National is showing its class prejudice

Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, January 27th, 2023 - 26 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, minimum wage, national, nicola willis, same old national, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, wages, workers' rights - Tags:

National has always claimed to be the party that is really good with the economy.

This is an undeserved reputation.  Historical analysis shows that the economy performs better under Labour Governments and that ordinary wages and employment rates increase at a greater rate under Labour Governments.  Perhaps there is a link?

In its never ending quest to sound like it knows what it is talking about when it comes to inflation National Deputy Leader Nicola Willis said yesterday that it was a great shame that the minimum wage had increased by so much because it means the Government can’t do it now to help low-income Kiwis make ends meet without stoking inflation.

From Radio New Zealand:

“The great shame is that Labour increased the minimum wage so much in previous years, but what you’ve seen has happened is that they have not been able to increase it as much in these inflationary years because they know it will be passed on.”

In his first Budget as finance minister, Grant Robertson hiked the minimum wage by 4.7 percent, followed by a 7.3 percent boost in 2019. Since then, the increases have been 6.8 percent, 5.8 percent and in 2022 – the first year of abnormally high inflation – he put it up 6 percent, more than the year before.

This year’s minimum wage hike, if there will be one, has not yet been announced. National and the ACT Party have opposed Robertson’s hikes in the past, but warnings they would boost unemployment have not come to pass.

Last year Christopher Luxon came out with similar nonsense when he said last February that National supported increases to the minimum wage at the right time but weirdly could not say if it was the right time or not.

From Henry Cooke at Stuff:

National leader Christopher Luxon says his party supports raising the minimum wage “at right time” but can’t say whether he supports the upcoming boost.

The Government has announced the minimum wage will be hiked to $21.20 an hour on April 1, up from the current $20 an hour – a boost of 6 per cent.

In opposition, National has generally opposed minimum wage hikes, with former leader Simon Bridges repeatedly saying the hikes went too far too fast.

Asked again if that meant National supported the proposed boost, Luxon said National supported a “consistent increase in the minimum wage, that’s what we did in Government, and we will continue to do so here”.

National raised the minimum wage every year it was in Government by either 50c or 25c, from $12.50 in 2008, reaching $15.75 when it left office in 2017 – an average of 2.9 per cent every year. Labour in Government has hiked it from $15.75 in 2017 to $21.20 in 2022, an average of 6.9 per cent every year.

Willis’s proposal would mean that workers on the minimum wage would have felt the effects of inflation even more keenly because they were starting from a very low base.  And can you imagine National deciding that a large increase is justified because of inflation if they were in power?  They would come out with the same rhetoric about how small businesses could not afford it.

And here is the essence of why this debate is so frustrating.

Wage increases depend significantly on what has happened in relation to inflation in the preceding year.  It is a catch up adjustment designed to ensure that the real level of wages do not drop.  A wage increase below the rate of inflation is a wage cut.  Insisting that workers should shoulder the responsibility of dealing with inflation pressures means that employers and companies do not.

At a time when inequality is still growing insisting that workers should carry the burden of inflation through effective wage cuts will only make things worse.

If, and I hope this does not happen, National gain power it will be a sure bet they will cut taxes and minimum wage increases.  The poor will be subsidising the wealthy.

When the next minimum wage increase is announced I would hope that it will be at least at the rate of inflation.  Otherwise workers on minimum wages will be going backwards.

Update:  And National has walked back Willis’s statement.

26 comments on “National is showing its class prejudice ”

  1. SPC 1

    2017-2022

    Labour have increased the MW by 35% 2017-2022 (15.75 to $21.20 an hour) and will do another in April this year.

    Base Job Seeker benefit went up 34% (237 to $315). (the amount one can earn before abatement from 90 to $160), the Power Income Supplement and the 2018 AS adjustment on top of that.

    Rents rose 32 % in that time (and seem to have peaked in Auckland and Wellington).

    Comparison 2012-2017

    MW 13.50 (2012) an hour to $15.75 (2017) an increase of 16.6%

    So under National, rents went up faster than MW and under Labour this changed.

    Base benefit

    204.96 (2012) to $237 (2017) an increase of 15.6%

    rents went up 24%

    So under National, rents went up faster than the MW and the base benefit despite the fact that inflation was not a problem.

    PS Related to this is the difficulty faced by workers in sectors with little increase in pay. The recent fair pay legislation or industry awards will be important to them in the year ahead.

  2. Shanreagh 2

    A wage increase below the rate of inflation is a wage cut.

    It has always amazed me how some people cannot grasp this. Wages are always playing catch up to the current times.

    My view is that the minimum wage is still pretty low for a developed country like NZ. Perhaps we should gradually transition to a living wage concept that is adjusted more often.

    Wouldn't we get some RW screams then?

    While I know that SMEs (small to medium enterprises) are the power house of the NZ economy those whose business model requires the employment of staff should 'taiho' on doing this until they can pay the staff adequately.

    How many liquor, fast foot and other restaurants do we actually need?

    The Living wage is tracking about $23.65ph
    https://www.livingwage.org.nz/.

  3. Craig H 3

    Jenna Lynch's last sentence or two in that piece really took National to task, and rightly so.

