As winter nears, reports mount of surging food parcel demand, intensifying rent stress & homelessness; Luxon ramps up 'cost of living crisis' attack, but his tax cuts would mostly help home owners
Thank you once again Bernard. I struggle for an answer. It has to be political but the opposition ACT are disgusting free marketeers who will happily let people starve if it is in the interests of “the market” which they worship as a deity.National are using 20th century failed economics arguments which make no sense . Tax cuts , Really! Wealth must be taxed to redistribute the huge unearned windfalls of the landed gentry or property classes but the problem is they are the voting classes!! I belong to the upper 10% and being semi-retired my house makes more than I do. We need answers from Labour and Greens. Lets do it , damn the “deficit” and the nonsense opposition politicians who would only take NZ backwards into 20th century failures.
Dickensian. How will these children fare if their Mothers are treated this way? Even separating them all is in humane simply through a lack of duty of care and fulfilling obligations. Sick.
I'd like to point out that the only entity that can solve the housing catastrophe is the government. No ngo, no ceo, no billionaire is capable of doing it. Only the gov has the power to legislate and regulate. But instead, it is actively refusing to use its powers and instead is continuing the policies that are directly responsible for this despicable situation. So let's dispel the fiction that NZ is a democracy. The glaring evidence is in, NZ is just another raging capitalist state with a government that maintains a tyranny of underfunding of desperately needed social supports. And this while NZ has its own sovereign currency and owns its own bank. So increasing numbers of Kiwis have no shelter, or are having to ask whether to feed the kids or pay the rent? Is that "kindness"?
Every day, I am blown away by what the government is getting away with due to public ignorance, misinformation, and apathy.
I agree wholeheartedly. But neither Labour or National seem to want to really address the underlying failures of our system, and insist on a "free market" approach to providing social housing via the accommodation supplement
"The Great Divide" article in North and South was a really good overview of how we got to this point, and clearly paints a picture of how the "free market" approach to social housing (alongside over financialization of housing, and lack of a coherent migration policies) has got us into this mess.
How is Covid and rising food prices going to impact on foodbanks?
With talk of stressed supply lines because of people off work with Covid where will foodbanks be in freight company decisions of what needs to be moved? Behind the supermarkets, butcheries, bakeries, etc no doubt.
And will the food manufacturers themselves be cutting back on production levels because of Covid absenteeism and/or ingredient shortages? Less available food for the foodbanks.
If the foodbanks start turning away large, or even huge, numbers in need then that is going to play out so badly for the government that maybe they'll turn 180 and do a helicopter drop of cash to everyone.
They aren't coping. They are already at a point of having to pick and choose who to help first, as their resources are limited. With the current circumstances with the spread of Covid in the community, especially south of Auckland, its compounding the already pressured charities, maraes and food banks to do more. It is already bad, if not a catastrophe moving towards a ruination of the community and fragile fabric of society.
I would suggest the foodbanks need to contact all the media: - TV, print and social, and go for an all-out blitz on what is happening. Highlight the number of parcels they were handing out two years ago, last year and now to show the growth in the catastrophe.
Only when the polls start to look bad will the government act.
Agree, boots on the ground and visual representation would be best to expose the hardship they are facing, only so much a newspaper article can convey.
Thanks Steve. There’s a few of us working on this. Many at RNZ, Stuff, Newsroom, Newshub, The Hui, Maori TV, Waatea News and TVNZ doing great work on this. Rowan Quinn. Sarah Robson. Katie Bradford. And many more
Actually there are some very important legal (Properrty Relationship Act, Family Proceding Act, Bill of Rights and Human Rights principles plus obviously Child Support Act as well as many other very long held legal obligations to women. their children or Governments by fathers and all families. It seems there is no rule of law for the vilnerable for their needs and right to safety in New Zealand.
It’s been a sore and blight on our society and a dreadful blind spot I don’t think any parties have gotten a grip on.
It relies on some human decency but I think it’s obvious the policies in place have failed.
