Auckland's been running walking school buses for years (possibly other cities as well, but I know about the Auckland ones because I used to be a volunteer).
They fluctuate in popularity – numbers drop fairly rapidly in wet weather (so pretty low after the never-ending raid of this year).
Virtually every primary school in Auckland would have the vast majority of the kids attending within a 20-30 minute walk.
But, the numbers walking are an order of magnitude fewer than those being driven.
This seems to be the case in your Barcelona example as well. 60-70 kids (on a good day) – and 15 routes for a city of 1.2 million people.
It's a nice 'feel good' story, but it's not the answer to getting parents to stop driving kids to school.
Desperate from the National Party. They know they are in trouble.
Also a clear conflict of interest because as chairman of ANZ his only purpose is to increase profits for ANZ. He doesn't exist for anything else, so in that video he must, by definition, be campaigning for increased profits for a foreign owned bank.
No worries, the only voters likely to be influenced by Key have already been polled as Nat supporters since the start of polling. Clueless dork syndrome.
ANZ will profit from the lending to Saudi Arabian property buyers buying $2.0 million dollar plus homes here in NZ which is a key part of National's revenue gathering scheme. Ref Nikki Willis.
As long as it is ‘pretty legal’, which is why it is essential to have as many lawmakers in their pockets as possible and preferably in Government [no intention to suggest corruption, quite the opposite].
If NZF-ACT-Nat form the next Government, expect a turbulent period of deregulation of economic policies and tightening of social policies. This will only go as far as to open the money tap for the owners’ class with a trickle & carefully controlled drip for the working class and Precariat. The so-called tax cuts are a cynical sideshow that is paraded out every time, as are the Law & Order kneejerks and good ole beneficiary bashing. The more anxiety (fear) & uncertainty there is the better.
On the issue of staying safe, the FIRE Chief and his greasy buddies are set on a bonfire of regulations and on fuelling housing inflation, unemployment, and scorching the Earth.
'Honest' John couldn't sell voters on his pick for a new flag – he resigned 9 months later.
Maybe Key will have better lux selling his anoited one as a new PM.
The anointed one
Luxon had Sir John in his camp for this leadership bid and was guiding him, and although Key wouldn’t have been working the phones, he didn’t need to – party members knew.
a well-known advocate and campaigner for the National Party,
Te Pāti Māori says a man unlawfully entered the home of its fourth-ranked candidate Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke and police trespassed him.
Party president John Tamihere said Maipi-Clarke's home was entered unlawfully on Wednesday morning and the incident was politically motivated.
Tamihere said race-baiting by National and ACT had empowered and emboldened this sort of behaviour, which he said was another in a string of attacks on Maipi-Clarke in the past week.
This is a disgusting incident symbolic of the aggressive and nasty National Party campaign.
When this awful story came out a couple of days ago National quickly came out with (made up?) stories about dog attacks etc on their candidates. As usual the MSM was easily deflected from the main story by these "they do it to us too" stories when in fact it was a completely false equivalence.
On another issue entirely, John Key has just been reported on Radio NZ as saying that people should vote for National and not other parties if they want a strong government, a clear dig at NZF. Doubt if it will make much difference but….
RNZ news, morning report, said that home invader was pakeha. The cops just trespassed him?? Didn't arrest him??
I bet if a maori activist had done a home invasion of a young pakeha woman he'd have been charged & prosecuted! Local cops there must be an infestation of Nat voters.
Amazing! An establishment leader demonstrating credibility & authenticity! Never thought I'd see that in my lifetime!
The pope criticised global decision-making bodies for being ineffective… The Pope criticised those who "deny, conceal, gloss over or relativise the issue", saying that it was no longer possible to deny the human origins of climate change. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-67005362
He also took aim at "irresponsible lifestyles", particularly in the Western world. He said that emissions per person in the US were about two times greater than those living in China, and about seven times greater than those in the poorest countries.
The pope said a "broad change in the irresponsible lifestyle connected with the Western model", would have a "significant long-term impact".
It's been a decade since he put out Laudate Se, which is one of the first to popularise the key connection between global poverty and human-induced climate change.
This new piece from Pope Francis just builds on that with a bit more invective against lazy countries.
He is also basically at all-out war with the conservative and rich North American bishops.
I recall posting a supportive message onsite here about that. This new initiative from him shows some acumen:
In remarks referring to world governing bodies, Pope Francis calls for a new global "procedure for decision making", adding the process "put in place several decades ago is not sufficient nor does it appear effective."
"Whatever is being done risks being seen only as a ploy to distract attention," he says in a remark aimed at politicians, particularly concerning what he sees as a transition from the use of fossil fuels to clean energy sources that he sees as happening too slowly to be effective. Pope Francis acknowledged that some progress was made through the COP summits but criticised the lack of sanctions if commitments were not fulfilled.
He added that some recommendations in the latest international agreement, from COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, were too vague.
The pope also warned against placing too much hope in carbon capture technologies, suggesting that was akin to "papering over the cracks." "To suppose that all problems in the future will be able to be solved by new technical interventions is a form of homicidal pragmatism, like pushing a snowball down a hill," he said.
Pointing to the psychopathology of world leaders is a smart move! Dumb buggers may even get the message. Leverage via moral guidance.
However he could use it in his political positioning. A marketing strategy: "Yeah, I'm no longer part of the elite. I'm just another loser like you guys. We ought to do solidarity, huh? Worked for the left when I was a kid."
Just saw the video of the great sirjohnkey reduced to BEGGING for people to vote for his puppets. Luxon must be getting tired of being dangled from keysknees.
Made my day. ……..btw he still hasn’t learned to speak proper lol ..off for a coffee and another laugh now Good times.😂
They're at the staring line waiting for the orgy of looting and revenge to begin – gleefully tanked up on whatever their preference is. They don't want to be stopped now. It will get fascinatingly ugly if they are.
No Weka- I think 1.7% would give them close to exactly 2 MPs. It would give them 2.04 MPs out of 120 which feels a long way from 3 MPs in total. So if their PV matches the number of elec MPs they get no more off the list. I think they need to get 3.6% of the vote to get a 3rd (list) MP. Ikaroa Rawhiti- where I live will be very interesting. Does Meka's defection hurt her or help her with voters. She has a pretty solid local following- vs Cushla (Lab) is pretty fresh. I am leaning to a Meka win so there's your 3rd TPM MP and maybe even an overhang.
I heard James Shaw interviewed on ZB this morning. I actually really like James Shaw, and think he talks a lot of common sense btw.
