The ‘Big Four’ Power Companies Are Profiteering
There is good reason to blame the energy companies – they are acting like a cartel to price gouge consumers while failing to invest in the necessary infrastructure.
Guest Post
NZ Politics Daily: 15 August 2024
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards ECONOMY Ben Thomas (Post): Interest rate decision will be like the clouds parting for Luxon (paywalled) Dan Brunskill (Interest): RBNZ performs U-turn, cutting rates as recession worsens Richard Harman (Politik): Success has many fathers (paywalled) Jenée Tibshraeny (Herald): What’s behind the Reserve Bank’
Which Will Beat Luxon’s Government?
Socialism or schism?
NZ Politics Daily: 14 August 2024
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards WELFARE Gordon Campbell: On The Crackdown On The Beneficiary Poor Bridie Witton (Stuff): ACT pushes for harsher sanctions on beneficiaries who ‘keep having children’ Amy Williams (RNZ): JobSeekers already being warned of benefit cuts Giles Dexter (RNZ): How will the benefit changes coming next
NZ Politics Daily: 13 August 2024
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards WELFARE Madeleine Chapman (Spinoff): Welcome to the benefit Olympics Stewart Bowman-Lund (Spinoff): The green light flicks on for tougher beneficiary sanctions Glenn McConnell (Stuff): New sanctions for beneficiaries, but minister doesn’t know what happens post-sanction Russell Palmer and Lillian Hanly (RNZ): Government benefit
Is It Time for Nuclear?
We either have to get real about using our own coal and gas reserves, or we have to think seriously, really seriously, about another form of power generation – the nuclear reactor.
The Greens Need to Decide
The question is, therefore, how to fix this quality problem. And it’s far from clear that the best answer is to just give party leaders the ability to fire MPs via the waka-jumping law.
NZ Politics Daily: 12 August 2024
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards ENERGY Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Electricity Crisis: why we are ‘forked’ (paywalled) RNZ: Pressure on power companies to act as energy woes mount Press Editorial (Post): The exercising of power (paywalled) Glenn McConnell (Stuff): Winston Peters says he ‘knows’ power companies are profiteering during ‘crisis’
NZ Politics Daily: 9 August 2024
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards ENERGY Brianna McIlraith (Stuff): What is behind our super high electricity prices? No Right Turn: Reaping what they sowed Richard Harman (Politik): Jones runs rings around the coalition (paywalled) Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Energy crisis: Simeon Brown says power shortage the problem despite gouging claim
National’s Conference Illustrated the Hollowing Out of Politics
Richard Harman observed: “from his indications at the conference, it sounded like the party would almost become an extension of the focus groups” and that “one thing is sure: the days when the party conference debated policy are over”.
NZ Politics Daily: 8 August 2024
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MĀORI WARDS Anna Murray (1News): Could councils simply refuse to disestablish Māori wards? Janine Rankin (Manawatū Standard): Council and chamber unite in favour of Māori ward No Right Turn: Palmerston North supports Māori wards Karanama Ruru (Stuff): Cops at the door, councillor’
Intersex Athletes Will Be on the Podium
If you’re following the Olympics only through the lens of the New Zealand media you will be unaware that this saga remains one of the highest profile ongoing controversies in Paris.
NZ Politics Daily: 6 August 2024
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards GOVERNMENT, PARLIAMENT, RACE RELATIONS Simon Wilson (Herald): National Party: Hugs and kisses, silly statements and the plan for better maths (paywalled) Luke Malpass (Post): Housing and education: not your usual centre-right fare Toby Manhire (Spinoff): Luxon seeks the light as the heat fails at
How Will NZ Respond to the Escalation?
Remaining on the sidelines carries its own risks.
NZ Politics Daily: 5 August 2024
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards NATIONAL PARTY CONFERENCE Thomas March (Post): National’s challenge: Move on from the Key-era glory days (paywalled) Richard Harman (Politik): Less to the Nats conference than met the eye (paywalled) Claire Trevett (Herald): Christopher Luxon will be hoping his maths fix will save future