Budget Smudgeit

Written By: - Date published: 2:43 pm, May 30th, 2024 - 80 comments
Categories: budget 2024, national, nicola willis, same old national, treasury - Tags:

So the budget is now live and the analysis is now starting.

There are tax cuts. There are tax cuts, $15 billion of them. But there is also an increase in borrowing of $12 billion. And it will take a further year to reach surplus.

Can someone reconcile this with Willis’s claim that the budget is fiscally neutral?

Contrary to the previous expectations deliberately crafted by National not everyone is getting a $250 a fortnight tax cut.

1.9 million households will benefit from the overall relief package by an average of $30 a week. Households with children will benefit by $39 a week on average. That does not equate to $250 a fortnight.

A minimum wage worker can expect about $12.50 a week, while superannuitants will take home just $4.50 a week. For beneficiaries generally it is a big nada, nothing, zilch. They are excluded from the in-work tax credit rise, independent earner tax credit boost, and tax cuts.

Landlords will enjoy considerable largesse from the taxpayer and will be able to bank a tax free capital gain AND interest deductibility. And the bright line test is being cut back to a paltry 2 years. Landlords will be rubbing their hands with glee.

To afford these tax cuts the Government will be borrowing more, contrary to previous statements.

They will attempt to claim that the increase in debt is not related to the tax cut but the data would suggest otherwise.

This graph clearly shows what will be happening. Debt will track upwards.

It is the cuts side of things that will cause carnage. The cuts are brutal and random. The claims that the Government has “uncovered a layer cake of government initiatives – many of which we had never heard of before” suggests strongly they have not been doing their job. The information is available for all to see.

My first impression is that what we are witnessing an intense PR job which is at complete odds with National’s election promises from last year.

Comments welcome and obviously more analysis is required. The devil is always in the detail.

80 comments on “Budget Smudgeit ”

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  2. I Feel Love 2
    30 May 2024 at 3:11 pm

    Heh curious, this is repeated word for word on 2 articles by different authors,

    "Minimum wage workers don’t lose out on too much, they were orignally due to receive a tax cut of $12.50, that’s been revised down to $10 but when you’re dealing with such small sums, a $2.50 loss is relative." from Tova O'Brien here https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350295633/budget-2024-beige-budget & "Minimum wage workers also don’t lose out on too much, they were originally due to receive a tax cut of $12.50, that’s been revised down to $10 but when you’re dealing with such small sums, a $2.50 loss is relative." from Bridie Witton here https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350295846/budget-2024-winners-and-losers

    Tova also says that it is exactly as National promised & with absolutely no extra borrowing.

    • Incognito 2.1
      30 May 2024 at 3:34 pm

      The difference between a peanut and half a peanut is only half a peanut, which is really peanuts.

      • alwyn 2.1.1
        30 May 2024 at 5:53 pm

        Even half a peanut can have an enormous effect. Anaphylaxis is not a pretty sight.

        • Incognito 2.1.1.1
          30 May 2024 at 6:23 pm

          People living in poverty earning the minimum wage, disabled, beneficiaries, that’s not a pretty sight. But what’s an even less pretty sight is people who are better off kicking down on those less fortunate. Anaphylaxis is treatable, being an a-hole is not.

    • Bearded Git 2.2
      30 May 2024 at 6:24 pm

      I haven't read anything Tova says for a long time.

    • SPC 2.3
      30 May 2024 at 6:38 pm

      I've picked it would $10 for a long time now.

      They also got a 25 cents an hour wage increase.

      Thus $20 a week in total – if there are two living together on this income – they might together afford their rent increase.

      But "next year", there is "no more room for unfunded tax cuts" and National will still not be generous on MW increases.

      1990'S old school (market rents in state houses) – tents and or caravans/cars on the front lawn or street (space in garages/carports), this allows two families a building or renting out access to the home cooking and shower for those in cars/vans.

  3. observer 3
    30 May 2024 at 3:39 pm

    Never trust a politician who uses cancer suffering for votes.

