Green Party tax and welfare plans – Democracy Project weekly review
Green Party tax and welfare plans: John A.Z. Moore joins the Democracy Project’s Geoffrey Miller for an in-depth discussion of issues raised in an article by Dr. Bryce Edwards.
Political Roundup: The Greens’ Zeitgeist poverty and tax action plan
The Greens have shaken up the election campaign with the announcement of their radical poverty and action plan to reform welfare provision and introduce a new wealth tax for millionaires. It’s a big-thinking, controversial policy and has generated a lot of disagreement over how radical it is, whether it could work, and what it might …
Bryce Edwards: New Zealand’s police are still armed and dangerous
As with the rest of the world, the New Zealand Police are under increased scrutiny at the moment. This played a part in Tuesday’s decision to scrap plans to arm some officers with automatic firearms. The new Police Commissioner Andrew Coster read the public mood correctly, explaining that the Armed Response Teams “do not align …
Political Roundup: Todd Muller’s torrid start as National leader
The latest opinion poll is out, and it’s more bad news for the National Party, with Roy Morgan putting them on only 26.5% support, against Labour’s 56.5%. You can see the details here: Roy Morgan May opinion poll. Roy Morgan is regarded as less accurate than other polling companies, and the polling period is largely prior …
Bryce Edwards: Todd Muller’s beige persona might not be a bad thing in the battle against Jacinda Ardern
The new National Party leader, Todd Muller, had been at pains to portray himself as a solid, serious, safe pair of hands, in contrast to the increasingly Trumpian leanings of Simon Bridges, who Muller deposed in a leadership coup last Friday. But after an uneventful, if uninspiring, first press conference, Muller’s debut week quickly took …
Political Roundup: Where is Todd Muller taking National?
Is Todd Muller the Ned Flanders of the National Party? This is how he’s been characterised by political commentator Gordon Campbell, who suggests the change in leadership is, in Simpsons terms, akin to swapping the scary and cruel Monty Burns for Homer Simpson’s compassionate but conservative neighbour. There’s almost a consensus amongst political commentators that …
Political Roundup: Todd Muller has the momentum to become National’s leader
If tonight’s 1News-Colmar Brunton poll result is anywhere near the 31% recorded in Monday’s Newshub-Reid Research poll, Simon Bridges will surely be dog tucker when his caucus colleagues meet tomorrow to vote on the National Party leadership. The momentum is with newcomer Todd Muller, who seems likely to be installed as leader, with Nikki Kaye …
Political Roundup: A homecoming or still adrift – how radical is Labour’s budget?
How radical or transformative is Grant Robertson’s 2020 Budget? Opinions are divided over this week’s landmark economic package. Some are viewing the big spend as a return to traditional Labour – or even socialist – politics, while others see it as “business as usual”, albeit on a grander scale. Seeing red Leftwing political commentator Chris …
Bryce Edwards: Move over culture wars, New Zealand’s post-virus election will be about economics
When New Zealand holds its post-virus general election later this year, the country will go through a fiercely ideological debate about economics and resources. On 19 September, New Zealanders are scheduled to go to the polls. By then, the country is likely to have eliminated Covid-19, providing an enormous boost for Jacinda Ardern’s government, which is blitzing the …
Political Roundup: How healthy is our democracy under the Coronavirus crisis?
How healthy is democracy at the moment in New Zealand? Criticisms are mounting about the state of the political system under the Coronavirus crisis, with complaints that things aren’t as democratic as they should be. I wrote for the Guardian last week about some of these political problems – see: New Zealand’s Covid-19 strategy looks …
Political Roundup: Can David Clark really continue as Minister of Health?
Is David Clark the best possible Minister of Health to be leading New Zealand through the Coronavirus crisis? Confidence in Clark has plummeted with today’s revelation that the Health minister made another recreational trip during the lockdown that appears to breach the Government’s own rules. The Prime Minister has decided not to accept his resignation, …
Bryce Edwards: Coronavirus has delivered political consensus to New Zealand – but for how long?
Jacinda Ardern acted decisively in an attempt to get ahead of the Covid-19 curve, putting New Zealand into strict lockdown far earlier than other western leaders. It was a bold decision with massive economic implications. The public are listening to their prime minister and are united behind her. But the road ahead is littered with …