About
Contact
Advertise

Facebook
Twitter

July 14, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 14 July 2026

Like this:

Like Loading…

Email
Facebook
Twitter
Comment58

Uncategorized
General Debate

Comments (58)

Login to comment or vote

Nikola Donatello

Oh well there goes petrol prices again. 😕
10 4
Log in to Reply
Report
July 14, 2026 8:04am
- rouppe
  
  I think the USA putting a 20% levy/toll on Iranian shipping is a mistake.
  
  It’s just legitimised what Iran was wanting to do with oil shipping.
  
  9 8
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 14, 2026 8:56am
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    I can’t be bothered even deciphering things. With Trump it is a new thought every day.
    
    9 5
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 14, 2026 9:08am
    - kowtow
      
      Is Trump the problem or the Ayatollahs who sought by violence and subterfuge to dominate east Asia and to literally eliminate a nation , Israel.
      
      2 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 14, 2026 9:16am
  - RoboRob
    
    My understanding is that they are once again blocking all Iranian shipping, or will be shortly.
    
    The 20% toll is on everyone else, ‘to cover the cost of keeping the straight open’. I suspect it is actually an attempt to get other nations, in particular the European ‘allies’, to come to the table and assist in keeping the straight open. Regardless of whose fault the current situation is, it benefits all nations to get the straight open.
    
    Remember the straight is currently mine free. IF the US can keep the straight open then it doesn’t matter what the Iranians do. The US can keep the ‘war’ going as long as is required, it is only the price of oil that gives the Iranians any power.
    
    13 5
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 14, 2026 9:09am
    - Cassandra
      
      That’s correct, Rob. This move will damage Iran’s economy bigly (sic). The 20% is excessive so that might be renegotiated.
      
      10 4
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 14, 2026 9:21am
    - Damocles11
      
      Yeah, the US can just keep the war going, no worries. No problem if inflation becomes sticky. No problem if US domestic gasoline and diesel prices spike. No problem with cost of maintaining a naval blockade. No problem with continuing to expend expensive munitions, further depleting stockpiles. No problem for the Republicans with a new quagmire in the Middle East and the Midterms approaching.
      Trump has said about 46 times over that this war has been won, yet every time the fundamentally incorrect nature of his pronouncements is proven, his disciples immediately start rabbiting on about European countries. It’s a weird deflection.
      If the USA is the all-powerful global superpower it claims to be then surely it will prove it by actually winning this war.
      
      1 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 14, 2026 9:24am
    - Gary Benner
      
      RobobRob, Trump had to appear reasonable, knowing all the while that the Iranian Regime would renege. The high fee for providing a protected transit is a negotiating stance, and invitation for the European Countries to do more.
      
      And at the same time now the USA has more support to cripple the regime to the point where the Iranian people have a chance to move the regime on.
      
      As I understand it, the USA is working with Oman having ships transit the Straits through their territorial waters. Any attack by Iran then is an attack on Oman, so is creating more reasons for the surrounding countries to want to fight back. It’s quite a chess game!
      
      13 4
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 14, 2026 9:34am
      - RoboRob
        
        Totally agree.
        
        Not sure what the down voters issue is, perhaps any comment marginally positive about Trump is enough to trigger them. Both my post and yours seem to have attracted some hate.
        
        3 0
        Report
        July 14, 2026 10:07am
    - Tauhei Notts
      
      I have seen a map of that strait. It is actually rather crooked.
      
      5 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 14, 2026 9:34am
      - Don Beckett
        
        😆 😆
        
        1 0
        Report
        July 14, 2026 10:30am
  - NothingLeft
    
    I’m OK with it. The rich Gulf states seem to be not pulling their weight with regard to sorting the nasty Iranian regime out – a nuclear Shia theocracy is going to be a big problem for Sunni Arabs. They continue to expect USA to do the heavy lifting to keep their export economies running, so seems reasonable for USA to charge a fee and incentivize the gulf states to stop being so lazy.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 14, 2026 9:24am
peterwn

