The Standard

Open Mike 28/05/2026

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 28th, 2026 - 22 comments
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22 comments on “Open Mike 28/05/2026 ”

  1. PsyclingLeft.Always 1
    28 May 2026 at 8:39 am

    Scientists also dont need to be Nostradamus (hey…not Nostradamus Seymour), to see a bleak future under the NACT1 Coalition of Deniers….

    Scientists not holding out hope for big Budget boost after year of cuts and sector overhaul

    Scientists are adamant investing in the sector now will pay dividends later – but are not holding out much hope for a big Budget funding boost after a year of redundancies and funding cuts amid a major overhaul of the sector.

    Last year saw the biggest shake-up to the science system in 30 years.

    Innovate or 'death spiral' – researcher

    Lincoln Agritech chief executive Travis Glare said the sector's recent upheaval needed to be followed by stability and long-term vision.

    "There's been real cuts to the science system over the last few years, which means the system struggles as you're basically losing people. You've got amalgamated science organisations – that takes a lot of money to merge organisations – and that's all money that's not going into actually doing the science."

    Some words from the ironically? laughably?…. Sadly?named Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Penny Simmonds

    "However, what I can say is, New Zealand's researchers make an extraordinary contribution and deserve a system that supports excellence and stability."

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/596546/scientists-not-holding-out-hope-for-big-budget-boost-after-year-of-cuts-and-sector-overhaul

    Sounds pretty much like a Black Spot for Science : (

    Optimistically….the System Science deserves will come with Our New Left Govt in November

    )

    Reply
  2. Mercurio 2
    28 May 2026 at 8:47 am

    In today's budget – "State" housing to be renamed "Lotto" housing.

    *hat-tip Frank Macskasy

    Reply
  3. PsyclingLeft.Always 3
    28 May 2026 at 9:03 am

    Kia Kaha Chloe ! (hat tip, thankyou Nick Rockel : )

    O’Brien started to wander off into some sort of rebuttal on behalf of National to cloud the waters, but Chlöe wasn’t having it and took charge, saying:

    “The government came into power, shredded climate policy, that is, investment in renewable energy generation and our transition and said, ‘Don’t worry about it, guys, we’re going to deal with climate policy by relying on the market, that is, the ETS’. But over the last two years, they have taken a hammer to that market; they have absolutely destroyed that market.”

    https://nickrockel.substack.com/p/black-budget-eve

    Reply
  4. Drowsy M. Kram 4
    28 May 2026 at 9:39 am

    Oh Lord, it's hard to reach for the right metaphor, but fair Lotto Lady Willis is doing the best that she can on a budget. Nicola has nothing but empathy and kindness in her 'heart' for lucky Kiwi Lotto winners – why, some of her best friends choose social housing wink

    Why poverty in New Zealand is everyone's concern
    [North & South, 20 Jan 2020]
    New Zealanders still cling to the idea that we're an egalitarian, classless society. The reality is we're increasingly stratified. The gap between rich and poor is wider than we like to admit and it's possible – depending on where you live and work – to avoid seeing poor families.

    NAct's humble vision for NZ Aotearoa – who really wants to see poor families – Move-On!

    Reply
  5. Drowsy M. Kram 5
    28 May 2026 at 10:31 am

    Our Lotto Lady's latest budget – exciting! Part-funded by (on-going) savings from changes to pay equity law, and new cuts that give Nicky-No-Boats even more wriggle room:

    So, what's in it for sorted landLords me, and indeed New Zealand Aotearoa, this time?

    How will Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis sell a ‘tough love’ budget?
    [The Spinoff, 28 May 2026]
    Since there will be no ‘backpocket boost’ in Budget 2026, National will need to explain how fiscal restraint will help voters in a perpetual cost of living crisis.

    [comment]
    They might also explain why it's taken 3 years to come round to the idea that we can't rely on gas, when the previous government had a program that was getting businesses off it. And literally everyone who's not in the gas business was telling them that gas had no future.

    Reply
    • SPC 5.1
      28 May 2026 at 12:05 pm

      AI services are not free.

      The government has no idea about the costs, nor does it seem to recognise the consequence of loss of capability when there is a problem with the AI regime in place.

      Dependency is vulnerability – to both performance and the budget forecast.

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/595847/replacing-public-servants-with-ai-could-come-with-hidden-costs-critics-warn

      Reply
    • Incognito 5.2
      28 May 2026 at 1:14 pm

      … the risk is that spending cuts could hamper NZ’s growth potential (economic muscle) rather than trim fiscal fat,” ASB economists wrote in a budget commentary note.

      The Coalition’s plan for New Zealand is unrealistic. They’d want a bodybuilder to bulk up (growing bigger muscles – these are for show and aesthetic pleasure and not for functionality) while doing the cutting (aka ripping or shredding, i.e., losing as much fat as possible – this is for better definition and aesthetic pleasure and not for health) at the same time. It doesn’t work and is very inefficient.

      They’ve fired gym staff, sold gear and exercise equipment, and exported the high-quality protein powder and other supplements. They’ve told the aspiring champion to use a training app sold by Tech Bros and use AI steroids freely. Unfortunately, the champ never made it to the competition because the immune system was so weak due to the harmful training regime that a common cold clear-felled the champ after getting wet in a surprise rain.

      Trainer Willis insisted on lifting & cutting harder and cracking the whip; coach Jones insisted on taking more fish-oil; masseur Seymour insisted on training outside normal hours and even when the gym was closed; gym owner Luxon was holidaying in Te Puke and couldn’t be reached for comment but sent a written statement that he had no recollection of the champ and competition. Gym psychologist Peters said ‘I told you so, this isn’t for faint-hearted woke knuckleheads’.

      Reply
  6. Mercurio 6
    28 May 2026 at 11:05 am

    The Environment has been scrapped, with legislation passing in Parliament on Wednesday night.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/environment/596538/ministry-for-the-environment-officially-scrapped-in-parliament-vote

    Reply
  7. Drowsy M. Kram 7
    28 May 2026 at 12:23 pm

    "Whichever side of the political fence you’re on, it’s a pretty sad indictment of a government that, when challenged, they won’t even appear to respond."
    https://nickrockel.substack.com/p/black-budget-eve

    Seymour’s really chowing down – better than a school lunch I reckon – but Willis has hardly touched hers. Strange, for a Finance Minister of the people, don't you think? Anyhoo, busy day – with so much in the news, it would be easy to lose sight of the 'ball'.

    Boy oh boy, what a couple of days, that story keeping on changing. But the facts are coming out now and there's some big questions to answer – are you there Prime Minister?
    We seem to have lost the Prime Minister.
    Hello Prime Minister, hello – nobody there?

    https://www.facebook.com/gerard.otto/videos/1548111593365452/

    Look guys, I don't know how to make it any clearer to you – brand Luxon is squeeky clean.

    Reply
  8. SPC 8
    28 May 2026 at 1:42 pm

    They have a tell

    Solve a budget problem – cancel existing claims for pay equity and change the rules.

    Why do we know they have a budget problem – the rushed nature of the magic AI move (the new money off trees, replace staff with a system without mentioning license of use capital cost and adjusted upward annual fees – it is as if they have never had IT issues in the past)

    Economist Michael Reddell said the public service cuts – mostly set down for the years after the election – were what would be funding most of the new spending.

    They were probably done at the last minute when they saw the first round of fiscals and saw with the weaker economy that surplus was probably receding even further into the future, so they sort of looked to have to pull together something pretty quickly to keep it in line.

    "I suspect going into the election the government won't have wanted to allow that surplus target to drift any further.

    "I think it really is political theatre at the moment. I mean, this was announced last week with no substance, no specifics. Had it been worked up over months, almost certainly they would have had some specifics."

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/596541/budget-26-opposition-advocates-have-low-expectations-of-support-for-those-struggling-most

    Reply
  9. Incognito 9
    28 May 2026 at 1:45 pm

    The numbers in Budget-2026 are less important than the story narrative that is used to ‘sell it’.

    Here’s a textbook guide to the Coalition’s MO.

    How can these two views be so far apart? How can the sector warn about long-term harm, while the minister insists the changes are necessary and working?

    Part of the answer lies in how the story is being told.

    First let me point out that the evidence doesn’t clearly show an education system in crisis. There are challenges but the picture is more complex than the current public narrative suggests.

    What we’re seeing is not just education policy, but politics.

    Like all politicians, the minister needs to make a case for change and that case is built through a story. One that is simple, memorable, and persuasive.

    The pattern is familiar, even formulaic.

    1. Start with a sense of crisis

    2. Repeat the message

    3. Offer a simple solution

    4. Fit the evidence to the story

    5. Downplay the disagreement

    Everything else is simply a variation of the above with rhetorical tools & tricks.

    https://newsroom.co.nz/2026/05/28/erica-stanford-wants-to-tell-you-a-story-dont-listen/

    Reply
  10. Bearded Git 10
    28 May 2026 at 2:48 pm

    Yet another disastrous fast-tracked proposal near Arrowtown has been proposed-1250 houses in the wrong place wrecking landscapes.

    A group called Queenstown Smart Growth Initiative has been formed to oppose it. They say:

    ‘‘It is a development that would have a substantial and lasting impact on the wider community, as well as Arrow Junction, by eroding the area’s outstanding natural landscape through unfettered urban sprawl and the traffic congestion this ensures. We owe it to current and future residents to ensure the decision is made on the basis of clear facts and rigorous evidence.’’

    The "clear facts and rigorous evidence" approach preferred by QSGI would happen if the fast-track process was abandoned and the development was made to comply with District Plan provisions and was processed through the normal Council hearing process.

    From today’s ODT (paywalled)

    https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/housing-development-would-lead-%E2%80%98sprawl%E2%80%99

    Fast-track must go on November 8.

    Reply
  11. Drowsy M. Kram 11
    28 May 2026 at 4:24 pm

    Echo Chamber: Christopher Luxon and the disappearing documents
    [The Spinoff, 28 May 2026]
    We’ve all misplaced something at work. But if your office is a ministerial one, you might expect a bit more urgency in finding out where it went.

    Where what went, and I'd "be careful" writing that – very careful.

    [comment]
    This is secret lobbying – smells like corruption in this government at the highest level. It beggars belief that Luxon knew nothing and the press needs to keep up the scrutiny and not get diverted by the distraction techniques of dirty politics. Please Spinoff team, keep bringing us developments in this story. I think RNZ is doing a good job but I find the other main news sources very right-slanted and I'm worried people aren't hearing enough about this scandal

    RNZ National better "be careful" too. NActF won’t want this preliminary sketch of political corruption develop into a ‘Coalition of Corruption’ masterpiece for all to see – look you guys, I don’t know now I can be any clearer.

    Hang in there Luxon, less than six months to go now.

    Reply
  12. weka 12
    28 May 2026 at 5:41 pm

    BHN have a livestream budget convo going with a bunch of lefties.

    https://thestandard.nz/bhn-the-peoples-budget-lock-up-2026-livestream-on-now/

    Reply

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