The Jackal: Election

Showing posts with label Election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Election. Show all posts

25 Jul 2025

The Coalition of Chaos' Assault on Electoral Fairness

The National-led government, propped up by its coalition partners ACT and New Zealand First, has embarked on a brazen assault on New Zealand’s democratic fabric. Their latest electoral law overhaul, set to decline hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders the right to vote by scrapping same-day enrolments, is a calculated move to tilt the electoral playing field in their favour. This is'nt just a bureaucratic tweak; it’s a deliberate act of voter suppression that threatens the very principles of fair representation.
 

Today, RNZ reported:

Enrolment changes could have 'significant' impact on democratic participation - Ministry of Justice

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says comments made by the deputy prime minister - calling voters who enrol late "dropkicks" - are "unhelpful", as changes to voter enrolment are rolled out.

Justice officials say closing enrolments ahead of advance voting could result in lower turnout and reduce confidence in the electoral system. And electoral law experts are also questioning why the changes need to stretch for the whole advanced voting period.

...

On Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour backed the changes, insulting the hundreds of thousands of people who enrolled or updated their address, and voted, during the advance voting period and on election day itself.

"Frankly, I'm a bit sick of dropkicks that can't get themselves organised to follow the law," he said. "It's actually made so easy to do, they even have a little orange cartoon running around telling people to do it. And if you're too disorganised to do that over a thousand days between two elections, then maybe you don't care that much."


The coalition of chaos, as this shaky alliance has been correctly titled, is engineering a system where fewer voices, particularly those who've not enrolled in their local electorate, are heard at the ballot box. The decision to end same-day enrolment, a measure that allowed 110,000 New Zealanders to enrol or update details on election day in 2023, is nothing short of undemocratic. These voters, often young, Māori, Pasifika, or in unstable housing, are disproportionately likely to support progressive parties like Labour, the Greens, or Te Pāti Māori.

Constitutional law expert Andrew Geddis has noted that special votes, which include late enrolments, have historically favoured left-leaning parties. The government is effectively silencing people who don't agree with their neoliberal dogma, prioritising administrative convenience over democratic participation. Even the Ministry of Justice warned that these changes could lower turnout and erode confidence in the electoral system, a damning indictment of the coalition’s priorities.

ACT leader David Seymour’s contempt for our democracy is palpable. His dismissal of late enrolees as “dropkicks” who “can’t get themselves organised” reveals a deeper disdain for the very people democracy exists to serve. This isn't an isolated incident, but a window into the right-wing’s broader attitude: a belief that only the “deserving” should have a say. Seymour’s rhetoric, dripping with elitism, belies a worldview that sees voting as a privilege for the wealthy and sorted few, not a universal right. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith’s feeble rebuke of Seymour’s comments as “unhelpful” does little to mask the coalition’s complicity in this socially ignorant narrative.

Adding to this litany of anti-democratic measures is the government’s failure to address the unfairness that allows property owners with multiple homes to vote in each district where they own property. This archaic rule grants wealthier New Zealanders disproportionate influence in local elections, as their multiple votes amplify their voice over those who rent or own a single home. It’s a stark injustice that undermines the principle of equal representation. Compounding this, the coalition’s discussions about abolishing regional councils threaten to further erode local democracy. These councils, vital for environmental and community governance, ensure regional voices are heard. Dismantling them would centralise power and silence communities, reflecting the government’s broader pattern of prioritising control over democratic fairness.

The government’s anti-democratic streak doesn’t stop there. Their plan to reinstate a blanket ban on prisoner voting, reversing Labour’s 2020 reform that restored rights to those serving less than three years, is a shameful regression. This move will strip voting rights from an estimated 2,000–3,000 inmates, including those on remand who may later be acquitted, a clear violation of fundamental rights.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s response to concerns about this breaching the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, as ruled by the High Court in 2015, was a chilling “I do not care.” This flippant disregard for judicial rulings and human rights underscores a government more interested in populist posturing than upholding democratic principles.
 

Last year, RNZ reported:

 
Government rejects four voting changes as review lands

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has ruled out several recommendations from the Independent Electoral Review set up by the previous government.

The minister on Tuesday released the final report, which makes more than 117 recommendations, after it was delivered to him at the end of November 2023.

  • Goldsmith ruled out action on some recommendations, including:
  • Lowering the voting age to 16
  • Allowing all prisoners to vote and stand for Parliament
  • Freezing the ratio of electorate to list seats, which would lead to an increase in the number of MPs over time
  • Repealing the offence of 'treating' voters with refreshments and entertainment.


Equally troubling is the coalition’s refusal to lower the voting age to 16. Despite a Supreme Court ruling affirming that 16 and 17-year-olds have the cognitive capacity for “cold decisions” like voting, and a 2024 Independent Electoral Review supporting the change, the government has stonewalled progress. They clearly don't want young people to get into the habit of voting throughout their lives. Their 2023 withdrawal of a bill that would have allowed 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in local body elections, with Local Government Minister Simeon Brown halting Justice Committee deliberations, snuffed out public consultation and silenced a generation eager to engage on issues that effect them directly.

This move, coupled with the coalition’s broader agenda, paints a picture of a government allergic to inclusive democracy. From voter suppression to disenfranchising prisoners and stifling youth voices, the National-led government’s actions betray a cynical and destructive agenda and won't do anything for our declining participation rates. By rigging the electoral system to mute progressive voters, they’re not just undermining democracy...they’re gambling with the trust that holds it together. Voters deserve better than a coalition of chaos that prioritises power over principle.

