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6:00 am, May 9th, 2026 - 14 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 …
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/594688/fees-free-university-scheme-to-be-scrapped-in-upcoming-budget-nicola-willis-confirms
Wow that lasted a long time, Winnie really is throwing his weight around.
Carpe Diem.
There's never been a better time. Well funded, media where they want it, DP machine purring along nicely. It's there for the taking which they've done sooo much of already.
Cigarette breaks all round and how about those ferries you ordered Winnie ?
Nicky no boats (fiscal) hole has to be filled somehow.
Anything but the obvious and necessary option. Taxing wealth, not work!
The war on the young continues. After placing the economy in the freezer and sending youth unemployment to +20%, now they are removing incentives to study and placing those who do into even more debt.
The move of fees free to the final year of study was sold to us by Willis and her fellow RWNJs as sensible, so sensible it now has to be scrapped altogether?
Also, nothing has been paid to students finishing their studies because the first cohort due to have fees free in the final year are not yet eligible. In effect Willis is removing support before it even started. Have to wonder whether this was the plan all along.
And what of removing the fees free final year for those that began study this year on the basis they would be eligible?
More like trying to cover over the cocs complete economic incompetence, by bashing down on the youth,
Regression seems to be the current thing in the UK: https://unherd.com/newsroom/neither-reform-nor-the-greens-can-save-britains-councils/
If Atlas strategy is Making Plans for Nigel, it seems to presume punters will be unable to detect the differential between intent & reality, or don't really care. Could be folks are well aware Nigel is a clown without much of a clue. As for the Greens, rebel ethos is cool regardless of any strategic cluelessness. Angry youngsters are likely to do contagion if things get dire enough.
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/frankton-pedestrian-overbridge-cost-126m
Only took 4 years of wrangling, but a new urban cycleway has been funded and will start construction in June.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360976177/te-pati-maori-crisis-mps-could-walk-out-ahead-election
Tmp are dead in the water, common the greens ms Maipi Clarke needs to be bought on board.
Greens labour at 61 seats is the only option for removing the coc
Agreed, and the only option that will stop the march of the crazies.
Starmer to Labour Party activists: "Please don't cry on camera."
This report from Skawkbox, 7 May 2026…
Too old-fashioned. Repressing feelings has been known to be uncool since the early '80s. Emoting in random directions is natural for bleaters. Any attempt by Labour to close them down will be seen as cruel heartless closet-Stalinism. Can't stop memes in their tracks and each may carry an emotional charge (like torpedos).
Very good points, all, Dennis. I think there's not a soul, other than poor old Starmer and his henchmen, that would not encourage crying on this occasion. Something like this, perhaps…
https://giphy.com/gifs/usa-freedom-countries-k61nOBRRBMxva
I just found this speculative appraisal of the count: https://leftfootforward.org/2026/05/pollster-predicts-lower-labour-losses-than-feared-and-fewer-than-expected-gains-for-reform/
Perhaps this will turn out to be a surge in tribalism in local governance – I mean political, not ethnic. No longer binary – more like a severality of options emerging.
Money short, prices up, jobs poor, housing dear, transport problems, water is charged when renting and didn't used to be. So the govt tightens rules on boarders. They now count 62% of every $ from every boarder, family, friend, needy whatever. It used to be that 1-2 wasn't counted as income.
https://www.bas.org.nz/about-6 – Beneficiary Advisory Service
📋 WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU
If You Get Board Payments:
From the Minimum of Soc.Services:
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/about-work-and-income/news/2025/board-payments.html
This is just an excuse to take surveillance over your private affairs and those of the boarder. Govt already makes it hard for people to interact as friends and helpers in a reciprocal community way with its desire to pair people off 'in the nature of marriage' and then pay less than previous social security payments. I think government gets its attitude to social welfare from high up in a right-wing class system, and either disdains everyone on benefits except the elderly (to the present), or seem to hate them.