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May 19, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 19 May 2026

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General Debate

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Benedict Yu

I was thinking about some plausible policy platforms for ACT.

I think that there are six elements.

1. Reintroduce the Treaty Principles Bill.

2. Reduce Government expenditure to 28 percent of GDP over 5 years. This is not extreme.

The Government’s existing fiscal strategy aims to reduce spending to “towards 30 per cent of GDP over time.” Budget 2025 forecasts show core Crown expenses at 31.5 percent of GDP by 2028/29. Not good enough.

3. Announce a phased move to a fully funded retirement income system. Those born on or after 1 July 1997 will be told that they will not qualify for NZ Superannuation. They will move to a contributory scheme.

This change will be accompanied by a progressive move to a qualifying age of 67 for New Zealand superannuation.

4. Repeal the Zero Carbon Act.

Also terminate all financial transfers to other nations to pay for emissions mitigation.

5. Open up the ACC Employers account to other providers.

6. Sell the remaining Crown shares in the power companies.

…. There will be other worthwhile policies, but these six seem to be important for a prosperous New Zealand. 1,2,3 and 4 are a higher priority than 5 and 6.
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May 19, 2026 8:04am
- Yvette
  
  Benedict, I very much welcome your reappearance!
  ______
  
  “Reintroduce the Treaty Principles Bill” – I would rather Government restate it is secular and favours no religious world view in either its dealings or in any of its services, including and especially the state education system.
  
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  May 19, 2026 8:17am
  - Phronesis
    
    The fact is that Maori are no longer the only major minority group in NZ. We need to stop living in the 19th century and do what needs to be done in the 21st century. Legally proscribe all discrimination on the basis of race. Make it illegal to even record race.
    
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    May 19, 2026 9:51am
    - KKNZ2025
      
      “Make it illegal to even record race.” Amen.
      
      That would stop the medias incessant embedded racism: “how many Maori in your caucus” “did you consult iwi on the Education changes”
      
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      May 19, 2026 10:41am
  - Scott
    
    No I disagree with that. We should favour Christianity. 😎
    
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    May 19, 2026 11:16am
- Ian Boag
  
  born on or after 1 July 1997 will be told that they will not qualify for NZ Superannuation. They will move to a contributory scheme.
  
  These people will of course keep funding the existing scheme – paying for their olds to keep getting a pension they will never see …… while they save for their own retirement.
  
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  May 19, 2026 8:42am
  - Taieri
    
    paying for their olds to keep getting a pension they will never see
    ————
    
    Just as the olds paying for the infrastructure they will never use…
    
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    May 19, 2026 8:46am
    - MCōs
      
      Capital works are funded by loans – or should be
      
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      May 19, 2026 10:17am
      - Ra Henare
        
        Dear Dear Mcos.
        
        How do you expect the loans(and the Interest) is paid.
        
        A loan is just an inter generational way of spreading costs from todays taxpayers to future generations.
        
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        May 19, 2026 2:39pm
  - RoboRob
    
    Yup, that sucks but what else can you do?
    
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    May 19, 2026 8:57am
    - Ian Boag
      
      Only sucks for the young folk. Us olds are philosophical about it because we have earned our dole by paying taxes all those years and the stupid governments spent all that money running the country …. and we built all those roads and stuff that the youth benefit from 🙂
      
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      May 19, 2026 9:25am
      - Taieri
        
        It is called intergenerationality. A concept that seems to be foreign to you Ian.
        
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        May 19, 2026 11:31am
      - Fender
        
        No it sucks more for older folk , they raised their kids paying for everything and then half the neighbourhoods kids as well. I am paying for every little darling to have free lunch while I sit in my car at work eating my sandwich
        We all have to pay for things we didn’t ask for , want or benefit from in any way unless you just choose to not participate in society, then you are just winning all round
        
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        May 19, 2026 2:17pm
  - Euan
    
    While you may be correct. I too still pay more than I receive in benefits (I’m late 60’s) and also still save for the future. So don’t make the mistake that the younger generation are supporting the older.
    
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    May 19, 2026 9:01am
    - Ian Boag
      
      I too still pay more than I receive in benefits
      
      Did you count the air force in your “benefits” and the police and roads in Northland and the bits of the health system that you don’t get “direct benefits” from? etc etc. Your tax goes into a big pot that runs the place …..
      
      Always has been like that and always will.
      
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      May 19, 2026 9:41am
      - KH
        
        I think his point was that those who pay more cash than they receive is surprisingly small
        
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        May 19, 2026 11:48am
      - Quail
        
        Yes IB ,
        Also paying for:
        Settlement’s for deals we did not make, supporting an Americas cup (that stays offshore ), Films , we never watch, Theatres, & Museums we never visit ,Sport we never play, Cycleways we never rode, etc etc.
        What ever happened to “User pays?”
        
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        May 19, 2026 7:29pm
  - Sane Voice
    
    Well yes, it has to start somewhere.
    
    Offset by a targeted tax break.
    
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    May 19, 2026 9:19am
    - Ian Boag
      
      People born in 1997 are now 30. So they will get a “targetted” tax cut for the next 35 years? How will the current Super be funded in the meantime … ?
      
