Great post. Thank you. I am reading stuff like this in many places - however, I'm also aware that many New Zealanders think this CoC are doing a good job. I'd be interested to discuss how do we raise awareness of the slow-motion car crash that this Government is creating so that we don't have 6 years of this arrogant, narcissistic P***k and his cronies ruining our beautiful country.
At first I started writing because I believed, probably naively, that transparency and countering misinformation might help. But then I realised that there are many on the 'left' already see - and most fact platforms are tiny - compare this to The Platform or Whangarei Tim or Newstalk ZB. We're vastly out-resourced. The Platform is so well bank rolled and successfully that NZME went to them to ask for tips on how to succeed.
OK that's my pessimistic side. My optimistic side would say we have to do grassroots reach out, in communities and in leading by example and keeping connections open and co-operating and forging new pathways. Take leadership positions, act, go out and do.
And yes, I absolutely believe most who are not political followers, possibly do believe the CoC are doing a good job. Before the recent poll, my guess was 40% but it looks like it could a little more than that.
There is hardly any push back from media figures too - at least substantively, and I think that they should update their rules but that's unlikely.
The right are very strong on take downs too. Think of how much unions have been demonised over the years, or Greta Thunberg, Jacinda Adern, Corbyn or environmentalists - anyone who is a threat is taken down and most of the rest of us accept it and believe some part of it too.
I apologise that I'm not at my most constructive today and thank you for your comment.
There's a kind of, normalcy bias/respectability politics on the Liberal left that the centre right and further right just don't have to bother with.
The centre left imagine themselves as the adults in the room: when they go low, we go high, and so on. The affectation of being the ones who fight on the issues and that slinging mud is beneath them, cedes ground to those willing to go low.
Its also hilarious to see Nicola Willis come out today sledging people for sending gendered insults when not too long ago it was Nat voters slagging off Ardern for being a pretty communist/bad mother/cindy sprinkling stardust and so on.
I'm not saying Labour needs to roll in the mud but they do need to bare their teeth. Hammer home that Luxon doesn't have a head for numbers. Keep harping on how Willis can't use a spreadsheet. People respond to that and if they see that the Left is willing to fight for them, that might boost some poll numbers.
I do agree that being on the liberal left seems to have huge baggage - and I don't admire any left party that will get into power either. It's like "If the mean guys are a little less mean or do one right thing" we all breathe a huge sigh of relief and even give them credit. But if the left doesn't do it well, hell hath no fury, I suspect...
Oh lordy, how can we not rant, and will it ever stop? Luxon had zero interest in 'reading the room', he was playing the top ten hits of every small town in NZ. The crowd favourite that gets everybody swilling their beers and up on the dance floor "The Bloody Council". Crusty old white gits and their bitter wives bitching endlessly about how "they" never fix anything - fast enough or the way they reckon it should be done (cos, ya know, in the old days). Don't wanna pay rates, but expect their personal hobby horse to be addressed IMMEDIATELY. Three beers in and they are freakn experts at everything, and forget about bloody climate change. Luxon's speech was manna from heaven. Councils could do a lot better, but interestingly enough, the ones that do are not filled with short term, self-interested, national party fans. I am surrounded by them and Luxon, et al would have just risen further up the charts with that. The appeal is the endless griping (much like I'm doing) - positivity and thinking gets you nowhere. Ranters United
my gut always told me that while 3 waters had imperfections, they weren't the politicised rascist and power stealing ones these buggaz led the public to believe. 3 waters was an attempt to help and get some things that had been neglected moving in the right direction.
I hate to say it but you are right about the left..........watching what's happened in USA with Harris/Walz, and now the joy and energy in the DNC..........we are screwed. Where are our rockstars and visionaries? who can capture the peoples hearts and awaken the vision of what Aotearoa is and can be.
Back on track?
I don't want to go back...........like some Americans don't want a tRump re run, and nor do many of us here in NZ want a re run of this lot. Many of us thought we were on a good track.
BUT how do we rise to the joy and the momentum on the left that we see in america...........in Aotearoa?
3 waters was not a perfect track but a good one, and the many other good tracks have been stopped.
The left do seem fragmented and the only joy evident here is the f_______s in this government having the time of their lives chainsawing away and slashing and smashing good things.............and peeps around us thinking yay yaye look at how good they are.
NOT me, or my house, or some of our friends....................
and as I have said before.........within family and connects ....i still haven't come to terms with thems that wanted this.
I don't hear a lot of ..........errrrrr this isn't good, maybe we voted for the wrong teams..........
I don't hear that...............maybe its an emperors clothes thang.
So MT.................
at the moment we seem screwed and these twats run away with goodwill..........with expectations, no consulting........................
Is there a time coming when it's gonna blow up?
Watching America now and the Dems revived is like wanting that to happen here.
it was like having Jacinda as PM...............I loved her, and had never ever felt so on the page with a government.................not a perfect government, or PM but a good one with great heart.....and Grant Robertson.
And look what the populace did to that goodness.
I think I watch America who previous to this I treated with disdain................now even my non american imperialist heart feels joy for the rebirth hopefully of goodness and the dream of america....I watch wishing that for our whenua....................
butt alas, we have these bozos, and and brash and batchelor splitting the nation with messages like the don the con.
I want a blooodless revolution.......................it's hard to recognise our country with these twats running the farm.........
Ohhh for some Kirks, Langes, Jacindas, Robertsons...................Anne Salmonds.......some Moana (as in Moa Hunters, some ahi kaa......................
The Mayor of Tairaawhiti was the poster person for local government nationwide and led 3 Waters opposition. There has not been a single public comment from the Council about 3 Waters since.
In the meantime we grappling with a surplus of water (floods) but rural water allocations for horticultural and market garden irrigation were maxed out decades ago. Water meters now in place and charging being introduced
The Manawatu mayor lead the charge agin 3 Waters in these parts… had to be dragged kicking and screaming over the Māori Ward issue too. Pretty sure there’s an easily discernible pattern there.
Lest we forget this gem from Alexei Sayle, if/when key amenities like libraries shut down: "Austerity is the idea that the worldwide GFC of 2008 was caused by Wolverhampton having too many libraries." (Skip to about 14 minutes 25 seconds)
The man even looks nasty but his arrogance and the associated rhetoric are nothing new. I suspect it’s all about a persona he’s been working on for years that’s designed to cancel any dissent. It seems to work in corporate culture but his day is coming when he realises it doesn’t work in NZ political environment where those he needs to control actually have intelligence AND choices.
I do get frustrated with a perceived lack of push back by opposition parties, but also see excellent factual, calm rebuttals in the house from very intelligent opposition members. My feeling is the opposition are playing the long game and giving the CoC enough rope
Agree. Whenever I watch Parliamentary or Select Committee meetings, I see good opposition performance. It just doesn't make it to the news cycles in most cases. And if / when I watch right wing channels, it will depict a different story. Thanks for your comment.
Luxon is a such a disappointing, inept, and appalling human being. I’m shocked by how he treats his fellow New Zealanders. In my opinion, he is not fit for the office he holds. Leaders lift their people up, they don’t beat them down, ever. Unfortunately, Luxon’s one dimensionality, slow thinking, and low EQ-i are shining through. It is causing immense pain, suffering, and nationwide economic, environmental, and social damage. I’m with David above. Luxon, and his incredibly dysfunctional (and equally nasty) coalition partners need to be reined in. Their overreach is breathtaking. It amounts to an abuse of trust and power. How does an 8% party run such a divisive agenda? Answer: through a weak leader who lacks integrity and flips on his values to achieve pragmatic political outcomes, aka a coalition agreement. So bloody sad.
At one point I wrote a post called "I feel sorry for Luxon" in that I felt he was a try hard who was doing what he knew but wasn't as nefarious as Bishop and Seymour. But basically I agree with you - and it's a pity.
Make no mistake, while Luxon might wear a persona of ‘Christian’ and espouse strong values, sitting behind the action-man facade is an entirely different individual. Lurking beneath his veil of decency is an ego-centric, ambitious, driven individual, who acts like he does because he wants to prove to his ‘power network’ how clever he is. Boardroom future secure. Honestly, I think it’s that predictable. His EQ-i results would be revealing. He appears to demonstrate very low levels of self-awareness and empathy (why he struggles to read a room) and very high levels of assertiveness, which is why he punches down on people. Not a great combination. In reality, he isn’t much more than a board-room polished bully. And if I’m wrong, then why is he not caring for the most vulnerable? He is the worst leader I have witnessed across Australia or New Zealand in 60 years and there have been some shockers. This guy Luxon, is in a league of his own. Rant response complete.
Actually I think you may have hit the nail on the head. Which is really disturbing and insightful - disturbing that it's quite possibly the very truth and insightful you nailed it so accurately.
I don't know if you've seen (I have had the displeasure) of seeing his cancer drugs announcement last year and when he talks of his faith - he is able to muster sincerity in those moments.
And yet was it not Jesus who said, by thy fruits will it be known. I hate to speak of someone's/anyone's faith but as he puts it so right and center, and his actions just seem antithetical, I think it's fair to speak of that contrast.
And yes, he's a bully. But also a coward because he only punches down. The worst type of corporate and person. Pitiful NZ chose him as their guy, and moreso that so many think so highly of his actions and speech.
If you examine his work history he has pretty much been shaped by Unilever. He worked there as an employee from 1993 until 2008. Large FMCG companies love a loyal, corporate soldier and those that are good at playing the game rise up the ranks. Luxon was good at playing the Unilever game. In such environments, the achievement of KPIs trumps neatly everything else. They don’t say that in their mission- values statement, but that’s the cold, hard, profit driven reality. If you can deliver in such an environment, you’re on your way up. Luxon achieved this. Then he leveraged his CV of ‘proven’ upwardly achievement to slip under the radar and into Air New Zealand where he secured a one-in-a lifetime opportunity that enriched him considerably. Examine the airlines performance during that time and his ‘cutting’ mentality is evident. His CEO term there synced with the so-called, golden age of flying. Made the numbers look good. Look at them now. I digress. And here we are, watching the results of John Key’s long shadow of influence continuing to impact the lives of kiwis through in my opinion, an empty vessel. Rant two over. Can you tell I’m pissed? 😡
I can tell you're not a fool and were never hoodwinked by the guy. We need more people like you James. I appreciate the rant and share your frustration.
Bloody oath! We need a collective response to this vile Coalition government- those on the left have to band together - where are you Chris Hipkins?? And where are you the minor parties on the left??You have to organise!!
Hopefully there'll be some self-reflection and honesty then. I recall the Palmerston North mayor bravely went on The Platform (where he got bashed around for defending Maori wards). I understand he is a National man, and thought well of Luxon. I wonder what he thinks now indeed.
National, and ACT. Don’t forget ACT. We’ve been ignoring, with a half-tolerant chuckle, National’s activist right wing, for too long. Now we see who they really are and the power they have that far exceed the number of votes they gleaned.
What needs to happen next is for the Left bloc to solidify & organise its core base, before attempting to pander to voters who are unlikely to ever support them in the first place. It didn't work for Howard Dean in 2004.
I don't know Howard Dean but will look at the link later. But wanted to say - I agree - there has to be a solidification across the political spectrum, as well as, left oriented communities, groups and individuals.
I mean think about it - that's what Atlas Network really is - although they have billionaire money behind them (small difference ;)). Still they became the mother of all right wing think tanks because they essentially did this - group, come together and unite for a common cause. And be united in that.
I think, KR, that too many of us - and I am speaking for myself too - are just selfish and that's not reserved for the so-called right. Until there is more commonality of purpose, and an ability to put aside differences to work for a better future for as many people as possible, it's going to be hard to counter this stuff.
