national party Archive

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  Is Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bill English a climate change denier? - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Is the Deputy Prime Minister of our country a climate change denier? It may well be the case. During question time in Parliament yesterday I wanted to get into the lack of focus and inaction from this Government on climate change which is starkly highlighted by the suffering our drought-stricken farmers are going through. I [...] read more
  March 14, 2013 12:30 pm - 142 Comments
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  MMP changes belong to the people, not parties - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  The final report of the MMP review was released yesterday after a robust public consultation process. Parliament now needs to respect this process and implement recommendations that will strengthen our electoral system in the long term. read more
  November 6, 2012 8:55 pm - 5 Comments
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  Schools should appoint their own principals - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I am concerned by media reports that the Ministry of Education is considering taking off boards of trustees the role of hiring their school’s principal. Rumours about such a significant proposal should not be swirling around in the media without a confirmation or denial from the Ministry. School boards and parents should be formally notified [...] read more
  December 19, 2011 7:42 pm - 9 Comments
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  Democracy, secrecy, and good process. - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  On Thursday, Keith Locke and I spent a good part of the day in the House going to bat against the government’s ‘secret squirrel’ bill to amend the Police Act that Frog blogged on earlier .  Our objections to the bill were matters both of process and substance.  I want to comment here just on the process, which was appalling, [...] read more
  August 19, 2011 12:24 pm - 5 Comments
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  g.blog’s resurrection, and that of Bob Clarkson - by frog

  
  
  
  Many current frogblog readers probably won’t have heard of g.blog. g.blog was set up before the 2008 election, but has been in hibernation for a while.  It is a blog where any Green Party member can post. If you are a Green member,  all you need to do to get posting rights at g.blog is [...] read more
  June 1, 2011 6:19 pm - 6 Comments
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  Space Oddity – the David Farrar version - by frog

  
  
  
  This is ground control to Major Don, you’ve really made the grade And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear Now it’s time to leave the capsule if you dare If I was a member of the ACT Board, I would be asking why are all these National Party members trying to take [...] read more
  April 25, 2011 5:44 pm - 14 Comments
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  Greens could lead Government in Germany, and here… - by frog

  
  
  
  The Greens are now the largest opposition party in Germany, according to a poll commissioned by news magazine Stern. Support for the center-left environmentalist party has risen to 28 percent, seven points higher than in the previous survey. The Social Democrats (SPD), traditionally Germany’s largest center-left party, are polling at 23 percent. Add up the numbers! read more
  April 8, 2011 6:46 pm - 9 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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  Blue Greens addition to Lake Ellesmere Te Waihora - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  One of the initiatives of National’s Blue Greens was to extend the length of time that one farmer could continue to graze the edges of Lake Ellesmere Te Waihora near Christchurch. This is what they are adding to the lake: Yep, that’s a lot of cow pats next to the lake (photo from 2005) - faeces just waiting [...] read more
  February 8, 2011 10:02 pm - 4 Comments
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  Green ravings = government policy, apparently. - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  My second favourite comic strip is Matthew Hooton’s weekly contribution to the National Business Review. The NBR is a useful read – its political perspective and analysis is generally different from mine, and they break some interesting stories. In the latest (December 3rd) issue, Mr Hooton reveals that, “…everyone from Mr [Trevor] Mallard to Mr [...] read more
  December 6, 2010 8:00 am - 18 Comments
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  Crash National’s party – protest against attacks on work rights - by frog

  
  
  
  The NZCTU are organising a protest against National’s attacks on workers rights – outside the National Party Conference: Sky City Hotel, Main Entrance 72 Victoria Street West, Auckland City, this Sunday 18th July, 10.00am. If you live in Auckland, try to make it along. read more
  July 17, 2010 12:39 pm - 55 Comments
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  National reveals its anti-worker colours - by frog

  
  
  
  John Key’s Government has won a lot of plaudits for being “Labour-lite”, and that has probably helped sustain its consistently high opinion poll ratings. But today the Government revealed its true colours. No more “Labour-lite” – this National-led government has now revealed itself as hard right wing and anti-worker. read more
  July 15, 2010 7:41 pm - 61 Comments
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  Love it, Don’t mine it - by frog

  
  
  
  This week saw the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day. There have been events marking the occasion all around the country, many sponsored by the Green Party. These culminate today with events in Auckland, Thames, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin. Our Green MPs will be there and invite you to join them in sending [...] read more
  April 24, 2010 6:03 am - 5 Comments
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  FPP: A perverse affront to democracy - by frog

  
  
