Having us squabble over the welfare pie

Written By: - Date published: 10:40 am, December 18th, 2019 - 34 comments
Categories: benefits, child welfare, disability, poverty, welfare - Tags: , , , ,

Yet another report was released this month, by the Children’s Commissioner, showing the dire state of children’s poverty in NZ. Along with various commentary across the MSM on the situation and what should be done, was the idea of a child ‘pension’.

Unfortunately, economist Shamubeel Eaqub was quoted in a Stuff business article with this,

But Eaqub said politicians had to convince the voting public, who were reluctant to make sacrifices.

“If I had my way you’d take it away from the decrepit old folk and give it to the young ones. Make super means-tested and a benefit for children unconditional. Older people don’t need it, they have money.”

Decrepit? Elderly people are all well off?

One hopes this was taken out of context, but even so it’s an extraordinary statement from an influential economist apparently advocating for the wellbeing of a vulnerable group of NZ citizens but taking such an ageist and ableist approach. 

New Zealand’s child poverty rates are a disgrace – 26% of children live in low income households. Our elder poverty rate isn’t flash either, at 14%. There are 93,000 permanent or long term disabled people whose income is a benefit set below what is livable (more disabled live on an even lower rate). None of these groups should be having to vie with each other for the voting public’s beneficence.

Even allowing for Eaqub’s probable point that wealthy people shouldn’t be getting Super when children are going hungry, it’s highly irresponsible to drop such quotes into the MSM in a country that routinely practices beneficiary bashing, elder ageism, and often simply ignores the plight of disabled people living in poverty.

I’m also concerned at the casual mentioning of means testing Super (rather than say income testing), when we already have another high profile economist, Gareth Morgan, promoting an annual housing tax that would require low income home owners to either take out a mortgage to pay the  tax each year, or sell up and move into a cheaper house, with all the social disruption to community that causes.

We should be mindful that Work and Income have an appalling culture of making non-Super beneficiaries hoop jump in unconscionable ways and denying them entitlements, I hate to think how elderly people would fare in such a system.

Which isn’t to say a discussion about universal Super is an inherently bad idea, but that pitting one group against another to do it is a really bad frame to have the conversation.

Squabbling over the welfare pie is part of ‘deserving poor’ narrative. A familiar narrative in right wing positions, it has been more deeply entrenched in the past decade by the left’s focus on child poverty. Hence we talk about families living in poverty but rarely hear about those not living in a family structure, and we have a Prime Minister who wants to end child poverty but can’t bring herself to talk about the poverty of the disabled. We should of course have policies designed to address the urgent needs of children and parents living in poverty. Likewise, disabled people need their own set of policies, and so do the elderly.

Worse is the mix here of deserving poor with ageism. When we hear supposedly progressive economists talking about elderly people as decrepit, or rendering the elderly poor invisible, it’s time to revisit our moral compass. Needless to say, all the Ok Boomer shit needs to stop, because whatever people think they are doing with that, ‘Boomer’ is fast being turned into a stick to beat old people with, and every time someone says it’s about attitude not age they’re doing the same disappearing of the elderly poor as Eaqub.

We now have a degree of support from progressives for policies that are a dangerous mix of this selective compassion and neoliberalism. Not surprisingly Eaqub wants The Opportunities Party in parliament. TOP’s history of policy development around welfare is dodgy (see Morgan’s pre-TOP attitudes towards welfare recipients).

In the 2017 election one of TOP’s showcased policies was a UBI for 18 – 23 year olds. Sounds good right? Until we understand that it’s not universal and the people that would be excluded included disabled youth on welfare. If you were earning income (eg a teacher’s salary) you would get an extra $200/wk, untaxed and unabated, but if you were on a benefit and unable to work you would get nothing.

Policy development with inbuilt collateral damage isn’t fair and the left should be highly critical where that is happening. If all this raises the issue of universality vs fair targeting, and how NZ might afford it, I don’t know if we are at a point of having to accept we can’t afford to be just, or if we are simply acquiescing to the resistance of NZ to give a shit and distribute wealth more fairly.

