Archive for February, 2010

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  National XT - by frog

  
  
  
  The real reason Telecom called their new network XT? read more
  February 28, 2010 8:16 am - 8 Comments
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  Leaky homes – $22bn to fix? - by frog

  
  
  
  We’ve all known about the leaky homes fiasco for a long time now, but for me (and the government, it sounds like!) the scale has only just sunk in, after reading an article in the NZ Herald this morning. A few choice tidbits: The vast majority – between 80 and 100 per cent – of [...] read more
  February 27, 2010 11:42 am - 55 Comments
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  Nats undermining open government - by frog

  
  
  
  The National-led Government is attempting to avoid public scrutiny of Bills by making Regulatory Impact Statements almost as hard to find as Phil Heatley’s and Gerry Brownlee’s Ministerial credit card receipts. A very poor look as far as open government is concerned. read more
  February 26, 2010 6:49 pm - 12 Comments
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  Auckland: Why not?!?! - by frog

  
  
  
  David Clendon says: “The Auckland Transition Agency (ATA) is taking the “local” out of local government.” “The ATA released a discussion document about local boards, but with no detail about their roles and responsibilities.” “All we have heard today are abstract, ‘in principle’ statements, with far too little substance. This is totally unacceptable only months [...] read more
  February 26, 2010 5:04 pm - 5 Comments
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  If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, Paula - by frog

  
  
  
  Nothing about work-shy unemployment beneficiary Benjamin Easton’s case demonstrates any need to change the work test requirements for unemployment beneficiaries. There are already strict obligations on unemployment beneficiaries to look for work. All Paula Bennett needs to do is get her Ministry to apply them. read more
  February 26, 2010 12:23 pm - 42 Comments
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  S.O.RNZ (Save our Radio New Zealand) - by Sue Kedgley

  
  
  
    It was great to see several hundred people at Parliament yesterday, protesting the government’s freezing of funding for Radio New Zealand. I hope this is just the first protest of many around the country. Already there are signs that the government under-estimated the level of support for Radio New Zealand, and if we keep [...] read more
  February 26, 2010 12:22 pm - 11 Comments
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  Economics is not as certain as some people make out – the minimum wage - by frog

  
  
  
  In economics theories come into fashion, wane, get tossed onto the junk heap and sometimes dusted off and given another run around the block. For example, the minimum wage: A common claim is that wages are like any other price and as such obey the economic laws that govern supply and demand. Therefore, raising the [...] read more
  February 25, 2010 5:34 pm - 22 Comments
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  Phil Heatley’s priorities - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  An interesting aside to the Phil Heatley saga. I have been calling on central govt to consider sewerage systems as important infrastructure and financially support communities like Whangarei to upgrade them. There were 45 raw sewage discharges last year in Whangarei, many of them in the Harbour. Yuk. Phil Heatley, the local member, dismissed my suggestion [...] read more
  February 25, 2010 3:59 pm - 30 Comments
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  Public want spending caps - by frog

  
  
  
  Looks like the public agree that elections should be a battle of ideas not money. Check out this poll, last time I looked 83% of people voted for lobby groups having campaign spending caps.   Last week Metiria grilled Minister Power about caps in the House. read more
  February 25, 2010 12:19 pm - 3 Comments
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  General Debate, Feb 25th 2010 - by frog

  
  
  
  Phil Heatley. What on earth is going on there? I’m chewing over the report on Environment Canterbury at the moment. What interesting bits can you find? The Save Radio New Zealand facebook group is cranking read more
  February 25, 2010 11:34 am - 69 Comments
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  Is Roger anti-youth? - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Roger Douglas is a lucky man. He’s now got two Private Members Bill out of the ballot, with his latest Minimum Wage (Mitigation of Youth Unemployment) Amendment Bill, pity they’re both so terrible. You’ve got to ask though – is Roger anti-youth? His youth rate Bill would reverse Sue Bradford’s success from 46th Parliament to [...] read more
  February 25, 2010 9:57 am - 35 Comments
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  Podcast: MMP or Bust - by frog

  
  
  
  Twenty years ago, Rod Donald led the campaign to reform our First Past the Post electoral system and replace it with a more representative one – MMP. After his success, Rod went on to become the first male Co-leader of the Green Party. Rod is no longer here to defend his political legacy, but the party [...] read more
  February 25, 2010 8:03 am - 6 Comments
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  Trifling with the Truth - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  In politics, it is said – especially by those not in politics – truth is the first casualty.  You do not have to be long in this game to know that ‘truth’, whose ‘true’ meaning philosophers spend aeons in the hereafter debating, is an elastic commodity on the parliamentary market.  But among politicians themselves, there [...] read more
  February 24, 2010 4:45 pm - 13 Comments
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  Spooks stay mum - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  There is stiff competition among government departments as to who can produce the most vacuous documents. But no-one can beat the SIS and the Government Communications Security Bureau, both of whom tabled their annual reports yesterday. read more
  February 24, 2010 4:36 pm - 14 Comments
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  Sign petition to stop National developing Waitakeres - by frog

  
  
  
  As David Clendon blogged last week there has been a lot of concern in West Auckland about the  impacts the third super city bill might have on the Waitakere Ranges. First, Westies were concerned that the Bill might lead to the Waitakeres being taken away from the Auckland Council and made into a National Park. [...] read more
  February 24, 2010 1:36 pm - 5 Comments
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  Fresh water wasted out to sea - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Now here’s something to send a shiver down the spine of anyone with green inclinations – John Key in the House yesterday when I asked him about his plans for more big dams in Canterbury:   Yes, I do agree that there is pressure on the aquifers in the Canterbury region. The way to resolve [...] read more
  February 24, 2010 10:53 am - 29 Comments
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  Welcome to a dimmer future - by frog

  
  
  
  The government has failed to listen to the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who have had their lives enriched by night classes. They had no mandate to make these cuts and have ignored the fact that night classes have made a significant contribution to the economy at a minimal cost. read more
  February 24, 2010 8:19 am - 26 Comments
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  Members’ Bills – the good, the bad, and the ugly - by frog

  
  
  
  There were three Members’ Bills drawn from the ballot today. The good Bill is Green MP David Clendon’s Smart Meters (Consumer Choice) Bill.  It gives effect to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s recommendations to ensure all electricity meters have functionality that enables them to automatically control loads and to talk to smart appliances. It [...] read more
  February 23, 2010 3:17 pm - 28 Comments
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  Not Our Heritage to Mine Karangahake - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  On Friday last I hosted a meeting about the effects of mining at the Karangahake Hall near Paeroa. The hall is close to a major historical and recreational area including many artefacts and remnants from the early gold mining days. It is also close to the newest gold mining permit issued for the Coromandel area. [...] read more
  February 23, 2010 2:44 pm - 12 Comments
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  NZEI Bus Tour out west - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I have always had trouble with geography in West Auckland and frequently get lost in Glen Eden while trying to get to Muriwai or Karekare beaches. Today was no exception when I tried to find the NZEI National Standards campaign bus at a mall out west. I entered a kind of Bermuda Triangle of malls [...] read more
  February 23, 2010 2:39 pm - 25 Comments