Veteran political journalist Vernon Small’s latest regular paywalled column in Stuff’s Sunday Star Times (3 August) has brought to life a subject that by its very nature can put many people to sleep – tax wealth or tax capital gains: A choice Labour may come to regret. Small was previously an advisor to the former LabourContinue reading “A poser for Labour Party: Tax wealth or tax capital gains”
Author Archives: otaihangasecondopinion
David Seymour and the political left
If there was a ‘most prolific blogger while still being consistently thought-provoking’ award it would be hard to beat Bomber (Martyn) Bradbury and his The Daily Blog (TDB). His writing is turbo-charged and opinionated but underpinned by powerful compassion and a strong sense of both justice and outrage towards injustice. For me he has beenContinue reading “David Seymour and the political left”
How to justify 400,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza: Ask ‘Zelda’
I have published three previous blog posts on Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza by means of genocide. Ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank is also occurring although through violent repression rather than genocide. The first (5 March) discussed Zionist Israel’s close supportive relationship with South Africa under apartheid and, sinceContinue reading “How to justify 400,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza: Ask ‘Zelda’”
Crony capitalism
On 21 November 2021 Winston Peters posted on X (Twitter) that New Zealand has a government that “…has an unhealthy penchant for crony capitalism and protecting their mates”. This followed a media release from him 10 days earlier as Leader of New Zealand First. The context was the findings of the Auditor General’s look into salivaContinue reading “Crony capitalism”
Postscript on Ethnic Cleansing, Genocide and New Zealand Recognition of Palestine
My last Political Bytes post (28 May) discussed why New Zealand should officially recognise the state of Palestine: New Zealand should recognise Palestinian state. The heading I gave the post was Reasons for supporting ethnic cleansing, through genocide, in Palestine. This was my attempt at irony; by exploring the reasons that underpin the support for the genocidalContinue reading “Postscript on Ethnic Cleansing, Genocide and New Zealand Recognition of Palestine”
Reasons for supporting ethnic cleansing, through genocide, in Palestine
When I despairingly contemplate the horrors and cruelty that Palestinians in Gaza are being subjected to, I sometimes try to put in the context of where I live. I live on the Kāpiti Coast in the lower North Island. Geographically it is around the same size as Gaza. Both have coastlines running their full lengths.Continue reading “Reasons for supporting ethnic cleansing, through genocide, in Palestine”
Gender Pay Inequity Perpetuation and Venality
On 6 May the Government ignited a political earthquake with its unexpected blindsiding decision to ram through parliamentary urgency the gutting of the pay equity provisions of the Equal Pay Act 1972. With multi-partisan support the Act had been amended to include these provisions in 2020. The decision was announced by Workplace Relations Minister BrookeContinue reading “Gender Pay Inequity Perpetuation and Venality”
The dirtiest of politics and a tale of two MPs cloaked in hypocrisy
The recent contrasting response of two different ‘controversies’ involving two politically different MPs are covered by a cloak of hypocrisy. The two MPS are National’s right-wing Hamish Campbell and the Greens’ social-liberal Benjamin Doyle. Campbell also describes himself as having social liberal views. However, their respective takes on what being socially liberal means may beContinue reading “The dirtiest of politics and a tale of two MPs cloaked in hypocrisy”
When Apartheid met Zionism
The 1981 Springbok Tour was one of the most controversial events in Aotearoa New Zealand’s history. For 56 days, between July and September, more than 150,000 people took part in over 200 demonstrations in 28 centres. It was the largest protest in the country’s history. It caused social ruptures within communities and families across the country.Continue reading “When Apartheid met Zionism”
More UK lessons for Labour Party in New Zealand
Recent reputable opinion polls suggest that, contrary to both historical precedent and most people’s expectations (including mine), the chances of the National-ACT-NZ First coalition being a one-term government are now around 50:50. This is extraordinary. The last one-term government was 50 years ago (Labour, 1972-75) although National were only just re-elected in 1978 election byContinue reading “More UK lessons for Labour Party in New Zealand”
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