I’m sick.
My Covid test was negative although this feels worse than the last time I had it. It’s not the “man” variety either. My daughter Thea, who I’ve mentioned recently, is barking away like a seal, and she looks in more need of a blood transfusion than Brooke van Velden. Although obviously for quite different reasons.
So last night I should’ve been writing about the final debate but I just didn’t feel up to it, my body said it needed sleep. A debate takes me about five hours in the evening to watch, writing as I go, and rewinding to transcribe quotes. Then I get up around 4 am and edit it, hopefully into something coherent, adding in pictures and a song. Until I send it out at about 7 am for you to enjoy with your morning cuppa.
I enjoy the writing, but it makes for a very long night and I wasn’t up for it. Truth be told with Jessica Mutch McKay, who was poor in the first debate, hosting the event and Paula Bennett on the panel I wasn’t exactly looking forward to it. I did watch it of course and there’s a brief summary at the end of this newsletter.
Sometimes good things happen at the right time and I received a message from a Facebook friend yesterday saying she’d written a piece from one union member to others, would I be interested in putting it out?
One day next week I’ll send out the 400th edition of Nick’s Kōrero. Of those three, including today’s and yesterday’s have been guest columns. I hope folks don’t mind two coming together. These will remain few, it’s just been London buses the last couple of days.
Lurgy aside I think it’s appropriate to include these words from Darien in my last newsletter before the election. Unions are on the frontline of the fight for fairer pay and conditions and they know more than anyone how critical this election is. I have huge respect for those who work in the union movement, looking out for hardworking Kiwis whose lives will be made much harder if National, who are committed to reversing Fair Pay Agreements, are elected.
Over to Darien...
A message from a union member and from my heart.
Some of you may know me as a former National Secretary of the Service & Food Workers Union (now E tū) of which I am a Life Member. During my time, I organised and led negotiations for Aged Care and other care and support workers, hospitality workers, cleaners and catering workers and food manufacturing workers. I am also currently a member of FIRST Union.
Others may know me from working with the Meat Workers Union or working with PSA border security workers and key food testing workers during the Pandemic. Most recently, I have been giving a hand to the pay equity process for care and support workers, with E tū, PSA and NZNO.
I was a Labour MP from 2005 – 2014. I was in Parliament when the Christchurch earthquakes happened and the awful Pike River mine tragedy. Labour stood with those mining families, along with Helen Kelly.
I helped raise the dreadful toll of forestry workers with then National Party Minister Simon Bridges. I’ve stood on the picket line with you when the Ports of Auckland workers were locked out and in Moerewa when AFFCO workers were locked out too.
As an opposition MP from 2008, I saw a majority National Government take away the rights of Film and Video workers ; Meals and Rest Breaks removed, 90 day trials introduced, union collective bargaining curtailed, union access for organisers restricted (again). And meanwhile, the minimum wage hardly moved.
While unions can and will fight, solid laws do make a difference. Our work together industrially and politically means Fair Pay Agreements are now being negotiated in the first time many low paid workers have had a chance to negotiate together in 30 years.
There are 10 days sick leave for all when many of you only had 5 days ; we have a special Matariki Holiday, 26 weeks Paid Parental Leave, domestic violence leave, better rights for union access and collective bargaining and much more. Your families now have free prescriptions and kids have lunch in schools. The minimum wage has gone up $7 an hour since Labour was first in government in 2017. Until Labour got in in 2000, we only had three weeks annual leave!
Some will say Labour hasn’t done enough. It’s true, there’s always more to do. That’s why we vote, and organise, and fight. That’s what unions do because we learned long ago, it’s tough enough without having to fight with one hand tied behind our backs with anti worker laws brought in by National/ACT/ (and yes NZ First) governments.
So please VOTE. You know I am Labour. Some of you may prefer the Greens, or Te Pāti Māori. That’s okay but count as you go. We need 61 votes in Parliament to hold the line and go forward, not backwards. Vote with your head, as well as your heart. This election is close. We can do it.
Your fellow union member
Darien.
I would certainly echo those sentiments, thank you Darien.
So a little bit on last night’s debate. As expected Luxon spoke in meaningless sound bites, just utterly vacuous, and avoided questions.
I loved the line from Chippy when Luxon was challenging him on the number of Labour ministers that had resigned, you’ll know the one if you saw it…
“None of my MPs beat anyone up with a bed leg.”
It was glorious and seemed to catch Luxon by surprise. Chippy was on fire and had him on the ropes. Luxon looked weak and couldn’t, or wouldn’t, answer questions. Although perhaps that was for the best - everyone’s jaws dropped when he said his grocery bill for the week was $60. Way to show you’re out of touch when talking about a cost of living crisis Christopher!
The Labour leader brought his best performance at the most important moment. The emotion he showed and the contrast he emphasised between National’s tax-cut millionaires, with massive benefits going to three hundred landlords, while slashing $2 billion off of budgeted benefits, must have connected with some people.
It’s really heartbreaking when you look at what that means. Someone on a disability benefit will be $60 a week worse off by the end of decade. How could Luxon stand there grinning and dancing on the head of a pin pretending it’s not a cut? Either he has no idea what life is like for people on such support, and what taking $60 per week from them will mean, or he doesn’t give a stuff.
As for the labour leader - he did himself, and us, proud - good on you Chippy!
I thought the debate was actually pretty good. Jessica was much better than she had been in the first debate although I still felt she interrupted Chippy more than Luxon. To be fair he did a bit of interrupting himself. Next was the panel - what a shambles!
Paula Bennett was a joke, she didn’t even pretend to be neutral, she was just cheerleading for her team. As for the mohawk - did she lose a bet?
Her mock outrage over Chippy’s Uffindell line, from one of the grubbiest politicians New Zealand has ever seen, was hilarious. For me Maiki Sherman was the pick of the bunch in terms of sensible analysis. Why on earth do they always refer to her as deputy? I think it’s rather rude.
Tomorrow being election day there won’t be a newsletter from me. I don’t really understand how the election blackout period works in a time of social media and early voting, but it seems right to respect the traditions of election day.
I’ll have a thread on my facebook page tomorrow evening for like minded individuals to chat about the events of the night. It’ll be public so anyone can join in, but I will delete trolling comments and block repeat offenders. Otherwise the next time you hear from me we’ll know the result, if not necessarily who is in government.
I’m more optimistic than I probably should be. I honestly believe that many of our fellow citizens don’t want the austerity and cruelty that a National/ACT government would bring. Hopefully when they’re in the voting booth they’ll think about others, and for all of Aotearoa it’s the right result.
Take care all of you lovely people, fingers crossed, and I’ll see you on the other side.
This was Darien’s musical pick. I’d not heard it before but it sounds good to me.
Ka piki te ora Nick! Self-care vital, you cant nurture from an empty vessel 💝
Still anxious but optimistic. Been interesting seeing Bridie Wootton and Derek Cheng trying to "spin by omission" last night debate as at least a draw for Luxon. Cheng gave up eventually but Bridie clearly a forever blue cultist.
Anecdotally, here in Hamilton, crowds and queues at voting places. And many saying they're there for the left and a fair deal for all 🙏
Finally, some FIRE from the Chippie Corner! I think Mr. Hipkins learned from the 1st Jessica "too Much" Mckay interview that polite is not right with her. You just push through & let her flounder for the Control factor. Chippie answered all of the questions, professionally as you would expect a Prime Minister to do. When she tried to talk over him he upped the volume & assertively pushed her Mug out of the conversation in a polite sorta reminder that she overstepped her Host Authority in the 1st one & wasn't going to do it again in the last one! Professionally handled by an experienced Political Debater!
On the other side of the Debate Chambers we saw a pathetic, desperate nobody that froze in the headlights like a Bald Possum! (apologies to Bald Possums!)
To say that Luxburger was "Blown off the Stage", would be an understatement! Maybe "Tsunami'd" would be better, I dunno, you choose!!!
For the 1st time in a long time I felt VERY Proud to be a Kiwi! I felt that old fire come back in my gut that I felt long ago sailing East in a Real live Flotilla to stop the French from blowing up the Pacific & wrecking our lives from their Colonialist misbehaviour.
I could almost feel those Trade Winds on my cheek again as Chippie unloaded on Mr. Not so Clean with the same Fire we all felt on the run to Mururoa - Not in OUR backyard, piss off!
I had the same feeling last night watching the show. It was like a slow motion Lange speech to the Yanks about coming anywhere near our waters with Nukes. It was an in your face moment that made me proud of us again!
Listening to the blathering on RNZ this morning around the Debate results is interesting! I've yet to hear anyone come out & say that Chippie kicked Luxons big Butt, which seems a bit strange given the fact that he slammed ole Boss Boy to the mat a number of times.
No, it seems that the Commentaries & Talking Heads are all licking their wounds, not knowing what the hell hit em at this point & lookin around for a big Laury with dented Bull Bars to blame for the Hit ñ Run last night .
It seems like the Blue Meanie's have a bad case of Godsmack as they search the Haystack for Straws to pull out in self defense of their bruised & battered former CEO guy, that might be headed to WINZ for a handout after the Election when he realises that he actually snatched defeat from the Jaws of Victory in the final moments of the '23 Election. NAtional don't have a very good track record for retaining Leaders that Lose so spectacularly as this one did last night. He may not have a job come Monday next!?
Nah, Chippie came loaded for Bear last night & bagged himself a Fat White Elephant! Good on ya Laddie!
I must say though that seeing "Big Wave Dave" Benefit on the Review Panel made me laugh so hard, I had to go outside for the best & longest Belly Laugh I've had in probably 20 years! What a horrible person to have on ANY Review Panel. The persona that could derail a Freight Train from 20 paces with just a sideways glance, or scare the hands off a clock in every room where there s a clock on the wall. SHUDDER!
That may have been a brilliant move by the Labour Camp to make sure that EVERYBODY seeing that Snide Mug on their TV sets last night would Run full speed ahead to the closest Polling place & double tick Labour, TPM, or Green Boxes in indelible sharpie pen, then double circle their Ticks! The Big Wave Dave Du was befitting this nasty Velociraptor that makes Ruth Richardson seem like a cuddly ole Granny!...
Luxon was bad enough without Benefit cheerleading for National!! I bet she got a backhander from ole Wide Boys personal checkbook for her Cameo appearance last night(???)
I'm dyin to see the Poll following the debate - the Lucky Last one before we all head for the physical polls, saturday, or today, if you want a worthwhile thing to do and don't feel we need the Adams Family running our Government after Saturday's results...