    To give him his due, Todd Muller's first press conference as National Party leader (remember those halcyon days…) committed to regular annual increases in the minimum wage, so at least someone in National has some form of conscience (or political radar of lost votes).

  4. Reality 4

    Luxon's first policy on becoming leader was to announce removing the top tax rate, giving himself apparently an $18,000 tax cut. I can never understand why those on the upper rungs of the ladder think it is justifiable they be always well rewarded, no questions asked, but limits should always be put on those further down the ladder.

    It seems every other day Luxon has to clarify or step back on what he has said earlier. One of his major shortcomings.

  5. Incognito 5

    The track-backtrack team of Willis & Luxon are at it again trying to confuse the electorate and especially those so-called ‘swing voters’ who have no firm party allegiance and allegedly hog the political centre.

    Remember the supposed walking back of comments by National not matching spending increases on health and education with inflation?

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/08/national-s-christopher-luxon-clarifies-comments-suggesting-backtrack-on-health-education-spending-promise.html

  6. Mac1 6

    "Walking back to happiness." Helen Shapiro 1962. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWWDyCkpsiw

    I think that some of the lyrics will well apply to Luxon and Willis, though I don't wish them electoral happiness. They certainly have done some walking back recently.

    The phrase is a newish one and its meaning would have much more punch and accuracy if stated in terms such as "altered, withdrew, changed, revised, reconsidered, rewrote, resiled or repealed (thanks Incognito below 🙂 )."

    The need for such alteration, withdrawal, change, revision, reconsideration, rewriting resiling from or even repeal can be accepted from time to time as facts and figures are always being refreshed and made public.

    These however seem to be the product of hasty, immature, unconsidered, and lazy thinking which is not what we want our decision makers to be practising should Luxon and Willis et al accede to the Treasury benches.

    • Incognito 6.1

      You forgot repeal!

      • Mac1 6.1.1

        I take it all back!

        Text amended to include your recommendation.

        I suspect that Luxon and Willis are speaking to a larger and less aware audience. Luxon showed that at the Ratana gathering where his comments were not aimed at his listeners there but at the Hobson's Choice cohort.

        What we have to do is show the reasonable middle uncommitted voters that his rhetoric is actually duplicitous and dangerous, that attaining power through such means is inherently flawed and leads to very undesirable consequences.

        Peter Bradley at #9 on the post "Luxon blunders again" refers to a measured and deliberate misinformation campaign aimed at Finlayson's "KKK cohort".

    • Obtrectator 6.2

      Characteristically, they're even too late to walk backwards for Christmas, unlike Spike Milligan & Co:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e61uC-5s9VU

  7. Corey Humm 7

    This. This is the kind of stuff the left should be talking about and focusing on in a cost of living and global economic storm rather than spending all our time debating and fighting over social policy.

    Labour needs to stick to it's traditional strengths of being seen as the party that cares about regular people not the rich.

    Labour should constantly challenge the perception that national are somehow better economic managers, which even some labour voters believe, because it's not true.

    The left needs to spend it's entire energy on shifting the public perception ATM that labour is more concerned with social policy, bureaucratic restructures and identity and have labour be seen as the party protecting the living standards of the ordinary kiwi and the kiwi dream.

    We need to focus less on national/acts social policy, cos thats more popular than the left want the admit, but national/acts economic policy is about as popular as dried sick and the more we focus on their social policy the less we focus on what will actually lose them votes: The untold economic harm their vicious austerity will do to kiwis.

    Labour and the wider left can win and election based off economic policy and protecting kiwis from Liz Truss style economic vandalism, Labour cannot win and election thought on culture wars and social policy.

    Also Hipkins should come out and say the pension will stay at 65 under him before Luxon says it. It may be kicking the can down the road but the side wanting to raise the pension usually loses because boomers, older gen x'ers and manual Labour and hard graft workers don't like it.

    Some suit or office worker in a cushy job telling people with tired bodies from decades of hard labor that they'll have to work an extra two years when their bodies are stuffed is never gonna be popular. Labour shouldn't be the party trying to inflict a couple more years of hard work onto tired workers bodies, let the Tories do that, not us.

    • ianmac 7.1

      Actually there are other occupations where the workers are also worn out. Such as nurses, doctors, teachers.

    • tWiggle 7.2

      I agree. National bang on about being the party of prudent fiscal management. Their lies can, and should, be loudly refuted by Labour. They do not talk up their own game enough, either historically or recently.

  8. UncookedSelachimorpha 8

    Good post. Economic injustice and class is what really matters and Labour should change back to being the party of working / poor / average people. Be a winning strategy I reckon.

  9. arkie 9

    National and the 'business' men they purport to represent fail to understand that employees are also customers. If your customers have a reduction in disposable income you will likewise have diminishing sales. Pay workers well and they will spend it.

    • satty 9.1

      They might have a different line of thought: There's also money made from desperate people that don't earn enough for a living, like payday loans, credit card interests.