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      May 19, 2026 9:32am
      - Ian Boag
        
        In simple terms. Under 30’s currently pay tax – some of which goes to fund Super for those over 65. So you would give them a tax break to apply towards saving (for the next 35 years) for their own retirement. This cohort would get bigger every year. So there will be less tax available to fund the current scheme unless other government services are cut …..
        
        Voodoo economics 🙂
        
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        May 19, 2026 9:48am
      - slijmbal
        
        @Ian – actually under 30s pay very little tax on average once we add the various benefits many lower paid workers receive. The largest tax payers are the 45-55 age group.
        
        Still dodges the issue that we don’t save enough for retirement – needs to be compulsory. Even now in my late 60s I am paying for people who decide not to work or save – I don’t include those who can’t.
        
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        May 19, 2026 1:23pm
- RoboRob
  
  Welcome back Benedict 🙂
  
  Sensible policy, however I am not sure re power companies. We need to do something to get power prices / supply under control. Not sure that selling off the companies would acheive that. Perhaps it doesn’t really make a difference as the government isn’t taking advantage of its 51% controlling vote anyway.
  
  p.s. You and I debated Nationals 6% cuts accross the baord in their first year. My arguement was that proper targeted cuts were still to come. You were 100% right and I was wrong.
  
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  May 19, 2026 9:01am
- Damocles11
  
  Welcome back! That would be a worthwhile platform but about half of those suggestions will never fly in this country. Between the champagne socialists, labourites, green climate marxists, old school State-ownership Muldoonists, corporate welfarists, public servants, corporate wokesters, ‘Tangata Tiriti’ traitors, Maori separatists, Unionists and all the rest there is a veritable horde of people who oppose ACT, and all they stand for, with great vehemence. People don’t want tough but necessary solutions to our problems, they just want to wake up one morning and magically have the economy going great & house prices booming. That is what they came to see as normal in the almost 2 decades since the GFC and that is what they are pining for.
  
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  May 19, 2026 9:15am
- David Garrett
  
  Welcome back Benedict…even though we sometimes disagree I always valued your comments…the blog will be all the better for you being here.
  
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  May 19, 2026 9:21am
- artemisia
  
  You were missed, BY.
  
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  May 19, 2026 9:29am
- R
  
  An idealist wish list, but it ignores the reality of the global world that we are part of. To be successful would require a major education project throughout the country about economics; and a significant change of mindset within the population to accept that one has to work for/ earn the lifestyle one desires. This alone would take about 25 years.
  
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  May 19, 2026 9:35am
  - artemisia
    
    Good points, R, but consider this. There are plenty of ideas that become reality. It’s just (I know ‘just’) a matter of identifying the actual problem, creating a plan and executing it.
    
    There are plenty of ideas that don’t become reality. Many reasons but a real shame if that’s because negative Nellies immediately come up with reasons it won’t work, especially if they are not clear about the problem.
    
    Be good to see a bit more ‘lets find a way’ instead.
    
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    May 19, 2026 11:27am
    - R
      
      Identifying, creating and executing is what we generally pay civil servants to accomplish. Basically the old management problem solving model. Happens in the private sector every day. Been there fond that.
      
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      May 19, 2026 12:05pm
      - artemisia
        
        Agree, of course! But the private sector has the bottom line and the public sector has the ideology. The first needs very little word salad to specify the problem ….
        
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        May 19, 2026 12:57pm
- KH
  
  Agree Benedict.
  I would phase out National Super entirely. Say raise the age one year in every three. The taxpayer saving would start slowly but soon snowball massively.
  It’s better than having it abruptly collapse completely.
  We would need a muscular universal Kiwisaver starting last week and high contributions.
  And no tax anywhere on Kiwisaver at all. Such does not cost the government at all. It’s money they never had. And National Super costs would be disappearing hugely.
  
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  May 19, 2026 9:50am
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  Welcome back!
  Popular idea for you:
  How about we re nationalize the power companies since the break up was such a complete failure, add in some more geothermal and local coal fired power plants.
  Force the corporate dairy farmers that were subsidized to irrigate with everyone else’s power company money, to pay it back and put that money in to retiring dairy farming from the Mackenzie country and other unsuitable areas and nitrate clean up.
  
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  May 19, 2026 9:51am
  - Pope Punctilious II
    
    I agree that Roger Douglas’s ideological fervor went too far, and did a lot of damage to the country. Privatization of electricity has not been a great success. The power companies treat customers with contempt: 30+ minutes wait times on the phone seem to be the rule, and Meridian recently took three weeks to respond to an email. As regards energy sources, I wonder why we don’t seem to be exploring tidal energy. Avoids the eyesore of wind, less environmental impact than hydro, and more reliable than either.
    
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    May 19, 2026 10:22am
    - wsk12345
      
      Tidal? Hahahah we can barely get wind turbines to make their 20 year duty above ground. Imagine trying to develop a tidal system that can not only survive a marine environment but the big seas as well. Nobody else has successful done it…. just build coal!!!
      
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      May 19, 2026 12:33pm
      - Ra Henare
        
        Interesting doing comparisons between state and private owned electrcity generation/distribution etc and using a countries average salary.
        
