political parties

The Cost

Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:00 am, September 9th, 2017 - 59 comments

Should the Greens form part of the next Government there will be huge expectations on them to perform.

Labour’s climate change policy – nuclear free moment

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 10:05 am, September 8th, 2017 - 120 comments

Jacinda Ardern has released Labour’s climate change policy – including zero net carbon emissions by 2050. Jacinda has called climate change “my generation’s nuclear-free moment”.

National enters panic mode and goes tough on beneficiaries

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:38 am, September 8th, 2017 - 27 comments

National has tried to divert attention from the budget hole fiasco by promising to get even tougher on beneficiaries.

Labour takes the lead in RNZ poll of polls

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:05 am, September 8th, 2017 - 70 comments

Labour has overtaken National in the RNZ poll of polls. Last night’s TVNZ poll had National 4 points behind and falling below 40% for the first time in a decade. Labour have the momentum, and 2 weeks to go…

Finance debate – Grant Robertson vs big flaming gasbag

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 8:32 am, September 7th, 2017 - 54 comments

The RNZ debate between Labour and Nat finance spokespersons has just concluded – Grant Robertson vs a big flaming gasbag. Robertson very strong, gasbag unable to name One Single Person who agrees with his $11.7bn big lie.

Three dirty hits – three epic fails

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:01 am, September 7th, 2017 - 21 comments

This is what an amoral party in a desperate third-term death spiral looks like.

Liar Joyce’s shifting goal posts and zero budgets

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 8:13 am, September 6th, 2017 - 16 comments

Hopelessly compromised Steven Joyce is trying to shift the goalposts from his thoroughly exposed $11.7bn lie to Labour’s “zero budgets”. He’s clutching at straws…

Joyce keeps digging

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:08 am, September 6th, 2017 - 11 comments

Steven Joyce is spinning furiously and is now claiming that Labour has set aside no money for budget increases for many Government Departments. But when Labour’s figures are compared to PREFU it is clear that Labour is planning to maintain or exceed National’s propose future spend.

Joyce and English now laughing stock

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:01 am, September 6th, 2017 - 148 comments

Post John Key all National ever had going for it was an undeserved reputation for financial competence. Now that is gone too. It doesn’t get any worse than this 3 weeks out from an election.

National – campaign vs reality

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:07 am, September 6th, 2017 - 13 comments

The brighter future cusp of something special moving forward advertising campaign fluff meets the reality of National’s NZ in this brilliant image.

Speaking of mothers

Written By: weka - Date published: 1:28 pm, September 5th, 2017 - 31 comments

There’s a direct relationship between how badly we treat mothers and how much we exalt neoliberalism.

Even Kiwiblog won’t defend Joyce’s $11.7 billion claim

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:58 am, September 5th, 2017 - 15 comments

David Farrar has put up and then amended a post suggesting that there is a $11.7 billion hole in Labour’s policy financials. It appears that even he does not believe there is a $11.7 billion discrepancy in Labour’s accounts.

A test for NZ media and democracy

Written By: Natwatch - Date published: 11:01 am, September 5th, 2017 - 23 comments

The Nats are not backing down from their $11.7bn lie. The media need to call it loudly for the big lie that it is. This is now a test for NZ’s democracy.

The Jacinda Phenomenon

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:34 am, September 5th, 2017 - 130 comments

Some thoughts on the Jacinda phenomenon based on my observations of her campaigning last Sunday in West Auckland.

Steven Joyce – liar or fool?

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:01 am, September 5th, 2017 - 52 comments

The economists have spoken, and Steven Joyce’s claim that there is a $11.7bn “hole” in Labours’ fiscal plan shows him to be either a liar or a fool. Shame on Bill English for repeating it in the debate.

Steven Joyce’s comprehension fail

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 3:03 pm, September 4th, 2017 - 43 comments

Steven Joyce’s claim that Labour’s budget forecasts have a $11 billion dollar hole in them raises some concern with his ability to actually understand Government budgetary processes.

The actual implications of a Capital Gains Tax

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 1:38 pm, September 4th, 2017 - 109 comments

Matthew Whitehead looks at what the Greens, Labour and National really mean when they talk about a CGT.

National’s 18 new taxes

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:35 am, September 4th, 2017 - 14 comments

A dose of reality on National and taxes, and wise words on the media circus surrounding tax.

National plays the lauranorda card

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:47 am, September 4th, 2017 - 42 comments

National is panicking and Paula Bennett has gone full dog whistle in claiming that gang members should have less rights than others.

Labour’s support for renters

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:05 am, September 4th, 2017 - 54 comments

While National revert to type with populist scaremongering, Labour is getting on with the business of releasing practical policy that supports real people and addresses real problems.

In the one month since Jacinda Ardern became leader…

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 7:22 am, September 3rd, 2017 - 8 comments

Good on ya NZ – choosing Labour policy over Nat tax cut

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:03 am, September 3rd, 2017 - 27 comments

It is very heartening to see Kiwis rejecting National’s tax cut bribe (and English’s arrogant debate rhetoric) – in favour of supporting each other and backing Labour’s policies for a better NZ.

Revising Nats’ nasty joggers ad

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:30 am, September 2nd, 2017 - 22 comments

National’s nasty joggers campaign ad captures the essence of the party nicely, ignoring and making fun of those in need of help, running away from problems. But in light of the recent poll-quake it is in serious need of revision…

National’s New Lynn candidate is not having a good campaign

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:01 am, September 2nd, 2017 - 24 comments

Paulo Garcia, National’s New Lynn candidate has some very conservative world views and a recent interview suggests that his knowledge of the local area and the seat are less than optimal.

Challenging the divine right of kingmakers

Written By: weka - Date published: 12:40 pm, September 1st, 2017 - 123 comments

23 days to go. We’re now this close to changing the government, and have a real chance at a truly progressive government with a Labour/Green coalition. For that we need strong Green representation.

This is how you change the Government – Enrolments

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:19 pm, September 1st, 2017 - 6 comments

The first of what will be a series of posts on practical steps that people can take to elect a progressive Government. In this post the importance of getting as many people enrolled as possible.

Why is Farrar smearing the superannuation shit?

Written By: lprent - Date published: 7:59 am, September 1st, 2017 - 38 comments

A lot of politics and political blogging is all about the details. This includes National’s pollster David Farrar who falsely asserted yesterday that Winston would have received 7 annual letters about his superannuation status. So why is National trying to irritate their only possible coalition partner?