    Luxon lied:

    Election 2023: National promises to pay for 13 new cancer treatments if elected | Newshub

    • Maurice 3.1
      30 May 2024 at 3:45 pm

      Yeah – but the Pharmac unfunded fiscal hole was too big to fill!

      • mickysavage 3.1.1
        30 May 2024 at 5:11 pm

        No it was perfectly easy to fund it through the operating allowance but National wanted to squeeze everything instead.

        • Maurice 3.1.1.1
          30 May 2024 at 5:37 pm

          They promised tax cuts to millions – cancer drug funding only affected as few hundred people. 'The Greatest good for the greatest number'!

          … or is it the greatest harm to the least number?

          • Patricia Bremner 3.1.1.1.1
            31 May 2024 at 6:42 pm

            So just a money question Maurice, not a moral dilemma? That makes sense to a

            Insensitive clod like Luxon, but some of us believe those kinds of promises should be kept.

            It gives a measure of heartlessness. Money for Landlords 2.9 billion. 350 million for 13 new cancer treatments promised by Luxon before the Election.

            Oh no.. he's walked back on his word. Wow!!

            Now he is trying to blame Labour. What a bloody cruel charade. He gave hope, then casually took it away.

            • Maurice 3.1.1.1.1.1
              1 June 2024 at 12:43 am

              Perhaps I should have put the // sarc tag at the end.

              Just using the 'colectivist' mantra of "Greatest good for greatest number" (which has been said to me by both Left ans Right politicians from time to time)

              Governments are formed to make hard choices – morality aside. It appears the others had more influence than Dr Reti in the trade offs.

              Besides – euthanasia is now available and being extended if suffering becomes too great. //

          • Louis 3.1.1.1.2
            1 June 2024 at 5:07 pm

            Tell that to the cancer patients.

            "A woman living with tumours on her heart says she is devastated the government has broken its promise."

            https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/518291/budget-2024-cancer-patient-devastated-that-government-won-t-fund-new-drugs#:~:text=A%20woman%20living%20with%20tumours,hasn't%20been%20possible%22.

            "National's promise to pay for 13 new cancer treatments has rung hollow after Budget 2024 revealed the drugs would not be funded, leaving patients and advocacy groups distraught."

            It was supposed to be funded by reinstating the $5 prescription payment.

            https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/05/31/despicable-government-wont-fund-promised-cancer-treatments/

            • Maurice 3.1.1.1.2.1
              1 June 2024 at 11:57 pm

              Prescription co-payments will return from July 15, Finance Minister Nicola Willis told media gathered at Parliament.

              So the money is not yet available – perhaps why it will take time to be available for purchase of cancer drugs?

              • SPC …
                2 June 2024 at 12:09 am

                Did the government lack the ability to borrow some money from the Shane Jones fund and fund the treatments now and use the prescription money to pay it back?

                Most people running a household budget (using multiple accounts) can do this.

                • Maurice …
                  2 June 2024 at 2:42 am

                  The cancer drugs are extremely expensive and may just be too much on a per patient basis. They do not seem to be curative but rather palliative.

                  Scuttlebutt is that Pharmac may be playing hardball with the suppliers and trying to get prices reduced significantly before introducing them to the system.

                  I do not believe that the decision to not fund them at this time was taken lightly. Hard choices had to be made to simply keep existing medications available. Those who believe that it is Coalition cruelty rather than excruciatingly hard choices need a look at themselves.

                  • Louis …
                    2 June 2024 at 8:40 am

                    Did your mate Paula Bennett tell you that or are you just making up assumptions? Luxon and Willis gave an ironclad promise and they broke it. IMO you're being flippant and insensitive, but I bet that attitude would soon change if the shoe were on the other foot.

                    • Maurice …
                      2 June 2024 at 11:16 am

                      Paula is my trusted advisor – rang me at 2am and promised a $100 KFC voucher if I printed that ….

                      Don't be silly!

                    • Louis …
                      2 June 2024 at 3:35 pm

                      Your post was silly Maurice. It looks like a nerve was struck.

