A Design for Living; Guest Post
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- Date published:
10:33 am, April 10th, 2016 - 56 comments
Categories: activism, Economy, Environment, political education, Politics, thinktank -
Tags: education, manifesto, politics, unity
A member of Young Labour, TheSocialDemocrat, has suggested this manifesto as a starting point for defining the debate in the post neo-liberal era. There’s much that’s very, very good in it and it draws on the policy platforms of all the opposition parties while adding many unique ideas.
TS readers might like to suggest changes or additions to the list or ways that a coalition of support could be built for the best bits of this manifesto. TRP.
It is apparent that, in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis, the neo-liberal orthodoxy has been called into question. This resurgence in intellectual and ideological debate from the Left is something that has been sorely missing since the Thatcher/Reagan Revolution of the 1980’s.
Economists, politicians, academics and others have been producing novels, papers, essays and more on where the Left must succeed. With the rise of far-right xenophobia in America and Europe, it is vital that the mainstream Left in New Zealand deliver an alternative vision to neo-liberalism.
As a Young Labour activist, I believe that we, as part New Zealand’s future, must lead the way in this debate (in conjunction with other young activists of the Left, of course). A broad coalition of diverse ideologies, including social democrats, Greens, social liberals, progressive Christians, trade unionists, NZ First supporters, community Independents and more must be built in order to realise this long-term goal.
This is why I have written this mini-manifesto. It contains some starting points as a way of moving New Zealand, the country we all love and wish to save, into a post neo-liberal future.
ECONOMY:
- Make KiwiSaver compulsory, with an employee contribution rate of 8%, and a government and employer contribution rate of 4%.
- Move towards a Flexi-Super system. Instead of having a fixed retirement of 65, move towards a system in which people can retire younger (minimum age of 60) and receive less KiwiSaver, or retire later (maximum age of 70) and receive more.
- Upgrade our monetary policy, to ensure that the Reserve Bank places a strong commitment towards full employment, wages and growth, as opposed to purely inflation.
- Review the current State-Owned Enterprises model, to see whether it is appropriate, and whether a co-operative model could be just as efficient.
- Move towards free and fair trade deals with Japan, Canada and the European Union.
- Cap CEO bonuses at 40% of their pay.
- Create state-owned competitors in power and phone/net networks.
- Nationalise the water industry.
- Bring back a Research and Development Tax Credit.
- Develop a green economy, with appropriate transition policies to help workers entering the process.
- All business are encouraged to sign up to the ‘socially responsible business’ model, recognising their obligation to their employees, the environment, the community, consumers and shareholders.
- Regulate speculation, and ensure a low interest rate policy that grows jobs and the economy.
- Begin the process of breaking Fonterra up into smaller companies; ending its monopoly over the dairy industry.
- Restricting abusive lending practices, aggressive credit-marketing and unfair interest rates.
EDUCATION:
- Increase the school entry age to 6.
- Increase the pay of teachers to the same pay as a doctor, however attaining a teaching degree will become more difficult, as only those with high grades will be allowed to work as teachers. A prospective teacher will have to pass a personality test, as well as other tests deeming whether or not they are fit to be a teacher.
- Review the NCEA system to deem whether it is appropriate, including whether to eliminate most mandatory testing.
- Revamp the school curriculum so that, at the end of NCEA Level 1, students will be given the option of carrying on with their schooling, with the intention of heading to university, or moving to attend one of our new ‘vocational schools’. All students who choose to leave school must attend a vocational school for at least one year. After this, they can enter the workforce.
- Place a strong emphasis on removing inequality within the school system.
- Abolish National Standards.
- Abolish Charter Schools, with the buildings being used for our new ‘vocational schools’.
- Eliminate funding for wealthy private schools.
- Abolish university fees for three years, with any further study having a fee of merely $500.
HEALTHCARE:
- Build polyclinics in smaller towns, where small operations can be performed, ensuring residents do not have to travel to larger cities to receive said operations.
- Begin implementing a Disability Insurance Scheme, similar to the one used in Australia.
TAXATION:
- Replace the GST with a Progressive Consumption Tax.
- Increase the top rate of income tax to 40%.<
- Implement a Capital Gains Tax, to be taxed at the same rate as wages.
- Implement a tax on wealth, reaching as high as 2%, and push to make this tax global.
- Cut the small business tax rate to 14%.
- Inquire as to whether corporate tax should eventually be replaced by a Land Value Tax.
- Crack down on personal and corporate tax avoidance, combating tax shelters and money laundering.
SOCIAL POLICY:
- Reform the welfare system into a Basic Income scheme, in which all households earning less than $50,000 a year will receive a $500 weekly payment.
- Leave the universal pension scheme intact.
- Split Working for Families into two systems, one being the Best Start package, and the other being a Working Income Tax Credit, which will top up the pay of low-income workers. Introduce a Best Start package, providing $60 a week to low-income families to address our appalling child poverty rate.
- Ensure those who cannot find a job will be put to work in the ‘third sector’; working for charities or performing community work.
- Increase paid parental leave to 26 weeks.
- Introduce a fully-funded, universal childcare plan, available for children from ages 4-6.
- Appoint a ‘Poverty Elimination Commissioner’, to advise the government on ways to reduce poverty and to oversee the poverty level and actions taken in NZ.
- Create facilities in which all beggars/homeless citizens will be placed into, until they are able to move into a state house.
- Introduce a free breakfast & lunch program in all schools.
ENVIRONMENT:
- Eliminate all subsidies to fossil-fuel companies.
- Start up a Green Living Fund, offering consumers a $4,000 rebate to begin living eco-friendly lives, including fitting houses with solar panels.
- Start up a Green Car Fund, offering consumers a $2,000 rebate for all pre-2000 models.
Revamp the Emissions Trading Scheme to ensure that it does a better job of combating emissions, as opposed to its current weakened state. - Ensure all future infrastructure is built using eco-friendly materials.
