Well the National Government has backed the Super City proposal and Auckland will become one of the biggest cities in the southern hemisphere. Many small councils will disappear. The public seem to be far from unanimous about the decision. Government has also removed the option of Maori representation. This has angered the Maori party and all in all there seems to be a lot of people dissatisfied with the decision. It seems that Auckland will be the “guinea pig” and the same process may be applied to other cities.
The whole process will be a very expensive and although there are predicted cost savings in the long term. There are some questions that can only be answered by implementation and many predicted outcomes are by no means certain. A number of prominent academics feel that in the current economic climate a decision such as this is badly timed and will not in any way assist New Zealand’s economic recovery.
Will the worm turn?
April 1 is the date for the implementation of Tax Cuts. This was a major plank in the National parties election manifesto. There now seems to be a large number of low income earners who will get no tax cuts and may even face tax increases (perhaps 65%). The tax cuts are aimed at middle and high income earners and are meant to stimulate the economy.
Where area we headed?
Well the new National government has withdrawn the proposal for local tax on petrol to cover the cost up grading the Auckland Rail System. The alternative is a national petrol tax across the whole country with all tax payers paying for the Auckland rail up grades and some of the additional petrol tax being used for road and highway development. For the first time since they were elected there has been an undercurrent of dissatisfaction from the public of this proposal. Is the “Honey Moon” over?
Making overseas investment easier is also a target for the new National government. They are planning to make it easier for overseas investors to invest in New Zealand. Is this a subtle way of privation or selling off more of our assets? New Zealand has learnt the hard way from previous experience and it would seem foolish to charge of down the same road again. New Zealanders need to monitor this situation and make submissions when they are called for.
Stay awake New Zealand don’t be too trusting and suffer the consequences in the long term.
Four Day Working Week
Four Day Working Week
There are a number people looking at a four day working week as way to help businesses survive the economic down turn. It has also been suggested that the fifth day be used for people to undertake training to enhance their skills or to work on large public projects and be paid by the government. At first glance the idea sounds interesting but after further consideration the following questions need to be carefully considered and answered.
Will any “Four Day Working Week” be implemented across the board or will it be on an as required basis?
Will the fifth day “training public works” be compulsory or optional?
Will fifth day pay equal current pay or be a separate payment at a different rate?
In a cost benefit analysis what are the costs and who gets the benefits?
Why have a Festive Season?
In this day and age there is a wide divergence of opinion as to the true meaning of Christmas. The church continues to maintain a view, which is not as widely accepted as it once was. But those same people who are critical of the churches views will happily enjoy carols and many of the Christmas traditions that originate from the traditional church perspective. The other great influence on how we celebrate Christmas is the commercial sector. We are bombarded by advertising much of it carefully targeted at children and those who have little discretionary spending power. This group feels socially obligated to purchase gifts and so many other items to ensure their family have a great Christmas. The commercial sector conspires to sell almost anything and everything it canto the unsuspecting public.
Christmas is about families, sharing and giving. A simple inexpensive gift given with love means more than something that may cost many hundreds of dollars. Think back on your past Christmas experiences—What do you remember most the gifts – The family experiences — Lets look at and value what make Christmas special — and not be hood winked by the commercial sector.
Enjoy the festive season……..
Who is most advantaged?
National is to fast track legislation allowing employers to employ people on trial basis for ninety days. This in effect gives an employee few rights until the ninety day trial is over.
The unscrupulous employers could and almost certainly will take advantage of this exploiting the unsuspecting employees to their companies benefit and sometimes even to their own personal advantage.
Under the present economic conditions there will be a number of people who will be made redundant and looking for new jobs. This may well mean that they need to relocate to gain suitable employment. A ninety day trial adds additional stress and uncertainty to what is already a traumatic life experience. It seems that this legislation has all the advantages weighted towards the employer. The Bright new future looks less certain and decidedly cloudy for the people who will have to work through this new scenario.
Would You Do This?
MP’s and ministers have started their new jobs with a pay rise of between 3.8 & 4.8%. Many people feel that in the present economic climate this is not a good look. Almost every day there is another news item about yet another group of workers who are being made redundant or whose hours and work opportunities are being reduced. The new government clearly stated they would be a government of restraint and excess spending would be “reined in” So much for election promises it makes you wonder who the rules are for. Is it one rule for us and another rule for the public.
Prime Minister John Key’s salary rises from $375,000 a year to $393,000. Not a lot you might say but all ministers and even back benches will get additional pay. The burning question is will those in our parliament earning more money do more work, be more motivated or any way do any thing to justify their additional remuneration. Consider the headlines that there would have been if all politicians had unanimously agreed to for go the salary increase as a show of good faith in the present economic conditions.
A Critical Question that Needs an Answer
Statistics tell us that 77% of eligible people voted at this year’s general election. This means that 23% did not vote. It seems hard to understand that almost a quarter of voters do not see the relevance and significance of casting their vote. In this hi-tech age it would seem that getting the message to these people would be increasingly more effective. It is strange however that in 1989 only 11% did not vote. Is this to be an increasing trend in the future? If it is then we should all be very concerned as surly this is the very heart of our democratic system. With out an expensive and exhaustive inquiry into why almost a quarter of our people did not vote we can only speculate. Perhaps some aspiring Masters student could look at this for their thesis or as part of a political assignment.
Is this part of the declining values that seem to be across all sectors of our society? Has the search for the dollar become so all consuming that some people can not even take a few minutes out to cast a vote?
The People Have Spoken
Well the election is over and New Zealand has elected a right wing government. The Act party a more extreme right wing party gained five seats and will become the major coalition partner. The negotiations with Act will begin on Monday and a government would seem to be able to be formed with out undue delay. With five MPs it will be probable that Act will see its role as keeping National to the right and away from a centrist approach. With Sir Roger Douglas as one of the five Act MP’s there could be a fiery time ahead. Act will want to push their polices, all tending to the extreme right. They will be also be wanting to ensure they are seen to be effective in order to maintain the momentum they have gained and help establish the Act party as a force in the New Zealand political scene. I believe we need to respect the decision that the people of New Zealand have made but ensure that we do not let the government stray to the extreme right which would result in a “Bright new Future“ for only a limited sector of our community.
New Zealand’s most important election
Well the leaders are on the final whirl wind tour of the country. The policy has been disclosed, the debates are over and the impressions and perceptions have been left in the minds of the voters. This election is different because of the pending world wide financial crisis. Perhaps we should all consider this critical factor in the equation in make our vote.
For many people their decisions are made (Some have already voted). Some people will vote as they have always voted maybe even the same way as their parents voted. Others will vote on they basis of “money in their pocket” and perceived advantages that they may personally gain. There will no doubt be another group who will make their vote a form of protest, often based on a single issue which they feel strongly about. These feelings can be so intense that they may even vote to their own detriment. There are always those who also go to the polling booth and cast an invalid vote whether by accident, lacking the ability to follow instructions or deliberately.
Hopefully their will also be a number of people that will carefully way up all that they have seen, heard and understood and then make their choice. A decision which will be free of biases, prejudices and self interest, making a decision which will be in the best interest of our communities, country and future generations.