This is good that minimum wage is rising, but will people be better off, as prices will probably increase to cover the cost to businesses. I think they should have reduced the tax rate on income under $48k instead.
Given most business models now what percentage of costs to wages make up?…id suggest that the inflationary impact of a min wage increase will be far less than you think…especially when you consider the industries that currently pay min wage as of course.
And then you must also remember that (controlled) inflation is the goal….youve has your decades of tax cuts to fuel consumption and they have run out of effect.
A higher minimum wage also reduces the amount of redistribution needed through winz. So less is paid out from the state and more is paid by the employer in recognition of the output from the workers.
nope, that is not gonna change, no more then it changed after the first of april this year.
Pretty much most rentals gone up by about 25 – 45 NZD after the rent freeze. So there is your 'min wage increase'. But food gone up, transport costs gone up, electricity, water, line costs, phone etc all up up and away.
So the poor schmuck working in a supermarket or call centre will get a dollar more per hour from 1 april on, and prices will increase by just a little bit more to cover the costs on everything else on April 1st too. A perfect Aprl Joke.
Labour, were misery is coated in malignant benevolence.
Disclaimer, i have proudly voted twice NOT for the quota woman of the Labour party.
The $40 is pre tax. With most beneficiaries on say 15% tax, the increase is not an extra $40 in ones pocket.
Inflation of 2.15% does not fall evenly across all consumption. House price increases, and thus rent increases particularly in the big cities, are significantly above the rate of inflation. Rent forms yhe single biggest chunk of the expenses of most lower income households.
Rent costs are the price we pay for decades of spineless, greedy, and stupid governments that let speculators have free rein. And they still haven't learned 🙁 .
This has been coming for a long time – it hasn't been single terms of government error, but decades of sustained error. They know it perfectly well, but still think they get to claim to be a good government without taking the trouble to actually govern .
The $40 is pre tax. With most beneficiaries on say 15% tax, the increase is not an extra $40 in ones pocket.
Inflation of 2.15% does not fall evenly across all consumption. House price increases, and thus rent increases particularly in the big cities, are significantly above the rate of inflation. Rent forms the single biggest chunk of the expenses of most lower income households.
Agree. Let's hope 2021 sees some kind of reform by the government re housing.
Just never understand why such great things in housing were achieved during the depression yet now the best this government offered was Kiwibuild, and the previous government not even that!
Maybe buy your coffee from a local cafe – one with owner/operators who are interested in food and drink and care about their customers? Not some global giant who wants to opportunistically trap you into buying crap mass-produced food and bad coffee because you happen to be on-premises buying petrol. You might find the local cafe is less cynical about gouging you for every cent on whatever lame excuse they can drum up. (Remember the rule of thumb – if we don't dispossess the rich, they will dispossess us)
A tax cut for those on high incomes (who also pay tax on their first $48,000) afforded by the government borrowing more money? Really? We have the lowest tax requirement for those of wealth and high incomes anywhere (low top rate, no CGT, no wealth/assets/estate taxation) as it is.
The inflationary impact of the MW increase is negligible – you know what happended in 2018 and 2019 and 2020 when it was increased – stuff all rise in inflation.
And given the housing shortage – and rising rents, the low paid workers need the money.
Minimum wage was $15.75 an hour back in 2017 when Labour came in. It is now $18.90 so people get an extra $126 before tax on a 40 hour week. I wonder if they feel better off now?
If National was in government it would have gone up 50 cents a time 15.75 to 17.25 by 1 April 2020. Apparently they would make no increase at all this time. So under them it would have remained at that level $17.25 from 1 April 2021.
So are low wage workers better off than they would have been otherwise?
I thought they had actually but I'm no expert on Nats policies. Don't forget that as gross wage not increasing, their working for families will not decrease either.
Comparing the June 2020 quarter with the June 2019 quarter, the median weekly income:
from all sources decreased $54 (7.6 percent) to $652
from wages and salaries increased $44 (4.3 percent) to $1,060
from government transfers increased $23 (6.7 percent) to $364
for self-employed people decreased $96 (12.5 percent) to $671.