But he appeared to get himself in knots over the NZ First question. First he was asked which would be the most chaotic government; NACT/NZFirst or Labour/Greens/TMP. He said definitely NACT/NZFirst would be the most chaotic.
Then he was asked about his time in government with NZ First. He seemed to get all whimsical, recollecting how good things were in government with NZ First there. How they used to have to get consensus on policy etc, and how that improved the process.
I think this illustrates the problem Labour face trying to portray an NACT/NZFirst coalition as a chaotic mess. The reason is that a lot of those in government now likely have NZ First to thank for that.
And, I think many voters actually preferred the way that government was when NZ First was in government with Labour/Greens, in that there was a road block to more extreme policies.
So, I think Labour need to be a bit careful with their messaging. Otherwise, they might be promoting a concept to voters that many voters actually quite like the sound of.
If we had managed to have a Labour/NZF/Greens Coalition for the last 3 years I don't think we would be having this Dogs Breakfast of an Election now, the country threw there weight in behind Labour at the last Election not realising a lot of the balance and policies were being driven by NZF and it's experienced MP's like Tracey Martin, Ron Mark and Winston Peters.
It may be that the anomosity at the moment due to the fact that they are effectively competing with each other for the share of government.
But, whatever. There are often circumstances in life where you have to find a way to work with people you don't like. That is just behaving professionally. There may well be people in the All Blacks who don't like each other on a personal level. But that doesn't mean they can't perform as a team.
So, I don’t see personal likes or dislikes as a major factor as to whether a government can function or not.
A NZF-ACT-Nat potpourri is nothing like a well-coached and well-trained team of professionals and it would be three groupings of wannabies without any meaningful merits with three captains, three coaches, three trainers, and at least three gangs of rowdy supporters coming together.
The AB analogy works as well as saying that a small business or a household are like running a national economy & governing a country (in turbulent times). These kinds of simplistic reckons dumb down reality to fairy-tale-level wishful thinking that can and is used to justify just about anything.
For political parties to work well together there are a few basic requirements: common values & principles, common policies, mutual trust & respect, effective leadership, individual & collective resilience, and broad public support.
For political parties to work well together there are a few basic requirements: common values & principles, common policies, mutual trust & respect, effective leadership, individual & collective resilience, and broad public support.
Common values and principles: I could name a few areas of intersection between NACT?NZFirst. For instance, one being law and order where each of those parties want to crack down harder on crime.
Mutual trust and respect: I guess that is to be seen in practice. But, mutual trust and respect doesn't require individuals to like each other.
Effective Leadership: Whatever you want to say about Luxon, there is no doubt he has achieved a lot as leader of National in terms of improving its results compared to where it was at the last election. And, in the latest TV1 poll he had pulled ahead of Hipkins as preferred Prime Minister. So, I guess results thus far speak for themselves.
Individual and collective resilience: I guess that is self-evident in that National, in particular has endured several very tough years but has come out the other side. Likewise NZ First has survived being dumped out of government and is making a comeback. ACT has gone from around 1% support or less at one point, and is now looking like a major player.
So, I think the evidence is easy to see on that point.
Broad Public support: Again, that will be tautologically true if they are able to form a government given that together they will have the majority of the vote in order to achieve that.
A hard-line punitive Law & Order regime is indeed common ground of those three parties. It’s easy and populist and doesn’t solve any of the complex problems long-term and they know it. In fact, it’s a major lifeline for their support.
It’s tautological that many people only hear what they what to hear and only look as far (and with one eye) to confirm their bias. Few will go one step further and scrutinise stuff and do a critical analysis & evaluation, which is hard and takes time – reading material that pretends to do such and then agreeing with it is not the same thing at all and actually mostly serves to embed said bias.
Broad public support (cf. the Overton window) that sustains an effective Government throughout a full term and longer is not the same as a majority in the House to pass Budget and survive Vote of Confidence.
Lastly, Luxon can barely manage his own party and Seymour and Peters are already running rings around him, as did Willis not so long ago when she was acting as his minder – he’s a corporate manager, but not a (political) Leader.
I guess the proof will be in the pudding there. The NZ Rugby will have egg on its face if the All Blacks go on and win the thing. Then Fossie would arguably be the best coach in the world. And NZ Rugby will have dumped him.
Fossy is in a no-lose situation when you think about it.
If he doesn’t succeed he was likely getting dumped anyway. If he wins, he will be able to name his price given that teams from various countries will be banging on his door.
Incoming All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has been in France for the Rugby World Cup but was persona non grata at games involving the All Blacks, says Justin Marshall.
He made the claim during a panel discussion with former Springbok Schalk Burger, and agreed with Burger’s conclusion that there was “no love lost” between All Blacks coach Ian Foster and Robertson.
Taking a strong moral stand against trad All Blacks ethos may not be the clever moves he assumes it is though…
Burger said that awkward situation was “so unlike you guys [the All Blacks]”, to which Marshall replied: “I know. We help each other.”
Still, when top dog in the hierarchy, piss on the incoming one…
the big difference between 2017 and 2023 is that Peter is now actively courting the conspiracy culture vote, and is promoting climate denial. The best outcome for the left would be L/G/TPM. Peters in that mix would be chaotic, and it's appropriate for the left parties to point that out.
Also, there are Labour voters talking about voting NZF because they believe the MSM narrative that the left will lose and it's better to have NZF as a brake on Nact. This is an own goal for those left voters. Labour should be discouraging voting NZF as much as possible.
You know what NZ First is like. They will say anything to any group to get their vote to get into power. It doesn't mean they will follow through with any of those promises though. So, they haven't changed their spots at all IMO.
I agree there is likely to be tactical voting going on from previous Labour supporters in all of this.
If NZ First holds the balance of power again, should Labour/Greens/TMP reverse their position of ruling NZ First out if it allows them to get back into government in your opinion?
NZF will be a moderating influence on both the Right and the Left if they are involved in a Coalition, somehow I can not see a NACT First Coalition happening as Winston NZF are anti-Neoliberal Ideology and Seymour is pro-Neoliberal Ideology.
“If Peters enables Labour to form government, he will be a proven liar.”
I think he has been proven that a few times before. So, it might be water off a duck’s back to him lol.
I know you really would like a left leaning government after the election.
But, if there is to be a change of government to a National led one, then from what you are saying, I guess you would prefer to see a government without NZ First in it to avoid these outcomes. If that is the case, we are probably on the same page so far as that goes.
So, would you been on the same page as me in that you would be encouraging people not to vote NZ First whatever they do? So, then whatever happens, we end up with a government without NZ First in it at all.
