political parties

Truth-telling and The New Climate Denial

Written By: weka - Date published: 2:03 am, August 4th, 2019 - 170 comments

James Shaw lays it out in his AGM speech: the new climate denial sounds reasonable and is the gravest danger we currently face.

Memo from Crosby Textor – fake news

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 9:06 am, August 2nd, 2019 - 19 comments

The Standard has obtained an internal memo from CTF Partners (formerly Crosby Textor) where it responds to allegations that it is a kindergarden for the rich children of Conservative Party donors, has engaged in misogynist behavior and ran anti and pro cycle astroturf campaigns to get a cycleway moved from near a client’s business premises to near an opponent’s premises.

The unbelievable lightness of Simon Bridges

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:49 am, July 31st, 2019 - 31 comments

Simon Bridges has insulted women and Tokelauans at the same time with a thinly veiled attack on Jacinda Ardern.

Ihumātao

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:32 am, July 31st, 2019 - 119 comments

The background to the Ihumatao dispute is complex and problematic and resolving it may require the Government to review issues relating to privately held land and treaty claims.

National’s cynical cancer policy announcement

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:59 am, July 30th, 2019 - 104 comments

National has announced a new Cancer Agency to replace the agency it closed four years ago to be funded from within already overstretched Health budgets.

Jacindamania

Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:01 am, July 28th, 2019 - 138 comments

Despite the babies and the engagements, maybe it’s time to ditch the default Jacindamania.

The weasel accurately dissects National.

Written By: lprent - Date published: 2:05 pm, July 26th, 2019 - 36 comments

Matthew Hooton has a piece on National’s chances in the next election this morning entitled as “National stumbling to defeat”. Personally I think he is a PR weasel who is on the border to dirty politics. But he did cover the salient points that will be on the mind of the National party conference.

Dunne reckons next election will be close

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:22 am, July 26th, 2019 - 48 comments

Peter Dunne has come up with some 2020 election reckons that ignores current polling as well as National’s leadership problems.

The Greens’ attack ad

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:58 am, July 25th, 2019 - 87 comments

The Greens recent ad mocking Simon Bridges has attracted some strong criticism. But is it justified?

National’s ranks are cracking about climate change

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:36 am, July 22nd, 2019 - 90 comments

National Climate Change spokesperson Todd Muller has publicly stated that he is broadly supportive of the Government’s proposed EV incentive policy.

There is no climate emergency according to National

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:59 am, July 19th, 2019 - 194 comments

Simon Wilson has suggested in the the Herald this morning that for purely political reasons National will frustrate and stymie action on climate change

Sometimes explaining is not losing

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:03 am, July 18th, 2019 - 98 comments

Stacey Kirk thinks that Julie Anne Genter should not have criticised National’s spin on the Government’s fuel efficient importation policy but forgets to do her basic job of analysing National’s spin.

D Day for ETS?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:32 am, July 16th, 2019 - 75 comments

There are rumours that the Interim Climate Change Committee will propose that agriculture is included in the Emissions Trading Scheme as an interim measure to allow a levy/rebate system that can operate at a farm level.

A Good Week for Conservation

Written By: advantage - Date published: 7:26 am, July 15th, 2019 - 10 comments

Three big, bold moves for conserving nature and expanding our awareness of it were announced inn the last week. All of them led by Minister Eugenie Sage.

Simon Bridges Going Blue in the Face Barking at Green Cars

Written By: Incognito - Date published: 3:48 pm, July 14th, 2019 - 51 comments

Simon Bridges is barking madly at green cars.

Submit or surrender

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:02 am, July 11th, 2019 - 33 comments

The submission period for the Zero Carbon Bill closes shortly. Please make a submission. This may be the New Zealand Goverment’s last chance to put in place measures to get us to carbon neutrality in time to make a difference.

Guest post – Bucking the trend at ECAN

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 8:47 am, July 10th, 2019 - 26 comments

A guest post from Anthony Rimell about a very disturbing attempt by ECAN to allow the levels of nitrate leach into Christchurch’s water supply to increase.

Government plans to disincentivise purchase of gas guzzlers

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:45 am, July 9th, 2019 - 134 comments

Julie Anne Genter has released a policy document proposing rebates for the purchase of electric and fuel efficient vehicles funded by a surcharge on gas guzzlers to start the transition of our vehicle fleet to carbon neutrality.

Labour to repeal ban on family caregivers seeking justice

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:20 am, July 8th, 2019 - 39 comments

Labour and New Zealand First Ministers under the first term of the sixth Labour government sitting in the Cabinet office.

The Government has increased funding for family caregivers of people with disabilities and is moving to repeal one of the most constitutionally outrageous legislative provisions that the prevoius Government enacted.

National supports 47% tax rate for top income bracket *

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:21 am, July 5th, 2019 - 25 comments

* this is one possible interpretation for National’s praise of the Morrisonn Government’s change to Australian tax system.

The right wing death threat against Winston

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:44 am, July 1st, 2019 - 117 comments

Newshub has revealed that Winston Peters has received death threats. And the allegations involve the European far right, the Christchurch attack, the anti UN Migrant pact movement and the National Party.

National offers to help with housing crisis

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:50 am, June 28th, 2019 - 105 comments

On behalf of the National Party Judith Collins has offered to help Labour deal with the housing crisis, the one that National is responsible for.

Labour’s cautious cabinet reshuffle

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 4:27 pm, June 27th, 2019 - 120 comments

The results of Labour’s cabinet reshuffle have been announced.

National’s reshuffle

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:57 am, June 26th, 2019 - 61 comments

Simon Bridges had the chance to show leadership yesterday, cement his leadership of the National caucus, reward on talent and hard work and seek to unite a caucus that clearly has a few problems. How did he do?

100% carbon free power generation?

Written By: advantage - Date published: 7:30 am, June 26th, 2019 - 77 comments

The Interim Climate Change Commission has come out saying that making our electricity generation 100% renewable would be really expensive and that that expense would land on the poor of New Zealand. But the Government has already indicated it could be flexible on the target. ICCC should be helping us plan, not throwing road blocks in the way.