Category: politics

If you walked away from the Greens, it’s time to come back

When Metiria Turei talked about lying to secure her benefit, it divided New Zealanders including Greens voters. As it unfolded, the attacks were unending, Metiria stepped away and their opponents had a field day, many soft Greens voters walked away to Labour. I can understand some of the reasons why, and this is not a… Read More If you walked away from the Greens, it’s time to come back

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Bill English fiddles whilst the world burns: our Prime Climate Change Denier

There will be one moment of mismanagement by Bill English this election that will be studied and debated in the future. That moment is neither Todd Barclay’s alleged workplace bullying nor the leaks of Winston Peters’ superannuation over-payment. That moment was captured in his Radio New Zealand interview on 28 August 2017; when he was… Read More Bill English fiddles whilst the world burns: our Prime Climate Change Denier

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The New Zealand left is a zoo, not a viable alternative in this election

I want change this election. I long for a left leaning government that dials back some of the damage to our communities after nine long years of National: more funding for desperate NGOs; a coherent climate change strategy; transport solutions beyond roads; housing and a safety net for the poor; a review of our settlement… Read More The New Zealand left is a zoo, not a viable alternative in this election

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Raging at Metiria is not about the fraud; it’s that she sided with the lepers

In case you missed it, at the Greens annual conference in mid-July, Metiria fronted the launch of an impressive welfare policy, Mending the Safety Net. During that launch, she used an anecdote from 25 years ago to personalise the policy; when she was solo mum she didn’t tell Work and Income that she had flatmates… Read More Raging at Metiria is not about the fraud; it’s that she sided with the lepers

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Where there’s smoke, there’s… ahi kaa? Agreements made by Hauraki & Ranginui

I’ve spent the last two days on the paepae at Poutūterangi Marae in Te Puna, supporting my Bidois whānau who are grieving a lost brother. We are between two storm fronts, so Rangi Pōtiki is an endless blue, Hinemoana is a quiet lapping presence and Papa is a rich healthy green with mid-Winter rains, and… Read More Where there’s smoke, there’s… ahi kaa? Agreements made by Hauraki & Ranginui

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Polling won’t help you find courage: lessons from the UK for NZ Labour

You would get short odds predicting the NZ Labour party are analysing the British election like Game of Thrones fans analyse the Season 7 trailers. I can’t recall one column, opinion piece or interview from anyone in the NZ Labour party prior to the British election that suggested it was possible a Jeremy Corbyn-led Labour… Read More Polling won’t help you find courage: lessons from the UK for NZ Labour

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Why not talk to us, we’ll still be here in 2040: raising the entitlement age for Super

So Bill finally came through on his “wait and see” with an announcement that the age of entitlement will be raised from 65 to 67 years in 2040. After which various political parties lost their collective rag either because it wasn’t high enough or soon enough, or more commonly because Bill wasn’t thinking of the… Read More Why not talk to us, we’ll still be here in 2040: raising the entitlement age for Super

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A developer’s wet dream: even with concessions, the RMA reforms are an environmental disaster

In an example of life imitating art, the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill has been resuscitated like every big screen Marvel character you thought had died (except Quicksilver. No great loss). This bill to amend the Resource Management Act has been a source of some embarrassment to the Government as it asphyxiated in the Select Committee.… Read More A developer’s wet dream: even with concessions, the RMA reforms are an environmental disaster

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Local body elections; not the best elections, but the only one we’ve got for now

At the start of the run up to the local body elections here in Tauranga Moana, I had imagined providing a bit of a precis of all the candidates standing for the Tauranga City Council, for Tauranga mayor, the Regional Council and for the DHB. Then I started looking at Facebook pages and websites and… Read More Local body elections; not the best elections, but the only one we’ve got for now

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