52 Comments
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Mac Stevenson's avatar

8months to change. Please voters make it so. We must win against the rich donors and the gerrymandering come election day. It’s time for the other 90% to get a fair deal.

Sovereign Gap's avatar

Im new here and noticed how busy everyone is writing there own stuff, getting it out there. Very time consuming. But id like to take time and notice some things. Your a good longtime supporter Mac. This is what makes it good to be amongst you guys. Ive got 3 books, one series and one transmission based blog entering the pages. I see people reading it but much like social media, not much interaction yet. Keen to meet people who want to talk about these subjects. Ian

Leonie's avatar

Tell us more perhaps?

Sovereign Gap's avatar

Leonie, checks in on me! Nice

Lots to talk about. Just wondering weather i should move to publishing the book on here or starting a new series. The first series is almost done. Part 11 coming out tomorrow morning

Josephine's avatar

God damn, bringing Tova back to Breakfast was the worst thing in the world.

The way in which she conducts herself when interviewing Christopher Luxon and Chippy is oceans apart.

As for our useless CEO, oops I mean PM and our even more useless Finance Minister, they actually have no idea and don't give a flying fuck about the thousands of people who are struggling to pay rent, power and buy kai and then paying through the roof just to fill their cars up.

Our government needs to support everyone, not just those who they think should get support.

All I have to say is, Thank God they weren't in charge during COVID.

Where are my manners. Mōrena Nick.

Have a great day 😀

Jeremy Coleman's avatar

Your manners are right where they belong Josephine. Your comment just expresses what most of us feel. Well done 👍🙂

Cheryl Johnstone's avatar

Well said. Hit the nail on the head.

John Walker's avatar

Very valid criticisms. But while the world's agog at a fuel crisis let us remember we also have a human suffering crisis in the middle east, and elsewhere. Brought about by the yanks, not shutting up, not staying home and funding rogue states (Israel in this instance)

Brian Rathbone's avatar

Correct John, as a parent and son and brother and partner, I grieve with families on the other side of the world who have lost loved ones, neighbours and fellow citizens.

We are…each one of us…global citizens.

Quentin McDonald's avatar

Based on what Bridgette Morten (conservative commentator) said on the "Nine To Noon" politics slot yesterday and the reported comments from Seymour today the Government's thinking seems to be: "When Labour did stuff during COVID people ended up not liking them. We can't risk having that happen to us so we'll do NOTHING and hope for the best".

Leonie's avatar

Exactly. They see it as political suicide! I would really like them to learn that its political suicide to not to be forward with planning. Egg on their face would be satisfying.

Diane Shaw's avatar

Frankly, I would feel way more confident if Labour was leading the country as we look down the barrel of a significant fuel supply crisis - Luxon is totally inept and incompetent, as we are repeatedly seeing. He would be better staying at home making sourdough 20 hours a day!!!😅

Brian Rathbone's avatar

Yes Diane,

An inarticulate man,

out of the fire now into the pan,

needs to be booted.

Pretending to be a leader,

(with repeated massaging of tired talking points),

he’s particularly well suited (not ‘sorted’) and could be annointed,

(by the self-appointed Bishop Tamaki) to be a kneader.

Rather than his familiar CEO hustle,

he needs to develop his cohesive muscle,

toss out his KPIs and become just a little bit wise.

I wouldn’t taste his sourdough myself,

unless he genuinely asked for our help,

when he finds his bottom lip permanently stuck to the floor.

And when we’ve found a new Prime Minister / stewardship shaper,

I’d consider the quality of his bread,

before suggesting he become a baker and asking for more.

Brian Rathbone's avatar

Diane, you’ve inspired me to bake a poem about sourdough!

John Flinn's avatar

And the Herald Premium Editorial today opines: ‘Can we trust Chris Hipkins?’

Well, I know who we can’t trust. The man who claims ‘we’re working 20 hours a day, 7 days a week.’

Luxon - the sorted, privileged

one - is tending to speak gobbledygook like one infamous other. Hope he doesn’t start to wear a certain type of head cap.

John Farrell's avatar

We know we can't trust The Herald - or any billionaire owned or influenced media.

Diana Coleman's avatar

I told them that on their post.

Leonie's avatar

I have observed Chippy for quite some time now; body language does not lie. Chris Hipkins is a solid as a rock. Grounded, sincere, empathic, highly intelligent, sensitive.

I observe Luxon as trying hard, role plays, coached, pretends, shallow…speaks to catch votes. Not my PM. At all.

John Flinn's avatar

Really well worded. Thank you.