Howard Dean is some deep cut US Politicsball stuff for policy wonks. There's not no lessons to take from it I'm just saying don't feel bad for not knowing it.
I don't think he's very smart at all - but very disciplined on marketing and spin and it seems that's all it takes once you have a compliant media team
Luxon is not good at remembering numbers, is not across the gritty details of any of his policies, is not all that invested with the reality of working on the front lines of service delivery, and is not great at relating to anyone with less than seven figures in the bank.
What he *is* good at is MBA stuff. He can run a meeting, corral his caucus and keep them on message, he can talk the kind of platitude heavy word salad that comprises Business English which is insufferable to those of us who value language but is a status marker and shibboleth in the corporate world.
He was probably a perfectly adequate corporate executive, takin meetings and talking about KPIs and benchmarks and going forward with synergies across key verticals in emerging markets to deliver value for shareholders. Its just, um, the stakes of running a government like an MBA McKinsey-clone would run a business is that people's lives get measurably worse.
Accurate. I suspect though that any real corporate folks would see through it too. I often think that Air NZ was the perfect place for a middle manager like him to rise through the ranks.
Well, I'm of the opinion that there are a lot more Luxons in corporate business than there are perceptive and capable people who can see through BS, personally.
A solid analysis, however, I would suggest you have given Luxon too much credit for intelligence. I’m not saying he is below average, or slow, but he is in no way above average either. Luxon’s strength his is ability to get up and go and do it again. The discipline to grind away at relatively boring middle-management tasks is where he has ultimately succeeded. For his diligence, in my opinion, he was elevated beyond his capability into senior management. Those inherent weaknesses didn’t magically go away with his elevation. They are still present, and that’s what we’re seeing play out in front of us. If he has to dig in and go abstract, deconstruct an issue into its constituent parts or understand complex system dynamics he appears to very quickly get out of his depth. That is why he sticks to regurgitating corporate word salads. It’s his comfort blanket. I could be wrong, but if I am Luxon isn’t helping disprove my assertion with his antics. Just saying……
There's a joke/truism about organisations in general, where people inevitably wind up getting promoted to the level of their incompetence: you do well at Role A so get promoted to Role B and so on until you get to Role F, reach the limit of your abilities, and stop getting promoted.
As a result any given company or other organisation is staffed at every level with people inadequate to their task.
Like a lot of these cynical heuristics its probably not necessarily supported by the evidence, but its still amusing to think about.
Ah yes, a crucial leadership skill required for all world leaders, the ability to discern someone's gender presentation based on how they present themselves.
It just seems an incredibly low bar. "Oh I don't mind that he's eviscerating the public service, snatching food from poor people's mouths, all so he can give landlords a handout they don't need, but on the plus side he's a transphobe just like me so its all right."
Absolutely spot on! And it's what I've been saying fir a long time also. Time for everyone on the left to mobilize, stop handwringing and attack these monsters for the liars, thieves and blaggards they are. 3 waters was the only way that NZ could collectively share this cost burden and the right lied and used racist innuendo to imply that Maori were being handed special treatment, when nothing was further from the truth.
The council’s need to be united to stop this ‘blame’ gaining traction. Local woes with rate rises to rescue existing infrastructure are the result of years of underfunding, more austerity won’t fix anything. The move against Māori Wards could be the start of a combined council ‘revolt’, then move onto the financials… Every mayor should be speaking up! Ironic that most councils are traditionally bluer than blue!
Great post. Thank you. I am reading stuff like this in many places - however, I'm also aware that many New Zealanders think this CoC are doing a good job. I'd be interested to discuss how do we raise awareness of the slow-motion car crash that this Government is creating so that we don't have 6 years of this arrogant, narcissistic P***k and his cronies ruining our beautiful country.
Well said David.
At first I started writing because I believed, probably naively, that transparency and countering misinformation might help. But then I realised that there are many on the 'left' already see - and most fact platforms are tiny - compare this to The Platform or Whangarei Tim or Newstalk ZB. We're vastly out-resourced. The Platform is so well bank rolled and successfully that NZME went to them to ask for tips on how to succeed.