        Adjusted True Cost (Bill + Taxpayer Subsidy)
        
        China. state controlled 3.5%
        
        Australia Partially privatised 3.5-4.5% (tax breaks)
        
        Iran. State controlled 12-15% (Subsidies)
        
        New Zealand 2-8-3.2% (subsidises by massive dividends on its 51% shareholding
        
        So as usual it depends on assumptions used as to which is the better system, State, Private, Hibrid.
        
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        May 19, 2026 2:59pm
    - Ra Henare
      
      Privatisation is in itself not the problem.
      
      Its the bluddy gummints rules & regulations.
      
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      May 19, 2026 2:42pm
- Nigel Kearney
  
  Reducing expenditure is an outcome not a policy. The best policy to achieve that outcome is to phase out welfare for any able bodied person of working age.
  
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  May 19, 2026 9:52am
  - Ra Henare
    
    So no welfare, more beggars on teh streets.
    
    Of course Socialist NZ should have No beggars.
    But there we go again
    PPPP
    
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    May 19, 2026 3:00pm
- Paulus
  
  Yes, like it -need to work on it but underlying looks interesting.!
  
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  May 19, 2026 9:53am
- Handyman
  
  Power company ownership is irrelevant. The problem is the industry structure.
  Power companies make money when electricity is scarce. Industry closures and blackouts do not affect power companies; it is a political issue.
  No individual power company is willing to pay for standby capacity for that one hour per year to prevent blackouts. Nor is the government prepared to pay or impose a levy tax to pay for it.
  This isn’t (wasn’t) a problem when gas fired plants could ramp up instantly to meet demand spikes. The gas plants will soon close, thanks to you know who, so prepare for blackouts.
  
  After the first blackout the government will finally do the obvious.
  
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  May 19, 2026 10:02am
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    That is why markets require regulation.
    And critical infrastructure like electricity has very valid arguments for being nationalized. More so than BNZ.
    
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    May 19, 2026 12:54pm
- Ra Henare
  
  Rational sanity returns.
  With the ability to debate rather than an emotional slag off response.
  
  Welcome back Benedict
  
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  May 19, 2026 10:09am
artemisia

13% of Wellington City Council residential ratepayers are in arrears totalling over $16 million. As at 31 December 2025, published at the below link.

Next questions. Does the council think it’s a problem? Ratepayers probably do. What is the council doing to collect, and is it effective? If not why not? And more widely, is this similar in other councils? Are they being asked? Mr Underwood’s request questions would be a good start.

(The council’s response does say as at 31 December 2026, so maybe they know something we don’t.)

https://fyi.org.nz/request/33488-residential-rates-arrears-at-31-december-2025?nocache=incoming-139855#incoming-139855
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May 19, 2026 8:14am
- peterwn
  
  It is a bit surprising the Council cannot say the amounts that are overdue eg $x overdue with in one month etc.
  Penalties on overdue rates would outweigh the interest the council would need to pay on borrowed money equivalent to the total in arrears, so the council is not out of pocket. There would be minimal bad debts, since purchasers of property require vendors to clear outstanding rates and also rating sales would completely cover rates arrears. In addition if the property is mortgaged, the Council will tap the lender on the shoulder and the lender will pay the rates and add it to the mortgage with an admin fee. In extreme cases the mortgagee would call in the mortgage.
  
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  May 19, 2026 9:34am
- zulumonster
  
  I suspect the Dec 26 is a typo.
  It would also be useful to know if the number of residential ratepayers in arrears has been relatively static over time, or has increased by any significant number over recent years. There will always be a group in arrears, that may fluctuate up and down, but I suspect the trend has been steadily (or sharply) upwards over the last 5 years.
  Surely WCC can see the obvious problem with that if not addressed quickly.
  
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  May 19, 2026 1:52pm
Cassandra

Pakistan is deporting a million Afghans, the civil war/rebellion in Sudan has killed 400,000 people, mainly non-combatants, and the dictatorship in Iran murdered 30,000 protesters. Not forgetting the Russian invasion of Ukraine where thousands of civilians have been killed.

Where are the scarves, chants and marchers?

Why does the Green Party Party focus exclusively on Jews?

And an associated issue: the land occupied by the Hashemite Kingdom (Jordan) was part of Palestine, as was a chunk of Syria. Why is the only complaint that the Jews want Judea? NB JUDEA. What we now call the West Bank, I suppose because Judea is too accurate.
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May 19, 2026 8:20am
- Im Right
  
  Ohhh Cassandra, trying to tell a lefty all those things just makes them walk away calling you a fascist and a Zionist.
  Giving a lefty facts (classic is why are they not protesting against Egypt who have a blockade against Palestine also, but always ignored)
  I feel your frustration, I have 2 neicies in their early 20s, boy ohh boy what fun I have discussing politics and geopolitical themes.
  All they have are bumper sticker slogans and when given facts (ones they can Google) it’s easier for them to laugh and change the subject (which I never start, they always start it political, I fear my fun may be over as they realise I’m not just going to accept their skewed views)
  Fun whilst it lasted though….they are lovely girls and as they make their way in the world they will realise there is no such thing as free money from the government.
  I suspect I will be left off the guest list when they get married lol
  
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  May 19, 2026 8:38am
- kowtow
  
  A delightful piece on this hypocrisy in today’s NT Post.
  