I agree that Peters won't care if he's shown to be a liar, but NZF supporters should. I don't think there's been anything quite as blatant as this would be.
And yes, I've been telling anyone who will listen that whatever else happens we are all better off without Peters. Been saying that for many years. He basically monkey wrenched MMP right at the start.
Specifically, re a Nact government, I think Nact/NZF or Nat/NZF would be worse than N/ACT. He's Trumpian and dangerous.
The learning here is the general principle: folks have both similarities & differences between them. Triad = s + d but addition isn't really the metaphysical base of the thing, merely a symbolic digression into math. Consider a generic blending function that integrates two components: you get a whole via combination, integration, assimilation. In trad metaphysics this gets called `three in one' or the holy trinity.
Align has six dairy farms in Mid Canterbury, and four dairy support farms for young stock. The company milks 5000 cows on about 2200 hectares. There’s a small market garden, and Align also owns a yoghurt factory.
The whole operation employs 60 people, 45 of them on the dairy side. “I guess we feel a bit like we’re getting told that we need to pay for a prevention of a disease we already have, whilst also trying to prove that we could be the cure.”
The black singlet brigade don't like having to mentally grapple with this mix. Yet their trajectory is sophisticated:
Farming used to be a lifestyle, then it became a career, and now it’s a profession, Roberts says. Every cow wears what is in effect a smart watch, to measure efficiency and productivity. Align employs a person to collect and collate data.
They're at the techo-resilience interface and they need to upskill there. Playing dumb ain't gonna work no more…
Sticking with the media theme, we talk to Sarah Perriam-Lampp, who, a few months ago, bought two print magazines – Country-Wide and Dairy Exporter. She burst onto the national stage as co-host of Radio Live’s Rural Exchange programme, with Hamish McKay and Richard Loe, just weeks before the 2017 election. Water was a dominant subject in the campaign.
Newsroom meets her at a cafe in Tai Tapu, a small town just south of Christchurch where her growing media empire is based.
Perriam-Lampp says she found the election six years ago highly emotive. For her family’s six generations farming in Central Otago, “water was survival, it wasn’t intensification”. “We quickly learned as a sector that we don’t know how to tell our story, because our story is quite complex and technical and scientific, and distilling down into bite-size messaging is really hard. https://www.newsroom.co.nz/defining-issues-i-dont-think-we-have-a-rural-divide-i-really-dont-dairy-farmer
Byte-sized messaging, huh? Have to transcend binary thought processes to get there. Not us/them: commons instead. Quantum thinking in the hinterland a new trend?
Demographic projections say most regions in New Zealand are going to eventually stagnate and decline.
I don't know who is giving Labour marketing advice at the moment. But a lot of what I see doesn't make much sense, in that it seems to be wasting advertising money on negative stuff that gives little reason to vote Labour.
For instance, the ad I saw on TV last night made the point that National's tax cuts were going to be at the cost of services etc. But, that wasn't directly pushing people to Labour. But it was reminding voters that National is promising tax cuts. Hence, in a perverse way, could be seen as free publicity for National.
The same with all the clamour about a the prospects of a NACT/NZFirst government. Again, no reason given for voting Labour. It may encourage some to vote Labour. But, it also may encourage others to vote National or something else to avoid the prospect of such a coalition.
I think that is the problem with negative campaigning in that it often isn't giving a reason for voters to make the desired choice. Hence, I see it as largely wasted.
It must be messaging of the subliminal type then. But, they could achieve that much more directly and effictively by directly promoting their own party.
Labour need to let the country know what it has achieved over the past 6 years and substantiate it, you are right tsmithfield they are running a very negative campaign which helps make Luxon and National's positivity look good. Honest John the Snakeoil Salesman always used to promote positivity which he obviously learnt from his Merchant Banking days, you need to sell the Sizzle not the Sausage, once in power you can do what you want, ie put up GST, sell State Assets, despite the general public's opinion.
TSmithfield. I agree. Their messaging is instantly forgettable.
Needs to be something more forceful.Like
‘We don’t need to take the country back.
We need to CARRY ON taking it forward! ….or something like that.
I think we need to be reminded that Labour has done a lot over the last 6 years and GR has steered us through bad times with a firm grip on the wheel.
Instead of the constant feed of National Numpties ,who have not come of age in the world of Economics, through our ever so brilliant msm.
Some people actually think that Willis knows what she is talking about.??? But she doesn’t. She’s just saying her lines.
That will be why she and luxon are avoiding any debates with Labour, who DO know what they are talking about.
And btw are they ever going to divulge their mythical reckonings on anything other than a sheet of A4? They can’t because they have already been debunked and they know it.
Newsflash: Nicola Willis admits that only 3000 households would get the full benefit from their tax package, but denies that this means it is a scam, or that National is lying. 3000 in all of NZ!
But will it be enough for the average lazy or ill-informed or uninterested or downright stupid voter to understand? NZ's bullshit "time to give the other lot a go" mentality's got a lot to answer for.
Higherstandard- stop with your red herring, obfuscating BS and address the issue of why National has repeatedly lied by omission about their tax plan.
Also- many people do NOT vote out of self-interest, prejudice, resentment and ignorance; they vote out of a sense of wanting to make society better for all, particularly for the most at risk in society- you know, the ones Luxon calls bottom feeders.
Also do you accept that many people regardless of who they vote for do NOT vote out of self-interest, prejudice, resentment and ignorance; but vote out of a sense of wanting to make society better for all ?
No, because I believe that people who vote for the Right are inherently self-interested, individualistic, bigoted, ignorant, and irrationally resentful of groups in society that actually pose no threat to them whatsoever. Hope that answers your question
She just admitted it again on Checkpoint in the discussion with Carmel Sepuloni. But Willis keeps saying in this discussion that people on the median wage will be the chief beneficiaries of its tax cuts which is BS.
For instance just before 6 oclock on Checkpoint a text said (paraphrasing) “we are a family with a joint income of $115,000 and have 2 children yet according to the National Party tax calculator we will get $40 a fortnight”.
As part of the tax debate Lisa Owen told Willis that national was taking $2 Billion off beneficiaries (compared with Labour policy) to give to better off middle class people as tax cuts. Excellent, and true.
It is worth a listen, at least it is when they are not talking over each other.
A minister for outer space is a brilliant idea! Just think of how many voters live out there. Luxon must be making a play for the academic voter too – such a dramatic display of intellect will be sure to impress them…
Space research will solve climate change Dennis – where's your faith in market driven tech? We know it's really cold out there, so all we need is away of grabbing lots of the cold and bringing it back. Luxon asked them if they could 'deliver' the cold in 100 days if he helped them with his laser-like focus on outcomes.