Maxine's avatar

So Luxon is now fronting up at pressers about the fuel crisis, with a gathering of other Ministers providing cover. His own contribution amounted to rhubarb and wheelbarrows, along with loudly proclaiming who could ask questions next. Oh, and nodding and purring when other Ministers were talking. What's the point of continuing the charade?

Cheryl Johnstone's avatar

He reminds me of those nodding dog thingees that use to sit in the back window of cars. Good for nothing really apart from being a nodding dog thingee.

Liz Francis's avatar

When the coalition was initially negotiated, I recall Luxon referring to the role of the deputy prime ministers as really just ceremonial. I think he usurped that role.

Kim Shaw-Williams's avatar

Thanks Nick...most important point for me, because I was not completely sure it was the case, is that a vote for NZ1st is DEFinitely a vote for Luxon the Lugubrious 'laser-focussed' Non-PM...

Russ Sewell's avatar

Great column again Nick.

Willis has no about inflation as she is unqualified for the job, I'm not sure she can add up properly.

Luxon words actually fail me.

Peter's a vote for his rabble is a vote for a continuation of this callous uncaring government. This has to be called out all the time.

Liz Francis's avatar

Over the past 2 years this government has passed some very contentious and unpopular bills. I think the way Winston has responded - always making much of the importance of the coalition agreement whilst also decrying those bills tells us which side of the fence he will always stand. His claims that he was a reluctant supporter of so many of those bills, and suggestion that he will change them if we vote him in again, just tells us where his values lie - in maintaining his position in parliament. No moral fortitude there!

Sovereign Gap's avatar

Quite happy to leve the political stuff to Nick. You have it well sorted. Very refreshing Tuesday morning update telling the story how it is

Darien Fenton's avatar

Big news today about PSA and E Tu taking govt to court over fuel costs for low paid home support workers. Thank the goddesses for unions. Disgraceful that this low paid workforce has to use their own cars, pay Rego, petrol, maintain it and get paid a pittance to go visit some of our most vulnerable, including our disabled citizens. Then there's pensioners and beneficiaries getting an annual increase tomorrow ; based on inflation for the LAST year, not the current situation. And those who work and get a benefit ; which is abated at 70% for every dollar they earn. Then those getting job seeker allowance, who have to look for jobs, turn up for interviews or be sanctioned, Or how about those on benefits with children who according to Seymour still have to get their kids to school. Oh and of course those on minimum wage who get a magnificent 2% Increase tomorrow thanks to measly Brooke and her band of thieves.

willy de wit's avatar

Thank goodness for Nicola Willis as you stated Nick . Things are going to get really bad, as will inflation rates..but A. It’s not her fault. B. It’s Norman Kirks fault. C.Nicola also claims to have invented cheese as a necessary comfort food. But never fear, the PM of the MP’s assured everyone that he was working 28 hours a day,for 13 days a week. He also failed School C 5th Form Maths with an average score of 7. ‘ Go Social Credit !’

Jeremy Coleman's avatar

Why are National so keen to build an LNG depot at a cost of many millions of dollars, just to cover the possibility of power shortages over winter? Can they not see the empty vessel sitting in the front row of the House, making lots of unnecessary noise, while it constantly emanates senseless drivel from a space which would hold enough LNG to keep the country running for nothing? I think of it as the Ludicrous National Gasbag! He certainly won’t run out of fuel any time soon, unless he’s pushed 🤞🙂

John Blyde's avatar

Corporate welfare, get the electricity user to fund the set up of a gas terminal for Fonterra, Balance Fertilizer, Methanex etc. Huntly power station have run a successful trial using wood chip pellets, we have so much forestry slash clogging waterways that it would be a no brainer to use that waste as biomass.

Marilyn Wilson's avatar

My thoughts exactly

Brian Rathbone's avatar

A simple but clever and focused idea from you John.

kathleen Murdoch's avatar

Thanks, Nick, once again for enduring the pain ( for us)

As for watching/ listening to the government's mouthpiece myself and expecting any unbiased or useful information my boycott has been confirmed.

I went off Tova O'Brien very thoroughly ages ago. She's just there to suck up to the Tories.

Ange Boland's avatar

The government doesn’t want more debt, but it’s ok for all of us to get into debt.

I watched the news the other night, and saw Wellington’s water rates bill is going to steadily increase over the next few years. I’m really not sure how I’m going to afford that, along with other things. 😓

Liz Francis's avatar

More people will leave! Wgtn will be a ghost town.

Stephen D's avatar

Winston needs to be held accountable for every decision this CoC has made. He's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Mininster FFS.

Liz Francis's avatar

He has repeatedly implied he is a reluctant supporter of many of those awful bills they have passed. Pity he hasn't had a backbone like Marilyn Waring who crossed the floor when she really couldn't support one of her party's bills.