National Party leader Christopher Luxon has made it clear that he will cut a deal with NZ First leader Winston Peters if he has to – ending months of refusing to say whether he will rule NZ First in or out.
And now Luxon has said this…We need to highlight exactly who the coalition of chaos would be !
“However, if New Zealand First is returned to Parliament, and I need to pick up the phone to Mr Peters to keep Labour and the coalition of chaos out, I will make that call.
National – ACT – NZ First: The Coalition of Division.
Thats what it is and what Labour needs to call it, loudly and often.
Labour should be reprising National's boat ad in 2014. Instead of red shirted and green shirted rowers trying to row in different directions it will be blue shirted, multi colour shirted and black shirted pirates trying to throw each other out of the boat.
Labour needs to get down and dirty, but I fear Hipkins is at heart too decent a guy to go that far.
There is no way in hell that Winston and David will be at the cabinet table together. If they needed the numbers to get over the line I think NZF would be in coalition with National.
Act would get one or two ministers outside of cabinet/government on a confidence and support deal. Similar to the way the Greens have been working with Labour for 6 years
Just because Winston said at one point in time that he wouldn't go into government with Labour, doesn't make it true. He's the master of weasel manipulation. If it suited him, and the political climate post-election allowed, he'd be negotiating with Labour like a shot. 'What's in it for Winston', is his over-riding mantra.
If the 3 have the majority, it would be interesting if NZF allowed ACT participation in a coalition government (they denied this to Greens in 2017).
On past form NZF has always tried to keep the party on the left or right out of government or coalition (Alliance 1996) and here ACT in 2023.
Thus if they are consistent they would favour a National minority government backed on c and s by NZF and ACT.
However it seems Peters is not discounting a 3 party coalition – a coalition based on agreed policy apparently because Seymour might not offer supply to a National-NZF coalition or National minority government.
This has led to a a lot of supportive right wing commentators using their NZH platform to demand an ACT driven regime.
The purpose of which is to pressure National to campaign in the centre to take votes off Labour but bend to ACT after the election – as a tactic to deliver a NACT majority by hiding how radical the coalition would be afterwards.
With Peters considering a three party coalition, rather than c and s to a minority National governing in the centre – the post election talks would be the most consequential in our MMP political history (given the range of potential outcomes for policy – decided by politicians and not voters).
For months, Luxon has dismissed questions about NZ First as hypothetical, saying they were not in Parliament or polling about 5 percent.
However, it has now polled at or near that 5 percent threshold in a succession of polls. The latest 1News Verian poll gave National and Act a slim one-seat majority. A small shift of that vote would see NZ First come into play.
IMO Luxon is still not anywhere near assured of power.
However, Luxon is clearly worried some supporters might take his message as a nod to vote strategically, rather than for National, and further boost NZ First’s vote.
And, even he says..
“There’s a bit of commentary out there that this election is a foregone conclusion. I can assure you, it definitely isn’t, and that’s because every single MMP election is tight, and I expect the results to be extremely close this time too.”
Guardian writer went to visit the radical, sets the scene thisaway:
at the end of a summer of heatwaves and extreme weather conditions across the world, it feels more than a little apocalyptic. The sun is a dim orange orb struggling to shine through a haze of smoke while a shower of fine ash falls invisibly from the sky. A month later, two years’ worth of rain will fall in a single day in northern Greece, causing a biblical deluge and never-before-seen levels of flooding.
That the end of the world feels just a little bit nearer here than it does in some places may not be coincidental to Varoufakis’s having written a new book called Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism. Nor that the book comes to the conclusion that capitalism has been replaced with something even worse. Not the glorious socialist revolution that his hero Marx foresaw. Nor some new mutation of capitalism such as the one detailed by Shoshana Zuboff in her surprise 2019 bestseller, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism. We’re now in servitude, Varoufakis argues, to the fiefdoms of our new global masters, Lord Zuckerberg of Facelandia and Sir Musk of the rotten borough of X. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/24/yanis-varoufakis-technofeudalism-capitalism-ukraine-interview
If you haven't heard of “algorithmic rents” this is your intro. For a radical, one must admit he's a colourful trier. I'd prefer a winner though – he hasn't figured out where his leftism went wrong yet. Try harder!
That's not a valid reason to abandon leftism as a strand of political thought though. Better to learn from failure, I reckon. More consistent with human nature.
Of course, if the activist is entrained within a political ecosystem with hegemonic belief that leftists can't learn from failure due to believing they're always right, you get a monoculture that will oppress dissenters.
Rather than head for history to cite stalinism as classic example, better to refer to contemporary political context. Focus on that chasm he mentions in the report (between head of state & minister of finance) where the leader betrays the expert when both are in overt solidarity as ruling cadre. The psychodynamics that drove the outcome into effect are where learning ought to focus.
Yeah but it points to something more significant, for which I seek an explanation. I'm not into personal criticism of the guy, it's just that leaders ought to proceed to learn from experience so as to win next time.
Radicals are best not viewed as a spent force – better to see them as somewhat out of tune with the masses. There's a philosophical question here: can a radical ever resonate with the masses? No binary answer, based on my life experience – it seems conditional on time & space & social context. That triad makes for relativity of meaning between person & group, so we can't generalise much.
I'd like to see leftists get ahead via a fresh approach to politics, embracing leading-edge thought in young generations for relevance. He's one such youngster with proven ability at the top level. I'm not clear on his originality of thought (due to msm reporting) but the interview failed to show any.
Indeed. Retrospectively we can rationalise a `spirit of the age' that transforms us collectively. Those two transformations were based on shifting perception of minority group rights whereas the angst in society nowadays seems more generally felt on an emotional level which is tacit in most folk. We await whoever can articulate it, make it specific in relation to necessity, to drive societal change via collective force…
My Daughter and I drove from Just outside of Rotorua to Taihapa yesterday and were surprised at the quantity of election hordings, specifically the lack of Labour ones of which we counted only 10 on the entire drive which was less than even New Zeal's hoardings.
Overall Labour's hoardings were out numbered roughly by Greens 2:1, NZ First 1.5:1, Act 3:1, National 4:1.
Admittedly we drove only on the Main Highway/Route and assume that there would be more signs within the suburbs but would be interested to hear from other parts of the country what others are finding re the visibility of election hoardings.
This is the case every election. The countryside is Tory and like Faulkner's Snopes clan, the Nats exercise control over the small dirt-poor towns scattered through their estates, where it's dangerous for your job prospects to be known as a lefty. We drove from Auckland to Wellington over two days about a week before the Labour 2020 landslide election – and it was exactly the same. Your desire to read something special into the phenomenon this time round is curious, but not unexpected.
"… the small dirt-poor towns scattered through their estates, where it's dangerous for your job prospects to be known as a lefty."
I believe that attitude is now prevalent in some urban electorates. Having lived in the North Shore electorate for the past 40 years, there are noticeably less Labour hoardings this year than in the past.
As someone who has sported a Labour bill-board on my driveway fence for the past five elections, I seriously considered not having one this time. In the end I agreed to small one. In the past there has been vandalism and last time the hoarding had to be replaced three times. So far so good… although there is evidence someone tried to remove this latest but not succeeded – not yet.
I think it is highly likely that the level of vitriol towards this government – all of which has been driven by Labour's opponents both parliamentary and in the media – has caused people to feel less safe and potentially open to harassment if they openly express their support for Labour.
I certainly can feel it in some places but I'm old and weary and frankly don't care what people think any more.
I live in a Central Otago town which is National. I'm a staunch Labour supporter and have never hidden the fact, which sometimes has brought snide remarks. But I don't give a big rat's backside. Like you Anne, I'm too old to care these days.
