NZ Must Rethink How It Pays for Aged Care
Stats NZ projects the proportion of people aged 65+ will reach 20 per cent of the population by 2028. In four years, there could be 30 people aged 65+ years for every 100 people aged 15–64 years.
NZ Politics
NZ’s Regulation Risks Destroying Vape Benefits
The Australian experience is a master class on how to deal with vaping badly. The New Zealand Government would do well to avoid heavy-handed regulation of vaping products, but, alas, I have little faith that they will do so.
Our Councils Are Out of Control
It is up to the people to take back control of the councils, or pay the price.
NZ Politics Daily: 20 September 2024
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards ECONOMY, TAX Matthew Hooton (Metro): Welcome to the next Argentina Matthew Hooton (Herald): Worst economic downturn in living memory (paywalled) Dan Brunskill (Interest): New Zealand facing a second Great Recession Dan Brunskill (Interest): NZ’s per capita recession has surpassed the Global Financial Crisis
The US Moves closer to NZ’s Pharmac Model
Medicare starts negotiating drug prices with pharmaceutical companies.
Bolger Thought He Was Secure Too
Jim Bolger thought he was secure when he went overseas as Prime Minister, only to be met by my father telling him Jenny Shipley had the numbers to roll him. Chris Hipkins now dances with the same perils as he swans off to the UK.
An Update on the Māori Wards
The logic of having separate Māori electorates has long since gone.
An Age of Growing Discontent in NZ
The trust results for the institutions of government and the media are particularly negative. In line with other survey results, it reveals that New Zealanders are quickly losing faith in politics and journalism.
This Has Been a Colossal Mistake
The radicalism and division of state-funded biculturalism has become a handbrake that’s not only holding back our country and constraining our future but is threatening the unity that binds together our diverse society.
NZ Politics Daily: 19 September 2024
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards LABOUR, PARLIAMENT, PUBLIC SERVICE Anusha Bradley (RNZ): Wealthy people pay lower tax in NZ than in similar states, study shows Peter Dunne: Hipkins' risky overseas trip Brent Edwards (NBR): Can Labour develop a coherent and credible tax and fiscal plan? (paywalled) Claire Trevett
Dry Your Eyes, Jack
The media luvvies are all crying rivers of tears because politicians won’t go on their shows. They need to dry their eyes and start being objective rather than the left-wing shills they really are.
Big Tech’s Political Influence on Public Watchdogs
At the very least, all of these financial arrangements need to be much more transparent in the public debate.
Paul Goldsmith Announces Tougher Sentencing Reforms
Goldsmith said these reforms are essential for ensuring communities and law-abiding New Zealanders are protected from offenders who display a “flagrant disregard for the law”.
Published Views From the Weekend
Politics is a rough and tumble, and at times nasty, game. It requires firm leadership.
NZ Politics Daily: 18 September 2024
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards JUSTICE, GANGS, CRIME Derek Cheng (Herald): Ministry of Justice warns NZ First-National coalition commitment risks doubling prison population (paywalled) Alice Neville (Spinoff): Inside the government’s beleaguered bid to reduce violent crime Tova O’Brien (Stuff): PM struggles to explain why he backs
Politicians Need to Lift Their Game
The ongoing number and breadth of integrity issues across all political parties demands change. Doing nothing will cause voters’ trust to decline, along with voter participation, and this can only be bad for democracy in New Zealand.