So... climate change exists. But they still think gas is the way to go.

JFC.

So this sorta skipped the media a bit but coming in shortly are new levies on low value imports. Remember folks, it’s a Levy, not a Tax. This has been mainly shared by courier companies and I have not seen any major news story about it.

See here: https://www.customs.govt.nz/media/0befgvrr/change-1-low-value-goods-levy-3.pdf
and here for the other changes: https://www.customs.govt.nz/customs-information-and-legislation/goods-clearance-fees/goods-fees-2026-changes 

So in short, most low value imports will have a “levy” of $2.21 excl GST added per package regardless of how they’re declared.

It’s good to see the government is keeping with its promise of less taxes by introducing levies instead…

gzt: That one seems sensible and on that basis likely to have multiparty support.

Agreed, although if the other team had done it, National would say it was a tax. :-)

Sorry - whats good about it ?

Chris Bishop: tough on housing, tough on the causes of housing.

 

• Resource Management Minister Chris Bishop has announced a backdown on Auckland housing intensification legislation.
• Cabinet has agreed to reduce Auckland’s housing capacity limit from at least 2 million homes to at least 1.6 million homes, Bishop said.

Ain't no National core voter who wants to see house prices flatten, let alone go down. Sorry kids, f*** off to Australia.

Everyone in Auckland wants more housing intensification, so long as its not in their neighborhood.

I liked the bit I read (ok, skimmed briefly) about putting more houses near public transport routes. That at least (on the surface of it) makes sense

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/587240/ironic-that-government-has-run-out-of-time-to-pursue-longer-parliamentary-term-law-expert

Despite Luxon and co saying they were open to a 4-year term (I had no idea Australia was 3 years as well), ironically they've run out of time this term to look into any further.

Last I heard they were going to do a referendum on the topic at the next election - why couldn't they have done it when we vote later this year? John Key was able to with his vanity change-the-flag project.

SaltyNZ:

 

gzt: That one seems sensible and on that basis likely to have multiparty support.

 

Agreed, although if the other team had done it, National would say it was a tax. :-)

Yep exactly the point I was making. It’s technically a tax.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/587369/bill-to-make-english-an-official-language-of-nz-introduced-to-parliament

The government has introduced a bill to make English an official language, to ridicule from the opposition, and a fierce defence from Winston Peters.

This is the sort of crap that they think is important? People can't afford the basics due to a cost of living, but oh no, let's debate this instead 🙄

The sooner these clowns are gone the better.

quickymart:

 

The sooner these clowns are gone the better.

 

If there was any quality elsewhere, I'd be inclined to agree, but I just can't see a viable alternative. All coalition options will come with some nasty fish hooks

sen8or:

 

quickymart:

 

The sooner these clowns are gone the better.

 

 

If there was any quality elsewhere, I'd be inclined to agree, but I just can't see a viable alternative. All coalition options will come with some nasty fish hooks

 

And that's how the USA ended up with Trump 2.0: "I'm voting for Trump, even though I dislike him. But I don't think there's quality elsewhere (or I just don't like the opposition because of my entitlement) so I'll stick with this government."

US ended up with Trump because the opposition didn't have a meaningful way of combatting him. Biden stayed in the race far too long before finally stepping (being pushed) down and it would seem Harris just didn't have either long enough or wide enough appeal (or was beaten by whatever negative media campaigns were running). I would think only the true "Trump Believers" would think he is a good president, much like the current National govt coalition

sen8or:

 

US ended up with Trump because the opposition didn't have a meaningful way of combatting him. Biden stayed in the race far too long before finally stepping (being pushed) down and it would seem Harris just didn't have either long enough or wide enough appeal (or was beaten by whatever negative media campaigns were running). I would think only the true "Trump Believers" would think he is a good president, much like the current National govt coalition

 

I think it's the other way around: the US ended up with Trump because GOP supporters would rather put a corrupt criminal in power than admit they had no good alternative to the opposition. I mean, hard choice between the felon and the progressive woman, right? Or between the felon and anyone that's not a felon.

We are not at that level here, but if the current crowd just make snafu after another, favour the businesses and landlords, while the general population is struggling to get food on the table, perhaps the government is not fit for the people.

Lets hope we don't get to that level of blind fanaticism (en mass). There are (and have been for some time) pockets of fanboys / fangirls over various politicians who saw their chosen person through  some fairly thick rose tinted glasses.