Carmel Sepuloni – bring it on
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8:05 pm, May 27th, 2023 - 49 comments
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A political life is not always easy for whānau. My husband and father hold down the household and care for the children when I am off being a politician.
My husband cooks, he cleans, he tends to our garden, he waits patiently for me when I’m out and about and is quick to pour me a wine when I arrive home.
All this while working full time at the Auckland library as the pacific advisor, writing his poetry, performing at arts events, running poetry workshops in schools, publishing books and researching his passion – traditional Fijian hair practices. Thank you my love.
Even though the feminist in me cringed when the Women’s Weekly used the headline ‘I couldn’t do it without him’, I do give thanks for all you and my dad and our boys do to love and support me.
Personal Story
Delegates, you all know me. I’ve been in and around the Labour Party for quite some time.
I’ve been that mother at events with her kids in tow, the Pacific Labour activist laughing at the back of the room with the Pacific Sector, the Westie MP battling alongside my West Auckland colleagues and our teams to keep the West red and now, I’m your Deputy Prime Minister!
I came back from a family holiday in January thinking I would ease into the year.
When the week began Monday 16 January I was looking forward to catching up with colleagues and my New Year’s resolution was that mid-week vino’s was a thing of the past.
Within a week I was Deputy Prime Minister and my ridiculous New Year’s resolution was ditched in an attempt to comprehend what had just happened.
They say a week is a long time in politics, and indeed it is.
What of course came first was the unified display of support by our caucus for a new Leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins aka. Chippy.
Such a seamless transition between leaders is not something we are used to in politics. But having weathered a few that were the complete opposite to seamless, I am so grateful for this experience and our amazing caucus team that enabled it to be this way.
Thank you Jacinda
I want to take this opportunity to thank former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Jacinda was unselfish, a wonderful communicator – the epitome of empathy and inclusive leadership.
The Whakaari White Island disaster, the Christchurch terrorist attack and the COVID-19 pandemic. All incidents which have defined her legacy, her leadership and our Party.
We are stronger today, because of all that our former PM did.
Thank you, Jacinda.
The Ginga from the Hutt
I also acknowledge our new PM. The ‘Ginga from the Hutt.’
Pragmatic, calm, driven by an unwavering commitment to Labour values and a determination to make the world a better place.
It is a privilege to have been asked by Chris to be his Deputy. On saying yes, I did tell him that now I was effectively his work wife.
What I didn’t expect was then a whole lot of correspondence instructing me to support the Prime Minister with his clothing choices, his dietary habits and his exercise regime.
My definition of work wife is somewhat different to theirs.
Auckland Extreme Weather
Delegates, it certainly wasn’t the easiest start to the year.
So much for ‘easing in to it’.
Two days after Chris and I were sworn into our new roles as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, I was back in Auckland.
The rain was relentless. My own home was flooding downstairs and shocking footage was being posted on social media of flooding and land slippages across Auckland.
The first evacuation centre to open in Auckland was in my electorate of Kelston. I headed there immediately.
When we arrived, there were only two volunteers in that hall.
Within minutes, families started to walk through the door saturated, in shock with horrendous stories. Some lucky to have survived.
This weather event was of course followed closely by Cyclone Gabrielle. More devastation and trauma for a number of regions across the country and a number of new Zealanders, their whānau and communities.
I acknowledge all of you in this room that have been impacted, are from the affected areas and/ or have been working to support whānau in the impacted areas.
The journey of recovery and rebuild is underway.
My personal observation was that due to the widespread impacts of these weather events, this was a pivotal moment in our nation garnering a shared understanding of the true realities of climate change and the urgency in action required.
Drawing a line in the sand
During the aftermath of the weather events, it felt weirdly superficial to still be doing profile pieces for media. According to my team – a necessary part of being a public figure.
I had just taken up this important new role yet some people didn’t know who I was and what I stood for.
It’s almost like I’ve been this Front Bench Ninja Minister – ducking and weaving my way through my portfolios and political life.
So many of the questions that came my way were in relation to how I got into politics, my political journey and why I was Labour.
On reflection it is clear.
I drew a line in the sand. It wasn’t hard to draw that line.
There are the things I stand for and things I stand against.
Life experience, education, history – they guide which side of that line I fall on. I have always been Labour. How could I not be?
I am a reflection of our Pasifika journey to Aotearoa.
Our Pasifika parents, grandparents and great grandparents came with the intention of working to look after the families in their island homelands.
They raised their children here with aspirations for them to achieve at heights that surpassed the factory floor.
