The Welfare Expert Advisory Group has recommended 42 changes to the welfare system – the Government has delivered on just three. Stating, they could not deliver on every recommendation at once, hence change would take years.
And yes, it would be interesting to know what impact NZF played in Labour's response. Nevertheless, this seems to be one Labour and the Greens are fronting, hence I strongly feel for the Minister having to defend this piss poor effort.
Indeed it is. And what a poor initial response it is. Hence, being dissed should have been well foreseen and expected. Especially coming off the complete dumping of a CGT. If they didn't expected disappointment from this, they are are out of touch.
They better up their game in the Budget or supporters will be further disappointed.
The Chairman's just annoyed that the overwhelming mandate for radical left-wing reform delivered by the nation's voters isn't being implemented. Or, The Chairman's a disingenuous bullshitter, take your pick depending on how delusional you are about this government's electoral mandate.
Meanwhile, people go cold and hungry filling our hospitals, resort to crime creating social harm and filling our jails or end up in further debt. And some just give up, adding to our growing suicide list.
This is a problem that requires urgent action now.
The trouble is that without the BRR labgrn would have had "tax& spend! Bad with money! Will destroy the economy!" throughout the campaign, rather than "holes" everyone said were imaginary. So even a couple of percent there would give us a nat govt.
Also, without NZ1, the coalition government wouldn't exist.
So those are what stops us having a radical government. Try for labgrn next time, and bate thy manly concern in the meantime.
Labour have fiscal scope to do more without breaking the BRR. Moreover, spending on the poor now would create wider health and social savings going forward.
And from what I can gather, NZF was/is supportive of the report. Additionally, I've yet to see Labour blame NZF for this latest shortfall and failure to deliver.
whatever. I count two pre-budget announcements (statsnz and welfare) and you're talking about how the govt has "fiscal scope to do more". Duh: that's the rest of the budget.
The willingness of Rip Van Winkles to believe falsehoods which connect them and maintain them in the style to which they have been accustomed, means that Gnats will continually mass on the sidelines, and even invade the pitch, looking for any excuse to unseat Labour Coalition. They are like a mafia group, our people who owe allegiance only to themselves. I suggest that our integrity as a society is failing and falling.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilian_Mafia# They have built up their group successfully. Do we have a nascent group in NZ? Is there something that ordinary citizens can learn and adapt to for honest, thriving living conditions.
Cosa nostra – our thing – Mafia have also been known as The Honoured Society. We have criminals who have operated under false credentials, people who steal and commit violence, and can get away with it because of their standing in the community, almost the start of an honoured society.
And if they were spending more you and soimon would be decrying their financial mismanagement.
Maybe the coalition can do better. Maybe they can negotiate better to satisfy individual part priorities and run closer to the BRR that helped them snatch victory. Maybe they can even take more of a risk against economic forecasts.
But I do not believe your concern to be offered in good faith.
A big part of the problem is parts of the left defending the government despite its behaviour. The constant litany of excuses for Labour's inaction on welfare is astounding. A commenter on here, for example, defended criticism of Labour's refusal to lift basic benefit rates by referring to the annual 1 April CPI increases – for two years running! – and despite it being pointed out both times that these increases are required by legislation.
That's a point SPC. Inflation is a basket of expenditure on defined items. A drop in air transport costs may bring down the annual figure, but as at one time, a large rise in price of green vegetables put it up for the people whose need for food is bigger than their want for air transport.
The media don't seem to put up useful information for the people as much as they used to. Otago University has done a price movement comparison since 1972 for a set number of food items that a household would be likely to buy.
The estimated weekly food cost for a Dunedin family of four included an adult male ($68.36), an adult female ($57.99), adolescent boy ($71.39) and 10-year-old ($49.83) was $247.57 a week.
Dr Mainvil, who is a senior lecturer and a registered dietitian, said most of the Dunedin costs came from fruits and vegetables (29%), meats/proteins (29%), and dairy (15%).
