Watched Winston responding to Ryan Bridge in interview just now on AM. Went well. Load of fun all around. He's totally on the ball at present. Bet it goes down a hoot with the yokels (if they can figure out how to get the re-run online). Kingmaker.
He even cited an instance of agreeing with Seymour to confound expectations. Doubt if the electorate wants to give him total control though – just enough to spoil the expectations of the two sprats he'll be having to teach a thing or two sometime eventually, after voters deliver murk on the day…
Winston thrives on 'Don't hate the player, hate the game.'
Support for NZ First is not an endorsement of Winston or anything he says but rather a protest at the whole nonsense….how large that protest ends up being will depend on how motivated the 'protesters' are to vote….I suspect a larger portion wont even bother to protest, they are resigned.
So Lux would have to prove his ability as a deal-maker. Only viable if Seymour refuses to do what Winston tells him. Lux needs to have an alternative to switch to, which means prior planning for Plan B, which means press the teal button on his option module.
National and Labour (MPs, if not wider party) could reach a minimalist but just about feasible agreement, if they really had to. Obviously they won't try, but that's for internal political reasons in both parties, not policy reasons.
National and the Greens are much further apart than that. A non-starter. Only brought up every 3 years by bored commentators.
Usually I'd agree with that. Currently it looms as a plausible outcome of negotiation failure. Realistic if the troika is dysfunctional. Since it has yet to function, it's easy to envisage the feasibility of that.
I suspect you mean leftists, but that's cool. I won't be the only non-partisan seeing it this way! I'm enjoying the discomfort on the right that the media are now generating.
The Greens and National did work together on the "Warm up New Zealand – Heat Smart programme in the earlier years of the John Key government but things have changed considerably; different leadership plus changed social and political environment.
Of course they can work together. They just won't be able to form a government in any way, unless National drastically changes its regressive policies. The GP could still vote in favour of good legislation, were Nat ever to put any forward.
Luxon was frustrated that the names of government entities were "Māori first and English second". He said he didn't mind having bilingual names but he thought English should be first, given it was the most commonly spoken language in New Zealand.
Was Luxon asked what the functional effect was of putting Maori names first? How does putting Maori names first affect the ability of the said government entities to fulfill their particular responsibilities?
Because the answer to this question is "it doesn't", the shameless opportunist should be laughed off the stage for not being a serious person, not being the heroic CEO with a remorseless focus on delivery*, but a shabby, half-hearted participant in the national cannibalism of culture wars.
*delivery. Luxon blathers on about delivery; but is never specific about what gets delivered. However, we all know that for 90% of us it's a sh…t sandwich.
the theory that human behaviour is determined by surrounding circumstances rather than by personal qualities.
a revolutionary political theory which regards modern industrial society as being inevitably oppressive and exploitative.
Makes sense that behaviour responds to situations but I doubt that discounting free will bv implication will ever work in practice, so cross out #1 as unrealistic. Inasmuch as being born into a capitalist society can be typically experienced as oppression and exploitation, fair to say many will rate #2 as realistic.
However the councillor mentioned it in a third sense: as a type of interactive relationship with another person, with mutually agreed terms. So looks like the meme is trending.
Excellent dv. In 29 years you'll have the $7k you need to make up for losing the clean car discount on that flash Tesla you have been eyeing up. Invest it wisely, and you could bring that time down by a year or two.
Among all Luxon/Williss's statements there are two that I can't understand. Willis is going to get beneficiaries into 'super' community jobs and Luxon is going to make many public servants redundant – replacing one lot of beneficiaries with another. Also in Luxon's first 100 days there doesn't seem to be any allowance for the days needed to negotiate with Winston.
Hmm. I doubt that "super community jobs" (if they existed at all) would be public servants as we normally understand the term. More likely exceptionally cheap, insecure, casual work allowing the private sector to lower wage costs. But who knows with these people. They are allowed to get away with so much nonsense they aren't even trying to be serious any more.
The election result is on Nov 3. Seat numbers usually change from election night. Then negotiations have to be concluded, then MPs are sworn in, then Parliament starts. So, next to nothing will be done before Xmas.
All this "first 100 days" talk is just part of the bluster … "I'm in charge, I'll hit the ground running". It sounds like action, and relies on the media lazily repeating empty claims instead of knowing how the process works.
If Nat+ACT have a guaranteed majority on election night (large enough to be immune from special votes, when Nats have historically lost seats) then negotiations between the 2 parties would take place while waiting for the result.
So they basically need 63, and even then they would want to talk to NZF, as insurance. The nightmare for National is that NZF are 4.9% on election night but get 5% in the final result, making the negotiations obsolete.
I suspect the media will start to focus on Winston's post-election track record sometime soon. That may force him to smarten up – but in physics the three-body orbital problem remains in the too-hard basket and I bet the analog applies to the right of politics here & now! They need time to converge.
For anybody who worked in the private sector during the 90s and was unfortunate enough to have American bosses parachuted in from a parent company, the 100-day thing sounds familiar. The Yanks loved to demand 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day plans and execution timelines. These times weren't even predicated on cobbling together a bogus, over-simplified Gantt chart based on estimates carefully garnered from the nether regions of middle management. No, they came in an unhygienically direct fashion straight from the nether regions of the boss. But all that misses the point – these 30, 60, 90-day fantasies weren't plans at all – they were assertions that "you are all lazy sods and you'll do as you are told". They were statements of absolute power.
For most of the people to whom this policy is pitched – the vision of currently highly-paid bureaucrats driving a bus for $30/hr – is not a down-side.
It's highly unlikely that many, if any, of the people who might be made redundant would be getting the unemployment benefit. Stand down, and mortgage/rent requirements will push them into getting another job (albeit with less salary and benefits) ASAP.
The long term beneficiaries are not those who've just lost a job, but rather those who have lots of other issues which make getting a job harder.
Just spent an evening with someone working in the education sector with several schools, some teachers have kids using their phs in class , to engage them with topics!
Redundant = redundancy payments = no savings = employment court backlog = more cost to taxpayer = court costs and penalty payments to plaintif = reinstment= full circle.
