Nice work Craig. The damage these guys have delivered trying to get back-on-track with growth-growth-growth has deeply scarred New Zealand’s economy and its society. I’m looking forward to the next Michael Savage taking over in 2026.
Thank you for a hopeful outlook. Something positive at last.
The propaganda/misinformation deluge will be intense - how to deal effectively with that?
Informing the voters to understand what the choice is will be vital! Galvanising the people who will benefit most (all of us?!) to vote for the change we need will be a huge task. Any suggestions?
Never forget...a lot of Grifters are making serious money from the Maori scam, hence it's almost impossible to stop unless we get political leadership with real balls courage and a laser focus on the task to defeat the massive corruption that is maorification.
Sorry - I hate to do this - but please go away and never darken my door again. When you say “Grifters” are using the “Māori Scam” you are either being intentionally ignorant or racist. I have time for neither.
Mana Whenua have faced systematic abuse and injustice as recognised in the court system and in the Waitangi Tribunal. I stand with them.
We don’t build a better Aotearoa by pretending the past never happened or by failing to learn from it. For Māori, Pasifika, Migrants, Women, and others who face discrimination.
Thats what real courage to face the truth looks like. Acknowledging it doesn’t make anything about it you less. It makes us all stronger.
As a Maori, Ngatiawa BOP your comments reak of the feeble pakeha disingenuous pretence underpinning the moral and ethical collapse of what was once a proud purposefull productive and enterprise nation now fully in the downward spiral that only the witch doctors and mystical nonsense can produce...you and your ideology can't win if New Zealand is to prosper and survive...God bless you and we pray for you recovery and salvation 🙏
🤦 As another of Maori heritage, you are proof that there are bad actors in EVERY part of society & that ANYONE can be a racist 🤬. Now, please take your garbage to the bin & hop in with it - the bin man will be by in the morning to take you to your proper habitat 💩
This an excellent very informative read, and if we don't keep on top of this ignorant, irresponsible, dangerous coalition we are going down the gurgler. I really hope Labour, are making the most of the coalitions errors and finding good solid solutions to them. We know how nasty and low this coalition will go so Labour need to toughen up on the Coalitions constant spread of misinformation, blatant lies and blaming Labour for everything.
Austerity has never worked anywhere. We are the economy & we need to spend money. Stopping building homes & infrastructure projects is ridiculous & thus we see our people leaving!
The current coalition NACTNZF government we have are paid by conservative patriarchal bigots, the same people who have bankrolled Trump in the USA, Heritage Foundation there and Atlas Network here.
Same funders, same goals (handmaid's tale).
Time to put the brakes on it all to save our lives and existences except those like you who seek to keep the inherently inequitable unnatural patriarchal binary status quo system for their own selfish gain.
Anyone anti-woke is just peddling white supremacy (racism).
I so agree with your conclusions. Since the coalition took a chainsaw to the economy I've been tempted to send them a copy of Tony Simpson's poignant account of the Great Depression - The Sugarbag Years.
When those who don't give a damn about politics are induced to vote expect them to support the most credible leader on the day not policies. Policies are important for those who have the time and money to follow politics and they can be expected to vote for the Party which promises tax reductions and untaxed capital gain. As NZ bleeds young kiwi to Oz and meaningful jobs are vanished by machines that 1930s groundswell may well re-occur
I don't know - that doesn't answer why the recent surge n support for NZ1. I think there will be many looking for a middle of the road party who don't see Labour as such, hence their shift towards NZ1. I also think we are up against the ability of money - lots of it- to manipulate our daily talk in such a way that any party on the left is seen as poisonous.
Hi Liz. No-one knows and I sure don't. Historically tho, those who have the right to vote do not exercise it especially if they are struggling to simply survive and so we get 40% mandates from what I call "the comfortable." The blue teams focus on the hip pocket nerve - simple and effective. NZ1's helmsman is a skilled waka jumper. When he goes, hopefully not soon, because his project to sink BrownLee is unfinished business, I think NZ1 as we know it will go under
I agree that the "comfortable" will keep voting as they do. But I have recently attended two Labour party meetings in two different townships - the audience at both were largely white haired and female. I think many others, especially younger folk, are looking for something different. For example, there is a fair bit of talk on line about the TOP party's proposed "citizens' assembly" approach and at least one other new "moderate" party has been registered - in Canterbury. If these inspire enough to vote for them, then maybe they could get a seat. But they could also divide the necessary opposition to the current lot, letting them back for a second round. Saints preserve us! The challenge is to get this lot out, but also to do things differently.
Labour are centrist, we don't need centrist views shifting the overtone window ever further right because they have no kahunas to go back to their roots. The 70s left when neoliberalism came in.
Thank you Craig, I feel so depressed about it all. I wish that some new innovative thought was put towards the use of money and how it is created. I am a novice with economic theory but am interested in sovereign money creation and Basic Income.
Current government is corrupt and the policies are driven by corporate lobbyists. Unfortunately it follows 40 years of neoliberalism that has given us underfunded infrastructure such as roads, schools, hospitals. Pre 1990 we had government departments that trained our own people to be tradespeople, scientists, health practioners, etc - now we have to import those people with these skills while young people are ripped off by students loans.
So the current storm of cost-of-living crisis and other problems has been brewing for decades - and where is our generation's Michael Joseph Savage?
Labour has done what National would do when in power, they had a mandate in 2020 and could have acted to change the direction of government, but did nothing. I was so disappointed in Jacinda Ardern's govt. - but she was just 1 person - where was the rest of the Labour party driving ideas and policies to return to being an actual left wing government? Chris Hopkins is missing in action, and I have NO confidence in his leadership
Always love your perspective. Amused they haven’t followed the full play book and not cut pensioned- even for those who have means, it shows how vital the boomer vote is to the coalition.
Yes, the promotion of Citizens' Assemblies is attention getting, especially at a time when so many of us feel we are not being heard or represented as we wish. Porirua has set up a Citizen's Assembly with volunteer representatives from every sector of that multicultural community, and every age group, and from all accounts this is functioning well. I think some other places are also setting these up. They work well overseas, so maybe we should be more adventurous and seriously consider these here. The following is from the Nelson-Marlborough climate forum https://www.nelsontasmanclimateforum.nz/2023/03/20/citizens-assemblies-and-a-path-forward-in-new-zealand/
We need to set these up as an alternative to central government then just get rid of the government. Time for real change, not just shuffling the deckchairs on the titanic while it sink.
But the modern left are very different to the original left of that era, and unlike them would not have a clue how they used sovereign credit borrowed from no private banks, to pull us out of the depression.
And given that you did not mention such an important policy in that time of our history, maybe you don't know of it either.
A comprehensive account of it, I have put together, can be found here:
Love your mahi! How do we challenge mindsets that Labour governments are wasteful, spray money through an open hose at any problem, get hoodwinked by contractors and consultants to spend 'far too much' on X project/service because they are dumb financial managers who aren't watching the pennies and are not ensuring good 'cost:benefit' ratios? How do we challenge the right wing narrative that it's DEI and 'Maorification' and laws/policies that are 'rascist' because they 'favor' Maori that are to blame for hospital wait times or chalkenges finding a job? The right wing cialition narrative leads people to believe they lost their job because of 'bad Jacindas lockdowns meant businesses closed' so 'I lost my job' (rather than the impact of covid on economies was felt globally, and in retrospect it's all too easy to trade those 20k lives saved for a 'better' economy). Or to believe that too-Pro Maori Labour govt means someone's young son with a PHd can't find a job 'cause a Maori got it through DEI' (rather than because we're in a recession and jobs are real hard to come by?). These are the narratives being used to explain economic circumstances so that some other person or group of people can be blamed (easier to look down than accept weve been sold a terrible economic lie) . Like the growing working poor and gutted lower/middle classes of England blaming immigrants and Americans blaming Mexicans for their impoverished circumstances.
I suggest you all read the linked post in Global Economics Context post above. To me, it appears to offer a valid way of recovering from our current dire situation.
Nice work Craig. The damage these guys have delivered trying to get back-on-track with growth-growth-growth has deeply scarred New Zealand’s economy and its society. I’m looking forward to the next Michael Savage taking over in 2026.
That seems optimistic, and we need John A Lee more
Thank you for a hopeful outlook. Something positive at last.
The propaganda/misinformation deluge will be intense - how to deal effectively with that?
Informing the voters to understand what the choice is will be vital! Galvanising the people who will benefit most (all of us?!) to vote for the change we need will be a huge task. Any suggestions?
Thanks Craig, for putting it so plainly, and giving us hope - for a change !!!
Never forget...a lot of Grifters are making serious money from the Maori scam, hence it's almost impossible to stop unless we get political leadership with real balls courage and a laser focus on the task to defeat the massive corruption that is maorification.
Sorry - I hate to do this - but please go away and never darken my door again. When you say “Grifters” are using the “Māori Scam” you are either being intentionally ignorant or racist. I have time for neither.
Mana Whenua have faced systematic abuse and injustice as recognised in the court system and in the Waitangi Tribunal. I stand with them.
We don’t build a better Aotearoa by pretending the past never happened or by failing to learn from it. For Māori, Pasifika, Migrants, Women, and others who face discrimination.
Thats what real courage to face the truth looks like. Acknowledging it doesn’t make anything about it you less. It makes us all stronger.
