Political analysis and commentary shaping the progressive debate in Aotearoa New Zealand, focused on power, policy, and accountability.
You are only too aware, Jacinda, of what needs to be done to heal the harms inflicted on New Zealanders these past nine years. You also know they cannot be healed on the cheap. Strict adherence to the Labour/Green “Budget Responsibility Rules” will force your government to break its promises – to break your promises.
As sponsors of UNSC Resolution 2334, it is New Zealand’s responsibility to encourage the UN to deal resolutely with Israel’s defiance of international law – the world is watching. Accordingly, we expect and demand of our lawmakers that they unite, with determination, to fight for justice and human rights.
LABOUR HQ needs to upgrade its intelligence. Because out there in the streets there are a host of disturbing signs – most of them their own!
I remember once upon a time remarking that Peter Dunne’s occupancy of the Ohariu seat was one of the great…
Research by Associate Professor Lisa Marriot from Victoria University reveals that 5 per cent of welfare recipients are investigated compared to .01 per cent of taxpayers. Welfare fraud attracts 800-1000 criminal prosecutions a year compared to 60-80 for tax fraud. Of tax dodgers whose offending reaches about $270,000, 18 per cent will be jailed. Of those welfare fraudsters who have obtained around $70,000, 67 per cent can expect jail time
The enormous significance of political magic is made clear principally by its absence. None of Jacinda’s four male predecessors had it. Contact lenses and a new haircut couldn’t make it appear. Speechwriters working in shifts couldn’t summon it. Focus groups couldn’t even tell the party where to look for it. But no Labour member; no Labour voter; had the slightest difficulty understanding that the Magic was passing them by.
At the time of writing, it’s been perhaps sixteen hours since news of Steve Bannon’s resignation broke. And dependent upon…
It’s no surprise to see the National government backing away from measures to enforce tax rules against multinational corporations operating in New Zealand.
The entire community mental health care sector is a mess, and forms a major part of the change requirement that the Government proposals barely touch on.
Jacinda launching her Labour Party election campaign as leader