Lying Through Your Teeth
Level crossings and racist distractions.
Everybody knows you're a liar
Why don't I?
I always knew you were a
I always knew you were a
I always knew you were a fraud
Songwriter: Daryl Palumbo.
Alas, let us spare a thought for our Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon; things are not going well. Do you have a violin to symphonise?
It can be tiny, anything with strings stretched that makes a high-pitched, shrill noise. Much like Nicola Willis when she blames Labour for the fact that things have worsened on her watch.
Poor Mr Luxon, not literally, of course - he’s loaded, as he likes to remind us.
A man who has proven to be an economic failure, over-promising and under-delivering, and who feels compelled, like a poor navigator, to claim that better days are just around the corner if we keep going.
Even though anyone paying attention can see that we’re heading in the wrong direction and that, unless he intends for us to circumnavigate the globe before reaching our destination, we need to change course.
As a negotiator, he has shown himself to be weak on the world stage, some would say spineless, which is also how many see his relationship with his coalition partners.
He does as he’s told, putting aside all standards and independent thought to get what he wants, ignoring the ramifications for others, be it those in Gaza or we in Aotearoa.
In the context of his era, he is arguably our most racist Prime Minister. Willing to support the divisive, regressive policies of the ACT party, even if he disappears for foreign photo opportunities during key votes.
His only allies are a comatose caucus yet to find its voice, backbone, or self-preservation instinct, protected by an umpire, Speaker Gerry Brownlee, who is more one-eyed than South African referees were in the days before neutral officials.
I’m guessing this was not how he imagined things would be when his good friend John Key lured him from corporate land with the promise of popularity and a knighthood. Perhaps he wishes he’d never bothered, I know I certainly do.
Still, things may turn out all right. Mr Positive seems to think they might, although he would, wouldn’t he…
From Stuff:
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is promising economic growth will come to cities, including Auckland and Wellington, betting on major infrastructure projects to help them catch up with the regions.
A positive sentiment, although it’s hard to see why he has waited until almost two years into his term to consider undertaking overdue infrastructure work and recognise that he is there to rule for people beyond farmers and landlords.
Luxon “promised a refreshed focus on urban centres.” I guess the laser didn’t work.
He said his government had the opportunity “to actually shape the kind of recovery we have and the kind of future and potential of a city like Auckland and New Zealand in general”.
So that sounds like a solid plan. Having waited almost two years since being elected to unleash it, this future potential must be pretty exciting.
I’m sure it’s not just a last-ditch effort to appear as though they’re taking action to address the alarming increase in unemployment in the construction industry, with work they should have started long ago.
Like a possum suddenly in the glare of the media, who had previously treated them as a protected species.
Perhaps I’m being too cynical? It will be good to see these major new initiatives completed. I’m sure this isn’t just about photo opportunities to make senior figures appear as if they’re doing something.
Really? All three of them?
In February 2025, “the Minister of Transport announced that the Government would allocate up to $200 million for its share of funding to accelerate the removal of the level crossings in Takaanini and Glen Innes.”
In March 2025, the Auckland Council “approved acceleration of the programme to remove level crossings at Takaanini and Glen Innes by bringing forward a $550 million allocation in its Long-term Plan capital budget.”
Now here we are, just six months later and the work is set to begin. I guess they had to prioritise the de-coning work first. Looking at the accompanying photo, I wrote:
Did you hear the one about the government that achieved so little that the Minister of Transport, the Mayor, and even the Prime Minister all turned up for a photo opportunity to remove a level crossing?
Minnie commented, “Surely building a hospital or a ferry is more important than building a tiny bridge?”
Dorothy said, “Should have put Dunce caps (aka road cones) on their heads.” A little unfair, as I believe the reintroduction of dunce caps is part of their education policy, rather than transportation.
Vicki: “Wow, it doesn't get much BIGGER than that. Also, there's a road cone on my road, maybe they could pop down and remove it.”
The problem they’ve got is that even their loudest cheerleaders at NZME are now starting to ask questions.
After more than a year and a half, the honeymoon is over, and the people who got this government elected are starting to wonder where the beef is. They’ve had an unsatisfying appetiser, but where's the main course?
I was pretty surprised to see this headline yesterday, given that the Herald has not only remained quiet on this for almost two years but has actively promoted distractions to the Kiwi public:
From the paywalled article:
The changing of names like Waka Kotahi back to New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, the removal of Aotearoa from the top of New Zealand passports and deleting Māori words from children’s books seems childish but is part of the NZ First-National deal.
Some changes have been subtle, while others appear to be seeking an easy headline.
It is hard to see how the changes are making lives better for average New Zealanders doing it tough in a gloomy economy. But none appear critical to anyone or anything, apart from political posturing and point scoring.
The constant and seemingly deliberate bashing of Māori is wearing thin for many Kiwis, including within the National Party’s base of voters.
When even the Herald editorial says that all this nonsense about removing te reo words from children's books, changing the names of government departments, and reordering the words on passports is a distraction from the serious business of government, something has changed.
"We need to see these sideshows for what they are, diversions from the Government facing the tough issues impacting us all."
Well done, NZME, for finally stating the obvious. People voted for more money in their pockets, not to appease narrow-minded idiots who see the racism of fifty years ago as the good old days.
Craig said, “They're just revolting... a few words in a kids’ book ... How did we sink so far?”
To which the answer is, of course, Christopher Luxon, who brought us here when he decided that being Prime Minister mattered more to him than doing the right things for Aotearoa - New Zealand.
Ricky: “Yep, these racist diversions are simply the Roman circuses of the past. Keep the masses entertained and eyes off the ball while we sell and profiteer on the land.”
Are you not entertained?
Or have you heard this one too often, and it doesn’t help you pay the bills? Besides, who in their right mind would genuinely believe that Māori are in a privileged position in this country? Only a racist who sees the natural order of things as having Tangata Whenua at the bottom.
One day, hopefully not long from now, these guys will be gone, a regretted footnote in our history. Te Reo will be given the respect and the funding that it deserves as our first language; we’ve gone too far to let these small-minded opportunists take us back.
We will take our Aotearoa back from the MAGA wannabes, as per the fabulous slogan above by Otis Frizzell.
The following report from 1 News last night showed the homecoming of HMNZS Te Kaha.
Seeing the diversity of our armed forces and the emotional haka made me think, do your worst, you coalition of cowards and colonialists. We live in Aotearoa, this is what it looks like, and with all your small-minded bigotry, you cannot take that away.
What are you going to do? Rename the vessel with an English name?
You can do that, for now, but it won’t change the people serving our country and the families that support them. This is Aotearoa, and there’s no going back.
Do you feel sorry for Christopher Luxon? Nah, me either. The bigotry, the cowardice, and the mediocrity we see are all on him.
Have a good Monday, all you lovely people.
Ngā mihi,
Nick.
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To end today, here’s Head Automatica with Lying Through Your Teeth.
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