Survey of 9,719 adults & 3,062 children finds food poverty surged over the last year, mental health problems doubled, waiting times for doctors jumped & nearly half of people in poor areas now obese
The Hikoi of maori and pakeha was significant on many levels. The PM’s response was weak and mealy mouthed.
Nonsense again about growing the economy to solve existential elephants in rooms such as climate and increasing child poverty and smoking and obesity problems. Data driven government? Bullshit! What drives this Taniwha is greed of the Rich White people of which I am one. Rich White people do not realise they are no longer the majority. Thank the young and others seen yesterday. They are the future. Congrats to ODT and the anti slavery article also.
Exactly - I too am part of the demographic of well off older (60 this year) folk. I am sickened by the actions of this government and the kow-towing of Luxone to the dangerous Act buffoon.
You know the rich older people, of which, apparently, I am one, are only where we are because of the policies when we were young. The taxation system was designed to help families, the family benefit was paid to the mothers for every child, it could be capitalised for the deposit of the purchase of the family home, interest rates were fixed for the term of the loan, electricity prices were controlled, Dr’s prices were low, University was free, it WAS paradise. There was very little crime. I pity the younger generation who have none of the above and when they get to be old it will be hell for them.
I think even during the 'Paradise' phase there was a marked difference between how the wealthy or poor, women and men, pakeha, Maori and other people of colour experienced Paradise - assuming they could even access what was on offer. Dentistry is a good example of this - those, who could afford it, avoided Mechanical Dentistry - as typified by the Murder House. Sadly we can still 'do better'
It's a bit difficult to know who 'they' are or were - but it's unfair to think everyone who was around in Aotearoa during that mythical time of 'paradise' had it easy or didn't 'take advantage' of opportunities offered or is now an asset-rich, healthy older person, too many are just older and struggling.
Doing not enough or nothing at all about these issues because some people are entitled and 'sorted' didn't just start in October 2023; but we've never had such disregard and blatant, cruel divisivenes. The hikoi has really given us hope - but it's also scared the bejesus out of the coalition and we know bullies don't like being exposed or admitting they're scared.
Have to agree, many like myself are "wealthy, healthy and retired" due to past policies Patricia references.
It's a delusion to claim "all down to me" - good or bad. Back in the day University tuition and living costs paid, housing at low income multiples, medical / dentists (in UK) free at point of use - all really social contract issues.
It is a choice, it does not have to be those that have taking more and more from those that have not.
Security and politics: there doesn't appear to be anything in this that addresses financial donations to political parties. I think this is a huge gap where off-shore influence is happening.
I know Luxon is mimicking a lot of american policy, but they are not example we want to be. Over 42 million americans are on food stamps, effectively the american government is feeding 42 million people a year. These same people have no access to dental, medical care and large portion of them are living rough i.e. in cars or homeless, still going to work, with no social support they are entrenched in poverty.
Sadly, with our under investment in social security net, we are heading down the same path to entrench people in poverty.
I fully endorse the comments from Patrick and David. I don't get out much these days but I increasing see more distracted, ill tempered, short-sighted behaviour.
Tolerance seems to have evaporated, people and systems seem to have little left in the tank after the effort to make ends meet. Running on empty leads to mistakes, ill tempered reactions just compound the problem.
There is no excuse, we can choose to live in a place/way that provides for all - it is a choice. The "I'm sorted thanks" approach leads to more of the above as the distraction spreads and anger grows, only a few can insulate themselves from the backlash.
Social coherence is perhaps the most critical part of our infrastructure. A social contract that the vast majority will sign off on
I think social coherence is exactly what the coalition is attempting to destroy leaving our most vulnerable without support, and deliberately trying to create division, because a divided society is able to be manipulated. It is frightening.
I do agree. But I have to ask why? We are surely all in this waka together. Even the people is the gated communities on Waiheke might need an ambulance one night, and then a functioning ED at the hospital when they arrive with a chest pain. Yesterday a lovely young German tourist on an ebike asked a friend and I to watch her bike (she had no lock) and she said "Do you realise you are living in Paradise? " My friend and I will belong to Protect Our Gulf had a few things to impart to her about the lack of biodiversity under our beautiful sparkling sea. I just don't get this Govt? Why would Tama allow 6 commercial fishing boats into protected marine areas when his advice was NOT to do that. What's with this lot? Is it greed? Do they really think they are doing the right thing? Do they actually believe David Seymour? I suggest we all make a complaint to his regulatory hotline asking what happened to all the civil servants who are supposed to be serving the public in the area of conservation, worksafe, health, immigration etc.?