“The Post Weekend” headline (print edition front page) proclaimed “Health NZ’s wait-list data U-turn”. This data was quietly dropped in recent quarterly reports but will now now provided following media pressure. National’s Health Ministers made it clear this data was to be provided following last election. The previous Ardern Labour Government told the Ministry they could stop providing the data meaning the Government and public lost touch with what was going on.
Now this sounds like a typical ‘Yes Minister’ carry-on and the issue is why Health NZ staff were trying to white-ant the Minister and Government. Perhaps they regard the 2023 – 2026 period as some sort of interregnum and things will get back to normal after the election (assuming a change in government). Perhaps they think a new Health Minister will not require this data to be published.
18 1
Log in to Reply
Report
July 14, 2026 8:08am
- Nikola Donatello
  
  Or perhaps there is another explanation. Did the journalist offer any?
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 14, 2026 8:14am
  - peterwn
    
    No.The journo was just reporting the situation as she saw it. She discussed the matter in an ‘opinion’ piece on page 2 which did not actually express any opinion.
    
    5 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 14, 2026 8:54am
- R
  
  Clearly there is still a lot of ideological dead wood employed in the ministry.
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 14, 2026 9:21am
david in Aus

The difference in solar energy policy among the parties is interesting to debate. Solar electricity is economic for households as it is cheaper coupled with attractive feed in rates. Despite this the take up rate of solar is low.
In New Zealand, solar is particulary attractive as the downside of solar, that is the lack of peak demand production is mitigated by ample hydro power. If solar becomes a significant source of electricity, it has the potential drive down electricity prices. In Australia, wholesale electricity prices have come down, especially with take up of battteries.

National is proposing loans paid through council rates. Labour is proposed low cost loans as well as $3000 upfront for low and middle income earners.
Act’s policy is red tape removal.

The problem is how do we increase solar electricity production. The incumbants generators are not incentivised to produce solar is it eats away at its profit margins. High electricity prices impacts the overall economy by accelerating deindustrialisation.
I think solar should considered as a part of infrastructure spending. The overall impact on the economy’s productivity is greater than much of the spending we have on roads, bureaucrats. Actually, it could be the cheapest way of funding electricity production, as is mostly uses private funds.

Although, idealogically I am inclined towards National’s and ACT polices. We should look at Australia and their uptake. Incentives makes a huge difference to the uptake of solar and batteries. As the industries grow the costs of installation decrease. There should be incentives for solar available for all. The reality is, the well off are the most likely to drive uptake and improve productivity. Thus improving outcomes for everybody.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 14, 2026 8:23am
Tomtoddy

The recent RNZ poll reinforced the probability that wasted votes could determine the election outcome. If the Opportunity party were to reach 4% to 4.7% and win no seats and their support comes from the left of centre and as well even Te Pati Maori ending up with the same outcome then, theoretically, some 8% to 9% of the votes wanting a left leaning government may be wasted and not counted.

It may be all that saves the Coalition and Luxon.

I expect the only thing saving Luxon after the election will be the absence of a suitable replacement. The Nats have a bunch of younger potential leaders but they all need more experience and consolidation to be realistic options. They would be high risk.
14 2
Log in to Reply
Report
July 14, 2026 8:26am
- crash
  
  I take great exception to the notion that votes in any election can be considered as “wasted”. Any vote, no matter who it supported, is by definition never wasted. Save the ‘wasted’ moniker for those who choose not to vote.
  
  More choices will also result in greater fragmentation of political party support. I cannot recall any electorate MP that secured over 50% of the votes cast, meaning that in every electorate the majority of voters voted against the sitting MP and those votes also cannot be considered as ‘wasted’. The same applies to party vote support.
  
  We vote to support electorate candidates and parties. As long as we have more than 2 electorate candidates or more than 2 parties, the winner is was supported by the largest minority of voters. All votes count.
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 14, 2026 8:41am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Depends if National wins or loses (whatever that means in the MMP era).
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 14, 2026 8:43am
- Nikola Donatello
  
  I am no political strategist. But I doubt that this is a good idea.
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/361005760/there-risk-labour-warns-left-leaning-voters-over-party-nearing-5
  
  Chris Hipkins saying don’t vote for the Opportunity Party because it might be a wasted vote. Many voters who are disenchanted with the government but who don’t like Hipkins are even more likely to vote for the upstart.
  
