Coming out to the light of day
We got many moons that are deep at play
So I keep an eye on the shadow's smile
To see what it has to say
You and I both know
Everything must go away
Ah, what do you say?
Songwriters: Anthony Kiedis / Brian Joseph Burton / Chad Gaylord Smith / Josh Adam Klinghoffer / Michael Peter Balzary
Kai, kai everywhere but not a bite to eat
You probably don’t know it, but today is World Food Day, celebrated widely by many organisations concerned with hunger and food security. Countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe recognise it, but I’ve never heard of anything happening here.
I mean, why would it?
Here in Aotearoa, where we produce so much food, there’s no reason for anyone to go hungry, not on these bountiful islands where supply is so high that they practically give the stuff away.
That’s how it should be, but as David Seymour probably said, “Nobody ever got rich feeding the poor”.
But that is what a society does: it provides necessities, such as food, a home, and an income. It would be a pretty dark society if it didn’t seek to ensure all its people had those things.
Why, when there are ample resources for all to be fed and housed, would you choose to run things in a way in which that doesn’t occur?
Yesterday, the morning after the poll, Christopher Luxon appeared on the Breakfast show. He didn’t look pleased to be there, and things were about to worsen.
As you’re likely aware, Dave Letele is closing his South Auckland food bank, which fed up to 1,000 families weekly. The burden of raising so much money is too great: He needs $1m a year to run the programme, and the government’s contribution of $87k is not enough.
In the interview, Dave looked as if he had the weight of the world on him; he looked crushed. The Prime Minister came across as callous and disinterested. I felt sick, like crying that such a man was running our country. Jacinda or Chippy would never have sneered, “We’ve got hardship grants”.
The interview is here if you’d like to watch:
You can argue that food banks shouldn’t be necessary and our society should provide a sufficient safety net so that nobody goes hungry. I agree with that. But the reality is they are desperately needed, and this closure leading into Christmas will hit the most vulnerable people in our community hard. You’d think Luxon would have some empathy - he’s been doing just that with his policies.
Josephine commented: “…we all know Dave's mahi has made sure that so many whānau in South Auckland have good decent kai, but more than that, he's shown people in his hapori (community) that people have their back and all Christopher Luxon can say is ‘We've got hardship grants’. FFS. Talk about not reading the room.”
Brian pointed out, “Luxon told us very early that he doesn't do Bottom Feeders. It was a massive hint of what was to come. Many of the country wasn't listening or didn't care.”
Some people pointed out the reality of those grants.
Christian imagined Luxon saying, “Just sign these forms, get it witnessed by a JP or a notary public, prove who you are with three types of ID and a statement of your finances, which three witnesses have signed, and we will consider giving it to you. . . in seven days.”
Maraea, who works in the sector, summed things up well: “In this food-producing nation, it hurts to know that people are regularly declined food grants, and kai is so expensive … The stories of parents with kids being declined make you despair. I don’t care if people shoplift kai. Nobody should go to jail for stealing food if they have nothing.”
Add to this David Seymour’s attitude towards lunches in schools, the profiteering of our Supermarket duopoly that no government seems to address, and the fact that we have rising unemployment while reducing funding to community providers. It’s hard to remember that we’re talking about something so basic as making sure everyone has enough healthy food to eat.
Nor a place to sleep
Food isn’t the only basic necessity of life that is becoming more unobtainable for some in this land of plenty. You might have seen the headline: ‘Worst it’s been in living memory:’ Wellington’s homeless population rising.
As of September this year, the Downtown Community Ministry “recorded 464 people as homeless, compared to 330 in September 2023, a 40% increase.”
It seems that when National talked of getting Back On Track, it was reverting to Key's policies, which included a return to the level of homelessness under his government.
Of course, National isn’t counting the numbers. As long as people are out of the motels and off the official list, they couldn’t care less about where they are, as evidenced by the response of the spineless Tama Potaka, Associate Minister of Housing for Social Housing, which I wrote about a couple of months back.
At a time of rising unemployment and homelessness, Kāinga Ora, our social housing provider, has recently lost over three hundred jobs. Based on this Scoop article, Killing Kāinga Ora, it’s hard to see things improving for Wellington’s homeless people any time soon:
“The Luxon-led government continues its attack on anything that the Labour Party ever managed to do, with the release of news about the Kāinga Ora housing projects. Most of them, it seems, have been killed off. ‘Brakes put on more than 370 Kāinga Ora housing developments nationally’.
In Wellington, the following projects have been stopped: Arlington redevelopment and Evans Bay Parade, with other projects stopped in Hutt, Naenae, Wainuiomata, and Porirua.”
Christopher Luxon… is out of touch
Given all of that and so much more, I wasn’t exactly surprised by the poll announced last night which asked whether the country thinks Luxon is in touch.
#SPOILER - we don’t.
If there was any surprise, it was that only 51% said he was. 12% indicated they didn’t know or preferred not to say - perhaps fearing the man himself getting in touch. Remarkably, 37% said they thought he was in touch.