If we are to have a conversation about removing the universality of Superannuation, then we must first centre the realities and voices of the people already most badly affected.  Not the people tossing around bigoted rhetoric or proposing discriminatory policy.

34 comments on “Having us squabble over the welfare pie ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. dv 1
    18 December 2019 at 11:39 am

    UBI, with tax as claw back on the higher incomes.

    • weka 1.1
      18 December 2019 at 11:54 am

      UBIs, as commonly discussed in NZ, help the precariat work force. They don't help people who cannot work or shouldn't be expected to work. UBI with welfare bolted on (an expression from Chloe Ann-King) *might work, but I'd need to see some serious work from the left about how it would be tory-proofed.

      The UBI scheme promoted by Gareth Morgan is highly discriminatory.

  2. Rosemary McDonald 2
    18 December 2019 at 11:42 am

    Oh dear. Weka, mate, I have held off from sharing this here but as from a month or so ago MSD docked our Super as it transpires that a previous concession of a year's grace upon the sale of the family home before abatements are made with respect to interest supposedly being earned on funds prior to repurchase has gone. Those with a non qualifying partner (such as myself providing full time unpaid advanced level care) to the qualifying partner are means/ asset tested. The attendant fact that it will take us much longer, and very possibly cost more, than the able bodied to house ourselves cuts no ice. A phone call, made when I was very calm and resigned, to find out if there was any flexibility in the system for those in our circumstances led to the call taker hanging up because it was 'too much of an emotional issue' for them. Swear on my life I was completely calm and rational.

    The end of the call left us demoralized and dispirited.

    Yes we have $$$$ in the bank, but our only home is our Bus currently parked on the side of the road.

    And every day we draw on our sacred house money to make up the shortfall due to the abatement for $$$ we're not actually earning in interest puts our home aspirations further away.

    So. Shamubeel. There are mechanisms available for MSD to penalize Superannuitants living of the fat of the land….

    Merry fucking Christmas.

    • weka 2.1
      18 December 2019 at 12:24 pm

      Didn't quite follow that sorry (I think because rules for Super are different than for non-Super benefits?). Super is being abated because of the (interest) income test? Or the asset test?

      For non-Super benes at least, afaik the year time period is still policy not law, and is discretionary. You can argue special circumstances due to disability that you need longer (am thinking in your situation this is because of finding disability appropriate housing, higher needs regards location, as well as the extra time in completing such a task because of your situation as a couple re disability and care).

      Whether that is worth it is another matter if WINZ are being bastards about it. Usual advice of doing everything in writing from this point on, even just to keep review option open.

      • Rosemary McDonald 2.1.1
        18 December 2019 at 12:46 pm

        Don't blame you for not getting it…we don't.

        We are supposed to invest our house sale money and the interest earned is income and abatements are made as is appropriate.

        We have our house sale money on call so we can, should the opportunity arise, readily access it to secure an appropriately accessible property.

        We are being treated as if we are earning interest on this amount even though we aren't.

        Told it is 'our choice' that we are not earning interest.

        Very difficult if not impossible to discuss it with MSD if call taker has hung up on you because they find your situation too fraught for them to cope with.

        I'd find the irony side -splittingly hilarious if it wasn't so deeply depressing.

        Seems we're constantly being forced into the margins.

        I've always had some respect for Shamubeel…but he needs to pull his whatever from out of his aft crevasse …

        • weka 2.1.1.1
          18 December 2019 at 1:01 pm

          ah yes, I have come across this too. Godforbid that beneficiaries made decisions based on their own wellbeing rather than the penny-pinching agenda of the state.

          I may need to look at Eaqub's work more indepth. The whole generation rent stuff originally seemed to have the same disapppearing issue, in that it ignored all the people across all generations who had always had to rent. I have this developing theory around the liberal left in NZ and how it favours stars such as Eaqub without doing deeper analysis. My curiosity is how progressives rationalise this in their own minds and value system.

          • Rosemary McDonald 2.1.1.1.1
            18 December 2019 at 1:40 pm

            If the Current Incumbents had kept their pre-election promises and allowed payment of spouses who are providing the assessed care of an MOH very high needs disabled person then there would be no problem.