  It will be fascinating to watch. National will be hoping that they are stranded on 4.8 percent. But the more they are talked about the higher they may go. If they do hit 5 percent I think that it is curtains for the government.
  
  9 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 14, 2026 9:04am
  - RoboRob
    
    As usual I disagree with Hipkins. IF I was a left voter keen on a Labour government, getting TOP to 5% gets me a labour government. If they get less then that, I get National. It seems pretty clear a vote for TOP or a clear electoral deal, is the best way to remove the ‘hard right national government’.
    
    If I was Hipkins I would do the electoral deal and then say, ‘Party vote Labour, TOP will get in with 2% now. Hipkins isn’t the sharpest knife in the block set though.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 14, 2026 9:16am
  - R
    
    It will be ‘curtains’ for NZ’s future too, if the country reverts to a reincarnation of the last government
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 14, 2026 9:24am
- kowtow
  
  Blue Greens and the anti constitutionalists who want race “partnership” are a huge danger.
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 14, 2026 9:18am
- RoboRob
  
  National are now relegated to that of a sports team that had underperformed all season and now sits relying on the results of other matches to get them into the playoffs. Always a terrible position to be in.
  
  14 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 14, 2026 9:21am
  - peterwn
    
    All the other ‘teams’ can talk nonsense and get away with it. National does not have that privilege.
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 14, 2026 10:05am
    - RoboRob
      
      Yup, that’s why you want your team to have scored well during the season so that you go in ahead on points.
      
      3 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 14, 2026 10:09am
- Notsofast
  
  Except the taxpayer union Curia poll says differently, and is historically the most accurate for election day.
  However, I see AOC has firmed to 11 to 1 for the US president race. She makes Kamala Harris look sharp. We live in a strange world where all the work to build the west is being squandered.
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 14, 2026 9:46am
- Isobar
  
  Thats gotta be it for Luxon either way right? Even if the coalition is returned, they have a 1 seat majority on these numbers and the minor parties (NZF especially) will be able to extract maximum price. National will essentially become a minority party within the coalition.
  
  Not only that, national are set to lose a big chunk of their caucus and potentially some of their senior list mps. There is no way Luxon will continue as PM till the 2029 election if that occurs.
  
  Whatever happens at this election, he will be gone shortly afterwards.
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 14, 2026 10:13am
pdm

`It may be all that saves the Coalition and Luxon.’

It won’t be if Hipkins says he will stand down as leader and Labour offer Winston 18 months as Prime Minister.

Game over because that is a BAUBLE Winston will not refuse.
13 3
Log in to Reply
Report
July 14, 2026 8:32am
- Ipanema69
  
  Yes you are correct. Additionally Winston is 81. How many more opportunities will he get?
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 14, 2026 8:43am
- Notsofast
  
  It is unfathomable to suggest he would do this.
  Bill English never renounced John Key’s position, so Winston did what all sane people predicted, in 2017, when he did not preclude a coalition with labour. This message board is helpful, but not when stupidity is repeated. It is a bit like the carbon deniers, who can be sensible on other matters.
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 14, 2026 8:49am
- mike
  
  People voting NZ First with any fixed notions about what Winston Peters will do are asking for disappointment.
  
  21 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 14, 2026 8:51am
  - Cassandra
    
    His track record supports that but this time it’s a bit different. His supporters will not be pleased if he goes with Labour.
    
    9 7
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    July 14, 2026 9:01am
    - Nikola Donatello
      
      Why will he care? If Labour offer him PM he can do that, be knighted and retire. He can’t live forever.
      
      12 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 14, 2026 9:06am
    - pdm
      
      2017 replay then Cass.
      
      He pissed off a lot of supporters then and was gone in 2020.
      
