Media response to Labour’s budget

Written By: - Date published: 8:42 am, December 15th, 2017 - 115 comments
Categories: economy, Economy, grant robertson, greens, journalism, labour, Media, national, Politics, same old national, Steven Joyce - Tags:

The media response to the Labour-Green-New Zealand First has been remarkably positive.  After nine long years someone is finally taking the scourge of child poverty seriously.

Audrey Young in the Herald was ecstatic.

For a package in which there were really no surprises, the Labour-led Government’s first budget exercise has had a stunning impact.

It was summed up in one headline: Labour’s package expected to halve child poverty.

The prospect of one package nearly halving the number of kids in low-income households (using the standard OECD income measure) when it is fully implemented is the sort of outcome that may assuage resentment of those whose tax cuts have been cancelled to fund it.

It is not that National’s package did nothing. If it had been implemented it was going to immediately lift 55,000 children out of poverty or 34 per cent on the same measure.

 …

As soon as Labour’s package takes effect, in July, it will lift 71,000 children out of poverty, or 44 per cent.

By the time it is fully implemented, the figure will be 88,000 or 48 per cent.

National thought it could offer something to everyone. Labour is targeting families with children.

National is talking up the losers from Labour package of who there are many, wage earners, not all high earners, without children. But politically, there is only one loser and it is not Labour.

Mike Hosking also in the Herald complained that it was a big political risk and not sufficiently targeted.  Presumably Lamborghini drivers should have been targeted.

But even he says that if it works it will be very popular.

Fifteen billion. It is a bucket load of money, and even spread out over several years, you cant hide the fact the Government has thrown pretty much the kitchen sink at their Families policies.

The claims or aims are bold. 88,000 out of poverty – if they can prove that, it’ll lead to tangible political support. But there are a couple of seriously big question marks around all of this.

They’ve spent the lot. There is about $600 million left over for everything else. And $600m in government terms is literally nothing. It can simply vanish if the forecasts are wrong. If the growth slows even the slightest amount, if a budget blows out.

It’s not dissimilar to you having 10 bucks till the end of the week, and you haven’t bought the milk. You might make it, you might not. And the forecasts, which were part of yesterday’s big announcements, were interesting.

Barry Soper thought the budget has left National floundering.

Bill English struggled to take the gloss off the economy, simply observing the Government’s got no excuse for not maintaining its strength but saying its approach to sharing the benefits of it was pretty messy.

Yeah but National was itself finally converted on the road to the ballot box this year by also offering a families package which they’re now accusing Labour of stealing.

The Labour plan, also announced before the election, will see 384 thousand families with kids better off by an average of $75 a week while National’s Budget offer in May was lifting the income of 365 thousand families by $39 a week.

So it all comes down to whether the smoko room or the boardroom carries more influence.

And while they’re bickering over the figures, and who’s prepared to be more generous, perhaps the impotent National opposition should reflect on an observation once made by Helen Clark when she declared she was a victim of her own success.

And the ghost of Steven Joyce’s fakenews $11 billion dollar hole in Labour’s figures has finally been laid to rest.

It’s fair to say National was a bit like a fish just landed and gulping for air.

No matter how vigorously it flapped its tail, the water got no closer, and the protest was finally lost.

The worst the former Finance Minister, and more recently party leader Bill English could say about the Government’s opening of the books, taking into account Labour’s big ticket policies, was that they inherited a healthy economy.

The dead cat left on the election table by the man standing alongside him Steven Joyce, in the form of that 11.7 billion dollar hole in Labour’s sums, has finally been forgotten even if the stench does remain.

Tracy Watkins gave the budget cautious praise through gritted teeth.

Robertson’s mini-budget was a chance to re-announce a $1.8 billion package to boost family incomes, through an increase to working for families payments, a $60 a week baby bonus, and rolling out National’s previously announced increase to the accommodation supplement.

There are winners and some losers but this is a package that delivers on Labour’s  promise to halve child poverty.

That will resonate with more than its core supporters.

But the gamble is in the timing.

The package does not come into effect till July 1 – a good month after the May budget.

And thanks to Thursday’s announcements – including the families package, and a resumption of contributions to the Cullen super fund – there won’t be much more than crumbs left to spread some mid-winter cheer.

Meanwhile Steven Joyce can’t quite admit that his $11 billion hole in Labour’s budget is fictitious. From Radio New Zealand:

National’s finance spokesperson Steven Joyce said it was now clear just how incredibly tight it was going to be for the government over the next few years.

“With all the things they’ve promised that aren’t in there, they’ve given themselves very little room and that’s why they are arguing for about $350,000 over Kidscan and all this very small stuff, because it is so incredibly tight for them.

“So I think we’ll see that continue to grow, they’ve got debt going to $70bn over the next three to four years.”

Current net Crown debt is $59 billion. I suspect Joyce picked the $70 billion figure so he can claim there is a $11 billion hole. Someone should tell him the effect on growth and the importance of the debt to GDP ration. In crayon. Slowly. So that we can be confident he understands.

Ad said yesterday that the mini budget would be a big test for the new Government. He was right. I think we can safely say it has passed with flying colours.