I see the logic: classic supply & demand used to defeat global warming!
Will it earn him a Nobel in economics? I can hardly wait! As far as I know we haven't had a Nobel since Rutherford a century back. Just checked Google & there have been a couple of others since but as #4 he's likely to make Aotearoa great again. Go that maga man!
Not being a betting man, but I wonder what the odds are that Luxon or one of his mates or a family member or a trust or a… has shares in a satellite launch startup!
Virtually every country will likely be in the ‘climate change’ poo at least once during the next 3 years. so what are NAct’s plans for such a contingency?
Who should I vote for?
ActionStation has teamed up with our mates to create a political scorecard that shows which parties and policies are looking out for people and planet.
Actually, Luxon is preparing to negotiate with Winston Peters with this new ministerial portfolio. First in the world position for a near 80 year old to go where no man has been before and brave the final frontier. God help the aliens…
Something I haven't seen much comment about: ACT want to take another public holiday off us – January 2. Only ACT would be arrogant enough to say that it means nothing and we don't deserve it.
A lot has been made of the amount of support 3000 families are able to get – $125 a week because of a boost to the child care rebate.
Labour has moved to extend the provision of subsidised placements in child care from 3-5 to 2-5.
However international trends are otherwise. The market model is being questioned.
Australia and Canada are abandoning their own rebate policies for failing to really address childcare affordability issues.
Canada has also recently moved from tax rebates for childcare, instead embarking on an ambitious public funding commitment to offer C$10-a-day childcare by 2026. The government has committed $30 billion to develop 250,000 new affordable childcare places by expanding the not-for-profit sector.
As seen in Australia, tax rebate schemes are administratively burdensome. Their childcare rebate schemes were added into an existing funding model developed by previous governments, ultimately making the system confusing and complicated for parents and providers to navigate.
Similarly, National’s proposed rebate scheme will add yet another layer to what is now an already complex funding model, including the 20 hour early childcare education payment and the recently extended childcare subsidy.
Moreover, international experience suggests rebate schemes do little on their own to reduce childcare costs in highly privatised childcare markets.
Although money goes directly to parents, evidence shows there are limited benefits to families if there is no cap on the costs that providers can charge.
Any money going to parents risks being absorbed by fee increases. This occurred in Australia under the childcare tax rebate scheme introduced in 2004, with the following decade seeing what sector advocates called a financial “bonanza for private providers”.
But in a sector that is now almost 65% for-profit in New Zealand, any governmental attempt to control price increases risks being seen as “market interference”.
Proponents of rebate schemes argue that fee increases should not happen in theory, because such schemes empower parents as consumers. They can regulate costs through choosing services that best meet their needs, and change services when they are not satisfied.
But research has long shown that viewing parents as consumers of childcare in this way is a political fiction. Childcare markets do not work under textbook supply and demand imperatives.
The commonly held notion that parents will “talk with their feet” by changing childcare providers is simply not the case. As any parent will attest, changing your child’s care environment once the child is settled is a move they are loathe to make, even if the service down the road is cheaper.
Furthermore, parental choice in many regions is constrained by the lack of childcare services and long waiting lists. As we see growing privatisation and corporatisation of the sector, the range of choice is further limited.
It is certainly time to consider childcare costs as a crucial issue affecting New Zealand households. But this needs to be part of a much more ambitious funding review of the sector.
Overseas evidence has shown that the kind of intervention the National Party is proposing does little to improve affordability in the longer term, or address other thorny problems such as quality and access in childcare markets.
If we look at Australia and Canada, countries which have had extensive experience of these kinds of funding models, there is now a renewed incentive to explore more universal, publicly-funded childcare options.
This may involve stronger support for community, not-for-profit services, which are a shrinking part of the childcare landscape in Aotearoa. At the very least, it would require a much stronger sense of market stewardship than is currently in place.
If political leaders are serious about making some real changes for parents, children and the wider sector, we should expect better than to repeat the same mistakes already made elsewhere.
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Don't like National's corrupt Muldoonist "fast-track" law? Aotearoa's environmental NGO's - Greenpeace, Forest & Bird, WWF, Coromandel Watchdog, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and others - have announced a joint march against it in Auckland in June: When: 13:00, 8 June, 2024 Where: Aotea Square, Auckland You ...
Seymour describes sushi as too woke for school meals. There are no fish sushi meals recommended by the School Lunches programme. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Government will swap out hot meals for packaged sandwiches to save $107 million on school lunches for poor kids. MSD has pulled ...
I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadenceBut I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeahBut it's on the table, the fire's cookin'And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'But I'm goin' hungry, yeahSome ...
The Ardern Government’s chickens came home to roost yesterday with the news that the country is short of natural gas. In 2018, Labour banned offshore petroleum exploration, and industry executives say that the attendant loss of confidence by the industry impacted overall investment in onshore gas fields. Energy Resources Minister ...
Hi,If you’ve been digging through the newly launched Webworm store (orders are being dispatched worldwide as I type!) you’ll have noticed the best model we had was Calvin.This is Calvin.Calvin.Calvin is 7, and is the son of my producer over on Flightless Bird, Rob — aka “Wobby Wob”. Rob also ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Climate change is everywhere. And when something's everywhere it can feel like it's nowhere. So how do we get our heads ...
Its a law like gravity: whenever a right-wing government is elected, they start attacking democracy. And now, after talking to their Republican and Tory and Fidesz chums at the International Democracy Union forum in Wellington, National is doing it here, announcing plans to remove election-day enrolment. Or, to put it ...
Yesterday Winston Peters focussed his attention on the important matter at hand. Tweeting. Like the former, and quite possibly next, orange POTUS, from whom he takes much of his political strategy, Winston is an avid X’er.His message didn’t resemble an historic address this time. In fact it was more reminiscent ...
Buzz from the Beehive A significant decline in natural gas production has given Resources Minister Shane Jones an opportunity to reiterate his enthusiasm for the mining and burning of coal. For good measure, he has praised an announcement from Genesis Energy that it will resume importing coal. He and Energy ...
“Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The political parties are legally obliged to make ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim.Extreme Left Auckland University of TechnologyEvidenceThe ...
Eric Crampton writes – I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes – Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
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 ...
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 ...