Doug commented, “His spin doctors will come up with more ludicrous ideas to make him look more stupid. Luxon just doesn't get it. New Zealanders want their leader to be honest and empathetic and … work for the benefit of all New Zealanders, not just for their rich mates.”
Luxon said, “I'm out and about across New Zealand, meeting people from all walks of life, and I can tell you right now it's incredibly tough for New Zealanders…” He did carry on for a bit, but I’ve ended the quote there because it actually makes him sound self-aware as to how Kiwis find his visits.
Trade Minister Todd McClay said Luxon was “definitely in touch”, so what to believe? Your eyes and ears, everything Mr Entitled has ever said - or Todd McClay. A man whose contributions to parliament have been to say a certain trade deal couldn’t be done, which Labour then went ahead and did, and telling a Green MP he wasn’t “in Mexico now”.
Chippy said, “I think as politicians, we should actually care what New Zealanders think about the job that we're doing when we are in government when we are making decisions on their behalf on a daily basis.”
Hear bloody hear, let’s hear some more about that man because…
Chris Hipkins… isn’t done yet
Following the segment on Luxon being out of touch, they moved to the standard beat-up of kicking the opposition leader when he was down, for good measure - or balance? Regardless, it didn’t work.
That is a remarkable result. A year after an election, over half the country thinks the opposition should keep their leader, and only a quarter say he should step down. A full three-quarters of Labour supporters want him to remain - that is a huge endorsement.
Various other members of the out-of-touch coalition were rolled out to sneer at the result. Simeon Brown said, “Other than the odd tweet, he's missing in action.”
This isn’t even vaguely true, although let’s play along and take a look at some of Chippy’s tweets, because these ones from yesterday had more truth in them than Brown’s entire parliamentary career:
If and when Chippy does go, it won’t be because he isn’t a good man or someone a lot of people trust. It won’t be that he is out of touch. It will be the harsh reality of politics that sometimes timing works against you.
Grant Robertson would have been a great Prime Minister at any other time. Simon Bridges was perhaps the best of his generation, and while I didn’t share his views, I think he is a better man than Luxon. I don’t even know what sort of man Luxon is.
He comes across like a smarmy schoolboy, yet to mature and appreciate that other people’s lives matter. Is that all there is? How could you even tell?
I trust Chippy. Yes, I get frustrated that he hasn’t been more outspoken and enthusiastic about a wealth tax. Still, the reality is that my view of how the Socialist Republic of Aotearoa should be run will never receive majority support. There is a need to play in the centre for the left to win.
In every other regard, Chippy is doing what you’d want. I’ll say it again, but every time I hear him talk, I like what I hear, and I mostly agree. We need a broad church on the left to represent a majority. Whatever minor frustrations I have that things don’t go faster, he is a million times more relatable than Luxon.
Maybe there will come a time when it makes sense for Labour to change leaders, but until then, whenever it might be, the left has in Chippy a very good man who cares about the people of this country in a way that Luxon couldn’t even comprehend.
Let’s get behind him, I reckon. There is great talent in that Labour team—Verrall, Edmonds, Woods, and many more—and we need them back on those government benches along with the Greens and Te Pāti Māori as soon as possible.
Access to healthy food and warm, dry housing should be a bottom line for any politician. Why the hell would you vote for one who doesn’t believe that?
I’ve kept this newsletter public, so you’re welcome to share it if you’d like to. Writing Nick’s Kōrero is my full-time job, bringing you six newsletters a week for just $2. If you’re able to subscribe, it all adds up to me being able to bring this to you, and I’m so grateful for that opportunity. Have a great day, all you lovely people. 🙂
Today, Flea is 62. You might like to join him with some Air Bass. It’s optional, but unlike having one run the country, you might find a little thumb is a good thing while watching this.
Agree with all you say Nick. Surely the job of any Govt is to ensure all its citizens are well housed, well nourished and well looked after in terms of health. This must apply to all people and not with more available to some, to the detriment of others, because they have more wealth. Chippy clearly understands, and promotes this, whereas the "I am sorted" PM has no clue whatsoever what it is like to have to make choices, as an example, between seeing a doctor and having something to eat. In one year this dishonest, corrupt and uncaring coalition has destroyed the social contract which a Govt has with its people and the consequences of its actions will inevitably all fall on Luxton who is ill equipped to handle the opprobrium.
We are ranked as one of the wealthiest countries on the planet, yet we have this poverty?!!! Wtf!
Its disgraceful.
Why does Luxon not stump up with $1 mill to support Dave Letele? Where are the wealthy business leaders? Who employ these folk. The Round Table? Graeme Hart? If they truly believe that the Nats will fix poverty ( 🙄) then it’s a short term thing, right?! I mean soon they will all be employed with great wages! 😳
But until then, this country cannot thrive! How do they not see that?
Luxon needs to spend a day with Dave, and see the reality!