NZ Politics
Even Higher Minimum Wages?
We are all justified in breathing a sigh of relief that the economy seems to have survived the COVID pandemic reasonably well. Not all sectors, of course. International tourism and education have suffered terribly, and the hospitality sector is also still in trouble. Nevertheless, it is no time to be
Nincompoop of the Day
Today’s Nincompoop of the day is Green electorate MP Chloe Swarbrick. Using her logic MP’s shouldn’t be able to make any laws about cars if they own cars or laws about bicycle lanes if they own a bike. Heaven forbid they should make laws about G.S.
BFD Daily Opinion Poll
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Some on the Left Are Fed up
Eliora New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won a landslide second term last month. It was not a surprise, as she had become a TV star. When COVID-19 was allowed onto our shores, Ardern was elevated to rock star status like no other Prime Minister in the history
Things That Make Me Go Hmm
On Facebook last week the Hamilton City Council boasted about their Te Awa River Path project. Last night our Te Awa River Path Project won the Excellence in Social Impact Award, at the 2020 Infrastructure Awards. ? The fast-tracked project re-opened a section of Hamilton’s river path and
Daily News Roundup – 24 November 2020
National Party Henry Cooke (Stuff): National Party to examine election campaign and candidate selection process in review of devastating election loss Herald: National Party review of disastrous election result announced Zane Small and Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Exit polling, campaign staff feedback and social media to be scrutinised in National
Nincompoop of the Day
I don’t know where to begin with this nincompoop who I can see is going to fast become the poster boy for 101 reasons why young list MPs are a bad idea. Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March has suggested all MPs should be put in public housing rather
Avoiding America’s Political Polarisation
Danielle van Dalen maxim.org.nz “I remember when President W. Bush was elected and there were protests in the street calling him a war criminal – this is so much worse. People can’t talk to their neighbours anymore.” This was a friend’s response to my question on the
Taupo Councillors Vote Today on a Maori Ward
Hobson’s Pledge Trust hobsonspledge.nz Ask Taupo councillors to vote against Maori ward Now is the time to send an email to the mayor and councillors on the Taupo District Council to ask them to vote against a proposal to introduce a Maori ward at an extraordinary council meeting
The Root Cause of Councils’ Lack of Accountability
In the week I am writing this, Wellington City Council has announced it is facing a whopping 23% rates rise, and Tauranga Mayor Tenby Powell has resigned amidst calls to replace elected councillors with a government commissioner. There is something seriously wrong with our council system. In order to have
Daily News Roundup – 23 November 2020
National Party Richard Harman: Goodfellow beats off challenge and calls for unity Tracy Watkins (Stuff): Sir John Key’s speech a chilling glimpse into the future for National Claire Trevett (Herald): ‘Reflective’ National Party meets for first time since election drubbing Claire Trevett (Herald): Sir John Key slams in the
Say It Ain’t So
How interesting that the media has rediscovered that housing is a problem in this country. I say “rediscovered” because, of course, this was a hot topic between late 2008 and late 2017. After that time, the debate cooled considerably, even as the market continued to heat. I wonder why. If
Return of the Mask Stasi
When the shop girl who works in A-Z Fashions tested positive for COVID-19 last week, the first the other tenants knew of it was when the TV cameras parked up outside on High Street, with reporters asking how they felt about sharing facilities, such as bathrooms, with a