“Extend the Amnesty” – A strategy for Immigration reform
Unionists and other progressive minded people need to put a stake in the ground in opposition to the latest immigration proposals from the government.
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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Three strikes and Minister Brownlee should be out
In twelve days Gerry Brownlee has shown why he should never have been appointed Foreign Minister.
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Commission gets it right by declining NZME/Fairfax merger
This week New Zealand Commerce Commission released its final decision to refuse the proposed merger of two of the countries biggest newspaper networks: NZME and Fairfax. This is a decision worth celebrating, as the proposed merger would have seriously weakened an already diluted quality of news and diversity of voices in New Zealand media.
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Let’s have open slather on the 1990s
I warmed to Jim Bolger considerably after his Mea Culpa moment. His government indeed was responsible for the unfortunate gutting of the unions and the massive redistribution to the wealthy under National’s failed trickle down theory.
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Dave Macpherson: Dodgy Doctor claims health has passed annual ‘check-up’
While I was walking 4 kms around Hamilton Lake on Saturday, in the company of 500 other citizens aiming to draw attention to the high and worsening rates of suicide in New Zealand, a press release from Health Minister ‘Dr’ Jonathan Coleman arrived in my in-box.
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Spying on Japan is hardly in New Zealand’s interests
New Zealand’s reputation in Japan has been damaged by revelations that our GCSB has been spying on its government communications. “New Zealand spied on Japan to help US at 2007 whaling confab” read the 26 April headline in the Japan Times.
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Inflicting Pain Without Flinching: Jenny Shipley Talks To Guyon Espiner
IT IS NEVER ADVISABLE, when writing political commentary, to get angry. Powerful emotions distort our judgements and make the already difficult job of political analysis even harder. Sometimes, however, giving vent to our anger is the right thing to do. Sometimes, maintaining a calm and dispassionate analytical posture serves only to give despicable behaviour a free pass. Some people are only deserving of the most forthright and unequivocal condemnation.
Jenny Shipley is one of those people.
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The true insidiousness of what banks really do in NZ
Ever been at the bank and they tried to upsize your loan or hassle you to bring your Kiwisaver to them? Ever been cold called to see if you want a credit card? Want life insurance with that??
If so, you have been on the receiving end of the insidious sales targets culture in the banking industry.
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PREDICTION: Crash in migrant numbers coming – let people stay
Every political party is lying about migration.
They do this by fudging the numbers.
Most importantly the fail to distinguish between those being admitted as permanent residents, those who come as students or temporary workers and those who come and go on a permanent or long-term basis.
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Not Dead Yet: A Response to Rachel Stewart’s Musings on Democracy
I’M A BIG FAN of Rachel Stewart’s writing. Her column in the NZ Herald has quickly become one of those “must-read” contributions to the national conversation. She’s to be admired for her courage, too. Anyone who takes on Big Dairy in this country knows exactly what to expect – and it usually arrives. This weeks contribution, however, on the subject of democracy, was not one of her best.