They knew education was key. They aspired for their children to not only take advantage of this education for themselves but to use it to support the wider family and community to get ahead.
This is integral to why I believe the Pacific Community has overwhelmingly supported Labour over the decades.
Labour is aspirational for our communities.
We’ve always supported equal access to opportunities.
And what we do with those opportunities matters too.
Labour has always supported the plight of the worker and their right to be treated fairly and with respect.
Our Pasifika Community
For Labour it has never been just about the pursuit of the individual – but on the wider service and support for whānau and communities.
I have to add, the Labour Party will never have to use AI to create images of Pacific people in attempt to make it look like we have the support of our community.
Trust is everything and creating fake people to sell a political party or policies is a deliberate National Party strategy that will never ever be adopted by Labour.
My appointment as Deputy Prime Minister was an emotional accomplishment for our whole Pacific community.
It validated our journey – our contribution is valued.
From the factory floor to the highest of decision making roles – our whole pacific community owns that.
The next generation now knows what is possible. But knowing what is possible is not enough.
Budget for the times
Our young people also need whānau, communities and a Government that will get behind them and support them to succeed.
Our recent budget shows our commitment to doing this.
In the tightest of economic environments, Grant Robertson has found a way to provide cost of living support for New Zealanders who are doing it tough right now, with a particular focus on young families, including through the expansion of 20 hours ECE support to two-year-olds, free public transport for children and half price for under 25s.
The Budget has been celebrated across the motu from a range of different sectors and spaces and I want to acknowledge Grant for this.
It was also in so many ways, a Budget that was personal to many.
It was personal to me.
We were finally able to permanently reinstate the Training Incentive Allowance. Over the past year with the support of COVID funding over 5,000 mostly sole-parents have taken up this opportunity.
On so many levels that is such an important initiative.
I got the Training Incentive Allowance. I know how much of a difference it can make.
To this day I still say, shame on National and the Social Development Minister of that time for cutting it.
That’s the kind of policy-cutting approach we can expect more of with the National and Act Coalition of Cuts.
On 1 April we saw the amount for Childcare Subsidy and the thresholds lifted after a decade of being frozen so more families can access to the subsidy.
We followed that up through Budget 2023 by extending 20 hours free Early Childhood Education to two year olds.
I will never forget when I first started teaching as a sole parent. I didn’t qualify for the subsidy.
In order to pay ECE costs, I picked up a part time job in the evenings doing tele market research for UMR – yes I was the person asking ‘Do you think the country is headed in the right direction wrong direction or unsure’. I barely saw my child during that time.
We said that this would be a Cost of Living Budget and it was.
We shouldn’t overlook the 1 April changes that were funded for by Budget 2023; increases to benefits, student allowances and loans, abatement thresholds and the amounts available for childcare subsidy, 8,000 community nurses receiving pay parity and last but not least, the increase that superannuitants received – seeing a couple on Super better off by more than $100 a fortnight.
I’m also relieved that as of 1 May our beneficiaries and superannuitants are being provided with even more support via the Winter Energy Payment which we introduced in 2018.
All of this support matters.
Especially at a time when the global inflationary pressures are pushing up the cost of living here for New Zealanders.
Superannuitants
I want to spend a little bit of time talking about our superannuitants. They deserve our attention.
There was a documentary recently about seniors living in poverty. With declining home ownership figures over recent decades it isn’t as easy for many of our seniors when they reach the age of 65.
We have one of the simplest superannuation schemes in the world. It is universal and generous. As long as we keep paying in to the super fund it is also affordable.
Delegates, National and Act are warming up once again to mess with people’s Super. They’ve got form in this area, and it never ends well.
They are working on policies that will see people so much worse off by the time they retire.
It includes raising the age of Super to 67 and stopping government contributions to Kiwisaver.
I’ll give you an example of what that will mean. We’ve done the maths.
And I urge Kiwis to also take a very careful look at what it’ll mean for them.
If you’re a 30-year-old earning an average fulltime wage, you would lose $521.43 a year because an ACT-National coalition would cut matching contributions to Kiwi Saver.
With interest, this would mean that that young person would have $46,000 less when they retire.
And they’re asking that person to retire two years’ later. Raising superannuation age to 67 means they’ll lose another $51,000.
If you’re a young person I have this to say to you – the Coalition of Cuts will take more than $98,000 off your retirement.
Just to give themselves hundreds of dollars a week in tax cuts.
Today, Labour is drawing a line in the sand.
Unlike National and Act, today I am confirming that we will not be lifting the age of eligibility for New Zealand Superannuation.
