The house rises & the sun sets on "nice to haves"
Adherence to historical political form by the prime minister and via the adjournment debate capped off the last day of parliament following a sober set of half year economic and fiscal forecasts
In today’s edition: the best news in years for allergy sufferers; Luxon commits to properly funding RNZ; nurses get pay rise; but first, parliament gets in its last laughs after the serious business of economic forecasts concludes
New Zealand has political form on a particular insult
It’s here, the penultimate Bulletin. Pending any very big news, tomorrow’s Bulletin will be a bit of a wrap of the year and a casting forward to 2023. The usual full-throated sign off for the political year is the adjournment debate, but I’d argue that was superseded by the quieter but nonetheless heard-round-the-world hot mic, mic drop moment from the prime minister on Tuesday. Toby Manhire provides a salve for news weary souls this morning with a brief history of New Zealand politicians calling people pricks, arrogant or otherwise.
Adjournment debate still delivers
There was a time when I would have hesitated dropping that word into the Bulletin, but as it’s been splashed across the homepages of every major outlet this week, it seems to have moved into the territory of acceptability. For those in doubt, the Broadcasting Standards Authority was helpfully engaged to rule on it. The adjournment debate yesterday did still deliver the laughs. It’s a bit of a pat line but it does provide a necessary puncturing of tension at the end of each year. The Herald’s Michael Neilson summarises the funnies. For those wondering, immigration minister Michael Wood confirmed Santa has been cleared for entry into New Zealand.
Finance minister prepares ministers to “murder their darlings”
Returning to more serious news, Treasury delivered its half year economic and fiscal update (HYEFU) yesterday and finance minister Grant Robertson delivered the government’s budget policy statement. In short: the government’s books are in rude health, the outlook for the economy is not so good, Treasury is predicting a shallow recession and government spending will be kept conservative next year. Newsroom’s Marc Daalder has a more fulsome summary of all that. Politik’s Richard Harman counted 30 instances of the word “balance” (paywalled) in Robertson’s statement, as the finance minister prepared ministers to “murder their darlings” next year and prioritise spending. BusinessDesk’s Pattrick Smellie writes (paywalled), “If it weren’t for the fact that a bigger spend or tax cuts now would fuel inflation, this could be a set of forecasts prepared by a conservative government.”
Fuel tax cut to be phased out
As predicted, an announcement was made about the fuel tax cut and half price public transport subsidies yesterday. The petrol tax cut has been extended from its January deadline until the end of March, but the subsidy will halve from the end of February. Half price public transport fares will come to end on March 31, with an ongoing, but targeted subsidy for community service and mobility card holders. A three-month survey by Waka Kotahi found half-price fares moved 7% of journeys onto public transport, and about 3% of those journeys would otherwise have been made in cars. Free Fares spokesperson Kate Day says terminating the scheme would throw away the gains already made and the group would like to see public transport costs reduced to zero across the board.
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“The best news for allergy sufferers in 40 years”
Pharmac has agreed to fund EpiPens for people at risk of anaphylaxis. Allergy NZ chief executive said it was “the best news for New Zealand’s allergy sufferers in the more than 40 years that Allergy NZ has been representing them”. EpiPens, which last for 12 - 18 months, cost between $120 and $350. Pharmac will fully fund two EpiPens each year for every New Zealander with severe allergies. Read Sela Jane Hopgood’s report on the tripling of hospitalisations for severe food allergies among Pasifika people, to understand what this announcement will mean to people who do suffer from food allergies and often already pay 35% more for allergy-safe food.
Luxon commits to properly funding RNZ, TVNZ chair denies tip-off on future of merger
As speculation rolls on about whether the TVNZ/RNZ merger will go ahead, opposition leader Christopher Luxon has committed to ensuring RNZ is properly funded in the future in an interview with Newsroom’s Jo Moir. Luxon doesn’t think the merger will happen but said “We’re happy to fund RNZ and make sure it has what it needs to do its job.” RNZ funding was frozen under John Key’s government for eight years between 2009 and 2017. In a select committee hearing yesterday morning, National’s Melissa Lee asked TVNZ chair Andy Coupe whether he had a tip-off (paywalled) from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage that plans to form Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media “were most likely off”. Coupe replied, “No, we did not.”
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Pay rise for nurses
About 30,000 Te Whatu Ora nurses will receive a 14% pay rise next year, which will put them on par with their Australian counterparts. Te Whatu Ora had agreed to the equitable pay rates last year, but delivery of that agreement was put on hold when unions began a legal challenge to the back pay part of the settlement. An interim order was granted yesterday by the Employment Relations Authority to fix pay rates while the legal challenge is ongoing.
Click and collect
Climate change activists who want the government to restore passenger rail have paintbombed the offices of Grant Robertson and MP Ibrahim Omer
Kaipara mayor stands firm on karakia ban in wake of hikoi
Stuff’s Kate Newton has a very clear picture of the current Covid situation
Announcement of provisional results in Fiji election halted because of app glitch but this is where they stood earlier
The psychology of gift-giving
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NZ Rugby seeking meeting with sponsor after corruption conviction
The owner of the company that is the front of jersey sponsor for the All Blacks and the Black Ferns was found guilty of corruption in the Paris criminal courts yesterday. Mohed Altrad, who owns Altrad, was given an 18-month suspended jail after being convicted of charges relating to irregularities in a sponsorship deal he did with the French rugby team. World Rugby vice-chair, Bernard Laporte was also found guilty of corruption charges and is appealing. NZ Rugby said in a statement that it was seeking meetings with Altrad’s company “immediately”. Altrad replaced insurance company AIG as the jersey sponsor last and the six-year deal is worth tens of millions of dollars to NZ Rugby.