115 comments on “Media response to Labour’s budget ”

  1. Enough is Enough 1

    I think Labour needs to take advantage of the political capital they will gain from this mini budget and look to increase revenue.

    What is clear is new spending over this electoral cycle will be tight. On Treasury’s best case scenario there won’t be a lot of room to increase spending over and above what has already been announced.

    That can be overcome by introducing a new tax bracket for those earning over $150,000. Those rich individuals are benefitting from our economy more than all others. They should pay some of that back in the way of a 45% tax rate for all income over that threshold.

    This will allow the government to continue what they started yesterday.

    Be bold Labour

    • Bill 1.1

      “Bold” is a four letter word to NZ Labour.

    • cleangreen 1.2

      Yes Enough is enough, Agreed.

      National lied every time after they quietly slapped on new taxes following an election, so why not Labour nopw?

      National quickly slapped on unannounced extra taxes, like GST (from 12.5% to 15%) and then they increased incremently over three years increased fuel taxes!!!!!!

      So we think Labour now must increase the RUC (road users charges) rate on HPMV (High produuctivity motor vehicles)

      Since these new higher weighted trucks are clearly responsible for the 45% increase in road maintainence costs incurred on the road users over the last three years .

      The Minister of Transport Phil Twyford confirmed that the road costs had increased over 45% in the last five years in Parliament this week.

      Lets go back to the ‘user pays model’ again.

      The rail will show better value even than they are now showing in the “new found National Party hidden report” on “the value of rail in NZ” produced for the NZTA in 2016.

      http://www.kiwirail.co.nz/news/506/78/Study-highlights-rail-s-value-to-New-Zealand.html

      Study highlights rail’s value to New Zealand
      27 November 2017 9:09AM
      Rail is delivering up to $1.5 billion a year to New Zealand in hidden benefits, according to a study prepared as part of a joint KiwiRail/NZTA team looking at integrated transport planning.
      “That far exceeds what the taxpayer is spending on rail,” KiwiRail Chairman Trevor Janes says.

  2. Bill 2

    If your class enemies aren’t screeching that the sky’s about to fall in, then isn’t that a reason to pause for thought? Obviously their interests aren’t affected or we’d be hearing all about it!

    And since their interests run counter to our interests, then really, how well have our interests been served by this budget?

    I know it won’t be popular to point out that this budget’s a ‘muddled middle’ affair. (But hey.) Since NZ Labour abandoned its commitment to class long ago, and is committed to merely doing enough to keep those with nowhere else to go politically coming back to tick “Labour” at the ballot box, while actually being principally concerned about the opinion of elite and entrenched centres of power…

    See. That ended well for some overseas Labour parties and the Democratic party too. In time it will end just as well for NZ Labour. Meanwhile, there’s the sound of the grinder…

    • +1 Bill….”Since NZ Labour abandoned its commitment to class long ago” which is of course why nothing of real significance will change under this Labour…their ideology is still that housing is a tradable commodity, that labour must become still more productive and Labours ‘Responsible financial Management’ can only further our massive economic inequality and unprecedented private debt.

      http://www.labour.org.nz/labour_and_greens_commit_to_rules_for_responsible_financial_management

      Sure, of course Labour are better than National…but then that isn’t really that hard a position to be in politically is it?

    • red-blooded 2.2

      Bill, how about celebrating the fact that this government has presented a budget that’s going to make a big difference in the lives of lots of kiwis who really need it? Sorry if it’s not going to transform your life, but I guess governments have to focus their resources and this government always said its focus was going to be on child poverty. Alleviating that makes a huge difference to the both the short and long term outcomes of the kids who benefit from it. That’s good in itself, but it also has ripple effects; lowering longterm demand in health, social welfare, policing, prisons… plus creating a more cohesive and less divided society.

      As for your comparisons with the Democrats and British Labour, they don’t hold true for the simple reason that in the US and the UK, the electoral system jams together all factions of the left into one unwieldy party. That’s not our system, as you know. Besides, this budget would be seen as revolutionary in the US or the UK!

      • Bill 2.2.1

        First up it’s not about me.

        Second. Alleviating some poverty is good. I haven’t said anything to the contrary.

        Third. Selling a paper shuffling exercise as action on poverty is another matter altogether.

        Fourth. People get well fucked off being sold short eventually, regardless of the electoral system. Scotland doesn’t have a first past the post system btw. And UK Labour went from 50 odd seats to 1 over the space of a single electoral cycle. The only reason that’s being reversed now is because UK Labour has transformed under Jeremy Corbyn.

        And as a post script. This budget would not in any way be seen as ‘revolutionary’ by the current UK Labour party nor the bulk of its members. Fuck. It wouldn’t even be seen as ‘revolutionary’ by the stenographers that repeat the lines the elites want heard.

        In fact, not even ‘revolutionary’ here in NZ. Did you not read through those media responses provided in the post?

        • red-blooded 2.2.1.1

          First up, you’ve made other comments that did seem to be specifically about the budget’s impact on you. (Yesterday, for example: “Us undeserving don’t even get mentioned in the part of this mini-budget that might actually have an effect on us”.)

          Second, if you’ve managed to make some kind of grudging affirmation of the budget, I must have missed it. Or do you only bother to comment when you’re criticising and complaining?

