Chris Hipkins, New Zealand Prime Minister 2023

To post in this sub-forum you must have made 100 posts or have Trust status or have completed our ID Verification

Forums › Politics › Chris Hipkins, New Zealand Prime Minister 2023

1 | ... | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | ... | 60

3428 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3756

Subscriber

#3095672 28-Jun-2023 07:29

ockel:

It must be an election year with confirmation of another PGF (or PGF reset) style debacle in Ruapehu Alpine Lifts.

Not content with loaning $10m for the SkyWaka in 2018 and the additional $5m loan to assist during COVID plus the $8m bridging finance in late 2022 to avoid liquidation (how'd that work out?) now an additional $5m is being flushed down the gurgler for a single business enterprise. One would imagine the business case has been rigorously tested (as per all other PGF style applications) but surely good money after bad. [BTW - Central North Island peoples - vote for Labour, like Northlanders should vote for the PGF czar given its dispropotionate share of funding, or Defence personnel - vote for the now ex-MP Defence Minister cos you wont get a better budget share in the future*]

In other news.... despite it being only 6 weeks after the budget Universities are going to get extra funding. Where did that money suddenly come from - maybe Vic wont have to close its secondary school teaching course or ECE diploma. Wasnt a priority 6 weeks ago (or over the last 5 years) but with the vote starting to drop away...... Voila.

*"In fact, to be perfectly honest, when I look at the polling results of my political party New Zealand First, then the veterans, the defence base, you guys haven't supported us ... the fact we only get 7 per cent of the vote tells me that.""

The "extra" universities will get (over 2 years) is worthless, it is too little, too late. $128 Million over 2 years, across 10 tertiary institutions is just over $6 Million a year each

Or put it another way, the cost of tertiary education is $21 Billion, this is a 0.6% increase in funding which STILL leaves the universities funding increase below inflation, and that funding is spread over 2 years, so is in effect a 0.3% increase.

The immense stress staff have been though over the last 2 years with various restructuring, repositioning, redundancies, right-sizing, etc etc etc has staff seriously fatigued. People are quitting, sometimes whole groups just say F it, and leave.

The "floor space charges" are higher than the salaries of the staff in those areas.

Whole subject areas are and will continue to be closed due to lack of funding and the required cost savings.

Technofreak

6657 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3477

Trusted

#3095677 28-Jun-2023 07:54

tdgeek:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300915556/pm-chris-hipkins-meets-with-chinese-president-xi-jinping

Seems to be going quite well

You would never know with the Chinese. Their way of thinking is very different to ours. I don't mean that in a bad or derogatory way. It can be easy to come to a different conclusion to what was meant.

The Chinese are also playing a long game with respect to the Pacific. They have plans and aspirations.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

Technofreak

6657 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3477

Trusted

#3095681 28-Jun-2023 07:59

The minister that still keeps giving even though he's no longer the minister. Much like Stuart I guess.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/former-transport-minister-michael-wood-ignored-official-advice-not-to-toll-aucklands-penlink-road/66GRLMK5SBG5NM3YA43FCIBBQM/

Perhaps he may have been under riding orders from Grant to find all means within his power to generate revenue streams.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3095682 28-Jun-2023 08:04

Technofreak:
You would never know with the Chinese. Their way of thinking is very different to ours. I don't mean that in a bad or derogatory way. It can be easy to come to a different conclusion to what was meant.

The Chinese are also playing a long game with respect to the Pacific. They have plans and aspirations.

Agree. End of the day its about NZ getting what NZ can achieve, which is trade. On that, the visit seems to be going well. We can agree to disagree on sensitive issues, but lets get the trade pumping

GV27

5978 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4212

#3095684 28-Jun-2023 08:07

Technofreak:

The minister that still keeps giving even though he's no longer the minister. Much like Stuart I guess.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/former-transport-minister-michael-wood-ignored-official-advice-not-to-toll-aucklands-penlink-road/66GRLMK5SBG5NM3YA43FCIBBQM/

Perhaps he may have been under riding orders from Grant to find all means within his power to generate revenue streams.

I am now genuinely curious what an OIA on the Light Rail decision-making process when it comes to the tunneling aspect will turn up.

'Personal whims' is an insufficient basis for ministerial decision making. What other projects have been infected by it?

ockel

2031 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 545

#3095688 28-Jun-2023 08:28

Technofreak:

The minister that still keeps giving even though he's no longer the minister. Much like Stuart I guess.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/former-transport-minister-michael-wood-ignored-official-advice-not-to-toll-aucklands-penlink-road/66GRLMK5SBG5NM3YA43FCIBBQM/

Perhaps he may have been under riding orders from Grant to find all means within his power to generate revenue streams.