One person is worth between 4 and 11 million to the economy not counting unpaid or reproductive labour do wouldnt it pay to raise the people to be as pro social, healthy and productive as possible?
That’s only the dollar figures and doesn’t count the costs of communities having to pay for the extra health and Justice costs if they’re not? I believe one prisoner costs $100,000.00 per year. There’s the priority right there.
Is Aotearoa-NZ democracy going through its ultimate test right now in 2022?
Could we run the potential risk of shifting into an autocracy (of a political red or blue party) and/or oligarchy (of business and homeowners, oppressing workers and renters) from the current actions and lack of action, by the government?
As this is not a government for the people, by the people, when we have an increasing amount of kiwis who are struggling more and more every day.
Thanks Ryan. We’ve yet to see a young Winston emerge from the right. Seymour is the closest we’ve seen recently, but I think he’s unlikely to go very hard down that track. David is a democrat as much as anything. I’ve never seen him do the sort of stuff we’re regularly seeing in the likes of America and Britain and, sadly, Australia.
Homeowners and oppressed workers are not a mutually exclusive group, being a paper millionaire doesn't help at the supermarket/petrol station checkout. I'm not convinced the traditional middle class actually exists anymore
Yes, I agree with you on that, and will say that I overstated for provacation and drawing a line that doesn't necessarily encompass a fair representation or picture when dissecting it more. We are after all, are paying the same price on milk, and fuelling our vehicles with the same petrol, but what could now be defined as middle class if it even exists?
One who has no mortgage and fairly stable earnings and savings or one that has paper wealth (house value) and not realisable wealth, yet pays the bills (6 figure mortgage) and earns the average income, and has some savings but not as much for too many rainy days. More thoughts, on a fairly hot topic.
I have a growing feeling the 'class' structure (as an indication of who doesn't have enough, and who's taking rents) has been lost in a wave of race, gender and age narratives. These are all valid groups with valid concerns and biases that affect them but whether you are Tangata Whenua, LGBTQIA or 100 years old, hungry is hungry
Herein lies the big swindle. Ardern generated an uptick in votes for Labour because she was an antithesis to Key/English. Young, progressive, articulate, full of promises for change. But those promises have not materialised into a better life for those most in need, Ardern’s core constituents. A fact Bernard regularly illustrates with cold hard facts. Kiwis I fear will continue to sleep walk into a bleak social and economic future because they do not bother to look past the smile and kind words to see Ardern’s policies are not working for them.
Very good question. Who knows whether Luxon would lead a better govt. I don't. But uncertainty about, or fear of the alternative should not mean we are complacent about the current leadership. Their failings are real and present.
National - broadly similar policies to Labour (although history, I think, suggests that 'blue' policies point more towards upper middle class and above wellbeing, rather than 'red' policies which point a little more towards lower socioeconomic wellbeing) with a different wrapper. To find a party with radically different policies to Labour/National/Centrist governments of the last 20+ years we have to scratch around to find minority parties who have no track record of running a government, so we don't vote them in to have a go... Surprise, surprise, we get more of the same...
Exactly, we get more of the same. And so it continues. Re your point above - I'd suggest Labour policies have become more like National policies, meaning Labour have moved more to the centre and possible crossed into National territory than the other way around. Which is a problem for voters because there are few stark differences between the two....
In simple terms I see National's core as the tax cuts and less regulation party. Labour is the slightly higher taxes and getting more people onto benefits. Other than that they aren't very dissimilar.
But to save NZ what is probably needed is for a wing of one of the two to come to power and push through what is needed. Much like Roger Douglas's efforts in the 1980's, but not his specific policies.
Thanks Peter. I think some of the facts are starting to filter through. I am getting bigger audiences and subscriber numbers and plenty of invites to talk on radio and television about these things. It’s getting out there.
Funny that, misogynist right wingers get rarked up by the rich folk and privileged again and sabotage any progress or proper discussion around the real issues for the most vulnerable. Anything to avoid the law, duties and obligations. It’s got to have been a psy op surely? All roads lead to Rome. All we have to ask is “who benefits from this?”. The answers are always the same.