Published by the Jackal



23 Jul 2025

Luxon has Another Hissy Fit

In a display that can only be described as petulant, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has resorted to name-calling, branding Labour leader “frickin’ Chris Hipkins” in a heated outburst over National's FamilyBoost failure. This sorry spectacle, captured during a recent TV appearance, reveals a National Party leader unable to explain away the results of his failed policies and rattled by polls showing his popularity, and that of his coalition, sliding into the doldrums.
 

Yesterday, RNZ reported:


Luxon snaps back at 'frickin' Chris Hipkins over National's FamilyBoost 'flop'

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has challenged Labour to front up with any policy at all as he comes under pressure over National's struggling childcare support scheme.

It comes after Labour revealed just 153 families had received the maximum FamilyBoost rebate, well short of the 21,000 families the government said would be eligible for the full amount when it was unveiled last year.

Speaking on his way into a Tuesday morning caucus meeting, Luxon rejected Labour's characterisation of the policy as a failure.

"I'm not taking any lectures from frickin' Chris Hipkins or the Labour Party," he told reporters. "They have no idea what to do. They put us in this mess.


It's not hard to see why voters are losing faith in Luxon's ability to govern New Zealand when all he has is bad PR stunts and blame for the opposition for his own government's socially and economically damaging policies.

For a government that promised economic salvation but has delivered little beyond finger-pointing and excuses, the latest Talbot and Mills poll should be a wake up call for Luxon to stop with the dishonest posturing, and get on with the bloody job. But instead all we get is a rattled PM doubling down with his blame Labour game.
 

Yesterday, The Post reported:

Poll suggests National headed to one-term Government

Concerning for the National-led coalition Government is the response to broader questions, including that 76% thought the economy was “not so good” or “poor” and 23% considered it “good” or “excellent”. Some 21% expected the economy to get better in the year ahead, while 37% thought it would get worse.

A slight majority, 51%, believed the country was on the wrong track, and the same number disapproved of the Government’s performance. While 38% believed the Government deserved to be re-elected, 48% thought it was time to give another party a go.

...

The Talbot Mills poll has tended to have a National-ACT-NZ First coalition ahead, though the poll suggested support for a Labour-led Government in its February and March results.

This remained the case in this newly obtained poll, which had Labour at 35%, National at 32%, the Green Party at 12%, ACT at 8%, NZ First at 7% and Te Pāti Māori at 3.8%.

Assuming Te Pāti Māori retained the six Māori electorates -- which is not a given as a by-election for Tāmaki Makaurau nears -- such a result would give a Labour-led Government the balance of power.


Luxon’s Coalition of Chaos is scrambling to pin the blame for New Zealand’s economic woes on Labour, conveniently ignoring the global context of a pandemic that sent inflation soaring worldwide. They harp on about the inflation rate in the final quarter of Labour’s tenure, as if National’s own policies haven’t fanned the flames of the current cost-of-living crisis. Stats NZ reports inflation at 2.7% for the year to June, with projections suggesting it could climb above 3%, a figure that undercuts National’s narrative of having tamed the beast.

Far from addressing the crisis, National’s policies, marked by austerity and tax cuts skewed towards the wealthy, have left ordinary New Zealanders grappling with soaring electricity bills and out of control grocery costs. Labour’s Barbara Edmonds hit the nail on the head: “Christopher Luxon promised to make the cost of living better, instead, he’s making it worse.”

Luxon isn't doing himself any favours. One minute he's saying National must “own the mess” of inflation increasing to 2.7%; the next, he lashes out at Hipkins, accusing Labour of causing the very crisis his government has failed to mitigate. This hypocrisy is staggering. National wants to claim credit for inflation dropping from its 2022 peak of 7.3%, yet dismisses the fact that the current 2.7% rate is higher than the projected 2.1%, largely due to government policies. Any increase to infaltion while wages stagnate still bites hard into household budgets, particularly those on fixed incomes.

Along with the cost-of-living crisis, where basic items such as butter has increased in price by 60% in just one year, National's much-vaunted FamilyBoost tax credit, touted as a lifeline for families, has been exposed as another complete failure, with Labour revealing that only a tiny fraction of eligible households are receiving the full $75 promised.

The pressure of these numerous missteps is clearly beginning to tell, and Luxon appears to be incapable of coping with the fallout from his own policy failures.

The coalition’s economic strategy is a house of cards. Relaxing immigration settings and giving billions to wealthy people while slashing public spending has failed to spark the promised recovery, with unemployment rising and consumer confidence tanking. The 1News-Verian poll shows just 36% of Kiwis feel optimistic about the economy, a 5-point drop since December, while 50% believe the country is heading in the wrong direction.

Luxon’s coalition, including ACT and NZ First, seems more focused on divisive culture wars than on delivering tangible relief. The Prime Minister's name-calling is a sign of desperation, not leadership. His government’s failure to address the cost-of-living crisis, coupled with their eagerness to blame Labour for systemic issues, exposes a lack of vision, vision that is desperately needed to bring New Zealand into the 21st century.

Hipkins, by contrast, has called for a focus on “bread and butter” issues such as jobs, health, and homes, while warning against being distracted by National’s divisive tactics. As the 2026 election looms, Kiwis are growing weary of National’s empty slogans and broken promises. Luxon’s outburst isn’t just a lapse in decorum; it’s a symptom of a right-wing government out of ideas and out of touch.

