Archive for June, 2005

• 

  Kids matter

  
  
  
  Sue B launched the Greens’ children’s policy for the 2005 election at a child summit in Hamilton yesterday. Some key points: Work towards eliminating child poverty by 2010. Increase the rate of state house provision. Encourage a far more child-friendly workplace culture, including through flexible working hours, breastfeeding facilities, and tax incentives to employers. Retain the right of sole [...] read more
  June 30, 2005 12:08 pm - 3 Comments
• 

  Winston First

  
  
  
  There’s a debate about tax on TV One at 8.30pm tonight, featuring representatives of almost all parties in Parliament, including Rod. The Herald is focusing on the fact that Labour is putting up Steve Maharey, not Michael Cullen, for the debate. This is being portrayed by National as Dr Cullen running scared. I’m more interested [...] read more
  June 30, 2005 12:05 pm - 6 Comments
• 

  5% Pure

  
  
  
  Last week, the Greens’ launched, in conjunction with our environment policy, a series of ads highlighting the fact that only 5 percent of New Zealand’s lowland rivers are safe for drinking and swimming in. The posters were a parody of Tourism New Zealand’s 100% Pure campaign, and had the headline 5% Pure. However, it’s [...] read more
  June 30, 2005 10:50 am - 1 Comment
• 

  Goff’s spin (2)

  
  
  
  The other aspect of the Government’s shameful spinning on the Zimbabwe issue is the way it has tried to seamlessly move from ambivalence to staunch opposition to the tour without anyone noticing, So, let’s have a little history lesson. What started as a “we’re not going to get involved – whether the tour goes ahead [...] read more
  June 30, 2005 10:46 am - No Comments
• 

  Goff’s spin (1)

  
  
  
  The Government was caught napping on Zimbabwe. Rod raised the issue with them in April. Now, in late July, having failed to do anything for two and a half months, they’re finally changing their tune. However, this changing of tune has required some incredible spinning that hasn’t really been exposed in the media coverage. One [...] read more
  June 30, 2005 10:44 am - 2 Comments
• 

  Brash gives it a bash

  
  
  
  I promise to do the decent thing and move on from Dr Brash’s “gays are not mainstream New Zealanders” gaffe, but I’ve read a couple more things on the issue worth quoting. The first, a comment from icehawk on my previous post on this issue, reads: Brash’s problem is that he’s trying to go two ways [...] read more
  June 29, 2005 3:36 pm - 2 Comments
• 

  The gender divide

  
  
  
  It’s always interesting when media outlets provide demographic breakdowns of their political polling. The Herald has a story today illustrating something that’s been clear for a long while: women like Labour; men like National. In a Fairfax poll a few weeks ago, Labour had a 13-point lead over National among women, while National led [...] read more
  June 29, 2005 11:43 am - 13 Comments
• 

  A debate, anyone?

  
  
  
  One of lamentable things about this Labour Government is that, when the pressure has gone on, it has refused to stand up for its principles. For one, it has refused to stand up for the Maori renaissance, and defend the race-based policies that contributed to it. In the Herald this morning, Tapu Misa offers the [...] read more
  June 29, 2005 11:38 am - 1 Comment
• 

  tadpole ‘toon

  
  
  
  While Zimbabwe burns, and everyone appeals to Umpire Goff to give the Black Caps’ tour “Out!”, the man in the white coat dithers… Put your finger up, Phil! read more
  June 28, 2005 5:42 pm - No Comments
• 

  Homophobe or opportunist?

  
  
  
  So, the new theory about Brash’s “gays are not mainstream New Zealanders” gaffe is that it was no gaffe at all. Rather, he is trying to do two things simultaneously: appeal to the homophobic and stay cool with gays. So, you have him saying on National Radio “gays are no mainstream” and then him “clarifying” [...] read more
  June 28, 2005 12:22 pm - 20 Comments