Can’t see this crisis being down to the small policy differences between our political parties. This is where neoliberal economics has been taking much of the world for a long time now, and the inevitable consequences have been given a big nasty nudge by Covid pressures. We lack the deeply entrenched social support infrastructure and assumptions that have mitigated the effect somewhat in some European countries, so our health system, for example, was stretched thin long before Covid erupted.
Hey Bernard, great work once again. I 100% agree the only entity capable of solving this is the Government. There are many different angles to this, but it comes back to the government being the enabler. In my opinion we're experiencing the outcomes of 30+ years of underinvestment from all Parties. Unfortunately this isn't going to solve itself overnight, but by jingoes, we better get started.
Some of the stories you have highlighted are absolutely heartbreaking - I hope politicians from ALL spectrums are reading it.
To finish on a brighter note, we don't live in a war zone, and may we never end up in that position.
Thank you once again Bernard. I struggle for an answer. It has to be political but the opposition ACT are disgusting free marketeers who will happily let people starve if it is in the interests of “the market” which they worship as a deity.National are using 20th century failed economics arguments which make no sense . Tax cuts , Really! Wealth must be taxed to redistribute the huge unearned windfalls of the landed gentry or property classes but the problem is they are the voting classes!! I belong to the upper 10% and being semi-retired my house makes more than I do. We need answers from Labour and Greens. Lets do it , damn the “deficit” and the nonsense opposition politicians who would only take NZ backwards into 20th century failures.
Patrick Medlicott
Thanks Patrick. Hard to see anyone in Parliament able to push that through.
Dickensian. How will these children fare if their Mothers are treated this way? Even separating them all is in humane simply through a lack of duty of care and fulfilling obligations. Sick.
Yurts?
I'd like to point out that the only entity that can solve the housing catastrophe is the government. No ngo, no ceo, no billionaire is capable of doing it. Only the gov has the power to legislate and regulate. But instead, it is actively refusing to use its powers and instead is continuing the policies that are directly responsible for this despicable situation. So let's dispel the fiction that NZ is a democracy. The glaring evidence is in, NZ is just another raging capitalist state with a government that maintains a tyranny of underfunding of desperately needed social supports. And this while NZ has its own sovereign currency and owns its own bank. So increasing numbers of Kiwis have no shelter, or are having to ask whether to feed the kids or pay the rent? Is that "kindness"?
Every day, I am blown away by what the government is getting away with due to public ignorance, misinformation, and apathy.
Thanks Marc. You’re welcome to share this post to as many as you can. Now opened up for all. Cheers
I agree wholeheartedly. But neither Labour or National seem to want to really address the underlying failures of our system, and insist on a "free market" approach to providing social housing via the accommodation supplement
"The Great Divide" article in North and South was a really good overview of how we got to this point, and clearly paints a picture of how the "free market" approach to social housing (alongside over financialization of housing, and lack of a coherent migration policies) has got us into this mess.
https://northandsouth.co.nz/2021/08/16/nz-housing-crisis-the-great-divide/
Both parties are undemocratic, specialising in meanness. Keep the people down, maintain elite rule.
Yep. Very good article.
For Hipkins: Did the MoH ever discover the source of how MIQ let Omicron into the community?
No is the sort answer Nige. Same also for Delta, and the original one. Something in the air…
Thanks Bernard
How is Covid and rising food prices going to impact on foodbanks?
With talk of stressed supply lines because of people off work with Covid where will foodbanks be in freight company decisions of what needs to be moved? Behind the supermarkets, butcheries, bakeries, etc no doubt.
And will the food manufacturers themselves be cutting back on production levels because of Covid absenteeism and/or ingredient shortages? Less available food for the foodbanks.
If the foodbanks start turning away large, or even huge, numbers in need then that is going to play out so badly for the government that maybe they'll turn 180 and do a helicopter drop of cash to everyone.