          Third, this “paper shuffling exercise” is going to directly impact a lot of people’s lives in a positive way. That deserves acknowledgement.

          Fourth, your comments about being “sold short” might hold some weight if this government was doing that. But…

          And in reply to your post script, I didn’t say the current crop pf UK Labour MPs would see this budget as revolutionary, I said it would be seen as revolutionary in the UK (which is a bigger, wider political context).

          • Bill 2.2.1.1.1

            “Us” is plural and an indicator of some level of “identification with” you idiot And the paper shuffling is in relation to the accommodation supplement being given on the one hand and taken away by the other,

            This budget would not be seen as revolutionary anywhere in any country married to the so-called Washington consensus. Just look at the media commentary ffs!

          • marty mars 2.2.1.1.2

            + 1 you can’t win – if someone sees darkness everywhere that is what they see. That is their sadness, and their work if they ever get enlightened enough to recognise it and front up to it and have the courage to do their work on it.

      • Ben 2.2.2

        In Bill’s world it can’t possibly be good policy if the right-wingers aren’t out in the street in protest. From Watkins:

        “There are winners and some losers but this is a package that delivers on Labour’s promise to halve child poverty.

        That will resonate with more than its core supporters.”

        I am not a Labour supporter, but am more than happy to forego a tax cut given the targetted nature of the redistribution. It’s a fine balance, and not pissing off a large portion of the populace is a necessary evil lest you find yourself in opposition and watching your policies being reversed.

        • Bill 2.2.2.1

          There are winners and some losers but this is a package that delivers on Labour’s promise to halve child poverty.

          I guess there’s a $ sum that demarcates poverty and non-poverty? ‘Cause see, if there isn’t, then the claim to “halve child poverty” has no basis.

      • but I guess governments have to focus their resources

        Actually, they don’t. As representatives of the entire population of the country they already own all the resources in the country. There are enough resources to ensure that no one is in poverty. There just aren’t enough to make a few people rich as well.

        The problem is that this government is still trying to make a few people rich and the only way to do that is to make everyone else poor by shifting those public resources into the hands of the few.

        What the government has done is called a short term solution. It will help in the short term but the poverty will simply increase unless other changes are made.

        • greywarshark 2.2.3.1

          DTB
          I think that spells out the hesitations some people feel very well.
          The boat was leaking – it is being fixed. The passengers in steerage were in bad conditions. They were hungry – that is being fixed. They had poor conditions and things are being done to improve those. When those things are done there will be a better education system for the young.

          It might be a quick run-through of conditions on one of the colonial boats bringing settlers out to NZ. The reason some people are down in the mouth still, is the fear that the political thinking is sinking to that 19th century level. We need rocket fuel to get up to the 21st century, and it is becoming scarce. We must do better than Helen Clark’s government. We need Aspiration and Determination. As an acronym that would be AD.

          Who seems fairly happy. With good reason. But after July 1st 2018 we don’t want the trajectory to be downward on the Bell Curve.
          https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bell-curve.asp

          What is the ‘Bell Curve’
          A bell curve is the most common type of distribution for a variable, and due to this fact, it is known as a normal distribution. The term “bell curve” comes from the fact that the graph used to depict a normal distribution consists of a bell-shaped line. The highest point on the curve, or the top of the bell, represents the most probable event in a series of data, while all other possible occurrences are equally distributed around the most probable event, creating a downward-sloping line on each side of the peak.

          and
          The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life is a 1994 book by psychologist Richard J. Herrnstein and political scientist Charles Murray, in which the authors argue that human intelligence is substantially influenced by both inherited and environmental factors and is a better predictor of many personal dynamics, including financial income, job performance, birth out of wedlock, and involvement in crime than are an individual’s parental socioeconomic status.

          They also argue that those with high intelligence, the “cognitive elite”, are becoming separated from those of average and below-average intelligence. The book was controversial, especially where the authors wrote about racial
          differences in intelligence and discussed the implications of those differences.

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bell_Curve

  3. Ad 3

    This is an outstanding social change for New Zealand.

    Any future government is going to find it really, really hard to wind back.

    Plus as the Prime Minister noted yesterday, unlike National’s across-the-board tax cuts, they get to deliver poverty reduction AND have capital to spend (whether from tax income or from debt).

    And in media terms, they get to have all of this good news multiple times over when each of the bills pass in January or February, then again when the 100 days are up, and then again on budget May 2018, and then again on July 1st.

    That is one helluva media play.

    • cleangreen 3.1

      Ad,

      Well said,

      We hope that Hon Clare Curran Minister of Broadcasting has got the new channel set up to again provide ‘real public affairs’ invesigative jouralism as we had when NZTV 7 channel was opperating up until 2009 when national killed it.

      Then that channel will be the Limelight of our poitical entertainment not the current media circus that has been proven to be less than useless.

  4. paul andersen 4

    giving money to those on low incomes is a far better long term financial bet than giving tax cuts to better off . low income earners money is more likely to remain in the system, rather than spent on overseas holidays, or stuck in term deposits. robertson will know this and much of the money given away yesterday will come back in gst.