If there could be a move to everyone having at least a wide bucket growing a few vegs micro-managed I think we would get better health. Groups meeting regularly and making bread with each other from bulk purchased flour and also biscuits for the treats, would help with the filling up, and being able to buy pieces of bulk cheese and plain yoghurt that each person flavoured with jam would mean good dairy and lower sugar. The lower income people need to be able to access ‘living groups’ where you get awhi and come away feeling happy and hopeful.
The present economic-driven society would try to put a price on the above feelings, perhaps so they would fit into a well-being measure, but they are priceless.
There is an old pop song, Little things mean a lot. And when you are struggling, knowing that there are helps out there for you if you can just get to them, gives a lift up, one step at a time.
Note how decisions made in the 1990's were deliberate to obscure the fact that the rate at which benefits were adjusted was less than the rising costs faced, so that they fell in real value, even after the cuts made earlier in that decade.
Despite us knowing this, we still adjust benefits by an average rate designed to minimise the annual adjustment to benefits. Last year necessities went up 1.8% and the average CPI 1.4% was the measure used to increase the benefits – thus another real cut in value.
There have been similar discrepancies over the years. One was something like a 1% CPI versus a 4% cost of living increase. Basic benefit rates used to be tagged to the cost of living which stopped in the 1970s – completely illogical unless the intention is to cut benefits in real terms.
The lower the CPI increase the greater likelihood the resulting basic benefit rate increase brings absurd outcomes, like a reduction in accommodation supplement greater than the increase to the basic rate.
If Frank’s were a serious debater he’d point out that lazt media are at fault when they cast labour as the govt, lab only got in the mid 30s. But it’s just lazy journalist on naff radio who make the story about lab, not about how all parties need to agree.
The Chairman @ 1, Unfortunately they have had to deal with myrtle rust and mico plasma bovis, the discovery of under funding in the health system, helping the homeless and recognising the hidden unemployed, starting traing and apprentice schemes and a first year free for any tertiary education.
They are putting two billion a year back into the super fund trying to expand the Housing NZ build and increase State Housing.
They are trying to do their best for the Muslim community after Christchurch, while finding the threats in society.
Along the way they have limited Loan Sharking and wheel clamping fees.
They have worked with the mining families, replaced roads and bridges washed away by storms.
They have provided more for those in poverty, but it has to be agreed to by New Zealand First so is less than Labour and the Greens hoped for. This is the difficulty of Coalitions where the major party in Government can not win a vote in the house. PM Ardern has commented "Consensus is my job". CGT was a case in point where agreement didn't happen.
This is quite a change from National's "What housing crisis?" :They need to make better choices" :The youth of NZ are useless" etc.
This Government is not perfect, but boy it is a huge improvement on the last lot!! It has been 2 action packed years, with more to come. I see the big money is coming out to fight for their "rightful place". So I hope the left get their funding ready.
I see the big money is coming out to fight for their "rightful place". So I hope the left get their funding ready.
Yes, they do stump up with more enthusiasm than 'lefties' in support of the Parties of the Worthy and Deserving, probably because their Parties deliver on election promises.
In days gone by even the strugglers would chip in a bob or two to support a local candidate because sometimes they would actually deliver for the poor.
Not now though. One promises to be tough on the idle poor, and delivers.
The other pretends loving kindness for the poor and delivers more money to get tougher on the idle poor.
Arbeit mach frei.
Sweet naff all for those who can see no end to the punitive treatment of those who simply cannot commit to paid work due to health and disability.
Rosemary, to compare this Government with the Nazis is unfair and untrue. There is a directive from the top and new training aimed at assisting those who visit Winz.
A friend's daughter who works for Winz says there are people 50+ looking for work, At Winz there was talk they were considering taking on some older people with work experience to assist others get ready to apply for positions, especially as some had not had to apply for a job for twenty years, and needed skills updated.
Perhaps this is part of that new thinking. I did not hear them say it was aimed at those who could not work.
Perhaps some of what we are hoping for may be in the budget. I say we, as I am a disabled person aged 77.
Considering those on the Supported Living Payment make up 53% of those on the Main benefit it is surprising that this group are last to be discussed in the Executive Summary…they limp in on page 18.
Now, by any measure page 18 makes pretty grim reading.
