The rent subsidie needs to be stopped, nothing has ruined the nz housing situation like scewing the the market by allowing landlords to charge more than the market can sustain
Capped maximum payments mean recipients depend on their income and not the supplement to cushion rent rises, keeping government spending on the supplement to around 0.5% of the gross domestic product.
If one wanted to intervene in the market to do some good
a rent increase freeze (existing property)
link migrant labour inflow with provision of new housing.
restore an inability of the landlord to claim mortgage interest as a cost against rent income for existing housing (to direct property investment towards new supply)
have a 5% stamp duty on houses over $2M to fund emergency housing
In recent years it has been the rising incomes that have matched rising rents.
That will not occur, not with MW only increased 25 cents an hour, the migrant labour inflow and rising unemployment.
Thus without an increase in AS, rent increases will either result in overcrowding (families doubling up etc) or reduced amount left over for food.
The rnz article linked to above is disturbing, the Minister does not care, it’s all political platitudes.
How will getting $10 a week in tax cuts and $10 increase in MW afford a $50 a week increase in rent. First year tough, second year and then third year $50 rent increase leads to either homelessness or overcrowding (two families per house/boarders etc).
But van Velden was critical of Labour's moves, saying the minimum wage increases under the Labour government "far outstripped CPI".
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment recommended in its review that the wage be increased by 4 percent to $23.60, which was expected to impact the earnings of about 164,400 workers, resulting in an economy-wide wage bill increase of $145 million.
At the end of December 2023, there were 378,711 people receiving a main benefit. The majority (189,798) received jobseeker support, followed by supported living (101,502) and sole parent support (76,170) payments
Probably about half have a tenant with an AS, (if c60,00 with AS own and are paying mortgage).
The last estimate was 663,000 in total
But data from StatsNZ shows the estimated number of rented dwellings in the December 2023 quarter was 663,700, according to the dwelling and household estimates, published on January 11
300,000 – say 100,000 on MW (some older workers are on MW but own, others live with parents and or share a tenancy) c200,000 on benefits (some sharing these and or KO ones, others with parents).
NACT will not do any of those 5 things – they are all contrary to the interests of their core supporters. Those 5 things will keep rents down, house prices down and wages up.
Whereas NACT is intentionally engineering the opposite, wages down, rents up and house prices up. The long-term goal is consolidation of home ownership into fewer and fewer hands.
In line with this strategy, expect attacks on financially vulnerable retired home-owners in order to make those houses available for purchase by the landlord class, rather than inheritance by the next generation. Skyrocketing Council rates due to central government not funding infrastructure, appears to be the first vector for this attack.
Be assured, NACT supporters/donors want to own absolutely everything, and believe they deserve to.
NACT will not do any of those 5 things – they are all contrary to the interests of their core supporters. Those 5 things will keep rents down, house prices down and wages up.
You might be surprised to know that:
From 2008 through 2017, the median weekly rent in NZ increased by just 4% per year. From 2017 through 2023, the average rise was 6%. https://figure.nz/chart/dnQKC3FHjhAE6Kqw
[You have been a very active and prolific shill here on TS. Some of your comments are bordering on (diversion) trolling. For example, this response of yours does not address the comment by AB about the plans and intentions of the coalition government. It is a diversion.
Regarding your lazy use of the chart by figure.nz on median rent in NZ based on lodged bonds, I consider this misleading because the numbers inflate [pun intended] the comparison. When using data from Stats NZ (e.g. https://www.stats.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Selected-price-indexes/Selected-price-indexes-April-2024/Download-data/selected-price-indexes-april-2024.csv), the actual rents for housing increased by an average per year of 2.8 and 3.6% over the periods Dec-2008 – Dec-2017 and Dec-2017 – Dec-2023, respectively. These data feed directly into the calculation of the CPI. Calling this ‘surprising’ reflects your rhetoric of a shill.
I have zero interest in wasting my or anybody else’s time here on discussing (litigating) this with you. My point is that you’re shilling and diversion trolling with loads of data, links, and quotes that make it look genuine when it is not. This is your warning – Incognito]
The 25% gain in 2021 (Orr not restraining buy up by investors by maintaining the deposit criteria when mortgages were cheap and banks were awash with money) is now being wound back with costly finance that will hold down prices despite a housing shortage. Much of the 2020’s gain has already occurred.
In 2002, median house prices were 23% above the inflation adjusted base (with a base year of 1992). (New Zealand median house prices (in NZ $) (1992=100) (globalpropertyguide.com)). From there the gap began to open. In 2010, median house prices were 50% above the inflation adjusted base. In 2015 the gap was 64%, 2020 76% and in 2023 101%. From 2017 through 2023, median house prices rose by $225,000, when the inflation adjustment was only $60,098.
Orrs policy was in part driven by the dual mandate. That absolutely was a reflection on the Labour government.
But the other issue is that 2021 was not just a blip. Median house prices rose 53% between the end of 2017 and the end of 2020, which was more than they had risen in the 9 years of the last national government (49%).
House prices rose 53% in just 3 years, when they'd only risen 49% in the previous 9 years! That's not a coincidence. Interest rates were low through much of National's time in government, yet prices were far more stable.
Clearly you didn't follow the response to AB. B said Those 5 things will keep rents down, house prices down and wages up. My response was to directly demonstrate that that claim defies the history of the last national led government. It is not a diversion, it is a direct challenge to what was an unverified assumption.
As to your claim about the rental data, I note that this is the first time you have engaged with me on this, and you do so as a moderator. Your response links to a spreadsheet containing 53,000 rows of unsorted data. How is that good faith debate? Why not just enter the discussion as a commenter?
[As I said, I have no intention wasting my time on a fruitless discussion in bad faith, which is your MO. I’m surprised that with all your skills you couldn’t work out the link, which you can find on this webpage: https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/selected-price-indexes-april-2024/. Anyway, you clearly didn’t read the Mod note properly or simply don’t care. Take a week off – Incognito]
Freezes don't work , no subsidizing, the government should build rent to own , and of course stop pandering to mom and pop landlords , ( fuck ya national)
When they come off they result in an immediate hike in rent – as landlords make up for the cost increases they've had to absorb. As we saw after the one instituted by Labour during Covid.
They also encourage landlords to boot out sitting tenants, do some work on the place (adding value so the rent freeze no longer applies), and then re-rent.
On their own, rent freezes are a really bad idea. At best a temporary bandaid over an issue.
The 'better' solution from a socialist perspective is rent control. It also has unintended consequences, but they're not as severe as rent freezes. The biggest issue is landlords removing property from the rental pool – and moving to AirBnB style short term accommodation.
Of course, the best solution is continuing to build at speed and at scale – to provide more housing, and therefore more choice for tenants. Historically an oversupply (or even near capacity supply) of housing reduces rents.
We saw this following the Christchurch rebuild – when there was an excess supply of rental properties (both new builds, and families relocating out of ChCh)
Unless a government can afford to increase AS, there is little alternative to a rent freeze or rent control (rent fixed to comparative value housing at the time of freeze – where a do up occurs) until market supply is increased.
Is there any alternative given – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948?
The issue is how incentivise landlords (only claim mortgage interest as a cost on new builds) to transfer investment to new builds and how to fund funding emergency housing (stamp duty) and a Kainga Ora build up (wealth tax).
And get employers responsible for housing migrant workers (lest everywhere become become like Queenstown).
Well. Labour tried it. And it failed badly.
I somehow don't think that the coalition will be incentivized to have another go.
You seem to have forgotten that landlord mortgage costs have increased markedly as well – and seem to be on an upwards trajectory. If they can't afford to keep the rental, they'll turn it into an Air BnB – or sell up. And before you rejoice over the 'sell up' – every house sold to an owner/occupier results in one fewer rental.
Nor do I think that additional taxes are at all likely under this government – and Labour fought shy of them in the last campaign – so it seems they'd be unlikely under a left(ish) government either.
Moves to reduce the cost of building – would be a far better move. Incentivizing councils (by letting them keep the GST), reducing the red tape, reducing the cost of building materials, etc. The government could come to the party by allowing private builds on government owned land (government retains ownership of the land – and only the house is owned/onsold).
Queenstown seems to be an anomaly. Where the high population is pretty much only for catering for tourists. Rules over provision of housing, would result in substantially higher prices in things like restaurants, etc. And mean that it becomes a destination only for the extremely wealthy. I don't know whether or not that's a good idea. Pretty tough on the rest of the ordinary people who live there, though.
How do you think that would work in something like aged care? Where the care workers are overwhelmingly migrants. They don't want to 'live in' (they have their own families). And adding that cost would likely drive the marginal ones into selling up (it's certainly already happening in Auckland). Leaving the wealthy the only ones able to afford aged care. Again, not exactly the situation we'd want.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says Winston Peters is using his leverage to keep the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) from the full force of public sector cuts.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says Winston Peters is using his leverage to keep the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) from the full force of public sector cuts.
I mean good, right? This comes across like Hipkins is pursuing Peters for doing a good job and that Hipkins wants to cut MFAT jobs further.
FFS Chris. Why are you saying this apart from reminding us that only a vote for Winston can protect the public service? The rest of you are a razor gang? That’s the message we’re getting here.
The point Chippie is making I think is that Winston is the ( most ) rogue element in the CoC and that Luxon knows the whole house of cards and cardsharps is only one small gust away from falling down and he, Luxon, can’t do a thing about it. It’s clever to sow more doubt about the fragility.
Seriously doubt that people made redundant are going to turn their noses up at a job, just because they don't like the philosophy. Risking losing your home rapidly realigns your priorities.
Audrey Young has been looking at how one Pay Equity case – five year agreement 2017-2022 got neutralised in a period of high pay (entry level back towards the MW) and then when a new agreement was blocked (the old new criteria trick – to save the Health Ministry money*) is now in ruins dependent on the good will of a National Party minister * who says they are for pay equity ….
The only way pay equity agreements will work, is if the higher pay is structured to continue automatically (such as linked to average or median wage levels).
Hoping there is someone here who understands employment law.
Te Pāti Māori are calling for a day of action on Thurs. On their SM they used the term 'strike'.
Luxon has said it's illegal. But I can't see how someone taking a day or half day of work is illegal. It might put their job at risk but that's a different thing. If they're not striking in their work place, how is it any different than taking time off to attend SS4C or any other kind of protest?
A formal strike (legal under NZ laws) protects the workers from being fired or otherwise penalized (apart from not being paid) for not being at work. But a formal strike does need to be called in the proper way (and can only be about the conditions of your job) – in that sense, if they are calling this a 'strike', it would be an illegal one.
I suspect, in any case, that most of the attendees won't be 'workers' in that sense. They'll be students, unemployed, beneficiaries, academics, unionists (maybe some public servants – this is less likely with looming job cuts). People who don't have penalties for not being on the job at 8.30, and who won't be losing a day's pay.
Well, if it's not a strike, don't call it one (and therefore generate all this confusion).
If your employer can manage without you, then of course you can take annual leave. If they can't (especially at such short notice), you're required to work. If you don't turn up for work as scheduled, then your employer can take action. What that action may be will depend on your previous record, and the difficulties you put the organization in.
What you do in your holiday time, is up to you. What you do when you are supposed to be at work, is very much your employers affair.
Again, I doubt there will be many actual 'workers' at this day of action.
Unless you're granted leave, you can't just take a day off work, because you want one. It has to be negotiated in advance with your employer.
Actually you can. But you might get fired. It's not illegal to not go to work.
A formal strike (legal under NZ laws) protects the workers from being fired or otherwise penalized (apart from not being paid) for not being at work. But a formal strike does need to be called in the proper way (and can only be about the conditions of your job) – in that sense, if they are calling this a 'strike', it would be an illegal one.
are you sure about that last bit? Is School Strike 4 Climate an illegal strike under the ERA?
Employees can only legally strike or be locked out for health and safety reasons or in relation to collective bargaining if they will be bound by the collective agreement being bargained for.
The "School Strike 4 climate" isn't illegal. But nor is it legally a strike.
[The argument about whether the kids under 16 should have been in school (a legislative requirement) – is somewhat moot with the current absentee rates.]
There are no 'workers' involved (or at least none, that are calling it strike action under the ERA).
It would be illegal for workers to claim it was a strike (and therefore enjoy the legislative protections under strike action).
Just calling something a strike, doesn't make it legally one.
yes, but not as defined in the ERA as far as I can tell. Rather, like SS4C. I'm still not clear on what the law says about a general strike. But it's not the main focus of their call, so it's hard to see how any of that would apply.
Actually you can. But you might get fired. It's not illegal to not go to work.
You may indeed get fired. And the reason for that is that you've broken employment law. If you are contracted to work certain hours, you don't get to just decide which ones you feel like turning up for.
Are you going to end up in the criminal courts? Of course not. Will you find difficulty in getting another job? Almost certainly.
the entire thread is about whether the day of action on Thurs is a strike (in ERA terms). Whether action is taken against individuals for not going to work one day is a different matter, and nothing to do with striking (as far as I can tell, but it's weird that there'd no clear answer on this).
Hi Weka. I am not a lawyer, but I do have experience around employment matters. Here's my 2 cents worth.
if someone takes time off work on Thurs to attend the protest, is that striking or not?
No. In a strike, there is an accepted relationship between a group of employees and their employer(s). To be a strike, the action must be part of a combination, agreement, common understanding, or joint action made or done by the employees. Strikes and lockouts » Employment New Zealand.
All that aside, TPM are just doing what they do, which is stir up division to remain relevant. In 2013 they received 87,844 votes (E9 Statistics – Overall Results (electionresults.govt.nz)), just 3% of the votes cast. There 904,000 Maori in NZ, so even removing people under voting age, TPM represent a tiny minority.
unless the employees and employer are engaged in bargaining for a collective agreement, it is an illegal strike if people are pushing their employer to do or change something in the workplace, and the workers withhold their labour in order to force that change outside of the bargaining process.
the key element is that there has to be a withholding of labour by the worker with a link to the desired action/s required of the employer by the worker.
in this instance, the “general strike” is not directed by the workers toward their employer, but is directed at the government.
therefore, unless the employer can prove that the employees withholding of labour to attend the “strike” against this government was directed toward a desired outcome or concession by the employer, then Luxon is utterly gormless.
this is about as much of a “strike” as elephants are purple.
The attitude of all those conducting ram raids, assaults on shop owners, and mindless violence against school kids.
So laws against violence are unjust now in your world Belladonna? Do your really have no moral compass which can tell the difference between a just and unjust law. Or is it working class folk are all criminals and thugs as you imply?
Please, unjust laws have always existed. It is the duty of those who actually have a moral compass to challenge them. Rather than fools and tools who support unjust laws unthinkingly.
Your definition of a just and an unjust law (and therefore one you feel free to break) appears to be entirely self-centric. What you define as unjust.
Exactly the same attitude as criminals – who feel that they can break any law they please.
If you truly believe a law is 'unjust' there are legal methods to challenge it.
Note: the last centre-left government didn't change the laws around strikes – so your belief appears to be even further left, and therefore concentrated among an even smaller group of the population.
I love the whole make up a point that was never said, to knock it down type of discussion, how very SIS of you. Check in the mail?
"Last center left government", that's a rude joke right there, and totally delusional. Only a liberal would think the economics of the last government was anything but far right. No government of the last 40 odd years has been anything but.
As for laws, be honest with yourself. You lack the moral courage to stand up to what is wrong. That's OK. But don't lash out at those with the moral courage to stand up to what is a series of unjust laws these Tory idiots are pushing onto everyone.
If that is not the intention – then TPM have been very poorly advised by their media coms people. If it is only intended to attract attention – then they cannot complain that the 'wrong' attention is being attracted.
This would be cause for deep concern if it were issued by any other party (ACT's McKee has been derided here for her support of gun owners – imagine how TS would react to an ACT video with the same imagery)
OH dear, I love people who live here and know no history. The pistols are a representation of the all the shit that led to the treaty. You know, the orgy of death and destruction that was the Musket Wars.
Why do we have to suffer a piss weak moral panic form the ill informed?
Your choice is to suffer fools who want an orgy of death and destruction or stand up against it.
National growing our future by cutting back on the potential for R and D work
They want science teachers to teach science, and the future of science appears to be offshore.
Government science agency Callaghan Innovation was also proposing a "strategic reset" to focus on projects that make money – which could result in some of its more than 400 employees losing their jobs.
"A whole lot of science jobs are being lost – both in the public sector… but also within Crown research institutes which have not been specifically required to do those cuts, they are still now starting to cut people," Save Science Coalition spokesperson Lucy Stewart told AM.
A nation impacted by weather and surrounded by sea and with major water infrastructure issues (including health of waterways)
Morgan reiterated the institute needed to cut costs "without compromising the delivery of NIWA's core purpose as a climate, freshwater and ocean science provider".
Nonetheless, the Save Science Coalition said such cuts would result in New Zealand losing "institutional knowledge".
"We have a science system now where there is nobody… safe, there is nobody whose funding is secure," Dr Stewart said. "It is really hard to be world-leading when every day, you're… getting up and thinking, 'How am I going to secure funding to just keep doing my work?'"
And then there is the environment in general (the habitat separate from its exploitation for profit).
In addition to proposed cuts at NIWA, the Ministry for the Environment asked for voluntary redundancies last month – with "the impact of the savings exercise on our work programme and jobs" to come after this week's Budget, the department's business transformation and services deputy secretary Laura Dixon said.
What will those going into school inherit, if this government gets multiple terms?
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In 2019, Shane Jones addressed the “50 Shades of Green” protest at Parliament: Now he is part of a government giving those farmers a pass on becoming part of the ETS, as well as threatening to lock in offshore oil exploration and mining for decades. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the ...
Hi,Today’s newsletter is all about how easy it is to get sucked into “rage bait” online, and how easy it is to get played.But first I wanted to share something that elicited the exact opposite of rage in me — something that made me feel incredibly proud, whilst also making ...
Seymour said lower speed limits “drained the joy from life as people were forced to follow rules they knew made no sense.” File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, June 14 were:The National/ACT/NZ First ...
It sounded like the best word to describe yesterday’s talks between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and his heavyweight delegation of Ministers and officials and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and New Zealand Ministers and officials was “frank.” But it was the kind of frankness that friends can indulge in. It ...
Open access notables Wildfire smoke impacts lake ecosystems, Farruggia et al., Global Change Biology:We introduce the concept of the lake smoke-day, or the number of days any given lake is exposed to smoke in any given fire season, and quantify the total lake smoke-day exposure in North America from 2019 ...
Photo by Mathias Elle on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with special guests:5.00 ...
Don’t put it all at risk. That’s likely to be the take-home message for New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in his meetings with Li Qiang, the Chinese Premier. Li’s visit to Wellington this week is the highest-ranking visit by a Chinese official since 2017. The trip down under – ...
I know the feelingIt is the real thingThe essence of the soulThe perfect momentThat golden momentI know you feel it tooI know the feelingIt is the real thingYou can't refuse the embraceNo?Sometimes we face the things we most dislike. A phobia or fear that must be confronted so it doesn’t ...
Struth, what a week. Having made sure the rural sector won’t have to pay any time soon for its pollution, PM Christopher Luxon yesterday chose Fieldays 2024 to launch a parliamentary inquiry into rural banking services, to see how the banks have been treating farmers faced with high interest rates. ...
In April, 17,656 people left Aotearoa-NZ to live overseas, averaging 588 a day, with just over half of those likely to have gone to Australia. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, June 13 ...
Auckland’s draft Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) 2024 is open for feedback – and you only have until Monday 17 June to submit. Do it! Join the thousands of Aucklanders who are speaking up for wise strategic investment that will dig us out of traffic and give us easy and ...
Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrives in Wellington today for a three-day visit to the country. The visit will take place amid uncertainty about the future of the New Zealand-China relationship. Li hosted a formal welcome and then lunch for then-Prime Minister Chris Hipkins in Beijing a year ago. The pair ...
We are still in France, getting from A to B.Possibly for only another week, though; Switzerland and Germany are looming now. On we pedal, towards Budapest, at about 20 km per hour.What are are mostly doing is inhaling a country, loving its ways and its food. Rolling, talking, quietly thinking. ...
The big problem with the last Labour government was that they were chickenshits who did nothing with the absolute majority we had given them. They governed as if they were scared of their own shadows, afraid of making decisions lest it upset someone - usually someone who would never have ...
This morning I did something I seldom do, I looked at the Twitter newsfeed. Normally I take the approach of something that I’m not sure is an American urban legend, or genuinely something kids do over there. The infamous bag of dog poo on the front porch, set it on ...
We have some news on the upcoming War of the Rohirrim anime. It will apparently be two and a half hours in length, with Peter Jackson as Executive Producer, and Helm’s daughter Hera will be the main character. Also, pictures: The bloke in the middle picture is Freca’s ...
The cows will keep burping and farting and climate change will keep accelerating - but farmers can stop worrying about being included in the ETS. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, June 12 were:The ...
This is a guest post by our friend Darren Davis. It originally appeared on his excellent blog, Adventures in Transitland, which features “musings about public transport and other cool stuff in Aotearoa/ New Zealand and around the globe.” With Te Huia now having funding secure through to 2026, now is ...
In some ways, there may be less than meets the eye to the Government announcement yesterday that the He Waka Eke Noa proposal for farmers to pay for greenhouse gas emissions has been scrapped. The spectre of farmers still having to pay at some point in the future remains. That, ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Since entering office, National has unravelled practically every climate policy, leaving us with no effective way of reducing emissions or meeting our emissions budgets beyond magical thinking around the ETS. And today they've announced another step: removing agriculture entirely. At present, following the complete failure of he waka eka noa, ...
The blue billionaireDistraction no interactionOr movement outside these glazed over eyesThe new great divideFew fight the tide to be glorifiedBut will he be satisfied?Can we accept this without zoom?The elephant in the roomNot much happens in politics on a Monday. Bugger all in fact. Although yesterday Christopher Luxon found he ...
What if New Zealand threw a fossil fuel party, and nobody came? On the weekend, Resources Minister Shane Jones sent out the invitations and strung up the balloons, but will anyone really want to invest big time in resuming oil and gas exploration in our corner of the planet? Yes, ...
This is a guest post by Meredith Dale, senior urban designer and strategist at The Urban Advisory.There’s a saying that goes something like: ‘what you measure is what you value’. An RNZ article last week claimed that Auckland was ‘hurting’ because of a more affordable supply of homes, particularly townhouses ...
A Prime Minister directs his public service to inquire into the actions of the opposition political party which is his harshest critic. Something from Orban's Hungary, or Putin's Russia? No, its happening right here in Aotearoa: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Public Service Commission will launch an ...
This is a repost from a Yale Climate Connections article by SueEllen Campbell published on June 3, 2024. The articles listed can help you tell fact from fiction when it comes to solar and wind energy. Some statements you hear about solar and wind energy are just plain false. ...
Politics were going on all around us yesterday, and we barely noticed, rolling along canal paths, eating baguettes. It wasn’t until my mate got to the headlines last night that we learned there had been a dismayingly strong far right result in the EU elections and Macron had called a ...
Respect Existence, Or Expect Resistance? There may well have been 50,000 pairs of feet “Marching For Nature” down Auckland’s Queen Street on Saturday afternoon, but the figure that impresses the Coalition Government is the 1,450,000 pairs of Auckland feet that were somewhere else.IN THE ERA OF DRONES and Artificial Intelligence, ...
Selwyn Manning and I discuss varieties of post colonial blowback and the implications its has for the rise of the Global South. Counties discussed include Palestine/Israel, France/New Caledonia, England/India, apartheid/post-apartheid South Africa and post-colonial New Zealand. It is a bit … Continue reading → ...
Victims of family violence could fall through the gaps in New Zealand, as Police stop responding to some call outs and the Government chooses to prioritise other things. ...
The lack of bids at today’s ETS auction is a sad indictment on this Government's staggering indifference to the climate crisis and their lack of a plan. ...
“I am deeply disappointed in the National Party's budget. Their broken promises and cuts to essential services, including health, education, and support for vulnerable groups, will have long-lasting negative impacts” – Raymor, Auckland ...
Today marks the beginning of Schools Pride Week in New Zealand, an important calendar event largely run by rainbow rangitahi to advocate for safer, more inclusive school environments. ...
The Government’s announcement of a roadshow consultation on work health and safety is a smokescreen for its plan to throw out regulations which keep workers safe. ...
The Government has reportedly scrapped a policy that would have gone far to fix gender and ethnic pay gaps and instead is implementing a watered-down voluntary system. ...
The Government knew its changes to the school lunch programme would risk achievement, attendance, nutrition and wellbeing of New Zealand children, as well as having wider impacts on reducing child poverty, and made the changes anyway, new documents show. ...
Two months have passed since the National Government said it was a question of ”when, not if” New Zealand would recognise Palestine, in response to Labour’s call. ...
Today the coalition government has announced that a select committee inquiry into banking competition will be led by the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee.New Zealand First campaigned to take on foreign owned banks, and we committed to that in our coalition agreement by ensuring the inquiry has a broad ...
The National Government is doing everything it can to delay taking action on climate as it announces that years of work on agricultural emissions will start from scratch. ...
Tens of thousands of people showed up to have their voices heard and march against National’s unpopular Fast Track Approvals Bill in Auckland over the weekend. ...
The Government deciding to lift the oil and gas ban in the middle of a climate crisis is a severe step backwards that will have serious consequences for our future. ...
This week the Justice Select Committee has heard numerous submissions on the removal of Māori Wards. “I am feeling invigorated by the powerful oral submissions that I have heard throughout the week.” Said Local Government spokesperson, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “People from all facets of life: whānau Māori, whānau Pākehā, rangatahi, kaumātua, ...
Today’s March for Nature sends a clear message that our country is deeply against the Fast Track Approvals Bill proceeding because the cost to the environment would be unacceptable. ...
The recent attacks on Te Pāti Māori and its MP’s are part of a continuing narrative of attack on all matters Māori. If we could respond to baseless inuendo we would. If there is any evidence then show us so we have a reason to engage in a conversation. The ...
The Government’s move to pour billions into potholes whilst remaining inactive on climate change does nothing to solve our transport system's core problems. ...
“The Government needs to provide leadership for New Zealand’s mental health sector, which appears to have lost out in the Budget despite the promises Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey made on the campaign trail,” said Labour mental health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Today’s announcement that would see some workers’ entitlement to sick leave reduce flies in the face of yet another promise National made during the election campaign. ...
Cutting a third of the staff at Ministry for the Environment will undermine years of work to clean up our fresh water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and leave us unprepared for a changing climate. ...
School attendance data released today shows an increase in the number of students regularly attending school to 61.7 per cent in term one. This compares to 59.5 per cent in term one last year and 53.6 per cent in term four. “It is encouraging to see more children getting to ...
The Government has announced a record 41 per cent increase in indicative funding for public transport services and operations, and confirmed the rollout of the National Ticketing Solution (NTS) that will enable contactless debit and credit card payments starting this year in Auckland, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This Government is ...
GDP figures for the March quarter reinforce the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows GDP has risen 0.2 per cent for the quarter to March. “While today’s data is technically in ...
Women’s representation on public sector boards and committees has reached 50 per cent or above for the fourth consecutive year, with women holding 53.9 per cent of public sector board roles, Acting Minister for Women Louise Upston says. “This is a fantastic achievement, but the work is not done. To ...
The Coalition Government is supporting Māori to boost development and the Māori economy through investment in projects that benefit the regions, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka say. “As the Regional Development Minister, I am focused on supporting Māori to succeed. The Provincial Growth Fund ...
Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced that the review into better managing the risks of earthquake-prone buildings has commenced. “The terms of reference published today demonstrate the Government’s commitment to ensuring we get the balance right between public safety and costs to building owners,” Mr Penk says. “The Government ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has just finished a successful three-day visit to Japan, where he strengthened political relationships and boosted business links. Mr Luxon’s visit culminated in a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio followed by a state dinner. “It was important for me to meet Prime Minister Kishida in person ...
Significant business deals have been closed during the visit of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to Japan this week, including in the areas of space, renewable energy and investment. “Commercial deals like this demonstrate that we don’t just export high-quality agricultural products to Japan, but also our world-class technology, expertise, and ...
Minasan, konnichiwa, kia ora and good afternoon everyone. Thank you for the invitation to speak to you today and thank you to our friends at the Institute for International Socio-Economic Studies and NEC for making this event possible today. It gives me great pleasure to be here today, speaking with ...
The National Infrastructure Pipeline, which provides a national view of current or planned infrastructure projects, from roads, to water infrastructure, to schools, and more, has climbed above $120 billion, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says. “Our Government is investing a record amount in modern infrastructure that Kiwis can rely on as ...
The Government is modernising the Public Works Act to make it easier to build infrastructure, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk announced today. An independent panel will undertake an eight-week review of the Act and advise on common sense changes to enable large scale public works to be built faster and ...
New Zealand will enhance its defence contributions to monitoring violations of sanctions against North Korea, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. The enhancement will see the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) increase its contributions to North Korea sanctions monitoring, operating out of Japan. “This increase reflects the importance New Zealand ...
Good afternoon everyone. It’s great to be with you all today before we wrap up Day One of the annual Safeguard National Health and Safety Conference. Thank you to the organisers and sponsors of this conference, for the chance to talk to you about the upcoming health and safety consultation. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone for the Ōtaki to north of Levin Road of National Significance (RoNS), following the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) signing interim alliance agreements with two design and construction teams who will develop and ultimately build the new expressway.“The Government’s priority for transport ...
The Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is making a significant upgrade to their Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System, which blocks access to websites known to host child sexual abuse material, says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden. “The Department will incorporate the up-to-date lists of websites hosting child sexual ...
A vaccine to prevent an infectious disease that costs New Zealand cattle farmers more than $190 million each year could radically improve the health of our cows and boost on-farm productivity, Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard says. The Ministry for Primary Industries is backing a project that aims to develop ...
The Government has today announced that it is making it easier for people to build granny flats, Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop say. “Making it easier to build granny flats will make it more affordable for families to live the way that suits them ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Auckland King’s Counsel Gregory Peter Blanchard as a High Court Judge. Justice Blanchard attended the University of Auckland from 1991 to 1995, graduating with an LLB (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts (English). He was a solicitor with the firm that is now Dentons ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says new data released today shows encouraging growth in the health workforce, with a continued increase in the numbers of doctors, nurses and midwives joining Health New Zealand. “Frontline healthcare workers are the beating heart of the healthcare system. Increasing and retaining our health workforce ...
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has today announced a comprehensive programme to reform New Zealand's outdated and complicated firearms laws. “The Arms Act has been in place for over 40 years. It has been amended several times – in a piecemeal, and sometimes rushed way. This has resulted in outdated ...
The coalition Government is delivering record levels of targeted investment in specialist schools so children with additional needs can thrive. As part of Budget 24, $89 million has been ringfenced to redevelop specialist facilities and increase satellite classrooms for students with high needs. This includes: $63 million in depreciation funding ...
A substantial consultation on work health and safety will begin today with a roadshow across the regions over the coming months, says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden. This the first step to deliver on the commitment to reforming health and safety law and regulations, set out in ...
Forestry Minister Todd McClay, today announced the start of the Government’s plan to restore certainty and confidence in the forestry and wood processing sector. “This government will drive investment to unlock the industry’s economic potential for growth,” Mr McClay says. “Forestry’s success is critical to rebuilding New Zealand’s economy, boosting ...
Annual service charges in the forestry Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will be cancelled for 2023/24, Forestry Minister Todd McClay says. “The sector has told me the costs imposed on forestry owners by the previous government were excessive and unreasonable and I agree,” Mr McClay says. “They have said that there ...
Introduction Thank you for having me here today and welcome to Wellington, the home of the Hurricanes, the next Super Rugby champions. Infrastructure – the challenge This government has inherited a series of big challenges in infrastructure. I don’t need to tell an audience as smart as this one that ...
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard welcomed outcomes to boost agricultural and food trade between New Zealand and China. A number of documents were signed today at Government House that will improve the business environment between New Zealand and China, and help reduce barriers, including on infant formula ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay, and China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, today announced the official launch of Negotiations on Services Trade between the two countries. “The Government is focused on opening doors for services exporters to grow the New Zealand’s economy,” Mr McClay says. As part of the 2022 New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement Upgrade ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at Government House in Wellington today. “I was pleased to welcome Premier Li to Wellington for his first official visit, which marks 10 years since New Zealand and China established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Mr Luxon says. “The Premier and ...
The coalition Government is taking action to reduce the gender pay gap in New Zealand through the development of a voluntary calculation tool. “Gender pay gaps have impacted women for decades, which is why we need to continue to drive change in New Zealand,” Acting Minister for Women Louise Upston ...
The coalition Government is boosting funding for Rural Support Trusts to provide more help to farmers and growers under pressure, Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson announced today. “A strong and thriving agricultural sector is crucial to the New Zealand economy and one of the ways to support it is to ...
Spending on contractors and consultants continues to fall and the size of the Public Service workforce has started to decrease after years of growth, according to the latest data released today by the Public Service Commission. Workforce data for the quarter from 31 December 23 to 31 March 24 shows ...
Thank you to the Law Association for inviting me to speak this morning. As a former president under its previous name — the Auckland District Law Society — I take particular satisfaction in seeing this organisation, and its members, in such good heart. As Attorney-General, I am grateful for these ...
New Zealand is committed to working closely with Timor-Leste to support its prosperity and resilience, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “This year is the 25th anniversary of New Zealand sending peacekeepers to Timor-Leste, who contributed to the country’s stabilisation and ultimately its independence,” Mr Peters says. “A quarter ...
Promoting robust competition in the banking sector is vital to rebuilding the economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “New Zealanders deserve a banking sector that is as competitive as possible. Banking services play an important role in our communities and in the economy. Kiwis rely on access to lending when ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have today announced a regulatory sector review on the approval process for new agricultural and horticultural products. “Red tape stops farmers and growers from getting access to products that have been approved by other OECD countries. ...
The Coalition Government will reverse Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions by 1 July 2025 through a new Land Transport Rule released for public consultation today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. The draft speed limit rule will deliver on the National-ACT coalition commitment to reverse the previous government’s blanket speed limit ...
Minister Paul Goldsmith is making major leadership changes within both his Arts and Media portfolios. “I am delighted to announce Carmel Walsh will be officially stepping into the role of Chair of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, having been acting Chair since April,” Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Carmel is ...
Food and fibre export revenue is tipped to reach $54.6 billion this year and hit a record $66.6b in 2028 as the Government focuses on getting better access to markets and cutting red tape, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones say. “This achievement is testament ...
A new export exemption proposal for food businesses demonstrates the coalition Government’s commitment to reducing regulatory barriers for industry and increasing the value of New Zealand exports, which gets safe New Zealand food to more markets, says Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard. “The coalition Government has listened to the concerns ...
New Zealand and Philippines are continuing to elevate our relationship, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The leaders of New Zealand and Philippines agreed in April 2024 to lift our relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership by 2026,” Mr Peters says. “Our visit to Manila this week has been an excellent ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Kirkland, Professor of Geochronology, Curtin University Lukas Gojda / Shutterstock Our planet was born around 4.5 billion years ago. To understand this mind-bendingly long history, we need to study rocks and the minerals they are made of. The oldest rocks ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra No one doubts Peter Dutton has a huge task to sell his radical nuclear plan, with many experts throwing buckets of cold water over it. But on Thursday the opposition leader received some welcome backing. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jordana Hunter, School Education Program Director, Grattan Institute The Victorian Auditor-General has just released an audit of Victoria’s A$1.2 billion tutoring program designed to help struggling students post-COVID. The report found the program “did not significantly improve students’ learning compared to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marta Khomyn, Lecturer, University of Adelaide Jonathan Borba/Pexels The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) has just seen the listing of its first bitcoin spot exchange-traded fund – “ETF” for short. Issued by investment management firm VanEck, the new investment product is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alana Lentin, Professor in Cultural and Social Analysis, Western Sydney University Prudence Upton/Sydney Theatre Company Anchuli Felicia King’s new one-performer piece, American Signs, written for the talented Catherine Văn-Davies, thrusts us into the world of a campus hire at “The Firm”, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Parmeter, Research Scholar, Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, Australian National University Among the many sayings attributed to Winston Churchill is, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” This sentiment seems appropriate as Israel potentially appears ...
New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) have voiced concerns about Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora restricting the employment of graduate nurses into their workforce due to budget constraints. ...
The NZCTU is slamming a decision by the Government in Budget 2024 to cut a programme which ensured that disabled workers are paid the minimum wage. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University Martin Lisner/Shutterstock It is very difficult to take Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear announcement seriously. His proposal for seven nuclear power stations is, at present, legally impossible, technically improbable, economically ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Senior Lecturer of Urban Mobility, Public Safety & Disaster Risk, UNSW Sydney Each year, millions of Muslims from across the world embark on the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The mass migration is unparalleled in scale, and pilgrims ...
The Committee has recommended that the Bill be passed with minor amendments. The bill will create 12 new high protection areas, 5 new seafloor protection areas and 2 extensions to existing marine reserves. ...
“The Green Party campaigned on protecting 30 percent of our oceans. We will continue to fight for our marine environment so it can be enjoyed across future generations,” says Marama Davidson. ...
We asked public organisations for an update on their response to the recommendations in our 2022 report Improving value through better Crown entity monitoring. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra After beating a first-term South Australian Liberal government in 2022, Labor premier Peter Malinauskas has gone on to be a reform advocate on issues including social media and politcal donations. His government is looking ...
The economy keeps limping along, and people keep getting poorer. GDP per capita has fallen yet again, and it's now been in freefall for well over a year. ...
Alex Casey and Tara Ward look back at the best and brightest New Zealanders to appear in the greatest reality franchise of all time. It’s the hugely addictive reality show with a little bit of everything. “It’s got the high octane Hell’s Kitchen action in the chef’s galley, the nouveau ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Galloway, Professor of Law and Social Justice, Australian Catholic University Commonwealth Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has announced that the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) would review the Native Title Act to “rectify any inefficacy, inequality or unfairness”. The purpose of the ...
COMMENTARY:By Nick Rockel in Tāmaki Makaurau This morning I did something I seldom do, I looked at the Twitter newsfeed. Normally I take the approach of something that I’m not sure is an American urban legend, or genuinely something kids do over there. The infamous bag of dog poo ...
The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) has issued the government a "letter of demand" for complicity with Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza. ...
You might say the best way not to be an arsehole is to avoid leaving any notes on cars, but if you must, here’s the etiquette. A fun fact that never fails to make me laugh is that something like 90% of drivers believe they’re in the top 5% of ...
Criminal justice advocacy group JustSpeak and human rights movement Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand are raising alarm bells about the social justice issues highlighted in this year’s data. ...
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist All parties, including West Papuan pro-independence fighters who took Phillip Mehrtens hostage, want the New Zealand pilot released but freeing him is “complicated”. In February 2023, Mehrtens, a husband and father from Christchurch, was working for Indonesian airline, Susi Air, when he landed his ...
The current coalition not lasting beyond this parliamentary term is an idea that’s been seized on by its opponents. History suggests it’s unlikely – but not impossible. Gabi Lardies explains.‘We have a very good chance of making this a one-term government,” said Labour leader Chris Hipkins at his party’s ...
FIRST Union members at St John have voted to take further strike action that commences today, with the aim of seeking public support for a fully functioning ambulance service before industrial action intensifies to the point of withdrawing labour. ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s security forces have arrested eight people believed to be involved in the organisation of pro-independence-related riots that broke out in the French Pacific territory last month. The eight include leaders of the so-called Field Action Coordinating Cell (CCAT), a ...
New Zealand air traffic controller trainees who previously spent up to 18 months training without being treated or paid as employees will now be considered employees ...
Close to a million artefacts found in post-quake Christchurch are now available to be viewed by the public. Alex Casey speaks to the founder of Museum of Archeology Ōtautahi.Charles Henry Cox would’ve got away with it, if it hadn’t been for those damn meddling archeologists. The talented grifter proudly ...
The director and actor shares what it means to commit to the work.Anapela Polataivao ONZM is an award-winning director and actor. She is a recipient of the Arts Foundation New Generation Award (2014), the Contemporary Pacific Art Award (2019), and Best Director at the Auckland Theatre Awards (2016). Her ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liam Byrne, Honorary Fellow, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne When British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the UK general election outside 10 Downing Street in the pouring rain last month, the ignominy of the moment was compounded ...
I’m a vegan who adores vegetables and he’s a big meat-eater totally suspicious of them. Help me! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzKia ora Hera,I need my partner to eat some vegetables and I don’t know how.I have a lovely partner: he’s caring, supportive and meets me where ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hussein Dia, Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology algre/Shutterstock Just last year, data suggested plug-in hybrid cars were on the way out in Australia. But they’re back. New data shows plug-in hybrids and conventional hybrids combined have overtaken ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn Schofield, Associate Professor and Associate Dean (Environment and Sustainability), The University of Melbourne ESA Communications companies such as Starlink plan to launch tens of thousands of satellites into orbit around Earth over the next decade or so. The growing swarm ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ganna Pogrebna, Executive Director, AI and Cyber Futures Institute, Charles Sturt University Shutterstock In the ever-evolving online gaming landscape, one seemingly simple online game has captivated players. The free-to-play clicker Banana has amassed more than 850,000 concurrent players on the gaming ...
Data this morning will reveal whether or not the country has pulled out of recession, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Have ...
There is no suggestion the contents of Seymour’s messages were inappropriate, but some of his former correspondents say the interactions shouldn’t have happened The post Seymour fronts up on Snapchats with school kids appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Never fear! The rogue Māori is here! To be honest I’m pretty fūcken peeved at having to join the chorus, late, of witless Pākehā who have thoughts on Paul Moon’s book Ans Westra: A Life In Photography. Steve Braunias is all right, we are friends, but I wasn’t happy about ...