I shall roll up to the polling booth on October 14 proudly wearing my red top as I always do, to cast my vote. If it’s a hot sunny day, I might even wear my green sunhat. That should confuse the masses .. hee hee.
“I might even wear my green sunhat. That should confuse the masses ..”
I contemplated ringing the Greens and also offering them a place on my fence but decided that could be pushing my luck a bit far. They are a politically conservative bunch around my place. I know that because I've overheard the dulcet tones of Mike Hosking on ZB radio. Nice people really but political ignoramuses.
A) the funding issue but that wouldn't explain the difference in numbers even when compared to smaller party's.
B) Labour utilizing different modes of advertising which is possible I can say I seen significantly more or less of their adverts via other methods.
C) Vandalism, not any specific evidence of Labour signs being targeted or anybody signs being significantly damaged (less than 5 from all parties combined which I was very surprised of).
D) I did consider the possibility of passing through other parties strong holds but that answer doesn't seem to hold true when considering the number of other left leaning parties signs eg Green, Maori Party.
Based from you explanation it seems it just is. Perhaps it is simple as Labour preferring to place their signage more in the "burbs" vs main traffic flows.
I don't know but thought others here might be able to shed more light which you have done. Thank you.
Overall Labour's hoardings were out numbered roughly by Greens 2:1, NZ First 1.5:1, Act 3:1, National 4:1.
As AB wrote @5.1, best not to read too much into it imho. If the number of political party hoardings is indicative of voting patterns, then NAct have nothing to worry about, and they won't be needing NZF – although there seems to be some uncertainty?
The ability of wealthy people to donate large sums creates a “huge obvious imbalance”, Rashbrooke said.
Wealth inequality has eroded the resilience of Kiwi society almost beyond repair, and yet a few very wealthy Kiwis clearly feel they need to be wealthier still to be happy, and/or perhaps to feel safe and in control?
Ah well, we reap what we sow
Actively impoverishing Kiwis might be a motivating factor for some very wealthy individuals. I would hope, however, that for most this very real impoverishment is not uppermost in their minds, but rather is simply incidental to craving wealth beyond the dreams of avarice.
One could always ask the very wealthy, but could you trust their answers?
Richest NZers don’t pay their fair share – and Parliament can fix it
[26 April 2023]
“New Zealanders have long felt what has today been confirmed by Government research: our tax system is unfair. The wealthiest pay less than half the effective tax of the average family,” says Green Party revenue spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick.
Judging by NAct’s regressive tax/hoax policies, they can’t perceive the problem.
The big money up against Parker [27 April 2023]
However, Labour now has the opportunity to go into the election delivering tax reductions to middle and lower-income earners, which it pays for by nobbling high-net-worth individuals. But it will face a very well-financed National Party and its supporters in total opposition.
When I was a candidate many elections ago, I put a 2.4×1.2 m sign (worth about $60 now) up in a rural corner, 10 metres onto a farmer's paddock plus a smaller one further up the road.
As I was erecting the hoarding, a ute drove by with two men and a dog aboard. One of the men called out that the sign would not last long. It went overnight. The thieves had to trespass onto private property to take it. The hoarding would have cost $60 today. I had to travel 200kms to replace it!
The smaller sign went as well and the fearful woman who gave me permission to erect it would not have it replaced as it too was on a private, rural property.
Some lessons from this. Some rural dwellers are lawless, undemocratic, thieves and vandals, terrorising their neighbours. They have a real sense of intolerance and territorial 'rights'.
But the biggest lesson was that, in the case of the ute mentioned above, the most intelligent animal hanging out its tongue on it rode on the tray of the ute.
Mr Nobody. I liked what AB said in regard to the Tory countryside. But for now, I will report on what I have noticed in our electorate of Ohariu. Something interesting has happened.
Usually the split of Labour Vs National (but sadly hardly any Green) hoardings on private property is fairly even. You will get suburbs where one party will be more dominant. For instance Khandallah has more blue signage where as in Newlands you will see more red.
This time, there is a thrilling absence of blue! This is the seat that Nicola Willis is trying to take from Greg O Connor.
I have a Labour hoarding on my fence on a main road and we have more Labour hoardings in our neighbourhood than usual. There are less National hoardings in our neighbourhood and in general, around the electorate than usual. I have seen two ACT hoardings on private property and that hasn't happened before. Funnily enough they are on rather dilapidated sections. (Maybe they belong to the landlord?).
This wasn't just in the rural areas our count started just before Rotorua and right through the main route in town to the turn off towards Rotorua.
In that stretch was the where we counted the majority of Labour hoardings (7). But to put in comparison one corner site had 5 National hoardings.
Rotorua also had probably the biggest hoarding for the local Maori Candidate (don't remember their name sorry) but it was the size of a full sized advertising site (I'm guessing 2mx3m if not bigger) which looked awesome.
We (inner suburb Auckland) have about equal numbers of National and Labour ones (including sharing the same fence, in a highly non-partisan approach by the owner). Very, very few Green. And only a couple of NZF. I think I might have seen one ACT one. Several from the very minor 'nutter' parties.
I wonder if the smaller parties are saving their money. I truly doubt that election hoardings change anyone's mind…..
Luxon says "New Zealand First hasn’t gone with National in 27 years – and could choose Labour again." Interesting he says that when he himself would prefer a two-party coalition, while Hipkins has ruled out forming a government with Peters.
"Dear Chris,
It's crunch time in this election campaign with overseas voting opening on Wednesday and advance voting opening next Monday.
I’ve been on the campaign trail for three weeks and one thing is clear – Kiwis feel we’re heading in the wrong direction. I've lost count of the number of people who say to me – if you don’t win, I’m leaving.
It's clear you want change. But to get change, you have to vote for change.
Just ask yourself this: how will you feel if you wake up after the election and we have a Labour-Greens-Te Pāti Māori coalition set to take a wrecking ball to our economy? If that’s not the Government you want, then don’t leave it to chance.
Please Party Vote National.
This is really important because, every MMP election is tight and I expect the result to be extremely close this time too.
Lots of people have been asking me about minor parties and how we might form a coalition government.
So here’s the deal…
First and foremost, if you want to change the government, please give your party vote National.
Beyond that, my preference is to form a strong and stable two party coalition government between National and ACT.
I believe that government would be in the best interests of New Zealanders at this very uncertain time.
However, if New Zealand First is returned to Parliament, and I need to pick up the phone to Mr Peters to keep Labour and the Coalition of Chaos out, I will make that call.
Frankly, I think Chris Hipkins will ultimately do exactly the same thing.
That’s not my first preference but we all remember 2017.
New Zealand First hasn’t gone with National in 27 years – and could choose Labour again.
That decision is ultimately up to you.
So, if you want to change the government, then I’m asking you to vote for change and choose a better New Zealand.
The cracks in their credibility are starting to show. Going from "We have won this"…. to
"Vote it is going to be close and I (gulp) might need Winston".
Nicola's hand waving one liner on Q&A hasn't helped their case regarding modelling.
Luxon walking away over and over from journalist questions on Policy holes is also a fail. Him indoors says, “Fast talking snake oil salesman”
Bit by bit the veneer of credibility gets chipped away. 3 weeks is a banana skin.
Those who are wavering, remember how the Nats sold social houses and other assets to wealthy marketeers in "the open market" last time, under their mantra of "The Market will fix it." We know how that went. imo.
"I've lost count of the number of people who say to me – if you don’t win, I’m leaving……."
Lost count….this from the man who says he is "good with numbers"….and people are free to leave if they want to…..Muldoon had a brutal quip on that topic…..
I wonder what their internal polling is showing? Perhaps it shows ACT falling and NZF rising, making 61 seats for a pure NACT coalition a bit dicey.
Either way, it looks like the "abomination combination" (NACT) or the "coalition of crackpots" (NACT First) unless Hipkins pulls a loaves and fishes act or turns water into sausage rolls.
Data released by the Ministry of Social Development shows that over 211,000 children are living in benefit dependent homes across New Zealand; the highest on record.
Sabine links to a National Party press release with enough holes in it… it could be used as a sieve. We already know how much integrity there is in National's accounting skills – zero. See Tax-cuts 2023.
Well we do know the thinking of National is that being on a benefit and being in poverty is synonymous, because this has been National Party policy (since 1990-91).
Labour has brought in a much higher level of part-time work income before benefit abatement, a higher base payment, the winter energy payment, and the food in schools programme and other free stuff – no school fees/health/dentist/prescriptions/public transport and is trying to boost the number of income related rental homes.
“With benefit numbers forecast to rise even further as the recession bites, it’s likely more families will be pushed into benefit dependency in the coming months.
National Party press release, lol. What do you think National's ideas are around getting people off benefits?
A story about a whistle blower, Emma Barraclough, who worked for the Mof T. During a Diversity and Inclusion training she asked some questions about same sex attraction as she has a relative who is lesbian. Read what happened next (spoiler alert, it involved the Deputy CEO writing and meeting with her to chatise her.
This is Emma's the whistle blowers story in her own words. What happened with the Ministry of Transport held an Diversity and Inclusion training session and she used the term male bodied when asking if lesbians should accept transwomen into their dating pools.
Agree Bwagon, but unfortunately this training is pervasive across the public service and beyond, (.NGOs and Professional Bodies).
The fact that Emma respectfully challenged it, then the Deputy CEO wrote her a letter and followed this up with an hour long meeting to chastise her, is nothing but 1984
It’s interesting when I catch up with people outside of the workplace, most people seem to think this is complete BS. Even my younger gay/bisexual nephew and his gender ambiguous friends think some of this stuff is weird…
That's because it is. but of course people are entitled to all sorts of beliefs. but why they are taught as part of a govt training module, which the tax payer pays for and why any dissent is shut down is the real scandal!
Remember this next time someone talks about those "marginalised and oppressed" trans and gender diverse people. We are being required to signify our acceptance of gender ideology in every facet of our dealings with the State.
Remains of supposed "non-human" beings were presented Tuesday to the Mexican Congress by a self-proclaimed UFO expert…
The small mummified specimens that Maussan alleges are extraterrestrials were brought out in two glass display cases for lawmakers to observe.
The hearing was to debate language on UAP in the Aerial Space Protection Law. If the language is approved, Mexico would become the first nation to formally acknowledge the presence of alien life ever existing on Earth, the Reuters news agency said, citing local media.
Sceptics counter-claim that this investigative journalist is doing a re-run of a similar claim in 2017 which the Peruvian govt said was fake. Conspiracy theorists will get off on that official verdict coming from their prosecutor's office instead of science!
I read a real good book about that years ago. A real eye-opener into how academic competition can warp judgments & morality.
In this extra-terrestrial case, I thought the promoter looked dubious. He cited archeological dating yet the report did not include who did that – if it happened. Nor did it include the site of extraction details such as which archeologists did the dig.
Otoh, none of those reports included evidential support for the sceptics either, so I have to rate the thing a nil-all draw…
Around 60 women a year die from cervical cancer in NZ.
Those who want to vote for a right-wing government, simply because any change is good, might want to reflect on which parties support screening, and which do not.
(Note: "have a look at" is politician-speak for "kick the can down the road")
I see Labour has promised to appoint a Minister of Just Transitions. That is sure to be a vote winner because I think everyone loves geek speek. I wonder who came up with the catchy title btw.
Climate change and the threat to civilization [6 October 2022]
This example illustrates that climate collapse need not be determined by environmental factors alone: other causes, such as pre-existing political conflict and incompetent government, may be crucial.
Dim bulb-Brownlee was incandescent with rage about 'nanny state' energy-efficient lighting. The well-being of spaceship Earth – our only home – isn't a NAct priority.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition
The twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss are global challenges of unprecedented proportions. Tackling them is the collective fight of our lifetime, with implications for all the generations to come.
"Minister of Just Transitions" seems pretty risible to me.
"Pretty risible" – pourquoi? Genuinely curious.
Just transitions bring people together to transform disruptive change into positive change.
The concept of ‘just transitions’ emerged decades ago from North American unions concerned about job losses from environmental policies affecting polluting industries. This evolved into a call from the international labour movement for a just transition towards an environmentally sustainable economy that is well managed and contributes to the goals of decent work for all, social inclusion and the eradication of poverty,
Just transitions have expanded to include dimensions of social, economic, environmental, climate and intergenerational justice. This idea is now part of international policy commitments which have been taken by most of the world’s nations, including Aotearoa New Zealand.
We live in increasingly interesting times – overshoot BAU is unsustainable. Mitigation and adaptation through just transitions will be the name of the 'game', and governments will have a role – unless they leave their run too late.
Just Transition Greens
The Just Transition Greens are a cross-party group that want to bring together workers, communities, employers and government agencies, and ensure that the move towards a climate-proofed economy happens as quickly and as fairly as possible.
Good grief, I have to agree with you there ts. What a dreadful name. I gather it means – in large part – the transition to renewable energies. Well, call it that: the Ministry for Renewable Energies – MRE for short.
Yeah. It sort of sounds like something to do with gender reassignment lol. And, isn't it along the lines of what James Shaw is already doing? So, it seems a bit superfluous to me.
Does Luxons calling first dibs on NZF mean that possibly their internal polling are tanking? Whiff of desperation there methinks. Also would like to add that when asked about his honesty Luxon replies with obligatory American showing of teeth that he was 100% honest. Possibly paraphrasing but what he did say. Isn’t that a big fat lie? Just asking.
Ooohhh…. sirjohnkey is on Lisa owens. Begs the question …Why? I wonder if she will get Jacinda on. Fundamentally he would rule Winnie in. Yadayadayada.But. Slippery as usual. Omg. What a waste of time. Luxon is a friend. Yada Yada. Still a wanker. Needs a listen to. Why do they keep dredging up the worst prime minister NZ has ever had ?
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Queuing on Queen St: the Government is set to announce another apparently splashy growth policy on Sunday of offering residence visas to wealthy migrants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, February 7:PM Christopher ...
The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...
Hi,This week’s Flightless Bird episode was about “fake seizure guy” — a Melbourne man who fakes seizures in order to get members of the public to sit on him.The audio documentary (which I have included in this newsletter in case you don’t listen to Flightless Bird) built on reporting first ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The 119th Congress comes with a price tag. The oil and gas industry gave about $24 million in campaign contributions to the members of the U.S. House and Senate expected to be sworn in January 3, 2025, according to a ...
Early morning, the shadows still long, but you can already feel the warmth building. Our motel was across the road from the historic homestead where Henry Williams' family lived. The evening before, we wandered around the gardens, reading the plaques and enjoying the close proximity to the history of the ...
Thanks folks for your feedback, votes and comments this week. I’ll be making the changes soon. Appreciate all your emails, comments and subscriptions too. I know your time is valuable - muchas gracias.A lot is happening both here and around the world - so I want to provide a snippets ...
Data released today by Statistics NZ shows that unemployment rose to 5.1%, with 33,000 more people out of work than last year said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “The latest data shows that employment fell in Aotearoa at its fastest rate since the GFC. Unemployment rose in 8 ...
The December labour market statistics have been released, showing yet another increase in unemployment. There are now 156,000 unemployed - 34,000 more than when National took office. And having thrown all these people out of work, National is doubling down on cruelty. Because being vicious will somehow magically create the ...
Boarded up homes in Kilbirnie, where work on a planned development was halted. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 5 are;Housing Minister Chris Bishop yesterday announcedKāinga Ora would be stripped of ...
This week Kiwirail and Auckland Transport were celebrating the completion of the summer rail works that had the network shut or for over a month and the start of electric trains to Pukekohe. First up, here’s parts of the press release about the shutdown works. Passengers boarding trains in Auckland ...
Through its austerity measures, the coalition government has engineered a rise in unemployment in order to reduce inflation while – simultaneously – cracking down harder and harder on the people thrown out of work by its own policies. To that end, Social Development Minister Louise Upston this week added two ...
This year, we've seen a radical, white supremacist government ignoring its Tiriti obligations, refusing to consult with Māori, and even trying to legislatively abrogate te Tiriti o Waitangi. When it was criticised by the Waitangi Tribunal, the government sabotaged that body, replacing its legal and historical experts with corporate shills, ...
Poor old democracy, it really is in a sorry state. It would be easy to put all the blame on the vandals and tyrants presently trashing the White House, but this has been years in the making. It begins with Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan and the spirit of Gordon ...
The new school lunches came in this week, and they were absolutely scrumptious.I had some, and even though Connor said his tasted like “stodge” and gave him a sore tummy, I myself loved it!Look at the photos - I knew Mr Seymour wouldn’t lie when he told us last year:"It ...
The tighter sanctions are modelled on ones used in Britain, which did push people off ‘the dole’, but didn’t increase the number of workers, and which evidence has repeatedly shown don’t work. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, ...
Catching you up on the morning’s global news and a quick look at the parallels -GLOBALTariffs are backSharemarkets in the US, UK and Europe have “plunged” in response to Trump’s tariffs. And while Mexico has won a one month reprieve, Canada and China will see their respective 25% and 10% ...
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission. Gondolas are often in the news, with manufacturers of ropeway systems proposing them as a modern option for mass transit systems in New Zealand. However, like every next big thing in transport, it’s hard ...
This is a re-post from The Climate BrinkBoth 2023 and 2024 were exceptionally warm years, at just below and above 1.5C relative to preindustrial in the WMO composite of surface temperature records, respectively. While we are still working to assess the full set of drivers of this warmth, it is clear that ...
Hi,I woke up feeling nervous this morning, realising that this weekend Flightless Bird is going to do it’s first ever live show. We’re heading to a sold out (!) show in Seattle to test the format out in front of an audience. If it works, we’ll do more. I want ...
From the United-For-Now States of America comes the thrilling news that a New Zealander may be at the very heart of the current coup. Punching above our weight on the world stage once more! Wait, you may be asking, what New Zealander? I speak of Peter Thiel, made street legal ...
Even Stevens: Over the 33 years between 1990 and 2023 (and allowing for the aberrant 2020 result) the average level of support enjoyed by the Left and Right blocs, at roughly 44.5 percent each, turns out to be, as near as dammit, identical.WORLDWIDE, THE PARTIES of the Left are presented ...
Back in 2023, a "prominent political figure" went on trial for historic sex offences. But we weren't allowed to know who they were or what political party they were "prominent" in, because it might affect the way we voted. At the time, I said that this was untenable; it was ...
I'm going, I'm goingWhere the water tastes like wineI'm going where the water tastes like wineWe can jump in the waterStay drunk all the timeI'm gonna leave this city, got to get awayI'm gonna leave this city, got to get awayAll this fussing and fighting, man, you know I sure ...
Waitangi Day is a time to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and stand together for a just and fair Aotearoa. Across the motu, communities are gathering to reflect, kōrero, and take action for a future built on equity and tino rangatiratanga. From dawn ceremonies to whānau-friendly events, there are ...
Subscribe to Mountain Tūī ! Where you too can learn about exciting things from a flying bird! Tweet.Yes - I absolutely suck at marketing. It’s a fact.But first -My question to all readers is:How should I set up the Substack model?It’s been something I’ve been meaning to ask since November ...
Here’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s political economy on politics and in the week to Feb 3:PM Christopher Luxon began 2025’s first day of Parliament last Tuesday by carrying on where left off in 2024, letting National’s junior coalition partner set the political agenda and dragging ...
The PSA have released a survey of 4000 public service workers showing that budget cuts are taking a toll on the wellbeing of public servants and risking the delivery of essential services to New Zealanders. Economists predict that figures released this week will show continued increases in unemployment, potentially reaching ...
The Prime Minister’s speech 10 days or so ago kicked off a flurry of commentary. No one much anywhere near the mainstream (ie excluding Greens supporters) questioned the rhetoric. New Zealand has done woefully poorly on productivity for a long time and we really need better outcomes, and the sorts ...
President Trump on the day he announced tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, unleashing a shock to supply chains globally that is expected to slow economic growth and increase inflation for most large economies. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 9 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 3Politics: New Zealand Government cabinet meeting usually held early afternoon with post-cabinet news conference possible at 4 pm, although they have not been ...
Trump being Trump, it won’t come as a shock to find that he regards a strong US currency (bolstered by high tariffs on everything made by foreigners) as a sign of America’s virility, and its ability to kick sand in the face of the world. Reality is a tad more ...
A listing of 24 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, January 26, 2025 thru Sat, February 1, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
What seems to be the common theme in the US, NZ, Argentina and places like Italy under their respective rightwing governments is what I think of as “the politics of cruelty.” Hate-mongering, callous indifference in social policy-making, corporate toadying, political bullying, intimidation and punching down on the most vulnerable with ...
If you are confused, check with the sunCarry a compass to help you alongYour feet are going to be on the groundYour head is there to move you aroundSo, stand in the place where you liveSongwriters: Bill Berry / Michael Mills / Michael Stipe / Peter Buck.Hot in the CityYesterday, ...
Shane Jones announced today he would be contracting out his thinking to a smarter younger person.Reclining on his chaise longue with a mouth full of oysters and Kina he told reporters:Clearly I have become a has-been, a palimpsest, an epigone, a bloviating fossil. I find myself saying such things as: ...
Warning: This post contains references to sexual assaultOn Saturday, I spent far too long editing a video on Tim Jago, the ACT Party President and criminal, who has given up his fight for name suppression after 2 years. He voluntarily gave up just in time for what will be a ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is global warming ...
Our low-investment, low-wage, migration-led and housing-market-driven political economy has delivered poorer productivity growth than the rest of the OECD, and our performance since Covid has been particularly poor. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty this ...
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.As far as major government announcements go, a Three Ministers Event is Big. It can signify a major policy development or something has gone Very Well, or an absolute Clusterf**k. When Three Ministers assemble ...
One of those blasts from the past. Peter Dunne – originally neoliberal Labour, then leader of various parties that sought to work with both big parties (generally National) – has taken to calling ...
Completed reads for January: I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson The Black Spider, by Jeremias Gotthelf The Spider and the Fly (poem), by Mary Howitt A Noiseless Patient Spider (poem), by Walt Whitman August Heat, by W.F. Harvey Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White The Shrinking Man, by Richard Matheson ...
Do its Property Right Provisions Make Sense?Last week I pointed out that it is uninformed to argue that the New Zealand’s apparently poor economic performance can be traced only to poor regulations. Even were there evidence they had some impact, there are other factors. Of course, we should seek to ...
Richard Wagstaff It was incredibly jarring to hear the hubris from the Prime Minister during his recent state of the nation address. I had just spent close to a week working though the stories and thoughts shared with us by nearly 2000 working people as part of our annual Mood ...
