Should you be more worried about co-governance or the top 1%?

Written By: - Date published: 1:13 pm, October 3rd, 2023 - 52 comments
Categories: act, national, nz first, poverty, racism - Tags:

To the those voting ACT or NZF or National this year because you are worried about co-governance.

I have a secret for you.

You have been co-governed by the richest 1% for decades.

That 1%? Their lawyers and lobbyists fill up the select committee appearances, they trade donations for policy, they throw the exclusive events where they get to have more words with decision makers in five minutes than you’ll have in your life.

The co-governance of the 1%?

That’s why you pay more tax than they do.

It’s why your electricity and food is so expensive and their shareholder profits are so good.

It’s why there’s no money to fix your roads full of potholes, your leaky waterpipes and the sewerage washing up on your beach.

It’s why you get paid so much less that you would in Australia and why you are so much easier to fire.

It’s why we manage inflation by increasing your mortgage and rents and not by touching the profits made by the speculators and price gougers that create the inflation in the first place.

In short, if you are willing to suffer all this because you “don’t like the Maoris getting too big for their boots” then you have let them use your racism to make a fool of you. Well done.

Borrowed from Facebook

52 comments on “Should you be more worried about co-governance or the top 1%? ”

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  1. roblogic 1
    3 October 2023 at 2:08 pm

    Aucklanders voting Nact are turkeys voting for Christmas. First Wayne Brown now the Nats? Rich pricks will profit & make everything worse for everyone else.

    https://x.com/barryebert57/status/1708317704002957605?s=46&t=YQYWab08lrynsGdyx3LLKg

    National’s neglect will literally poison Aotearoa. Our water supplies and sewage treatment systems are in a dire state, but Luxon doesn’t give a đŸ’©

    https://x.com/kieran_mcanulty/status/1708289805107495377?s=46&t=YQYWab08lrynsGdyx3LLKg

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.1
      3 October 2023 at 2:18 pm

      Those 1%ers. and/or Nat till they die, wont care (and..can probably afford a rate increase).

      However, everyone else ….incl those Renting (as their Rent will go up to cover ) should vote Left !

    • Mike the Lefty 1.2
      3 October 2023 at 5:14 pm

      But for the first 100 days they will be singing National's praises because he will abolish the Auckland regional fuel tax. That's about as good as it will get however, as they will find out eventually.

  2. Ad 2
    3 October 2023 at 2:45 pm

    So we should then be able to name these people.

    There are so few of them. They are defined across a nexus that includes not only wealth control, but also their position on decision-making boards, their capacity to change the minds of decisionmakers including lawmakers, their relationship to oligopolies, and of course just a few of them are also elected.

    Few of them are responsible for any specific price going up. Some are.

    My top 10 of the .001% of NZ power would be:

    1. Peter McBride Chair of Fonterra

    2. Sir John Key Chair of ANZ

    3. Adrian Orr Governor of the Reserve Bank

    4. Matt Whineray Chief Executive of NZSuperFund

    5. Hon Dame Helen Winkelmann Head of the Supreme Court

    6. Craig Ellison Chair of Ngai Tahu Holdings

    7. Graeme Hart owner of Rank Group

    8. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins

    9. Hon Steve Maharey Chair of ACC

    10. Grant Robertson Minister of Finance

    11. Peter Thompson and Stephen Barfoot, Barfoot and Thompson

    12. Dr Keith Turner Chair of Transpower

    13. Grant Robertson Minister of Finance

    14. Hayden Wilson Chair Denton Kensington Swan

    15. Margie Apa Chief of Whatu Ora

    16. Hinerangi Raumati Chair Tainui Holdings

    17. Dr Jim Mather Chair Ngati Awa Holdings, RNZ

    18. Rebecca Kitteridge, CE DPMC

    19. Patrick Strange, Chair AIAL, former Chief at Transpower

    20. Jason Boyes Chief Executive of Infratil

    Argue their relative places all you like, but this is the bus NZ would not want to go over a cliff.

    • Dennis Frank 2.1
      3 October 2023 at 2:55 pm

      Edit: GR at 10 & 13. You don't rate the Maori king? G-G? Speaker? Other Supreme Court judges? The female immigrant owner of Stuff? Winston as kingmaker in a couple of weeks??

      • Ad 2.1.1
        3 October 2023 at 3:23 pm

        Maori King barely controls himself let alone anything else.

        Winston is a tail not a dog. Parliament is over-rated as a source of power.

        • Dennis Frank 2.1.1.1
          3 October 2023 at 3:31 pm

          Heh. Dog-wagging tail. I suspect the MK has mana but am agnostic how much. I surprised by your view of parliament though.

          • Ad 2.1.1.1.1
            3 October 2023 at 3:49 pm

            My view of Parliament is a pretty simple consequence of Jesson, Easton and Kelsey's consequences of the wilful shrinking of the ambit of the state from 1985-1997. Much of the power Parliament and indeed the state more broadly used to have was permanently shifted to the private sector.

            • SPC 2.1.1.1.1.1
              3 October 2023 at 4:04 pm

              Murray Horn wrote about it in a 1998 book, basically boasted that what they done could not be undone by any future government (not within a generation).

              • Dennis Frank …
                3 October 2023 at 5:00 pm

                That dimension (shrinkage of authority/power) does seem a part of the democracy sham yet nation states are still taken as seriously as active agents on behalf of their people as they ever were. Yielding to market forces was a relative transformation for all, true, yet to what extent is any market player that powerful really? An obscure situation.

                • SPC …
                  3 October 2023 at 5:16 pm

                  The neo-liberal regime (where the Cold War was no longer just against the WP but also left wing deviation within democracies) whereby any nation state opting out of the international order of international market forces was to be deemed a socialist one – thus the parameters of "social democratic" government are limited.

                  Thus the attacks on our government for its example in limiting freedom during the pandemic.

                  • Dennis Frank …
                    3 October 2023 at 5:39 pm

                    Perception vs reality, seems to me. Socialism & social democracy both went out of fashion historically as political belief systems due to inherent inability to maintain relevance. All a movement needs for mass influence is a critical mass of adherents & when they lose faith in the belief system they evaporate as supporters. Plenty of examples around of leftists transformed into rightists by loss of faith. Not that they illuminate their depth psychology much in their accounts tho…

                    • SPC …
                      3 October 2023 at 5:44 pm

                      Surely you mean the baby boomers chose middle class privilege over social democracy, but once the importance of their version of reality has moved on … which is surely what Murray Horn was noting – they had captured that generation.

    • Patricia Bremner 2.2
      3 October 2023 at 7:18 pm

      You have left out "Charities" "Churches" and Development moguls plus Media and Rotary.

      Power is not always "evident money." Power can be sway.

      • Ad 2.2.1
        3 October 2023 at 10:08 pm

        Not even the Salvation Army or the Bishops Conference would get into a Top 40.

        Rotary are terrific fund bundlers, but seriously they're a Top 60 at best.

        Forest and Bird, and Federated Farmers, they might get into a top 30.

        Media mostly have power over politicians, and only two politicians made it. MSM power is vastly overrated IMHO. Social is a different matter, but they’re all foreign.

    • Tony 2.3
      3 October 2023 at 9:22 pm

      Not a mention of the Todd family?

    • Clive Macann 2.4
      4 October 2023 at 5:55 pm

      Why does Grant Robertson get 2 places?
      Twice as bad?
      Or is your list just pure rubbish as we all suspect?

  3. pat 3
    3 October 2023 at 6:12 pm

    The fact we are rorted by the global elites dosnt make it ok to be additionally rorted by our indigenous elite.

    There is no public benefit to add sinecures to the already unaffordable cost of upgrading our infrastructure to functional…and thats not counting the absurd rate of immigration that is unaccounted for, and socially divisive nature of having a preferred class of citizen

    Two wrongs have never made a right.

    • Muttonbird 3.1
      3 October 2023 at 7:17 pm

      Of course it is not even the "global elites" (conspiracy theory, anyone), who most cause issues of inequality in NZ, it is our home grown property and supermarket barons who do the job for us just nicely.

      • pat 3.1.1
        3 October 2023 at 7:29 pm

        Who controls our credit?….think about it.

        And adding locally to that rort does nothing for the average kiwi citizen.

  4. Tricledrown 4
    3 October 2023 at 6:55 pm

    The 1% monopolizing everything leave crumbs for the peasants! Most of the printed money of the Covid 19 recovery stimulation around the world ended up in the hands of the 1% who increased their wealth by a very large percentage.while the rest of the world is seriously worse off.Now these money/ wealth hoarders are getting Tax Cuts on top of a vast wealth increase .while the rest of us are paying more for everthing.

  5. bwaghorn 5
    3 October 2023 at 7:01 pm

    Just out of interest, when moari get an automatic seat on a board or any other thing that's being cogoverned, is the representative elected by the hmthe Maori in that area, or are the pit up by the tribe,or is there another selection system?

    • Belladonna 5.1
      3 October 2023 at 8:11 pm

      I believe, direct appointment by a designated iwi.
      The iwi involved seem to be designated in the enabling legislation (or, at least they are in the two examples I've checked: Waikato River Authority & Canterbury Regional Council)

      While it would be entirely possible for these positions to be voted on – either within the iwi or on the Maori roll (nothing in the legislation prevents it), it seems, so far, to have been direct appointment by the leadership of the iwi.

      • bwaghorn 5.1.1
        3 October 2023 at 8:22 pm

        Not a hint of democracy then?!

        And thankyou

        • Belladonna 5.1.1.1
          3 October 2023 at 8:30 pm

          To be fair, on the WRA – the other half of the board are direct appointments by the Crown (so not democratic either).

          However the balance of the CRC are currently elected.

      • Tricledrown 5.1.2
        4 October 2023 at 11:48 am

        Rivers lakes and shorelines and the sea were never purchased or confiscated technically Maori still own all waterways and foreshore but democracy is afraid to return to the rightful owners. Had it been owned by European everyone would have to pay or get permission to go on privately owned land.Maori ownership even on proven land owned by Maori ,Maori generally allow access along with respect.

  6. That_guy 6
    3 October 2023 at 7:40 pm

    I am pro co-governance practically speaking, because according to people I know, co-governance or similar arrangements have always resulted in decisions being pushed in the direction of long-term thinking. I would like opponents of co-governance to tell me where else that perspective will come from if the concept is binned.

    Some people just don’t think that ethnicity should be the basis of any allocation of power or resources. This is a perfectly ethical position to take and I would defend the rights of anyone who takes this position. Characterising all opponents of co-governance as fascist rednecks is silly, disrespectful, and contributes to political polarisation for no real benefit.

    • pat 6.1
      3 October 2023 at 7:48 pm

      Where is the evidence that long term thinking is enhanced by co governance?

      The more likely facilitator of long term thinking is expertise, not appointment on the basis of ethnicity.

      • Dennis Frank 6.1.1
        3 October 2023 at 7:58 pm

        No evidence, Pat, but I agree with ethnic rights in principle and also expertise. One may include opportunity, perhaps…

        • pat 6.1.1.1
          3 October 2023 at 8:06 pm

          Opportunity based on ability yes…based on happenchance of birth, no.

          • Dennis Frank 6.1.1.1.1
            3 October 2023 at 8:13 pm

            Damn it, can't recall the bio I read by a kiwi a bit older than me, telling how he was child in the 1950s in a family with servants who were still employing them in the 1960s when I was at college. Only instance I know of.

            But the social system gave him the opportunity to succeed despite the handicap of being upper class in Aotearoa…

            • pat 6.1.1.1.1.1
              3 October 2023 at 8:19 pm

              Even in 'classless' little old NZ there are silver spoons, but that dosnt mean we should legislate for it….there is a difference between what happens and what we accept as law.

              • Drowsy M. Kram …
                4 October 2023 at 11:00 am

                yes There's clearly no requirement for additional pro-silver spoon legislation in 'classless' NZ, as the status quo serves most silver spooners well enough.

                If only this focused zeal for opposing Māori silver spoons and 'privilege' could be harnessed to tackle inequality in wider Kiwi society – imagine.

                Maxine Ronald: Why do we have to keep explaining the ethnicity gap? [25 June 2023]
                What people don’t understand is that we’ve always prioritised for ethnicity. The system is designed to privilege Pākehā, as it was designed for and by them. It works for Pākehā and it’s why they live longer, do better, have better outcomes in all categories.
                …
                People are quite comfortable with the rhetoric of inequity, and with the handwringing about inequity, and everyone likes to agree that there’s a serious issue. But when it comes to actually doing something about it, people become very uncomfortable.

                • That_guy …
                  4 October 2023 at 11:56 am

                  It works for some Pākehā, and does not work for others. Because the category "Pākehā" is not a particularly useful category. Working-class Pākehā or Pākehā living in poverty who read that kind of thing will conclude that the left has nothing to offer them because of the colour of their skin. And then they will go and vote for Winston First or ACT. And that's why we will lose the election.

                  The word "poverty" is not mentioned once in that article by Dr. Ronald. An entire article on health inequalities that does not once mention the most consistent and proven driver of health inequalities (as proven beyond all reasonable doubt by the Dunedin study).

      • That_guy 6.1.2
        3 October 2023 at 8:45 pm

        I don’t have evidence, what I have is an informed opinion from someone I trust. I’m taking a practical approach and IMHO we need long-term thinking right now, and it is being provided by co-governance.

        Your question is totally legitimate and I too would like evidence. In the meantime I just want long-term thinking right now, and I’m not fussy about the details, because ecosystems are collapsing across the world and we are in a crisis.

        If we weren’t in a crisis I might think differently.

      • Ad 6.1.3
        3 October 2023 at 10:13 pm

        I already did a post on this a while back.

        All there if you want to have your mind changed.

      • mikesh 6.1.4
        3 October 2023 at 11:29 pm

        Where is the evidence that long term thinking is enhanced by co governance?

        It's not the sort of thing that would be susceptible of evidence; more a matter of judgment.

        Unless of course you have evidence to the contrary.

      • Tricledrown 6.1.5
        4 October 2023 at 12:00 pm

        Remember Bastion Point land illegally confiscated then most of it stolen by very wealthy Europeans .Maori won the legal battle but didn't seek compensation for $millions of stolen land and the land they got back through the courts after decades of racist treatment Maori gifted the rest of Bastion Point to the Nation.

        Yet all those who built mega mansions on the Stolen land keep their illegally stolen land.One law for the Colonisers no law for the indigenous original owners they get gaslighted and scape goated by the thieving colonisers to make sure they know their place is at the bottom of the pile

    • SPC 6.2
      3 October 2023 at 8:21 pm

      The co-governance model derives from the

      1WT response to National's sale of 49% of the power companies (water use and or management rights claim).

      2Taking control from councils allows long term investment planning (the voters do not re-elect those who increase water price) and ability to repay loans (raise revenue by charging).

      3Appreciation that councils are limited by debt caps and or lack of ratepayers (these amalgamated into larger groupings) from borrowing enough.

      The model is a threat to some farm and business groups (as to water use and charging) – these groups dominate local councils …

    • Ngungukai 6.3
      4 October 2023 at 12:46 pm

      Like +100% I don't think Co-Governance is as bad as everyone is making out if all parties agree on the same objective and results it will be in the best interests of all New Zealanders. A majority of the Maaori population are sane and intelligent people, it is the radicals and the gangs that give te Maaori people a bad reputation. The NZ Press tend to group all Maaori into this group, which is not suprising as the NZ Press is Offshore and Corporate owned, with muppets masquerading as journalists.

    • weka 6.4
      4 October 2023 at 4:12 pm

      Some people just don’t think that ethnicity should be the basis of any allocation of power or resources.

      Do they oppose the Treaty? The Māori seats? The Treaty is what everything in the co-governance debate rests upon. If one recognises the Treaty, then how can one be opposed to sharing power with Māori?

  7. Thinker 7
    3 October 2023 at 10:22 pm

    Yes indeed,

    Everyone's wondering how National could fund it's tax cuts.

    According to stuff.co.nz, the answer is simple. Just unpalatable for a party coalition that says it wants the best for Mom and Pop NZ but is arguably leaning towards a plutocracy.

    Here's the link:

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300878382/newsable-billions-likely-lost-to-tax-evasion-as-white-collar-crime-investigators-go-underfunded#:~:text=Tax%20evasion%20in%20New%20Zealand,brought%20to%20you%20by%20BNZ.&text=It's%20the%20type%20of%20crime,by%20their%20type%20of%20work.

  8. Ngungukai 8
    4 October 2023 at 12:33 pm

    I still do not understand why Chipkin's knocked down a potential Capital Gain's Tax recommended by Robertson and Parker, he would have better off keeping his mouth shut and defering those decisions until after the Election. It proves Labour are controlled from outside of Government.

    • Belladonna 8.1
      4 October 2023 at 1:21 pm

      While I don't necessarily think it was the best strategy – I can certainly see what Hipkins was trying to do. Exactly the same thing as Ardern did in 2020 – shut down speculation that Labour planned to implement a wealth tax (in whatever format).
      If he had not done so, the election narrative would all have been about "Labour plans to implement a wealth tax"
      And, to be fair – it is really irresponsible of any political party to plan on making such a significant decision after being elected – without campaigning on it.
      Part of the issue that many people had about co-governance is that it was not explicit in the Labour 2020 election manifesto.

      You either have to campaign on this as a major policy plank, or decide not to implement in the next term.

      I think Ardern went too far with the 'not while I'm PM' promise – as in it might have come back to bite them if/when political circumstances changed – although in retrospect, it didn't matter, she didn't last until the next election campaign.

  9. Ngungukai 9
    4 October 2023 at 12:35 pm

    Voting Blue or Red is just like Pepsi and Coke, however the Coke is a little bit more palitable.

  10. Chris 10
    4 October 2023 at 4:39 pm

    These kinds of analyses need to be packaged up into easily-accessible and easy-to-understand statements that all voters can get to grips with.

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    2 days ago

  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • National’s murderous smoking policy
    One of the big underlying problems in our political system is the prevalence of short-term thinking, most usually seen in the periodic massive infrastructure failures at a local government level caused by them skimping on maintenance to Keep Rates Low. But the new government has given us a new example, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • NZ has a chance to rise again as our new government gets spending under control
    New Zealand has  a chance  to  rise  again. Under the  previous  government, the  number of New Zealanders below the poverty line was increasing  year by year. The Luxon-led government  must reverse that trend – and set about stabilising  the  pillars  of the economy. After the  mismanagement  of the outgoing government created   huge ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago

  • KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new government
    Two articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations.  He writes –    Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PHILIP CRUMP:  Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadership
    The work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Black Friday
    As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    3 days ago

  • In Defense of the Media.
    Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
    Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • PT use up but fare increases coming
    Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • The very opposite of social investment
    Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Giving Tuesday
    For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
    Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Stopping oil
    National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...
    Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise  “informed by” head ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The stupidest of stupid reasons
    One of the threats in the National - ACT - NZ First coalition agreements was to extend the term of Parliament to four years, reducing our opportunities to throw a bad government out. The justification? Apparently, the government thinks "elections are expensive". This is the stupidest of stupid reasons for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • A website bereft of buzz
    Buzz from the Beehive The new government was being  sworn in, at time of writing , and when Point of Order checked the Beehive website for the latest ministerial statements and re-visit some of the old ones we drew a blank. We found 
.  Nowt. Nothing. Zilch. Not a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: A new Ministry – at last
    Michael Bassett writes – Like most people, I was getting heartily sick of all the time being wasted over the coalition negotiations. During the first three weeks Winston grinned like a Cheshire cat, certain he’d be needed; Chris Luxon wasted time in lifting the phone to Winston ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Luxon's Breakfast.
    The Prime Minister elect had his silver fern badge on. He wore it to remind viewers he was supporting New Zealand, that was his team. Despite the fact it made him look like a concierge, or a welcomer in a Koru lounge. Anna Burns-Francis, the Breakfast presenter, asked if he ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL:  Oranga Tamariki faces major upheaval under coalition agreement
     Lindsay Mitchell writes – A hugely significant gain for ACT is somewhat camouflaged by legislative jargon. Under the heading ‘Oranga Tamariki’ ACT’s coalition agreement contains the following item:   Remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 According to Oranga Tamariki:     “Section ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON:  Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record. Brian Easton writes – 1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Cathrine Dyer's guide to watching COP 28 from the bottom of a warming planet
    Is COP28 largely smoke and mirrors and a plan so cunning, you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel? Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: COP28 kicks off on November 30 and up for negotiation are issues like the role of fossil fuels in the energy transition, contributions to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Monday, Nov 27
    PM Elect Christopher Luxon was challenged this morning on whether he would sack Adrian Orr and Andrew Coster.TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am on Monday November 27, including:Signs councils are putting planning and capital spending on hold, given a lack of clear guidance ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the new government’s policies of yesteryear
    This column expands on a Werewolf column published by Scoop on Friday Routinely, Winston Peters is described as the kingmaker who gets to decide when the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded but equally important role as the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • The New Government’s Agreements
    Last Friday, almost six weeks after election day, National finally came to an agreement with ACT and NZ First to form a government. They also released the agreements between each party and looking through them, here are the things I thought were the most interesting (and often concerning) from the. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • How many smokers will die to fund the tax cuts?
    Maori and Pasifika smoking rates are already over twice the ‘all adult’ rate. Now the revenue that generates will be used to fund National’s tax cuts. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The devil is always in the detail and it emerged over the weekend from the guts of the policy agreements National ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • How the culture will change in the Beehive
    Perhaps the biggest change that will come to the Beehive as the new government settles in will be a fundamental culture change. The era of endless consultation will be over. This looks like a government that knows what it wants to do, and that means it knows what outcomes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • No More Winnie Blues.
    So what do you think of the coalition’s decision to cancel Smokefree measures intended to stop young people, including an over representation of Māori, from taking up smoking? Enabling them to use the tax revenue to give other people a tax cut?David Cormack summed it up well:It seems not only ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #47
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 19, 2023 thru Sat, Nov 25, 2023.  Story of the Week World stands on frontline of disaster at Cop28, says UN climate chief  Exclusive: Simon Stiell says leaders must ‘stop ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Some of it is mad, some of it is bad and some of it is clearly the work of people who are dangerous ...
    On announcement morning my mate texted:Typical of this cut-price, fake-deal government to announce itself on Black Friday.What a deal. We lose Kim Hill, we gain an empty, jargonising prime minister, a belligerent conspiracist, and a heartless Ayn Rand fanboy. One door closes, another gets slammed repeatedly in your face.It seems pretty ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • “Revolution” is the threat as the Māori Party smarts at coalition government’s Treaty directi...
    Buzz from the Beehive Having found no fresh announcements on the government’s official website, Point of Order turned today to Scoop’s Latest Parliament Headlines  for its buzz. This provided us with evidence that the Māori Party has been soured by the the coalition agreement announced yesterday by the new PM. “Soured” ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • The Good, the Bad, and the even Worse.
    Yesterday the trio that will lead our country unveiled their vision for New Zealand.Seymour looking surprisingly statesmanlike, refusing to rise to barbs about his previous comments on Winston Peters. Almost as if they had just been slapstick for the crowd.Winston was mostly focussed on settling scores with the media, making ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • When it Comes to Palestine – Free Speech is Under Threat
    Hi,Thanks for getting amongst Mister Organ on digital — thanks to you, we hit the #1 doc spot on iTunes this week. This response goes a long way to helping us break even.I feel good about that. Other things — not so much.New Zealand finally has a new government, and ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • Thank you Captain Luxon. Was that a landing, or were we shot down?
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Also in More Than A FeildingFriday The unboxing And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Cans of Worms.
    “And there’ll be no shortage of ‘events’ to test Luxon’s political skills. David Seymour wants a referendum on the Treaty. Winston wants a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Labour’s handling of the Covid crisis. Talk about cans of worms!”LAURIE AND LES were very fond of their local. It was nothing ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Disinformation campaigns are undermining democracy. Here’s how we can fight back
    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Misinformation is debated everywhere and has justifiably sparked concerns. It can polarise the public, reduce health-protective behaviours such as mask wearing and vaccination, and erode trust in science. Much of misinformation is spread not ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record.1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is not even an entry in Wikipedia. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    7 days ago

  • The New Government: 2023 Edition
    So New Zealand has a brand-spanking new right-wing government. Not just any new government either. A formal majority coalition, of the sort last seen in 1996-1998 (our governmental arrangements for the past quarter of a century have been varying flavours of minority coalition or single-party minority, with great emphasis ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    7 days ago

  • The unboxing
    And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the tree with its gold ribbon but can turn out to be nothing more than a big box holding a voucher for socks, so it ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • A cruel, vicious, nasty government
    So, after weeks of negotiations, we finally have a government, with a three-party cabinet and a time-sharing deputy PM arrangement. Newsroom's Marc Daalder has put the various coalition documents online, and I've been reading through them. A few things stand out: Luxon doesn't want to do any work, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • Hurrah – we have a new government (National, ACT and New Zealand First commit “to deliver for al...
    Buzz from the Beehive Sorry, there has been  no fresh news on the government’s official website since the caretaker trade minister’s press statement about the European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement. But the capital is abuzz with news – and media comment is quickly flowing – after ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • Christopher Luxon – NZ PM #42.
    Nothing says strong and stable like having your government announcement delayed by a day because one of your deputies wants to remind everyone, but mostly you, who wears the trousers. It was all a bit embarrassing yesterday with the parties descending on Wellington before pulling out of proceedings. There are ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Coalition Government details policies & ministers
    Winston Peters will be Deputy PM for the first half of the Coalition Government’s three-year term, with David Seymour being Deputy PM for the second half. Photo montage by Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: PM-Elect Christopher Luxon has announced the formation of a joint National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government with a ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • “Old Coat” by Peter, Paul & Mary.
     THERE ARE SOME SONGS that seem to come from a place that is at once in and out of the world. Written by men and women who, for a brief moment, are granted access to that strange, collective compendium of human experience that comes from, and belongs to, all the ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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