Jeckle and Hyde Act Party of NZ

Image via WikipediaWell Dr Jeckle has really upset our Mr Hyde. The Jeckle and Hyde Act Party of New Zealand.

Mrs Brash's little boy Don, is looking for more mud to get thrown at him.

But seriously now, Don Brash is not in Parliament and not even a member of the ACT Party of New Zealand, yet he wants to become leader?

So by the same criteria I can take over the Labour Party from Phil Goff. Yeah right!

Neither Don Brash or Rodney Hyde have the interests of Joe and Joanna Bloggs, the average Kiwi couple wth 1.5 Bloggettes on tow, at heart, just those moronic residents of the New Zealand political Right, not the right of New Zealand.

These morons would privatise everything in sight: Would sell off our schools to commercial interests, sell off our public hospitals to the private sector and put our military forces out for tender.

But the one thing they haven't discussed yet: Could Don Brash make it in Dancing with the Stars?  Don doesn't have the surplus body fat that dear old Rodney had when he set out to dance his way to fame. But you never know do you - we may have our very own Fred Astaire. Don has proven he is pretty good at usurping somebody else's partner anyway.

Just thought of something. Don Brash and Donald Trump share the same first name. Don Juan's or Mafia Dons?

Beyond the HuttRiver

Related articles

• Dr Brash to seek Act leadership? Don't waste your time Don (truebluenz.com)
• National's Brash Faction (clintheine.blogspot.com)
• Are there any ACT members involved in the Brash bid? (kiwiblog.co.nz)
• Brash New Party Option Hampered By National's Electoral Finance Law (truebluenz.com)
• NZ Mainstream Media Still Doing Their Best To Discredit Don Brash (truebluenz.wordpress.com)
• No use being right in wrong environment (homepaddock.wordpress.com)
• Voters veer but not too far (homepaddock.wordpress.com)
• The ACT Party- Like Wrestling With A Column of Ideological Smoke (truebluenz.wordpress.com)

Simon Power quitting politics - Key losing touch with his party...

Image via Wikipedia

Labour questions Power's explanation for quitting politics - Key losing touch with his party.

The Labour Party leader is questioning whether problems within Cabinet are behind fourth-ranked minister Simon Power's decision to quit politics.

The MP for Rangitikei, who holds the justice, commerce and state-owned enterprises portfolios, says he wants to explore opportunities in the private sector.

Prime Minister John Key said he was stunned and flabbergasted when Mr Power told him he would stand down at the election. He said Mr Power had the potential to be leader of the National Party.

Labour leader Phil Goff says it's very unusual for a first-time minister with a high ranking to leave politics. He expressed doubts about the simple explanation being offered for Mr Power's announcement.

But Mr Power said through a spokesman that suggestions of a split in Cabinet are laughable. He said there had been no ructions in caucus or Cabinet with Mr Power and his colleagues were shocked about his decision.

He has had a gutsful of neanderthal fscists in the National Party.

Acknowledgements: © 2011, Radio New Zealand

Related articles

• Power resigning at election (homepaddock.wordpress.com)
• John Armstrong: Key's ploy a dilemma for Labour (nzherald.co.nz)
• Which is the real Goff? (homepaddock.wordpress.com)
• Steve Jobs Knighthood nomination shot down by Gordon Brown: Ex- British PM opposed as Apple CEO refused an invite to Labour Party Conference? (devicemag.com)
• The essence of Irish Labour (politics.ie)
• Pat Rabbitte: Voters don 't want Labour to remain as wallflowers (politics.ie)
• Ehud Barak to quit Israeli Labour party (guardian.co.uk)
• NZ poll set after Rugby World cup (bbc.co.uk)
• Barak quits Israeli Labour party (ft.com)

Maori Party leaders ban discussion on Hone Harawira...

Image via Wikipedia
Maori Party leaders ban discussion on Hone Harawira...

Maori Party co-leaders Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples. (Right)
Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says the ban on discussing matters involving MP Hone Harawira comes from their party organisation.

Party president Pem Bird has announced a complete media ban until the disciplinary process for Mr Harawira is complete next week.

Mrs Turia says she's had nothing to do with that process or whether it needs to be open and accountable.

"To be honest with you, I haven't given it any thought given that I haven't been party to any of that process," she said.

