New Zealand, Welcome to the Post-Truth Era
Atlas Network's Heritage Foundation breathes life through Trump, but they also operate closer to home than most Kiwis are aware. What does it mean for who we are?
Everybody knows that the dice are loaded Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed Everybody knows the war is over Everybody knows the good guys lost Everybody knows the fight was fixed The poor stay poor, the rich get rich That's how it goes Everybody knows - Leonard Cohen
This is a long read
EXCERPT
The way forward is both simple and complicated. Simple because the answers are clear. The large majority of humans seek a more peaceful, prosperous and joyful life. The large majority care about genuine cause and effect, ways to improve things, and values co-existence, nature and community.
Complex because we have been reared within a system of beliefs that teaches us what success is, what economy represents, what winning and losing is all about, and who we each are as individuals and groups.
Deception in the ranks
Over the last few days, revelations continued to emerge about the health system’s apparent financial crisis. Unfortunately, lies were involved. We live in a post-truth era and it appears New Zealand is no longer exempt.
Rob Campbell, in a piece titled Beware the Chainsaw Man approach headlined with:
“Life can be full of surprises. So it turns out that the problem with our health services is too many nurses – leading to a cost crisis.”
Campbell is referring of course to the reasons for the Health NZ “deficit” - a deficit that was caused by Luxon and Reti intentionally underfunding Health NZ in the first place. Despite being informed about the reasons for the cost increases - including successfully reducing nursing vacancies, leading to higher nurses’ pay balances - they did that anyway.
Who knew? It turns out that funding health care can be expensive. The cost of running a family practice, for example, has risen by 14% this year. Medical inflation relates to rising costs associated with medical procedures, medication advancements, and numbers of medical claims. Post-Covid, elective surgeries were catching up, doctors and nurses are desperately needed. And we know health funding for NZ is the lowest per capita rate ever this century, under the National Coalition goverment’s budget.
Te Whatu Ora’s cost increase is minimal, and Reti said so too, writing earlier that Health NZ “delivered a financial break-even result in its first year after establishment”. Dr Bryce Edwards noted there were some “contradictory” statements from Reti.
Yes, I believe it’s all changed, and new facts have been declared
Last week I said the government knew of the health deficit in March 2024 (from the Select Committee feedback), yet chose to underfund Health NZ in our May 2024 budget, then declared an unforeseen crisis in July 2024.
Turns out Shane Reti and Luxon knew about “the deficit” last year - before they were even in power. Here is Luxon admitting that on right wing media.
Does it make better or worse? Or just the same? I’m not sure.
Then as usual, there’s more.
No, of course, there is nothing close to 14 layers of management across the entire health system.
I watched the press conference last week and saw how Shane Reti, in particular, tried to blame the mysterious 14 layers as the primary reason for the unforseen deficit.
Below is an outline of how he danced around what those layers are, when asked.
TRANSCRIPT
Journalist - “Dr Reti, obviously you're a Minister, you're a creature of the system - what are the 14 layers in between the patient and the CEO?"
Shane Reti - (looks down) "Ahh....well look there's an org chart which I've seen which is just, just mind boggling. I could not name uh .. the different layers of wayfinders, pathfinders, boundary spanners, Lord knows what else from A to B I could not name them for you." (laughter from Luxon and smiling from Reti)
Video link
Turns out there aren’t 14 layers. Not even close.
Apparently those 14 layers included things like the Board of Directors, CEO, Chief of Staffs, patients etc.
And he was specifically asked about the layers between because no-one puts customers or non-reporting layers on an reporting chart. Do they?
Manch and Malpass, writing for The Post, quoted Labour’s Verrall as saying “When I fly on Air New Zealand, I’m not appearing on the organisational chart of Air New Zealand. This is ridiculous” and called the government’s communications “spin.”
Now watch Shane Reti explain why the deficit “miraculously” (his words) appeared:
TRANSCRIPT (on what caused the unexpected deficit)
Shane Reti -
“The explanation we’ve been given is disconnecting from the front line meant that we were unable to, or the Board was unable to better align resources with what the front line needs were. There was no visibility on what was happening at the frontline.”