A housing minister willing to publicly discuss house price falls is encouraging, but true affordability is likely to remain a long way off, writes Max Rashbrooke. House prices must always rise. For as long as I can recall, this has been one of the core assumptions of Kiwi politics. It ...
Lange and Muldoon clash, two days after the election. Our live updates editor is on the case. In a ranking of the most dramatic, unhinged days in New Zealand politics, July 16, 1984 would be right up there. David Lange would later call the day “perhaps the most extraordinary of ...
Nicola Willis has confirmed five agencies were externally reviewed ahead of Budget 2024 due to concerns their efforts to make savings hadn’t gone far enough. She told members of the finance and expenditure select committee “rapid reviews” for education, social development, environment, police (head office) and the Ministry of Business ...
Health and education saw the biggest increases in spending after tax cuts in the Budget, with housing and tertiary education facing the largest cuts The post Who got Budget cash and who lost it appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The debt owed by hundreds of thousands of people to government agencies has soared in recent years but a plan to tackle it has been put on hold. Figures from the Ministry of Social Development show that total debt has climbed by more than $1 billion since 2018 to $2.61 ...
Opinion: According to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, a record 117.3 million peoples were forcibly displaced at the end of 2023 due to conflict, violence, or climate-related disasters. This is nearly equivalent to the populations of the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia combined. Alarmingly, the number of forcibly displaced peoples ...
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https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/517983/rent-stress-as-accommodation-supplement-stagnant
The rent subsidie needs to be stopped, nothing has ruined the nz housing situation like scewing the the market by allowing landlords to charge more than the market can sustain
The Accomodation Supplement AKA the landlords benefit
And of course this jerk…
After much disapproval Luxury Luxon will now not accept his extra Benefit.
If one wanted to intervene in the market to do some good
https://theconversation.com/364-000-new-zealanders-rely-on-an-accommodation-supplement-but-these-3-flaws-need-fixing-227667
Your 5 points make sense. (are NActFirst open to sense?!)
There is this….things getting worse.
$650… thats a big chunk of pay for worker/beneficiary? And the way that NActFirst are tightening things up…its going to be a hard time for renters.
“Cost of living crisis: Families opt for Kiwisaver cashouts, cut back on food”
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/515495/cost-of-living-crisis-families-opt-for-kiwisaver-cashouts-cut-back-on-food
In recent years it has been the rising incomes that have matched rising rents.
That will not occur, not with MW only increased 25 cents an hour, the migrant labour inflow and rising unemployment.
Thus without an increase in AS, rent increases will either result in overcrowding (families doubling up etc) or reduced amount left over for food.
The rnz article linked to above is disturbing, the Minister does not care, it’s all political platitudes.
How will getting $10 a week in tax cuts and $10 increase in MW afford a $50 a week increase in rent. First year tough, second year and then third year $50 rent increase leads to either homelessness or overcrowding (two families per house/boarders etc).
In recent years it has been the rising incomes that have matched rising rents.
It's hard to see how that can be the case when between 2018 and 2023, real wage growth was negative (https://thestandard.org.nz/mps-pay-increases/#comment-1998218).
Many of those getting AS, were those receiving MW or benefit increases.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/508148/minimum-wage-set-to-increase-to-23-point-15-from-1-april
https://www.stuff.co.nz/money/350185546/benefits-and-sanctions-numbers-who-could-be-affected-and-how
https://theconversation.com/364-000-new-zealanders-rely-on-an-accommodation-supplement-but-these-3-flaws-need-fixing-227667
Benefits since 1990, real increases in recent years.
https://community.scoop.co.nz/2024/04/understanding-the-data-benefits-are-being-cut-in-value-in-real-terms-but-why/
The minimum wage and any wage and salary income of beneficiaries would be included in the real wage figures I quoted.
For beneficiaries who have no wage and salary income, would most be living in social housing rather than private housing?
Whatever, most workers do not qualify for AS.
Most beneficiary in income related rent social housing?
You should check how many Kainga Ora houses etc there are.
Those on benefits qualify for larger AS amounts than those on MW, to afford private rentals.
There are 72,000 properties that fall under KO's control.
There are around 600,000 rental properties in NZ in total, including KO managed/owned properties.
I'm trying to work out if that helps my argument or not
Probably about half have a tenant with an AS, (if c60,00 with AS own and are paying mortgage).
The last estimate was 663,000 in total
https://archive.li/IxVTr#selection-3797.121-3801.185
300,000 – say 100,000 on MW (some older workers are on MW but own, others live with parents and or share a tenancy) c200,000 on benefits (some sharing these and or KO ones, others with parents).
I'm not sure that's telling us about the number of beneficiaries who "who have no wage and salary income,"?
NACT will not do any of those 5 things – they are all contrary to the interests of their core supporters. Those 5 things will keep rents down, house prices down and wages up.
Whereas NACT is intentionally engineering the opposite, wages down, rents up and house prices up. The long-term goal is consolidation of home ownership into fewer and fewer hands.
In line with this strategy, expect attacks on financially vulnerable retired home-owners in order to make those houses available for purchase by the landlord class, rather than inheritance by the next generation. Skyrocketing Council rates due to central government not funding infrastructure, appears to be the first vector for this attack.
Be assured, NACT supporters/donors want to own absolutely everything, and believe they deserve to.
NACT will not do any of those 5 things – they are all contrary to the interests of their core supporters. Those 5 things will keep rents down, house prices down and wages up.
You might be surprised to know that:
[You have been a very active and prolific shill here on TS. Some of your comments are bordering on (diversion) trolling. For example, this response of yours does not address the comment by AB about the plans and intentions of the coalition government. It is a diversion.
Regarding your lazy use of the chart by figure.nz on median rent in NZ based on lodged bonds, I consider this misleading because the numbers inflate [pun intended] the comparison. When using data from Stats NZ (e.g. https://www.stats.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Selected-price-indexes/Selected-price-indexes-April-2024/Download-data/selected-price-indexes-april-2024.csv), the actual rents for housing increased by an average per year of 2.8 and 3.6% over the periods Dec-2008 – Dec-2017 and Dec-2017 – Dec-2023, respectively. These data feed directly into the calculation of the CPI. Calling this ‘surprising’ reflects your rhetoric of a shill.
I have zero interest in wasting my or anybody else’s time here on discussing (litigating) this with you. My point is that you’re shilling and diversion trolling with loads of data, links, and quotes that make it look genuine when it is not. This is your warning – Incognito]
2.NO.
1980's $25,000 to 96,000 1st
1990's $96,000 to 155,000 4th
2000's $155,000 to 351,000 2nd
2010's $350,000 to 715,000 3rd
https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/the-life/looking-back-the-nz-housing-boom-when-and-how-it-all-began
The 25% gain in 2021 (Orr not restraining buy up by investors by maintaining the deposit criteria when mortgages were cheap and banks were awash with money) is now being wound back with costly finance that will hold down prices despite a housing shortage. Much of the 2020’s gain has already occurred.
Your figures don't reflect my comment at all.
1. I referred to the period of the last labour government. Your data stops mid-way through that period, and so excludes 2021.
2. My data was a comparison of house prices to inflation, in other words the real increase in value to property owners.
3. The data I used has a statistical base line (1992).
Here is my full comment from https://thestandard.org.nz/at-least-chris-bishop-sleeps-in-a-well-made-bed/#comment-1997122:
In 2002, median house prices were 23% above the inflation adjusted base (with a base year of 1992). (New Zealand median house prices (in NZ $) (1992=100) (globalpropertyguide.com)). From there the gap began to open. In 2010, median house prices were 50% above the inflation adjusted base. In 2015 the gap was 64%, 2020 76% and in 2023 101%. From 2017 through 2023, median house prices rose by $225,000, when the inflation adjustment was only $60,098.
They place it in context.
Orr's 2021 policy disaster was an aberration, it is not a reflection of Labour's government.
All property booms end with high interest rates.
Orrs policy was in part driven by the dual mandate. That absolutely was a reflection on the Labour government.
But the other issue is that 2021 was not just a blip. Median house prices rose 53% between the end of 2017 and the end of 2020, which was more than they had risen in the 9 years of the last national government (49%).
Meh where does the saying house prices double every 10 years come from?
We had population growth in the 2000's. Thus subsequent speculation.
Then Bollards high OCR and the coming of National.
A GFC and earthquake.
A recovery given low interest rates was inevitable. As was it becoming speculative.
Rinse and repeat – the impact of 2021 on top will be property at 2020 values (when adjusted for inflation) by the end of 202*.
And it wont be pretty given rising population demand for property (migrants in, citizens out over to Oz).
Then interest rates will fall and property will go up – so by 2030 …
House prices rose 53% in just 3 years, when they'd only risen 49% in the previous 9 years! That's not a coincidence. Interest rates were low through much of National's time in government, yet prices were far more stable.
I give up. Shill away.
Mod note
Clearly you didn't follow the response to AB. B said Those 5 things will keep rents down, house prices down and wages up. My response was to directly demonstrate that that claim defies the history of the last national led government. It is not a diversion, it is a direct challenge to what was an unverified assumption.
As to your claim about the rental data, I note that this is the first time you have engaged with me on this, and you do so as a moderator. Your response links to a spreadsheet containing 53,000 rows of unsorted data. How is that good faith debate? Why not just enter the discussion as a commenter?
[As I said, I have no intention wasting my time on a fruitless discussion in bad faith, which is your MO. I’m surprised that with all your skills you couldn’t work out the link, which you can find on this webpage: https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/selected-price-indexes-april-2024/. Anyway, you clearly didn’t read the Mod note properly or simply don’t care. Take a week off – Incognito]
Mod note
Freezes don't work , no subsidizing, the government should build rent to own , and of course stop pandering to mom and pop landlords , ( fuck ya national)
Why not?
When they come off they result in an immediate hike in rent – as landlords make up for the cost increases they've had to absorb. As we saw after the one instituted by Labour during Covid.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/renting/124052014/rents-soar-after-covid19-freeze-ends
They also encourage landlords to boot out sitting tenants, do some work on the place (adding value so the rent freeze no longer applies), and then re-rent.
On their own, rent freezes are a really bad idea. At best a temporary bandaid over an issue.
The 'better' solution from a socialist perspective is rent control. It also has unintended consequences, but they're not as severe as rent freezes. The biggest issue is landlords removing property from the rental pool – and moving to AirBnB style short term accommodation.
Of course, the best solution is continuing to build at speed and at scale – to provide more housing, and therefore more choice for tenants. Historically an oversupply (or even near capacity supply) of housing reduces rents.
We saw this following the Christchurch rebuild – when there was an excess supply of rental properties (both new builds, and families relocating out of ChCh)
https://www.propertybrokers.co.nz/news/have-rents-ever-gone-down-
Unless a government can afford to increase AS, there is little alternative to a rent freeze or rent control (rent fixed to comparative value housing at the time of freeze – where a do up occurs) until market supply is increased.
Is there any alternative given – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948?
The issue is how incentivise landlords (only claim mortgage interest as a cost on new builds) to transfer investment to new builds and how to fund funding emergency housing (stamp duty) and a Kainga Ora build up (wealth tax).
And get employers responsible for housing migrant workers (lest everywhere become become like Queenstown).
Well. Labour tried it. And it failed badly.
I somehow don't think that the coalition will be incentivized to have another go.
You seem to have forgotten that landlord mortgage costs have increased markedly as well – and seem to be on an upwards trajectory. If they can't afford to keep the rental, they'll turn it into an Air BnB – or sell up. And before you rejoice over the 'sell up' – every house sold to an owner/occupier results in one fewer rental.
Nor do I think that additional taxes are at all likely under this government – and Labour fought shy of them in the last campaign – so it seems they'd be unlikely under a left(ish) government either.
Moves to reduce the cost of building – would be a far better move. Incentivizing councils (by letting them keep the GST), reducing the red tape, reducing the cost of building materials, etc. The government could come to the party by allowing private builds on government owned land (government retains ownership of the land – and only the house is owned/onsold).
Queenstown seems to be an anomaly. Where the high population is pretty much only for catering for tourists. Rules over provision of housing, would result in substantially higher prices in things like restaurants, etc. And mean that it becomes a destination only for the extremely wealthy. I don't know whether or not that's a good idea. Pretty tough on the rest of the ordinary people who live there, though.
How do you think that would work in something like aged care? Where the care workers are overwhelmingly migrants. They don't want to 'live in' (they have their own families). And adding that cost would likely drive the marginal ones into selling up (it's certainly already happening in Auckland). Leaving the wealthy the only ones able to afford aged care. Again, not exactly the situation we'd want.
Yep, its a massive wealth transfer scheme thats benifited property owners, landlords but most of all the banks.
Banking regulation
https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/the-life/looking-back-the-nz-housing-boom-when-and-how-it-all-began
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says Winston Peters is using his leverage to keep the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) from the full force of public sector cuts.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350282580/nz-politics-live-chris-hipkins-says-winston-peters-shielded-mfat-job-cuts
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says Winston Peters is using his leverage to keep the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) from the full force of public sector cuts.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350282580/nz-politics-live-chris-hipkins-says-winston-peters-shielded-mfat-job-cuts
I mean good, right? This comes across like Hipkins is pursuing Peters for doing a good job and that Hipkins wants to cut MFAT jobs further.
FFS Chris. Why are you saying this apart from reminding us that only a vote for Winston can protect the public service? The rest of you are a razor gang? That’s the message we’re getting here.
The point Chippie is making I think is that Winston is the ( most ) rogue element in the CoC and that Luxon knows the whole house of cards and cardsharps is only one small gust away from falling down and he, Luxon, can’t do a thing about it. It’s clever to sow more doubt about the fragility.
Scuttlebutt is forty academy jobs gazetted and no applicants.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/03/05/military-academy-for-youth-offenders-to-be-trialled-from-mid-2024/
Seriously doubt that people made redundant are going to turn their noses up at a job, just because they don't like the philosophy. Risking losing your home rapidly realigns your priorities.
Audrey Young has been looking at how one Pay Equity case – five year agreement 2017-2022 got neutralised in a period of high pay (entry level back towards the MW) and then when a new agreement was blocked (the old new criteria trick – to save the Health Ministry money*) is now in ruins dependent on the good will of a National Party minister * who says they are for pay equity ….
The only way pay equity agreements will work, is if the higher pay is structured to continue automatically (such as linked to average or median wage levels).
https://archive.li/KdVTX#selection-1051.0-1180.7
The Daily Blog got hacked the week of the budget.
Wonder if it will be like 159 Willis Street in 1984.
The Israel FM, a fish out of water in Europe.
First, lack of knowledge of the Moslem to Christian transition of rule in Spain for Jewish people.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240525-israels-fm-ridiculed-accused-of-ignorance-after-attacking-muslim-rule-in-andalusia/
Second, then trying to guilt a socialist government by mentioning the said Christian Inquisition) era.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/eu-and-israel-relations-plummet-as-spain-ireland-prepare-to-recognise-a-palestinian-state/IAMQRCPWTNCHRBGGPSLPMOZGKE/
Hoping there is someone here who understands employment law.
Te Pāti Māori are calling for a day of action on Thurs. On their SM they used the term 'strike'.
Luxon has said it's illegal. But I can't see how someone taking a day or half day of work is illegal. It might put their job at risk but that's a different thing. If they're not striking in their work place, how is it any different than taking time off to attend SS4C or any other kind of protest?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/te-pati-maori-protest-plans-to-cause-major-traffic-disruptions-on-thursday/6MCP5V726FGCNFLB53I6PMQBR4/
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/518034/christopher-luxon-warns-striking-to-join-budget-hui-would-be-illegal
https://www.facebook.com/MaoriParty/posts/pfbid0WUW7AHBiubTwshFxZfM2unmsWNiLrcvd1JFVQgVZJgQ9E9pM4eATnCBjBjKXb3Wfl
use of the word strike is in this image,
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=982735883307315&set=pcb.982735963307307
Labour MP Cushla Tangaere-Manuel pointing out that it's not TPM organising, it's Iwi and hapū.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/05/28/luxon-warns-going-on-strike-to-join-budget-hui-would-be-illegal/
Unless you're granted leave, you can't just take a day off work, because you want one. It has to be negotiated in advance with your employer.
https://www.business.govt.nz/hiring-and-managing/handling-holidays-and-leave/managing-annual-leave-for-your-team/
A formal strike (legal under NZ laws) protects the workers from being fired or otherwise penalized (apart from not being paid) for not being at work. But a formal strike does need to be called in the proper way (and can only be about the conditions of your job) – in that sense, if they are calling this a 'strike', it would be an illegal one.
https://www.employment.govt.nz/starting-employment/unions-and-bargaining/strikes-and-lockouts/
I suspect, in any case, that most of the attendees won't be 'workers' in that sense. They'll be students, unemployed, beneficiaries, academics, unionists (maybe some public servants – this is less likely with looming job cuts). People who don't have penalties for not being on the job at 8.30, and who won't be losing a day's pay.
There is an omicron outbreak.
If you are caught on camera or social media at a protest, when you've called in sick – your employer would have every legal right to sanction you.
Baa baa black face in a sun hat at the Basin.
So hardly a 'strike' then, if you're afraid to tell everyone why you are there and what you are protesting for.
It is not a strike, it is a day off work to protest.
And it is obvious they will be at a protest and let the government know why they are there.
And it is not something anyone should lose their job over.
Well, if it's not a strike, don't call it one (and therefore generate all this confusion).
If your employer can manage without you, then of course you can take annual leave. If they can't (especially at such short notice), you're required to work. If you don't turn up for work as scheduled, then your employer can take action. What that action may be will depend on your previous record, and the difficulties you put the organization in.
What you do in your holiday time, is up to you. What you do when you are supposed to be at work, is very much your employers affair.
Again, I doubt there will be many actual 'workers' at this day of action.
Actually you can. But you might get fired. It's not illegal to not go to work.
are you sure about that last bit? Is School Strike 4 Climate an illegal strike under the ERA?
there might be something that says a general strike is illegal, but I couldn't find it on google.
From the link above:
https://www.employment.govt.nz/starting-employment/unions-and-bargaining/strikes-and-lockouts/
A general strike is no longer legal in NZ – and hasn't been for some time.
if someone takes time off work on Thurs to attend the protest, is that striking or not? If you think it is please explain how.
Did TPM break the law in calling for this action?
The "School Strike 4 climate" isn't illegal. But nor is it legally a strike.
[The argument about whether the kids under 16 should have been in school (a legislative requirement) – is somewhat moot with the current absentee rates.]
There are no 'workers' involved (or at least none, that are calling it strike action under the ERA).
It would be illegal for workers to claim it was a strike (and therefore enjoy the legislative protections under strike action).
Just calling something a strike, doesn't make it legally one.
So Luxon was wrong?
So was TPM for calling it a strike.
yes, but not as defined in the ERA as far as I can tell. Rather, like SS4C. I'm still not clear on what the law says about a general strike. But it's not the main focus of their call, so it's hard to see how any of that would apply.
You may indeed get fired. And the reason for that is that you've broken employment law. If you are contracted to work certain hours, you don't get to just decide which ones you feel like turning up for.
Are you going to end up in the criminal courts? Of course not. Will you find difficulty in getting another job? Almost certainly.
the entire thread is about whether the day of action on Thurs is a strike (in ERA terms). Whether action is taken against individuals for not going to work one day is a different matter, and nothing to do with striking (as far as I can tell, but it's weird that there'd no clear answer on this).
Hi Weka. I am not a lawyer, but I do have experience around employment matters. Here's my 2 cents worth.
if someone takes time off work on Thurs to attend the protest, is that striking or not?
No. In a strike, there is an accepted relationship between a group of employees and their employer(s). To be a strike, the action must be part of a combination, agreement, common understanding, or joint action made or done by the employees. Strikes and lockouts » Employment New Zealand.
Did TPM break the law in calling for this action?
I'm not sure if they are breaking the law, but TPM have a problem in that they are apparently calling for people to "walk off the job" to attend the protest (Protests: Te Pāti Māori co-leaders back calls for strike action around NZ on Budget Day – NZ Herald). If they mean that literally, as in in the form of a strike, then that would appear to be a call to break the law. "Strikes and lockouts can be used as a tool by parties to collective bargaining or for health and safety reasons." Strikes and lockouts » Employment New Zealand
So Luxon was wrong?
Luxon is reported as saying – "told reporters today calls for people to strike were wrong and illegal as there were rules in place around when and how strike action could take place." Protests: Te Pāti Māori co-leaders back calls for strike action around NZ on Budget Day – NZ Herald. I'm not sure 'calling' for a strike is illegal, but it appears to be a call to break the law.
All that aside, TPM are just doing what they do, which is stir up division to remain relevant. In 2013 they received 87,844 votes (E9 Statistics – Overall Results (electionresults.govt.nz)), just 3% of the votes cast. There 904,000 Maori in NZ, so even removing people under voting age, TPM represent a tiny minority.
Employment lawyer here
unless the employees and employer are engaged in bargaining for a collective agreement, it is an illegal strike if people are pushing their employer to do or change something in the workplace, and the workers withhold their labour in order to force that change outside of the bargaining process.
the key element is that there has to be a withholding of labour by the worker with a link to the desired action/s required of the employer by the worker.
in this instance, the “general strike” is not directed by the workers toward their employer, but is directed at the government.
therefore, unless the employer can prove that the employees withholding of labour to attend the “strike” against this government was directed toward a desired outcome or concession by the employer, then Luxon is utterly gormless.
this is about as much of a “strike” as elephants are purple.
Thanks James. I couldn't see how calling for this action could be illegal in and of itself.
cheers.
Rather than being spinless feckless slaves, protest.
If a law is unjust, break it.
Funny how so many on the right go, "the law you must follow it", even if it is to your own long term determent.
The attitude of all those conducting ram raids, assaults on shop owners, and mindless violence against school kids.
I'm not sure that the mindset of ramraiders, assaulters and the mindlessly violent is a protest against an unjust law.
But hopefully I am none of these, so what do I know?
So laws against violence are unjust now in your world Belladonna? Do your really have no moral compass which can tell the difference between a just and unjust law. Or is it working class folk are all criminals and thugs as you imply?
Please, unjust laws have always existed. It is the duty of those who actually have a moral compass to challenge them. Rather than fools and tools who support unjust laws unthinkingly.
Your definition of a just and an unjust law (and therefore one you feel free to break) appears to be entirely self-centric. What you define as unjust.
Exactly the same attitude as criminals – who feel that they can break any law they please.
If you truly believe a law is 'unjust' there are legal methods to challenge it.
Note: the last centre-left government didn't change the laws around strikes – so your belief appears to be even further left, and therefore concentrated among an even smaller group of the population.
I love the whole make up a point that was never said, to knock it down type of discussion, how very SIS of you. Check in the mail?
"Last center left government", that's a rude joke right there, and totally delusional. Only a liberal would think the economics of the last government was anything but far right. No government of the last 40 odd years has been anything but.
As for laws, be honest with yourself. You lack the moral courage to stand up to what is wrong. That's OK. But don't lash out at those with the moral courage to stand up to what is a series of unjust laws these Tory idiots are pushing onto everyone.
Also the imagery associated with the TPM call to action – is deeply disturbing. Presenting guns….
It looks like a call to violent insurrection.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?mibextid=oFDknk&v=423581487174518&rdid=KNQqnxboI81bwIXp
If that is not the intention – then TPM have been very poorly advised by their media coms people. If it is only intended to attract attention – then they cannot complain that the 'wrong' attention is being attracted.
This would be cause for deep concern if it were issued by any other party (ACT's McKee has been derided here for her support of gun owners – imagine how TS would react to an ACT video with the same imagery)
OH dear, I love people who live here and know no history. The pistols are a representation of the all the shit that led to the treaty. You know, the orgy of death and destruction that was the Musket Wars.
Why do we have to suffer a piss weak moral panic form the ill informed?
Your choice is to suffer fools who want an orgy of death and destruction or stand up against it.
DTI meet LTV – get to know each other, like a banker does – cartel and windfall profits.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/05/28/reserve-bank-confirms-major-changes-to-mortgage-rules/
National growing our future by cutting back on the potential for R and D work
They want science teachers to teach science, and the future of science appears to be offshore.
A nation impacted by weather and surrounded by sea and with major water infrastructure issues (including health of waterways)
And then there is the environment in general (the habitat separate from its exploitation for profit).
What will those going into school inherit, if this government gets multiple terms?
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/05/public-service-association-starts-save-science-coalition-against-government-cost-cutting.html
One game, two proposals
Proposal 1 from Central Commissariat Corporate Capital Command and Proposal 2 from the working class – the clubs of the provincial unions.
And appropriately on the same day as the budget from the CofC.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/explained-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-crucial-new-zealand-rugby-special-general-meeting/CE56OONZZNAXLGMCK7BXKBTKZY/
Why are we letting the french military beat the indigenous population back into line?
You know the french, those folks who engage in terrorism.
The french, who have colonies, I thought it was the 21st century.
Indigenous rights, oh wait white settle culture – of course we going to do nothing.
Only when given permission to warn us, we are without protection without the letters after A, UKUS