Acknowledgements:   Newstalk ZB


So this is what a dead dwarf star looks like?  No wonder Hone Harawira questions his future there?

Related articles

• Harawira suspended (kiwiblog.co.nz)
• Harawira suspension follows years of disunity - Fox (nzherald.co.nz)
• Stick to party, Sharples tells voters (nzherald.co.nz)
• John Armstrong: Expulsion next or Harawira could blow party asunder (nzherald.co.nz)
• Harawira wins reprieve as panel delays decision (nzherald.co.nz)

Phil Goff is on the mark with his anti-tax avoidance policies - a clear choice for voters this year..

Image via WikipediaPhil Goff is finally on the mark with his tax proposals - a tax free threshold that the more successful Australian economy has  had for some years. Labour plans a crackdown on lucrative tax loopholes left wide open by the National Government. Property speculators have used these for years to avoid tax. It plans to set up an Anti-Avoidance Tax Taskforce  to close the loopholes which National has never attempted to close for obvious reasons.

Billions of dollars have been estimated to have been lost by tax avoidance - or in plain language tax dodgers! A small percentage of this would compensate for any threshold increases. So forget any claims from John key that it would be unaffordable. Key has been borrowing about a billion dollars a month just to run New Zealand Inc.

Labour plans to exempt the first $5,000 of income, and would introduce a top tax rate over $120,000 per annum. A figure that has been peddled around for some time. A weekly sweetener of $10.00 per week which will have some appeal for superannuants, beneficiaries and the lower paid in the workforce.

The plan is neither irresponsible or badly costed. A similar plan in Labour's successful re-election as government in 1999 was to raise taxes over $60,000 to pay for more spending in the health and education sectors.

It has been National's borrowing policy during the last two years that is putting NZ into hock. Labour will have to find some alternative to these  Muldoon-like economic policies. Key lacks any credibility by criticising  Labour's early policies which may change to some degree  in the lead-up to the elections this year.

John Key will find out it will take more than a silly grin to impress voters this year. Change for the sake of change will not be a credible election winner! Some will say that we have had enough of Shonkism in government. So much for change and the Labour-lite label.

Its also a return to the future with National's privatisation policies. Voters will be given a clear choice - left to the future with Labour, or right down the gurgler with National.

Related articles

• First $5k tax free under Labour (nzherald.co.nz)
• "Philosophy & principles behind Labour's tax policy announcements" and related posts (labour.org.nz)
• Tax-free income threshold too costly for little benefit (homepaddock.wordpress.com)

Key doesn't fit the National Party lock...

Image via WikipediaJohn key appears to be out of line with the philosophy of the ruling National Party in New Zealand. key claims that National will not , if re-elected next year, raise the eligibility age for National Superannuation to 67 years over the next few years. Yeah right!

The colourful Winston Peters, leader of the NZ First Party who were routed and kicked out of parliament at the last elections, returned to the House to give evidence to a committee considering a report that wants the eligibility age increased to 67 years eventually, because the country could not sustain a National Super from 65 years. Peters claims the country can and should continue to afford it.

While in power, Labour began its Cullen scheme of virtually prepaying a certain percentage of National Super funds each year by investing them overseas. Some say a certain percentage should also be invested in the domestic economy too. This would be in line with the compulsory NZ Super scheme of the former Labour Government in 1974 which invested locally. Robert Muldoon arbitarily and illegally forced employers to stop deducting their employees contributions when he was elected in 1975.

Perhaps a return to the Labour compulsory scheme of 1974 would be of benefit to the NZ economy. A scheme similar to that of Australia who has billions of dollars invested locally from their scheme.

Related articles

• Key: Poll predicting Peters' return not credible (nzherald.co.nz)
• First-term MP to replace Wong (nzherald.co.nz)
• NZ First conference this weekend (nzherald.co.nz)
• Poll puts NZ First back in contention (nzherald.co.nz)
• PM urged to take Finlayson off foreshore duties (nzherald.co.nz)

Labour announces child poverty plan - what has National got to offer?...

Image via Wikipedia

Labour announces child poverty plan...

A six year initiative to tackle child poverty in New Zealand is being proposed by the Labour Party.

The Labour Party has unveiled plans to cut child poverty.

