This is edition 2025/211 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Hi all,
This is the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
Enjoy!
1. Leading the OP.
Chris Trotter
- 🗳️ Commitment to Democracy: If the "Implementing Class" loses faith in their role, democracy risks becoming a sham. If this happens, any replacement will likely be much worse.
- 🏛️ The Opportunity Party (OP) Crisis: OP's new leader, Qiulae 'Q' Wong, was appointed to help the party cross the 5% MMP threshold but lacks a bold, popular mandate.
- 📉 Electoral Ambitions: New Zealand parties should aim for 50%+1, not just 5%. Anything less signals a preference for technocracy over genuine democracy.
- 🏙️ Failed Leadership and Vision: OP's lack of policies to win over a majority suggests a failure to inspire or address major national challenges.
- 💰 Unpopular Tax Proposals: OP's tax policies, including a "Citizen's Income" and Land Value Tax, are unlikely to win support due to their expense and perceived unfairness.
- 🌍 Q's Shift from Corporate to Politics: Q's background in corporate advocacy may hinder her ability to win over ordinary citizens.
- ⚖️ Policy Confusion: OP's broad political positioning between left and right lacks coherent, substantial policy to address New Zealand's key issues.
- 🏥 Elderly Health Costs: Tackling the rising cost of healthcare for the elderly is essential to freeing up resources for other challenges like superannuation.
- 🥗 Health Mobilization: To improve elderly health, OP could propose campaigns to reduce unhealthy habits, incentivizing better health with tax breaks or cash rewards.
- 💥 Public Backlash: Major health reforms could face accusations of discrimination, even if they save money and improve national health.
- 🗣️ Public vs. Elites: For OP to succeed, it must break from elite negotiations and campaign publicly, with voters, not behind closed doors.