            Peter could happily claim his full whack of Super and I'd be earning a wage. Whatever we were lucky enough to have in the bank would be none of their goddamn beeswax.

            What gets me is that they're all supposed to be lovey-dovey kindness with the Nation's Wellbeing foremost at heart.

            Bullshit to that when there is seemingly no discussion allowed because it will upset the MSD staff.

            Double bullshit when this Mob continue to ignore the advice of the WEAG and refuse to raise benefits to even slightly above punitive levels.

            We have been there on the SLP and having to borrow to bring the ends together…we are more than conscious of the fact that having $$$ in the bank makes us privileged in comparison.

            It is clear to us that the attitude of those working for MSD has not changed….the Lovingkindness is certainly not trickling down.

            My heart goes out to those stilL on the SLP.

  3. pat 3
    18 December 2019 at 11:44 am

    Increase the tax take and redistribute

  4. greywarshark 4
    18 December 2019 at 12:13 pm

    'One hopes this was taken out of context, but even so it’s an extraordinary statement from an influential economist apparently advocating for the wellbeing of a vulnerable group of NZ citizens but taking such an ageist and ableist approach. '

    The economist is taking a neolib view. People are secondary to the big business interests that have established their stranglehold on our world. As secondary people can be moved around to whatever strategic economic base is chosen. Old people have value for business in purchasing aids such as small motorised vehicles and also for housing, but in the end they fall apart and require intensive nursing which is costly.

    The young also require intensive nursing and care and have reached in numbers a cost-benefit ratio where the problems created by their unwellness and anti-social difficulties require remediation. So to maintain balance in welfare and not disturb the status quo, there needs to be reduction in the amount allocated for the growing numbers of elderly and make that available for the young.

    The government has sold its soul, in order to make gold out of straw, and can do little of value for the people though that was once its accepted role. Rumplestiltzkin has come back for his next payment, and the cost is further abandonment of control over destinies, which will be masked by wild promises to those who consider themselves favoured and entitled.

    So government lacks the ability to move intelligently, wisely and compassionately to pass laws that are requested and which carried out carefully, will answer observable problems. And we elders who wish can't choose the option of lawful managed demise, through euthanasia, but be forced to an abrupt, managed suicide or to live on with unnecessary expense of time and money and promises of clean beds and enduring care as long as our hearts keep ticking.

    We are made vulnerable from not being allowed to decide when we will die, not just because our bodies and minds have become frail as is the common concept. The care for the vast numbers of elderly can't be afforded under the budget allowed for this, except by underpaying the carers, and because there is a fixed welfare budget, denying the young the full care and services they need. So rob Peter to pay Paul, is the neolib economist's answer and if he wasn't regarded as neolib, his statements belie the perception.

  5. tc 5
    18 December 2019 at 1:02 pm

    Another academic think tanker 'starting the conversation' his 'influencers' want on an MSM soapbox.

    out of context sums it up nicely Weka, out of touch/reality and ignoring the sector of society not paying it's way which if they did this wouldn't even be a 'conversation'.

    • weka 5.1
      18 December 2019 at 2:11 pm

      I really wish the MSM didn't do this 'blind' reporting where we are given quotes but can't see where/when/how they came about.

      I don't think Eaqub is as bad as those quotes seem, but I hope that he isn't and I have no way of knowing at the moment.

      Either way, he doesn't strike me as someone who understands the value of centreing the people most affected. In contrast with someone like Jess Berenston-Shaw how makes an effort to not pull down others while addressing the needs of specific vulnerable people. It's a very different cultural approach.

  6. Aaron 6
    18 December 2019 at 1:47 pm

    Don't take it from the elderly, take it from the super rich with a financial transactions tax! Mind you, if Shamubeel Eaqub actually suggested that it would probably be the end of being sought out by the media for comment 🙂

    • Roy Cartland 6.1
      18 December 2019 at 1:53 pm

      Totally agree – the 'us' and 'them' is the rest of us vs the rich. Every other category is irrelevant. (Well, except the SUPER rich of course.)

