Be afraid, be very afraid …

Written By: - Date published: 7:20 am, December 22nd, 2022 - 165 comments
Categories: act, david seymour, john key, national, national/act government, poverty - Tags:

David Seymour is feeling his oats.

Earlier this week he was interviewed by Radio New Zealand and postulated on what the next Government may look like.

From Radio New Zealand:

[Seymour is] concerned National will “babysit” the Labour Party’s ideas, and insists ACT’s role will be ensuring promises to repeal Three Waters and the Māori Health Authority come to bear.

“The lesson from history is crystal clear right from Sid Holland in 1949; he said Labour were applying socialism, destroying the country and then got in and didn’t change a thing. That’s happened another four times with Holyoake in 1960, Muldoon in 1975, Bolger in 1990 and Key in 2008.”

Yep National has always been such a wimp when it is in Government.

If you need proof then just remember how the first National Government under Sid Holland  declared a state of emergency and used troops as strike breakers and censored union publications in an attempt to stop waterside workers from getting a wage increase.

Or the second National Government under Keith Holyoake who brought in voluntary unionism and sent troops to Vietnam.

Or the third National Government under Rob Muldoon which campaigned using the threat of communism, wrecked the economy and caused a halt to foreign exchange trading and destroyed the Government Superannuation Scheme, a decision which has been described as having cost us a comfortable retirement, the Government would substantial Budget surpluses and prevented the country from having one of the best educational and healthcare systems in the world.

Or the fourth National Government initially under Jim Bolger which wrecked the union movement through the Employment Contracts Act and smashed families into poverty by insisting that benefits should only be 80% of the minimum amount required to live adequately.

Or the fifth National Government under John Key that sold off power company shares and used immigration and declining housing standards to make its supporters wealthier.

And it is not only the big decisions that hurt.  National’s cost accountant mentality means that health is not funded properly, schools are run into the ground and nothing functions as well as it should.  And the big future issues, such as addressing our water system or climate change, are never addressed.  Under all National governments the country drifts listlessly and things go backwards for ordinary people.

It makes you wonder what Seymour would have wanted to happen in the past?

The incarceration without trial of trade unionists?  Even more troops in Vietnam?  More think big projects?  Even larger benefit cuts and greater abject poverty in the 1990s?

Seymour’s comments are unhelpful rhetorical flourishes and they are lazy.  Who knows what level of misery he would have thought of being acceptable?

And beneath his goofy exterior lies some pretty scary policy proposals.

If you want to know what bottom lines Act will have if it is part of the next Government then one of its its bottom lines is the holding of a referendum on the meaning of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Why the interpretation of a treaty should be the subject of a measurement of public opinion is not readily apparent but you can imagine what the campaign would be like.

This is essentially well honed dog whistling about treaty settlements.  If the Treaty of Waitangi means anything and the promise of the Crown to preserve to Maori that which was important to them then we need to talk through a joint approach to governance.  It does not mean that Maori decide everything.  With Three Waters there are boards that have that responsibility.  But iwi input into the constitution of that board and its strategic objectives are pretty important.  Especially when you consider that water is one of the taonga that the Crown promised would be preserved for Maori.

Seymour’s comment can only suggest that the next National Act Government, whenever it is, will be on steroids, something akin to the Ruthenasia of the first term of the fourth National Government.

If you think I am overstating things then check out their other policies.  They are all there.  Charter schools, abolishing tariffs, opening the country up for foreign investment, unwinding any climate policy and leaving the future of our planet up to the market.

Of course contrarian lefties will claim that there is no difference between Labour and National.

I beg to differ.  And I have 86 years of Aotearoa’s history to back up my view.

National may be very cagy in not saying anything of substance right now in the hope they do not scare swinging voters off.  But Act has no such concerns and on current polling will have a significant role to play in the next National Government.  And the potential direction of a future right wing government are clear to see.

Be afraid.  Be very afraid …

165 comments on “Be afraid, be very afraid … ”

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  1. Ad 1
    22 December 2022 at 8:11 am

    Easily Party Leader of 2022.

    On .7% in 2018 and easily in reach of 15% in 2023. That's near as good as Anderton's New Labour.

    If the Greens were led by Chloe instead of 2 weak fools it would be as powerful as Act is now.

  2. tc 2
    22 December 2022 at 8:44 am

    More semantics and scene setting so if they get elected national blame act for policies they dont have issues with but are best left under the act banner.

    Playing the electorate thanks to that owned media.

    • Gosman 2.1
      22 December 2022 at 8:56 am

      In what way is the electorate being "played" by ACT as a result of owned media? Please give an example.

  3. Gosman 3
    22 December 2022 at 8:55 am

    ACT does not have ANY issue with Treaty settlements. The party supports the process and the resolution EVEN when it involves co-governance arrangements. What the ACT party does not support is this idea of "Treaty principles" being foistered upon wider public policy without ANY public discussion of what those principles mean among the wider public. Surely in a democracy you would want people to understand and agree what sort of governing arrangements we will have. Why are people afraid to debate that?

    • tinderdry6 3.1
      22 December 2022 at 9:16 am

      Because it's potentially uncomfortable for people. And because it can be hijacked by extremes on both sides. Which are the very reasons we absolutely should be having the debate.

    • adam 3.2
      22 December 2022 at 2:28 pm

      We have had the debate for over 150 years Gossy, but then again, you being you…

      • Gosman 3.2.1
        22 December 2022 at 3:05 pm

        When did we have the co-governance debate at a public level?