They aren't coping. They are already at a point of having to pick and choose who to help first, as their resources are limited. With the current circumstances with the spread of Covid in the community, especially south of Auckland, its compounding the already pressured charities, maraes and food banks to do more. It is already bad, if not a catastrophe moving towards a ruination of the community and fragile fabric of society.
I would suggest the foodbanks need to contact all the media: - TV, print and social, and go for an all-out blitz on what is happening. Highlight the number of parcels they were handing out two years ago, last year and now to show the growth in the catastrophe.
Only when the polls start to look bad will the government act.
Agree, boots on the ground and visual representation would be best to expose the hardship they are facing, only so much a newspaper article can convey.
What we need to do is get Bernard onto this with all his Parliamentary Press Gallery colleagues.
Thanks Steve. There’s a few of us working on this. Many at RNZ, Stuff, Newsroom, Newshub, The Hui, Maori TV, Waatea News and TVNZ doing great work on this. Rowan Quinn. Sarah Robson. Katie Bradford. And many more
Good!
FYI food parcel demand for Auckland City Mission has quadrupled in the last four years.
https://www.cpag.org.nz/the-latest/current-statistics/food-parcels/
Thanks Ryan. I’d welcome any detail and contacts you have to get these stories out.
Thanks Steve. All depends on if it is reported. Food banks depend on the Govt now for a lot of their funding. Rarely very critical…
Thanks Steve. That reminds me to do more reporting on what’s happening with the food banks.
Actually there are some very important legal (Properrty Relationship Act, Family Proceding Act, Bill of Rights and Human Rights principles plus obviously Child Support Act as well as many other very long held legal obligations to women. their children or Governments by fathers and all families. It seems there is no rule of law for the vilnerable for their needs and right to safety in New Zealand.
It’s been a sore and blight on our society and a dreadful blind spot I don’t think any parties have gotten a grip on.
It relies on some human decency but I think it’s obvious the policies in place have failed.
One person is worth between 4 and 11 million to the economy not counting unpaid or reproductive labour do wouldnt it pay to raise the people to be as pro social, healthy and productive as possible?
That’s only the dollar figures and doesn’t count the costs of communities having to pay for the extra health and Justice costs if they’re not? I believe one prisoner costs $100,000.00 per year. There’s the priority right there.
It is reallly attempted manslaughter negligent homicide material especially for a Mother and baby. Putin just bombs them this method is more sneaky.
Provoking thought.
Is Aotearoa-NZ democracy going through its ultimate test right now in 2022?
Could we run the potential risk of shifting into an autocracy (of a political red or blue party) and/or oligarchy (of business and homeowners, oppressing workers and renters) from the current actions and lack of action, by the government?
As this is not a government for the people, by the people, when we have an increasing amount of kiwis who are struggling more and more every day.
Thanks Ryan. We’ve yet to see a young Winston emerge from the right. Seymour is the closest we’ve seen recently, but I think he’s unlikely to go very hard down that track. David is a democrat as much as anything. I’ve never seen him do the sort of stuff we’re regularly seeing in the likes of America and Britain and, sadly, Australia.
Homeowners and oppressed workers are not a mutually exclusive group, being a paper millionaire doesn't help at the supermarket/petrol station checkout. I'm not convinced the traditional middle class actually exists anymore
Yes, I agree with you on that, and will say that I overstated for provacation and drawing a line that doesn't necessarily encompass a fair representation or picture when dissecting it more. We are after all, are paying the same price on milk, and fuelling our vehicles with the same petrol, but what could now be defined as middle class if it even exists?
One who has no mortgage and fairly stable earnings and savings or one that has paper wealth (house value) and not realisable wealth, yet pays the bills (6 figure mortgage) and earns the average income, and has some savings but not as much for too many rainy days. More thoughts, on a fairly hot topic.
I have a growing feeling the 'class' structure (as an indication of who doesn't have enough, and who's taking rents) has been lost in a wave of race, gender and age narratives. These are all valid groups with valid concerns and biases that affect them but whether you are Tangata Whenua, LGBTQIA or 100 years old, hungry is hungry
Thanks. The class word hasn’t appeared much. Sadly, Maori and Pacifica and the young are very over-represented in the renters on low income groups.