How about NZ adopt a federal constitution with our regions becoming Aussie/US style states, Canadian style provinces or Swiss style cantons? Central government would only look after immigration, trade, foreign affairs and defence.
Some examples could be Auckland could become a city-state province with very few trade restrictions, befitting its position as New Zealand’s major trading centre.
Wellington could become a federal capital like the ACT in Australia, or Washington DC in America, in which representatives of the provinces would meet to pass federal laws. It may or may not also have a government just for Wellington Province. This would ensure there was a minimum of disruption for Wellington and for the remaining central government in the transition to decentralisation.
Tuhoe, who have always claimed independence on the grounds that they did not sign the Treaty of Waitangi, could become a self-governing province. They would only be subject to federal law, and would otherwise have the freedom to set their own cultural agenda.
Nelson and Westland provinces could legalise cannabis and grow it on a wide scale, as well as legalise cannabis cafes that serviced both the local and the tourist markets.
Your design was envisaged in GP discussions & policy submissions just over 30 years ago – stuck in my memory. Grass-roots framing was used. Later, bio-regionalism became the focus (in the 1990s I think).
So I agree that enhanced local govt is feasible, with regions emerging for common -interest decision-making. It would have to be self-organising from the people though.
There's a way to blend that with top-down elitism if the elite are genuine in caring for the people. Negotiators could proceed on the basis of intelligent design.
Now that Chippy has covid, I wonder what will happen re the remaining leader's debates. The final debate is 12th of October. I think there is a Press debate this week.
I doubt that Chippy will be able to participate in the debate this week. Technically Chippy will have got through the 7 day Covid isolation period by then. But, I imagine he still might be feeling quite under the weather by then.
My suggestion is that the leaders debates be replaced with deputy leaders debates. So, Willis vs Davis.
But, I guess it is a moot point. I know people who have still felt absolute crap weeks after, even though they have technically recovered from Covid. So, the key thing is how well that Chippy will feel for the last debate, and whether there should be contingency for that in case he doesn't feel up to it.
I guess it’s moot discussing your wishful thunking.
Maybe, for the final TVNZ debate next week. But, certainly not for the Press debate this week, where contingencies are already being considered. One contingency being considered is moving the date of the debate. I guess that would depend on whether Chippy will be well enough for that possibility, and whether it can be squeezed into the schedule.
The feeling in my bones is that people are wetting themselves with excitement at the prospect of another electrifying leader's debate. So they may be bitterly disappointed if there is no debate as per the schedule, and may find the prospect of a debate between the intellectual heavy-weights, Willis and Davis, an equally mouth watering prospect.
I think that Press debate is held live in Christchurch? If so, it may just be too hard to arrange around schedules, especially this close to the election.
Luxons bluster and apparent nervousness and grasping at straws, like the "who's on top language one " and NZF phonecalls, make me think that maybe he knows something that we dont and that their own polling is not as on-track as the media presume. Not by much mind, but just Nat/ Act nowhere near the neccessary. Anybody else get this hopeful feeling?
From the "Who'd have thunk that ? " Files… (but it is good to see the numbers !)
An RNZ analysis of political donations since 2021 shows people involved in the property industry are giving the most – and almost all of it is going to National, ACT and NZ First.
RNZ's analysis shows National has received more than $1.3m in donations from people involved in the property industry since the beginning of 2021. The party has made no secret of a series of policies it has that are favourable to the property sector
I enjoyed the TVNZ Sunday piece on the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (aka "Dunedin Longitudinal Study" and "Dunedin Study") and the recent death death of its director, Richie Poulton. John Campbell's elegiac lyricism was exactly right for this topic (sometimes it's not). In line with the "nature loads the gun, nurture pulls the trigger" hypothesis, Poulton mentioned briefly that the biggest thing the study had taught him was that the childhood experience of poverty is extremely problematic, potentially pulling many triggers. It is hard not to believe that many of our social problems would in large part wash away in a couple of generations if we effectively ended poverty. Instead I have to listen to Mark Mitchell wanting to get tough on crime. Depressing.
Difficult to eradicate poverty if you arnt prepared to redistribute wealth.
Like you I think many of our social problems would in large part disappear if poverty were ended, however a couple of generations is about 40 years so what is to be done about the mess we have already created meantime…ignoring it is not an option.
"Ignoring it is not an option". Agree Pat. I do think that the short-term interventions (some balance of support and disapproval/punishment) should be influenced by our belief in the long-term approach – and that we might be surprised at how quickly poverty reduction starts to produce small incremental gains.
Nat (Willux) policies will (further) entrench poverty in Kiwi society – not just physically, but also in hearts and minds. Actually, NAct pollies are the real "bottom feeders", imho.
The Baron found himself repeating his words mindlessly
In a dull, trance-like state.
He began to perspire under the hot and fiery sun
And the silent watchful gaze of a crowd of bottom feeders
Who gathered by the roadside with their petitions and pleas.
“Tax cuts for everyone!” shouted the Baron with forced cheer
As he tried to escape through the throng of odorous peasants.
He edged around a giant hole in the road.
“Help,” he heard a voice cry from the bottomless pit,
“I fell down here looking for The Details.”
The Baron pretended not to hear Lady Nicola,
For there before him was the Magnificent Castle of State.
Why poverty in New Zealand is everyone’s concern
Liang describes poverty as a “heritable condition” that perpetuates and amplifies through generations: “It is also not hard to see how individual poverty flows into communities and society, with downstream effects on economics, crime and health, as well as many other systems. Loosen one strand and everything else unravels.”
Drivers asked to slow down after rare bitterns killed near Dargaville
Department of Conservation (DOC) senior biodiversity ranger Reuben Booth said it was likely the birds were catching skinks on the roadside when they were hit.
He pleaded with drivers to keep an eye out for the tall, brown-and-white speckled birds, especially where the road passes wetlands, their favoured habitat.
Booth said the bittern was so rare, the loss of even two birds could affect the species' chances of survival.
Colin French, a kaitiaki for local hapū Te Uri o Hau, said the matuku hūrepo was a rare taonga species.
"Slow down, they won't always run, as sometimes they will stand still like a stick as a defence mechanism to camouflage themselves from predators or threats," French said.