  5. I don’t know, RNZ opened each and every news break today with predictions of fiscal “disaster” (ie we might have to borrow more, pay off debt slower) based on what would happen if there was..a disaster.
    The ‘disaster’ brewing being Business feeling a little glum this month.
    Which is more commentary and speculation, NOT a valid lead story.

    Though, again, it probably serves Labour right for declaring that Nationals overall spending restrictions and austerity style fiscal management, or, if you prefer, “spending to GDP ratio” were absolutely spot on.

    • Philg 5.1

      Siobhan. I have noticed RNZ doing the same thing. I think RNZ needs a spring clean out, starting at the top, and start producing quality journalism, which costs. Mourning Report needs a rethink as I want the news, not opinion, cut and paste, spin, light weight gruel. It sounds increasingly like commercial stations, minus the advertisements.

    • Nic the NZer 5.2

      RNZ likes to keep the government debt topic top of public mind because…
      Its both completely irrelevant and the basis for many stupid economic decisions the government makes. Once it becomes clear that the government is and does spend by shuffling accounts managed by one of its own ‘departments’ (the RBNZ) the stupidity becomes clear.

  6. SpaceMonkey 6

    I dunno MS. Seems to me that the MSM are postive because they can see this Labour Government really haven’t turned the corner. Business as usual is safe.

    • Ad 6.1

      Structural change isn’t necessary if you already have the capacity to redistribute wealth at this scale.

      • DoublePlusGood 6.1.1

        Structural change is necessary because this isn’t actually significantly redistributing wealth away from the hyper-wealthy who have accumulated it all.

        • Ad 6.1.1.1

          Tax working group will be addressing that.

          • DoublePlusGood 6.1.1.1.1

            I thought GST isn’t in the mandate of the working group? If that regressive tax isn’t being looked at then no, the tax working group is never going to be looking at anything that would bring about structural change.

            • tracey 6.1.1.1.1.1

              I understand they are not looking at GST or tax increases. Surely tge Working Group should have as wide an ambit as possible and then the Government decides what to implement and when. This narrowing means there can be no public education/discussion post report which could see some changing views which precipitated the Labour backdown pre electio ?

          • cleangreen 6.1.1.1.2

            Ad

            We can’t wait to see fair taxes on the rich again instead of freeloading us all the time.

            Get rid of the tax havens/shelters these rich maggots use too.

          • cleangreen 6.1.1.1.3

            We hope you are right there Ad.

            Others here are right in sighting that “structual change” is needed because the wealth ‘redistibutiion’ is not ocurring.

            The proof is in the widening gap occuring between the rich and poor and the lower numbers of ‘ultra rich elitists’.

            We need the wealth redistribution to be a mainstay of future progressive economic plans & not just using fancy talk to create a ‘fair,caring’ society.

      • Structural change is necessary when the structure that is in place causes the poverty in the first place. Without changing the structure that poverty will always be there.

        • Ad 6.1.2.1

          There’s enough in the mini-budget to make a massive decrease in poverty without anything other than reallocation.

          They could have wasted their time re-forming departments, or implementing a cgt on day 1, nationalised Fonterra, or whatever.

          Instead they decided to improve the lives of citizens. About a million of them.

          Who knows, maybe they get through their 10 day plan as fast as they are saying and start on harder stuff. Odds on they are up for it if this pace continues

        • David Mac 6.1.2.2

          Yes, yes, you want to chuck the lot out. There are over 4 million of us with a hand around the baby’s ankle Draco. Change the water, but we’re keeping the baby.

          The best way to get money off rich people is not to yell ‘GIMME’. The best way is the same as getting money off poor people, sell them something. (Other than Goddam NZ!)

          The capitalism end game doesn’t need to be mega yachts for the few. Our government could be financing a family into a berry orchard that produces fruit for a Chinese fridge ready luxury dairy product. We just need to care about each other a little bit more and get smart.

          • Draco T Bastard 6.1.2.2.1

            The best way to get money off rich people is not to yell ‘GIMME’. The best way is the same as getting money off poor people, sell them something.

            Nope. The best way is to legislate them out of existence. Make it so that nobody can be rich.

            The capitalism end game doesn’t need to be mega yachts for the few.

            That is actually the whole purpose of capitalism.

  7. mauī 7

    $5 billion on reducing poverty is all I need to hear. Well done, this is far more than I thought Labour would be throwing at it. I think they could be the real deal.

  8. Macro 8

    Listening to the Gish Gallop from Joyce on RNZ this morning – a man who knows nothing and understands even less – I was struck by the hypocrisy of the man. Commenting on the *Shock Horror* of a grant to help beneficaries warm their home and how it would even be given to older people to help them stay warm in the winter months, when asked if he would take the $750 (or what ever it is ) if it he was eligible he said “probably not” – how magnanimous of him! Of course he had no intension to refuse the huge tax cut he was intending to give himself next year.

    • Note how he said ‘probably not’ rather than ‘no.’ That means that he will be grabbing it if he’s eligible but he realised saying so wouldn’t be a ‘good look’.

      • Macro 8.1.1

        Yes indeed – but he would rather have given himself and his mates a big tax cut than give it away to the undeserving poor!

    • alwyn 8.2

      He is actually being entirely consistent if the is what he said.
      He has in the past rejected very generous taxpayer funded handouts.