The clear delineation now is between home owners and the rest.
Herein lies the big swindle. Ardern generated an uptick in votes for Labour because she was an antithesis to Key/English. Young, progressive, articulate, full of promises for change. But those promises have not materialised into a better life for those most in need, Ardern’s core constituents. A fact Bernard regularly illustrates with cold hard facts. Kiwis I fear will continue to sleep walk into a bleak social and economic future because they do not bother to look past the smile and kind words to see Ardern’s policies are not working for them.
Even if they did start looking past the smile and kind words to see the failure of Labour's policies, who would they find to vote for anyway?
Very good question. Who knows whether Luxon would lead a better govt. I don't. But uncertainty about, or fear of the alternative should not mean we are complacent about the current leadership. Their failings are real and present.
National - broadly similar policies to Labour (although history, I think, suggests that 'blue' policies point more towards upper middle class and above wellbeing, rather than 'red' policies which point a little more towards lower socioeconomic wellbeing) with a different wrapper. To find a party with radically different policies to Labour/National/Centrist governments of the last 20+ years we have to scratch around to find minority parties who have no track record of running a government, so we don't vote them in to have a go... Surprise, surprise, we get more of the same...
Exactly, we get more of the same. And so it continues. Re your point above - I'd suggest Labour policies have become more like National policies, meaning Labour have moved more to the centre and possible crossed into National territory than the other way around. Which is a problem for voters because there are few stark differences between the two....
In simple terms I see National's core as the tax cuts and less regulation party. Labour is the slightly higher taxes and getting more people onto benefits. Other than that they aren't very dissimilar.
But to save NZ what is probably needed is for a wing of one of the two to come to power and push through what is needed. Much like Roger Douglas's efforts in the 1980's, but not his specific policies.
I see the tragedy being that we are trudging around and around a cul-de-sac of neoliberalism That is what we have to get out of. How, on earth, how?!
I agree on that. I thought a crisis would be an opportunity. Sadly, Labour and the Greens bottled it. The PM’s natural conservatism stopped them.
Democracy has a way of finding a way for a big enough new view to filter through. Not there yet. But we’ll see.
Thanks Peter. Feel free to spread this article and episode around. It’s open for all.
Thanks Peter. I think some of the facts are starting to filter through. I am getting bigger audiences and subscriber numbers and plenty of invites to talk on radio and television about these things. It’s getting out there.
Feels like the sort of issues we should be marching off to Parliament to highlight, shame that course of action is somewhat tarnished now
Funny that, misogynist right wingers get rarked up by the rich folk and privileged again and sabotage any progress or proper discussion around the real issues for the most vulnerable. Anything to avoid the law, duties and obligations. It’s got to have been a psy op surely? All roads lead to Rome. All we have to ask is “who benefits from this?”. The answers are always the same.
Can’t see this crisis being down to the small policy differences between our political parties. This is where neoliberal economics has been taking much of the world for a long time now, and the inevitable consequences have been given a big nasty nudge by Covid pressures. We lack the deeply entrenched social support infrastructure and assumptions that have mitigated the effect somewhat in some European countries, so our health system, for example, was stretched thin long before Covid erupted.
Hey Bernard, great work once again. I 100% agree the only entity capable of solving this is the Government. There are many different angles to this, but it comes back to the government being the enabler. In my opinion we're experiencing the outcomes of 30+ years of underinvestment from all Parties. Unfortunately this isn't going to solve itself overnight, but by jingoes, we better get started.
Some of the stories you have highlighted are absolutely heartbreaking - I hope politicians from ALL spectrums are reading it.
To finish on a brighter note, we don't live in a war zone, and may we never end up in that position.
That is a great point. There are many positives to base ourselves on and push off to fix the negatives.
Awesome podcast as to what is really happening on the ground.
Thankyou Ian. I’ll try to find out more and bring more of these stories out.