Thanks for another great article. One of the things I love about reading different authors is how their writing reflects the links and interconnections between things that their own minds find in our complex reality. Each so different and fascinating.
I do constantly find it perplexing that environment often gets framed by the right as a left-wing or ideological issue. It seems more like an existential issue. Whatever one's ideology, it would be hard to progress it without the ecosystems, soil, air, water etc that are fundamental to our lives. Is that not kind of obvious?!
Looking at our current lot, I suspect that given there is a fairly large contingent of fundamentalist Christians in leadership, some of them may see environment as something God controls, and it's arrogant of humans to assume there is something wrong.
(Remember these are people who vote for the antiquated gay conversion therapy as well as ones like Simeon Brown wanting the state to keep track of # of abortions any woman had - why?)
Also I remember reading about the National Party conference last year, where they joked about dumb "woke".
The other lot are knee deep in fossil fuel promotion with dubious links to Atlas Network (NZ Initiative and TPU locally) which always promotes anti-climate narratives.
According to a report this week, Luxon always run to NZ Initiative for ideas (and it's obvious by the way, lol)
i.e I'm not sure we have the sharpest tools in this shed - and these are ideologist people foremost - not reflective, mature or intelligent human beings - when we look at the scope of possibilities.
I do know good people who try to live the spirit of Christian teachings - and then you have fundamentalists.
When entering Parliament, Luxon said his deepest values were those of Jesus - helping the poor, and the like.
Last year, he couldn't answer a question from Guyon Espinor on how he'd helped the less fortunate! He had to pivot to sucking up to wealthy people saying they did great charity work (he means the Wright Family, I presume, which take hundreds of millions in taxpayers subsidies)
He believes in trickle down. He sees Capitalists as having lifted people out of poverty. His beliefs are shaped by the company he has kept. Charity is only a slight advance on the work houses of the past (The Hardacres) Modern "Charities" are businesses first and Charities second. Government funding a necessary part of the equation.
I certainly agree that there are a great many (majority perhaps) good honest Christian folk living by Christ’s word. The rise of these ‘new’ churches though, where money seems to have become part of the holy trinity, has me very skeptical indeed. Add to that the very obvious contradictions and hypocrisy we see, eg: Luxon posing with young staff for selfies while “helping out” at a soup kitchen on the same day (virtually) that his government were pulling funding from soup kitchens, womens shelters and the like.. sickening.
Some very good points. I sometimes think in many ways I'm conservative in that I wish to "conserve" a way of life I enjoyed during my own childhood. I grew up in a single income family. We lived for a period in a rental home we treated as if it was our own. I had a largely free education up to post-graduate level.
It frustrates me that so many traditional values which might have been considered "conservative" have been forgotten. Supporting local decision making was one. Now it's just considered an inconvenience.
A friend pointed out he considers himself "woke", why would you not want to be awake, aware and what does it say about one if you are not?
Precisely - there's often large overlaps and I'd wager you and I aren't the only ones, Quentin. I think all the terms have become a little convoluted. For example, apparently Donald J Trump represents conservatives. I doubt it. For example, an old Conservative hero of the right - Mitt Romney - was effectively run out of politics by the new gang, who called him a RINO (Republican in name only)
This is more like a takeover of a movement and label, whereby the extremes captured power and started using the labels.
Ditto with our government now - I don't see anything "conservative" - I just see anti-science, anti-research, anti-care ideology that is predicated on consolidating power and entrenching wealth and laws for the benefit of the 'true' elites.
I've always thought that labels mean little compared to the way someone conducts themselves, and their true inner values.
Also we all have to contend with our inner selfishness - "there but for the Grace of God go I" - is not just reserved for the poorer in my opinion....
When the likes of Seymour and Winnie use the term "Woke" as a slur, it makes me feel good to consider myself Woke rather than what they are and represent which I'm still trying to find a term for as it covers a lot, selfish, greedy, uncaring, liars, evil, lack of social conscience - or is it actually just "Fascist".
but have copied and pasted this from Bernard’s email
“ , with Richard Harman reporting yesterday via Politik-$$$ that National was open to the idea of Epsom being abolished as an electorate in an upcoming redrawing of electoral boundaries “
I don’t know myself, hoping for someone to enlighten me
Hmm... It's not up to National - but nevertheless in that context, here are the notes from Politik:
"Even so, Seymour’s response to Luxon in an interview with Radio New Zealand last night was a direct challenge to the PM.
