Category Archives: New Zealand Politics

Posts that deal with issues current in New Zealand politics

On choices – good and bad

Posted on 5th Sep, 2011 by Puddleglum

As the election draws near, it’s clear that ‘welfare reform’ will be one of the main areas of discussion and debate. It’s also, historically, an area littered with sloganesque arguments that fly around like empty cartridge shells at the OK … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Wellbeing, New Zealand Politics, Welfare | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Flagging Voters

Posted on 31st Aug, 2011 by Puddleglum

Elections depend on votes. What do votes depend upon? Well, flags, for one thing. There’s a lot of other studies that show that many seemingly trivial or even irrelevant factors result in perceptible movements in people’s tendency to vote for … Continue reading →

Posted in New Zealand Politics, Political Polls | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

The science and politics of the ‘politics of envy’

Posted on 21st Jul, 2011 by Puddleglum

The release of Labour’s tax policies – which include a new top tax rate (39cents for income over $150,000), a Capital Gains Tax (at 15%), no GST on fresh fruit and vegetables and a tax free $5,000 threshold – have … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Human Nature, Human Wellbeing, Labour, New Zealand Politics, Philosophy, politics of envy | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Offers we can’t refuse; commitments we can’t trust – and other conditions for growing mushrooms

Posted on 29th Jun, 2011 by Puddleglum

Now that the government has unveiled a multi-coloured map of Christchurch, that represents its current thinking on ‘retiring land’, compensation packages and mass internal migration it’s a good time to reflect on the state of play and highlight a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquakes, Economics, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Right’s Dependence on Welfare

Posted on 15th May, 2011 by Puddleglum

A recent comment by Don Brash [about 7mins45secs into the video] gave me the clue as to why the right are so dependent on the ‘welfare’ argument. They are, to put it bluntly, dependent on ‘welfare’ as the explanation for all … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Market, Human Nature, Human Wellbeing, Labour, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Don Brash, John Key and Mary Poppins

Posted on 28th Apr, 2011 by Puddleglum

It’s Mary Poppins time boys and girls – Dr Brash is your medicine and Mr Key your spoonful of sugar. Do you want to take your medicine? No?   Well, what’s to be done with you? There not quite as … Continue reading →

Posted in New Zealand Politics | Tagged , | 2 Comments

ANZAC Day and Nationalism

Posted on 26th Apr, 2011 by Puddleglum

I’ve never been to an ANZAC Day dawn service. I’ve often tried to work out why. I think I now know.

Posted in Fascism, Freedom, Military, National Identity, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Who’s afraid of (the charge of) ‘elitism’?

Posted on 14th Apr, 2011 by Puddleglum

Is it elitist to advocate government funding of TVNZ 7 and, by extension, Concert FM, National Radio, the NZSO and the Royal New Zealand Ballet? I don’t think so. Michelle Boag, in her appearance on Jim Mora’s ‘The Panel’ on … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Nature, National Identity, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Who’s afraid of (the charge of) ‘elitism’?

Earthquake Reflections and Connections

Posted on 7th Apr, 2011 by Puddleglum

We care most about things that happen to us and affect our interests directly. Try as we might, it’s harder to care about things that happen to others, at a distance, and which have little impact on our interests (which, … Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom, Human Nature, Human Wellbeing, New Zealand Politics, Philosophy | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Earthquake Reflections and Connections

Christchurch, 2020 – Would we want to live there?

Posted on 15th Mar, 2011 by Puddleglum

The one question so many people in Christchurch are asking is “Should I stay or should I go?” The motivation to stay – for those with the ability to leave – will depend on whether or not there is a … Continue reading →

Posted in New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments