Latest fromMatt McCarten on politics
Matt McCarten: Insult to send tour supporters
What an insult that John Key appointed Jim Bolger and Don McKinnon as part of a five-person New Zealand delegation to Nelson Mandela's memorial services.
Matt McCarten: Vote to save last of family silver
John Key confidently predicted sales would raise more than $7 billion. It's not completed yet but already we are down $1.2b, writes Matt McCarten.
Matt McCarten: Selling our future for $75 each
Deep-sea oil drilling interests claim our Government could receive $300m from it. Is our "clean, green reputation" worth trading in for that, Matt McCarten asks.
Matt McCarten: Battle of the egos in seat reshuffle
The new boundaries for electorates for the next election are out. Under MMP, the number of electorates won or lost doesn't matter in terms of who governs.
Matt McCarten: Row clouds already nasty issue
Matthew Hooton is so far right he sneeringly derides the National Government as communists, says Matt McCarten.
Matt McCarten: Pretend coalition on the ropes
A byelection is under way in Christchurch East, writes Matt McCarten.
Matt McCarten: Labour Day nothing to celebrate
It's Labour Day tomorrow. It's ironic that many low-paid workers are made to work Monday as any other day, says Matt McCarten.
Matt McCarten: Disgrace for sons of Supercity
Two of our Supercity sons have disgraced themselves, says Matt McCarten.
Matt McCarten: 8/10 for Cunliffe's winning team
David Cunliffe had said his new front bench would be based on merit rather than composed along factional lines, says Matt McCarten.
Labour has found its mojo at last
After five dark years, the Labour Party have their mojo back, says Matt McCarten.
Taxpayers foot bill for corporates
There's a blind spot with John Key when it comes to giving taxpayers' cash to corporate monopolies, says Matt McCarten.
Kingmaker Jones stealing show
I haven't had a conversation in the past fortnight where the Labour Party leadership contest doesn't come up.
Matt McCarten: Harness slumbering union giant
A merger between the two biggest and most influential unions affiliated to the Labour Party is almost certain to happen around the middle of next year, says Matt McCarten.
Matt McCarten: Leader's race is Labour's chance
Matt McCarten writes: At the Labour Party's November conference, Grant Robertson or David Cunliffe will take the podium to give the leader's speech.
Matt McCarten: I spy cause for serious concern
The GCSB bill is due to be passed into law on Tuesday by a single vote, writes Matt McCarten.
Matt McCarten: It's you and I who pay the price
Quite rightly, the main news over Fonterra's infected products has been the physical threat to the customer, writes Matt McCarten. Or more importantly, the children of its customers.
Matt McCarten: Teflon PM survives perfect storm
Matt McCarten asks, "He's been hit by the perfect storm on all sides, so surely you'd expect John Key's poll numbers to have broken and sunk to the bottom?"
Matt McCarten: PM's weakness good for Peters
"What was in Prime Minister John Key's head when he refused to rule out Winston Peters being his main man next year?" asks Matt McCarten.
Matt McCarten: Save your tears, Prime Minister
Matt McCarten says: So, 29 innocents are dead and entombed at Pike River by the greed and negligence of others, and yet no charges are to be laid.
Matt McCarten: Petty scandals cloak horrors
Matt McCarten shared a car trip with Helen Kelly, the Council of Trade Unions president, on Thursday. Inevitably, they got talking about the state of left politics.