Pacific Media Watch Television New Zealand Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to investigative journalism and Pacific communities in a ceremony at Government House, reports 1News. She has been the Pacific correspondent for 1News since 2002, breaking many ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tuesday’s budget will respond to the deepening public agitation over Australia’s housing shortages by pouring new money into crisis accommodation for women and children, social housing and infrastructure. A specially-convened national cabinet late Friday ticked ...
By Kaneta Naimatu in Suva Journalists in the Pacific region play an important role as the “eyes and ears on the ground” when it comes to reporting the climate crisis, says the European Union’s Pacific Ambassador Barbara Plinkert. Speaking at The University of the South Pacific (USP) on World Press ...
Aldora Itunu is back in the Black Ferns squad after a three-year absence. The last of her 24 internationals was an underwhelming loss to France (7-29) in Castres to conclude the disastrous 2021 Northern Tour. The powerhouse prop won a Rugby World Cup in 2017 and thought she was done. ...
The fight to control major transport policy and projects in Auckland has burst into the open again, with councillors rejecting Mayor Wayne Brown’s latest attempt to steer things more under his influence. Councillors from the left and right broke ranks on the mayor’s bid to control Auckland Transport more directly ...
Exhausted by the general election campaign, horrified by the twilight zone of coalition negotiations, distracted by the silly season and waiting for the honeymoon to begin, Raw Politics has been in hibernation since October. From today, we’re back. Our weekly political video show and podcast returns for ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Authorities in the small town of Boulouparis have commemorated Armistice Day on May 8 with a new memorial honouring New Zealand soldiers who were stationed in New Caledonia during World War II. The ceremony took place in the township on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Dehm, Senior lecturer, international migration and refugee law, University of Technology Sydney The High Court unanimously ruled today that the Australian government can keep asylum seekers in immigration detention indefinitely in cases where they do not “voluntarily” cooperate with their own ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Munro, Lecturer, Creative Industries and Digital Media, University of South Australia Twenty-four hours after the release of Macklemore’s pro-Palestine protest song Hind’s Hall on social media on May 7, the video had already notched up over 24 million views. In ...
Failing to anticipate the complexity of the consenting system is being cited as the the current builder's shortcomings, an Infrastructure Commission review says. ...
350 Aotearoa is calling the Environment Select Committee’s decision to allow oral submissions from just 40% of individual, unique submitters who asked to speak to the committee ‘a disgraceful blight to democracy’. ...
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. ...
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https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/oct/04/bicibus-how-barcelona-got-kids-cycling-safely-to-school?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
The only reason this wouldn’t work in Aotearoa is the entitled attitude of drivers.
Shame, really.
Healthier kids, less school run traffic, camaraderie, what’s not to like?
Auckland's been running walking school buses for years (possibly other cities as well, but I know about the Auckland ones because I used to be a volunteer).
They fluctuate in popularity – numbers drop fairly rapidly in wet weather (so pretty low after the never-ending raid of this year).
Virtually every primary school in Auckland would have the vast majority of the kids attending within a 20-30 minute walk.
But, the numbers walking are an order of magnitude fewer than those being driven.
This seems to be the case in your Barcelona example as well. 60-70 kids (on a good day) – and 15 routes for a city of 1.2 million people.
It's a nice 'feel good' story, but it's not the answer to getting parents to stop driving kids to school.
The Chairman of foreign owned bank is apparently electioneering for the National Party.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-national-enlists-sir-john-key-in-effort-to-woo-voters-away-from-nz-first/R2OVJFICBFGO3PQPUSXSSEPA44/
Desperate from the National Party. They know they are in trouble.
Also a clear conflict of interest because as chairman of ANZ his only purpose is to increase profits for ANZ. He doesn't exist for anything else, so in that video he must, by definition, be campaigning for increased profits for a foreign owned bank.
No worries, the only voters likely to be influenced by Key have already been polled as Nat supporters since the start of polling. Clueless dork syndrome.
Yeah, Key appealing to these new and returning NZF voters seems remarkably unaware for someone with apparently so much political acumen.
ANZ will profit from the lending to Saudi Arabian property buyers buying $2.0 million dollar plus homes here in NZ which is a key part of National's revenue gathering scheme. Ref Nikki Willis.
I suggest you familiarise yourself with how members of Boards of companies work and what their responsibilities are.
Their responsibilities are to generate the maximum amount of revenue and profit to their shareholders.
As long as it is ‘pretty legal’, which is why it is essential to have as many lawmakers in their pockets as possible and preferably in Government [no intention to suggest corruption, quite the opposite].
If NZF-ACT-Nat form the next Government, expect a turbulent period of deregulation of economic policies and tightening of social policies. This will only go as far as to open the money tap for the owners’ class with a trickle & carefully controlled drip for the working class and Precariat. The so-called tax cuts are a cynical sideshow that is paraded out every time, as are the Law & Order kneejerks and good ole beneficiary bashing. The more anxiety (fear) & uncertainty there is the better.
Might back fire on National ???
I'd sure hope Hipkins can persuade Helen Clark to do the same.
This is US-style proxy campaigning from very powerful national figures.
You'd be surprised how many women are still voting Labour because … Jacinda.
John Key is a FIRE Chief.
Australia beckons?
Staying safe is Key.
Not quite those kinds of fires I had in mind.
On the issue of staying safe, the FIRE Chief and his greasy buddies are set on a bonfire of regulations and on fuelling housing inflation, unemployment, and scorching the Earth.
'Honest' John couldn't sell voters on his pick for a new flag – he resigned 9 months later.
Maybe Key will have better lux selling his anoited one as a new PM.
I have written to ANZ asking if they think Key's message is appropriate for his position as chairman.
Do they think it is suitable behaviour for ANZ staff?
Would they prefer only National voters for customers? If so, will they advise me so that I can make arrangements with my account.
I think you'll find that ANZ is pretty comfortable with Sir John's political meddling.
National’s real aim? Get
New ZealandUnearned Income Back on TrackGotta keep those big donors happy.
This sort of behaviour,,incl slapping Labours Angela Roberts.
Emboldened . IMO what was always there..has indeed become emboldened.
This is a disgusting incident symbolic of the aggressive and nasty National Party campaign.
When this awful story came out a couple of days ago National quickly came out with (made up?) stories about dog attacks etc on their candidates. As usual the MSM was easily deflected from the main story by these "they do it to us too" stories when in fact it was a completely false equivalence.
On another issue entirely, John Key has just been reported on Radio NZ as saying that people should vote for National and not other parties if they want a strong government, a clear dig at NZF. Doubt if it will make much difference but….
RNZ news, morning report, said that home invader was pakeha. The cops just trespassed him?? Didn't arrest him??
I bet if a maori activist had done a home invasion of a young pakeha woman he'd have been charged & prosecuted! Local cops there must be an infestation of Nat voters.
No it would have been home D, as that is the punishment for everything these days (even attacking an unarmed person with a sword).
Are things really that bad? A somewhat gloom-inducing scenario, huh? Whatever happened to Laura Norder? Evaporation?
You are getting everything jumbled up in your excitement, the courts decide the punishment, not the police.
Hopefully it is a real sign of how fearful the Nats are of TPM's popularity.
As Dennis points out, reverse the roles and I doubt
a slap on the wrista trespass notice would be the outcome.There does seem to be seriously entrenched, and as you say emboldened attitude this election period.
We live in a society where violence and trespassing is not considered serious.
I was assaulted by a couple of guys, they got off with a police warning.
I was off work for 6 months recovering from concussion.
Given the states response to what happened to me, you could probably shoot a politician before anyone could give a stuff.
Amazing! An establishment leader demonstrating credibility & authenticity! Never thought I'd see that in my lifetime!
It's been a decade since he put out Laudate Se, which is one of the first to popularise the key connection between global poverty and human-induced climate change.
This new piece from Pope Francis just builds on that with a bit more invective against lazy countries.
He is also basically at all-out war with the conservative and rich North American bishops.
I recall posting a supportive message onsite here about that. This new initiative from him shows some acumen:
Pointing to the psychopathology of world leaders is a smart move! Dumb buggers may even get the message. Leverage via moral guidance.
Donnie will be ropeable:
However he could use it in his political positioning. A marketing strategy: "Yeah, I'm no longer part of the elite. I'm just another loser like you guys. We ought to do solidarity, huh? Worked for the left when I was a kid."
He and his sons are about to lose the entire company.
Just saw the video of the great sirjohnkey reduced to BEGGING for people to vote for his puppets. Luxon must be getting tired of being dangled from keysknees.
Made my day. ……..btw he still hasn’t learned to speak proper lol ..off for a coffee and another laugh now Good times.😂
They're at the staring line waiting for the orgy of looting and revenge to begin – gleefully tanked up on whatever their preference is. They don't want to be stopped now. It will get fascinatingly ugly if they are.
has anyone done the maths on the Te Pāti Māori party vote and what gives the best chance for a centre left government?
looks like they roughly need 1.7% of the vote to get a third MP on top of the two current electorate MPs. Does that sound right?
No Weka- I think 1.7% would give them close to exactly 2 MPs. It would give them 2.04 MPs out of 120 which feels a long way from 3 MPs in total. So if their PV matches the number of elec MPs they get no more off the list. I think they need to get 3.6% of the vote to get a 3rd (list) MP. Ikaroa Rawhiti- where I live will be very interesting. Does Meka's defection hurt her or help her with voters. She has a pretty solid local following- vs Cushla (Lab) is pretty fresh. I am leaning to a Meka win so there's your 3rd TPM MP and maybe even an overhang.
I heard James Shaw interviewed on ZB this morning. I actually really like James Shaw, and think he talks a lot of common sense btw.
But he appeared to get himself in knots over the NZ First question. First he was asked which would be the most chaotic government; NACT/NZFirst or Labour/Greens/TMP. He said definitely NACT/NZFirst would be the most chaotic.
Then he was asked about his time in government with NZ First. He seemed to get all whimsical, recollecting how good things were in government with NZ First there. How they used to have to get consensus on policy etc, and how that improved the process.
I think this illustrates the problem Labour face trying to portray an NACT/NZFirst coalition as a chaotic mess. The reason is that a lot of those in government now likely have NZ First to thank for that.
And, I think many voters actually preferred the way that government was when NZ First was in government with Labour/Greens, in that there was a road block to more extreme policies.
So, I think Labour need to be a bit careful with their messaging. Otherwise, they might be promoting a concept to voters that many voters actually quite like the sound of.
If we had managed to have a Labour/NZF/Greens Coalition for the last 3 years I don't think we would be having this Dogs Breakfast of an Election now, the country threw there weight in behind Labour at the last Election not realising a lot of the balance and policies were being driven by NZF and it's experienced MP's like Tracey Martin, Ron Mark and Winston Peters.
Your glossing over the fact Winston, and Shaw don't hate each other, unlike seymour and Winston,
It may be that the anomosity at the moment due to the fact that they are effectively competing with each other for the share of government.
But, whatever. There are often circumstances in life where you have to find a way to work with people you don't like. That is just behaving professionally. There may well be people in the All Blacks who don't like each other on a personal level. But that doesn't mean they can't perform as a team.
So, I don’t see personal likes or dislikes as a major factor as to whether a government can function or not.
A NZF-ACT-Nat potpourri is nothing like a well-coached and well-trained team of professionals and it would be three groupings of wannabies without any meaningful merits with three captains, three coaches, three trainers, and at least three gangs of rowdy supporters coming together.
What you describe sounds pretty much like politics as normal to me. Most political parties seem like that internally anyway from what I have seen.
The AB analogy works as well as saying that a small business or a household are like running a national economy & governing a country (in turbulent times). These kinds of simplistic reckons dumb down reality to fairy-tale-level wishful thinking that can and is used to justify just about anything.
For political parties to work well together there are a few basic requirements: common values & principles, common policies, mutual trust & respect, effective leadership, individual & collective resilience, and broad public support.
Common values and principles: I could name a few areas of intersection between NACT?NZFirst. For instance, one being law and order where each of those parties want to crack down harder on crime.
Mutual trust and respect: I guess that is to be seen in practice. But, mutual trust and respect doesn't require individuals to like each other.
Effective Leadership: Whatever you want to say about Luxon, there is no doubt he has achieved a lot as leader of National in terms of improving its results compared to where it was at the last election. And, in the latest TV1 poll he had pulled ahead of Hipkins as preferred Prime Minister. So, I guess results thus far speak for themselves.
Individual and collective resilience: I guess that is self-evident in that National, in particular has endured several very tough years but has come out the other side. Likewise NZ First has survived being dumped out of government and is making a comeback. ACT has gone from around 1% support or less at one point, and is now looking like a major player.
So, I think the evidence is easy to see on that point.
Broad Public support: Again, that will be tautologically true if they are able to form a government given that together they will have the majority of the vote in order to achieve that.
A hard-line punitive Law & Order regime is indeed common ground of those three parties. It’s easy and populist and doesn’t solve any of the complex problems long-term and they know it. In fact, it’s a major lifeline for their support.
It’s tautological that many people only hear what they what to hear and only look as far (and with one eye) to confirm their bias. Few will go one step further and scrutinise stuff and do a critical analysis & evaluation, which is hard and takes time – reading material that pretends to do such and then agreeing with it is not the same thing at all and actually mostly serves to embed said bias.
Broad public support (cf. the Overton window) that sustains an effective Government throughout a full term and longer is not the same as a majority in the House to pass Budget and survive Vote of Confidence.
Lastly, Luxon can barely manage his own party and Seymour and Peters are already running rings around him, as did Willis not so long ago when she was acting as his minder – he’s a corporate manager, but not a (political) Leader.
Your analogy would only work if instead of all blacks quality players you had to ego driven province coach's trying to take over from fossy,
I guess the proof will be in the pudding there. The NZ Rugby will have egg on its face if the All Blacks go on and win the thing. Then Fossie would arguably be the best coach in the world. And NZ Rugby will have dumped him.
Fossy is in a no-lose situation when you think about it.
If he doesn’t succeed he was likely getting dumped anyway. If he wins, he will be able to name his price given that teams from various countries will be banging on his door.
He is, however, demonstrating macho street cred:
Taking a strong moral stand against trad All Blacks ethos may not be the clever moves he assumes it is though…
Still, when top dog in the hierarchy, piss on the incoming one…
From what I can gather Labour/NZF/Greens did work quite constructively together.
the big difference between 2017 and 2023 is that Peter is now actively courting the conspiracy culture vote, and is promoting climate denial. The best outcome for the left would be L/G/TPM. Peters in that mix would be chaotic, and it's appropriate for the left parties to point that out.
Also, there are Labour voters talking about voting NZF because they believe the MSM narrative that the left will lose and it's better to have NZF as a brake on Nact. This is an own goal for those left voters. Labour should be discouraging voting NZF as much as possible.
You know what NZ First is like. They will say anything to any group to get their vote to get into power. It doesn't mean they will follow through with any of those promises though. So, they haven't changed their spots at all IMO.
I agree there is likely to be tactical voting going on from previous Labour supporters in all of this.
If NZ First holds the balance of power again, should Labour/Greens/TMP reverse their position of ruling NZ First out if it allows them to get back into government in your opinion?
NZF will be a moderating influence on both the Right and the Left if they are involved in a Coalition, somehow I can not see a NACT First Coalition happening as Winston NZF are anti-Neoliberal Ideology and Seymour is pro-Neoliberal Ideology.
If Peters enables Labour to form government, he will be a proven liar.
https://www.nzfirst.nz/2023_policies
As for NACT, Peters will do his own amount of damage, there's nothing tempering about this,
https://thestandard.org.nz/why-wont-winston-peters-answer-straight-forward-questions-about-nz-first-policy/
Peters has consistently upheld neoliberalism and worked against those that would transition us to a better economic system.
“If Peters enables Labour to form government, he will be a proven liar.”
I think he has been proven that a few times before. So, it might be water off a duck’s back to him lol.
I know you really would like a left leaning government after the election.
But, if there is to be a change of government to a National led one, then from what you are saying, I guess you would prefer to see a government without NZ First in it to avoid these outcomes. If that is the case, we are probably on the same page so far as that goes.
So, would you been on the same page as me in that you would be encouraging people not to vote NZ First whatever they do? So, then whatever happens, we end up with a government without NZ First in it at all.
I agree that Peters won't care if he's shown to be a liar, but NZF supporters should. I don't think there's been anything quite as blatant as this would be.
And yes, I've been telling anyone who will listen that whatever else happens we are all better off without Peters. Been saying that for many years. He basically monkey wrenched MMP right at the start.
Specifically, re a Nact government, I think Nact/NZF or Nat/NZF would be worse than N/ACT. He's Trumpian and dangerous.
Peters would dispute that…he prides himself on always allowing enough wiggle room never to be convicted of lying…accusations dont count.
Sceptical readers will inevitably assume metaphysics has no bearing on politics, but we live & learn:
The learning here is the general principle: folks have both similarities & differences between them. Triad = s + d but addition isn't really the metaphysical base of the thing, merely a symbolic digression into math. Consider a generic blending function that integrates two components: you get a whole via combination, integration, assimilation. In trad metaphysics this gets called `three in one' or the holy trinity.
The black singlet brigade don't like having to mentally grapple with this mix. Yet their trajectory is sophisticated:
They're at the techo-resilience interface and they need to upskill there. Playing dumb ain't gonna work no more…
Media empires are real cool things to have:
Byte-sized messaging, huh? Have to transcend binary thought processes to get there. Not us/them: commons instead. Quantum thinking in the hinterland a new trend?
Damn gloomy lot, them demographers!
I don't know who is giving Labour marketing advice at the moment. But a lot of what I see doesn't make much sense, in that it seems to be wasting advertising money on negative stuff that gives little reason to vote Labour.
For instance, the ad I saw on TV last night made the point that National's tax cuts were going to be at the cost of services etc. But, that wasn't directly pushing people to Labour. But it was reminding voters that National is promising tax cuts. Hence, in a perverse way, could be seen as free publicity for National.
The same with all the clamour about a the prospects of a NACT/NZFirst government. Again, no reason given for voting Labour. It may encourage some to vote Labour. But, it also may encourage others to vote National or something else to avoid the prospect of such a coalition.
I think that is the problem with negative campaigning in that it often isn't giving a reason for voters to make the desired choice. Hence, I see it as largely wasted.
They're probably messaging people who voted Labour last time. It's not like those people are in a vacuum and don't know what Labour do.
It must be messaging of the subliminal type then. But, they could achieve that much more directly and effictively by directly promoting their own party.
Labour need to let the country know what it has achieved over the past 6 years and substantiate it, you are right tsmithfield they are running a very negative campaign which helps make Luxon and National's positivity look good. Honest John the Snakeoil Salesman always used to promote positivity which he obviously learnt from his Merchant Banking days, you need to sell the Sizzle not the Sausage, once in power you can do what you want, ie put up GST, sell State Assets, despite the general public's opinion.
TSmithfield. I agree. Their messaging is instantly forgettable.
Needs to be something more forceful.Like
‘We don’t need to take the country back.
We need to CARRY ON taking it forward! ….or something like that.
I think we need to be reminded that Labour has done a lot over the last 6 years and GR has steered us through bad times with a firm grip on the wheel.
Instead of the constant feed of National Numpties ,who have not come of age in the world of Economics, through our ever so brilliant msm.
Some people actually think that Willis knows what she is talking about.??? But she doesn’t. She’s just saying her lines.
That will be why she and luxon are avoiding any debates with Labour, who DO know what they are talking about.
And btw are they ever going to divulge their mythical reckonings on anything other than a sheet of A4? They can’t because they have already been debunked and they know it.
The nats have got Key right on the job. Just got this email from Mr Teflon himself.
"Dear Chris–
With Election Day around the corner, people are asking for my thoughts,
So here’s a couple.
First, the election result is far from certain.
Imagine if we woke up on 15 October in limbo land.
Now if you are like me and want something different than we’ve had in the last 6 years, then you are going to need to vote for it.
I am asking you to ensure you Party Vote National in order to make sure National has the numbers it needs to govern for you.
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Second, the economy is not doing well. The cost of living is too high and many Kiwi families are struggling.
This is the main reason we can’t risk an uncertain election result.
Uncertainty means no action to fix the economy and lower your cost of living.
The economic situation isn’t dissimilar to 2008 when my Government came in and guided New Zealand through the Global Financial Crisis.
We could only take decisive action, because there was a clear result on election night and a strong mandate to get things done.
If there’s one team with the competence to steer New Zealand through tough economic times again, it’s Chris Luxon and his National team.
So don’t risk having no clear election result.
National needs your help to take action now.
National must urgently increase advertising before more early voters go to the polls. Around 400,000 people are likely to vote this weekend.
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This can make a serious difference but we need them to see all of National's advertising in the next 36 hours. Can you please make a donation now?
If you want change, Party Vote National and make sure National has the numbers to get our country back on track.
Thank you.
Rt. Hon. Sir John Key"
Newsflash: Nicola Willis admits that only 3000 households would get the full benefit from their tax package, but denies that this means it is a scam, or that National is lying. 3000 in all of NZ!
Wow!
Pants on fire National.
But will it be enough for the average lazy or ill-informed or uninterested or downright stupid voter to understand? NZ's bullshit "time to give the other lot a go" mentality's got a lot to answer for.
Now National is playing the "up to…"game.
Like a Briscoes ad.
Save up to 60% (on its already inflated prices).
Not saving much really.
Should be referred to consumer.org scam watch.
It's a typical National strategy. Just tell a little bit of the truth – i.e. lying by omission. Here's the link. https://thespinoff.co.nz/live-updates/05-10-2023/nicola-willis-confirms-only-3000-households-will-get-full-250-a-fortnight-tax-cut
Chris Bishop had earlier claimed that Labour was playing "gutter politics", because Grant Robertson stated fact about National's tax plan and called it a scam. https://thespinoff.co.nz/live-updates/05-10-2023/labour-calls-national-tax-plan-a-scam-after-claims-of-gutter-politics
It seems that to maintain support, National is relying on peoples' self-interest, prejudices, resentment and (wilful?) ignorance.
It seems that to maintain support, National is relying on peoples' self-interest, prejudices, resentment and (wilful?) ignorance.
So just the same as all the other political parties.
No.
Q.E.D.
Are you done with your tedious trolling?
That should be the first question by the moderator to all involved at the next leaders debate.
Higherstandard- stop with your red herring, obfuscating BS and address the issue of why National has repeatedly lied by omission about their tax plan.
Also- many people do NOT vote out of self-interest, prejudice, resentment and ignorance; they vote out of a sense of wanting to make society better for all, particularly for the most at risk in society- you know, the ones Luxon calls bottom feeders.
People need to pay attention.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/496895/national-s-tax-plan-and-costings-what-you-need-to-know
Also do you accept that many people regardless of who they vote for do NOT vote out of self-interest, prejudice, resentment and ignorance; but vote out of a sense of wanting to make society better for all ?
No, because I believe that people who vote for the Right are inherently self-interested, individualistic, bigoted, ignorant, and irrationally resentful of groups in society that actually pose no threat to them whatsoever. Hope that answers your question
She just admitted it again on Checkpoint in the discussion with Carmel Sepuloni. But Willis keeps saying in this discussion that people on the median wage will be the chief beneficiaries of its tax cuts which is BS.
For instance just before 6 oclock on Checkpoint a text said (paraphrasing) “we are a family with a joint income of $115,000 and have 2 children yet according to the National Party tax calculator we will get $40 a fortnight”.
This is $20 a week-block of cheese territory.
As part of the tax debate Lisa Owen told Willis that national was taking $2 Billion off beneficiaries (compared with Labour policy) to give to better off middle class people as tax cuts. Excellent, and true.
It is worth a listen, at least it is when they are not talking over each other.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/20231005
A minister for outer space is a brilliant idea! Just think of how many voters live out there. Luxon must be making a play for the academic voter too – such a dramatic display of intellect will be sure to impress them…
Space research will solve climate change Dennis – where's your faith in market driven tech? We know it's really cold out there, so all we need is away of grabbing lots of the cold and bringing it back. Luxon asked them if they could 'deliver' the cold in 100 days if he helped them with his laser-like focus on outcomes.
I see the logic: classic supply & demand used to defeat global warming!
Will it earn him a Nobel in economics? I can hardly wait! As far as I know we haven't had a Nobel since Rutherford a century back. Just checked Google & there have been a couple of others since but as #4 he's likely to make Aotearoa great again. Go that maga man!
Not being a betting man, but I wonder what the odds are that Luxon or one of his mates or a family member or a trust or a… has shares in a satellite launch startup!
Virtually every country will likely be in the ‘climate change’ poo at least once during the next 3 years. so what are NAct’s plans for such a contingency?
https://policy.nz/2023/party-vote/policies/environment
And meantime Luxon wants to create a Minister of Space!
Good position for David Seymour.
He thinks he's out of this world anyway.
Actually, Luxon is preparing to negotiate with Winston Peters with this new ministerial portfolio. First in the world position for a near 80 year old to go where no man has been before and brave the final frontier. God help the aliens…
Labour's wizards have dreamed up a clever spell:
Elitism as domestic govt policy is wonderful to see. Don't stop there!
Something I haven't seen much comment about: ACT want to take another public holiday off us – January 2. Only ACT would be arrogant enough to say that it means nothing and we don't deserve it.
A lot has been made of the amount of support 3000 families are able to get – $125 a week because of a boost to the child care rebate.
Labour has moved to extend the provision of subsidised placements in child care from 3-5 to 2-5.
However international trends are otherwise. The market model is being questioned.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/13-03-2023/why-tax-rebates-arent-the-answer-to-the-childcare-affordability-crisis
Original source.
https://theconversation.com/nz