We’re keeping it at 65, as most New Zealanders want.
We will also not stop or reduce government contributions to Kiwisaver.
And we will not do what National did the last time they were in government and stop or cut payments into the NZ Super Fund, the safety net for all New Zealanders in retirement.
The future is too important.
I’ve also got a strong message today for our seniors.
Labour recognises the critical importance of the Winter Energy Payment in helping you to stay warm in the winter, to avoid respiratory illnesses and to stay out of hospital.
These things are not permanent. They’re a political choice. Labour chooses to prioritise it.
But not every political party has the same view. Which means the Payment is not guaranteed in the future.
Today, I’m also putting another stake in the ground on the Winter Energy Payment.
Under Labour the Winter Energy Payment is here to stay.
Delegates, unlike the Coalition of Cuts, we believe that NZ Super, contributions to the Super Fund, and full government contributions to Kiwisaver are essential and affordable, and that the Winter Energy Payment is too valuable to lose.
Conclusion
Delegates it is an election year. Every New Zealander deserves to know what political parties are offering but equally what they intend to cut. Kiwis deserve honesty.
You can trust Labour to be up front about where we will spend taxpayer money.
The reality is, you cannot trust the Coalition of Cuts.
We’re proud of what we have done for older New Zealanders, which builds on our track record of delivery to date. Labour is the Party to support you in your retirement. Whether you’re older or just entering the workforce, we’ve got your back.
And delegates, with your support, we will continue to do more to deliver for New Zealanders come October 14.
The line in the sand is drawn. Bring it on.
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Open access notables Microbial solutions must be deployed against climate catastrophe, Peixoto et al., Nature Communications [comment]: The climate crisis is escalating. A multitude of microbe-based solutions have been proposed, and these technologies hold great promise and could be deployed along with other climate mitigation strategies. However, these solutions have ...1 week ago
- The PM gets some extremely valuable legal advice for free
You can pay a great deal of money for the services of a KC. So just what would some peerless legal writing from 40 or so of them be worth, do you reckon?Priceless, that’s what. It’s not even the half of it, but this is my favourite part of the ...1 week ago - D-day for the government
The government's Treaty Principles Bill is up for its first reading today - bought forward in a rush in a desperate effort to avoid the hikoi which is currently marching on Wellington. But the Prime Minister won’t be there for it – he’s literally running away to Peru! But he ...1 week ago
- 97% of submissions did not want no-cause evictions, Trump chooses a Russian spy for US Intelligence ...
Good morning, and I’m sorry I’ve been away for a couple of days.I’ve been focusing on the Hikoi, and also testing out sentiment on the Treaty Principles Bill. It’s complicated, and the Treaty Principles Bill will be debated in the House today. The Government’s own lawyers have told them the ...1 week ago - Government must vote down ACT Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to vote down an ACT Party Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights by making it easier for employers to fire workers. Last week ACT MP Laura Trask’s Employment Relations (Termination of Employment by Agreement) Amendment Bill was ...1 week ago
- Seymour causes thousands of unjustified absences by forcing kids to fight for their rights instead o...
The State would like to remind you that they are in control. They manage your employment prospects, and can destroy the job market you and yours rely on by mass-cancelling construction projects, cutting funding, and firing a good chunk of our public servants. They wield the mechanisms that provide scrutiny ...1 week ago - The Weight of the World
As the weight of the world Hangs on your shoulders The weight of the world Starts to take over again And over again All that you once loved, now you hate So slowly relearn how to meditate To have and to hold And never let go Can you feel it ...1 week ago - Thursday 14 November 2024
The Treaty Principles Bill is set to have its First Reading in the House today, as the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti continues. More than 40 KCs have written to the Prime Minister and Attorney-General outlining their “grave concerns” about the substance of the Treaty Principles Bill, while an academic and ...1 week ago
- Trump’s return to White House brings the climate’s ‘find out’ phase closer
As we absorb the news of Trump's victory in the US Presidential election, here’s a wrap compiled just before the result of what it might mean for climate action: The UN Secretary General says the prospective departure of the United States would cripple the Paris Agreement, likening it to the ...1 week ago
- Time and Space in the City Centre
Patrick Reynolds is deputy chair of the City Centre Advisory Panel. The header image is from Walthamstow, London The city centre now has a few stretches of street where the space has been repurposed to a people and place focused design from full time traffic use. These are a great ...1 week ago
- An opportunity for a pro-growth tax switch
As the Hikoi against it swells into the tens of thousands, KCs call on National to kill off ACT’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 14: The ...1 week ago
- Release: Government should be transparent on live exports
Targeted consultation on reinstating live cattle exports by sea won’t allow the New Zealand public to have their say. ...6 hours ago - NZ’s global climate rankings plummet as Govt removes agriculture from ETS
The Government has passed legislation to remove agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) while Aotearoa’s reputation on climate action plummets. ...21 hours ago - Failed boot camp experiment must end
As legislation to set up boot camps passed its first reading, the Green Party urged the Government to abandon this failed policy experiment for the good of our rangatahi. ...22 hours ago
