WTAF NZ First?

Written By: - Date published: 6:44 am, February 22nd, 2020 - 148 comments
Categories: climate change, ETS, julie anne genter, law, law and "order", nz first, political parties, uncategorized, winston peters - Tags:

Two recent news items confirm that we are well and truly in election year..

First up there was this news that NZ First had torpedoed the Green Party’s supporting EV policy.  The policy itself is sound.  Anything that moves the country’s fleet from embarrassing gas guzzler to sleek hybrid or even sleeker EV is a good thing.  We are facing a crisis.  Every step that produces less CO2 emissions is a good thing.

I mean do we have to go through this again?  The proof is in.  The polar caps are melting.  Australia has burned recently.  Auckland is tinder dry and people relying on rain are running out of water.

And it is not even as if the policy was overly radical.  The same number of vehicles would enter the fleet, it is just that people would be incentivised to buy more efficient vehicles and disincentivised from buying less efficient vehicles.

And why is this a bad thing?  The preferred vehicles will destroy the environment less quickly, have lower running costs and be slightly slower.  Can someone point out to me the downside?

Of course the policy is not perfect.  We have to aim for the end of petrol driven cars coming into the fleet by 2035, just like Boris Johnson in the United Kingdom has done.  But this was a start.

NZ First clearly thought there was a downside.  It stopped them from seeking support from ultra conservatives if they acted rationally about climate change.  Excuse me while I cry a crocodile tear.

From Thomas Coughlan at Stuff:

The Government’s headline policy to cut the price of electric vehicles by up to $8000 has stalled in first gear after NZ First ministers halted it.

The policy had two parts: a Clean Car Discount, or “feebate” which would subsidise the cost of cleaner vehicles by making polluting vehicles cost more and a Clean Car Standard, which was designed to encourage importers to import cars with better emissions standards.

Green co-leader James Shaw said if NZ First ultimately decided to block the policy, his party would take it to the election.

That now looks likely.

It is understood this measure was weighed up by the NZ First caucus and it decided such a policy needed to go to the electorate.

It is understood this measure was weighed up by the NZ First caucus and it decided such a policy needed to go to the electorate.

“We can confirm NZ First are holding up the rollout of policy that would mean cheaper electric and hybrid cars for New Zealanders,” Shaw said.

There were attacks on the policy suggesting people in rural areas would be hit hardest.  Maybe they should stop buying gas guzzlers. It is their environment too.  And their way of live depends on a sustainable environment existing.

The second example is particularly galling.  As we approach the anniversary of the Christchurch tragedy and as stage 2 of the Government’s proposed law changes makes its way through the house NZ First want to play politics with the bill.

From Collette Devlin at Stuff:

NZ First could potentially hold up new gun laws as it changes tack in supporting gun law reform.

It comes as the gun lobby puts pressure on the party to renege on its commitment to pass the laws, telling supporters NZ First would be “toast” in the election if it supported the new gun law.

The party has so far supported reform but NZ First MP Ron Mark has signalled the party may move away from supporting core aspects of the news laws, saying the caucus had some reservations.

The Arms Legislation Bill, which passed its second reading on Wednesday, includes a firearms registry, harsher penalties and a new warning system to show if a person is a fit and proper person to hold a firearms licence.

The Select Committee process also resulted in a number of changes to the Bill that included: the duration of a firearms licence remaining at 10 years, new restrictions to prohibit carbine conversion kits for pistols, modified language around health considerations and the clarification of privacy issues around access to the register by agencies like NZ Customs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Select Committee process also resulted in a number of changes to the Bill that included: the duration of a firearms licence remaining at 10 years, new restrictions to prohibit carbine conversion kits for pistols, modified language around health considerations and the clarification of privacy issues around access to the register by agencies like NZ Customs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Council of Licensed Firearms Owners (these nuts) think that trying to stop the mass murder of innocent muslims by extremists is somehow an attack on their rights, paradoxically rights they never had.  And why don’t they accept that the current rules are hopeless.  There are 51 reasons I can offer why.

NZ First’s language is frustratingly vague.  Do they think there should be a right to bear semi automatic weapons that can kill a large number of people during a very brief time?  Who knows.

The Bill has wide public support.  Only extremes on the right think the proposal is a bad idea.

On these two issues NZ First will suggest that they are acting as a balance between two extremes.  They are not.  They are actively seeking support from the extreme part of the political spectrum so that they can survive.

If you ever need evidence to show why increased support for Labour and for the Greens is vital this should provide plenty.

148 comments on “WTAF NZ First? ”

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  1. Ad 1
    22 February 2020 at 8:06 am

    I'm looking forward to some politics actually occurring in New Zealand.

    We need some fight out in the open, not the grossly-but-apparent NZF totally cowering the Greens and the Prime Minister simply not having the strength or experience to do anything about it.

    Shaw has done the Greens no favors by being excessively polite, and the only time they get any profile is when NZF has pantsed them again.

    Peters has done NZF no favours by being a curmudgeon without delivering, and being the most egregious sanctimonious hypocrite when it comes to political fundraising.

    There's 7 months to go to the job interview, and this government is struggling to show it has a political pulse.

    • David 1.1
      22 February 2020 at 8:16 am

      And the largest party in government are unable to do anything about it. As they say, when you make your bed…

    • weka 1.2
      22 February 2020 at 10:54 am

      Didn't Shaw just out NZF as the problem?

    • Macro 1.3
      22 February 2020 at 11:30 am

      We need some fight out in the open, not the grossly-but-apparent NZF totally cowering the Greens and the Prime Minister simply not having the strength or experience to do anything about it.

      Shaw has done the Greens no favors by being excessively polite, and the only time they get any profile is when NZF has pantsed them again.

      You think this is the first time in an election year that Winston has done this sort of thing Ad? Maybe you might recall Helen Clark and her determination to do something about NZs spiralling GHG emissions in the early 2000's. She had the support of the Greens in 2007-8 to introduce a Carbon Tax, (the only sensible and proven method in the world economy to actually bring about a reduction in the use of fossil fuels), and it was on the table right up until Winston took it off. The ridiculous and ineffective ETS, was the result. The proposed ETS Bill was first known to the Greens when Jeannette first saw it on Helen's desk! If Helen couldn't manage Winston after 7 – 8 years of Govt, why do you think Jacinda should be able to do it now?

      • Ad 1.3.1
        22 February 2020 at 2:05 pm

        Clark managed him fine.

        Ardern is at sea.

        • Macro 1.3.1.1
          22 February 2020 at 2:31 pm

          That is not what I am given to understand from someone who was there at the time. And I present as evidence the ETS.

          Virtually the same issue – and virtually the same result ie inaction in the face of pressure from the rural community.

          • Ad 1.3.1.1.1
            22 February 2020 at 3:56 pm

            2008 is the last of nine years.

            Entropy kicked in and it went it's natural life.

            This time its first term of a poorly managed low ambition government.

            Not much of a comparison.

  2. Ross 2
    22 February 2020 at 8:22 am

    Mickey

    Treasury doesn’t support the feebate scheme so NZF is hardly an extremist on this issue. Again, taxpayers’ money has to be well spent and if the benefits are infinitesimal, as Treasury claim, then the policy should be scrapped.

    “Treasury's opposition came after Transport's own estimate found the feebate scheme would only reduce emissions by about 1.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent over two decades. New Zealand's annual gross emissions are around 80 million tonnes.”

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/01/24/998105/treasury-and-transport-butted-heads-over-feebate-scheme

    An interesting article on Stuff comparing travel by bus versus car.

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/119600554/do-buses-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions

    • Andre 2.1
      22 February 2020 at 8:32 am

      That piece by Simon Kemp gets one important point correct – the important metric is the total average passenger.km/litre across the entire bus service. In general, this isn't much better than private passenger car.

      But he total misses a much more important point – city buses are ideal candidates for electrification. Their increased frequency of start-stops and time spent idling is particularly wasteful if fossil-fuelled, but an electric bus can regenerate electricity while stopping and wastes negligible energy when stopped. This is why many cities overseas are going entirely electric for their bus fleets.

      Rubbish trucks, delivery vans, taxis share similar duty-cycles and are also ideal for electrification.

      • Sacha 2.1.1
        22 February 2020 at 9:27 am

        Yes, incentives to convert trucks make more sense than cars – and electrifying public transit systems makes even more.

    • mikesh 2.2
      22 February 2020 at 10:37 am

      Simon Kemp's conclusions are somewhat beside the point. The point is that increases in public transport usage would lead to emissions reductions. Greater public transport usage is what we are trying to encourage.

  3. Puckish Rogue 3
    22 February 2020 at 8:50 am

    To think people on the left laughed at Key and Bridges when they ruled out Winnie…

    • Robert Guyton 3.1
      22 February 2020 at 8:56 am

      And fell into opposition – oh, how we laughed!

      • Climaction 3.1.1
        22 February 2020 at 9:17 am

        So better to be in power with Winston, however briefly it allows you to be there, than have principals in opposition. Briefly of course thanks to those principles being about not being about Winston.

        good to know that even old greenies like Robert here would sell his planet out for a shot at power.

        • JanM 3.1.1.1
          22 February 2020 at 9:26 am

          Principles? National? Are you kidding?

        • Sacha 3.1.1.2
          22 February 2020 at 9:28 am

          Climate action can't afford to wait while people sit smugly on the sidelines stroking their principles.

          • Pete George 3.1.1.2.1
            22 February 2020 at 10:22 am

            But principles and action should be the best approach.

            If Labour and Greens act more on principles and less on enabling a return of NZ first they have a far better chance of making much better progressing on dealing with climate change.

            • Robert Guyton 3.1.1.2.1.1
              22 February 2020 at 10:53 am

              You back the principles held by Labour and by the Greens around climate change, Pete?

              Does that mean you reject those of National and ACT on that issue?

              • Pete George …
                22 February 2020 at 11:01 am

                Generally yes on both counts. National accepts the something needs to be done but too many of them are lukewarm at best. I don't think a National government would do anywhere enough.

                A return of a NZ First/Labour/Green government would also likely not do enough (unless NZF find some pro-action donors perhaps).

                A Labour/Green government would be the best for climate action.

                I'm not sure that a Labour only government would do enough, it could depend on who becomes the Climate Change Minister. Is there anyone in Labour who looks like they could drive it? Ardern?

                • Robert Guyton …
                  22 February 2020 at 11:25 am

                  Good to hear, Pete. I'd say that no government, whatever its composition, "will do enough" – we will be in reactive mode soon enough; there's no way we can turn the already-incoming tide, imo. Discussions about the importance of electric cars don't excite me at all – it's churn. A Labour-only Government would come nowhere near what's needed. Even a Green-only Government would be constrained into pale action by circumstance. As you can see, I don't look to Central Government for the solution to the challenges of climate change and the rest of the package of ills we humans have developed.

                  • Pete George …
                    22 February 2020 at 12:34 pm

                    "I don't look to Central Government for the solution to the challenges of climate change and the rest of the package of ills we humans have developed. '

                    Quite a bit (more) has to come from central government. But communities and individuals can and should be doing more on their own.

                    I've just retro double glazed. All houses should be double glazed, especially inn the South Island.

        • Robert Guyton 3.1.1.3
          22 February 2020 at 9:28 am

          Hyperbole much, climaction! The to-ing and fro-ing of a coalition government doesn't disturb me much and I'm not swept away by dislike for any particular politician (didn't like Key much though). The Greens have made significant gains, in my opinion, and so have NZ First and Labour. Yes, as you say, it is better to be in power, than in opposition; the people I support hold tightly their principles, even when they are tried by machinations of those whose principles are different; such adherence is vital if you are to be included in any cooperative venture, be it politics or any other group that seeks to achieve something. You are keen to lever supporters apart with your corrosive comments; divide and rule must be one of your guiding principles, I'm guessing, but your efforts are wasted on an old green like me; I've seen it all before and laugh at your over-heated efforts to create discordsmiley

          • Climaction 3.1.1.3.1
            22 February 2020 at 11:31 am

            Truth hurts doesn’t it Robert? You hold a pretty lofty opinion of your green credentials, but take your 30 pieces of silver when and abandon the planet when Winston offers

            [lprent: At least he has some principles and things that he is willing to argue. I can see why you object to that.

            It appears to be that you have few morals or principles of your own. Basically you’re just a limp critic who proposes nothing and stands behind nothing. This comes from your hypocritical handle and all the way through your clearly exposed obnoxious carping. It is no wonder that you can’t stand people who don’t spend all of the time who actually think about things and present and do them.

            In essence to me you just look like an lazy ignorant and probably stupid arsehole. Of course that is my opinion – since you like handing them out.

            I’d suggest that you don’t continue on this path, otherwise I’ll make a point of continuing on this one myself… ]

            • Climaction 3.1.1.3.1.1
              22 February 2020 at 1:14 pm

              opposing this government and it’s tacit support of Winston Peters, and opposing everyone who seems to think Peters is a small price to pay for being in government isn’t the same as supporting national or being right wing. That’s an intellectual jump that Robert has never been able to make.

              my principles are very clear. Use scientific methods to prevent environmental catastrophe. So the canning of an ev subsidy / gas guzzler tax purely to please Winston is the height of stupidity.

              to simply laugh it off as Robert did above as the price to pay for being in government is ludicrous. It goes against Jacindas “climate change is our nuclear free moment” and james Shaw’s zero carbon bill. Both of which needed strong, clever policies like the ev / petrol car rebate feebate.

              there is no magic policy to solve climate change. Just a lot of small sensible policies that make up a societal wide effort to counteract the impact humans have had on the economy. And each one discarded in the pursuit of power makes it a little bit harder for the others to succeed.
              all good though. Government is more important as apparently you can achieve more there.

              • Incognito …
                22 February 2020 at 1:41 pm

                Policies change all the time, by necessity. Some are discarded, some are postponed, and some are improved and then implemented. Nothing is linear in politics and nothing is permanent, not even Laws, and nor should it be. The Green’s policy is not dead, far from it, and it is/will be a cornerstone of their policy platform for them to campaign on.

                The election campaign is an intricate dance involving multiple partners and outcome is which will end up bedding each other. You are looking at the colour of the shoes of one of the dancers and lose oversight of the dance as a whole and as a dynamic interaction. It is a weakness that scientifically inclined thinkers tend to have; I struggle with it too 😉

                • Climaction …
                  22 February 2020 at 2:11 pm

                  No, I’m not. I’m struggling with the idea that Winston must be appeased at all costs.

                  how much mana would labour and the greens immediately gain if they went on the attack against NZ1? It would bring disgusted progressives in from the cold as it would demonstrate their willingness to be a force for good in parliament. Not just a force

                  • Incognito …
                    22 February 2020 at 2:35 pm

                    You are struggling with the idea that Winston must be appeased at all costs because you are attached to this idea. You haven’t even considered my dance analogy.

                    You seem to suggesting that they go full feral on their current coalition partner, which is a potential and even likely future coalition partner, seven months out from Election Day. I can’t think of a better way to destroy the trust, loyalty, unity, kindness, and inclusivity, for example, which they have painstakingly built over the last two and a half years or so. I can’t think of better gift to National’s spin masters.

                    NZF have set their sights on their political opponents, the Greens have decided to take their policy to the election, and Labour is not getting in the way of either whilst trying to keep the team together.

                    Politics is the art of the possible, which means keeping your options open.

                    • Climaction …
                      22 February 2020 at 3:11 pm

                      I’m not attached to any other idea than Winston is a crook and there is more to be gained than work without him than with him.
                      it’s not going feral to go after a coalitions voters nor to neutralise their voters.

                      Yet everything in your second paragraph is appeasing Winston at all costs, as it allows him full freedom of behaviour while allowing the greens and labour to rely on his votes post election, which is only possible if they appease him and tolerate his behaviour.

                      dancing on the head of a pin to justify this position is the real gift to nationals spin masters.
                      please carry on though

                    • Incognito []
                      22 February 2020 at 3:29 pm

                      I know a closed mind when I see one. Stick to your narrative and story about how much of a crook Winston Peters is and everything flows from there and falls into line to suit it.

                      Not getting in the NZF firing line is not appeasing him/them at all costs.

                      You want Labour and the Greens to ‘take a stand’ and go ‘tut-tut, Winston, stop bullying Simon; it is not very kind’. You want them to stop governing this country so they may look good in the eyes of some voters, including you. You want them to put two and half years of hard work on the line because NZF has an axe or two to grind with others.

                      People like you are putty in the hands of spin masters: predictable, instinctive, reflexive, and easily outraged and throwing labels around (e.g. “racism”) despite or perhaps thanks to a thin veneer of rationality and intellect.

                      I have wasted my time trying to discuss with you 🙁

                    • Climaction []
                      22 February 2020 at 3:43 pm

                      nice straw man argument. That I’m somehow out to protect the second rate provincial used car sales man that currently runs the national party.

                      Im actually out to protect labour and the greens falling into the same electoral black hole they found themselves in in 2008. Thanks to Winston. I’m out to protect our environment and I want to our parliament to be corruption free. So many good things from the labour and greens part of this government, ruined by association of nz1

                      im sure it’ll be tthe media, National’s, dark forces, dirty politics, fake news that’s to going to be blamed when national wins this election. When the truth can be laid squarely at the feet of nz1 along with labour and the greens for their acceptance of nz1 behaviour.
                      I want labour and the greens the greens to live up to their promises of a new way of government they promised the electorate in 2017. Seems a long shot now when supporters like you incognito are willing to twist themselves into all kinds of moral contortions to justify retaining the treasury benches

                    • Incognito []
                      22 February 2020 at 8:04 pm

                      You talk yourself into quite a narrative there!

                      Please point out where I made that alleged “straw man argument”.

                      So many good things from the labour and greens part of this government, ruined by association of nz1 [my emphasis]

                      You seem to be prone to being melodramatic. Nothing is/was ruined. Perhaps more could have been done and achieved under the circumstances but I doubt it. You, and others, paint Winston Peters as if he were the one single factor for this Government not enacting on certain promises. That’s your narrative: Winston Peters is the Bogeyman.

                      If we had had a Labour-Green Government, but we do/did not, then these ruined things would have come to fruition and Christmas would have come early. That seems to be your claim and I don’t buy it. It would have been different, for sure, but to blame a single factor for the things that were ruined is ludicrous and wishful thinking (AKA dreaming) by a lazy mind. Playing the blame game is not going to get you anywhere in a hurry.

                      Your last paragraph is a beauty of desperation. I have zero need for “all kinds of moral contortions” because I don’t smoke my own dope and most certainly not yours.

                    • McFlock …
                      22 February 2020 at 7:25 pm

                      So if ruling out nz1 is the decider for the 16% undecideds, shouldn't Sustainable NZ be on 16%? They'll go with the nats, and the nats have ruled out NZ1.

                  • McFlock …
                    22 February 2020 at 2:39 pm

                    Let's assume there is an election-skewing amount of "disgusted progressives" refusing to vote labgrn because they are too moderate.

                    Your assumption is that the deciding factor for this group of voters is simply that labgrn went with NZ1 to get into government rather than sitting in opposition since 2017.

                    Where the hell were they in 2017 to tip labgrn over into an outright majotiy, then?

                    • Climaction …
                      22 February 2020 at 3:13 pm

                      Bring enough of them to sink nz1 below 5% and hey presto. It’s not stealing votes, it’s diluting voter share. So it’s not necessarily a zero sum game when 16% of voters in the last 1ncb poll are undecided

                    • McFlock …
                      22 February 2020 at 3:19 pm

                      So subtract from that 16% the voters who would vote nz1 buy are disaffected because they went to labgrn, then the voters who think the NZ1 coalition is the least of the problems with the right wing neolib labgrns (or whatever the more left than left crownd call them), and then ask the remainder where the hell they were in 2017 so labgrn wouldn't have had to deal with nz1 in the first place.

                    • Climaction []
                      22 February 2020 at 3:27 pm

                      Your confused. I don’t care that nz1 drag the government right. I care that the government is unable to enact policies that the whole country, and the climate, would benefit from because of nz1 pandering to their dwindling supporter base. A labour government that cared could have allowed for a tax break on rural drivers and their cars, while still achieving the EV goal in the real problematic areas, the cities. Chocked with traffic and fumes. we need nz1 to govern though.

                    • McFlock …
                      22 February 2020 at 3:35 pm

                      The thing is, your "diluting voter share" model relies on people who care so much about the environment that they will let the nats win rather than vote for labgrnnz1 this year.

                      It's a rehash of the "silent majority" and "missing million" hopeful thoughts.

                      You know what will get people voting labgrn? Campaigning for labgrn, not agin anyone else.

                    • Climaction []
                      22 February 2020 at 3:44 pm

                      Just lab greens. That’s the only way to victory this year. Remove nz1 from the picture

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      22 February 2020 at 4:58 pm

                      "Remove nz1 from the picture "

                      National Party strategy. Expressed here by "Climaction"

                      It's not hard to join the dots.

                    • Climaction []
                      22 February 2020 at 5:24 pm

                      No reason it can’t be labour green strategy as well Robert.

                    • Incognito []
                      22 February 2020 at 6:50 pm

                      Which party stands to benefit the most from NZF’s demise?

                    • Climaction []
                      22 February 2020 at 7:15 pm

                      National currently as labour and the greens refuse to rule out working with Winston

                    • Incognito []
                      22 February 2020 at 8:50 pm

                      Indeed, National. However, your answer made no sense to me.

                    • Climaction []
                      24 February 2020 at 8:31 am

                      Currently, the only way NZ1 gets back in is if labour reaches an electorate seat deal with NZ1. Its also the only way labour can maintain the treasury benches. The electorate will spank labour for doing this, so labour needs to rule out working with NZ1 to have any integrity come election time. The middle ground opens up labour greens to attacks along the current attack lines.

                    • Incognito []
                      24 February 2020 at 12:06 pm

                      You’re making even less sense now unless …

        • Robert Guyton 3.1.1.4
          22 February 2020 at 9:34 am

          Climaction's user-name must be chosen in an effort to confuse; it purports to be the sort of name a Left winger concerned about taking action on climate change might adopt, but hides the behaviour of someone who likely has no such concerns. Perhaps "clim", refers to "climb" and the action implied is more about climbing the ladder of success, or climbing across the backs of losers, than anything to do with the heating of the atmosphere. I can only speculate, of course, but I've wondered before…

        • barry 3.1.1.5
          22 February 2020 at 9:40 pm

          If Labour and the Greens want to get anything done they have to work with some other party. That is the hand dealt by the electorate at the last election.

          For all NZ First's blockages the coalition has achieved a lot more that they would have achieved in coalition with National, and absolutely no progress would have been made if they weren't in government at all.

      • Puckish Rogue 3.1.2
        22 February 2020 at 10:26 am

        The odds are shortening Robert…tick tock, tick tock

        • Robert Guyton 3.1.2.1
          22 February 2020 at 10:51 am

          Your attempts to corrode confidence here are so transparent we could sell them as cling-wrap, Pucky. Speaking of clinging, are you still stuck, like gum on a shoe-sole, to Jude's hem?

    • Cinny 3.2
      22 February 2020 at 9:26 am

      Pucky, under MMP can just one party rule?

      • Puckish Rogue 3.2.1
        22 February 2020 at 10:22 am

        Yes it can but very difficult to do, even Key couldn't do it.

        But when I say National I mean National/Act because Act is attached to National and has nowhere else to go.

        Like you can say Labour but really it means Labour/Greens for the same reasons even though Clark right royally rodgered the Greens and the Greens just took it like the good, little supplicants they are

      • Pete George 3.2.2
        22 February 2020 at 10:32 am

        Based on MMP outcomes so far it seems unlikely, but this year the chances are probably greater than they have ever been, due to the decline in number and size of small parties.

        If NZ First fails to return then it increases the chances of National getting a single party majority (with or without ACT).

        If Greens fail to make the threshold, and don't pull of a surprise electorate victory, then there's quite a high chance that either National or Labour get a single party majority.

        On current polling NZF and Greens are at real risk of dropping out, so the one party MMP government is quite a possibility.

        • Robert Guyton 3.2.2.1
          22 February 2020 at 10:57 am

          Both NZ First and The Greens will be returned to parliament and government. If you go all wobbly every time a poll says otherwise, Pete, you'll be jelly right up to the moment the next, same-as-before Government is announced. You are paying too much heed to the Wormtongue-harpings of the likes of Puckish Rogue.

          • Puckish Rogue 3.2.2.1.1
            22 February 2020 at 11:13 am

            Might have to change my name to Cassandra…

          • Cinny 3.2.2.1.2
            22 February 2020 at 11:14 am

            The Greens will definately get back in, hopefully with the most MP's they have ever had.

            Personally I don't think any new parties will make it into the house and simon's a gone burger.

            If the Greens introduce more MP's into the house than NZF, I believe that would definately make a case for a mandate to subsidise EV's. Watch this space…..

            • Incognito 3.2.2.1.2.1
              22 February 2020 at 11:23 am

              A potential problem with new (and small) parties is that they can bleed/ erode votes from existing ones in a way that tilts the ‘balance of power’. If they don’t make it into Parliament, those votes are not really ‘lost’ because there will still be 120 seats to occupy; the largest parties will benefit most AFAIK.

              • Cinny …
                22 February 2020 at 11:33 am

                Thanks for explaining Incognito, much appreciated, that makes sense.

                Interestingly, maureen pugh has always lost her seat to the Greens after the special votes are counted.&nbsp

                Edit… I’ve a feeling there will be many specials this election due to the referendums.

                • Incognito …
                  22 February 2020 at 11:44 am

                  I’d not call it an explanation as such; it’s just my take on it and I’m happy to be challenged and corrected on these important matters.

                  As far as the referendums go, I don’t know if they’d help or hinder. On the one hand, they may motivate people to think through issues and actually vote as they see the relevance and importance of that action. On the other hand, it complicates things and could potentially distract from the primary General Election; it may turn off/away people from voting altogether.

                  • Cinny …
                    22 February 2020 at 12:00 pm

                    🙂 I think with the topics of the referendums it will encourage people who don't usually vote and the youth vote. Least I hope so.

                    Meanwhile on twitter…. simon is claiming this news re the EV subisdy is a win for national, and the comments are gold LMFAO !!!!!! simon is delusional, buggered if I know how he came to that conclusion.

            • Puckish Rogue 3.2.2.1.2.2
              22 February 2020 at 12:27 pm

              They're currently struggling to keep above 5% but you think they might get to 11%?

      • Chris T 3.2.3
        22 February 2020 at 6:07 pm

        Realistically no.

        Technically yes

  4. Cricklewood 4
    22 February 2020 at 9:51 am

    Even more reason to kick NZ First for touch and campaign as a Lab Green coalition…

    Let's face it a govt with NZ First in it is going to severely constrain NZs ability to make meaningful change to our emissions and prepare our society for that transition.

    The need to make these changes is urgent if the climate crisis is top of the priority list for Lab and the Greens they need to campaign as such.

  5. infused 5
    22 February 2020 at 9:53 am

    whats the life time co2 making an ev vs a gas car. genuine question

    • Cricklewood 5.1
      22 February 2020 at 10:02 am

      Not sure I think it's murky in that depends on electricity source and where the rare earths for the batteries have been extracted to mention battery disposal/ recycling capability.

      One thing we must do is sort our electricity supply, getting enough extra juice up to Auckland for a few hundred thousand cars example will probably need an infrastructure upgrade. It's actually a massive project and we need to start now.

      • Andre 5.1.1
        22 February 2020 at 10:14 am

        End of life recycling appears to be a very small part of lifetime emissions. That's without even considering many batteries that are no longer up to the job for ev use still have long potential lives in stationary storage.

        Batteries generally don't use rare earths, and the quantities used in EV motors are tiny to zero. Cobalt (not a rare earth) in batteries is indeed a concern, but there's a lot of effort to reduce or eliminate it. There's been a lot of recent chatter that maybe Chinese-made Tesla Model 3s will use a completely cobalt-free battery.

        Then beyond that, there's a lot of effort to reduce or eliminate lithium, such as lithium-sulfur or potassium batteries.

    • Andre 5.2
      22 February 2020 at 10:05 am

      That question is really about the emissions of the electricity sources used to produce the vehicle and charge the ev.

      If all the electricity used in production and charging comes from the nastiest dirtiest coal sources, then it takes about 10 years of average use for an ev to have lower lifetime emissions than an equivalent dino-juice vehicle. If all the electricity used is zero emissions, then it only takes a few months of average use before an ev has lower lifetime emissions than an equivalent dino-juice vehicle. Given the typical mix of electricity sources in most places, say 2 to 4 years of average use for an ev to have lower lifetime emissions than ICE.

      In the future when industrial processes get serious about eliminating emissions so steel is produced electrolytically or with hydrogen (instead of coal) and aluminium smelting uses inert anodes etc, then EVs will almost certainly be lower lifetime emissions pretty from birth.

      • Sacha 5.2.1
        22 February 2020 at 10:09 am

        In either case, production of each vehicle uses way more energy than we think – and tips the balance firmly towards shared public transit as the lowest lifetime impact.

        • Andre 5.2.1.1
          22 February 2020 at 10:18 am

          Numbers I've seen are of the order of 2 to 5 tonnes CO2eq to produce a new ICE vehicle. So about the same as produced by one year of driving it.

        • weka 5.2.1.2
          22 February 2020 at 10:58 am

          We don't make cars here any more so we don't have to account for the GHGs from manufacture 😉

          (and completely agree about the necessity for PT, it’s urgent)

    • lprent 5.3
      22 February 2020 at 12:48 pm

      Andre pretty well covers it.

      Build depends on the source of power. However that is effectively the same or significantly less than an equivalent fossil fuel power vehicle. A EV is a much simpler power source and drive chain. I suspect that you'll also find that the vehicles have a much longer life than most fossil fuel cars. Extraction of the lithium is currently only constrained by the few natural deposits. But it is a metal, so that will engineering to find a technique that is cost-effective to extract from seawater or reclaim is easy.

      Operationally running costs comes down to the source of power. In NZ – effectively very limited CO2 emissions. Most of the scare stories come from dumps like aussie when coal powered power stations is the norm.

      End of life etc is way lower than any petrol vehicle. The cars have less metal. Less complex internal systems. Lithium batteries have virtually no cleanup costs and are non-polluting. Lithium is one of the most common materials in the crust and volatiles, intensely soluble, and binds easily. The biggest hassle with supply is that no-one has ever bothered to build a system for extracting it from seawater – so they rely on natural evaporation deposits.

      There are a few heavier compounds used in small quantities. However almost every advance in batteries is reducing that. The cleanup of lead acid battery in conventional vehicles is a far worse problem in emissions and degradation.

      With fossil fuel systems, one of the major cleanup costs is the removing the fuel infrastructure. Lots of dead spots across multiple countries that are sitting around waiting for cleanup.

      In any country that has more than 50% of their power sources from renewables, the whole life costs should be in the maximum order of about half the minimum emission costs for a fossil fuel vehicle. The more renewable power sources in the supply and run chain, the lower the emission costs drop.

      The few studies out there concentrated on worst case supply chains – mostly because they can be traced directly back to fossil fuel lobbies. You're welcome to link some, and I'm sure that we'll help you to find the links of people like Lomborg.

  6. Pete George 6
    22 February 2020 at 10:17 am

    NZ First are in survival mode (which is a big change from three years ago when Peters thought they would beat Labour and lead the Government in numbers and even more than now in influence).

    So every policy decision NZ First will make this side of the election will be to try to get as many votes as they can.

    Extending Peters' political career into it's fifth decade is a much bigger priority to him than climate change or firearms safety. His own interests have always been his biggest priority.

    So Labour and Greens have to make some big decisions on whether they help Peters survive (openly or sneakily), which would substantially limit what policies they can progress next term if they get back into government, or if they act on principle and in the best interests of the country.

    • weka 6.1
      22 February 2020 at 10:57 am

      Help Peters how?

      • Pete George 6.1.1
        22 February 2020 at 11:06 am

        Say they would consider including NZF in a governing arrangement.

        Assist Shane Jones in trying to win an electorate.

        Failing to show principles on Peters' handling of their foundation and their donations issue, and their use of The BFD to attack and threaten journalists.

        Failing to stand up to Shane Jones.

    • Incognito 6.2
      22 February 2020 at 11:13 am

      So Labour and Greens have to make some big decisions on whether they help Peters survive (openly or sneakily), which would substantially limit what policies they can progress next term if they get back into government, or if they act on principle and in the best interests of the country.

      You seem to assume Peters wants and would accept any help (openly or sneakily). I’d say it’d go against his grain.

      Labour and the Greens might consider being in Government with some limitations – there are always many limitations regardless – be in the best interests of the country and aligned with their principles – they have more principles in common than that separates them.

      The binary supposition of power vs. principle is not something I’d have expected from you, Pete.

  7. weka 7
    22 February 2020 at 10:56 am

    "It is understood this measure was weighed up by the NZ First caucus and it decided such a policy needed to go to the electorate."

    What does that mean? It's not like we're going to know who voted NZF, or shifted their vote from Greens, because of this one policy. I'm guessing they don't mean a referendum. Peters is so full of shit sometimes.

    • Puckish Rogue 7.1
      22 February 2020 at 11:08 am

      Sometimes?

      • weka 7.1.1
        22 February 2020 at 11:25 am

        His soul still has that wine box to cling to I guess.

        • Robert Guyton 7.1.1.1
          22 February 2020 at 3:12 pm

          His decision to align with Labour and The Greens was a wise one.

          • Puckish Rogue 7.1.1.1.1
            22 February 2020 at 5:35 pm

            Need to stop drinking that parsnip wine there before posting, he ticked off half his voting base and by his actions (sorry by the foundation actions that I'm sure he knew nothing about) he might also bring down the present govt

            Its almost as if going into coalition with Winnie is a bad idea

    • Ross 7.2
      22 February 2020 at 12:16 pm

      What does that mean?

      Isn’t it obvious? Labour and the Greens run with the policy and, if voters don’t abandon those parties in droves, then the policy can’t be all bad. 🙂

      Winston no doubt thought a capital gains tax would hurt him and his support partners so pulled the plug. I imagine that is his thinking here although Treasury has assisted him. But to be fair to him, a policy that is merely assumed to be cost neutral and with few benefits seems like an easy policy to drop.

      • weka 7.2.1
        22 February 2020 at 3:37 pm

        people don't generally vote on one policy, for the reason that no party is going to produce policy that any one person always agrees with.

        "needed to go to the electorate" is a nonsense unless it's something like a referendum.

        • Ross 7.2.1.1
          22 February 2020 at 7:09 pm

          people don't generally vote on one policy, for the reason that no party is going to produce policy that any one person always agrees with.

          Well, Labour dropped the CGT like a hot potato and said it wouldn't revisit the matter. Clearly, it thinks that the issue is toxic. But I agree that it would be difficult to separate the various issues to see which resonates more with voters.

          I suspect that WInston doesn’t want to be seen as Labour’s poodle and will choose certain issues to disagree on, making him appear relevant and strong. Of course, if NZF and Labour agreed on everything, voters might wonder why they need to vote for NZF because they will get exactly the same policies by voting Labour. Winston knows this too.

    • veutoviper 7.3
      22 February 2020 at 2:12 pm

      "I'm guessing they don't mean a referendum. Peters is so full of shit sometimes."

      weka, you really need to learn a lot more about the other players in the NZ political environment, than just the Greens.

      Since 1993 when New Zealand First was first established, binding referenda (including citizen intiated ones) have been one of NZF's 15 core Fundmental Principles on which all their policies etc are based. https://www.nzfirst.org.nz/about

      This extract from Wikipedia is more explicit on referenda https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_First

      The party has long advocated direct democracy in the form of "binding citizen initiated referenda", to create "a democracy that is of the people and for the people", while forcing government "to accept the will of the people".[20]

      The footnote in the quote, although a 2003 NZF Scoop Press Release provides more detail – https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0311/S00254/replacing-political-tyranny-with-direct-democracy.htm

      Here is a short extract –

      Democracy is too important to be left to the politicians.

      We say it is far better to rely on the commonsense of ordinary people to make decisions on the important issues facing New Zealand.

      Why? Because politicians simply cannot be relied on to do the right thing and to act in accordance with the wishes of the majority.

      They have forgotten that they should be the trusted servants of the people.

      They must face the consequences of their memory loss.

      New Zealand First has a solution for this serious affliction in our democracy.

      It is simple but highly effective.

      New Zealand First aims to make Parliament itself a more responsive and accountable institution, and to give real power to the people.

      To achieve this aim, we wil:

      – Introduce binding Citizens Initiated Referenda
      – Reduce the size of Parliament;

      – Reduce the number of MPs in Cabinet to 14;

      CITIZENS INITIATED REFERENDA (DIRECT DEMOCRACY)

      New Zealand First is committed to the introduction of binding citizens initiated referenda or "direct democracy" as it is known overseas.

      Under this system, voters take ultimate responsibility for the health and wellbeing of society.

      A healthy democratic society is not casting two ticks for three years of political tyranny.

      Only the people can create a democracy that is of the people and for the people.

      Under direct democracy the Government is constitutionally bound to accept the will of the people.

      No ifs, no buts, no maybes.

      New Zealand First has long advocated real involvement by citizens in the political process by the judicious use of direct public referenda where:

      – there is neutrality and impartiality in the question;

      – there is fair dissemination of all the facts on both sides of the argument;

      – there is certainty in the poll (i.e. the question can be clearly understood);

      – there is appropriate time for the debate to be conducted;

      – the referendum's objective can be met within the country's fiscal resources. In other words we have to be able to pay for it.

      Lots more in the link, some of it quite funny as it is so dated – but Peters and NZF have never wavered from this principle of direct democracy and referenda.

      Why do you think we are having two referenda on cannabis and choice o life (voluntary euthanasia) at the same time as the general election? This is because NZF made this a condition of their supporting these two pieces of legislation.

      In face if you study some of NZF's principles and in particular this one on direct democracy, their thinking is not much different to some of the other movements we have seen over the last few years, The Occupation and Extinction movements, and even Ihumatoa, spring to mind.

      • veutoviper 7.3.1
        22 February 2020 at 2:22 pm

        oops – timed out before I could get rid of the extraneous quote mark.

        • weka 7.3.1.1
          22 February 2020 at 3:39 pm

          Are you saying that NZF want a referendum on this particular policy?

          • veutoviper 7.3.1.1.1
            22 February 2020 at 5:01 pm

            I have not looked into what has happened on the electric vehicles proposal, but reading both the post above and a very quick look at the Stuff article, that may well be what NZF are proposing in saying that their Caucus thinks that "such a policy needed to go to the electorate."

            As I said, referenda and direct democracy are principles core to the whole NZF approach. A lot of people really have never bothered looking at their principles, policies etc and then wonder why NZF cannot be pidgeon-holed into the usual left/right spectrum or why NZF doesn't act in the way that others expect. Hence for example people not realising what NZF mean when they say something like they think something should be put to the electorate

            From my obserations over the years, their supporters also cannot be easily classifed on criteria such as left/right; working/middle/upper class etc; or be easily broken down into those who wanted them to go with National and those who want them to go with Labour. NZF seemed to reinvent itself in the three years Peters was out of Parliament 2008-2011 and appears to be made up of a broad range of types of people and ages. Oldies do not predominate these days. I have also been told that these days there are a lot of small/own business people. But they have remained pretty firmly based on their original fundamental principles.

            While I have not looked at the electric vehicle proposal/issues, I have looked at the Stuff article and MS' comments on the arms legislation – and quite frankly I am pretty disgusted. Dirty Politics are alive and well.

            I have followed this issue very closely and NZF have been very open and consistent since day one when the Bill was first being drafted that they have some issues with some aspects of the draft Bill and its approach – but they have also worked and continue to work very closely with Labour and in particular the responsible Minister, Nash. Ron Mark was very clear and open on all of this in his speech on Wednesday night but gave no indication that they would not support the legislation in its final form and NZF voted for the Bill at its Second Reading on Wednesday night. But the media contin ue its vendetta vs Peters with it seems a lot of help from some blogs. Not a word in the Stuff article, or in the O,P,that both National and ACT oppose the Arms legislation and will probably filibuster it to the end in its coming Committee stages.

            I am not a member of NZF but I do believe in fairness.

            • weka 7.3.1.1.1.1
              22 February 2020 at 6:22 pm

              My comments above were about what NZF said, not hypotheticals of what they haven't said. If they're planning a referendum on this one policy then they need to say so. I seriously doubt they are though, and instead think they are just blustering. People don't generally vote on single issues like this one, so there is no way to take it to the electorate via a general election, which I think is what NZF mean.

              I do in fact know about NZF's commitment to referendum, and have read their principles and some of their policies. My point stands. In *this particular case, they look like they're just vote gathering. Which is understandable, but it's still a shit way to do it.

              • Ross …
                22 February 2020 at 7:20 pm

                People don't generally vote on single issues like this one, so there is no way to take it to the electorate via a general election, which I think is what NZF mean.

                You miss the point that Labour and the Greens can go to the electorate on the issue. If they are re-elected, they can then both fight for the policy to be adopted. But given Treasury’s doubts about the effectiveness of the policy, I doubt it’s something that Labour and the Greens would die in a ditch over.

  8. John G 8
    22 February 2020 at 11:04 am

    That Stuff article seems a bit skewed to me. A car sitting in rush hour traffic using 6 litres per 100k ? Seriously ? A scooter might do it.

    • Andre 8.1
      22 February 2020 at 11:11 am

      A modern little nana's shopping trolley with engine stop-start in what Christchurch deludes itself into thinking is rush hour will do better than 6litres/100km. Something like a Porsche Canine or HSV Codpiece, not so much.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 8.2
      22 February 2020 at 3:50 pm

      My little 1.5L Toyota Echo routinely does 5.3L/100km – but I am doing nearly all long rural runs. In town it is more like 7 – 7.5L/100km, which isn't that far off 6L/100km…

  9. millsy 9
    22 February 2020 at 11:12 am

    Of course, if National, ACT and the New Conservatives form the next government, there won't be any scheme at all. In fact there will be:

    Huge cuts in benefits

    The banning of trade unions

    Privatisation of health and mass hospital closures

    Selling off of the entire state housing portfolio

    The end of public secular education and the outlawing of the teaching of evolution

    Total ban of abortion in NZ

    Loss of Pharmacy subsidies for birth control

    Privatisation of everything

    Toll roads and congestion charging

    Revocation of any and all clean air and water legislation leading to Farmers basically putting what they like in the rivers

    Opening up of all national parks to mining, and the complete deforestation of the West Coast

    Progroms against LGBT teachers in the education system

    Abolishing of all sick leave and paid holidays

    At will employment

    Abolishing the minimum wage

    A huge increase in immigration leading to mass unmployment among youth as they are croweded out by immigrants

    Sky high tuition fees

    Universities are closed off to 99% of New Zealanders.

    Any more feel free to add.

    We cannot afford to implement this feebate scheme, which will stoke discontent and tip this government out.

    • Pete George 9.1
      22 February 2020 at 11:16 am

      What chance do you think there is of New Conservatives getting onto Parliament?

      The rest of what you assert is obvious nonsense.

      • millsy 9.1.1
        22 February 2020 at 12:47 pm

        If it was 1990 and I told you that National would cut benefits, chop SUBSCRIBE NOW Corp mortgages and impose market rents on state housing, plus close scores of hospitals, you would think I was talking nonsense as well.

        Under Simon Bridges, New Zealanders will be left to flounder around on their own among the forces of the market.

        • Puckish Rogue 9.1.1.1
          22 February 2020 at 12:55 pm

          You're mistaking what you think will happen with what you want to happen, the 80s are over and they're not coming back

          Bridges learnt from Key and will stay center right so you don't have to worry when National gains power in September

    • Puckish Rogue 9.2
      22 February 2020 at 11:36 am

      Hugs not drugs Millsy

    • Obtrectator 9.3
      22 February 2020 at 11:37 am

      You left out Chimerica being allowed unrestricted opportunities to acquire huge chunks of our country and start fencing it off from all the NZ-borns (apart from those allowed in from time to time to clean their toilets, etc).

      The thought of that might just deter the old gammons who'd otherwise desert NZF for the Nats, but most of them can't think beyond their hip pockets and the proposed tax cuts (drool drool).

    • Chris T 9.4
      22 February 2020 at 6:12 pm

      Do you mind justifying any of these claims?

      The last nat govt put the benefit up above inflation for the first time in 30 years and that is just a glance at your first point

  10. Sanctuary 10
    22 February 2020 at 11:25 am

    Make the election a referendum on gun law reform, Labour would romp home.

  11. Psycho Milt 11
    22 February 2020 at 11:31 am

    [Shrug]. It's election year, NZ First is polling at 3% and the most likely people to take it back past 5% are provincial conservatives. In that context, these moves make perfect sense.

    The question is, what are Labour and the Greens going to do about it? The last two years have made it clear that NZ First will prevent any genuinely progressive moves from a government they're involved in, so it would be better if they weren't involved. Maybe Labour and Green should join the Nats in trying to keep NZF below the threshold. In particular the Greens should respond vigorously to the sabotage of their feebate scheme, in the interests of their own support.

    • weka 11.1
      22 February 2020 at 3:40 pm

      how do you think the Greens should do that?

      • Psycho Milt 11.1.1
        22 February 2020 at 5:14 pm

        James Shaw has said "if NZ First ultimately decide to block it this term we will take it to the election." That reflects the avoidance of petty slanging matches that we should expect from the Greens, but I would have expected him to point out the obvious fact that this action from NZ First seriously undermines the government's response to climate change without offering any alternative approach.

        • Puckish Rogue 11.1.1.1
          22 February 2020 at 5:22 pm

          Not likely that Winnie'll make it back, most of the right-leaning NZFirst voters will go National and the more conservative voters will go Act, I'd also guess most of the left-leaning voters will go Labour

        • weka 11.1.1.2
          22 February 2020 at 7:08 pm

          I'm a little unclear on when he said that. Was it yesterday or a while back? Stuff article says

          Green co-leader James Shaw said if NZ First ultimately decided to block the policy, his party would take it to the election.

          That now looks likely.

          Sounds like it said it in the past, and now events have made it true. Otoh, if I pull out the Shaw quotes on their own it looks like it just happened.

          It's a poorly written article, most of it about the things previously reported, and a small bit that says 'it is understood', whatever that means. NZF haven't been quoted. Looks like the Greens were notified by NZF (or Labour) and chose to speak out on this rather than letting NZF block it on the quiet like we suspect has been happening with other things.

          That Stuff piece went up 7.25pm on Friday night. It's the only news item I can find on it. I'm guessing we'll hear more from the Greens on this soon.

          I'm assuming that by 'take it to the election' Shaw means they will campaign on it and name NZF as the block. I hope that's what they do. However Shaw did say the govt is still working on the scheme so maybe they're trying to find a compromise.

  12. Graeme 12
    22 February 2020 at 12:00 pm

    The Feebate is probably a victim of timing. Had Toyota announced a hybrid Hilux the week after then all would have been good, but that's really something that will be about 2025 . Which would have been known when the scheme was announced, so either someone wanted to pick a fight with people who need that sort of vehicle, or they got had on thinking an alternative vehicle was going to be announced.

    So, to recover, break down the Feebate scheme to apply to market segments that have electric / hybrid alternatives but will be extended to other segments as alternatives become available.

  14. SHG 14
    22 February 2020 at 1:19 pm

    It's an election year. Therefore Winston has to attack the government. That he's part of it is entirely irrelevant. To give himself the best chance of controlling the next one, he has to destroy this one.

  15. Puckish Rogue 15
    22 February 2020 at 1:27 pm

    Ok so serious hypothetical question here.

    Given that a National/Act victory (thanks to the implosion of Winnie and the Greens struggling to stay above 5%) is looking more possible and since the Greens have shown that they're willing to roll over to placate senior coalition partners does anyone see any possibility of National/Act inviting the Greens into govt even if they don't need their vote.

    I know that immediately there'll be calls along the lines of "National would have to agree to each and everything the Greens want" but the Greens have shown they're willing to swallow dead rats and work with Winnie so is there a chance of this happening

    For example the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary could be back on the cards and National and the Greens have shown they can work together but is this something the membership would not stand for under any circumstances?

    Basically my problem with MMP in NZ at the moment is that is still basically a two party system, National/Act and Labour/Greens and I don’t think thats good for the future of NZ politics so I’d like to see more, not less, cooperation between parties

    • alwyn 15.1
      22 February 2020 at 3:10 pm

      I can't see that their current supporters would entertain the idea. A lot of their voters, and perhaps members, in the past were there because of their environmental activism. That was back in the days they got double digit percentages of votes.

      A fair number of those people seem to have become disillusioned with the party and I think their primary support now is those who are supporting them in their far-left guise, rather than their previous predominantly environmental persona. That is why they are now way down in their party support, currently well under half of what they were at their peak, and aren't going to stay in Parliament. That's only my view of the matter of course.

      The defense of Meteria Turei's actions seemed to put off a number of my friends who used to vote Green. They said they didn't vote Green at the last election because of it, along with having Clendon and Graham going from the MP ranks.

      However that is only my personal opinion on the subject, and my observation of the quite large number of my friends who were strong Green supporters in the days of Fitzsimmons and Donald. I'm not a member of the Green Party, or of any other party for that matter, so I can't possibly know what they are up to internally. Probably getting ulcers at the prospect they won't be in Parliament.

    • millsy 15.2
      22 February 2020 at 3:30 pm

      National still insist on having Somalia-style clean water regulations (ie none).

      • Puckish Rogue 15.2.1
        22 February 2020 at 5:05 pm

        Ok so for example the Greens would have liked to have the Kermadec sanctuary up and running but NZFirst (I'm sure that had nothing to do with Winnies backers) said no and Labour and the Greens agreed to it so what would the Greens agree to give up to get clean river regulations (to their liking) up and running

    • weka 15.3
      22 February 2020 at 4:12 pm

      are you living in a parallel universe PR, where the normal rules don't apply?

      Green Party position on working with National from a 2015 post. https://thestandard.org.nz/green-politics/

      • Puckish Rogue 15.3.1
        22 February 2020 at 5:19 pm

        Well theres this:

        'but based on current National Party policy positions and track record it is highly unlikely that we could support a National-led government on confidence and supply.'

        Highly unlikely means theres still a chance (albeit…highly unlikely) plus once you've had a taste of power and getting things done it would be hard to see those things get potentially undone and if National were to give on some things…

        I dunno I guess I'd like to see a break from the two party model and see NZ thrive more as a result and if that means the Greens have to compromise and National has to give up some of its ideology well that can only be a good thing

        • solkta 15.3.1.1
          22 February 2020 at 5:31 pm

          Yes it is highly unlikely that National would dump most of its key policy positions so as to be worthy of Green support. Not impossible though.

          • Puckish Rogue 15.3.1.1.1
            22 February 2020 at 5:41 pm

            I would like to see all parties shed their ideological bent and actually think about whats best for NZ, all NZ and I think that keeping the whole left v right, National v Labour is only good for media ratings

            As Weka stated above: "people don't generally vote on one policy, for the reason that no party is going to produce policy that any one person always agrees with."

            National doesn't have all the answers nor do Act, Labour, the Greens so it'd be good for all to see what they could together

        • weka 15.3.1.2
          22 February 2020 at 6:38 pm

          The 'highly unlikely' phrase caused the Greens some problems and from memory they changed it at a subsequent AGM. They've been consistently saying that they will work with any party on policy, but they will not compromise core values to form government. There is simply no common ground on cores values that would enable the GP to give C/S to Nat. Remember that it's the membership that makes this decision not the MPs, but the MPs don't want it either.

    • pat 15.4
      22 February 2020 at 9:06 pm

      I'm reminded of what happened to the Maori Party

  16. bwaghorn 16
    22 February 2020 at 6:21 pm

    Good why should wealthy fuckers get their cars subsidized.

    It's as dumb an idea as putting a purchase tax on new tires utes [Correction entered by Incognito].

    • weka 16.1
      22 February 2020 at 6:42 pm

      Did you miss the point b? Which is to provide a market incentive for NZ to shift to EVs because of the urgent need to address CC. Rich fuckers are going to buy new cars any way, and this is one tool to make sure they buy an EV instead of a ICE one.

      I mean, I'd be way happier to have a left wing govt that just legislated the transition and fast*, but we don't have that and have to use the tools that the electorate allows. Do you have a better way of transitioning the fleet given that?

      • weka 16.1.1
        22 February 2020 at 6:43 pm

        it's the low income people that are going to bear the brunt of climate change if we don't act now.

    • Incognito 16.2
      22 February 2020 at 8:41 pm

      Because EVs are expensive, subsidies are one way of increasing market uptake. It works in Europe so why is it a dumb idea here? It sounds like your reason for opposition against it is that “wealthy fuckers” seem to be given a free ride [pardon the pun].

      • Poission 16.2.1
        22 February 2020 at 9:10 pm

        The electricity has to come from somewhere,why not transfer the feebate to state housing units and install solar on them for around the same cost.

        This would reduce the costs for low income tenants.Nelson,hawkes bay,gisborne with good sunshine hours. and high transmission costs would be ideal.

      • bwaghorn 16.2.2
        23 February 2020 at 7:37 am

        I doubt it will affect the take up of electric cars and car companies will just make more profit has this government learnt nothing from the failure the rental subsidies is

        Add to that car companies are struggling to meet demand all ready people will go petrol if they have to wait months for their new car.

        I see I had a typo about a purchase tax on tyres that was meant to be utes.

        • Incognito 16.2.2.1
          23 February 2020 at 11:48 am

          As I said, it seems to be working well in some countries in Europe.

          Not all subsidies are the same; cars and rentals are quite different in terms of social need, outlay, and ROI (return on investment) and are treated differently too by IRD. There are quite a few EVs in the lease fleet AFAIK.

          I’ll fix your typo 😉

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  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
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    8 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
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    1 day ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
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    1 day ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
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    2 days ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
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    3 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
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    3 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
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    4 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
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    4 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
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    4 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
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    4 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
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    4 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
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    4 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
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    4 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
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    4 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
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    4 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
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    5 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
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    6 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
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    6 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
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    7 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
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    1 week ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
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    1 week ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
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    1 week ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
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    1 week ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
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    1 week ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
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    1 week ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
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    1 week ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
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    1 week ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
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    1 week ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
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    1 week ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
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    1 week ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
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    1 week ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
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    1 week ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
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    1 week ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
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    1 week ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
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    1 week ago

  • Opinion: It’s time for an arts and creative sector strategy
    I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
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    1 week ago

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