An ACT New Zealand
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1:29 pm, September 8th, 2023 - 38 comments
Categories: act, broadcasting, david seymour, energy, housing, law, law and "order", police, uncategorized -
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What would a set of ACT ministers in Cabinet look like?
ACT at 15% of the vote, with about 15 MPs, and wild policies, makes for a set of strong reasons to get out and vote against ACT and National this election.
Making an assumption only ACT and National are required to form a government in October, this is what ACT taking Ministerial positions could look like for New Zealand.
At 15% of the vote there’s a reasonable case for David Seymour as Deputy Prime Minister. Every time the Prime Minister is overseas, David Seymour is going to be running Cabinet and running the country. Think about that.
But for now let’s assume he reaches for a star and falls on a cloud.
Let’s assume some of the existing Cabinet Ministerial position groupings remain.
Let’s also assume for this exercise that a Prime Minister Luxon gives some credence to qualifications and experience for ministers. So here we go:
1. David Seymour: Minister of Regulatory Reform, Workplace Relations, Minister of State Services
This is the set of positions Seymour will need to really cut through the public service and to disestablish the agencies he wants gone. He will count it a success when the ‘population-based’ entities like Ethnic Affairs, Women’s Affairs, Pacific Affairs, Maori Development, Maori Language Commission, anything specific to protecting a sector of the population such as Disabilities or the Human Rights Commission is eradicated. A further target will be the Treaty of Waitangi itself and whether he gets his referendum on a new statutory meaning about the effects of the Treaty via Jeremy Bentham.
I would expect he will have a strong hand in appointing the new State Services Commissioner or indeed whether State Services survives at all.
I would expect a hard line target in the 2024 Budget for decreased public servant head count.
It is also the position to gut the many worker protections that Labour have built in over 6 years. A real question will be whether things like Matariki survive, or paid parental leave extensions, or sick leave and meal breaks, or maximum hours her day worked, or other multiple basic rights are kept.
2. Brooke van Velden: Leader of the House, Minister of Housing
Brooke has no Housing background, but plenty of chops in the machinery of Parliament both as lobbyist and as legislator. She is due to take on a serious portfolio. If Brooke got Housing we should expect to see a rapid gutting of Kainga Ora staff and organisation, stopping any remaining masterplanned developments to replace it with pure market delivery, a rapid selloff of current state housing, and gutting the Building Act and the Building and Natural Resources Act to be replaced with much more limited contractual forms of property management.
We don’t have to guess what this will do for vulnerable families, vulnerable elderly couples, and vulnerable young people trying to find a safe place to live.
As Leader of the House she becomes the bulldog that pushes ACT’s aggressive legislative agenda.
3. Todd Stephenson. Minister of Energy and Resources, Associate Finance
Todd is the truest expression of high corporate values, now inserted into Queenstown which is now New Zealand’s primary Top 500 gateway for your billionaire class. Strait outa Lumsden, this is the guy you turn to if you want your deals done in government and you want to get rich without dying.
If he gets hold of a section of MBIE such as Energy, expect to see oil rigs and wind farms on our 12 mile limit, fewer constraints to land wind farms, an Infrastructure Commission populated by infrastructure mezzanine finance people that will make it near indistinct from Infratil, and a new focus on intellectual property protection. We have been accustomed over 25 years to having some democratic say in where things go.
We should stop expecting that under ACT energy policy.
4. Simon Court, Attorney General
This is the guy who will push the legislation to gut anything to do with standards such as building standards, water standards, air standards, anything to do with the old RMA. Hand in glove with Andrew Hoggard he will be ripping through environmental constraints we have. Three Waters governance instruments will be revisited, so presumably that means revisiting the other co-governance instruments like all our national parks, Maori MP seats, and Maori local council seats.
The effects of this kind of guy in housing would be similar to Maurice Williamson in leaky housing and Winston Peters in Maori and ethnic relations.
5. Parmeet Parmjar, Minister of Broadcasting, Minister of Research and Science, Minister for Crown Research Entities
With a PHD in biological sciences and food manufacturing, and also some background in a variety of smaller state regulatory functions like Families Commissioner, she has a range of governance and operational experience that will give her free rein to insert ACT sensibility into TVNZ and RNZ, as well as into the research entities and their spinoffs.
6. Andrew Hoggard: Minister of Agriculture, Biosecurity, Land Information, and Export Growth
Hoggard is heavyweight local and international dairy industry leadership, both as Vice President and President of Federated Farmers and elected to the Board of the International Dairy Federation since 2020.
So with a Minister Hoggard we can expect every single one of the Howl of a Protest demands to be met including rolling back protection of remaining wetlands, reintroduction of live animal exports, killing off constraints about fecal coliforms and phosphates into streams, unfettered water take for dairy, removing price setting governance controls over Fonterra, and heading straight back into the New Zealand pattern of volume of milk solids produced rather than value and lower mass.
A Minister Hoggard will target repealing the Natural and Built Environment Act that was passed last month and replaced most of the RMA.
7. Nicole McKee: Minister of Police
A Minister of Police cannot direct the Commissioner of Police and the current Commissioner is not likely to be replaced for some time. The policy contest is in whether McKee as Minister would be faced with the day to day operational threat to Police and to citizens of the firearms New Zealand gangs are using in our towns and cities right now.
A Minister McKee will carry out ACT policy of repealing Labour’s gun laws.
She will also have a lot to do with implementing ACT’s many and exceedingly punitive law and order policies.
New Zealand has only to go back to the Shipley and Ruth Richardson to remember what scale of violence a true ideologically-driven set of ministers can do. It takes decades to repair, and it’s never ever a restoration.
ACT is the strong form of a Shipley-Richardson combination. That’s what to vote against in October.
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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. ...1 day 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. ...4 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. ...1 week 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 ...10 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 ...10 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, ...11 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, ...11 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 ...12 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 ...13 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 ...14 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 ...14 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 ...15 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 ...16 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 ...19 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 ...1 day 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 ...2 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 ...2 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 ...2 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 ...3 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, ...4 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. ...6 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
- 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 ...3 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. ...5 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. ...5 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. ...6 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. ...7 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. ...8 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. ...8 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, ...9 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 ...9 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. ...9 hours ago
- 7 things you can do if you think you sweat too much
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Freeman, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Bond University ERIK Miheyeu/Shutterstock Sweating is our body’s way of cooling down, a bit like an internal air conditioner. When our core temperature rises (because it’s hot outside, or you’re exercising), sweat glands all ...9 hours ago
- Phenergan for under 6s is now banned due to hallucination fears. Here’s what to use instead
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Macquarie University Australia’s drug regulator has issued a safety warning over the medicine Phenergan and related products containing the antihistamine drug promethazine. The Therapeutic Goods Administration said the over-the-counter products should not be given to children ...9 hours ago
- A new stage adaptation of Peter Carey’s Jack Maggs is a delightful homage to theatrical storytelli...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Campbell, Lecturer, Performing Arts, UniSA Creative, University of South Australia Matt Byrne/STCSA Jack Maggs is a delight and a homage to theatrical storytelling in Australia. Based on Peter Carey’s bestselling novel, Jack Maggs follows the ex-convict as he lands ...9 hours ago
- The government has introduced laws for its social media ban. But key details are still missing
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Angus, Professor of Digital Communication, Director of QUT Digital Media Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology Ron Lach/Pexels The federal government today introduced into parliament legislation for its social media ban for people under 16 years. Communications Minister Michelle ...10 hours ago
- Archives NZ, National Library to cut 27 roles
The Department of Internal Affairs wants to bring the two organisations under the joint leadership of the Chief Archivist and National Librarian. ...10 hours ago
- Gang patch ban: Members warn of potential for violence to ‘erupt’ as new laws enforced
"I can't see this lasting unless they have a budget to lock fullas up in jail which I think is absolutely stupid, really it's ludicrous," Ngavii Pekapo, who set up a Mongrel Mob chapter 54 years ago, says. ...10 hours ago
- ACT leader David Seymour raises doubts about Waikato medical school
Government documents show ACT leader David Seymour told the government he was "dissatisfied" with a cost-benefit analysis. ...10 hours ago
- National’s Erica Stanford allegedly calls Labour’s Jan Tinetti a ‘stupid bitchR...
The Education Minister has apologised in Parliament for her remark. ...10 hours ago
- Labour backs new Police Commissioner – but warns against routine arming
The alternative to policing by consent would be a police state, which New Zealanders don't want, the party says. ...12 hours ago
- Youth on boot camp pilot re-offended five weeks after release
Children's Minister Karen Chhour said while it was disappointing, it would naïve to think none of the participants would lapse. ...12 hours ago
- In photos: People of the hīkoi, and why they marched
Hikoi mō Te Tiriti has come to an end, going down in history as the largest march to Parliament in Aotearoa. ...12 hours ago
- ‘Everything is becoming a culture war’: Jon Ronson on conspiracies and cycleways
Ahead of his appearance in Aotearoa, the acclaimed British journalist, podcaster and documentarian talks to Stewart Sowman-Lund about why people are still fascinated by the fringes. The last place I would expect to find Jon Ronson is relaxing in the countryside. The iconic British journalist and writer is best known ...13 hours ago - Kia kaha Lebanon: NZ media only tell half your story of struggle
The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution — for the fourth time — in Israel’s war on Gaza, while Hezbollah demands a complete ceasefire and “protection of Lebanon’s sovereignty” in any deal with Israel. Amid the death and devastation, Joe Hendren reflects on his time in ...13 hours ago
- ‘Deserves a Bafta’: After the Party premieres in the UK to five-star reviews
The acclaimed New Zealand drama has just premiered on TV in the United Kingdom, and the five-star reviews are already flowing in. Six months after it was called a “blistering” “tour de force” by Australian critics, and nearly a year since The Spinoff declared it the best drama New Zealand ...13 hours ago
- Drugs are getting cheaper and easier to find in Aotearoa
New Zealanders are drinking and smoking less, but most other recreational drugs are becoming cheaper, more popular and more available, two new reports show. Two significant new surveys about drugs in Aotearoa were released this week, offering a rare insight into New Zealanders’ choice of substances, which ones are becoming ...13 hours ago
- COP29: ‘climate finance’ for the Pacific is mostly loans, saddling small island nations with mor...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Ratuva, Director, Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury Lenora Qereqeretabua, the deputy speaker of Fiji’s Parliament, at the COP29 climate summit. IISD/ENB/Mike Muzurakis, CC BY-SA As this year’s UN climate summit reaches its final stage of negotiations, Pacific ...14 hours ago
- Review: The magic of Wicked and the curse of corporate greed
The new movie musical is undoubtedly a fun watch, but it’s also proof that bigger isn’t always better, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund. Contains minor spoilers for Wicked. There’s no doubt that Wicked is going to be huge. No other pop culture event this year, save from maybe Charli XCX’s Brat, has ...15 hours ago
- Dame Jacinda Ardern to be given United Nations leadership award
She will get the champion for global change award from the United Nations Foundation at a ceremony in New York tomorrow. ...16 hours ago
- NZ will resume live animal exports – to low demand
Analysis: NZ is lifting what was supposed to be a permanent ban on live animal exports. But it’s not the lucrative industry it once was. The post NZ will resume live animal exports – to low demand appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago - Financial forms of family violence affect one in seven of us – but the law is lagging
There are calls for New Zealand’s Family Violence Act to name economic harm as a standalone type of violence, rather than a subcategory of psychological abuse, to bring it in line with the United Kingdom and Australia. Economic harm – restricting access to, sabotaging or exploiting another person’s financial resources, ...16 hours ago
- Downside Risks To Treasury’s Economic And Fiscal Forecasts
New Zealand is currently running a structural fiscal deficit, with expenditure exceeding revenue. Economic growth falling short of expectations has been making it harder for the Government to bring the books back into balance. ...17 hours ago
- Science continues to exclude Indigenous communities. Fixing this benefits everyone
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jordan Peter Anthony Pitt, Associate Dean of Indigenous Strategy and Services (Faculty of Science), University of Sydney An enduring challenge facing science around the world is how to best include and engage Indigenous communities. In Australia, for example, 0.5% of Indigenous ...18 hours ago
- Why is cricket so popular on the Indian sub-continent?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vaughan Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Tasmania Cricket originated in England, but has been spread worldwide by British soldiers and settlers in the past few hundred years. It is now the second most popular sport in ...18 hours ago
- Disinformation and deepfakes played a part in the US election. Australia should expect the same
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Renee Barnes, Associate professor of Journalism, University of the Sunshine Coast Mladen Zivkovic/Shutterstock As America takes stock after Donald Trump’s re-election to the presidency, it’s worth highlighting the AI-generated fake photos, videos and audio shared during the campaign. A slew ...18 hours ago
- Is thunderstorm asthma becoming more common?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kira Morgan Hughes, PhD Candidate in Allergy and Asthma, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University When spring arrives, so do warnings about thunderstorm asthma. But a decade ago, most of us hadn’t heard of it. So where did thunderstorm asthma ...18 hours ago
- Overwhelmed by ever more clothing donations, charities are exporting the problem. Local governments ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yassie Samie, Postdoctoral Researcher in Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University anna.spoka/Shutterstock What happens to your clothes after you don’t want them any more? Chances are, you will donate them to op shops run by a charity organisation. There are more ...18 hours ago
- Friendly fire: a nuclear push by allies at COP29 poses a sticky problem for Albanese
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland IndustryAndTravel/Shutterstock Prime Minister Anthony Albanese didn’t see this coming. At the global COP29 climate talks in Baku, the Australian government was indirectly criticised by two allies, the United States and the ...18 hours ago
- Nugget Is Dead brings queer love, multiculturalism and Aussie flair to the Christmas movie formula
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phoebe Hart, Associate Professor, Film Screen & Animation, Queensland University of Technology Julia Firak Stan’s new Christmas film Nugget is Dead is a colourful production that follows the rules of the seasonal genre film to a tee – with an Aussie ...18 hours ago
- Help Me Hera: Should I cut contact with my ex-stepdad?
My parents are finally getting divorced. So why do I feel like my stepdad’s feelings are still my problem? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nz Dear Hera My parents recently announced their separation. This in itself isn’t a problem. I’ve already gone through this once before in my early childhood, so ...18 hours ago
- New Zealand Drops In Global Ranking On Climate Action
If the government won’t hold polluters to account, then people will. People are increasingly taking to the streets and the courtrooms, putting their bodies on the line to shut down polluting industries. This will only escalate further unless New ...18 hours ago
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There could well be a lot of buyer's remorse next year if National-ACT win the election.
If the misfortune they form the next government comes to pass then perhaps the only way they'd get re elected in 2026 is if they convince enough voters that inflation easing to pre pandemic levels, assuming that occurs, is as result of National-ACT management rather than something than would happen in spite of their governance.
Mitchell is sure to be Police Minister.
Not sure which of ACT'S 2,3,or 4 will head a new ministry=The Minister of Dumb Ideas!
"Mitchell is sure to be Police Minister."
God help us! An ex-mercenary with a brain the size of a pea. He'll have the police armed to the hilt roaming the streets looking for anyone who merely looks like they might be a crim. and have them locked up in cages waiting to be processed. Look out you brown and black skinned people because you will be top of the list. You will be guilty until you prove your innocence, and not always then.
A slight exaggeration to serve as a warning.
MAGAism NZ style seems well represented by Act, Matt King’s Democracy NZ and Bishop Tamaki’s shifting array of fruitcakes.
It will be a bad business indeed for the bottom 50% of the population, and a fair few middle class people too if Act gets the opportunity to do what Advantage predicts and gives these voters a good walloping in regards to minimum wage, PPL, union rights, public transport and prescription charges–for starters!
Some people–what the…want their guns back too. Of course in practical terms confiscated and compensated for fire arms are unlikely to literally reappear. But this will be a major culture war fight starter, and a gun lobbyist as Police Minister?…
It will be a very interesting election for us dedicated politics followers–but also the start of at least three years of serious fear and loathing between fellow NZers. Will turn out plummet or the alienated revenge vote? Will Act win Tamaki or Matt King Northland? How many more Act candidates will disappear? Have the Natzos got anymore scandals lurking?
Seymour would definitely want nothing less than Deputy PM and probably also Finance and/or Treasury. His first budget might earn the nickname The Seymour Holes budget.
How about Minister of Climate Change Denial and Minister for Corporate Takeovers?
I'm sure there would be suitable candidates amongst ACT MPs
Hells Bells.
If your prophecies come to pass – to any degree – lasting damage will be done to this country, and most of its population.
I'd like to vote for a socialist party. Effectively that means TPM: Labour remind me of the UK slogan: a tory wearing a red tie is still a tory. But Labour/Greens/TPM have very little chance of forming a government. Perhaps it's time to vote strategically.
That means for NZ First.
So that Winston can do his usual bugger all, and be a handbrake.
Winston seems proud of having been a handbrake at other times, and we very much need a handbrake on ACT.
Feels totally alien to my instincts, but maybe a handbrake is better than a disaster
Don't. It's unlikely to have the effect you describe – because if you are a current left voter, changing to NZ First does not make any contribution to keeping NACT below 50%. And NACT being below 50% is a precondition for NZF being a handbrake.
There is only one narrow scenario where it might help: when NACT are below 50% but the NZF first vote being 'wasted' (i.e. under 5% and therefore discarded) sees NACT squeak above 50%.