Published by the Jackal



22 Jul 2025

The Left Must Unite on Voter-Friendly Tax Reform

The left wing in New Zealand stands at a critical crossroads. As the cost-of-living crisis deepens and economic pressures intensify, Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori must unite to deliver voter-friendly tax policies that resonate with everyday New Zealanders. The current tax system, strained by inequity and inefficiency, demands reform that prioritises fairness, fosters growth, and protects those already stretched thin, such as beneficiaries, low-waged workers, and small businesses being pushed to the brink. Without a cohesive strategy that places people, and not the government, first, the left risks alienating voters and ceding ground to the current Neoliberal Government and groups like the Taxpayers’ Union, whose campaign for a cap on rates will be gaining traction among elderly homeowners, a key voting demographic.


On Sunday, The Standard reported:

 
The left should unite on tax, fast

With less than 18 months to go to the election, Labour doesn’t yet have a tax policy. The Greens do. Tax policy done badly will almost certainly stop Labour and the Greens changing this government. But they have to deal with it.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said in March this year that too much investment was going into property rather than “productive businesses that create jobs,” but didn’t elaborate further.

When asked directly if the party would be campaigning on a capital gains tax, Hipkins said: “We’ll campaign on tax reform … now, the exact nature of that, it’s not just a simple issue of this one tax or that one tax.”

Hipkins’ election 2023 position was that “I’m confirming today that under a government I lead there will be no wealth or capital gains tax after the election. End of story.”



The Taxpayers’ Union’s push for rate caps taps into a genuine concern: spiralling costs for homeowners, particularly pensioners, who feel squeezed by rising local government charges will be looking for relief. This resonates because it speaks to fairness, an idea the left should champion more often. However, rate caps, although they will be resonating, are a blunt instrument, potentially starving councils of the revenue needed to maintain ageing infrastructure or invest in climate-resilient systems. Labour and the Greens must counter with a bold, unified vision that balances rates and tax relief with the funding required for councils and government agencies to deliver essential services. The detail should be in-depth, but selling it should be simple and to the point.

A return to a 10% GST rate, for instance, could ease the cost-of-living burden on families, putting more money back into the pockets of those who need it most. Likewise, making the first $10,000 of income tax-free would directly support low-waged workers and beneficiaries, shielding them from a regressive tax system. Such measures would not only provide relief but also kick start the economy. Higher wages and increased benefits for low-income earners are not just moral imperatives; they’re economic necessities. People on tight budgets spend what they have on things like groceries, bills, and local services, directly stimulating demand.

A wealth tax must be implemented in such a way that doesn't give rise to criticism such as claims that it's an envy tax. The fear of capital flight, for instance, where wealthy individuals relocate to avoid taxes, has often been exaggerated in debates over wealth taxes targeting the ultra-rich. Evidence from countries like Norway, Spain, and Switzerland, suggests minimal capital flight after wealth taxes have been undertaken. In Norway, a 2022 wealth tax increase to 1.1% on net wealth exceeding NZ$3.2 million (NOK 20 million) prompted initial claims of significant departures, with estimates suggesting 30–82 high-net-worth individuals (0.01%–0.03% of Norway’s millionaire population of 236,000) left. However, updated analyses indicates the scale of Norway's capital flight was badly overstated.

 

Spain’s 2011 wealth tax, reintroduced in 2022 as a “solidarity” tax on net assets above NZ$5 million (€3 million), affects the richest 0.5% of households and has seen increased revenue with negligible flight. Switzerland’s long-standing wealth tax, ranging from 0.13% to 0.94% on net assets above NZ$170,000 (SFr 100,000), impacts a broader 10%–15% of the population due to lower thresholds but has not driven significant capital flight, with its appeal sustained by low overall tax burdens and no capital gains tax on movable assets. 

France’s pre-2017 wealth tax (ISF) saw around 370 departures in 2003 (0.02% of its wealthy population), dropping to 163 by 2018 (0.01%) after reforms, indicating limited flight. These cases show that well-designed wealth taxes, with high thresholds and robust enforcement, can limit flight risks while raising revenue, countering narratives that taxing the rich inevitably drives them away.

This approach contrasts sharply with National, NZ First and the ACT Parties tax cuts for the wealthy, money that has little to no economic benefit as it generally languishes in savings accounts or offshore investments. The left must champion policies that channel money to those who will spend it, driving growth from the ground up. However, they must proceed cautiously. Additional taxes, particularly those impacting small businesses, could choke off the enterprises that employ many New Zealanders. The left cannot afford to alienate the small business community, already battered by economic headwinds and domestic policies that have lead to a prolonged downturn.

The challenge is to craft a tax system that funds ambitious social and infrastructure investments without stifling growth. Councils need capital to address ageing water networks and urban development, while government agencies require resources for healthcare, education, and climate initiatives. Current tax settings, if maintained or reduced strategically, can provide this capital, but only if allocation and redistribution is undertaken wisely. Labour and the Greens must resist the urge to impose new taxes that could be seen as punitive, especially by voters wary of the government overreach we've often seen from previous administrations.

A united front is essential to sell this vision. Infighting or divergent policies risk diluting the message and handing ammunition to opponents who thrive on division. The left’s tax reform must be bold yet pragmatic, offering tangible relief while safeguarding the revenue needed for a resilient future. Reducing GST or introducing a tax-free threshold would signal a commitment to fairness, while careful stewardship of existing revenue can ensure councils and agencies aren’t left short. The left wing must sell a long term vision for the future of New Zealand capturing the public's imagination in a way that the mainstream media cannot ignore.

By uniting behind a voter-friendly platform that prioritises low-income earners, protects small businesses, and counters the Coalition of Chaos and Taxpayer Union’s narrow narrative, Labour and the Greens can reclaim the high ground on the economic debate. The alternative, fragmentation sound bites that the MSM intentionally ignore, will only embolden those seeking to dismantle the progressive direction needed to increase everybodies quality of life. The time for clarity and unity is now.