👏👍Thanks Craig - on Substack you the writer can block racist garbage which is NOT "debate", & save the rest of us from the pollution 🤢🤮
As a Maori, Ngatiawa BOP your comments reak of the feeble pakeha disingenuous pretence underpinning the moral and ethical collapse of what was once a proud purposefull productive and enterprise nation now fully in the downward spiral that only the witch doctors and mystical nonsense can produce...you and your ideology can't win if New Zealand is to prosper and survive...God bless you and we pray for you recovery and salvation 🙏
🤦 As another of Maori heritage, you are proof that there are bad actors in EVERY part of society & that ANYONE can be a racist 🤬. Now, please take your garbage to the bin & hop in with it - the bin man will be by in the morning to take you to your proper habitat 💩
@craig renney very well said
@Stewart Bennett do give over with your bigotted nonsense
So you think objective truth and reason is bigotry…I say don't fall for popularist obfuscations and bolx...
No chance I ll be taking any advice from you or your sort…”the perpetually wrong people”
We pray 🙏 for your tortured soul
Objective truth and reason ONLY.
Try it sometime…change your miserable grovelling life…Swarbrich is not the answer….she is a symptom of our malaise
Think you need to move over to X for this type of personally offensive post ... or put your big boy pants on and stay.
This an excellent very informative read, and if we don't keep on top of this ignorant, irresponsible, dangerous coalition we are going down the gurgler. I really hope Labour, are making the most of the coalitions errors and finding good solid solutions to them. We know how nasty and low this coalition will go so Labour need to toughen up on the Coalitions constant spread of misinformation, blatant lies and blaming Labour for everything.
Bigger wasteful government is never the answer...NEVER
That's why this coalition has to be 1 term only.
Austerity has never worked anywhere. We are the economy & we need to spend money. Stopping building homes & infrastructure projects is ridiculous & thus we see our people leaving!
The current coalition NACTNZF government we have are paid by conservative patriarchal bigots, the same people who have bankrolled Trump in the USA, Heritage Foundation there and Atlas Network here.
Same funders, same goals (handmaid's tale).
Time to put the brakes on it all to save our lives and existences except those like you who seek to keep the inherently inequitable unnatural patriarchal binary status quo system for their own selfish gain.
Anyone anti-woke is just peddling white supremacy (racism).
And what is woke? What Offends Klansmen Easily
Utter bolix... shallowness to the max..
Socialism burns 🥵 your money
Found an ACT voter. "Socialism burns your money" ... whereas capitalism is stealing from the many to give to the few.
The point is to make sure you are one of the few…like the US Marines…fool
Clearly does not get capitalism is voluntary transations…
You’re a fucking racist submoron.
Yawwwwwnnn, is that it big guy
Great post, thanks for the Aotearoa Reimagined link. Looks like a plan which we've had precious few of lately
I so agree with your conclusions. Since the coalition took a chainsaw to the economy I've been tempted to send them a copy of Tony Simpson's poignant account of the Great Depression - The Sugarbag Years.
When those who don't give a damn about politics are induced to vote expect them to support the most credible leader on the day not policies. Policies are important for those who have the time and money to follow politics and they can be expected to vote for the Party which promises tax reductions and untaxed capital gain. As NZ bleeds young kiwi to Oz and meaningful jobs are vanished by machines that 1930s groundswell may well re-occur
Another 'vision' document is the Green's budget - https://assets.nationbuilder.com/beachheroes/pages/39988/attachments/original/1749098273/Budget_ONLINE.pdf?1749098273
Haven't seen anything similar from Labour - which is a worry.
Labour is scared of frightening the landlords in the Party. Thing is the landlords bolted a year ago
I don't know - that doesn't answer why the recent surge n support for NZ1. I think there will be many looking for a middle of the road party who don't see Labour as such, hence their shift towards NZ1. I also think we are up against the ability of money - lots of it- to manipulate our daily talk in such a way that any party on the left is seen as poisonous.
Hi Liz. No-one knows and I sure don't. Historically tho, those who have the right to vote do not exercise it especially if they are struggling to simply survive and so we get 40% mandates from what I call "the comfortable." The blue teams focus on the hip pocket nerve - simple and effective. NZ1's helmsman is a skilled waka jumper. When he goes, hopefully not soon, because his project to sink BrownLee is unfinished business, I think NZ1 as we know it will go under
I agree that the "comfortable" will keep voting as they do. But I have recently attended two Labour party meetings in two different townships - the audience at both were largely white haired and female. I think many others, especially younger folk, are looking for something different. For example, there is a fair bit of talk on line about the TOP party's proposed "citizens' assembly" approach and at least one other new "moderate" party has been registered - in Canterbury. If these inspire enough to vote for them, then maybe they could get a seat. But they could also divide the necessary opposition to the current lot, letting them back for a second round. Saints preserve us! The challenge is to get this lot out, but also to do things differently.