      Only to return as a pain in the arse of good government in 2023.
      
      14 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 14, 2026 9:08am
      - Taieri
        
        Only to return as a pain in the arse of good government in 2023
        ————–
        
        There’d be no “good government” in 2023 without him.
        
        0 0
        Report
        July 14, 2026 9:15am
    - RoboRob
      
      ‘His supporters will not be pleased if he goes with Labour’
      
      Lol, people were saying just that prior to him going into government with JA.
      
      10 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 14, 2026 9:18am
      - R
        
        But the fools still voted for him.
        
        0 0
        Report
        July 14, 2026 9:26am
    - mike
      
      As if he cares what his voters think or want. He knows most of them barely think at all.
      
      14 8
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 14, 2026 9:21am
      - RoboRob
        
        You are on fire today Mike, two upticks from me already 🙂
        
        We might be interested in this stuff but 90% of the country has no interest or idea of what is going on. Sadly flashy headlines and personalities win elections, not sound policy and good management.
        
        13 2
        Report
        July 14, 2026 9:24am
      - Poppax8
        
        1st ever uptick for Mike
        
        0 0
        Report
        July 14, 2026 9:34am
      - Gary Benner
        
        Au contraire Mike. I am involved with organising local Meet the Candidates meetings and am finding a high level of interest. Like working who the hell the Opportunity Party really are, and how strategic voting can help get what they want.
        
        This election is going to be different. The whole debacle of the Ardern regime followed by a leader (as Muldoon was quoted as saying) as having a shiver looking for a spine to run up, has lead to a far more erudite electorate. So watch this space my friend.
        
        6 4
        Report
        July 14, 2026 9:45am
      - Ian Boag
        
        I am involved with organising local Meet the Candidates meetings
        
        Well from what we can tell – that’s one KBer doing more than just whinge …. 🙂
        
        1 5
        Report
        July 14, 2026 10:11am
      - RoboRob
        
        @Gary
        
        I’m sure there is a lot of interest out there but it is amongst the politically active. These are the people that go to the meetings. If you asked 100 random people who they favour in the election and why I guarantee 90 of them would either not know or name a party and then get the reasons for voting for them factually wrong.
        
        I recall my brother once telling me he was going to vote Labour because he really liked John Key ! Admittedly he is a special case 🙂
        
        2 0
        Report
        July 14, 2026 10:13am
      - RoboRob
        
        @Ian
        
        So I take it you are just whinging too then? Otherwise it would be ‘that’s another KBer doing more than just whinge’
        
        2 1
        Report
        July 14, 2026 10:15am
      - Albie
        
        That aside, I am sure Winston would not wish to retire from politics with a legacy like Ardern’s hanging over him. Like most of us he would want to be liked by the majority of New Zealanders and not feel he has to live off shore.
        
        0 0
        Report
        July 14, 2026 10:31am
      - Ghost
        
        Winston doesn’t care what you think of him. He dosent care if you like or hate him.
        
        0 0
        Report
        July 14, 2026 10:35am
    - NothingLeft
      
      Winston only cares for the baubles he gets to fondle, not for what is best for NZ.
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 14, 2026 9:27am
    - Jigsaw
      
      Cass- and that will be different? How?
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      July 14, 2026 9:36am
- imalwaysright
  
  There’s a chance that Luxon won’t lead National at the election, and neither will Hipkins lead Labour.
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  July 14, 2026 10:31am
Southern Raider

On the news last night the Coroner for the inquest into the death of the islamist who stabbed 6 people at Woolsworths New Lynn said they would be looking into if he got the correct care and support for his religious beliefs while on remand.

FFS. Instead of digging into why this islamist was allowed into NZ initially and then why he was kicked out multiple times after all his other offences, we are going to be considered if he didn’t have the correct pastoral care?

