national Archive

  • Catherine Delahunty

    “Choice” versus fairness in education - by Catherine Delahunty



    Why is it that this country continues to adopt failed models from elsewhere instead of strengthening our own structures based on our own experience? The schools and communities of South Auckland and Eastern Christchurch are being used to justify ideological experimentation. After all there are many good schools doing their best in these regions and [...] read more
    December 7, 2011 5:08 pm - 71 Comments
  • frog

    State of the Planet speech 2011 - by frog



    Last Sunday Russel gave the annual State of the Planet speech to a packed and excited crowd at Te Mahurehure Marae in Auckland. It was a great and powerful speech that clearly defined the Green vision for Aotearoa. Russel also attacked National and Labour for bludging off our grandchildren and pulling the ladder of opportunity [...] read more
    February 3, 2011 9:22 am - 11 Comments
  • frog

    Key Government hides from the truth about oil - by frog



    Make your submission on the draft Energy Strategy by 5pm on 2 September read more
    August 29, 2010 6:47 am - 78 Comments
  • Metiria Turei

    Goff delivers wedge to split the left - by Metiria Turei



    For all the indignation at the response to his speech , what did Goff expect whanau and hapu would hear in it? He starts with a criticism of Hone, he attacks the Maori Party, he promotes unjust treaty settlements and he defends the discriminatory foreshore legislation. And all delivered to a predominately Pakeha audience. How [...] read more
    December 1, 2009 10:14 am - 50 Comments
  • frog

    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
  • frog

    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
  • frog

    Gutting ACC – National flies true colours - by frog



    National has now openly revealed its plans to privatise ACC – clearly, the Government has been softening the public up for this for a while. read more
    October 23, 2009 2:26 pm - 9 Comments
  • frog

    A few quotes from John Key – pre election - by frog



    “National will have policies that reflect the fact that living on a diet of carbon will be increasingly bad – bad for the world and bad for our economy. We will have policy that encourages ‘climate friendly’ choices like windmills, hydro power and tree planting, and reduces the desire for ‘climate unfriendly’ behaviours, like burning [...] read more
    October 10, 2009 1:16 pm - 14 Comments
  • frog

    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
  • frog

    Minister mining for inspiration - by frog



    An avid frog reader has sent in this photo of the Minister of Energy and Resources, Gerry Brownlee, mining inspiration from a quality resource. read more
    September 14, 2009 9:09 am - 33 Comments
  • frog

    National: everyone else must cut emissions by 40% - by frog



    I know we keep banging on about climate change a lot over here, but this is just amazing so I had to post it! From No Right Turn: So, having set itself an utterly pathetic climate change target of 10% – 20%, and derided all talk of going for 40%, guess what target the New [...] read more
    August 14, 2009 10:26 am - 70 Comments
  • frog

    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
  • frog

    Herald approves, but gets some basics very wrong - by frog



    Today’s Herald editorial seems keen on the new working relationship between the Greens and National.  But their positive assessment comes at the very end, while much of the piece discusses a supposed change in attitude by the Greens. This agreement, under which the Greens and ministers will work together in several policy areas, clearly owes a great deal [...] read more
    April 13, 2009 11:48 am - 30 Comments
  • Catherine Delahunty

    Declaration of Indigenous Rights Down Under - by Catherine Delahunty



    On Tuesday I got to ask my first proper Question in the House. Unsurprisingly Hone Harawira asked more or less the same question. Will the Government follow the lead of Australia and change their position to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People? The Prime Minister did a good imitation of saying [...] read more
    April 2, 2009 7:00 am - 106 Comments
  • frog

    Dr Coleman Saves NZ from Totalitarian TV! - by frog



    Image crafted by Lyndon Hood New Zealand’s chances of turning into North Körea got a little bit slimmer thanks to the current Government’s plan to cancel the TVNZ charter. In 2003 when the then Labour government introduced the TVNZ Charter aimed at bolstering our national identity I thought yippee.  National identity bolstering is good stuff.  [...] read more
    March 27, 2009 9:22 am - 16 Comments
  • Metiria Turei

    Private prisons are not cheaper - by Metiria Turei



    Last night the parliament debated the first reading of the Corrections (Contract Management of Prisons) Bil. I have blogged about this issue frequently, but not yet addressed the key argument of National – that private prisons are cheaper. So I used my speech last night to refer to both Australian and US research that showed [...] read more
    March 25, 2009 6:40 pm - 64 Comments
  • Metiria Turei

    Universities under pressure to keep wages low - by Metiria Turei



    The Tertiary Education Union reports today that some universities are under great pressure to keep the wages and salaries of university staff as low as possible. The government’s document Expectations for Pay and Employment Conditions in the State Sector seems to be placing pressure on many tertiary-education institutions to depress wages rather than face explaining [...] read more
    March 19, 2009 5:24 pm - 49 Comments
  • Metiria Turei

    National gags Pita Sharples: Maori deserve better - by Metiria Turei



    Todays performance in the House has confirmed that the Minister of Maori Affairs, Pita Sharples is being locked out by the National Government from answering serious questions concerning Maori. My question today directly concerning Maori and their loss of rights under the RMA reforms was transferred by the government from the Maori Affairs Minister to [...] read more
    March 11, 2009 6:17 pm - 4 Comments
  • frog

    Co-leader’s Parliamentary update - by frog



    Jeanette and Russel talk about insulation, energy efficiency, the Electoral Finance Act and their meeting with the Nats. read more
    February 19, 2009 8:27 am - 1 Comment
  • Jeanette Fitzsimons

    Shock Announcement: Normal maintenance to proceed under National - by Jeanette Fitzsimons



    We look forward to more announcements from this very busy government that schools will buy chalk this year, trains will refuel, nurses worn out uniforms will be replaced and the harbour bridge repainted. The press secretaries will be working overtime. It is, of course, entirely a good thing that Transpower will do essential maintenance on [...] read more
    February 13, 2009 11:32 am - 41 Comments
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