New Zealand is a socialist nirvana *

Written By: - Date published: 8:45 am, September 13th, 2016 - 65 comments
Categories: national, same old national, spin, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

david seymour-1-2

Fellow participants in the struggle to improve the plight of ordinary people. We can now officially give up the class struggle. Or at least David Seymour thinks so …

He claimed on Morning Report this morning that National is no longer hiding its socialist streak but is bragging about it.

According to Seymour, Stephen Joyce announced that the top earners now pay more of the tax share than they did under Labour and this is a very bad thing. The top 10% now pay 37% of the tax take and under the socialist regime of Helen Clark it was only 35% so things are only getting worse.

And he was deeply upset at transfer payments that are being made to the poor.  Rich people as well as poor people should be given payouts according to Seymour’s logic.

He talked about relief for top tax earners. It must be that the leafy streets of Epsom are full of people on the top tax rate sleeping in their cars because of all the tax they are paying.

No doubt Seymour will not rest until the top 10% only pay 10% of total tax.

He does not seem to understand that the reason the wealthy are paying more tax is because they are earning a greater share of total income.

His analysis is appropriate for a party polling at 0.5%.

65 comments on “New Zealand is a socialist nirvana * ”

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  1. Richard McGrath 1
    13 September 2016 at 8:58 am

    “He does not seem to understand that the reason the wealthy are paying more tax is because they are earning a greater share of total income.”

    They earned 25% of income in 2014, according to the Morgan Foundation, yet pay well in excess of this in tax.

    Perhaps David Seymour would be happier if they paid 25% of the tax grab, rather than 37%.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1
      13 September 2016 at 9:08 am

      Who cares what a sock-puppet with 0% electoral support thinks? Everything he believes has been debunked by reality.

      • mosa 1.1.1
        13 September 2016 at 7:51 pm

        As a de facto Nat MP he gets to much air time, no one votes for ACT they are irrelevant.
        Seymour would not know a socialist if he passed one on the footpath.

    • Sabine 1.2
      13 September 2016 at 9:43 am

      would that be the foundation of that guy who is on record for not paying taxes at all?

      https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/business/only-half-of-nz-s-most-wealthy-paying-top-tax-rate-6200604

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10639513

      really? you think Gareth Morgan should start paying his 25% tax?
      I agree with you.

      • Richard McGrath 1.2.1
        13 September 2016 at 10:05 am

        “…you think Gareth Morgan should start paying his 25% tax?”

        In the short term – yes, as part of a flat tax arrangement for everyone (which would kill the tax avoidance industry).

        In the long term, reduce all income taxes – it’s a punishment for working and earning.

        • framu 1.2.1.1
          13 September 2016 at 10:13 am

          “a flat tax arrangement for everyone (which would kill the tax avoidance industry).”

          not really – there would still be attempts to minimise what amounts you declare

        • Sabine 1.2.1.2
          13 September 2016 at 10:25 am

          So how about we raise some taxes on Capital Gains? How about we raise some taxes on dividends? and the likes?

          or how about we close down all the loopholes and make ‘charities’ and ‘foundations’ taxable? OH yeah, fun could be had.

          I can hear all the Remuera Gents and Ladies scream ; T’is not fair, i did nothing to earn this money, how can it be taxed!”

          Frankly there is no way Gareth Morgan and the likes of himself included would ever pay taxes.

          • Richard McGrath 1.2.1.2.1
            13 September 2016 at 10:30 am

            “So how about we raise some taxes on Capital Gains? How about we raise some taxes on dividends?”

            Whatever you tax, you discourage – you advocate punishing successful businesses and their shareholders.

            “…or how about we close down all the loopholes and make ‘charities’ and ‘foundations’ taxable?”

            I agree that many loopholes should be closed, and tax laws simplified hugely.

          • jpwood 1.2.1.2.2
            17 September 2016 at 12:37 pm

            Dividends are already taxed at the marginal rate of the shareholder.

            • Takere 1.2.1.2.2.1
              17 September 2016 at 12:55 pm

              Its how the 282 rich kiwis who are worth $50m+ who’ve declared their income to IRD is only $70,000 but, by growing the value of their business(es) and investments therefore into shares in these businesses. Drawing down these dividends which are taxed at 17.5% marginal tax rate evading the 33% tax rate is how the rich get richer and the rest of us have to work for it to support them.

        • Chris 1.2.1.3
          13 September 2016 at 10:40 am

          People on the lowest incomes are punished the most for working and earning. They’re often sent to jail.

          http://www.victoria.ac.nz/research/expertise/business-commerce/fraud-sentencing

        • left for dead 1.2.1.4
          13 September 2016 at 11:15 am

          income taxes – it’s a punishment for working and earning.