        • adam 3.2.1.1
          22 December 2022 at 4:58 pm

          Your comment just shows you never talk to māori on a rational level. Or logic, or even as a human being.

          A suggestion, try getting outside your ideological bubble.

          • Gosman 3.2.1.1.1
            22 December 2022 at 5:16 pm

            The debate is not just about having a discussion with Maori. It involves all of us and what sort of governance system we want for the country.

            • Robert Guyton 3.2.1.1.1.1
              22 December 2022 at 6:42 pm

              Please define "public level" Gosman.

              • Gosman …
                23 December 2022 at 9:52 am

                In the public domain at a level that mass participation is occurring e.g. a referendum campaign.

            • adam 3.2.1.1.1.2
              22 December 2022 at 7:22 pm

              FFS dude, you said we have not been having this discussion. I said we have been for quite some time now, and now you come back with some bullshit about all of us.

              When has act or its supporters ever given a fuck about all people. You just keep pushing an ideological agenda. Your no different than a fucking Stalinist.

              • Gosman …
                23 December 2022 at 9:53 am

                ACT is very different from a Stalinist. We are generally opposed to State control over the means of production and the use of the coersive power of the State to eliminate political opponents.

    • Nic181 3.3
      30 December 2022 at 8:25 pm

      It is far too late to negotiate “Treaty Principles.” They were set in 1870 or thereabouts. Seymour is an arse if he thinks he can change the course of history.

  4. Corey Humm 4
    22 December 2022 at 9:22 am

    Genuinely hilarious to see this bozo call the former Labour MPs who founded his party socialists and him basically calling his ideological hero Ruth Richardson's economic reforms timid and socialist lite is frightening.

    However, historically he's not too off the money. Labour historically are the big reformers and National historically colour within the lines of the reforms or neuter them so they are ineffective.

    Case in point that's in every NZ political science text book, the first labour government created a social democratic economic state, that no National government for fifty years dared seriously challenge and it infact took a Labour govt to destroy the social democratic state of the first labour govt.

    Hes also right that National often run on canceling Labours reforms but rarely ever overturn them, again case in point in 1984 and 1987 National were technically the defenders of the social democratic state where as Labour were frothing at the mouth with right wing libertarianism, in 1990 National won a historic landslide promising a return to decency and end to the reforms only to continue the reforms.

    Sure Muldoon ended the original kiwisaver, which was the worst economic mistake in NZ history, but national rarely seriously overturns Labours major reforms.

    It's reasonable to think a National govt wouldn't overturn labours cogovt and centralization policies despite saying they will based off Nationals history of saying they'll overturn something and not doing it.

    Both parties saying they'd do something then doing the opposite is why we have MMP.

    The great sadness for the left is , it took a labour govt to create a social democratic economic state and it took a labour govt to destroy it and turn NZ into a free market dystopia but the chances of a Labour govt ever attempting to challenge the free market dystopia they created are almost zero.

    Now Labours reforms are all about social policy, centralization, internal tweaks on the the delivery of public services, lite infrastructure, good vibes and "good first steps" , gone forever is the idea that Labour are the party of radical reform or that Labour are the party that "fixes capitalism" so it works for everyone.

    • Gosman 4.1
      22 December 2022 at 11:03 am

      NZ is a very far way away from a situation where Social democracy has been destroyed. The State still plays a massive role in both the economy AND welfare.

  5. Mike the Lefty 5
    22 December 2022 at 9:23 am

    What makes Seymour more of a danger to the left is that, unlike most of his predecessors, he has a personality, is charismatic and much more in tune with public opinion. That makes him an attractive alternative in times of economic and social strife which we obviously have now.

    Whereas ACT used to be seen as a party that talked about nothing other than money, Seymour is much more willing to address social issues. He doesn't really offer any new solutions to combat crime, youth truancy, public health degradation, water infrastructure, etc but that is probably beside the point. He LISTENS, or at least gives the impression he is listening, and he responds very quickly with populist quasi-solutions that ordinary Joe and Jill Bloggs's can relate to.

    It is clear that if National/ACT win next year's general election, which they probably will do, National will have a very hard time resisting ACT's basic pledge to return New Zealand to good old fashioned Thatcherite neo-liberalism. National probably won't resist much, thinking that if it went well they could take the credit and if it went pear-shaped they could blame their "junior" partner. Labour did much the same towards the Greens during the Clark government.

    A National/ACT government will ostensibly have Chris Luxon as PM, but in reality David Seymour will be calling the shots.

    A National/ACT government with ACT effectively the dominant force will have serious consequences for many New Zealanders. ACT want to rewrite the rule book and reduce many things that New Zealanders have fought for and earned over the last 150 years – minimum wages, sick leave, holiday pay being a few examples.

    I saw how Roger Douglas and Richard Prebble irreparably changed New Zealand for the worse in the 1980's, shamefully in the guise of a Labour government. If we think we have high interest rates and high inflation now, just wait until ACT gets into power and we will realise that we ain't seen nothing yet.

    • Gosman 5.1
      22 December 2022 at 10:17 am

      How has NZ been irreparably changed for the worst as a result of the changes Roger Douglas and Richard Prebble pushed through?

      Can you give me an example of something that changed for the worst that is not able to be addressed by some sort of policy?

      • Kat 5.1.1
        22 December 2022 at 11:46 am

        They planted a curse of a notion that govt in simple terms had no place in business and that what was good for business was good for the country…………Amen.