- Place a moratorium on all fracking projects until enough research has been done to ensure that it is safe.
- Implement a ban on plastic shopping bags.
- Ban factory farming.
LAW & ORDER:
- Legalise marijuana, MDMA and other non-addictive drugs, to be followed by strict regulation and taxation at the same rate as alcohol and tobacco. Following on from this, create a New Zealand Drugs Board, so that citizens can only buy regulated drugs from the government, rather than the private sector, which will increase government revenue.
- Decriminalise all other drugs, with the exception of crack cocaine and heroin, with a policy of users being sent to rehabilitation clinics, rather than prison. Properly fund walk-in clinics for drug addicts.
- Prison reform, in order to place a much greater (almost universal) emphasis on rehabilitation.
- Increase police officer numbers.
- Repeal the GCSB Amendment Act.
- Begin moves towards a New Zealand republic, complete with a flag change, to reflect our status as an independent nation (with a more democratic process than the last referendum!).
- Amend the Bill of Rights to add the right to education, healthcare, housing, clothing, food, and an income in some form.
- Lower the voting age to 17, and introduce legislation to automatically register people to vote once they turn 17.
TRANSPORT:
- Fully fund the Auckland City Rail Link.
- Invest in rural roads, to ensure a higher quality.
- Develop a major rail link, that will be completely powered by renewable energy and will link most of NZ’s major cities to each other by rail. Passengers will be able to travel at high speeds and in comfort. The trains used will be similar to the TGV in France.
- Retrofit all current public transport systems to ensure that they are powered by renewable energy.
HOUSING:
- Build 1,000 new social houses every year, which will be energy-efficient.
- Start work on the KiwiBuild program, which will build thousands of low-cost, high-quality houses to be sold at affordable to prices to Kiwi residents. All homes built under the project will be energy-efficient.
- Ban non-resident foreigners from buying Kiwi homes
JOBS & INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
- Increase the minimum wage to a living wage of $19.50, provided it is at the equilibrium wage.
- Create a ‘Youth Job Guarantee’, that would ensure that all under-25s have access to a good job, paid internship or training position within four months of leaving school.
- Require worker representation on company boards, to develop more democratic and transparent workplaces.
- Boost eco-friendly infrastructure development that can withstand extreme weather, creating jobs in the process.
- Increase funding for skills and jobs training, as a method for reducing inequality and creating jobs.
- Create ‘Industry Sector Councils’, which will bring together industries, unions and the government with the goal of maintaining a strong industrial sector.
TheSocialDemocrat
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On November 5th, the Spinoff published a very interesting article on Stephen Rainbow, the Human Rights Commission’s latest recruitment, and how he came to get the controversial appointment. Naturally because of the excitement of the US election, it’s flown a little below the radar. https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/05-11-2024/i-didnt-get-the-hrc-job-stephen-rainbows-human-rights-commission-appointment-just-got-weirderThe article details evidence of the ...1 week ago - Injustice for torture
Between 1950 and 1993 the New Zealand government tortured and abused up to 250,000 children in residential care facilities. Yesterday, following formal findings from a royal commission, it finally apologised for that abuse. The next step is redress and restitution - compensating the surviving victims for the appalling harm they ...1 week ago
- NZ’s global climate rankings plummet as Govt removes agriculture from ETS
The Government has passed legislation to remove agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) while Aotearoa’s reputation on climate action plummets. ...13 hours ago - Failed boot camp experiment must end
As legislation to set up boot camps passed its first reading, the Green Party urged the Government to abandon this failed policy experiment for the good of our rangatahi. ...14 hours ago
- Gender-affirming care must centre evidence and health needs, not political posturing
The Ministry of Health has today released an evidence brief regarding the use of puberty blockers in gender-affirming healthcare, amid moves by the government to limit access. ...15 hours ago
- Release: National doesn’t care about manufacturing
The National Government is walking away from our manufacturing sector with constant reports of closures and job losses. ...16 hours ago - Release: David Parker speech – Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change
David Parker's speech from the University of Auckland's forum on Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change in September 2024. ...16 hours ago
- Release: Youth mental wellbeing no longer a priority for Child Poverty Minister
Louise Upston has revealed her diminished vision for vulnerable youth against a backdrop of snubbed advice, scrapped priorities, shifted goal posts and thousands more children projected to fall into poverty. ...18 hours ago
- Release: National’s lack of climate action taking NZ backwards
National Government’s backward-looking climate policy has seen New Zealand fall seven places on the Climate Change Performance Index to 41 out of 63 countries measured. ...18 hours ago
- Release: Simple reason for drop in emergency housing
When the Government says it has reduced the number of people in emergency housing, what it means is it is stopping people from accessing it in the first place. ...21 hours ago
- Govt’s child wellbeing strategy ‘shallow and shameful’
The Government is turning its back on children by not only weakening child poverty reduction targets, but also removing child mental wellbeing as a priority focus in their Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy. ...21 hours ago
- Release: A historic win for Samoan communities
Labour warmly welcomes the Restoring Samoan Citizenship Bill as it passes its third reading, before becoming law. ...22 hours ago
- Government plan to reinstate live animal exports a “national disgrace”
The Government has taken a giant step backwards by reinstating live animal exports. ...2 days ago
- Pasifika justice as Member’s Bill passes final reading
Teanau Tuiono’s Member’s Bill, the Citizenship (Western Samoa Restoration) Amendment Bill, has passed its third reading and will become law. ...2 days ago
- Release: Minister of Education thinks New Zealand ends at the Bombay Hills
The Minister of Education has shown complete disregard for rural communities and their school bus routes in Question Time today. ...2 days ago
- Economists sound alarm on Government’s slash-and-burn approach
A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. ...2 days ago
- Release: Smoking numbers up under Costello’s watch
National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...2 days ago
- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...2 days ago
- Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions
Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament
Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons
Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...4 days ago
- Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill
The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...5 days ago
- Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...7 days ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Te Tiriti
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon
As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation
The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Winston Peters must apologise