The median hourly income from wages and salaries increased $1.47 (5.8 percent) to $27.00
The gender pay gap was 9.5 percent.
All income data refers to gross (before tax) income for individuals and is statistically significant unless otherwise specified.
Incomes from all sources fall for the first time
Median weekly income from all sources, for all people, decreased $54 (7.6 percent) to $652 in the June 2020 quarter. This is the first decrease in this measure since the series began in 1998.
You do know the difference between the MW and the median wage right?
And the older workers on the median wage are likely to be homeowners much wealthier than they were a few years ago (sort of at least, they can only leverage that rise in wealth by moving to an area with lower property values) – and those still paying off their mortgages have lower payments now with lower mortgage rates.
There is a reason why Labour was so re-elected. And why they are so accepting of rising property values.
What, you don't like the government stats on how salaries / wages are the only thing that has gotten up while self employed people are down, and income from all sources decreased, while only wages/salaries and government hand outs have gone up?
"The price of labor—namely wages—is rising at a robust pace, especially in the European Union’s newer member states. Yet, surprisingly, inflation has barely risen."
Biden's selection of Jennifer Granholm as Secretary of Energy is a good choice. A hard worker, a great communicator, and a champion of renewable energy.
The BAU everyone is adamant is about to occur – will not. Sure, change is not going to be fast enough for most round these parts, but this lady is no dinosaur nor a rich crony.
Hard working experienced people. I reckon Joe's doing alright building a team considering everyone's expectations are so low.
More significantly, the appointment of Granholm may signal an intention to re-orient the Department of Energy to actually be mostly about energy, rather than being a deceptive name for the keeper of the nuclear weapons stockpile.
Most of the Energy Department's budget is devoted to maintaining the country's nuclear weapons arsenal, but it also operates the 17 national labs that have helped develop advanced technology used in renewables, nuclear energy and fossil fuel production. Under former President Barack Obama, the Energy Department oversaw tens of billions of dollars in loan guarantees and grants that expanded the adoption of solar and wind power, helping drive a steep drop in the prices of renewable electricity. Those achievements were tarnished at the time by the scandal over Solyndra, a solar technology company that collapsed after taking more than $500 million in federal funds.
DOE also will play a key role in reducing emissions from the nation’s building, another target of Biden’s climate plan. DOE has responsibility over setting appliance standards, conducting research on innovations like electric heat pumps and overseeing building and residential energy efficiency programs.
Granholm has sought to position herself as a figure who can help U.S. industry transition to a clean energy economy, a process that Biden has made one his top four goals.
All the increments add up. With enough improvements in enough areas incrementalism might indeed become transformation.
We have the talent, the tech, the science, and the resources. Should we proceed with technology in an ecologically sound manner, simultaneously addressing how we manage land and land use changes – there is hope.
"The BAU everyone is adamant is about to occur – will not."
We shall see – and it depends on how closely you look. Just swapping out fossil fuels for 'clean' energy, but otherwise doing just the same things on top of that energy infrastructure, seems like the very definition of BAU. And it seems likely that whoever owns that new clean energy infrastructure will have massive opportunities for profit and wealth accumulation beyond their wildest dreams, while the rest of us continue our descent into peasantry – BAU on steroids potentially.
Where not fletchers doing the same, as well as protecting significant part of land and ensuring some housing going to the Hapu. What has exactly being achieved here barring handing over 30m in taxpayers money for nothing. Bets on Fletchers will get the construction contract, increasing the absurdity As per the honourable Paula Bennett” Next time sweetie zip it”
It was Paula Bennett who was on her high horse about victims of someone working in parliament (and no not one of her caucus members that time) which led to a report and Mallards comments – neither behaved honourably or professionally.
If Fletchers, the iwi, the protestors and the Maori King are all happy with this – then its prime purpose has been realised. Given the current cost of land in Auckland and the liklihood of more social housing to result, its a win for the government as well.
it not a precedent as Grant told us so, let see if that works at next land occupation It seems no value has been created here, in contrast it has simply encouraged more issues down the road
Yes, it is politics. There is the herding of cats aspect to it. And that might mean a delay to social housing – an iwi has/had an interest in there being some housing so there is that to work with.