  “Zohran Mamdani — loves a good prop.
  
  So when his administration released a tear-jerker of a video to commemorate the Nakba, the word Palestinians use to describe their displacement during the war of 1948, it began with a tracking shot of a gorgeous poster hanging in the home of 88-year-old Inea Bushnaq.”
  
  https://nypost.com/2026/05/18/opinion/secret-in-mamdanis-video-that-shows-what-a-lie-nakba-is/
  
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  May 19, 2026 9:28am
- Ra Henare
  
  The regime in Iran reportedly killed 30,000, some say 40,000 some say 13,000
  
  There, fixed it for you
  
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  May 19, 2026 10:12am
- mogg
  
  They are not Pro Palestine, they just hate Jews.
  
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  May 19, 2026 12:46pm
Yvette

UNDRIP / Treaty constraints

Luxon’s refusal to lead on issues such as the Treaty creates a vacuum the public service is filling with its own agenda. Buried in the India free-trade agreement is a commitment by New Zealand to uphold the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Clark Government, for sound reasons, refused to sign it. India made no reciprocal commitment.
– Richard Prebble, yesterday
https://www.brashandmitchell.com/post/richard-prebble-at-last-a-serious-speech-from-the-prime-minister

The statement in support of the declaration […] reaffirms the legal and constitutional frameworks that underpin New Zealand’s legal system, noting that those existing frameworks define the bounds of New Zealand’s engagement with the declaration [UNDRIP] – John Key 20 April 2010
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/national-govt-support-un-rights-declaration.

Luxon seems totally unable to get his ACT together when a matter involves Maori.
Perhaps bare that in mind during Election campaigns and the Election itself.
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May 19, 2026 8:20am
- kowtow
  
  There appears to be an embedded pro Treaty element in the National Party.
  At least going back to Bolger and his AG (was it) and their full and finals .Through to Key and Finlayson ( who now works in the same filed in private practise) and now Luxon who campaigned on “one man one vote” but then came all out on “partnership”.And “there’s nothing I like in the bill”.
  
  And then there’s the “Blue Greens” .
  
  What a mess they are , and it’s not “broadchurch” , it’s Byzantine.
  
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  May 19, 2026 8:55am
  - Cassandra
    
    Douglas Montrose Graham.
    
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    May 19, 2026 11:25am
  - pdm
    
    kowtow I have come to the conclusion that Luxon is `in awe’ of Maori and therefore does not want to offend any of them.
    
    Including the most extreme activists.
    
    I also consider both Ministers Potaka and Goldsmith, key Ministers in rectifying Co Governance etc issues to be of the same mind and you can throw Local Government Minister Watts into that category too.
    
    Hence – nothing happens.
    
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    May 19, 2026 11:32am
  - Pope Punctilious II
    
    What did the Byzantines do to deserve comparison to the NZ National Party?
    
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    May 19, 2026 11:50am
    - kowtow
      
      I suppose they became an adjective with an upper case first letter rather than a proper noun.
      
      Where’s a grammar expert when you need one.
      
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      May 19, 2026 12:45pm
    - Jack5
      
      Presumably Kowtow’s reference to the “Blue Greens” was a reference to the notorious Blue and Green factions in fans of chariot racing, first in Rome, then, notoriously in Constantinople, heart of the Byzantine Empire.
      
      There the Blues and Greens’ rivalry reached its worst in the year 532 with half the city burned and thousands killed in the Nika riots.
      
      Makes our NZ Greens and “Blues” look like a wish-wash bunch of politics nerds. Bet most of them don’t even like harness racing.
      
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      May 19, 2026 2:29pm
  - Paulus
    
    Are we really going mad in New Zealand ?
    BOP Times today front full page and part page two.
    “Waste Effort”
    “Port ordered to compensate Iwi $298k for “unpaid cultural labour”.
    For years the largest port in New Zealand wanted to extend its wharfs to accept more big traffic.
    But who will not let them – the local Iwi, so there appears to have been in 2021 an agreement to lodge a resource consent with the BOP Regional Council to expand at Sulphur Point and Mt Maunganui.
    Agreement was reached with POTL fundinding $1 million for legal and technical support, for some.
    The Judge, Kirkpatrick of the Environmental Court, says that the POTL did not consult enough Iwi despite some $977,362 having been spent.
    In 2024 the Sulphur Point expansion was agreed with revised details to be completed.
    POTL decided to Fast Track the whole thing then to get things moving.
    But the Iwi and others time spent by Trustees, Iwi trusts and Kaumatua and should be eligible for further cost that they said the the Kaupapa devised bill for these services for cutural and other services.
    The Court found that POTL had not clearly explained how kaitiakitana would up upheld or how matauranga Maori would be incorporated.
    This forced the Iwi to prepare evidence to fill in the gaps in the incomplete application.
    POTL have been ordered to pay further $298,021 in tangata whenua fees.
    Who is Crazy – so called New Zealand, and I suspect this is just the continuing tip of the Ieberg.
    
