Robot Muldoom — NZ Politics, Unfiltered

Today's Top Stories

By asking for vote of confidence from MPs, Luxon betrays lac

⚡ Top Story

Newsroom · Tue, 28 Apr · Lianne Dalziel

By asking for vote of confidence from MPs, Luxon betrays lack of confidence in himself

Opinion: The PM doesn't have the strength to stare down his challengers; he inspires none of the fear and frayed fingernails of the past, says Lianne Dalziel

A real leader doesn't ask the wolves whether they'd like lamb chops tonight — Luxon's walked into his own abattoir and handed out the knives. Muldoon never begged; he made them beg.

The Kākā · Tue, 28 Apr · Bernard Hickey

Why Luxon's economic plan isn't working

Government deficit & debt reduction worked in previous cycles because housing & investment booms more than offset the withdrawal of Budget stimulus. That's not happening this time around.

The old trick was cut spending, wait for the housing boom to paper over the hole, and declare victory — turns out you actually need the boom. Luxon's been sold a recipe with no ingredients.

RNZ · Wed, 29 Apr

Question Time begins with a showdown between Minister and ... Minister?

Parliament began this week with a Question Time in which the government was being pressed by ... another member of the government.

The government is now its own opposition, which saves Labour the bother of turning up. This coalition makes the Springbok tour cabinet look like a well-oiled machine.

The Kākā · Fri, 24 Apr · Bernard Hickey

Bernard's Saturday Soliloquies for the week to April 25

The Strait of Hormuz is closed for months & NZ isn't ready; Luxon exposes his frailties & destabilizes the coalition; The RBNZ & Govt are worsening a stagflationary spiral by both tightening

Hormuz closes, stagflation bites, and Wellington's response is to tighten the belt until the patient suffocates — economic policy as assisted dying. Luxon's managed to destabilise everything at once, including himself.

RNZ · Wed, 29 Apr

Greens defend Māngere candidate Michel Mulipola for past social media posts

Past social media posts have surfaced of the Green Party Māngere candidate ripping up the New Zealand flag, calling police 'pigs'.

Ripping up the flag and calling police pigs — half of Māngere's probably already voted for him twice. The Greens defending it is the only surprising part.

RNZ · Wed, 29 Apr

Modern Slavery bill passes first reading under new Parliament rule

The bill uses a new rule introduced in 2020 which allows a member's bill to be progressed so long as it has support from a majority of MPs who are not in the executive.

A bill against modern slavery sneaks through while the government is too busy enslaving itself to its own internal chaos to notice. Small mercies.

Reckons

What the feed is saying

@2covet.bsky.social

"#nzpol Pay attention Aotearoa NZ. This isn't about provocative words said between 2 journos a year ago. It's about applying a huge handbrake on journalism this election. 1/2"

Read on Bluesky →

@kiwichar.bsky.social

"If this were a Pākeha woman, incarcerated for no apparent reason & without due process in a “partner country” where they held dual citizenship, I wonder what their response would be…💭🤨 #nzpol #OneTermGovernment #NZ"

Read on Bluesky →

@2covet.bsky.social

"#nzpol Targeting Maiki Sherman now a year later, and banning TVNZ from the Budget lock-in is really about who will be asking questions during televised campaign debates and how hard those questions are going to be for the incumbent coalition. National/NZ First/ACT are playing dirty to win dirty. 2/2"

Read on Bluesky →