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NZNE Newsletter #14 for Sunday, February 19th, 2023

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New Zealand emergency state of mind

The National State of Emergency declared for Cyclone Gabrielle enables more central control of relief efforts. The term used, when the government is trying to help afterwards, is similar to the term used when people are being warned. This can be confusing. This cyclone was made worse because of construction on floodplains and forestry felling leftovers.

Treaty issues- Lost in translation

A lot of dispute regarding the Treaty comes from disagreement over certain words and concepts. Today’s Treaty debate really began in the 1970s. If the Treaty gave special privileges, based on ethnicity, would it even survive the modern era of one person, one vote? Is it realistic to proclaim new rights this far down the road?

How is the ACT Party different than NZ First?

Both share similarities in several areas like vowing to scrap Three Waters, but there are some key differences. NZ First is more nationalist and aims to put New Zealand and New Zealanders first. ACT is more “classical liberal”. Personal liberty is prized. Immigration is one area where they differ.

Government spending on consultants out of control

Spending on consultants has more than doubled since the current government took office. A number of recently cancelled projects mean millions of dollars spent on private sector consultants is essentially wasted. Every single week nearly $20 million is spent on consultants by the current government, $1.244 billion every year.

Hipkins gives another lobbyist top job

Labour’s new Chief of Staff Andrew Kirton is the latest in a line of lobbyists that's part of a booming industry. Labour, National and the Greens have all given central positions to lobbyists, and oppose boundaries reducing their power. Mainstream media also benefits – at the expense of transparency and public representation.

Just keep spinning!

Ardern was adept at spinning narratives. Hipkins is no slouch himself. Hipkins' about-face on several key Labour policies is presented in some media as a brave, strategic retreat. But is it a Trojan horse? Hipkins muses about rebranding co-governance, which is an insult to the intelligence of voters.

In a gentle way, you can shake the world

- Mahatma Ghandi

NZ News Essentials Ltd.

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