political parties

When the Bubble Pops.

Written By: Bill - Date published: 1:57 pm, September 22nd, 2017 - 95 comments

Let’s talk about NZ Labour – hopefully the party that heads up the next government of New Zealand.

I’d say it’s undeniable that there’s a general mood for change in NZ society and that NZ Labour have somewhat ridden on the back of that sentiment.

But does it end well?

Go Green

Written By: weka - Date published: 11:22 am, September 22nd, 2017 - 21 comments

All the good reasons, and it comes down to values and what kind of government and country NZ now wants.

Two ticks red

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:33 am, September 22nd, 2017 - 25 comments

Who I am going to vote for and why.

An MMP government

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:20 am, September 22nd, 2017 - 101 comments

On current polling the next government could be Labour + Green + NZF. That would annoy a lot of Nats if they have more votes than Labour alone, but that’s how MMP works. English lied about this in the last debate, but apparently has since walked it back.

Dame Anne Salmond’s final, brief election thought

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 12:36 pm, September 21st, 2017 - 39 comments

Salmond “Jacindamania isn’t about personality at all – it’s a collective sigh of relief that we might finally have a kind of leadership that reflects our core values as New Zealanders.”

Vote for compassion and competence

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:46 am, September 21st, 2017 - 44 comments

National has created the perception that it is a better manager of Government than Labour and is suggesting that it is more compassionate. Neither claim is true.

Is NZ doomed to lying politics now?

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:20 am, September 21st, 2017 - 179 comments

Bill English and the Nats are now running firmly on a platform of lies – Gower calls them on this for a second time this week. Should the political left get down in the gutter too? Is NZ doomed to lying politics now?

Nats “discovered poverty last week” – and will forget it just as quickly

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:02 am, September 21st, 2017 - 72 comments

Ardern’s jab that English “discovered poverty last week” was the line of the debate. After the election National will forget it again just as quickly, if the record of the last nine years is anything to go by. Do you want to vote for that?

The Green Party Policy Manifesto (fully costed and seriously progressive)

Written By: weka - Date published: 12:43 pm, September 20th, 2017 - 48 comments

The Greens have a fully costed plan of their goals for New Zealand’s future. Anything but boring, this is bold vision, progressive values, and detailed planning as well as solid economics for the fiscal geeks.

Why I voted two ticks Green

Written By: Bill - Date published: 11:42 am, September 20th, 2017 - 83 comments

Because we need to knock Liberalism on the head.

Why I voted two ticks Labour

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:02 am, September 20th, 2017 - 64 comments

The Nats do not deserve to lead NZ so I voted for change. The electorate vote was simple. I struggled with the party vote.

Gower – Nats the biggest liars

Written By: Natwatch - Date published: 6:38 am, September 20th, 2017 - 53 comments

Sure would be good if some other media called the Nats out on this too.

Malnutrition – in NZ FFS

Written By: Natwatch - Date published: 6:20 am, September 20th, 2017 - 49 comments

Stunningly depressing piece by Kirsty Johnston in The Herald yesterday – Number of New Zealand children hospitalised with malnutrition doubles as food costs bite.

Proud of your legacy, National?

The Climate Debate Tues 7pm

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:55 pm, September 19th, 2017 - 18 comments

Event at Auckland Uni and live streamed, the major political parties debate the climate with Rod Oram as MC.

How National “delivers” for NZ

Written By: Natwatch - Date published: 10:07 am, September 19th, 2017 - 85 comments

Herald graphic.

The failure of TOP’s Youth UBI policy

Written By: weka - Date published: 9:48 am, September 19th, 2017 - 97 comments

Safety nets should be for all people and the best way to ensure that is to design them for social need not as economic tools. Despite Gareth Morgan’s assertion that policy is everything, The Opportunities Party has managed to create a youth policy that is discriminatory.

Campbell: Ten Reasons For Not Voting National

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 7:03 am, September 19th, 2017 - 33 comments

Gordon Campbell sets out ten reasons not to vote National. Well referenced and compelling. Standardistas may wish to add their own entries to the list.

“The Green Party is committed to reforming renting so that every house is a home”

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:47 am, September 19th, 2017 - 29 comments

People who rent should have security so they can put down roots and benefit from being able to participate in their community.

Greens: Fuel pipeline debacle puts environment at risk

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 3:57 pm, September 18th, 2017 - 25 comments

Despite assurances from industry and council, there are still unanswered questions about the environmental impact at the Ruakaka oil leak.

Fear and loathing in Aotearoa

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:47 am, September 18th, 2017 - 55 comments

It is difficult to understand National’s election campaign. Instead of campaigning on what they have achieved and what they plan to do they are using fear of Labour to try and win the election. And saying some palpably untrue things on the way.

When scaremongering becomes self-parody

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:02 am, September 18th, 2017 - 34 comments

According to English, in a revealing Q+A interview, Labour wants to “slaughter the dairy herd” and “depopulate the cities”. Why is he such a scared little man? Why doesn’t National have the confidence to run a positive campaign on its policies?

Get out the young vote!

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 6:25 am, September 18th, 2017 - 10 comments

If you can do one thing help New Zealand make the right choice for the future it is this – get out the young vote!

Oram on Nats’ poor record and why we should vote for change

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 10:36 am, September 17th, 2017 - 89 comments

Rod Oram at Newsroom: “More of the same won’t deliver for New Zealand. Hopefully, new leaders and policies will.”

What vote will deliver the change we need…?

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 8:19 am, September 17th, 2017 - 149 comments

Dave Kennedy outlines the importance of party voting Green to ensure Labour has a strong progressive coalition partner in the next government.

National pushing through with secret TPP talks before the election

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 7:30 am, September 17th, 2017 - 23 comments

“This continues National’s desperation to see a TPPA at any cost”

The Herald reverts to type

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:27 pm, September 16th, 2017 - 45 comments

John Armstrong has come out in the Herald swinging wildly and claiming without evidence that Jacinda Ardern’s campaign has stalled, and criticized her policy positions but because he thinks they are only a bit better than National’s.

van Beynen on the changing of the guard

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 10:31 am, September 16th, 2017 - 6 comments

Martin van Beynen has been touring the country: “I think Jacinda Ardern is going to win the election or at least get more of the party vote than National. And even if I am wrong about that, the ground has still shifted and what she represents is in the ascendant. If not this time, it will be the next.”