          The first thing I would suggest is (every non-dependant) be given the same rights as corporations with regards to income Tax, right-offs.
          If a corp’ can be classed as a person then every person should have the same Tax right-off ability as any sole trader, at the very lest.

          edited: oh silly me does that mean the top 10% would pay more to make up the difference and or pay a living wage. this part should be a the bottom, my poor editing, excuse me.

          As you probably quested, I’m no tax lore expert but hey why shouldn’t I be able to right down, clothing,car, an other costs.

        • left_forward 1.2.1.5
          15 September 2016 at 4:09 pm

          “In the long term, reduce all income taxes – it’s a punishment for working and earning”
          Yawn.
          The idea that taxation is theft or form of punishment is classic libertarian folly – … and the standard retort is that the income was earned on the back of a just and functioning society which provides the environment for the free trade of goods and services. Taxes are a contribution towards such a society.

        • Lloyd 1.2.1.6
          15 September 2016 at 11:22 pm

          WTF!
          Life is unfair.
          You obviously need a job which doesn’t have any income. Try being a parent. Income taxes, applied judiciously, can be used by governments to level inequalities.
          If you have a high paying job the pay rate is not a reflection of your real value to society. Intensive care unit nurses are obviously more useful than tax lawyers. Who gets the most income?
          Why shouldn’t the tax lawyers get taxed at a much higher rate than nurses?
          Flat tax rates are regressive and tax lower income workers more viciously than the fat cats at the top of the pile.
          With robots likely to replace many workers the tax take from the employed will have to rise, just so that the poor can be given a stipend so they can keep the economy ticking over.
          remember- Income tax good. Higher taxes on big earners even better.

          • Richard McGrath 1.2.1.6.1
            24 September 2016 at 9:36 am

            So an intensive care nurse who works extra shifts to fill in for a sick colleague and ends up earning more, should be taxed at a higher rate?

    • Psycho Milt 1.3
      13 September 2016 at 10:09 am

      They earned 25% of income in 2014, according to the Morgan Foundation, yet pay well in excess of this in tax.

      1. That’s “declared” income. If you’re a wage/salary earner, “declared” income is pretty close to your actual income – for a lot of the wealthy, it’s a bullshit figure created by clever accountants.

      2. The reason they’re paying 37% of the tax take now rather than 35% under Clark’s government is that their wealth has increased so much faster than the lower deciles, thanks to the Key government working to make the rich richer.

      3. Can’t be arsed looking it up, but the proportion of the nation’s wealth held by the top 10% is a lot higher than 37%, so maybe Seymour is right – it’s unfair and these guys should be paying a lot more tax.

    • left for dead 1.4
      13 September 2016 at 11:31 am

      Perhaps If that fool Seymour’s Having another nosy here, that nonsense on Nat Rad this morning, about the Greens propping up Labour back when. Have a look in the mirror son, no, not for that H but the hypocrisy.

    • AmaKiwi 1.5
      13 September 2016 at 3:39 pm

      It is a bogus calculation until you include indirect taxes such as GST, petrol, rates, etc.

      That calculation will show the rich pay a much lower percentage of tax and the poor far more.

      You must also include income that is not currently taxed such as real estate sales.

  2. Michelle 2
    13 September 2016 at 9:31 am

    Seymour is an idiot and he needs to remember exactly how he got into parliament. He got in because of JK not on his own merit. His party was dead in the water and hopefully gone at the next election. How many party votes did Act get ? buggar all. He is only there because of the loop hole in MMP one that his tory master kept to ensure they maintain there hold on power.

  3. Sacha 3
    13 September 2016 at 9:34 am

    This one has been debunked many times. Leaving out other forms of tax like GST may make a nice catchcry for leafy whiners, but it’s a poor basis for any enlightening discussion.

    • Matthew Whitehead 3.1
      13 September 2016 at 3:22 pm

      And even then, as people above have pointed out, they’re only paying so much income tax because their share of the income has gone up! It’s a completely rubbish measurement to talk about “share of income tax paid,” because it’s a good thing to be paying more income tax, because you want more income!

  4. Sanctuary 4
    13 September 2016 at 9:34 am

    Like the the party that created it (Labour) ACT is ideologically still firmly anchored in the 1990s.

  5. Siobhan 5
    13 September 2016 at 10:20 am

    We’re done here….Can we talk about someone or something that actually matters.

    • TC 5.1
      13 September 2016 at 12:01 pm

      +1

      A low intellect little rich kid dropped into a position to ‘ACT’ as if he actually has some ideas.

      A decent msm would dissect him as the vacuous trougher he is but rnz is part of nats pr machine now.

  6. Ad 6
    13 September 2016 at 10:23 am

    If he meant we have a highly interventionist government i’d agree.

    It’s just uneven and incoherent.