Odd fact about the Broadcasting Standards Authority: for the last few years, they’ve only been upholding about 5% of complaints. Why? I think there’s a range of reasons. Generally responsible broadcasters. Dumb complaints. Complaints brought under the wrong standard. Greater adherence to broadcasters’ rights to freedom of expression in the ...
And I said, "Mama, mama, mama, why am I so alone"'Cause I can't go outside, I'm scared I might not make it homeWell I'm alive, I'm alive, but I'm sinking inIf there's anyone at home at your place, darlingWhy don't you invite me in?Don't try to feed me'Cause I've been ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Health New Zealand has been successful in securing a podiatrist until the end of June this year to meet the needs of ...
The Judicial Conduct Commissioner has recommended a Judicial Conduct Panel be established to inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken in an incident last November, Attorney-General Judith Collins said today. “I referred the matter of Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct during an incident ...
Students who need extra help with maths are set to benefit from a targeted acceleration programme that will give them more confidence in the classroom, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Last year, significant numbers of students did not meet the foundational literacy and numeracy level required to gain NCEA. To ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced three new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ...
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te Iwi – without a vision, the people will perish. The Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75 per cent five years early, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The number of households ...
The opening of Palmerston North’s biggest social housing development will have a significant impact for whānau in need of safe, warm, dry housing, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The minister visited the development today at North Street where a total of 50 two, three, and four-bedroom homes plus a ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the new membership of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control (PACDAC), who will serve for a three-year term. “The Committee brings together wide-ranging expertise relevant to disarmament. We have made six new appointments to the Committee and reappointed two existing members ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora, good morning, talofa, malo e lelei, bula vinaka, da jia hao, namaste, sat sri akal, assalamu alaikum. It’s so great to be here and I’m ready and pumped for 2025. Can I start by acknowledging: Simon Bridges – CEO of the Auckland ...
The Government has unveiled a bold new initiative to position New Zealand as a premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) that will create higher paying jobs and grow the economy. “Invest New Zealand will streamline the investment process and provide tailored support to foreign investors, to increase capital investment ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced the largest reset of the New Zealand science system in more than 30 years with reforms which will boost the economy and benefit the sector. “The reforms will maximise the value of the $1.2 billion in government funding that goes into ...
Turbocharging New Zealand’s economic growth is the key to brighter days ahead for all Kiwis, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. In the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation Speech in Auckland today, Christopher Luxon laid out the path to the prosperity that will affect all aspects of New Zealanders’ lives. ...
The latest set of accounts show the Government has successfully checked the runaway growth of public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “In the previous government’s final five months in office, public spending was almost 10 per cent higher than for the same period the previous year. “That is completely ...
The Government’s welfare reforms are delivering results with the number of people moving off benefits into work increasing year-on-year for six straight months. “There are positive signs that our welfare reset and the return consequences for job seekers who don't fulfil their obligations to prepare for or find a job ...
Jon Kroll and Aimee McCammon have been appointed to the New Zealand Film Commission Board, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “I am delighted to appoint these two new board members who will bring a wealth of industry, governance, and commercial experience to the Film Commission. “Jon Kroll has been an ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hailed a drop in the domestic component of inflation, saying it increases the prospect of mortgage rate reductions and a lower cost of living for Kiwi households. Stats NZ reported today that inflation was 2.2 per cent in the year to December, the second consecutive ...
Two new appointed members and one reappointed member of the Employment Relations Authority have been announced by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today. “I’m pleased to announce the new appointed members Helen van Druten and Matthew Piper to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and welcome them to ...
Comment: The next four years are going to bring a terrible information environment, with absurd claims bubbling up from fever swamps overseas The post Paranoia and politics appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Swirly World Sails South, by Andrew Fagan (2012)I feel Andrew is totally under-rated as an author. Alongside his latest book, Swirly World: Lost at Sea, his earlier sailing book is among my favourites. It tells of his trip around New Zealand – via the Auckland Islands. When he set out, ...
A lineup of prominent figures have joined the call to halt the deportation of a mother convicted of inflicting injuries on her baby, as fears grow she could be another victim of a ...
Comment: Saturday February 1 was the grim fourth anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar. The date seems to have gone unnoticed back here in New Zealand. Even before war in Ukraine and then Gaza, Myanmar got little attention. Yet it is the most destructive conflict in our region. The ...
We’re on the brink of a ‘tidal wave’ of misinformation.No one knows the size of it, but there’s a warning that leaving it to the government to sort out won’t work.In the year of local government elections, expect computer-generated content where the sources and authenticity are murky; more complaints about ...
Yasser Abdulaal, who has lived in Ōtautahi Christchurch for five years, said his two sisters had lost their homes in the 15-month-long war. “Toxic wasteland” . . . Palestinians take shelter in tents set up amid heavily damaged buildings in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. Image: Al Jazeera screenshot ...
RNZ PacificMarshall Islands Journal editor Giff Johnson says US President Donald Trump’s decision on aid “is an opening for anybody else who wants to fill the gap” in the Pacific. Trump froze all USAID for 90 days on his first day in office and is now looking to significantly ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Mazza, Director, SPHERE NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health in Primary Care and Professor and Head of the Department of General Practice, Monash University PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock Ahead of the government’s response this week ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle It generally ends badly. An old tyrant embarks on an ill-considered project that involves redrawing maps. They are heedless to wise counsel and indifferent to indigenous interests or experience. Before they fail, are killed, deposed or otherwise disposed of, these vicious old men can cause immense ...
The Cook Islands PM is in Beijing to sign an agreement with China - but the government says he failed to consult with NZ on the matter, as is required. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katinka van de Ven, Alcohol and other drug specialist, UNSW Sydney Fewer young Australians are drinking. And when they do drink, they are drinking less and less often than previous generations at the same age. It’s a trend happening all around the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flavio Macau, Associate Dean – School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University Hitra/Shutterstock Coles is reducing its product range by at least 10%, a move that has sparked public backlash and renewed discussions about the role of supermarkets in the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacinta Humphrey, Research Fellow in Urban Ecology, RMIT University Golf courses are sometimes seen as harmful to the environment. According to the popular notion, the grass soaks up too much water, is cut too short and sprayed with dangerous chemicals. But in ...
New Zealand has long championed a fair, stable, and resilient global order. As a nation with deep ties to the Pacific and beyond, we cannot afford to be passive in the face of these shifts. ...
Things are going to look a little different this year. Here’s what to expect.Good news, Shortland Street fans: after a well-earned summer holiday, New Zealand’s longest running drama returns to TVNZ2 and TVNZ+ tonight. Ahead of us is a fresh year of living, loving and laughing in the nation’s ...
The poll, conducted between 02 and 04 February, shows National up 2.3 points to 31.9 percent, while Labour has risen 0.4 points from last month to 31.3 percent. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katrina McFerran, Professor and Head of Creative Arts and Music Therapy Research Unit; Director of Researcher Development Unit, The University of Melbourne New York Public Library Many of us take pleasure in listening to music. Music accompanies important life events and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katrina McFerran, Professor and Head of Creative Arts and Music Therapy Research Unit; Director of Researcher Development Unit, The University of Melbourne New York Public Library Many of us take pleasure in listening to music. Music accompanies important life events and ...
The Cook Islands finds itself in a precarious dance — one between the promises of foreign investments and the integrity of our own sovereignty. As the country sways between partners China and Aotearoa New Zealand, the Cook Islands News asks: “Do we continue to haka with the Taniwha, our constitutional ...
A diplomatic scuffle with the Cook Islands. Plus: What went down at Waitangi. The Cook Islands prime minister, Mark Brown, has provoked the wrath of the New Zealand foreign minister with his decision to head to China to sign a new strategic deal. By failing to consult on the ...
The deputy chairperson of the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine, Dr Michael Connelly, said simply setting targets without "resourcing" them was a pointless exercise, as the number of patients - and their acuity - continuing to grow. ...
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Luxon on NZ First. (we knew, you slimy creep)
And now Luxon has said this…We need to highlight exactly who the coalition of chaos would be !
National – ACT – NZ First: The Coalition of Division.
Thats what it is and what Labour needs to call it, loudly and often.
Labour should be reprising National's boat ad in 2014. Instead of red shirted and green shirted rowers trying to row in different directions it will be blue shirted, multi colour shirted and black shirted pirates trying to throw each other out of the boat.
Labour needs to get down and dirty, but I fear Hipkins is at heart too decent a guy to go that far.
There is no way in hell that Winston and David will be at the cabinet table together. If they needed the numbers to get over the line I think NZF would be in coalition with National.
Act would get one or two ministers outside of cabinet/government on a confidence and support deal. Similar to the way the Greens have been working with Labour for 6 years
Sorry, equally no way that Seymour would accept being outside the government (with double the numbers of MPs) if NZF are inside the government.
He's not the pushover the GP was in 2017.
There might be an arrangement with both of them as C+S partners to a minority National government.
Ironic that Winston derides the debate on who NZF would go with. We should be concentrating on the things that matter and not on the "horse race."
Wasn't it he that said early on that he would not go with Labour thus setting off the debate?
Just because Winston said at one point in time that he wouldn't go into government with Labour, doesn't make it true. He's the master of weasel manipulation. If it suited him, and the political climate post-election allowed, he'd be negotiating with Labour like a shot. 'What's in it for Winston', is his over-riding mantra.
If the 3 have the majority, it would be interesting if NZF allowed ACT participation in a coalition government (they denied this to Greens in 2017).
On past form NZF has always tried to keep the party on the left or right out of government or coalition (Alliance 1996) and here ACT in 2023.
Thus if they are consistent they would favour a National minority government backed on c and s by NZF and ACT.
However it seems Peters is not discounting a 3 party coalition – a coalition based on agreed policy apparently because Seymour might not offer supply to a National-NZF coalition or National minority government.
This has led to a a lot of supportive right wing commentators using their NZH platform to demand an ACT driven regime.
The purpose of which is to pressure National to campaign in the centre to take votes off Labour but bend to ACT after the election – as a tactic to deliver a NACT majority by hiding how radical the coalition would be afterwards.
With Peters considering a three party coalition, rather than c and s to a minority National governing in the centre – the post election talks would be the most consequential in our MMP political history (given the range of potential outcomes for policy – decided by politicians and not voters).
Yea thats my worry. How fast and far reaching their actions would be.
IMO They would assume they got a mandate….to start the slashing..down.
Why more so than 1996 or 2017 – where, in both cases, Winston decided the government (held the balance of power)?
Sounds a lot like you are very hypocritical considering the many times you have welcomed Winston so you could have power.
there would have been no last six years of government if it weren't for Winston and no Jacinda
wtf? Jim Cairns…..You dont know me…and I dont know you. Probably a good thing. Anyway….best you get back under your bridge : )
Of course he will. The only reason he's been delaying is that now the others can say a vote for Nat is a vote for Winston.
And of course..there is this..
IMO Luxon is still not anywhere near assured of power.
And, even he says..
Why…we should not give in. Fight… on !
Guardian writer went to visit the radical, sets the scene thisaway:
If you haven't heard of “algorithmic rents” this is your intro. For a radical, one must admit he's a colourful trier. I'd prefer a winner though – he hasn't figured out where his leftism went wrong yet. Try harder!
Maybe you could try harder Dennis!
I thought it was implicit in the article
Left and right has given way to the techno oligarchies
That's not a valid reason to abandon leftism as a strand of political thought though. Better to learn from failure, I reckon. More consistent with human nature.
Of course, if the activist is entrained within a political ecosystem with hegemonic belief that leftists can't learn from failure due to believing they're always right, you get a monoculture that will oppress dissenters.
Rather than head for history to cite stalinism as classic example, better to refer to contemporary political context. Focus on that chasm he mentions in the report (between head of state & minister of finance) where the leader betrays the expert when both are in overt solidarity as ruling cadre. The psychodynamics that drove the outcome into effect are where learning ought to focus.
So you think the "failure" of Varoufakis's leftism was a psychological failing?
Yeah but it points to something more significant, for which I seek an explanation. I'm not into personal criticism of the guy, it's just that leaders ought to proceed to learn from experience so as to win next time.
Radicals are best not viewed as a spent force – better to see them as somewhat out of tune with the masses. There's a philosophical question here: can a radical ever resonate with the masses? No binary answer, based on my life experience – it seems conditional on time & space & social context. That triad makes for relativity of meaning between person & group, so we can't generalise much.
I'd like to see leftists get ahead via a fresh approach to politics, embracing leading-edge thought in young generations for relevance. He's one such youngster with proven ability at the top level. I'm not clear on his originality of thought (due to msm reporting) but the interview failed to show any.
Oh well
I guess it was unspeakably radical in the past for women to have the vote, or for homosexuals to be able to marry
Pretty well accepted by the masses now
Indeed. Retrospectively we can rationalise a `spirit of the age' that transforms us collectively. Those two transformations were based on shifting perception of minority group rights whereas the angst in society nowadays seems more generally felt on an emotional level which is tacit in most folk. We await whoever can articulate it, make it specific in relation to necessity, to drive societal change via collective force…
There is no coalition of chaos in Labour.
But there will be a Coalition of Con Artists in the gang of three being touted.
If FirstNatAct or NatActFirst or ActFirstNat or any variation gets in it’s going to be a Circus. Who gets the title?
Three supreme egos with not much iq or eq input,plus non thinking subservient minions.
What’s not to like lol.
Blood on the floor.
Have to say, that I recall the same level of speculation – from the Right – about the chaos arising from a Labour/NZF government in 2017.
They were proved wrong. Peters was not obviously disruptive – clearly the size of the baubles of power was appropriate.
My Daughter and I drove from Just outside of Rotorua to Taihapa yesterday and were surprised at the quantity of election hordings, specifically the lack of Labour ones of which we counted only 10 on the entire drive which was less than even New Zeal's hoardings.
Overall Labour's hoardings were out numbered roughly by Greens 2:1, NZ First 1.5:1, Act 3:1, National 4:1.
Admittedly we drove only on the Main Highway/Route and assume that there would be more signs within the suburbs but would be interested to hear from other parts of the country what others are finding re the visibility of election hoardings.
This is the case every election. The countryside is Tory and like Faulkner's Snopes clan, the Nats exercise control over the small dirt-poor towns scattered through their estates, where it's dangerous for your job prospects to be known as a lefty. We drove from Auckland to Wellington over two days about a week before the Labour 2020 landslide election – and it was exactly the same. Your desire to read something special into the phenomenon this time round is curious, but not unexpected.
"… the small dirt-poor towns scattered through their estates, where it's dangerous for your job prospects to be known as a lefty."
I believe that attitude is now prevalent in some urban electorates. Having lived in the North Shore electorate for the past 40 years, there are noticeably less Labour hoardings this year than in the past.
As someone who has sported a Labour bill-board on my driveway fence for the past five elections, I seriously considered not having one this time. In the end I agreed to small one. In the past there has been vandalism and last time the hoarding had to be replaced three times. So far so good… although there is evidence someone tried to remove this latest but not succeeded – not yet.
I think it is highly likely that the level of vitriol towards this government – all of which has been driven by Labour's opponents both parliamentary and in the media – has caused people to feel less safe and potentially open to harassment if they openly express their support for Labour.
I certainly can feel it in some places but I'm old and weary and frankly don't care what people think any more.
Good on you. Having no more effs to give is one small compensation for getting older.
I agree
Anne I know where you are coming from.
I live in a Central Otago town which is National. I'm a staunch Labour supporter and have never hidden the fact, which sometimes has brought snide remarks. But I don't give a big rat's backside. Like you Anne, I'm too old to care these days.
I shall roll up to the polling booth on October 14 proudly wearing my red top as I always do, to cast my vote. If it’s a hot sunny day, I might even wear my green sunhat. That should confuse the masses .. hee hee.
All the best Anne.
So what you are saying you just vote labour no matter what they offer or don't offer.
weather it is good or bad.
“I might even wear my green sunhat. That should confuse the masses ..”
I contemplated ringing the Greens and also offering them a place on my fence but decided that could be pushing my luck a bit far. They are a politically conservative bunch around my place. I know that because I've overheard the dulcet tones of Mike Hosking on ZB radio. Nice people really but political ignoramuses.
No desire of anything.
I did wonder if it was possibly due to:
A) the funding issue but that wouldn't explain the difference in numbers even when compared to smaller party's.
B) Labour utilizing different modes of advertising which is possible I can say I seen significantly more or less of their adverts via other methods.
C) Vandalism, not any specific evidence of Labour signs being targeted or anybody signs being significantly damaged (less than 5 from all parties combined which I was very surprised of).
D) I did consider the possibility of passing through other parties strong holds but that answer doesn't seem to hold true when considering the number of other left leaning parties signs eg Green, Maori Party.
Based from you explanation it seems it just is. Perhaps it is simple as Labour preferring to place their signage more in the "burbs" vs main traffic flows.
I don't know but thought others here might be able to shed more light which you have done. Thank you.
As AB wrote @5.1, best not to read too much into it imho. If the number of political party hoardings is indicative of voting patterns, then NAct have nothing to worry about, and they won't be needing NZF – although there seems to be some uncertainty?
Wealth inequality has eroded the resilience of Kiwi society almost beyond repair, and yet a few very wealthy Kiwis clearly feel they need to be wealthier still to be happy, and/or perhaps to feel safe and in control?
Ah well, we reap what we sow
https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/
"yet a few very wealthy Kiwis clearly feel they need to be wealthier still to be happy"
I personally suspect those Kiwis feel a need for other people to be poorer and will merrily contribute to those who will try to make it happen
Actively impoverishing Kiwis might be a motivating factor for some very wealthy individuals. I would hope, however, that for most this very real impoverishment is not uppermost in their minds, but rather is simply incidental to craving wealth beyond the dreams of avarice.
One could always ask the very wealthy, but could you trust their answers?
Judging by NAct’s regressive tax/hoax policies, they can’t perceive the problem.
When I was a candidate many elections ago, I put a 2.4×1.2 m sign (worth about $60 now) up in a rural corner, 10 metres onto a farmer's paddock plus a smaller one further up the road.
As I was erecting the hoarding, a ute drove by with two men and a dog aboard. One of the men called out that the sign would not last long. It went overnight. The thieves had to trespass onto private property to take it. The hoarding would have cost $60 today. I had to travel 200kms to replace it!
The smaller sign went as well and the fearful woman who gave me permission to erect it would not have it replaced as it too was on a private, rural property.
Some lessons from this. Some rural dwellers are lawless, undemocratic, thieves and vandals, terrorising their neighbours. They have a real sense of intolerance and territorial 'rights'.
But the biggest lesson was that, in the case of the ute mentioned above, the most intelligent animal hanging out its tongue on it rode on the tray of the ute.
Recently in ohakune all the signs except te party moaris signs were vandalized!!
Mr Nobody. I liked what AB said in regard to the Tory countryside. But for now, I will report on what I have noticed in our electorate of Ohariu. Something interesting has happened.
Usually the split of Labour Vs National (but sadly hardly any Green) hoardings on private property is fairly even. You will get suburbs where one party will be more dominant. For instance Khandallah has more blue signage where as in Newlands you will see more red.
This time, there is a thrilling absence of blue! This is the seat that Nicola Willis is trying to take from Greg O Connor.
I have a Labour hoarding on my fence on a main road and we have more Labour hoardings in our neighbourhood than usual. There are less National hoardings in our neighbourhood and in general, around the electorate than usual. I have seen two ACT hoardings on private property and that hasn't happened before. Funnily enough they are on rather dilapidated sections. (Maybe they belong to the landlord?).
That is what is happening here.
This wasn't just in the rural areas our count started just before Rotorua and right through the main route in town to the turn off towards Rotorua.
In that stretch was the where we counted the majority of Labour hoardings (7). But to put in comparison one corner site had 5 National hoardings.
Rotorua also had probably the biggest hoarding for the local Maori Candidate (don't remember their name sorry) but it was the size of a full sized advertising site (I'm guessing 2mx3m if not bigger) which looked awesome.
Btw we counted:
1 between Rotorua and Taupo
1 between Taupo and Taurangi
1 between Taurangi and Taihapi
We (inner suburb Auckland) have about equal numbers of National and Labour ones (including sharing the same fence, in a highly non-partisan approach by the owner). Very, very few Green. And only a couple of NZF. I think I might have seen one ACT one. Several from the very minor 'nutter' parties.
I wonder if the smaller parties are saving their money. I truly doubt that election hoardings change anyone's mind…..
Luxon says "New Zealand First hasn’t gone with National in 27 years – and could choose Labour again." Interesting he says that when he himself would prefer a two-party coalition, while Hipkins has ruled out forming a government with Peters.
"Dear Chris,
It's crunch time in this election campaign with overseas voting opening on Wednesday and advance voting opening next Monday.
I’ve been on the campaign trail for three weeks and one thing is clear – Kiwis feel we’re heading in the wrong direction. I've lost count of the number of people who say to me – if you don’t win, I’m leaving.
It's clear you want change. But to get change, you have to vote for change.
Just ask yourself this: how will you feel if you wake up after the election and we have a Labour-Greens-Te Pāti Māori coalition set to take a wrecking ball to our economy? If that’s not the Government you want, then don’t leave it to chance.
Please Party Vote National.
This is really important because, every MMP election is tight and I expect the result to be extremely close this time too.
Lots of people have been asking me about minor parties and how we might form a coalition government.
So here’s the deal…
First and foremost, if you want to change the government, please give your party vote National.
Beyond that, my preference is to form a strong and stable two party coalition government between National and ACT.
I believe that government would be in the best interests of New Zealanders at this very uncertain time.
However, if New Zealand First is returned to Parliament, and I need to pick up the phone to Mr Peters to keep Labour and the Coalition of Chaos out, I will make that call.
Frankly, I think Chris Hipkins will ultimately do exactly the same thing.
That’s not my first preference but we all remember 2017.
New Zealand First hasn’t gone with National in 27 years – and could choose Labour again.
That decision is ultimately up to you.
So, if you want to change the government, then I’m asking you to vote for change and choose a better New Zealand.
I’m asking you to please Party Vote National.
Thank you,
Christopher Luxon"
The cracks in their credibility are starting to show. Going from "We have won this"…. to
"Vote it is going to be close and I (gulp) might need Winston".
Nicola's hand waving one liner on Q&A hasn't helped their case regarding modelling.
Luxon walking away over and over from journalist questions on Policy holes is also a fail. Him indoors says, “Fast talking snake oil salesman”
Bit by bit the veneer of credibility gets chipped away.
3 weeks is a banana skin.
Those who are wavering, remember how the Nats sold social houses and other assets to wealthy marketeers in "the open market" last time, under their mantra of "The Market will fix it." We know how that went.
imo.
"I've lost count of the number of people who say to me – if you don’t win, I’m leaving……."