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    May 19, 2026 2:58pm
    - R
      
      How does anyone explain the undefined unexplainable to someone else! This reads like the regular roots that the country is exposed too. Judge needs to get out and about, and get some real world exposure.
      
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      May 19, 2026 8:00pm
- Cassandra
  
  DG will be unable to bear that.
  
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  May 19, 2026 8:55am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    He can beer up.
    
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    May 19, 2026 9:08am
    - Yvette
      
      Cassandra and Maggy
      bare, verb: To uncover or reveal something that is usually hidden (e.g., to bare one’s teeth)
      Words are important :o)
      
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      May 19, 2026 9:27am
      - Cassandra
        
        Indeed. Why are you telling me that?
        
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        May 19, 2026 11:26am
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  Nationals own Finlayson and Key created a lot of the situation, Luxon is a big fan of co governance, treaty and UNDRIP woo us still appearing in legislation and even trade deals, at some point National voters might notice it’s not “unable” it’s that nationals Maori policy could be labours.
  National lied before the last election.
  
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  May 19, 2026 9:06am
  - Yvette
    
    Key caved to the then Maori Party, Pita Sharples, but announced the caveat I quote above. The trouble now is that Luxon stands out as Maori activist aware and has not keep to the conditions Key thought he was setting, and disappointingly, we thought were set as well. We still await Winston’s initiative to reinforce his position on UNDRIP – to see the light of day before Election Day.
    It won’t
    
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    May 19, 2026 10:21am
    - Pope Punctilious II
      
      If Key thought he was “setting conditions”, he wasn’t half the politician many KBers seem to think he was.
      
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      May 19, 2026 11:52am
- Damocles11
  
  I’m not sure Potaka would let him ‘get his act together’, even if he really wanted to. Luxon is a corporate wokester after all.
  
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  May 19, 2026 9:17am
- leoj
  
  Luxon is not PM material.
  
  He is merely the leader of the namby-pamby, do-nothing, pro-maori party.
  
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  May 19, 2026 4:56pm
RoboRob

Heard Willis on with HDPA last night. Willis really is an excellent speaker, as was Stanford earlier on.

Willis spoke about reducing the number of departments and getting the size of government down. Music to my ears.

However based on previous performance I am truly sceptical. She talks of removing 10s of ministries yet in the first term could only manage 1 (The easy and obvious merger of Metservice and Niwa). She was evasive around the number of staff reductions suggesting from over 60k to under 60k. There could be an argument made that National wanted to cut and merge more but NZF was blocking them behind the scenes but if that was the case, NZF is likely to be back and in a stronger position, how will National achieve these goals? My concern is that this is all just election campaign rhetoric and things will return to the status quo post election. Fool me one.
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May 19, 2026 9:08am
- David George
  
  Nichola Willis mentioned AI as a help in reducing government payroll. I think she underestimates the transformative potential of these new technologies. AI can already do almost all department office functions – correspondence and research in particular. A 90% head count reduction is, at least in practical terms, easily achievable.
  The flow of labour from that into things like farm work would reduce labour shortages elsewhere. A delicious added bonus.
  
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  May 19, 2026 9:20am
  - Ra Henare
    
    So an accountant and policy analyst would be well suited to farm work in your scenario.
    Drema on in redundant Civil Services doing farm work.
    Many will retire on the redundancy payout or go to Stralia.
    
    4 5
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    May 19, 2026 10:16am
    - Ghost
      
      Why not? My uncle was a pilot retired and became a dairy farmer. My GP owns and works a couple of farms. Plenty of people walk out of office jobs and thrive in jobs outside and even on farms
      
      13 1
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      May 19, 2026 10:25am
- Paulus
  
  Can we thn assume the second election will be in March 27 ?
  
  2 2
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  May 19, 2026 9:57am
- Ghost
  
  She said the details would be released today. She isn’t going to drop them early on the radio, just wait for the details
  
  8 1
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  May 19, 2026 10:06am
  - RoboRob
    
    I am not being impatient, I was just commenting that based on past actions on these areas it is tough to see National following through with whatever promises are made today. They didnt follow through with those made three years ago. Fool me once.
    
    6 1
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    May 19, 2026 11:39am
    - R
      
      Robo, Nicola Willis is talking NATIONAL policy ambitions, which may or may not, have the support of Winston first. Basically the message is, if people want a sustainable satisfying future vote NATIONAL, with ACT as a backup. Requires a modicum of foresight to follow.
      
      1 1
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      May 19, 2026 12:31pm
Damocles11

It seems there are now ‘serious negotiations’ between the US and Iran. 😳 It’s TACO Tuesday again as Trump has seemingly cancelled another ‘‘big attack’ at the behest of Gulf states (not Pakistan this time).
As the Iran crisis meanders on, global oil inventories continue to decrease.

‘Donald Trump has said he would “hold off” an attack on Iran scheduled for Tuesday at the request of Gulf leaders.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said “serious negotiations” are now underway with Iran and that Gulf states believed “a deal will be made”.
“This Deal will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN!” he claimed.
But, he added, Washington was ready for a “full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached.”’
4 4
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May 19, 2026 9:21am
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  Trumps foreign policy:
  *Gun boat diplomacy intensifies
  
  4 5
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  May 19, 2026 9:44am
  - kowtow
    
    Iran’s Foreign policy
    
    Rape, murder , mayhem.
    
