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Sep 7, 2021
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Bernard Hickey's avatar

Punishment via trade sanctions and taxes is a very real threat.

Julian's avatar

What’s the point in having so many labour mps in Chch if they’re so poor at lobbying for infrastructure spending for the region? 1/3 of Wellington spend for a larger city 🙄

Kath Lauderdale's avatar

I wonder how much of this is a recognition that women are not safe on public transport and it’s pretty bad for Covid transmission as well. Also NZers are likely not going to tolerate more taxes or user charges when they need relief and more and better services and income as it is and causing horrible inequality and poverty now.

Bernard Hickey's avatar

Good points on equity. I hope a lot of the buses and trains are subsidised, along with walking and cycling infrastructure (and bikes), which avoid the covid issue.

Beverley Short's avatar

Politicians like to speak in gobbledegook, much like turkeys do. No disrespect to turkeys. So listeners wade through the politic-speak trying to fathom out what the politician is saying or not saying in order to avoid giving an honest reply that they are doing nothing. Then we have the added frustration of acronyms. Like: NLTP or ERP. Or spoken ones like "RUC" or "ERP". I have figured out that Road User Chargers and National Land Transport ...Policy? Bernard, could you please add a short glossary at the end of your excellent posts?

Bernard Hickey's avatar

Ha! Good point. I try to explain them as I go, or avoid using them altogether. But when the Minster and Officials go straight to the shorthand, that's an issue. Good idea on the glossary though. I'll work on one.

cheers