Seymour told “Checkpoint” that his actions were not ill-advised. “No and my response to that is what’s ill-advised is commenting when you don’t know all the facts and criticising a local MP for doing their work, which is standing up for their constituents.”
“He’s [Luxon] entitled to say that, but I would say that before criticising a local MP for doing their job, you should know all the facts.”
Seymour’s response would seem to confirm what is increasingly being discussed discretely among Government MPs and those who deal with them: a growing animosity between Seymour and Luxon.
POLITIK understands that it has now reached the point where National has indicated at the Boundaries Commission that it would be prepared to see Seymour’s electorate, Epsom, abolished.
Given that ACT is well over the five per cent threshold even in the two polls published yesterday, any loss of Epsom would be symbolic rather than a fatal blow."
Your comment about observing this stuff play out in the USA struck me. There was a time - not so long ago - when we could watch, take a breath, and (independently) organise against a new grim playback before it caught on here. The most important recent innovation of right-wing networks however is to hit everywhere, all at once.
Just in the last few days, for example, I've been struck by how many countries are debating "woke banks" - a patently-inane idea that private banks would do anything other than prioritise money-making! It is astonishing that such a ridiculous idea has caught on, and yet it has.
Facing that new reality, the left clearly need a far more consistent, more globally-consolidated, strategy.
Oh yeah they basically work through the shady networks and co-operatives they have built up.
Seriously - the force of money is overwhelming and it's immediate and powerful. Too many then immediately lap it up as truth, without really understanding - or knowing how to dissect - the play.
He’s a shallow dictator so this is the stuff we expect - I’m more concerned about violence as more Americans come to terms with the implications of what they voted in - many didn’t vote for this but got it unfortunately
Leadership, leadership, leadership, where art thou? Watching the current crop of politicians relentlessly spin and sell ideology versus providing solutions - heaven forbid evidence-based solutions - is self-harming New Zealand. Luxon, grow a spine and stop vandalising the country you represent, sorry, can’t say lead. Voters, please step up and demand better. This lizard brain lot needs to be turfed out. And Chippy, pay attention mate, incrementalism won’t cut it. Bring some genuinely transformative ideas to the table and remember selling 101, benefits, benefits, benefits. Copy Denmark if you can’t come up with anything. Yes, you might pay more tax people, but look over here….health initiatives, investment in innovation, revitalised education, new infrastructure and support for communities with a triple helping of DEI and a new Māori premium indigenous exports and tourism division. Come on New Zealand, go to a pride party and woke the f..k up.
But -- one thing I do a lot, James, after hanging out with people I see pretty eye to eye with, is go to the likes of Daily Fail, or Facebook, or conservative forums and see what the pulse is there.
And it's in that world that I don't understand the complete confidence of the left anymore.
Echo chambers are right and left.
How do we want to do this then if to 40-50% of the population, taxes are death and they will not vote for it.
Without education, without some systematic clean up of the nefarious cultivation of hate speech, hatred, disinformation and the like - how do we envisage to implement?
I look forward to debating that all one day because I think that's where the challenge is.
A reader asked for solutions - and while I think they're essential - and possible - there's so much talent and ideas are a plenty in our world - the macro frameworks (the media, the corruption, the lobbyists, self interested politicians, ideologies left or right and indeed the lies/out of context division sowing) are what I think we need to fine tune to stop looping forever.
The country needs a woke or communitarian voice, but I think that voice needs to sell itself better.
I’m an ACT voter myself, but I think we are all worse off if the coalition’s proposals are not properly challenged. I don’t think the antipathy such as it is to the opposition parties is related to tax, although sure some of it might be. It is to a version of woke that, maybe, is not communicated well.
I don’t think education is the answer. Attempts at education would be rejected as imposition, if not indoctrination. What is needed is a clear-eyed and confident proposition that those on the right can engage with, starting from what we share imo.
true that………………we can’t safely say we hope ordinary kiwis are waking up can we, but my hope is that people are opening their eyes, or having them opened. The TPB and the RSB (think those are the right letters), they will be serious indicators and the other bills all part of the package as mentioned by MT. I find it scary that all my gut and intuitive wonderings and responses, those freeze frame moments in other contexts that have you recognising shite going down thats the same as here or the other way around…………they all come true…………I think these are going to be revolutionary type times……………look at Netenyahu and Israel and all the other places where law means nothing…………are we gonna stay the frogs in the bath or turn into ninja woke warriors……………the latter may be needed. Choose your weapon. But I want a peaceful cruisy life….dunno if its gonna play out like that………..if I had a hammer, ……………
Thanks for another great article. One of the things I love about reading different authors is how their writing reflects the links and interconnections between things that their own minds find in our complex reality. Each so different and fascinating.
I do constantly find it perplexing that environment often gets framed by the right as a left-wing or ideological issue. It seems more like an existential issue. Whatever one's ideology, it would be hard to progress it without the ecosystems, soil, air, water etc that are fundamental to our lives. Is that not kind of obvious?!
Hi Melanie!
It should be - 100% - but apparently it's "woke".
Looking at our current lot, I suspect that given there is a fairly large contingent of fundamentalist Christians in leadership, some of them may see environment as something God controls, and it's arrogant of humans to assume there is something wrong.
(Remember these are people who vote for the antiquated gay conversion therapy as well as ones like Simeon Brown wanting the state to keep track of # of abortions any woman had - why?)
Also I remember reading about the National Party conference last year, where they joked about dumb "woke".
The other lot are knee deep in fossil fuel promotion with dubious links to Atlas Network (NZ Initiative and TPU locally) which always promotes anti-climate narratives.
According to a report this week, Luxon always run to NZ Initiative for ideas (and it's obvious by the way, lol)
i.e I'm not sure we have the sharpest tools in this shed - and these are ideologist people foremost - not reflective, mature or intelligent human beings - when we look at the scope of possibilities.
Fake christians… real arseholes
I do know good people who try to live the spirit of Christian teachings - and then you have fundamentalists.
When entering Parliament, Luxon said his deepest values were those of Jesus - helping the poor, and the like.
Last year, he couldn't answer a question from Guyon Espinor on how he'd helped the less fortunate! He had to pivot to sucking up to wealthy people saying they did great charity work (he means the Wright Family, I presume, which take hundreds of millions in taxpayers subsidies)
How he lives with himself I will never know
He believes in trickle down. He sees Capitalists as having lifted people out of poverty. His beliefs are shaped by the company he has kept. Charity is only a slight advance on the work houses of the past (The Hardacres) Modern "Charities" are businesses first and Charities second. Government funding a necessary part of the equation.
Very perceptive Patricia and right on target, I think.
Thank you. It's interesting ... how perceptions can range but I think you have him pegged there.
I certainly agree that there are a great many (majority perhaps) good honest Christian folk living by Christ’s word. The rise of these ‘new’ churches though, where money seems to have become part of the holy trinity, has me very skeptical indeed. Add to that the very obvious contradictions and hypocrisy we see, eg: Luxon posing with young staff for selfies while “helping out” at a soup kitchen on the same day (virtually) that his government were pulling funding from soup kitchens, womens shelters and the like.. sickening.
He's not great, agreed.
Some very good points. I sometimes think in many ways I'm conservative in that I wish to "conserve" a way of life I enjoyed during my own childhood. I grew up in a single income family. We lived for a period in a rental home we treated as if it was our own. I had a largely free education up to post-graduate level.
It frustrates me that so many traditional values which might have been considered "conservative" have been forgotten. Supporting local decision making was one. Now it's just considered an inconvenience.
A friend pointed out he considers himself "woke", why would you not want to be awake, aware and what does it say about one if you are not?
Precisely - there's often large overlaps and I'd wager you and I aren't the only ones, Quentin. I think all the terms have become a little convoluted. For example, apparently Donald J Trump represents conservatives. I doubt it. For example, an old Conservative hero of the right - Mitt Romney - was effectively run out of politics by the new gang, who called him a RINO (Republican in name only)
This is more like a takeover of a movement and label, whereby the extremes captured power and started using the labels.
Ditto with our government now - I don't see anything "conservative" - I just see anti-science, anti-research, anti-care ideology that is predicated on consolidating power and entrenching wealth and laws for the benefit of the 'true' elites.
I've always thought that labels mean little compared to the way someone conducts themselves, and their true inner values.
Also we all have to contend with our inner selfishness - "there but for the Grace of God go I" - is not just reserved for the poorer in my opinion....
Cheers.
