Winston Peters refuses to use David Seymour's name
NZ First's leader took his election campaign tour to the heartland of ACT's David Seymour in Auckland's Epsom and, as Garth Bray writes, the crowd couldn't miss his pointed refusal to utter his opponent's name once.
Lots of options really. "Cuts" has been used, but my favourites would include "crazies", "con-men" "conspiracists", "cash-lifters", "crackpots" and "cock-wavers". No doubt the potential list is nearly endless.
Was it significant that in the minor parties debate the other night, Seymour and Peters were as far away from each other as was possible?
Truly, if, God forbid, they ever have to go into coalition with Natz to form a government, they will be a Coalition of Chaos, and a Coalition of Cuts, with or without the 'n' factor!
Credit Parker with intelligent steering in the right direction, plus delivery!
Issuing clearer guidance to councils about assessing natural hazard risk is one of the measures in the National Adaptation Plan adopted by the Government last year. Consultation is open until November 13 and the policy is scheduled to be in force early next year.
Also fair to say that this is Labour at its best & likely worth at least 9/10… although, being political substance rather than fluff they probably won't use it in the campaign…
Bomber wants the PM to surprise everyone by morphing into a socialist:
I’ve known you for ages, you are a good man and this country can not handle the social carnage ACT and National will bring.
Fight for it Chippy. Fight for NZ. Announce David and Grant’s Wealth Tax and ignite the populism that made Bernie Sanders so powerful.
You are out of options, and this is the last play.
If the Left votes – the Left wins!
Give the Left a reason to vote for you Chippy!
Numbers, lad. Those disenchanted leftists you reckon need a reason to vote would likely clock in around 1%. Most leftists are already motivated.
Those who will create the election outcome are floaters, not leftists. Just look at the polling trend since Labour was in parity with National not that long ago. Eyeball that Stuff rolling poll of polls graphic, showing floaters have produced a differential around 10%. That measures the floaters who have shifted as 5% of the electorate. Then spot the floaters who still haven't decided, currently around 10%.
The PM won't admit he's wrong about a wealth tax, Bomber. It would mean ditching neoliberalism: that ideology in his head, like an operating system in a computer.
However there's a technical possibility that a brainwave happens to him & he spits it out. Such brilliance can captivate floaters, could make him a winner. Magical thinking.
On TV One News, Friday they had quite a big segment of Vote Compass. Amongst all the main concerns…(cost of living, economy, and healthcare) was Rent and ..Tax.
I noted unsurprisingly…
Among renters, support for limits on rent rises climbs to 86%.
Wealthy should pay more
A majority of respondents wanted to tax the wealthy more — broken down to 32% who wanted the wealthy to pay much more and 35% who wanted somewhat more.
This next part did surprise me ..a little ?. This group not so conservative/right wing in that regard? Good on them : )
Notably, 70% of respondents aged over 65 believe wealthy people should pay somewhat or much more in taxes — higher than the national average and all other age groups.
Yeah, it is interesting.
In BBQ conversations (of course an entirely unrepresentative sample), I found increased tax for wealth is reasonably supported. The caveat being, that none of these people would consider themselves wealthy (although many would tip over the edge in the GP criteria – depending on the value of their houses). Support for 'other people' paying taxes is always much higher than support for your own tax bill going up.
I can’t find the actual question asked, in the article – but I wonder if it distinguished between increased income taxes and an asset tax (the GP wealth tax).
The elderly (generalizing here) are often in favour of increased income tax (which they largely don’t pay) and against increased asset taxes (currently rates) which they do.
Yes. However, I would expect that the assumption from those was increased income tax – rather than asset tax. It's not explicit in the question. Nor is 'wealthy' defined (as I said, the general assumption – unless you're a billionaire – is that this group doesn't include you)
The answer, certainly from some target groups (over 65 is a prime example) is likely to vary considerably over exactly what form the tax takes.
[The elderly (generalizing here) are often in favour of increased income tax (which they largely don’t pay) and against increased asset taxes (currently rates) which they do.]
It is probably well known that wealth taxes, in those circumstances, could be deferred until their property is sold, or passes into their estate when they die, or is transferred to a trust.
It can be. However, this group already has this 'defer' option for rates – and are highly reluctant to use it – therefore being one of the major groups opposing rate rises.
Also being aware that 'sold' is likely to be to fund their retirement care – which is getting more expensive all the time – so unwilling to agree to substantial tax payments to operate at this time.
They are also one of the least likely groups to perceive themselves as 'wealthy' – since their wealth has largely been gained through the operations of a property market in which they haven't participated (bought 40 years ago, and haven't been property flippers).
I've yet to see a survey with a question along the lines – "Would you, personally, be prepared to pay a wealth tax and/or increased income taxes?"
Would make no difference to themselves for funding for residential care though. It would just mean that as the rest home takes their money they would qualify for government subsidy earlier.
Might make the difference in being able to afford a residential village arrangement prior to needing rest home care but under current settings the residential village both takes their money and makes the capital gains. They seem to be extremely willing to enter into those arrangements – and yep I have family members who chewed through much more than a million as they lived under those arrangements for more than 10 years. Those villages have great add on costs as well.
License to occupy dosnt attract taxpayer subsidies (currently)…so that rort is of no interest to taxpayers, however the care subsidy is of concern…as is the quality of care.
rates deferral less of an issue as if you are deferring your rates you likely don't have the capital to afford a residential village anyway.
I think otherwise. This is classic 'granny' scenario. House worth 3 million + – but she lives on her pension (no other income stream) – and can’t afford the 6K or so each year. She's relying on the house sale, when it becomes necessary, to fund her retirement home placing.
Lots of the good quality rest homes require a co-payment.
The ones which allow only the government subsidy are…. not that great (certainly in Auckland)
That’s based on a wide range of family and friends dealing with placement of elderly relatives.
None of my family are in rest homes in Auckland. They all have had good service around the country – apart from one co-payment one which when their money ran out after 12 years she was moved from her room to a ward and died within 3 months.
When she went in she was very unwell and wasn't expected to live more than a few months. Picked up enormously after she went in.
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain on Friday invited President Joe Biden to join the picket line as striking workers expanded their walkout to dozens more General Motors and Stellantis
facilities.
“We invite and encourage everyone who supports our cause to join us on the picket line from our friends and families all the way up to the president of the United States,” Fain said during a Facebook Live stream.
“We invite you to join us in our fight,” the union boss said.
Amongst all the NZ Election…mind warps…I found this. In Hamilton. Where only recently a Cluster (?) of Conspiracists, were hating-on the Hamilton City Council about all kinds of weird conspiracy BS.
Emily Coffey from Hamilton City Council gave RNZ a sticky-beak at the council's new Nature In The City app before it launches on 25 September. It was designed by the council as part of its work to add nearly 1000 hectares of native vegetation to the city by 2050.
Not a Finch..but a Bellbird !
In the Mangakotukutuku Gully for example, you could see or hear a bellbird – a sight so rare in Hamilton, Smith could not quite believe it when he first saw them.
"I thought, 'No, it's a finch mate, it's a finch.' And then I just looked at it for a while, it flew across the stream and it started singing and it was 100 percent a bellbird."
A..Bat Hotspot !
Hamilton has one of the only urban bat populations. Smith said he and his family liked to bike down to the "bat hotspot" at dusk, lie on their backs in the grass and watch the bats flicker in and out of the bat houses.
Thanks for that, real good news… I wondered if the bellbird was just a male explorer or one of a couple, then realised that it could be a female explorer too.
Incidentally, that set of three possibilities is a triad. In the deep Green view of life one can adopt a neopythagorean stance & correlate 3 as archetype (originating principle) to process in nature. Then you get a generic theory emerging which bridges metaphysics and science. Humanity, like many other species, reproduces a child from two parents, thus 3 takes form, extending the sex binary into family via trinity.
With computers we must discern binary code & the element 3 adds to that binary which transforms it into digital process. Switching 0/1. The slash symbol represents that function. Binary readers need not freak out when told that quantum computing works on the basis that a bit need not be zero or one at any particular moment – it can be anywhere in between those two states. In temporal structure, discern the triad 0/x/1 where x is any fraction of 1, because the switching occurs in real time.
By my counting there are six certain plus one arguable nutter/conspiracy theorist parties running for election this time.
Democracy NZ
Freedoms NZ
Leighton Baker Party
New Nation Party
NZ Loyal
Vision NZ
NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party (the arguable one).
This loony list is the best argument against lowering the current 5% party vote threshold.
Let's all wish them well, may they each score 4% of the party vote because that will mean 28% of the party vote, a few hundred thousand votes that will NOT go to the NACTs and instead go into the wastepaper basket. Labour will not lose diddly squat because none of these turds would have voted Labour anyway.
Potential result if it happens this way:
National losing the election by a whisker and Luxon in shock and disbelief. How could we have lost this?
Labour sneaking in for a third term and can't quite believe its luck. "You mean we WON!!!!
The Greens quietly satisfied.
ACT: Seymour having a tantrum on the floor.
T Pati Maori: Bwaaaaaaa! Bwaaaaaaa!
NZ First: Winston insisting the vote was a fraud and demanding another election or threatening a coup detat.
That's the potential outcome that may be driving National and ACT's paranoia in pandering to the fringe elements. 20+% wasted vote that would have otherwise predominantly gone to, or gains by National would really rip their nighty. Could get to that easily if NZ First doesn't quite make it.
Another scenario giving the same result, is National and ACT going too far into cooker territory and their rational base stays home.
But then it's doubtful that cookers + NZ First adds up to much much more than 5 – 10% of the electorate.
I think that you're profoundly misunderstanding what happens under MMP to the wasted vote. It's distributed proportionally to those parties which are in parliament.
So, unless you're also pre-supposing a switch of 5% from the right to the left (which would make all of this manoeuvring entirely academic). Luxon would still be leading a National/ACT government.
You only have to read what they write, listen to what they say. They each think they are the only way to salvation. Their only unifying force is hatred of Labour and even that is not enough for them to do the sensible thing, form an alliance and have a chance of winning a couple of seats.
The Loony Alliance – that would look good on the ballot paper!
Surprise! The cooker wonder drug of choice does zip.
/
Question Does ivermectin, with a maximum targeted dose of 600 μg/kg daily for 6 days, compared with placebo, shorten symptom duration among adult (≥30 years) outpatients with symptomatic mild to moderate COVID-19?