Published by the Jackal



4 May 2025

The Great Aussie Reckoning

The 2025 federal election wasn’t just a contest of political ideas; it was a bloody massacre, with Peter Dutton’s Liberal-National Coalition copping a hiding so severe it’s left them scrambling for the smelling salts. The opposition leader’s loss of his own seat of Dickson (held for 24 years) to Labor’s Ali France, is the kind of political gut-punch that’ll echo for decades. This wasn’t just a defeat; it was a repudiation of everything the right wing and Dutton stood for.


Today, RNZ reported:

 
Australian election: Voters reject Peter Dutton's vision, giving Labor a remarkable victory and Liberals a difficult future

Australia has fired Peter Dutton into the sun, taking much of the Liberal Party and its future with him.

Standing in the vapour wake stood a euphoric and unimpeded Anthony Albanese, whose campaign was as devastating, driven and determined as Dutton's was dreadful, deluded and doomed.

Albanese stands atop a dominant and remarkable victory that will surely change the country as profoundly as Bob Hawke and John Howard did in their time.


The main driver of this electoral apocalypse for Dutton and his Liberal-National Coalition was the cost-of-living crisis, which hung over voters like a dark cloud. Dutton’s mob tried to exploit it, but their campaign was an incoherent mess. They didn’t have a plan. Just a grab-bag of half-baked ideas and Trumpian bluster. His nuclear energy push, for one, landed like a lead balloon. Aussies, it turns out, aren’t keen on glowing promises when the science and economics don’t stack up. Meanwhile, Labor hammered home a steady-hand message, promising tax cuts and healthcare boosts that resonated with voters, who backed Labor for better schools and hospitals.

Then there’s the “Trump effect.” Dutton’s flirtation with right-wing populism…cosying up to Pauline Hanson's racist One Nation party and parroting “Make Australia Great Again” vibes…was a fatal misstep. Dutton’s gaffes didn’t help: underestimating egg prices in a cost-of-living debate and accidentally clobbering a cameraman with a footy made him look more clown than contender. His embrace of One Nation alienated moderates, and the shadow of Trump’s tariffs and global chaos sent voters scurrying to the devil they knew: Anthony Albanese’s Labor.

The result? A Labor landslide, with projections of 85 seats and a thumping majority, making Albo the first PM since John Howard to win consecutive terms. Ali France, a para-athlete and disability advocate, unseating Dutton was the cherry on top. History has been made, as she became the first to topple a federal opposition leader at the polls. The Greens, despite losing two Queensland seats, still celebrated their highest-ever vote share.

So, hats off to Labor, Ali France, and the teals for reading the room and delivering. This election wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. Aussies rejected fearmongering and division, choosing optimism and pragmatism. Dutton’s out, the Coalition’s in tatters, and Labor’s got a mandate to tackle the big issues. Good on ya, Australia. Now, let’s see Albo make it count.

Published by the Jackal



21 Jul 2020

No excuses for Falloon

Disgraced National MP - Andrew Falloon
On the back of numerous resignations since she became leader of the opposition, Judith Collins has attempted to mislead the public about why another disgraced National Party MP is leaving Parliament.

Andrew Falloon, who has been sending pornographic material to young woman, has now resigned. But the way in which Crusher Collins initially tried to downplay the situation and mislead the public about why he was throwing in the towel is highly questionable.


Yesterday, Newshub reported:

Police reveal results from investigation into Andrew Falloon's 'unsolicited image' to young woman  
In a statement on Monday, Falloon cited "unresolved grief" following the recent suicide of a friend as his reason for resigning. He said: "I have made a number of mistakes and I apologise to those who have been affected." 
Collins also put out a statement on Monday saying Falloon is "suffering from significant mental health issues". 
Falloon will remain as an MP until the election.

So we had Crusher claiming that Falloon was resigning because of mental health issues while saying nothing about him sending unsolicited pornographic material to a young woman. Collins made her disingenuous press release after she had already received a letter via the Prime Ministers office informing her of the nature of the complaint.

But if that wasn't bad enough, we then had Falloon claiming that he hadn’t actually sent the unsolicited pornographic material himself, but had instead left his cellphone unattended at a party. He claimed his acquaintances were to blame, which was of course another blatant lie!


Today, Stuff reported:

National MP Andrew Falloon faces allegation of sending explicit photos to a third young woman 

National MP Andrew Falloon has allegedly sent explicit images to another young woman, a third allegation that he has acted inappropriately. 
The National Party has confirmed it received the latest allegation on Tuesday morning, the second allegation the party has received directly, after it was revealed that Falloon sent an indecent image to a 19-year-old woman, spurring him to abruptly resign. 
Stuff has also revealed that Falloon sent sexually explicit material to a young woman, who has not complained to the National Party.

Crusher Collins
Instead of being honest about why Andrew Falloon was resigning, it's patently clear that Judith Collins also attempted to use the excuse of failing mental health as a tactic to try and gain the public's sympathy, in order to reduce criticism of the National Party once the truth came out.

It’s one thing to use the suicides of your friends as an excuse for reprehensible behaviour, but for Collins to also try and illicit people’s empathy by playing the mental health card, knowing all the while Falloon was resigning because he sent unsolicited pornographic images to a number of young women, is disgraceful!

The public deserve more from the opposition than shameless spin and unrepentant disinformation, particularly in these unprecedented and trying times. But instead Crusher is playing the same old dirty political games as always…tactics that are neither acceptable nor working as intended.

