Political analysis and commentary shaping the progressive debate in Aotearoa New Zealand, focused on power, policy, and accountability.
Regardless of whether one views immigration as a good thing or a bad thing, there can be no disputing its dramatic impact on the demographic profile of New Zealand society. The official motivation behind the decision to transition this country away from ethnic homogeneity and towards a multicultural society may have been profoundly progressive, but its potential political consequences have always been, and continue to be, extremely dangerous.
I once took my husband to see the play ‘Waiting for Godot’, with Ian McKellen in the starring role. Afterwards, he was puzzled. What was that all about? “Waiting”, I replied, “or should I say the existential experience of waiting”. More puzzlement. “So, what is it about waiting, as opposed to working, or talking, or sitting on a park bench dreaming, that is different from any other human activity?” At this point he sighed in exasperation. The Marxist was not well-attuned to existentialism.
We need a well-funded public education campaign ahead of the cannabis referendum, and a model based on social equity, social retail enterprises and social clubs.
THE TRAILERS for “That’s A Bit Racist” had not filled me with confidence. There was a tone that positively yelled: “Anyone who doesn’t like the sound of this programme is almost certainly part of the problem.” In other words, the programme showed every sign of making huge assumptions about the history, nature and extent of racism in New Zealand. The dumbed-down script, delivered in the overly-familiar diction of the contemporary radio and television host, only deepened my suspicions.
I’m always in two minds about making submissions on parliamentary legislation. Is the time spent worthwhile when the government of the day won’t want to change the legislation anyway?
In a re-run of the 1980’s ‘Yes Minister’ sitcom, Ministry of Health humphreys have absorbed like a sponge the community and Government messages about the urgent need for ‘transformational’ action on mental health, and are busy working out ways to head off any ‘transformation’ of their power and influence.
In a few weeks I am visiting a women’s open prison in the UK. I am really interested to see what they do there. Most countries have open prisons and various forms of community prison. We do not. For some reason, all our prisons got wrapped around in huge fences and became security-mad in the 1990s, and of course it is a self-fulfilling prophesy. The worse we treat them, the worse the become.
As long has you haven’t taken too much, we won’t come after you” is the message former Waikato DHB elected Board Member says the ‘Serious’ Fraud Office has given to the community, in the wake of its decision not to prosecute the DHB’s former CEO, Nigel Murray.
THOSE SHOCKED TO DISCOVER that unnamed British civil servants have briefed The Times on Jeremy Corbyn’ “mental and physical frailty”, shouldn’t be. Corbyn is merely the Leader of the Opposition. In 1936, the British civil service, instructed to spy on their own sovereign, King Edward VIII, did not refuse. The explanation for civil servants’ willingness to intercept the telephone calls of the reigning monarch is the same as for their willingness to brief against the Opposition leader to the Murdoch press. In both cases, the targeted individuals were considered “unfit for office”.
Privatisation of water supply – like all privatisations – would accelerate inequality in Auckland just as Labour and National’s privatisation policies of the past 35 years have done so.