      He is, as far as I know, the only MP who does not belong to a contributory superannuation scheme
      These provide a contribution by the taxpayer of up to 20% of a basic MP salary to such a scheme. If the MP puts in 8%, or about $13,000 the taxpayer will contribute an additional $33,000 to their fund.
      Joyce does not belong to such a fund because he said he didn’t need the extra money. He doesn’t, in other words, get the $33,000 at all. That is exactly in line with his comment that he probably wouldn’t, if eligible, take the money for “heating allowance”.
      It is quite moot of course as he won’t be eligible for the National Super for at least 10 years and he might, like Bob Jones, not even apply for it then.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 8.2.1

        Is Steven Joyce the source of the information that Steven Joyce doesn’t claim his entitlements?

        Because if so, you are a fool to believe him. It may or may not be true, but Steven Joyce is a serial liar.

        • alwyn 8.2.1.1

          There is a register of members interests published each year. The latest one is here.
          https://www.parliament.nz/media/3926/2017-summary-report-final.pdf
          If you have a look at item 7, Superannuation schemes you will see that nothing is listed for Stephen Joyce. It has been the same every year he has been there.
          A few years ago some reporter noted that nothing was listed for Joyce, and asked him about it. He said he didn’t belong to any scheme as he didn’t see a personal need of it.

          To get the contribution to your Super scheme, as an MP, you have to be a member of a scheme. That is who they pay it to.
          Do you really think that Parliamentary Services, or whoever would pay it out if he didn’t list any such Super scheme? Do you think nobody would notice that he was getting paid the money even after a reporter had highlighted the fact the scheme wasn’t listed in his pecuniary interests?
          Come on, get real.

          It would be possible to belong to a scheme and not claim the money. It wouldn’t be possible to claim the money without being a member of the scheme though.
          There is no payment except to a scheme and if you don’t get any payment there you can’t get any alternative recompense..

          Do you really think that Joyce would turn down about $250,000 from his time in Parliament and then give a damn about $700, even if he was eligible to get it?
          Joyce is, of course only 54. He won’t be eligible for another 10+ years. I am not surprised he doesn’t know what he might do at some hypothetical, far distant time.
          What is it about him that makes you so bitter toward him? Sometimes “a cigar is just a cigar”, as Freud is reputed to have said

          • One Anonymous Bloke 8.2.1.1.1

            The numbers of preventable deaths his policies produced.

            • alwyn 8.2.1.1.1.1

              I don’t know what you mean.
              Do you accept, on the other hand, that he is telling the truth about his non-acceptance of Super contributions?
              To do that would be a slight advance on your refusal to believe anything he says. In Neil Armstrong’s words, at least as he claims to have said.
              “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind”.
              Come on, you know you want to do it.

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                I believe the register of members’ interests, up to a point. Joyce provided the information: has he been audited?

                His ‘form’ indicates that nothing he says can be trusted without independent corroboration.

          • cleangreen 8.2.1.1.2

            Showing that national skirt again eh.

            you always was alwyn.

            • alwyn 8.2.1.1.2.1

              English lessons for you my lad.
              “you always was alwyn” indeed.
              You could at least write
              “You always were Alwyn”. It wouldn’t be true in either case but at least the second one would be better English.

              • cleangreen

                You are a nasty bitter right wing nut Alwyn pure & simple.

                Evidenced by your over riding love of your master Steven Joyce.

                This false belief he is a clever, wise economist is your downfall ‘my lad’. Time will prove your folly.

                • alwyn

                  Now just calm down and have a soothing cup of green tea,

                  Better still would be to take a look at my opinion of Joyce as expressed about half a dozen comments below this one.
                  https://thestandard.org.nz/media-response-to-labours-budget/#comment-1426765
                  If you had read it I think you could have saved yourself from the fantasy you have come out with here.

                  • cleangreen

                    How many times have you met Steven Joyce personally alwyn?

                    How many letters of promises did you personally recieve from him?

                    I can say several to meeting him and others on his ‘team’ I believe you are a troll used to protect
                    all shoddy National politics and their lying mastery.

                    Our opinion of you is worse every time we read your devisive diversion rubbish, you and your opinions are worthless.

                    Give it a rest go back to whaleiol or any other tory troll “concern troll site”

                    • alwyn

                      The answers to your questions 1 and 2 are
                      1. Met Stephen Joyce………….ZERO
                      2. Letters from him…………….ZERO

                      Your statement “I can say several to meeting him and others on his ‘team’ “.
                      Well if you have met him as you claim I guess you can tell us all what he is like. When did you meet him and what was the purpose of the meeting?.

                      Your statement “Our opinion of you is…”.
                      Wow, the royal “we” as in your use of “Our”. How many of you are there?

      • Macro 8.2.2

        Are you trying to tell us that Joyce would not take advantage of the Tax break he and his party has promised for next year?
        Pull the other one.

        • alwyn 8.2.2.1

          I am quite willing to wager he won’t take advantage of it.
          Neither will anyone else.

          • Macro 8.2.2.1.1

            No – he like everyone else like him would have just pocketed it.

            Oh wait! Are you saying he wanted that tax break to give to the poor?

