john key Archive

“What Does It Take” … to extract climate change action from this Government? - by Kennedy Graham

Yesterday the World Met. Organization released its annual ‘Statement on the Status of the Global Climate’. The report, which investigates the major climate & weather events of the past year, found 2012 to be the 27th consecutive year with above average global temperatures. Global average temperature in 2012 was 0.45⁰C warmer than the 1961-90 long-term [...] read more
May 6, 2013 4:57 pm - 130 Comments
Trading New Zealand’s credibility in Colombia - by Jan Logie

Last week John Key announced his plan to sell Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV’s) to Colombia. In an effort to build trade and sell off redundant military equipment, John Key seems to have chosen to make New Zealand complicit in the further arming of a potentially illegal military force who has been responsible for very significant human [...] read more
March 12, 2013 8:28 am - 6 Comments
John Key needs to raise killings of unionists during Colombia visit - by Denise Roche

While John Key is pushing the cause of free trade in Colombia, he needs to raise concerns around the appalling number of trade unionists that die protecting workers’ rights there. In 2011, according to the International Trade Union Confederation 29 trade unionists were murdered in Colombia. Colombia is a violent society where helping to organise [...] read more
March 5, 2013 2:17 pm - 4 Comments
John Key and NZ’s refugee obligation - by Jan Logie

Over the last few days, we’ve heard a number of statements from the Prime Minister relating to the decision to take 150 refugees per year from Australian offshore detention centres and the proposal for New Zealand to process asylum seekers arriving here at those same centres. John Key: “One, We don’t take more people, two [...] read more
February 13, 2013 5:20 pm - 8 Comments
Asylum seekers deserve respect, dignity and compassion - by Jan Logie

The announcement that New Zealand will take 150 refugees per year from Australia’s offshore detention centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea is good news for those refugees. They will be able to leave what the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has called “harsh” conditions with a “lack of clear and [...] read more
February 12, 2013 11:07 am - 19 Comments
Discontent over this loss of democracy - by Eugenie Sage

On Tuesday I was on the steps of Parliament with Christchurch based MPs from Labour and NZ First to deliver an open letter to the Prime Minister from seven Christchurch groups and the Wizard of New Zealand seeking a restoration of democracy in Canterbury. We investigated the decision making around the Government’s suspension of Cantabrians’ [...] read more
December 6, 2012 9:42 am - 6 Comments
Hobbit Fever - by Denise Roche

I’ve been a big fan of JRR Tolkien since I was a kid. I was so taken with Lord of the Rings that after I finished reading the books I became convinced that one of my older sisters was a hobbit and she started shaving her toes to shut me up. In my teens my [...] read more
November 29, 2012 5:04 pm - 90 Comments
Pike River, two years on - by Kevin Hague

At the Pike River memorial service held at our local racecourse on a hot, still day in the weeks following the disaster, Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn, who has often had the knack of putting his finger exactly on how our local community is feeling, referred to the Paparoa Ranges towering beside us as “our [...] read more
November 19, 2012 12:54 pm - 11 Comments
Gay red top - by Kevin Hague

Oh all right then. The issue with using the word “gay” in the way the PM did is that it works as a put-down only because it taps into and reinforces a bunch of negative ideas about homosexual people (actually, I didn’t think weird was one of them). As an adult gay man who has [...] read more
November 7, 2012 2:42 pm - 50 Comments
Brain fades to grey - by frog

Has John Key’s brain joined the exodus to Australia? Who or what is actually running the country? If John Key’s brain was sunning itself in Queensland it would explain a few things starting with how the Prime Minister can’t remember anything that it doesn’t suit him to remember. The latest lapse, over how he voted [...] read more
October 19, 2012 3:08 pm - 5 Comments
Marriage Equality – idea whose time has come - by Kevin Hague

Marriage equality is about basic fairness. It is a pretty basic principle of law that discrimination that disadvantages a particular group based on irrelevant criteria is unacceptable, particularly when it is practised by the State. Louisa Wall’s bill to redefine marriage to exclude discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is about eliminating exactly [...] read more
August 14, 2012 11:00 pm - 54 Comments
Meet John Adams, NZ Prime Minister – masking our political shortcomings at Rio - by Kennedy Graham

Some 115 heads of state or government assemble at the 3rd Earth Summit in Rio this week. They include France and Australia. John Key, our erstwhile Prime Minister, is not among them. He has more important things to do. He has sent one of our more junior cabinet ministers, Amy Adams. Amy Adams is a [...] read more
June 22, 2012 8:57 am - 2 Comments
John Key in Indonesia – What about West Papua? - by Catherine Delahunty