OK that's my pessimistic side. My optimistic side would say we have to do grassroots reach out, in communities and in leading by example and keeping connections open and co-operating and forging new pathways. Take leadership positions, act, go out and do.
And yes, I absolutely believe most who are not political followers, possibly do believe the CoC are doing a good job. Before the recent poll, my guess was 40% but it looks like it could a little more than that.
There is hardly any push back from media figures too - at least substantively, and I think that they should update their rules but that's unlikely.
The right are very strong on take downs too. Think of how much unions have been demonised over the years, or Greta Thunberg, Jacinda Adern, Corbyn or environmentalists - anyone who is a threat is taken down and most of the rest of us accept it and believe some part of it too.
I apologise that I'm not at my most constructive today and thank you for your comment.
There's a kind of, normalcy bias/respectability politics on the Liberal left that the centre right and further right just don't have to bother with.
The centre left imagine themselves as the adults in the room: when they go low, we go high, and so on. The affectation of being the ones who fight on the issues and that slinging mud is beneath them, cedes ground to those willing to go low.
Its also hilarious to see Nicola Willis come out today sledging people for sending gendered insults when not too long ago it was Nat voters slagging off Ardern for being a pretty communist/bad mother/cindy sprinkling stardust and so on.
I'm not saying Labour needs to roll in the mud but they do need to bare their teeth. Hammer home that Luxon doesn't have a head for numbers. Keep harping on how Willis can't use a spreadsheet. People respond to that and if they see that the Left is willing to fight for them, that might boost some poll numbers.
I do agree that being on the liberal left seems to have huge baggage - and I don't admire any left party that will get into power either. It's like "If the mean guys are a little less mean or do one right thing" we all breathe a huge sigh of relief and even give them credit. But if the left doesn't do it well, hell hath no fury, I suspect...
Great points and thanks C A.
It’s all about how much money a party has to write stories and send messages.
Oh lordy, how can we not rant, and will it ever stop? Luxon had zero interest in 'reading the room', he was playing the top ten hits of every small town in NZ. The crowd favourite that gets everybody swilling their beers and up on the dance floor "The Bloody Council". Crusty old white gits and their bitter wives bitching endlessly about how "they" never fix anything - fast enough or the way they reckon it should be done (cos, ya know, in the old days). Don't wanna pay rates, but expect their personal hobby horse to be addressed IMMEDIATELY. Three beers in and they are freakn experts at everything, and forget about bloody climate change. Luxon's speech was manna from heaven. Councils could do a lot better, but interestingly enough, the ones that do are not filled with short term, self-interested, national party fans. I am surrounded by them and Luxon, et al would have just risen further up the charts with that. The appeal is the endless griping (much like I'm doing) - positivity and thinking gets you nowhere. Ranters United
Brilliant and accurate at the same time, Lynette!
Same hits get them up on the dance floor all through the blue belt of the north shore..
yeah well said.
my gut always told me that while 3 waters had imperfections, they weren't the politicised rascist and power stealing ones these buggaz led the public to believe. 3 waters was an attempt to help and get some things that had been neglected moving in the right direction.
I hate to say it but you are right about the left..........watching what's happened in USA with Harris/Walz, and now the joy and energy in the DNC..........we are screwed. Where are our rockstars and visionaries? who can capture the peoples hearts and awaken the vision of what Aotearoa is and can be.
Back on track?
I don't want to go back...........like some Americans don't want a tRump re run, and nor do many of us here in NZ want a re run of this lot. Many of us thought we were on a good track.
BUT how do we rise to the joy and the momentum on the left that we see in america...........in Aotearoa?
3 waters was not a perfect track but a good one, and the many other good tracks have been stopped.
The left do seem fragmented and the only joy evident here is the f_______s in this government having the time of their lives chainsawing away and slashing and smashing good things.............and peeps around us thinking yay yaye look at how good they are.