            • alwyn 8.2.2.1.1.1

              No, I am not.
              I’m just saying that he won’t be taking advantage of it.
              Think about it.

              • Macro

                I’m not stupid alwyn – I knew precisely what you were saying. If you want to twist words and avoid the subject at hand – that’s your affair.
                But there is no way you will ever convince me that Joyce is a saint.

                • alwyn

                  A Saint?
                  For crying out loud, he’s a politician.
                  I’ve never met one yet who was a saint.
                  Not even the supposedly saint like Metiria Turei.
                  She was just a crook.
                  Actually Nelson Mandela probably came closest, but even he didn’t quite make it. Came closest though.
                  There has never been one in New Zealand who even approached sainthood though. They were always looking after number 1.

    • Kevin 8.3

      Maybe he will take it and ‘give it to charity’…

      • alwyn 8.3.1

        And maybe, given that he is only 54, he won’t get it. Why is there such bitterness about Joyce from those on the left of politics? Is it just that he is, like John Key, a great deal better at it than anyone on the left is?

        • Macro 8.3.1.1

          “Why is there such bitterness about Joyce from those on the left of politics?”

          Because even if he has, as you say not taken advantage of the public purse,… (not mentioning anything about a bailout of Media works) …. every policy he and his cohorts in crime have done, has been to rob the poor in this country of health, security, education, and wealth for his and those of his ilk’s, own benefit. Until you understand that, you will never understand anything.

          • alwyn 8.3.1.1.1

            One gets very sick of having to correct the wilful stupidity of lefties like yourself.
            There was no bale-out of MediaWorks.
            What a shame you are best described by the old proverb
            “there’s none so blind as those who will not see”.

            • Macro 8.3.1.1.1.1

              No there was no bale out of MediaWorks only a govt loan of $43m. Which basically went unpaid when the Company went bankrupt in 2013 costing the country – that means you and I – millions.
              Pity you can’t see how the 2011deal was is in effect a bale out.

        • peterh 8.3.1.2

          the bitterness is there because he is a LAIR, 11 BILLION HOLE. and that crap took alot of votes away from labour

      • dv 8.3.2

        And get a tax break on the donation!!!

      • cleangreen 8.3.3

        Kevin, you are probably partly right saying Joyce — ‘Maybe he will take it and ‘give it to charity’

        ‘Joyces supporters charity’?

        More like he uses the tax breaks to spread around his ‘supporters as smoothers to keep them on side.

        Some may be tempted to call this corruption, and mis-use of taxpayers money.

        He will be caught one day along with others that use privilege above honesty.

    • tracey 8.4

      Probably not means yes I will but you will never see proof of it. Afterall English used Lawyers and Accountants to get that extra accom allowance so cant see him turing it down either?

    • cleangreen 8.5

      Yes macro;

      I saw him crying in his words today over the Labour mini budget, he looked pathetic.

    • Incognito 8.6

      Sadly, Joyce called it “spaghetti of entitlements”, which is the exact same wording as he used in July: https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/334938/labour-s-plan-labelled-convoluted-spaghetti-of-entitlements. National seems to have an obsession with Italian food 😉 But this is not where the similarities with Italian products stop. National is like a Fiat Punto that made history with first-ever zero-star crash-test rating:

      Low impact protection and absence of modern safety-assist technology was the Punto’s downfall.

      Yes this is essentially an old car, but that should have sharpened the focus on fitting safety technologies to counteract its dated crash performance.

      The Punto is not currently sold as a new car in New Zealand.

      Substitute National for Fiat and you’ll see that National is stuck in a rut and completely out of ideas; a party from yesteryear, like Bill English and Don Brash, a regressive party clinging on to status quo and dangerous ideologies. But most importantly, National is not currently in government in New Zealand. Let’s rephrase this, for emphasis, clarity & brevity: National lost the election.

  9. The worst the former Finance Minister, and more recently party leader Bill English could say about the Government’s opening of the books, taking into account Labour’s big ticket policies, was that they inherited a healthy economy.

    Which was a lie.

    Someone should tell him the effect on growth and the importance of the debt to GDP ratio.

    The government, being able to issue its own currency, doesn’t need debt. Just a deficit.

    • SPC 9.1

      The government should issue interest free money to finance student loans (will be repaid and not interest free to those who move offshore), Kiwibuild (money back when homes are sold) and loans to farmers for farm environment work (interest free and paid back when the farm is sold).

      • The flow of money in an economy

        There shouldn’t be student loans. The government should simply support people as they go through education. The money will be ‘paid back’ via taxes later.
        The same would apply to state housing. Simply build them, the amount would be ‘paid back’ later via taxes and income related rents.
        For farming and other industries the government should be funding huge R&D to determine best practices and then partially fund it’s implementation.

        The government, representing all the people of the nation, has all the resources and scale to do this which most business never have. It’s a lie that the government needs to raise cash first and that that makes government dependent upon the private sector. It’s actually the other way around – the private sector is dependent upon government spending.

        • SPC 9.1.1.1

          Sure there is the way things could be done and the way they are at the moment.

          The things I suggested are simply introductions to another approach, a bridge to somewhere else. Financing government programmes debt cost free and rationalised as loans that will be repaid, thus limiting perception of inflation risk.

          IMF economists, responding to the GFC, did look at an alternative government led approach should the current system collapse again.

          • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1.1.1

            IMF economists, responding to the GFC, did look at an alternative government led approach should the current system collapse again.

            Yes, they looked at the Chicago Plan and realised that it would work:

            The Chicago Plan Revisited is an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report from 2012 by Jaromir Benes and Michael Kumhof. The focus of the study is the so-called Chicago plan of the 1930s which the authors have updated to fit into today’s economy. The basic idea is that banks should be required to have full coverage for money they lend; this is called 100% reserve banking, which would replace the fractional reserve banking system.

            Under this proposal, banks would no longer be allowed to create new money in the form of credit in connection with their lending activities. Instead, the central bank should be solely responsible for all the creation of all forms of money, not just paper money and coins. The advantages of such a system, according to the authors, are a more balanced economy without the booms and busts of the current system, the elimination of bank runs, and a drastic reduction of both public and private debt. The authors rely on economic theory and historical examples, and state that inflation, according to their calculations, would be very low.

            There are many similarities between the Chicago Plan, MMT and what I suggest but the main point is that they all have the government creating money debt free and the private banks create none.

  10. SPC 10

    Where was the same media during the campaign? This was all in the manifesto.

    The key difference was always that Labour placed emphasis on those in need and National’s across the board tax cuts were unfocused. Thus the words of National about a goal to reduce poverty was always contrary to their planned action – post tax cuts they would have lacked the means to act.

  11. Tanz 11

    Hardly surprising, since our MSM is incredibly biased to the left, and basically rolled Labour into power this year. National need to buy their own newspaper and/or radio station etc, when it comes to the MSM they don’t stand a chance. Audrey Young called BIll English boring on the front page of the Herald pre-election – hardly non-partisan! The TV debates were biased too, against English, as is the norm on TV debates, always.
    Thanks to the tax cuts being cancelled, will now be $2000 worse off next year, like many other ordinary households. Thanks Labour, thanks Winston (backtracking), Merry Christmas anyway! Santa was kind to you, the rest of us just got poorer. Filling the car with gas just got painful too, ouch. ‘Greedies’, yeah, right.

    • dv 11.1

      HAHA
      So the Natz ARE paying Hosking Tanz!!

    • tracey 11.2

      Audrey stopped backing English post election. Pre election she did her best to push his lies.

    • Incognito 11.3

      When you going off the party script it pays to understand it first.

      The MSM did not roll Labour into power, Winston Peters did this singlehandedly.

      Calling Bill English boring is actually a compliment; it means he’s stable and predictable and will stick with status quo.

      TV debates deliberately give the appearance of being biased against Bill English so that he can come across as unflappable and strong and thus score points.

      You obviously don’t understand the slightest of National’s script so it is only fair that you’re worse off next year because of the cancelled tax cuts; you didn’t work hard enough to earn them although you do deserve them, of course.

    • Anne 11.4

      Aha… so, that is what all this wailing and gnashing of teeth is about. Tanz lost $2000 in tax cuts. Might have known money was at the bottom of it.

      To hell with the kids living in poverty. To hell with the women and children – and some men – being bullied , abused and generally violated. To hell with our beaches, rivers going to hell in a handcart… the list goes on. Tanz wants her tax cut.

      And you call yourself a Christian.

    • Craig H 11.5

      Only couples where both earn over $52,000 each. Couples with no children earning below $48,000 are no worse off.

  12. SPC 12

    Hosking’s mention of untargeted assistance with the power payment income support for those on super (those able to winter in Queensland – or the more numerous 25% collecting super while still working) overlooks the obvious.

    National was offering these people a tax cut on their work income AND an increase in the amount of super (which is bumped up by tax cuts). And they had no need for either. Little wonder they near all vote National (as do their cohorts the mortgage free boomers age 53-65 who aspire to the same privilege). They are the most favoured by government policy group anywhere in the world – receiving universal tax paid super while still in employment.

    PS Mike Hosking born in January 1965 is one month too late to be one of the “work and collect super as well baby boomers”, but this is his bread and butter ZB audience.

  13. SPC 13

    And this is all before the increases coming in the MW.

  14. Tanz 14

    Nope, but they should. It seems like Labour control and own the rest of the TV/radio/press commentators. It has created an unlevel playing field, where Labour is all good no matter what, and National bad, no matter what. Hardly safe in a supposed democracy, and hardly fair. All the same, the MSM is out of step with majority public opinion, as the recent poll showed.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 14.1

      😆

      You haven’t learned what a majority is yet. Carry on whining: it’s funny.

      • cleangreen 14.1.1

        100% correct OAB.

        These National clingons love money and hate us that’s clear.

        Pity they are so pathetic.

    • dv 14.2

      Nope, but they should

      SO you believe political parties should pay journalist!!
      Interesting Tanz

    • red-blooded 14.3

      Tanz did you believe the media was slanted to the left before the election, or is this just another way of whinging about the fact that you lost?

      Tracy Watkins, Mike Hosking, Barry Soper, Jane Clifton, Paddy Gower, Duncan Garner… These are not exactly the darlings of the left! In fact, most people on this site see a significant tilt towards the right, particularly in our print and TV media.

