Archive for August, 2007

  • Russel Norman

    COG submission guide - by Russel Norman



    Coaltion for Open Government have put out an excellent submission guide for people wanting to make submissions to the Electoral Finance Bill. COG’s position: 1. Get rid of anonymous donations and secret trusts funding the parties. I agree, excellent idea. It’s a disgrace that it was cut out of the bill, as I said at [...] read more
    August 10, 2007 12:27 pm - 41 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    NZ First’s record on foreign investment - by Russel Norman



    NZ First made a big song and dance about the sale of the Auckland airport. But what do they do in practice? Well, during the Third Reading of the Overseas Investment Bill in 2005, Rod Donald moved 15 amendments to try to tighten up the rules but only two were supported by New Zealand First. All [...] read more
    August 10, 2007 11:57 am - 62 Comments
  • frog

    happy conservation week, part II - by frog



    A major diesel spill is polluting the scenic Mahurangi Harbour north of Auckland. Around 13,000 litres of diesel has spilled into the Mahurangi river and onto the harbour says the Auckland Regional Council. (PS the title is sarcasm, as the Greens do not support oil spills.) read more
    August 9, 2007 5:18 pm - 12 Comments
  • frog

    this just in… - by frog



    Minister Exercises Call In Powers For Transmission Line Project Press Release by New Zealand Government at 12:41 pm, 09 Aug 2007 Minister Pete Hodgson today announced he would call in Transpower’s proposal to build an electricity transmission line that would run from Waikato to Auckland. “Transpower’s proposal is of national significance due to the scale [...] read more
    August 9, 2007 1:16 pm - 64 Comments
  • frog

    Stephen Colbert and Michael Moore - by frog



    I did rather enjoy this video, partly due to my Stephen Colbert obsession. I’m looking forward to Sicko, and though I was only able to lend it one amphibian ear, thought the interview on RNZ this morning* with the woman who’s supposed to be bringing Moore down by ‘exposing’ his ‘tactics’ was not quite the [...] read more
    August 7, 2007 5:57 pm - 6 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    Nats and RMA - by Russel Norman



    Aside from the Nats wanting taxpayers and ratepayers to subsidise urban sprawl and developers, the Nats also used their conference to launch the usual attack on the Resource Management Act. Nick Smith’s speech to their conference made a number of proposals for changing the RMA – some good, mostly bad – that threaten to undermine [...] read more
    August 6, 2007 2:42 pm - 17 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    Nats want to subsidise urban sprawl with your rates and taxes - by Russel Norman



    It’s a bit strange that National say they want to look after the environment but at the same time want to subsidise urban sprawl. Two ways they want to subsidise urban sprawl is to cut development levies and build more new motorways. Nick Smith’s speech to their conference complains about development contributions increasing the price [...] read more
    August 6, 2007 11:40 am - 43 Comments
  • frog

    bottled water, anyone? - by frog



    Seems like even the kings of consumerism are coming around on bottled water. In the States, Pepsi has been forced to admit that the number one US bottled water product, the very swish sounding Aquafina, is in fact tap water. It will start labelling the bottles with ‘PWS’ to indicate that the water comes from [...] read more
    August 3, 2007 4:24 pm - 5 Comments
  • frog

    emissions on the up - by frog



    The Ministry of Economic Development today released an annual report on New Zealand’s energy greenhouse gas emissions, with the snappy title of ‘Energy Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990-2006′. The report is downloadable here. Jeanette’s release is here. read more
    August 2, 2007 9:18 pm - 26 Comments
  • frog

    country of origin strikes a chord - by frog



    Sue Kedgley is taking another swing at getting some Country of Origin labeling on our food by launching a petition today. She was on Nine to Noon this morning, with Mark Jeffries, CEO of Meat and Wool and Sam McIvor, CEO of the New Zealand Pork Industry Board. The response has been enormous, and, anecdotally, [...] read more
    August 2, 2007 1:02 pm - 49 Comments
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