  
  Today the Electoral Referendum Bill will have its First Reading in Parliament, so it is timely to recall how much of a perverse affront to democracy the First Past the Post (FPP) electoral system New Zealanders threw out in 1993 was. read more
  April 22, 2010 12:33 pm - 18 Comments
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  Podcast: Natural health – a new direction - by frog

  
  
  
  On Friday the Green and National Parties released a proposal to establish a new stand-alone New Zealand regulator for natural health products. Green Party Health Spokesperson Sue Kedgley has been collaborating with Health Minister Tony Ryall and Associate Health Minister Jonathan Coleman on the proposal. This work is part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) [...] read more
  March 22, 2010 10:29 am - 4 Comments
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  Privatisation in education legislation - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  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, [...] read more
  March 19, 2010 2:46 pm - 18 Comments
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  Global concern at Nats’ plan to mine national parks - by frog

  
  
  
  Scrutiny of Government plans to mine our conservation lands is deepening internationally. And it’s got people hot on Facebook too. The Sunday Star Times ran a powerful feature on the weekend called “Picture imperfect”. It looks at international concern at New Zealand’s environmental performance, including National’s plan to mine conservation land: IT’S JUST a stock-take [...] read more
  December 7, 2009 8:30 pm - 10 Comments
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  What Would Rod Say? - by frog

  
  
  
  This first anniversary of the National-led government is also the fourth anniversary of the death of former Green Party Co-Leader, Rod Donald. With the many retrospectives being written about the “new” government, my thoughts turn today to what Rod might have thought about the developments of the last year. There’s been commentary claiming the government [...] read more
  November 6, 2009 5:33 pm - 68 Comments
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  Mokihinui – Brownlee’s burp - by frog

  
  
  
  So this week our Minister of Mining and Damming (aka Energy and Resources) let slip that the Mokihinui hydro-dam “would not go ahead”. Does he know something or was it just his ‘opinion’? Whatever the brain-burp was, he was ill-advised to say it but it’d be nice to think that there may be Moki fans in Government – perhaps they are closet readers of the 1400-fan facebook page! read more
  November 5, 2009 10:16 pm - 28 Comments
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  Burning the Mona Lisa to cook dinner - by frog

  
  
  
  Well known conservative commentator Thomas Friedman contends that destroying our biodiversity to fuel unregulated economic growth is like burning the Mona Lisa to cook dinner. The issue of how we should treat natural capital in our economy resurfaced today in a new economic think-tank report. read more
  November 3, 2009 3:49 pm - 11 Comments
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  Think our native forests were safe? Think again. - by frog

  
  
  
  “Agricultural intensification over the past 10 years has led to the highest rate of native vegetation loss since European colonisation.” Landcare Research Annual Report read more
  November 2, 2009 11:29 am - 18 Comments
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  Green Oral Question for today - by frog

  
  
  
  In Parliament today, the Green Party’s Questions for Oral Answer (number 3) is from Russel Norman to the Minister of Finance, Bill English: Does he stand by his statement that “water assets will not be privatised as a result of the restructuring” of local government; and if so, how does he reconcile it with Cabinet’s [...] read more
  October 29, 2009 11:42 am - 30 Comments
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  Chalking Nick in Nelson - by frog

  
  
  
  Chalking the opinion of many on the streets of Nelson this morning and challenging Nick Smith, who welcomed Schedule 4 thus: “This Bill at long last puts some pegs in the sand in some very significant areas of New Zealand and says to the mining industries of New Zealand: “These are no-go areas.”…” read more
  October 27, 2009 2:31 pm - 7 Comments
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  Gutting ACC – Sewer-side Smith - by frog

  
  
  
  It won’t matter if a suicide victim was incapable of forming a rational intent. It won’t matter if the suicide was caused by an abject failure of mental health services to provide appropriate treatment. The victim’s family will get no help from ACC. It’s just not fair. read more
  October 20, 2009 9:04 am - 1 Comment
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  Gutting ACC – it’s just not fair: Hearing loss - by frog

  
  
  
  The ACC scheme is a social contract. Before ACC came into being, New Zealanders were able to sue each other for personal injury. We gave up that right, in return for the no-fault, comprehensive cover scheme that is ACC. National wants to erode the comprehensive cover aspect of the scheme in an ominous way. read more
  October 16, 2009 1:41 pm - 10 Comments
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  Gutting ACC: What a shambles! - by frog

  
  
  
  I’m planning to do a series of frogblog posts on National’s plans to gut ACC, highlighting the devastating impact of each of them on people who have been injured and their families. But before I even got to post the first one, ACC Minister Nick Smith has revealed how badly National has politically managed their [...] read more
  October 15, 2009 5:52 pm - 28 Comments
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  Minister Smith please stand up - by frog