Therefore as a left voter (presumably), voting NZF is a dumb strategy if either: NACT look like being comfortably above 50%, or NZF look like being comfortably above 5%.
Dont give it up ! Keep fighting !
If enough do that the current labour party will be decimated and it quite possibly leads to nine years of opposition and a bunch of them wrought by infighting similar to the Shearer Cunliffe years.
No one on the left should vote NZF.
They will support a National led government.
Some in the centre might … to block a destructive NACT right wing regime.
This is not the NZ First of 2017. This is Winston running as a full conspiracy theorist.
National being held hostage by both Seymour and Winston would be an utterly terrifying sight.
The truly terrifying is what they would want…and get.
We have to prevent them ever getting there.
btw for what it is worth, I heard Seymour say he will keep Matariki
He will keep Matariki, but Seymour will be wanting us to work on it for ordinary time only, and all the other public holidays too.
Hi Ad, I fear the climate created to extend working years to 70, removal of the Govt money top up to Kiwi saver, removal of worker protections, bringing in the 90 day trials again, and the contracts act, beginning a programme of publicly labelling and denigrating difference.
Consultation will become derisory, except where it is enshrined in law. Judges will again have to bring in the 3 strikes law, and youths will have no rights unless they are earning enough to make their own decisions before 25. Regimented ideas of "order" in learning, working and sport, may cause less innovation and creative problem solving.
I feel sorry for the young. Lip service will be paid to cultural difference, while pushing narrow religious beliefs, and cookie cutter success mantras. Maori renaissance will be nipped in the bud. Assimilation will be the norm.
Bloody sad, as we are coming out of covid well and laying sustainability shoots. imo.
There will be blood and tears of regret as people translate austerity and cut backs into job losses and community destruction all over again. imo
@ Patricia,
The public service will be cut back to such an extent that multiple community services will be axed or: they will hand these services over to private enterprises who will charge the 'customers', meaning the very people who need them will be unable to afford them. It'll be done by way of stealth… one step at a time so that the users will not realise what is happening until its too late.
And don't be surprised if there is another attempt to totally destroy the unions. Luxon is copying the Muldoon playbook and unfortunately the majority of the population either were not born or were too young to know what happened during that regime and the massive amount of strife it caused. Or they immigrated to NZ well after the regime came to an end.
yes I agree. Social Housing will be the first hit, along with Education and Health. All areas they can profit from.
Aye Patricia. Well summed. I am worried about all that. If they gain control…NZ will be transported back….to the actual bad old days. I had to work through all of the "employment contracts act" and its punitive ramifications.
Was a very..hard time. Those criticising Labour now…I wonder if they actually had to do any of that ?
Still ..keep up the Fight !
The majority of NZers have no idea what went on in the 70s and 80s. It shows time and again from the so-called media celebrities. They don't have a clue.
There was the Vietnam War protests which attracted a lot of state interventions. That was followed by the anti-apartheid protests which were even bigger and attracted even more attention by the state under the Muldoon administration. That culminated in the horrific violence during the 1981 Springbok tour. It came from all sides. How nobody was killed was a miracle.
Then we had the anti-nuclear protests which culminated in the Rainbow Warrior bombing. That incident occurred under the Lange government but had its genesis under the Muldoon regime.
The level of hatred and paranoia throughout that time was so high it split families and caused a lot of people to be subjected to serious harassment and intimidation.
An ugly time in danger of being repeated by a NAct government albeit for different reasons.
Edit: And that does not include the Erebus tragedy which saw some extremely dubious activity during its aftermath.
Yea Anne ! I know some of it…( I'm also a History reader ) but the lack of Interest in…and just general apathy is quite disturbing. This from people I try to engage on Politics with. Sadly..they would gain so much..by actually voting !
Also how the F have ACT gained so much ? (altho I still hope there will be a Green surge?)
re some of what you say…I did put a comment for you as well
Please take that as some acknowledgement…
The 90 day trials would almost certainly be reinstated – it's National policy, and ACT aren't going to disagree.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/496806/national-confirms-it-would-reinstate-90-day-trials
National are on record for wanting an extension of the retirement age to 67 – but not kicking in until 2040 or so (sorry don't have the exact date to hand).