There are native skinks and then there are the Australian invaders (rainbow or plague skinks). They have invaded our place in Auckland and look a lot like native skinks. Kingfisher (kotare) round here seem to account for a few and even a lucky sparrow or two gets in on the act. . Bitterns probably lack either the knowledge or inclination to distinguish between the natives and the Aussies, but are probably eating mostly the latter. I remember seeing bittern in the swampy areas of farmland when camped at Kai-iwi lakes (also near Dargaville) in the mid '70's. The trout in the lakes were in their prime then – plenty in 2.5 to 3kg range and some of the few trout anywhere actually worth eating..
“Given the 100 days programme begins from when a coalition agreement is completed, will it start this year or next year”?
Follow up question, “are you confident of the coalition agreement holding for 100 days”?
“How can you guarantee to realise this programme in 100 days before a coalition agreement has been reached”?
“How many lies have you told about this before today”
What, if anything, you have said will you stand by, rather than make any changes to form a coalition agreement?
Do you know what a grifter is?
“And is the party you lead working for the landlord class, property developer, speculator, real estate industry, the employer class, the climate change denying farming lobby, – the people who donate money to your party”.
100 days plans are a form of right-wing virtue signalling. They mark the heroic determination to deliver, not be held back by bureaucrats, red tape and ultimately, reality. All we need is an art deco-style poster of Luxon with sleeves rolled up shaking his fist at the sky in defiance, and the historical antecedents will be clear.
Not forgetting Colonel Willis’ very secret blend of foreign buyer tax and rising house prices.
Pulling tax from one part of teetering Jenga tower to place it in another [updated 20 Sept 2023]
At its core, National’s tax plan is all about property.
It should be no surprise that the real estate sector, who stand to gain from an influx of affluent foreign buyers, have been the most vocal in their enthusiasm for National’s tax plan.
How was he going to debate Hipkins? Hipkins was unavailable.
This chicken stuff seems a bit below the belt.
Bishop, on RNZ this morning raised the possibility of Willis v Davis ( the deputies). My immediate thought was it would be a mismatch, considering what a low profile Davis has had and he doesn't strike me as much of a effective debater.
Edit, ahh I see, this is in the context of a future event.
Labour rejected that, according to media I saw or heard earlier. The prospect of her running rings around poor ole Kelvin spooked them. I don't see the point of having a party deputy leader if you're too scared to use him.
Does seem kinda strange that Lux would pass on the opportunity though. Maybe he's never heard of practice makes perfect? Does this debate get televised? I looked at freeview's guide but it wasn't there.
"Does seem kinda strange that Lux would pass on the opportunity though."
Hipkins needs the debate way, way more than Luxon does. Makes sense not to give him the opportunity. The desperation explains Labour's over reaction to the whole affair.
He's signaling that the election is a sideshow, he's already won and is calling the shots. Democratic niceties are just holding him back from 'delivering' now, the 100-day plan is on the table, it's all over, get the show on the road, the only game in town, the boss is on the phone, the natural order of things is resumed.
You know, that's not a completely stupid tactic if the Nats were up to it.
It would be pretty risky, and annoy a few people (debate ticket holders etc), but it may enhance the idea they're trying to create that "the contest was over a long time ago".
Dunno about Luxon, but Slippery John would have thought he could get away with it.
I've heard Big Lux say multiple time that he is not going to be lectured by Hipkins, or take advice from him, or be given lessons on economics by him. The language is suggestive of an imperial mindset – of an authority that comes from some place other than a democratic mandate of the people. That other place might be the heroic status of being a mighty CEO, or (freakily) it might be God.
It could be a mix of both. Although I have my doubts about his so-called Christianity. Its starting to look more like it was means to an end and nothing more than that. His archaic views on social issues such as abortion, women's rights generally and the quip “bottom feeders” are far more concerning.
Taking the country backwards needs to be spelt out in detail by Labour and the Greens because I don't think many people comprehend what it will mean for them.
Have we not just continued with the protection of privilege since the 1984 market reforms? Merely moved from import licensing, tariffs and subsidy to a pampering of the landlord class (mortgage deductability against rent income, no real CGT, no estate or wealth taxation, no stamp duties – there is nothing like it in the rest of the world), the employer class (ECA and no FPA industry awards easy hire of migrants etc – little like it in the rest of the world, or its scale – because holding down wages results in loss to Oz) and otherwise pandering to the industrial scale dairying by volume business.
The results are in, overpriced land, unafforable homes for underpaid workers and an insufferable party of grifters who work them (National Party).
Chippy said he'd reschedule any other date, provide another debater or even do it via zoom, and Lux still declined. Man, that's as much of a sook out as you can get.
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A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Helal, Assistant Dean (Sustainability), The University of Melbourne Dubai skylineAleksandarPasaric/Pexels Since ancient times, people have built structures that reach for the skies – from the steep spires of medieval towers to the grand domes of ancient cathedrals and mosques. Today ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Musole, PhD Law Student, University of New England Girts Ragelis/ShutterstockRecent trends show Australians are increasingly buying wearables such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. These electronics track our body movements or vital signs to provide data throughout the day, with ...
Papua New Guinea experienced a significant earthquake on 24 March in East Sepik and there has also been recent flooding there and in surrounding provinces. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yousuf Mohammed, Dermatology researcher, The University of Queensland Maridav/Shutterstock You wake up, stagger to the bathroom and gaze into the mirror. No, you’re not imagining it. You’ve developed face wrinkles overnight. They’re sleep wrinkles. Sleep wrinkles are temporary. But as your ...
The Environment Select Committee has just announced that 60 percent of individuals who asked to speak at the hearings will not be heard. This equates to almost 700 people who made individual submissions and more than 1000 more who made a form submission. ...
The Royal New Zealand Ballet is performing Swan Lake around the country. What kind of dream does the ballet sell?Before going to see the Royal New Zealand Ballet perform Swan Lake, I had about as much familiarity with the plot of this ballet as could be expected from having ...
