Those who support the idea of allowing children to vote argue that politicians are ignoring the voices of those who will be most affected by decisions being made now. That is a ridiculous argument, however, as anyone who is not actually on their deathbed at this moment in time is
The latest GDP figures are due out at any moment, and are expected to show that growth has slipped to about 2.1% per annum, down from over 3% a year ago. While not disastrous in itself, this is part of a worrying trend. The world situation, while volatile, is
The government has overhauled its temporary migrant worker visa scheme. If you cast your mind back 2 years, Labour and NZ First both campaigned on significantly reducing immigration, from around 70,000 migrants a year down to about 30,000. NZ First actually went further and wanted to reduce immigration
On Mike Hosking’s show on Tuesday, Jacinda didn’t answer a single question. She still seems hellbent on delaying and obfuscating as much as possible. Grant Robertson denies everything. It is a total brick wall. But why are they doing this? Wasn’t a Newshub poll last week, where
Tova O’Brien seems to have fallen out of love with Jacinda Ardern. Newshub was one of the media outlets to publish the sex scandal story, so it makes sense that they would be sympathetic towards the victim of this latest debacle. Everyone should have some sympathy for the victims.
The last week has been ragged for Labour, but it really does only have itself to blame. From the Darren Hughes saga to the 2018 Young Labour summer camp, to the latest sex scandal, Labour has struggled for a long time with a poor culture when it comes to sexual
When Jacinda became the Labour leader and was selected as prime minister, the media couldn’t get enough of her. From magazine covers and photo shoots, her face was everywhere. We have complained bitterly about how they cut her so much slack, and she seemed to get away with murder.
The 89-page report, written by Dame Margaret Bazley, on the sexual harassment at law firm Russell McVeigh was released a year ago, and it made grim reading. Dame Margaret Bazley yesterday released the report after interviewing 250 people to get to the bottom of allegations including that five clerks were
It is a rhetorical question, because you all know the answer. Either the baby is wheeled out, or there is a puff piece on Jacinda Ardern. I waited for a baby pic on Friday, but this week has been so bad for the government, and for Jacinda in particular, that
Over at Kiwiblog, David Farrar has written a succinct account about what it would take to believe that Jacinda Ardern did not know about the alleged sexual assault carried out by a member of her most trusted staff, and the list really does make it hard to believe that Jacinda
Does anyone remember Hogan’s Heroes? Barry Soper does. He has likened our much loved prime minister to Sergeant Schultz of Hogan’s Heroes… that esteemed German officer who said repeatedly, particularly in a crisis – “I see nothing, I hear nothing, I know nothing”. If you have listened to Jacinda
While listening to Jacinda’s interview with Mike Hosking yesterday morning, it was impossible not to notice how her demeanour has changed. Gone were the quips, the cheery voice, the almost patronising tone she adopts with Hosking every week. This was someone under enormous stress. Her tone was flat, she
Labour’s disgraceful handling of complaints about sexual abuse among its staff and volunteers are now finally being picked up by the mainstream media and not before time. Andrea Vance and Alison Mau, both of whom can rightfully be considered to be supporters of this current government, have banded together
Nobody can say Boris Johnson’s first few weeks as the British Prime Minister have been anything other than a baptism by fire. Following on from parliament’s threefold rejection of Teresa May’s EU deal, Boris’s promise to finally deliver Brexit must have been music to the ears
It is very easy to make promises in an election campaign, particularly if you are really not expecting to win. Winston Peters has been making electoral promises he had no intention of keeping for decades. But when you unexpectedly find yourself in government and you have promised to completely change
I want to make it clear that I do not disagree with making our waterways cleaner and safer. Yes, once there was a time when we could swim in all the rivers here, but I have also swum at beaches in Hong Kong in the 1980s where faeces were floating
