Thanks for this edition, Nick, and for posting Lynda's magnificent speech. Others might also like to check out what Tammy Neilson had to say about diversity afterwards - very relevant to Winston's stupid bill.
A society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable. I along with many others judged Nicola's performance and found her sadly lacking. Plenty of money for purchases and nothing for people. When you finally got down to the loose change, she prioritised $430m to upgrading a bloody gold card over food banks. We want warm housing and good food not gold plated ID cards.
My thought was all these Government MP's should have those words about how a society is judged ---- written across the mirrors they look at every morning. Probably Nicola does not believe the quote, I'm sure David Seymour doesn't!
There is a cabal of people with a particular vision, a very simple one. The country, in their mindset, is a business. Businesses are judged by their profits. So the nation must be judged on the accounts, nothing else.
I’m not sure how, but they don’t seem to see people, or the connections and complexities of society. Not sure if it’s wilful blindness or lack of some sort of ability that normal people take for granted.
How they managed to convince so many others that this was a valid worldview and all drifted into such positions of power is a sad indictment of us all.
Dame Lynda's speech was excellent. It made me recall how Ireland's defence budget is just 0.2% of GDP (having steadily dropped from around 1% over the past 30 years).
It's hard to imagine a single nation on the planet that Ireland needs to defend itself from, because they invested in ensuring their culture is universally recognised and loved. Their "defence" investment is a diaspora of music and dance and colour and character and welcome inclusiveness (perhaps a little too 'welcoming' for the US pharma and tech industry, but still!)... She is absolutely right; in a small country, it is art and culture that are our most powerful defence asset by far.
Another budget that kicks the most vulnerable when they are already down. Based on fantasy and the dictates of the Atlas Network. Willis should be forced to listen to the magnificent speech from Lynda and compare her own moral compass to Lynda’s impactful comment.
Even if Willis was forced to listen to Lynda’s speech it would be water off a ducks back. She’s been cushioned from any hardship her entire life as far as I can tell from what we know about her background, no clue about how life is for the majority of kiwis, no interest in finding out.
Thanks for sharing that clip of Lynda Nick, tears in my coffee for sure and so beautiful and human after the robotic still life we call a finance minister.
Ha thanks Kim, it already applied to the other robot in the coalition but while this one is a bit more animated there's still something alien about her to my mind!
Nicola was right to acknowledge there’s poverty across the country. She wasn’t right in doing virtually nothing to address the problem. To my mind those who are the most affected by this poverty are the Coalition themselves. They completely lack any empathy, compassion, sympathy, wisdom,
humanity, simple care, integrity or interest whatsoever, for those who can’t afford a “great NZ paua pie”. Willis is absolutely clueless when she unwittingly,(maybe), offends all who don’t reach her standards, by blatantly showing how sorted she is, alongside her partners in ignorance, bigotry and self respect.
This country’s citizens, all of them, deserve a great deal more respect than this so called government offers. I wonder how the Coalition members would cope if those who have to work two or more jobs to try and keep their heads above water, some even serving those who don’t give a damn, decided to go on strike for a week? I would love to find out.
Nothing she does or say is said or done unwittingly. Grant's big hole comment, won the Lotto comment, eating a $15 gourmet. All are examples of her belittling people, punching down on people who are doing it hard from what govt has chosen to do or not do. She does not have a shred of humanity or empathy.
You’re absolutely right Marilyn. It’s said that a man,(and I imagine a woman), is judged by the company they keep. Nicola Witless is in very good company indeed!
I volunteer at a food bank and you would not believe the individuals and families who are really really struggling in this country. It is across the spectrum.....employed, unemployed,homeless,mortgage holders, young,older,with children and without. You name it and they are there. Common denominator......all doing it bloody hard. It's tragic.
The budget was pretty much as I expected. Chippy and Chloe responded brilliantly, Luxon as usual relied on snide comments, personal insults and pathetic insults, I could only listen to the first few minutes and had to turn him off.
There was nothing in that budget to bring hope to anyone except the very wealthy and big corporations.
The jobs Nichola crowed about creating were in construction projects of various kinds, the sort of jobs a lot of people are unable to do, and are only available for the period of the project. Where is the investment in long term economic development and stability? Where is the investment in NZ ownership of businesses, infrastructure and services, so that taxes are paid and profits remain in this country? Where, in the blathering about growing the economy did she actually show any interest in making sure our country’s assets and resources are not going to be stripped out, sold off, or destroyed?
Missing in action.
It left me feeling angry and despondent. Not sufficiently despondent to not vote of course, but it did make me wonder how many people, especially the young and those in dire situations, would be despondent or depressed to the point where they can’t see any reason to vote.
Nasty little bill going through all stages in the house now under urgency. Allowing MSD to use AI to respond to people's benefits and some other stuff about MSD being able to overrule the choice of doctor a beneficiary has.
Good heads up Darien. As if AI is a panacea for our society when we already know from years of computer usage that garbage in is garbage out. Sure it can be a useful tool but my use of chatgpt has shown me it can be really flawed and gives contradictory advice. Even blames previous AI advice for giving wrong info lol
UH OH!!! Thanks for the tip-off Darien...for the first time in 7 years, I have been forced into having numerous exasperating conversations with 2degrees customer care staff recently, basically because I have a hyphenated last name...I assume this is because 2degrees has recently taken the same AI/less shops and staff route...
If that’s the case, it’s only proper that those who aren’t too lazy wash their hands of the Coalition. I’m sure they could work up the courage and resolve to make sure it was a job completed in good time and under budget, unlike anything promised over the last couple of years.
Let’s be a bit more imaginative and more arithmetically bolder than Nicola no boats.
Imagine just paying say $100k to prisoners to stay out of prison. I am sure maybe half the prison population would agree to this proposal. With a few minor conditions it is worth exploring. It would save the government $100k per prisoner per annum.
It would benefit whole families and lift many out of poverty. I guess the downside is an increase in crime by generally law abiding citizens that earn under a 100k. Maybe solve that one by saying “serve the first 3 years” or just give those people thinking about committing a crime, 25k on top of any wages they get and make any other benefit worthwhile. Mmmm I now need to check in with reality radio to get some reality advice but I hope my wild thought processes resonate with you.
Maybe they could raise the minimum wage to ensure people earn enough to cover their own cost of living, education, superannuation, saving for a rainy day. Happy campers are much more productive campers.
I should have added that the rich pricks will just call us all bludger. If that is their mantra then they fit their own definition of a bludger perfectly; not working but earning a passive income
Nicola Willthis and her ride on the magic roundabout of hope…hahahahahahahahahahahahaha,the magic roundabout of hope..good one. But fear not, Nicola has a surplus of $600 billion to spend on rainbows and death threats ! Good times in Fantasy Island are just around the corner, sorry, I meant ‘coroner’….
Thanks for this edition, Nick, and for posting Lynda's magnificent speech. Others might also like to check out what Tammy Neilson had to say about diversity afterwards - very relevant to Winston's stupid bill.
A society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable. I along with many others judged Nicola's performance and found her sadly lacking. Plenty of money for purchases and nothing for people. When you finally got down to the loose change, she prioritised $430m to upgrading a bloody gold card over food banks. We want warm housing and good food not gold plated ID cards.
My thought was all these Government MP's should have those words about how a society is judged ---- written across the mirrors they look at every morning. Probably Nicola does not believe the quote, I'm sure David Seymour doesn't!
There is a cabal of people with a particular vision, a very simple one. The country, in their mindset, is a business. Businesses are judged by their profits. So the nation must be judged on the accounts, nothing else.
I’m not sure how, but they don’t seem to see people, or the connections and complexities of society. Not sure if it’s wilful blindness or lack of some sort of ability that normal people take for granted.
How they managed to convince so many others that this was a valid worldview and all drifted into such positions of power is a sad indictment of us all.
“Music makes us human”.
Such a profound observation!
Dame Lynda's speech was excellent. It made me recall how Ireland's defence budget is just 0.2% of GDP (having steadily dropped from around 1% over the past 30 years).
It's hard to imagine a single nation on the planet that Ireland needs to defend itself from, because they invested in ensuring their culture is universally recognised and loved. Their "defence" investment is a diaspora of music and dance and colour and character and welcome inclusiveness (perhaps a little too 'welcoming' for the US pharma and tech industry, but still!)... She is absolutely right; in a small country, it is art and culture that are our most powerful defence asset by far.
Another budget that kicks the most vulnerable when they are already down. Based on fantasy and the dictates of the Atlas Network. Willis should be forced to listen to the magnificent speech from Lynda and compare her own moral compass to Lynda’s impactful comment.
Even if Willis was forced to listen to Lynda’s speech it would be water off a ducks back. She’s been cushioned from any hardship her entire life as far as I can tell from what we know about her background, no clue about how life is for the majority of kiwis, no interest in finding out.
Thanks for sharing that clip of Lynda Nick, tears in my coffee for sure and so beautiful and human after the robotic still life we call a finance minister.
Your "robotic still life" quip is brilliantly accurate, David...
Ha thanks Kim, it already applied to the other robot in the coalition but while this one is a bit more animated there's still something alien about her to my mind!
Whoever believes in this fantasist deserves to take the “cool aid “ and perish
Nicola was right to acknowledge there’s poverty across the country. She wasn’t right in doing virtually nothing to address the problem. To my mind those who are the most affected by this poverty are the Coalition themselves. They completely lack any empathy, compassion, sympathy, wisdom,
humanity, simple care, integrity or interest whatsoever, for those who can’t afford a “great NZ paua pie”. Willis is absolutely clueless when she unwittingly,(maybe), offends all who don’t reach her standards, by blatantly showing how sorted she is, alongside her partners in ignorance, bigotry and self respect.
This country’s citizens, all of them, deserve a great deal more respect than this so called government offers. I wonder how the Coalition members would cope if those who have to work two or more jobs to try and keep their heads above water, some even serving those who don’t give a damn, decided to go on strike for a week? I would love to find out.
Nothing she does or say is said or done unwittingly. Grant's big hole comment, won the Lotto comment, eating a $15 gourmet. All are examples of her belittling people, punching down on people who are doing it hard from what govt has chosen to do or not do. She does not have a shred of humanity or empathy.
You’re absolutely right Marilyn. It’s said that a man,(and I imagine a woman), is judged by the company they keep. Nicola Witless is in very good company indeed!
Should say Gourmet pie.
I volunteer at a food bank and you would not believe the individuals and families who are really really struggling in this country. It is across the spectrum.....employed, unemployed,homeless,mortgage holders, young,older,with children and without. You name it and they are there. Common denominator......all doing it bloody hard. It's tragic.
The budget was pretty much as I expected. Chippy and Chloe responded brilliantly, Luxon as usual relied on snide comments, personal insults and pathetic insults, I could only listen to the first few minutes and had to turn him off.
There was nothing in that budget to bring hope to anyone except the very wealthy and big corporations.
The jobs Nichola crowed about creating were in construction projects of various kinds, the sort of jobs a lot of people are unable to do, and are only available for the period of the project. Where is the investment in long term economic development and stability? Where is the investment in NZ ownership of businesses, infrastructure and services, so that taxes are paid and profits remain in this country? Where, in the blathering about growing the economy did she actually show any interest in making sure our country’s assets and resources are not going to be stripped out, sold off, or destroyed?
Missing in action.
It left me feeling angry and despondent. Not sufficiently despondent to not vote of course, but it did make me wonder how many people, especially the young and those in dire situations, would be despondent or depressed to the point where they can’t see any reason to vote.
Big aroha to Dame Lynda.
Nasty little bill going through all stages in the house now under urgency. Allowing MSD to use AI to respond to people's benefits and some other stuff about MSD being able to overrule the choice of doctor a beneficiary has.
Good heads up Darien. As if AI is a panacea for our society when we already know from years of computer usage that garbage in is garbage out. Sure it can be a useful tool but my use of chatgpt has shown me it can be really flawed and gives contradictory advice. Even blames previous AI advice for giving wrong info lol
UH OH!!! Thanks for the tip-off Darien...for the first time in 7 years, I have been forced into having numerous exasperating conversations with 2degrees customer care staff recently, basically because I have a hyphenated last name...I assume this is because 2degrees has recently taken the same AI/less shops and staff route...
We have a government that is slowly but surely washing its hands of those it considers ‘poor but too lazy to help themselves’.
If that’s the case, it’s only proper that those who aren’t too lazy wash their hands of the Coalition. I’m sure they could work up the courage and resolve to make sure it was a job completed in good time and under budget, unlike anything promised over the last couple of years.
Let’s be a bit more imaginative and more arithmetically bolder than Nicola no boats.
Imagine just paying say $100k to prisoners to stay out of prison. I am sure maybe half the prison population would agree to this proposal. With a few minor conditions it is worth exploring. It would save the government $100k per prisoner per annum.
It would benefit whole families and lift many out of poverty. I guess the downside is an increase in crime by generally law abiding citizens that earn under a 100k. Maybe solve that one by saying “serve the first 3 years” or just give those people thinking about committing a crime, 25k on top of any wages they get and make any other benefit worthwhile. Mmmm I now need to check in with reality radio to get some reality advice but I hope my wild thought processes resonate with you.
Maybe they could raise the minimum wage to ensure people earn enough to cover their own cost of living, education, superannuation, saving for a rainy day. Happy campers are much more productive campers.
Yes my point about another 25k on any wage earner earning say under 50k a year. This country would get up and running very quickly.
I should have added that the rich pricks will just call us all bludger. If that is their mantra then they fit their own definition of a bludger perfectly; not working but earning a passive income
Nicola Willthis and her ride on the magic roundabout of hope…hahahahahahahahahahahahaha,the magic roundabout of hope..good one. But fear not, Nicola has a surplus of $600 billion to spend on rainbows and death threats ! Good times in Fantasy Island are just around the corner, sorry, I meant ‘coroner’….
Thanks again for your insightful comments Nick.
I would urge anyone interested in disability issues to look a the proposed DSS Bill. and make a submission before 6 June.
It is a shameful attempt by this Government to walk away from the needs of the disabled in our midst.
This community may be interested in some new research that explains why things are changing as they are: https://sanjanah.wordpress.com/2026/05/26/far-rights-rise-and-rise-in-new-zealand-since-2023s-general-election/