The regulatory hotline - ahahahahahahaha, it would be so good if they opened it up like a forum and everyone could see what people are moaning about. We could then all "like or dislike". My bet is it will just be filled up with stupidness, e.g. how come I have to drive on the left, it's so inconvenient when I'm driving my massive 4x4 around a right hand bend.
That's the play book. It's also the standard technique to privatisation according to Chomsky and others - defunding essential services leads to people becoming upset with those services and blaming those running the service, in swoops the private sector to "save the day". Too easy.
Some of us remember the old Public Service agencies such as MoW, Electricity Dept, Post Office incl Post Bank, Forest Service and the obscene profits made by their new owners when they were sold off in the late 80s -90s
And remember the $$ that comes back to political parties that facilitate the sell offs.
And this time round it seems the whole process is turbo charged by “right wing think tanks”
Good on the ODT. NZH started its coverage with "What you should know about disruptions" and ended it with "Hīkoi comes to an end and diver killed in shark attack | NZ Herald News Update. Abetted by media, to denigrate any opposition to their agenda, it's unlikely that, even faced with the evidence, they will show any remorse.
Please release this - every point is a critical talking point even if this government seems to be going to great lengths to avoid talking about any of them.
While the drop in smoking, particularly for Māori is heartening dropping from 40.3% to 17.2% 2011 - 2023 the vaping numbers tell a different story: up from 1.6% to 28.8% for Māori, put another way about a 23% drop in daily smoking at a price of a 27% increase in vaping. Dig a little further to find 15-17 year olds smoking dropped 8.3 to 1.1% but went from 0 to 10.5% vaping, and don't kid yourself: the vapes they all end up on contain nicotine. We are literally becoming a nation of suckers!
Allowing all those vape shops to take over our towns and villages is a national scandal. Should only be available on prescription and watch out for hot smoking devices as well! I have friends who say vaping is way more addictive that smoking other forms of nicotine.
As far as the tobacco companies are concerned Costello's got it right; encouraging a new kind of bad habit that seems to have an astonishing appeal to the teen target and creating another wicked (and expensive) problem to solve.
Tobacco companies invest billions in the health and lifestyle market including health insurance and private hospitals, doing everything they can to influence the research narrative and secure their future ‘beyond nicotine’
Failing to immediately (yesterday) address under urgency the increasing inequality and poverty in New Zealand is a choice. It is the choice supported by Luxon and his coalition government. If they didn’t support such a choice they would immediately ‘find’ the resources necessary to remedy the situation and do their best to reduce people’s suffering today. No you can’t fix the problem overnight, but you can certainly give it your best shot. They could easily ‘fast-track’ the policies required to permanently deal with this disgraceful blemish on New Zealand’s mana. I mean, ‘fast-track’ is Luxon’s get-back-on-track jam. Luxon says New Zealand has an awesome future. Ok then, put our tax payer’s money where your mouth is and fix it. The government can borrow for tax but not for poverty reduction. And Willis, stop hiding in Antarctica, you’re a huge part of the problem. The prosecution rests.
“We humans look rather different from a tree. Without a doubt we perceive the world differently than a tree does. But down deep, at the molecular heart of life, the trees and we are essentially identical.”
I flew from Christchurch to Wellington yesterday to join the hikoi. It was amazing. I didn’t go to Parliament because it was, I was told, packed like sardines but there was a large crowd in Waitangi Park where there was a concert. We were all fed and watered and so well looked after. It was an amazing experience.
The wealth of a nation is not based on GDP, or growth or levels of debt. It’s how we share our resources and the decision making process that is politics. There is a fundamental shift that’s required. Care and organisation of our society. Not relying on individualism. We are not born equal. With the current economic system such a small percentage of the population hold such a large percentage of the wealth. They didn’t earn most of it nor are they entitled to it at the expense of those less fortunate. I’ve said it before - we are a wealthy enough country that we could all lead a fulfilling life with all the necessities. Forget the labels - left, right, socialist, libertarian. We just need to be rational, and aim to benefit society as a whole.
Release please Bernard,
The Hikoi of maori and pakeha was significant on many levels. The PM’s response was weak and mealy mouthed.
