No Right Turn’s take on Natz and NZ First bene bashing:
“But then, its not supposed to make sense, let alone work. It's just supposed to be performatively cruel, to attract the votes of vicious arseholes who can only feel good from the suffering of those "below" them. And when some other government has to clean up the resulting social mess, that's all the better, because that can then be criticised as "cuddles" and "waste", and they're off for another round on the cruelty wagon.”
Nothing like some raw meat for the tory faithful–a good old Bennie Bash usually suffices to get them snarling. In reality in the 21st century punitive, sadistic, welfare should be done away with and replaced with a basic income for all citizens, abated by tax as you earn more.
Unemployment is not a moral failure–it is an intentional feature of capitalism and finance capital to put downward pressure on wages and worker organisation and fight backs. Even if there are some who do not want to work who could blame them with such an ugly system of exploitation?
The funny old thing with a lot of Natzos who demonise other citizens is that they are “Bennies” too, on National Superannuation and Winter Heating payments.
One thing is for sure old torys always vote, whether driven to the booth or tottering in on walking frames. That will be the tragedy of this Election–alienation and low voter turnout from younger people and those living off shore.
Some seem to be salivating for the oppression that the Epson Twerker wants to visit on fellow AO/NZers including Māori especially–but mark these words–we are in for some heavy duty social unrest and anarchy.
Ten days ago in an interview with ACT’s David Seymour, Jack Tame pointed out that last year 4,000 benefit cases were investigated for fraud, of those just 33 resulted in criminal prosecutions. We spent $50 million investigating benefit fraud in that period and found total over payments of only $2.3 million.
Asked to provide evidence sanctions could help support beneficiaries into work, she referred to the WEAG's report: "One of their comments in their conclusion says they can be effective in encouraging movement from benefits to work".
The report itself does not appear to say this, however.
And Luxon…
Luxon told Morning Report that it was not fair to say this was a policy that was getting tough on beneficiaries, instead of being based on evidence.
"But economists have criticised the policy, saying the revenue assumptions are unrealistic. National wants to get $2.9 billion from the tax over four years to fund its $14.6b tax plan. But economists warn the actual revenue could come in $2.1 billion short"
Over 4 years the foreign house buyers tax is short $2.1 billion according to most economists. It will probably only raise $210m per year not $740m. (4 x $530m=$2.12 billion).
But what the Herald isn't saying is that there are other massive holes in the tax plan that will require huge cuts in public services, benefits etc for it to be funded.
And how is National going to fund its proposed, and chronically expensive, 13 major road projects?
He [Luxon] did not answer when asked whether he believed Peters would allow the tax to survive coalition negotiations.
“I am very confident we will deliver low- and middle-income tax relief. People out there who are waking up this morning, slogging their guts out, going off to work, paying their taxes, getting their kids to school, taking on a second job, cannot get ahead,” he said.
Luxon then said he would actually be doing his foreign buyers’ tax.
Luxon seems concerned about the plight of low-income Kiwis (if not the "bottom feeders") – but the Willux tax relief package massively favours the already wealthy?
Luxon does have several eggs in the investment property basket, so re-heating the property market would suit him, and some wealthy Nat donors, down to the ground. Bloody pirates – bottom feeders the lot of them.
If Luxon can pay for his tax cuts without the foreign buyers tax, what then is the purpose of allowing foreign buyers back? The answer seems simple: to re-inflate the housing market, reward existing property owners with unearned net wealth increases, and make landlordism a sure bet.
as the person that wrote the post, I’m suggesting that we don’t have a fight between lefties under a post encouraging people to vote left.
The term cooker does get used as a pejorative on TS. I agree with gsays that this is a problem. While the origins of the word aren’t pejorative, the term itself sounds like a slur and it now gets used in that way. Soft weaponising.
this is certainly one of the issues that the left has in winning this election. They will vote NZF instead and it's game over if NZF get above 5%.
I really don't understand this liberal idea that the left can afford to say only the people we approve of should vote left. It's just not possible to win elections that way. We're in the minority, we need swing and centrist voters.
Where our hope lies is in providing good examples of progressive and inclusive culture so that people can see our values matter and we walk the talk. This is how we will convince mainstream NZ to move left again. Ostracising people simply reduces the pool of people who can become progressive. And in the case of the Freedom movement people, it pushes them to the right and FR.
There's an image..urrgh! . I had thought bask as in, an old..lion, well past his prime..making friendly with hyenas ?. Hmm.. No that was the Lion King movie
)
I would be expecting Peters to be front and centre in meeting the protestors (on prime-time TV). And doing what he does so well acknowledging their 'pain' (while not actually promising to do anything at all about it).
Man never met a PR media op that he didn't like.
He'll be hoping that this one garners him an extra 1% of votes…..
National's desire to bring back its "three strikes" penal policy finds a parallel in its desire to bring in a "traffic light" system (basically just a variant on three strikes) to punish those naughty bennies who don't want to work
We have Louise Upston on Morning Report yesterday saying that traffic light system is very necessary even though her party thinks that 85% of beneficiaries are abiding by the rules. She then brings up some example of work shy beneficiaries turning up to job interviews in their pyjamas, obviously looking to be rejected for the job.
So it is necessary to start swinging the cosh because 15% buck the system? If it was, say, over 50% then perhaps you might think its justifiable but 15%? Well f…. me, how bad is that? pretty low really, but it isn't good enough for National, they are prepared to make all beneficiaries feel like leeches because of a few that play up.
National also fails to consider the consequences of the traffic lights policy. Who will ultimately suffer? It won't be the indolent themselves, it will be their dependants. I guess there would be a fair number of Work and Income staff who will sigh with frustration with National's announced policy. Deja vu.
National will give us three strikes, traffic lights and faster cars.
And that, apparently, is the main thing. But why continue to insist that we should take Willis and Luxon at their word, when they've clearly been caught out trying to scam the voters.
Foreign Buyers Tax: A Mismatch Between Expectations and Reality The Importance of Transparent Policymaking
While the shortfall in the proposed tax revenue may not significantly impact the government deficits, it serves as a testament to the politicians’ approach to policy making and their transparency in responding to criticism. Even though the National party, being an opposition party, may not have the same resources as the Government to form its policy, critics argue that it should invest in thorough analysis using the donations it receives.
Hmm – donations the Nats receive. Might relaxing the ban on foreigners buying Kiwi homes be a way of rewarding the donors?
DKM National haven't been honest on the state of the economy their costings for the Wellsford Tuhoi highway at $2.3 billion is $2 billion short plus with annual maintenence at$400 million to keep this slip prone section open with climate change bringing floods once every other year making this road uneconomical and unaffordable!Police numbers increasing by only 77 per year National are cutting police numbers per head of population.National are lying every body needs to be talking about Nationals spin.
How many foreign buyers are going to pay 20% above market price.Then Winston will cancel that plus Nationals tax cuts
National are painting themselves into a corner,Now Luxon is blabbering loudly but not answering any questions.looking less trustable as the campaign goes on.
Predictably Western media/govt recent whitewashing of the well known Far Right extremist elements within both the Ukrainian military and politics, ends up with the Canadian House of Commons, including Trudeau, giving several standing ovations to a former member of the Nazi 14th Waffen SS Division ‘Galicia’…a Ukrainian Volunteer (80,000+) unit, commanded by several notorious German SS commanders, a unit well known for it’s outrageous brutality against both civilians and prisoners.
Also predictably, The Guardian piece on this sordid affair today only mentions the Polish civilians massacred by these monsters once, then spends almost the rest of the article focused on the Jewish civilians massacred…make of that what you will.
Then of course, true to form, The Guardian concludes its piece with this none too subtle ‘don't worry, some Nazi’s are alright’ deflection…
“On the issue of the Galicia division, the commission’s head, Jules Deschênes, ruled that members “should not be indicted as a group”. “The members of Galicia division were individually screened for security purposes before admission to Canada. Charges of war crimes of Galicia division have never been substantiated, either in 1950 when they were first preferred, or in 1984 when they were renewed, or before this commission.”
WHITEWASHING THE SS: THE ATTEMPT TO RE-WRITE THE HISTORY OF HITLER’S COLLABORATORS
“The 14th Division of the Ukrainian SS surrounded the village Huta Pieniacka from three sides,” the report to Poland’s government- in-exile explained. “The people were gathered in the church or shot in the houses. Those gathered in the church – men, women and children – were taken outside in groups, children killed in front of their parents. Some men and women were shot in the cemetery, others were gathered in barns where they were shot.”
As we all know…'You lay down with dogs you get up with fleas'…..the staff at the Guardian are so infested with fleas now, that it is the readers of that rag who should probably now start worrying about getting itchy.
Thank you for posting Adrian, the story reminds me of the Ukranian Azov nazis who forced over a hundred Russian speaking Ukrainians into the building in Odessa, set fire to it and shot those trying to escape the flames in 2014. I notice the Ukraine supporters have gone very quiet on here since things turned out so badly with the so called counter offensive and the realization that 85 percent of the Worlds population support Russia in their fight against the empire of lies aka USA.
That Odessa fire you refer to was started within the building by those who were inside, by spilling materials they brought inside with them.
As for the counteroffensive going badly, it IS going – and going persistently, which is impressive considering the lack of air support and the terrible conditions.
Lastly I think there's a better contender for the 'empire of lies' title than the USA.
Coventrie you are either a liar or very badly misinformed in regards to Odessa, Name another empire that lies like USA, there are none. If you are interested in the actual situation with the counter offensive I suggest you listen to Larry Davidson an ex CIA analyst or retired and decorated Colonel Douglas MacGregor phd or Ray McGovern another ex CIA analyst, all of whom have good intel and analysis of the SMO.
The scramble to exonerate Waffen SS has been illuminating
It's all about Holodomor you see.
Apparently not only were the Russians responsible for that, but children and babies of Roma,Poles and Jews also had to pay the price and be barbarically slaughtered , in ways that turned the hardened stomachs of even German Nazis
Will read all your comments as such from here on out nazi.
[And here we are again.
Will read all your comments as such from here on out nazi.
Reading is all you will be doing for a week because your last few comments have been nothing but name calling and ‘pig-fucker’ accusations that can no longer be considered robust debate and only as attempts to flame – Incognito]
"I am very happy to support Ukraine if you think that makes me a Nazi apologist is all i can say."
You are in good company, one of your fellow war-porn enthusiasts commented how happy they were that young Russian soldiers were being killed. In the same missive they claimed to be progressive!
Barfly we are part of the club of 85 percent of the Worlds population who recognize Americas role in the Ukraine tragedy. Do you know who Victoria Nuland is and her role in the 2014 coup against the democratically elected Government of Viktor Yanukovych? She boasted about spending 6 billion dollars to bring about regime change there, She has killed the Country and NZ is assisting USA in Ukraine.
Well Tony shouldn't you be celebrating the the 83rd year since the USSR eliminated 22,000 Polish Nazis Army Officers, Policemen and members of the 'gasp' intelligentsia. In the non-russophile world it was called.
Well Barfly, shouldn't you be celebrating NATOs brutal and murderous invasion of Libya? Why on earth are you suggesting I would celebrate such an atrocity. You do understand that the USSR no longer exists right? Let's stick to the topic instead of muddying the waters with nonsense ..
The Nazi Party ceased to exist 78 years ago that doesn't seem to stop you from yodelling "Nazi" all day long and your fawning sychophantic russophilia is an exercise in delusion IMO.
Oh and by the way it’s a f***ing War no matter what Putin the tiny calls it
It was a tad bewildering a day or so ago to read about ok Nazi's and not ok ones.
I was tempted to offer the idea that the only bad ones were at the Wellies occupation and at Posie Parker rallies. I figured it would have added more heat than light though…
"Our examination of Labour’s various policy commitments confirms that the line-by-line costings provided to Infometrics can be met within the fiscal settings outlined in PREFU," the economics consultancy firm said."
As for National's plans, we have this. One economist, Brad Olsen, who says that their plans could work bur also the figures of their critics are also realistic. Other economists have critical doubts.
The other great difference is that National's figures are still not released for scrutiny. We have to rely on Willis and Luxon's credibility…….
Willis also said Infometrics economist Brad Olsen believed the estimates were plausible while other economists shared the party's view that taxing foreign buyers would be a good thing to do.
Olsen has told RNZ today National's costings could be made to work by assuming a much larger proportion of foreign buyers purchase $2m-plus properties, however, the figures provided by the economists challenging the costings were also "realistic".
Perhaps in the next year or so if NAct-NZF are the Government, it will be too late for the voters to complain that the then Govt is way out with its numbers. "Ooops," mutters Nicola. "It didn't work out quite the way we said but never mind. We will work out a different plan." And after a brief mumble the voters will move on.
To not disclose their figures means they do not trust them, or they have manipulated or manufactured the numbers. That is cynical because they do not fear the consequences of their dishonesty. They think they can get away with it. To disclose their figures would show their economic incompetence at best, their dishonesty and real intent at worst.
When you’ve maxed the mortgage, the credit card, the HP and even the pay day lender is no longer interested, at least you can always fall back on Labours fiscal plan.
And when you've taken the piss and had your little laugh, there remains that little problem that Labour's plan is tenable and verified independently, whereas National's plan is still on the back of an envelope somewhere it deserves to be- in a rubbish bin, presumably, because we haven't seen it.
The 6th Labour government has made some efforts to keep inequality in check.
Has Labour worsened inequality? [13 June 2023]
There is no neat story to say that Labour has increased or decreased inequality, in toto – but then life is not much given to neat stories. Instead, a narrative can be pieced together from a few key strands.
First, income poverty has clearly decreased overall, thanks in large part to the billions poured into the welfare system, although life is probably worse for the very poorest. Second, income disparities between the rich and the rest have fallen, although perhaps less so if capital gains were included. Third, the Covid response was a mixed bag, inequality-wise.
And, fourth, the government has not, any more than its predecessors, managed to solve the problems of the housing market, with the consequence that wealth inequality has – at a minimum – not improved, and in some specific senses worsened. Labour’s record has been, in a word, imperfect – but also, in the round, rather better than most of its critics, and popular opinion, would currently allow.
Some wealthy Kiwis (e.g. Luxon, Willis, NAct donors) will be absolutely wetting themselves at the prospect of more wealth flowing their way under a NAct govt.
Aotearoa top 10 in global inequality index, but tax system’s inequality impact 136th [12 October 2022]
“The inequality index shows Aotearoa is doing pretty well overall, but there is still work to be done. The fact that rich and poor countries alike have exacerbated an explosion of economic inequality since the outbreak of the pandemic from 2020 is unacceptable.
…
“Tax is one of the most powerful tools we have to fight inequality. It is disappointing to see New Zealand’s tax system contributing to the gap between the rich and poor. Especially in these extraordinary times, tax is crucial to boosting government resources to support welfare systems and public services.
Almost unnoticed amongst National's hamfisted promises to reduce red tape is one to scrap laws around the Conduct of Financial Institutions Act. This act is basically to put a brake on unethical or poor conduct of financial institutions and insurance companies.
By RNZ's figures some $150 million has been refunded to customers because of this important piece of legislation. Although not specifically stated, I would reckon a large part of this would be the rip off instance finance high interest lenders who had a field day ripping off the desperate before it was enacted.
Now National wants to scrap it. Obviously National does not care about ethical business and has no interest in protecting the vulnerable from rip off merchants.
I hope Labour and the Greens will pick up on this.
National's pathetic tough on Crime while only adding 300 police over 4 years that's a decrease in police numbers as population increase is much bigger.
Population increase at about 100,000 per year that is much less police per head given 77 per 100,000 means 1 extra police per 12,300 people which means less police per head of population.
I think National are banking on a mass exodus starting 15 October to Australia and further overseas , sending back 501s, Australian criminals in NZ, as well as out of work civil servants, rugby and netball coaches, pyjama-wearing beneficiaries, road-cone manufacturers, shearers, shepherds, woke socialists, virtue-signallers, vegans and the gluten-intolerant.
Invited in will be foreign home buyers, so long as they don't live here, apocalypse avoiders, American hidey-hole seekers, mates, one percenters seeking fresh opportunities for wealth, plunder and tax breaks, and consumers of MacDonalds, Starbucks and Kentucky Fries.
Notice how heavily Nact depend on the people's feelings that crime is bad. This is aided by Media playing loud and detailed about the crimes. And after the Election there will be a backpeddling. Crime will get "better" because the gangs can't wear patches. Will it count if patches are smaller or in tattoos?
And of course that is why they can't produce the numbers for their tax cuts. Neither the numbers not the logic actually exist or if they do, they must be kept hidden because they will prove the exact opposite outcome to what the Nats are claiming.
And talking of crime… there's a major incident underway in the vicinity of the Lincoln Rd offramp on Auckland's north western motorway. Gun shots are being exchanged according to witnesses.
That'll have NAct's and NZ First's hearts beating with excitement.
The past 15 years have actually seen a dramatic decline in youth crime, which the Ministry of Justice classifies as criminal offences by anyone under the age of 17.
In 2007, over 5000 young people in Aotearoa were charged for crimes. Last year that had fallen to 1416 individuals – a 78% drop.
A “big debate” about "the technical numbers" eh? If only.
'Poor' Nicola can't even justify her working for the Nat's projected revenue from their 15% foreign buyer tax scam – if anyone still believes her numbers then they probably also believe Willis will resign as promised.
I would like to see some of Robert Reichs youtube videos on inequality corporate monopolization etc.How the Rich are playing the squeezed middle classes for fools.
Sorry, I can't find the link, but apparently the Medical General Practices are in dire straits due to chronic under-funding which has gone on for years according to Newshub's leading story this evening. So, c.mon Chippy – revisit your tax policy, and bring in a decent wealth tax, PLEASE.
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The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Asia Pacific Report A score of Palestine solidarity protesters draped themselves in white shrouds with mock blood in a sombre “die-in” demonstration at Te Komitanga Square — the heart of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city — today as speakers urged people to take a stronger boycott against Israeli products. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tackling violence against women will be the sole agenda item for a national cabinet meeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has convened for Wednesday. The meeting, held remotely, follows thousands of Australians attending rallies across ...
The protest outside the White House correspondents’ dinner hotel. Image: Anatolu video screenshot APR More than two dozen Palestinian journalists had called for a boycott of the dinner, writing an open letter urging their American colleagues not to attend. “You have a unique responsibility to speak truth to power and ...
“Our exporters should, therefore, be deeply concerned that the Fast-track Approvals Bill was not assessed for consistency with any of our free trade commitments prior to being introduced to the House,” says Gary Taylor, Chief Executive of the Environmental ...
NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff is calling on all political parties to support the new Member’s Bill from Labour’s workplace relations and safety spokesperson Camilla Belich MP that would ensure negligent companies are held accountable when their employees ...
A historian with an uncanny track record of predicting US election winners tells RNZ's Sunday Morning that President Biden looks to be on track for another term, but things could still go very wrong for him. ...
A historian with a track record of predicting US election winners tells RNZ's Sunday Morning that President Biden looks to be on track for another term, but things could still go wrong for him. ...
Ngaio Marsh House is one of Christchurch’s best kept secrets – and contains more than a few mysteries of its own.Trust Ngaio Marsh to leave more than a few mysteries scattered through her house long after her departure. For a start, there’s the curious concrete portal in the garden, ...
Appointment viewing has been lost to the mists of time, but memories of Montana Sunday Theatre can still be conjured by hitting play on a particular piece of classical music. “You’re not going to be able to sell it.” Over 30 years on, Karen Bieleski still recalls how the task ...
Performance Review King Luxon sat behind His massive polished oak desk. It is Performance Review time. There is a knock on the door. “Enter!” says the King. In steps Minister of Disabilities and Carer Pedicures, Penny Simmonds. “I can explain everything …” she begins. “Fine,” says King Luxon, pressing the ...
The pair opened their first fully collaborative exhibition, Nina for Flowers, last Saturday. Gabi Lardies visited their studio to find out who Nina is and what working together was like.‘It didn’t start out like, ‘This is a show about Nina,’” says Josephine Jelicich, gripping a thermos of peppermint tea. ...
Thank you, Dr Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner, for your brilliant invention. I’m another mid-20s Kiwi who had an OE last year. I hopped on my bicycle where France meets the Atlantic and cycled east. I pedalled through the Loire Valley, down rivers lined with willows and ancient wisteria-draped chateaus. I relished ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
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‘Tis the season for predictions – and TV1 is already salivating over their latest poll, appearing on the news tonight.
OK, I’ll play the game:
National – down slightly to about 37%. The absurdity of Natz tax cuts begins to sink in!
Labour – up slightly to about 29%, but still within the margin of error.
Act – firmly anchored on about 9%. The wheels are beginning to fall off the extreme right wagon.
Greens – hovering around 15% or more. Consolidating the fact this election is about climate!
Te Paarti Maori – still around 3%.
NZ First – around 5% – and the headlines will be all about Winnie the kingmaker!
I like your numbers Tony V.
And TOP , who will work with either main party ?
Postscript:
National continues to drop, and this trend will continue.
Act has stalled, and will drop to around 9% on Election night.
As a leftie, I hoped for better from Labour. But the Greens went up in the TV1 poll. This will continue. And TPM will do better.
But, as predicted, the lead was all about Winnie!
Competing on cruelty:
No Right Turn’s take on Natz and NZ First bene bashing:
“But then, its not supposed to make sense, let alone work. It's just supposed to be performatively cruel, to attract the votes of vicious arseholes who can only feel good from the suffering of those "below" them. And when some other government has to clean up the resulting social mess, that's all the better, because that can then be criticised as "cuddles" and "waste", and they're off for another round on the cruelty wagon.”
No Right Turn – from the side bar.
Nothing like some raw meat for the tory faithful–a good old Bennie Bash usually suffices to get them snarling. In reality in the 21st century punitive, sadistic, welfare should be done away with and replaced with a basic income for all citizens, abated by tax as you earn more.
Unemployment is not a moral failure–it is an intentional feature of capitalism and finance capital to put downward pressure on wages and worker organisation and fight backs. Even if there are some who do not want to work who could blame them with such an ugly system of exploitation?
The funny old thing with a lot of Natzos who demonise other citizens is that they are “Bennies” too, on National Superannuation and Winter Heating payments.
One thing is for sure old torys always vote, whether driven to the booth or tottering in on walking frames. That will be the tragedy of this Election–alienation and low voter turnout from younger people and those living off shore.
Some seem to be salivating for the oppression that the Epson Twerker wants to visit on fellow AO/NZers including Māori especially–but mark these words–we are in for some heavy duty social unrest and anarchy.
And Luxon will know that it won't do any good. How cruel and cynical is that! His voice has the confidence of a denier.
I doubt it'd a vote winner, the people who get worked up about benefits, already vote national And act
Luxon getting down to the basics on RNZ right now…
https://nickrockel.substack.com/p/bennie-bashing
From the "cruel to be kind" hymn book. Not so much the "Good" Book
Oh really? Love? And Louise ..Upston leading with this..reckon
Hey Luxon, Louise Upston, David Seymour and the rest of your creep crew. NZ can do without your kind of "love".
Anyone who is on the lower end..needs to get motivated..to VOTE !
Sounds suspiciously like Nat MP Mr Woodhouse’s “homeless man” using a COVID hotel Crowne Plaza facility…
Well there you go !. I had thought that exactly, but just..left it out.
Nats dog whistling to the Bene bashers..for all their worth.
More "pearls" aka reckons, from Louise Upston..
And Luxon…
Yeah, its based on "love" .
Anyone on a Benefit ..Vote Left !
“Sounds suspiciously like Nat MP Mr Woodhouse’s “homeless man” using a COVID hotel Crowne Plaza facility…”
Same guy. He took the free hotel pyjamas and bathrobe and scarpered. Been wearing them ever since. Resourceful dude – I would have hired him.
It’s a LOL from me AB…
The Herald today:
"But economists have criticised the policy, saying the revenue assumptions are unrealistic. National wants to get $2.9 billion from the tax over four years to fund its $14.6b tax plan. But economists warn the actual revenue could come in $2.1 billion short"
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-peters-wants-to-see-nationals-costings-before-joining-govt-mini-budget-before-christmas-luxon-says-tax-cuts-absolutely-affordable-without-foreign-buyers-tax/2647LDYJOFHLXIXHF4NYCDA7JE/
Over 4 years the foreign house buyers tax is short $2.1 billion according to most economists. It will probably only raise $210m per year not $740m. (4 x $530m=$2.12 billion).
But what the Herald isn't saying is that there are other massive holes in the tax plan that will require huge cuts in public services, benefits etc for it to be funded.
And how is National going to fund its proposed, and chronically expensive, 13 major road projects?
Luxon seems concerned about the plight of low-income Kiwis (if not the "bottom feeders") – but the Willux tax relief package massively favours the already wealthy?
Luxon does have several eggs in the investment property basket, so re-heating the property market would suit him, and some wealthy Nat donors, down to the ground. Bloody pirates – bottom feeders the lot of them.
If Luxon can pay for his tax cuts without the foreign buyers tax, what then is the purpose of allowing foreign buyers back? The answer seems simple: to re-inflate the housing market, reward existing property owners with unearned net wealth increases, and make landlordism a sure bet.
No one was mentioning "cooker" until..gsays. And no I wont respond again in this Post.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
as the person that wrote the post, I’m suggesting that we don’t have a fight between lefties under a post encouraging people to vote left.
The term cooker does get used as a pejorative on TS. I agree with gsays that this is a problem. While the origins of the word aren’t pejorative, the term itself sounds like a slur and it now gets used in that way. Soft weaponising.
https://thestandard.org.nz/search/cooker/?search_posts=true&search_sortby=date
https://thestandard.org.nz/search/cooker/?search_comments=true&search_sortby=date
Why does it matter? NZF are making hay out of it while they can, which in turn causes further divisions among people that care about NZ.
"Cooker" (which I incidentally hadnt heard of till seen on the Standard )
Cooker to me is Sue Grey, Liz Gunn, VFF, Counterspin, et al.They and the people they speak for are not anyone..I want to associate with. Ever.
this is certainly one of the issues that the left has in winning this election. They will vote NZF instead and it's game over if NZF get above 5%.
I really don't understand this liberal idea that the left can afford to say only the people we approve of should vote left. It's just not possible to win elections that way. We're in the minority, we need swing and centrist voters.
Where our hope lies is in providing good examples of progressive and inclusive culture so that people can see our values matter and we walk the talk. This is how we will convince mainstream NZ to move left again. Ostracising people simply reduces the pool of people who can become progressive. And in the case of the Freedom movement people, it pushes them to the right and FR.
You can do that. I am not ever going to. Instead I would sooner encourage young people to enrol and vote. As I linked on Daily Review.
The real Voices of Freedom.
Edit..I am..and certainly have, been doing my utmost to promote the Left.and Solidarity. Incl here on the Standard.
ok, but as I pointed out, there aren't enough of the people you like for the left to win the election.
Luxon loves slogans, maybe "Work will set you free" would suit his Benefit beliefs.
I wonder how many RW politicians wouldn't know it's origin /shuidder
Good to see the Police planning better for this next Wellington protest influx tomorrow.
But what will Winston do with it?
Bask ?
Wallow?
glory in it.
There's an image..urrgh! . I had thought bask as in, an old..lion, well past his prime..making friendly with hyenas ?. Hmm.. No that was the Lion King movie
)
Wallow it is.
I would be expecting Peters to be front and centre in meeting the protestors (on prime-time TV). And doing what he does so well acknowledging their 'pain' (while not actually promising to do anything at all about it).
Man never met a PR media op that he didn't like.
He'll be hoping that this one garners him an extra 1% of votes…..
Perhaps Chippy could supply the protesters with free sausage rolls.
Trump it
Bullshit tamiki was playing down numbers on te news , I'm expecting a flop.
Well they are constituents after all.
Way more engaged in the political process than most.
National's desire to bring back its "three strikes" penal policy finds a parallel in its desire to bring in a "traffic light" system (basically just a variant on three strikes) to punish those naughty bennies who don't want to work
We have Louise Upston on Morning Report yesterday saying that traffic light system is very necessary even though her party thinks that 85% of beneficiaries are abiding by the rules. She then brings up some example of work shy beneficiaries turning up to job interviews in their pyjamas, obviously looking to be rejected for the job.
So it is necessary to start swinging the cosh because 15% buck the system? If it was, say, over 50% then perhaps you might think its justifiable but 15%? Well f…. me, how bad is that? pretty low really, but it isn't good enough for National, they are prepared to make all beneficiaries feel like leeches because of a few that play up.
National also fails to consider the consequences of the traffic lights policy. Who will ultimately suffer? It won't be the indolent themselves, it will be their dependants. I guess there would be a fair number of Work and Income staff who will sigh with frustration with National's announced policy. Deja vu.
National will give us three strikes, traffic lights and faster cars.
Yay!
And that, apparently, is the main thing. But why continue to insist that we should take Willis and Luxon at their word, when they've clearly been caught out trying to scam the voters.
Hmm – donations the Nats receive. Might relaxing the ban on foreigners buying Kiwi homes be a way of rewarding the donors?
DKM National haven't been honest on the state of the economy their costings for the Wellsford Tuhoi highway at $2.3 billion is $2 billion short plus with annual maintenence at$400 million to keep this slip prone section open with climate change bringing floods once every other year making this road uneconomical and unaffordable!Police numbers increasing by only 77 per year National are cutting police numbers per head of population.National are lying every body needs to be talking about Nationals spin.
Couldn't agree more – Nats are past and present masters of self-interested deceit.
How many foreign buyers are going to pay 20% above market price.Then Winston will cancel that plus Nationals tax cuts
National are painting themselves into a corner,Now Luxon is blabbering loudly but not answering any questions.looking less trustable as the campaign goes on.
Predictably Western media/govt recent whitewashing of the well known Far Right extremist elements within both the Ukrainian military and politics, ends up with the Canadian House of Commons, including Trudeau, giving several standing ovations to a former member of the Nazi 14th Waffen SS Division ‘Galicia’…a Ukrainian Volunteer (80,000+) unit, commanded by several notorious German SS commanders, a unit well known for it’s outrageous brutality against both civilians and prisoners.
Also predictably, The Guardian piece on this sordid affair today only mentions the Polish civilians massacred by these monsters once, then spends almost the rest of the article focused on the Jewish civilians massacred…make of that what you will.
Then of course, true to form, The Guardian concludes its piece with this none too subtle ‘don't worry, some Nazi’s are alright’ deflection…
“On the issue of the Galicia division, the commission’s head, Jules Deschênes, ruled that members “should not be indicted as a group”. “The members of Galicia division were individually screened for security purposes before admission to Canada. Charges of war crimes of Galicia division have never been substantiated, either in 1950 when they were first preferred, or in 1984 when they were renewed, or before this commission.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/25/canadas-house-speaker-apologises-after-praising-ukrainian-veteran-who-fought-for-nazis
WHITEWASHING THE SS: THE ATTEMPT TO RE-WRITE THE HISTORY OF HITLER’S COLLABORATORS
“The 14th Division of the Ukrainian SS surrounded the village Huta Pieniacka from three sides,” the report to Poland’s government- in-exile explained. “The people were gathered in the church or shot in the houses. Those gathered in the church – men, women and children – were taken outside in groups, children killed in front of their parents. Some men and women were shot in the cemetery, others were gathered in barns where they were shot.”
http://espritdecorps.ca/history-feature/whitewashing-the-ss-the-attempt-to-re-write-the-history-of-hitlers-collaborators
As we all know…'You lay down with dogs you get up with fleas'…..the staff at the Guardian are so infested with fleas now, that it is the readers of that rag who should probably now start worrying about getting itchy.
Thank you for posting Adrian, the story reminds me of the Ukranian Azov nazis who forced over a hundred Russian speaking Ukrainians into the building in Odessa, set fire to it and shot those trying to escape the flames in 2014. I notice the Ukraine supporters have gone very quiet on here since things turned out so badly with the so called counter offensive and the realization that 85 percent of the Worlds population support Russia in their fight against the empire of lies aka USA.
That Odessa fire you refer to was started within the building by those who were inside, by spilling materials they brought inside with them.
As for the counteroffensive going badly, it IS going – and going persistently, which is impressive considering the lack of air support and the terrible conditions.
Lastly I think there's a better contender for the 'empire of lies' title than the USA.
Coventrie you are either a liar or very badly misinformed in regards to Odessa, Name another empire that lies like USA, there are none. If you are interested in the actual situation with the counter offensive I suggest you listen to Larry Davidson an ex CIA analyst or retired and decorated Colonel Douglas MacGregor phd or Ray McGovern another ex CIA analyst, all of whom have good intel and analysis of the SMO.
The scramble to exonerate Waffen SS has been illuminating
It's all about Holodomor you see.
Apparently not only were the Russians responsible for that, but children and babies of Roma,Poles and Jews also had to pay the price and be barbarically slaughtered , in ways that turned the hardened stomachs of even German Nazis
You three need to start a club
So you're a nazi apologist now Barfly?
I am very happy to support Ukraine if you think that makes me a Nazi apologist is all i can say.
A smiling nazi apologist – OK.
Will read all your comments as such from here on out nazi.
[And here we are again.
Reading is all you will be doing for a week because your last few comments have been nothing but name calling and ‘pig-fucker’ accusations that can no longer be considered robust debate and only as attempts to flame – Incognito]
Mod note
"I am very happy to support Ukraine if you think that makes me a Nazi apologist is all i can say."
You are in good company, one of your fellow war-porn enthusiasts commented how happy they were that young Russian soldiers were being killed. In the same missive they claimed to be progressive!
Barfly we are part of the club of 85 percent of the Worlds population who recognize Americas role in the Ukraine tragedy. Do you know who Victoria Nuland is and her role in the 2014 coup against the democratically elected Government of Viktor Yanukovych? She boasted about spending 6 billion dollars to bring about regime change there, She has killed the Country and NZ is assisting USA in Ukraine.
Well Tony shouldn't you be celebrating the the 83rd year since the USSR eliminated 22,000 Polish
NazisArmy Officers, Policemen and members of the 'gasp' intelligentsia. In the non-russophile world it was called.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katyn_massacre
Snowflake historical grievances to justify kill people today. How very Slobodan Milošević of you.
Well Barfly, shouldn't you be celebrating NATOs brutal and murderous invasion of Libya? Why on earth are you suggesting I would celebrate such an atrocity. You do understand that the USSR no longer exists right? Let's stick to the topic instead of muddying the waters with nonsense ..
The Nazi Party ceased to exist 78 years ago that doesn't seem to stop you from yodelling "Nazi" all day long and your fawning sychophantic russophilia is an exercise in delusion IMO.
Oh and by the way it’s a f***ing War no matter what Putin the tiny calls it
It was a tad bewildering a day or so ago to read about ok Nazi's and not ok ones.
I was tempted to offer the idea that the only bad ones were at the Wellies occupation and at Posie Parker rallies. I figured it would have added more heat than light though…
"Our examination of Labour’s various policy commitments confirms that the line-by-line costings provided to Infometrics can be met within the fiscal settings outlined in PREFU," the economics consultancy firm said."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300977960/nz-election-2023-live-labour-unveils-its-big-economic-plan
As for National's plans, we have this. One economist, Brad Olsen, who says that their plans could work bur also the figures of their critics are also realistic. Other economists have critical doubts.
The other great difference is that National's figures are still not released for scrutiny. We have to rely on Willis and Luxon's credibility…….
Willis also said Infometrics economist Brad Olsen believed the estimates were plausible while other economists shared the party's view that taxing foreign buyers would be a good thing to do.
Olsen has told RNZ today National's costings could be made to work by assuming a much larger proportion of foreign buyers purchase $2m-plus properties, however, the figures provided by the economists challenging the costings were also "realistic".
Perhaps in the next year or so if NAct-NZF are the Government, it will be too late for the voters to complain that the then Govt is way out with its numbers. "Ooops," mutters Nicola. "It didn't work out quite the way we said but never mind. We will work out a different plan." And after a brief mumble the voters will move on.
Cynical? Dishonest?
