[This orginally appeared in the Spinoff Ātea on February 8 2018] Labour’s Electoral (Integrity) Bill has passed its first reading. It’s likely to pass despite some criticisms. It demonstrates how far our political parties in Parliament have wandered away from us, the voters in the electorates. In a system where party loyalty reigns supreme, what… Read More The waka-jumping bill is bad for democracy
[The original article was published at e-Tangata on 22 October 2017] The announcement of the new government by Winston Peters on Thursday night felt more like a Melbourne Cup than politics. I livestreamed Radio NZ’s Checkpoint as I charged around Countdown with my tamariki picking up a few extras for dinner — but nothing happened… Read More Why my tamariki are feeling hopeful about the new government
All political parties are churches. As with churches, there are a small group of any membership who are able to provide a sober reflection on the strengths and weaknesses of their parties, the leadership are realists but the large majority of the membership are believers. The policy platform is a hope; a description of salvation.… Read More Election reflections. NB potentially unpopular.
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
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
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
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
We are now officially in election year. In under 307 days, we will have a new government. Or not. We may have the same government. Our freshly minted Prime Minister, made out of retreaded National party leader Bill English, will be leading his party to what he hopes is a fourth term of a National-led… Read More Crystal Ball Gazing: election predictions at the start of 2017
It has been my privilege whilst in Tauranga to work with people and organisations in addressing the scourge of domestic violence in our communities here. In the course of that work, one of the things I have learnt is that often those who abuse their families minimise their abuse. They assert that “it wasn’t that… Read More Helen Clark abused Māori, so don’t expect us to line up behind her now
The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (either the TPPA or the TPP) is the next step in our neo-liberal pilgrimage to economic Mecca. Our government, in particular John Key, Steven Joyce and Tim Groser are trying to tell you it is too dense and complicated for you to understand, but you can trust them to do what… Read More TPPA: Resistance is fragile, but not futile
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