Unfortunately even the Working Group could not focus for more than a nanosecond on those on the SLP who will most likely never be able to commit to work, even part time.
Even this section of the Report emphasizes how it is through getting into paid work that a beneficiaries lot will improve.
Work will make you free.
I will be convinced that this government is less like the last when they actually step up and start treating this particular group of beneficiaries with greater compassion and at least a modicum of respect.
Arbeit macht frei. "Mach" isn't a word. If you're going to misuse other people's languages in a wildly, gratuitously inappropriate comparison of the NZ government with the Nazis, at least trouble yourself to get the words right.
Oops. Running on very little sleep at the moment. Ambulances and A&E in the wee hours of the morning and I shall never make good on the time or the lost sleep. I shall go away and beat myself up over a spelling mistake.
Now…'gratuitously inappropriate comparison with the Nazis'…if you're going to go all Godwin.
Shall we have a discussion about the lives of Kiwis forced to live at the mercy of the State?
Of course you too will have read the Report?
You will know from the report that the dire circumstances, the insecurity that especially those on the (un) Supported Living Payment have to endure has not just developed under this particular government. Nor can the Previous Mob take the blame/credit entire.
Oh, no, siree. This has been a cross- party long term plan. There has been subtle and not so subtle messaging from all political parties that Work is the answer to most of the ills of the underclasses. And while most of us can agree to that idea to a certain point…none of the parties have ever specifically addressed the circumstances of the person who experiences the catastrophic decline in fortunes when ill-health or permanent disability (not supported by ACC) affects them and their family.
No government has done anything to ease this particular brand of discrimination in over forty years.
The people for whom work is an impossibility are criminally neglected by our welfare system, and are thrown on the scrap heap of utter hopelessness.
This working group belabours the 'supported into work' narrative and skims over those who most likely will never work again. They failed to convince this Government in the two months since handing the report over that the needs of this group demand prompt attention.
Today's announcement will have offered no hope for those for who no amount of carrot or stick will enable them to be liberated from dire poverty by securing employment.
The low mortality rate suggests you're being a bit over the top. /sarc
I'll be reading the report over the next few weeks. I suspect a number of NGOs will be aligning their campaigning with the report, identifying which recommendations are achievable with suitable direct pressure on the government and which recommendations need to be lobbied to the public first.
If it were that simple it wouldn't have taken so long to even get enough voters to accept child poverty existed as a problem (rather than bad individual parents).
Left wing movies have been produced since the neoliberal experiment started. They only preach to the choir.
Mycoplasma bovis? Grant Robertson publicly committed to throwing as much money as it takes at the problem. A problem the country could cope with.
Therefore, it's shameful Labour aren't as committed to addressing poverty, which will also go a long way in addressing health and other social problems.
Not much evidence of "expand the Housing NZ build and increase State Housing".
So far this is the area of biggest fail by the government. In fact I would be surprised if they build as many houses this financial year (July 2018 to June 2019) as National did in their last year.
a question for you Wayne…if as you suggest there is so little difference between Labour and National why is it so critical to you (and your party) that Labour are not in control of treasury?…is it perhaps the perks of office?…surely nothing so base as that?
So as part of their coalition deal, Labour and the Greens commission this report. They get the transformational advice most of them would have wanted. How do they respond? Welfare Minister Carmel Sepuloni agrees the welfare system is not working. Marama Davidson agrees the welfare system is not working. And then they commit to ignore the report's big recommendations.
This report certainly explains why they dropped the story about getting married into the news cycle. They want something, anything, that will keep this Welfare Report out of the headlines tomorrow. What will they do next week when the news is just as bad for the idiots who comprise our Government?
Then there’s the Greens. National would not support even these few reforms promised, so they have the power to demand more their coalition partners. They have the power to get the wins New Zealand First has achieved on labour reform, three strikes and the CGT. Yet they are backing Labour’s cautious approach and promising to back these changes. That’s a very odd political calculation.
Very, very odd. I'm simply not understanding the Green's game plan. If they actually have one. After Metiria, and the near groundswell of support her message received, I expected them to do more, or at least something, in the social just sphere.