    • tracey 14.4

      You are hilarious. Start a blog. Too funny.

    • cleangreen 14.5

      TANZ;

      I refer to 14;

      What channels are you referring to here please?

      As I dont see/hear any favour for Labour over national at all.

      I wished it was true, but is is not!!

      But when the Minister of Broadcasting gets a new public non-commercial channel up and running, we hope to see a better balanced political coverage, (and less of steven blooody joyces face covering my screen every day when I turn that channel off.

  15. Tanz 15

    What, with National outpolling Labour still, by a country mile? Spin it as you want, as you do, to suit you, but the majority still wants National. Bet Labour are worried, especially as there is no true bounce for the new govt. Or do they like forever coming second?

    • SPC 15.1

      The Labour NZ First and Green parties have been polling at 50% for most of the past 3 years.

      You do realise that Key retired in 2016 because he knew National was dependent on NZ First to stay in power – because of the campaign he led to remove Peters from parliament (2005-2008) to end the last Labour led government. Removing himself from the equation to increase the chance of National staying in government with NZ First consent.

      Key has an awareness of markets and once you cannot win, you get out.

      LNZG under 50%, National can govern – LNZG at or over 50, National cannot.

      • dv 15.1.1

        Key has an awareness of markets and once you cannot win, you get out

        Sound like Hosking

      • cleangreen 15.1.2

        Bloody well right on there, SPC. 100% Key knew when to leave and we hope Joyce wakes up and also realises he is toast too.

        • SPC 15.1.2.1

          I wonder what Key thought of the strategy to target Peters because of some super overpayments? There goes their one chance …

      • SPC 15.1.3

        We have witnessed peak collectivisation on the right (Brash strategy) and it falls short of 50%.

        So they tax lawyer up, finesse an Ohariu or an Epsom to rort their way into power. And or partner up with a centrist MP – but when that results in them becoming a pawn in the continuing marginalisation of the underclass of New Zealand their brand is poisoned (I do have some sympathy for them in that they never really had the alternative option of going with a Labour led government).

    • One Anonymous Bloke 15.2

      You do not know what the word ‘majority’ means. A plurality of those polled support National. The majority supports the coalition government.

      But please, ignore the distinction: look like a witless idiot some more.

    • dv 15.3

      but the majority still wants National

      That is a fail in NS arithmetic Tanz

      What you really meant was the majority (>50%) DONT want Natz.

    • Mister Smokey 15.4

      No, Tanz, all’s good. Moving along nicely. No need for your concern.
      Just…happy as.

      Bit worried about you, though, Tanz.
      Those useless low-grade stirs of yours roll on and on.

      Maybe you’ll get a life for Xmas.

  16. eco maori 16

    Well it’s about time all OUR media start seeing reality through a lens that isn’t distorted buy $$$$$ and reports there stories in a honest humble humane fashion that does not have some of US scratching our heads in disbelief Ka pai

  17. Jum 17

    I’m interested to see how the following behaviour will be reported in the media, if at all, since it involves the national opposition.

    Obviously, National is angry about the good of the Families Package. I have never seen such appalling, hypocritical behaviour in parliament than that from jamie lee ross and louise upston at the end of the Part 1 debate.

    jamie lee ross screaming at the Chair and louise upston lying/obfuscating about the time when the Chair called for the vote mechanism to start.

    Seriously, are these cretins the cream of the national party crop? Apart from john key doing the throat slitting gesture at Phil Goff and getting away with it from the then speaker, even I was astonished at the gutter tactics employed today with constant badgering with similar SOPs and a constant barrage of POO (Points of Order) – actually, in the case of the opposition it really was just poo.

    David Seymour was thrown out which certainly improved the gene pool, but it was already contaminated by david carter last night and by the other national party opposition members for their sheer hypocrisy about urgency which was their buzzword over 3 long election cycles in reducing beneficiaries’/workers’ rights and income.

    As for demanding time off at 1pm for lunch – the opposition members don’t deserve it. They’ve done nothing to earn it. As beneficiaries living off the public teet, they need to be reminded of the dignity required of mps supposedly working to improve the lives of all New Zealanders not just their own pockets.

    Today in parliament was a day for national to hang its collective head in shame for bringing the house into disrepute.

    • Muttonbird 17.1

      Well said.

    • Ffloyd 17.2

      Amen.

      • cleangreen 17.2.1

        Well said JUM;

        I saw the national MP’s loosing it today at 1pm when they were attacking the speaker.

        I have never seen this before and when national speaker David Carter was ruling the house he was ruling MP’s with an iron hand -Nazi like in his style, so much that most MP’s were afraid of him.

        Labour speakers need to get tough as David Carter was I am afraid, as those national MP’s are disgusting.

  18. Incognito 18

    I find the framing a little ‘unfortunate’ as this is not Labour’s budget, is it now?

  19. Nic the NZer 19

    “importance of the debt to GDP ration”

    For the laypeople can we have an explanation of the importance of the debt to GDP ratio? Maybe a better one than this one?

    https://larspsyll.wordpress.com/2017/01/23/the-golden-rule-of-public-debt/

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  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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