Nonsense again about growing the economy to solve existential elephants in rooms such as climate and increasing child poverty and smoking and obesity problems. Data driven government? Bullshit! What drives this Taniwha is greed of the Rich White people of which I am one. Rich White people do not realise they are no longer the majority. Thank the young and others seen yesterday. They are the future. Congrats to ODT and the anti slavery article also.
Patrick Medlicott
Exactly - I too am part of the demographic of well off older (60 this year) folk. I am sickened by the actions of this government and the kow-towing of Luxone to the dangerous Act buffoon.
You know the rich older people, of which, apparently, I am one, are only where we are because of the policies when we were young. The taxation system was designed to help families, the family benefit was paid to the mothers for every child, it could be capitalised for the deposit of the purchase of the family home, interest rates were fixed for the term of the loan, electricity prices were controlled, Dr’s prices were low, University was free, it WAS paradise. There was very little crime. I pity the younger generation who have none of the above and when they get to be old it will be hell for them.
I think even during the 'Paradise' phase there was a marked difference between how the wealthy or poor, women and men, pakeha, Maori and other people of colour experienced Paradise - assuming they could even access what was on offer. Dentistry is a good example of this - those, who could afford it, avoided Mechanical Dentistry - as typified by the Murder House. Sadly we can still 'do better'
Yes, you are right Susan but instead of rectifying those, in many cases, terrible things that were done, they threw the baby out with the bath water.
It's a bit difficult to know who 'they' are or were - but it's unfair to think everyone who was around in Aotearoa during that mythical time of 'paradise' had it easy or didn't 'take advantage' of opportunities offered or is now an asset-rich, healthy older person, too many are just older and struggling.
Doing not enough or nothing at all about these issues because some people are entitled and 'sorted' didn't just start in October 2023; but we've never had such disregard and blatant, cruel divisivenes. The hikoi has really given us hope - but it's also scared the bejesus out of the coalition and we know bullies don't like being exposed or admitting they're scared.
How old are you Susan? I am 85
Have to agree, many like myself are "wealthy, healthy and retired" due to past policies Patricia references.
It's a delusion to claim "all down to me" - good or bad. Back in the day University tuition and living costs paid, housing at low income multiples, medical / dentists (in UK) free at point of use - all really social contract issues.
It is a choice, it does not have to be those that have taking more and more from those that have not.
Yesterday's hikoi filled me full of hope for this country's future.
Security and politics: there doesn't appear to be anything in this that addresses financial donations to political parties. I think this is a huge gap where off-shore influence is happening.
I know Luxon is mimicking a lot of american policy, but they are not example we want to be. Over 42 million americans are on food stamps, effectively the american government is feeding 42 million people a year. These same people have no access to dental, medical care and large portion of them are living rough i.e. in cars or homeless, still going to work, with no social support they are entrenched in poverty.
Sadly, with our under investment in social security net, we are heading down the same path to entrench people in poverty.
Don't forget; 'I'm rich, I'm sorted' & 'bottom feeders'
So infuriating. 🤬
Lots in here that every New Zealander should know. Please release!
I fully endorse the comments from Patrick and David. I don't get out much these days but I increasing see more distracted, ill tempered, short-sighted behaviour.
Tolerance seems to have evaporated, people and systems seem to have little left in the tank after the effort to make ends meet. Running on empty leads to mistakes, ill tempered reactions just compound the problem.
There is no excuse, we can choose to live in a place/way that provides for all - it is a choice. The "I'm sorted thanks" approach leads to more of the above as the distraction spreads and anger grows, only a few can insulate themselves from the backlash.
Social coherence is perhaps the most critical part of our infrastructure. A social contract that the vast majority will sign off on
I think social coherence is exactly what the coalition is attempting to destroy leaving our most vulnerable without support, and deliberately trying to create division, because a divided society is able to be manipulated. It is frightening.
I do agree. But I have to ask why? We are surely all in this waka together. Even the people is the gated communities on Waiheke might need an ambulance one night, and then a functioning ED at the hospital when they arrive with a chest pain. Yesterday a lovely young German tourist on an ebike asked a friend and I to watch her bike (she had no lock) and she said "Do you realise you are living in Paradise? " My friend and I will belong to Protect Our Gulf had a few things to impart to her about the lack of biodiversity under our beautiful sparkling sea. I just don't get this Govt? Why would Tama allow 6 commercial fishing boats into protected marine areas when his advice was NOT to do that. What's with this lot? Is it greed? Do they really think they are doing the right thing? Do they actually believe David Seymour? I suggest we all make a complaint to his regulatory hotline asking what happened to all the civil servants who are supposed to be serving the public in the area of conservation, worksafe, health, immigration etc.?
