Throw Away All You Know.

Mike Hosking and Nicola Willis are right, but I'm not sure about Roy Morgan.

In the cradle of the civilised
disobedience derived
From a forlorn weeping widow crying tears
that don’t see eye to eye
Keep the well full
A thirst forgotten
A misery made for two
That’ll use you then throw you away
That’ll use you then throw you away
That’ll use you then throw you away

Song: Nowhere.

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Today, I’m feeling a bit flat, inspiration-wise. There have been some big, meaty newsletters and topics recently, and I’m kind of in limbo between deciding it really is the end of the year and beginning the wrap-up, awarding bouquets and brickbats, and thinking, “Hang on, it’s only the first week in December. It’s a long time until things start up again. Let’s not be in too much of a rush to finish.”

I’m just going to check out some news, make a few comments, and possibly some jokes. So what else is new, I hear you say? Well, I’m glad you asked…

Yesterday, I began my Xmas promotion with 25% off my standard subscription price for a year. So, if you’d like to support this kōrero and receive a paywall free newsletter most days except for Monday, then please click this button:

Right, being the operative word, let’s begin at the bottom and work our way up. Down at the bottom, the home of centre-right reckons for cellar-dwellers is Newstalk ZB, and please don’t be too alarmed when I tell you that…

I agree with Mike Hosking

Occasionally, the toilet brush of misinformation matches my views, and yesterday, he did just that with his article: Mike's Minute: Councils should stop playing games with fluoride.

I recently wrote about the cookers on the Tauranga council, including new mayor Mahé Drysdale, who decided they know more than the scientists about using fluoride in water. Actually, while we’re here, what’s going on Tauranga?

First, you elect Sam Uffindell as MP, and now this—what’s happening? Blink twice if you need an intervention, although I should warn you that it will come from Simeon Brown. He might decide you’ve had too much democracy and appoint his own leadership without involving voters.

But on Friday, it was Whangarei’s turn, which, to be fair, would have been one of my first guesses as to where such a thing might happen. My apologies to any telepathic West Coasters out there for my internal aspersions in thinking of your region as a potential hotbed of quackery, although in my defence - you did elect Maureen Pugh.

• Councillors in Whangārei have voted not to fluoridate the district's water.

• The vote goes against a directive from the former director general of health, Sir Ashley Bloomfield.

• A local dentist says Northland's oral health is dire.

Whangārei mayor Vince Cocurullo. Photo: Sarah Marshall Photography

“The mayor says fluoride won't help the local area's dental hygiene, which is, of course, complete nonsense and probably why we have people specialising in the health area as opposed to councillors who generally specialise in nothing”, said Mike.

I agreed wholeheartedly, although I was concerned briefly that my views on fluoridation might be as rigid and closed-minded as the ones I hold on vaccines. As was pointed out to me yesterday, this is not a great starting point for bringing people together. Alas, dear readers, having thought about it, I have even less sympathy for the anti-fluoride people.

The Covid vaccines and the mandates required a leap of faith. There were obviously no long-term studies into the effects of the various vaccines, but in dealing with a deadly pandemic and rapidly emerging science, most of us trusted that it was the right thing to do.

I appreciate that science has erred in the past, but as things stood, it seemed overwhelmingly right to get vaccinated and require those who interact with others to do so.

There is no such leap with fluoridation - the science is in. As much as I despair of a platform like Newstalk ZB misinforming people and creating a rose-tinted view of National Party activities, I’m glad they are at least taking a pro-fact position on this.

Nicola Willis is right too

I’m starting to wonder if I’m in the right frame of mind to write today because I moved on to the NZ Herald, the print form of stable mate ZB, and found myself agreeing with Nicola Willis, too.

While highlighting that she plans to introduce new taxes is a bit off-brand for Nicola Willis, fans of the current Finance Minister can rest assured that she won’t be targeting things like Capital Gains or Wealth but charity work instead.

This sounds bad, but she’s right because we aren’t talking about real charities. Some of these organisations are about as charitable as the Destiny Church is when it comes to anyone other than heterosexuals who used to beat people up and would still like to, given half a chance.

I’m afraid that my views on Brian Tamaki and his cash collectors are as balanced as those I hold on fluoridation and vaccination. Maybe I should be more open-minded. Let’s start with Nicola Willis - she can’t be all bad, right?