                  • PsyclingLeft.Always …
                    2 June 2024 at 9:10 am

                    excruciatingly hard choices

                    wtf?! You are pulling something if you believe that. Just don't expect anyone else to.

                  • joe90 …
                    2 June 2024 at 11:36 am

                    Hard choices had to be made to simply keep existing medications available.

                    Word for word the excuses Willis used this AM.

                    Paula is my trusted advisor

                    Is Willis' office paying you?

                  • Incognito …
                    2 June 2024 at 12:06 pm

                    The cancer drugs are extremely expensive and may just be too much on a per patient basis.

                    National knew what those 13 cancer treatments would cost ($70 million per year) and made the promise. They also knew how they were going to pay for them. It’s all detailed in National’s Policy document in which they outlined their promises: https://assets.nationbuilder.com/nationalparty/pages/18159/attachments/original/1692580225/Helping_more_Kiwis_fight_cancer.pdf?1692580225

                    They do not seem to be curative but rather palliative.

                    You’ve got no idea what you’re talking about. The list of 13 cancer treatments to be funded is in the same linked document – it’s only 3 pages long, so you can’t miss it – with the indications for use.

                    Please stop your ignorant shilling.

                    • Louis …
                      2 June 2024 at 3:36 pm

                      yes Incognito.

                    • Maurice …
                      5 June 2024 at 12:41 am

                      "Ignorant shilling"

                      Recently involved with cancer treatment and provision of cancer drugs.

                      Do you think this is not going to happen here?

                      https://www.zerohedge.com/political/i-was-offered-assisted-dying-over-cancer-treatment-broken-canadian-healthcare-system

                      Allison’s very existence challenges those who argue that Britain — with its flailing health and social care systems, shamefully long waiting lists and historically poor cancer survival rates — should rush headlong into legalisation of assisted death. So, what would she tell those advocating for the reform? “I would tell Britain to only accept assisted dying when the health service is fixed — otherwise it is a very dangerous step to take. We deserve decent and timely care rather than offers of faster death.”

                      “I would tell Britain to only accept assisted dying when the health service is fixed.”

                      This parallels my experience here – and there is talk of extending 'euthanasia' legislation locally.

                      Quite likely some very delicate negotiations between Pharmac and drug companies involved have been derailed by 1) the Government 'promise' 2) the politically motivated shrieking.

                      The BIG question not asked: Why – if the 13 drugs are so needed and necessary were they not funded by the previous administration?

                      I make no apologies for my cynicism and "shilling" as they come from extremely bitter experience and loss of loved ones.

              • Louis …
                2 June 2024 at 8:31 am

                Lame excuse. Landlords, no doubt several are millionaires like Luxon, got a 3b tax break they didn't need.

    • SPC 3.2
      30 May 2024 at 10:06 pm

      ACT wanted more help to landlords more quickly – the money had to come from somewhere.

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/503476/landlord-tax-breaks-will-blow-out-by-1b-ctu

    • newsense 3.3
      30 May 2024 at 11:42 pm

      Remember like most things being a shyster and a huckster and damaging a society is not a crime in most cases. (What’s going on with that opioid epidemic? Did they catch those OxyContin bandits?)

      What’s illegal, especially in places less free is telling people about it…

  4. Tony Veitch 4
    30 May 2024 at 4:14 pm

    The reality is: health cut in real terms, education, defence and police also cut.

    https://x.com/SEaqub/status/1796009483560189959

  5. adam 5
    30 May 2024 at 5:41 pm

    Anyone not getting this is open class war at this point, is an idiot.

  6. SPC 6
    30 May 2024 at 6:18 pm

    We did not get fiscally neutral tax cuts from the incoming 2008 government either (and that was with a 2.5% increase in GST not declared in the election campaign).

    They had form and so no expert believed Willis’s pre-election reckons.

    • georgecom 6.1
      31 May 2024 at 3:18 pm

      all the talk from Luxon and Willis before the election about their costings, pretty much laid bare now as being lies. Even the guy who wrote half of ACT & Nationals policies, Hooten, states as much.