        The notion was further nurtured by subsequent govts, farming and business lobby groups and it is only really being questioned today for the curse it is and the enormous damage it has caused to the social and economic fabric of New Zealand.

        Whichever future govt reinstates the Ministry of Works as a full functioning govt dept will have broken the curse.

        • Gosman 5.1.1.1
          22 December 2022 at 12:46 pm

          Government is still in numerous commercial activities in NZ. There is plenty of room for politicians to put forward policies that increase government's role on business as well. We have had re-nationalisation of the Railways and the setting up of a State controlled bank subsequent to 1990 so it is plainly untrue to state the policy in this area has been irreparably changed.

          • Kat 5.1.1.1.1
            22 December 2022 at 1:25 pm

            You asked: How has NZ been irreparably changed for the worst as a result of the changes Roger Douglas and Richard Prebble pushed through?

            My answer clearly addresses your question. The irreparable damage is measured in generations, not something a 'policy' can change overnight.

            As mentioned reinstating a fully state owned and run 21st Century Ministry of Works would go a long way to reversing the damage, in more ways than just planning projects well and getting them done quickly and not being reliant on the vagaries of the private sector.

          • bwaghorn 5.1.1.1.2
            22 December 2022 at 2:06 pm

            Didn't we have to renationlise the railway due to it being asset stripped and run into the dirt by the sort of people act would give a free hand to.

            • Kat 5.1.1.1.2.1
              22 December 2022 at 2:22 pm

              Yes, the railways was one example of Richard Prebble's "I've been thinking" (having nightmares in reality). ACT are a political abomination, and deserved to be feared and loathed.

            • Craig H 5.1.1.1.2.2
              22 December 2022 at 4:14 pm

              And an airline because it wanted to expand into Australia and failed (albeit with a large helping hand by the Australian government).

      • Mike the Lefty 5.1.2
        22 December 2022 at 12:42 pm

        New Zealand society was never the same after Rogernomics. It became more competitive, edgy, money orientated and selfish. It wasn't any particular moment or any particular policy that I can put my finger on – it was a slow slide to the darkside.

        But there was a moment when I realized how similar National and Labour had become when after the 1993 election Labour was bribed by National to elect a Labour MP as Speaker so that National could have a majority of 1 in the house and continue as government.

        This should have provoked national outrage in the media and NZ – instead people used to the two main parties treating them like shit shrugged their shoulders and rolled up another one.

        As for your second point. There comes a point where you can't go back and this was reached sometime in the early 2000s by my reckoning, and the political will was lacking anyhow.

        Considering your political views, I wouldn't expect you to understand where I am coming from.

        • Gosman 5.1.2.1
          22 December 2022 at 12:48 pm

          I think you are looking at NZ pre-1984 through severely rose tinted glasses.

          • Charlie 5.1.2.1.1
            22 December 2022 at 1:40 pm

            Not as rose tinted as a blind man with no glasses

          • adam 5.1.2.1.2
            22 December 2022 at 4:54 pm

            I think we can all look forward to a ACT/national government wreaking the economy and making life exceptionally hard for the average kiwi. All the time them telling us how great they are, like this guy.

        • Kat 5.1.2.2
          22 December 2022 at 1:09 pm

          You could put your finger on these examples: selling off state assets, closing functioning govt depts, financial deregulation, creating household indebtedness, unemployment, massive cuts in welfare, health and public services………..

          • Gosman 5.1.2.2.1
            22 December 2022 at 1:29 pm

            There are more government departments/ministries today than there were in 1984.

            • Kat 5.1.2.2.1.1
              22 December 2022 at 1:52 pm

              Presume you are referring to public servants not specific government departments that were either shut down or corporatised and restructured into commercially oriented organisations during the free market reforms of the mid 1980's.

              Or perhaps you could list all these extra govt departments/ministries that are in existence now that were not back in 1984, which would be most helpful…..

            • millsy 5.1.2.2.1.2
              22 December 2022 at 2:07 pm

              That is because of the funder/provider/policy advise split that was implemented (more like imposed) from the 80's onwards.

              For example the Deparment of Education was split into NZQA, ERO, Ministry of Education, Learning Media, etc and so on.

      • KJT 5.1.3
        22 December 2022 at 3:19 pm

        Are you fucking joking.

        It is obvious to all but the wilfully blind!

    • mary_a 5.2
      22 December 2022 at 2:04 pm

      100% agree with your sentiments Mike the Lefty (5)yes

      Then if Winston Peters gets over 5% and doesn’t sit on the cross benches, there's a chance he will take NZF along for the ride with a NACT government, should it win the election next year. Both Peters and Seymour will be wanting to be the power behind the throne, as neither will want to play second fiddle to the other, while Luxon will be the ornamental stooge, looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights, not knowing which way to turn laugh

      Could be some fun and games ahead with the right if the election goes its way. Not that I hope it does. However ……..

    • Anker 5.3
      22 December 2022 at 4:27 pm
      • I think Seymour has many policies. I posted a link last night to their truancy policy. I thought it was quite good, better than Jan Tinettis adds aimed at getting kids back to school. Thinking about that, I haven’t seen one of Jans adds for a while. Maybe they didn’t work. Who would have thought.

      But yes economically, Act will be dangerous for NZ.

      • Incognito 5.3.1
        22 December 2022 at 4:35 pm

        Thinking about that, I haven’t seen one of Jans adds for a while.

