NZ Politics

Budget Day 'carkoi' protests delayed traffic on Auckland and Tauranga motorways ahead of a hikoi on Parliament.

Protesters earlier took the roads to oppose government policies toward Māori, 'activating' for today's National Māori Action Day - and caused traffic delays around the country.

It's the second time Māori have mobilised on a national scale with the first hīkoi taking place last December.

The national protest coincides with today's budget announcements.

The Reserve Bank says that from 1 July, banks will only be able to lend about 20 percent of their new lending to owner-occupier borrowers with a debt-to-income ratio of more than six. That means, if your household earns a combined $100,000, your loan will be limited to $600,000.

Banks will only be able to lend 20 percent of lending to investors with a DTI of more than seven.

The rules won't apply to Kainga Ora loans, new builds or refinances.

At the same time, the bank will loosen the loan-to-value ratio (LVR) restrictions so that banks can lend 20 percent of their lending to owner-occupiers with deposits of less than 20 percent, from 15 percent at the moment, and 5 percent of lending can be done to property investors with equity or deposits of less than 30 percent, compared to 35 percent at present,

I am saying this unironically.

WAKE UP SHEEPLE!

Your tax dollars are going to John Key folks. This is how the privatisation of state housing is going.

A bill designed to give consumers more control over their data will be introduced into Parliament tomorrow, the minister of commerce and consumer affairs says.

Andrew Bayly says the Consumer and Product Data Bill will allow consumers to share their data, which will in turn allow banks, insurance, power and telecommunication companies to compete with each other.

Consumers would be able to compare products in real time, manage accounts across different providers simultaneously, and switch between providers seamlessly.

He said it would include penalties of up to $5 million for misuse by companies, and up to $1m for an individual who fraudulently used it.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said it was expected to be introduced at the end of last year when the draft was released in June.

The legislation will be applied gradually across the economy on a sector-by-sector basis, with banking the first sector to be designated.

Scams have been increasing in number and complexity with consumers here losing an estimated $200m a year.

Consumer NZ has said it would immediately prevent some scams, and had been in the United Kingdom for five years now.

Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has used her first “State of the Planet” speech to accuse the coalition Government of privileging lobbyists and the wealthy, at the expense of workers’ health and the environment.

Surely all these people losing decent paying jobs will have no impact on the economy right? Definitely not a recession right?

The important thing to keep in mind is that there is a significant proportion of the population that wants this and is going to vote for right wing parties in order to stop the "trans agenda"

Jones is a controversial force in the new Government, with his nakedly pro-mining stance criticised for being anti-environment. His meetings with industry heavyweights, including those in the commercial fishing sector, have led to accusations of conflicts of interest.

In one instance, Jones, also the Fisheries Minister, asked officials to develop a Cabinet paper on overhauling cameras on boats, after a request from a fishing boss who is one of his biggest campaign donors. Under the new Government, New Zealand has backed out of a proposal to restrict seamount trawling in the South Pacific.

"New Zealand will make a clear statement to the UN later this morning explaining its vote, indicating that while it supports enhancing Palestine's status at the UN, this does not amount to recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Cowards.

If there are any doubts this government is taking marching orders from the American right wing they can safely be put to bed.

More than 4000 people have already been laid off as a result of the austerity measures imposed by the NACTF government.

More austerity for the government. Lucky for all the people who lose their jobs the government is going to make them go to seminars before they do on the benefit.

I am sure this will be super effective and will not cost any money at all.

A super security and intelligence agency recommended four years ago and said to be "not too far away" last August, is under "active consideration" by Cabinet.

The number two recommendation of the 2020 Royal Commission of Inquiry into the 2019 mosque attacks was to set up a national intelligence and security agency, or NISA, as a way to cut through the confusion and inaction exhibited between the layers of government agencies prior to the terror attacks.

However, in a new report submitted to the government, FIANZ, far from being impatient, has called for caution.

"Given the complexity and the changing global politics and eco-climate context, there needs to be a serious rethink on the form and function of the proposed but absolutely necessary NISA," it said in the 40-page report.

Add voter suppression to the list of disasters

In Parliament last Wednesday, Te Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi said the government "will not waver in its mission to exterminate Māori".

Tad hyperbolic, don't you think?

Wellington City Council have put plans to build a permanent cycleway in Brooklyn on hold after losing over half of its funding. Waka Kotahi was expected to fund 51 percent through the Transport Choices fund, however Transport Minister Simeon Brown confirmed there would be no funding for the project in December.

There was also no mention of the Transport Choices programme or any alternatives in the draft Government Policy Statement in March.

A trial bike lane was installed in 2021 through Waka Kotahi's Innovating Streets programme.

"In the interim Brooklyn Connections continues to function as a successful cycleway," Hodgetts said.

what a disappointment. I really expected better from Jack.

Who is going to listen?

Jamie Arbuckle, the Marlborough councillor who became an MP, says he has settled into having two roles so comfortably he's going to keep both salaries after all.

There's been a lot of video calls from his office in Wellington, but it's meant he's made it to most of the meetings at the Marlborough District Council since being elected to Parliament as an NZ First MP in October.

At the time, he said he felt juggling the two roles would be easy enough until Christmas 2023, and said he would hand his council remuneration back after that, should he feel he could not give the job his all.

But, for now, he said he was keeping up and did not feel that was necessary.