A new poem by Auckland poet Eamonn Tee. High Tide at Local Maxima It is only going to get worse. The streams will be narrow and fickle. The week will bend and buckle like a pot-bellied waist. You will make it to the weekend with one ...
The New Zealand entrepreneur behind beauty business Ethique is gearing up to launch a new eco-venture. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Our thirst for a tasty bevvy is insatiable, but it comes with a hefty plastic price for the planet: 580 billion ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 James by Percival Everett (Mantle, $38) A retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from ...
By Kamna Kumar in Suva Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna stressed the importance of media freedom and its link to the climate and environmental crisis at the 2024 World Press Freedom Day event organised by the University of the South Pacific’s journalism programme. Under the theme “A Planet for ...
Tara Ward previews a new local TV series offering alternative visions of motherhood. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. A woman is clambering up the side of her two-story house, clinging desperately to a drainpipe. Nearby, her child is perched on the ...
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is supportive of the cross-party approach to climate adaptation announced by the Minister of Climate Change today. ...
The Sustainable Business Council (SBC) and Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) welcome today’s announcement from Government around a bipartisan inquiry into an enduring climate adaptation framework for New Zealand. ...
The Free Speech Union welcomes the decision by the Department of Internal Affairs, and Minister Brooke Van Velden, to abandon proposals to further regulate online speech. ...
Its new building in Wellington will not be nearly big enough for all its records, and it has also run out of money to build its new storage facility in Levin. ...
BusinessNZ is congratulating the Minister of Climate Change for his work in achieving cross-party consensus for a way forward on climate adaptation. ...
Recent research reveals the repeal of smokefree measures is not only bad for our health, but also the economy. The Government has repealed various smokefree measures to ensure it keeps collecting $1.2 billion a year in tobacco taxes, in order to pay for tax cuts already being delivered to ...
The club’s surprisingly good season is built on the desire to prove a random A-League YouTuber wrong… and a few other factors.“There’s no way that Wellington Phoenix play finals this year. I can’t see it happening at all.” Those are the words of Lachlan Raeside, an Australian football content ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By César Albarrán-Torres, Senior Lecturer, Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology Apple TV+ As one of billions of bilingual individuals in the world, it disappoints me when a film or TV show with characters of a non-English-speaking background is ...
The under-utilised course is a waste of space, and with a little political will, it could be turned into something better. For the duration of her stay in Wellington, my long-suffering cousin listened to me rant about golf courses. They’re bad for the environment: water intensive and pesticide heavy. They ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Ruppanner, Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of The Future of Work Lab, Podcast at MissPerceived, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock A recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows US fertility rates dropped 2% in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Corderoy, Medical doctor and PhD candidate studying involuntary psychiatric treatment, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Sydney shop_py/Shutterstock Picture two people, both suffering from a serious mental illness requiring hospital admission. One was born in Australia, the other in Asia. Hopefully, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Treby, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, RMIT University P.j.Hickox, Shutterstock Peatlands store more carbon per square metre than any other ecosystem on Earth. These waterlogged, mossy bogs beat even dense rainforests for their ability to act as carbon reservoirs. Under the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Goss, Adjunct Associate Professor, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra Government spending on health has been growing so rapidly that a decade ago the then health minister Peter Dutton called it “unmanageable” and “unsustainable”. Health spending grew in real terms by ...
New Zealand's largest electricity distributor is warning the country to hurry up with controls around charging electric vehicles or face unnecessary bills running into the billions. ...
New Zealanders have been asked to conserve energy this morning to combat a possible electricity shortfall, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. A call to conserve power New Zealand is facing a possible electricity shortfall, with people up ...
Writer Rebecca K Reilly breaks down the national book awards. What are the Ockhams?The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are our annual national awards for books published for adults, and have existed in this form since 2016. There are four categories: Fiction, Poetry, General Non-fiction and Illustrated Non-fiction. There ...
Wellington City Council should keep its 34% ownership share in Wellington International Airport, argue Unions Wellington spokespeople Finn Cordwell and Ashok Jacob. Insanity, as the saying goes, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Wellington City Council (WCC) is yet again proposing to dispose ...
New Zealand’s largest book publisher has undergone drastic changes this week, leaving its future role in local publishing uncertain. Two of the most recognisable local publishers in New Zealand are among those restructured out of Penguin Random House, it was announced this week. Head of publishing Claire Murdoch will leave ...
In 2021 the Public Interest Journalism Fund launched the Te Rito Journalism project, a $2.4 million initiative to boost diversity in New Zealand’s newsrooms. The initiative was in response to the decades-long shortage of Māori and Pacific journalists in the media industry. It was billed as New Zealand’s ...
The Black Ferns Sevens appeared to be a mile behind Australia at the halfway point of the 2023-24 SVNS international circuit. Winless in three tournaments, a cup quarter-final exit in Perth was one of their worst results. To add insult to injury, talismanic skipper Sarah Hirini had been ruled out ...
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Successive governments have tried, and failed, to count Māori. But with the return of social investment, it’s more important than ever to get good data. The post Government looks for a better way to count Māori appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Experts in financing social investment initiatives say New Zealand is in a prime position to tackle social issues via a social investment approach The post What will Willis’ social investment fund look like? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist A former Tuvalu prime minister says while the New Zealand government’s oil and gas plans show it is concerned about its economy, he is more concerned about the livelihoods and survival of the Tuvalu people. Enele Sopoaga — who still serves as an MP ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Many people who follow federal budgets know about the magnificent “budget tree” in a parliamentary courtyard, which turns a glorious red in time for the May event. This week Treasurer Jim Chalmers posed by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Bennett, Professor of Music, Australian National University Richard P J Lambert/flickr, CC BY The future belongs to the analogue loyalists. Fuck digital. As a tsunami of CDs, DAT tapes and samplers swept the recording industry in the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Strong, Associate professor, Music Industry, RMIT University This week American rapper Macklemore released a new track, Hind’s Hall, which has gained a lot of attention because of its explicitly political nature. The track is unapologetically pro-Palestine. It declares the artist’s ...