    10 1
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    May 19, 2026 11:25am
    - R
      
      Not necessarily in that order!
      
      3 0
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      May 19, 2026 12:32pm
      - david
        
        R – Are you referring to the ancient words of the Viking King. “You have returned with no booty again Ragnor. How many times do I have to tell you it is …. First rape, then plunder, THEN burn.”
        
        3 0
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        May 19, 2026 1:41pm
Damocles11

‘The Finance Minister will today announce a plan to slash thousands of jobs from the public sector, with the savings booked in her Budget possibly stretching over the billion-dollar mark.
The government will announce it wants to trim the core public service back to 1% of the population – it currently makes up 1.2%.
In practical terms that means thousands of jobs are on the line as the government looks to cut roles, consolidate the functions of ministries and rely on Artificial Intelligence to improve the efficiency and productivity of the public service.’

https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360980612/thousands-public-servants-lose-jobs-potentially-saving-government-over-billion-dollars
14 2
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May 19, 2026 9:27am
- Yvette
  
  Join more than 95,000 other Kiwis by becoming a member of the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi, Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest union
  https://www.psa.org.nz
  
  one percent of the population is 50,000
  1.2 percent is 60,000
  
  7 2
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  May 19, 2026 10:07am
  - Ghost
    
    PSA include local government, librarians, building inspectors, parking officers, etc. Health workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, medical laboratory scientists, pharmacists. Care and support, social workers, disability staff
    
    8 1
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    May 19, 2026 10:16am
  - Ra Henare
    
    a small adjustment.
    Working age population
    4,337,100 as at end of march.
    so 60,000
    is closer to 1.4%
    
    1% would then mean 44,000 in round numbes
    
    Wonder how much redundancy money would be paid to those laid off. Let alone all those empty offices on long term leases sucking up taxpayers dollars
    
    5 2
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    May 19, 2026 10:25am
    - KKNZ2025
      
      Labour increased it ~18000 / ~40% 2017-2023 – with no significant improvement in public services.
      
      A make work scheme for embedding Labours culturally aligned acolytes in the bureaucracy.
      
      Many/most? are working from home 2-3 days/wk
      
      5 0
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      May 19, 2026 12:33pm
    - R
      
      The practical application of the policy, is reduction by non replacement for retirement and similar attrition.
      
      5 0
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      May 19, 2026 12:35pm
  - KKNZ2025
    
    a while ago I did a back of envelope calculation on the PSAs Union fees collected for that ~95000, based on their website info.
    
    Was Millions pa. I thought that must surely be wrong but I couldn’t find the error. I’d be delighted to be corrected?
    
    8 0
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    May 19, 2026 10:46am
- Handyman
  
  That word “efficiency” strikes terror to the heart of civil servants throughout the land.
  The union kneejerk reaction upon hearing that word is to scream “mass layoffs”.
  
  9 0
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  May 19, 2026 10:49am
- sungsamning
  
  That’s good; assuming its not just a hollow election promise. Whole departments have to go. Vis MBIE, Womens Affairs, Maori affairs, Climate Change, Ministry of Disarmament, Ministry of Education, [shrink it] Throw the money saved at the deficit. Do it the day after the election with a mini-budget. Let the ‘government employees’ find out by email.
  
  6 2
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  May 19, 2026 10:56am
  - Groggy
    
    Ministry of Regulation, LIFO
    [Last-In, First-Out]
    
    0 0
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    May 19, 2026 2:13pm
- greybeard
  
  The unions are apoplectic this morning. Thousands of seat-warmers who spend their days doing crosswords, browsing the internet and learning maori are thinking “Will it be me?”.
  
  11 1
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  May 19, 2026 12:05pm
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    The agitated rustle of thousands of greenstone pendants.
    
    10 1
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    May 19, 2026 12:59pm
  - R
    
    They will be able to concentrate on their te reo, and improve their knowledge completing crosswords.
    
    1 0
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    May 19, 2026 8:04pm
Tomtoddy

The Herald ran a full page “poor me” article on former Mayor of Wellington, Tory Whanau. It is all a pathetic justification of one of the worst leadership efforts by a local body office holder in NZ.

She complains loud and long about the criticisms and “hate” comments claiming that it was all on account of her being an overweight Māori. Not a word about her poor judgement and low quality decision making. More poor journalism and the elite trying to cover their backsides.
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May 19, 2026 9:53am
- Ghost
  
  Doesn’t matter how shit she was in the job, the abuse directed at politicians on both sides of the fence needs to stop. We lose the debate when we accept and partake in the abuse of the left and are outraged at the abuse at the right
  
  7 9
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  May 19, 2026 10:03am
  - Nigel Kearney
    
    In a country of 5 million there will always be enough abuse directed at politicians that they can play on it for sympathy if they so choose.
    
