The case for David
In my blog at Stuff, I make the case for David – in fact for both Davids, weighing up their respective strengths. Tags: By the numbers, David Cunliffe, David Shearer, Labour Leadership, Stuff
View ArticleWomen MPs needed
I blog at Stuff: There are not a lot of glass ceilings left in New Zealand for women to break through. Two of the last three prime ministers were women. Two of the last five governors-general were...
View ArticleDon’t make Kiwis wait
In my blog at Stuff I propose: New Zealand should ask for the US to commit to a law change that any copyrighted material released in the US for sale, can also be immediately sold (or re-sold) to New...
View ArticleA timely u-turn
At Stuff I blog on the u-turn by the Chch City Council on burial fees: Someone at the very beginning should have said, wait how much money are we talking about here? $350 x 22 people is around $7,000....
View ArticleTerm limits for List MPs?
In my blog at Stuff, I moot whether we should have term limits for List MPs, as a way to respond to the issue of people not liking defeated electorate candidates coming in on the list. Tags: By the...
View ArticleCan Christchurch’s council be saved?
In my blog at Stuff, I ask can Christchurch’s council be saved? But the pay rise granted to the CEO seems to be the issue that has generated the most heat. Unfortunately for the council it is the one...
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Winston’s dilemma
At Stuff I blog on Winston’s dilemma: The sale of the Crafar farms must pose an awful dilemma for Winston Peters. The leading bid for the 8000 hectares of farmland is $210 million from Shanghai...
View ArticleBarbarism in NZ and Canada
In my blog at Stuff I blog: I doubt I was the only person upset and angered at the story of the 17-year-old girl in Wellington whose parents tricked her into a forced marriage. She was imprisoned at...
View ArticleIs National now the underdog?
In my blog at Stuff, I look at the latest Roy Morgan poll, and ask if National is now the underdog? Tags: By the numbers, Polls, Stuff
View ArticleMondayising Waitangi and Anzac Days
In my blog at Stuff I say: But how significant would this law change be, in terms of labour costs? On average it will result in two extra days of paid holidays every seven years. Over seven years there...
View ArticleWhat should the MMP threshold be?
In my By the numbers blog at Stuff I look at the issue of what the party vote threshold should be for MMP. I note: One of the most important issues is what percentage of the vote should a political...
View ArticlePopularity of PMs
I blog a bit of context around the Preferred PM ratings at Stuff. I also note that on the 3 News poll the CR would have 60 seats, the CL 60 seats and the Maori Party 3 seats. So they would get to...
View ArticleThe one seat threshold
At Stuff I blog on the one electorate seat threshold for MMP, as part of a series on the possible changes to MMP. My conclusion: Overall I think there is a case for removing the electorate threshold,...
View ArticleWhen should work testing apply?
At Stuff I blog on when work testing should apply. For my part I support having just a 12-month suspension of work testing for sole parents who have further children while on the DPB. There is a wealth...
View ArticleShould List MPs be able to stand in by-elections?
At Stuff I blog on another issue in the MMP review, namely should List MPs be able to stand in by-elections. My conclusion: However I am firmly of the view that List MPs should not be able to stand in...
View ArticleThe protection of parliamentary privilege
In my blog at Stuff, I look at parliamentary privilege: One of the privileges members of Parliament have is they they can’t be sued for defamation for statements they make in Parliament. This privilege...
View ArticleWho should rank party lists?
In my blog at Stuff, I ask the question who should rank party lists? Tags: By the numbers, list ranking, MMP, Stuff
View ArticleReining in local government
My blog at Stuff is on reining in local government. In 2002 local councils were given the power of general competence. It meant they could do anything at all, so long as a majority of councillors voted...
View ArticleThe rise and fall of Nick Smith
In my final blog post at Stuff I chronicle the rise and fall of Nick Smith. Tags: By the numbers, Stuff
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