IfLabour is genuine in it's aim to be transformational and address the rank inequality and the Greens had a smidgen of spine, then combined they'd surely be able subdue Winston on a few issues?
If they really cared.
Maybe completely off base here but I suspect there is a lack of cohesion in the Green ranks, especially with the younger ones. Jan Logie has done well, and…?
They really seem to have lost their comms ability and Labour is not selling their vision well enough either. Both better lift their game a whole lot around the Budget.
"Very, very odd. I'm simply not understanding the Green's game plan. "
You've been around a long time Rosemary, I'm sure you've learnt that for all politicians their own interests trump those of their party and the public.
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Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
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You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
Labour falls short once again.
The Welfare Expert Advisory Group has recommended 42 changes to the welfare system – the Government has delivered on just three. Stating, they could not deliver on every recommendation at once, hence change would take years.
What the Greens have to say about Labour's shortfall:
https://www.greens.org.nz/news/press-release/milestone-green-party-campaign-overhaul-welfare-system
Rare for me to have to defend Labour, but you seem to have left NZF out of your analysis! Replace Labour with coalition in both comments works for me…
Feel free to add their response if you wish.
And yes, it would be interesting to know what impact NZF played in Labour's response. Nevertheless, this seems to be one Labour and the Greens are fronting, hence I strongly feel for the Minister having to defend this piss poor effort.
Um this is the initial response. It does not mean that nothing else will happen.
Why is it that the left and the right use the same tactics to diss the government?
Indeed it is. And what a poor initial response it is. Hence, being dissed should have been well foreseen and expected. Especially coming off the complete dumping of a CGT. If they didn't expected disappointment from this, they are are out of touch.
They better up their game in the Budget or supporters will be further disappointed.
Ever heard about the medium term?
Yes, but Labour's been promising on welfare for almost 30 years.
The Chairman's just annoyed that the overwhelming mandate for radical left-wing reform delivered by the nation's voters isn't being implemented. Or, The Chairman's a disingenuous bullshitter, take your pick depending on how delusional you are about this government's electoral mandate.
The latter's my pick. The Chairman's an intentional underminer.
Meanwhile, people go cold and hungry filling our hospitals, resort to crime creating social harm and filling our jails or end up in further debt. And some just give up, adding to our growing suicide list.
This is a problem that requires urgent action now.
I agree entirely.
The trouble is that without the BRR labgrn would have had "tax& spend! Bad with money! Will destroy the economy!" throughout the campaign, rather than "holes" everyone said were imaginary. So even a couple of percent there would give us a nat govt.
Also, without NZ1, the coalition government wouldn't exist.
So those are what stops us having a radical government. Try for labgrn next time, and bate thy manly concern in the meantime.
Labour have fiscal scope to do more without breaking the BRR. Moreover, spending on the poor now would create wider health and social savings going forward.
And from what I can gather, NZF was/is supportive of the report. Additionally, I've yet to see Labour blame NZF for this latest shortfall and failure to deliver.
whatever. I count two pre-budget announcements (statsnz and welfare) and you're talking about how the govt has "fiscal scope to do more". Duh: that's the rest of the budget.
The willingness of Rip Van Winkles to believe falsehoods which connect them and maintain them in the style to which they have been accustomed, means that Gnats will continually mass on the sidelines, and even invade the pitch, looking for any excuse to unseat Labour Coalition. They are like a mafia group, our people who owe allegiance only to themselves. I suggest that our integrity as a society is failing and falling.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilian_Mafia# They have built up their group successfully. Do we have a nascent group in NZ? Is there something that ordinary citizens can learn and adapt to for honest, thriving living conditions.
Cosa nostra – our thing – Mafia have also been known as The Honoured Society. We have criminals who have operated under false credentials, people who steal and commit violence, and can get away with it because of their standing in the community, almost the start of an honoured society.
?
The Government has been spending less than its self imposed BRR therefore has fiscal scope to do more than this piss poor effort.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/388087/government-books-show-2-point-5-billion-surplus
And if they were spending more you and soimon would be decrying their financial mismanagement.
Maybe the coalition can do better. Maybe they can negotiate better to satisfy individual part priorities and run closer to the BRR that helped them snatch victory. Maybe they can even take more of a risk against economic forecasts.