Findings In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled platform trial including 1206 US adults with COVID-19 during February 2022 to July 2022, the median time to sustained recovery was 11 days in the ivermectin group and 11 days in the placebo group. In this largely vaccinated (84%) population, the posterior probability that ivermectin reduced symptom duration by more than 1 day was less than 0.1%.
Meaning These findings do not support the use of ivermectin among outpatients with COVID-19.
I wonder about the disparity of these double blind trials and the cooker experiences with ivermectin. Do they do them on a select demographic that represents the people who are using it 'off label', or is it a standard randomised medical trial?
From observation of the cooker demographic, a good worming probably wouldn't do them any harm, and probably do a world of good for their viral resistance. Works with sickly, grumpy sheep.
On National’s Tax Cuts [31 August 2023]
Revealingly, National’s chart setting out the potential income gains has omitted everyone earning below $30,000 as if they don’t exist – and that’s an accurate reflection of how the “bottom feeders” simply don’t register on the centre-right’s voter radar.
Today's classroom visitor is Mr Luxon from the National Party
MR LUXON: If you were naughty you went to boot camp and got scared into being an ordinary hardworking New Zealander. Or you became a bottom-feeder. Don’t become bottom-feeders, boys and girls.
So how many Kiwi "bottom feeder" votes might it take to avoid a NAct government?
Nat pollies may own (a lot) more properties than "bottom feeders" (3.3 properties per polly on average), but every Kiwi has the same number of party votes – ONE.
So c'mon, there's still time to enrol to vote – help is available if you need it.
If you don't have regular access to the internet, or the right identification details (New Zealand driver licence, New Zealand passport or RealMe ID) to accompany an online enrolment, you can still enrol in other ways.
You can enrol or update your details by filling in an enrolment form. Call 0800 36 76 56 or freetext your name and address to 3676 to have one sent to you. You can pick up an enrolment form at a Citizen's Advice Bureau, most public libraries, and Electoral Commission offices.
Three weeks to go – Up the "Bottom Feeders", Up the Wahs, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE
The Left vote in Wellington Central might be 60% but if it splits 35% Omer for Labour and 25% for Paul for the Greens then Sheeran of National will win with just 36%
That's the beauty of FPP. In that poll the ACT party scored 3.5% but have no candidate so obviously add 3.5% to 28% and you get 31,5%. That was then!. Now it will be 33% and could easily be 36% by election time
Greg O'Connor is apparently ditching Hipkins and Labour in the campaign, and making an all-out-effort to convince the Ohariu voters to return him, personally.
He said that Nicola Willis will be the Finance minister in the next government – and that voters should give him their electorate vote to ensure he gets back into Parliament (no mention of party vote Labour at the meeting, although he subsequently corrected this)
In a bid to hold on to his north Wellington seat Ōhāriu, O’Connor also said residents should give him their “electorate vote only” to ensure he remains in Parliament.
He said that Nicola Willis will be the Finance minister in the next government…
C'mon B, that's what you wanted O'Connor to say – odd for a ‘centrist’ to leave out the word ‘likely’, when it’s in the URL in your comment, and occurs several times in the linked article, including the article’s title.
Maybe it’s an example of perception being at odds with reality – makes you think?
“Let’s face it, unless something changes in the debate tonight, Nicola’s likely to be the next Minister of Finance,”
…
“My main opponent is Nicola … there’s probably a very good chance that if the polls stay the way they are, she’ll end up a cabinet minister in the next government,” he told the Bupa retirement village.
…
At a third meeting, again at the town hall, he said: “Polling going the way it is, she’s likely to be a minister.”
…
“All I said is, on current polling, she is likely to be,” he told The Post. “You don’t need your school cert to work it out. That’s not to say the polling won’t change.”
I seem to remember No Right Turn calling him a "jack-booted fascist" at one time. Pretty harsh! But I always got a bit of a right-leaning vibe from him (like I did from Stuart Nash).
The image makes the context clear, I'm laughing at halfwit reckons about a truck load of scaffolding being evidence of a war crime, without linking to their vatnik stupidity.
[this not the first time I’ve asked you to link to tweets. Next time, a comment with tweet without direct links will get deleted – weka]
Well then I guess that tweet is right, it is dangerous.
Seems to be scaffolding, but if you'd said it was bomb tubes and mini mortars (or something) I probably would have believed you, since I don't know what they look like.
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The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
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 ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
The revamped school lunch programme is budgeting $3 per lunch, rather than the current $8. But is it really so simple to cut costs? Shanti Mathias investigates. Last week, associate education minister and Act Party leader David Seymour announced the government’s revamped school lunch programme, which will provide food to ...
Exactly 100 years ago, on the eve of another Paris Olympics, young Kiwi Gwitha Shand was the talk of the swimming world. The 19-year-old from Christchurch had broken the world record in the 440-yard freestyle multiple times leading up to the 1924 Olympics, and was described in newspapers as one ...
The New Zealand book trade is still reeling after the shock news that Penguin has axed its head of publishing. The redundancy comes just as the biggest week of the year in New Zealand literature is set to take place. The winners of the Ockham national book awards are announced ...