Combine this with the woeful way the National Party recently used the leaked medical information of COVID-19 patients as a political weapon, and it’s plain to see that Crusher and the current blue “team” don’t deserve to be in power ever again.
Published by the Jackal



10 Mar 2020

Simon Bridges plans to repeal National Party laws

Simon Bridges - National Party Leader
When Oscar Wilde said, “there is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about” you know he must have been referring to politicians like Simon Bridges.

In modern day politics this axiom couldn’t be truer, especially for the National Party of New Zealand. In the absence of any new policy ideas, National has been re-announcing their plank over and over in order to gain media attention.

However the real kicker is that they've also been promising to repeal legislation that the National Party actually passed while in Government.


Yesterday, the NZ Herald reported:

National leader Simon Bridges unveils details of the party's 'regulation bonfire' plan 
Meanwhile, National also promised to reform Anti-Money Laundering laws – which it introduced when it was in government in 2016. 
"It was introduced so New Zealand was compliant with international obligations and to protect our interests against illegitimate money laundering," National's economic development spokesman Todd McClay said.

Actually the law was changed after the National led Government came under considerable pressure because New Zealand was revealed in the Panama Papers as a major international tax haven. But even before that the National Party had passed the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act in 2009. Surely Bridges isn't talking about rolling back that legislation?

Obviously these laws shouldn’t be weakened or fully repealed because we do not want dirty money being hidden in New Zealand. It is both damaging to our international reputation and our economy.

But if promising to repeal already weak Anti-Money Laundering legislation wasn’t bad enough, Simon Bridges also wants to weaken workplace safety regulations right at a time when workplace deaths have increased, which is a terribly counter-intuitive idea.


Yesterday, RNZ reported:

National wants 'common-sense test' on health and safety regulations 
Bridges said one of the key elements to be announced today is a health and safety common-sense test. 
"This is not about compromising New Zealanders' safety but it is about recognising what small business owners are telling us every day, that regulations are creating a lot of cost and burden in this area without the benefit," he said.

It seems a bit ridiculous that the leader of the National Party is promising to repeal yet another act that was passed by the last National led Government. In fact the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 was a bill introduced by non other than Simon Bridges himself. By saying that it needs to be changed he’s simply admitting that National got it wrong in the first place.

Of course this has nothing to do with changing regulations for the benefit of New Zealand. Instead, Bridges is grandstanding and using people's misconception that substantial deregulation is required to help the economy. The National Party previously weakening building regulations, which led to the leaky building crisis, is testament to that not being correct.

However the main thing that these announcements tell us is that the National Party has no actual plan at all. Instead they're simply grasping at straws and barking at every passing car to gain attention, which with the mainstream medias complicity is going to make for a very long and tedious election campaign.
Published by the Jackal



18 Feb 2020

Another fraudulent $100K National Party donation


So the Serious Fraud Office has another secret $100,050 National Party donation before the Courts in a major scandal that looks set to quash any chances Simon Bridges had of winning the 2020 election.

Yesterday, Newsroom reported:

The Serious Fraud Office prosecution of four people over donations to the National Party involves not one but two $100,000 donations - in June 2017 and June 2018 
Court charging documents released to the media by order of Auckland District Court Judge Edwin Paul today show that three of the four defendants - whose names are suppressed ahead of a hearing next week - each face two joint charges of deception over a sum of $100,000 donated to National in 2017 and $100,050 donated to the party in 2018. The maximum penalty if convicted on the charge is seven years' imprisonment. 
The fourth person is charged jointly with the others only over the second $100,050 donation - but also faces one charge of providing misleading information to the SFO.

Of course misleading investigators is also an offence with the maximum penalty imprisonment for one year or a fine not exceeding $15,000.

The SFO describes the offending over the donations in these words: "The defendants adopted a fraudulent device, trick or stratagem whereby the ... donation was split into sums of money less than $15,000 and transferred into bank accounts of eight different people before being paid to, and retained by, the National Party."
For the fourth person's charge of misleading the SFO, the charging document says: "In the course of complying with a requirement ... of the Serious Fraud Act 1990 supplied information knowing it was false or misleading in a material particular." 
The SFO says of that charge that this defendant told investigators a $100,000 sum transferred to their account was a deposit for a building on another person's property - when the money had been intended as a donation to the National Party. Further, in 2019 the defendant created, signed and back-dated a contract to that end, when no real contract for that work existed. The office alleges the made-up contract copied wording from an unrelated contract.

Under the Crimes Act a person convicted of document falsification is liable to imprisonment for a term of up to 5 years or to a maximum fine of $200,000.

However the real kicker here is the charge documentation which indicates that the people being prosecuted were simply following the directions of the current National Party leader, Simon Bridges.

Here’s exactly what Bridges said while talking with Jami-Lee Ross about the secret $100,000 donation from Zhang Yikun.

Jami-Lee Ross: The money’s fine sitting there in the Botany account. I don’t know what your arrangement is with Goodfellow or not, that’s all. 
… 
Simon Bridges: So we need to tell them, I get that. I get that. I’m going to tell him – I think he’ll accept it, I just need to explain to him what it is I want it for.

Apparently Bridges wanted the secret $100,000 to pay for “some more attack ads” on the Government. As a side note, the National Party recently lost an appeal to the Advertising Standards Authority over a Facebook ad that had been ruled misleading.

Uh, unless I get him to come along to, unless I get him to – leave it with me, I might talk to McClay as well, see what he’s got up his sleeve. Cause Peter is going to be at this meeting with me in Wellington, that’s all. If I then brought him after that – good work though man, that’s a lot of money.