More issues down the road … there is no land going to iwi as part of any settlement, so in that sense no motivation to that end down stream.
It’s in the area of land of significance, not being privately used, or held by iwi, that this relates to.
The same right wing warriors on twitter and face book and kiwiblog that got the election result they deserved. Long may they remain irrelevant.
Then there are the many who like the rise in value of their property on the back of the COVID free status and who just want a holiday – they will barely notice this. And it will have gone away by next year – as talks will go beyond 2023.
Tend to agree unless we get copy cat actions which is likely no matter what Grant says / hopes The problem I see here is that government has decided to get involved in solving disputes within Hapu’s themselves ( a recipe for disaster, think up north) who own or what happens to plot of land in Mangere I am not really that exercised either way
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 ...
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Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
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Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
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Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
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The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Pacific Media Watch Ismail al-Ghoul, an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent who was held for 12 hours at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital, says Israeli forces rounded up Palestinian journalists at the facility and made them kneel on the ground for hours, while naked and blindfolded. “The occupation forces handcuffed and blindfolded us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute chinasong, Shutterstock Electricity customers in four Australian states can breathe a sigh of relief. After two years in a row of 20% price increases, power prices have finally stabilised. In many places they’re ...
Chumbawamba have reportedly issued the deputy PM a cease-and-desist notice after he used their song 'Tubthumping' before his state of the nation speech. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
This is good that minimum wage is rising, but will people be better off, as prices will probably increase to cover the cost to businesses. I think they should have reduced the tax rate on income under $48k instead.
https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/government-confirms-2021-minimum-wage-hike-that-will-affect-175-500-kiwis/ar-BB1bYWWV?ocid=msedgntp
Por que no los dos?
Given most business models now what percentage of costs to wages make up?…id suggest that the inflationary impact of a min wage increase will be far less than you think…especially when you consider the industries that currently pay min wage as of course.
And then you must also remember that (controlled) inflation is the goal….youve has your decades of tax cuts to fuel consumption and they have run out of effect.
A higher minimum wage also reduces the amount of redistribution needed through winz. So less is paid out from the state and more is paid by the employer in recognition of the output from the workers.
nope, that is not gonna change, no more then it changed after the first of april this year.
Pretty much most rentals gone up by about 25 – 45 NZD after the rent freeze. So there is your 'min wage increase'. But food gone up, transport costs gone up, electricity, water, line costs, phone etc all up up and away.
So the poor schmuck working in a supermarket or call centre will get a dollar more per hour from 1 april on, and prices will increase by just a little bit more to cover the costs on everything else on April 1st too. A perfect Aprl Joke.
Labour, were misery is coated in malignant benevolence.
Disclaimer, i have proudly voted twice NOT for the quota woman of the Labour party.
The rent goes up regardless of whether they get a MW increase. The MW increase is the difference between paying the rent, or becoming homeless.
You are right about that. A higher wage reduces eligibility for WFF tax credits.
That will help the government with its rising cost of the AS – as this goes up went rents do.
they will be no better off then with the last increase.
The 40 bucks per week pre tax will not be enough to keep up with inflation, rising cost of living and housing, not to mention medical costs etc.
But at least the government can pretend to be doing something, even if it achieves shit all and in fact may even makes it worse.
Vote labour, for a kinder gentler misery.
Actually, they'll be 40 bucks a week better off.
With inflation around 2.15% they'd need to be earning more than $1800 pw for the figure of $40 to be swallowed by inflation.
The $40 is pre tax. With most beneficiaries on say 15% tax, the increase is not an extra $40 in ones pocket.
Inflation of 2.15% does not fall evenly across all consumption. House price increases, and thus rent increases particularly in the big cities, are significantly above the rate of inflation. Rent forms yhe single biggest chunk of the expenses of most lower income households.
