Christopher Luxon, New Zealand Prime Minister 2023

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Forums › Politics › Christopher Luxon, New Zealand Prime Minister 2023

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#3494890 23-May-2026 15:14

Handle9: In isolation more funding for healthcare is a net benefit. The question is where do you take that money from? Is it a greater net benefit than reducing taxes which stimulates the economy, funding for education, providing NZ superannuation or spending on defense in an unstable world?

Sure yeah that's part of the politics. Personally I'm happy to see an increase in taxation if that is needed for improved health services for the population. The current government seems to have a yoyo going in some areas. For example lowering the cost of vehicle registration and then increasing it again. No reason they could not do the same increase tax for health purpose if they wanted to.

gzt

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#3494891 23-May-2026 15:18

Then there's the previous recent tax cuts from the same government yada yada which is a slippery slope to a bun fight I'd rather not step on today ; )

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#3494899 23-May-2026 19:22

gzt: Then there's the previous recent tax cuts from the same government yada yada which is a slippery slope to a bun fight I'd rather not step on today ; )

I dunno. I think it’s pretty well accepted that they were almost pointless.

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#3494900 23-May-2026 19:39

Handle9:

gzt: Then there's the previous recent tax cuts from the same government yada yada which is a slippery slope to a bun fight I'd rather not step on today ; )

I dunno. I think it’s pretty well accepted that they were almost pointless.

Yeah, I don't even know if we get $20 a month or $20 a fortnight. Either way, as far as I am concerned it would've been better off paying for medicines for some little old lady.

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#3494903 23-May-2026 20:13

I think I got about $40 a fortnight but personally (as I said previously) I'd rather kids in need got decent school lunches, not Seymour's Slop.

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#3494975 24-May-2026 20:39

gzt: No reason they could not do the same increase tax for health purpose if they wanted to.

You can increase health, but health cost inflation is a real thing and it's wayyyy ahead of the general rate of inflation. An actual number to fund the health system to the level where the stuff people criticise it for (e.g. underpaid staff, extra staff, capital outlay on hospitals) is probably so staggeringly high that it is political poison. If it were as simple as naming the number to adequately provide the level of service people want, then it would be the easiest sell to the electorate in politics.

The best money you will ever spend on healthcare is preventative. Big population-level stuff like Gardisil and Pharmac are where the money is saved. It could be that GLP1s become part of that toolbox over time.

Pharmac costs us $1.7b a year. It's easily the best $1.7b the government spends on anything. It works out to be around $750 per FTE in NZ. I would gladly pay double this if it meant we could access novel treatments and therapies when people in NZ get sick.

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#3494979 24-May-2026 22:19

quickymart:

I think I got about $40 a fortnight but personally (as I said previously) I'd rather kids in need got decent school lunches, not Seymour's Slop.

If parents want better school lunches they should make them!!

"Seymour's Slop" was only meant as a backstop.

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#3494991 25-May-2026 07:09

Bluntj:

If parents want better school lunches they should make them!!

"Seymour's Slop" was only meant as a backstop.

And for parents who can't afford to provide their kids with a nutritious lunch? What then? I wouldn't want my kids eating the crap his "new, improved" programme provides. I think you've missed my point.

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#3494995 25-May-2026 07:53

Bluntj:

If parents want better school lunches they should make them!!

"Seymour's Slop" was only meant as a backstop.

Cost of living crisis? What cost of living crisis? If you're hungry, just eat, bro. Duh!

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#3495186 25-May-2026 16:26

What defines a nutritious lunch?

Guess it can't be peanut butter sandwiches (cause of nut allergies), can't be sandwiches full stop (gluten intolerance), can't be yoghurt (lactose intolerance), can't be eggs (veganism), no beef (Hindu), no pork (Judaism). Guess we could install deep fryers at each school and just feed hot chips (which no child seems to be allergic to), but then theres the salt and obesity issue......

I don't envy any of the providers (past or current) for school lunches, with the plethora of dietary needs that need to be taken into account for school lunches en masse they are all on a lose/lose situation.

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#3495187 25-May-2026 16:28

Bluntj:

quickymart:

I think I got about $40 a fortnight but personally (as I said previously) I'd rather kids in need got decent school lunches, not Seymour's Slop.

If parents want better school lunches they should make them!!

"Seymour's Slop" was only meant as a backstop.

It isn't that much different from what we got at school in the 90s. Except we got veges or salad too. I don't know how it compares to hospital food but guessing a lot better than prison food.

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#3495191 25-May-2026 16:31

GV27:

gzt: No reason they could not do the same increase tax for health purpose if they wanted to.

You can increase health, but health cost inflation is a real thing and it's wayyyy ahead of the general rate of inflation. An actual number to fund the health system to the level where the stuff people criticise it for (e.g. underpaid staff, extra staff, capital outlay on hospitals) is probably so staggeringly high that it is political poison. If it were as simple as naming the number to adequately provide the level of service people want, then it would be the easiest sell to the electorate in politics.

Honestly it would be better value IMO to give everyone a free bike to ride and fitness watch to track fitness. Epscially with all the cycle lanes we now have. The heath benefits from fitness and reducing demand on the health system could be massive. Especially as many of the health issues are related to food, not moving enough and obesity.

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#3495204 25-May-2026 16:46

mattwnz:

Honestly it would be better value IMO to give everyone a free bike to ride and fitness watch to track fitness. Epscially with all the cycle lanes we now have. The heath benefits from fitness and reducing demand on the health system could be massive. Especially as many of the health issues are related to food, not moving enough and obesity.

There would be a lot of bikes and fitness watches being sold on trademe

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#3495211 25-May-2026 17:34

Handle9:

There would be a lot of bikes and fitness watches being sold on trademe

And you think I'm cynical. ;-)

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gzt

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#3495212 25-May-2026 17:37

sen8or:
What defines a nutritious lunch?
Guess it can't be peanut butter sandwiches (cause of nut allergies), can't be sandwiches full stop (gluten intolerance), can't be yoghurt (lactose intolerance), can't be eggs (veganism), no beef (Hindu), no pork (Judaism). Guess we could install deep fryers at each school and just feed hot chips (which no child seems to be allergic to), but then theres the salt and obesity issue......

I don't envy any of the providers (past or current) for school lunches, with the plethora of dietary needs that need to be taken into account for school lunches en masse they are all on a lose/lose situation.

Imo the program was on a sound footing until Seymour took over. Anyway, it's not nearly as hard as you're making out for theatrical purposes ; ).

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