But I do not believe your concern to be offered in good faith.
Can't speak for "soimon". But as far as I'm concerned it all depends on how much more is being spent and what it is being spent on.
For example, spending more on reducing poverty now is astute spending as the savings it produced going forward would outweigh the cost of doing so.
Therefore, failing to address this now is financial mismanagement.
I stand corrected. You managed to be concerned both ways: the coalition government is simultaneously spending not enough and too much.
A big part of the problem is parts of the left defending the government despite its behaviour. The constant litany of excuses for Labour's inaction on welfare is astounding. A commenter on here, for example, defended criticism of Labour's refusal to lift basic benefit rates by referring to the annual 1 April CPI increases – for two years running! – and despite it being pointed out both times that these increases are required by legislation.
Today's best comment. Thank you Chris. (although there is little to smile about)
The government has even failed to move the CPI increase from the average to the CPI on necessities (the actual costs faced by those on low incomes).
That's a point SPC. Inflation is a basket of expenditure on defined items. A drop in air transport costs may bring down the annual figure, but as at one time, a large rise in price of green vegetables put it up for the people whose need for food is bigger than their want for air transport.
The media don't seem to put up useful information for the people as much as they used to. Otago University has done a price movement comparison since 1972 for a set number of food items that a household would be likely to buy.
https://www.otago.ac.nz/humannutrition/research/food-cost-survey/otago057919.html
Perhaps we should start regularly reading the Otago Daily Times, one of the independent city papers of New Zealand. https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/healthy-food-costs-still-rise
The 2018 survey showed:
The estimated weekly food cost for a Dunedin family of four included an adult male ($68.36), an adult female ($57.99), adolescent boy ($71.39) and 10-year-old ($49.83) was $247.57 a week.
Dr Mainvil, who is a senior lecturer and a registered dietitian, said most of the Dunedin costs came from fruits and vegetables (29%), meats/proteins (29%), and dairy (15%).
If there could be a move to everyone having at least a wide bucket growing a few vegs micro-managed I think we would get better health. Groups meeting regularly and making bread with each other from bulk purchased flour and also biscuits for the treats, would help with the filling up, and being able to buy pieces of bulk cheese and plain yoghurt that each person flavoured with jam would mean good dairy and lower sugar. The lower income people need to be able to access ‘living groups’ where you get awhi and come away feeling happy and hopeful.
The present economic-driven society would try to put a price on the above feelings, perhaps so they would fit into a well-being measure, but they are priceless.
There is an old pop song, Little things mean a lot. And when you are struggling, knowing that there are helps out there for you if you can just get to them, gives a lift up, one step at a time.
Note how decisions made in the 1990's were deliberate to obscure the fact that the rate at which benefits were adjusted was less than the rising costs faced, so that they fell in real value, even after the cuts made earlier in that decade.
http://archive.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/economic_indicators/prices_indexes/hlpi-backgrd-paper-oct-16/appendix-1.aspx
Despite us knowing this, we still adjust benefits by an average rate designed to minimise the annual adjustment to benefits. Last year necessities went up 1.8% and the average CPI 1.4% was the measure used to increase the benefits – thus another real cut in value.
There have been similar discrepancies over the years. One was something like a 1% CPI versus a 4% cost of living increase. Basic benefit rates used to be tagged to the cost of living which stopped in the 1970s – completely illogical unless the intention is to cut benefits in real terms.
The lower the CPI increase the greater likelihood the resulting basic benefit rate increase brings absurd outcomes, like a reduction in accommodation supplement greater than the increase to the basic rate.
oh… this new applet doesn’t like me.
If Frank’s were a serious debater he’d point out that lazt media are at fault when they cast labour as the govt, lab only got in the mid 30s. But it’s just lazy journalist on naff radio who make the story about lab, not about how all parties need to agree.
Looks like somewhat of a popular uprising in the UK local body political scene: https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/ceeqy0e9894t/england-local-elections-2019
Tories lost 442 seats so far, Labour lost 79. Greens up 42, from 6 last time. LibDems up 304. Independents up 215, UKIP down 54.
