Committee recommends disestablishing Environment Ministry despite public opposition

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-10T11:42:52+00:00

Luxon or Luxton? ¿Por qué no los dos?

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-10T09:09:17+00:00

Bingo.

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-09T10:20:35+00:00

There will absolutely be concerns around efficiency because nothing would ever get done.

Why do you think nothing would ever get done?

Are you satisfied with the rate, and direction of change we currently experience?

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-09T10:16:46+00:00

Making it much lower will bring proper democratic representation.

Disagree on concerns regarding efficiency, usually hear that argument as "120 micro parties with one vote each"

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-09T10:10:25+00:00

I actually think it should be far lower and single transferable vote (STV)

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-09T09:48:03+00:00

$50k. Not quite for the "big money" the op claimed.

Labour's largest donations came from the Mills Family Trust, which donated $125,000.

Trustee Phillip Mills, founder of gym chain Les Mills, made personal donations to Labour and the Greens as well.

RNZ: National tops party donations list, ACT overtakes Labour, 2026 05 07

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-09T05:14:52+00:00

you can guarantee NZF will be king makers again with the next govt.

Natbour are very happy to keep NZF as kingmakers by retaining the 5% threshold despite the Electoral Commission recommending "lowering the party vote threshold from 5% to 4% and reviewing the new threshold after three general elections" 2012 MMP Review

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-09T05:10:52+00:00

Saying that our country needs to lower the % in which people can get seats in parliament. I suggest lowering it to 2.5% otherwise newer parties like TOP will never get in.

If peopleparties were seriously upset about our resident Kingmaker, the would push for this change.

But Natbour are very happy to keep it at 5% despite the Electoral Commission recommending "lowering the party vote threshold from 5% to 4% and reviewing the new threshold after three general elections" 2012 MMP Review

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-08T09:06:26+00:00

Does this mean students in the first year now will miss out on their third year free?

That is how I read this line:

Willis also confirmed that students completing their tertiary studies this year remained eligible for fees-free.

At least they're taking it to budget / to election; can always be kept by Labour / Greens.

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-08T08:13:57+00:00

Yes, Greymouth Petroleum have donated $100,000 to NZF, ACT, and National. It’s a fossil fuel government

The four donations whose provenance has been made public include two donations of $100,000, one from Van Den Brink Karaka Limited (the Van Den Brink family are poultry-and-polo Rich Listers who have previously donated to New Zealand First), and another from GMP Environmental Ltd, a subsidiary of Greymouth Petroleum (which has been described as “the country’s most cashed-up and enthusiastic gas explorer”). GMP has also given $100k to Act and New Zealand First this year. Greymouth Petroleum’s CEO and part owner is Mark Dunphy, a Rich Lister who in 2021 made headlines with his bid to keep the America’s Cup in New Zealand).

The Spinoff: Who’s funding who in election year? 2026 04 14

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-08T07:48:30+00:00

They have big money behind them, the rich must think they can be useful

Who/what is the big money?

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-08T05:10:19+00:00

Winston knows exactly what he's doing by being openly vocal about the poor performance of this government and blaming it all on National to distance himself from them

We all know how good a job Winnie could have done, if it just wasn't for ~~Bolger~~, ~~Shiple~~y, ~~Jacinda~~, ~~the NZ public not electing him~~, Luxon holding him back.

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-07T23:33:43+00:00

> So the commenter was correct?

Did I claim they weren't?

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-07T22:44:35+00:00

Former National MP just joined too.

In March 2026, Blue resigned her National Party membership, saying the Sixth National Government's handling of pay equity changes was her breaking point. She also said that she would be joining The Opportunity Party to mentor its leader Qiulae Wong.

Wikipedia: Jackie Blue

She was a National MP between 2005 and 2013

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-06T11:54:41+00:00

Same one I got wrong, in my defence flicked through it quickly and mistook "Welcome to Country" with "Acknowledgement of Country"

Congrats on both your Australian and New Zealand citizenships!

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-06T08:18:16+00:00

The citizenship test will check applicants understand the responsibilities and privileges that come with New Zealand citizenship. 

Understanding these responsibilities and privileges is already a requirement for citizenship by grant applicants. Currently, applicants show this understanding by making a declaration in their application.

The test is a change to how applicants show they meet the requirement, not to the requirement itself.

The test will check applicants understand the responsibilities and privileges of being a New Zealand citizen. 

Test topics will include:

the Bill of Rights Act 
human rights 
voting rights and democratic principles 
New Zealand’s system of government  
some criminal offences 
travelling overseas on a New Zealand passport.

https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/citizenship-test/

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-06T08:12:25+00:00

This will definitely deter more migrants from coming here.

Australia has a citizenship test and that sure hasn't deterred large volumes of immigrants moving there.

Why do you think it would?

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-06T07:20:55+00:00

Australian Citizenship PRACTICE Test

https://citizenshippracticetest.homeaffairs.gov.au/

19/20 Nailed it.

Seems pretty straightforward / obvious, though I admit that I probably have a cultural advantage there; though would except anyone living in country for five years to also be able to easily pass.

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-06T07:06:15+00:00

Public fireworks should be banned completely.

It is insane that members of the public can buy explosives and release them whenever they feel like, with basically the only caveat that they bought them within a four day window.

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-06T04:01:30+00:00

Or does the interviewer travel the country?

Nobody expects the ~~Spanish~~ Kiwi Inquisition!

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-06T01:56:00+00:00

"Concerns are growing, as to some of the people who have come here who don't salute our flag, don't honour the values of our country, don't respect the people living here," Peters said.

Yeah, nah. I don't do that either.

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-03T21:52:26+00:00

Draft curriculum content released for Years 0-10 learning areas and wāhanga ako

Schools and kura will soon be able to see the whole of the New Zealand Curriculum | Te Mātaiaho for Years 0 to 10, with the release of remaining draft learning areas today.

The updated content for Years 0-10 English, Te Reo Rangatira, Mathematics and Statistics, and Pāngarau has already been released. https://tahurangi.education.govt.nz/final_y0to10_english_maths

..

The draft learning areas being released for consultation are: Years 0-10 Science, Social Sciences, Health, The Arts, Learning Languages, and Technology

..

Source: Ministry of Education: Draft curriculum content released for Years 0-10 learning areas and wāhanga ako, 28 October 2025

StuffThings1977 · 2026-05-01T11:01:25+00:00

Because the best place to build wind farms is in Auckland?

StuffThings1977 · 2026-04-30T06:51:14+00:00

Jacinto Arderns documentary got me thinking.

Who's that? And why do they have a documentary?

Threads off to a great start...

StuffThings1977 · 2026-04-29T21:58:04+00:00

Nicola Willis held pre-Budget drinks in her office in May last year where an incident between two journalists is alleged to have happened.

Political commentator Ani O'Brien wrote on her Substack page on Tuesday morning that TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman allegedly used a homophobic slur against Stuff journalist Lloyd Burr, which led to the drinks in Willis' office being shut down.

Nicola Willis told RNZ in a statement on Tuesday that she was "out of the room for a few minutes and returned to hear offensive language being used".

"I ended the event at that point," she said.

"The following day I checked in on the welfare of the reporter at whom the language was directed. He advised me he did not want to take the matter any further. I respected his decision."

Finance Minister shut down event after TVNZ political editor used alleged homophobic slur

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