  7. Bearded Git 7
    30 May 2024 at 6:27 pm

    This is the obvious weakness/line of attack in this uninspiring budget:

    "the Coalition of Cuts is borrowing to give tax cuts."

    Madness. Bring back Grant.

  8. aj 8
    30 May 2024 at 6:43 pm

    Tell me I just nodded off and dreamed it.

    Just heard on News TV1 that the govt has budgeted for a tug boat big enough to rescue ferries.

    No plan to replace the ferries themselves.

    Got to be a dream . .

    • Bearded Git 8.1
      30 May 2024 at 6:49 pm

      smiley

    • SPC 8.2
      30 May 2024 at 7:01 pm

      There is health and safety concern as to the continued operation of the existing ferries – there is no rail freight alternative on the horizon … No 8 fencing wire (like having option on leasing a plane for a week if the aging PM's jet is unfit to fly).

  9. aj 9
    30 May 2024 at 6:50 pm

    RNZ Checkpoint: BBM Community Kitchen and Foodshare operator David Letele; former Labour MP and now CEO of Community Law Centres o Aotearoa Sue Moroney; and managing director of the consultancy Iron Duke Partners, Phil O'Reilly.

    Right at the end asked for a score out of 10, last one was O'Reilly who gave it 7/10 – 'a budget for the battlers'

    Letele shot back 'do you know any battlers'

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018940669/political-panel-debate-budget-2024

  10. Ad 10
    30 May 2024 at 8:04 pm

    Pretty sad that Labour's opposition finance person didn't generate a memorable line over the whole day, and nor did the Greens.

    Good on TPM for helping organise marches in opposition.

    Beneficiaries getting so little in the tax cut is cruel to the poor.

    • Kat 10.1
      30 May 2024 at 8:22 pm

      Memorable line's have a tendency to embellish……the budget is a cruel script that should be duly noted but unceremoniously dumped in the round filing cabinet……

      • Ad 10.1.1
        30 May 2024 at 9:01 pm

        Without looking it up, who is the Labour finance person?

        This was the day they'd been practising for their entire political life.

        • newsense 10.1.1.1
          30 May 2024 at 10:47 pm

          Hate to agree with you too much, but I think you’re spot on. They had a lot of time to get ready for what was coming.

          However, a consistent line a day or two after that is agreed upon by all is probably fine.

          I fear the main directive is don’t upstage the boss.

        • Craig H 10.1.1.2
          31 May 2024 at 9:38 am

          Barbara Edmonds.

    • bwaghorn 10.2
      30 May 2024 at 8:25 pm

      I don't know ! I saw Swarbrick at one point selling a wealth tax , and I'm thinking why not , fuck it it can't make things worse than the slow circling of the bowl we living .

      • Ad 10.2.1
        30 May 2024 at 9:04 pm

        I'd rather have a wealth plan than a wealth tax.

        ie one in which the government has a plan to massively increase the number of people earning over $100k, so they can save towards their own home.

        Budgets used to be about the place of the public accounts within the entire economy. That's what they should be.

        • SPC 10.2.1.1
          31 May 2024 at 12:21 am

          There was no economic plan in the budget.

          They cut science (CRI) funding. No R and D, they are making it hard for university to attract and keep grad students, no industry plans, no venture capital formulation, no cheaper finance for business development.

          Nothing on the strait, nothing on coastal shipping.

          Grifters.

  11. Policy Parrot 11
    30 May 2024 at 9:16 pm

    This budget will go down badly amongst those who were expecting tax [sic]"relief".

    They would've been better off saying that conditions weren't right now because of the previous govt (not true but they have got this far with that lie), and that tax cuts will have to wait until 1 October 2025.

    That campaign promise of Nicola's to resign really busted any chance National could've delayed the meagre tax cuts, which as one commentator put it, is pretty much "all hat and no rabbit" and actually laid the ground for more meaningful “relief” closer to the next election.

