Chippie is infinitely more appealing than the three stooges currently calling the shots, but if we want to motivate the hesitant voters we need more - Mamdani style excitement, a sense that things can be genuinely better (and different).
An excellent post Nick. Thankyou. And please stop discounting the subscription to your very wonderful korero. It is worth far more than $1 per week. You know it. I know it. We all know it. But I know we all have to get through these hard times. One way or another.
Less than a week after the budget was presented in Parliament plus another three days of urgency where nasty changes were made without select committee (and hardly a media murmur) and our Labour and Green MPs held the line, there’s a chorus of “where’s your policy” and “how ya gonna pay for it” from media, including Tova and John Campbell. It’s gonna continue so I am hoping to hear more from Labour about their plans soonish. It will be announced bit by bit ; just as Labour has always done. I get a lot of hope from seeing our candidates out on the road, knocking on every door, doing the really hard yards. Rest assured we will have plenty of policy to judge Labour on before voting opens. Meanwhile, let's keep the pressure on the bastardos now in power.
The first thing I say to the "how are Labour going to pay for it" is look at what they won't be paying for. Big tobacco, Big fuel, tax rebates to well off, rebates to landlords, LNG terminal etc., and of course all the wasted money for stupid decisions like the ferries debacle.
Yes Darien, a few body blows will shake the confidence (arrogant cockiness) of the current coalition.
Here’s one idea:
Let’s have top journalist Mahingirangi Forbes interview Lester Levy, Simeon Brown and Roger Jarrald together to ask them why both Levy and Roger Jarrald’s departures from Health NZ have been signalled (Levy in May, Jarrald in July) yet the Minister is retaining them as ‘consultants’?
Is it because Chief Financial Officer Bevan McKenzie isn’t even a chartered accountant and therefore Jarrald needs to hold his hand? What is it costing for Jarrald to be holding McKenzie’s hand?
While we’re at it, Mihi Forbes could ask Jarrald directly why he chooses not to keep his professional development as a chartered accountant up to date? Is it related to him stating (with witnesses) back in 2024 that he ‘wouldn’t care if he was struck off as a chartered accountant’?
I’ve got other ideas that’ll shake the tree rather firmly.
When the government changes, I know several people who say they’re happy to blow the whistle on the antics of ‘public servants’ and coalition government members.
That would be excellent. I was thinking just now that Labour should be saying it is going to an investigation into this Luxon thing. Chippy is right. It stinks.
Sometimes it seems to me, that I need to be a journalist and use my hunting instincts.
We need our media to be strong and resolute in the face of intimidation and misuse and abuse of power.
We need in our democracy, media who speak truth to power and who do not bend in the hot air and spin spouted by those who cannot afford for the truth to be exposed.
I’m watching; waiting and expecting better. We all deserve a fourth estate that helps keep our democracy healthy.
I wrote a lengthy Substack post back in April 2026 following the news that Lester Levy was resigning 3 months before his contract was up. The link is here:
Jonathan Milne of Newsroom Pro is one of a number of journalists who has some knowledge of these ‘gentlemen’. There are many more.
Lester Levy has relied heavily upon Roger Jarrald who has accounting experience in health but also unfortunately with Fletchers along with Bevan McKenzie, which did not yield impressive results for Fletchers and their shareholders.
Jarrald ‘sorted’ the dropping in (a questionable process perhaps not following usual appointments of such importance) of his mate Bevan McKenzie as Health NZ CFO.
Useful for Levy to have Jarrald arrange this leaving Levy’s hands completely clean.
Why the coalition government wishes to bring both Levy and Jarrald out of their current roles but then retain them as ‘consultants’ is for Health NZ Board and the Minister Simeon Brown to answer.
The previous Auditor-General John Ryan forced Health NZ to correct their accounts if you remember that? The figure was not insignificant.
Ayesha Verrall had a doozy of a ding-dong with Simeon Brown in the Annual Health Debate if you’ll recall. Quite juicy details in that here:
The House: Verrall and Brown go tit-for-tat in health annual review debate
I'm really pissed about the non funding for prostate cancer. My younger brother passed away in February due to prostate cancer because he left it too late. As for Penk looking at Nuclear subs. New Zealand has never had a submarine as far as I know.
Thank you for your condolences John. Yes I think there should be nation wide screening fot Prostate Cancer. As for Penk, he needs to know when to keep his trap shut.
If I remember correctly he's another Christian fundamentalist that luxon bought into the inner circle when he was under siege and did a so called cabinet reshuffle - ability and performance didn't appear to be criterion.