  7. Pat 7
    13 September 2016 at 10:45 am

    Seymour is simply doing his masters work by promoting the false narrative the wealthy pay a disproportionate level of tax with the added bonus he at the same time paints the gov as a benign worker friendly entity

    • Sabine 7.1
      13 September 2016 at 11:00 am

      oh i know a few cash poor but mortgage rich NZ’lers that would be so deep in shit, should the market crash, that they could not even see out of it. But believe me they do feel rich, cause paper worth tells them so, and the bank gives them one credit line after the other, and they don’t want to pay taxes, cause you know they took risks.

      However, they are literally on Interest raise away from bankruptcy and misery. But hey, somone is gonna pay millions for their properties that their banks own, and then they too will tell us how we are keeping successful business from being successful by imposing taxes on them.

    • DH 7.2
      14 September 2016 at 10:28 am

      I think they’re just taking the mickey out of Labour & Greens; exploiting their poor grasp of statistics.

      “taxpayer” is pretty much any person over the age of 16 who has an IRD number. That includes welfare beneficiaries and people who aren’t working or even earning anything. The inclusion of such data skews any percentages to portray higher earners in a completely false and misleading light.

      2014 data had a total of 3,470,000 taxpayers with 312,000 having no income & thus paying no tax at all. Another 993,000 earned below $20k, most presumably being beneficiaries, pensioners etc.

      From the statistical perspective it’s dead easy to ensure 37% of the top earners paid 37% of the taxes. Just increase welfare benefits to around $80,000. Beneficiaries would then be among the top earners & thus would be paying most of the tax.

      There’s lies, damned lies… etc

  8. Smilin 8
    13 September 2016 at 11:45 am

    What an idiot cant he see NZ is being replaced by a country called Keyhole
    This country is on a fast track to hell environmentally socially and politically
    Socialist paradise be buggered just shows that the twerp knows nothing about Kirk’s govt and what it meant to actually live NZ in the last time of equal opportunity and employment

  9. WILD KATIPO 9
    13 September 2016 at 12:49 pm

    Rimmer…the ‘H’ on his head says it all.

    Rimmer.

  10. Lanthanide 10
    13 September 2016 at 1:00 pm

    Good to see David has the sense to turn up to a pride event wearing his normal clothes, unlike Key who has to pander and grandstand by wearing a garish bright magenta shirt he’d never otherwise wear.

  11. Lanthanide 11
    13 September 2016 at 1:13 pm

    “No doubt Seymour will not rest until the top 10% only pay 10% of total tax.”

    Or, Mickey, you could actually be fair, and quote David’s own words on this subject:

    Guyon: So are you saying that the wealthy should be paying less tax?
    David: What I’m saying is that we have an arrangement in New Zealand where if you earn more money you pay more tax.

    • Hanswurst 11.1
      14 September 2016 at 1:34 am

      “So are you suggesting we make changes?”
      “No, all I’m saying is that the world is round, and some people sleep in longer on Sundays.”

      This is what politicians do. They frame a narrative that invites obvious conclusions, then, when pushed for their own conclusions and suggestions, they retreat into bland truism in order to sound reasonable and pragmatic. It’s ironic that you’ve become so taken in by your own sophistry that you are advocating falling for a trick so far beneath your critical faculties.

  12. McGrath 12
    13 September 2016 at 1:13 pm

    What this shows is that NZ needs the top 10% otherwise the tax take would collapse.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 12.1
      13 September 2016 at 1:36 pm

      *headdesk*

      On Earth, higher wages at the bottom end of the market result in higher revenue too. Not least because they tend to commit less tax fraud.

      0% support…I wonder why…

      • McGrath 12.1.1
        13 September 2016 at 5:11 pm

        Back in the real world, you need the well-off’s tax receipts to pay for the welfare system. No 10%, no welfare system.

        • Gangnam Style 12.1.1.1
          13 September 2016 at 7:02 pm

          “higher wages at the bottom end of the market” means there will be limited need for welfare system.

        • Draco T Bastard 12.1.1.2
          13 September 2016 at 8:29 pm

          If we didn’t have the wealthy we’d have higher tax receipts and much healthier society.

          • Richard McGrath 12.1.1.2.1
            16 September 2016 at 9:03 am

            The wealthy are very often the innovators and wealth-generators. Without them we would be equally poor.

            • Draco T Bastard 12.1.1.2.1.1
              16 September 2016 at 10:38 am

              The wealthy are very often the innovators and wealth-generators.

              Actually, they’re not. They’re just in a position to benefit from the work of the innovators via ownership of businesses and corporations.

              That’s what Piketty showed.

              • The lost sheep …
                16 September 2016 at 11:57 am

                As we established yesterday Draco, no completely egalitarian society has ever moved past the stage of subsidence hunter gatherers with little or no wealth. (using ‘wealth’ in the correct sense of ‘an abundance of valuable resources or valuable material possessions.’)