    I also note that many of the intended beneficiaries of the targeted portion (i.e. working families with young children that have young children in paid care) are now almost certainly having to face increased costs at their childcare provider, whom coincindentally happen to have a brainwave that now is a good time to increase their rates ;))

  12. SPC 12
    30 May 2024 at 9:27 pm

    TVNZ reckons it is about $50 a week for the average income household.

    1.9 million households will benefit from the overall relief package by an average of $30 a week. Households with children will benefit by $39 a week on average.

    Stats which would suggest, one income households lower on average and sole parents with children also.

    The thing about the boast of the size (when including a tax rebate of up to $75 a week max on child care for 2 to 3 year olds) it would not have been been counted as a tax cut under Labour – funding directly to the provider.

    • mpledger 12.1
      30 May 2024 at 11:39 pm

      I hope someone is keeping an eye on the cost of ECE. With parents getting more money with that ECE tax break, ECE providers can increase the prices because they know the parents have the money. It's one of the most stupidist sink holes for government money ever – private providers are going to take every cent and parents will end up being no better off.

      What's the bet that in two years time, ECE prices will have risen to exactly the amount of the tax break for parents.

  13. dv 13
    30 May 2024 at 9:29 pm

    dis I see they are going to pay 22m per year to train 25 more dr per year?

    • mpledger 13.1
      30 May 2024 at 11:48 pm

      Interesting. Labour funded 50 news places in the 2023 budget and National promised 50 more places in this budget. I guess giving tax breaks for landlords was more important than providing health care.

  14. Grey Area 14
    30 May 2024 at 9:30 pm

    Superannuitants get to take home $2.15 a week, not $4.50.

  15. Grey Area 15
    30 May 2024 at 9:49 pm

    It really irks me that people like Brad Olsen are trotted out as experts when they are just neoliberal talking heads repeating CoC lies. How can people be expected to understand what is happening when he spouts crap like this about what to expect in future budgets in an RNZ article tonight:

    "Anything new will have to be met with a cut in other areas. The government has enough money each year to keep the lights on but not a lot more than that."

    It's government priorities that mean things are tight for them Brad. Tax breaks for landlords and tax cuts they are funding with borrowing are the problem. The government is sewing up it's own financial straitjacket around itself but Brad chooses to ignore this.

    • gsays 15.1
      31 May 2024 at 6:22 am

      We are not served well by the media landscape here.

      Along the lines of Brad Olsen's reckons, I had the misfortune to hear on RNZ, Mary Holm's disconnected utterances in regards tax cuts. Pop them into Kiwisaver.

      In relation to the removal of the first home buyers grant, she opined that maybe, get used to the idea of renting for life. That way you can save money for your retirement. So out of touch with reality, she went on to compare renting in Germany and Belgium with Aotearoa, and reckoned you just get a long term lease. Then you can decorate how you like and plant gardens…

      From about half way through. A word of warning it may make yr blood boil.

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018940651/your-money-with-mary-holm

  16. Michael 16
    30 May 2024 at 10:02 pm

    “the Coalition of Cuts is borrowing to give tax cuts.”

    Do correct that spelling mistake.

  17. newsense 17
    30 May 2024 at 11:38 pm

    It doesn’t cover the rise in costs and the cuts in services.

    It’s a budget that doesn’t cover its own arse. $10 or $70 or whatever.

    Rents and rates are up. Local council borrowing cost will be up in the future. Prescription charges are up. Cost of living is up at the supermarket. At the petrol pump. Public transport is being scaled back and delayed. We are likely to see tolls on some roads. Welfare will go up as employment decreases.

    It ignores the known climate change bill and the unknown one.

    It gives us insecurity.

    We have no idea if the government will help us if there is a disaster or if they’ll sell us out to the insurance industry. Or worse as the insurance industry wants less and less exposure to the increased risks in many places they’ll just abandon us as they’ve abandoned smokers. As they’ve abandoned prisoners, gang members and responsibility given how many gang members have grown up in state care. These are members of our society.