Remember, by Luxon’s own admission, he and Reti had known about the clinical spending needs in October 2023. And it’s not a “loss” either - it’s because nurses’ vacancies were being filled, amongst other organizational factors in a health care system. And the “deficit” by some reports represents an ~5% increase on overall spend.
Who’s grocery bill went up more than that, let alone on a health organisation’s spend?
This topic has been covered fairly extensively but the reason I bring it to your attention is because it neatly highlights the reality that we live in a post-truth era, and it’s important you adjust to what that truly means.
Last year, before the election, RNZ called out Luxon for his lies about health outcomes under Labour. RNZ noted Luxon was allowed to repeat a “falsehood” despite facts showing “there are a number of areas where health outcomes for Māori and non-Māori have improved while Labour has been in charge.”
But this time, one would be hard pressed to find the case articulated so clearly by any news media.
Luxon and Reti lied in their press conference - either willingly or inadvertently.
I wouldn’t want to be the media today.
Whether a state broadcaster, TVNZ, or Stuff which is trying to keep itself afloat financially, it is hard times. But it’s a sad day when our government knows it can persist with blatant, unrepetant lies, and get away with it largely unscathed.
Is it resources, or is it will?
Atlas Network’s Clear and Present Strategy
And that leads me to another post-truth era reality: Atlas Network’s clear and present strategies.
On Friday, Donald J Trump was busily exhorting his devoted Christian base to vote.
TRANSCRIPT
Donald J Trump -
“Christians are a group that's known not to vote very much. You have to go out at least this election...
We will change this country for the better.This country will be great again like never before.
We have to win this election, most important election ever...
And again, Christians, get out and vote just this time.
You won't have to do it anymore.
Four more years, you know what? It'll be fixed. It'll be fine.
You won't have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians. I love you, Christians...
As soon as I take the oath of office... No longer will their DOJ and FBI be allowed to target, persecute, or round up Christians or pro-life activists...
Americans of faith are the soul of our country.”
He said to adoring adulation.
The press made a lot of this. And in the days since, his supporters have tried to make light of it, claiming Trump only meant he was going to unite America, or “insert spin.”
Except the only catch is - this was always clear, wasn’t it?
Project 2025 is a far right Conservative playbook cemented in the idea of a religious, conservative takeover of the American government, and democratic government.
Even if Trump loses the upcoming election, there is a significant chance that the Republicans, backed by conservative billionaire interests and a pliable justice system, will claim it through alternate means. They already tried it once in 2020. And this time, they will be prepared for all contingencies.
I note many folks are elated that Kamala is up Trump by 2% in some polls, but quite frankly, it’s alarming to see how close it has all come when it comes to the end of the USA as a free and democratic nation - an idea backed by billionaires like Rupert Murdoch, John Malone, Peter Thiel, Robert Mercer, and so it goes on.
What does it say about the success of ‘alternate facts,’ right wing media, and education / awareness?
Meanwhile, in our very small part of the world, Atlas Network readies itself too.
In 2022, the Taxpayers Union, which receives money from Atlas, headed by Jordan Williams and closely affiliated with TPU co-founder David Farrar, told his right wing, libertarian compatriots:
STATEMENT FROM NZ TAXPAYERS UNION TO THE ATLAS NETWORK
“In the 1980s, New Zealand was a leading actor in economic reform and deregulation, ultimately leading to the birth of Reagan/Thatcher-style neoliberalism that spread throughout the Western world.
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union aims to reestablish the country as an economic reformer and global thought leader through their key public policy objectives: lower taxes, less waste, and more transparency.
An upcoming election is expected to deliver a government more favorable to market-based thinking in New Zealand, and the Taxpayers’ Union intends to work alongside the government to be at the forefront of policy development.
They plan to work toward their mission by drafting parliamentary bills; shifting the Overton Window by utilizing popular support; campaigning against high taxes, government waste, and inflation; and publicizing high profile government employees or contractors who have had misleading or deceptive trade interactions.
The Taxpayers’ Union aims, in the long run, to become the most popularly supported taxpayer and fiscally conservative pressure group in the world, and to establish New Zealand as a pro-freedom policy laboratory. In their words, they will “lead the world from the bottom of the world.”
In case you’re wondering, they said the same about Liz Truss. She was implementing their neoliberal “laboratory” too but crashed and burned when it happened. Never mind, she’s behind Trump now, and all is forgiven among friends.
Yet as much as the Heritage Foundation shapes a post-conservative Republican movement (let’s face it, the Republican Party was taken over by a new brand of Christian far right ideology) - characters like Jordan Williams and his allies - with their pro-fast-track-bill, pro-tax-cuts and pro-public-service-demolition advocacy and polls, operate as tools to help National-ACT-NZ First shape public opinion to their benefit.
And in their ideology - devising policies, strategies and communications.
Truth is an unnecessary by-product when it comes to their goals, as we saw in their 3 Waters politicking.
The implications of living in a post-truth era
Photo courtesy: NZ Geo
So what does this all mean? How does one genuinely adjust? Every single day we are bombarded with post-truth facts.
Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s senior advisor, titled it “alternate facts,” and the mid to far right have been largely successful in imprinting their reality on the world.
Luxon’s Coalition government is similarly tiring.
Every day there is a post-alternate reality -
Yes, abuse in care was horrific and contributed to the establishment and prevalence of gangs, and we are sorry for it, but let’s do it again with boot camps where we can’t guarantee kids won’t be harmed, and despite all research that shows us it’s not the best solution;
Yes, we knew about Health NZ’s funding needs last year, based on clinical practitioner and health system needs, but let’s pretend we didn’t and use it as an excuse to cut our health system to the bone;
Yes, we know cigarettes kill and heated tobacco products are literal poison, but let’s do it to New Zealand and Kiwis anyway;
Yes, we know mega prisons and high incarceration rates only leads to more gangs, more crime and higher cycles of intergenerational abuse, so let’s invest $1.9 bn there and support our PPP goals;
Yes we know that speed kills and maims New Zealanders, and the social cost of road crashes costs us ~$10 billion a year, but let’s implement blanket speed increases
Last week, in a Parliamentary session, I watched Transport Minister Simeon Brown get up and speak at least four times. Each time, he ended with an openly gleeful boast that their government was going to have New Zealanders to get where they needed to go “faster.” He seemed genuinely giddy at that slogan. I have to wonder where we find leaders of this ilk.
And facts are often sleights of hand under this Coalition -
Simon Watt’s claim that National’s 3 Waters would be cheaper than the status quo was not evidence based. Auckland’s Watercare rates involve higher interest charges spread over a longer timeframe, and S&P declared the decision to repeal 3 Waters was going to be financially detrimental for NZ;
The pro-tobacco policies and tobacco industry protection is described by the government as part of a suite of tools to help Kiwis quit smoking;
Health NZ - see above;
Labour never implemented blanket speed reductions but this government is implementing blanket speed increases while claiming Labour were the ones that didn’t listen;
Previously, Luxon indicated he was not going to sell our water assets or privatize national assets but they are moving towards it, from under-funding health, to setting up water entities to fall into the hands of private debtors if anything goes wrong, to floating the sale of our ferries, to indicating the sale of Kiwibank, and overall implementing fast-track laws and amending the Overseas Investment Act to make it easier for foreigners to buy our sensitive lands;
Luxon and Watts claim they deeply care for the environment, while they simultaneously implement policies that increase NZ’s emissions and tank the EV market.
It can be hard to keep up in an environment like this, and it’s certainly tiring.
We could spend every day, all day, talking about it ad nauseum. As America did with Trump.
But as I reflect on the wider implications, I feel compelled to state that the build up of energy from those who are alert to this reality will be useful. It has to be.
Characters like Trump, or governments that lie to us, show us that even if it irks us, the system isn’t fit for purpose anymore. Reliance on a central group of government to take decisions and expecting the best, under the current rules of engagement, isn’t going to work out.
