17 Comments

Stuff I didn't know, is great to understand and so nice to know.

I love your articles Craig. They are all super helpful!

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Agreed

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I believe that 50% of the Govt. tax revenue comes from PAYE, so why wouldn't a govt take care of the job market instead of causing unemployment especially as local businesses are also folding as cost keep rising. National don't seemed at all concerned about rising costs like power, rates, insurance, etc. What have they done aside from talk utter nonsense. Why can't we have local investment instead of overseas? Do you think Project 25 is influencing this govt? Etc. Etc.

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All of the above

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Look forward to hearing more, thanks for keeping us informed.

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Maybe you could mentor Nicola?You certainly have a lot of knowledge that would help her!!!

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Mentor? REPLACE!

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BTW Craig, love your thinking and your energy.

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Thank you for laying this out so clearly, even though it is daunting.

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Thank you, Craig—great article! You’ve succinctly explained the budget process and highlighted the ‘smoke signals’ we might see in the lead-up to Budget 2025. As always, highly informative—I’ll be keeping an ear out for those key phrases in the coming months.

I agree that we may be seeking a second opinion in late 2025 or into 2026. But can the opposition’s ‘medical team’ offer a viable alternative that truly resonates with us ‘patient’ voters? Are they prepared to trial radical new economic treatments that might actually cure our collective economic ills? Or can the current government stop dishing out ‘tough medicine’ placebos and instead take a more holistic approach to our shared wellbeing?

Unfortunately, I remain sceptical. I hope to be proven wrong, but I suspect we’ll be presented with little more than the usual snake-oil remedies over the next 18 months.

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Totally happy to go out and limb here and bet the farm on: they haven’t got a plan. Nice work Craig. Diving into the numbers like you have is akin to watching a slow moving train wreck.

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How does the billion or so extra for superannuation slot in to this?

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Janet - Superannuation is treated as a welfare payment - known technically as a BOUE (appropriations for benefits or other unrequited expenses). It doesn’t affect the operating or capital allowance, unless it represents a change in the settings (i.e. an increase or decrease in the payments outside of the legislated changes).

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Thanks!

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Certainly one if the highlights when you appear with Pat and Chewie on the BHN podcasts. You know what's going on, probably before the government does. Thank you for what you do.

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Keep on keeping on Craig. We need you. Thanks so much for your work.

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Craig, how healthy is the union movement in New Zealand? Are working people engaged with what is happening?

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