NZ Politics
From the Desk of a Male Pale and Stale
Summer can be a bit perplexing. According to NIWA, “meteorological summer” begins on 1 December. But “astronomical summer”, marked by the summer solstice, falls on 22 December. Usually, natural summer, determined by weather patterns and the warmest 90-day period of the year, starts around 14 December. Yet, it can
Not Protecting the Common People’s Treasure
As the opinion polls show Labour continuing to languish in the mid 20s, around 15 per cent behind the National party, we need to cast a glance at our old friend Machiavelli to understand why. Just as you ignore Adam Smith’s laws of economics at your peril (like Britain
Labour and Our School System
Alwyn Poole Alwyn Poole founded and was the head of Mt Hobson Middle School in Auckland for 18 years. MH Academy is now an in person private school for Year 11-13. There is now a nationwide online provision called Mt Hobson Academy Connected for Years 1-13. alwynpoole.substack.
Not with Your Lot, No
Shane Te Pou has an article in the NZ Herald questioning whether we can have politics without division. He suggests we can all learn how to do politics from Maori. Naturally, he begins his article by attacking those who oppose the Labour Party. So much politics seems to be about
Policies of the Day
Yesterday the Green Party released its main policies, including income, housing and climate change. Its income and tax plans include: * $385 a week guaranteed for students and anyone looking for work, with an extra $135 each week if you are caring for kids at home on your own. * Top-ups
ACT Wants the Public to Set the Terms of Reference
dailytelegraph.co.nz “ACT WILL TAKE THE POLITICS OUT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO THE GOVERNMENT’S COVID-19 RESPONSE BY ALLOWING ALL NEW ZEALANDERS TO HAVE THEIR SAY ON WHAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED THROUGH A NEW CROWDSOURCED TERMS OF REFERENCE,” SAYS ACT LEADER DAVID SEYMOUR. “There is always a
Foreign Policy and Why It Matters
In the leaders’ debate there was a single question on foreign policy – about AUKUS. I am a US citizen and one of the true oddities of being an American abroad is the astonishing similarities to being a ‘made man’ in cosa nostra. Let me explain. In 1986 the US Congress
BFD October 2023 Political Poll
Take our Monthly Political Poll and then share the poll on social media. By sharing the poll you will help even more readers to discover The BFD. If you enjoyed this poll please share it using the share buttons at the top or bottom of the article.If you would
Face of the Day
Yesterday, Labour released its “Rainbow manifesto”. Labour would work to improve Rainbow health and ensure the health care system meets the needs of trans, intersex, and gender-diverse people. Specific promises include: […] Schools would be encouraged to adopt the Ministry of Education’s sexuality education guidelines while teachers would be
The Yapping Dogs of NZ’s Race-Baiters
Is there a more odious, pathetic, political buzz-word than “dog-whistling”? Because, here’s the funny thing about a dog whistle: only dogs can hear them. So, if you’re a journalist or politician screeching that your opponent is “dog-whistling”, you’re admitting that you are a dog.
More Voters Signal Support for Smaller Parties
Adrian Beaumont The University of Melbourne Yesterday’s 1News-Verian poll, and the Newshub-Reid Research poll reported earlier in the week, both show flattening trend lines – but they are still moving to the right of the political spectrum. For the purposes of this analysis, the National and ACT parties
The Freedom Vote 2023
Dear freedom fighter We are now edging closer to election 2023 which for all New Zealanders is likely to be the most important election they will participate in. We are staring over the precipice and with less than three weeks to go until October 14th, we must put our country
Replay Radio: A Political Agenda
This week’s Political Agenda with Paul Brennan, Cam Slater, Olivia Pierson and Marty Gibson. Help Fund Our NewsDesk We are building a NewsDesk, hiring journalists and taking the fight to the mainstream media. Will you help fund our NewsDesk? * For security reasons, credit card donations require Javascript. Please enable
A Debate Full of Race-Baiting
I watched TVNZ News on Thursday 28 September. (I did this so that you didn’t have to) and, honestly, it was a disgrace. According to the radio during the day, Hipkins had clearly won the second Leaders’ Debate the previous evening (Wednesday), and the knives of the oh-so-
Where Is a Credible Left-Wing Party?
Chris Trotter Victoria University of Wellington democracy project.nz IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical