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6:00 am, September 1st, 2026 - 59 comments
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Open mike is your post.
For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.
The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
A desperate plea:
FFS Labour, give me something to vote for, not just a vote for the lesser of two mediocre options!
Give me some policies that have the potential to transform the lives of ordinary “hard-working” people, not just more tinkering around the edges of the 40 year failed experiment of neoliberalism!
Give me policies that will help bridge the yawning income equality gap that ‘trickle-down’ economics has produced!
Give me some policies that have a vision for the future, not just myopic gazing at one catastrophe after another!
In the words of that inspirational Labour leader, Norman Kirk:
"Basically, there are four things that matter to people: they have to have somewhere to live, they have to have food to eat, they have to have clothing to wear, and they have to have something to hope for."
Give me something to HOPE for!
We need TPM to win all 7 Maori seats and a large number of Green MPs to overwhelm Labour’s reluctance to do anything for its so-called constituency. To drag Labour left!
For the first time in a lifetime of voting Labour (except once after 1987 [Alliance]), I will probably give my party vote AND my electorate vote to the Greens.
NB NoRightTurn says it so much better than me.
https://norightturn.blogspot.com/
Labour, once again, have bought into the narrative that taxes are bad.
This clip, which many may have seen, has a good summation at the end by Ganeesh Nana.
He highlights the difference between finance and economics. The baddies always pivot to finance- 'We can't afford it' as opposed to economics which is where the people come in.
Homelessness but there are enough houses. Food banks and hungry children but we produce enough food for 40 million people.
Labour fall for this. The political is to turn that discussion into a people centric one.
At about 9mins 20secs.
https://youtu.be/evlBrRNiODQ?si=bHHNANs0hwYtv_vg
That just shows a yawning gulf between left supporters who are in such a good position in their life that they are begging for more taxes, and the 50% of voters who actually are struggling with all the costs in their lives.
Less tax = more paying somewhere else, and the deliberate degradation of social good. Less tax= 54 nurses extra employed in two years, while the health budget is diverted to pay for US helicopters and LNG terminals. Less tax = cutting flu vaccinations for children, leading to the swamping of public hospitals this year.
Less tax last round gave the poorest enough extra each week to pay for a cup of coffee, while high income earners saved hundreds.
How much extra did you get a week from the government tax cuts that you are such a staunch advocate, I wonder?
You exaggerate, tWig!
I got enough tax cut for a cup of coffee a fortnight (before the price went up to $5).
Go right ahead, today, with that argument to all the social media you like. That's the job right?
Don't have the $3 mi or so that Nats and ACT have to saturate the social media of swing voters with slop ai ads and outright lies.
Eg. https://www.aap.com.au/factcheck/disinformation-operation-targets-chris-hipkins-ahead-of-election/
You miss the point. Under the Greens tax policy, 96% of NZers will be better off.
Does that 4% include some lefties who are so well off they "are begging for more taxes?" I doubt it.
So, what is not to like about the Greens?
Party polling says 90% of voters aren't buying that.
The skepticism is both that a government increasing taxes will make inflation worse, and that the extra income will be wisely spent to improve NZers lives.
Best of luck expanding that 10% polling average in 9 weeks.
Ah, where would we be without polling/focus groups etc.
Just an excure to do nothing, to not disturb the waters.
With the greatest respect the argument is arse about face.
The government regardless of it's colour can issue the currency to pay for a decent health system. A health system within our living memory.
The taxes come in to take that currency out of the economy. The taxes do not fund the health system. Too many people have been drinking Nicola Willis's raro.
So, if taxes don't fund the health system, what does? Borrowing?
So, if taxes don't fund the health system, what does? Borrowing?
Yes, that is usually the case. The government issues bonds to RBNZ in return for the loans; if it chooses, the latter can recover the money by selling the bonds into the money market. I don't know why the government doesn't just use fiat money.
If they use fiat money when others do not, import costs will rise as the dollar falls in value – thus more inflation.
If they just issue more and more bonds the credit rating will fall and the cost of debt will rise.
They can counter that by withdrawing money from circulation through taxation.
Or raise the money by taxation on those who have and then spend it for all.
Inflation, once established, is dampened by regressive measures impacting the many.
Venezuela would be the reason.
Unrestricted borrowing for operational expenditure results in hyper-inflation.
I doubt if borrowing half of GDP, is anywhere near the amount needed to trigger Wiemar Republic levels of inflation.
Back to the water-cooler and BBQ discussions – with no actual evidence of which policies are cutting through to the electorate.
A political party can, of course, choose to ignore polls. Peters regularly announces that he is (and regularly, the election result bears him out).
But, if you feel that Labour (as the party being discussed here) are being paralysed into inaction by polls – you are free to cast your vote elsewhere.
Of course, it may be that Labour are more interested in attracting voters from the centre, than from the far left…. So will never move far enough and fast enough to satisfy you.
20% if you add top and tpm want higher taxs
There is no known connection between wealth taxation and inflation.
An increase in taxation to enable higher government spending on health and housing allows this with a lower deficit (and less debt accumulation) – this has never been seen as inflationary.
Is there any polling supporting your claim of scepticism that
Specifically a tax on the few, to assist the majority.
I think that it depends just what is being taxed under the umbrella of 'wealth taxation'.
If it's an annual tax on rental property, then it's highly likely that rents will go up, to compensate for the additional costs that landlords are incurring.
If it's an annual tax on farmland, then it's highly likely that food prices will increase, to compensate for the additional costs that farmers are incurring.
Both are inflationary.
If the 'wealth tax' is limited to a CGT, or an estate tax. Neither are (probably) going to be inflationary (since they are spread out over decades)
If?
The Greens are NOT proposing an annual tax specifically on rental property.
Most landlords would not be impacted by the wealth tax (set at the high level it is now).
Rents are part of a supply and demand market in any case – landlords cannot just set prices based on their personal cost structures.
Most farms in New Zealand are worth less than $10M and thus few would be subject to the wealth tax (on amounts over this).
The cost of food is often set by export prices, not domestic cost.
I hadn't realized that you were talking about the GP proposed wealth tax, specifically – rather than wealth taxes in general, when you said "There is no known connection between wealth taxation and inflation."
Landlords can and do set rentals against increased expenditure. Those who can, pay; those who can't are priced out of the market (we see this time and again, when beneficiaries can't get affordable housing).
If you think that increased costs won't be passed on in the form of increased prices, I have a bridge to sell you (It'll be the illusionary one crossing the Auckland harbour)
You write as if landlords dictated price in the market – if so there would be a case for a windfall profits tax on their rent income (or rent regulation).
Your perception is historic, it is based on rising property values and shortage of supply.
This is no longer the case in major centres such as Auckland and Wellington.
PS Rent increases are limited by the scarcity of tenants who can pay – currently costs are rising faster than tenant incomes.
My perception may indeed be historic. We'll see if/when a wealth tax or land tax on landlords is implemented.
Not via a wealth tax, if there is a $10M exemption level – few landlords would be impacted.
I'd also love to know which are the assets that the GP think that the super-rich have sitting in stagnant portfolios?
https://www.greens.org.nz/tax_system_for_all
So which assets are these?
My observation of the super-rich is that they get (and stay) that way by investing all the time (whether in business development, venture capital funding, or developing and spinning off companies).
If you're talking about the toys (the large yachts, luxury retreats, etc.) – they typically employ a significant number of people in NZ (owning and operating a yacht in NZ is a seriously expensive operation)
That's an interesting take, and I see why you make it. If taxation takes the form of regressive levies that everyone has to pay, yes – it does increase inflation because some things cost more than they used to. If taxes don't take this form, they don't necessarily increase inflation – though if you increase someone's income tax then things are effectively more expensive, even if they are not so in actual dollar terms.
But interestingly, raising taxes is how governments usually try to reduce inflation. Once specific tax actually – raising interest rates which are a tax (or levy) on borrowing money. This reduces the money in circulation, increases unemployment and strangles consumer demand in the expectation that prices will eventually track down in response. (It is poor at reducing 'seller's inflation', but that is another story)
So if voters really do believe that higher taxes increase inflation, that's an unfortunate misconception, but an understandable thing when we live in such a phenomenally propagandised world.
His polling data is merely the support level for the Green Party being at 10%.
The same data says 70% of voters do not support the Labour Party determining government policy.
This is one of the biggest lies that will be heard during the election campaign.
The Green Party is not posing any increase in taxation on the 50% of voters that are struggling.
The Green Party members are not those more likely to be subject to wealth (and estate) taxation.
Rest assured Chloe is putting the message directly to the harder audiences.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/361027584/chloe-swarbrick-what-separates-greens-opportunity-party
But now everyone, not just the Greens, is running out of time .
thought this was interesting. The challenge for both Labour and the Greens, I'm not a fan of the aspiration concept, but the left needs to figure out how to talk about the seriousness of the situation and the problems, but present a vision of a good future.
On his FB page, our local Labour candidate devotes a huge amount of time and energy in attacking the local consequences of the current government policies.
Fair enough. They've certainly given him a lot to work with 🙂
However, he is utterly silent when asked what Labour's policy is to address X (the issue of the post).
The consequence is that he is damaging the government (good, from his perspective), but not giving people who are disenchanted *anything to vote for*.
Why would they choose Labour over the Greens or TOP? Both of whom are say 'this is what we will do' (maybe not entirely believably, but at least they are offering *something*)
TBH, he sounds like a grumpy old man ranting about whatever strikes his fancy. Rather than someone who sees an issue and has a clear plan to resolve it.
I think we should wait for the books to be opened its no good having a plan and no way to pay for the plan that is why we are in shit, too much personal debt in our country, as too many NZers are living above their means. Now if there is no policy to tackle all our woes after the government books are opened then we have something to moan and bitch about.
You might think that, but most potential voters are firming up positions now. If a centrist voter has been detached from National, and reattached themselves to TOP – then Labour has to repeat all of the attack lines against TOP, to get their vote
People don't just want to vote *against* – they want something to vote *for*. And a policy void, or a "wait and see" message just doesn't cut the mustard.
Every time the Labour candidate responds to "what is Labour's policy about X" with silence. The message is 'well, you've got no ideas then, I'll go and find someone who does".
Really B-donna why would you firm your vote up now, what's the rush. I prefer to hear what each party has to say and offer us. I like to listen to the political debates and how they counteract other parties' policies and ideology. I want to hear how they plan to pay for policies and what trade offs we may have to make. The current ruling government have an advantage they hold the books.
Some people are 'wait to the last minute' some people want to have certainty (and not have to think about it).
Guess which there are more of in our democracy…..
It doesn't matter who we have more of the election is close based on poll trends anyone could win and the swing voters and not yet enrolled yet have the potential to change the outcome.
Here is us spinning around in our own political poo, unable to break through the complacency and avariciousness (never knowing what is enough), but climate change is exacerbating others' already difficult lives.
We could do so much better for ourselves and others but we can't cope with the near suffocation from the mindless tech systems and acolytes, and addicted money-heapers who are just Donald Duck's Uncle Scrooge personified and spoilt brats to boot. 'It would be sort of funny if it wasn't so serious'.
Nepal, Tibet, India – https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC2608/S00042/nepal-tibet-flash-flooding-expert-reaction.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awZIXdh_Z7s 7.10m
and another problem: https://theconversation.com/ecological-collapse-in-the-worlds-largest-mangrove-forest-is-a-preview-of-whats-to-come-289445
For those looking for the message, often repeated but never heard by those that only hear what they want to hear ……..
https://www.labour.org.nz/our-policies/
'They should be at work': Christopher Luxon on 10,000 striking public servants…
Fortunately, the Coalition of the Sorted didn't need to strike to get their pay increases…
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics/1207896/they-should-be-at-work-christopher-luxon-on-10-000-striking-public-servants
Neither did the loyal opposition…..
The loyal opposition gave many state servants and other workers pay rises, how can you compare them
Have any of the loyal opposition complained about their pay rise? Or refused it? Or donated it to charity?
Belladonna,
I do understand how difficult it must be to be a defender of the present government at this time, particularly today:
Former Air New Zealand CEO calls out PM’s not ‘cool’ criticism of airline’s performance: "If I’m brutally honest, I suspect the engines that have been causing Air New Zealand so much grief are probably engines that … either it was Christopher or me that made the decision to buy them,” Fyfe added… “I’d be the last one to be throwing any stones.” https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/361027647/former-air-new-zealand-ceo-calls-out-pms-not-cool-criticism-airlines-performance
Social development minister won’t apologise to beneficiaries whose payments were wrongfully suspended https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/361027644/social-development-minister-wont-apologise-beneficiaries-who-wrongfully-missed-payments
Not at all. I find no difference between the bland acceptance of featherbedded pay rises from any MP.
My preference is that their salaries be tied to the teacher's scale. As they historically were comparable in the 20th century.
Once again the government is morally weak and a out right cowardly on the crap coming out of the USA.
Like too many of the commentators here.
It depends on how willing you are to notice that there was already a war, that one of the participants (Iran) is a murderous fascist theocracy, and that it's generally not in NZ's interests to align itself with murderous fascist theocracies and against their victims. Patman can be relied on not to notice those things and to prefer any level of murderous totalitarian dictatorships over the USA, regardless of who's president there at the time.
Well, one of the issues is this
Wage increase 2%
Inflation 4%
True inflation of the essentials (fuel, power, food) (as opposed to flat screen TVs) is more like 8%
Tell me where that gap has gone – between the 2% workers get and the 8% corporates get. And a fair bit of that leaves the country. It is a wealth distribution problem. As the squeeze for resources gets ever worse, the rich take more.
Labour should be all over this, if they were a true workers party.
But they are not.
Dead right, feijoa
MPs have also had a 2% pay increase. It's just that 2% buys a lot more when you're on 180K (backbencher)
55% of US workers cannot cover an unexpected $500 expense from savings
https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/articles/more-half-workers-cant-cover-140100853.html
Here, 30 percent would struggle to pay an unexpected $500 expense
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/519323/households-struggling-to-save-or-cope-with-unexpected-bills-report
Some from the right in the US are worried the US will turn to socialism as the growing numbers becoming broke will lead to stronger demand for more state help
TBH, I don't see that socialism is having much of a show, internationally. It's the rise of populism (Farage, OneNation, etc) which seems to be be the alternative.
The US did that (populism ) with Trump. That shine is coming off.
AOC next time around they say
Belladonna isn't a positive pseudonym is it. As a bulb it's toxic, but Atropa belladonna a perennial herbaceous shrub can grow to 2m called deadly nightshade, well-named
The bulb has lovely pink flowers but one still needs to be wary of the bad effects on people, cats or dogs, a piece of random info. Maybe I will call myself drone as I do so much.
If the only thing that you can critique is my handle, it doesn't say much for your cognitive abilities.
"Socialism", for the wealthy only, has never been more apparent since fuedal times!
Ok,I think that the bugs post migration of the site have been killed apart from I haven't put search back on.
The site should be faster as the whole database read side is now effectively running in RAM. And it is going to be a whole lot harder for bots to sink the site with bunny.net shield in place.
The bugs with logging in appear to have been fixed for those few who have logins. The edit boxes are now doing what they are meant to. The change password links now allows you to change passwords.
I just have the search to turn back on, and a lockout of anything trying to bypass bunny.net.
Bloody bots.
I almost had the new project for feeds finished and a new front-end theme as well before I was forced to change hosts because of a deluge of bots. Oh well…