I’m with you and your family on the funding for early detection of prostate cancer Warren. So sad that good people die too soon.
My Celtic ancestry stirs when someone experiences the grief associated with loss of a loved one.
A Celtic Blessing for you…
‘Anam Cara: Spiritual Wisdom from the Celtic World’ (John O’Donohue)
“May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours...
And may a slow wind work these words of love around you,
an invisible cloak to mind your life.”
I say a big yes to health. My dad and first wife both died too young from cancer. I hear his voice encouraging me; I see her warm brown eyes in a sunrise.
Excellent post Nick. National do not put policies out till the last moment possible and I get sick of hearing them asking for Labour's ones. I am in favour of Chris Hipkins. I want someone who is calm, knows what they are doing, and knows how to run a government.
Just as you point out Nick the "budget" was a pack of deliberate lies and spin. Only severely impaired persons would believe a Surplus or Deficit is relevant to a government budget - if that includes people - US, and if we accept such lies as truth, then we will get what we deserve,,,
Building a future! The present lot could not build a paper dart!
I'm really bothered that Upstons Bill for upending support for the disabled has got no airplay.
This has been snuck with no consultation with the affected parties. Of course poor and disabled people don't have much lobbying power and no money to influence Govt unlike tobacco, racing,liquor, mining and/or developers on conservation land.
A great analysis Nick. Like many New Zealanders my hope will be that the MSM will give Labour, Greens and TMP a fair go and hold the CEO, FM, DP and Peters to account.
Nicki no boats had a photo of herself and family with plate of lovely looking chocolate chippy cookies because after the budget they have a cookie day??
Meanwhile some of the rest of NZ gets the crumbs ...
Yes we do need more tax revenue, and it’s high time corporations, companies and billionaires paid their fair share. For too long the middle and working classes in NZ footed the bills, as they have now been gutted like a fish a thrown on the redundancy/unemployment heap there’s no more to be squeezed out of them.
Comments from Andrea Black; if we want a USA health system, then we pay USA taxes, if we want a Scandinavian health system, then we have to pay their taxes.
I do like to compare that look of spiteful school bully on Nickynoboats face with the look on her face after the Q&A interview. Jacked outed her budget as nothing more than a fairy tale. Although Labour are going to have to grab the momentum soon or we're all going to end up in a depressed puddle somewhere with no hope.
🤷 Agree, but as mentioned earlier - a "tax change" can ALSO be removing the tobacco, landlord etc gifts, which would on their own increase the $$ a Labour-led govt would have for improving social services 👍
👍💯 we do need to keep remembering that National didn't release much policy til very late last time (and none so far this time) when talking about Labour, plus of course as soon as the Nats were "negotiating" with a gun to their heads they ditched all their independence & the 2 dog-teams from ACTout & NZLast wagged them into submission before they even took the Treasury benches 😱 I for one am sick of knee-jerk & click-baity governance & appreciate the Labour policy makers not buying into the bullying until the official figures that accompany the govt "wish list" were available, and of course there may always be SOMETHING in the budget that they can either live with, or even support ⁉️
I am sure the coalition strategy is to pounce on any Labour policies & try to tear them down, rather than come up with anything of their own to vote FOR, outside of the vested interests of the wealthy & sorted, racists, misogynists, etc which are often one and the same it seems... 🤷
Chippie is infinitely more appealing than the three stooges currently calling the shots, but if we want to motivate the hesitant voters we need more - Mamdani style excitement, a sense that things can be genuinely better (and different).
How can we turn Chippy into Mamdani? I am not sure that would turn out so well.
I loved Mamdani's speeches and action. But New York is a vastly different place to Aotearoa.
But people needing a vision and hope is the same.
An excellent post Nick. Thankyou. And please stop discounting the subscription to your very wonderful korero. It is worth far more than $1 per week. You know it. I know it. We all know it. But I know we all have to get through these hard times. One way or another.
Thanks, Keith. 🙂 Appreciate it.
Well said! I totally understand your comments and agree. But Nick also has to make a living the best way he can.
I agree with your sentiments Keith. I too, value Nick’s Kōrero highly.
Less than a week after the budget was presented in Parliament plus another three days of urgency where nasty changes were made without select committee (and hardly a media murmur) and our Labour and Green MPs held the line, there’s a chorus of “where’s your policy” and “how ya gonna pay for it” from media, including Tova and John Campbell. It’s gonna continue so I am hoping to hear more from Labour about their plans soonish. It will be announced bit by bit ; just as Labour has always done. I get a lot of hope from seeing our candidates out on the road, knocking on every door, doing the really hard yards. Rest assured we will have plenty of policy to judge Labour on before voting opens. Meanwhile, let's keep the pressure on the bastardos now in power.
The first thing I say to the "how are Labour going to pay for it" is look at what they won't be paying for. Big tobacco, Big fuel, tax rebates to well off, rebates to landlords, LNG terminal etc., and of course all the wasted money for stupid decisions like the ferries debacle.
Very good points Rachel! Bang on target!
Great point!!
Yes Darien, a few body blows will shake the confidence (arrogant cockiness) of the current coalition.
Here’s one idea:
Let’s have top journalist Mahingirangi Forbes interview Lester Levy, Simeon Brown and Roger Jarrald together to ask them why both Levy and Roger Jarrald’s departures from Health NZ have been signalled (Levy in May, Jarrald in July) yet the Minister is retaining them as ‘consultants’?
Is it because Chief Financial Officer Bevan McKenzie isn’t even a chartered accountant and therefore Jarrald needs to hold his hand? What is it costing for Jarrald to be holding McKenzie’s hand?
While we’re at it, Mihi Forbes could ask Jarrald directly why he chooses not to keep his professional development as a chartered accountant up to date? Is it related to him stating (with witnesses) back in 2024 that he ‘wouldn’t care if he was struck off as a chartered accountant’?
I’ve got other ideas that’ll shake the tree rather firmly.
When the government changes, I know several people who say they’re happy to blow the whistle on the antics of ‘public servants’ and coalition government members.
That would be excellent. I was thinking just now that Labour should be saying it is going to an investigation into this Luxon thing. Chippy is right. It stinks.
Trying to get the msmedia to take any notice is hard. But I like your ideas. We should get this story out about Levy et al on social media.
Sometimes it seems to me, that I need to be a journalist and use my hunting instincts.
We need our media to be strong and resolute in the face of intimidation and misuse and abuse of power.
We need in our democracy, media who speak truth to power and who do not bend in the hot air and spin spouted by those who cannot afford for the truth to be exposed.
I’m watching; waiting and expecting better. We all deserve a fourth estate that helps keep our democracy healthy.
Darien, thanks for your reply 🙏
I wrote a lengthy Substack post back in April 2026 following the news that Lester Levy was resigning 3 months before his contract was up. The link is here:
https://brianrathbone.substack.com/p/we-say-goodbye-to-lester-levy?r=rtgxl&utm_medium=ios
Jonathan Milne of Newsroom Pro is one of a number of journalists who has some knowledge of these ‘gentlemen’. There are many more.
Lester Levy has relied heavily upon Roger Jarrald who has accounting experience in health but also unfortunately with Fletchers along with Bevan McKenzie, which did not yield impressive results for Fletchers and their shareholders.
Jarrald ‘sorted’ the dropping in (a questionable process perhaps not following usual appointments of such importance) of his mate Bevan McKenzie as Health NZ CFO.
Useful for Levy to have Jarrald arrange this leaving Levy’s hands completely clean.
Why the coalition government wishes to bring both Levy and Jarrald out of their current roles but then retain them as ‘consultants’ is for Health NZ Board and the Minister Simeon Brown to answer.
The previous Auditor-General John Ryan forced Health NZ to correct their accounts if you remember that? The figure was not insignificant.
Ayesha Verrall had a doozy of a ding-dong with Simeon Brown in the Annual Health Debate if you’ll recall. Quite juicy details in that here:
The House: Verrall and Brown go tit-for-tat in health annual review debate
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/557809/the-house-verrall-and-brown-go-tit-for-tat-in-health-annual-review-debate
And here:
Subject: Annual Review Debate — Health - New Zealand Parliament 2025
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20250408_20250408_28
I’m not on any social media myself besides the Substack platform.
Thanks Brian, I will enjoy reading and watching those.
You’re very welcome Darien
It would be good to hear Labour say that it will again prioritise child poverty reduction. National have essentially taken it off the table.
Yes Susan, hugely important.
I have written in to say that..
I'm really pissed about the non funding for prostate cancer. My younger brother passed away in February due to prostate cancer because he left it too late. As for Penk looking at Nuclear subs. New Zealand has never had a submarine as far as I know.
Sorry for your loss Warren.
Who let plonker penk out of his kennel to speak for we kiwi's ?
Thank you for your condolences John. Yes I think there should be nation wide screening fot Prostate Cancer. As for Penk, he needs to know when to keep his trap shut.
If I remember correctly he's another Christian fundamentalist that luxon bought into the inner circle when he was under siege and did a so called cabinet reshuffle - ability and performance didn't appear to be criterion.
I’m with you and your family on the funding for early detection of prostate cancer Warren. So sad that good people die too soon.
My Celtic ancestry stirs when someone experiences the grief associated with loss of a loved one.
A Celtic Blessing for you…
‘Anam Cara: Spiritual Wisdom from the Celtic World’ (John O’Donohue)
“May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours...
And may a slow wind work these words of love around you,
an invisible cloak to mind your life.”
I say a big yes to health. My dad and first wife both died too young from cancer. I hear his voice encouraging me; I see her warm brown eyes in a sunrise.
Defence can go jump.
Excellent post Nick. National do not put policies out till the last moment possible and I get sick of hearing them asking for Labour's ones. I am in favour of Chris Hipkins. I want someone who is calm, knows what they are doing, and knows how to run a government.
He is calm, grounded, deeply sincere .. intelligent.
Just as you point out Nick the "budget" was a pack of deliberate lies and spin. Only severely impaired persons would believe a Surplus or Deficit is relevant to a government budget - if that includes people - US, and if we accept such lies as truth, then we will get what we deserve,,,
Building a future! The present lot could not build a paper dart!
thanks again Nick for your good work.
I'm really bothered that Upstons Bill for upending support for the disabled has got no airplay.
This has been snuck with no consultation with the affected parties. Of course poor and disabled people don't have much lobbying power and no money to influence Govt unlike tobacco, racing,liquor, mining and/or developers on conservation land.
A great analysis Nick. Like many New Zealanders my hope will be that the MSM will give Labour, Greens and TMP a fair go and hold the CEO, FM, DP and Peters to account.
Kia ora Nick
Heartening to learn that other people are doubting the government’s latest rotten budget as delivered via an old drain pipe fashioned by Ruth
Nicki no boats had a photo of herself and family with plate of lovely looking chocolate chippy cookies because after the budget they have a cookie day??
Meanwhile some of the rest of NZ gets the crumbs ...
Don’t forget the $15 pie she was scoffing just prior to the budget. A $15 pie! No shame in crowing about it either.
Just beautiful Nick.
I just hope the people of Aotearoa can see this, and act on it. As it’s beyond me why they can’t.
Just listening to a post budget Tax Justice Aotearoa zoom; great data, graphs & analysis.
Two points; if we want a better quality services, ie Scandinavian level health education etc, we have to raise taxes.
Second, we have $35 billion less revenue by moving away from the Treasury PREFU and introducing austerity.
Yes we do need more tax revenue, and it’s high time corporations, companies and billionaires paid their fair share. For too long the middle and working classes in NZ footed the bills, as they have now been gutted like a fish a thrown on the redundancy/unemployment heap there’s no more to be squeezed out of them.
Comments from Andrea Black; if we want a USA health system, then we pay USA taxes, if we want a Scandinavian health system, then we have to pay their taxes.
Fair enough.
🎯🎯🎯
I do like to compare that look of spiteful school bully on Nickynoboats face with the look on her face after the Q&A interview. Jacked outed her budget as nothing more than a fairy tale. Although Labour are going to have to grab the momentum soon or we're all going to end up in a depressed puddle somewhere with no hope.
Very true.
I wish Labour would do more changes to our tax system than just a CGT if where going to improve all social services they have to do it.
🤷 Agree, but as mentioned earlier - a "tax change" can ALSO be removing the tobacco, landlord etc gifts, which would on their own increase the $$ a Labour-led govt would have for improving social services 👍
Sure but National put those on after the won the last election so previous to that we still didn't have enough money for social services.
👍💯 we do need to keep remembering that National didn't release much policy til very late last time (and none so far this time) when talking about Labour, plus of course as soon as the Nats were "negotiating" with a gun to their heads they ditched all their independence & the 2 dog-teams from ACTout & NZLast wagged them into submission before they even took the Treasury benches 😱 I for one am sick of knee-jerk & click-baity governance & appreciate the Labour policy makers not buying into the bullying until the official figures that accompany the govt "wish list" were available, and of course there may always be SOMETHING in the budget that they can either live with, or even support ⁉️
I am sure the coalition strategy is to pounce on any Labour policies & try to tear them down, rather than come up with anything of their own to vote FOR, outside of the vested interests of the wealthy & sorted, racists, misogynists, etc which are often one and the same it seems... 🤷
Well said.