A rest home with a concierge, iced tea fountain, hybrid Jaguars to drive, and caviar on the menu. That’s not imaginary or from some far-flung country – it’s reality here in Aotearoa. Oceania Healthcare just officially opened ‘The Helier’ – a retirement apartment and aged-care complex in the Auckland suburb ...
The USA and China are beefing, Winston Peters is getting sued by some Australian guy, and Helen Clark and Don Brash are friends now? Here’s everything you need to know about Aukus but were too afraid to ask. What is Aukus?Aukus, which stands for Australia, the United Kingdom, and ...
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Asia Pacific Report About 1000 people in Aotearoa New Zealand gathered for a two-hour rally in central Auckland today and marched down Queen Street and returned to Aotea Square to mark the Nakba three days early — and protest over Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. They called for an immediate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As it looks to an election next year when holding up Labor’s female vote will be vital, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has declared Tuesday will bring “a budget for mums and middle Australia”. “The primary ...
By Repeka Nasiko in Suva “Justice has won,” says Fiji’s acting Director of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku following the sentencing of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho. Speaking to The Fiji Times, Rabuku said that while they welcomed the judgment by acting Chief Justice Salesi ...
The foreign affairs minister has landed in Solomon Islands for the first leg of his Pacific tour, and an audience with the newly elected Prime Minister. ...
On an unusually hot night in January 2019, a little boy’s lifeless body was found face up in a small town’s sewage oxidation pond. To the police, it was an open and shut case: three-year-old Lachlan Jones had run away from his home in the Southland town of Gore, climbed ...
PNG Post-Courier New Zealand High Commissioner Peter Zwart and PNG Defence Minister Dr Billy Joseph welcomed a C-130 Hercules to Port Moresby this week to support Papua New Guinea’s response to the March 24 earthquake and recent severe flooding. “Papua New Guinea has requested New Zealand’s assistance to transport emergency ...
Grub Street King Luxon rode through the streets Of King’s Landing, and was troubled By the sight of hungry urchins in the mud. “Who would be the best of my Lords To deal with this negative optic?” He pondered. The answer came to him instantly. “Seymour!” he said to himself. ...
“The Bill does not provide environmental protection, good quality decision making, certainty, public participation or speed. It should be withdrawn.” ...
RNZ News Television New Zealand has breached its collective agreement with the E tū union when deciding on discontinuing programmes, the Employment Relations Authority has ruled. It was announced in March that 68 staff members who work for news programmes Midday and Tonight, consumer justice programme Fair Go, current affairs ...
Asia Pacific Report Barangay New Zealand’s Rene Molina has interviewed the country’s first Filipino Green MP Francisco Hernandez who was sworn into Parliament yesterday as the party’s latest member. This is the first interview with Hernandez who replaces former Green Party co-leader James Shaw after his retirement from politics to ...
An Australian Strategic Policy Institute report says Pillar Two could raise the industry to state of the art capability - or "crush" it "under the weight of the globe's biggest player". ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marlene Longbottom, Associate Professor, Indigenous Education & Research Centre, James Cook University ShutterstockThis article contains information on deaths in custody and the violence experienced by First Nations people in encounters with the Australian carceral system. It also contains references to ...
“Instead of following along countries that are investing in death and better ways of killing people faster, we need to invest in life and in making Aotearoa a fair, just and equitable place where everyone has what they need for a dignified life.” ...
MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI, TPM MP FOR TAI TOKERAU This Government will not waver in its mission to exterminate Māori. CHRISTOPHER LUXON Oh well look you know I don’t think that hard-working Kiwis want to hear language like that. It’s just really unhelpful rhetoric. My Government is genuinely committed to advancing outcomes ...
The body positivity movement started with women confronting the unrealistic expectations and unrepresentative portrayals of them in media and advertising. Men weren’t part of it … their bodies hadn’t been sexualised to the same extremes and they didn’t really need it. But now that’s changed. And in a warped sort ...
The New Zealand comedy legend takes us through her life in television, including the time she hugged Elton John and the unshakeable legacy of a girl named Lyn. In 1981, Ginette McDonald stood on the stage of Auckland’s St James Theatre and directly addressed Queen Elizabeth II. It was a ...
An essay by Lily Duval from the just-released anthology Otherhood: Essays on being childless, childfree and child adjacent.I was 22 when my friend Alice gave birth in the living room of our pokey Addington flat. She laboured in the blow-up pool for hours. Garish fish swam along the inflated ...
Ella Borrie on the best books about motherhood she’s come across so far. Over the past few years I’ve been drawn to books about motherhood. I’m fascinated by the joys and horrors of becoming a parent. The question of children also feels more pressing than it used to. It’s like ...
Out of gift ideas for mum? You can’t go wrong with a bottle of toilet cleaner and a new squeegee. Emily Writes is the writer and editor of Emily Writes Weekly. This week marks five years since I published a post on The Spinoff about Mother’s Day marketing titled ‘A ...
My husband is posted overseas for 12 months and I’m armed with an expensive, newfangled vibrator. Will I miss him? The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.A few days after my husband leaves, a new sex toy arrives at the front door. Nestled ...
Jaimie Baird’s new book Here Today Gone Tomorrow is a record of four decades of graffiti and street art in Wellington, told through more than 1,200 photographs. He spoke with Joel MacManus about what inspired the book. How did you first get interested in photographing street art? I remember ...
Editor Madeleine Chapman looks back at a busy week where food of all political leanings dominated. Sometimes you’re just going about your week thinking you’ve got a good handle on what might be coming as far as news topics and then someone (usually a politician) says something so ridiculous that ...
In a week of cold rain and frost, the climate in courtroom four upstairs at the Invercargill courthouse was simmering with restrained indignation. At times it felt like the famous Mexican standoff scene from Reservoir Dogs, or, as someone watching the proceedings described it, there was so much throwing of ...
A banner notification alerts me to the fact that I’ve received an Instagram message from @felicity.loves. She always comments on my posts. I shouldn’t have opened the message, but clicked on the notification before rationalising this. OMG! Are you in Wellys? X I debate not replying, but Instagram will inform ...
In Melbourne’s hardscrabble western suburbs where AFL – Aussie rules football – is a state religion, Callum Donaldson has been quietly grafting away, four months into an odyssey that he hopes will take him to another promised land: the NRL. It was a solid 2023 for the softly spoken 20-year-old ...
Pacific Media Watch Television New Zealand Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to investigative journalism and Pacific communities in a ceremony at Government House, reports 1News. She has been the Pacific correspondent for 1News since 2002, breaking many ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tuesday’s budget will respond to the deepening public agitation over Australia’s housing shortages by pouring new money into crisis accommodation for women and children, social housing and infrastructure. A specially-convened national cabinet late Friday ticked ...
By Kaneta Naimatu in Suva Journalists in the Pacific region play an important role as the “eyes and ears on the ground” when it comes to reporting the climate crisis, says the European Union’s Pacific Ambassador Barbara Plinkert. Speaking at The University of the South Pacific (USP) on World Press ...
Aldora Itunu is back in the Black Ferns squad after a three-year absence. The last of her 24 internationals was an underwhelming loss to France (7-29) in Castres to conclude the disastrous 2021 Northern Tour. The powerhouse prop won a Rugby World Cup in 2017 and thought she was done. ...
The fight to control major transport policy and projects in Auckland has burst into the open again, with councillors rejecting Mayor Wayne Brown’s latest attempt to steer things more under his influence. Councillors from the left and right broke ranks on the mayor’s bid to control Auckland Transport more directly ...
Exhausted by the general election campaign, horrified by the twilight zone of coalition negotiations, distracted by the silly season and waiting for the honeymoon to begin, Raw Politics has been in hibernation since October. From today, we’re back. Our weekly political video show and podcast returns for ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Authorities in the small town of Boulouparis have commemorated Armistice Day on May 8 with a new memorial honouring New Zealand soldiers who were stationed in New Caledonia during World War II. The ceremony took place in the township on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Dehm, Senior lecturer, international migration and refugee law, University of Technology Sydney The High Court unanimously ruled today that the Australian government can keep asylum seekers in immigration detention indefinitely in cases where they do not “voluntarily” cooperate with their own ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Munro, Lecturer, Creative Industries and Digital Media, University of South Australia Twenty-four hours after the release of Macklemore’s pro-Palestine protest song Hind’s Hall on social media on May 7, the video had already notched up over 24 million views. In ...
Failing to anticipate the complexity of the consenting system is being cited as the the current builder's shortcomings, an Infrastructure Commission review says. ...
Failing to anticipate the complexity of the consenting system is being cited as the the current builder's shortcomings, an Infrastructure Commission review says. ...
350 Aotearoa is calling the Environment Select Committee’s decision to allow oral submissions from just 40% of individual, unique submitters who asked to speak to the committee ‘a disgraceful blight to democracy’. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Helal, Assistant Dean (Sustainability), The University of Melbourne Dubai skylineAleksandarPasaric/Pexels Since ancient times, people have built structures that reach for the skies – from the steep spires of medieval towers to the grand domes of ancient cathedrals and mosques. Today ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Musole, PhD Law Student, University of New England Girts Ragelis/ShutterstockRecent trends show Australians are increasingly buying wearables such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. These electronics track our body movements or vital signs to provide data throughout the day, with ...
Papua New Guinea experienced a significant earthquake on 24 March in East Sepik and there has also been recent flooding there and in surrounding provinces. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yousuf Mohammed, Dermatology researcher, The University of Queensland Maridav/Shutterstock You wake up, stagger to the bathroom and gaze into the mirror. No, you’re not imagining it. You’ve developed face wrinkles overnight. They’re sleep wrinkles. Sleep wrinkles are temporary. But as your ...
The Environment Select Committee has just announced that 60 percent of individuals who asked to speak at the hearings will not be heard. This equates to almost 700 people who made individual submissions and more than 1000 more who made a form submission. ...
The Royal New Zealand Ballet is performing Swan Lake around the country. What kind of dream does the ballet sell?Before going to see the Royal New Zealand Ballet perform Swan Lake, I had about as much familiarity with the plot of this ballet as could be expected from having ...
A new poem by Auckland poet Eamonn Tee. High Tide at Local Maxima It is only going to get worse. The streams will be narrow and fickle. The week will bend and buckle like a pot-bellied waist. You will make it to the weekend with one ...
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Coalition..of Chaos ! .
Oh yea…Cmon the Left. Solidarity…and we have the advantage..they are fighting themselves !