The Deputy Prime Minister should apologise to the public servant he named and blamed for something they did not do, and for misusing the rules of Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...14 hours ago - Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...15 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...15 hours ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...15 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...16 hours ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...17 hours ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...18 hours ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...19 hours ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...19 hours ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...21 hours ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...24 hours ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...2 days ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...2 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...2 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...2 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...2 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...2 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. “We need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...3 days ago
- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...3 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...3 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...3 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...3 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...3 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...3 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...3 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...4 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...4 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...4 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...4 days ago
- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in Whakatāne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...5 days ago
- Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury
Construction on the next stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will begin early next month, with the contract for works awarded to Fulton Hogan, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. "SH1 Papakura to Drury is a key project that will drive economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, and enable people ...6 days ago
- NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has signed a pioneering trade agreement that prioritises New Zealand’s sustainable exports at a ceremony during APEC in Peru today. “The Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), between Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland was concluded in July of this year and opens up significant ...6 days ago
- Government and iwi work together on aquaculture
Five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas will help ensure Ngāi Tahu shares in the opportunities aquaculture offers for Southland’s economy, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) I’m announcing today set aside space so the Crown and Ngāi Tahu can assess their potential for aquaculture development. ...7 days ago
- Government launches review to ensure electricity market is fit-for-purpose
The terms of reference for a review of the performance of the electricity market have been released. The review, initiated by the Coalition Government during the power crisis in winter will look at whether current regulations and market design support economic growth and access to reliable and affordable electricity, Energy Minister ...7 days ago
- Speech to Social Investment Hui: Jack and his whānau need our help
Kia ora koutou katoa. Nau mai, haere mai, piki mai. Ki te mihi atu ahau, ki te manwhenua nei, Te Atiawa, Ngāti toa rangatira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you, Andy, for your introduction. Let me acknowledge you as the new Chief Executive of the Social Investment ...7 days ago
- Minister of State for Trade heads to Brisbane for PACER Plus meeting
Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg has travelled to Australia to attend the PACER Plus Ministers Meeting in Brisbane. “Trade plays a critical role in driving employment, economic growth, and improving the standards of living in the Pacific Region. The Government is strongly committed to supporting Pacific Island countries ...7 days ago
- Proposals to modernise conservation released
Toitū te taiao – Our environment endures The Government is consulting on proposals to modernise New Zealand’s conservation management system, aiming to protect relevant natural areas while supporting sustainable growth in tourism and regional economies, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. “Today, the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai is ...7 days ago
- Knowing superstitions aren’t real doesn’t stop us behaving superstitiously – why?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephanie Gomes-Ng, Senior Lecturer of Psychology, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Former New Zealand prime minister John Key has three white rabbits painted on his helicopter, a nod to his “massively superstitious” habit of repeating “white rabbits” three times at ...37 minutes ago - Government slammed for pushing ahead with boot camps while trial still under way
The coalition has "absolutely no intention of listening to the evidence that comes out of their experiment", Labour MP says. ...1 hour ago - Smoke and mirrors in heated tobacco debate
Labour claims Government is ‘cherry-picking’ smoking trends data to hide decade-first increase in daily smokers The post Smoke and mirrors in heated tobacco debate appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 hours ago - Treasury bangs the drum on ‘unsustainable’ superannuation
The Government’s economic adviser is sending a message it doesn’t want to hear – superannuation is increasingly unaffordable The post Treasury bangs the drum on ‘unsustainable’ superannuation appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 hours ago
- Victims of sex offending welcome shift on name suppression laws
A man abused by a former political figure is "immensely relieved" at a government proposal to end secrecy around sex offenders' identities. ...2 hours ago
- This week three parties stood together – can they withstand the storm to come?
There is plenty yet to play out, but the next election is at this rate shaping up as trio versus trio, writes Toby Manhire. A subplot of this week’s historic hīkoi mō te Tiriti has been the sight of the three opposition parties presenting a unified front. Te Pāti Māori ...2 hours ago - All 33 malls in Auckland ranked from worst to best
From the low lows of abandon empires to the high highs of a mall done just right. This is the second in the Malls of New Zealand series, where we rank the malls in major centres. Next week: Wellington. A note from the editor: This is the hardest ranking we’ve ...2 hours ago
- The cost of being: A clothes-mad 20-something who walks everywhere
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 27-year-old apartment-dwelling marketing exec explains her approach to spending and saving. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here. Gender: Female. Age: 27. Ethnicity: Pākehā. Role: Marketing exec at ...2 hours ago
- NZ’s membership of Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance in jeopardy
Senior ministers in the coalition suggested NZ’s membership will be re-evaluated if it restarts offshore oil and gas drilling The post NZ’s membership of Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance in jeopardy appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 hours ago
- Raw Politics: Six months in a leaky Bill
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon did not meet the Treaty Principles Bill hikoi crowd, sees “nothing” of merit in the Act-proposed law but the Parliament his Government dominates will spend six months debating a “divisive” measure.That’s because he has accepted there needs to be “aeration” of people’s views on the Treaty, ...2 hours ago
- Taken to the brink, Govt is now close to selling big Whakapapa ski field
Bidder Whakapapa Holdings walked away from the sales process last year, but says it’s now ‘95% there’ on a purchase agreement – so who blinked first? The post Taken to the brink, Govt is now close to selling big Whakapapa ski field appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 22 November
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 22 November appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Friday 22 November
The post Daily crossword, Friday 22 November appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 hours ago
- China likely to strengthen regional relationships in response to another Trump term
Opinion: Recent discussions in Shanghai provide some insight into what’s likely to be on the table The post China likely to strengthen regional relationships in response to another Trump term appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 hours ago
- Nuclear winters know no borders
Opinion: The immediate horror of nuclear weapon explosions – the blinding flash, crushing blast wave, and radioactive inferno – is well documented.But what nuclear-armed nations either don’t grasp or won’t admit, is far more chilling: how their weapons could devastate even countries thousands of kilometres from any mushroom clouds.The collapse ...2 hours ago
- This week’s bestselling books – November 22
FICTION1 Kāwai: Tree of Nourishment by Monty Soutar (David Bateman, $39.99)Sample dialogue, all from one chapter:“That can’t be,” replied Taona doubtfully.“You were right. The pā is unnervingly quiet,” Taona murmured.“The Hākuwai,” Motukia breathed. “Our grandfathers told us they rarely saw the Hākuwai in daylight,” Motukia muttered.“Their fight would have been futile ...2 hours ago
- Burma the flying elephant
After about two and a half years of planning and waiting, New Zealand’s last elephant has moved to her new home at Monarto Safari Park in South Australia.Burma and her “human herd”, that is, her keepers, arrived last week, and she’s settling in well, according to Auckland Zoo’s Andrew Coers.“Something ...2 hours ago
- Watts nears a landmark deal on global carbon trading
A framework for global carbon trading under the Paris Agreement is finally nearing completion at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan after years of halting talks.Climate Change Minister Simon Watts is one of two ministers tasked by the COP29 hosts with landing a long-sought deal on Article 6 of the climate accord, ...2 hours ago
- Grattan on Friday: Marles plays a defensive bat on nuclear as the government rushes to get though la...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Richard Marles is an ambitious man who hasn’t given up the dream of one day reaching the top job. But, despite being deputy prime minister, his profile is much lower than that of Treasurer Jim ...8 hours ago
- Fears Māori will pay heaviest price if police carry guns
"Overwhelmingly, those people who die will be young Māori men," the spokesperson for People Against Prisons Aotearoa says. ...9 hours ago
- NEW POLL: Kiwis Overwhelmingly Support MPs’ Expenses Transparency Law Change
62% of respondents support the extension of the OIA to cover MPs’ spending, compared to just 13% opposed and 24% were unsure. ...10 hours ago - The House: Meanwhile, a week of passing law
The political week has been packed with worthy distractions, but all week Parliament has focused on passing new laws. Here are the highlights. ...10 hours ago
- The biggest difference between Hīkoi mō te Tiriti and past hīkoi: More support from non-Māori
Analysis - The diversity of voices during the hīkoi was noticeable - from tangata moana to young immigrants to elderly Pākehā from the South Island. ...11 hours ago
- The House: Samoan citizenship restoration – ‘It means we belong to this land’
When the bill to restore NZ citizenship to some Samoans passed this week, Parliament's galleries were full to the brim with members of the community. ...11 hours ago
- More Delays In Action On Use Of Puberty Blockers With Children
Women’s Rights Party Co-leader Jill Ovens says the Ministry has put New Zealand children at risk by continuing to allow “off-label” prescribing of puberty blockers at far higher rates than other similar countries. ...12 hours ago
- Police Minister adamant he wasn’t aware of gang members training at gun clubs
That is despite two papers from police that raised the matter with him. ...13 hours ago
- Shorten declares himself ‘a proud moderate’, saying Australians ‘in the middle’ shouldn’t ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bill Shorten has declared himself “a proud moderate” in a valedictory speech declaring parliament has the responsibility to ensure the extremes of left and right do not set the terms of political debate. Shorten, ...13 hours ago
- New ‘best practice’ principles for superannuation products are coming. We asked a panel of exper...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Garrow, Editorial Web Developer Studio Romantic/Shutterstock We all know how important it is to save enough money for retirement – but what about spending it wisely when we get there? Even for those who have built up a suitable ...13 hours ago
- Government accused of betraying Kiwis’ trust over lack of consultation on live exports
The government has always vowed to reinstate live exports by sea, which was banned by the previous Labour government. ...13 hours ago
- 7 things you can do if you think you sweat too much
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First off I’d like to congratulate the author for having the presumption to write about the whole. I get tired of the usual wish-lists, but you’ve made a real stretch here. There’s a myriad worth debating, but that’s not the point of what you’ve set out.
Because so many of the ideas are existing policy platforms from one of the three Opposition parties, I’d challenge you to write an actual analogue letter to all three party leaders inviting them to form a common policy platform for the 2017 election based on those areas of common policy.
So much of National’s 2014 attack was on the inability of the Opposition to propose a coherent alternative government. 2017 should be different. I think you can help.
Thanks for the feedback! That’s not a bad idea.
“I’d challenge you to write an actual analogue letter to all three party leaders inviting them to form a common policy platform for the 2017 election based on those areas of common policy.”
It would be a waste of time sending one to Winston.
Or politically astute 😉
A good design for living would be to get rid of Andrew Little, NO it’s not late and bring in Jacinda, anything that you have written pales in comparison to our crisis.
Just picking and choosing here…
Don’t need to break up Fonterra, but the Government should buy a 37.5% stake in Fonterra, in return for 3/8 of the directors and of the shareholder vote.
They then should use this stake to smooth the level of payout to farmers, i.e. a price range with a maximum and a minimum up to a decided system of quota, and then market price for any extra production.
Why 37.5%? Because if something proposed the government was so abhorrent to dairy farmers that they couldn’t get even 20% of farmers on board, then it doesn’t deserve to pass the remit. (20% of the remaining 62.5% is 12.5%).
Why would you do this, as opposed to breaking it up?
Because the primary issue facing the industry is not lack of competition, but damaging price fluctuations prompting overproduction and overextension.
A more stable price would mean that farmers would less likely to do this, and holding cash reserves/ready liquidable assets in good times would balance out the bad times and help hold up the associated supplier industries in rural/regional towns.
The Government can also use (some of) its share of the payout to effectively subsidise the price of milk as well.
Hm. I’ve always been a little iffy on subsidies, but you do raise some good points.
Supplier subsidies are frequently bad because they encourage excessive production. But consumer subsidies on an important foodgroup (this is not about arguing whether milk is healthy/or ethical) will give those consumers on low incomes more money to spend elsewhere.
Fair point. I’ve heard several stories about subsidies distorting the market, and I presume they were specifically referring to supplier subsidies.
Indeed. We couldn’t possibly accept any ‘distortions to the market.’
A couple of minor points – the compulsory age to start school is already 6 and has been for many decades. Obviously most children start at 5, but that’s a choice, not a requirement. Something that could be looked at is starting at the beginning of the school term, semester or year after attaining the age of 5 so there is a group of children starting together rather than individually.
The second point is that for most small businesses, the company tax rate is meaningless because they pay all profits out to the shareholders as shareholder salaries, who pay tax at their individual rates via tax returns, so no company tax is paid.
Lots of awesome stuff though!
Hm, that’s not a bad idea. Will look into that.
To be honest, I’m unsure as to whether I’d keep the company tax anyway, seeing as a Land Value Tax may be more efficient.
Leave school kids starting at 5 if the parents want, some kids are more than ready.
If drugs a made legal , limit there sales to Thursday Friday and Saturday.
Why the drugs thing?
I caught a bit of the Sunday program this am and in Colorado one of the people interviewed stated that addiction rates had risen due to the increased availability of pot. I’m all for taking the crime out of pot and e’s but people do need protecting from them selves sometimes.
Yeah apparently heaps of people have turned into complete dope heads.
Twenty store in one areas over kill its a bit like cheap booze shops that trade long hours in parts of our cities
“…people do need protecting from them selves sometimes.”
As a principle, the essence of the Nanny State.
Your amendment to the bill of rights act is the pivotal one, and the one that would be most fiercely resisted, along with your monetary policy upgrade to include employment. These two put together have been the great neo-liberal enablers, allowing them to trumpet commitment to (an impoverished version of) human rights, and fiscal responsibility at the same time. I think it is just brilliant that you have done this, for both now and the future. For as long as we still have to bargain with neo-liberalism, we need to be able to do so from a position that adds up to a clear left stance. And we also need an outline of the direction we will take when the neo-liberalism is no longer in the position to force our hand.
Thank you. I’m not so sure how fiercely it would be resisted, as I’m sure several ordinary Kiwis would support it. I imagine National and ACT would make some ridiculous claim about it bankrupting the country, though.
Before one advocates for compulsory KiwiSaver, shouldn’t one ensure the markets are not rigged and oversight is sufficient?
Could you elaborate further?
https://youtu.be/ibQmtYrTEDQ?t=1m5s
Raises some fair points. I’ll take that on board.
You need to watch the most recent dozen episodes of the Keiser Report.
When profit is the sole driving factor then people will look to get that profit without actually doing anything.
And in some cases, they do whatever it takes. Even if that means crossing the line.
“Before one advocates for compulsory KiwiSaver, shouldn’t one ensure the markets are not rigged and oversight is sufficient?”
You mean shouldn’t one ensure that the government will not confiscate part or all of Kiwisaver at some point in the future to save itself?
No. I was highlighting markets can be and are manipulated and oversight is lacking, therefore forcing people to invest could result in ending in tears.
How many pension funds have been lost on the market?
Therefore, does this young Labour individual really want to be responsible for people losing their life savings?
Sure if you can call the outright thievery by the likes of JP Morgan Chase and Goldman Sachs “lost on the market”, which sold billions in subprime mortgage derivatives etc. to pension and retirement funds as being rated AAA.
When they knew it was actually toxic financial shite ready to implode.
Which it then did, destroying millions of workers retirements.
Indeed.
Yet, we have this young Labour individual advocating for compulsory KiwiSaver.
In fact, isn’t this (compulsory KiwiSaver) still Labour Party policy?
Nope because that’s entrenching the present failed system.
We could call it a Universal Basic income.
Wrong again as it still just entrenches the present failed system. We need a full overhaul.
Actually, the old State Department providing monopoly government services is pretty much the most efficient model for monopoly services.
Nope. Can all FTAs, drop out of the WTO, the World Bank and the IMF and then set standards for others to meet before we trade with them. Encourage them to do the same. Such a system would reverse the race to the bottom that we’ve had for the last few decades it also meets the most fundamental aspect of free-trade: Willing buyer, will seller
They’re natural monopolies and thus need to be a state monopoly service provided by government. Same applies to health and a few other government services.
Speculators used to be hung because they’re so damaging to society and the economy. Now, I’m not saying that we should hang them but we should be looking at long jail sentences for them.
Can you elaborate on your FTA, World Bank and IMF positions?
They’re corrupt systems set up to help funnel wealth to the rich.
Nice ideas, but it will take about 3 terms to implement them, in the face of a hostile business community, right wing media, Slater, Farrar and Treasury, possibly the Reserve Bank as well.
Any party who wants to implement these will need to build a mass popular movement on the streets to back them in any confrontation, and back themselves to do them, not folding at the first hint of opposition, like Clark did in 2000.
Good luck in getting that all that through in the face of a hostile business sector, right wing media, civil service, Reserve Bank, Treasury, National party, Farrar and Slater.
A popular movement will need to be built because we might end up seeing the same thing that happened in Brazil, Venuzeula, Egypt, Ukraine, etc — finance elites rarking up the middle classes to march in the streets against increased social services for the non-rich.
My ideas aren’t that radical, are they?
Why do my posts keep vanishing?
[RL: Stuck in moderation. No idea why.]
Firstly, Kudos to social democrat for the post and invitation.
Some of my initial reaction below. TBH, kept it as brief as possible but still created a novel sized comment, as I am apparently a left-wing radical and had more to say on almost every point – but FWIW:
ECONOMY:
• KiwiSaver compulsory…. (More of the same, the stock market is not necessarily the best vehicle for moral investment, or long-term stability)
• Flexi-Super system. (Implement Universal Basic Income and forget about the tinkering until it has been implemented and tinkering may no longer be required).
• Upgrade our monetary policy… (More of the same. We don’t need full employment – we need full engagement, wages and incomes need to be equalised across the board, and perpetual growth is a short-sighted fool’s paradise).
• Review the current State-Owned Enterprises model… (The State has always been more efficient until it is not audited properly or regularly, or until it is deemed time to run it down so that it can be flogged off for inefficiency. eg. state of Kiwirail for current example).
• Move towards free and fair trade deals … (Free trade agreements lately are exploitation of other countries resources and poverty based choices with protection clauses for investors – not a free and FAIR exchange of goods and services that benefit those living in both countries.)
• Cap CEO bonuses at 40% of their pay. (Cap CEO total income to a multiple of their lowest paid worker. ie. 15 times the lowest full-time worker on staff. Two benefits. More workers taken on as full-time staff rather than casual, and more likely to have lower-workers benefit from company efficiency).
• Create state-owned competitors in power and phone/net networks. (Essential services need to be provided by a state monopoly: power, compulsory education institutions, social welfare, child protection, hospitals, prisons, defence and police forces, conservation – with recognition of our Treaty),
• Nationalise the water industry. (Don’t make it an industry. Make it a National Reserve Resource – only used and accessed under strict guidelines)
• All business are encouraged to sign up to the ‘socially responsible business’ model, recognising their obligation to their employees, the environment, the community, consumers and shareholders. (Only words unless backed up by concrete and robust processes. See B Corporation for guidelines. Offer lower tax rates to businesses based on their rating score for said practices).
• Regulate speculation, and ensure a low interest rate policy that grows jobs and the economy. (Regulate speculation (?) , grows jobs and the economy – again with the growth….)
• Begin the process of breaking Fonterra up into smaller companies; … (Fonterra’s farmers need to be supported into a transition to sustainable farming and business practices. Set up a government department that has the ability to allow farmers to opt out of the current defunct system).
• Restricting abusive lending practices, aggressive credit-marketing and unfair interest rates. (Good – but only looking at the small players here – the big ones are punching well above this level).
EDUCATION:
• Increase the school entry age to 6. (Already is.)
• Increase the pay of teachers to the same pay as a doctor, …. A prospective teacher will have to pass a personality test, as well as other tests deeming whether or not they are fit to be a teacher. (Would rather hear what your idea of education first.)
• Review the NCEA system to deem whether it is appropriate, including whether to eliminate most mandatory testing. (NCEA qualifications and National Standards are two separate things. )
• Revamp the school curriculum …. (Better than this approach, look to the Swiss apprenticeship approach. See David Turner on Auckland Conversations to get an idea of what this could look like).
HEALTHCARE:
(Needs complete overhaul not tinkering. Including reinstatement of ACC to original intent, and verifiable state of waiting lists and access to healthcare)
TAXATION:
(Needs complete rethink.)
SOCIAL POLICY:
(Some clumsy policies included eg. equating income with disposable income, and ignore the tax loopholes that many wealthy have used to get Community Services Cards, student allowances etc. This needs to be looked at again, and is where a UBI takes away a lot of administration and policy management costs.)
• Appoint a ‘Poverty Elimination Commissioner’, to advise the government on ways to reduce poverty and to oversee the poverty level and actions taken in NZ. (We already know how to do this, what we don’t have is informed community and political will, and this needs to be at the forefront of legislative and policy changes).
• Create facilities in which all beggars/homeless citizens will be placed into, … (This is a Clayton’s solution. Let all beggars/homeless citizens stay where they are with additional support until the problem is solved. Moving them just gets rid of the visual reminder that we are not dealing with inequality, mental health services, and provision of basic living standards to all our citizens. Take time to ask them what they need before putting them “out of sight”).
• Introduce a free breakfast & lunch program in all schools. ( Stop calling it a free meal programme. Students are required by law to attend school, the state should ensure they are provided with the necessities of healthy living while they are there, in order to best deliver optimal learning outcomes. State provided healthy meal in all schools would provide local producers with stable market, would provide local jobs in community, would ensure all children have basic nutritional needs met in the community, and would be a teaching resource for children on how to prepare basic meals).
ENVIRONMENT:
• Eliminate all subsidies to fossil-fuel companies. (…And exploration and mining permits, and provide a state subsidiary business in those regions that provide the infrastructure necessity for transition to a reduced fossil-free Aotearoa)
• Start up a Green Living Fund… (Better off ensuring that all new subdivisions allow/and require all homes built to meet passive solar requirements. Any homes larger than a certain size pay for the mindless use of resources on a finite planet, and subdivisions away from public transport pay a higher developers levy to improve services to future residents. This policy needs much more thought and detail).
• Start up a Green Car Fund, … (Not linked to fuel-efficiency, just age? This won’t achieve the result you are looking for young Jedi)
• Revamp the Emissions Trading Scheme… (It will never be able to be revamped to effectiveness, it is a tool for speculators and fraudsters).
• Ensure all future infrastructure is built using eco-friendly materials. (Not a well-thought out plan. Firstly ensure that all infrastructure is necessary (waterfront stadium anyone?), and is designed with energy efficiency in mind, and that it is future proofed in terms of use and maintenance).
• Place a moratorium on all fracking projects …. (Fracking is not “safe”. Ban it).
• Implement a ban on plastic shopping bags. (This is a flawed policy. Ban plastic bags, but not plastic toys that break, or junk that ends up in the landfill two months after purchase? Or bottled water? Use a policy that helps a NZ business produce truly bio-degradable shopping bags and packing materials, and then create a policy that stipulates only bio-degradable materials can be used in NZ products and services. An immediately effective policy change would be one that charges producers and importers for the recycling or landfill costs of their products).
• Ban factory farming. (In conjunction with providing support in terms of education, business, tax rebates and grants for transitions to sustainable farming for small to medium businesses.)
LAW & ORDER:
(Thinking I am already a bit over word-count, so briefly – good on the marijuana front. Not good on the NZ government sales.)
TRANSPORT:
• Fully fund the Auckland City Rail Link. Yes
• Invest in rural roads, to ensure a higher quality. (If you want to improve quality, reduce costs and maintenance, get the heavy trucks off the road, and create a freight network that utilises rail and trucking).
• Develop a major rail link, that will be completely powered by renewable energy… (Reinstate a NZ based workshop to do this, and use the workshop in conjunction with paid R&D in universities).
• Retrofit all current public transport systems to ensure that they are powered by renewable energy. (Only if they are publicly owned)
(Missing the link between planning communities and transport. They are integrated and need integrated solutions. Also start a programme that provides alternative fuelling stations for alternative motors – such as electric vehicles. Provide tax rebates for those who choose alternative vehicle purchases. Reduce the cost of publicly owned public transport, the state benefits from the ongoing reduction of transport costs, increased health and social cohesiveness that arises from efficient and well networked public transport. They are the only ones who would (and should( fund this.))
HOUSING:
(This requires a full article in itself. As with public transport, the state is the only investor that will be able to quantify on its financial statements long-term benefits in many aspects including financial, if the provision of healthy, affordable, stable housing becomes a priority for government. So, initially a state-housing building programme in areas that have access to services, public transport and other amenities is the first place to start.
The suggestions you have made are tweaks of a failing system, and can be easily side-stepped ie. foreign investors can own a company that owns a NZ house.)
JOBS & INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
(Firstly, understand that not all who currently contribute to the better NZ are paid. Secondly, we have a financial and business environment that rewards selfish and short-sighted behaviour. Ensure that those involved with any kind of employment or training scheme are not merely taking advantage of young, vulnerable workers and are being paid by the state to do so.
And we need to have a conversation about “work” that is sustainable long-term and helps NZ transition to a fossil-fuel free society – or as close as possible. The Universal Basic Income will help with this)
I have faith that it is those with “younger, flexible” minds who will find solutions to our priority issues of climate change, inequality, lack of transparent democracy and societal change.
Well done for bringing up some of your thoughts, and inviting discussion on this platform.
Thanks for your feedback. I have noticed that you deem some of my policies to not be very well thought-out. I would like to stress that these are basic ideas, and if I had the time, I would be working on the finer details. Some of your points are very good, and I will be editing when I have the chance.
All good.
Only take on board what is useful or invites thought, we are having a conversation not a debate, and I’m sure that our essential values are somewhat aligned.
Besides, I have a feeling what is going on in my head is too similar to this to be completely credible:
https://youtu.be/FiyiZXCtHGc?t=10s
hi molly,
i would vote for that.
Molly! I want you in Parliament!! Bonus points for GG reference 😆
Lots of very good thoughts there.
A few I’d add to,
– plastic shopping bags, afaik there is no good tech for biodegrability and probably never will be. Sustainability design suggests that banning and replacing with something reusable or already compostable is a better way to go. Recycling is polluting, energy intensive and has an unnecessary carbon footprint esp if it has to be done via a commercial model. Reduce, reuse, recycle 😉
– yes, completely agree about not industrialising water. It’s a taonga, a necessity for all life and should be respected as such, not commodified.
– Agreed on complete overhaul, including adressing the huge discrepancies between health and disability funding and income streams depending on whether your disability comes from an accident or illness.
– also agreed on breaking up Fonterra. NZ already has dairy farms working towards sustainability and existing largely outside of Fonterra. We have the models already.
– economy: everything, absolutely everything has to be designed within the context of climate change (Labour, please steal GP policy on this).
Thanks for the comment re plastic bags.
I remember watching a programme once about using a fungus to replace foam components in cars, and thought there was something about plastic bags too, but a quick google search reinforces your comment. Flax ketes might have their comeback yet….
(Just reinforces the notion that the “reduce, reuse and recycle” approach is always the first point of call for a reason).
“Monkey, monkey underpants” indeed. 🙂
Is this a wish list?
hi tsd,
plenty to mull over.
as has been said- easy on the infinite growth focus (it’s just a theory),
legalise all drugs,
a financial transaction tax,
and a massive tax on trucks/trucking.
oh yes, stop all lobbying.
Its the end of neoliberalism, also surely the end of exponential growth on a finite planet, and you also mention the Global Financial Crisis.
But your very first recommendation is to make working Kiwis and small NZ businesses give even more money to private money managers, hedge fund billionaires and Wall St financial speculators?
You need to seriously think through the consequences and linkages of some of the things you have said, because at the moment there are some major inconsistencies between your principles and your recommendations for practice.
Would you prefer Government-guaranteed or Government-provided KiwiSaver? Or just get rid of it full-stop?
I agree with a few of the policies:
ECONOMY:
Move towards a Flexi-Super system. Instead of having a fixed retirement of 65, move towards a system in which people can retire younger (minimum age of 60) and receive less KiwiSaver, or retire later (maximum age of 70) and receive more.
[Yes (for those with Kiwisaver accounts), and if the account holder dies, their heirs inherit whatever has been saved]
Upgrade our monetary policy, to ensure that the Reserve Bank places a strong commitment towards full employment, wages and growth, as opposed to purely inflation.
[Yes, by abolishing the Reserve Bank]
Move towards free and fair trade deals with Japan, Canada and the European Union.
[Yes, as “free” makes “fair” redundant.]
Bring back a Research and Development Tax Credit.
{Not needed, as long as business expenses remain deductible.]
Review the NCEA system to deem whether it is appropriate, including whether to eliminate most mandatory testing.
[Yes: allow open competition in the provision of education]
Abolish National Standards.
[Yes.]
Eliminate funding for wealthy private schools.
[Yes, do this first then remove funding for all other schools.]
HEALTHCARE:
Begin implementing a Disability Insurance Scheme, similar to the one used in Australia.
[Yes; make this voluntary and open the field to competitors.]
TAXATION:
Cut the small business tax rate to 14%.
[Yes; a good start]
ENVIRONMENT:
Eliminate all subsidies to fossil-fuel companies.
[Yes, along with all other corporate welfare]
LAW & ORDER:
Legalise marijuana, MDMA and other non-addictive drugs, to be followed by strict regulation and taxation at the same rate as alcohol and tobacco.
[Yes, a good start]
Decriminalise all other drugs, with the exception of crack cocaine and heroin, with a policy of users being sent to rehabilitation clinics, rather than prison. Properly fund walk-in clinics for drug addicts.
[Yes, but include cocaine and heroin and legalise the lot.]
Prison reform, in order to place a much greater (almost universal) emphasis on rehabilitation.
[Yes, though where does restitution for victims fit into this?]
Increase police officer numbers.
[Yes, provided their job involves combating real crime where there is demonstrable actual harm to victims]
Begin moves towards a New Zealand republic, complete with a flag change, to reflect our status as an independent nation (with a more democratic process than the last referendum!).
[Yes: a constitutional republic]
The rest of the manifesto is expensive overbearing Nanny Statism.
a. Kiwi Saver should be NOT compulsory, as for some people the ten or twenty or so dollar less is actually money they need week to week.
b. if the Kiwi Saver is increased to 8% for the worker then it should also be so for the employer. Shared cost n all.
c. the Kiwi Saver should be made available every few years to the safer.
I.e. an apprentice starts participating at 16 and after 6 years has the right to remove some of that money. They may use that money for studies, and OE, or a wedding. then again after 6 years, now our potential safer is almost 28 years old and may want to buy a house, or has a child coming. Again 6 years later, our safer is now 34 years old has a second child and needs a new car, lucky him he can access some of that money that he has saved instead of having to apply for a loan and pay usurious interest rates.
Will there still be money by the time he/she is 65 / 70 or when ever he/she chooses to retire, yes, of course as the full amount was never removed, and the contributions continued. But during the 40 – 50 years saving that money was put to good use instead of just creating fees for financial companies, taxes for the government and a paper asset for someone worth literally nothing because they can’t use it.
Also in making some of the money periodically available the hassle that sick people have in accessing their funds, or first home buyers or unemployed people that apply to their funds under the hardship rules will be eliminated. And it needs to be considered that many people go into their kiwi saver because they are sick and need the money to afford treatment.
To force people with a compulsory saving scheme that they then can’t access for decades in my books is legalised wage theft. The only ones that will be benefiting from such a scheme are the financial institutions holding the accounts and the government.
Low-income households receive a $500/week basic income in this manifesto, so they probably can afford Kiwisaver. If not, it should still be compulsory for the employer and govt to make contributions, but no contributions required for incomes below a certain threshold (otherwise they fall behind, often through no fault of their own).
Agree with b (the Aussie contributions are much higher than ours) and c – being able to periodically access Kiwisaver is a solid idea IMO (I think the Germans do something similar).
Lots of good ideas to think about. Thank you for taking the time to write them down.
Two areas that should evolve quickly through technology are transport and education.
I think driverless Uber cars will move a lot more people than an underground addition to a rail link and will be cheaper as well.
If more people use driverless cars perhaps we should use the new tunnel as an express lane in and out of the city for them.
I too worry about personality tests for teachers as I’m not sure what traits society is looking for now or in the future or who gets to screen them.
If increasing teachers pay we could think about having students in different shifts so teachers could work 8 hrs and get three weeks holiday. I think there is talk of doing this now but not the huge pay rise.
If I get an hour or two to spare, I’d like to interrogate a few of these.
•Create state-owned competitors in power and phone/net networks.
You’d need to show that the price of electricity isn’t well regulated. That’s not easy. Certainly easy to feel like electricity is too expensive. Really hard to find a framework that proves one utility’s Asset Management Plan is full of fat. You definitely need a stronger national regulator on both, and a regulator with enough staff and funding to really have a crack at the incredibly well-funded legal teams that those power and phone utilities have ready to go. Trust me I’ve seen this very up close.
Have a look at the ambit and power of the ACCC.
•Nationalise the water industry.
Again, you’d get better results with a strong centralized water price regulator. One who could run the ruler over the prices of the water, wastewater, and trades waste prices.
Pulling the whole show into a nationalized industry would do several bad things: Cripple local government by wiping about 30% of their asset base. Remove local decision-making power over water. Remove the possibility of uniting stormwater management and water supply. Enrage iwi across the country.
•Begin the process of breaking Fonterra up into smaller companies; ending its monopoly over the dairy industry.
The power already exists for Fonterra to be relieved of its default milk-buyer responsibility. One of the causes of the current poor price is that only Fonterra is required to collect milk, no matter where it is produced. This means for farms on the most obscure roads, distant island farms, farms most distant from Fonterra processers and sea ports, generating the lowest volumes, and least sustainable farms, all have a perpetual hook into Fonterra. This loads more production costs onto Fonterra and Fonterra alone. In turn, that is a massive competitive disadvantage upon Fonterra alone.
Fonterra is New Zealand’s only multinational. It is the envy of the meat industry, and of the Kiwifruit industry. You need to think about different instruments to really improve Fonterra specifically and dairy generally. Much of it is achieved with really strong water price regulation.
Hopefully I’ll come back to a few more of your points later in the week. You cover a lot of ground.
This is a pretty amazing list! You’ve definitely put a lot of thought into your whole list and all the different areas that you’ve covered.. It’s actually pretty extensive. I actually agree with some of the commenter’s here that you should really think of penning some of your suggestions here down on paper and writing a letter to some of them, or attending a forum where you can voice out some of your points here. I only wish I had a smidgen of your dedication and perhaps a bit of time off from work at Storage Windsor to pen down some ideas of my own for my own government!