Luxon is accused of spreading “disinformation”
The PM of NZ is accused of spreading intentional disinformation on Health NZ as the evidence piles up against the Coalition government. Here’s how it went down.
Politics
politicans
Act plays the race card and the victim card
Yesterday in Parliament was pretty weird. Act MPs staged a show down event and expressed increasing dissatisfaction with their Government’s speaker Gerry Brownlee.
Woefully misinformed or intentionally mangling the truth?
Senior medical figures have questioned the accuracy of what the Government is saying about the health crisis in Northland. And in an example of unbelievably bad timing it has been revealed that the Goverment put aside $216 million to fund a exise duty reduction for Phillip Morris.
Mountain Tui: Who will hold Chris Luxon and Shane Reti accountable for the Health NZ deception?
Since Shane Reti and Christopher Luxon announced the Health NZ cost “blowout” and an unexpected deficit, the truth has emerged, and it’s all becomes stranger than fiction. Which claims were accurate? And which seemed to be a case of misrepresentation?
They are going to privatise health, aren’t they
This Government continues its trend to resembling something akin to Liz Truss’s rule of England. And Health is clearly among its targets.
National sneakily reduces child poverty targets
It has emerged that National has sneakily reduced child poverty targets.
Mountain Tui: Can we talk about New Zealand’s health system?
Christopher Luxon and Shane Reti took the extraordinary step of removing the Health NZ Board and replacing it with a Health Commissioner. Why did they do that and will it help the real issues facing our health system?
Biden goes, Kamala Harris for US president
“My intention is to earn and win this nomination’
Will he stay or will he go
I can’t remember American politics ever being this weird. Donald Trump is riding a wave of support and risks being returned to the White House as President. And Joe Biden is considering his options.
PSA wins an important case about collective agreements
The PSA just won an important case in the Employment Relations Authority against the Ministry of Education about collective agreements. There are significiant downstream implications to planned layoffs, legal fights, and Nicola Willis’s already tax cut strained budget.
Mountain Tui: ‘Corruption First’ Strikes Again – Is the National, ACT, and New Zealand Government in tobacco’s pocket?
A track record of deception and pro tobacco industry policies is becoming evident in the Coalition. Casey Costello is at it again, this time quietly halving excise tax for some tobacco products. This is the first time in NZ’s history to have reduced excise on tobacco. We should all ask ‘Why now?’
Minister Bishop’s Misguided Legislation
Chris Bishop’s plan to “flood the market” with housing development described as being “unaffordable, unworkable and unfair” is also “unsustainable” and even “unhinged”.
Tui: National Party’s Local Water Done Well – A more expensive 3 Waters with potential for privatisation
Simeon Brown is working on National’s New 3 Waters called “Local Water Done Well.” But is it just a more expensive version with a privatisation catch?
Mountain Tui: Crashing New Zealand’s health system is not the way to prosperity, Prime Minister
The drumbeat of health warnings continues from hospitals, doctors and nurses. But is the Government prepared to listen?
Mountain Tui: Trump’s shooting reveals a hidden danger for New Zealand too
Trump’s shooting has left the world shocked and bewildered. But what, if anything, does it mean for us here in New Zealand?
Trump shot
In breaking news Donald trump has been shot in a Pensylvania. Film suggests that he is fine although suffered a wound to his […]
Government is paying lip service to climate change
This week Change Minister Simon Watts showed the depth of the Government’s thinking by releasing a three page brochure outlining its collective thoughts. If the Government is at that level of thinking the country is well and truly stuffed. And meanwhile ACT’s Mark Cameron wants to prevent local government from considering climate change when formulating regional plans.
Conflict what conflict?
National activist Sunny Kaushall is to head a committee with a budget of $3.6 million over two years to advise the Government on complex legal and privacy issues for which Kaushal’s qualifications are not clear.
Mountain Tui: When is an independent expert or advisory group “independent?”
As reports confirm that the Government intends to sell off Kiwirail ferries, the question has to be asked: “Why is the Government paying thousands of dollars to former National Party members for advice” and when is independent advice not reliable?
Winston Peters – lazy hypocrite on ferries
My ire was raised this morning when I read a pile of PR drivel from acting PM Winston Peters about the Interislander. If he wanted to be useful looking at “critical part of our infrastructure” – then there are number of better things he could usefully do – rather than chasing headlines.
Mountain Tui: The Kiwirail Interislander saga continues
Nicola Willis’s decision to cancel the Kiwirail i-Rex contract without a back up plan is coming back to bite. As costs pile up for the taxpayer, we have already lost half a billion dollars, but that won’t be the final bill. And there are still no ferries.
The best carbon capture device is a tree
The Government is hoping that Carbon Capture and Sequestration will reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emission levels. But it is refusing to protect forests and trees, which are the best Carbon Capture and Sequestration devices going.
Bishop wants to accelerate urban sprawl
Chris Bishop has announced proposed changes to planning laws that will increase urban sprawl and damage to the environment.
Government is cutting funding for food banks
Are things back on track? How about for those who can least afford to feed themselves? It appears not with reports that funding for food banks is being slashed. And the consequence could be dire.
Should Joe Biden do an Andrew Little?
Jo Biden’s recent debate with Donald Trump did not go well.
Ferry sweary
The Government is in a rather precarious position relating to the contract to replace the ageing Cook Straight ferries, which clearly need replacing.
What the Aratere Grounding Means
The grounding of the ferry Aratere is potentially a political gift to National.
C Listers and tag alongs
Christopher Luxon has accused senior business leaders who travelled with a trade delegation with Chris Hipkins of being “C listers and tag alongs”.
Who would have thought that he used to run an airline?
Last year Christopher Luxon said that he would not use Defence Force planes to travel internationally if elected as prime minister. Turns out that this is not actually true.
Safer streets or unsafer streets?
The Government is planning to reverse Labour’s previous policy relating to permanent safe speeds around schools. The change will decrease safety and walking and cycling and increase car use. And the upside is?
Haere ra He Wake Eke Noa
It was always going to happen but it still rankles that an attempt to get farming to at least confront the damage it causes to the climate is being put on hold.
UK General Election – the mood on the doorstep
The UK still has the First Past the Post Electoral system. Something New Zealand should have absolutely no nostalgia for. This means that, while the campaign is UK-wide, a lot of campaign activity is directed into constituencies that are deemed marginal. In marginal constituencies, a General Election brings a conveyor belt of the good and the great supporting their prospective parliamentary candidate. In “safe seats” voters get much less attention.
Respect existence or expect resistance
Yesterday’s Greenpeace’s War on Nature protest in Tamaki Makaurau suggests growing unity on the left and an increasing determination to stop the Fast Track Projects Bill from being passed.
Fast-Track to Fast-Fail
Only a fool insists on furiously flogging a dead horse to go faster on the track.
March for Nature
Be there, bring your whanau, bring friends. Make it noisy and passionate and make it count.
Lies Damn Lies and Police Statistics
Police Minister has been caught out claiming an increase in patrols in Central Auckland when a proper analysis of the data shows that the number of patrols have decreased.