Explainer - The government from 2025 is mandating how state schools teach children to read. But what is structured literacy and how does it compare to other teaching methods? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danica Jenkins, Lecturer in European Studies, University of Sydney On a freezing spring night in March, Georgia’s national soccer team beat Greece in a nail-biter penalty shootout to qualify for the Euro 2024 championships. The atmosphere on the streets of the capital ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam G. Arian, Lecturer (Accounting & Finance), Australian Catholic University Loic Manegarium/Pexels Imagine every ton of carbon dioxide a company emits is slowly inflating its costs — not just in terms of potential fines or fees but in the capital it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Somwrita Sarkar, Senior Lecturer in Design and Computation, University of Sydney The “latte line” is the infamous, invisible boundary that divides Sydney between the more affluent north-east and the south-west. Historically, people north of the line enjoy better access to jobs and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dowdy, Principal Research Scientist in Extreme Weather, The University of Melbourne Nomad_Soul/Shutterstock In media articles about unprecedented flooding, you’ll often come across the statement that for every 1°C of warming, the atmosphere can hold about 7% more moisture. This ...
RNZ Pacific Former Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has been sentenced to one year in prison, Fiji media are reporting. Bainimarama, alongside suspended Fiji Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho appeared in the High Court in Suva today for their sentencing hearing for a case involving their roles in blocking a police ...
Acting Chief Human Rights Commissioner Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo says, “Addressing violence and abuse remains New Zealand’s most significant human rights issue affecting women. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Symons, Macquarie School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University Michael Schiffer / Unsplash Life has transformed our world over billions of years, turning a dead rock into the lush, fertile planet we know today. But human activity is currently transforming Earth ...
One woman’s quest to watch Challengers without ruining her body clock. Every Saturday morning, I wake up with a screaming demon inside my head urging me to “Do. Something. This. Weekend.” I run through the possibilities in my head in a defensive mental crouch, reminiscent of that one time I ...
The PSA is alarmed that ACC is proposing to shed 309 jobs including 29 dedicated injury prevention jobs at a time when the number and cost of injuries is rising. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tom Baker, Associate Professor in Human Geography, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images As local and regional councils struggle with inadequate infrastructure and unsustainable costs, New Zealand will be hearing a lot more about the potential solution offered by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gary Sacks, Professor of Public Health Policy, Deakin University Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock In recent years, there’s been increasinghype about the potential health risks associated with so-called “ultra-processed” foods. But new evidence published this week found not all “ultra-processed” foods are linked ...
Watched Winston responding to Ryan Bridge in interview just now on AM. Went well. Load of fun all around. He's totally on the ball at present. Bet it goes down a hoot with the yokels (if they can figure out how to get the re-run online). Kingmaker.
He even cited an instance of agreeing with Seymour to confound expectations. Doubt if the electorate wants to give him total control though – just enough to spoil the expectations of the two sprats he'll be having to teach a thing or two sometime eventually, after voters deliver murk on the day…
Winston thrives on 'Don't hate the player, hate the game.'
Support for NZ First is not an endorsement of Winston or anything he says but rather a protest at the whole nonsense….how large that protest ends up being will depend on how motivated the 'protesters' are to vote….I suspect a larger portion wont even bother to protest, they are resigned.
James explains Luxon's fall-back option:
So Lux would have to prove his ability as a deal-maker. Only viable if Seymour refuses to do what Winston tells him. Lux needs to have an alternative to switch to, which means prior planning for Plan B, which means press the teal button on his option module.
Are you still pushing that blue/Green BS ? Do you honestly think that would fly? Beside the fact that the Nats arent even..a "teal" Environment group.
Give it a rest aye?
No I'm not pushing it. I'm a bystander commenting on what the media are exploring for our election outcome.
"what the media are exploring for our election outcome."
nah
"what the media are
exploringclick baiting for our election outcome."FIFY
100%
Oh, the Teal Fantasy again.
National and Labour (MPs, if not wider party) could reach a minimalist but just about feasible agreement, if they really had to. Obviously they won't try, but that's for internal political reasons in both parties, not policy reasons.
National and the Greens are much further apart than that. A non-starter. Only brought up every 3 years by bored commentators.
Usually I'd agree with that. Currently it looms as a plausible outcome of negotiation failure. Realistic if the troika is dysfunctional. Since it has yet to function, it's easy to envisage the feasibility of that.
It might be an option in your mind Dennis, but nobody else with any credibility takes it seriously.
If the troika Nat/ACT/NZF gains 60+ seats but is dysfunctional we are in for another election.
I suspect you mean leftists, but that's cool. I won't be the only non-partisan seeing it this way! I'm enjoying the discomfort on the right that the media are now generating.
The Greens and National did work together on the "Warm up New Zealand – Heat Smart programme in the earlier years of the John Key government but things have changed considerably; different leadership plus changed social and political environment.
Of course they can work together. They just won't be able to form a government in any way, unless National drastically changes its regressive policies. The GP could still vote in favour of good legislation, were Nat ever to put any forward.
Luxon is all over the place this morning (like most mornings). Open mouth, make it up. He can't even answer basic questions:
Election 2023: Watch live – National’s Christopher Luxon faces Newstalk ZB’s Leaders Breakfast – NZ Herald
He's focused on the big issues …
Luxon was frustrated that the names of government entities were "Māori first and English second". He said he didn't mind having bilingual names but he thought English should be first, given it was the most commonly spoken language in New Zealand.
Was Luxon asked what the functional effect was of putting Maori names first? How does putting Maori names first affect the ability of the said government entities to fulfill their particular responsibilities?
Because the answer to this question is "it doesn't", the shameless opportunist should be laughed off the stage for not being a serious person, not being the heroic CEO with a remorseless focus on delivery*, but a shabby, half-hearted participant in the national cannibalism of culture wars.
*delivery. Luxon blathers on about delivery; but is never specific about what gets delivered. However, we all know that for 90% of us it's a sh…t sandwich.
And the National Party’s greatest failing?
They didn't even get bread for their shit sandwich
Let them eat cake!
Wales and Ireland would say differently.
"Researchers in Wales found that motorists’ reading comprehension time saw no increase when English was displayed above Welsh on bilingual signage."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/132174311/what-happened-when-ireland-got-bilingual-road-signs
Ir's Luxon dog-whistling to the likes of the pakeha Auckland woman who came into our NZLP electorate HQ who said; "I'm not a racist, but….."
