Open questions on Middle East policy for Gerry Brownlee and the National Party
Mr Brownlee – please demonstrate the National Government’s commitment and take action to end Israel’s impunity.
Setting the Agenda
Political analysis and commentary shaping the progressive debate in Aotearoa New Zealand, focused on power, policy, and accountability.
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The Boxer
At this point in the electoral cycle, Bill English should be staggering across the ring like a bloodied, punch-drunk boxer desperate for the salvation of the fight’s final bell. Instead he’s still up on his toes and trading punches with an opposition that seems incapable of laying a single glove on his up-tilted prime-ministerial chin.
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Is Barry Coates Serious? Are the Greens really willing to trigger a second election before Christmas?
HOW SERIOUSLY should New Zealanders take the words of Green MP Barry Coates? In a recent post to The Daily Blog he said: “The memorandum of understanding with Labour is the foundation for building the next government. However, if we were not part of the coalition, we would not accept a Labour-New Zealand First government and certainly not a National-New Zealand First government. Neither will be acceptable to the Greens.”
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On Why The Greens REALLY Tore Into NZ First Over The Weekend
I’ve taken awhile off commenting on a .. certain area of New Zealand Politics for personal reasons; but looking at my newsfeed for the past 24 hours, it’s pretty clear a number of things need to be said about the Green Party’s recent comments on New Zealand First.
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Great Together
If we were not part of the coalition, we would not accept a Labour-New Zealand First government and certainly not a National-New Zealand First government. Neither will be acceptable to the Greens. We want the Greens to be the beating heart of the next government and the strongest possible party vote for the Greens is the only solution.
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Te Ture Whenua bill withdrawn – a victory for those who learn from history
Alongside bribery, corruption and outright theft of Maori land, the forced payments of rates and dog taxes by local authorities in the past has left Maori dispossessed of land and economic development opportunities.
The potential for another round of capitalist theft of Maori land has activists up in arms and their pressure has won the day so far.
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Neither Principled, Nor Pragmatic. What’s Eating The Greens?
In light of the Greens’ recent ideological contortions on the subject of immigration, it is possible to interpret Metiria’s attack on NZ First as being driven by internal – not external – considerations. It is possible that the immigration issue has become a symbol of the increasingly bitter divisions that have opened up between idealists and pragmatists within the Green Party. If so, then NZ First has been made the whipping-boy for offences much closer to home.
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GUEST BLOG: Willie Jackson – My pledge to victims of historic abuse
If I am fortunate enough to be elected to Parliament, I will work tirelessly to force a Royal Inquiry into the systemic abuse of New Zealander’s at the hands of the State.
I intend to propose a ‘Truth and Reconciliation’ model where those who have been abused at the hands of the State can go on the record of the harm, hurt and damage our Government services have caused them.
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Some bold ways of funding Green election promises
Election promises can cost a lot of money. Here are some ways the Greens in government could raise some extra cash. All these proposals are consistent with existing Green policy.
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The Families Package 2017 budget
It is hard not to be angry. No needy child gets any benefit out of National’s grand plan until April next year. Always jam tomorrow never jam today. Budgets should be about changes for the current year-not the year after. Shame on them.