Asked about his waning poll results, PM says fixing the economy will improve them, but voters say the health system's crisis is a bigger issue; Bank CEOs say looser capital rules will help
Yep, I noticed that. Law and Order at 4, and Youth Crime at 7... Yet, in the entire coalition "laser-focused on the economy", Reducing Unemployment barely warrants a single mention... These voters have a pretty deranged view of how an economy works!
There is certainly some weird stuff happening while centrist politicians continue to hum along to the 'business-as-usual' tune... For most of us (terminally-online) types, it seems pretty obvious that the world is rapidly dividing into either distinct 'billionaire-business-worship', or 'guillotine-all-billionaires' ideologies. Meanwhile, our political parties keep pretending that what we all *really* want is just more status quo of numbly living with neoliberal billionaires among us.
For supporters who own a lot of property, or a business which has been the victim of property crime where the police didn't do more than issue a case number for insurance purposes (a lot of them), I can see it. That's not my personal take or concern, but there would be a few of them who extrapolate their personal experiences to the country at large.
Interesting isn’t it. USA lead the globalisation charge all those years ago, with all the problems that has brought. But the globalisation of finance (which is as important as globalisation of production and labour) could yet thwart the orange man-baby. I don’t think his mates will be impressed with the USA markets being spooked. Just goes to show that not even USA is immune to loss of sovereignty (remember Danny Rodddiks trilemma - you can only have 2 out of 3: globalisation, sovereignty and democracy). The volatility of money means that all developed countries are held hostage by the traders. Shows who really is in charge. If we think it is the elected officials, I think we are kidding ourselves.
That's a really interesting set of tables. In the top 10: it turns out that everyone wants to be able to get Nana or their babies into a hospital that's close and doesn't kill them; the cost of food is second for both Labour and NZ First (rich vote pickings there I think); a lot of the other scores are clustered fairly close together - and all are social issues; even the National party are not that fussed on economic management (and who can blame them: what management?); only ACT are really exercised about neutering Te Tiriti (because they are the active drivers of the punch-down racism we are seeing); only the parties representing the wealthy are concerned about crime; and almost nobody (even at the blue end of the spectrum) gives a fig about roads.... But at least we can rest easy that ACT have made it so much easier to siphon off money to international gambling.
I suspect that "only the parties representing the wealthy are concerned about crime" represents a pre-emptive acknowledgement that unemployment and poverty are drivers, and that enforcement is their preferred option to alleviation.
How much confidence can be placed on the Curia poll? Are they making available for checking, their poll questions? We have challenged the validity of previous Curia polls when they favoured National. Could there be an agenda from David Farrar to shake National out of complacency so they do more things to enhance their chances of holding power past the next election?
The electorate have tumbled (belatedly) to the fact that without a public health system thousands of people are at risk of dying. I do not exaggerate and I spent enough time in that system to know what I am talking about. The previous National government tried to emasculate/sterilise the public health system using the same apparatchik as they used this time, Lester Levy. Fortunately there was a government change before they could achieve their aims. This time, the got Levy out of the closet almost on day 1, and he has done some truly appalling damage which may not be reparable. Helen Clarke was the saviour of our public health system and we are all deeply in her debt. God alone knows who has the skill to undo the Key/Luxon damage that has been inflicted.
It’s no problem to them if people die but surely they could wake up to what it costs to have so many untreated people needing cared for - somehow! A bit of maths shouldn’t require them to squeeze any decency out of themselves.
You are quite right about their callousness towards sick (poor) people, but they think in terms of this year at the longest. So instead of sitting down with the clinicians and identifying the long term costs of not making an early intervention they simply look at the impact on the current year's (month's?) budget of issuing a vaccine, say, and ALWAYS go for the cheapest short term option, which is almost ALWAYS to do nothing. That is why they got that animal Levy to slash and burn his way through the system; there would be nobody left to bring them the bad new (and that is now all there is). Thank God the electorate is finally waking up to what is happening in this country.
It is utterly wild to me that planet-destroying issues like climate change don't even show up in the coalition voters' top ten! When you look at what hard-right (let's face it) vs centre-left voters care about, there's a very clear link between selfishness and propaganda vs altruism and reality.
The bald headed boardroom bandit is off on a trade deal to Modi another oligarch. Nicotine Willis continues with 19th century economics. We live in the 21st century facing a climate armageddon and these idiots still rule! David Seymour- enjoy your lunch!
"CEOs and Chairs for ANZ, ASB, and BNZ told MPs yesterday at a select committee hearing that lower Reserve Bank capital requirements for banks such as theirs would lower banking costs for customers."
yes it could but WAKE UP !!! The intention of those CEOs and Chairs is not to lower banking costs for customers but to increase the disgustingly obscene massive profits their banks are already making. This intention is clearly obvious because they are already stating that they would be able to further increase the vast amounts/sums of money they create/fabricate/invent (out of nothingness) to fuel the housing market (but they use different terminology/words to try and hide their intention).
if the CEOs and Chairs really wanted lower banking costs for customers they would not be paying the massive income packages they pay their CEOs and they would not be making the exceedingly excessive profits their banks are currently making.
Chris Bishop is seeking a public private partnership for the Warkworth to Te Hana expressway.
Loosening the capital requirements for banks would surely increase their profits, but leave us at greater risk of another property bubble (followed by bust).
I don't want our Health System cannabilised by privatisation. This government doesn't seem to understand that the economy of a country is not the same as a household economy. I read analysis that shows Health budgets are not mismanaged but underfunded.
The other overlooked thing in that poll. NZF are 5.1%. That drops below 5 and they're out - as has happened every time previously. That might be the biggest threat to Luxon getting a second term imho
As I mentioned yesterday, a mere 14k less votes from the last election will put them out. I don't want to think ill of the dead but along with the anti-vaxxers and cookers (who are now very very angry that the government haven't done what they thought they were voting NZF for) a good number of NZF supporters may have departed this mortal realm
Has a cba been done on building a rail tunnell north of Swanson and then upgading the rail line to Whangarei and north? It must be cheaper than the proposed highway.
Restoring rail north to Whangarei would restore roads to those who must drive. No jobs lost as passengers & freight could then be transported by bus/truck from Whangarei to a wide range of destinations in the north. Less wear & tear on roads & less road fatalities & injury for overloaded health providers.
That is wild that National supporters' 2nd biggest priority is reducing crime.
Yep, I noticed that. Law and Order at 4, and Youth Crime at 7... Yet, in the entire coalition "laser-focused on the economy", Reducing Unemployment barely warrants a single mention... These voters have a pretty deranged view of how an economy works!
All of the coalition voters had Quality of Roads as a top 10 priority & none had climate change in their top ten, heaven help us!
Found this very un scientific poll on Stuff yesterday, fascinating as it had already garnered over 19,000 votes. Crazy result given that Greens gets 18% of the expected party vote , National party only gets 13% and Labour at 47%!! https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360608833/poll-shows-labour-ahead-national-hipkins-ahead-luxon-preferred-pm
There is certainly some weird stuff happening while centrist politicians continue to hum along to the 'business-as-usual' tune... For most of us (terminally-online) types, it seems pretty obvious that the world is rapidly dividing into either distinct 'billionaire-business-worship', or 'guillotine-all-billionaires' ideologies. Meanwhile, our political parties keep pretending that what we all *really* want is just more status quo of numbly living with neoliberal billionaires among us.
For supporters who own a lot of property, or a business which has been the victim of property crime where the police didn't do more than issue a case number for insurance purposes (a lot of them), I can see it. That's not my personal take or concern, but there would be a few of them who extrapolate their personal experiences to the country at large.
Good balance!
Great to see the words judical review on the speed changes. We have some great people and groups in the country. People over Profits!
Soo depressing...
yet, in case anyone needs a smile... this is my good news of the day: "Billionaires at Trump's Swearing-In Have Since Lost $209 Billion"
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-10/billionaires-at-trump-s-swearing-in-have-since-lost-200-billion
Interesting isn’t it. USA lead the globalisation charge all those years ago, with all the problems that has brought. But the globalisation of finance (which is as important as globalisation of production and labour) could yet thwart the orange man-baby. I don’t think his mates will be impressed with the USA markets being spooked. Just goes to show that not even USA is immune to loss of sovereignty (remember Danny Rodddiks trilemma - you can only have 2 out of 3: globalisation, sovereignty and democracy). The volatility of money means that all developed countries are held hostage by the traders. Shows who really is in charge. If we think it is the elected officials, I think we are kidding ourselves.
And Orr resigned, banks want it easier to loan despite the risk - what a surprise!
That's a really interesting set of tables. In the top 10: it turns out that everyone wants to be able to get Nana or their babies into a hospital that's close and doesn't kill them; the cost of food is second for both Labour and NZ First (rich vote pickings there I think); a lot of the other scores are clustered fairly close together - and all are social issues; even the National party are not that fussed on economic management (and who can blame them: what management?); only ACT are really exercised about neutering Te Tiriti (because they are the active drivers of the punch-down racism we are seeing); only the parties representing the wealthy are concerned about crime; and almost nobody (even at the blue end of the spectrum) gives a fig about roads.... But at least we can rest easy that ACT have made it so much easier to siphon off money to international gambling.
I suspect that "only the parties representing the wealthy are concerned about crime" represents a pre-emptive acknowledgement that unemployment and poverty are drivers, and that enforcement is their preferred option to alleviation.
Also that property crime (which is not heavily policed at the lower end) is more of a concern for people with a lot of property.
How much confidence can be placed on the Curia poll? Are they making available for checking, their poll questions? We have challenged the validity of previous Curia polls when they favoured National. Could there be an agenda from David Farrar to shake National out of complacency so they do more things to enhance their chances of holding power past the next election?
The electorate have tumbled (belatedly) to the fact that without a public health system thousands of people are at risk of dying. I do not exaggerate and I spent enough time in that system to know what I am talking about. The previous National government tried to emasculate/sterilise the public health system using the same apparatchik as they used this time, Lester Levy. Fortunately there was a government change before they could achieve their aims. This time, the got Levy out of the closet almost on day 1, and he has done some truly appalling damage which may not be reparable. Helen Clarke was the saviour of our public health system and we are all deeply in her debt. God alone knows who has the skill to undo the Key/Luxon damage that has been inflicted.
It’s no problem to them if people die but surely they could wake up to what it costs to have so many untreated people needing cared for - somehow! A bit of maths shouldn’t require them to squeeze any decency out of themselves.
You are quite right about their callousness towards sick (poor) people, but they think in terms of this year at the longest. So instead of sitting down with the clinicians and identifying the long term costs of not making an early intervention they simply look at the impact on the current year's (month's?) budget of issuing a vaccine, say, and ALWAYS go for the cheapest short term option, which is almost ALWAYS to do nothing. That is why they got that animal Levy to slash and burn his way through the system; there would be nobody left to bring them the bad new (and that is now all there is). Thank God the electorate is finally waking up to what is happening in this country.
That gulf in favourability between Winston Peters and Shane Jones is pretty stark!
It is utterly wild to me that planet-destroying issues like climate change don't even show up in the coalition voters' top ten! When you look at what hard-right (let's face it) vs centre-left voters care about, there's a very clear link between selfishness and propaganda vs altruism and reality.
I see Winston is off to kiss Trump’s ring.
The bald headed boardroom bandit is off on a trade deal to Modi another oligarch. Nicotine Willis continues with 19th century economics. We live in the 21st century facing a climate armageddon and these idiots still rule! David Seymour- enjoy your lunch!
Patrick Medlicott
"CEOs and Chairs for ANZ, ASB, and BNZ told MPs yesterday at a select committee hearing that lower Reserve Bank capital requirements for banks such as theirs would lower banking costs for customers."
yes it could but WAKE UP !!! The intention of those CEOs and Chairs is not to lower banking costs for customers but to increase the disgustingly obscene massive profits their banks are already making. This intention is clearly obvious because they are already stating that they would be able to further increase the vast amounts/sums of money they create/fabricate/invent (out of nothingness) to fuel the housing market (but they use different terminology/words to try and hide their intention).
if the CEOs and Chairs really wanted lower banking costs for customers they would not be paying the massive income packages they pay their CEOs and they would not be making the exceedingly excessive profits their banks are currently making.
Westpac missing from the list. Mindful of their wish to remain as the government's high-street banker-of-choice after the next election.
The transferring of public money to private corporations is a fundamental characteristic of this government.
Dr Gary Payinda gives an example from the health sector https://drgarypayinda.substack.com/p/dr-privatisation-will-now-see-your
Chris Bishop is seeking a public private partnership for the Warkworth to Te Hana expressway.
Loosening the capital requirements for banks would surely increase their profits, but leave us at greater risk of another property bubble (followed by bust).
School lunches.
etc etc
This is just looting.
I don't want our Health System cannabilised by privatisation. This government doesn't seem to understand that the economy of a country is not the same as a household economy. I read analysis that shows Health budgets are not mismanaged but underfunded.
'Evidence based policy' was just marketing
More like policy-based evidence...
The other overlooked thing in that poll. NZF are 5.1%. That drops below 5 and they're out - as has happened every time previously. That might be the biggest threat to Luxon getting a second term imho
As I mentioned yesterday, a mere 14k less votes from the last election will put them out. I don't want to think ill of the dead but along with the anti-vaxxers and cookers (who are now very very angry that the government haven't done what they thought they were voting NZF for) a good number of NZF supporters may have departed this mortal realm
Has a cba been done on building a rail tunnell north of Swanson and then upgading the rail line to Whangarei and north? It must be cheaper than the proposed highway.
Restoring rail north to Whangarei would restore roads to those who must drive. No jobs lost as passengers & freight could then be transported by bus/truck from Whangarei to a wide range of destinations in the north. Less wear & tear on roads & less road fatalities & injury for overloaded health providers.
Lots of pain and no gain so hardly surprising.