NOT me, or my house, or some of our friends....................
and as I have said before.........within family and connects ....i still haven't come to terms with thems that wanted this.
I don't hear a lot of ..........errrrrr this isn't good, maybe we voted for the wrong teams..........
I don't hear that...............maybe its an emperors clothes thang.
So MT.................
at the moment we seem screwed and these twats run away with goodwill..........with expectations, no consulting........................
Is there a time coming when it's gonna blow up?
Watching America now and the Dems revived is like wanting that to happen here.
it was like having Jacinda as PM...............I loved her, and had never ever felt so on the page with a government.................not a perfect government, or PM but a good one with great heart.....and Grant Robertson.
And look what the populace did to that goodness.
I think I watch America who previous to this I treated with disdain................now even my non american imperialist heart feels joy for the rebirth hopefully of goodness and the dream of america....I watch wishing that for our whenua....................
butt alas, we have these bozos, and and brash and batchelor splitting the nation with messages like the don the con.
I want a blooodless revolution.......................it's hard to recognise our country with these twats running the farm.........
Ohhh for some Kirks, Langes, Jacindas, Robertsons...................Anne Salmonds.......some Moana (as in Moa Hunters, some ahi kaa......................
The Mayor of Tairaawhiti was the poster person for local government nationwide and led 3 Waters opposition. There has not been a single public comment from the Council about 3 Waters since.
In the meantime we grappling with a surplus of water (floods) but rural water allocations for horticultural and market garden irrigation were maxed out decades ago. Water meters now in place and charging being introduced
Thanks for that tidbit, Winston.
The Manawatu mayor lead the charge agin 3 Waters in these parts… had to be dragged kicking and screaming over the Māori Ward issue too. Pretty sure there’s an easily discernible pattern there.
Indeed, I'd like someone to interview these Mayors and see what they think now.
Agree 100% the audience for that speech was not in the room.
Got to give them credit for being players, Dave. At our detriment perhaps but he did well for National I think.
Lest we forget this gem from Alexei Sayle, if/when key amenities like libraries shut down: "Austerity is the idea that the worldwide GFC of 2008 was caused by Wolverhampton having too many libraries." (Skip to about 14 minutes 25 seconds)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0008bbc
The man even looks nasty but his arrogance and the associated rhetoric are nothing new. I suspect it’s all about a persona he’s been working on for years that’s designed to cancel any dissent. It seems to work in corporate culture but his day is coming when he realises it doesn’t work in NZ political environment where those he needs to control actually have intelligence AND choices.
Great point, I can't imagine he is winning many friends.
I do get frustrated with a perceived lack of push back by opposition parties, but also see excellent factual, calm rebuttals in the house from very intelligent opposition members. My feeling is the opposition are playing the long game and giving the CoC enough rope
Agree. Whenever I watch Parliamentary or Select Committee meetings, I see good opposition performance. It just doesn't make it to the news cycles in most cases. And if / when I watch right wing channels, it will depict a different story. Thanks for your comment.
Luxon is a such a disappointing, inept, and appalling human being. I’m shocked by how he treats his fellow New Zealanders. In my opinion, he is not fit for the office he holds. Leaders lift their people up, they don’t beat them down, ever. Unfortunately, Luxon’s one dimensionality, slow thinking, and low EQ-i are shining through. It is causing immense pain, suffering, and nationwide economic, environmental, and social damage. I’m with David above. Luxon, and his incredibly dysfunctional (and equally nasty) coalition partners need to be reined in. Their overreach is breathtaking. It amounts to an abuse of trust and power. How does an 8% party run such a divisive agenda? Answer: through a weak leader who lacks integrity and flips on his values to achieve pragmatic political outcomes, aka a coalition agreement. So bloody sad.
At one point I wrote a post called "I feel sorry for Luxon" in that I felt he was a try hard who was doing what he knew but wasn't as nefarious as Bishop and Seymour. But basically I agree with you - and it's a pity.
