I wonder how it feels to be so put-out by such a government that doesn't intentionally harm you in terms of policy in the grand scheme of things?
I'm so sorry that you feel so victimised by the previous government for 6 years and that you missed the National government before that big mean nanny government so much, that you are so happy to see a government massaging that benefit-bashing tendency of yours to return finally, in exchange for that golden state of comfort and security knowing that we shall not disturb your life for much more longer.
I'm so, so sorry that you felt so scared that we might get a few more dollars, a bit more dignity, a bit more hope that you came running towards the warm hug of Luxon and come bade your uncanny relative Seymour to get rid of the big scary benes. (Thanks goodness that they're there! Aren't they great? Isn't the thumb and the hologram so swell?) Oh no in the last six years, somebody got a bigger box of meat somewhere! Oh no, a child just got a new pair of shoes! Oh no, if we had three years more, we would have had free medicines for everybody and we might have had a shot at getting better dental care! The sheer horror! I'm so sad that you feel so victimised by the last 6 years of government (even with its flaws, it would not have made the filthy benes feel fear!)
So much better for you and your just-view of the world to see us to be so fearfully busy with unnecessary and hazardous jobs that the cemetery near you will shine so much the greener for it!
Oh the golden years of the rich verdant grasses watered by our tears after we have yet another proposed benefit income cut!
I'm so, so happy that you do not have to live in fear anymore! Hosanna! The horribleness of the last 6 years are gone! May the filthy benes feel what you felt in the last 6 years! Ah, good ol' payback!
"Conservative voters" Voted for Labour/Greens 3 years ago.
Only the fascists, and the proportion of farmers and Speculators who have no concern for NZ, and those who would vote for a blue gumboot, stuck with NACT.
Yeah – my vote for Greens ironically was a conservative one, so to speak.
I voted to conserve the gains of the Labour/Greens government and with Greens to augment (and perhaps to exceed the timidity of Labour) so we could get a better Aotearoa/New Zealand as a result.
Sadly, that was not to be and I hope nothing gets too damaged in the next three years. If we can even survive it somehow.
And that is why I was so angry in writing my previous post.
People like James needs to ship up and shape up, not us. They need to tighten their belt, not us. They need to do more, not us.
We have been doing enough to prop up the economy. Did you know that as beneficiaries, we are buying what you have had to sell us with most of our meagre incomes, that we constantly have to spend to fund your GST tax? That we have to do a lot to keep our communities afloat even if we have often faced crime, drugs, violence in our communities? No?
It's not just you who are facing these issues, we are facing these issues ourselves in the scariest way: being close up and on the edge. Yet we intentionally don't throw toys out of our cribs and ruin the country (even if we can lose hope and often do not vote) like people do with National and ACT and sometimes NZ First.
Even if we fail, it's not like we aren't trying already most of the time. And the remaining? Well, I can imagine it's the nihilism taking over the remainder of us and in a way it's weirdly understandable.
Things are just so hard, so cruel, so toxic already. With ACT and National, that's just piling fuel on the fire of these vices. And it's so weird that people would see something happen that may help to improve the lot of EVERYBODY and they go: "LOL no, gotta vote the thumb and hologram just cus these ram raids are fucking scary and gotta keep adding up the houses to rent out!" knowing that there's eventually a psychological and natural limit somewhere that is reached and it would not be pretty. Like a beehive being poked one too many times.
So yeah, I hope Aotearoa/NZ isn't damaged too badly in the next three years.
Some who have been involved in politics for some time know what it's like to be voted out of power. I made this point to our LEC a week ago. Since my first vote back in the 1969 election, Labour has four times experienced this- 1975, 1990, 2008, 2023. The conservatives have also had that happen four times in that period- 1972, 1984, 1999, 2017.
Since 1969, National has won for 11 elections or 30 years, Labour for 8 elections, 24 years. Since 1935, National in power for 47 years, Labour for 40 years, 12 changes of government.
Yes, both sides know what it's like………
It's a bit like the World Rugby Cup. Out of 9 completed tournaments, New Zealand has won three, as has South Africa, Australia twice and England once. Who will win next weekend and be the winner of four tournaments? Watching now how players and coaches felt when they lost in previous times, for them it was head down defeat and pain.
Back to NZ elections, how many times in all those elections did we feel, both sides now, that our country would be damaged seriously or irrevocably when we lost?
"Back to NZ elections, how many times in all those elections did we feel, both sides now, that our country would be damaged seriously or irrevocably when we lost?"
I have legitimate reason to fear what will happen next. Enough said.
Thank you ROG. I could never be so eloquent as you, but you got right to the heart of what will probably happen in the next three years. We as ‘bottom feeders’ ( thank you chrome dome) are already tightening our belts against the onslaught to come. I wonder if our super will be cut. if our Winter heating will be cut.our dental treatments will be cut.If medium wages to have no increase for next three years. If 15,000 workers to be sacked from Public Service. ..Before Christmas! NationalAct will be creating poverty and all sort of bad health issues in all ways, but will take away the means for people to be able to access any sort of healing or support.
I see Luxon is skipping around HIS country dispensing joy and goodwill when he should be out starting the building of his first hospital, that he at one stage indicated ‘he would make it work’ as soon as election was won. Like straight away baby, no mucking around here , flashes gnashers. We could be in for a bumpy ride ,but I wouldn’t go on holiday if I was him. Judith Collins will be SILENTLY waiting.
You seem to have missed the point – despite it being restated on TS multiple times, that there is, at this stage, no government (apart from Hipkins in a caretaker role).
Until the final election votes are counted, and until negotiations between the parties are complete (however long that takes) – there will be no government.
No politician, on either side, can actually do *anything* about enacting their first 100 days (or whatever other promises they might have made)
There is no way that Luxon can appoint a Health Minister to progress hospital building – or anything else in the Health sphere.
This divided government is what we voted for ('we' as the people who participated in the election). Of course, people could have voted overwhelmingly for National, giving them (possibly in partnership with ACT) an unbeatable majority. Then Luxon would have been in a position to be beginning his programme right now.
Somehow, I don't feel that this would have made you happier….
I am sure Ffloyd knows as well as the rest of us that the outgoing Lab. govt. is acting as the care-taker govt. for the time being, There is no need to preempt everything that is said with a boring prologue about the precise circumstance.
"I see Luxon is skipping around HIS country dispensing joy and goodwill…"
He certainly does seem to be of the view he is already the PM. I should have thought that was the obvious implication of Ffloyd's remark. Maybe you just want to criticise her/him because they have been open about their support for Labour and the Left.
And a sterling example of everything which is wrong with the Left.
Converting a political discussion to one about pronouns……
And, not even your pronouns….
Just for the record, if a Standardista makes a request to be referred to by a specific pronoun – of course I will comply – simply as a matter of basic courtesy.
In the same way that I don’t use pejorative terms for MPs – on any side of the house. Or make comments about MPs appearance or voice (especially women MPs).
I think both sides have some gardening to do, a little weed plucking and the establishment of a nursery where viable seedlings can be raised and nurtured for the next seasons' plantings, compost to be made and the ground prepared. The analogy is always a good one between politics and gardening.
Plant and weed identification, well-chosen plants for the specific soils, knowledge and toil from scientist and labourer alike, propagation, watering, tending, supervision of pruning and training the growth.
I think the best advice will be for as many as possible to be involved, to lessen the impact of rogue sports and allow common wisdom to win over the mono-culture experts and the parasites. Food for all. Beauty of sight and scent and sound for all.
What am I talking about? Membership, hard workers, skilled people, good candidates, broad-based support, sufficient money, hoarding sites, work-place discussion, union involvement, spreading the message. Us. Involved. For all.
R-o-G, I cannot see how I have trivialised anything. I am Labour but I can still see that we need to review and improve. The 'other side', far more so.
I made no reference to disabled people.
I share some of your apprehension about where NACT will take us, but I was encouraging comment on this.
I am sorry that my comment seems to have triggered your 'taking a break' from us.
I endeavoured to reply to your post last evening on my tablet, but it just wouldn't work, so here goes on my trusty PC. I do recall going to a game at the old Newmarket Park back in the mid 1960s where I believe Manchester United played a New Zealand team. I'm almost sure that Sir Bobby Charlton was in the Man U team then. It was a great afternoon's entertainment, a few of us stalwarts drove up from Putaruru for the occasion.
Just when it looks like I can finally afford to buy an EV for the first time, not a brand new one but a fairly recent one you understand, now I will have to pay more for the privilege of using a vehicle that doesn't belch out CO2 every second.
Thanks National.
The Ford Ranger diesel heads will be loving it, finally getting their revenge on those commie greenies that have had it so good for so long.
No worries Mike, the Nats will 'deliver' lots of new charging stations. You will get so much satisfaction from reflecting on the fact that you won't get to use them. Cheap, easy, low emissions road travel is not something that is going to be handed to everyone. Plebs have to be disciplined by increasing their existential and financial anxiety – not by handing out freebees.
If Britain is anything to go by dont expect public charging stations to be much cheaper than petrol. Topping up at home is by far the best option We had a Polestar, read Chinese Volvo, for 4 days around the south of England and in conversation with a fellow fillerupper who was very knowledgeable said that home filling was about 10% of the price of fuel per km but public filling was almost as expensive as fuel. He had had a succesion of MGs or Mazdas a fuel one and 2 EVs, the second one an upgrade so he had good idea of pricing. I think all public charging in NZ should be a nationalised operation, the chances of price gouging is far too high.
Problem with home charging is all the people living in cities- without garages. Think terrace housing – not to mention apartments.
It's a major issue in London, at least – and I'm sure in many other cities as well.
Certainly, parking (of both EV and ICE cars) has been a significant issue in many of the 'new' apartment blocks which have been designed with minimal garaging/parking space – in Auckland. Regardless of the theory. The vast majority of apartment dwellers in Auckland own cars – and need to park them somewhere.
I'm picking that EVs will also soon attract road user charges (like diesel powered vehicles) – which will make them pretty comparable to ICE for running costs.
Even if the pandemic were over for the rich (and it is not), none of the safety they’ve bought for themselves exists for you and I. We’ve been told over and over that we’re in a different place than we were in 2020. Which is true—things are much worse now. Cases are higher, the virus is more contagious, reinfections are more dangerous, and people have largely let down their guard.
[deleted overlong quote with enough links to get caught in the spam filter]
This is not an argument which is going to win Labour any friends.
If you are saying that Covid is worse now, than it was in 2020 – then you make everyone wonder what the point of Lockdown was?
Almost everyone has now had at least one dose of Covid. And they didn't die. They didn't even get terribly sick.
The Covid that we have now is nothing like as lethal as the variant present in early 2020. If it were, we would have seen death and hospitalization rates in NZ in 2022 – when the spread of Omicron made any lockdown ineffective – comparable to those in Italy in 2020. Spoiler alert. We didn't.
In addition, the vast majority of Kiwis are protected by a combination of vaccination and naturally acquired antibodies.
Are people still dying from Covid. Yes they are. They are also dying from influenza, and cancer, and heart disease and diabetes. And poor people die at higher rates from all of those.
It's not about "winning friends" Bella FFS, it's about telling the truth.
Labours COVID response was one of the best in the world. The greedy self-entitled Right has attacked it in Auckland so that they can have their placeman, Luxon, in power. Don't buy into this.
Labour/Greens(who supported Labours COVID response) did really well in the election in Dunedin and Wellington….I haven't checked chch. It was the Auckland/Hamilton axis that cost The Left the election. They were lied to by Luxon and pals on a daily basis during the campaign.
that we’re in a different place than we were in 2020. Which is true—things are much worse now. Cases are higher, the virus is more contagious, reinfections are more dangerous, and people have largely let down their guard.
If you do – then the logical correlation is that we should close the borders and go back into permanent lockdown. I don't think even the magic fairydust of Ardern could sell that one!
FFS – it seems as though the Left *still* isn't admitting that Lockdown – especially the 2nd Auckland one – was a public relations disaster.
Yes, the rest of NZ (including Wellington, and most of the government) – went on their merry way living their lives – while Auckland endured months of apparently pointless lockdown (pointless, because Covid went right on spreading among the people who said FU to the whole concept)
If you want to draw the parallel in Labour votes – be my guest.
For the record, I think it was one element – but not the only one. The cost of living, and out-of-control crime wave – both impacting Auckland more than other cities/regions, were also highly significant.
Wonder how much worse things will get under Milei's anarcho-capitalism.
Hernán Stuchi, a 29-year-old food delivery driver in greater Buenos Aires, grew up as a left-wing activist. During this weekend’s presidential election in Argentina, he will make a starkly different choice, and back Javier , a far-right libertarian trumpeting socially conservative culture war issues and explosive proposals to reshape Argentine society.
[…]
Polls indicate almost 50 percent of voters 29 and younger back Milei, the wild-haired outsider and self-described “anarcho-capitalist” who inveighs against traditional politicians, branding them as members of a “caste” that must be done away with. (His campaign slogan, “que se vayan todos,” or “get rid of them all,” carries echoes of the Trumpian “drain the swamp.”) A win by Milei’s ascendant campaign in Argentina would serve as yet another indicator of the far right’s rise across the Americas and around the world. But young voters’ support sets Milei apart from the far-right stars he is often compared with, including Trump and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, both of whom were shut out by young voters in their recent reelection bids.
With over 100 percent inflation crushing Argentine pocketbooks, Milei’s proposed solution is a radical plan to abolish the central bank and dollarize the economy by replacing the Argentine peso with the US dollar — a move untested by countries of Argentina’s scale. He has voiced support for other extreme positions, including liberalizing gun ownership and individuals’ freedom to sell their organs. He denies human-caused climate change and opposes abortion. At rallies, he can often be seen wielding a chainsaw, symbolizing his plan to slash public spending and unravel Argentina’s generous safety nets. In Milei’s view, the state should largely limit itself to homeland security: To that end, he has pledged to axe the ministries of education; environment; and women, gender, and diversity, among others.
With inflation at 138% (and years in excess of 20%) I guess the population will seize upon any hope of respite….consider our own reaction with our recent 6-7%
I know that I'm on a break however I couldn't help but to notice the parallels between Seymour and this demagogue.
At rallies, he can often be seen wielding a chainsaw, symbolizing his plan to slash public spending and unravel Argentina’s generous safety nets. In Milei’s view, the state should largely limit itself to homeland security: To that end, he has pledged to axe the ministries of education; environment; and women, gender, and diversity, among others.
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Mike Grimshaw writes – At a time when universities are understandably nervous regarding the establishment of the University Advisory Group (UAG) and the Science System Advisory Group (SSAG) it may seem strange – or even fool-hardy – to state that there are long-standing issues in the tertiary sector ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – A lack of perspective can make something quite large or important seem small or irrelevant. Against a backdrop of high-profile, negative statistics it is easy to overlook the positive. For instance, the fact that 64 percent of Maori are employed is rarely reported. For ...
Earlier this year, the Herald ran a series of articles amounting to a sustained campaign against raised pedestrian crossings, by reporter Bernard Orsman. A key part of that campaign concerned the raised crossings being installed as part of the Pt Chevalier to Westmere project, with at least 10 articles over ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 19 include:PM Christopher Luxon is expected to hold his weekly post-cabinet news conference at 4:00pm on Monday.Parliament is not sitting this week. It resumes next week for a two-week sitting session up to and ...
Hi,Thanks to all the beautiful Worms who came to the LA Webworm popup on Saturday.It was a way to celebrate the online store we launched last week — and it was super special.As I talk about a lot, I really value our community here — and it was a BLAST ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 5, 2024 thru Sat, May 11, 2024. (Unfortunate) Story of the week "Grief that stops at despair is an ending that I and many others, most notably ...
Last night the largest solar storm in decades resulted in Aurorae being seen across Aotearoa, causing many to ask why?Why was the sky pink? What was all this stuff about the power grid? Have we, as so many have wondered since the election, reached the end of days?I had a ...
We have been on the road in England, squeezing down narrow lanes, flying up the M6, loving hedgerows and villages and cathedrals, liking the 21st century less.There have been moments when it’s felt like a movie trope. The pub in Exford, lovely seventeenth century bar, almost more dogs than people, ...
There’s a solar-storm on at the moment, and since the South Island is having a day and night with clear skies, that means Aurorae. I have just got back from a midnight visit to Tunnel Beach – southwards-looking over the Sea, and without the light pollution. Quite a few others ...
Michael Bassett writes – I’m not sure that it’s much comfort to anyone to know that the post-Covid surge in violent crimes, gang activity, ram raids, random shootings, thuggery and stabbings is occurring in other countries as well as New Zealand. These days, wagging school, out-of-control welfare and ...
Oliver Hartwich writes – Cast your mind back to mid-December. A new Prime Minister had just been sworn in, the new Government started its 100-day programme, and Christmas was only days away.Amid all the haste, a report landed that would have deserved our attention.I am talking about the ...
TL;DR: An unseasonally early icy blast at the same time as some long-overdue maintenance almost caused Aotearoa-NZ’s electricity system to black out this week. That’s because a quadropoly of gentailers1 have prioritised paying dividends from their rising profits and adding debt over investing in 1.5 GigaWatts of new wind farms ...
Hi,Before we crack into today’s Webworm, I wanted to acknowledge the fact that Israel is pushing into Rafah. Over 100,000 Palestinians are now attempting to flee the one place that was deemed “safe”.Trouble is, the place they’re fleeing to is already destroyed. Total annihilation is the end goal here.“Israel is ...
‘It has been said that figures rule the world. Maybe. I am quite sure that it is figures which show us whether it is being ruled well or badly.’ GoetheI was struck at a recent conference on equity for the elderly, how many presenters implicitly relied upon Statistics New Zealand. ...
The Government’s introduction of legislation that would enable landlords to end tenancies with no reason marks a dark day for the 1.4 million people who rent their home in Aotearoa. ...
The Minister for Mental Health has found the Suicide Prevention Office and mental health support for 111 calls slipping through his fingers, says Labour spokesperson for Mental Health Ingrid Leary. ...
Today’s justification from the Minister for Children for scrapping protections for our tamariki was either a case of ignorance or deliberate deception. ...
The Green Party says the Government’s misguided policy on gangs will fail, following the announcement of the establishment of a national gang unit and district gang disruption units to target gang activities. ...
“With Police pay negotiations still unresolved after six months in Government, Mark Mitchell has today rolled the Commissioner out for a rebrand of their approach to gang crime,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said. ...
The Government bringing back 50 charter schools will not increase achievement and is a distraction from the core mission of the education system, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Te Pāti Māori is showing extreme concern over the Environment Select Committees adoption of a lucky dip draw to determine hearings for the Fast Track Approvals bill. Of the 27,000 submissions, 2,900 requested to present. All organisations will be heard; however, the remaining 2,350 submitters will be subject to a ...
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. ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools. “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019. “It is my pleasure ...
New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says. “This ...
Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners. “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
“The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office. “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
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 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sandra van der Laan, Professor of Accounting, University of Sydney Mtaya/Shutterstock At some point, you or someone else will need to make a decision about your “send-off”. Most Australians die in an institution, such as a hospital or aged care facility. ...
Asia Pacific Report Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai — who is also Chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group — has reaffirmed MSG’s support of the pro-independence umbrella group Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) stance opposing the French government’s constitutional bill “unfreezing” the New Caledonia Electoral Roll. It is ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk, and Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist The suspected ringleaders of the unrest in New Caledonia have been placed in home detention and the social network TikTok has been banned as French security forces struggle to restore law and order. The French ...
Multi-year appropriations - which give the government authority to spend money without reapplying annually - are loosening Parliament's control of the public purse, auditor-general says. ...
Dr. Eric Chuah who stood for a centrist NZ political party in the October 2023 NZ Elections for Maungakiekie Auckland will stand as a candidate for Tauranga City Council Ward of Matua-=Otumoetai and Mayor of Tauranga. ...
If you can’t get to the comedy fest, let us bring the comedy fest to you. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. The New Zealand International Comedy Festival is in full swing at the moment, with a veritable smorgasboard of comedy treats ...
A new poll commissioned by Unions Wellington shows an overwhelming majority of Wellingtonians oppose the Council’s plan to sell the 34% public stake in Wellington Airport. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aruna Sathanapally, Chief Executive, Grattan Institute, Grattan Institute A central focus of this week’s budget is the treasury’s forecast for inflation. By this time next year, inflation is projected to be back within the Reserve Bank’s 2-3% target range. Inflation has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yolanda van Heezik, Professor of Ecology, University of Otago Getty Images Cities across Aotearoa New Zealand are trying to solve a housing crisis, with increasing residential density a key solution. But not everyone is happy about the resulting loss of natural ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Reeve, Deputy Program Director, Energy and Climate Change, Grattan Institute WDG Photo/Shutterstock For years, the electricity sector has been the poster child for emissions cuts in Australia. The sector achieved a stunning 26% drop in emissions over the past 15 ...
It’s often the last thing people want to do, but asking someone if they’re having suicidal thoughts is a critical first step to helping them. Content warning: this story discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. For a list of resources that can help if you or someone you know is feeling ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy J. Ralph, Associate Professor, Macquarie University The pyramids at Giza, like dozens of others, are located several kilometres west of the current path of the Nile.Alex Cimbal / Shutterstock The largest field of pyramids in Egypt – consisting of 31 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Diepstraten, Senior Research Officer, Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute ABO PHOTOGRAPHY/Shutterstock Receiving a cancer diagnosis is life-changing and can cause a range of concerns about ongoing health. Fear of cancer returning is one ...
Winston Peters has been on tour around the Pacific while two unrelated crises unfolded, explains Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Two separate ...
This is the Mount Everest of artificial meatcraft.Ah, bacon. Pig’s gold. Toast’s consolation. Dawn’s savoury embrace. If meat was a currency, bacon would be the Benjamin Franklin. Or if you’re feeling patriotic, the Lord Rutherford. When it comes to fake bacon, the obvious question is: why bother? In the ...
From illegal milk to sprinkler bans and airplane ticket scams, Tyrone Barugh is on a one-man mission through New Zealand’s most obscure legal loopholes. I’m deep undercover, investigating Wellington’s criminal underworld. Inside this store, I’ve been told there is a million-dollar trade in illicit substances. A man dressed in black ...
New Zealand’s drug legislation hasn’t been overhauled in nearly 50 years, in spite of a recommendation from the Law Commission in 2011 to do so. Our Misuse of Drugs Act was passed in 1975 and is based on a United Nations framework set in 1961. Now a new organisation, Harm ...
NONFICTION 1 The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour & Jude Dobson (Allen & Unwin, $37.99) A free copy of this amazing story of a woman who operated behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied France was up for grabs this past fortnight. Readers were asked to share a story of wartime bravery, ...
It’s been a recess week at Parliament, which might indicate slim pickings for conversation topics for the Raw Politics team. But things are never dull in politics, especially with a new Government keen to follow through on its law and order promises, and a NZ First minister who wants to ...
Dear Hon Judith Collins, Minister of Defence, and Hon Christopher Penk, Associate Minister of Defence I have written to you, to attempt to give you an insight into the incredible hardship of being an NZDF family. Whilst I cannot speak on behalf of serving personnel, I can speak from my ...
Analysis: What a difference a year makes. In mid 2023, Wayne Brown the Auckland Mayor was a politician diminished by a calamitous response to the region’s Anniversary Weekend storm emergency and later forced against his preference into a half sale only of the city’s airport shares. His demeanour among his ...
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Asia Pacific Report An open letter to The New Zealand Herald has challenged a full page Zionist advertisement this week for failing to acknowledge the “terrible injustices” suffered by the Palestinian people in Israel’s seven-month genocidal war on Gaza. In the latest of several international reports that have condemned genocide ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When he was opposition leader, Bill Shorten faced Coalition criticism for attacking “the top end of town”, a phrase he used in his 2019 budget reply. Now Peter Dutton is finding the line “billions of ...
By Adam Burns, RNZ News reporter Worried New Caledonian expats in Aotearoa admit they are “terrified” for friends and family amid ongoing violence and civil unrest in the French Pacific territory. The death toll remained at four tonight, and hundreds have been injured after electoral changes sparked widespread rioting by ...
French President Emmanuel Macron has declared a state of emergency in New Caledonia after several days of civil unrest in the capital. Four people are dead due to the unrest and violence in the capital, Nouméa. France TV reports that a 22-year-old gendarme who had been seriously wounded has become ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland This week’s budget was Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ third and – for practical purposes – final for the current parliamentary term. Even if the 2025 election is delayed long enough to give ...
They held a noisy but peaceful demonstration against the ongoing genocide being carried out by the State of Israel, condemning the Israeli ambassador who was hosting an invitation-only event to celebrate the establishment of the State of Israel. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bridget Haire, Senior lecturer, public health ethics, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Bowonpat Sakaew/Shutterstock HIV prevention was allocated A$43.9 million over three years in this week’s federal budget. Some $26m of this is for “PrEP” for people without access to ...
Karen Chhour wants Oranga Tamiriki to establish more partnerships with Māori, despite introducing a bill to Parliament removing their obligation to do so. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bridget Haire, Senior lecturer, public health ethics, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Bowonpat Sakaew/Shutterstock HIV prevention was allocated A$43.9 million over three years in this week’s federal budget. Some $26m of this is for “PrEP” for people without access to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole George, Associate Professor in Peace and Conflict Studies, The University of Queensland New Caledonia’s capital city, Noumea, has endured widespread violent rioting over the past 48 hours. This crisis intensified rapidly, taking local authorities by surprise. Peaceful protests had been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brad Elphinstone, Lecturer in psychology., Swinburne University of Technology A DNA sequence.Gio.tto/Shutterstock Should you be denied life insurance or have to pay extra if you have a genetic risk for certain diseases? Should insurance companies even have access to your genetic ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Nicholls, Senior research associate, University of Sydney Barely a day has gone by this month without politicians or commentators talking about online harms. There have been multiple high-profile examples spurring on the conversation. There was the circulation of videos of Bishop ...
With less than six months to go, it’s time to start paying attention to what could be the most consequential election of our lifetimes. It’s less than half a year until election day in the United States, which makes this a good opportunity to review what’s happened thus far in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ryan Storr, Research fellow, Swinburne University of Technology The topic of homophobia in sport has recently made headlines in Australia, with a series of homophobic incidents involving men’s AFL players. These homophobic incidents are usually well-reported in news media, but research ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ryan Storr, Research fellow, Swinburne University of Technology The topic of homophobia in sport has recently made headlines in Australia, with a series of homophobic incidents involving men’s AFL players. These homophobic incidents are usually well-reported in news media, but research ...
Asia Pacific Report France has declared a state of emergency on the Pacific territory of New Caledonia — New Zealand’s closest neighbour — after four people, including a police officer, have been killed in pro-independence riots over voting changes that further marginalise indigenous Kanaks, news agencies report. The move came ...
The biggest winner from the 2024 Ockham book awards talks to Madeleine Chapman about her fascination with stages of life, advocating for the arts, and what’s next. Last night, at a not-as-long-as-expected ceremony at Q Theatre in downtown Auckland, Emily Perkins won the Big Prize for the second time. Her ...
With funding ending for Archives New Zealand’s digitisation programme, Hera Lindsay Bird shares a taste of what’s being lost – because history isn’t just about the big-ticket items. On Tuesday morning the PSA held a snap protest outside the National Library in Wellington, urging the government to continue funding the ...
“North Korea would better serve its people by meaningfully re-engaging with the international community through diplomacy rather than threats” says Mr Peters. ...
Following comments from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in yesterday’s pre-budget speech that not adjusting tax brackets for inflation each year is “lazy”, the Taxpayers’ Union is releasing a new poll that reveals that the vast majority of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wendy Marie Cumming-Potvin, Associate Professor/ Director of Research (School of Education), Murdoch University Shutterstock Despite social change, LGBTQI+ people still face discrimination at school and in the community. Language for diverse genders and sexualities is continually changing. LGBTQI+ allyship is part ...
Should I tell her before I see someone else? Invent a story about being stuck overseas? Grow my hair long? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzHello Hera,I’ve been seeing my hairdresser for about 12 years, making this one of the longest relationships of my adult life (longer than my ...
More than 25 environmental and community groups have published an Open Letter calling on Parliament to honour Te Tiriti and protect the environment. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jakob Weis, Postdoctoral research associate, University of Tasmania Dust storm blowing off the Australian east coast over the South Pacific.Jeff Schmaltz/NASA GSFC, Author provided The Southern Ocean, a region critical to Earth’s climate, hosts vast blooms of microscopic ocean plants known ...
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Luxon is everywhere. He’s like an overdose of candy floss. Nicks Korero is on point today.
Now you know how conservative voters felt the last 6 years
Aroha
Poor little you, James. :/
I wonder how it feels to be so put-out by such a government that doesn't intentionally harm you in terms of policy in the grand scheme of things?
I'm so sorry that you feel so victimised by the previous government for 6 years and that you missed the National government before that big mean nanny government so much, that you are so happy to see a government massaging that benefit-bashing tendency of yours to return finally, in exchange for that golden state of comfort and security knowing that we shall not disturb your life for much more longer.
I'm so, so sorry that you felt so scared that we might get a few more dollars, a bit more dignity, a bit more hope that you came running towards the warm hug of Luxon and come bade your uncanny relative Seymour to get rid of the big scary benes. (Thanks goodness that they're there! Aren't they great? Isn't the thumb and the hologram so swell?) Oh no in the last six years, somebody got a bigger box of meat somewhere! Oh no, a child just got a new pair of shoes! Oh no, if we had three years more, we would have had free medicines for everybody and we might have had a shot at getting better dental care! The sheer horror! I'm so sad that you feel so victimised by the last 6 years of government (even with its flaws, it would not have made the filthy benes feel fear!)
So much better for you and your just-view of the world to see us to be so fearfully busy with unnecessary and hazardous jobs that the cemetery near you will shine so much the greener for it!
Oh the golden years of the rich verdant grasses watered by our tears after we have yet another proposed benefit income cut!
I'm so, so happy that you do not have to live in fear anymore! Hosanna! The horribleness of the last 6 years are gone! May the filthy benes feel what you felt in the last 6 years! Ah, good ol' payback!
Huzzah! :/
James?
Shaw????
Dr Scott!
Still blaming Cook perhaps???
At some point you have to let the past go
Mod note for you, James.
"Conservative voters" Voted for Labour/Greens 3 years ago.
Only the fascists, and the proportion of farmers and Speculators who have no concern for NZ, and those who would vote for a blue gumboot, stuck with NACT.
Yeah – my vote for Greens ironically was a conservative one, so to speak.
I voted to conserve the gains of the Labour/Greens government and with Greens to augment (and perhaps to exceed the timidity of Labour) so we could get a better Aotearoa/New Zealand as a result.
Sadly, that was not to be and I hope nothing gets too damaged in the next three years. If we can even survive it somehow.
And that is why I was so angry in writing my previous post.
People like James needs to ship up and shape up, not us. They need to tighten their belt, not us. They need to do more, not us.
We have been doing enough to prop up the economy. Did you know that as beneficiaries, we are buying what you have had to sell us with most of our meagre incomes, that we constantly have to spend to fund your GST tax? That we have to do a lot to keep our communities afloat even if we have often faced crime, drugs, violence in our communities? No?
It's not just you who are facing these issues, we are facing these issues ourselves in the scariest way: being close up and on the edge. Yet we intentionally don't throw toys out of our cribs and ruin the country (even if we can lose hope and often do not vote) like people do with National and ACT and sometimes NZ First.
Even if we fail, it's not like we aren't trying already most of the time. And the remaining? Well, I can imagine it's the nihilism taking over the remainder of us and in a way it's weirdly understandable.
Things are just so hard, so cruel, so toxic already. With ACT and National, that's just piling fuel on the fire of these vices. And it's so weird that people would see something happen that may help to improve the lot of EVERYBODY and they go: "LOL no, gotta vote the thumb and hologram just cus these ram raids are fucking scary and gotta keep adding up the houses to rent out!" knowing that there's eventually a psychological and natural limit somewhere that is reached and it would not be pretty. Like a beehive being poked one too many times.
So yeah, I hope Aotearoa/NZ isn't damaged too badly in the next three years.
I sincerely hope that.
Some who have been involved in politics for some time know what it's like to be voted out of power. I made this point to our LEC a week ago. Since my first vote back in the 1969 election, Labour has four times experienced this- 1975, 1990, 2008, 2023. The conservatives have also had that happen four times in that period- 1972, 1984, 1999, 2017.
Since 1969, National has won for 11 elections or 30 years, Labour for 8 elections, 24 years. Since 1935, National in power for 47 years, Labour for 40 years, 12 changes of government.
Yes, both sides know what it's like………
It's a bit like the World Rugby Cup. Out of 9 completed tournaments, New Zealand has won three, as has South Africa, Australia twice and England once. Who will win next weekend and be the winner of four tournaments? Watching now how players and coaches felt when they lost in previous times, for them it was head down defeat and pain.
Back to NZ elections, how many times in all those elections did we feel, both sides now, that our country would be damaged seriously or irrevocably when we lost?
"Back to NZ elections, how many times in all those elections did we feel, both sides now, that our country would be damaged seriously or irrevocably when we lost?"
I have legitimate reason to fear what will happen next. Enough said.
Nah, it'll be fine
Things are certainly looking up, for some – take property investors (please )
https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/10/16/the-labour-policies-that-face-being-scrapped-under-national/
“Nah, it’ll be fine“
Thank you ROG. I could never be so eloquent as you, but you got right to the heart of what will probably happen in the next three years. We as ‘bottom feeders’ ( thank you chrome dome) are already tightening our belts against the onslaught to come. I wonder if our super will be cut. if our Winter heating will be cut.our dental treatments will be cut.If medium wages to have no increase for next three years. If 15,000 workers to be sacked from Public Service. ..Before Christmas! NationalAct will be creating poverty and all sort of bad health issues in all ways, but will take away the means for people to be able to access any sort of healing or support.
I see Luxon is skipping around HIS country dispensing joy and goodwill when he should be out starting the building of his first hospital, that he at one stage indicated ‘he would make it work’ as soon as election was won. Like straight away baby, no mucking around here , flashes gnashers. We could be in for a bumpy ride ,but I wouldn’t go on holiday if I was him. Judith Collins will be SILENTLY waiting.
Don't think Collins will be up to much theses days
Willis on the other hand…
You seem to have missed the point – despite it being restated on TS multiple times, that there is, at this stage, no government (apart from Hipkins in a caretaker role).
Until the final election votes are counted, and until negotiations between the parties are complete (however long that takes) – there will be no government.
No politician, on either side, can actually do *anything* about enacting their first 100 days (or whatever other promises they might have made)
There is no way that Luxon can appoint a Health Minister to progress hospital building – or anything else in the Health sphere.
This divided government is what we voted for ('we' as the people who participated in the election). Of course, people could have voted overwhelmingly for National, giving them (possibly in partnership with ACT) an unbeatable majority. Then Luxon would have been in a position to be beginning his programme right now.
Somehow, I don't feel that this would have made you happier….
I am sure Ffloyd knows as well as the rest of us that the outgoing Lab. govt. is acting as the care-taker govt. for the time being, There is no need to preempt everything that is said with a boring prologue about the precise circumstance.
He certainly does seem to be of the view he is already the PM. I should have thought that was the obvious implication of Ffloyd's remark. Maybe you just want to criticise her/him because they have been open about their support for Labour and the Left.
Maybe you want to defend him for the same reason.
Ffloyd's suggestion about what Luxon should be doing – is entirely impossible under the political circumstances. Talk about a straw man.
Are you sure he's a him? I'm not.
And a sterling example of everything which is wrong with the Left.
Converting a political discussion to one about pronouns……
And, not even your pronouns….
Just for the record, if a Standardista makes a request to be referred to by a specific pronoun – of course I will comply – simply as a matter of basic courtesy.
In the same way that I don’t use pejorative terms for MPs – on any side of the house. Or make comments about MPs appearance or voice (especially women MPs).
Collins not up to it!! Wouldn’t bet the farm on it. Willis….. what a chuckle.
Bit early for all this anxiety until we have Specials, a coalition deal, a cabinet, and a 100 day plan.
Do some gardening for a bit. Nothing to do.
I think both sides have some gardening to do, a little weed plucking and the establishment of a nursery where viable seedlings can be raised and nurtured for the next seasons' plantings, compost to be made and the ground prepared. The analogy is always a good one between politics and gardening.
Plant and weed identification, well-chosen plants for the specific soils, knowledge and toil from scientist and labourer alike, propagation, watering, tending, supervision of pruning and training the growth.
I think the best advice will be for as many as possible to be involved, to lessen the impact of rogue sports and allow common wisdom to win over the mono-culture experts and the parasites. Food for all. Beauty of sight and scent and sound for all.
What am I talking about? Membership, hard workers, skilled people, good candidates, broad-based support, sufficient money, hoarding sites, work-place discussion, union involvement, spreading the message. Us. Involved. For all.
OK. I am going to say something.
It is not just the working people that is worthy of participation in society.
It is disabled people too.
This is what I am staunch on. Because we have often been left out of society for far too long. No more.
"Both sides"‽ Like you think this is something trivial we shouldn't be fussing about.
OK.
I'm taking a break from you all. Take care.
Nice use of the interrabang – I didn't know we still had those! 👍👍
Don't despair Rolls, the country needs the disabled and differently abled as much as we need anyone, no matter what those NACT arseholes say.
R-o-G, I cannot see how I have trivialised anything. I am Labour but I can still see that we need to review and improve. The 'other side', far more so.
I made no reference to disabled people.
I share some of your apprehension about where NACT will take us, but I was encouraging comment on this.
I am sorry that my comment seems to have triggered your 'taking a break' from us.
Amid all the "Shutduffer Cup" hoo-hah, I'd like to note the passing of England's equivalent to Dan Carter and Pinetree:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/oct/21/sir-bobby-charlton-manchester-united-legend-world-cup-winner-england-dies
(Yes, I know – different sport. But the same sort of status.)
I endeavoured to reply to your post last evening on my tablet, but it just wouldn't work, so here goes on my trusty PC. I do recall going to a game at the old Newmarket Park back in the mid 1960s where I believe Manchester United played a New Zealand team. I'm almost sure that Sir Bobby Charlton was in the Man U team then. It was a great afternoon's entertainment, a few of us stalwarts drove up from Putaruru for the occasion.
Just when it looks like I can finally afford to buy an EV for the first time, not a brand new one but a fairly recent one you understand, now I will have to pay more for the privilege of using a vehicle that doesn't belch out CO2 every second.
Thanks National.
The Ford Ranger diesel heads will be loving it, finally getting their revenge on those commie greenies that have had it so good for so long.
No worries Mike, the Nats will 'deliver' lots of new charging stations. You will get so much satisfaction from reflecting on the fact that you won't get to use them. Cheap, easy, low emissions road travel is not something that is going to be handed to everyone. Plebs have to be disciplined by increasing their existential and financial anxiety – not by handing out freebees.
If Britain is anything to go by dont expect public charging stations to be much cheaper than petrol. Topping up at home is by far the best option We had a Polestar, read Chinese Volvo, for 4 days around the south of England and in conversation with a fellow fillerupper who was very knowledgeable said that home filling was about 10% of the price of fuel per km but public filling was almost as expensive as fuel. He had had a succesion of MGs or Mazdas a fuel one and 2 EVs, the second one an upgrade so he had good idea of pricing. I think all public charging in NZ should be a nationalised operation, the chances of price gouging is far too high.
Problem with home charging is all the people living in cities- without garages. Think terrace housing – not to mention apartments.
It's a major issue in London, at least – and I'm sure in many other cities as well.
Certainly, parking (of both EV and ICE cars) has been a significant issue in many of the 'new' apartment blocks which have been designed with minimal garaging/parking space – in Auckland. Regardless of the theory. The vast majority of apartment dwellers in Auckland own cars – and need to park them somewhere.
I'm picking that EVs will also soon attract road user charges (like diesel powered vehicles) – which will make them pretty comparable to ICE for running costs.
Because the hoi polloi don't need no damn mitigation measures.
/
We are still in a pandemic.
The pandemic is not over. Basically everything you have been led to believe about the virus is a lie. Covid is more dangerous, more transmissible, and more out of control than everyone in power is telling you. We are not back to normal. We are in freefall.
[…]
Even if the pandemic were over for the rich (and it is not), none of the safety they’ve bought for themselves exists for you and I. We’ve been told over and over that we’re in a different place than we were in 2020. Which is true—things are much worse now. Cases are higher, the virus is more contagious, reinfections are more dangerous, and people have largely let down their guard.
[deleted overlong quote with enough links to get caught in the spam filter]
https://lizwhatsherface.substack.com/p/the-pandemic-isnt-over
mod note.
This is not an argument which is going to win Labour any friends.
If you are saying that Covid is worse now, than it was in 2020 – then you make everyone wonder what the point of Lockdown was?
Almost everyone has now had at least one dose of Covid. And they didn't die. They didn't even get terribly sick.
The Covid that we have now is nothing like as lethal as the variant present in early 2020. If it were, we would have seen death and hospitalization rates in NZ in 2022 – when the spread of Omicron made any lockdown ineffective – comparable to those in Italy in 2020. Spoiler alert. We didn't.
In addition, the vast majority of Kiwis are protected by a combination of vaccination and naturally acquired antibodies.
Are people still dying from Covid. Yes they are. They are also dying from influenza, and cancer, and heart disease and diabetes. And poor people die at higher rates from all of those.
Are they 'pandemics' in your book as well?
It's not about "winning friends" Bella FFS, it's about telling the truth.
Labours COVID response was one of the best in the world. The greedy self-entitled Right has attacked it in Auckland so that they can have their placeman, Luxon, in power. Don't buy into this.
Labour/Greens(who supported Labours COVID response) did really well in the election in Dunedin and Wellington….I haven't checked chch. It was the Auckland/Hamilton axis that cost The Left the election. They were lied to by Luxon and pals on a daily basis during the campaign.
Do you honestly believe Joe90's claim that
If you do – then the logical correlation is that we should close the borders and go back into permanent lockdown. I don't think even the magic fairydust of Ardern could sell that one!
FFS – it seems as though the Left *still* isn't admitting that Lockdown – especially the 2nd Auckland one – was a public relations disaster.
Yes, the rest of NZ (including Wellington, and most of the government) – went on their merry way living their lives – while Auckland endured months of apparently pointless lockdown (pointless, because Covid went right on spreading among the people who said FU to the whole concept)
If you want to draw the parallel in Labour votes – be my guest.
For the record, I think it was one element – but not the only one. The cost of living, and out-of-control crime wave – both impacting Auckland more than other cities/regions, were also highly significant.
That's the authors claim, not mine.
My assertion is that despite the measures used to protect the rich
Edit timed out.
(couldn't be arsed)
Why yes, we too could have had an epidemiologist telling an inquiry that;
https://twitter.com/Kit_Yates_Maths/status/1715269096193798515
Wonder how much worse things will get under Milei's anarcho-capitalism.
Hernán Stuchi, a 29-year-old food delivery driver in greater Buenos Aires, grew up as a left-wing activist. During this weekend’s presidential election in Argentina, he will make a starkly different choice, and back Javier , a far-right libertarian trumpeting socially conservative culture war issues and explosive proposals to reshape Argentine society.
[…]
Polls indicate almost 50 percent of voters 29 and younger back Milei, the wild-haired outsider and self-described “anarcho-capitalist” who inveighs against traditional politicians, branding them as members of a “caste” that must be done away with. (His campaign slogan, “que se vayan todos,” or “get rid of them all,” carries echoes of the Trumpian “drain the swamp.”) A win by Milei’s ascendant campaign in Argentina would serve as yet another indicator of the far right’s rise across the Americas and around the world. But young voters’ support sets Milei apart from the far-right stars he is often compared with, including Trump and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, both of whom were shut out by young voters in their recent reelection bids.
With over 100 percent inflation crushing Argentine pocketbooks, Milei’s proposed solution is a radical plan to abolish the central bank and dollarize the economy by replacing the Argentine peso with the US dollar — a move untested by countries of Argentina’s scale. He has voiced support for other extreme positions, including liberalizing gun ownership and individuals’ freedom to sell their organs. He denies human-caused climate change and opposes abortion. At rallies, he can often be seen wielding a chainsaw, symbolizing his plan to slash public spending and unravel Argentina’s generous safety nets. In Milei’s view, the state should largely limit itself to homeland security: To that end, he has pledged to axe the ministries of education; environment; and women, gender, and diversity, among others.
https://www.vox.com/world-politics/2023/10/21/23925549/argentina-election-javier-milei-right-youth
With inflation at 138% (and years in excess of 20%) I guess the population will seize upon any hope of respite….consider our own reaction with our recent 6-7%
I know that I'm on a break however I couldn't help but to notice the parallels between Seymour and this demagogue.
At rallies, he can often be seen wielding a chainsaw, symbolizing his plan to slash public spending and unravel Argentina’s generous safety nets. In Milei’s view, the state should largely limit itself to homeland security: To that end, he has pledged to axe the ministries of education; environment; and women, gender, and diversity, among others.
This sounds EXACTLY LIKE OUR DAVID SEYMOUR!