    We have no idea if the police, education or health will keep pace with our needs or if their salaries will allow them to lead a basic happy middle class existence in a NZ city. They’ve attacked the police who can’t collectively bargain the same as most industries, attacked protest as illegal because you should be at work, and decreased benefits and the minimum wage in real terms. They’re attacking the job of teaching. They’ve failed the journalism profession and the RW sharks smell blood.

    We don’t know if they’ll shell out enormous funds to join this AUKUS defense group, or if they’ll turn on the defense force personnel next, as they too agree to give up their right to ordinary collective bargaining.

    Like all their work this budget is an attempt to say we kinda met our election promises. But underneath is the evidence- money to their chums, forgotten or hidden donations and meetings with those winning big and avoiding the checks and balances democracies impose on capital. Particularly tourism reliant economies.

    And don’t forget they’re all landlords in parliament, by and large, voting themselves tax free capital gains in their property.

    The sugar hit has gone, be an it never really was and with the glee of the razor gang there was no honeymoon for this cynical bunch.

    Can the opposition reform and drive them into one term obscurity?

    • roblogic 17.1
      31 May 2024 at 2:16 pm

      What happened to the "cost of living" budget?

      Higher prescriptions, higher rates, health system failing, more expensive power and food.

      Any 'tax relief' is totally soaked up by higher cost of living.

      Winston's retiree constituents get shafted. But at least they keep their precious capital gains (which were never in danger anyway).

  18. mpledger 18
    31 May 2024 at 12:02 am

    I wish they wouldn't say $5 per prescription because it's $5 per prescription item. If your doctor prescribes 4 medicines then that it is a $20 hit.

    People won't see their GP if all that is going to happen is they will get prescribed medicines they can't afford. The $100 threshold for free medicine isn't that helpful if you can't afford to get to the threshold.

    • Belladonna 18.1
      31 May 2024 at 9:36 am

      If you can't afford the prescriptions, then you almost certainly can't afford to go to the GP. Prices there are a lot higher.

      From a conversation with our local chemist (who's in competition with the big chains – who already offered free prescriptions) – the majority of the prescriptions which are not picked up at our local pharmacy, are not the standard antibiotics, etc. (at $5 a pop) but the unfunded ones which can be $60 or more each.

      • mpledger 18.1.1
        31 May 2024 at 9:50 am

        Prices for GPs are incredibly variable. If you attend a VCLA practice then the fee is around $19 (IIRC) so getting 4 medicines costs more.

        • Belladonna 18.1.1.1
          31 May 2024 at 12:33 pm

          And if you get your prescriptions from Chemist Warehouse (or any of the other budget operations), there has been no prescription charge for many years (and this will presumably continue).

          It doesn't makes sense to claim that families have the option to shop around for cheaper GPs, but not for cheaper prescriptions.

          • Kay 18.1.1.1.1
            31 May 2024 at 1:09 pm

            You can't shop around for cheaper/free prescriptions when you don't have one of those bargin pharmacies locally. Or even cross town to get to one when the cost of petrol or bus fares (assuming busses exist) has to be weighed up against the prescription charge.

            Just accept there is NO choice for many.

            • Belladonna 18.1.1.1.1.1
              31 May 2024 at 3:16 pm

              The same argument presumably holds for GPs. And, actually is even worse, as mpledger points out – there is very limited scope to choose your GP; whereas there are a lot more chemists available.

              Again, if you have NO choice – then you're unlikely to even go to the GP (because of cost) – so the cost of prescriptions is not even relevant.

          • mpledger 18.1.1.1.2
            31 May 2024 at 1:22 pm

            People actually don't have much option to shop around for GPs. Outside of Auckland, it's actually tough going to swap general practices. The general practice my family attends recently opened their books but only those living in nearby suburbs can enrol.

            And shopping around means being willing/able to travel to the pharmacy/general practice. It's costs money (and time) to save money. That’s why being poor is expensive.

            • Belladonna 18.1.1.1.2.1
              31 May 2024 at 3:13 pm

              However, you were claiming that people could access a 'cheap' GP but not access a 'cheap' pharmacy. There are a heck of a lot more of the latter than there are of the former.

      • Graeme 18.1.2
        2 June 2024 at 9:47 am

        If you can't afford the prescriptions, then you almost certainly can't afford to go to the GP. Prices there are a lot higher.

        It's not an either / or expense, it's the GP charge and the prescription on top of that. That get to be an impost on most personal budgets.

        Down here it's $67 to see your GP, that's enrolled, so put 4 items on the script and you're over $100. That more than discretionary for most people I know.

  19. SPC 19
    31 May 2024 at 12:13 am

    For mine,

    Labour should index the top of the second tier to the MW level (with the third tier rate above the MW). And have the IETC across the third tier.

    It should consider adjustment to tax bands at the higher rates to afford the cost of this.Thus indicate a focus on affordable change to help the many.

  20. tWig 20
    31 May 2024 at 10:51 am

    Big Hairy news and Craig Rennie discuss the budget. Craig points out that tax cuts to poorer people does not cover the losses due to inflation, and to reduction, below inflation in minimum wage increase by National. Going backwards for the poor.

    • SPC 20.1
      31 May 2024 at 12:31 pm

      The Greens want a max or cap on rent increases.

      An alternative is a rent freeze and or rent controls – as per market comparison.

  21. Clive Macann 21
    31 May 2024 at 1:05 pm

    They should have taken the $15B tax cuts and divided it evenly amongst the $5M population.
    We all go to the supermarket and pay the same for a sack of spuds.

    • Maurice 21.1
      31 May 2024 at 1:49 pm

      There is nothing to 'give' – the Government is TAKING less from tax payers only … not everybody.

  22. georgecom 22
    31 May 2024 at 3:21 pm

    One thing Willis has done by borrwing $15 billion for her tax cuts is smooth the way for a Capital Gains tax. The Cullen working party a few years back suggested one thing the proceeds of a cgt could be used for is lowering tax rates. Willis has borrowed to do that now so when a cgt comes in 3-4 years time the govt can point back to now to the tax switch, no need to do it. Sadly she has decimated the governments finances to do it but this post isn't about her lack of financial competency.

  23. Louis 23
    2 June 2024 at 9:00 am

    Here are a few snippets from Craig Renney, for the full thread https://x.com/CLRenney

    "Nicola Willis said that her tax package would not “require any additional borrowing”. Treasury says the government will now borrow an extra $17.1bn by 2028. Tax cuts cost nearly $10bn. Without cuts, borrowing would be lower. Future taxpayers are going to pay for tax cuts today"

    "That might be okay if tax cuts were going to those with the highest needs. A couple on Superannuation ($4.30 a week) will get around a tenth of the tax cut being promised to a couple earning $300,000 ($40.09 a week). Only tiny numbers of people will get the full $250 a fortnight"

    "Meanwhile, 47,000 more people will be unemployed since this government took office. That's an increase of 39% in unemployment since Q3 2023. Yet there is nothing in the budget to support people back into work or training."

    "The Budget also fails the test of not cutting the front-line. Real terms cuts are made to operating grants to education. Customs sees only cuts, The same is true for Agriculture, Biosecurity, Fisheries, and Food Safety. It is cutting 240 lines of expenditure in total."

    "It would be easy to blame this Budget on malice – to frame the Government as being simply indifferent. That would be the wrong. Rather, what this Budget demonstrates is that the current Government places its political survival over the very real investment needs of the country."

  24. Louis 24
    2 June 2024 at 11:11 am

    William Brown @harbottlesmythe

    The CTU have summarised the shortfall, the real cost behind the landlord freebies $3.83 billion

    https://x.com/harbottlesmythe/status/1796664716397584742

    Image

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Recent Posts

  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    17 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    23 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
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    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
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  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

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  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

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  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

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  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

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  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

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    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
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    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

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    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
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  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
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    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
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  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
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    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
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    7 days ago
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    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
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  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

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  • 'Pacific Futures'

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