Make no mistake, while Luxon might wear a persona of ‘Christian’ and espouse strong values, sitting behind the action-man facade is an entirely different individual. Lurking beneath his veil of decency is an ego-centric, ambitious, driven individual, who acts like he does because he wants to prove to his ‘power network’ how clever he is. Boardroom future secure. Honestly, I think it’s that predictable. His EQ-i results would be revealing. He appears to demonstrate very low levels of self-awareness and empathy (why he struggles to read a room) and very high levels of assertiveness, which is why he punches down on people. Not a great combination. In reality, he isn’t much more than a board-room polished bully. And if I’m wrong, then why is he not caring for the most vulnerable? He is the worst leader I have witnessed across Australia or New Zealand in 60 years and there have been some shockers. This guy Luxon, is in a league of his own. Rant response complete.
Actually I think you may have hit the nail on the head. Which is really disturbing and insightful - disturbing that it's quite possibly the very truth and insightful you nailed it so accurately.
I don't know if you've seen (I have had the displeasure) of seeing his cancer drugs announcement last year and when he talks of his faith - he is able to muster sincerity in those moments.
And yet was it not Jesus who said, by thy fruits will it be known. I hate to speak of someone's/anyone's faith but as he puts it so right and center, and his actions just seem antithetical, I think it's fair to speak of that contrast.
And yes, he's a bully. But also a coward because he only punches down. The worst type of corporate and person. Pitiful NZ chose him as their guy, and moreso that so many think so highly of his actions and speech.
If you examine his work history he has pretty much been shaped by Unilever. He worked there as an employee from 1993 until 2008. Large FMCG companies love a loyal, corporate soldier and those that are good at playing the game rise up the ranks. Luxon was good at playing the Unilever game. In such environments, the achievement of KPIs trumps neatly everything else. They don’t say that in their mission- values statement, but that’s the cold, hard, profit driven reality. If you can deliver in such an environment, you’re on your way up. Luxon achieved this. Then he leveraged his CV of ‘proven’ upwardly achievement to slip under the radar and into Air New Zealand where he secured a one-in-a lifetime opportunity that enriched him considerably. Examine the airlines performance during that time and his ‘cutting’ mentality is evident. His CEO term there synced with the so-called, golden age of flying. Made the numbers look good. Look at them now. I digress. And here we are, watching the results of John Key’s long shadow of influence continuing to impact the lives of kiwis through in my opinion, an empty vessel. Rant two over. Can you tell I’m pissed? 😡
I can tell you're not a fool and were never hoodwinked by the guy. We need more people like you James. I appreciate the rant and share your frustration.
Bloody oath! We need a collective response to this vile Coalition government- those on the left have to band together - where are you Chris Hipkins?? And where are you the minor parties on the left??You have to organise!!
I suspect most of the room voted National last year. He might have lost some votes yesterday.
Hopefully there'll be some self-reflection and honesty then. I recall the Palmerston North mayor bravely went on The Platform (where he got bashed around for defending Maori wards). I understand he is a National man, and thought well of Luxon. I wonder what he thinks now indeed.
National, and ACT. Don’t forget ACT. We’ve been ignoring, with a half-tolerant chuckle, National’s activist right wing, for too long. Now we see who they really are and the power they have that far exceed the number of votes they gleaned.
What needs to happen next is for the Left bloc to solidify & organise its core base, before attempting to pander to voters who are unlikely to ever support them in the first place. It didn't work for Howard Dean in 2004.
https://www.thestranger.com/news/2004/11/11/19813/the-urban-archipelago
I don't know Howard Dean but will look at the link later. But wanted to say - I agree - there has to be a solidification across the political spectrum, as well as, left oriented communities, groups and individuals.
I mean think about it - that's what Atlas Network really is - although they have billionaire money behind them (small difference ;)). Still they became the mother of all right wing think tanks because they essentially did this - group, come together and unite for a common cause. And be united in that.
I think, KR, that too many of us - and I am speaking for myself too - are just selfish and that's not reserved for the so-called right. Until there is more commonality of purpose, and an ability to put aside differences to work for a better future for as many people as possible, it's going to be hard to counter this stuff.
