• frog

    Member’s Bills drawn - by frog



    Today, there was a ballot at Parliament for two Member’s Bills – they get drawn by a Lotto-style “numbers in a bucket” system as there are always many more MPs outside the Cabinet wanting to progress legislation than there is time in Parliament to deal with their Bills. I had high hopes for a Green [...] read more
    February 7, 2012 8:54 pm - 5 Comments
  • Holly Walker

    A nation divided? - by Holly Walker



    The Herald has launched a six part series highlighting inequality and poverty in New Zealand, showing why we need action on the root causes, not the consequences. read more
    February 7, 2012 1:37 pm - 34 Comments
  • frog

    General debate, February 4, 2012 - by frog



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    February 4, 2012 7:42 am - 38 Comments
  • Catherine Delahunty

    Public education under attack - by Catherine Delahunty



    This has been a week of disturbing announcements by the National Government although the leader of the pack was actually John Banks – the lone ACT MP. Before final sign off and maybe as a way to keep the pressure on, John announced that Catherine Isaac (number 3 on the ACT list and rumoured to [...] read more
    February 3, 2012 5:42 pm - 16 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    The best way to oil independence is to provide alternatives and use less - by Gareth Hughes



    The Ministry of Economic Development’s Briefing to the incoming Energy Minister predicts New Zealand could become a net exporter of petroleum by 2030 if new oil fields are developed. It’s a laudable goal to reduce our expensive dependence on foreign oil but it would be a lot smarter to invest in alternatives like better public transport, renewable electricity and sustainable alternative fuels. read more
    February 3, 2012 10:14 am - 27 Comments
  • Jan Logie

    Another reason to care about equal pay - by Jan Logie



    Aside from the obvious ‘minor’ issues of justice, equality, child poverty, women’s ability to participate in society on an equal footing with men, ethnic/gender disparities and poverty, Australia has just given us another reason to care about Equal Pay. Fair Work Australia workplace tribunal has just made an historic equal play decision for aged care [...] read more
    February 3, 2012 10:07 am - 3 Comments
  • frog

    Doing a stretch in the safety net - by frog



    United States Republican Presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney is getting a pasting for his comment: …I’m not concerned about the very poor; we have a safety net there. Over on Denise Roche’s minimum wage thread here at frogblog, commenter dbuckley recalls for us just what that “safety net” actually is: Yeah… but… you have that wonderful [...] read more
    February 3, 2012 9:17 am - 9 Comments
  • Kennedy Graham

    Syria: The Litmus Test for Palestine - by Kennedy Graham



    This week the UN Security Council is meeting to discuss the situation in Syria. The Council has the opportunity, along with the obligation, to lead in the international community’s call for respect for human rights and political freedoms in this latest country to enjoy the warmth of the Arab Spring. Manoeuvring delicately within the grey [...] read more
    February 2, 2012 5:09 pm - 3 Comments
  • Denise Roche

    Government stuck in the ‘80s on the minimum wage - by Denise Roche



    Sometime around now, Cabinet will be undertaking its annual review of the minimum wage, which currently stands at a lowly $13 an hour. My bet is that we will see another effective nil increase, with the minimum wage being adjusted upwards no more than the level of inflation over the past year. That would be [...] read more
    January 31, 2012 1:19 pm - 59 Comments
  • frog

    General debate, January 31, 2012 - by frog



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    January 31, 2012 7:49 am - 79 Comments
  • Catherine Delahunty

    Children’s privacy rights at risk - by Catherine Delahunty



    The Green Party supports NZEI’s call for schools not to share their  Nationals Standards information because it could lead to the publishing of league tables that unfairly rank schools and infringe on pupils’ privacy. Schools must protect this information from publication because once it is centralised, there is no guarantee it can be kept out [...] read more
    January 30, 2012 4:32 pm - 14 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Energy Strategy to worsen Energy Outlook - by Gareth Hughes



    The Ministry of Economic Development have released their Energy Outlook for New Zealand and it should be a wake-up call for the Government. The report projects New Zealand’s future energy supply, demand, prices and greenhouse gas emissions but the major challenges identified in it are at odds with the Governments ‘drill it, mine’ fossil-fuel-focused Energy Strategy. read more
    January 30, 2012 12:34 pm - 45 Comments
  • Holly Walker