    • Blazer 6.2
      18 December 2019 at 8:45 pm

      Dead right a financial transaction tax is anathema to the elite ruling class.

      Central banks have created so much money ,that real productivity and the imbalance between short and long term debt has become the catalyst for low and negative interest rates .

      The capital available flows into stocks,bonds and RE and not into the hands of the rank and file to spend into the economy.

      This magic show has lasted 12 years now ,and looking at Japan could run much longer.

      Collapse the artificial markets in derivatives , tax the wealthy and reform the banking cartel system seem the only solutions.

  7. A 7
    18 December 2019 at 2:24 pm

    I think msm should be interviewing Weka!

    Nailed it on multiple points including UBI…grrrrr…

    People just don't understand how our system works against people and ultimately itself creating welfare winners/losers. One particularly nasty side effect of media coverage is that beneficiaries (incl those working with subsidies) who can make their budgets work and even save for retirement going into judgement against those who cannot. After all if THEY themselves have enough clearly anyone who doesn't is a druggie/gambler/dumbass who needs to learn cooking skills, gardening and basic math. This is so very wrong…the system design ensures severe pockets of deficiency and enforced dependency and shame. The division of broad groups such as "pensioners" etc won't identify were the division of privilege vs poverty lie as it comes down to individual circumstances.

    We need as many people as possible to understand this ^^ point before spouting policy concepts based on an afternoon's reading. Hopefully then we can ensure system changes don't cause more harm.

  8. Sacha 8
    18 December 2019 at 3:00 pm

    Decrepit? Our oldest generation now are not boomers but their parents, if that label is going to be used (which I agree is wrong and sloppy besides).

    Eaqub and other policy analysts have previously talked clearly in generalisations about economic trends across whole generations, not specific subgroups or people. Of course it won't apply to everybody. For instance,

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/117270716/home-ownership-at-lowest-level-in-70-years-economist-says-baby-boomers-to-blame

    Eaqub said the Baby Boomer generation had been perfectly positioned to ride a wave of favourable economic conditions.

    He said the "entire economic experiment of the last 30 years" had led to a big transfer of wealth to Boomers, or those born in the post-World War II period.

    "There was a big surge of inflation in the 1960s and 1970s that robbed older folk of their assets and transferred wealth to Baby Boomers. They then rode the wave, asset prices are now at levels that we haven't seen in any generation in the past.

    "The ownership of assets is concentrated among older people and it's getting harder and harder for younger people to get in."

    I first saw this pattern spelled out ages ago by an NZ academic in the immediate aftermath of our first Act govt in 1984 – which looks like it's back as an ebook: https://www.bwb.co.nz/books/selfish-generations

    Policy-led advantages have followed that generation throughout its life – schooling, employment, income tax rates, housing, and now superannuation.

    What other label should we use as shorthand if not Boomer?

  9. pat 9
    18 December 2019 at 3:30 pm

    Think the framing is unnecessarily narrow….we are not squabbling over the welfare pie, we are squabbling over the pie.full stop (or at least we should be).

    What is the one simple thing we could do that would address the myriad of groups and issues that are evident in our society?….reduce inequality.

    What is the best (and proven) method of reducing inequality?…..redistribution through taxation.

    Why do people (of all political persuasions) dislike tax?….because they dont perceive a personal benefit for the outlay.

    Theres an obvious solution, but one that takes some planning and work but most importantly the will and recognition of the requirement……and salesmanship

  10. belladonna 10
    18 December 2019 at 4:28 pm

    Labour need to be doing something about rest homes for the elderly, they are beyond disgusting. Take your assets, feed you crap, are mentally abusive, tax them why dont you.

    Dont think many elderly will be voting Labour next election, open your eyes Labour.

    • weka 10.1
      18 December 2019 at 4:37 pm

      I agree. I'm hoping I die before I get to that stage.

    • John Clover 10.2
      19 December 2019 at 2:26 pm

      A reason why I am keen to stay and die in my own house rather than go to a rest home smiley So many bad story's about rest homes and so called care.