        Schools are out for the summer break.

        • Anker 5.3.1.1
          22 December 2022 at 4:41 pm

          I don’t think anyone would say “schools have been out for a while”. Schools broke up recently.

          Act’s truancy policy is far superior to Jan Tinettis pathetic adds.

          • Incognito 5.3.1.1.1
            22 December 2022 at 5:13 pm

            Uh-uh. FYI, some secondary schools have been closed for over 2 weeks aka a while.

            A while is so vague it is meaningless to everybody else, probably including you too – it also depends where you look and how often aka on whether you pay any attention. Schools (and parents) wind down before they close for summer. Who would have thought?

            How can some kind of dog whistling document policy proposal that resides on an ACT server be superior to real and actual Government efforts, including ads?

          • Robert Guyton 5.3.1.1.2
            22 December 2022 at 6:38 pm

            What Incognito said. Really, Anker, yours was a foolish claim, spawned by your deepening resentment of the Government. Tinetti is fully engaged and hugely experienced at the chalk-face. ACT are blowing smoke.

            • Anker 5.3.1.1.2.1
              22 December 2022 at 7:35 pm

              What was my foolish claim? That Act have a good truancy policy? Its an opinion obviously. You may have a different opinion. What do you think is foolish about Act's policy?

              Tinetti might be fully engaged and yes I know she has been a head teacher. What is she doing about truancy? Do you know Robert? I have only heard of the adds. I saw one on TV during the Prime news add break. I would like to know how much that add cost. If you think Tinettis so good, show me some evidence that her adds have worked or that she is doing something else.

              • Robert Guyton …
                22 December 2022 at 7:43 pm

                "What was my foolish claim? "

                "Act’s truancy policy is far superior to Jan Tinettis pathetic adds."

                A policy from an opposition party is superior to the actions of a minister deeply involved in the issue?

                That's silly, Anker.

                Puff & Blow from ACT is just slightly-warmed air and doesn't compare, on any level, with the actions of an experienced ex-teacher/principal charged with solving the problem.

                Why are you investing in smoke&mirrors?

                • Anker …
                  22 December 2022 at 7:49 pm

                  Robert you have failed to tell me what Tinetti is doing. If you have some information about that, let me know. I do give credit where credit is due.

                  Puff and blow? Why don't you critique the policy itself. Tell me what you don't like about it and why you think it won't work

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    22 December 2022 at 7:53 pm

                    Anker – you have failed to explain why Jan Tinetti's "adds" are "pathetic" – please explain so we can compare what you believe is good about ACT's policy.

                    Thanks.

                    • Muttonbird …
                      22 December 2022 at 9:12 pm

                      Some people like ACT's truancy policy because it punishes the already punished.

                      Some people just love to see already broken people further broken.

              • Peter …
                22 December 2022 at 8:08 pm

                The inference you seem to have taken is is that Jan Tinetti is doing nothing about truancy because you've seen one advertisement somewhere and that's all. Do you want them/her spending more an ads? To try to improve attendance rates or to inform you about what they're doing?

                Judging what Ministers are doing and how effective their work is by the number of headlines they're in or generate or times they're on tv is just silly.

                • Anker …
                  22 December 2022 at 8:25 pm

                  I would be interested to hear what else Jan Tinetti is doing about truancy, but to date no one has been able to tell me.

                  I don't want them throwing more money at adds. I thought it was unlikely to work and I have yet to see any evidence that it has. I would speculate that it hasn't and that they have pulled the adds.

                  Yeah I would like them to announce to the public what they are doing.

                  I would not judge by headlines but by results. In other words, show me the money

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    22 December 2022 at 8:36 pm

                    " to date no one has been able to tell me."

                    Most folk find out for themselves, rather than demand others provide the proof…just saying'…

            • Anker 5.3.1.1.2.2
              22 December 2022 at 7:47 pm

              Oh yes Robert, you are correct about my deepening resentment of the govt. I was until recently a party member, worked hard for them, long family history of involvement with Labour. I would defend them to the hilt e.g when it became very obvious Kiwi Build wasn't going to fly, I would try to argue with friends that actually it wasn't that bad and at least Labour tried yada, yada.

              On this site I always speak to issues that have caused this resentment. Briefly the way Andrew Little has conducted himself with the health work force, failure to priortize recruitment and training of the health workforce, re-structuring in the middle of a pandemic. Being very sneaky about gender self ID and treating women (mostly older left wing feminists) with utter hostility and contempt when they made submission on gender self ID to select committee. The denial of science by these women politicians when we had just been urged during Covid to follow the science.

              My resentment with Labour is well foundered. I am not a swing voter or a Nat troll.
              It is very freeing for me no longer having loyalty to Labour. I am able to look at all parties and see what I do and don’t like about them

              • Robert Guyton …
                22 December 2022 at 7:56 pm

                "My resentment with Labour is well foundered"

                Loved that, but it's an issue diminimis 🙂

                "I am able to look at all parties and see what I do and don’t like about them"

                Yet you only seem to criticise Labour…

                🙂

                • Anker …
                  22 December 2022 at 8:30 pm

                  I have already criticized Act on this very thread and described them as economically dangerous.

                  I often critize Luxon and have referred to him wanting to be PM as a vanity project. I have also said I think he should resign.

                  I have certainly criticized the Greens.