    Getting my frock on - by Holly Walker



    I’ve decided to set my sights for Bike Wise month high in 2012 and take on that doyen of the cycling world, Hutt South MP Trevor Mallard in a head to head challenge. read more
    January 26, 2012 4:56 pm - 1 Comment
  • Holly Walker

    Govt asking the wrong questions on child abuse - by Holly Walker



    The Green Paper for Vulnerable Children should be focused on how to address the root causes of child abuse and neglect – poverty and inequality. read more
    January 26, 2012 11:29 am - 60 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Easy to to have your say on EEZ Bill - by Gareth Hughes



    Submissions for the Government’s new bill regulating the Exclusive Economic Zone close this Friday and we need as many as possible to help improve this law. read more
    January 25, 2012 2:14 pm - 1 Comment
  • Gareth Hughes

    Labour should join call for immediate moratorium on fracking - by Gareth Hughes



    Today Labour renewed its call for an investigation into hydraulic fracturing, or ‘fracking’, and its implications for New Zealand. Considering Labour’s concerns, they should commit to backing the call for an immediate moratorium, the only way we can safeguard our rights to clean water and air and a safe environment read more
    January 25, 2012 11:40 am - 13 Comments
  • frog

    General debate, January 25, 2012 - by frog



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    January 25, 2012 10:04 am - 60 Comments
  • Holly Walker

    Talking Child Poverty in Whangarei - by Holly Walker



    Yesterday I went on my first official trip as an MP, to Whangarei. My colleagues tell me the novelty of the travel will wear off, but I don’t think the buzz from connecting directly with people doing amazing and inspiring work on the issues I care about is going to wear off any time soon. [...] read more
    January 24, 2012 5:57 pm - 37 Comments
  • Julie Anne Genter

    Cycling to Southland — Epilogue - by Julie Anne Genter



    This is how the story ends. Yesterday I took apart my bike and crammed it into the small rental car of a friend attending the festival. We drove back to Dunedin airport, where incredibly helpful people gave us materials to pack up the bike. Upon arrival in Wellington, I unpacked it, put it back together [...] read more
    January 24, 2012 3:37 pm - 21 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    SOPA: Web victory or strategic withdrawal? - by Gareth Hughes



    It was incredibly inspiring to see the Internet mobilise to oppose the two draconian online copyright bills going through the US House and Senate. Whilst it was a victory it’s still too early to see if it will be enduring read more
    January 24, 2012 2:39 pm - 5 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Trans Pacific Partnership to impact Kiwi books - by Gareth Hughes



    According to a leaked draft of the proposed intellectual property chapter, the TPP would require countries (such as Canada, Japan and New Zealand) that meet the international copyright term (standard of life of the author plus 50 years) to add an additional 20 years to the term of protection. read more
    January 24, 2012 11:34 am - 21 Comments
  • Julie Anne Genter

    Day 8 — Made it! - by Julie Anne Genter



    For those of you who have followed my journey, I figured I’d better let you know that I made it safe, sound, and not even too fatigued at the Keep the Coal in the Hole summer festival south of Mataura. A bit anti-climactic, isn’t it? I woke early this morning, and headed for the hilly [...] read more
    January 22, 2012 12:30 am - 73 Comments
  • Julie Anne Genter

    Day 7 — Serenity to accept that I cannot change - by Julie Anne Genter



    I’ve cycled 120km in one day before. Once, when I was 23. It was exhausting then, though I didn’t have much weight on my bike and hadn’t spent the previous week cycling five to eight hours a day. Oh, and I was probably fitter, too.  Eight years later, I thought if there were enough hours in [...] read more
    January 20, 2012 10:31 pm - 3 Comments
  • Julie Anne Genter

    Day 6 – just 110km or so to go - by Julie Anne Genter



    I’m nearly in Southland, having traversed coastal Otago, and headed west into the strong winds this evening. I left beautiful Karitane this morning, after an incredible breakfast that included gluten free pancakes made by my exceedingly generous hosts. The morning was cool and overcast, perfect conditions for cycling, and still very beautiful. The ocean was [...] read more
    January 20, 2012 3:55 pm - 2 Comments
  • frog

    General debate, January 20, 2012 - by frog



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    January 20, 2012 7:34 am - 28 Comments
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