The messaging around John Key’s trip to Indonesia has not inspired confidence around the dirty little secret of West Papuan human rights and self-determination. One positive though has been the ability to raise some awareness around the human rights abuses that are currently occurring in West Papua. I hope that the Prime Minister will be [...] read more
April 16, 2012 4:54 pm - 5 Comments
Scary stats about youth health - by Holly Walker

Last Wednesday, I spent the afternoon at Te Papa at a Youth Health and Wellbeing Symposium organised by Auckland University to present and discuss the findings of a youth survey undertaken by their Adolescent Health Research Group. This was the symposium where John Key made his surprise announcements about youth mental health interventions, which I’m cautiously [...] read more
April 8, 2012 11:15 am - 2 Comments
How to crash the budget - by Russel Norman

The fiscal neutrality or otherwise of the 2010 tax changes is important because it goes to the heart of the economic competence of National. They claimed the cut to income tax for upper income earners plus the cut to the company tax rate was balanced by the increase in GST and other tax changes. That [...] read more
April 5, 2012 12:07 pm - 6 Comments
Where does John Banks stand on SkyCity dirty deal? - by Denise Roche

Here’s how the votes look likely to stack up on John Key’s dirty deal under which SkyCity would get a relaxation of casino gambling laws and an increase in their pokie machine numbers in return for building a new convention centre in Auckland. For: National + United Future = 60 Against: Greens + Labour + [...] read more
April 5, 2012 11:21 am - 12 Comments
Education that works for students - by Catherine Delahunty

This week John Key and David Shearer made key note speeches which included references to education. The rhetoric around education flowed freely but I couldn’t hear any depth or real excitement in either speech. Setting targets for NCEA improvement (which is the Government’s plan) and getting of bad schools and bad teachers (which is Labour’s [...] read more
March 16, 2012 5:13 pm - 54 Comments
Better Public Services – or just round two of slash and burn? - by Denise Roche

Today the Government released its vision for public sector reform. Prime Minister John Key has announced major reforms including the establishment of a super-ministry – the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment – merging the Ministries of Economic Development, Science and innovation, the Department of Labour, and, somewhat strangely, the Department of Building and Housing. [...] read more
March 15, 2012 3:03 pm - 4 Comments
Welfare Reform goes nanny goat gruff – Part 1 of many - by Jan Logie

The Green Party believes in an inclusive society, active job creation and basic human rights for every New Zealander. We believe in times of fiscal restraint it is all the more important to value people and foster our points of commonality rather than differences. This may sound all very ‘herbal’ as one friend of mine [...] read more
February 28, 2012 12:20 pm - 15 Comments
A stingy and evidence-averse decision on the minimum wage - by Denise Roche

As I predicted in my blog post last week, John Key’s Government has announced today what amounts to a nil increase in the minimum wage – a paltry increase of 50c an hour. The nominal increase is 3.8% – but at the same time the Consumer Price Index increased 4.6% in the year to September 2011 [...] read more
February 8, 2012 5:33 pm - 15 Comments
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 - 61 Comments
John Key’s new Cabinet announced - by frog

Prime Minister John Key announced his new Cabinet this morning. The line-up is pretty predictable, but some of the portfolio allocations and rankings are interesting: The big winners are Steven Joyce and Hekia Parata, moving up 10 and 13 places respectively in the Cabinet ranking. Parata replaces Anne Tolley as Minister of Education. Paula Bennett’s [...] read more
December 12, 2011 1:02 pm - 10 Comments
National’s war on the poor - by Catherine Delahunty

This afternoon John Key and Paula Bennett announced the National Party’s long-heralded welfare reform package. As I expected, it is a punitive war on the poor that will harass beneficiaries into low paid jobs, or in many cases off benefit and into no job at all because the jobs simply don’t exist. Metiria says National is backing [...] read more
November 1, 2011 5:34 pm - 75 Comments
Kaimoana, Motiti, and the oil - by Metiria Turei

Yesterday I was on Motiti Island, where the hapu have borne the brunt of the oil and debris from the grounded Rena. You can clearly see the Rena really from the coast. The hapu are extremely well organised with clean-up crews. They have all the protective gear and they are sending teams out every day. [...] read more
October 19, 2011 1:31 pm - 14 Comments
PM averse to public service radio - by Sue Kedgley

The Prime Minister is becoming increasingly picky about who he will speak to in the media. While happily fronting a weekly slot on TVNZ’s Breakfast programme, and on Radio Sports, and a one hour special on Radio Live, he has refused virtually all requests for interviews on Radio New Zealand. He has declined 174 requests [...] read more
October 5, 2011 2:14 pm - 22 Comments
“National will not be raising GST” – 1st anniversary edition - by frog

