labour party Archive

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  Privatisation in education legislation

  
  
  
  The word opposition doesn’t always describe Labour’s voting patterns. In fact, Labour have voted with National almost exactly as often as the Maori Party, even though Labour is the official opposition, and the Maori Party is actually part of the Government! [For the political junkies, Labour have voted with National 12 times at first readings, and [...] read more
  March 19, 2010 2:46 pm - 16 Comments
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  Auckland Supercity – Rogernomics Round 2

  
  
  
  The Super (Monster?) City meetings we are hosting along with Labour are well under way, and we are getting good numbers attending.  What is coming through loudly and clearly is that people are angry and frustrated at the blatant attack on democracy and the underlying agenda of ‘Rogernomics Round 2’. Waiheke last Thursday attracted 40-odd fired [...] read more
  February 4, 2010 2:19 pm - 1 Comment
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  Labour culpable on RMA chainsaw massacre

  
  
  
  The chainsaws are warming up for the first of October, as National’s rushed RMA deforms come into effect even earlier than originally proposed. What irks me no end is Labour’s Phil Twyford grandstanding on the axing of tree protection, when he and his Labour Party voted in favour of the very RMA changes he is complaining about. read more
  September 10, 2009 2:27 pm - 69 Comments
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  From little things, big things grow…

  
  
  
  There was a recurring riff behind National’s opposition to two very different Bills on Members’ Day Wednesday. One commonality was that both Bills were voted down by National, Act and United Future, and supported by Greens, Labour, Progressives and Maori Parties. But the riff I want to highlight is the idea that the problem is so [...] read more
  June 19, 2009 11:33 am - 7 Comments
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  Seeing the forest and the trees

  
  
  
  RadioNZ reported this morning that forest plantings in NZ are at their lowest level since World War II. The report shows that just 1000 hectares of new forest was established during 2008 – down from 2400ha in 2007. New planting peaked at 100,000ha in 1992. Deforestation (not replanting forest after harvesting or converting forest to [...] read more
  May 21, 2009 3:30 pm - 5 Comments
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  Labour MIA at the Maori representation hui

  
  
  
  The hui at Orakei Marae today was excellent. Ngati Whaatua put out the call for Maori in Tamaki Makaurau to gather to consider what should be done next to oppose the government’s rejection of guaranteed Maori seats on the new Auckland unitary council. They have decided to hold a hikoi on 25 May, [...] read more
  April 15, 2009 4:01 pm - 246 Comments
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  Labour’s disrespect for open government

  
  
  
  After voters got a chance to know in time for the election Labour has finally declared it has taken $100,000 from a company called Resource Finance Ltd, which is registered at the same address as the infamous Vela Fishing Ltd. There are still no declarations from National or the other parties, including United Future, although perhaps [...] read more
  November 11, 2008 8:34 am - 7 Comments
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  The ideas are free and plentiful – you just need to ask

  
  
  
  An interesting discussion from the Otago Daily Times’ Dene Mackenzie – who was lunching with Jeanette and Australian Green Leader Bob Brown yesterday: Senator Brown said the injection of new ideas in politics around the world was coming from the Greens and there [...] read more
  November 6, 2008 9:26 pm - 9 Comments
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  A ship leaving a sinking rat?

  
  
  
  Russel’s reiteration of the Greens long-standing position on the Winston Peters scandals – that the Greens would probably not be able to sit at a cabinet table with Peters unless everything was cleared up – seems to have got a lot more media coverage this time around than previously. And Helen Clark seems to have [...] read more
  November 4, 2008 10:11 am - 7 Comments
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  You’re free to pay

  
  
  
  Brian Rudman seems to have found a Labour Party candidate who agrees with Green policy All power to Viv Goldsmith, Labour’s candidate in East Coast Bays, for speaking out against the fiction that school fees are “donations”… Ms Goldsmith, a teacher herself, says she mails off her request for fees to the minister each time she gets [...] read more
  October 31, 2008 1:33 pm - 13 Comments