"The Taxpayers' Union stands for value for money for government spending. We want our politicians spending money as if they'd worked as hard the taxpayers who earned it and argue that new taxes should only be introduced when there are equal decreases in other taxes. We believe in a fair and efficient tax system. We are not a political party, nor are we aligned to any. We promote sensible restraint of government expenditure by: scrutinising government spending; publicising government waste; arguing for an end to corporate and union welfare; and promoting an efficient tax system."
Breaking Views brings you expert commentary on topical political and policy issues. The views expressed are those of the author alone. The blog is administered by the New Zealand Centre for Political Research, an independent public policy think tank at NZCPR.com.
The BFD .. brand of news, opinion, analysis and entertainment is finding fertile ground with an audience that is feeling abandoned by traditional news media.
"We are now One People" - New Zealand is a great nation built on the foundation that all of us will be assured the same rights before the law. Hobson’s Pledge believes in the importance of moving forward as one to allow us to focus on what unites us as a nation and overcome the challenges that would seek to divide us. We will continue to advocate for equality and unity. Our focus is to build awareness and to prevent legislation, policy and regulations that will differentiate New Zealanders based upon their ethnicity or ancestry. It is only through being informed and understanding the truth that we can have honest discussions and achieve the best outcomes for those that are in need. We invite you to take the time to understand the issues that are facing our nation. It is through this knowledge and understanding that we can move forward as one.
The sites above can present some interesting material and discussions which are worthy of some evaluation and contemplation in reviewing our governance and societal direction and, in that regard, are a vital party of the protection of our democratic system. Sadly, the increasingly less-independent main-stream media (MSM) appears to have cast aside its watchdog function and is unlikely to present such content.
I personally proffer neither support nor opposition for any particular content or its presentation as such, but merely seek to engender a continuing demand by citizens for such information, review and debate - eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
As with all media, formal or informal, I caution readers to constantly consider whether any included 'facts' and 'data' are/can be verified and substantiated, or merely opinion which may be 'fake news', and whether the author's opinions constitute an abuse of others.
I am now a disenchanted, infrequent reader of NZ main-stream media, and witness more harm than good in the 'social media space', so my sources of news on our changing society are limited. I hope that my lens for what I do examine is one of just common sense, but acknowledge there may be confusion, misinformation, or insufficient information. By way of remedy, I solicit information and analysis from any reader who cares to email a response.
I am confused over our country's expenditure policies after reading:
"... was one of 194 children flown from all over the country to receive specialist treatment at Auckland’s Starship Children’s Hospital in 2019. But with the charity-funded Starship National Air Ambulance Service’s running costs totalling about $1.5 million a year, the vital service relies on the generosity of Kiwis to keep it going, so the country's sickest children get a second chance at life."
At the same time I see literally thousands of millions of dollars of debt-derived government funding being poured into blackholes with what appears to be either no or vague review and accountablility attached. The numbers simply no longer make any sense to me, and the 'return' often seems to be to the detriment, rather than the benefit, of the nation as a whole. Public funds appear increasingly to be chanelled toward social manipulation and pork-barrelling, vote-buying corruptions rather than the functioning of the nation.
I am confused over our country's MIQ policy after reading of the continuing corrupt mess that has resulted:
People arrive by plane ...
People arriving by plane must then go into MIQ ...
So why aren't the two intimately tied so that the purchase of the plane ticket carries with it the MIQ place allocated.
Allocate the airlines so many arrival flights and and so many associated MIQ places, and let them run it. They can collect the MIQ charges associated as part of the enhanced flight fare and remit it to the government.
If more MIQ capacity becomes available, the airlines get the OK for increased associated flights and vice versa. The government can reserve a set percentage, say 10%, of MIQ capacity beyond that allocated to the airlines for its own contingency/compassionate cases, and let the airlines have access to this on short-notice 'stand-by' logic if not being currently used.
Wouldn't this give us: no people with flight but without MIQ place, no people with MIQ place but without flight, no MIQ bots, hoarding or scalping ... and no government prepared to let $500 million of MIQ fees slide into a blackhole, likely never to be repaid to the NZ taxpayer (although, of course, the taxpayers liability to the government bond holder will remain and interest will be paid).
I am confused over how an overtly divisive and racist statement by an MP in our government is not condemned in our society:
Here (website), Ngarewa-Packer, a list Member of our Parliament, lets us know that ethnicity trumps all other abilities and characteristics. In any other nation wouldn't this would be shown appropriate contempt and the person involved castigated for promoting racial disharmony and division?
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said while they had no official view on the National leadership, they backed Bridges over Collins.
"Simon Bridges works extremely hard in the House. And he has whakapapa ... Te Pāti Māori will always back whakapapa. Doesn't matter whether he asserts it or not, he has got whakapapa and the more Māori leaders we have the better. Maybe if he gets another shot he'll do more for his Māori side." ...
Ngarewa-Packer has been outspoken about her distaste for Collins' politics and previously stated the party, which had previously formed a coalition with National, would never work with her ... "She emboldens racists. I could never support a leader that does that."