time to put your best foot forward, Standarnistas!

How To Get There 31/3/19

Written By: - Date published: 6:57 am, March 31st, 2019 - 54 comments

Welcome to TS’s Sunday think piece. It’s a blank sheet, a tabula rasa, waiting for your thoughts on the future and How To Get There.  

The gun lobby fights back

Written By: - Date published: 12:27 pm, March 30th, 2019 - 16 comments

The Herald is reporting that Gun City the business that sold the military style semi automatic weapons to the Christchurch Mosque killer, has urged customers to sign a petition against banning military style semi automatic weapons.

Rooting Out Racism

Written By: - Date published: 12:12 pm, March 30th, 2019 - 296 comments

TS regular Maggie with an excellent analysis of the challenges facing men in a society in transition and what that means for the fight against racism.