The regulatory hotline - ahahahahahahaha, it would be so good if they opened it up like a forum and everyone could see what people are moaning about. We could then all "like or dislike". My bet is it will just be filled up with stupidness, e.g. how come I have to drive on the left, it's so inconvenient when I'm driving my massive 4x4 around a right hand bend.
That's the play book. It's also the standard technique to privatisation according to Chomsky and others - defunding essential services leads to people becoming upset with those services and blaming those running the service, in swoops the private sector to "save the day". Too easy.
Exactly!
Some of us remember the old Public Service agencies such as MoW, Electricity Dept, Post Office incl Post Bank, Forest Service and the obscene profits made by their new owners when they were sold off in the late 80s -90s
And remember the $$ that comes back to political parties that facilitate the sell offs.
And this time round it seems the whole process is turbo charged by “right wing think tanks”
The cartoon & the time cleansing pic!
😘🤌🙌
A perfect backdrop to the treety - sorry treaty - protest.
Ha! Treety! Love it
Good on the ODT. NZH started its coverage with "What you should know about disruptions" and ended it with "Hīkoi comes to an end and diver killed in shark attack | NZ Herald News Update. Abetted by media, to denigrate any opposition to their agenda, it's unlikely that, even faced with the evidence, they will show any remorse.
Please release this - every point is a critical talking point even if this government seems to be going to great lengths to avoid talking about any of them.
While the drop in smoking, particularly for Māori is heartening dropping from 40.3% to 17.2% 2011 - 2023 the vaping numbers tell a different story: up from 1.6% to 28.8% for Māori, put another way about a 23% drop in daily smoking at a price of a 27% increase in vaping. Dig a little further to find 15-17 year olds smoking dropped 8.3 to 1.1% but went from 0 to 10.5% vaping, and don't kid yourself: the vapes they all end up on contain nicotine. We are literally becoming a nation of suckers!
Allowing all those vape shops to take over our towns and villages is a national scandal. Should only be available on prescription and watch out for hot smoking devices as well! I have friends who say vaping is way more addictive that smoking other forms of nicotine.
As far as the tobacco companies are concerned Costello's got it right; encouraging a new kind of bad habit that seems to have an astonishing appeal to the teen target and creating another wicked (and expensive) problem to solve.
Tobacco companies invest billions in the health and lifestyle market including health insurance and private hospitals, doing everything they can to influence the research narrative and secure their future ‘beyond nicotine’
Failing to immediately (yesterday) address under urgency the increasing inequality and poverty in New Zealand is a choice. It is the choice supported by Luxon and his coalition government. If they didn’t support such a choice they would immediately ‘find’ the resources necessary to remedy the situation and do their best to reduce people’s suffering today. No you can’t fix the problem overnight, but you can certainly give it your best shot. They could easily ‘fast-track’ the policies required to permanently deal with this disgraceful blemish on New Zealand’s mana. I mean, ‘fast-track’ is Luxon’s get-back-on-track jam. Luxon says New Zealand has an awesome future. Ok then, put our tax payer’s money where your mouth is and fix it. The government can borrow for tax but not for poverty reduction. And Willis, stop hiding in Antarctica, you’re a huge part of the problem. The prosecution rests.
Aaron Smale 🙏💔
That's a beautiful photo @Madeline Grieveson.
“We humans look rather different from a tree. Without a doubt we perceive the world differently than a tree does. But down deep, at the molecular heart of life, the trees and we are essentially identical.”
Carl Sagan
I flew from Christchurch to Wellington yesterday to join the hikoi. It was amazing. I didn’t go to Parliament because it was, I was told, packed like sardines but there was a large crowd in Waitangi Park where there was a concert. We were all fed and watered and so well looked after. It was an amazing experience.
The wealth of a nation is not based on GDP, or growth or levels of debt. It’s how we share our resources and the decision making process that is politics. There is a fundamental shift that’s required. Care and organisation of our society. Not relying on individualism. We are not born equal. With the current economic system such a small percentage of the population hold such a large percentage of the wealth. They didn’t earn most of it nor are they entitled to it at the expense of those less fortunate. I’ve said it before - we are a wealthy enough country that we could all lead a fulfilling life with all the necessities. Forget the labels - left, right, socialist, libertarian. We just need to be rational, and aim to benefit society as a whole.
So Agree 100 %
please share
Love the nature pic of the day