Monthly Archive: March 2018

Tava’s candidacy a good strategic move

30 March 2018 1 Comment

Former Green party leadership contender Vernon Tava has been tipped to run for for National in the Northcote by-election.

Tava used to be a member of the Greens and ran in the male co-leadership election in 2015 (despite not being an MP) and campaigned on moving away from a left-wing party to centrist environmentalist party.

Tava left the Greens in 2017, stating that he had joined what he thought was an environmentalist party, but was actually a socialist party. He later joined the campaign team for National in the East Coast Bays electorate.

If Tava does end up running for National, then he’ll almost certainly become an MP, as Northcote is a fairly safe seat for National.

But, the fact that he appears to be a front-runner for the nomination hints at National leader Simon Bridge’s long term plans.

Tava’s environmentalist background and the fact that he is a former Green party member makes a clear political statement from National to the Greens.

Bridges is trying to cosy up to them. Bridges is hoping for a teal deal come 2020. And if Tava becomes an MP, then the teal deal chances of happening increase.

Whether a teal deal is achievable though…. Well, that’s another story.

NZ Politics

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O’Sullivan TOP’s best chance

29 March 2018 1 Comment

All of the major poltical parties are trying to snag high profile doctor Lance O’Sullivan, although it looks like National has been ruled out.

However, it seems that serious talks are happening between O’Sullivan and TOP founder Gareth Morgan.

And TOP should absolutely be trying to do everything they can do get O’Sullivan to lead their party.

While TOP’s policy’s were generally seen as good by majority of New Zealanders last year (can’t remember where I read this sorry), it only translated to 2.4% of the vote come election day.

And part of that must have been Morgan’s toxic brand.

This is the person who used Jacinda Ardern’s cats death as an opportunity to accuse the PM of not caring for native wildlife.

And he’s constantly embroiled in fights on twitter.

But O’Sullivan is popular and has charisma.

If O’Sullivan leads the party, while Morgan keeps pouring his millions into the party from behind the scenes, then TOP may have a good chance come 2020.

 

NZ Politics

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Minster for Open Government lied to us

28 March 2018 0 Comments

Things aren’t looking good for minster Clare Curran, and former RNZ senior manager Carol Hirschfeld at the moment.

A scandal about the breakfast meeting between the two of them back in December has cost Hirschfeld her job. 

But here’s thing.

When asked about it in December, Curran denied the meeting had ever happened.

Now, she’s saying the breakfast was only an “informal thing.”

Regardless of the meetings intentions, she’s changed her story about the breakfast.

That mean she lied.

The minster for Open Government lied to the public. 

NZ Politics

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Puidgemont detained

27 March 2018 1 Comment

Charles Puidgemont, the leader of the Catalan independence movement has been detained in Germany, and could face up to 30 years in prison for trying to secede from Spain.

Jesus fucking Christ.

Look, I don’t believe that Catalonia should be it’s own nation. Not yet anyway. They only got 37% turnout in their independence referendum, and with turnout that low, they shouldn’t be their own country.

But in no way, should an independence referendum be illegal!

Puidgemont was simply holding a referendum to see whether a growing movement had achieved a majority.

And the way Spain has tried to suppress the independence movement, makes them the oppressors of the Catalan people.

And the saddest part is that no European power has the balls to stand up to this injustice.

International Politics

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South Island being left behind

26 March 2018 1 Comment

I recently received this comment:

Hi Dan,

You may correct me, but I understand the leaders and deputy leaders of National, Labour, the Greens, and NZ First, are all from the North Island, and predominantly from the upper North Island. What sort of message does this send to South Island people? And what sort of understanding of rural issues do you think the citified leaders of our parties really have?
regards,
Barrie Fowler.

For rural issues, I would say Bridges and National appear to have the trust of the rural electorates, given they once again dominated in those electorates last election.

However, Barrie’s point about how the South Island is being left behind was particularly interesting.

It got me thinking. All the leaders of the current parties (with the exception of James Shaw) are from Auckland, and all the deputies are also from the North Island, as Barrie said.

But this goes further than just a leader-deputy thing.

None of Labour’s top five (Ardern, Davis, Little, Robertson, and Twyford) are from the South Island.

For National, just one of their top five (Bridges, Bennet, Adams, Collins, McClay) is from the South Island – Amy Adams, finance spokesperson and MP for Selwyn.