                  Te Maori Party, well I heard them say on Q and A they want to abolish prisons, which I think is naive at best.

                  Haven't criticized Peters much. But have in the past.

                  I have also given praise to Labour for their early covid strategy and some faint praise to Jacinda Ardern. Oh and if I haven't praised David Parker well here is the big thumbs up to him. As his role as AG he pulled the plug on the Rotorua admin bill, citing it was against the Bill of Rights. Big thumbs up to him for that.

              • millsy …
                22 December 2022 at 7:59 pm

                Fact of the matter is, National and ACT support imposing the US system of health care (user pays and insurance) on this country. This goes back to the early 1990's, when National tries to impose charging on hospital stays, and failing that, turning what used to be DHB's into commerical businesses and requiring them to run at a profit. This involves mass service cuts and sale of health and hospital assets.

                If you support National and ACT, then you oppose public health care in this country. Plain and simple.

                As for the transgender thing you hate so much. These gender critical women that you support have their chains jerked by the Christian right. I occasionally go on GC Twitter, and on the Twitter feeds of the likes of Helen Joyce and Maya Forstater, there is nothing but right wing bigotry, opposition to abortion, LGBT rights (including being fine with Christian businesses owners denying services to same sex couples) etc and so on.

                Might I also point out that GC’s and Christian conservatives are joining forces in promoting a new kind of wowserism, using progressive rhetoric to justify banning porn, prostitution, abortion, birth control, etc.

                • Tony Veitch …
                  23 December 2022 at 5:56 am

                  “If you support National and ACT, then you oppose . . .”

                  just about everything progressive and beneficial to our society!

              • SPC …
                22 December 2022 at 8:01 pm

                Kiwibuild was poorly designed because

                1. they restricted sales to first home buyers (with 20% deposit criteria)
                2. it was designed to maintain building activity when the market was in a downturn (the 2008-2014 era building decline resulted in a shortage)

                By 2017 building was too close to capacity (that had to be developed).

                The programme was designed for a period when consents numbers are falling, as they are now.

                They will still have to widen sales to more than first home buyers (first family homes for couples going from flat/apartment ownership, oldies looking for retirement property).

                • millsy …
                  22 December 2022 at 8:38 pm

                  It would have worked better has the housing actually been a good side cheaper than privately built houses at the time, and/or the loans for them were decently subsidised.

                  I think one guy, ex NZ Army engineers, etc, offered to undercut private developers and build thousands of prefab homes at dirt cheap rates, but the government didnt want to know when he approached them.

  6. Peter 6
    22 December 2022 at 10:09 am

    Seymour’s comments are unhelpful rhetorical flourishes and they are lazy? Of course. Will the average punter care to examine them and what they mean? Of course not.

    Is that punter capable rational examination?

    I've posted before about the Act education policy past the Charter School element. Charter Schools per se are a winner for Seymour because the dumb people who see everything wrong with schooling in NZ are too dumb to see past the packaging.

    Forget the grand clichés, the guts of their education policy is Voucher Education. All about choice apparently. Every family gets $$ for each of their offspring. They turn up at the school of their choice. All the parents from Beachhaven, Ranui and Otahuhu will have a choice at last so they'll ship their kids off to Auckland and Epsom Girls' Grammar.

    Ah, what the Herald calls 'top' schools. So good 20,000 want to get in. So who gets to choose who gets the choice? The parents or the First XV and X1 coaches?

    The glossy packaging of Seymour is like that of a chocolate bar. It has the shininess, the colours, the fancy words itch the promises. Will the taste measure up?

    And what about the ingredients and what they'll do? 'WARNING: May contain nuts and manufactured using machines employed in the processing of nuts.'

  7. Stephen D 7
    22 December 2022 at 10:15 am

    What I would like to see, sooner rather than later, is real MSM scrutiny on the likely cabinet members in each of the opposition parties.

    We know about Luxon, Bishop, Reti, Woodhouse (God save us,) and Willis. What about the rest?

    As far as ACT goes, we have got Seymour, van Velden, and crazy gun lady. Who are the other and how have they justified their salaries the last 2/3 years?

    There has been the occasional puff piece, but nothing of substance.

    • Gosman 7.1
      22 December 2022 at 11:33 am

      You use the term "Crazy gun lady". Who do you mean exactly and what has she stated or proposed that would qualify as "crazy"?

      • Stephen D 7.1.1
        22 December 2022 at 11:36 am

        You know perfectly well who she is. So stop being disingenuous.

        • Gosman 7.1.1.1
          22 December 2022 at 11:45 am

          I want to know why you think this person is a "crazy gun lady". What has she proposed that suggests she is this type of person?

          I suspect you have little clue and are just spouting off misinformed views that you likely picked up from someone else.

  8. tsmithfield 8
    22 December 2022 at 10:27 am

    If it is clear that National is going to win anyway, the best way to keep ACT out of the government is for left-leaning voters to switch to National, or not vote at all.

    That would put National in the same position that Labour is now, and there will be no need to fear the scary ACT party.

    So, whether ACT is able to exert it's nefarious influence might be down to the tactical voting decisions that left-leaning voters make.

    • Robert Guyton 8.1
      22 December 2022 at 10:39 am

      I'm convinced by your wise advice, tsmithfield!

      Also, your offer of a bridge – what a price – bargain!!

    • Incognito 8.2
      22 December 2022 at 7:57 pm

      If it is clear that National is going to win anyway, the best way to keep ACT out of the government is for left-leaning voters to switch to National, or not vote at all.

