political parties

Is youth the new political divide?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:21 am, March 11th, 2018 - 44 comments

There is evidence in the United Kingdom and in New Zealand that youth and not class may be the new political divide.

Was National a good economic manager?

Written By: advantage - Date published: 9:30 am, March 10th, 2018 - 75 comments

Bill Rosenberg from the CTU has stated convincingly why National is not and was not a sound manager of the economy.

Doofus of the week March 10, 2018

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:15 am, March 10th, 2018 - 157 comments

An occasional post where we celebrate the extremely banal or bad taste or idiotic behaviour in politics.

Justice for the family carer claimants

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:43 am, March 8th, 2018 - 28 comments

National’s constitutionally outrageous attempt to stifle the claims of family carers for compensation for discrimination should be repealed and a just settlement reached with the caregivers.

We need more ministers like Steven Joyce

Written By: advantage - Date published: 11:45 am, March 7th, 2018 - 123 comments

Rare praise for Steven Joyce from someone on the left.

Who is next?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:03 am, March 7th, 2018 - 65 comments

Steven Joyce’s resignation may be the first of many as National adjusts to the possibility of a lengthy stay in opposition.

Steven Joyce threatens to sue Matthew Hooton and the NBR

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 5:22 pm, March 5th, 2018 - 76 comments

Matthew Hooton has been sacked as a contributor to the NBR and Steven Joyce has threatened to sue him and the NBR over claims that Joyce is not popular in caucus and should be sacked.

Simon Bridges’ not very good first week

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:37 am, March 4th, 2018 - 44 comments

In this very important first week Simon Bridges has committed two major blunders. He has claimed he was environmentally friendly when any view of his Ministerial history would confirm that this is not the case. And he forgot his Government oversaw the stripping of democratic rights from all prisoners, and adjusted his position when his error was pointed out.

James Shaw’s speech to the Green Summer Policy Conference

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:15 am, March 4th, 2018 - 8 comments

Alongside announcing the Greens’ new transparency measures, James Shaw talks about being in government and having the ability to influence, as well as staying true to the Green Party’s values.

Green Party announces new transparency measures

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:10 am, March 4th, 2018 - 28 comments

Green Party Co-leader James Shaw has today announced two important new transparency measures, which will apply to Green Party Ministers, MPs and staff, to help counter the influence of money in politics.

Doofus of the week – March 3, 2018

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:30 am, March 3rd, 2018 - 29 comments

David Seymour has created history by being the first person to win two doofuses of the week awards for blatant misogyny and disrespecting young kiwis who this week won olympic medals.

Genter and Davidson

Written By: weka - Date published: 6:08 am, March 2nd, 2018 - 51 comments

The Green female co-leader candidates did a Q and A last night with Stuff political reporter Henry Cooke. They covered a range of topics, including the Budget Responsibility Rules. The interview gives good insight into how the Green Party works and where they are headed, as well as into the two candidates themselves.

Jacinda 3, Simon 0

Written By: Enzo - Date published: 7:00 am, March 1st, 2018 - 45 comments

Avid watchers of Simon Bridges’ regular breakfast television appearances debating Jacinda Ardern when they were both relatively junior MPs will recall that 9 times out of ten Jacinda wiped the floor with the new Head Tory. Fast forward a few years, and judging by Question Time this week it doesn’t appear that much has changed. […]

Golriz Ghahraman in the House on the TPPA

Written By: weka - Date published: 6:04 am, March 1st, 2018 - 177 comments

“As Greens, what’s particularly chilling to us is that we know elsewhere in the world where ISDS clauses have been accessed to sue Governments, corporates have used them to stop environmental protection.” … “The Indonesian environmental Minister had to admit, ‘If we shut them down, they will need compensation and Indonesia can’t afford it.’ That is chilling.”

Bridges burnt in media reviews

Written By: Natwatch - Date published: 12:38 pm, February 28th, 2018 - 60 comments

It’s pretty grim reading for the new Nat leader this morning. Pundits reckon he has no show in 2020.

Right wing activists are not happy Bridges is leader

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 4:35 pm, February 27th, 2018 - 49 comments

The initial response from right wingers online to the news that National’s new leader is Simon Bridges is a big meh.

National’s new leader is …

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 12:48 pm, February 27th, 2018 - 173 comments

The new leader of the National Party has been announced. It is Simon Bridges with Paula Bennett remaining as deputy.

Who will the new leader of the National Party be?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:49 am, February 27th, 2018 - 52 comments

Today we will find out if National is taking a step backwards. Or two steps backwards.

Respecting our Rights and the New Zealand Constitution

Written By: Matthew Whitehead - Date published: 8:30 am, February 27th, 2018 - 35 comments

The Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister teased a little bit of constitutional change yesterday. Let’s look at what that could actually mean, and how it could upon up old laws for review by Parliament.

Damien Grant thinks National is stuffed

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:00 am, February 26th, 2018 - 44 comments

Damien Grant thinks that National is a relic and should fracture into libertarian and conservative parties.

Why does Criminal Justice have to be so politicised?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:49 am, February 25th, 2018 - 67 comments

Judith Collins has indicated that the chances of a mature debate about Criminal Justice are slim.

Doofus of the week – David Seymour

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 1:00 pm, February 24th, 2018 - 21 comments

Hot on the heels on the news that he is going to spend valuable time dancing with the stars David Seymour has engaged in a good old fashioned piece of fat shaming. From Anna Bracewell-Worrall at Stuff: ACT party politician David Seymour has openly fat-shamed politicians, saying journalists should use a wide-angle lense to figure […]

Little proposes radical shake up of the Criminal Justice system

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:39 am, February 24th, 2018 - 152 comments

Andrew Little has called for a complete change the way criminal justice works. But National’s initial response suggests that the prospects of a mature discussion on the issue are slim.

National’s meh leadership contest

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 4:27 pm, February 22nd, 2018 - 76 comments

National’s leadership contest is one week old. The latest is a central edict that all candidates have to be nice to each other and a claim that candidates are not offering senior positions to MPs in exchange for their support.

It’s Our Future: Complete U-Turn by Labour and NZ First on TPP

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 11:37 am, February 21st, 2018 - 131 comments

The TPP might have been re-branded as the CPTPP but it’s still the same bad deal says Professor Jane Kelsey, New Zealand’s expert on international economic regulation.

“Calling it “Comprehensive and Progressive” doesn’t make it any better.

Hager posts Dirty Politics chapter on Mark Mitchell on web

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:17 am, February 21st, 2018 - 25 comments

Nicky Hager and the publishers of Dirty Politics have released into the public arena the chapter dealing with Mark Mitchell’s campaign to be selected as National’s Rodney candidate.

Poll Watch: Colmar Brunton Poll 2018-2-19

Written By: Matthew Whitehead - Date published: 8:30 am, February 20th, 2018 - 47 comments

In this second edition of Pollwatch, we note the impact of Jacinda Ardern at the height of her powers, track the likelyhood of current government support partners of clearing our high Party Vote threshold, and note the small likelyhood that English’s eventual successor will have of sneaking into the Beehive even if we held a snap election right now.