  
  
  
  Nick has been surprisingly silent on the decision of Ministers Brownlee and Groser to do a stock-take of our premiere conservation land for its mining potential. Was he consulted? We know he was given a copy of Brownlee’s speech prior, but did he read it? Does he support it? What’s up, Nick? read more
  October 4, 2009 9:11 am - 22 Comments
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  Undermining our most generous gifts - by frog

  
  
  
  On 23 September 1887 – 122 years ago yesterday – Te Heuheu Tukino of Tuwharetoa gifted the mountains of Tongariro, Ngaruhoe and Ruapehu to the people of Aotearoa…. This anniversary was sullied by the fact that the Crown is now considering the Park’s mining potential. read more
  September 24, 2009 2:30 pm - 12 Comments
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  From little things, big things grow… - by frog

  
  
  
  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 [...] read more
  June 19, 2009 11:33 am - 7 Comments
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  Green MPs Support 350 Challenge - by frog

  
  
  
  Green MPs support Bill McKibben’s campaign to reduce carbon in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, down from the current 389 ppm which is going up every year.  Scientists believe this would keep the global temperature rise to less than 2C. Meanwhile, the NACT government struggles with denial.  National’s “target” is a 50% reduction [...] read more
  June 9, 2009 7:00 am - 42 Comments
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  Seeing the forest and the trees - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  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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  I’ll ask again: Should Sam resign? - by frog

  
  
  
  Way back in November of last year, asked; should Sam resign? Those were heady days for the national Party, and in all seriousness I asked if new MP Sam Lotu-liga could handle the workload of being both a City Councillor and an MP. An article in The Aucklander this week finally provides the answer. read more
  May 15, 2009 7:38 am - 43 Comments
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  Nice words, but where’s the action? - by frog

  
  
  
  The release of a Strategy for New Zealand Dairy Farming slipped quietly under the public’s radar this week, with few media picking it up. At the Strategy launch, the PM and Ag Minister David Carter mooed in the direction of the environment: the PM said, “It is important that farmers step up and take leadership [...] read more
  May 9, 2009 8:05 pm - 6 Comments
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  Bradford’s Truth – An MoU and a coup - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  My regular column in the New Zealand Truth appeared again today: A couple of weeks ago the Green Party signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National-led Government. Some of our supporters have been worried that perhaps we are selling our souls to the Nats in return for a few favours. However, I would like [...] read more
  April 23, 2009 12:24 pm - 43 Comments
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  Labour MIA at the Maori representation hui - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  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, the 31st [...] read more
  April 15, 2009 4:01 pm - 246 Comments
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  Greens sign MoU with National - by frog

  
  
  
  I confess it makes an interesting headline, that! nevertheless, here is a video of the press conference, for your viewing pleasure: Despite what a few on frogblog have been saying, this MoU is exactly what we said we would do before, during and after the election – that is – work constructively with National on [...] read more
  April 9, 2009 11:20 am - 76 Comments
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  The biggest Maori urban population shut out from their own city - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  National’s decision to ditch the Maori seats on the Auckland super city is another means to remove Maori from the barest minimum of decision-making in the biggest Maori city in the country. Catherine has blogged on the general issue before but the issues are even more acute in Auckland. According the 2006 census, nearly 25% [...] read more
  April 7, 2009 6:03 pm - 59 Comments
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  Where everyone bags a bargain… - by frog

  
  
  
  News today that the Warehouse is moving to introduce a 10c fee for plastic bags is worthy of a shout out. The Environment Minister and the Mayor of Waitakere also welcomed it. The Minister’s statement is interesting for his comment that: “This approach is also consistent with the Government’s Bluegreen agenda of encouraging more environmentally friendly behaviour [...] read more
  March 18, 2009 4:20 pm - 7 Comments
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  Hope that the Foreshore Act will be repealed is real - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  I was at the announcement of the terms of reference of the Foreshore review yesterday. It was rather hard in some respects, seeing many people there who were such a major part of the campaign against the law and remembering what an awful campaign of hatred it was. I heard the Maori Party clearly state [...] read more
  March 5, 2009 10:37 am - 45 Comments
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  Lowest paid should not be expected to bear the cost of recession - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  Rumours are growing in Wellington that National will not increase the minimum wage this year. A Government announcement is expected on or before 9 February. Intimations that Kate Wilkinson, the new Minister of Labour, will recommend a nil minimum wage increase to Cabinet have hit the blogosphere despite her own Department supporting a rise from [...] read more
  January 27, 2009 1:57 pm - 105 Comments