      That must be about the worst advice I can think of. Do you support representative democracy? Give NACT as few votes/seats as possible. And always vote!

      • tsmithfield 8.2.1
        23 December 2022 at 7:25 am

        Of course I wrote that comment with a degree of tongue in cheek.

        But, I could actually see that scenario of tactical voting in this way as a possibility, especially if Labour tries too hard to paint ACT as the devil incarnate.

        Lets say a month out from the election National is polling at say 45% and Labour is polling at say 35%, then some Labour voters may believe their vote is more valuable in being used tactically to keep ACT out of government.

        • Robert Guyton 8.2.1.1
          23 December 2022 at 8:28 am

          Doubling-down on your crack-pot theory, eh!

          • tsmithfield 8.2.1.1.1
            23 December 2022 at 8:52 am

            Not so crack-pot. In fact, at the last election it was thought that National voters had switched to Labour to keep the Greens out of government.

            The unprecedented swing to Labour across the country indicated tactical voting by National supporters who didn't want the Greens to be part of the government, but there's no hard evidence of that.

            Some callers to talkback radio said they voted tactically for that reason but the extent of it isn't known.

            That type of tactical voting was theorised to have happened in the last election. As the article points out, no hard evidence for that, which isn't surprising as the election is a secret ballot after all. But the idea that voters could use their votes tactically in this way is certainly a possibility.

            • Robert Guyton 8.2.1.1.1.1
              23 December 2022 at 9:12 am

              "That type of tactical voting was theorised to have happened in the last election. "

              Spooked Nat-farmers voted Labour to neutralise The Greens.

              We on the Left are not that biddable.

              • tsmithfield …
                23 December 2022 at 9:40 am

                I guess it depends on how much Labour supporters are spooked into fearing the ACT devil. They may feel it is their civic duty to vote tactically to prevent the end of the world as we know it.

        • Incognito 8.2.1.2
          23 December 2022 at 7:18 pm

          You were kidding but actually, you were ‘deadly serious’, to borrow words from Luxon.

          The only recent comment from Labour about ACT that I am aware of is Ardern calling Seymour an arrogant prick. You seem to have one feet firmly stuck in a rabbit hole.

          You obviously love your own hypotheticals. My hypothesis is that there is that a vote for National is a vote for ACT, as they need ACT for the votes in Parliament and its policies. IMO, the best way of keeping NACT away from the Treasury benches is voting Labour, the Green Party, or TPM and have a high voter turnout.

  9. Robert Guyton 9
    22 December 2022 at 10:43 am

    ACT have bought good advisors and their investment is paying off for them.

    Or rather, the wealthy elite who seek to install ACT for their own gain, have employed good advisors and the party now has the appearance of being far cleverer than they in fact are.

    • Gosman 9.1
      22 December 2022 at 11:00 am

      Why isn't the party as clever as they appear to be?

      • Hanswurst 9.1.1
        22 December 2022 at 11:15 am

        Why is that a useful question?

      • Robert Guyton 9.1.2
        22 December 2022 at 12:20 pm

        2 reasons: 1. lack of depth. 2. backing the wrong ideological horse.

        • Gosman 9.1.2.1
          22 December 2022 at 12:51 pm

          The backing of the wrong ideological horse is just your own personal opinion so is not an objective reality. You might have a case for a lack of depth however the evidence to date with the new MP's does not seem to support you. They have all acquitted themselves extremely well for first time MP's. None of them have caused issues for their leader or the Party so far and have all put in the hard yards both in Parliament and for the party out in the public domain.

          • JeremyB 9.1.2.1.1
            22 December 2022 at 2:23 pm

            That the current sitting ACT MP's have "all put in the hard yards both in Parliament and for the party out in the public domain." is your personal opinion so is not an objective reality.

          • Robert Guyton 9.1.2.1.2
            22 December 2022 at 6:32 pm

            "They have all acquitted themselves extremely well for first time MP's. "

            You mean, "kept mum".

            • gsays 9.1.2.1.2.1
              23 December 2022 at 6:47 am

              TBF, after the last election, with ACT having a surprisingly large intake, more than one or two of us were anticipating a wee clusterfuck around the new MPs.

              To their credit, it hasn't occurred.

            • Gosman 9.1.2.1.2.2
              23 December 2022 at 9:17 am

              Not at all. They have been very vocal both in the community and media.

  10. Temp ORary 10
    22 December 2022 at 11:24 am

    As bad as an NACT government would be, especially for future generations who will be stuck with the cleanup. I doubt that human-insect genetic splicing is in the cards; MS.

  11. Gosman 11
    22 December 2022 at 11:43 am

    This whole post reminds me of the often misattributed political quote "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

    ACT was largely ignored for a number of years around 2011. Then David Seymour and the party was ridiculed for various things like DWTS and the Epsom electorate. Now we are in the fighting stage where left wingers are treating ACT as the real enemy as opposed to National (which funnily enough I agree with).

    All that is left is for ACT to win which I predict will be around September/October of next year.

    • SPC 11.1
      22 December 2022 at 5:47 pm

      ACT has already peaked.

      National will use ACT to front policies which might cost it centrist votes and adopt some of them in a coalition deal (it will decide which ones, not ACT, they're simply a centre-right maximisation tool – a way to hide unpopular policies in Epsom).

      And National would prefer to have two parties it can form a coalition government with to reduce the leverage of either (and possibly have the two as support partners of a minority National one – this could occur with ACT and NZF, as neither would want to be in a coalition government with the other, nor support the other in coalition with National).

      Winning 3.65% and 4 seats in 2008 to 1.07% and 1 seat in 2011 and 0.69% in 2014 and 0.5% in 2017 – the last time NACT formed a government.

      Precedent is that if/when NACT form a government, ACT would require Epsom to return to parliament while National remained in government.

      ACT exists to promote neo-liberalism as an extremist ideological alternative to Labour to drive the herd towards National (middle class self-interest).

  12. Robert Guyton 12
    22 December 2022 at 12:18 pm

    In ACT's case, the process is: first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they laugh at you some more, then they ignore you."

    The Greens followed the prescription you described, but ACT have been flapping about on the sidelines since forever. The only reason they are even visible, is wealthy backers. The rest is toxic fluff. Imo.

    • Gosman 12.1
      22 December 2022 at 12:53 pm

      Incorrect. They had wealthy backers during the lean years and noone was listening. They are now because the party has become more disciplined and adept at reaching it's audience of potential supporters.

    • Gosman 12.2
      22 December 2022 at 1:27 pm

      This whole post and most associated comment threads are about how dangerous the ACT party is from the left's perspective. That is not laughing at ACT. It is showing fear.

      • Sacha 12.2.1
        22 December 2022 at 1:31 pm

        One of the problems with this place, yes. Barking at every car

      • Robert Guyton 12.2.2
        22 December 2022 at 6:29 pm

        I'm not seeing fear on this thread; derision, perhaps? Maybe mild amusement, but fear?

        Am I missing something?

        • gsays 12.2.2.1
          23 December 2022 at 6:49 am

          The title of the post perhaps?

          "Be afraid, be very afraid."

          • Robert Guyton 12.2.2.1.1
            23 December 2022 at 8:22 am

            Tongue in cheek.

            • Gosman 12.2.2.1.1.1
              23 December 2022 at 9:15 am

              Pretty sure the author's point was not to state ACT is no threat and the left should laugh it off.

              • Robert Guyton …
                23 December 2022 at 10:49 am

                Your ideas are to be feared, your champion and the chances of your party gaining power, are not.

                • Gosman …
                  23 December 2022 at 10:52 am

                  The author was not focusing on the ideas but mainly on David Seymour.

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    23 December 2022 at 11:03 am

                    " … beneath his goofy exterior lies some pretty scary policy proposals."

                    Ya reckon?

                    You've certainly given this thread your all, Gosman.

                    I don't think you've won any supporters though, 3-legged horse 'n'all

      • KJT 12.2.3
        23 December 2022 at 7:05 am

        History shows that fear of fascists, even tin pot wannabee ones, is entirely justified.

        • Gosman 12.2.3.1
          23 December 2022 at 9:14 am

          The ACT party's philosophy is almost the polar opposite of fascism.

          • KJT 12.2.3.1.1
            23 December 2022 at 10:26 am

            Haven't read ACT's policies, have you.

            Or ACT’s patron saint, Ayn Rand. The anti social callousness and repression of freedom for everyone except the rich, who can do whatever they wish, is identical.

            • Gosman 12.2.3.1.1.1
              23 December 2022 at 10:53 am

              Ayn Rand is not the patron saint of the ACT poarty. Nowhere does the party recognise or acknowledge her. What policy specifically is inspired by Ayn Rand?

  13. Maurice 13
    22 December 2022 at 1:15 pm

    There appears to be a number of groups of disaffected former voters for both National and Labour who are looking for an alternative. One of ACT's stumbles was the rejection of the mob outside Parliament … plenty of disaffected there – who do vote.

    ACT's road trips through the Provinces has presented an alternative to the younger Rural Vote as well – despite the previously urban focus of ACT.

    Yep – be very afraid as we may see quite a flip from both Labour and National to a protest ACT vote ….

    • Patricia Bremner 13.2
      22 December 2022 at 6:02 pm

      Then Maurice if that scenario comes to fruition, I see a mass exodus to Australia by people who read the tea leaves of a bleak individualistic dog eat dog future, that we need to avoid.

      David studied Public Policy in Canada. What did he learn? Their current issues include violence against indigenous women and indigenous rights. Where is his policy for that?

      Personally I don't trust people who act disingenuously, pretending to be affable and clown like. Artful dodger comes to mind. I don't think we ever see the true David. Just my 81years talking lol.

      Seriously the fabric of NZ will be damaged beyond repair by the "no such thing as community" along with their "everything has to have a $ value" and "smallest possible government" and "Private take the profit Public pay the costs" mentality.

      We would be back to huge numbers of poorly paid migrants lowering wages, the contract spiral, and underfunded services. Add in armed Police, more money for armaments and less for schools and hospitals. House prices rising caused by influx demand. Some 5% will get incredibly rich the rest will be "the bottom feeders.

      Gosman, you come here to poke and gloat. A provocateur of the worst kind.

      Our current Government has made mistakes, but they have been caused by over reach not neglect or pressure of events causing quick decisions.

      I hope people will reflect on that next year when they are considering our future.

      • Robert Guyton 13.2.1
        22 December 2022 at 6:24 pm

        "act disingenuously"

        Nice bite, Patricia!

      • Gosman 13.2.2
        23 December 2022 at 9:13 am

        Why would Police be armed if ACT had access to the levers of power?

        • Patricia Bremner 13.2.2.1
          23 December 2022 at 10:20 am

          National's Mark Mitchell wants that, and Act like guns .Looks the most likely scenario imo.
          I notice you don’t Q my other points

          • Gosman 13.2.2.1.1
            23 December 2022 at 11:01 am

            That does not mean I don't disagree with them. I am just focusing on an area I know for a fact is incorrect. Nicole McKee (The ACT party MP with responsibility in this area) is on record as stating she does not agree with Police being armed all the time.

            • Robert Guyton 13.2.2.1.1.1
              23 December 2022 at 11:10 am

              "all the time"

              Plenty of wriggle-room there.

              Toilet breaks, bed and bath-time…

              • Gosman …
                23 December 2022 at 5:11 pm

                You agree that Police should occasionally be armed I presume? If not how would you expect the Police to deal with terrorist incidents like what happened in NZ over the past 4 years?

                • Robert Guyton …
                  23 December 2022 at 5:15 pm

                  Who cares what some minor figure in a minor party thinks about anything at all?

                  I think the police dealt with terrorist incidents in NZ over the past few years, very well.

    • Robert Guyton 13.3
      22 December 2022 at 6:28 pm

      You reckon those "disaffected" who utterly distrust politicians, believe they are of reptilian stock and want to string them up, will throw their (light) weight behind Seymour (a politician)???

      I see.

  14. millsy 14
    22 December 2022 at 2:13 pm

    We can forget about any more payrises if ACT had their way. Or access to health care? Or anything really.

  15. Kat 15
    22 December 2022 at 3:49 pm

    The more I read of this Gosman's comments the more I hear David Seymour. One can certainly have empathy with the PM being subjected to such inane commentary in parliament.

  16. Thinker 16
    22 December 2022 at 4:19 pm

    I missed the chance to submit a caption for this photo when it came out before, so here goes:

    "Would you like lies with that"?

  17. SPC 17
    22 December 2022 at 5:21 pm

    The difference between DemocratsLabour and RepublicansACT is that DemocratsLabour say they want to do good things but they're lying and RepublicansACT say they want to do bad things and they're telling the truth.

    https://caitlinjohnstone.substack.com/p/the-mcproxy-war-continues-notes-from?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2

  18. DS 18
    22 December 2022 at 8:01 pm

    On 1951: it wasn't as if Labour were energetically defending the waterfront workers. Nash rather infamously declared that he was neither for nor against them.

    Meanwhile, the form of "voluntary unionism" enacted by Holyoake was still far more union-friendly than anything you'd see out of a mainstream political party today. In marked contrast to Australia, New Zealand's troops in Vietnam were also entirely volunteers, and New Zealand's involvement betrays a distinct whiff of only being there because we were paying lip-service to Washington.

    In short, the 1950s and 1960s saw Labour and National orbiting around the social-democratic consensus, and not differing in wider vision. The differences came in the 1970s and 1980s. Since then? Once again, we're seeing the two parties orbiting around a particular planet… only this time, it's Neoliberal World.

    • Peter 18.1
      22 December 2022 at 8:18 pm

      Interesting to reflect on your time frame. The 50s and 60s? 1960 was just 15 years after the national uniting traumatic exercise of World War 2. 15 years back from here (obviously) was simply 2007-2008. Any major event happen then for all in the collective?

  19. millsy 19
    22 December 2022 at 8:12 pm

    "New Zealand's troops in Vietnam were also entirely volunteers, and New Zealand's involvement betrays a distinct whiff of only being there because we were paying lip-service to Washington."

    I read somewhere that Holyoake and his cabinet had misgivings about US involvement in Vietnam and thus pared involvment to the bare minimum. Of course, the empire that they preffered to bow down to was British, not the USA.

    • Anne 19.1
      22 December 2022 at 9:04 pm

      The story goes that Holyoake was opposed to any involvement in the Vietnam War, but the Americans got to him and – to use modern parlance – let him know there would be consequences if NZ chickened out. Holyoake responded by agreeing to offer the barest minimum he could get away with. He was a pompous fellow who spoke with an affected upper-class English accent but it would seem he wasn't stupid.

  20. Macro 20
    22 December 2022 at 9:16 pm

    He was a pompous fellow who spoke with an affected upper class English accent but he wasn't stupid.

    Best voice in the house!

    • Anne 20.1
      23 December 2022 at 12:31 am

      Interesting little story about Kiwi Keith.

      In the 1950s the former Trade minister in the 72/75 Labour Govt., Warren Freer had the nous to visit China (several times in fact) with a view to commencing trade talks with them. He was the first western politician to do so after the Communists took power. He was denounced by all and sundry as a communist traitor which included his own leader, Walter Nash. But there was one politician who quietly supported him behind the scenes. Yes Keith Holyoake. As PM in the 1960s he cleared the pathway for Freer to return to China.

      Nothing came of it at the time but years later it was officially acknowledged that the reason NZ was able to sign the first ever trade agreement with China – the FTA – was in large part due to Warren Freer's previous efforts. The Chinese have long memories and NZ was eventually rewarded.

  21. woodart 21
    23 December 2022 at 7:21 pm

    will put money on act having LESS seats after next election. they only sucked pissed off nat voters, who will desert back to nats ,now the collins is crushed.seymour will huff and puff, but will be even more of a poodle, desperate for a cup of tea.

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  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    4 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    5 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    5 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    6 days ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    7 days ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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