@Liz Francis agreed. Though I personally have no idea how anyone thinks of Labour as extreme anything. I wish they were.
Labour are centrist, we don't need centrist views shifting the overtone window ever further right because they have no kahunas to go back to their roots. The 70s left when neoliberalism came in.
@kiera actually with you tbh
I do hope so
Thank you Craig, I feel so depressed about it all. I wish that some new innovative thought was put towards the use of money and how it is created. I am a novice with economic theory but am interested in sovereign money creation and Basic Income.
Current government is corrupt and the policies are driven by corporate lobbyists. Unfortunately it follows 40 years of neoliberalism that has given us underfunded infrastructure such as roads, schools, hospitals. Pre 1990 we had government departments that trained our own people to be tradespeople, scientists, health practioners, etc - now we have to import those people with these skills while young people are ripped off by students loans.
So the current storm of cost-of-living crisis and other problems has been brewing for decades - and where is our generation's Michael Joseph Savage?
Labour has done what National would do when in power, they had a mandate in 2020 and could have acted to change the direction of government, but did nothing. I was so disappointed in Jacinda Ardern's govt. - but she was just 1 person - where was the rest of the Labour party driving ideas and policies to return to being an actual left wing government? Chris Hopkins is missing in action, and I have NO confidence in his leadership
Look to the Greens and TPM for real change, leave labour out in the cold for a change and go hard left to save us all.
It seems true that the conditions are right, but does Labour have any of its 1931 vision and energy?
Always love your perspective. Amused they haven’t followed the full play book and not cut pensioned- even for those who have means, it shows how vital the boomer vote is to the coalition.
Thanks Craig. Reimagining Aotearoa is also a hopeful piece of work and aligns with Green's and The Opportunities Party policy, as far as I can see.
I hope there is work behind the scenes to influence Labour.
TOP has recently put out a policy on Citizens Assembly, and I think that would also be well received by supporters of your work.
This is a wealthy country that can and should provide for everyone, not just a few selfish individuals.
Yes, the promotion of Citizens' Assemblies is attention getting, especially at a time when so many of us feel we are not being heard or represented as we wish. Porirua has set up a Citizen's Assembly with volunteer representatives from every sector of that multicultural community, and every age group, and from all accounts this is functioning well. I think some other places are also setting these up. They work well overseas, so maybe we should be more adventurous and seriously consider these here. The following is from the Nelson-Marlborough climate forum https://www.nelsontasmanclimateforum.nz/2023/03/20/citizens-assemblies-and-a-path-forward-in-new-zealand/
We need to set these up as an alternative to central government then just get rid of the government. Time for real change, not just shuffling the deckchairs on the titanic while it sink.
I'm sorry Craig,
But the modern left are very different to the original left of that era, and unlike them would not have a clue how they used sovereign credit borrowed from no private banks, to pull us out of the depression.
And given that you did not mention such an important policy in that time of our history, maybe you don't know of it either.
A comprehensive account of it, I have put together, can be found here:
https://nzglobaleconomicscontext.substack.com/p/a-concise-history-of-the-reserve
Love your mahi! How do we challenge mindsets that Labour governments are wasteful, spray money through an open hose at any problem, get hoodwinked by contractors and consultants to spend 'far too much' on X project/service because they are dumb financial managers who aren't watching the pennies and are not ensuring good 'cost:benefit' ratios? How do we challenge the right wing narrative that it's DEI and 'Maorification' and laws/policies that are 'rascist' because they 'favor' Maori that are to blame for hospital wait times or chalkenges finding a job? The right wing cialition narrative leads people to believe they lost their job because of 'bad Jacindas lockdowns meant businesses closed' so 'I lost my job' (rather than the impact of covid on economies was felt globally, and in retrospect it's all too easy to trade those 20k lives saved for a 'better' economy). Or to believe that too-Pro Maori Labour govt means someone's young son with a PHd can't find a job 'cause a Maori got it through DEI' (rather than because we're in a recession and jobs are real hard to come by?). These are the narratives being used to explain economic circumstances so that some other person or group of people can be blamed (easier to look down than accept weve been sold a terrible economic lie) . Like the growing working poor and gutted lower/middle classes of England blaming immigrants and Americans blaming Mexicans for their impoverished circumstances.
I suggest you all read the linked post in Global Economics Context post above. To me, it appears to offer a valid way of recovering from our current dire situation.
Sounds great - do we acknowledge our monetary sovereignty or not? Are we squandering it?
The first labour govt claimed our monetary sovereignty, and it’s been in retreat ever since (?)
Public finance seems key, a public option vital. For industry and nation. More power to you
I would be interested in your thoughts on a Land Tax +Wealth Tax rather than a CGTax?
And Yes to more Citizens Assemblies .💪