Archive for March, 2011

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  Something is crap about Government priorities in Canterbury - by frog

  
  
  
  Here’s John Key, at a public meeting in Timaru last night, talking about (audio) the Government’s knowledge of the financial woes of South Canterbury Finance: But for the entire time I’ve been Prime Minister I’ve had the Treasury in my office, week after week, month after month,  telling me South Canterbury Finance was going bankrupt. [...] read more
  March 31, 2011 7:03 pm - 12 Comments
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  Pollution threatens Māori tradition - by frog

  
  
  
  I was saddened to receive this open letter from Mike Stevens.  Mike is Ngāi Tahu and his family go muttonbirding each year on the Tītī islands in Foveaux Strait. They are the only hapū who still preserve the birds they catch in traditional kelp bags (pōhā). As you can see from the story below, the [...] read more
  March 31, 2011 1:55 pm - 6 Comments
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  Tertiary education cuts still not healing - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The Tertiary Education Union is concerned that NorthTec is looking to cut positions in trades training at a time when there is already a serious skills shortage.   We can expect the demand for trades people will only increase when the rebuilding of Christchurch begins in earnest, and the development of infrastructure in Auckland proceeds apace, among other things.  I’m [...] read more
  March 31, 2011 1:08 pm - 2 Comments
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  Podcast: Courteney, Catherine and the WWG - by frog

  
  
  
  In our most recent podcast we talk to Courteney, 19-year-old mum of 8-month-old Summer, and first year law student at Victoria University, about her experiences balancing parenting and study on the DPB, and her thoughts on the Welfare Working Group’s final report. read more
  March 31, 2011 11:00 am - 4 Comments
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  General debate, March 31, 2011 - by frog

  
  
  
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  March 31, 2011 7:34 am - 35 Comments
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  Bullying in schools - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  This is a very old and a painful issue for many people. I was bullied in my primary school and I bet most people reading this have either witnessed or experienced bullying in schools. The issue of what to do with persistent bullies sounds simple: kick them out! But it’s not as simple as it [...] read more
  March 30, 2011 4:48 pm - 36 Comments
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  Govt needs to wake up to sleepover case - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  It is great news that the Government has agreed to enter into negotiations with disability support workers and their unions. read more
  March 30, 2011 2:12 pm - 2 Comments
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  National will not be raising GST – April Fools Day reprise - by frog

  
  
  
  This Friday is April Fools’ Day. It also will mark six months since the National-led Government increased GST to 15%, despite John Key’s pre-election promise. How’s the increase affecting your wallet? read more
  March 30, 2011 12:51 pm - 7 Comments
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  More signs of Green change from Germany - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  The Green Party’s election victory in the Baden-Wurttemberg state parliament highlights the emergence of the Green movement as a major political force. For the first time in Germany the Greens will lead a coalition government with the traditional left party, the Social Democrats, taking the minor party role. The road to political success for the [...] read more
  March 29, 2011 1:29 pm - 9 Comments
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  Larry Baldock and the Dickheads - by frog

  
  
  
  No, I didn’t mistake Larry Baldock and the Dickheads for Ian Dury and the Blockheads, who were 1970s icons with songs like Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, and Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick. Ian Dury, who was impaired by poliomyelitis, also wrote and performed a wonderful song Spasticus Autisticus, protesting against the [...] read more
  March 28, 2011 9:50 pm - 39 Comments
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  Leave oil before oil leaves us - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  ‘Auckland Unleashed’ is the catchy title of the draft discussion document that will inform the proposed Auckland Spatial plan.  In an earlier blog post I indicated the political battle looming between Auckland’s elected councillors and central Government, who have very different visions for the city’s future. Auckland City’s discussion document makes the case for a compact city, [...] read more
  March 28, 2011 2:34 pm - 29 Comments
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  Cricket World Cup: Something for New Zealand to be proud of - by frog

  
  
  
  At least New Zealanders have something to bolster our spirits at the moment. New Zealand are the only non-Asian team left in the Cricket World Cup. How about that! South Africa gone (defeated by New Zealand), Australia gone, England gone, West Indies gone! We may have a Government that is clueless about the economy, has [...] read more
  March 27, 2011 7:40 pm - 1 Comment
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  General debate, March 27, 2011 - by frog

  
  
  
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  March 27, 2011 7:53 am - 98 Comments
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  The Welfare Working Group and its distinctly unambitious target - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  At page 60 of its report the Welfare Working Group suggests: “From the modelling reported in Chapter 10, we are of the view that the evidence from welfare reform in New Zealand and overseas indicates that a reduction of around 100,000 people [in receipt of working age benefits] is very ambitious but feasible.” Let’s put that into context [...] read more
  March 25, 2011 2:04 pm - 43 Comments
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  Disability and paying carers who are family - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  This week I hosted a forum at Parliament for a very challenging campaign. I invited all MPs, but only the Green MPs supported it. Maybe the others were all very busy, but many from Labour and National seem to find it hard to meet the families who have called for their help in vain for [...] read more
  March 25, 2011 12:23 pm - 2 Comments
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  Saved from recession by the Christchurch quake? - by frog

  
  
  
  Yesterday, Statistics New Zealand released numbers showing the economy grew by 0.2 per cent in the three months ended December 31, having contracted by 0.2 per cent in the third quarter last year. So we’ve avoided recession, but only by our fingertips. Or have we? read more
  March 25, 2011 8:26 am - 5 Comments
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  Children on the margins - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  A report released this week (PDF) by the Children’s Commissioner calls for quality childcare services, especially for under two-year-olds. It will take more than a report to convince the current Government – whose cost-cutting includes undermining the goal of 100% fully qualified staff in early childhood centres – to invest properly in Early Childhood Education. [...] read more
  March 24, 2011 1:15 pm - 9 Comments
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  Hypocrisy reigns over Libya - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  Many people were conned into supporting the Western military involvement on the basis that it was just creating a “no-fly zone”. Now we find that it is a comprehensive air war against all of Gaddafi’s armed forces read more
  March 24, 2011 10:56 am - 31 Comments
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  The Welfare Working Group and the work test police - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  One of the cornerstones of the recommendations of the Welfare Working Group’s report (PDF) is sanctions against beneficiaries who “fail” work tests. Their thesis is that work will set you free from “welfare dependency” and if you fail to actively seek work your benefit should be cut for your own good! The concept of “failing” [...] read more
  March 24, 2011 9:21 am - 43 Comments
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  Swimming with the sharks - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Sharks are amazing creatures and fearsome predators, but they don’t stand a chance against our industrial fishing fleets and growing demand for shark fin soup. Shark finning − the practice of killing a shark, cutting off its fins, and discarding the carcass back to sea − is still legal in New Zealand, and like killing [...] read more
  March 24, 2011 8:27 am - 1 Comment