So there you have it...Bridges said he would talk to Peter Goodfellow, the President of the National Party, about how best to handle the secret $100,000 donation from Zhang Yikun, a wealthy Chinese businessman who was led to believe that he was paying for another Chinese MP to be instated in the National Party.


However what the other $100,050 hidden donation was paying for is at this stage anybody’s guess? In the absence of Simon Bridges coming clean, we're left to ponder about what exactly another large and secret payment to the National Party was actually purchasing?

There are some clues though. On Q+A last Sunday, Bridges had a disastrous interview where he let slip that if elected National would remove the foreign buyers ban that limits foreigners purchasing property in New Zealand. Perhaps this sort of policy change, which would obviously favour Chinese property investors who have substantial financial backing from their Government, is what the donor purchased with such a large sum of money?


Bridges removing this ban doesn’t make much political sense otherwise. In fact such a change would obviously worsen the housing crisis, a problematic issue that the National Party has been at pains to target in their numerous attack ads against the Labour led Government.

The fact that the unscrupulous National Party once again tried to hide a large donation means it was likely provided to pay for something that the voting public wouldn't accept or in the very least view with distaste. Why else would you attempt to hide such vast amount of money from public scrutiny? Why else would you mislead the SFO about it?

Simon Bridges really should be questioned thoroughly by our mainstream media about this, because he is ultimately responsible. As opposition leader he cannot distance himself from major fraudulent activity in the National Party that appears to be undertaken with his knowledge and consent.

The democratic country of New Zealand, which is apparently the least corrupt in the world, needs to make sure that elected officials act in the best interest of all citizens, not just those who can afford large and secret donations. Public officials being bought by the highest bidder isn’t an acceptable part of our political system, which must be changed to ensure that dishonest politicians who make policy for cash are removed from positions of power quickly and effectively.

Clearly Simon Bridges was directly involved in how at least one of the secret $100K donations were handled. The National Party should therefore be getting ready for a leadership change; otherwise they again risk trying to back somebody who is completely lacking in any semblance of credibility.
Published by the Jackal



20 Sept 2017

Bill English is incompetent


When John Key handed Bill English the poisoned chalice of a third term, it was pretty clear that the smiling assassin was getting out while the getting was good. After all, English had been largely left out of most of National’s major scandals over the last few years, unlike Key.

There are a few exceptions of course, like when English ripped off Parliamentary expenses by double dipping on his housing allowance.

But perhaps his biggest legacy is English often gifts government funding to unqualified businesses simply because they have ties to the National party. In fact favouritism for government contracts is one of the reasons National’s budgeting fails to reach surplus. English looks set to continue that corrupt practice by cutting funding to Lifeline, and instead gift a few million to an organisation his wife is running.

Reach further back into National's history, and we see a pro war MP arguing hard for New Zealand's tax haven status to be left alone. Begrudgingly the government has fiddled around the edges, while English continues his party's hopeless record on housing. Homeless Kiwis choose to be homeless, according to Bill.

English's argument against a review of the abortion law is similarly pathetic! And let’s not forget that he used his power of financial veto to kill Labour’s increase to paid parental leave... until the 2017 election race tightened and the National party conjured up the money to pay for their lolly scramble that is.

But perhaps the most egregious of English’s faults is that he believes children with disabilities should be segregated from other students in public schools. He also blames young unemployed Kiwis inability to pass drug tests as a reason why large numbers of overseas migrant workers are required. This is entirely untrue, and attests to the fact that National is happy for there to be 90,000 NEETs doing nothing in order to prop up our low waged economy. His refusal to even acknowledge exploited migrant workers is similarly repugnant!

More recently, English made good on his threat to people's retirement security by announcing an increase in the pension age.

And according to English, nobody knew Todd Barclay’s secret recording of a staffer's conversations could be illegal either. How incompetent would you need to be as a politician to not recall the teapot tape scandal? If anything, National’s obfuscation and lack of accountability over this and many other issues, by ignoring the Official Information Act, has become worse since a change in leadership.

The PM also claimed it was too hard to put a charge on water, while the National party secretly investigated ways to tax water. And despite all the evidence to the contrary, English still maintains that Steven Joyce’s imaginary fiscal hole is real. National's credibility looks shot to pieces after that fiasco.

Continuing on from their previous failure, English made further commitments this year to do nothing about mitigating climate change or reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. National even tried to hide an official report into the costly effects of climate change on New Zealand.

But if all that wasn’t bad enough, it appears that Bill English has also managed to cause, through his incompetence, the Auckland petrol crisis.

Today, the NZ Herald reported:

PM's key infrastructure plan didn't include fuel pipeline to Auckland

The fuel pipeline ruptured by a digger was left out of a "national infrastructure plan" overseen by Prime Minister Bill English despite warnings its loss could "cripple" Auckland transport.

The latest version of the plan developed by Treasury was released in 2015 has no mention of the pipeline from the Marsden Point refinery at Ruakaka to Auckland's Wiri terminal.

The pipeline has been shown as a critical link because it is the only way jet fuel gets to Auckland Airport.

That’s the problem with a government that doesn’t do its job properly… critical infrastructure breaks down.

But the weakness in the fuel supply was clearly highlighted in 2009 when the National Party put Treasury to work fulfilling a campaign pledge that it would develop a National Infrastructure Plan when it first came to power.

English announced the plan as Minister of Finance in 2009, saying it would "plan and rank New Zealand's key infrastructure needs so that projects that provide the greatest economic benefit are prioritised".

