A more direct approach will be needed to get the sector back on track: trimming the bureaucracy and operations to ensure council rate increases are no greater than the rate of inflation, instigating debt repayment plans and undoing the grip of tribal interests would be a good start.
These dreadful developments were the result of Labour’s unmandated decision to increase tribal control over local government.
if the coalition’s proposed law change contains “tikanga”, it cannot safeguard the public interest in the coast from the actions of activist judges in the future.
Is fear of being labelled “climate deniers” – to be pilloried by the press and scoffed at by opponents – the real reason New Zealand Parliamentarians are too scared to challenge this ideology?
NZCPR Dr Muriel Newman established the New Zealand Centre for Political Research as a public policy think tank in 2005 after nine years as a Member of Parliament. A former Chamber of Commerce President, her background is in business and education. There are many lessons for New Zealand in last
NZCPR What makes a country great? It’s a timely question to ask, because over the last few weeks, with ferries running aground, air force planes breaking down, and electricity pylons falling over, we’ve all had cause to question whether New Zealand can still be regarded as a highly
Dr Muriel Newman Dr Muriel Newman established the New Zealand Centre for Political Research as a public policy think tank in 2005 after nine years as a Member of Parliament. A former Chamber of Commerce President, her background is in business and education. In the recent European Parliamentary elections, where
Dr Muriel Newman nzcpr.com As the new Government puts the finishing touches to this month’s Budget, they will undoubtedly have had their hands full dealing with the economic mess that Labour created. Not only was Labour a grossly incompetent manager of the economy, but they also set out
Dr Muriel Newman nzcpr.com Former US President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.” The fight for
Dr Muriel Newman nzcpr.com When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company however, the Ngai Tahu
Dr Muriel Newman nzcpr.com The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they
Dr Muriel Newman nzcpr.com “Houston, we have a problem!” New Zealand’s Supreme Court – the highest court in our land – has been captured by activist judges. What is heartening, is the emergence of a wide range of eminent legal voices all openly criticising the Court and calling for this
Dr Muriel Newman nzcpr.com The declining fortunes of the mainstream media has been dominating the news over recent weeks. The industry is waning, and the weaker players are facing closure. While this is grim for those who face job loss and financial uncertainty, there’s not a lot of
Dr Muriel Newman nzcpr.com It is now 100 days since Christopher Luxon’s new Government was formed. Significant progress has been made in fulfilling Coalition pledges to wind back co-governance and race-based privilege. The Three Waters legislation, introduced by Labour to give iwi leaders control of freshwater, has been
Dr Muriel Newman nzcpr.com New Zealand has experienced two pandemics in recent years. The first was the swine flu pandemic, caused by the H1N1 influenza virus which originated in Mexico in 2009. It is estimated to have affected as many as 1.4 billion people worldwide over a period
Dr Muriel Newman nzcpr.com Waitangi Day was the spectacle we have come to expect. Like a reality TV show, politicians attended to supposedly pay their respects, while radicals acted out their disrespect. Most Kiwis didn’t bother about it and just enjoyed another summer day off work. This year