Thats why the west is lost.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 14, 2026 8:41am
Rusty

Thinking of the sad passing of Sam Neill his first movie the futuristic ‘Sleeping Dogs’ in 1977 was about NZ becoming a police state.
1 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 14, 2026 9:02am
Cassandra

NZF supporters also pay a lot of bills. It might be wishful thinking but I think we’ll have a different situation this time. We’ll see. I’m sure you all hope I’m right. mike: you’re excused.
3 2
Log in to Reply
Report
July 14, 2026 9:27am
jp_1983

The more that comes out of this – the worse it looks
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/361005615/ex-lotto-presenter-told-court-he-was-benefit-while-suspended-government-job-full-pay

An ex-lotto presenter told a court he was on a job seeker benefit, despite being suspended on full pay from a government role following his arrest as part of a global FBI sting targeting organised crime….

Okay – so before the Ministry of Justice being paid by the Ministry of Justice and no-one seems to do fact checking.

It does make you wonder how many of these hardship, stories etc.. are truth adjacent…
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 14, 2026 9:43am
imalwaysright

Russel Harrison, ex Lotto presenter and gang mule, lied to the court by telling it he was on the dole.

Ex-Lotto presenter told court he was on a benefit while suspended from government job on full pay | Stuff https://share.google/GTZGjc7gSfWwEp1rQ
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 14, 2026 9:47am
Vidar

It’s great to see the U.S bombing Iran again. Trump said today their leader is “90%” gone. The guy hasn’t been seen since day 1.

There is some short term pain (a good buying opportunity in the stock market).

Long term, new infrastructure is getting built. The straight will become less and less important.

Hopefully the evil Islamic regime falls and the Iranian people get some freedom.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 14, 2026 9:52am
Damocles11

Labour are much further Left and much deeper in the Maorification / co-governance weeds than they were in 2017 when NZ First went with them. The Labour platform in 2017 was essentially grounded in fixing the housing crisis through the 100,000 KiwiBuild houses – and we all know how that turned out – and co- governance didn’t rear its ugly head in earnest until after the 2020 election when NZ First was gone from Parliament. I can’t see how NZ First could possibly go with Labour now, but you never know I guess.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 14, 2026 10:13am

Add a Comment Cancel reply

Login to comment or vote

« RIP Sam Neill

Half the price! »

Donations

You can now donate to Kiwiblog

Exclusive content from DPF on Patreon

Become a Patron!

Never miss a post

Email Address

Join 13K other subscribers

Highlights

Target achieved II
Good progress on attendance
Health Target 5 – elective treatments
Health Target 4 – Specialist appointments

Links

Woman of the day
Hompaddock
MEDIAWATCH: NZ Political Journalism double standards against the Left
The Daily Blog
Apologies To The French – This Should Have Been Todays General Debate Topic.
No Minister
The political malaise over New Zealand’s low wage problem
Point of Order
Open Mike 14/07/2026
The Standard
More academic censorship
Utopia
Another outrageous abuse of the OIA
No Right Turn
Reminder: “Until August 1914 a sensible, law-abiding Englishman could pass through life and hardly notice the existence of the state, beyond the post office & the policeman."
Not PC
Parallel Societies
NZCPR
NRL Predictions for Round 19
Stats Chat
Pride Month, 250th celebrations, Supreme Court decisions, hot dogs!
Bob McCoskrie's McBlog
Refugee sponsorship
Offsetting Behaviour
Media Link: “A View from Afar” on Systemic Change.
Kiwipolitico
A central banker’s fiction
Croaking Cassandra
THE WORKING FROM HOME RACKET BY PUBLIC SERVANTS
No Punches Pulled (Bob Jones)
The Accidental Engagement
Imperator Fish
Legal Beagle: Election '23: The Special Votes
Public Address
Get Vaccinated Tomorrow Or Shut Your Pie Hole
Cactus Kate
Making this movie might have been a mistake
Liam Hehir
Why I am retiring from political blogging
Kiwi FireWalker

[email protected]

PO Box 12270, Thorndon, Wellington 6144

Facebook
Twitter
FourSquare
Instagram
LinkedIn
Google+

Archives
Disclosure Statement
Editorial Policy
Privacy Policy
Complaints Policy
Comments Policy

Design by cre8d

%d

Share this:

Like this: