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Luxon’s penchant for “economic growth”
Yesterday morning, I warned libertarianism had penetrated the marrow of the NZ Coalition agenda, and highlighted libertarian Peter Thiel’s comments that democracy and freedom are unable to comfortably co-exist.
For those of you who don’t know - Peter Thiel’s influence is so significant he was reportedly able to fund and place “weird” J.D Vance into the most important back up position in USA politics: Vice President.
Of course, we in New Zealand know Thiel as a fellow citizen after John Key granted Thiel citizenship in 2011. It was later revealed Thiel had only spent 12 days in NZ prior to being granted NZ citizenry and was given it under “exceptional circumstances” afforded to only 2 other people - newborn babies.
Anyway, the depths of correlation between our government and libertarian values have seen this government change laws (“regulation” ) to make it easier for foreigners to buy our sensitive land and assets, and Seymour, Goldsmith & Bishop systematically break down constraints on the corporate/uber wealthy class - under the guise of “prosperity,” of course.
Examples: Fast-Track, Regulatory Standards Bill, Overseas Investment Act.
Predictably, and making my case for me, Luxon used his State of the Union speech to announce that he saw foreign money as one his primary engines of growth, he was going to smooth the path for the uber wealthy, and economic growth was his number one above all.
Genetic modification was on too, so too “Drill baby, drill,” and, he claimed (echoing David Seymour) that it was too hard for foreigners to invest in NZ, and that’s why he was going to make it easier for them:
"Invest New Zealand will be established as the government's one-stop-shop for foreign direct investment ... streamlining the investment process and providing tailored support to foreign investors."
But that’s simply not true.
We have always had protections in place to evaluate and ensure benefits to our country, as well as to our national interests and security. It’s common sense to exercise prudence when accepting funds that overseas investors will expect returns on.
That process will be significantly watered down under NACT1, as I explained yesterday.
A good point that Rob Campbell made when he warned that the government was manufacturing a crisis to privatise health last year is you are dealing with highly sophisticated hedge funds, investment bankers and the like, and it would be easy for us to get the short end of that stick - even assuming Luxon cared about this country’s ordinary folk - let alone that once privatised models ensue, we know through our experience that it always gets more expensive for consumers in the long run.
For example, John Key partially privatised the “gentailers” in NZ, and although the NZ government still owns 51%, the evidence has shown us that the gentailers have consistently prioritised billions of dollars of dividends over investment and decarbonisation - leading to higher costs for all NZ consumers.
Australia’s energy sector privatisation, another case study, is also considered a “dismal failure”.
In addition, Luxon’s talk about foreign investors finding it so hard and so unwelcoming ("cry me a river,”) appears to be as usual, based more on hot air and anecdotes than material substance.
Last year, The Post’s Dita De Boni reported that a 6th year survey from Simpson Grierson found foreign investors:
“view our assets as cheap, our IP as valuable and our new government as much more amenable to their aspirations than the government that preceded it.”
Translation: foreigners think they can pick up bargain NZ assets and suck up our valuable IP under a weak, push over government now.
On commercialising science. Luxon noted:
"I want us to commercialise our brilliant ideas, so that our science system makes us all wealthier. Because we are going for growth."
But his government just spent the last year trashing our science sector, scaling back funding, causing significant job losses from Universities to NIWA to reseach bodies - including yesterday, and requiring scientists to devote time away from their core work to organise against the cuts instead.
And this is the crux of the issue with Luxon’s State of the Union yesterday -
It’s like a parent telling you of great plans to build that next generation family home where there will be space for everyone, a great recreation room, toys for the kids for nurturing, and study rooms to help learning amd growth.
But he’s actually spent the last year stopping work on existing renovations, upgrades, and extensions, firing many experienced and motivated workers - seeing them flee overseas and losing critical knowledge, cutting budgets to everyone but the smoking and vaping hall which got expanded, cutting real incomes, and then claiming we are all going to get rich because the Saudi Arabians are going to loan us money and get a share of our home to make it more spacious.
Do you think there is something wrong with this picture?
Treaty Principles Bill cost - $6m and counting
Craig Renney from the Council of Trade Unions, NZ, reports today that the cost of the Treaty Principles Bill is estimated, very conservatively, at $6m.
The analysis is based on the updated data point of 343,000 digital and physical submissions.
And the money equivalent to “2m free school meals – enough meals for 10,526 children for a school year.”
No wonder David Seymour was so desperate to can good quality, balanced school lunches for slop from a horse meat and listeria past company.
Importantly, Renney highlights that Luxon could stop this exorbitant waste of money if he wanted to now - and stay true to his commitment to Seymour.
Will the National Party?
I think we all know the answer to that.
Cartoon - Emmerson:
Related Reading:
Treaty Principles Bill
Former Waitangi Tribunal member Prue Kapua concerned over new appointments Jan-2025 (RNZ)
Minister denies claim Waitangi Tribunal appointments a ‘whitewash’ Jan-2025 (RNZ)
Descendants of Treaty of Waitangi translators speak out against bill Jan-2025 (RNZ)
Foreign Money
Te Ao Māori
Nature Photo:
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