But when the Northland Regional Council reviewed the preliminary list produced in 2009, it said "the council considers that the nationally significant issue of fuel supply is currently missing" from a Treasury briefing paper calling for submissions.

Incompetent Bill English and the National party are clearly unfit to be in charge of a country as great as Aotearoa. So let’s get out there and change the government.
Published by the Jackal



19 Sept 2017

National has failed our health system

Along with a number of other worsening sectors in New Zealand, the public health system has become increasingly degraded under a National led government. The statistics clearly show a complete failure to meet growing demand for services, especially in peak winter conditions.

But it’s not just an underfunded health system that's causing harm. The housing crisis has worsened, whereby cold, damp and unhealthy houses are the norm for generation rent. This is causing a huge upswing in preventable diseases. National has also ensured that the cost of living has increased dramatically in proportion to poor people's incomes... again causing dire effects.

Today, the NZ Herald reported:

Number of New Zealand children hospitalised with malnutrition doubles as food costs bite

Malnutrition is putting twice as many kids in hospital compared with 10 years ago, as food prices continue to bite into household incomes.

Child hospitalisation data shows around 120 children a year now have overnight stays due to nutritional deficiencies and anaemia, compared to an average 60 a decade ago.

Doctors say poor nutrition is also a factor in a significant proportion of the rest of the 40,000 annual child hospitalisations linked to poverty - and that vitamin deficiencies are more common in New Zealand compared to similar countries.

There's no denying that National has systematically underfunded the public health system.


They've also caused poor people to not have enough money to feed their kids.

Clearly there’s a disproportionate amount of harm being caused to people trapped in poverty by uncaring politicians. Only a change in government will help to resolve these problems. So come on New Zealand, do your civic duty and vote the bastards out.
Published by the Jackal



Collins and the swamp kauri petrol crisis


The ruptured fuel pipe that runs to Auckland Airport looks set to cause more chaos as fuel shortages start to impede people trying to fill up at the pump.

Already a number of international flights have been diverted or cancelled due to fuel shortages. Private jets are also reported to be avoiding New Zealand.

The cost to our reputation because of this crisis should not be underestimated.

Today, the NZ Herald reported:

Fuel runs out at petrol stations, more flights cancelled

Four Auckland service stations ran out of 95 octane petrol yesterday - and more could run out today - as thousands of air passengers again face a day of cancelled flights.

Z Energy said it would be able to replenish the fuel today and told motorists there was no cause for concern.

So who exactly is to blame for digging up an essential fuel line?

Yesterday, the NZ Herald reported:

New swamp kauri claims over ruptured pipeline - they were 'digging around for a log'

Digging at the site of the critical fuel pipeline was identified as an "exploratory" search for swamp kauri the day before the rupture happened, according to an industry insider with stories of the extraordinary wealth attached to excavating the buried logs.

Northland's Milton Randell was driving past the site of the pipeline rupture near Ruakaka, just south of Whangarei, last Wednesday, saw the earthworks and believed he was seeing the signs of a swamp kauri hunt.

Randell has 40 years experience in digging swamp kauri out of the ground and would be one of the most experienced to have worked in the industry.

His immediate impulse was to think it was a swamp kauri site - the same detail the NZ Herald was provided by a source familiar with the response to the rupture of the nation's only fuel line to Auckland.

Surely a business the Minister of Energy and Resources is involved with isn't to blame? After all, Judith Collins had already denied any knowledge about who caused the leak.

On Monday, Stuff reported:

Paula Bennett and Judith Collins lament Auckland Airport jet fuel crisis

As to how much it would cost the Auckland economy, Collins said she couldn't say but it's a "big imposition" and that could cost millions and millions of dollars.

Collins said she didn't know who the company was who had the digger that would have caused this damage.

She said it could have happened months or even years ago and the insulation of the pipe was affected by the digging,  suggesting that the pipe could have corroded.

Nobody has yet said who the company at fault is exactly. In fact some journalists are acting like it’s not their job to find out.

Thankfully there are other means available to gain information.

Obviously the National led government isn't going to say who's at fault. Therefore the mainstream media need to do their jobs and get to the bottom of who exactly caused this multi million-dollar fuel shortage crisis. Because if they don’t it looks like more favouritism for the National party.
Published by the Jackal



Winston Peters hijacks National's protest

There was a lot of anticipation surrounding a farmer’s protest in Morrinsville yesterday, a protest over Labour’s proposed levy of 1 to 2 cents per 1000 litres of water used for irrigation.

Federated Farmers and Dairy NZ in particular have been campaigning strongly for the National party this election, and trying to rally the rural troops against any water levy or pollution tax, often by pitting town against country.

You could tell Labour was a bit worried about what a protest of this nature could signify, because a similar protest in 2002 gained the nations attention and solidified many farmers against Helen Clark's government.

New Labour leader Jacinda Ardern even held a meeting in Hamilton to front foot the issue.

On Sunday, the NZ Herald reported:

Jacinda Ardern takes proactive stance on planned Waikato farmer protest

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern has taken a pre-emptive strike against Waikato farmers planning a protest meeting tomorrow, saying Waikato rivers are among the worst polluted.

Ardern has been criticised for policies targeting the primary sector such as water charges to pay for river cleanups and bringing agriculture into the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Hamilton, Ardern was unrepentant, saying New Zealand had to ensure its environment was as clean and green as it claimed.

Back in the day when farmers could work their way into farm ownership, National MP Bill English campaigned for the agriculture sector by sitting on a tractor outside Parliament buildings and displaying a sign that read; ‘The mad cow shouldn’t have signed’.