ACT have proposed a gradual increment to that age – of 2 months per year. So would kick in progressively, over 12 years.
https://www.act.org.nz/time_to_face_reality_on_super_age
No one is talking about 70. And I'd see this as incredibly unlikely. All governments (and potential governments) have been very wary over waking the sleeping dragon on this one.
Australia is talking 70. They are now at 67. So creep is likely here. Last time National moved the age 5 years in 9 years, from 60 to 65.
The Nats in 2017….
Actual physical Workers ( I can relate..)
The Nats have already floated this. IMO ACT will drive it.
It's not floated – it's National Party policy.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/09/06/political-parties-remain-split-on-raising-retirement-age/
It's hardly 'creep' if it's an announced policy.
People know what they're voting for.
Act proposing Confidence without Supply?
Unstable government no thankyou.
The cookers and crooks party with the sign off on every cent National wants to spend.
Oh joy!
ACT is the strong form of a Shipley-Richardson combination. That’s what to vote against in October
… And Shipley is hardly a poster-girl for good governance given the courts ruling on Mainzeal.
… Last we (Standardistas) heard from Richardson she was feeling sorry for the poor and proposing a strategy to help them. Gulp…
Help them?
The poor will be able to help the government with an amazing new food product…..Soylent Green
Ha ha, yes, except the quaint movies that are screening at the clinic is Christopher Luxon on the campaign trail.
Luckily the Act candidates are dropping like flies 5 in two months. He will have to start painting out faces on the pink bus.
Convincing people that voting for a left group will
keep the jobs and training council, (even business wants this)
keep environmental progress towards sustainability and producing and manufacturing more of what we need, (New arcing furnace to recycle steel is a beginning)
and best of all strengthen communities with resilience in housing transport work and education. (Involve communities in their hubs)
Keeping more of Aotearoa New Zealand for our own lives, rather than enhancing the lives of the hugely rich, who might drop in and out as it pleases them (via helicopter.)
We live here, and don't want to end up tenants with little economic power and few choices.
This opposition Nat/Act who have demanded the Government be transparent, has covered up two reports on members actions by with holding a report and also minimising impacts. A. Uffindel and B Kruriger. Is that our future? Backroom decisions?
The current govts not exactly transparent and doing Nacts job for them.
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2023/09/more-anti-protest-law-from-labour.html?m=1
We are discussing hypothetical situation here. We are very well on track to get a Labour-Green-TPM government supported by NZ First on cross benches. So don't sweat on a National-ACT governement. Freshwater Strategy and Talbot Mills polls show no majority for National-ACT.
MAD Magazine rang…crACT….they want Alfred' ..back..
What we will get if ACT gets into power.
Inflation at 18%
Home lending rates at 16% plus.
That's what we had under the Rogernome government, and ACT was founded by Rogernomes.
It will happen again and National will shrug its shoulders and pretend not to notice.
DV linked to Seymour's Housing policies here
10 September 2023 at 4:35 pm
The 'wide boys' will be back………hope Nats think it is better to go with NZF than ACT or put a tight lid on the recycled neo-lib trash that is seen in the ACT Housing policy. It reads like Prebble and Douglas ride again.
The 12 kilometre drive down the Raetihi Ohakune Road from Raetihi to Ohakune is a frankly depressing sight for anyone on the centre left. Every farmer's field bar one sports an ACT billboard seven in total. The exception is a National board. Rather than opining how awful ACT will be why not instead examine how we got here. I know most of the farmers they are my neighbours, none of them could tell you who Ayn Rand was and none of them are racists or poor stewards of their land. Some in fact even voted Labour as I did. What changed and induced the rush Ito the arms of ACT was the changes Labour brought about with, first freshwater legislation, and then the RMA and Three Waters.
If the freshwater legislation was a harbinger of things to come it proved to be the canary in the coal mine for most farmers. The change was in the winter grazing rules. To apply for a change of use for winter grazing you now had to effectively first seek the consent of your local iwi to make an application before approaching your regional authority. I attended the rollout that Horizons Regional Council undertook locally. Farmers at the meeting for the most part simply wanted to know the process. What happened in practice was essentially a clusterfuck. Iwi were unprepared and unsupported by central government. Which left farmers in some cases having their enquiries completely ignored or getting what can only be described as an impolite response. This part of the legislation has now been shelved for the time being but it set the scene for responses to Three Waters and the RMA reforms. If this is what is meant by co-governance most quite sensibly don't want a bar of it. Most people don't know ACT's economic policies from a bar of soap. But they do know that ACT supports rule based governance that is open transparent and democratic.