  11. Nic the NZer 11
    18 December 2019 at 6:24 pm

    Unfortunately Eaqub is still a mainstream economist. This makes him convinced that tax and spend can ultimately only redistribute wealth. But the govt can today fund poverty relief programs without defunding any other programs or even collecting more tax (these two goals are not in competition for scarce resources except in Equabs mind).

    I still think a job guarantee program (in addition to better funding existing welfare) would do a lot for poverty relief via the following mechanisms,

    * providing secure income to those who want to earn it.

    * improving career prospects (due to more consistent in work history) for people who struggle to find secure work.

    * improving self image for the participants.

    * improving later work prospects of children of participants.

    • pat 11.1
      18 December 2019 at 6:47 pm

      Getting the NZ left (especially the established elite) to accept progressive taxation/redistribution is far more doable than convincing them (and the electorate) of the validity of MMT, especially in the face of international opposition.

      Western europe operates within the current paradigm on considerably higher tax to GDP rates

      • Nic the NZer 11.1.1
        18 December 2019 at 7:11 pm

        No, its just the constant framing which confuses people. This and the people like you who understand the MMT description of the economy is cogent but prefer the mainstream simplification of assuming the economy is effectively in equilibrium because then you don't need to justify that bonkers belief system.

        Once people understand that to the government, government money is just like tickets, then its pretty simple to understand.

        • pat 11.1.1.1
          18 December 2019 at 7:21 pm

          you know my reservations around MMT and I suggest to you I'm far more generous than most, you are not going to convince the elite its an option, certainly not until /if a major economy or a substantial proportion of our trading partners accept and adopt it

          • Nic the NZer 11.1.1.1.1
            18 December 2019 at 7:32 pm

            I may have over-estimated your fluency in MMT then. Its not something which can be adopted, its just a more coherent description of how the economy functions by incorporating the way governments spend.

            Apparently this was never clear enough in our discussions about effects on the forex markets, but simply put, when the government deficit spends today by borrowing or taxation this is accounting equivalent to what happens if the govt does the same spending without borrowing or taxation.

            • pat 11.1.1.1.1.1
              18 December 2019 at 7:36 pm

              yes stick to your accountancy and continue to ignore market reaction…I am not going to rehash old arguments as it is a pointless exercise…you promote MMT and I do not….leaving that aside do you honestly think its more likely to be accepted by the elite than progressive taxation/redistribution?

              • Nic the NZer …
                18 December 2019 at 7:51 pm

                If the elites understand it or not seems to be as relevant to its economic effects as understanding gravity is to its physical effects. The same things happen if you undertstand them better or worse though making predictions becomes easier/harder if you apply/don't the better understanding.

                You should also understand accounting equivalent means the equivalent transactions occur in the same markets. Why your mental model (for how the market reacts) then draws different conclusions about what happens just appears bizarre, but i guess your as welcome to hold your own personal economic belief system as anybody else is.

  12. peterlepaysan 12
    18 December 2019 at 10:09 pm

    I am inherently sceptical, especially about economists.

    Eaqub was being deliberately provocative. Choice of words was unfortunate.

    As a 77 year old peasant on 2.4 hectares shared with sheep, cattle ,horses.

    I also drive a rural school bus run 40 weeks a year.

    Where the hell does this theoretical dreamer touch reality?

  13. SHG 13
    18 December 2019 at 10:22 pm

    Not all women are weaker than all men. Some women will be stronger than some men.

    Doesn’t make “men are stronger than women” a nonsensical statement.

    The elderly are richer than the young.

  14. peterlepaysan 14
    18 December 2019 at 10:52 pm

    An unfortunate quoted comment.

    As a natural born sceptic I view economists with somewhat jaundiced eyes.

    I had the misfortune to study it as well.

    Income testing is excellent, definitely needs a debate. It will probably get mixed into the capital gains tax debate from Simon and her mates

    Telling the privileged rich list that they night have to lose a few dollars is unmentionable.

    I am sure the intellectual heavyweights at the tax payers union will have a lot to spray about

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    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
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