Celebrate the 1st anniversary of National breaking its 2008 election promise to not raise GST by making a commitment to vote for a Party you can trust – the Greens. read more
October 1, 2011 5:49 pm - 12 Comments
Calls to Free West Papua at the Pacific Forum - by Catherine Delahunty

Genocide is not a word to be used lightly but for the last forty years West Papua has been the dirty secret of the Melanesian Pacific. read more
September 8, 2011 11:21 am - 6 Comments
Welfare changes: private profit and political posturing - by Catherine Delahunty

Did I miss something? Did the Prime Minister say he was going to work with the business and community sectors to create jobs at a living wage for the 27 percent of young people with no jobs? No. But he did promise to privitise the management of youth benefits for profit via a food stamps system. read more
August 15, 2011 2:05 pm - 24 Comments
John Key is wrong on Green plan to end child poverty - by frog

On Wednesday Green Co-Leader Metiria Turei launched the Green Party’s plan to bring 100,000 children out of poverty within three years. John Key poured cold water on both the Working for Families and minimum wage proposals contained in the package. But he is wrong on both counts. read more
August 5, 2011 10:54 am - 24 Comments
John Key scared to debate - by frog

Russel questions John Key on why he will go on lightweight shows like the Letterman show and the Tony Veitch show, but refuses to go on Morning Report , Campbell Live or particpate in an all-party leaders debate where he could face tough questions. read more
August 3, 2011 5:06 pm - 14 Comments
More information needed on spy story - by Keith Locke

It’s good that the PM finally backed down on his position that he couldn’t say anything about whether Mossad spies had been operating in New Zealand, for “national security” reasons. Pressure from the Greens, Labour and the media certainly helped the PM shift his stance. However, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. The [...] read more
July 21, 2011 11:57 am - 2 Comments
Nats planning more attacks on workers’ rights - by frog

Not content with its 90 day fire at will legislation, effective nil increases to the minimum wage, undermining workers’ rights to four weeks’ annual leave, and restricting union access to workplaces, John Key has revealed National is planning more attacks on workers’ rights. Radio New Zealand reports: Mr Key has told the Seafood Industry Council [...] read more
June 8, 2011 2:24 pm - 51 Comments
The curious difference between meal of fish and a ticket to Bon Jovi - by frog

Recall National’s current Agriculture Minister David Carter’s words, back in 2004: [Winston] Peters last night vigorously denied claims made on TV One that the meal, at Kermadec Restaurant in Auckland’s Viaduct Basin and paid for by co-owner Peter Simunovich, might imply “corruption”. “I think the allegations are serious. If in any way he was collecting favours, it’s close to corruption,” Carter told the Herald. “At the very least it’s stupid.” read more
June 3, 2011 8:44 am - 24 Comments
Dear John letter from Dr James Hansen - by Gareth Hughes

Before James Hansen, noted climate scientist, left New Zealand he found the time to pen this letter to the Prime Minister. I think it’s a great read and I encourage you to send your own letter to John Key urging for greater climate action from New Zealand. Rt Hon John Key Prime Minister of [...] read more
May 26, 2011 10:08 am - 2 Comments
Statistics, hyperbole, and hypocrisy on the minimum wage - by Metiria Turei

Prime Minister John Key claims the Greens’ policy, now also supported by Labour, of increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour will “put 6000 people out of work.” Key maintains Department of Labour advice supports his claim. So I had a look at the advice, contained in the Department’s 2010 Minimum Wage Review (PDF, [...] read more
May 24, 2011 12:00 pm - 60 Comments
All about National’s infatuation with helicopter rides - by frog

First we had the Tolleychopper. Yep, that’s right! Education Minister Anne Tolley’s idea of getting a “helicopter view” of tertiary education providers in Auckland (before she was relieved by PM John Key of her Tertiary Education portfolio) was to go up in a chopper and have a look from the air at them. But last [...] read more
April 20, 2011 8:41 pm - 32 Comments
SCF: A proper, businesslike, efficient and prudent manner. Yeah, right! - by frog

Yesterday, Treasury released a stack of documents relating to failed finance company South Canterbury Finance’s involvement in the Government’s Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS). They reveal that within two months of entering the DGS, South Canterbury Finance breached its Deed of Guarantee by lending almost $90 million to its parent company, Allan Hubbard’s Southbury Group Limited, [...] read more
April 15, 2011 11:53 am - 56 Comments
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
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
US pressures NZ to tailor legislation for trade access - by David Clendon

According to a report from Radio NZ, a (nameless) United States congressman was happy to tell delegates that if New Zealand wanted to get anywhere with the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement then we may need to alter our intellectual property laws. read more
March 9, 2011 5:00 pm - 6 Comments