                In ALL societies that have moved past subsidence and towards a situation of increasing wealth, the establishment of hierarchy / inequality has occurred right at the beginning of the process, and continued to develop as overall wealth increased.

                This presents a very serious difficulty for the contention that inequality is not a pre-condition of the creation of wealth.
                And to your point specifically above – if you and Picketty were correct and ‘the wealthy’ were not necessary to the creation of overall wealth, then there would be examples of completely egalitarian societies that had developed significant overall wealth.
                But there are no such examples?

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  16 September 2016 at 7:18 pm

                  As we established yesterday Draco, no completely egalitarian society has ever moved past the stage of subsidence hunter gatherers with little or no wealth.

                  No, that was your unsupported assertion. I replied showing that such societies had existed – until they’d been destroyed by corrupt hierarchical ones.

                  • The lost sheep …
                    18 September 2016 at 9:28 am

                    ‘No, that was your unsupported assertion. I replied showing that such societies had existed – until they’d been destroyed by corrupt hierarchical ones.
                    You can’t have read my reply Draco.

                    The first link you provided confirmed my assertion that non-hierarchical egalitarianism is limited to hunter gatherer groupings that live at subsistence level. It does not state that any such society ever went beyond that limited state.

                    The assumptions you made for the second link second link turned out to be incorrect when I found a non paywalled copy of the article.
                    It does not say that the Halaf were destroyed by corrupt hierarchical Societies.
                    In fact it says much the opposite. They had remained stable as semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers for some time, but then ran into a crisis caused by ‘Social and environmental constraints’.( i.e. the limitations of their non-hierarchical egalitarian structure), and so they willing adopted the structures of their neighbours as a solution to their own crisis, and then gradually assimilated into a society indistinguishable from their hierarchical / unequal neighbours.

                    History is complex, and there are any variations on the theme of how hunter gatherer societies developed into more complex hierarchical states, but that complexity makes it even more startling to say that not a single one of them has ever moved past a subsistence level without hierarchy and inequality being essential elements of the change.
                    Not even in places where they had no interaction with hierarchical neighbours. In such situations they simply remain at subsistence level.
                    You cannot name a single society that developed past that point without becoming hierarchical / unequal.

                    But moving on, although it has never happened in the past, I was wrong to say it was an impossibility. I think it highly unlikely…but convince me Draco?
                    Tell me how you see the process would happen that transformed our current society into a non-hierarchical egalitarian structure, and how such a society would function in the modern world?

  13. srylands 13
    13 September 2016 at 1:29 pm

    He is correct. New Zealanders have a love affair with socialism. That is why we currently have, and will have for some time, a socialist Government.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1
      13 September 2016 at 1:37 pm

      Yawn. Another trougher from the 0% with a massive conflict of interest.

    • left_forward 13.2
      15 September 2016 at 4:15 pm

      I think its true that NZers at heart believe in a fair and just society, including the idea of concern for the welfare of one’s fellow man / woman / child. But to call this Government socialist is a wild spin of the truth – they clearly have little concern for the poor, the sick, the homeless, and the least fortunate in our society.

  14. adam 14
    13 September 2016 at 2:22 pm

    Sheesh Mickey, You brought the wingnuts out of the woodwork with this post.

    Some real pitiful displays of ideology, put out there today.

    You know there hero, was not only payed social security, but used medicaid and lived in social housing. Ahh the libertarian right, so full of it. They can’t even face the fact that these programs help even them, and their families.

    I wonder if these ideological wingnuts actually pay for their own costs? No Doubt they will come up with some lame excuses as why they can’t even live up to there own ideology.

    • Draco T Bastard 14.1
      13 September 2016 at 8:27 pm

      I wonder if these ideological wingnuts actually pay for their own costs?

      Of course not. Can’t get rich by paying for stuff. The only way to get rich is to have others paying for you and also have them paying you for the privilege of paying for you.

  15. Muttonbird 15
    13 September 2016 at 8:14 pm

    Deliberate strategy straight out of the ninth floor, this. It’s a friendly ticking off, on orders from the government, designed to portray National as compassionate and centrist. It’s a continuation of the narrative that National are actually doing something for the disenfranchised.

    Doesn’t work on me but it will work on a lot of other people.

  16. Incognito 16
    13 September 2016 at 9:20 pm

    It is soothing the electorate when ACT ‘moans’ that National has become (too) socialist. It is no coincidence at a time when the Government is under huge pressure because of its massive, structural, ongoing failings in dealing with major social problems in this country. It is clever politics by David Seymour IMO.

    Minor correction: it is Steven (not Stephen) Joyce.

  17. Gabby 17
    14 September 2016 at 10:15 am

    I’d love to know who thought it was a great idea to interview Seemorecoq. It’s hardly breaking news.

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    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
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