I like to think of it like this:

Grant Robertson borrowed money to save lives and businesses; Nicola Willis borrowed money for tax cuts for landlords.

So, in their own ways, they’re both about helping people. 🙂

Willis told the media, “Wherever you have omissions from the tax regime, there will be some who structure their affairs to limit their liability, who may be, for example, building up funds that aren’t going to charitable purposes.” Again, I want to remind you that she isn’t talking about plain old tax avoiders; there is no crackdown on that, but organisations masquerading as charities.

Like Best Start, the “charity” that has transferred hundreds of millions of dollars from childcare-paying parents into the pockets of the Wright Family. Or things like the commercial arm of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Sanitarium, which makes its money selling breakfast cereal and table spreads

“Blessed be the spread makers” Image: BeFunky.

Lie back and think of Canterbury

So intimidating is Willis that the latter organisation is already reconsidering future commercial activities. Bad news, utter peanut butter nutters, but the first victim of Nicola’s latest attacks may well be your crunchy or smooth favourite.

Sanitarium is putting a brave face on things and claiming this is in response to falling demand. It’s probably also worth pointing out that much of this newsletter is heavily tongue-in-cheek, and if it sounds like something is just made up, it probably is. Having said that, the struggle here is real, as is the following quote:

Christchurch man Rob Stuart told his wife there would be no switching of brands and “that it’s in our marriage contract that I provide him with Sanitarium PB until his death”.

True love, Canterbury style, but alas, the old PB isn’t the only product line getting the flick, with the following statement issued:

“Breakfast food maker Sanitarium will cease production of its muesli, granola, flake, clusters and puff cereals by June 2025 as Kiwi breakfast eating trends shift consumer demand, under a new proposal.”

These do rather sound like the more healthy options, given there is no word on Sanitarium’s Up & Go product, which allows Kiwis to consume up to two-thirds of their daily recommended sugar intake in one quick drink. Now that’s efficiency, even if this is the end of an era:

Roy Morgan poll and letting the side down

The mainstream media seem to have ignored the Roy Morgan poll announced yesterday, although it is getting plenty of coverage from left-wing independents, possibly for a couple of reasons:

1. It’s really bad for the coalition

2. It’s Roy Morgan

Now, the time was when the Roy Morgan poll was highly respected and often proved quite accurate, but these days, it is often out of step with the other polls, which all tend to say much the same thing.

Of note is that there has been a tendency to show Green support higher than the other polls, although that could be down to the demographics of their support and polling methods rather than meaning the results are less accurate.

Anyway, about those results - “Roy Morgan’s New Zealand Poll for November 2024 shows the Labour-Greens-Maori Party Parliamentary Opposition on 50.5% (up 2.5% points) consolidating their lead over the National-led Government (National, ACT & NZ First) on 44% (down 3% points).”

The breakdown by demographics is quite interesting:

Source: Roy Morgan

C’mon, guys, we’re letting the side down. I mean, we males over 50. The only group showing a clear preference for the coalition.

Everyone else gets it. Young women get it - a lot (57% to 35%), older women get it a bit less (52 to 46), and young males get it (56.5 to 36.5) - but us old blokes are ruining it for everyone, just like forever, with 60 per cent still backing the coalition against only 36 per cent supporting the left.

If that’s not bad enough, we old fellas support NZ First at more than double the rate of others and the Greens only about a third as much. Not me, I should hasten to add, and not you either, probably, but there are an awful lot of men over 50 who, as the most privileged group in our society, say this coalition is alright by them.

The most significant number in the poll, though, is support for Te Pāti Māori, at a whopping 9%. Add to that recent effort around the hīkoi to encourage people to join the Māori roll so there will be a larger number of Māori seats, and it all makes for a powerful position for Māori in future parliaments.

Based on my demographic, I should probably be concerned about this, but I think it’s great news—and none too soon.

If this trend in the polls continues, the coalition is at increasing risk of becoming a one-term wonder, and I can think of a couple of deputies who might choose to mutiny rather than go down with the ship. That assumes that the Captain’s crew doesn’t make him walk the plank first.

Have a great day, all you lovely people.

A few days ago, a reader and band member’s mum, Liz, sent me this music video hot off the presses. I reckon those involved have done a great job with the track and the video - look out for some snazzy guitar work from David Seymour.

If you’d like to learn more about the band Nowhere or throw a donation their way in appreciation, you can do that here.