Yes observer. I struggled to watch the whole shambles. Very few questions answered. Usual bluster. Heaven help us.
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/christopher-luxon-listen-to-full-leaders-breakfast-with-national-leader-talking-economy-tax-plan-education-healthcare-and-crime/
I'd never heard of it but an Auckland councillor mentioned it on the AM show:
Makes sense that behaviour responds to situations but I doubt that discounting free will bv implication will ever work in practice, so cross out #1 as unrealistic. Inasmuch as being born into a capitalist society can be typically experienced as oppression and exploitation, fair to say many will rate #2 as realistic.
However the councillor mentioned it in a third sense: as a type of interactive relationship with another person, with mutually agreed terms. So looks like the meme is trending.
Did Natz calc on tax relief
We get $4.60 A WEEK WOW.
Excellent dv. In 29 years you'll have the $7k you need to make up for losing the clean car discount on that flash Tesla you have been eyeing up. Invest it wisely, and you could bring that time down by a year or two.
How many ice creams is that?
One
No money for a DVD rental then!!! Willis lied to us!!!
I could save for that BW
Are there DVDs to rent still? I haven't seen a video rental place for at least a decade.
Think of it by the month as a minimal Netflix account.
Among all Luxon/Williss's statements there are two that I can't understand. Willis is going to get beneficiaries into 'super' community jobs and Luxon is going to make many public servants redundant – replacing one lot of beneficiaries with another. Also in Luxon's first 100 days there doesn't seem to be any allowance for the days needed to negotiate with Winston.
Hmm. I doubt that "super community jobs" (if they existed at all) would be public servants as we normally understand the term. More likely exceptionally cheap, insecure, casual work allowing the private sector to lower wage costs. But who knows with these people. They are allowed to get away with so much nonsense they aren't even trying to be serious any more.
The election result is on Nov 3. Seat numbers usually change from election night. Then negotiations have to be concluded, then MPs are sworn in, then Parliament starts. So, next to nothing will be done before Xmas.
All this "first 100 days" talk is just part of the bluster … "I'm in charge, I'll hit the ground running". It sounds like action, and relies on the media lazily repeating empty claims instead of knowing how the process works.
AND 'negotiations" will take how long?
1 day 2 days 7 days 20 days ………. 50 days
If Nat+ACT have a guaranteed majority on election night (large enough to be immune from special votes, when Nats have historically lost seats) then negotiations between the 2 parties would take place while waiting for the result.
So they basically need 63, and even then they would want to talk to NZF, as insurance. The nightmare for National is that NZF are 4.9% on election night but get 5% in the final result, making the negotiations obsolete.
Not an impossible outcome, at all.
I suspect the media will start to focus on Winston's post-election track record sometime soon. That may force him to smarten up – but in physics the three-body orbital problem remains in the too-hard basket and I bet the analog applies to the right of politics here & now! They need time to converge.
For anybody who worked in the private sector during the 90s and was unfortunate enough to have American bosses parachuted in from a parent company, the 100-day thing sounds familiar. The Yanks loved to demand 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day plans and execution timelines. These times weren't even predicated on cobbling together a bogus, over-simplified Gantt chart based on estimates carefully garnered from the nether regions of middle management. No, they came in an unhygienically direct fashion straight from the nether regions of the boss. But all that misses the point – these 30, 60, 90-day fantasies weren't plans at all – they were assertions that "you are all lazy sods and you'll do as you are told". They were statements of absolute power.
Tim Gurner ..Australian "CEO" and entitled jerk ..ripped out for that here..by Americans who know full well how those assholes are.
Could make Guy Fawkes night more interesting.
For most of the people to whom this policy is pitched – the vision of currently highly-paid bureaucrats driving a bus for $30/hr – is not a down-side.
It's highly unlikely that many, if any, of the people who might be made redundant would be getting the unemployment benefit. Stand down, and mortgage/rent requirements will push them into getting another job (albeit with less salary and benefits) ASAP.
The long term beneficiaries are not those who've just lost a job, but rather those who have lots of other issues which make getting a job harder.
Don't forget the biggies. From their announcements.
"National will ban cell phone use at school.
The presumption is cell phones are off and away all day, including during breaks between class,
The ban will be implemented via regulations the Government can establish."
Maybe Act will get some of the gurus from their 'Getting rid of Regulations' team to formulate the necessary regulations.
Just spent an evening with someone working in the education sector with several schools, some teachers have kids using their phs in class , to engage them with topics!
Redundant = redundancy payments = no savings = employment court backlog = more cost to taxpayer = court costs and penalty payments to plaintif = reinstment= full circle.
I seem to remember an ACT statement about removing reinstatements as an employment dispute remedy
I have an idea.
How about NZ adopt a federal constitution with our regions becoming Aussie/US style states, Canadian style provinces or Swiss style cantons? Central government would only look after immigration, trade, foreign affairs and defence.
Some examples could be Auckland could become a city-state province with very few trade restrictions, befitting its position as New Zealand’s major trading centre.
Wellington could become a federal capital like the ACT in Australia, or Washington DC in America, in which representatives of the provinces would meet to pass federal laws. It may or may not also have a government just for Wellington Province. This would ensure there was a minimum of disruption for Wellington and for the remaining central government in the transition to decentralisation.
Tuhoe, who have always claimed independence on the grounds that they did not sign the Treaty of Waitangi, could become a self-governing province. They would only be subject to federal law, and would otherwise have the freedom to set their own cultural agenda.
Nelson and Westland provinces could legalise cannabis and grow it on a wide scale, as well as legalise cannabis cafes that serviced both the local and the tourist markets.
What do you reckon?
Nelson and the Coast couldnt organise a toke-up in a dope factory, ffs they cant even get water to go where they want it.
Your design was envisaged in GP discussions & policy submissions just over 30 years ago – stuck in my memory. Grass-roots framing was used. Later, bio-regionalism became the focus (in the 1990s I think).
So I agree that enhanced local govt is feasible, with regions emerging for common -interest decision-making. It would have to be self-organising from the people though.
There's a way to blend that with top-down elitism if the elite are genuine in caring for the people. Negotiators could proceed on the basis of intelligent design.
Come on acting PM Carmel–make a Cap’n’s Call!
Announce a Wealth Tax & Basic Income…and win this election…
Now that Chippy has covid, I wonder what will happen re the remaining leader's debates. The final debate is 12th of October. I think there is a Press debate this week.
I doubt that Chippy will be able to participate in the debate this week. Technically Chippy will have got through the 7 day Covid isolation period by then. But, I imagine he still might be feeling quite under the weather by then.
My suggestion is that the leaders debates be replaced with deputy leaders debates. So, Willis vs Davis.
My suggestion smithy is at #8.
Nope, that’s incorrect, actually.
I guess you are right, given that the mandatory isolation period no longer applies. And it is now recommended to isolate for five days. So, point taken.
But, I guess it is a moot point. I know people who have still felt absolute crap weeks after, even though they have technically recovered from Covid. So, the key thing is how well that Chippy will feel for the last debate, and whether there should be contingency for that in case he doesn't feel up to it.
Actually, I guess I’m right too.
I guess it’s moot discussing your wishful thunking.
Maybe, for the final TVNZ debate next week. But, certainly not for the Press debate this week, where contingencies are already being considered. One contingency being considered is moving the date of the debate. I guess that would depend on whether Chippy will be well enough for that possibility, and whether it can be squeezed into the schedule.
The feeling in my bones is that people are wetting themselves with excitement at the prospect of another electrifying leader's debate. So they may be bitterly disappointed if there is no debate as per the schedule, and may find the prospect of a debate between the intellectual heavy-weights, Willis and Davis, an equally mouth watering prospect.
Chris chickened out.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/10/election-2023-christopher-luxon-pulls-out-of-major-leaders-debate-national.html
My suggested option looks fairly good then, lol.
I think that Press debate is held live in Christchurch? If so, it may just be too hard to arrange around schedules, especially this close to the election.
Which suggestion? The ice cream lady vs. the orator?
@tsmithfield Deputy leaders would be Willis vs Sepuloni.
Carmel Sepuloni has been Labour Deputy since January in case you hadn't heard.
Apology for my confusion. Sepuloni is Deputy Prime Minister and a Labour MP, but Davis is Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.
Luxons bluster and apparent nervousness and grasping at straws, like the "who's on top language one " and NZF phonecalls, make me think that maybe he knows something that we dont and that their own polling is not as on-track as the media presume. Not by much mind, but just Nat/ Act nowhere near the neccessary. Anybody else get this hopeful feeling?
Yes. It's by no means a fait accompli, far from it.
With Catherine this morning, Sue Maroney said a 4% shift would get LGM in power.
From the "Who'd have thunk that ? " Files… (but it is good to see the numbers !)
We know who are the beneficiaries of NAct policy.
Actually, Nat pollies are in it for themselves, and their big donors.
There will be no ‘trickle down’ for the “bottom feeders“.
The National Party – for the best laws you can buy. Enquire now about their easy payment plans.
And a tax break ice cream ! (however DVD not necessarily incl )
Post up now about Winston Peters and that Jack Tame interview, and why Peters is dangerous.
https://thestandard.org.nz/why-wont-winston-peters-answer-straight-forward-questions-about-nz-first-policy/
Weird. The RSS feeds have almost died. Another task to look at after I get past my current work log jam.
Ummm. looks like either a data query problem, or a render issue.
Looks like it must have just happened.
Fixed. Looks like a very bad RSS feed from realclimate.
I enjoyed the TVNZ Sunday piece on the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (aka "Dunedin Longitudinal Study" and "Dunedin Study") and the recent death death of its director, Richie Poulton. John Campbell's elegiac lyricism was exactly right for this topic (sometimes it's not). In line with the "nature loads the gun, nurture pulls the trigger" hypothesis, Poulton mentioned briefly that the biggest thing the study had taught him was that the childhood experience of poverty is extremely problematic, potentially pulling many triggers. It is hard not to believe that many of our social problems would in large part wash away in a couple of generations if we effectively ended poverty. Instead I have to listen to Mark Mitchell wanting to get tough on crime. Depressing.
Difficult to eradicate poverty if you arnt prepared to redistribute wealth.
Like you I think many of our social problems would in large part disappear if poverty were ended, however a couple of generations is about 40 years so what is to be done about the mess we have already created meantime…ignoring it is not an option.
"Ignoring it is not an option". Agree Pat. I do think that the short-term interventions (some balance of support and disapproval/punishment) should be influenced by our belief in the long-term approach – and that we might be surprised at how quickly poverty reduction starts to produce small incremental gains.
Party Vote Green https://www.greens.org.nz/ending_poverty_together
https://vote.nz/enrolling/enrol-or-update/enrol-or-update-online/
Plenty of wisdom from Poulton in that TVNZ Sunday programme.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/sunday/episodes/s2023-e31
Nat (Willux) policies will (further) entrench poverty in Kiwi society – not just physically, but also in hearts and minds. Actually, NAct pollies are the real "bottom feeders", imho.
POVERTY The Dunedin study shows evidence that about 70-80% of children are in future heading to prison or crime or unemployment come from poverty.
Sign up here. Be in the poverty team and stay on path. Vote NAct to speed up your future prospects.
Not Politics..Just sad…
Its like Pukeko…and Kahu (Hawk) some people either dont care..or want ..to hit them ?
Geez I always hit the horn button even when I was a truck driver..
Hawks take a little while to react..(Raptor claws)
But the Bitterns esp..running them over…just wrong.
Surely it is far more important to save the skinks?
Why do you think that it is OK for bitterns to murder those friendly little skinks?
Why? Genuine question.
A bittern's (“Conservation status: Nationally Critical“) gotta eat – or is meat murder?
Phew – no reason then for us non-skinks to fear being bittern
I suppose there is something sadder…a puerile right wing troll who briefly emerges from under his bridge…before scuttling back there.