Cheers Kumara Republic.
Howard Dean is some deep cut US Politicsball stuff for policy wonks. There's not no lessons to take from it I'm just saying don't feel bad for not knowing it.
Got it.
I never thought Luxon was that smart, but he may have stumbled across Machiavellian advisors. I see your anger, and double it!
I don't think he's very smart at all - but very disciplined on marketing and spin and it seems that's all it takes once you have a compliant media team
Theres different types of intelligence.
Luxon is not good at remembering numbers, is not across the gritty details of any of his policies, is not all that invested with the reality of working on the front lines of service delivery, and is not great at relating to anyone with less than seven figures in the bank.
What he *is* good at is MBA stuff. He can run a meeting, corral his caucus and keep them on message, he can talk the kind of platitude heavy word salad that comprises Business English which is insufferable to those of us who value language but is a status marker and shibboleth in the corporate world.
He was probably a perfectly adequate corporate executive, takin meetings and talking about KPIs and benchmarks and going forward with synergies across key verticals in emerging markets to deliver value for shareholders. Its just, um, the stakes of running a government like an MBA McKinsey-clone would run a business is that people's lives get measurably worse.
Accurate. I suspect though that any real corporate folks would see through it too. I often think that Air NZ was the perfect place for a middle manager like him to rise through the ranks.
Well, I'm of the opinion that there are a lot more Luxons in corporate business than there are perceptive and capable people who can see through BS, personally.
Depends on the leader and culture I suspect, but sounds grim!
Ditto
A solid analysis, however, I would suggest you have given Luxon too much credit for intelligence. I’m not saying he is below average, or slow, but he is in no way above average either. Luxon’s strength his is ability to get up and go and do it again. The discipline to grind away at relatively boring middle-management tasks is where he has ultimately succeeded. For his diligence, in my opinion, he was elevated beyond his capability into senior management. Those inherent weaknesses didn’t magically go away with his elevation. They are still present, and that’s what we’re seeing play out in front of us. If he has to dig in and go abstract, deconstruct an issue into its constituent parts or understand complex system dynamics he appears to very quickly get out of his depth. That is why he sticks to regurgitating corporate word salads. It’s his comfort blanket. I could be wrong, but if I am Luxon isn’t helping disprove my assertion with his antics. Just saying……
There's a joke/truism about organisations in general, where people inevitably wind up getting promoted to the level of their incompetence: you do well at Role A so get promoted to Role B and so on until you get to Role F, reach the limit of your abilities, and stop getting promoted.
As a result any given company or other organisation is staffed at every level with people inadequate to their task.
Like a lot of these cynical heuristics its probably not necessarily supported by the evidence, but its still amusing to think about.
He is good at knowing what a woman is.
Ah yes, a crucial leadership skill required for all world leaders, the ability to discern someone's gender presentation based on how they present themselves.
Yes. You shouldnt under-rate the value of knowing what a woman is. I wouldnt trust a politician that couldnt tell.
It just seems an incredibly low bar. "Oh I don't mind that he's eviscerating the public service, snatching food from poor people's mouths, all so he can give landlords a handout they don't need, but on the plus side he's a transphobe just like me so its all right."
Absolutely spot on! And it's what I've been saying fir a long time also. Time for everyone on the left to mobilize, stop handwringing and attack these monsters for the liars, thieves and blaggards they are. 3 waters was the only way that NZ could collectively share this cost burden and the right lied and used racist innuendo to imply that Maori were being handed special treatment, when nothing was further from the truth.
The council’s need to be united to stop this ‘blame’ gaining traction. Local woes with rate rises to rescue existing infrastructure are the result of years of underfunding, more austerity won’t fix anything. The move against Māori Wards could be the start of a combined council ‘revolt’, then move onto the financials… Every mayor should be speaking up! Ironic that most councils are traditionally bluer than blue!
Yep, it really is this diabolical!