liberation

NZ Politics Daily - 25 February 2013: Act Party entertainment

Much ink is being spilt and airtime apparently wasted on the annual conference of a political party that is currently polling at 0.1%. But that’s always been the way of the Act Party – political journalists and commentators love to cover Act because it’s such an interesting party, even during its apparent dying days. To get a sense of this, it’s well worth watching the 3 News coverage of the party’s conference – watch the 2.5 minute clip: Act Party struggles to avoid political oblivion. As well as shouting ‘bastards!’ at TV3 journalists, the colourful Rodney Hide is also shown speaking of Act’s alleged hatred of the poor, Maori and unions – and ambiguously confirming that at least some of that hate is real. On Twitter, the Act Party (@actparty) later tweets to say ‘Those are not ACT’s views’. [Read more below]

Nelson Mail 26 February

NZ politicians at gay events - images

Ever since Jenny Shipley became the first New Zealand Prime Minister to attend the Hero Parade, in 1999, mainstream politicians have been frequent participants in the public celebrations of the LGBT community. This has made for some fantastic and interesting photo opportunities - some of which are reproduced in this blog post. [See more images bel0w]

Richard Prosser’s role in making mainstream politicians look progressive

MPs from all political parties – except for New Zealand First – are loving the Richard Prosser scandal. It’s an opportunity for them all to put forward their anti-racist credentials. In fact there is now almost a bidding war going on to see who can be the most outraged and condemning of the reactionary MP and his woeful ‘Wogistan’ statements. Yet isn’t something a bit contradictory about this, when in the same week, the Government announce – to muted disagreement – that New Zealand’s refugee policy will become even more reactionary? [Read more below]

 

New Zealand's petty ‘little brother’ relationship with Australia

New Zealand’s relationship with Australia is examined in depth in Bruce Munro’s Otago Daily Times feature, Ditching the big brother thing. In this Munro uses the analogy of big and little brothers, suggesting that ‘We are the aggrieved little brother - discriminating and belittling at every opportunity, constantly comparing to see if we measure up, secretly envious and resentful of the other's perceived strengths and achievements’. I’m quoted in the article trying to explain this unusual relationship. In this blog post, I expand on my arguments about NZ’s ‘little brother’ relationship with Australia. [Read more below]

 

We need more democracy not less - arguments against a 4-year term

Proposals to have fewer and less frequent general elections should be seen for what they are – arguments in favour of less democracy for the publicly and less accountability for politicians. If we extend the parliamentary term from the current three years to four years, then quite simply the public has less say over how the country is run. [Read more below]

 

Images of Titewhai Harawira (and The Harawiras)

This post draws together an eclectic groups of cartoons and photos of Titewhai Harawira and her family (especially Hone Harawira). The images relate to Waitangi and New Zealand politics. The images are very roughly in historical order. [See more below]

Dominion Post 6 February 2013