Rent costs are a function of market demand, and those on the lowest incomes need the MW increases to afford rent (and AS besides in many areas).
Rent costs are the price we pay for decades of spineless, greedy, and stupid governments that let speculators have free rein. And they still haven't learned 🙁 .
Rent costs are a function of
market demanda poorly controlled poorly regulated and poorly taxed market.Supply and demand also makes a difference. If there was an abundance of properties available to rent in any given area the price would go down.
This has been coming for a long time – it hasn't been single terms of government error, but decades of sustained error. They know it perfectly well, but still think they get to claim to be a good government without taking the trouble to actually govern .
The $40 is pre tax. With most beneficiaries on say 15% tax, the increase is not an extra $40 in ones pocket.
Inflation of 2.15% does not fall evenly across all consumption. House price increases, and thus rent increases particularly in the big cities, are significantly above the rate of inflation. Rent forms the single biggest chunk of the expenses of most lower income households.
Fair enough. Let's not forget the accommodation supplement meets some of the rent increase. No I don't approve, just saying.
Housing is the great economic divider and parasitises all who are not in the club.
Agree. Let's hope 2021 sees some kind of reform by the government re housing.
Just never understand why such great things in housing were achieved during the depression yet now the best this government offered was Kiwibuild, and the previous government not even that!
The " great things in the depression" actually took about 3 to 4 years to kick in apparently.
well we are past that already considering that this is the second term.
so lets hope that something trickles down soon, right?
My morning coffee from BP went up from $5 to $5.30 after the last wage increase. That is a 6% rise.
You should write to Mike Hosking and compare notes. He will assure you the sky is falling.
If it costs me 30c to ensure people get a fair wage, I'm willing to make the sacrifice!
Yes I don't mind paying the extra 30c either, just pointing out the fact that things will increase and possibly by more than the inflation rate.
"Particularly for something you can make yourself for…awww, about 30 cents.
Unfortunately my own made coffees are never as nice.
Maybe buy your coffee from a local cafe – one with owner/operators who are interested in food and drink and care about their customers? Not some global giant who wants to opportunistically trap you into buying crap mass-produced food and bad coffee because you happen to be on-premises buying petrol. You might find the local cafe is less cynical about gouging you for every cent on whatever lame excuse they can drum up. (Remember the rule of thumb – if we don't dispossess the rich, they will dispossess us)
Well said AB, as a former hospitality business owner, you were more polite than I would have been.
I have vowed to only ever buy fuel from oil companies.
A tax cut for those on high incomes (who also pay tax on their first $48,000) afforded by the government borrowing more money? Really? We have the lowest tax requirement for those of wealth and high incomes anywhere (low top rate, no CGT, no wealth/assets/estate taxation) as it is.
The inflationary impact of the MW increase is negligible – you know what happended in 2018 and 2019 and 2020 when it was increased – stuff all rise in inflation.
And given the housing shortage – and rising rents, the low paid workers need the money.
Minimum wage was $15.75 an hour back in 2017 when Labour came in. It is now $18.90 so people get an extra $126 before tax on a 40 hour week. I wonder if they feel better off now?
If National was in government it would have gone up 50 cents a time 15.75 to 17.25 by 1 April 2020. Apparently they would make no increase at all this time. So under them it would have remained at that level $17.25 from 1 April 2021.
So are low wage workers better off than they would have been otherwise?
Yes.
Yes but weren't Nats also putting thru a tax decrease for them so they receive more in the hand?
Has the National Party ever proposed a tax cut that would give those on the MW more than $10 a week?
I thought they had actually but I'm no expert on Nats policies. Don't forget that as gross wage not increasing, their working for families will not decrease either.
well according to the government stats that ain't so…..
https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/labour-market-statistics-income-june-2020-quarter#:~:text=Comparing%20the%20June%202020%20quarter,%2423%20(6.7%20percent)%20to%20%24364v
You do know the difference between the MW and the median wage right?
And the older workers on the median wage are likely to be homeowners much wealthier than they were a few years ago (sort of at least, they can only leverage that rise in wealth by moving to an area with lower property values) – and those still paying off their mortgages have lower payments now with lower mortgage rates.