- Gender-affirming care must centre evidence and health needs, not political posturing
The Ministry of Health has today released an evidence brief regarding the use of puberty blockers in gender-affirming healthcare, amid moves by the government to limit access. ...22 hours ago
- Release: National doesn’t care about manufacturing
The National Government is walking away from our manufacturing sector with constant reports of closures and job losses. ...24 hours ago
- Release: David Parker speech – Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change
David Parker's speech from the University of Auckland's forum on Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change in September 2024. ...24 hours ago
- Release: Youth mental wellbeing no longer a priority for Child Poverty Minister
Louise Upston has revealed her diminished vision for vulnerable youth against a backdrop of snubbed advice, scrapped priorities, shifted goal posts and thousands more children projected to fall into poverty. ...1 day ago
- Release: National’s lack of climate action taking NZ backwards
National Government’s backward-looking climate policy has seen New Zealand fall seven places on the Climate Change Performance Index to 41 out of 63 countries measured. ...1 day ago
- Release: Simple reason for drop in emergency housing
When the Government says it has reduced the number of people in emergency housing, what it means is it is stopping people from accessing it in the first place. ...1 day ago
- Govt’s child wellbeing strategy ‘shallow and shameful’
The Government is turning its back on children by not only weakening child poverty reduction targets, but also removing child mental wellbeing as a priority focus in their Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy. ...1 day ago
- Release: A historic win for Samoan communities
Labour warmly welcomes the Restoring Samoan Citizenship Bill as it passes its third reading, before becoming law. ...1 day ago
- Government plan to reinstate live animal exports a “national disgrace”
The Government has taken a giant step backwards by reinstating live animal exports. ...2 days ago
- Pasifika justice as Member’s Bill passes final reading
Teanau Tuiono’s Member’s Bill, the Citizenship (Western Samoa Restoration) Amendment Bill, has passed its third reading and will become law. ...2 days ago
- Release: Minister of Education thinks New Zealand ends at the Bombay Hills
The Minister of Education has shown complete disregard for rural communities and their school bus routes in Question Time today. ...2 days ago
- Economists sound alarm on Government’s slash-and-burn approach
A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. ...2 days ago
- Release: Smoking numbers up under Costello’s watch
National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...2 days ago
- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...2 days ago
- Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions
Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament
Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons
Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...4 days ago
- Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill
The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...5 days ago
- Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...1 week ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Te Tiriti
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon
As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation
The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Child Protection Investigation Unit established
A new Child Protection Investigation Unit is being established to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children in care, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “The report released by the Royal Commission into abuse in state care shows us all the risk of not acting immediately when there are serious ...57 minutes ago - Record number of submissions received on granny flat proposal
Nearly 2,000 submissions have been received on the Government’s proposals aimed at making it easier to build a granny flat of up to 60 square metres without a resource or building consent, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say. “This is the highest number ...3 hours ago
- District Court Judge appointed
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Rebecca Guthrie as a District Court Judge. Judge Guthrie was admitted to the bar in 1997 following her graduation from the University of Canterbury in 1996 (LLB, BA). She commenced her legal career in Hastings in 1997 before moving to London in ...3 hours ago
- Appointments strengthen Predator Free 2050
The latest Predator Free 2050 Board appointments will help to strengthen biodiversity efforts across Aotearoa New Zealand, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. Mr Potaka today announced two appointments to the Board of Directors of Predator Free 2050 Limited, a key player in the wider Predator Free 2050 Programme. “The Predator ...5 hours ago
- New facility in Christchurch will improve the lives of young New Zealanders
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey today opened Kahurangi, an innovative and much-needed facility for Canterbury’s Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health Services. “The new state of the art outpatient facility opened today will be a gamechanger for the way mental health is delivered for young people in Canterbury,” says Mr ...5 hours ago
- Driver safety screens to be installed on Auckland buses
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news from the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) that bus driver protection screens will be installed across Auckland’s bus fleet by 2026.“The Government is committed to improving the safety of working environments for bus drivers, and Budget 2024 allocated $15 million of Crown funding over ...5 hours ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...22 hours ago
- Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...22 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...23 hours ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...23 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...24 hours ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...1 day ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...1 day ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...1 day ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...1 day ago
- Fighting for Kiwis in Trade
Delivered at Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School Good morning and thank you Deputy Vice Chancellor Lithander for your warm welcome and for inviting me to open Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School today. A Special thanks to the University of Auckland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ...1 day ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...1 day ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...1 day ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...2 days ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...2 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...2 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...2 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...2 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...3 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. “We need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...3 days ago
- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...3 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...3 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...3 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...3 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...3 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...3 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...3 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...4 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...4 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...4 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...4 days ago
- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in Whakatāne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...5 days ago
- ‘Wanted’ for war crimes over Gaza: Israel’s Netanyahu, Gallant face ICC arrest warrants
Democracy Now! NERMEEN SHAIKH: In The Hague, the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during Israel’s assault on Gaza. In a statement, the ICC said the Israeli leaders had, ...1 hour ago - New Child Protection Investigation Unit announced by Children’s Minister
The unit will be up and running by early next year, Children's Minister Karen Chhour says. ...2 hours ago - In-person submissions on Treaty Principles Bill to be at Parliament or by video call
In-person submissions on the Treaty Principles Bill will all be held at Parliament or by video call. ...2 hours ago
- ‘Got my support’ – Christopher Luxon stands by Erica Stanford after ‘stupid ...
The prime minister says it wasn't appropriate behaviour but that Erica Stanford had apologised. ...2 hours ago
- Gang chapter president’s patch seized in first 24 hours of ban
The first arrest was made just three minutes after midnight, with 11 more to come. ...2 hours ago
- Government slammed for pushing on with boot camps amid trial
Labour has accused National of ignoring the evidence. ...2 hours ago
- The unspoken rule of conversation that explains why AI chatbots feel so human
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Celeste Rodriguez Louro, Chair of Linguistics and Director of Language Lab, The University of Western Australia Rroselavy / Shutterstock Earlier this year, a Hong Kong finance worker was tricked into paying US$25 million to scammers who had used deepfake technology to ...2 hours ago
- Who were Caracalla and Geta, the cruel and unhinged Roman brother emperors depicted in Gladiator II?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Hanaghan, Senior Research Fellow in Latin Christianity in Late Antiquity, Australian Catholic University Warning: this article contains mild spoilers. When Gladiator I was released in 2000, I was a high school Classics student and the film brought Classical literature to life ...2 hours ago
- Gang patch ban: The first 24 hours
The first arrest was made just three minutes after midnight, with 11 more to come. ...3 hours ago
- New Zealand Government Urged To Back ICC Arrest Warrants For Israeli Leaders Without Equivocation
“We are waiting for our government to announce it will arrest Netanyahu and Gallant immediately if they set foot in Aotearoa New Zealand” says PSNA National Chair John Minto. ...4 hours ago - Justice Committee Makes Further Decisions About Submissions Process For The Principles Of The Treaty...
The committee plans to hold hearings in the week starting Monday, 27 January and the weeks starting 10, 17 and 24 February 2025. ...4 hours ago
- Watch live: Christopher Luxon faces questions during power station visit
It comes as Labour accuses National of not listening to evidence about boot camps. ...4 hours ago
- Survivors of abuse in care know how redress should work – will the government finally listen?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Winter, Associate Professor in Political Theory, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images When Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stood in Parliament last week to apologise to survivors of abuse in care, his words were among many fine speeches by ...4 hours ago
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Eddie Redmayne’s globe-trotting assassin thriller on TVNZ is worth putting your phone down for. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. This is a vulnerable thing to say as someone who often writes about television for a job, but boy am I really ...4 hours ago - RNA editing is the next frontier in gene therapy – here’s what you need to know
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne IoanaB/Shutterstock The United States Food and Drug Administration has just approved the first-ever clinical trial that uses CRISPR-Cas13 RNA editing. Its ...6 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Lee, PhD Candidate, Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland Karolina Grabowska/Pexels Summer is nearly here. But rather than getting out the sunscreen, some TikTokers are urging followers to chuck it out and go sunscreen-free. They claim it’s healthier ...6 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keller Kopf, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Charles Darwin University Laxmikant Ameenagad, Shutterstock In humans and other animals, ageing is generally associated with a decline in biological function. But scientists are now discovering older animals perform vital roles in populations and ecosystems. ...6 hours ago
- A man scouring Google Earth found a mysterious scar in the Australian outback – and now scientists...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matej Lipar, Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University Author provided/Google Earth Earlier this year, a caver was poring over satellite images of the Nullarbor Plain when he came across something unexpected: an enormous, mysterious scar etched ...6 hours ago
- Design as a movement: how First Nations people take ownership of their cultural stories through fash...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Treena Clark, Chancellor’s Indigenous Research Fellow, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, University of Technology Sydney Once located 250 metres to the east of the Art Gallery of South Australia, the grand beaux-arts style Jubilee Exhibition Building was constructed to house the ...6 hours ago
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The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says a third medical school and more students in Auckland and Otago are both needed. ...6 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Annette Greenhow, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Bond University Linda George/Shutterstock The ten-year anniversary of the death of much-loved Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes falls on November 27. The 25-year-old’s life was tragically cut short in 2014 when a bouncer ...6 hours ago
- Hold the roosters, no economic dawn yet
Treasury likely to downgrade economic forecast while Chris Bishop says the government won’t be ‘a slave to a surplus’, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Recession will be deeper and last longer — Treasury At a recent Spinoff ...7 hours ago
- Knowing superstitions aren’t real doesn’t stop us behaving superstitiously – why?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephanie Gomes-Ng, Senior Lecturer of Psychology, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Former New Zealand prime minister John Key has three white rabbits painted on his helicopter, a nod to his “massively superstitious” habit of repeating “white rabbits” three times at ...8 hours ago
- Government slammed for pushing ahead with boot camps while trial still under way
The coalition has "absolutely no intention of listening to the evidence that comes out of their experiment", Labour MP says. ...9 hours ago
- Smoke and mirrors in heated tobacco debate
Labour claims Government is ‘cherry-picking’ smoking trends data to hide decade-first increase in daily smokers The post Smoke and mirrors in heated tobacco debate appeared first on Newsroom. ...9 hours ago - Smoke and mirrors in tobacco debate
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All I'm hearing here is stuff about redistribution of funds.
Nothing about fixing any systemic issues, many of which were caused by the Labour party themselves in the 80s?
Is this really the best these people can come up with?
" The Coalition of Cuts". I like it.
Simple and easy to understand and can be applied to just about every aspect of governance.
You can also subconsciously add an 'n' to it for emphasis.
Yes, it would be an easy unfortunate slip of the tongue should a Labour MP does it. Of course if your a NACT supporter you've been using that word for the last five years and longer.
I think it's a daft line to be running.
A competent PR advisor would be able to turn it around quite easily.
You could be right, time will tell. Yet again the Coalition of Chaos can also be turned around given the Nats fairly recent history.
If I was hit with 'Coalition of Cuts' in the media or in a debate I'd agree that it was indeed my policy to cut hospital waiting lists, cut inflation, cut truancy, cut ram raids, cut wasteful spending etc etc
How do you believe 'Coalition of Chaos' can be flipped on its head ?
By mentioning all the chaotic machinations and the naughty boys who had to resign in their recent past.
Of course your response would be… what about all the chaotic machinations and naughty boys in Labour?
Well, you would have a point there too.
I'm having a friendly stoush btw.
'I'm having a friendly stoush btw.'
Nothing wrong with that Anne, it'll be far more fun than listening to the rubbish out of the mouths of the politicians leading up to the election.
Carmel’s contribution was likely well received by Labour insiders, I met her when she was first running in West Auckland and her personable approach is obvious, I know people who are good friends of hers. It is no fun criticising nice well meaning people…but…like 90% of the Labour Caucus she shows little sign of a class analysis which Michael Wood and Willie Jackson do have more than a glimmer of.
Let's not go through the whole list, but Carmel seems a classic case of an MP captured by their Department. The 2019 WEAG report;
https://www.weag.govt.nz/weag-report/
should have been implemented in its entirety forthwith or at the next budget. But it remains substantially unimplemented and sadistic MSD/WINZ staff can still cause much stress and unpaid entitlements, for vulnerable people if you talk to beneficiaries and beneficiary advocates.
It was telling during the height of COVID that a more generous second tier benefit was introduced for middle class people, more money and no scary case managers! Partners could still be in work too–try that on a standard “job seeker allowance” …or having a live in partner. 1964 social morality standards still apply at MSD for regular benificiaries.
Labour know what they have operating at MSD but neo liberal theory and decades of officially sanctioned “Bennie bashing” and othering of the poor means they do not have the courage to act. This is a barrier NZ Labour has to cross asap, and the new gens have to organise politically to make it happen.
Not much about how labour have lifted the poor out of poverty..
Nothing about children lifted out of poverty..
(Any increases given by labour have been eaten up many times by the huge increases in the basics of life..)
She touched on elder poverty…and boasts about pensioners getting $25 bucks a week..which we all know buys s.f.a…and that seems to be the dephh of her vision on this..
And she didn't touch upon what is her greatest fail…enacting none of the welfare reforms recommended by the group of experts..set up by labour..
Her ministry could be defined bas the ministry of mixed opportunities..
Her whole piece is just another attempt at justifying the neolibral incrementalism..that has so defined this labour govt..
My heart sank when sepuloni was given m.s.d…..my concerns that she would ring in little change…my fears have been proven to be totally justified..
(The only positive I can cite is the restoration of the t.i.a…it ain't enough..! .)
'ministry of missed opportunities'
Labour paid out serious amounts of money in corporate welfare..
Any real changes for the poorest/homeless etc..?
Yeah..nah..eh..?
Her ministry could be defined as the ministry of mixed opportunities..
Her whole piece is just another attempt at justifying the neoliberal incrementalism..that has so defined this labour govt..
My heart sank when sepuloni was given m.s.d…..my concerns that she would ring in little change…my fears have been proven to be totally justified.
Yep. Incrementalism nails it. Labour – betraying NZ since 1984.
National once made those in state houses pay market rents. ACT are worse.
My criticisms of this labour regime should in no way be taken as endorsements of the other bastards…
They come from a place of disappointment..
They should have bloody well done better..
No, it has been incrementalism, but away from the neo-liberal regime, rather than dismantling it.
Apart from the TIA, the Income Supplement for winter power payment, and half fare PT. Also a real increase in benefit level. And easier access to hardship money – not so necessary if they had frozen rents.
I have been out here living amongst the real precariat for over five years…
Any real improvements in their lives..? ..over this labour-time..?
Not really…
There's a difference when people can afford to buy homes (and it was a struggle at 2019 prices to incomes) … or get a rental that is of an improved standard.
But until then it would have taken a rent freeze (the missing ingredient) to notice the help provided (including the MW increases) in their daily circumstance.
flip flop
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/pm-chris-hipkins-facing-flack-over-super-age-decision-ahead-of-congress-address/C4TQHUXJ4JCM3AXHYIUGMPYC2M/
Yep, a speech for the economically illiterate and already been lampooned in the media.
When you take a policy of a minor coalition partner and someone with 35 years to work as your example, ignore the far greater tax savings under that same party policy over the same 35 years, then the coalition of chaos rightly deserves to be lampooned.
Media as in – Mike, Paula, Heather and the eminent economist Barry Soper.
lol yes : ) The Media B team. Z B.B.B…..
yea, OECD reports are not worth the paper they are written
Do tell………..
https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/02/01/oecd-report-recommends-changes-to-nzs-retirement-age/
Ok. They "say" that….
however in NZ…
And far worse…
For a significant proportion of that group, its literally work till… you die. (and pie in the sky? : (
And…a generation of younger people..who have never had the chance to own a home..or ever likely to.
Out of interest….Are you already retired? Honest question. FYI..I am still working….not retired, OR on superannuation.
Raise the retirement age so Nact can give tax cuts to the rich? Never !
not retired
The tax savings of course are not equally distributed – the greatest tax saving will be accrued by those (the wealthiest) who have the least need of superannuation when they get to 65 anyway. Those who most need superannuation support at 65 will have the least in tax savings to offset the later age of eligibility. (i.e. tax cuts are regressive in all senses of the word)
And you are ignoring the extra costs that will be incurred when government services are reduced to pay for tax cuts. Will GST be sneakily raised a la John Key? Will an ineffective health service require you to go private for your hip replacement or bowel cancer surgery? Who knows – and would you dare take the risk?
Is National going to change employment law so that redundancy payment is complusory for workers laid off between the ages of 60 and 67 – and require (say) 50% of annual wages to be paid up to the age of 67? Or do they actually fancy having a tranche of desperate and readily-exploited older workers who need to scrape some cash together somehow to get by till 67 and can't get anything like the sort of job they used to have?
It's clear that delaying the superannuation age will cause a further bifurcation of social classes among the elderly and the growth in elder poverty. The latter is going to be a horrid problem as more people become life-long renters in a cowboy market and have no significant assets to cash in when they retire.
National – redistributing wealth upwards has always been their schtick. Angry, mean-spirited, antisocial fools since forever.
The increase in super age 60-65 (1990-2000) left all those unable to work in those years in poverty (and it was bad – late 1980's early 90's unemployment and 1991 slashed benefits). People lost homes and even those who got into state houses were required to pay market tents.
The difference this time is years of notice but more in privater rentals (not ever owning).
Social justice would require us to pay super rate benefits to those unable to work between age 60 and 65 because of poor health.
As usual National are intent on going in another direction.
Didn't Muldoon drop the super age to 60 as a massive election bribe? I know it made my father vote Nat for the first time in his life!
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/the-1970s/1974
Both parties had plans for post age 60 super. Labour had a plan for affording it.
Before then a means tested “pension” amount was paid from age 60 and the same as a universal rate super from age 65.
https://www.goodreturns.co.nz/article/976486047/super-history-nz-s-super-system-unique.html
I don't believe that a gradual shift to a super age of 67 is going to make a significant difference to the cost of provision.
But the whole debate is completely ignoring the elephant in the room. The whole super payment is predicated on the vast majority of retirees owning their own home, not renting (and certainly not renting in the current market).
Yes, there have always been a small minority of people who needed support – and this was provided through Council or State housing.
But, that's not what we are going to see over the next 10-15 years – with a great swathe of current 50+ people who are still renting (not through choice), and have no nest-egg (Kiwi-saver plus savings) to be able to afford to buy on retirement (even if they shift away from all their social networks to small-town-NZ – which is no longer the cheap alternative it used to be)
According to the 2018 census 1 in 4 people between 50 and 65 don't own the home they live in. Now, some of that may be people with a house in a small town, currently rented out, while they live in a city where they can get work. But a very large chunk is going to be people who will no longer be able to pay the rent, once they stop working.
https://www.interest.co.nz/personal-finance/115138/claire-dale-details-coming-storm-new-zealand%E2%80%99s-future-retirees-still
Labour 2002-2008 said it had made super from age 65 affordable with the Cullen Fund
National – 2008-2017 said super from age 65 was affordable without contributions into the Cullen Fund.
Whose flip flopping?
Labour is again paying money into the Fund and says its affordable because of this.
After Labours last big hurrah before the election and they have zero, zilch, zip new to announce. Just re-announce old stuff. No more ideas. Out of steam. Out of puff. And in a few months out of office.
And Putin's push to victory in Ukraine is assured …
That depends on the/any promises they make pre-election..
That is their last gasp..not now..
Good she got to the dollars and cents at the end. That's what this will be fought on.
A little surprised she didn't total up all the welfare increases and minimum wage increases Labour have put in since 2017.
Hiring her as Number 2 was a smart move from Hipkins.
If she had, she would have got the bash from the Tory press. They have never, not once in this countries history, been anything but willing to punch down to win an election.
Yes ad..the facts are that after six years of labour..we still have a low-wage/high cost of living economy..
So what have they really done..?
Transformational..?..( my rear end..!)
I have been lobbying on behalf of the homeless..
And something innovative that I have been arguing for..may make a first appearance in parliament next week ..
If it does I will point at it and say ' that is what I am talking about'..
Good on you Philip the country needs more like you.
But if you do appear before the Select Committee, remember they ain't your friends, so rehearse your message, and memorise your facts really well.
Chrs ad..it is a bit bigger than a select committee appearance.
I have come at it from a different angle…and may well have already done the verbal arguing/persuasion for the case that is needed..
Others have already taken up the cudgel..
And it is their actions I am awaiting..
If it comes off ..I will publish the written pitch I made here..which will explain it all..
Same from me – looking forward to seeing your write up.
Chrs.
Grrr!..I have been informed this morning that a beaurocratic hurdle still needs to be negotiated….
So not this week..
Apologies for raising any expectations..
Nothing worth doing is ever easy mate – good luck!
Fascinating the way she subverts Polynesian gender role norms so hard by foregrounding the helpmeet subservience of her male partner to her career.
Not the most obvious pitch to those trad P.I. Labour families.
I'm sure it generated wry amusement
This event is usually a far bigger deal than this ….weird…
I take no issue with this speech I do take great issue with chippies speech though…
Its bad enough the modern party still compares itself to the first three labour labour govts, which were social democratic not liberal but to diminish Peter Fraser, labours longest serving PM, the man who lead NZ through WW2, led the post war recovery and led soldiers into houses and careers, to call this man just an "innovative education minister" is disgraceful.
All while lauding bloody Nash!
Fraser did more for NZ than Clark,Ardern,Lange and Nash combined as PM but he's just an innovative education minister.
If a sitting labor leader diminished John Curtin in this way there'd be a ruckus
What was actually said