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- Date published:
11:15 am, March 24th, 2026 - 23 comments
Categories: benefits, Christopher Luxon, class, class war, Economy, nicola willis, poverty, Shane Jones, welfare -
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Today it is anticipated that the Government will release the news about what it is going to do to help the poor among us already hurting from the Oil crisis.
I predict there will be limited assistance to working families to deal with the carnage caused by Trump’s Middle East Oil Crisis.
But it will not be for beneficiaries.
Acting Prime Minister Nicola Willis confirmed this in her recent visit to the Marsden Oil Refinery where she was doing her best Kristi Noem impressiobn by cosplaying as a Refinery Worker.
She said this:
I’ve been candid that my initial focus is on those low- to middle-income households who are working. As workers, in many cases, people don’t have a choice but to travel to work each day”.
It seems clear there will be no help for the poorest among us, only an attempt to be seen to do something for the stretched middle. Something they could use as a talking point ad nauseum. Something to provide a figleaf of cover to the allegation that they do not care.
This is essentially confirmed by the fact that IRD and Treasury had been tasked with going over the options. The exclusion of the Ministry of Social Development is fairly conclusive evidence of what is planned.
The use of Marsden Point by Willis as a backdrop to the image is tiring. Shane Jones yet again claimed this morning that the last Labour Government shut down Marsden Oil Refinery and contributed to the current problem. The fact that it could only refine imported oil carries no weight with him even though it completely undermines his criticism, even if the original premise was reality based.
And meanwhile Christopher Luxon is conspicuous by his absence. His only current public appearances seem to be to hand over the talking to Nicola Willis.
Today will I am sure provide a contrast between what the last Labour Government did when facing a one in one hundred year pandemic and what this Government will do when facing an oil crisis created by their American right wing colleague Donald Trump.
Labour tried to make sure that no one was left behind and make the hard decisions designed to get us through.
This Government will do the absolute minimum possible and make decisions based not on what is needed but on what they can use for political advantage.
Why does this government hate poor people?
Blind ideology and circumstance. They have never been poor themselves or if they have, they see themselves as having pulled themselves up by the boot straps and not, as in most cases, they simply had a lucky break.
They want to believe they are superior to poor people and therefore entitled to a much larger piece of the fiscal cake. In order to maintain that belief they also have to believe that poor people are poor because they are lazy good for nothings. They willfully ignore all the evidence to the contrary… just as CC deniers ignore the proven evidence the world’s climate is going to hell in a handbasket.
The simplest answer is pure, unadulterated greed dressed up as ‘tough love’.
Because poor people don't vote for them, ergo there is no incentive to like them.
Plus what Anne has said.
They have a zero sum philosophy and they worship Mammon. They are Orcs in business suits
I was going to bite my tongue, but this is too much. Going into lockdown in 2020, Labour gave financial support to working people, but not beneficiaries.
National are worse, for all sorts of reasons, and Labour overall did many amazing things during the pandemic, Labour also set the standard on how to treat those on welfare. And still does.
IIRC, there was some support for beneficiaries but it was dwarfed by the wage subsidy scheme.
What support was that?
There was some support re benefit hardship allowances, mainly, I think. From govt website.
but, as usual with Labour, the support to beneficiaries is always secondary, and less substantial than for those doing a significant amount of paid work.
Furthermore the main financial assistant was funneled to employers during the Covid lockdowns.
https://thestandard.nz/covid-19-govt-support-live-updates-from-2pm/
without fact checking TRP, here's my best memory and guess,
1. WEP did increase, but it doesn't start until May
2. Main benefits go up each April 1st.
3. what was the cash bonus and when was it paid?
4. when you increase the base benefit any beneficiary getting hardship and accommodation supplementary benefits will have their benefit rate reassessed through formula. When government says oh $20 more a week, some people might get a few dollars.
what Labour didn't do was give a one off cash payment outside of the main benefit calculations, that beneficiaries could have used to buy masks, hand sanitiser, extra food, medicines.
Labour are not much better for us than the Nats, they just pretend to be which I think is worse. At least the RWers don't hide their disdain.
Did they give a one-off cash payment to working people?
in the weeks before lockdown, working people had wages to buy masks, hand sanitiser, food, medicines.
I stand by original comment and have no time to dig deep into this. However:
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/121-billion-support-new-zealanders-and-business
In my books, that’s not nothing.
it wasn't nothing. Labour across both terms did raise benefits in a less obvious way. My comment was about going into lockdown.
Here's another example of the principle that Labour set the tone on how to do this by excluding beneficiaries.
2022 cost of living payment was a one off payment to low and middle income earners, and excluded those who didn't or couldn't work.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/472158/cost-of-living-payment-what-you-need-to-know
Oh yes, that extra $25/week in the hand. I do not know a single beneficiary who saw that full $25, because of all the clawbacks to supplements because our income had supposedly 'increased.' I got all of $11/week. The dirty little secret that we all know about but, not people who have no experience of the benefit system.
The same thing happens to us every April fools day, whatever stripe it is, crowing about how we're all getting an increase. Give with one hand, take with other, it's how you keep the welfare budget down.
Poor People are a cost to society and most poor people do not vote National, ACT or NZF, hence they are of no value to the COC Government.
They don't hate 'em,
They just don't rate 'em.
Oh they definitely hate us.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360955185/which-families-will-get-50-week-cost-living-relief
The economic concern will be commercial diesel users and the impact on their cost structure and availability of product (gib board of a few years back).
The next measure might involve assistance with power bills.
Mickey stupid question – Is the government using tax payer money in a crisis with some classical economic gymnastics to vote get? I talk of the 143,000 families receiving relief from this scheme.
Its not just the current governments hatred of the poor. His majesties LINO opposition is no better.
Hipkins reassures his wealthy audience and business leaders.
" The country's rich elite, who own over sixty percent of New Zealand's wealth, will be very happy to hear that Chris Hipkins and Labour are fighting for them. Frankly, what the hell is Hipkins talking about? "
" But instead of embracing the 'populist' left approach of people like Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jeremy Corbyn, Hipkins has chosen to defend an unpopular status quo that is failing ordinary people "
" Capitalism is not working for most people "
https://nzagainstthecurrent.blogspot.com/2025/05/chris-hipkins-rich-are-people-too.html