"Coalition of … "
Lots of options really. "Cuts" has been used, but my favourites would include "crazies", "con-men" "conspiracists", "cash-lifters", "crackpots" and "cock-wavers". No doubt the potential list is nearly endless.
Aye..theres a whole meme generator in those ! Also Creeps? Critters?
However…The Coalition of crazy con-men is a bit of a combo standout : )
I think crybabies needs to be there too.
"Cuts" has been used
…you missed the 'n'
Was it significant that in the minor parties debate the other night, Seymour and Peters were as far away from each other as was possible?
Truly, if, God forbid, they ever have to go into coalition with Natz to form a government, they will be a Coalition of Chaos, and a Coalition of Cuts, with or without the 'n' factor!
Divide..and Rule. As they… like some horrific, poisonous, protozoa… self divide.
Into oblivion.
I sincerely hope : )
And obvs….We Rule !
Credit Parker with intelligent steering in the right direction, plus delivery!
Also fair to say that this is Labour at its best & likely worth at least 9/10… although, being political substance rather than fluff they probably won't use it in the campaign…
Bomber wants the PM to surprise everyone by morphing into a socialist:
Numbers, lad. Those disenchanted leftists you reckon need a reason to vote would likely clock in around 1%. Most leftists are already motivated.
Those who will create the election outcome are floaters, not leftists. Just look at the polling trend since Labour was in parity with National not that long ago. Eyeball that Stuff rolling poll of polls graphic, showing floaters have produced a differential around 10%. That measures the floaters who have shifted as 5% of the electorate. Then spot the floaters who still haven't decided, currently around 10%.
The PM won't admit he's wrong about a wealth tax, Bomber. It would mean ditching neoliberalism: that ideology in his head, like an operating system in a computer.
However there's a technical possibility that a brainwave happens to him & he spits it out. Such brilliance can captivate floaters, could make him a winner. Magical thinking.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2023/09/23/dear-chippy-some-thoughts-on-your-debate-performance-the-inevitability-of-a-wealth-tax/
Vlad the Bad hires rightist motormouth:
Watch this space! Like-mindedness, or useful idiot theory?
Snarky comment.
Tucker wants Putin interview, as does half the world. The ratings would set a record.
An even better interview would be his top minister Lavrov.
Either of them would shred any western politician.
On TV One News, Friday they had quite a big segment of Vote Compass. Amongst all the main concerns…(cost of living, economy, and healthcare) was Rent and ..Tax.
I noted unsurprisingly…
Wealthy should pay more
This next part did surprise me ..a little ?. This group not so conservative/right wing in that regard? Good on them : )
Anyway was good to see/hear views.
Yeah, it is interesting.
In BBQ conversations (of course an entirely unrepresentative sample), I found increased tax for wealth is reasonably supported. The caveat being, that none of these people would consider themselves wealthy (although many would tip over the edge in the GP criteria – depending on the value of their houses). Support for 'other people' paying taxes is always much higher than support for your own tax bill going up.
I can’t find the actual question asked, in the article – but I wonder if it distinguished between increased income taxes and an asset tax (the GP wealth tax).
The elderly (generalizing here) are often in favour of increased income tax (which they largely don’t pay) and against increased asset taxes (currently rates) which they do.
Apart from my earlier comments at # 5…this was also notable..
And..IMO all of that sounds about right.
Yes. However, I would expect that the assumption from those was increased income tax – rather than asset tax. It's not explicit in the question. Nor is 'wealthy' defined (as I said, the general assumption – unless you're a billionaire – is that this group doesn't include you)
The answer, certainly from some target groups (over 65 is a prime example) is likely to vary considerably over exactly what form the tax takes.
[The elderly (generalizing here) are often in favour of increased income tax (which they largely don’t pay) and against increased asset taxes (currently rates) which they do.]
It is probably well known that wealth taxes, in those circumstances, could be deferred until their property is sold, or passes into their estate when they die, or is transferred to a trust.
It can be. However, this group already has this 'defer' option for rates – and are highly reluctant to use it – therefore being one of the major groups opposing rate rises.
Also being aware that 'sold' is likely to be to fund their retirement care – which is getting more expensive all the time – so unwilling to agree to substantial tax payments to operate at this time.
They are also one of the least likely groups to perceive themselves as 'wealthy' – since their wealth has largely been gained through the operations of a property market in which they haven't participated (bought 40 years ago, and haven't been property flippers).
I've yet to see a survey with a question along the lines – "Would you, personally, be prepared to pay a wealth tax and/or increased income taxes?"
My answer would be 'YES', but no-one surveys me Just as well I can vote
Party Vote Green
https://www.greens.org.nz/ending_poverty_together
Would make no difference to themselves for funding for residential care though. It would just mean that as the rest home takes their money they would qualify for government subsidy earlier.
Might make the difference in being able to afford a residential village arrangement prior to needing rest home care but under current settings the residential village both takes their money and makes the capital gains. They seem to be extremely willing to enter into those arrangements – and yep I have family members who chewed through much more than a million as they lived under those arrangements for more than 10 years. Those villages have great add on costs as well.
License to occupy dosnt attract taxpayer subsidies (currently)…so that rort is of no interest to taxpayers, however the care subsidy is of concern…as is the quality of care.
No but a prior caveat of a decent value may reduce the money gained from sale to be able to afford the capital outlay/ongoing cost.
rates deferral less of an issue as if you are deferring your rates you likely don't have the capital to afford a residential village anyway.
A deferral for wealth tax could build up over the years though.
I think otherwise. This is classic 'granny' scenario. House worth 3 million + – but she lives on her pension (no other income stream) – and can’t afford the 6K or so each year. She's relying on the house sale, when it becomes necessary, to fund her retirement home placing.
Lots of the good quality rest homes require a co-payment.
The ones which allow only the government subsidy are…. not that great (certainly in Auckland)
That’s based on a wide range of family and friends dealing with placement of elderly relatives.
None of my family are in rest homes in Auckland. They all have had good service around the country – apart from one co-payment one which when their money ran out after 12 years she was moved from her room to a ward and died within 3 months.
When she went in she was very unwell and wasn't expected to live more than a few months. Picked up enormously after she went in.
A bfd.
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain on Friday invited President Joe Biden to join the picket line as striking workers expanded their walkout to dozens more General Motors and Stellantis
facilities.
“We invite and encourage everyone who supports our cause to join us on the picket line from our friends and families all the way up to the president of the United States,” Fain said during a Facebook Live stream.
“We invite you to join us in our fight,” the union boss said.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/22/uaw-strikes-shawn-fain-invites-joe-biden-to-join-picket-line.html
Bernie Sanders supports UAW.
Bernie's since walked the walk.
Oh cheers for that. Onya Bernie !
Amongst all the NZ Election…mind warps…I found this. In Hamilton. Where only recently a Cluster (?) of Conspiracists, were hating-on the Hamilton City Council about all kinds of weird conspiracy BS.
Not a Finch..but a Bellbird !
A..Bat Hotspot !
What could..and should be.
Onya guys. : )
Thanks for that, real good news… I wondered if the bellbird was just a male explorer or one of a couple, then realised that it could be a female explorer too.
Incidentally, that set of three possibilities is a triad. In the deep Green view of life one can adopt a neopythagorean stance & correlate 3 as archetype (originating principle) to process in nature. Then you get a generic theory emerging which bridges metaphysics and science. Humanity, like many other species, reproduces a child from two parents, thus 3 takes form, extending the sex binary into family via trinity.
With computers we must discern binary code & the element 3 adds to that binary which transforms it into digital process. Switching 0/1. The slash symbol represents that function. Binary readers need not freak out when told that quantum computing works on the basis that a bit need not be zero or one at any particular moment – it can be anywhere in between those two states. In temporal structure, discern the triad 0/x/1 where x is any fraction of 1, because the switching occurs in real time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qubit
I've been reading quantum biology lately and can reassure you that it ain't just in high-tech, Gaia does it too…
By my counting there are six certain plus one arguable nutter/conspiracy theorist parties running for election this time.
Democracy NZ
Freedoms NZ
Leighton Baker Party
New Nation Party
NZ Loyal
Vision NZ
NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party (the arguable one).
This loony list is the best argument against lowering the current 5% party vote threshold.
Let's all wish them well, may they each score 4% of the party vote because that will mean 28% of the party vote, a few hundred thousand votes that will NOT go to the NACTs and instead go into the wastepaper basket. Labour will not lose diddly squat because none of these turds would have voted Labour anyway.
Potential result if it happens this way:
National losing the election by a whisker and Luxon in shock and disbelief. How could we have lost this?
Labour sneaking in for a third term and can't quite believe its luck. "You mean we WON!!!!
The Greens quietly satisfied.
ACT: Seymour having a tantrum on the floor.
T Pati Maori: Bwaaaaaaa! Bwaaaaaaa!
NZ First: Winston insisting the vote was a fraud and demanding another election or threatening a coup detat.
Wouldn't it be nice!
Imho, "turds" applies to a minority of fringe party voters – most are simply misguided.
Will be interesting to see what the combined fringe party vote amounts to – please <3%.
https://vote.nz/2023-general-election/about/2023-general-election/parties
Vision NZ isn’t on that list, nor is the NZ Outdoors and Freedom Party, but how about NewZeal – maybe there have been some last minute name changes?
That was good to read.Well said.
That's the potential outcome that may be driving National and ACT's paranoia in pandering to the fringe elements. 20+% wasted vote that would have otherwise predominantly gone to, or gains by National would really rip their nighty. Could get to that easily if NZ First doesn't quite make it.
Another scenario giving the same result, is National and ACT going too far into cooker territory and their rational base stays home.
But then it's doubtful that cookers + NZ First adds up to much much more than 5 – 10% of the electorate.
I think that you're profoundly misunderstanding what happens under MMP to the wasted vote. It's distributed proportionally to those parties which are in parliament.
So, unless you're also pre-supposing a switch of 5% from the right to the left (which would make all of this manoeuvring entirely academic). Luxon would still be leading a National/ACT government.
"Labour will not lose diddly squat because none of these turds would have voted Labour anyway."
What makes you so sure of this?
What makes me so sure?
You only have to read what they write, listen to what they say. They each think they are the only way to salvation. Their only unifying force is hatred of Labour and even that is not enough for them to do the sensible thing, form an alliance and have a chance of winning a couple of seats.
The Loony Alliance – that would look good on the ballot paper!
Surprise! The cooker wonder drug of choice does zip.
/
Question Does ivermectin, with a maximum targeted dose of 600 μg/kg daily for 6 days, compared with placebo, shorten symptom duration among adult (≥30 years) outpatients with symptomatic mild to moderate COVID-19?
Findings In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled platform trial including 1206 US adults with COVID-19 during February 2022 to July 2022, the median time to sustained recovery was 11 days in the ivermectin group and 11 days in the placebo group. In this largely vaccinated (84%) population, the posterior probability that ivermectin reduced symptom duration by more than 1 day was less than 0.1%.
Meaning These findings do not support the use of ivermectin among outpatients with COVID-19.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2801827
Alas, worse than zip, if the findings of this paper are to be believed. So sad.
But noted MEDICAL EXPERT Donald J Trump said otherwise
And that is GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME
I wonder about the disparity of these double blind trials and the cooker experiences with ivermectin. Do they do them on a select demographic that represents the people who are using it 'off label', or is it a standard randomised medical trial?
From observation of the cooker demographic, a good worming probably wouldn't do them any harm, and probably do a world of good for their viral resistance. Works with sickly, grumpy sheep.
Parasites , ( of the macro kind) as part of their survival strategy in the host, have the ability to repress the immune system .
Get rid of the parasites , and your immune system is better able to deal with the virus
(a micro parasite)
And so certain they were (are?) right. Also ..so much time wasted trying to reason with them…
Anyway..there is also Long Covid. Ivermectin as a preventative ? MisInformation if not worse.
So how many Kiwi "bottom feeder" votes might it take to avoid a NAct government?
Nat pollies may own (a lot) more properties than "bottom feeders" (3.3 properties per polly on average), but every Kiwi has the same number of party votes – ONE.
So c'mon, there's still time to enrol to vote – help is available if you need it.
https://vote.nz/enrolling/enrol-or-update/enrol-or-update-online/
Three weeks to go – Up the "Bottom Feeders", Up the Wahs, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE
It would be nice if we could ignore the gurus expounding theories as to will pepsi or coke win the election for a wee while.
Roger Whitaker has died, a sad sad day.
One of the most talented and likeable muso's of our time
The Left vote in Wellington Central might be 60% but if it splits 35% Omer for Labour and 25% for Paul for the Greens then Sheeran of National will win with just 36%
did you make those numbers up or are they based on something?
Poll from last week,
Lab 30.6%
Nat 28%
GP 26.6%
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/16-09-2023/poll-wellington-central-on-a-knife-edge-with-three-candidates-almost-tied
If Paul has a similar ground game as Swarbrick did in Auckland 2020, a good chance she will win. Polls don’t pick that up.
That's the beauty of FPP. In that poll the ACT party scored 3.5% but have no candidate so obviously add 3.5% to 28% and you get 31,5%. That was then!. Now it will be 33% and could easily be 36% by election time
Greg O'Connor is apparently ditching Hipkins and Labour in the campaign, and making an all-out-effort to convince the Ohariu voters to return him, personally.
He said that Nicola Willis will be the Finance minister in the next government – and that voters should give him their electorate vote to ensure he gets back into Parliament (no mention of party vote Labour at the meeting, although he subsequently corrected this)
https://www.thepost.co.nz/a/politics/350076455/labour-mp-concedes-his-party-will-likely-lose-election
what a dickhead. How many election campaigns has he been through, and he 'forgot' to mention the party vote?
That article is a little unclear, but if he did in fact say “electorate vote only” I hope he loses his seat.
C'mon B, that's what you wanted O'Connor to say – odd for a ‘centrist’ to leave out the word ‘likely’, when it’s in the URL in your comment, and occurs several times in the linked article, including the article’s title.
Maybe it’s an example of perception being at odds with reality – makes you think?
National will win the trifecta of Ohariu, Hutt, and wellington Central
Fisiani will get banned if he doesn't stop trolling.
Nup. Tamatha has WC in the bag.
Couldn't give a fuck about that idiot Greg O'Connor, in fact I hope he gets bumped. He's in the wrong party.
Hard to know which party he should be in, but I'd say NZF based on his behaviour the other day 😈
I seem to remember No Right Turn calling him a "jack-booted fascist" at one time. Pretty harsh! But I always got a bit of a right-leaning vibe from him (like I did from Stuart Nash).
Oh dear…
Come on, we're not all in the military. What's that picture? To me it just looks like a whole load of scaffolding.
dudes on twitter arguing about it
https://twitter.com/squatsons/status/1704670027813917019
You and I know that it's a truck load of scaffolding.
But Vatniks wouldn't know a scaffold tube with a swagged end if they were impaled by one.
https://vatniksoup.com/en/soups/194
Joe, please post a direct link next time. There's a lot of context to that tweet that can't be seen without the link.
https://twitter.com/squatsons/status/1704670027813917019
The image makes the context clear, I'm laughing at halfwit reckons about a truck load of scaffolding being evidence of a war crime, without linking to their vatnik stupidity.
[this not the first time I’ve asked you to link to tweets. Next time, a comment with tweet without direct links will get deleted – weka]
Well then I guess that tweet is right, it is dangerous.
Seems to be scaffolding, but if you'd said it was bomb tubes and mini mortars (or something) I probably would have believed you, since I don't know what they look like.
mod note.