There’s so much going on in politics at the moment, it’s sometimes hard to know where to start. Labour’s list problems are finally starting to fade into the past, but nonetheless there are 15 items in this category today, so the debate hasn’t quite ended. The most interesting and insightful blog posts on the matter are from Will de Cleene (Messiah Ward) and David Farrar (Labour’s Diversity).
But it’s the general topic of the economy – and National’s management of it – that’s the main issue of the day, and there’s plenty to consume on this – such as Fran O’Sullivan’s column, Bravo, English, for talking tough (http://bit.ly/e0WSIX). But the Government’s own expenditure on itself is generating the most interesting questions – see: John Armstrong’s PM comes close to saying he is not responsible and Jessica Mutch’s Heat still on Ministers’ BMWs.
Law and Order issues are suddenly everywhere as well – lots of sound and fury is being generated. But the most interesting and important single item of the day is Helen Kelly’s account of The Hobbit Dispute. This is being heralded by Labour activists and MPs as the definitive indictment of the current government, yet this argument would carry a lot more weight if the Opposition had actually taken a side in the dispute at the time – which they didn’t (see this account from during the dispute: ‘We are not for the Hobbit workers, and we are not against them’ – Labour Party) [Continue reading below for a full list of the highlights of NZ Politics Daily]
Economy and National’s economic management
Fran O'Sullivan (NZH): Bravo, English, for talking tough
Tracy Watkins (Dom Post): PM revives pledge to keep hands off pensions
John Armstrong (NZH): PM comes close to saying he is not responsible
Jessica Mutch (TVNZ): Opinion: Heat still on Ministers’ BMWs
TV3: Union calls PM out on wage increase figures
TVNZ: Kiwis among hardest working in world
Paul McBeth (Stuff): Tough choices needed on super: Treasury
Tracy Watkins (Stuff): Back room Govt cuts could save $230m - report
TV3: Don Brash urges Govt to hurry up and change economic policy (VIDEO)
Colin James (ODT): Compete or collaborate: the trans-Tasman question
NZPA: Zero budget aims to reassure
NZPA: IMF slashes NZ's outlook
Andrea Vance (Stuff): English uncertain on surplus goal
Editorial (NZH): Exploiting our Aussie gap can help close it
NZPA: Pay rises on the slide
Brian Fallow (NZH): End secrecy on TPP trade talks – petition
Chris Trotter (Bowalley Road): The Smartest Guy In The Room
Bernard Hickey (Interest): IMF downgrades NZ GDP growth outlook to 0.9%
NZPA and NBR staff (NBR): Commercial flavour to new SOE board members
Stuff: Simon Power stands down as SOE Minister
Labour’s list fallout
Will de Cleene (gonzo Freakpower): Messiah Ward
Claire Trevett (NZH): Caucus apology for ‘gaggle of gays’ remarks
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Labour’s Diversity
Patrick Gower (TV3): Did O’Connor’s apology go far enough?
Poneke: “Gaggle of gays” the funniest collective noun coined in a long time
TV3: Phil Goff talks to Firstline – full interview (VIDEO)
NZPA: O’Connor apologises for gay gaggle/union comment
Vernon Small (DomPost): O’Connor sorry for public criticism
Newstalk ZB: O’Connor to keep thoughts to self
TV3: Labour caucus to focus on MP’s behaviour (and VIDEO)
ODT Editorial: Labour’s list problems
No Right Turn: The wailing of the privileged
Jake Quinn (Life and Politics): Why Labour’s list is so important
GayNZ.com: MP "sometimes engages mouth before brain"
GayNZ.com: Rainbow Caucus high on Labour list
Petrobras protests
NZPA: Govt expects answers today on Petrobras problem
Morgan Godfery (Maui Street): Protest in the Raukumara
Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB): Political Report for April 13
No Right Turn: National rejects the environment
No Right Turn: National rejects the environment II
Canterbury earthquake
John Hartevelt and Giles Brown (Press): Christchurch earthquake bill under fire in House
Derek Cheng (NZH): Recovery powers bill on fast track
John Hartevelt (Stuff): Greens oppose Christchurch earthquake recovery bill
No Right Turn: The Canterbury Enabling Act 2.0
No Right Turn: The people of Christchurch deserve better than this
Audrey Young (NZH): Quake repair estimate revised to $8.5 billion
Law and order
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Crackdown on legal aid announced
Derek Cheng and Hayden Donnell (NZH): Legal aid changes slammed
Claire Trevett (NZH): Silence on abuse may mean 10 years’ jail
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Bill may extend reporting of abuse to neighbours
NZPA: Govt stiffens law for police attacks
Shane Cowlishaw (DomPost): Three strikes could become a cancer – ex-judge
Martin Kay (Stuff): More jail time for attacks on police, prison officers
Gordon Campbell (Scoop): On legal aid, and the definitive account of the Hobbit saga
Andrea Vance (Stuff): Law to fight internet piracy rushed through
Quentin Findlay (New Masses): Universality – The Giant Killer
Tiki Taane’s arrest
James Ihaka (NZH): Anti-police song lands Tiki Taane in court
Keith Locke (Frogblog): It’s only a song, Simon
James Ihaka (NZH): Tiki Taane: One police officer upset at N.W.A song
Steven Price (Media Law Journal): Fu*k the police indeed
Hobbit dispute revisited
Helen Kelly: The Hobbit Dispute
Gordon Campbell (Scoop): The art of plundering the shire
The Standard: Helen Kelly on the Hobbit dispute
Darien Fenton (Red Alert): Hobbit revisited
Other
John Hartevelt (Stuff): Auditor General investigates ex MP's husband
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Use of Urgency
Grant Robertson (Red Alert): Urgency – Some real information
Stuff: MediaWorks payment went against Treasury advice
No Right Turn: More on Mediaworks
Jane Clifton (DomPost): About the House: MPs will prosper if they all keep within Standing Orders
Terence O’Brien (DomPost): More than ever, NZ needs a strong professional diplomatic corps
Bernard Orsman (NZH): Mayor blocks bid for open debate on Maori board
Vernon Small (Stuff): CRI mergers 'could send scientist overseas'
Martin Kay (Stuff):ACC announces board appointments
Kate Chapman (Dom Post): Report recommends Maori language minister
NZH: Broadsides: Help for first-time buyers
Jane Clifton (Listener): Damned if they do