There are native skinks and then there are the Australian invaders (rainbow or plague skinks). They have invaded our place in Auckland and look a lot like native skinks. Kingfisher (kotare) round here seem to account for a few and even a lucky sparrow or two gets in on the act. . Bitterns probably lack either the knowledge or inclination to distinguish between the natives and the Aussies, but are probably eating mostly the latter. I remember seeing bittern in the swampy areas of farmland when camped at Kai-iwi lakes (also near Dargaville) in the mid '70's. The trout in the lakes were in their prime then – plenty in 2.5 to 3kg range and some of the few trout anywhere actually worth eating..
Journalists are welcome to borrow these questions
“Given the 100 days programme begins from when a coalition agreement is completed, will it start this year or next year”?
Follow up question, “are you confident of the coalition agreement holding for 100 days”?
“How can you guarantee to realise this programme in 100 days before a coalition agreement has been reached”?
“How many lies have you told about this before today”
What, if anything, you have said will you stand by, rather than make any changes to form a coalition agreement?
Do you know what a grifter is?
“And is the party you lead working for the landlord class, property developer, speculator, real estate industry, the employer class, the climate change denying farming lobby, – the people who donate money to your party”.
100 days plans are a form of right-wing virtue signalling. They mark the heroic determination to deliver, not be held back by bureaucrats, red tape and ultimately, reality. All we need is an art deco-style poster of Luxon with sleeves rolled up shaking his fist at the sky in defiance, and the historical antecedents will be clear.
What could possibly be in it for Nat to pull out of the Press debate? Surely Luxon isn’t that much of a sook?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/133039988/live-christopher-luxon-pulls-out-of-press-leaders-debate
It is feeble, but in character.
He is simply not up to the job he's applying for. As PM you face far more scrutiny than he has ever faced.
No opposition leader (Nat or Lab) in the MMP era has run away as much as Luxon 2023. Not one.
He's a coward! An excuse to pull out of having to debate Hipkins again. I hope Labour has the gumption to scream [metaphorically speaking]:
“coward, coward coward”
every day until Election day.
LOVE IT.
"Labour's new ad depicting Luxon in a chicken suit."
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-advance-voting-begins-as-labours-chris-hipkins-curtailed-by-covid/U26QBPYFN5C3ZKSDXTDY4JYIMU/
Maybe someone knows how to transfer the image to this site? I don't.
From now until Election day, all Labour candidates should refer to him as:
"chicken lickin luxon".
CLux cLux clux
Not forgetting Colonel Willis’ very secret blend of foreign buyer tax and rising house prices.
Why did the chicken cross the road?
Because it was running away and couldn’t fly.
Nah, a Chicken uses a Chauffeured driven Mercedes-Benz Limousine to cross the road.
Thank you Anne. That has gone straight on facebook.
How was he going to debate Hipkins? Hipkins was unavailable.
This chicken stuff seems a bit below the belt.
Bishop, on RNZ this morning raised the possibility of Willis v Davis ( the deputies). My immediate thought was it would be a mismatch, considering what a low profile Davis has had and he doesn't strike me as much of a effective debater.
Edit, ahh I see, this is in the context of a future event.
Labour rejected that, according to media I saw or heard earlier. The prospect of her running rings around poor ole Kelvin spooked them. I don't see the point of having a party deputy leader if you're too scared to use him.
Does seem kinda strange that Lux would pass on the opportunity though. Maybe he's never heard of practice makes perfect? Does this debate get televised? I looked at freeview's guide but it wasn't there.
"Does seem kinda strange that Lux would pass on the opportunity though."
Hipkins needs the debate way, way more than Luxon does. Makes sense not to give him the opportunity. The desperation explains Labour's over reaction to the whole affair.
Don't buy into this National crap Dennis-that is exactly what they want. It is a LEADERS debate. The clue is in the word “leader”.
Labour has said it will reschedule when Hipkins is well. Luxon has run like the feeble chicken he is.
It must have hurt being well beaten in the last debate.
Some examples please?
(Not because I need proof, just for the schadenfreude 😈)
For example …
Election 2023: National's Christopher Luxon walks off again amid more questions over tax plan | Newshub
Note: "again"
Luxon has mastered the moonwalk.
He's signaling that the election is a sideshow, he's already won and is calling the shots. Democratic niceties are just holding him back from 'delivering' now, the 100-day plan is on the table, it's all over, get the show on the road, the only game in town, the boss is on the phone, the natural order of things is resumed.
You know, that's not a completely stupid tactic if the Nats were up to it.
It would be pretty risky, and annoy a few people (debate ticket holders etc), but it may enhance the idea they're trying to create that "the contest was over a long time ago".
Dunno about Luxon, but Slippery John would have thought he could get away with it.
I've heard Big Lux say multiple time that he is not going to be lectured by Hipkins, or take advice from him, or be given lessons on economics by him. The language is suggestive of an imperial mindset – of an authority that comes from some place other than a democratic mandate of the people. That other place might be the heroic status of being a mighty CEO, or (freakily) it might be God.
It could be a mix of both. Although I have my doubts about his so-called Christianity. Its starting to look more like it was means to an end and nothing more than that. His archaic views on social issues such as abortion, women's rights generally and the quip “bottom feeders” are far more concerning.
Taking the country backwards needs to be spelt out in detail by Labour and the Greens because I don't think many people comprehend what it will mean for them.
Have we not just continued with the protection of privilege since the 1984 market reforms? Merely moved from import licensing, tariffs and subsidy to a pampering of the landlord class (mortgage deductability against rent income, no real CGT, no estate or wealth taxation, no stamp duties – there is nothing like it in the rest of the world), the employer class (ECA and no FPA industry awards easy hire of migrants etc – little like it in the rest of the world, or its scale – because holding down wages results in loss to Oz) and otherwise pandering to the industrial scale dairying by volume business.
The results are in, overpriced land, unafforable homes for underpaid workers and an insufferable party of grifters who work them (National Party).
Hes Running Scared, ( wish I could link the sound track) . Nothing worse than being bested by a crook bloke on his sickbed , yes he is a gutless sook.
Chippy said he'd reschedule any other date, provide another debater or even do it via zoom, and Lux still declined. Man, that's as much of a sook out as you can get.