Corrected Romney, hero *of the right - never mine! (Maybe I'm not that conservative after all)
Good article MT - you joined a multitude of dots. The Seymour shenanigans have taken dangerous moves like RSB off the front page, how convenient…
Yes and Polkinghorne (and Jago, and Youth ACT abuse allegations)
excellent point.....
Better Woke than Wacko.
Let's put that on a shirt!
brilliant
When the likes of Seymour and Winnie use the term "Woke" as a slur, it makes me feel good to consider myself Woke rather than what they are and represent which I'm still trying to find a term for as it covers a lot, selfish, greedy, uncaring, liars, evil, lack of social conscience - or is it actually just "Fascist".
And I think that's really important - bad faith people have been co-opting words and terms for too long.
We too can reclaim what we wish.
Thanks for your comment Joanna!
me too.........
Most call them CoC It has many iterations. eg Coalition of Cruelty.
I have no words for this. What Trump is doing is awful.
I’m with you MT. I’m proud to be “woke” too. 😊
Stoked to be Woke! .. now there’s a t.shirt
woke and on fire
No words for what is happening right now. Great job at drawing the parallels between what's happening in the US with what's happening here.
Im proud to be called woke, that means Im not a greedy, selfish, racist bigot with no moral compass
Thanks MT, I'd like PROUD TO BE WOKE on a tee shirt.
I’d wear it too - should be a movement. I’ll let BHN know.
Why would National be relaxed about abolishing the electorate of Epson as mentioned by Bernard Hickey in the Kaka
Thanks Tūī , National won’t ha much say in it except to disagree , they may try to gift another one to Act though
I'm sure they will do some back hand deals depending on how all the faction discussions go
I didn't read it - why does Bernard say they are relaxed, can you please share context Geoff?
I’m not subscribed to Bernard H ,
but have copied and pasted this from Bernard’s email
“ , with Richard Harman reporting yesterday via Politik-$$$ that National was open to the idea of Epsom being abolished as an electorate in an upcoming redrawing of electoral boundaries “
I don’t know myself, hoping for someone to enlighten me
The Electoral Commission is responsible to decide and they follow a set of mandatory considerations in the Electoral Act.
Example - every electorate must have the same number of people as the other electorates of its type, with a permitted deviation of only +/- 5%.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/24-10-2024/one-electorate-is-set-for-the-chop-could-epsoms-days-be-numbered
Hmm... It's not up to National - but nevertheless in that context, here are the notes from Politik:
"Even so, Seymour’s response to Luxon in an interview with Radio New Zealand last night was a direct challenge to the PM.
Seymour told “Checkpoint” that his actions were not ill-advised. “No and my response to that is what’s ill-advised is commenting when you don’t know all the facts and criticising a local MP for doing their work, which is standing up for their constituents.”
“He’s [Luxon] entitled to say that, but I would say that before criticising a local MP for doing their job, you should know all the facts.”
Seymour’s response would seem to confirm what is increasingly being discussed discretely among Government MPs and those who deal with them: a growing animosity between Seymour and Luxon.
POLITIK understands that it has now reached the point where National has indicated at the Boundaries Commission that it would be prepared to see Seymour’s electorate, Epsom, abolished.
Given that ACT is well over the five per cent threshold even in the two polls published yesterday, any loss of Epsom would be symbolic rather than a fatal blow."
But it not what mates are supposed to do to mates." https://www.politik.co.nz/seymour-tells-luxon-to-get-f-ked/
Your comment about observing this stuff play out in the USA struck me. There was a time - not so long ago - when we could watch, take a breath, and (independently) organise against a new grim playback before it caught on here. The most important recent innovation of right-wing networks however is to hit everywhere, all at once.
Just in the last few days, for example, I've been struck by how many countries are debating "woke banks" - a patently-inane idea that private banks would do anything other than prioritise money-making! It is astonishing that such a ridiculous idea has caught on, and yet it has.
Facing that new reality, the left clearly need a far more consistent, more globally-consolidated, strategy.
Oh yeah they basically work through the shady networks and co-operatives they have built up.
Seriously - the force of money is overwhelming and it's immediate and powerful. Too many then immediately lap it up as truth, without really understanding - or knowing how to dissect - the play.
MT have you watched Jonathan Pie?
I love this.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AngNkusbu/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Let me take a look! Thanks!