The Holiday Highway should have been tolled too. Given that these routes have alternatives ($2.40 vs 1hr queuing through Warkworth?) and our roading network is crying out for funds it makes sense for user charges to be levied on all those that use it.

I seriously hope whoever is in power next term doesnt quash tolling plans.

Sixth Labour Government - "Vision without Execution is just Hallucination"

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

Technofreak

6657 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3477

Trusted

#3095713 28-Jun-2023 09:13

ockel:

The Holiday Highway should have been tolled too. Given that these routes have alternatives ($2.40 vs 1hr queuing through Warkworth?) and our roading network is crying out for funds it makes sense for user charges to be levied on all those that use it.

I seriously hope whoever is in power next term doesnt quash tolling plans.

I don't know if you read that article. My understanding from it was one of the big issues was that the toll was for the upkeep. The upkeep is or should be covered by the petrol taxes and RUC. The users of that road are paying twice for the upkeep. If the toll had been to recover the construction costs while there would still have been push back it wouldn't be as great.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

johno1234

3361 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2844

#3095717 28-Jun-2023 09:33

ockel:

Technofreak:

The minister that still keeps giving even though he's no longer the minister. Much like Stuart I guess.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/former-transport-minister-michael-wood-ignored-official-advice-not-to-toll-aucklands-penlink-road/66GRLMK5SBG5NM3YA43FCIBBQM/

Perhaps he may have been under riding orders from Grant to find all means within his power to generate revenue streams.

The Holiday Highway should have been tolled too. Given that these routes have alternatives ($2.40 vs 1hr queuing through Warkworth?) and our roading network is crying out for funds it makes sense for user charges to be levied on all those that use it.

I seriously hope whoever is in power next term doesnt quash tolling plans.

Yep, tolling is fine as long as it is planned into the project. Wood added tolling to Penlink after it was planned and budgeted and paid for by the taxpayers.

ockel

2031 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 545

#3095723 28-Jun-2023 09:43

Technofreak:

ockel:

The Holiday Highway should have been tolled too. Given that these routes have alternatives ($2.40 vs 1hr queuing through Warkworth?) and our roading network is crying out for funds it makes sense for user charges to be levied on all those that use it.

I seriously hope whoever is in power next term doesnt quash tolling plans.

I don't know if you read that article. My understanding from it was one of the big issues was that the toll was for the upkeep. The upkeep is or should be covered by the petrol taxes and RUC. The users of that road are paying twice for the upkeep. If the toll had been to recover the construction costs while there would still have been push back it wouldn't be as great.

And how long are excise duties going to cover future roading costs (for Penlink or any other new road)? There will be an overlap whereby users will be paying extra but that is like saying that petrol/diesel users are subsidising electric vehicles at the moment - ie electric vehicles are paying zero upkeep to roads and that should be dropped immediately on a similar equitable basis.

At some point RUC's will need to be introduced. Better to collect on as many new roads to fund the entire (underfunded) roading network where possible (I'd add Transmission Gully to the list too). If there are aggrieved individuals that feel like they are double paying - there is still an alternative road for them to use.

Sixth Labour Government - "Vision without Execution is just Hallucination"

GV27

5978 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4212

#3095724 28-Jun-2023 09:44

johno1234:

Yep, tolling is fine as long as it is planned into the project. Wood added tolling to Penlink after it was planned and budgeted and paid for by the taxpayers.

As well as being substantially reduced in scope, from memory.

sir1963

3428 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3756

Subscriber

#3095759 28-Jun-2023 10:56

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/300915606/big-job-losses-at-victoria-and-otago-universities-to-go-ahead-despite-more-government-funding

Well DUH. of course they were going to continue , the underfunding has happened for decades.

"Trimming the fat" disappeared decades ago too, there has been a slow cut back of services for a long time.

Now universities are at the point where there are insufficient staff to make programs/research viable, so under the axe they go.

Tertiary education costs $21.5 Billion , 1&28 Million over 2 years is a 0.3% increase each of those 2 years.

Or to put it in another way, for someone earning $60k a year the government is telling them to be happy with a pay increase of $180, inflation be damned.

I guess to put it in Labours terms "Please don't use the shower, you can not afford it anymore"

I see Dialysis services are about to crack, not enough equipment and even less staff

That matches the rest of health, primary health, and mental health that is also severely sick its self

The whole education system from early child care right through to Tertiary education has significant funding issues

Trying to do 2023 research using 1980s technology is just a losing game.

Housing has become much worse

Roading has become much worse...perhaps an "adopt a pot hole" could be a thing

Crime has become much worse

Wait until the cost of higher fuel comes into play come July 1st.

We can not farm our way out of this

We can not tourist our way out of this

We can not tax ourselves out of this

And if they had any policies that were actually going to work, why have the not implemented them already ?

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

ockel

2031 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 545

#3095770 28-Jun-2023 11:36

sir1963:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/300915606/big-job-losses-at-victoria-and-otago-universities-to-go-ahead-despite-more-government-funding

Tertiary education costs $21.5 Billion , 1&28 Million over 2 years is a 0.3% increase each of those 2 years.

Interested to know your source for this figure. The entire Education budget is $18bn. Government funding for the enrolled 220,000 EFT's at Universities is $4.5bn.

Government funding accounts for 33% of all University funding so, assuming that the proportion is consistent across all Tertiary Institutions, I've got a figure of $13.5bn which is substantially less than your $21.5bn.

But $128m is still only 1.4% pa increase in the Tertiary funding budget (oh wait, its not, its being reallocated from the existing Budget from unspent monies due to lower than expected enrollment). So your point is still valid as its less than inflation. Recall that minimum wage, beneficiaries and superannuates got CPI increases

Hipkins - 13 March 2023. “In our first term of Government we indexed main benefits to the increases in the average wage as this has traditionally risen faster than inflation. It was a practical solution to ensure those being supported by the Government didn’t fall behind. " The annual general adjustment to benefits will mean approximately 1.4 million New Zealanders will not go backwards.

Meanwhile our funding for higher education - the investment in generating better long term outcomes goes backwards. And we wonder why we're a low wage, unskilled economy.

Sixth Labour Government - "Vision without Execution is just Hallucination"

sir1963

3428 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3756

Subscriber

#3095780 28-Jun-2023 12:02

ockel:

sir1963:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/300915606/big-job-losses-at-victoria-and-otago-universities-to-go-ahead-despite-more-government-funding

Tertiary education costs $21.5 Billion , 1&28 Million over 2 years is a 0.3% increase each of those 2 years.

Interested to know your source for this figure. The entire Education budget is $18bn. Government funding for the enrolled 220,000 EFT's at Universities is $4.5bn.

Government funding accounts for 33% of all University funding so, assuming that the proportion is consistent across all Tertiary Institutions, I've got a figure of $13.5bn which is substantially less than your $21.5bn.

But $128m is still only 1.4% pa increase in the Tertiary funding budget (oh wait, its not, its being reallocated from the existing Budget from unspent monies due to lower than expected enrollment). So your point is still valid as its less than inflation. Recall that minimum wage, beneficiaries and superannuates got CPI increases

Hipkins - 13 March 2023. “In our first term of Government we indexed main benefits to the increases in the average wage as this has traditionally risen faster than inflation. It was a practical solution to ensure those being supported by the Government didn’t fall behind. " The annual general adjustment to benefits will mean approximately 1.4 million New Zealanders will not go backwards.

Meanwhile our funding for higher education - the investment in generating better long term outcomes goes backwards. And we wonder why we're a low wage, unskilled economy.

Sorry, you are almost right.

The total education budget is 21.5 Billion, I misread it in my rush.

Again sorry, I stand corrected.

The Budget 2023 education package adds around $4.9 billion over the next five years, being $3.6 billion operating funding and $1.3 billion capital. That takes the total annual Education and Tertiary Education Votes for 2023/24 to just under $21.5 billion

https://www.education.govt.nz/our-work/publications/budget-2023/#:~:text=The%20Budget%202023%20education%20package,to%20just%20under%20%2421.5%20billion.

ockel

2031 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 545

#3095888 28-Jun-2023 15:32

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300915478/doc-boss-raised-concern-about-kiri-allan-after-staffer-quit-ministers-office

From the article:

A staffer seconded to work with Cabinet Minister Kiritapu Allan chose to leave early because of concerns about “working relationships” in the office.

It comes as Allan is on leave from Parliament, because she is “struggling with mental health and wellbeing”.

Will Labour have any Ministers left by the time we get to the election? [sic]

Sixth Labour Government - "Vision without Execution is just Hallucination"

floydbloke

3647 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4554

ID Verified

#3096105 29-Jun-2023 07:50

This government: "Let's tax those who drive high-emission vehicles, we need to tackle climate-change."

Also this government: "Let's take an extra plane to Asia because, you know, just in case."

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

1 | ... | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | ... | 60