Your Mindset and Your Money

Written By: - Date published: 1:29 pm, January 18th, 2023 - 48 comments
Categories: class, Economy, poverty, tax - Tags:

According to massive property owner Graeme Fowler, the world view about money New Zealanders have governs our place in society.

Often, the difference between poor people, rich people and middle-class people isn’t how much money they have, or even how much they make. The difference between these people is what they believe is actually the purpose of money.

One of the most significant distinctions between the poor, middle class, and wealthy is their respective mindsets. The way in which each group views the world, their goals and their aspirations can vary greatly, and these differences can have a significant impact on their overall well-being and success.

The poor also often have a scarcity mindset, where they see the world as a place of limited resources and opportunities. This can lead them to believe that their chances of success are slim, and they may feel that they have little control over their lives.

This can lead to feelings of hopelessness and despair, which can prevent them from taking positive steps to improve their situation”.

But then there’s the middle class, apparently.

They see the world as a place of opportunities, but also recognise that there are limits and obstacles that must be overcome. They are more likely to believe that they have some control over their lives and can take steps to improve their situation,” he said.

“However, they may also feel a sense of stagnation, where they may see they are unable to progress or reach their goals.

“The wealthy, on the other hand, tend to have a growth mindset, where they see the world as a place of endless opportunities and resources. They believe that they have the power to shape their own lives and that their success is not limited by external factors. This mindset can lead them to take risks and pursue their goals with confidence. This can contribute to their overall success and prosperity.”

There are so many ways to mock this kind of nonsense, but let’s just start with Maori and go from there.

It is really clear that European ethnicity people in New Zealand own most of the wealth and Maori and Pasifika own the least, by a very, very long distance.

So do Maori have a bad attitude to money? If they just changed their minds about money could Maori just become more wealthy?

It has long been clear that Maori are on the whole one of the most entrepreneurial people not only in New Zealand but also in the world.

It has also long been clear that New Zealand is one of the most entrepreneurial countries in the world, and has been measured as the easiest to do business in the world.

Our collective mindset about making wealth are on those very concrete measures just fine.

The reality is that in New Zealand you are in the top 10% of wealth if you own a couple of houses, or a whole bunch if you are Mr Fowler.

The top 20% of New Zealand households hold about 69% of New Zealand’s net worth. Europeans as of the last Stats NZ release last year had an individual median net worth at $151,000 and Maori on the same measure $42,000.

That’s why the primary commentary in the Stuff article came from a European guy who owned lots of houses.

Can this degree of inequality be overcome by changing one’s attitude to money?

Perhaps changing one’s attitude to money could also increase one’s chances of making better choices putting items into your charity food parcel.

Or maybe by changing your “money personality” you can make a cornucopia of cash flow into the hands of those lying on our city streets begging.

Which “money personality” demands that over 7% of New Zealander works more than one job?

Liz Koh the money coach believes there is a money personality just for you:

The two key determinants of your money personality are your willingness to take risk and your desire to create wealth. Those who are highly successful at wealth creation are not afraid of risk and have a strong desire to create wealth.”

That’s from the same Stuff article where she agrees with Graeme Fowler the property magnate.

So to summarise, New Zealanders are globally exceptionally entrepreneurial and hard working as a people, are the easiest country in the world to do business, and yet for Mr Fowler the property magnate apparently our “attitude to wealth” and our “money personality” is keeping New Zealand’s poor very poor and the rich very very rich.

New Zealand’s reality, as small state specialist Dr David Skilling reminds us, is one of the smallest, weakest, most distant and least important countries in the world.

Our inventions are agricultural, our thinkers have few followers, our political order and influence miniscule, our corporations don’t grow and conquer. That’s the true “mindset” to address for those property owners who hoard and then preach facile morality.

New Zealand has one of the most unequal economies in the world, its economy reliant on low-value agriculture and real estate and low value tourism. New Zealand’s industries are controlled by a very small set of oligopolies in milk, horticulture, building products, fuel, seafood, ports and airports, shipping, supermarkets, and so much more. The concentration of wealth in New Zealand now is about the same as that of Regency England of the time of Jane Austen. There are pretty sound “money languages” for all of that, none of which are described by Mr Fowler.

The total number of people who control our wealth could fit into the Paeroa Horse Racing stands with several rows left over.

Actual class and economic mobility is decreasing in New Zealand, and it’s under study.

Inequality in wealth in New Zealand is not caused by a ‘mindset’.

They are not going to be cured by changing one’s ‘money personality’.

Though it is quite likely if you are rich enough and stupid enough your mindset and your personality will tell you how much you deserved it no matter what you did.

The people like Graeme Fowler claiming that they are, are simply cynical entitled assholes.

48 comments on “Your Mindset and Your Money ”

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  1. Drowsy M. Kram 1
    18 January 2023 at 2:09 pm

    Thanks for an eye-opening post – it's good that nice Mr Fowler has such laudable goals.

    Assuming all Kiwis want and are to be 'wealthy', where does Fowler imagine the extra 45+ plates, or the tens of millions of rental properties, are going to come from?


    https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/16-08-2022/the-side-eyes-two-new-zealands-the-table

  2. SPC 2
    18 January 2023 at 2:35 pm

    I am not surprised to see such an apologetic, given we have rebuilt the class system down under.

    More people now own their homes in the UK than in New Zealand, and while the rate is rising there, it is still falling here.

  3. bwaghorn 3
    18 January 2023 at 3:06 pm

    I think instead of rubbishong the guy and pulling out the poor Maori card, pick through it for the obvious lessons , educating students on money and finance would help.

    Mindste is part of it, I've missed a couple of opportunities because fear took over, and failed miserable financially due to not being taught basic money sense.

    Thank God for Saint cullens kiwisaver as in 10 years it got me to halfway of the average Joe's wealth.

    • Jimmy 3.1
      18 January 2023 at 4:18 pm

      I definitely think educating school children about money / difference between debit and credit cards and best ways to use them/ budgeting / mortgages / Kiwi saver etc. should be compulsory at school. That way when they go out in to the world they at least have a basic understanding of finance.

    • BAW 3.2
      19 January 2023 at 12:29 pm

      Nat voter here.

      Kiwisaver was the best policy of the 5th Labour Government.

      My wishlist to Labour – change the minimum wage laws so all workers get a payment to Kiwisaver.

      • bwaghorn 3.2.1
        20 January 2023 at 1:29 pm

        Have you ever noticed it usually the left that makes things better,the right being conservative hate it until it sinks in .

  4. tsmithfield 4
    18 January 2023 at 3:18 pm

    A friend of mine (who died a few years back) had made himself extremely wealthy largely through mindset. I will explain how at the end of this post.

    He had a goal to be retired by the age of 30, which he achieved. His definition of retirement was, that retirement means you work because you want to work, not because you have to work.

    He had started doing a computer degree at Uni after leaving school in his teens, but at the same time was working full-time at the freezing works, using notes from friends to do the Uni work (he was extremely bright).

    He built up enough deposit to purchase his first commercial property a year or two later, and then geared up on the existing property to purchase another as the tenant paid off the loan, and the value of the property increased.

    At the time of his death, I think he owned around 10 commercial properties that were paid off. So, he had huge amounts of rent rolling in to his bank account. Plus he had done very well on the share market.

    The sad thing is, he never really enjoyed his wealth. It was almost like he had a mental sickness. For instance, he would walk down to the library to read the paper rather than purchase one, still had his Datsun 120y which he had purchased new back in the 70s, and which he ended up deregistering because he thought he could just bus everywhere. And, he used to wear old jerseys with torn sleaves etc.

    The outward appearance was that he was a bit of a hobo, when in fact he was worth millions.

    When he developed symptoms of his illness, which turned out to be liver cancer, his doctor could have offered him a test that would have uncovered the issue much earlier. But, the doctor didn't offer it because he assumed my friend wouldn't be able to afford it. He was very bitter about that up until the time of his death about 10 years ago.

    The mindset part of how he got wealthy was:

    • He started with a clear vision of where he wanted to get to.
    • He was prepared to do what was necessary to reach his goals.
    • He didn't waste his money on unproductive things.

    He also thought anyone should be able to do what he did. However, I don't think everyone would be willing to live his lifestyle.

    • Jimmy 4.1
      18 January 2023 at 4:06 pm

      Smart man did well for himself. Sad that he did not get to enjoy the fruits of his labor. I can admire a person like that who sets goals and plans to achieve them and takes the initial risk.

      • tsmithfield 4.1.1
        18 January 2023 at 4:55 pm

        Yep, even when he was dying he didn't do anything with his wealth.

        For him, making money was more like a game. He got pleasure from making the money rather than spending it.

    • solkta 4.2
      18 January 2023 at 4:28 pm

      So from savings after living costs from three years working in a freezing works plus a year or two of what ever he did after that he saved enough for a deposit on a commercial property? I call bullshit on that. Did you leave out some of the story?

      • tsmithfield 4.2.1
        18 January 2023 at 4:46 pm

        No. The deposit required back then was only about 10%. It would be much harder to do that with commercial property these days because the banks want about 40% now, mainly due to banks losing money on commercial property due to a sharemarket crash or two in between times.

        But, it would be more doable with residential property.

        And he started with a fairly average property.

        And, as you can see from my first post, he wasn’t prone to spending much money.

        He much preferred commercial property though because the yeild tended to be better, and costs such as rates and insurance are covered by the tenant.

        • solkta 4.2.1.1
          18 January 2023 at 5:10 pm

          I still call bullshit. Did you leave out living at home with wealthy parents? Help with the deposit?

          • tsmithfield 4.2.1.1.1
            18 January 2023 at 5:17 pm

            His parents were average. We all lived in the same town in Rangiora back then. So, I knew them fairly well.

            He was just highly motivated. II don't know if he was paying board to his parents or not.

            But, the Freezing works did pay quite well back then, and I think he paid about $120k for the property. So, at 10% deposit on that would have been about $12k saved over three years.

            I often used to drive past him as he was biking from Rangiora to Kaiapoi each days (probably around 15ks). So, he definitely wasn't spending much of his money.

        • Descendant Of Smith 4.2.1.2
          18 January 2023 at 5:15 pm

          Unless he had a family back then he may not have been able to get residential mortgage. Commercial in fact have been his only option.

  6. Tony Parker 6
    18 January 2023 at 4:23 pm

    I think this response from Emily Writes sums it up.

  7. gsays 7
    18 January 2023 at 4:30 pm

    Mindset, a wonderful euphemism for feeling guilt free for having a bigger share of the pie when others will have to make-do with less.

  8. tsmithfield 8
    18 January 2023 at 5:00 pm

    Rich people who live poor, as I described my friend above, are not particularly unusual.

    A lot of these people get rich by being wise and frugal with their money. I think it can end up becoming a life habit for them, despite the wealth.

  9. Descendant Of Smith 9
    18 January 2023 at 5:12 pm

    You can argue it is true to a small extent. I certainly could have been very wealthy if I had wanted to through generous offers of property in the 80's from neighbours and friends who were selling up. However philosophically I'm committed to the notion that you only need one house to live in and that I will never live off the efforts of someone else's labour through rent and I declined all those offers – and some were very generous.

    So yep that is a mindset.

    I could be earning a lot more, and in fact have done, if I hadn't stood up to injustice in various workplaces that resulted in non-promotion, dismissal and demotion. That is a mindset. Or I could have not had kids, or not wasted my hours playing cricket and rugby, or not get married and so on. Doing those things are too a matter of choice and mindset.

    What he says is a simple truism that is almost sociopathic in nature and conveniently ignores a lot of reality as well.

    I have family members who have done and could be earning a lot more now if they hadn't been raped by men and had to spend – and are spending years in recovering both physically and mentally. Same goes for those that have had serious accidents. I have very well off family who have had seven inheritances including from spinster and war-widowed aunts. I have family who were dispossessed of their land by the state and others who were institutionalised. I have some that were born in isolated areas with few jobs and others born in productive urban areas and others who were left to raise young families after their husbands were killed in car accidents..

    Equally brains are clearly different – some of us are good at maths and language – others struggle with it but can pull a car engine apart and put it back together. Others have intellectual disabilities and mental health issues..

    The reality of peoples lives has had a much greater impact on who in my family is wealthy and who is not compared to the miniscule influence of mindset.

    This without even considering more strongly genetics vs nurture and structural societal systems favouring predominantly white males (past and present).

  10. barry 10
    18 January 2023 at 5:48 pm

    So a rich guy notices, that one's attitude to money is influenced by how much or little of it one has.

    If you have nothing then money is purely a means of getting the necessary for survival.

    If you have enough you might think about saving for retirement.

    If you are rich then naturally money is something you invest.

  11. pat 11
    18 January 2023 at 5:57 pm

    Success to the successful…nothing new there….and nothing permanent either

    • Descendant Of Smith 11.1
      18 January 2023 at 6:09 pm

      Is having lots of money the measure of success?

      • pat 11.1.1
        18 January 2023 at 6:53 pm

        In our current paradigm, yes….whether we agree with the measure or not.

        And we are all inclined to it….we dont deliberately buy products we know are inferior, nor do we engage services we know are substandard….at least we dont after the initial mistake.

        • Descendant Of Smith 11.1.1.1
          18 January 2023 at 7:26 pm

          Most don't have those choices and the market well knows it can make more money off selling inferior product to poor people than it can selling quality product. Many people every day buy inferior goods because it is all than can afford – and well they know it.

          Terry Pratchett's boots theory sums this up perfectly.

          The "boots theory" comes from a simple piece of dialogue in Pratchett’s 1993 novel "Men at Arms." The book features a City Watch commander named Capt. Samuel Vimes. The captain is set to marry one of the richest women in the world, and he often opines about the differences between low-status and high-status spending habits.

          At one point in the story, the captain ruminates:

          The reason that the rich were so rich…was because they managed to spend less money.

          In reference to the captain, the quote continues:

          "Take boots, for example. He earned $38 a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost $50. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about $10.

          "Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.

          "But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford $50 had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in 10 years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet."

          This was Capt. Samuel Vimes' boots theory of socioeconomic unfairness.

          .

        • pat 11.1.1.2
          18 January 2023 at 10:21 pm

          Conversely "boots theory" proves the opposite….the quality goods are not successful (due in the given instance, to price) and therefore do not proliferate.

          The fact they are perceived as unaffordable is the failure….aka unsuccessful,

          • Descendant Of Smith 11.1.1.2.1
            19 January 2023 at 9:29 am

            Yeah because a free and balanced consumer informed supply and demand market rather than conscious deliberate maximum profit making seeking strategy drives pricing.

            • pat 11.1.1.2.1.1
              19 January 2023 at 9:37 am

              AKA economies of scale.

              • Descendant Of Smith …
                19 January 2023 at 1:22 pm

                lol.

                You know I was referring to this sort of behaviour.

                "Think about pricing. What has every telco in the world done in the past? It's used confusion as its chief marketing tool. And that's fine," said Gattung in a speech recorded on March 20.

                "You could argue that that's how all of us keep calling prices up and get those revenues, high-margin businesses, keep them going for a lot longer than would have been the case.

                "But at some level, whether they consciously articulate or not, customers know that's what the game has been. They know we're not being straight up."

      • tsmithfield 11.1.2
        18 January 2023 at 8:10 pm

        “Is having lots of money the measure of success?”

        I don't think it is the greatest measure of success at all. Wealth is obviously a measure of financial success. But I don't think that is the most important thing in life at all.

        I think the greatest measure of success is how people do in their relationships, how they bring up their children, and what they can input into the lives of others.

        If wealth comes with that, then great. And some people do seem to be gifted in accumulating wealth.

  12. Mike the Lefty 12
    18 January 2023 at 6:27 pm

    My Dad always used to say: "You can't make an honest million".

    Allow for inflation and you could say: "You can't make an honest billion".

    He was right.

    People don't get rich from working hard.

    They get rich by ripping off other people but of course they always deny that they do that.

  13. tWiggle 13
    18 January 2023 at 7:03 pm

    When I was a teenager in Wellie in the 70s, Bob Jones was considered a bit of a cheat as an entrepreneur, as he did nothing concrete or creative to make his pile. He established no factories and opened no new export opportunities, created no new jobs. He just sat on his bum planning his speculation portfolio.

    Somehow since then, speculation has become confused with entrepreneurship. Land speculation sucks capital away from truly entrepreneurial companies and drives rent and land inflation. A loss for creative companies, a loss for the country and a loss for us. Fowler and Bob Jones are no capitalist heroes, just scrooges.

    [Please use the correct e-mail address in your next comment, thanks – Incognito]

  14. tsmithfield 14
    18 January 2023 at 7:27 pm

    People often think that wealthy people have some huge starting advantage over others, such as inherited wealth or whatever.

    However, I think the reason for the mindset suggestion from the rich guy mentioned in the article, is that this often isn't the case.

    I have already pointed out my friend who built up a deposit for his first commercial building by working in the freezing works for three years after leaving school.

    Now I want to talk about one of my sons.

    My son left school quite early as that didn't really suit him. He worked in several jobs, and ended up working for a powder coating firm.

    The guy who was running the business was hopeless at business and should probably have never been a businessman. My son had a number of good ideas that would have helped the guy succeed. But his problem was that he was too far gone at that point, and ended up going bankrupt.

    Another guy had a lease to buy arrangement over the equipment of the business. He could see my son (19 at the time) had some good clues, and was a good worker. So, he offered my son to take over the finance arrangement on the equipment.

    We also knew our son had a lot of great qualities. So, we helped him out with $20k for working capital. Not nearly enough. But, anyway, he launched out in his own business at the age of 19.

    He had a couple of really hard years where he wondered if he was going to make it. But, now, 10 years on, he has an incredibly profitable business, around $750k sitting in his company bank account, is debt free, and a house in a new subdivision.

    One key to his success is that he realised that price wasn't the critical factor in that type of business. The powder coating cost is normally a small fraction of the cost for a customer. Customers tend to be much more concerned that the powder doesn't flake off, and that they can get their work back when they need it.

    So, my son focussed on job quality, and him and his team occasionally worked through the night to get an order out for a customer.

    Now he has major difficulty fitting in all the work. He is taking over the lease on the next door building and is expanding. He pays his staff incredibly well for the industry they are in, and pays them large end of year bonuses.

    In my son's case, admittedly, he did have a small amount of help from us. But, key to his success was a bit of luck, vision, determination and stickability, and a strong focus on customer satisfaction.

    • Muttonbird 14.1
      18 January 2023 at 7:43 pm

      Your whole comment falls to pieces after claiming success is not dependent on starting advantage, then admitting you did provide starting advantage.

      What seems a small amount of help to you is not possible for most of the population, both in terms of "inherited wealth or whatever", and the ability to recognise an opportunity.

      This is an issue of self awareness on your part and the rest is simply virtue signalling. I think awareness is one of the main qualities right wing people seriously lack.

      • tsmithfield 14.1.1
        18 January 2023 at 7:56 pm

        But it wasn't the determining factor of his success. Perhaps he would have found another way if we hadn't helped. Its not like we gave him millions or anything. Most of the success was down to him.

        And, as far as I know, my friend who built up a large property portfolio didn’t have help from anyone.

        I don't think that this sort of outcome is possible for everyone. Some people have so much dysfunction in their lives that it is a major inhibition to their success. Other people just don't have such an opportunity fall in their laps, and others are too cautious to take up the opportunity if it does come along.

        But I think it is a valid point that it is a lot more to financial success than inherited wealth or whatever. People who start off like that tend to be arseholes, and are often likely to lose it all because they have never had to work for it.

        • roblogic 14.1.1.1
          19 January 2023 at 12:47 pm

          The are other forms of advantage – like a supportive family, good health, socialised in good values, being white, social networks, success in relationships, security from thieves

          • tsmithfield 14.1.1.1.1
            19 January 2023 at 12:58 pm

            You are assuming being white… but that is true.

            As I pointed out below though, people achieve in lots of areas by overcoming all sorts of obstacles, including not being able to read or write as I pointed out below.

            Sure, it is hard, and probably a lot more fail than succeed. But, I guess the point I am trying to make is that we shouldn't place limits on people and end up holding them captive to their disadvantages.

            There is a balance to be struck between that and supporting people in their difficulties.

  15. Sanctuary 15
    19 January 2023 at 8:13 am

    The only thing I would observe is that in my opinion it is a bit of a myth that New Zealand is one of the most entrepreneurial countries in the world. Our regulatory environment might support this view but the reality is most New Zealanders would see Graeme Fowler as the type of "entrepreneur" they would wish to emulate.

    The chief aim of NZ settler capitalism is to be a rent seeker and speculator, make your fortune, then retire to wherever suits your tastes within the rich world to enjoy your rentier income in the style of the absentee landlord and vulgar nouveau aristocratic class everywhere.

    Certainly, going to bank in NZ and asking for an unsecured loan for an idea you have would more likely see the bank calling security to escort you from the premises than them giving you the loan.

    It is a colonial mindset we simply haven't yet escaped in this country – extract wealth, retire to the mother country. Graeme Fowler is an absolute poster child for this new class of parasitic, rent seeking wannabe aristocrats that was spawned by neoliberalism.

  16. Jenny are we there yet 16
    19 January 2023 at 8:26 am

    Man with 80 houses: Capital Gains Tax will hurt renters

    Cos’ he has the mindset and the ‘personality’ and all the power.

    He will make sure it will.

    Bring back the Anti-Eviction League. Get some power back

    https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD19311015.2.78

    • Jenny are we there yet 16.1
      19 January 2023 at 7:30 pm

      EVICTION RESISTANCE – refusing to leave the home when the landlord ends the tenancy – is a strategy used by tenants worldwide both to enable them to keep their housing in the short or long term and to send a message to policymakers about the importance of improving rental conditions. This article chronicles and analyses eviction resistance during the Depression in New Zealand. Eviction resistance ranged from crowds that gathered to support evicted people to carefully organized pickets……

      https://lhp.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/03_Chisholm-Article.pdf

      "…..to send a message to policymakers about the importance of improving rental conditions."

      And send a message they did.

  17. Mike the Lefty 17
    19 January 2023 at 9:55 am

    Graham Fowler's mindset is that there is nothing more important than money.

    Sad!

  18. tsmithfield 18
    19 January 2023 at 10:11 am

    Another example is one of our clients who we used to build Sphagnum Moss Packing machines for a number of years ago, Les Sutton. I understand he has died now.

    Les owned his company, and was very proud of the fact that he had made himself rich despite being unable to read or write. He overcame this limitation by employing people who could compensate for his weaknesses.

    This is another example that shows that mindset is a big factor in whether people can achieve financially or in any area. Sometimes people with many serious disadvantages that could undermine their self-belief can actually achieve far higher than what many would expect.

    I am giving these examples as an encouragement more than anything else. Not just in the financial aspect, but for any area people are wanting to achieve in.

    That is, that people shouldn't just accept the die is cast for them, and they have no hope of achieving. People often can achieve a lot more than they think.

  19. Scott 19
    20 January 2023 at 3:55 pm

    I do think that attitude is important to success.

    My father taught me and my brothers to set goal for each area of our lives.

    The best money advice he gave was to say that we had two options

    1) We could trade our time for money, or

    2)We could trade money for time

    • KJT 19.1
      20 January 2023 at 4:25 pm

      True to an extent.

      But the reason most of those who are poor, remain poor is they have neither money, nor time available.

      And for those that have there is still a huge element of luck, unless they have had the, also lucky, benefit of inheriting enough money to have several attempts at a successful business, or to simply collect economic rents.

      Do you think the more than 4 out of 5 attempts at entrepreneurship that fail, are all because they "have the wrong mindset"?

      • Scott 19.1.1
        20 January 2023 at 6:01 pm

        I think that businesses fail through inexperience and a lack of knowledge most often.

        The mindset is to give it a go. Always very positive initially.

        You don't always win but you always learn.

        Most entrepreneurs have failures- I certainly have. But the key is to have a plan and not allow failure to destroy you so you can bounce back.

        • KJT 19.1.1.1
          21 January 2023 at 8:53 pm

          Most people do not have the money or resources to bounce back.

          I did several times. But I was lucky enough to have a good combination of various highly in demand skill sets, courtesy of 1970's education and apprenticeship systems, even though I didn't have much money capital behind me.

          I see the the lack of resources, jobs and training, , available to people of moderate to low incomes more recently, and the miserly benefits and the forcing of people into the first low hours, low paid job available. I am not surprised that "bouncing back" is totally out of their reach.

          • Scott 19.1.1.1.1
            24 January 2023 at 12:17 pm

            Yes agree that many people whose plan fails bet the farm and can't try again.

            I have helped (mainly) young people begin over 100 small businesses over the last 30 years and loved it. Many had little education and no financial resource. Some were on the Police diversion scheme.

            I've learned that capitalism does not necessarily require capital

            Some of those businesses have grown into substantial operations.

            My advice to most young people is to get a job in a mid size company and learn how a business works. A couple of promotions and you get to make mistakes with someone elses money.

            Then develop a plan. Test and measure as much as possible.

            Begin slowly and try to keep your paid job for as long as possible.

            Most people thrive in the process of starting, running and growing their own business. The beginning is often the most stressful period and some choose to go back to working for someone else – which is fine.

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    Wow, it’s December already, and it’s a Friday. So here are few things that caught our attention recently. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt covered the new government’s coalition agreements and what they mean for transport. On Tuesday Matt looked at AT’s plans for fare increases ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 hours ago

  • Shane MacGowan Is Gone.
    Late 1996, The Dogs Bollix, Tamaki Makaurau.I’m at the front of the bar yelling my order to the bartender, jostling with other thirsty punters on a Friday night, keen to piss their wages up against a wall letting loose. The black stuff, long luscious pints of creamy goodness. Back down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 hours ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 1
    Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop and other National, ACT and NZ First MPs applaud the signing of the coalition agreements, which included the reversal of anti-smoking measures while accelerating tax cuts for landlords. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 hours ago

  • 2023 More Reading: November (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for November: A Modern Utopia, by H.G. Wells The Vampire (poem), by Heinrich August Ossenfelder The Corpus Hermeticum The Corpus Hermeticum is Mead’s translation. Now, this is indeed a very quiet month for reading. But there is a reason for that… You see, ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    14 hours ago

  • Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies.The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. They also describe the processes of the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    18 hours ago

  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    20 hours ago

  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    20 hours ago

  • Finally
    Henry Kissinger is finally dead. Good fucking riddance. While Americans loved him, he was a war criminal, responsible for most of the atrocities of the final quarter of the twentieth century. Cambodia. Bangladesh. Chile. East Timor. All Kissinger. Because of these crimes, Americans revere him as a "statesman" (which says ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    21 hours ago

  • Government in a hurry – Luxon lists 49 priorities in 100-day plan while Peters pledges to strength...
    Buzz from the Beehive Yes, ministers in the new government are delivering speeches and releasing press statements. But the message on the government’s official website was the same as it has been for the past several days, when Point of Order went looking for news from the Beehive that had ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    22 hours ago

  • DAVID FARRAR: Luxon is absolutely right
    David Farrar writes  –  1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    24 hours ago

  • Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 day ago

  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    2 days ago

  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • National’s giveaway politics
    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: 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 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS:  Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
    The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    2 days ago

  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

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

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

  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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