Oh and https://www.fastcompany.com/91276907/trump-roll-back-biden-standards-toilets-light-bulbs-water-appliances {facepalm}
He also took away Biden's security clearance. Petty is the game, just like Simeon Brown
And short sighted. Most officials retain clearances to come back and help on national security matters. Stupid is as stupid does!
He’s a shallow dictator so this is the stuff we expect - I’m more concerned about violence as more Americans come to terms with the implications of what they voted in - many didn’t vote for this but got it unfortunately
FWIW Google inherits the names from the GNIS (Geographic Names Information System) - see more here https://flowingdata.com/2025/02/10/gulf-of-mexico-changes-to-gulf-of-america/ its still ridiculous.
Thank you Ben!
They still seem able to customize it per region though and signaled their move about a week ago.
Cheers, and v.interesting -
Tui
yes, at least now it will be the Gulf of America swallowing up the Gulf Coast, and east Florida as the sea level rises ;-) seems fitting..
Florida had pretty bad flooding - didn't dent their enthusiasm for anti-woke one bit.
Leadership, leadership, leadership, where art thou? Watching the current crop of politicians relentlessly spin and sell ideology versus providing solutions - heaven forbid evidence-based solutions - is self-harming New Zealand. Luxon, grow a spine and stop vandalising the country you represent, sorry, can’t say lead. Voters, please step up and demand better. This lizard brain lot needs to be turfed out. And Chippy, pay attention mate, incrementalism won’t cut it. Bring some genuinely transformative ideas to the table and remember selling 101, benefits, benefits, benefits. Copy Denmark if you can’t come up with anything. Yes, you might pay more tax people, but look over here….health initiatives, investment in innovation, revitalised education, new infrastructure and support for communities with a triple helping of DEI and a new Māori premium indigenous exports and tourism division. Come on New Zealand, go to a pride party and woke the f..k up.
Nice one James, with you 100%. Another great article MT thank you.
Cheers Janine.
Ninja woke warriors sounds about right. 😁👍
"Yes you might pay more tax people"
I don't disagree with the ideas in isolation.
But -- one thing I do a lot, James, after hanging out with people I see pretty eye to eye with, is go to the likes of Daily Fail, or Facebook, or conservative forums and see what the pulse is there.
And it's in that world that I don't understand the complete confidence of the left anymore.
Echo chambers are right and left.
How do we want to do this then if to 40-50% of the population, taxes are death and they will not vote for it.
Without education, without some systematic clean up of the nefarious cultivation of hate speech, hatred, disinformation and the like - how do we envisage to implement?
I look forward to debating that all one day because I think that's where the challenge is.
A reader asked for solutions - and while I think they're essential - and possible - there's so much talent and ideas are a plenty in our world - the macro frameworks (the media, the corruption, the lobbyists, self interested politicians, ideologies left or right and indeed the lies/out of context division sowing) are what I think we need to fine tune to stop looping forever.
The country needs a woke or communitarian voice, but I think that voice needs to sell itself better.
I’m an ACT voter myself, but I think we are all worse off if the coalition’s proposals are not properly challenged. I don’t think the antipathy such as it is to the opposition parties is related to tax, although sure some of it might be. It is to a version of woke that, maybe, is not communicated well.
I don’t think education is the answer. Attempts at education would be rejected as imposition, if not indoctrination. What is needed is a clear-eyed and confident proposition that those on the right can engage with, starting from what we share imo.
I like words like this James, like we need a hammer rather than skin moisturiser merchants. Well said.
Unfortunately for New Zealand, the Unilever sourced moisturiser has caused a completely expected reaction and failed to work.
true that………………we can’t safely say we hope ordinary kiwis are waking up can we, but my hope is that people are opening their eyes, or having them opened. The TPB and the RSB (think those are the right letters), they will be serious indicators and the other bills all part of the package as mentioned by MT. I find it scary that all my gut and intuitive wonderings and responses, those freeze frame moments in other contexts that have you recognising shite going down thats the same as here or the other way around…………they all come true…………I think these are going to be revolutionary type times……………look at Netenyahu and Israel and all the other places where law means nothing…………are we gonna stay the frogs in the bath or turn into ninja woke warriors……………the latter may be needed. Choose your weapon. But I want a peaceful cruisy life….dunno if its gonna play out like that………..if I had a hammer, ……………
Interestingly today this came up...speaking of hammers....
https://open.substack.com/pub/audacity/p/hammer-and-hope?r=2y6j9l&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false