Deputy Labour Party Leader, Annette King, has told the party conference, child poverty is unfinished business for Labour.

Ms King says they have a six year plan, that puts children at the centre of investment in social service delivery. She told NewstalkZB, "When you're dealing with children, you can't deal with one aspect, we're looking at what you need to do in health, housing and early childhood education."

Annette King isn't saying how much it will cost , but says they have crunched the numbers and will reveal it before the election.

What does the National Party government have to offer?

Acknowledgements: © 2010 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Related articles

• Labour promises bold new policies (nzherald.co.nz)
• Labour looking to 'positive parenting' as way out of welfare (nzherald.co.nz)

God and an election campaign budget of NZ$4 billion, and an earthquake helped too

Image via WikipediaBob Parker on top in Chch mayoral poll. God and a campaign budget of $4 billion made all the difference - of course an earthquake helped too!



A new poll reveals current mayor, Bob Parker, is favourite to hold on to his job after a big swing in public opinion


A new survey has found the race for the Christchurch mayoralty has dramatically changed since the earthquake. The current Mayor, Bob Parker, is now the favourite to take out the race next month.



A UMR research poll released today shows a huge turn-around.



Incumbent Mayor Bob Parker now has the vote of 55% of decided voters - up 27% since June.



Main rival Jim Anderton, who was the clear favourite in June on 60%, has dropped to 41%. Poor old Jim didn't see the earthquale coming. But on the Friday before the EQ he quipped that it would take an earthquake to beat him. You never know, do you?



The poll has an error rate of 5.2

Related articles by Zemanta

• Kerre Woodham : Apology to Anderton (nzherald.co.nz)
• Anderton presses on with mayoral bid (nzherald.co.nz)
• Brian Rudman: With 'don't knows' at 35.2%, no wonder Bob Parker is seen as the saviour (nzherald.co.nz)
• Anderton reveals his post-quake activities (nzherald.co.nz)
• Anderton and earthquakes (norightturn.blogspot.com)
• Rival personalities vie for top job (nzherald.co.nz)
• Quake emergency lifted in NZ (bbc.co.uk)
• NZ no-go zones stay amid tremors (bbc.co.uk)
• Damage And Looting After NZ Earthquake (news.sky.com)
• Powerful tremor rattles NZ city (bbc.co.uk)

A despicable S.O.B and a hypocrite to boot...

Image by Sandy Austin via FlickrWhat a despicable son of a bitch David Garret really appears to be! It is not just his unsavoury act of over two decades ago when he used the name of  a dead boy to gain an identity for a false passport - the dead boys parents were gutted beyond belief - it is the sheer  hypocricy of the man. He is both a liar - he omitted to inform the judge of his earlier assault conviction in Tonga - and a hypocrite. The man responsible for the "Three Strikes" legislation - he is on about strike three himself.

 Rodney Hide, the perks buster himself, is tainted along with the Act Party, and the National Party by its association with Act. If Key and National have any credibility they would give Act the flick and battle on with the Maori  Party until the next election. They can always call an early election if their coalition becomes unstuck.

What does Phil Goff think of the whole episode? Hello Phil, hello are you there?

Related articles by Zemanta

• Garrett's final act: leaving Parliament (nzherald.co.nz)
• Garrett, Hide have no credibility - Goff (nzherald.co.nz)
• Editorial : Act MPs have trampled on party's ideals (nzherald.co.nz)
• Act's next-in-line supports Hide (nzherald.co.nz)
• David Garrett Resigns over Dead Baby Passport Scandal (nowpublic.com)

Jeckyl and Hide - Rodney and Heather...

Jeckyl and Hide - Rodney and Heather...


ACT MP Heather Roy has defied her leader Rodney Hide and returned to Parliament against his orders.



She was supposed to be off for two weeks considering her future after losing the deputy leadership, but she has returned early, saying she supports Mr Hide and wants to put the events of last week behind her.



Following her very public demotion, she now also gets to sit behind him in Parliament.



"Eighty-six thousand New Zealanders voted for a list that I was high up on, and I have a duty to come back and do my job," says Ms Roy, "and I'm looking forward to it. I'm back."



But there was no display of unity like last week. She faced the media alone while Mr Hide avoided reporters following an appearance in the House.



That could be because he wasn't expecting her back.



"I've let Heather have a break… We said a couple weeks, but we'll se how we go," said Mr Hide.



Regardless, Ms Roy says she wants to move on from the accusations in a leaked dossier in which she described Mr Hide as a bully.



The memo was leaked by her adviser Simon Ewing-Jarvie who has lost his job.



"I was horrified, mortified and extremely angry at him," says Ms Roy. "There was no way I would condone the leaking of documents under any circumstances and I've told him that."



Returning early is an act of defiance from Ms Roy - the party is more divided than ever.



Mr Hide is now talking to her through the media, just releasing a statement which calls on her to front up to the party's other MPs and board to explain the developments of last week.



Acknowledgements: 3 News

Related articles by Zemanta

• Roy back in Parliament, stays loyal to Hide (nzherald.co.nz)
• Is Rodney Hide a 'bully'? (nzherald.co.nz)
• Hide voices doubts on Roy's return (nzherald.co.nz)
• Act MP to contest Hide's seat (nzherald.co.nz)
• Hide denies hinting ex-deputy used drugs (nzherald.co.nz)
• Swear words triggered Roy's demotion - Hide (nzherald.co.nz)

NZ Opposition MP's staged walkout in protest against National chairwoman...

Image via Wikipedia

Opposition MPs staged a walkout at a parliamentary committee today in a protest against the undemocratic conduct of the chairwoman, National MP Sandra Goudie.


Labour MPs Clayton Cosgrove, Rick Barker and Carmel Sepuloni and Green MP David Clendon walked out of the law and order select committee.



Mr Cosgrove said the walkout was a protest at Ms Goudie's conduct.



It was the "culmination of 18 months in which she had refused to respect the democratic role of Opposition MPs to ask questions and challenge government departments", he said.



Mr Cosgrove said Ms Goudie should study the way other committee chairs worked, specifically National's Chester Borrows who was "unfailingly polite" and seemed to want Opposition MPs to contribute to the democratic process.



"It's a matter of giving everyone a fair go."



Mr Cosgrove said he would write to Speaker Lockwood Smith about Ms Goudie's undemocratic behaviour.



Acknowledgemts:  - NZPA

Related articles by Zemanta

• Labour Can't Fill Select Committee Posts (iaindale.blogspot.com)
• Select committee elections: Margaret Hodge offers Labour spending inquiry (guardian.co.uk)
• Letters: John McDonnell will inspire leader debate (guardian.co.uk)
• Two Lib Dem MPs vote against VAT rise (libdemvoice.org)

The National Government is testing the water to consider asset sales...

Image via Wikipedia

Home > News > Politics





The National Government is testing the water, so to speak, to consider asset sales...


Public's view on partial privatisation of state assets to be assessed; Labour claims Nats testing water for future sale of SOEs; of course, what would you expect?



Labour is suspicious of work being done to assess the public's view on partial privatisation of state assets.



The Crown Ownership Monitoring Unit is undertaking the task at the request of Treasury.



Labour Party Finance spokesman David Cunliffe claims the Government's motivations are clear. He says it is obvious National intends privatising state assets if it is re-elected.



Mr Cunliffe says the Monitoring Unit's actions are a pre-cursor to that.



I wonder if NZ Post and Kiwi Bank are both being considered?








Acknowledgements: © 2010 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Related articles by Zemanta

• Royal Mail 'to get private money' (news.bbc.co.uk)
• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-06-27 (kevindavis.org.uk)
• Labour drops privatisation of Royal Mail (bbc.co.uk)
• 'Eyewatering' New Labour factor is conspicuous by its absence in manifesto (guardian.co.uk)
• Royal Mail's privatisation: how it might happen and what it could mean for Royal Mail (telegraph.co.uk)

Three strikes becomes law - but what about John key and his cronies...

Image via Wikipedia

Three strikes becomes law - but what about John Key and his cronies...




Legislation to remove eligibility for parole for the worst repeat violent offenders has passed through parliament, 63 votes to 58



The controversial three strikes legislation has passed through parliament, 63 votes to 58.



It removes eligibility for parole for the worst repeat violent offenders and imposes maximum terms of imprisonment for people who repeatedly commit crimes.



Police Minister Judith Collins says it ensures the worst repeat violent criminals have less chance to re-offend and sends a message that parole is a privilege, not a right.



Forty serious offences have been named that are punishable by a maximum of seven years prison or more.



There has been much opposition to the bill, with Labour, the Greens and the Maori Party all saying it will do nothing to stop offending.


Who are the worst offenders:  the criminals out there or those ratbags on the government benches?









Acknowledgements: © 2010 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Related articles by Zemanta

• Accused in Sask. slaying was denied parole (cbc.ca)
• Sex offender held for San Diego-area knife attacks (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Supreme Court Bans Life Without Parole for Teens Who Haven't Killed (abcnews.go.com)
• US supreme court repeals no-parole laws for children serving life (guardian.co.uk)
• Chelsea's Law: No Money Down, $54 Million Due In 2030 For Sexual Predators (themoderatevoice.com)
• Parole board warned man charged in murder would reoffend (canada.com)
• Letters: The Young Are Different, Justices Rule (nytimes.com)
• Napa sex offender jailed over 2-day crime spree (sfgate.com)
• Violent parolees go unsupervised under Calif. law (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• State lawmaker proposes stricter penalties on sex offenders (latimesblogs.latimes.com)
• What the 2010 budget means for kiwis and their families... (peter-petterson.blogspot.com)
• Anzac Day tragedy - helicopter crash kills three people in Wellington, NZ... (peter-petterson.blogspot.com)
• 1 reviews of Three Strikes Law (Multiple States) (rateitall.com)
• No More White Pages For New York? (joemygod.blogspot.com)
• New legislation in New Zealand will crack down on young drivers... (peter-petterson.blogspot.com)
• Sensis Cites Big Markets, Economy in Print Slide (domainmacher.com)

The NZ National Party show their true colours, tinted with racism...

Image via Wikipedia

The NZ National Party show their true colours, tinted with racism. The Tuhoe claim for the Urewera National Park has been rejected by John Key - might get part management of the lands?

The credibility of the so-called Maori Party has to be questioned too!  How can they continue to prop up these racists in the National Party?

Ngapuhi should also get the message - they will get  nowhere with their inverted racist claims as well.

There is only one nation - New Zealand - and only one New Zealand Government. Its just the National and Act parties which are so rotten!

Related articles by Zemanta

• New Zealand rejects bid to ditch the Queen (telegraph.co.uk)
• Hung or balanced? (news.bbc.co.uk)
• Who will own the foreshore under proposed changes to the S&B Ac... (peter-petterson.blogspot.com)
• Matthew Hooton and Clare Curran: The Background (billbennett.co.nz)
• Luke Malpass: New Zealand Misses the Reform Boat (online.wsj.com)
• There Is No Britain: (brothersjuddblog.com)
• 3 Count: Down Under 3x (plagiarismtoday.com)
• Politicians hail Brown's decision to stand down as Labour leader (guardian.co.uk)
• Scotland Snubs Tories As Labour Top Poll (news.sky.com)
• Maori Party furious over Tuhoe decision (angryindian.blogspot.com)

Labour doesn't govern by popularity polls - John Key honeymoon will soon be over...

National has announced it has dropped its opposition to the Kyoto protocol and will cut climate change emissions by 50% by 2050. Well I hope it keeps its word. Apart from the fact it probably won't be in government much of that period now that we have a well established MMP electoral system, many of us won't be alive in 2050. Rhetoric, John, rhetoric! With countries like Australia and the US who didn't support the Kyoto protocol initially, now having to support policies to cut climate change emissions.

So National finally has a leader who has overtaken an overworked Labour prime minister, Helen Clark, in the polls. She should have been struggling for quite a while now, considering the flack the government has taken on a variety of fronts.The only real poll comes on election day, and this government, led by New Zealand's best prime minister in decades,doesn't govern by popularity polls.

Just how many times will Key and National get away with their backflipping on the Kyoto protocol, Kiwisaver, income- related State Housing rents, and most likely, student loans. The Government has to deal with the anti-smacking debate, interest rates, the high dollar and now, with tax cuts because Australia has done so in its election budget. I have confidence in Michael Cullen's econonomic management and his reasons why a small tax cut will do little to help Kiwi workers. The Working for Family policy is working its way through the economy now and will help most families more than some small tax cuts. I say small because that is all National has given in the past and would be able to give in the future if NZ voters were stupid enough to vote them into power.

The National Party cannot position itself in the middle of the political spectrum in New Zealand politics because it is still a strongly right wing party. John Key simply does not have a credible vehicle to drive to electoral victory. Look at the people he is surrounded by - all previously badly defeated New Right economic, social and industrial relations apologists. All I can say to John Key is to make the most of his little political honeymoon because future polls will be questioning his credibility. It will take the pressure off Helen Clark a little, and let her concentrate on working for the New Zealand people, not the little gnomes and gnomelets who have prospered since market economics became established in Newe Zealand.

National has announced it has dropped its opposition to the Kyoto protocol and will cut climate change emissions by 50% by 2050. Well I hope it keeps its word. Apart from the fact it probably won't be in government much of that period now that we have a well established MMP electoral system, many of us won't be alive in 2050. Rhetoric, John, rhetoric! With countries like Australia and the US who didn't support the Kyoto protocol initially, now having to support policies to cut climate change emissions.

So National finally has a leader who has overtaken an overworked Labour prime minister, Helen Clark, in the polls. She should have been struggling for quite a while now, considering the flack the government has taken on a variety of fronts.The only real poll comes on election day, and this government, led by New Zealand's best prime minister in decades,doesn't govern by popularity polls.

Just how many times will Key and National get away with their backflipping on the Kyoto protocol, Kiwisaver, income- related State Housing rents, and most likely, student loans. The Government has to deal with the anti-smacking debate, interest rates, the high dollar and now, with tax cuts because Australia has done so in its election budget. I have confidence in Michael Cullen's econonomic management and his reasons why a small tax cut will do little to help Kiwi workers. The Working for Family policy is working its way through the economy now and will help most families more than some small tax cuts. I say small because that is all National has given in the past and would be able to give in the future if NZ voters were stupid enough to vote them into power.

The National Party cannot position itself in the middle of the political spectrum in New Zealand politics because it is still a strongly right wing party. John Key simply does not have a credible vehicle to drive to electoral victory. Look at the people he is surrounded by - all previously badly defeated New Right economic, social and industrial relations apologists. All I can say to John Key is to make the most of his little political honeymoon because future polls will be questioning his credibility. It will take the pressure off Helen Clark a little, and let her concentrate on working for the New Zealand people, not the little gnomes and gnomelets who have prospered since market economics became established in Newe Zealand.

A National past-time - dreaming of political office in New Zealand

The New Zealand National party, the opposition party in this country look like staying there for a long, long time!

The new leader, in a string of leaders since Jenny Shipley stabbed Jim Bolger in the back and lost the Treasury benches for National after nine years, eight with Bolger as PM. New Zealand had had a gutsful of the right wing party which had become obsessed with what had become known as New Rightism and privatisation for the sake of it.

Well, the Don of the National Party has gone - before he became another Julius Caesar and was knifed in the back too! The foolish, politically naive Brash, who was a bit like Bill Clinton and couldn't keep his fly done up and his long fingers out of another man's snatch has been replaced.

But is John Key the " key to the kingdom" for National? If his keynote address ( all these puns?) is any example they will be in opposition for a total of twelve years!

He concentrated on society, claiming that an underclass exists, kids go without breakfast, others leave school without qualifications; gangs are a problem in NZ etc. Spare the bloody rod, John, your party turned a social problem into a bloody catastrophe, for god's sake. We see and hear about an underclass, drugs like methamphetamine ( known here as "P"), which is involved in every major crime or murder in this country, every night on TV.

He really showed how out of touch he was with NZ society. This millionaire who happened to be brought up by his widowed mother in a state house in Christchurch and went on to become a millionaire. A NZ dream? Hardly! During his address he spoke about NZ kids - the Samoan, the Maori, the Asian and... the Kiwi kids? You have to be white to become a "Kiwi kid"? Ask John Key - he said it and it was not taken out of context or was a misquote! What does that tell you?

I don't think Labour will have too much to worry about with Key at the National helm. Bill English may have been a different story, second time around with his Bolgeristic attributes - a big Catholic family!