Glad you had a really happy birthday. We need those moments. I read doubting Thomas as well. The fact the RSB nearly made it 50 basis points tells us how bad it is. The reporting season will underline how damaging this is now, and no-one is believing the spin.
Many are realising that the big sell offs, the closures and the downward spiral is threatening fairly stable businesses and jobs. The crazy call for us to stop being "Merchants of misery' by Willis is so bizarre. What world are these awful CoC operating in? Especially as she went cap in hand to get loans and a pat from Fitch rating agency who gave her a grudging AA+ on debt repayment and a warning about unemployment, now hitting the South Island as well. Fitch further warned against GDP dropping further. Our credit rating falling would add to the debt, and they have made that a bigger % by shrinking our tax take. Such a mess but "hey peasants why aren't you spending? Don't be miserable, spend!!!". Love the cartoon great writing Nick.
Two strands, those who are ecstatically happy with the gang patch removal. And those who complain loudly, that at least with the patches, gangs were visible.
Rā whānau ki a koe for yesterday Nick! Glad you had a lovely day amongst the CoC chaos that is wrecking our ataahua motu. Love your work and finding sanity in you and your readers, a tribe to find some hope in!
Nicola’s good vibrations are the precursor of an economic (and hopefully political) earthquake. Bestest of birthday wishes, friends and whānau will testify that these are always late
A very Happy Birthday to you Nick🎉. You’re just one day, (and a couple of decades), younger than me. Sounds like the best time for everyone at your place, great to have the nearest and dearest helping you to celebrate.
Some very good vibrations in today’s Korero. Love that song. The Beach Boys were hugely popular in Oz when I was growing up. Still are with me. I thought if that’s the A side of today’s record, the B side would be Bruce Springsteen’s “My home town”. Two very different vibes but both appropriate for life in Godzone at the moment.
I’m pleased to say that even the Herald is printing some of my criticisms about the CoC, so it seems everyone has just about had enough. One below I sent on my birthday, but will be very surprised if it makes it.
Have a great day😀
As we’re aware, the demand for another Royal Commission of Inquiry into matters relating to the Labour COVID response, has been almost entirely driven by the NZF and ACT parties. Given the revelation yesterday by Kieran McAnulty and Ginny Andersen, both reading from National’s records, reminding us about the opposition at the time strongly supporting all that Labour were trying to accomplish during the pandemic, at
any cost, one could understand National’s reluctance or at least their disinterest in any involvement on their part, having lambasted Labour for “recklessly spending” taxpayers’ money, for the last eighteen months, only to be found wanting for honesty in the House. National’s dirty tricks brigade at work again?
It would also come as no surprise that NZF and ACT, who seem very matey in a Coalition held together by a web of fairy floss, have timed this demand to undermine any shred of credibility that may be left in National, before next year’s election and thereby raise their own hopes. Nothing would surprise me at all but time will tell. I look forward to the next exciting episode in this ongoing drama.
Belated Happy Birthday Nick! That sounds like a lovely celebration with family and friends.
Whenever I watch the government MPs and leaders speaking together eg Luxon and Willis, Luxon and Peters, Luxon and Seymour, I sense a feeling of utter disdain for each other, with Luxon frequently leaning his head away from the other person to create distance. He always has forced smiles and looks uncomfortable. When he does his strong leader impersonations, it's just laughable. I share the view of your birthday greeter - I hope the government collapses today too!
Even the Press Editorial is unimpressed: "If public relations spin could power economies, this week’s joint press conference appearance by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis would push us out of recession and our national gloom and make New Zealand feel prosperous again.
It was an unconvincing impersonation of confidence and bravado, on the back of another welcome cut to the Official Cash Rate by the Reserve Bank.
Nice to hear you had a great Birthday with family and good friends Nick, these social events are what keeps us all sane! Nats lack of spine, Luxton especially, should watch Velensky to see how a man of courage, a true leader for his people, behaves.
The thing I found amusing about the Coghlan headline is that it implies the Government is not fully responsible when the economy is bad, i.e. it's somehow they do not have agency over it and somehow "its" deciding whether to rescue them. Different story of course when the numbers make it looks like the economy is improving.
Read Anne Salmon’s report in the herald where she asks the question “who are this government working for”. Not us for sure
Yes - a must read - on Newsroom too
Glad you had a really happy birthday. We need those moments. I read doubting Thomas as well. The fact the RSB nearly made it 50 basis points tells us how bad it is. The reporting season will underline how damaging this is now, and no-one is believing the spin.
Many are realising that the big sell offs, the closures and the downward spiral is threatening fairly stable businesses and jobs. The crazy call for us to stop being "Merchants of misery' by Willis is so bizarre. What world are these awful CoC operating in? Especially as she went cap in hand to get loans and a pat from Fitch rating agency who gave her a grudging AA+ on debt repayment and a warning about unemployment, now hitting the South Island as well. Fitch further warned against GDP dropping further. Our credit rating falling would add to the debt, and they have made that a bigger % by shrinking our tax take. Such a mess but "hey peasants why aren't you spending? Don't be miserable, spend!!!". Love the cartoon great writing Nick.
Two strands, those who are ecstatically happy with the gang patch removal. And those who complain loudly, that at least with the patches, gangs were visible.
Rā whānau ki a koe for yesterday Nick! Glad you had a lovely day amongst the CoC chaos that is wrecking our ataahua motu. Love your work and finding sanity in you and your readers, a tribe to find some hope in!
Nicola’s good vibrations are the precursor of an economic (and hopefully political) earthquake. Bestest of birthday wishes, friends and whānau will testify that these are always late
Belated Happy Birthday Nick. I subscribe and will keep up because I value you Korero
A very Happy Birthday to you Nick🎉. You’re just one day, (and a couple of decades), younger than me. Sounds like the best time for everyone at your place, great to have the nearest and dearest helping you to celebrate.
Some very good vibrations in today’s Korero. Love that song. The Beach Boys were hugely popular in Oz when I was growing up. Still are with me. I thought if that’s the A side of today’s record, the B side would be Bruce Springsteen’s “My home town”. Two very different vibes but both appropriate for life in Godzone at the moment.
I’m pleased to say that even the Herald is printing some of my criticisms about the CoC, so it seems everyone has just about had enough. One below I sent on my birthday, but will be very surprised if it makes it.
Have a great day😀
As we’re aware, the demand for another Royal Commission of Inquiry into matters relating to the Labour COVID response, has been almost entirely driven by the NZF and ACT parties. Given the revelation yesterday by Kieran McAnulty and Ginny Andersen, both reading from National’s records, reminding us about the opposition at the time strongly supporting all that Labour were trying to accomplish during the pandemic, at
any cost, one could understand National’s reluctance or at least their disinterest in any involvement on their part, having lambasted Labour for “recklessly spending” taxpayers’ money, for the last eighteen months, only to be found wanting for honesty in the House. National’s dirty tricks brigade at work again?
It would also come as no surprise that NZF and ACT, who seem very matey in a Coalition held together by a web of fairy floss, have timed this demand to undermine any shred of credibility that may be left in National, before next year’s election and thereby raise their own hopes. Nothing would surprise me at all but time will tell. I look forward to the next exciting episode in this ongoing drama.
Great calls by Kieran & Ginny! Hopefully it will slow down their wasteful spending rubbish!
Happy birthday for yesterday! Despite the bleak outlook, let’s celebrate positives: we have your wonderful writing and it’s sunny in Wellington 😻
Belated Happy Birthday Nick! That sounds like a lovely celebration with family and friends.
Whenever I watch the government MPs and leaders speaking together eg Luxon and Willis, Luxon and Peters, Luxon and Seymour, I sense a feeling of utter disdain for each other, with Luxon frequently leaning his head away from the other person to create distance. He always has forced smiles and looks uncomfortable. When he does his strong leader impersonations, it's just laughable. I share the view of your birthday greeter - I hope the government collapses today too!
Even the Press Editorial is unimpressed: "If public relations spin could power economies, this week’s joint press conference appearance by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis would push us out of recession and our national gloom and make New Zealand feel prosperous again.
It was an unconvincing impersonation of confidence and bravado, on the back of another welcome cut to the Official Cash Rate by the Reserve Bank.
https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360800319/looking-bright-side?lid=jdx7e0vfe29b&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=press_wend_20250823
Nice to hear you had a great Birthday with family and good friends Nick, these social events are what keeps us all sane! Nats lack of spine, Luxton especially, should watch Velensky to see how a man of courage, a true leader for his people, behaves.
Happy birthday for yesterday Nick. Fantastic that you had family and friends to help you celebrate.
The thing I found amusing about the Coghlan headline is that it implies the Government is not fully responsible when the economy is bad, i.e. it's somehow they do not have agency over it and somehow "its" deciding whether to rescue them. Different story of course when the numbers make it looks like the economy is improving.
Unless it’s a Labour government remember, even the impacts of a global pandemic and natural disasters are the fault of the government then. 🙄
Thanks for giving me a smile (another) overcast wet Hawkes Bay morning.
Belated Happy Birthday Nick. Thanks for your great writing
Happy Birthday Nick. Sounds like you had a good one. Thanks for all your work and talk this year.