So I think it’s a fair statement to stay that the South Island’s vote is being taken for granted.

And for the hopeful political parties trying to get into parliament come 2020, trying to tap into the South Island vote could be an incredibly smart move.

NZ Politics

Brown’s cannabis bill may end up null and void

22 March 2018 1 Comment

Simeon Brown’s bill proposing a crack-down on synthetic cannabis has passed it’s first reading.

The bill calls for harsher penalties on those who supply synthetic cannabis, as well for an inquiry into support for those addicted.

However, there has been a promise of a referendum for the personal use of cannabis by the end of the current government’s term.

Meaning that, in a sense, this bill, if it passes it’s third reading, but the public votes for personal use of cannabis to be legalised, than the bill may end up being null and void.

So is this bill worth the effort?

NZ Politics

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Time to grizzle about Mark Richardson

16 March 2018 0 Comments

Mark Richarson is at it again, complaining about how “all millennials do is grizzle.” ”

“All they do is grizzle,” he {Richardson} said, after Duncan Garner brought up new research suggesting more than half of Millennials are facing a ‘quarter-life crisis’.

How empathetic. I bet if this was about those who were suffering mid-life crisis’s, he would be a lot more empathetic.

Who comes up with this rubbish?

“I’d argue that Millennials are in a constant state of crisis really.

“That’s all I hear out of young people nowadays, grizzle about this, grizzle about that. Complain that this isn’t fair, complaining about that.

“How about getting off your asses and doing some work?”

Who’s doing the grizzling now?

First, Richardson is putting all Millennials into one group, which completely isn’t fair.

Second, Millennials don’t complain any more than any other generation.

Third, we are working. Working long hours so that you can have a nice retirement. Saving for decades so we can finally buy a house of our own.

And yes, quarter-life crisis are a thing.

So, on the behalf of Millennials everywhere, I would like to request that Mark Richardson show some empathy.

And we’d also like to request that he stop grizzling about us.

 

 

miscellaneous

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England and Russia at each others throats

15 March 2018 1 Comment

Basically, a whole lot of shit is going down between the UK and Russia.

The Brits are accusing the Russians of poisoning one of their double agents.

Russia then ignored a deadline for them to explain how they used a nerve agent against their spy/agent.

So the Brits then expelled 23 Russian diplomats, and tensions are at a high not seen since the end of the cold war.

But, I’m probably not the best person to explain all this. Here is a much better explanation:

Sums it up pretty nicely.

Here’s hoping to a peaceful, diplomatic solution to all of this.

International Politics

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National focusing on Auckland

14 March 2018 1 Comment

David Farrar recently compared Labour and National’s front benches. 

One of the more interesting thing to note is National has a far more MPs from Auckland.

It’s a sound strategic move from Bridges.

First, the last party leader since to win an election who was from outside of Auckland was Jim Bolger, back in 1990.

Given Bridges is from Tauranga, going Auckland heavy makes sense.

However, in the last election National actually increased it’s vote in Auckland electorates that would generally be considered Labour strongholds, like Mangere, New Lynn, and Manukau East.

So it makes even more sense for National to capitalise off their recent gains in New Zealand’s largest city, and go on an offensive to try and increase their vote there even more.

It’s a good strategy, and may just work for Bridges.

 

NZ Politics

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National’s new shadow cabinet

12 March 2018 0 Comments

National unveiled it’s new shadow cabinet yesterday, and there were some definite winners and losers. 

Judith Collins took up the housing portfolio – meaning she may face off with Phil Twyford over what is possibly New Zealand’s biggest issue. That’ll be a battle and a half.

Todd McClay was another definite winner – taking Gerry Brownlee’s Foreign Affairs, as well as tourism and trade, he’s up to fifth in the rankings.

Mark Mitchell was also promoted to the front bench as he took justice, defence and disarmament. It’s clear his leadership campaign did not go unrewarded.

But there are those who were given a demotion as well.

Gerry Brownlee now sits outside of the top ten, his most major role now being the Shadow Leader of the House.

Nick Smith took a dive as well, losing his environment portfolio, and now he only holds the State Services and electoral law reform roles.

For Brownlee and Smith, the message is clear – It’s time to step aside, generational change is here.

And for the rest of the caucus, they’ll be banking on Bridge’s generational change to counter Jacindamania.

NZ Politics

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