General Debate 06 August 2026

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Cassandra

Much is being made of an anti-Israel Egyptian’s victory in the Michigan US Senate Democratic primary. Note that he won by 1.5% and the third candidate got 4%. The winner is unlikely to win the November election. Republicans are delighted that he won.
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August 6, 2026 8:04am
artemisia

Early childhood advocates fear funding review will put business bottom lines over children

Advocates are getting in ahead of the ECE funding review recommendations in case it affects the flow of OPM into the sector – aka their jobs however they attempt to frame it.

Here’s a surprise , who could have guessed it, fiscally neutral funding is “a recipe for disaster” for children ….

A senior lecturer in early childhood education at the University of Auckland, Kiri Gould, said a fundamental flaw of the review was that its recommendations could not increase government spending…. early childhood is so under-funded,” she said.

I wonder if one or two of the submissions to the review presented ideas for managing within budget. How about starting with the mantra ‘there’s 30% waste in every process’.

There is talk in the sector about ECE businesses closing down, some because not financially viable, but that is the nature of businesses. Ask the hospo and construction sectors ….

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/education/900601/early-childhood-advocates-fear-funding-review-will-put-business-bottom-lines-over-children
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August 6, 2026 8:10am
kevn

Power supply issues and the data centre…
https://nigelgrayearthpulse.substack.com/p/transpowers-warning-proves-nz-cannot
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August 6, 2026 8:14am
- peterwn
  
  Prospective large customers have no ‘right of supply’ – they have to arrange their own power source – either building their own plant or negotiating with generation companies to purchase power. Generation companies respond by commissioning new capacity. All four major generators have prospective new generation in the pipeline (sources, resource consents etc) and are ready to build to meet increased demand.
  
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  August 6, 2026 9:02am
- RoboRob
  
  This is an indictment on our energy infrastructure system and the repeated failure of successive governments to deal with a known issue. Simon Watts and Luxon being the most recent failures but not alone.
  
  Data centres are a red herring and just another example of a business or industry that NZ might miss out on simply because politicians cant get their acts together and fix the system. If anything AI data centres are less of an issue as they tend to bring their own energy infrastructure or pay existing generators to build new generation for them.
  
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  August 6, 2026 9:08am
Yvette

New Zealand first?
Chapter 2 of the Cabinet Manual stipulate that Ministers are held accountable to the Prime Minister for their personal and political conduct at all times, regardless of which “hat” (party leader or minister) they claim to be wearing.

Paragraph 2.56: Behaviour and Ultimate Accountability
“In all of these roles and at all times, Ministers are expected to act lawfully and behave in a way that upholds, and is seen to uphold, the highest ethical and behavioural standards. This includes exercising a professional approach and good judgement in their interactions with the public, staff, and officials, and in all their communications, personal and professional. Ultimately, all Ministers are accountable to the Prime Minister for their behaviour.” [1]

So why has the Speaker not had issue with this, or does Cabinet Manual not apply in the Debating Chamber, and should there be an explanation as to why the Chamber is not as clear and rigorous as the Cabinet Manual.
________________

Last week, Jones said he backed his leader because NZ First would soon be campaigning on restricting immigrants’ rights to stand for Parliament.
“They’d have to be here in our country for a long period of time before they can become politicians. We’re going to campaign on that,” Jones said.

Peters told Xu-Nan: “Go back to your own country. You only came here just five minutes ago. Go back to your own country, that’s where they lie like a flat fish. But they don’t lie like that here, all right, this is what we call democracy.”

“Our leader has articulated what we’re going to put in our manifesto in relation to qualifications for who can stand for Parliament. When that manifesto is completed, that will be available,” he said.

Under the current law, any New Zealand citizen who is old enough to vote can stand as a candidate. Jones has said NZ First will campaign to change this. [2]

• But then will it be “what we call a democracy?
• Will it become a little like you can not take a case to the Waitangi Tribunal unless you are of Maori descent?
• Is New Zealand First aiming at being more racist that te Pati Maori?

________________
[1] https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/cabinet-office/supporting-work-cabinet/cabinet-manual/2-ministers-crown-appointment-role-and-conduct/conduct-public-duty-and-personal-interests#:~:text=2.56%20In%20all%20of%20these%20roles%20and,to%20the%20Prime%20Minister%20for%20their%20behaviour.
[2] https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/361016012/there-huge-appetite-new-limits-standing-parliament-says-shane-jones-he-promises-new-nz-first-policy
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August 6, 2026 8:21am
- Cassandra
  
  Only citizens should vote. Citizenship should require proof of assimilation. That’d sort the problem out.
  
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  August 6, 2026 8:30am
  - David Garrett
    
    Cass: I’m prepared to bet we have a few thousand Muslim citizens who are not the least bit “assimilated” and they never will be.
    
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    August 6, 2026 8:35am
    - Cassandra
      
      You bet. Enoch got it right, he just targeted the wrong people.
      
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      August 6, 2026 8:43am
- Yvette
  
  While sitting on the morning throne my mind can sometimes wander. Like, if Winston has to claim he says something as Leader of New Zealand First can it indeed mean he shouldn’t be saying it as Foreign Minister, and that indicate he lacks a certain selves-discipline, or should I flush that thought as well.
  
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  August 6, 2026 8:45am
  - rouppe
    
    This “hat wearing” escape clause is pretty naff.
    
    Not just Winston Peters, all of them do it.
    
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    August 6, 2026 9:05am
- peterwn
  
  The Cabinet Manual applies to Executive Government and not to the two branches of Government ie Parliament and the Judiciary.
  
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  August 6, 2026 9:05am
pdm

I have just listened to Leighton Smith talking with Mike Hosking.

All due respect to Kerre Woodham but, wouldn’t it be great to have Leighton back 9 to 12 weekday mornings even if he is almost 80 years of age.
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August 6, 2026 8:26am
Cassandra

RNZ headline: “Older Kiwis choosing between ‘starving or heating’ as price increases bite.”

BS. Starving is not eating anything . Nobody starves in this country. Good, nutritious food is available. It might not be flash but it’s nourishment. A bag of porridge and some milk will make a big breakfast.

Typical Red Radio nonsense.
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August 6, 2026 8:41am
- rouppe
  
  There was a fellow on the news last night. Presumably unemployed, aged under 30 by the looks.
  
  They’re advertising full blast for election workers at the moment. No excuse.
  
  Also some bloke moaning that he was sold “go to uni, get a degree, get a great job”. They neglected to say what his degree was…
  
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  August 6, 2026 9:08am
  - RoboRob
    
    My eldest almost has a commerce degree. Not that long ago the big firms would go to the universities and snap up people about to graduate. Not so now, much slimmer pickings.
    
    He is finishing his degree in Singapore on an exchange. I hope he manages to pickup a job there.
    
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    August 6, 2026 9:15am
- RoboRob
  
  Did we all forget that it wasn’t so long ago that a winter power subsidy was introduced. That’s $150 extra per month for power / heating. I’m not arguing that people on super are rich but unlike the rest of the country people on super get a guaranteed income increase every winter.
  
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  August 6, 2026 9:12am

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