There is a reason why Labour was so re-elected. And why they are so accepting of rising property values.
What, you don't like the government stats on how salaries / wages are the only thing that has gotten up while self employed people are down, and income from all sources decreased, while only wages/salaries and government hand outs have gone up?
Oh boy. So sorry. So very sorry to upset you.
bye now.
You are aware what the June quarter 2020 refers to?
It was the one with the lockdown in it.
And given you were responding to a post about about were those on the minimum wage better off for the increases …
"The price of labor—namely wages—is rising at a robust pace, especially in the European Union’s newer member states. Yet, surprisingly, inflation has barely risen."
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/11/the-link-between-wage-growth-and-inflation-is-weakening-this-is-why
Biden's selection of Jennifer Granholm as Secretary of Energy is a good choice. A hard worker, a great communicator, and a champion of renewable energy.
The BAU everyone is adamant is about to occur – will not. Sure, change is not going to be fast enough for most round these parts, but this lady is no dinosaur nor a rich crony.
Hard working experienced people. I reckon Joe's doing alright building a team considering everyone's expectations are so low.
More significantly, the appointment of Granholm may signal an intention to re-orient the Department of Energy to actually be mostly about energy, rather than being a deceptive name for the keeper of the nuclear weapons stockpile.
All the increments add up. With enough improvements in enough areas incrementalism might indeed become transformation.
We have the talent, the tech, the science, and the resources. Should we proceed with technology in an ecologically sound manner, simultaneously addressing how we manage land and land use changes – there is hope.
"The BAU everyone is adamant is about to occur – will not."
We shall see – and it depends on how closely you look. Just swapping out fossil fuels for 'clean' energy, but otherwise doing just the same things on top of that energy infrastructure, seems like the very definition of BAU. And it seems likely that whoever owns that new clean energy infrastructure will have massive opportunities for profit and wealth accumulation beyond their wildest dreams, while the rest of us continue our descent into peasantry – BAU on steroids potentially.
Government to build houses on Ihumatao land.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/12/ihum-tao-deal-reached-government-to-purchase-south-auckland-land-from-fletcher-building-for-30-million.html
Where not fletchers doing the same, as well as protecting significant part of land and ensuring some housing going to the Hapu. What has exactly being achieved here barring handing over 30m in taxpayers money for nothing. Bets on Fletchers will get the construction contract, increasing the absurdity As per the honourable Paula Bennett” Next time sweetie zip it”
It was Paula Bennett who was on her high horse about victims of someone working in parliament (and no not one of her caucus members that time) which led to a report and Mallards comments – neither behaved honourably or professionally.
If Fletchers, the iwi, the protestors and the Maori King are all happy with this – then its prime purpose has been realised. Given the current cost of land in Auckland and the liklihood of more social housing to result, its a win for the government as well.
Hmm, so nothing to see here move on
it not a precedent as Grant told us so, let see if that works at next land occupation It seems no value has been created here, in contrast it has simply encouraged more issues down the road
Yes, it is politics. There is the herding of cats aspect to it. And that might mean a delay to social housing – an iwi has/had an interest in there being some housing so there is that to work with.
More issues down the road … there is no land going to iwi as part of any settlement, so in that sense no motivation to that end down stream.
It’s in the area of land of significance, not being privately used, or held by iwi, that this relates to.
That popping sound is that of angry white boomers across the country rupturing a blood vessel because of this.
The same right wing warriors on twitter and face book and kiwiblog that got the election result they deserved. Long may they remain irrelevant.
Then there are the many who like the rise in value of their property on the back of the COVID free status and who just want a holiday – they will barely notice this. And it will have gone away by next year – as talks will go beyond 2023.
Tend to agree unless we get copy cat actions which is likely no matter what Grant says / hopes The problem I see here is that government has decided to get involved in solving disputes within Hapu’s themselves ( a recipe for disaster, think up north) who own or what happens to plot of land in Mangere I am not really that exercised either way
not this 'angry white boomer'..