When corporate and lobbyist money and activity is entrenched and rooted deeply into our structures, systems and governments, we will have to find the eject button.
It’s too easy to lie in the systems we currently have. It takes almost no energy to create a lie, but it takes times 50 x the effort to debunk one - and even then, with the advent of unaccountable technology giants, weak regulators, and a threatened or complicit media, lies are too easily amplified.
And that’s because it fundamentally changes the populace’s DNA. As more and more people believe lies, it becomes much harder to find a common foundation of respect and truth to work with.
The present day America is neatly split almost in half because a large portion genuinely believe the issues are woke people, transgenders, and threats to gun ownership. The success has been resounding for bad faith operators.
An absolute bloodless coup.
But it can happen anywhere. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
I recall the Green Party’s ex-MP, Golriz Ghahraman.
Stuff parked a team outside her home for a week after she stole a few dresses from high end stores.
Yet when it comes to Casey Costello’s lie to RNZ, Luxon and Reti’s lies about our health system, or the 3 Waters fiasco, that will all cost us billions and more in lives, health, and money, what is it when our media is too weak, neutralized or friendly to move?
What is it when public servants are too afraid to speak up or speak out? Out of the Health NZ Board members that resigned and departed, some up to a year earlier than their term ended, only one spoke up. She was an ex-National MP.
Yet it’s not just public servants, who are bound in their roles to be apolitical, for good reasons. It’s everyone that chooses everyday how to go about their lives, make choices, go along to get along - so many of us afraid to speak up for fear of being chopped out. So many of us are move by subconscious social forces that teach us to be careful, appear balanced, neutral and to not speak too loudly.
I often talk about money - because to this Government, and the people that support them, money is a primary factor.
But the real cost and true factor that matters is each human that sits behind a number or statistic. One road death is a statistic to some, but to another, it’s their entire life blood, it’s their heart, lifeline, and everything that they held dear.
Simeon might guffaw at those who care about road deaths and safety but I believe many others see deeper into it.
And so it is in these small numbers, faces, families and households, that I believe we will forge and find a new way. It’s in the contrast between those in government, and in power, and the rest of us who lay beneath in waiting.
In the paddocks that spread over all of Aotearoa New Zealand, the pre-eminent theme is grass. It’s voluminous and it’s everywhere. And our voice, should we use it, will rise higher than theirs ever can.
Grassroots starts in our hearts and in our homes. It envisages a new way forward, even as the old ones make way. It forges anew with courage, bravery and integrity.
The way forward is both simple and complicated. Simple because the answers are clear. The large majority of humans seek a more peaceful, prosperous and joyful life. The large majority care about genuine cause and effect, ways to improve things, and value co-existence, nature and community.
Complex because we have been reared within a system of beliefs that teaches us what success is, what economy represents, what winning and losing is all about, and who we each are as individuals and groups.
Without knowing it, we’ve been reared in a time and space as eclectic as we might imagine the Romans once were, or the Egyptians with their complex after-life beliefs and rituals. Unknowingly, we were forged within the halls of the British scientific and post-industrial revolution that taught us the cost of everything, and that material success defined a person’s worth.
It’s hard to step outside what we know to welcome the unknowable, but it’s perhaps that the post-truth world will help us see its necessity.
And in that, each person will have a role to play, unhindered by those that would peddle mistruths for profit or for self-gain.
Our humanity demands that we see past self-interest to the wider possibilities for peace and harmony, within a society that is amply resourced and rarefied towards sharing and prosperity.
With thanks to James Wilkes, for the reminder:
Thankyou for your exemplary writings Tui.
All I can ask, Chloe aside. Will the next Dame Whina Cooper please stand up. We peasants need leadership
I have watched neoliberalism wreck social democracy for the last 30 to 40 years. The top 20% have had it all their own way. It will happen that people will rebel if there is a leader and system to focus attention on these cruel, cynical people. The deck is stacked against us, we must find a way, a voice and funds.