The Chairman @ 1, Unfortunately they have had to deal with myrtle rust and mico plasma bovis, the discovery of under funding in the health system, helping the homeless and recognising the hidden unemployed, starting traing and apprentice schemes and a first year free for any tertiary education.
They are putting two billion a year back into the super fund trying to expand the Housing NZ build and increase State Housing.
They are trying to do their best for the Muslim community after Christchurch, while finding the threats in society.
Along the way they have limited Loan Sharking and wheel clamping fees.
They have worked with the mining families, replaced roads and bridges washed away by storms.
They have provided more for those in poverty, but it has to be agreed to by New Zealand First so is less than Labour and the Greens hoped for. This is the difficulty of Coalitions where the major party in Government can not win a vote in the house. PM Ardern has commented "Consensus is my job". CGT was a case in point where agreement didn't happen.
This is quite a change from National's "What housing crisis?" :They need to make better choices" :The youth of NZ are useless" etc.
This Government is not perfect, but boy it is a huge improvement on the last lot!! It has been 2 action packed years, with more to come. I see the big money is coming out to fight for their "rightful place". So I hope the left get their funding ready.
I see the big money is coming out to fight for their "rightful place". So I hope the left get their funding ready.
Yes, they do stump up with more enthusiasm than 'lefties' in support of the Parties of the Worthy and Deserving, probably because their Parties deliver on election promises.
In days gone by even the strugglers would chip in a bob or two to support a local candidate because sometimes they would actually deliver for the poor.
Not now though. One promises to be tough on the idle poor, and delivers.
The other pretends loving kindness for the poor and delivers more money to get tougher on the idle poor.
Arbeit mach frei.
Sweet naff all for those who can see no end to the punitive treatment of those who simply cannot commit to paid work due to health and disability.
The invalids. The incurables.
Pretty much more of the same.
Rosemary, to compare this Government with the Nazis is unfair and untrue. There is a directive from the top and new training aimed at assisting those who visit Winz.
A friend's daughter who works for Winz says there are people 50+ looking for work, At Winz there was talk they were considering taking on some older people with work experience to assist others get ready to apply for positions, especially as some had not had to apply for a job for twenty years, and needed skills updated.
Perhaps this is part of that new thinking. I did not hear them say it was aimed at those who could not work.
Perhaps some of what we are hoping for may be in the budget. I say we, as I am a disabled person aged 77.
You will have read the Report, Patricia?
http://www.weag.govt.nz/assets/documents/WEAG-report/aed960c3ce/WEAG-Report.pdf
Considering those on the Supported Living Payment make up 53% of those on the Main benefit it is surprising that this group are last to be discussed in the Executive Summary…they limp in on page 18.
Now, by any measure page 18 makes pretty grim reading.
Unfortunately even the Working Group could not focus for more than a nanosecond on those on the SLP who will most likely never be able to commit to work, even part time.
Even this section of the Report emphasizes how it is through getting into paid work that a beneficiaries lot will improve.
Work will make you free.
I will be convinced that this government is less like the last when they actually step up and start treating this particular group of beneficiaries with greater compassion and at least a modicum of respect.
The history of Labour's position on welfare since reneging on their promise to reverse the 1991 benefit cuts tells a different story.
Arbeit macht frei. "Mach" isn't a word. If you're going to misuse other people's languages in a wildly, gratuitously inappropriate comparison of the NZ government with the Nazis, at least trouble yourself to get the words right.
Oops. Running on very little sleep at the moment. Ambulances and A&E in the wee hours of the morning and I shall never make good on the time or the lost sleep. I shall go away and beat myself up over a spelling mistake.
Now…'gratuitously inappropriate comparison with the Nazis'…if you're going to go all Godwin.
Shall we have a discussion about the lives of Kiwis forced to live at the mercy of the State?
Of course you too will have read the Report?
You will know from the report that the dire circumstances, the insecurity that especially those on the (un) Supported Living Payment have to endure has not just developed under this particular government. Nor can the Previous Mob take the blame/credit entire.