The offensive message was in relation to Labour agreeing to reduce New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, which in hindsight and considering the devastation climate change is causing around the world, looks even more unbecoming today.

National's recent attempt to reignite their negative fart tax campaign is similarly repugnant. All it tells us is that English is pining for the past.

Fast forward to 2017 and the tractor Myrtle he posed on is still the centre of attention. But it didn’t take long for the wheels to fall off National’s much vaunted Morrinsville protest.

The first signs of a malfunction occurred when farmers held up more signs clearly designed to cause offence. Verbal arguments ensued between National and NZ First supporters.

Then, after Bob Appleton drove Myrtle the tractor at a group of NZ First supporters, catching one on the foot, the unthinkable happened... Winston Peters grabbed the loud hailer and stole National’s fart tax thunder.


Some news agencies put the protest numbers at 500 to 600 people, most of them close to retirement. Others who attended said there were around 200 to 300 people, many of them NZ First supporters.

This is extraordinary being that the event received widespread advertisement on both our main broadcasting networks as well as a number of widely read publications.

The main reason National's protest failed to fire is because English overcooked the issue.

On Sunday, Scoop reported:

Q+A: Bill English

I mean, there is one answer – slaughter the dairy herd. I suppose that would help. Then next thing they’ll be talking about how to depopulate cities because they cause pollution. Well, that doesn’t make sense.

Because of his apocalyptic statement the Prime Minister continues to be the butt of many a fine joke. In fact he’s looking decidedly isolated because of National’s pro-pollution position.

One of the reasons for a low turnout at National’s protest is because the Labour party has always held rural communities and the industries that make them tick in high regard. It’s arguable that Labour under Helen Clark did more for farmers than the National party ever has, particularly in regards to tax reform and trade agreements.

English looks terribly foolish by trying to convince farmers that their businesses won't be viable if Jacinda Ardern and Labour win the election. Over-inflating the proposed levy and running negative attack adds about a fart tax simply doesn’t wash in a world where information on the actual numbers and Labour's policy is freely available online.

Who exactly is National trying to convince with such adverts anyway?

After nine long years of stagnation many rural communities will be looking for better environmental and economic solutions. In the last few days it’s become even more apparent that only a change of government will provide them.
Published by the Jackal



18 Sept 2017

Corin Dann demolishes PM

The mainstream media in New Zealand often lets National get away with murder. Contrast for instance any number of their scandals over the 2017 election campaign with Helen Clark signing a painting for charity (paintergate), and you can see a clear and present bias within most of our media outlets.

That's why it's so extraordinary when an interviewer actually takes National to task over their numerous political faults.

When you put those shortcomings and a lack of vision up against a well-informed presenter it culminates in an interview yesterday on Q+A showing just how under pressure and out of touch Bill English really is.

In fact Corin Dann blew National's negative campaign strategy of scaremongering about tax out of the water with a number of cutting questions the PM struggled to answer.

If you haven't seen the interview already, it's well worth checking out:

English trying to defend his pig-headed finance Minister with an entirely lame argument meant he was an easy picking for Dann, who demolished the National party leader like he was a badly made toy. The PM's stress at being asked some hard questions was palpable.

Because of this excellent interview, Corin Dann is now trending on Twitter. Let's hope more journalists take note and turn up the heat on what is perhaps New Zealand's worst right wing government ever.
Published by the Jackal



National's media pets turn blind eye

I was hoping that after Murray McCully's claim that he’d received legal advice from MFAT about a Saudi sheep deal gone wrong was proven entirely false, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Bill English, would be grilled by the media about what he knew and when he knew it.

Clearly the Minister of Foreign Affairs lied to the public, journalists and the House of Representatives by saying MFAT's legal team had advised the National led government to pay a huge bribe to a Saudi businessman in order to stop him suing New Zealand.

But what isn't so clear is who in National knew that McCully was lying?

On Friday, Radio NZ reported:

Saudi sheep deal: MFAT didn't provide legal advice on lawsuit risk

The admission that no legal advice on the lawsuit threat ever existed directly contradicts comments in 2015 by then-Foreign Minister Murray McCully that the ministry had taken advice on the issue.

The National government did an $11.5 million deal with Saudi businessman Hamood Al Ali Al Khalaf after Cabinet was advised in February 2013 that the Al Khalaf Group was threatening to sue New Zealand for $20-$30m. Mr Al Khalaf had invested heavily in New Zealand and believed New Zealand's 2003 ban on live exports had left him misled and out of pocket.

The deal included using taxpayer funds to build Mr Al Khalaf a $6m agrihub farm in the Saudi desert, as well as flying in over 900 sheep and handing over $4m in cash.

Being that English was the Minister of Finance at the time and would have been involved in the $11.5 million payout to Hamood Al Ali Al Khalaf, you would think journalists would be asking him some hard questions about McCully's fake legal advice?

Instead, they reported him playing with kittens. On the next day he played with a Weta.


The media should forget about the cute animal stories and instead be asking if English knew McCully was lying about the legal advice from MFAT and paid the bribe anyway?

Journalists should be grilling the PM over who exactly within the National party leaked Winston Peters’ pension details in order to conduct a smear campaign? They should be holding English’s feet to the flames over a potential breach in our national security.

Because if the media doesn't do their jobs, then the government will never realise there's consequences over and above the ones voters can impose at the ballot box.
Published by the Jackal



16 Sept 2017

Graphs to help you vote

Here are a few interesting graphs that show how the various party policies stack up, how the National led government has performed over the last nine years and some that show how previous government's performed as well.

Published by the Jackal