Twelve months of this Government

Written By: - Date published: 10:33 am, October 14th, 2024 - 49 comments
Categories: act, casey costello, chris bishop, Christopher Luxon, david seymour, karen chhour, michael wood, national, nz first, same old national, winston peters - Tags:

This Government was elected 12 months ago.

And I don’t think any of us could have appreciated how bad it would have been.

The public service has been decimated. Wellington is a shadow of its former self and the drying up effect of the flow on of public spending is evident for all to see.

The economy is tanking. There is an exodus of skilled New Zealanders overseas as the Construction Industry amongst other parts of the economy have been devastated by the Government slamming on the brakes on important projects. And unemployment is on the rise with the rate increasing from 3.9% to 4.6%.

Health is taking a hit. National has walked back on its promise to give Dunedin the Hospital it deserves as well as its promise that cuts would be made to the back office and not the front office. It is busily working out how to cut funding for Doctors Clinics and Hospitals. Having an adequate number of properly paid nurses is presented as a terrible thing and Provincial Hospitals especially are showing signs of excessive strain.

Race relations have been returned to the 1960s or worse. Act has its abomination of a bill the Treaty Principles Bill approaching its introduction date. This one Act will do more to wreck Crown Iwi relations than anything else I can think of. It does not matter how many times Act is told that its principles are wrong in law and bonkers in its historical take they do not care. The aim is not to seekan informed consensus. It is to stir up racism for political advantage. Shame on them.

The environment is taking a hit. As a new example the Government is bastardising the Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill by amending it to open up high protection areas to commercial fishing. Shane Jones has not met an endangered species that he does not want to kill off. The Fast Track Projects impressively manages to combine massive examples of corruption with an incredible disdain for environmental protection. And reopening up the country’s coast for oil and gas drilling is the formenting of culture wars for no actual gain apart from increased greenhouse gas emissions.

As is pretty well everything that Simeon Brown does. From trashing cycleway expenditure to making the country’s car fleet less efficient to cuts to public transport to planning for incredibly expensive Roads of National Significance suggest that his default position is to do whatever is the worst thing imaginable to address climate change.

And he is not the only dinosaur when it comes to decisions concerning transport infrastructure.

Nicola Willis’s cancelling of the replacement Cook Straight Ferries is diabolically bad. The ferries were a really, really good deal at $750 million and the other costs used by the Government were things like earthquake strengthening and adapting wharves to rising sea levels, the sorts of things that would have to be done at some stage anyway.

At least on this issue NZ First can see the wood for the trees. Winston’s statement on the weekend that the existing ferries’ lives could be extended out to a couple of decades with appropriate maintenance suggests that he is not going to be rushed into a quick decision that will no doubt mean ferries with no rail capacity.

What about the Government that was going to solve crime? The incidence of murders appears to have spiked. Military Boot Camps is nothing of the sort. Even the Military wanted to have nothing to do with them. The sentence is a standard Supervision with Residence sentence in a new facility dressed up in PR.

What about a Minister for Children who has no idea what section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act says but insists that it be repealed?

Or a Minister of Health who claims she wants the country to meets its smoke free goals but who has rolled out policies that look like they were drafted in Philip Morris’s head office?

And who thought we would have an Associate Minister of Justice (Firearms) who refuses to confirm that she will not bring back semi automatic weapons?

And what about a Prime Minister that thinks that being paid $52,000 a year to live in his own apartment is an entitlement, who does not read papers or show any desire to understand what his ministers are proposing, who thinks that poor people are bottom feeders, or who has overseen tax cuts for landlords totalling $3 billion dollars at the same time that cuts to Government spends are causing carnage?

No wonder why 40% of the country thinks that the country is in a worse position than it was a year ago and only 30% think things have improved. Amongst that part of the population no doubt are people who approve of drilling for oil, think climate change is a hoax and have an aversion to anything that has a hint of Te Ao Maori about it.

On this note I note that Michael Wood in typical middle of the road style gave NZ First and Act a score of 4/10 on One News Breakfast this morning. A gentle suggestion to Michael they are disasrous to the country and we should not be afraid to say so and mark them accordingly.

This could be a much longer post and there is a lot more that I could say but essentially this Government is ruining our country. The sooner they are voted out the better.

49 comments on “Twelve months of this Government ”

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  1. Mike the Lefty 1
    14 October 2024 at 10:54 am

    Well one thing I can say: Twelve months ago most of the people I work with were cheering about the downfall of Labour, and the ones who were cheering most then are noticeably a lot less enthusiastic now.

  2. SPC 2
    14 October 2024 at 12:15 pm

    2023 was our Brexit vote. Boomers in voting for the little England of their upbringing, voted for a nostalgic return to nationalism (a pseudo security for their retirement, the nation would return to being the one they once knew) and thus betrayed those who came after them.

    Within a year of Brexit, they were only ahead of Labour 42.3 to 40.0%. A campaign against Corbyn, aided by centrists within Labour, kept the Tories in power in a new election (as early as 2019) all so they could hang onto 2024, despite the post Brexit disaster that occurred.

    Here the return to being a colony dominated by foreign investment, and reenactment of the vision of the Hunn Report (the assimilated of Maori into the urban settler/migrant society/economy) is of a design to have New Zealand as a satellite of Oz (soon it will be common for boomer era families to have most their descendants living over the Tasman). The diminishment of the Treaty being of a project to become a state of Oz by 2101 (1901), rather than a bi-national state 2040 (1840). Though the promotion of this won't occur till around 2040 – by then the (neo-liberal) failure of our own nation to realise self-reliance (post British farm role) will be obvious.

  3. Patricia Bremner 3
    14 October 2024 at 12:18 pm

    I remember predicting what austerity would do, and if I recall, someone called after a poison, said "Have a cuppa and a lie down".

    National have teamed up with the far right and the tin hat brigade, and put the leadership role on an untried politician who mainly says two things. " I will tell you.." then babbles, or "I am unaware".

    Nick Rockel wrote on his "failure to be aware". Read it "Luxon Unaware" and realise how out of touch Luxon is, or how "he does not care" as he stated to a reporter. Nick's write up yesterday has been restacked 12 times.

  4. KJT 4
    14 October 2024 at 12:51 pm

    "existing ferries’ lives could be extended out to a couple of decades with appropriate maintenance"

    Yeah right.

    Only a few ships that were built to very high standards initially, last that long.

  5. AB 5
    14 October 2024 at 1:01 pm

    It's been said so often that it's boring to repeat it – but centrists create the conditions that result in them being replaced by the far right. It seems that UK Labour are now doing that with astonishing speed.

    • Res Publica 5.1
      14 October 2024 at 3:30 pm

      I'd amend that slightly: centrists end up being replaced by more extreme politics that spring up in rebellion by the slow pace of change caused by a cautious neo-liberal consensus.

      Remember Syriza in Greece and Podemos in Spain?

  6. koina 6
    14 October 2024 at 1:23 pm

    "We" ? Who are we? What exactly is bad? Bad for Who?

    After 12 months I am not in the least surprised.

    The Right wing coalition is doing exactly what they always do.

    1. They promised to attack Labour Greens and TPM.

    That is exactly what they are doing.

    2, They promised to look after National NZF and ACT

    That is exactly what they are doing.

    The left is being punished for humiliating the Right 2017-2023.

    So the right are celebrating big time.

    My early prediction.

    A referendum on a 4 year election cycle at the 2026 election .

    In 2027 a scripted change of leadership with Luxon standing down.

    Then early in 2028 the Right wing invents a "crisis" to justify calling an early election.

    • Ad 6.1
      14 October 2024 at 2:15 pm

      This government has been great for jail wardens, the top 5% of asset owners, bankers, petrol car salespeople, dairy farmers, landlords, trucking companies, gold mining prospectors, and people organising overseas junkets for politicians.

      If you're not in any one of those groups you are going backwards.

  7. Ad 7
    14 October 2024 at 2:09 pm
    • None of the things they said they'd solve have been solved. Or even started. Not one.

    – Wellington's economy has cratered and Auckland's is little better

    – Unemployment is rising fast everywhere except Southland

    – The entire economy is in or near recession

    – Our Trade Deficit is much worse than a year ago

    – Our two universities of any note are quickly decreasing in international standing

    – Massive exporting factories have just shut down

    – Electricity prices are out of control

    – Dunedin Hospital is at a standstill and the entire public health system is in chaos

    – The highest number of people on record have left the country and aren't coming back

    – Housing supply has gone far worse in the last year despite tax changes

    – All Maori groups are offended, and

    – We have abandoned most of our independent foreign policy

    After a year of this government I have no desire to have a 4 year parliamentary term.

    • koina 7.1
      14 October 2024 at 2:52 pm

      I am certain that all right wing media outlets will salute the first 12 months of this coalition describing their achievements as breath takingly successful having saved the country from the abyss of the previous administration.

      I mean we are talking politics here not truth.

      Truth has no place in politics.

      Never has never will

      • Ad 7.1.1
        14 October 2024 at 3:07 pm

        I expect you to do better than tell me facts don't matter.

        Even Oliver Hartwitch struggled to defend them on the Michael Laws show.

        • koina 7.1.1.1
          14 October 2024 at 4:45 pm

          Of course the facts matter in empiracle scientific analysis.

          But elections are never scientiific.

          Voters are not required to have any real factual political knowledge

          99% of voters would fail political fact tests 99% of the time.

          Politicians steer clear of facts but instead appeal to ignorance and pejudice .

          Election 2023 was yet another victory for prejudice and ignorance.

    • thinker 7.2
      14 October 2024 at 3:16 pm

      My point too.

      They've taken lots away but hardly brought positive change for anyone in the bottom 90%.

      I think they were planning on the economy lifting prior to the next budget but they might need to explain their tax cuts for landlords against multi-year defecits.

      On another note re: anniversaries, the boot camp trial should be completed around now but I haven't heard any fanfare. Wondering what it cost, versus what gains were made. What did the participants get out of it?

    • Bearded Git 7.3
      14 October 2024 at 5:41 pm

      It's like the obverse of "what did the Roman's do for us?"

      I'm sure that the National Party manifesto also promised that it would continue to meet the Labour government’s climate change objectives and I am sure that there was some waffly promise to protect the environment.

      These two epic fails should be added to the list in capitals.

  8. Kay 8
    14 October 2024 at 3:28 pm

    And I continue to have absolutely zero empathy or sympathy for those who voted for this mob "to punish Labour" and/or "tax cuts", and are now suffering personally for it. Also none for those who made the conscious decision not to vote- not voting also has consequences.

    Total empathy and sympathy for those who at least tried to keep this lot out.

  9. Ad 9
    14 October 2024 at 3:57 pm

    40% of us believe things have gone worse for New Zealand since the election:

    Poll: 40% say NZ in worse shape than on election day | Otago Daily Times Online News (odt.co.nz)

  10. Darien Fenton 10
    14 October 2024 at 4:12 pm

    I don't know if you noticed the repositioning of NZ First at their conference at the weekend. WP's speech spent half of it attacking Labour, and clearly targeting Labour voters. Add to that his invitation to the FIRST Union secretary Dennis Maga, who spoke about the contractor laws Brooke van Velden is proposing (which WP wld have signed off on in Cabinet, but is now saying they are considering it) and his claim NZ First are the real party for workers, including exaggerated claims about the minimum wage etc. Never mind he is part of a government that has abolished FPAs,brought back 90 day trials for everyone, is making health and safety "less prescriptive" and gave the lowest minimum wage increase since the last National Govt. My take on it is that they think they can attract more of the traditional blue collar workers, a bit like Trump is trying to do and particularly appealing to the innate yearning of those who think it was all hunky dory back in the day before we had all this equality nonsense. Problem is the “blue collar” workers of today are more likely to work in a supermarket or retail, or as a care worker, and be women.

    • Michael who failed Civics 10.1
      15 October 2024 at 12:34 pm

      Labour does not appeal to the people Winston is courting. Thre is no evidence that Labour even wants to appeal to them or knows how. So righwing populism succeeds at the expense of many of the people who vote for it.

      • weka 10.1.1
        16 October 2024 at 10:38 am

        pretty sure in the elections NZF does well in, they're getting people who voted Labour at other times.

    • weka 10.2
      16 October 2024 at 10:39 am

      Peters is full of shit, but got to hand it to him, he knows how to play the political game to his advantage very well.

  11. Patricia Bremner 11
    14 October 2024 at 4:24 pm

    Ad, 40% think we are going backwards, 26% thinks about the same. That is 66% of unimpressed voters. The TV1 poll is out tonight with the rest of the numbers. Got my popcorn ready.

  12. SPC 12
    14 October 2024 at 4:26 pm

    The government message in the public space – they were reducing the numbers in "emergency housing".

    Only later would/will we come to understand what was going on.

    The National Party practice is to say, they are results driven.

    How they get the results, is not as well know – the less on the waiting list meant, harder to stay on, or get on that waiting list.

    We now know the plan to spend less on food in schools, includes less support to food banks as well.

    Also that community health groups are not going to be as well funded.

    But back to the means by which they have less people in "emergency" housing.

    In once case, $6M less in funding with 3 days notice

    "The central government funding change came without notice and after decision-making on the council's Long-Term Plan 2024-2034.

    "Central government has advised that the change in funding criteria is to prioritise moving people out of emergency accommodation," Wilson said.

    This later statement is a classic of bureaucracy (not original) we have not cut funding, we have only capped …

    "HUD has not 'cut' subsidies to Haumaru Housing or other Community Housing Providers (CHPs)," a spokesperson said.

    "We have capped the number of redirects at current levels, so the income flow from Income-Related Rent Subsidies (IRRS) for CHPs like Haumaru Housing remains the same as it currently is."

    "CHPs can replace tenants as needed but cannot increase the overall number of redirects," the HUD spokesperson said.

    "There will be no displacement of existing social housing tenants due to this change."

    Explainer

    The IRRS is paid by HUD to social housing landlords to cover the gap between what tenants pay and the market rent.

    Redirects occur when a house, previously used for another purpose, becomes social housing. For example, a housing provider may turn a private rental into a social house and receive the subsidy.

    Since July 2024, HUD only allowed new redirects in exceptional cases, to focus on building more new social houses.

    Key Point

    The spokesperson added that Haumaru Housing could replace IRRS tenancies with new tenants as they become available, but it could not add more IRRS tenancies using its existing housing stock.

    Future – AC and this government

    Manager of Auckland Council's CCO and external partnerships team, Alastair Cameron, said the council is advocating to central government, in liaison with Haumaru Housing and The Selwyn Foundation, to support the reinstatement of the funding.

    Future – those needing housing

    "In the meantime, Haumaru Housing will be able to safely house existing tenants, but may be unable to take on additional tenants when units become available."

    Note part of this story, is a social housing provider not getting financial assistance to house more within its existing stock, because the government wanted to fund more stock.

    Sounds rather inefficient.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/530691/blockhouse-bay-complex-council-maintains-stance-on-pensioner-donated-land

  13. April 13
    14 October 2024 at 8:31 pm

    Thank you. An accurate article summing up the worse govt in history. And yet ignoramus brushes it all off and still thinks he’s the bees knees of a leader. A part time PM who was unaware 20 times in all stand ups. And not to forget 5 or 6 times on national tv showed his personality when angry at our media. This is a PM who is the most hated imo.

  14. SPC 14
    14 October 2024 at 8:52 pm

    Thomas Coughlan is Deputy Political Editor and covers politics from Parliament. He has worked for the Herald since 2021 and has worked in the press gallery since 2018

    https://archive.li/cg28l#selection-4729.0-4729.283

    NACT dependent on

    1.NZF surviving alongside them to the end of Seymour's 18 months as deputy PM.

    2.remaining in parliament after the next election.

    3.wanting to form a new coalition.

    Leading 45 to 44% to those who want them gone otherwise.

    NZF at the margin at 5%.

    https://st2.depositphotos.com/1004764/7993/i/450/depositphotos_79936642-stock-photo-businessman-hand-hanging-broken-rusty.jpg

  15. Muttonbird 15
    14 October 2024 at 9:32 pm

    Thomas Coughlan is Deputy Political Editor for the National party and covers politics for the National party. He has worked for the National party since 2021 and has worked for the National party since 2018.

    Fixed.

    • Michael who failed Civics 15.1
      15 October 2024 at 12:37 pm

      Absolutely. I watched Coughlan change after he attended a National Party conference, around 2018, and was either bought or manipulated into backing them.

  16. Vivienne Shepherd 16
    15 October 2024 at 8:30 am

    It is high time a group of concerned and influential citizens got together to implement the petition of the country to the Govenor General to have this Parliament dissolved and a general election held. This three headed hydra has done too much damage already.

  17. tsmithfield 17
    15 October 2024 at 9:51 am

    It must be a bit frustrating for the left given that there has been very little shift in the polls for the government. That is because governments tend to do their unpopular stuff at the start of a term for obvious reasons. So, if the polls aren't going to move by now, then it probably bodes well for the government over the longer term.

    The other thing is that the left probably does have reason to fear. I was never too worried about the previous government. Even if they promised to do things I didn't like, those things seldom materialised anyway because they were so useless at getting things done IMO.

    In contrast, this government is not pussy-footing around. So, stuff the left doesn't like probably is going to happen. And fast.

    • Patricia Bremner 17.1
      15 October 2024 at 10:38 am

      It is sad tsmithfield you are buying their "Getting things done".

      When you list the facts, they have undone many things the previous government had done..

      That makes a nonsense of their stated position. "The Labour government spent and did nothing"

      The anger disbelief and gathering resistance will be clear on the 23rd of October, if people have not lost courage in the face of spiteful threats. Even signing a protest can lose government support as David Latele found.

      TV1 Polls have generally been less favourable for the Left imo. Further, the Polls are used to create a narrative Maiki taking over from Jessica.

      Speeding up process by cutting out democratic steps is authoritarian government imo.

      • tsmithfield 17.1.1
        15 October 2024 at 11:22 am

        "When you list the facts, they have undone many things the previous government had done.."

        Fair point. But the sort of things they "got done" that have been undone are more to do with bureaucratic interference, counterproductive tax increases, etc. The sort of stuff that can be "done" through the stroke of a pen rather than through planning or building anything.

        But when it comes to practical, useful things they didn't do much IMO.

        For example:

        Their promise to get cracking on the Dunedin hospital back in 2017. It is a pity they didn't do that. If they had, Dunedin would likely be close to having their hospital now, without so much of the cost blow outs.

        Their promise of 100000 kiwibuild houses goes without saying.

        Their promise of light rail in Auckland that ended up being a complete joke.

        To contradict myself, I would have been pleased if they had achieved their goals with respect to the hospital and kiwibuild houses. But I was pleased they never got anywhere with the light rail. To me it seemed there were much better ways to spend the money on transport rather than wasting billions on a highly specific transport project.

        • Patricia Bremner 17.1.1.1
          15 October 2024 at 2:09 pm

          tsmithfield, you make no comment on turning round damage done by Key et al.

          You make no mention of covid. So to demand fast progress during a pandemic?

          You also fail to mention having to deal with the fall out of the leaky homes, a damaged siloed health system, which had fragmented data systems.

          So much of the "Rock Star" economy under Key was a shabby lie.

          This current government inherited near full employment and improving tax take, new Trade treaties and improved stats in housing health and apprenticeships. Plus improving stats for Maori and Pacifica.
          A tin hat brigade spread covid misinformation and occupied the grounds of parliament to cause upset and damage. This was used by some of those in power now.

          To speak of loosened tobacco rules gun rules and use of conservation areas, and sacking huge numbers as progress is a crass insulting view of what has happened.

          Further the threats to Wellington are now being acted out.

          After killing 3 waters, this government is blaming the Council for rates increases, which are caused by no plan from Central government to assist with infrastructure borrowing.

          This means Council tried to sell an asset to balance the books and was voted down, which has allowed the Minister to call it a shambles and threaten to take over. This after sacking six thousand plus Public servants. Some progress.

          When moderates start false narratives… it is almost praising outright cruelty.

          • tsmithfield 17.1.1.1.1
            15 October 2024 at 3:47 pm

            tsmithfield, you make no comment on turning round damage done by Key et al.

            Good grief. Even if there was that sort of damage (which I don't agree with), you are looking back two terms of the previous government. So, plenty of time for them to sort any such problems out, if they were there in the first place.

            Further the threats to Wellington are now being acted out.

            If you are talking about the Wellington council which is in absolute shambles. Then, I think it is well overdue for commissioners to be brought in there.

            Firstly, it looks like they will have major issues funding their long-term plan given the scrapping of the airport share sale. Secondly, they are wasting money on vanity projects and monuments to stupidity such as the on going town hall money pit. While at the same time, businesses are collapsing and water leaks are sprouting all over the place.

            • Patricia Bremner 17.1.1.1.1.1
              15 October 2024 at 4:27 pm

              Was there work on infrastructure in Wellington under Key?. No. His vanity project was in Auckland.

              The leaks in Wellington pipes are so bad and old that rates alone won't keep up. Bill English had no surpluses in his budgets and yet Key told us we had "A rock star Economy" So yes all Councils will be on the back foot in Wellington. Green or not.

              Interesting to note Key is being sued in the states. Luxon and Key play fast and loose with rules, calling for "fast track" to avoid scrutiny.
              imo that will come back to bite their "friends" but like Macavity cat, Luxon won't be there.

              • tsmithfield …
                15 October 2024 at 5:31 pm

                Was there work on infrastructure in Wellington under Key?.

                Last time I looked water infrastructure is the council's responsibility.

                If they were focusing their spending on actually fixing the infrastructure you might have an argument for help from the government. But, when they are wasting money hand over fist on cycle ways, $84000 on a cycle stand that is barely used, and a bottomless pit of a town hall restoration that should probably be bulldozer fodder, then I have no pity for them.

                Imagine how many water leaks could be fixed if they made that their priority instead of the frivolities.

              • Martin Judd …
                16 October 2024 at 12:51 pm

                I think a lot comes down to intelligence of voters…

                But enough said.

    • tWig 17.2
      15 October 2024 at 10:40 am

      See 1.1 post. It's always easier to break things than to make things. This government has mostly stopped things put in motion by the previous governments or brought in legislation under 'emergency'. That legislation has come in with a shutdown of broad consultation across all involved, to narrow 'what do you want?' backroom chats with mates who will benefit from the new legislation. And even to one mate, Phillips Morris, and five 'publications' downloaded from the internet.

      Sure, you can speed stuff up that way. Smart of the government to notice you can skip democratic process and go straight to kleptocracy.

    • SPC 17.3
      15 October 2024 at 1:12 pm

      Yes and no.

      In the UK there has been a turning against Labour, but this is only because they were not elected, the Tories were removed.

      And it being FPP their vote total was not high, so only a minority voted them in.

      So it was easy for the many to then turn on them and say, they are no better. And so after 5 years, go join them. We can vote LD.

      Here the majority voted for the coalition.

      People do not like to admit they were wrong, they would rather wait before doing so.

      A 4 year time would probably make a one term government more likely.

      But this looks like the 1990-1993 government and they would not have survived an election under MMP.

  18. SPC 18
    15 October 2024 at 2:42 pm

    SOP

    "We've been dealing with high inflation, high interest rates – but I do feel that things are improving and I do think there are encouraging signs of some good progress."

    For example, Luxon predicted inflation would be below 3% "and heading downwards" in tomorrow's announcement.

    The rise in inflation and interest rates was worldwide. Disruption to the supply chain (in part COVID, in part nations stepping away from China, in part sanctions on Russia, in part the Red Sea and Ukraine war), climb down from QE during the pandemic, weather events …

    The RB (somewhat accurate) forecast of the inflation track down to under 3% was made well before the change of government.

    The actions the government has taken as per government spending were done because of their unfunded tax cuts.

    https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/10/15/we-wont-be-popular-with-everybody-i-get-that-prime-minister/