    11 3
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    May 19, 2026 10:17am
    - MCōs
      
      Are you saying you’re just fine with unfounded rumours of sex tapes, and all the rest including a revolting email by one of the councilors, plus rape threats, death threats and all the rest because that’s what you should expect if you get elected into that position?
      Aside from whatever mistakes may have been made by the council while she was mayor the worst mistake seems to have been speaking out about the abuse she received
      
      4 14
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      May 19, 2026 10:38am
      - Eastlander
        
        If, as we are told, the abuse helped drive her out of politics, then it must be regarded as an unalloyed good.
        
        And as for the email, don’t be overly surprised if one day she makes you look like a jimmy by casually admitting to everything in it and worse besides.
        
        1 0
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        May 19, 2026 6:24pm
    - Ghost
      
      Shouldn’t be any abuse at all. No politicuan should live in fair because some idiot can’t control themselves. Do you think it’s acceptable that they get death threats, rape threats, called c***s, stalked, etc?
      
      People should be standing up against the abuse, not excusing it
      
      5 5
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      May 19, 2026 10:56am
I remember when

Surely it can not be so.
It is reported that reading standards continue to decline in New Zealand.
But, wasn’t phonics going to cure that problem?
5 1
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May 19, 2026 10:07am
- greybeard
  
  Where is it reported please ?
  
  6 0
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  May 19, 2026 10:21am
- Notsofast
  
  Agreed, it can’t be so. There is no such thing as dyslexia with phonics, it is fail safe.
  Also, hand writing is a vital contributor to neural networking.
  Bring back the pen.
  
  8 2
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  May 19, 2026 10:23am
- Ghost
  
  The latest Curriculum Insights results show that achievement across reading, writing, and mathematics has now stabilised, with no evidence of further decline.
  
  Latest Curriculum Insights study results released
  
  6 0
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  May 19, 2026 10:29am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Phonics and structured literacy is just being introduced in some places for beginning readers (5-6year olds).
  
  The international reading standard /literacy tests took place with older pupils (10 year olds and above) or with adults who may not have had the benefit of a structured approach to learning to read.
  
  https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/490026/reading-level-of-10-year-olds-tested-against-international-counterparts
  
  7 0
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  May 19, 2026 10:30am
  - sungsamning
    
    Phonics is the standard for children learning English in Korea, and other countries. Parents have little time for Marxist education theories. They prefer results. They prefer their children to be literate in their second, or third language.
    
    7 0
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    May 19, 2026 11:00am
  - greybeard
    
    Thanks.
    That article is from 2023 and referred to NZ’s results from 2022. We seem to have made some progress since then.
    
    4 1
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    May 19, 2026 12:09pm
greybeard

Did anyone else hear Erica Stanford on Hosking’s show this morning , discussing the extra resources for education and the marked improvement in results ? She was quite brilliant: articulate, factual, enthusiastic.
And equally encouraging were comments from a couple of teachers who were totally in favour of what the government has done so far.
27 0
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May 19, 2026 10:12am
- Notsofast
  
  Sufficient legacy to say thank the good lord for this government.
  Nothing else matters in that context.
  
  10 2
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  May 19, 2026 10:24am
  - pdm
    
    Stanford was equally good on Q & A on Sunday.
    
    I particularly liked this:
    Minister Stanford – “How many times did TV1 turn up to any of my announcements around all of the resourcing I have put into Maori Education?”
    
    Minister Stanford – “the answer is not once Jack!!!”
    
    It was telling that Jack was kept off camera and he did not get a word in.
    
    19 0
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    May 19, 2026 11:41am
- Bobba Fret
  
  Future leader of the National party?
  
  11 0
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  May 19, 2026 10:53am
- RoboRob
  
  She is the shining star of the entire parliament. Easily the highest achiever of any current MP.
  
  15 1
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  May 19, 2026 11:40am
  - pdm
    
    Brooke van Velden has been pretty good too.
    
    She and Stanford have been standouts for me.
    
    13 3
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    May 19, 2026 11:42am
    - R
      
      Brooke has a long way together before she is an Erica!
      
      4 4
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      May 19, 2026 12:43pm
- MCōs
  
  All sorts of people in our family are teachers including my 75yo sister who does primary relieving work – eight days a week if she wanted
  She tells me it’s not so bad for her because whenever things change it goes back to a variation on some system she’s taught before.
  She’s also come up against most variations of disruptive, naughty children and knows what to do, which is where a lot of young teachers lack experience
  
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  May 19, 2026 11:43am
- Prince
  
  What I like about Luxon is that he gives talent the freedom to do a good job, and reap the praise.
  Compare that to Ardern or Clark in particular, who felt the need to control everything and be the single source of truth.
  
  What I don’t like about about Luxon is that he now feels the need to stand next to that talent, nodding like a loon.
  Grow a pair and be confident in your own abilities.
  
  5 1
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  May 19, 2026 4:07pm
Ra Henare

For those that read GROUND News
https://ground.news/
For their independant unbiased reporting.

Have a look at the version available when you click in NZ.

Then (with a VPN)
look at the same site as tho you were in UK or Germany
Independant/unbiased.

Na.

Sorry ground news. You are shilling US news to Kiwis
1 5
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May 19, 2026 10:31am
- Swifty
  
  When you write ‘shilling’, exactly what do you mean?
  