  10. Bazza64 10

    Agree totally that if employees don't get a wage rise equal to inflation rate then they are ending up with a pay cut. What's worse is cost of living goes up 7%, if employees get 7% wage rise to compensate (if they are lucky, most will get less), but lose some of that higher pay in income tax, so increased wages 7% = 5% after tax, you still have a pay cut.

    But to slow inflation, spending needs to reduce in the economy (government included, which I don't think is happening) – the wealthier won't reduce their spending as they don't have to worry about weekly cost of groceries, etc.

    So guess who has to cut back spending to slow inflation – lower & middle class. Problem is now they need all their pay to survive, so they are screwed, which ever way you look at it. So people are pissed with their governments in most countries.

    Also have to agree that under previous labour governments the purse strings were handled well, although I don't think the Nats did too badly.

    For so long we had very little inflation & people forgot about how destructive it is to ordinary hard workers on low to middle incomes. Sadly will take some hard times to fix it.

    • SPC 10.1

      Is too much spending the cause of the inflation?

      The inflation of the 1970's began with the oil price shock, as the cost of this went through the economy.

      This time it came with disruption to international supply lines and otherwise decline in production (lockdowns and days off with covid) and pandemic QE resulting in rising asset wealth and work from home lockdowns leading to a spend up on home renovations (consequently pushing up the cost of new builds). All made worse by the corporate monopoly in gib board supply unable to meet demand (new factory starts up this year). But this will ease.

      Then recently the late start to planting and harvesting of some food – this is temporary.

      Some cost increases come from adopting higher standards – the cost of eggs has risen with the move to the either barn or free range basket. The same would have happened with pork as we improved local standards but we placed no rules on imports.

      We actually need to spend more on productivity (reduce need for labour) – such as automated milking and investment to move away from tourism by volume.

      • tWiggle 10.1.1

        Wondered about the reason for low interest rates years go. I couldn't spot the source of all the easy money that kept them low. I assumed the Chinese government was pumping in liquidity, ready to pull it back strategically when it wanted.

        But honestly, I don't even think economists know – they perhaps tap their nose and say 'market forces'. Fortunately, Ardern's government were very fiscally responsible on covid response spending, and only bumped up borrowing to 30% GDP compared with many other counties (https://tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/indicators

        great info site, by the way), leaving the govt with a level of control over debt servicing.

  11. AB 11

    Most regressive incarnation of the National Party for a long time. It's not being said out loud though.

  12. Last time this high inflation happened they put a tax surcharge on. I know my Mum paid tat. It pushed her tax up hugely, and her extra kiwi sorting work ended up paying her tax for two years?

    That was an oil shockin the 70s and and later loose fiscal caps in the 80s.

    Some may remember that. It was after 1984, as my Dad died in 1982 and we helped Mum into a unit, and I paid a mortgage $12000 out of the $52000 @ 18%. I think from memory, inflation was high then twice what it is now 14%. We got through by helping each other.

    • I meant to add, both Labour and National tried to overcome inflation back then..

      We have had 44% inflation after World war 1. That was our highest,

      7.2 seems quite reasonable in comparison.devilIt could be worse.

  13. Obtrectator 13

    Mark Twain was on to the widespread confusion between wage levels and purchasing power over 120 years ago. See Chapter 33 of A Yankee At The Court Of King Arthur.

  14. Stuart Munro 14

    Actually I think one of National's biggest problems is that they don't understand class at all. It is not synonymous nor interchangeable with money. Ardern has class, Luxon has what he sits on. Nothing sheds votes quicker than a clear indication that the aspiring candidate will say absolutely anything to get his sticky fingers on the levers of power.

    Nice to see Labour is once again focusing on the needs of their core supporters. A lot of votes there, and no-one else is courting them.

  15. Thinker 15

    I believe a bigger demon is the policy of using the OCR to "… stop the economy from overheating".

    Joe earns! $1000 per week of which $650 goes in mortgage payments. He struggles and prays for a pay rise or the government to increase the minimum wage, so he can live a better life.

    The government increases the minimum wage and Joe now gets $1100 per week, along with other people in his income bracket. Meanwhile, to stop the economy overheating, the central Bank raises the OCR and Joe now pays $750 in his mortgage payments.

    The only outcomes are that the government of the day gets to publicise its good deeds, and the banks make more profits (some of which go to shareholders and the rest to senior management for their acumen).

  16. Susie 16

    AB, you wrote: "Most regressive incarnation of the National Party for a long time. It's not being said out loud though."

    Absolutely right. Luxon fulfils the very worst and most destructive version of what an Opposition leader is expected to do, and his Opposition party achieves the same.

    That is – to simply oppose everything, propose nothing, and do whatever is possible to undermine, or preferably destroy, the government that is in power, even if the country is facing a national crisis, and with no consideration for the wellbeing of the nation whatsoever. As you observe, Stuart Munro, the aspiring candidate will say absolutely anything to get his sticky fingers on the levers of power. And I think this shows.

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    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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
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    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
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    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
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    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
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
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    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 ...
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    5 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
    5 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
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    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
    1 hour 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
    6 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
    8 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
    9 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
    22 hours 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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    5 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 ...
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    5 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 ...
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    5 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, ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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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  • 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,” ...
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    6 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. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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    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 ...
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    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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