Political analysis and commentary shaping the progressive debate in Aotearoa New Zealand, focused on power, policy, and accountability.
Far from promoting the liberalisation of drug laws, Labour contributed significantly to the dramatic expansion of the state’s powers of intervention in the lives of those Kiwis deemed to have deviated from the “caring” agencies’ expectations.
TO HEAR THE National Party and other assorted right-wing beasts tell the story, the Greens have just sold their soul to the Devil. By whom they mean, presumably, that double-breasted Lucifer, Winston Peters, and his attendant pandemonium – NZ First. The Devil’s price, allegedly, is Green Party support for Winston’s “Waka-Jumping Bill”.
Last week, Facebook’s share price had the largest one day drop in Wall St history, at almost 19%. They were punished not only because members of the public care about abuses of their privacy, but also because investors are choosing not to invest in companies that behave unethically.
Mike has been kidnapped by the Israeli Navy Please view his important message and urgently contact the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rt Hon Winston Peters, asking him to demand the Israeli government immediately release all flotilla participants and ensure the cargo of medical aid is promptly delivered to Gaza. His email address: w.peters@ministers.govt.nz
No one should be surprised at the recent Israeli Parliament’s passing of the “Basic Law – Israel as The Nation State of the Jewish People”. The law is but one more step in the incremental realisation of the ultimate ambition of Israel’s founding European ideology, Zionism.
With its appalling record in handling the cases reported in the media so far, Housing NZ has a huge bill ahead of it and will want to put this matter to rest asap. On their record of disrespect and callous attitudes to vulnerable tenants we expect HNZ will want to do lots of quick, grubby little deals with affected tenants and offer them “pocket money” compensation.
These are exciting times, with the smell of much-needed social and economic reforms in the air across many areas of life. At the same time, there are many crocodiles snapping at the heels of the government, and these can be ignored for only so long. The two biggest of these are the 30% government spending threshold that has been self-imposed, and the decision to ruffle powerful business interests with labour sector reform.
Herein lies the irony of the ongoing “free speech” controversy. As vociferous opponents of what they characterise as existential threats to traditional Anglo-Saxon culture, Lauren Southern’s and Stefan Molyneux’s looming visit to New Zealand is intended to persuade ordinary Kiwis to look to their own defence against the twin scourges of multiculturalism and identity politics.
With three bills before Parliament this year, and patients continuing to suffer, it’s clear we need cross-party support for enduring sensible solutions.
MPs need to work together now to fix the proposed legislation and give patients urgent protection. While they squabble patients are still getting busted, or dying without medicine.
The latest shenanigans over medicinal cannabis follow a Curia poll, released this week by the New Zealand Drug Foundation, which found increased support for all options, including 87 per cent support for allowing medicinal cannabis for chronic pain relief.
The message MPs should take from this poll is: Don’t panic, and do what is best for patients.
