What happened to National’s policy machine?

Written By: - Date published: 8:34 am, November 16th, 2022 - 70 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, david parker, local government, national, same old national - Tags:

Remember when a few leaders ago then National Leader Simon Bridges promised that National would be a 56 MP policy machine?

Judging by its response to the Government’s release of two bills at the centre of RMA reform the machine has major problems.

From Russell Palmer at RNZ:

Party leader Christopher Luxon this afternoon said they were still digesting Labour’s more than 800-page proposal, but had already identified three big problems.

“The first is around … adding another layer of bureaucracy; the second piece is really around rising levels of uncertainty and complexity that I think will lead to more interpretation from bureaucrats and also courts; the final thing is it’s taking 10 years to get implemented and that’s just way too long,” he said.

“There’s elements that will be positive I’m sure and that we’ll agree with and like – I think some of the things I initially saw around fast-tracking, and embedding that’s a good thing – but at this point we want to digest it further.”

“It’s gonna cause huge amounts of debate and discussion for the next three years and nothing fundamentally will change. We don’t have time for that – we’re in a turnaround mode for this country and we need to get things done.”

National is acting like the release of the bill has caught them by surprise.  Which of itself is surprising because the development of these bills has been more public than any other piece of legislation I can think of.

First up there was the Randerson Review where an independent panel analysed the existing law and provided recommendations in a 531 page report.

In response to the proposal then National leader Judith Collins said this:

We will replace it with two new pieces of law: an Environment Standards Act, setting our environmental bottom lines; and an Urban Planning and Development Act, giving clarity and consistency. We will begin this work in our first 100 days.

“We will introduce new legislation by the end of next year,” she said earlier this month.

I do not know if she was reading the tea leaves and wanted to preempt the Government’s next steps or if it took up her offer but this is what the Government has done.  And her suggestion that National would have a bill ready in a short period of time appears to be hopelessly optimistic.

Then there was the release of an initial draft of the Natural and Built Environments Act and a select committee inquiry into the draft.  I presume National MPs were present and actually did their job of coming to grips with the draft.

There have been regular newsletters, a Local Government steering group, a number of speeches by Minister David Parker, and a slew of information on Ministry for the Environment’s website.  The development of these bills has been a very public process.

Which is why Luxon’s response is so bizarre.  Complaining about too many bureaucrats and then saying implementation will take too long, ironically highlighting the need for more not less bureaucrats, is cheap lazy point scoring on an issue that needs to be taken seriously.

56 MP policy machine?  At a time when there needs to be a principled discussion about a complex reform proposal National is missing in action.

70 comments on “What happened to National’s policy machine? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Ad 1
    16 November 2022 at 8:52 am

    The entire construction and development industry has been tracking and inputting into this for months and months. Also Infrastructure NZ, Productivity Commission, MBIE, and most other entities chock full with Nat sympathisers.

    They have made good solid changes since the released discussion draft.

    So the National vacuum is pretty inexcusable.

    Now all we need to see is the detail on the Energy Zones.

  2. roy cartland 2
    16 November 2022 at 9:04 am

    Don't forget they don't have to convince the whole country, or even half of it. And those left don't really need 'convincing' of anything, just a place to throw their vote against RedCiNDa.

  3. left for dead 3
    16 November 2022 at 9:19 am

    Look too my mind that party (national) are fundamentally lazy.as most right wingers are,just look how they bemoan Labour and even Green policy then go along with the fundamentals. Can you still here that cat call"communism by stealth". As so aptly portrayed by John Clarke and Bryan Dawe of the liberal party in stralia,"the Annual report"wasn't it John Hewson and even Jeff Kennett,Maatae.

    • georgecom 3.1
      17 November 2022 at 7:35 pm

      well called. they like long summer holidays rather than doing some hard mahi coming up with policies. the latest today, bruch off some expired boot camp policies and pretend it's something new. overlook the fact that boot camps were expensive at $400,000 plus kid and had a reoffending rate around 85%. The Key govt was lazy and rightly got a reputation as a do nothing government. A Luxon govt would be pretty much the same by the looks. Not address any of the big issues NZ has, repeal a few of Labours policies but put nothing meaningful in it's place and just sit on other Labour initiatives but do nothing to enhance them. Climate change for example, National just sat on it's hands for 9 years based on what Labour had put in place but did nothing meaningful to address the issue. A ton of carbon pretty much stayed $20 for 9 years and no move on agriculture emissions. Expect more of the same from Luxon.

  4. AB 4
    16 November 2022 at 9:36 am

    Complaining about too many bureaucrats and then saying implementation will take too long, ironically highlighting the need for more not less bureaucrats…

    Unless their instinct is just to throw most of the thing into the bin and let people do pretty much what they want. That would be quick, low effort – and an eventual mess. But behind the cheery "Good mornings" and layers of comical corporate blather, Luxy is more from the libertarian right than any National leader we've seen in a while.

  5. alwyn 5
    16 November 2022 at 10:03 am

    It's a shame they don't follow the lead of the current Government isn't it?

    Promise a policy and then implement it quickly. Just do it in the speedy manner of the Labour Party. Look at how they promised free dental care for adults back in 2018, at the Annual Conference, if my memory is accurate. Promised it, got it implemented and it has been a wonderful success hasn't it?

    I'm sure Micky can remember all about it. He was possibly at the Conference and can remember how the delegates welcomed the announcement.

    Alternatively he may be able to tell me that I was just dreaming and that such a policy has never been proposed by the Labour Party and that this is just wishful thinking on my part. Which is it Micky?

    • observer 5.1
      16 November 2022 at 10:19 am

      It's understandable that you don't even want to talk about National and the RMA, but this is a really feeble attempt at trolling. Try again.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 5.2
      16 November 2022 at 10:28 am

      alwyn for leader of the opposition – they could do worse, & have & have & have & have.

    • Louis 5.4
      16 November 2022 at 4:22 pm

      alwyn, Labour didn't campaign on introducing universal dental care.

      "Labour will increase dental health grants to $1,000
      for those on low incomes"

      https://drive.google.com/file/d/13uhcVrn8HUXEoWoPQgkJYjHX_d_Za-O0/view

      "The Government has more than tripled dental grant payments for low-income families from $300 to $1000 as part of this year's Budget"

      "delivery on the Government's promise to do so when elected in 2020"

      https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/05/19/budget-2022-dental-grant-payments-more-than-tripled/

      • alwyn 5.4.1
        16 November 2022 at 4:40 pm

        Well what was it that the Party Conference in, I believe 2018, voted for?

        A friend of mind, a party member, and yes I agree that shows she is not very smart, who attended said that it was decided on by the Conference.

        Later on they dropped it of course, as you are showing. There is much more fun in throwing $150 million or so at a phantom cycle bridge in Auckland.

        https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/127427327/nz-govt-to-spend-150m-on-abandoned-auckland-bike-bridge-alternative-crossing-options

        [I’d already warned you, but you clearly insist on being modded, so here it is: stop with the diversion trolling. This is your last warning – Incognito]

        • Louis 5.4.1.1
          16 November 2022 at 5:06 pm

          The fact remains Labour didn't campaign on universal dental care.

          What kind of friend are you that you would call your friends stupid? Would she still consider you a friend if she knew how you really felt about her?

          As your link shows the govt are spending the money on 'alternative crossing options" instead.

          • alwyn 5.4.1.1.1
            16 November 2022 at 5:39 pm

            She knows I think she is stupid for being a Labour Party member. Lately she has even exhibited signs that she thinks so to. It will be rather late in life but she may yet come to her senses.

            In all other ways she can be quite sensible.

            • Louis 5.4.1.1.1.1
              16 November 2022 at 6:19 pm

              Yeah sure as if anything you say is credible. Ever cross your mind that your friend may think you are the stupid one alwyn?

        • Incognito 5.4.1.2
          16 November 2022 at 5:44 pm

          Mod note

        • Craig H 5.4.1.3
          17 November 2022 at 12:12 pm

          There is no guarantee that a policy voted on by a conference will make its way into the manifesto – that just gets them into the pool of policies being considered.

          One of my policy remits was also voted on favourably by the Labour Conference 2018 but is only partly being brought to fruition (to investigate ACC being extended to sickness and the inequity of ACC being available for disabilities caused by injury but not for those with other causes – the first will be partially covered by the Income Insurance Scheme, the second was a specific manifesto commitment).

        • Chris 5.4.1.4
          17 November 2022 at 12:37 pm

          Deciding whether your friend is smart or not might depend more on whether she regards you as a friend, rather than on how you regard her.

    • georgecom 5.5
      19 November 2022 at 4:38 pm

      like have some policies? after 9 years of a do nothing Key Govt this one at least has some runs on the board. yes some thing have been quietly shelved like kiwibuild, a cross harbour cycle bridge (which was just plain stupid in my mind) and might be the auckland light rail. the key govt did frick all about changing the nz polocy settings, pretty much just lathargically steered the truck along the road despite the plethora of growing issues around them. looking like a luxon govt could be much the same

  6. observer 6
    16 November 2022 at 10:32 am

    Richard Harman has some background on how National's (i.e. Luxon's) empty "I'm against it, whatever it is" response contrasts with more engaged voices in the sector.

    https://www.politik.co.nz/luxons-low-point/

    He links it to Luxon's polling, which is as good an explanation as any.

    • Sacha 6.1
      16 November 2022 at 3:48 pm

      Interesting. Bishop and Luxon are vice-signalling to their public ('govt bad, business good'), not responding in any substantive way about the proposals.

  7. Patricia Bremner 7
    16 November 2022 at 10:40 am

    A pandemic changes priorities Alwyn. But you know that.

  8. Mike the Lefty 8
    16 November 2022 at 11:38 am

    National 's default policies:

    Tax cuts for the already wealthy

    Build more roads

    Build more prisons.

    That's about it.

    • Barfly 8.1
      16 November 2022 at 12:20 pm

      Benefit cuts

      Freeze minimum wage

      Asset sales

      Beneficiary sanctions

      • alwyn 8.1.1
        16 November 2022 at 1:51 pm

        "Freeze minimum wage".

        When was the last time that a National Government did that?

        • Barfly 8.1.1.1
          16 November 2022 at 3:25 pm

          You have no disagreement with the other 6 then Alwyn?

          • alwyn 8.1.1.1.1
            16 November 2022 at 4:02 pm

            I thought that struggling to justify one of them would be hard enough for you.

            Actually I see that it was too hard even to justify one of your claims. I guess we must treat everything you say as fantasy.

            • Barfly 8.1.1.1.1.1
              16 November 2022 at 4:55 pm

              You're troll mate – a bad faith commentator – I am not spending time explaining stuff to you because you have an emotional need to be a hard arse RW prick – no explanation or cogent argument will ever change the way you approach things you are simply trying to waste my time. Meh I would love a few beers!

              • alwyn …
                16 November 2022 at 5:52 pm

                "no explanation or cogent argument will ever change the way you approach things".

                Try me. When people have shown me facts that disprove things I thought to be true I am only to willing to correct my opinions. I assure you though that I don't just withdraw because people like you make claims which they then refuse to back up with facts.

                • Louis …
                  16 November 2022 at 6:29 pm

                  "When people have shown me facts that disprove things I thought to be true I am only to willing to correct my opinions"

                  That does not appear to be true.

                  See your post @ 5 and the responses.

                  https://thestandard.org.nz/what-happened-to-nationals-policy-machine/#comment-1921392

                • Patricia Bremner …
                  16 November 2022 at 7:24 pm

                  Alwyn… Look up Muldoon wage price freeze.

                  • alwyn …
                    16 November 2022 at 8:38 pm

                    Yes, I remember that. It was the final lashing out of one of the worst Prime Ministers of my lifetime.

                    It was also 40 years ago Patricia. It was even earlier than Roger Douglas's time, which all the true lefties contributing to this site try to forget, or at least deny that he was the brains behind the Labour Government of the time.

                    Muldoon was an idiot. New Zealand was well rid of him.

                    • Sacha …
                      16 November 2022 at 8:55 pm

                      Maybe seeing Muldoon's shennanigans turned Douglas to the dark side?

                    • alwyn …
                      16 November 2022 at 9:28 pm

                      Well I can visualise Muldoon as a mini-me version of Darth Vader, although he was a bit diminutive to be the real thing.

                      On that basis I suppose you could imagine him persuading someone over to the dark side.

                      I wouldn't regard Roger as having been on the dark side though. He was what New Zealand needed and you will have observed that no succeeding Government has changed his actions in any significant way. Apart from Robertson with his creed of tax, tax, tax, tax, tax, tax.

              • Patricia Bremner …
                16 November 2022 at 6:05 pm

                Barfly devil "Change what you can" Alwyn is not one of those things!!

        • Ad 8.1.1.2
          16 November 2022 at 3:40 pm

          National have railed against all minimum wage increases of this government.

          You can look up the media releases and statements yourself.

          • Incognito 8.1.1.2.1
            16 November 2022 at 3:54 pm

            It doesn’t matter what National or Luxon say or refuse to say about freezing the minimum wage because they are likely to hide behind ACT and give in to ACT’s demands in an ACT-led NACT government, policy-wise speaking. ACT is on record for wanting to freeze the minimum wage for the next three years. Luxon is just a red herring and ACT/Seymour is the gorilla in the room.

            • X Socialist 8.1.1.2.1.1
              16 November 2022 at 4:26 pm

              Well done. You are right. Seymour will decide how race relations proceed after the election. He will influence many major issues currently besieging our once great nation. In fact, while you had me on executive leave, I decided I will be voting for him at election time. Big call for me, but I see no one else touting democracy. The question is: will Seymour be able to front and handle the odium and hate that comes his way?? We may see protests from Maori that make the Foreshore and Seabed protests look like a quaint church picnic.

          • alwyn 8.1.1.2.2
            16 November 2022 at 4:21 pm

            I tend to take most media releases by opposition parties with a grain of salt. It is only when they get into Government that one can really judge their actions rather than their words.

            Remember how Labour were going to build 100,000 homes with Kiwibuild? Then how they failed dismally and pretended they had never meant to do it?

            Or how they were going to change the flag? It was part of their policy in 2014. Then when John Key tried to implement the policy a couple of years later they beat their breasts and opposed the idea. Not Invented Here, of course.

            Then they had a CGT in their policy for a couple of elections. Once they got into Government they dropped the whole thing. I think they suddenly realised that it was going to apply to them.

            No. Experience tells me that what politicians say in Opposition does always carry over into office as a Government.

      • Mike the Lefty 8.1.2
        16 November 2022 at 8:02 pm

        Those are probably more ACT than National, but I'm sure National wouldn't object too much because it would be ACT calling the shots under a ACT/National coalition.

    • Incognito 8.2
      16 November 2022 at 1:41 pm

      Repeal
      Stall
      Rinse
      Repeat

    • Tony Veitch 8.3
      16 November 2022 at 5:26 pm

      Ah, but Nicola Willis outlined, in a series of worn-out cliches (oxymoron!) what Natz policies are, including 'personal responsibility,' 'success' and 'ambition!' Oh, and cutting all the bureaucrats, like extra teacher and health support, I suppose!

      She frightens me, another Ruth Richardson!

      She was, rightly, torn into little bits by Megan Woods (General Debate).

  9. observer 9
    16 November 2022 at 12:33 pm

    More from National's policy machine. They support the Clean Car Discount … or don't. Or might.

    Luxon should really just stop talking.

    https://twitter.com/marcdaalder/status/1592639547208146945

    “A spokesperson for Christopher Luxon says he meant to say the Clean Car Standard, not Discount.”

    meant to say … another day, another walk back.

  10. tWeggie [stick to one username here and this is not the one] 10
    16 November 2022 at 1:04 pm

    My guesses:

    • immediately raise retirement age to 67
    • privatise ACC
    • reimplement charter school policy to strengthen a two tier education system, as in UK and Australia

    [stick to the one and only approved username here, thanks – Incognito]

  11. Sacha 11
    16 November 2022 at 5:18 pm

    Policy, you say? https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/christopher-luxon-u-turns-on-u-turn-acknowledging-he-misspoke/G4LEMNH2MNHV7M2VAR453Z4NRE/

    Christopher Luxon drove himself into a policy traffic jam on Wednesday morning, after he said National would U-turn on a policy it vociferously opposed – the clean car discount or “ute tax”.

    National later U-turned on that remark, clarifying that Luxon misspoke and had not intended to U-turn on that particular policy. He was in fact talking about the clean car standard, an emissions standard for vehicle importers.

    National opposed that policy too, meaning Luxon has still U-turned on a policy today – just not the policy he said he was U-turning on.

  13. RP Mcmurphy 13
    22 November 2022 at 9:00 pm

    the nationals party has decomposed into a gang of whiners whingers moaners and criticisers. anyone listening to queston time will see (and hear) that that party is bereft of ideas and their scattershot questions makes them look like they have some form of bi-polar disorder.

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    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 fieldingBy 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 FeildingBy 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 KōreroBy 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 KōreroBy 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 KōreroBy 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 KōreroBy 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 KōreroBy 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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