Lost count….this from the man who says he is "good with numbers"….and people are free to leave if they want to…..Muldoon had a brutal quip on that topic…..
Edited for accuracy.
We can campaign in the centre and go further right after the election with ACT, if NACT have a majority.
Where further right, we will neither confirm nor deny till after the election. Buyer beware.
And for the gullible/protest voter, forget any "buyers..remorse" . Once NAct start the slashing, there will be…no holding back.
I wonder what their internal polling is showing? Perhaps it shows ACT falling and NZF rising, making 61 seats for a pure NACT coalition a bit dicey.
Either way, it looks like the "abomination combination" (NACT) or the "coalition of crackpots" (NACT First) unless Hipkins pulls a loaves and fishes act or turns water into sausage rolls.
Chris Hipkins has ruled out Winston Peters and will not ultimately do exactly the same thing.
I think NZ first said they would not work with Labour a long time ago .
then HIPKIN said he would not work with them.
so it was nz first that decided that they would not work with labour.
Hipkin as usual no idea of his own just started the obvious.
The left still interested in that type of stuff or is that so 2016?
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2307/S00139/labour-breaks-a-new-record-in-child-poverty.htm
Oh really…
Sabine links to a National Party press release with enough holes in it… it could be used as a sieve. We already know how much integrity there is in National's accounting skills – zero. See Tax-cuts 2023.
Pull the other one.
Well we do know the thinking of National is that being on a benefit and being in poverty is synonymous, because this has been National Party policy (since 1990-91).
Labour has brought in a much higher level of part-time work income before benefit abatement, a higher base payment, the winter energy payment, and the food in schools programme and other free stuff – no school fees/health/dentist/prescriptions/public transport and is trying to boost the number of income related rental homes.
National Party press release, lol. What do you think National's ideas are around getting people off benefits?
"Work will set you free"
https://www.speakupforwomen.nz/post/media-release-ministry-staff-told-don-t-use-male-or-penis-when-referring-to-male-lesbians?utm_campaign=45466310-4610-4758-a2bc-dbbe9bcb5db1&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail&cid=7f4c8e0a-aa2a-44c1-9fc3-5db780e2856c
A story about a whistle blower, Emma Barraclough, who worked for the Mof T. During a Diversity and Inclusion training she asked some questions about same sex attraction as she has a relative who is lesbian. Read what happened next (spoiler alert, it involved the Deputy CEO writing and meeting with her to chatise her.
A lesbian with a penis!!!!
Some needs to slap the people pushing this shit and tell them to wake the fuck up, fucking mind numbing ridiculous clap fuck trap,
I'd go on but people might think I'm joking,
Stupid fuckers
The lowest of the low brow humor used to say that as a joke.
Man: "I think I might be lesbian too!" etc.
Unfunny then, but now we're supposed to take it seriously, it's absurd.
https://www.speakupforwomen.nz/post/the-day-insideout-came-to-the-ministry-of-transport?s=04&fbclid=IwAR1Nblg4f-TKGeA7k-uTSiRKXU1AANbIDeDte_OPz3em3VNmzLKOH_RMe6g
This is Emma's the whistle blowers story in her own words. What happened with the Ministry of Transport held an Diversity and Inclusion training session and she used the term male bodied when asking if lesbians should accept transwomen into their dating pools.
Go Emma, if the fuckers don't see sense move on no point surrounding yourself with stupid morons.
Agree Bwagon, but unfortunately this training is pervasive across the public service and beyond, (.NGOs and Professional Bodies).
The fact that Emma respectfully challenged it, then the Deputy CEO wrote her a letter and followed this up with an hour long meeting to chastise her, is nothing but 1984
Thanks for the link, the situation described is bewildering.
It’s interesting when I catch up with people outside of the workplace, most people seem to think this is complete BS. Even my younger gay/bisexual nephew and his gender ambiguous friends think some of this stuff is weird…
That's because it is. but of course people are entitled to all sorts of beliefs. but why they are taught as part of a govt training module, which the tax payer pays for and why any dissent is shut down is the real scandal!
Remember this next time someone talks about those "marginalised and oppressed" trans and gender diverse people. We are being required to signify our acceptance of gender ideology in every facet of our dealings with the State.
Afficionados of the weird will like this story about ancient dead aliens found underground in Peru: https://edition.cnn.com/videos/us/2023/09/23/mexico-congress-alleged-alien-corpse-neil-degrasse-tyson-ebof-vpx.cnn
Sceptics counter-claim that this investigative journalist is doing a re-run of a similar claim in 2017 which the Peruvian govt said was fake. Conspiracy theorists will get off on that official verdict coming from their prosecutor's office instead of science!
https://apnews.com/article/extraterrestrials-ufo-mexico-congress-af7d54fabf3278ef83c39d899c457c76
I believe the spirit of the "Piltdown man" is alive and well
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piltdown_Man
I read a real good book about that years ago. A real eye-opener into how academic competition can warp judgments & morality.
In this extra-terrestrial case, I thought the promoter looked dubious. He cited archeological dating yet the report did not include who did that – if it happened. Nor did it include the site of extraction details such as which archeologists did the dig.
Otoh, none of those reports included evidential support for the sceptics either, so I have to rate the thing a nil-all draw…
Around 60 women a year die from cervical cancer in NZ.
Those who want to vote for a right-wing government, simply because any change is good, might want to reflect on which parties support screening, and which do not.
(Note: "have a look at" is politician-speak for "kick the can down the road")
Election 2023: National mulls free cervical cancer screening policy, Luxon says – NZ Herald
I see Labour has promised to appoint a Minister of Just Transitions. That is sure to be a vote winner because I think everyone loves geek speek. I wonder who came up with the catchy title btw.
NAct pollies burying their heads in sandbags perhaps – any new NAct Ministers promised, or just a slash and burn approach?
Interesting times.
Dim bulb-Brownlee was incandescent with rage about 'nanny state' energy-efficient lighting. The well-being of spaceship Earth – our only home – isn't a NAct priority.
"It’s a case of slower to go faster." Sounds ponderous – back to the drawing board?
Thank NAct for the gift of laughter.
IDK – perhaps we should thank Labour for the gift of laughter – "Minister of Just Transitions" seems pretty risible to me.
We live in increasingly interesting times – overshoot BAU is unsustainable. Mitigation and adaptation through just transitions will be the name of the 'game', and governments will have a role – unless they leave their run too late.
Risible, or forward-focused initiatives? Hopefully there'll be time to tell.
One thing's for sure, no way any govt position with 'just' in its name would survive a regressive ACT-level cull – this would be some 'transition'.
Good grief, I have to agree with you there ts. What a dreadful name. I gather it means – in large part – the transition to renewable energies. Well, call it that: the Ministry for Renewable Energies – MRE for short.
Yeah. It sort of sounds like something to do with gender reassignment lol. And, isn't it along the lines of what James Shaw is already doing? So, it seems a bit superfluous to me.
Does Luxons calling first dibs on NZF mean that possibly their internal polling are tanking? Whiff of desperation there methinks. Also would like to add that when asked about his honesty Luxon replies with obligatory American showing of teeth that he was 100% honest. Possibly paraphrasing but what he did say. Isn’t that a big fat lie? Just asking.
Ooohhh…. sirjohnkey is on Lisa owens. Begs the question …Why? I wonder if she will get Jacinda on. Fundamentally he would rule Winnie in. Yadayadayada.But. Slippery as usual. Omg. What a waste of time. Luxon is a friend. Yada Yada. Still a wanker. Needs a listen to. Why do they keep dredging up the worst prime minister NZ has ever had ?
Nah Ffloyd. that titles goes to RD Muldoon.