Gordon Campbell on the elusive charms of Christopher Luxon
Well, the first 36 hours of viewing the Christopher Luxon selfie were always going to be the best, before the repetitions set in. We get […]
Simon Bridges
Gordon Campbell on Omicron, and the Bridges/Luxon dilemma
At this early stage, the Omicron variant seems to be more infectious, and more able to bypass the protection offered by vaccines and by the […]
Gordon Campbell on National’s less than stellar choices
Amid all the jostling in the National caucus ranks, spare a thought for Andrew Bayly. Who? Well might you ask. Plucked from obscurity by Judith […]
Gordon Campbell on the demotion of Simon Bridges
So Simon Bridges has been bounced from the front bench and stripped of his shadow portfolio responsibilities for the crudely “inappropriate” comments that he allegedly […]
Gordon Campbell on the Clark exit, convention centres, and the killing of Hachalu Hundessa
Goodbye, David Clark. In the end, the outgoing Health Minister decided that in the midst of a pandemic the best thing he could do for […]
Gordon Campbell on not buying what Todd Muller is selling
Chloe Swarbrick is number three in the Greens Party list released this morning. Todd Muller has released his new party line-up today, which will excite […]
Gordon Campbell on National’s day of reckoning
Congratulations. You are one of the 55 members of the National caucus being called together tomorrow to choose who will lead you to either (a) […]
Gordon Campbell on the (lack of) alternatives to Simon Bridges
Spin the roulette wheel. The suggestion that tomorrow’s headline poll numbers will decide the fate of Simon Bridges is a fairly extreme example of poll-driven […]
Gordon Campbell on the economic stimulus package
Obviously, yesterday’s massive $12.1 billion economic stimulus package (4% of GDP !) will not totally insulate people from the economic hardship caused by the coronavirus, […]
Gordon Campbell on where the politically-donated bucks should be stopping
By now, it seems crystal clear that something is deeply amiss with the way that New Zealand political parties solicit, receive and report their funding. […]
Gordon Campbell on the political donations scandals
Even paranoids have real enemies. While there has been something delusionary about the way New Zealand First has been living in denial about its donations […]
Gordon Campbell on stoking fears about cannabis law reform
It was always going to be hard to have a rational debate on cannabis reform. Far easier for politicians to win votes by stoking alarm.
Gordon Campbell on the welcome restoration of prisoners’ right to vote
One one front, the government has now done the right thing, and has partially restored the right of prisoners to vote
Gordon Campbell on National’s anointing of Christopher Luxon
Clearly, the National Party hierarchy is very, very excited about Christopher Luxon
Gordon Campbell on Simon Bridges trying to paint himself as a warrior against political correctness
Having failed all year at being a credible alternative Prime Minister, National leader Simon Bridges has lowered his aspirational target this week to something more within his range.
Gordon Campbell on allegations of left wing bias in the mainstream media
The “left wing bias” accusation dates back at least to the mid 1990s… The charge was ridiculous then, and is ridiculous now.
Gordon Campbell on Labour’s mishandling of the alleged sexual assault
The focus of Labour’s alleged sexual assault scandal has now shifted from the party organisation to the Beehive.
Gordon Campbell on the cheap politics that National is playing with gun reform
In the wake of the Port Arthur massacre, Tim Fischer chose not to pander to his own party’s worst short term instincts…
From the Hood : J’Hackuse
Better Analogies for National Pilfering Budget Data
Gordon Campbell on the Budget leak
No doubt the Police will carry out their investigation of the Treasury Budget hack with more courtesy and nuance than their pursuit of the Dirty Politicssource.
Gordon Campbell on why we should support the junior doctors strike
The powers that individual DHBs are seeking look like a throwback to the early 1990s. Then, as now, the rationale was that this local “flexibility” was necessary.
Gordon Campbell on the alleged crisis over our relations with China
If New Zealand’s relations with China are ‘deteriorating’ then you still need a microscope to detect the signs.
Gordon Campbell on the Nelson fire and what it says about our response to climate change
The Nelson fire has been a warning of things to come.
Gordon Campbell on National’s tax handouts
Simon Bridges has unveiled a heavenly vision of a “Not Tax But Still Spend” government.
Gordon Campbell on National’s new, fledgling blue-green partner
Every year around about this time, National floats its own distinct vision of a different sort of Green Party…
Gordon Campbell on whether the Pope of Parliament can ever be anything other than a Catholic
’Tis the season of goodwill towards all humankind… except it would seem, towards the Speaker of Parliament.
Gordon Campbell on what the polls say about National’s leadership
Like his Tory counterpart Theresa May in Britain, National Party leader Simon Bridges seems widely unloved, and safe in his job only to the extent […]
Gordon Campbell on Labour’s backdown over the Hobbit law (and Jami-Lee Ross)
Clearly, Jami-Lee Ross is not waging a normal form of political warfare, with agreed rules of combat and rational cost/benefit calculations.
Gordon Campbell on the Jami-Lee Ross Saga
Secretly taping your political leader and threatening to release the contents in public is not a good way to win clemency, or gain support from your team
Gordon Campbell on the teachers’ struggle for better pay and conditions
These days, strike action is essentially a game of three dimensional chess, and the industrial stoppages coming our way in education are a case in point.