To not disclose their figures means they do not trust them, or they have manipulated or manufactured the numbers. That is cynical because they do not fear the consequences of their dishonesty. They think they can get away with it. To disclose their figures would show their economic incompetence at best, their dishonesty and real intent at worst.
They're not in it for you and me, ianmac.
When you’ve maxed the mortgage, the credit card, the HP and even the pay day lender is no longer interested, at least you can always fall back on Labours fiscal plan.
And when you've taken the piss and had your little laugh, there remains that little problem that Labour's plan is tenable and verified independently, whereas National's plan is still on the back of an envelope somewhere it deserves to be- in a rubbish bin, presumably, because we haven't seen it.
You know Jack …. we have one of the lowest debt levels in the OECD.Then we have one of the best preforming economies as well.
The 6th Labour government has made some efforts to keep inequality in check.
Some wealthy Kiwis (e.g. Luxon, Willis, NAct donors) will be absolutely wetting themselves at the prospect of more wealth flowing their way under a NAct govt.
Almost unnoticed amongst National's hamfisted promises to reduce red tape is one to scrap laws around the Conduct of Financial Institutions Act. This act is basically to put a brake on unethical or poor conduct of financial institutions and insurance companies.
By RNZ's figures some $150 million has been refunded to customers because of this important piece of legislation. Although not specifically stated, I would reckon a large part of this would be the rip off instance finance high interest lenders who had a field day ripping off the desperate before it was enacted.
Now National wants to scrap it. Obviously National does not care about ethical business and has no interest in protecting the vulnerable from rip off merchants.
I hope Labour and the Greens will pick up on this.
http://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018908710
Agree. This legislative reversal is chilling prospect for National and ACT to reverse accepted global standards of customer rights with banks.
Commerce Commission is right to flag this as a risk.
Can't wait to see if the main Aussie banks go over the National or ACT disclosure limit.
National's pathetic tough on Crime while only adding 300 police over 4 years that's a decrease in police numbers as population increase is much bigger.
I heard them boasting about how it would reduce the ratio from 180 to 170 people per policeman.
Gosh!
Population increase at about 100,000 per year that is much less police per head given 77 per 100,000 means 1 extra police per 12,300 people which means less police per head of population.
I think National are banking on a mass exodus starting 15 October to Australia and further overseas , sending back 501s, Australian criminals in NZ, as well as out of work civil servants, rugby and netball coaches, pyjama-wearing beneficiaries, road-cone manufacturers, shearers, shepherds, woke socialists, virtue-signallers, vegans and the gluten-intolerant.
Invited in will be foreign home buyers, so long as they don't live here, apocalypse avoiders, American hidey-hole seekers, mates, one percenters seeking fresh opportunities for wealth, plunder and tax breaks, and consumers of MacDonalds, Starbucks and Kentucky Fries.
Notice how heavily Nact depend on the people's feelings that crime is bad. This is aided by Media playing loud and detailed about the crimes. And after the Election there will be a backpeddling. Crime will get "better" because the gangs can't wear patches. Will it count if patches are smaller or in tattoos?
It has to be based on feelings, ianmac, because numbers and logic are not on their side which is why they can't even produce them.
And of course that is why they can't produce the numbers for their tax cuts. Neither the numbers not the logic actually exist or if they do, they must be kept hidden because they will prove the exact opposite outcome to what the Nats are claiming.
And talking of crime… there's a major incident underway in the vicinity of the Lincoln Rd offramp on Auckland's north western motorway. Gun shots are being exchanged according to witnesses.
That'll have NAct's and NZ First's hearts beating with excitement.
Both perception and reality matters.
Criminal gang membership really has gone up, from 4,900 to 8,900.
Gun crime gone up massively under this government.
Same with youth crime. Up huge over 2 terms.
"Acts intended to cause injury" are also definitely up under this government.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/the-whole-truth/130965380/the-whole-truth-has-violent-crime-gone-up-under-labour
No point talking about what tattoos signify these days.
Stop repeating their mistruths:
https://www.renews.co.nz/youth-crime-isnt-more-common-its-just-more-visible/
But arkie, it's all about "the vibe"
A “big debate” about "the technical numbers" eh? If only.
'Poor' Nicola can't even justify her working for the Nat's projected revenue from their 15% foreign buyer tax scam – if anyone still believes her numbers then they probably also believe Willis will resign as promised.
To echo arkie-
what are you basing gang membership numbers on?
Again- others get moderated for throwing unattributed stuff into a debate.
Getting an accurate number of active gang members is more difficult than national party tax costings.
Gang members don’t use swipe cards to let us know if they’re in or out.
Voting starts on Monday.
So hopefully we have got past the policy announcements and are into mobilisation.
Holy Cow leave it to the last moment why don't you.
Eastern Bay of Plenty agree deed of settlement for their Treaty claim when voting's about to start.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2309/S00148/te-whanau-a-apanui-and-the-crown-initial-deed-of-settlement.htm
Hard to see ACT+National pushing Treaty settlements if they win.
I would like to see some of Robert Reichs youtube videos on inequality corporate monopolization etc.How the Rich are playing the squeezed middle classes for fools.
Sorry, I can't find the link, but apparently the Medical General Practices are in dire straits due to chronic under-funding which has gone on for years according to Newshub's leading story this evening. So, c.mon Chippy – revisit your tax policy, and bring in a decent wealth tax, PLEASE.