  4 1
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  May 19, 2026 12:19pm
  - R
    
    Now known as 10 cents…worthless.
    
    7 0
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    May 19, 2026 12:45pm
sungsamning

Some parties think they own the voters. The voters in Great Yarmouth recently didn’t think so. Andy Burnham is measuring the curtains at No 10. A Labour MP has resigned in Makersfield so he can stand. Reform want to own votes; not earn them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GHXN9DMcfY
Rupert Lowe Announces MASSIVE Plan That Destroys Labour Plan.
2 5
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May 19, 2026 10:35am
- All_on_Red
  
  65% of Voters in Makersfield voted for Brexit
  Not sure they will support Burnham when they learn he is just like all the other Labour (and many Tory) MPs and wants to re-join the EU.
  This could backfire spectacularly on Burnham.
  
  7 1
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  May 19, 2026 1:29pm
  - sungsamning
    
    Yes, I don’t think the uni-party have much to look forward to in this byelection. Reform will get plenty of attention. And Restore too. I don’t think the exixting Labour MP will have to move into a council house.
    
    1 1
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    May 19, 2026 2:17pm
sungsamning

Barbara Boyd argues the key outcome of Trump’s China visit was the personal trust between Trump and Xi, symbolized by Xi’s “secret garden” tour previously reserved for Putin, and framed as establishing guardrails for U.S.–China strategic and tech competition amid the Iran war and energy geopolitics. [The City and the Dems don’t like the way President Trump is reshaping global economic relationships. Then, there’s the insurgent politica in London, and LA.]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSYv2UUYfp8
Trump and Xi’s Secret Garden: Why London Is Panicking and Carney Is Done.
3 5
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May 19, 2026 10:35am
- MCōs
  
  “personal trust between Trump and Xi”
  
  Yeah right
  
  4 5
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  May 19, 2026 12:37pm
  - sungsamning
    
    Its more a case of trust but verify in my opinion.
    
    1 1
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    May 19, 2026 2:17pm
Mod88

Yes I see she is just as “Enthusiastic” on a Universal Age Verification (the EU Model) for Social Media as well. Stanford is a globalist through and through just like her boss.
5 3
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May 19, 2026 10:44am
Swifty

Very bravely, the Danes track various measures of people by country of origin.

Palestinians rape at 12x the levels of native Danes.

12x!!!

https://x.com/travelingisrae1/status/2056440344703615345?s=46

Labour, championed by Phil Twyford, wants to allow thousands of Palestinians to migrate here.

Yes, that’s right, regardless of the harms caused to fellow Kiwis by doing so, they would allow this purely to burnish their halo.

Labour and Phil Twyford don’t give a rats about ordinary NZers.
16 1
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May 19, 2026 12:16pm
Ghost

look like ICE have arrested the wrong alien…..

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116591901587847680
2 2
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May 19, 2026 12:27pm
Swifty

“Hipkins is a sausage-eater who doesn’t know what a woman is….” Winston Peters.

https://x.com/dagsyfm/status/2056519178727694407?s=46
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May 19, 2026 12:57pm
mandk

There will be squeals of anguish and outrage when Nicola Willis finishes her 1.00 pm speech.

Can’t wait.
5 0
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May 19, 2026 1:01pm
JJ56

I see Peters/NZ First are going to offer NBA a “premium-priced offer”, but use its ownership to solve the problem of Kiwis being “robbed when it comes to banking – we know we’re being overcharged, everybody knows that, and no one’s denying that.“

Consequence of that will be a major drop in the value of the BNZ. The premium paid plus the loss in value will be in the billions, that if spent directly to improve competition must do better at much lower risk.

“Does Mr Seymour or Mr Luxon understand economics?” Peters said. (sic)
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May 19, 2026 2:08pm
- R
  
  Rather rich coming from Winston!
  
  1 0
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  May 19, 2026 8:09pm
Swifty

There has been a few posts on social media of late regarding the Felton family, owners of multiple McDonalds franchises in Auckland, I understand.

There is a lot of criticism that they routinely import Filipinos and Indians for their roles, and almost no native NZers.

https://x.com/ryanhendersonnz/status/2056475589960491297?s=46

I’m sorry, but I’ll just never agree with this – for such low skilled roles.

I think there’s something else at play here. What, I can’t say. But this is madness.

Highly skilled and trained doctors, nurses, engineers etc no problems. These are roles we can’t fill from within quickly, it takes years to life locally-grown numbers.

But burger jockeys and shift-supervisors? You’ve got to be kidding me.
4 4
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May 19, 2026 2:19pm
- mandk
  
  Might it be that the Filipinos and Indians are more flexible, reliable, and more customer-friendly than the native NZers?
  
  2 0
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  May 19, 2026 4:21pm
Ghost

hiding details from the voters. What are you hiding Labour

Labour has admitted key details about its Future Fund, including the cost to the Crown and which state assets will be rolled into it, will not be released until after voters have gone to the polls.

Article
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May 19, 2026 5:47pm
- R
  
  Sounds like a replay of te pua pua. Post 2020 election
  
  1 0
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  May 19, 2026 8:11pm

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