Oh, no, siree. This has been a cross- party long term plan. There has been subtle and not so subtle messaging from all political parties that Work is the answer to most of the ills of the underclasses. And while most of us can agree to that idea to a certain point…none of the parties have ever specifically addressed the circumstances of the person who experiences the catastrophic decline in fortunes when ill-health or permanent disability (not supported by ACC) affects them and their family.
No government has done anything to ease this particular brand of discrimination in over forty years.
The people for whom work is an impossibility are criminally neglected by our welfare system, and are thrown on the scrap heap of utter hopelessness.
This working group belabours the 'supported into work' narrative and skims over those who most likely will never work again. They failed to convince this Government in the two months since handing the report over that the needs of this group demand prompt attention.
Today's announcement will have offered no hope for those for who no amount of carrot or stick will enable them to be liberated from dire poverty by securing employment.
The low mortality rate suggests you're being a bit over the top. /sarc
I'll be reading the report over the next few weeks. I suspect a number of NGOs will be aligning their campaigning with the report, identifying which recommendations are achievable with suitable direct pressure on the government and which recommendations need to be lobbied to the public first.
Take them to the movies…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8jbVGKICso
If it were that simple it wouldn't have taken so long to even get enough voters to accept child poverty existed as a problem (rather than bad individual parents).
Left wing movies have been produced since the neoliberal experiment started. They only preach to the choir.
All of that list is Business As Usual for any NZ government.
Ad, why did the previous Government not do that then?
…why did the previous Government not do that then?
Because it was easy, and in their nature, to continue the work of the Previous Incumbents.
@patricia bremner
Mycoplasma bovis? Grant Robertson publicly committed to throwing as much money as it takes at the problem. A problem the country could cope with.
Therefore, it's shameful Labour aren't as committed to addressing poverty, which will also go a long way in addressing health and other social problems.
To not have a govt. that doesn't like NZ and it's general citizenry was an achievement but it's turned out quite abit better than that.
Patricia
Not much evidence of "expand the Housing NZ build and increase State Housing".
So far this is the area of biggest fail by the government. In fact I would be surprised if they build as many houses this financial year (July 2018 to June 2019) as National did in their last year.
… or indeed sold, or emptied during its term in office.
Utterly disingenuous as usual.
a question for you Wayne…if as you suggest there is so little difference between Labour and National why is it so critical to you (and your party) that Labour are not in control of treasury?…is it perhaps the perks of office?…surely nothing so base as that?
Tax report.
Justice overview.
Reserve Bank reform.
Welfare review.
Transport safety review.
Greenhouse gas advice.
Less a government, more a toilet paper manufacturing plant.
Congratulations Jacinda Ardern & Clarke Gayford, a very good representative couple for NZ
On this govt being timid: https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/388435/tim-watkin-government-is-running-out-of-chances-to-be-transformational
Great article you linked to, Sacha. It hit the nail on the head.
This report certainly explains why they dropped the story about getting married into the news cycle. They want something, anything, that will keep this Welfare Report out of the headlines tomorrow. What will they do next week when the news is just as bad for the idiots who comprise our Government?
Then there’s the Greens. National would not support even these few reforms promised, so they have the power to demand more their coalition partners. They have the power to get the wins New Zealand First has achieved on labour reform, three strikes and the CGT. Yet they are backing Labour’s cautious approach and promising to back these changes. That’s a very odd political calculation.
Very, very odd. I'm simply not understanding the Green's game plan. If they actually have one. After Metiria, and the near groundswell of support her message received, I expected them to do more, or at least something, in the social just sphere.
If Labour is genuine in it's aim to be transformational and address the rank inequality and the Greens had a smidgen of spine, then combined they'd surely be able subdue Winston on a few issues?
If they really cared.
Maybe completely off base here but I suspect there is a lack of cohesion in the Green ranks, especially with the younger ones. Jan Logie has done well, and…?
They really seem to have lost their comms ability and Labour is not selling their vision well enough either. Both better lift their game a whole lot around the Budget.
"Very, very odd. I'm simply not understanding the Green's game plan. "
You've been around a long time Rosemary, I'm sure you've learnt that for all politicians their own interests trump those of their party and the public.