In Christchurch

Am having quite a social weekend. Am in Christchurch, and am getting some Labour work done after having lunch with a friend. Am attending my first Civil Union tomorrow, hanging out with other social democrats, then flying back to Wellington on Sunday for my family birthday dinner. Lots to do so won't be blogging much.

It's warm down here. We're definitely feeling the positive effects of Climate Change at the moment. As lovely as it is I hope we can get some rain for the farmers - a drought is not what the country needs right now!

Little reaction to Nats loan policy

I must admit to being vaguely surprised at the lack of news coverage on the Nats latest flip-flop. It doesn't appear to have hit a major chord with news outlets or the public.

After my initial panic that National are seriously wedging us here, I'm convinced that they have released their policy too soon. Labour has plenty of time to develop something far more comprehensive, that addresses the drivers of student debt, and I sincerely hope they do so.

The challenge is to focus on something more than "quality". While education quality is important, it's far too ethereal a concept to sell to voters during an election period.

The National policy appeals to a small pool of voters - graduates. It doesn't appeal to current students who are struggling to make ends meet. Labour must address this issue seriously if it wants to maintain credibility with students. Increasing the student allowance, and gradually moving towards a universal allowance should be where we are headed.

However, I do think there is some value in the Nats policy. If I had my way it would be a "both and" scenario that gives those of us with enormous loans some redress, AND, looks to help existing students from ending up swamped in debt.

But if I had to choose between one of those options it would be the latter. While there will be a generation of us seriously hurt financially by the policies of the 90s, we must look forward to the future.

I believe Labour is the only major party that is future-focussed, and this is our opportunity to prove it. I sure hope we grab it!

Nats swallow a 'dead rat'

This is a very interesting announcement. The Nats will back Labour's Interest-Free student loans policy, and offer a ten percent bonus to all voluntary payments over $500.

This is clever wedge politics from National - they are playing right into our heartland. And I'll give it to them, this is quite good policy. Of particular interest is the low threshold to qualify for the bonus - $500 is not an unreasonable ask for a New Zealand graduate.

It will be interesting to see how Labour respond to this. The challenge for Labour will be to provide a comprehensive package that targets debt after graduation, education quality, access, the cost of living and the actual cost of the education itself.

The Nats policy does seem yet another "Ambulance at the bottom of the cliff" approach. Surely we should be reducing the original cost of the education and increasing access to the student allowance, rather than writing off borrowed money later?

Given the Nats obsession with New Zealanders leaving for overseas, I can't help but wonder why John Key hasn't introduced some form of bonded scholarship to try and keep people here. Without such a policy his whining appears somewhat hollow.

I look forward to hearing what Dr Cullen has to say on the policy.

Update One: Duh. It's been pointed out to me that Pete Hodgson is the new Minister of Tertiary Education. Don't worry, that was only a temporary lapse in concentration, I didn't miss last year's reshuffle ;-)

Comments off temporarily

I've had a few people comment on the lack of comments. Unfortunately, even with word verification turned on I was receiving SPAM posts. I'll get this fixed over the next day or two, although if anyone knows how to sort this, advice would be gratefully received.

Update: I'm turning comments back on. Thanks Seamonkey Madness for your tip, but that's exactly what I'd already done. Odd huh?

It's the economy, stupid

John Key delivered his second "State of the Nation" speech today. He focussed mostly on issues relating to Youth Education and Justice, and did rather a nice job of playing to people's fears about youth crime.

I won't comment too much on that, except to agree with Jordan Carter, who noted that National are taking an "Ambulance at the bottom of the Cliff" approach, rather than pumping more resource into ensuring our young families are well supported so that they don't end up in difficult situations as teenagers. John Key also refuses to acknowledge that the social problems we are seeing now are a direct result of the failed policies of the National Government in the 90s. It's very nice Rhetoric, and not an incorrect diagnosis of the challenges we face, but unfortunately Key just doesn't come up with realistic solutions.

What I am going to comment on is the economy. Because I think John Key is deliberately misleading the public about the strength of Labour's management of the economy.

I look at the world today and feel grateful – grateful to live in a country like New Zealand, where we have had the benefits of almost a decade of economic growth, coupled with careful financial planning for the future.

When an economic downturn begins (and let’s be clear, we’re not certain that is even occurring) it is nice to know that a country has something in reserve – and thanks to Labour we are well placed to ride a financial storm, should it occur.

Labour believes in financial security for ordinary New Zealanders, and for the country. That’s why we’ve built up our public service, our infrastructure, and our cash reserves, following 9 years of neglect, slash, burn and borrow by the National Government. Labour’s careful saving, spending and policies like KiwiSaver are ensuring that we are preparing for our own futures. New Zealanders shouldn’t need to rely on the money of other countries to pay for our futures and the futures of our children. National may offer tax cuts we can’t afford, but all they’ll be doing is borrowing to pay for these and sacrifing our futures, just like they've done in the past.

Kiwis work hard and deserve high wages for their efforts. It is the Labour-led Government that has increased the minimum wage every year to make sure that hard working kiwi men and women can earn enough to support themselves and their families. Under the National Government the minimum wage only increased by $1 in 9 years, leaving many kiwi families struggling to feed their children, while rich people received tax cuts to pay for extravagant lifestyles.

Labour believes that economic freedom is ensured through good jobs, and wages that workers deserve. That’s why Labour has worked hard to reduce unemployment from 6.7% during National’s time in office to the 3.5% figure we see now. As Helen Clark says, “the best form of welfare is a job”. Labour is committed to ensuring hard working kiwis have access to well paying jobs that will properly support them and their families, unlike the National Party who left thousands upon thousands of kiwis without jobs and struggling on benefits.

John Key may lament people leaving New Zealand, yet, he himself spent 20 years outside of New Zealand. John Key hasn’t forgotten about the failed policies of the past that have led to the social problems we now face – he just wasn’t here to experience them. I was, and I trust Helen Clark because she has lived through tough times in New Zealand and sought solutions for the problems National dumped upon us – she didn’t run away when things got difficult.

John Key hasn't told us how he will improve the economy. He hasn't answered the critical questions we need to know:

• Will he continue to lift the Minimum Wage?
• Will he continue to support businesses entering new markets?
• Will he keep Working for Families, so that hard working parents can have that extra money for difficult expenses?
• Will he keep KiwiSaver Mark II so that Kiwis can have a decent chance at owning their own home?

Until we hear from John Key on these matters, then anything National says is just rhetoric, and hiding their desire to go back to the times when the market ruled all.

We all know what happened then. It's taken 9 years to begin cleaning up the mess. Let’s not go back there.

I have confidence

It has been a very long time since I have made a blog post, but today seems the appropriate day to begin again.


My life has moved on considerably since posting stopped in 2006. I am active in the Labour Party, sitting on a number of different committees and am helping with a couple of campaigns this year.


I won't be blogging about my personal life anymore. That part of my life is over. I have good friends, good family and lots of wonderful moments in my life. I don't need the internet to be my life, rather, I'll be using this blog as a mechanism to campaign for Labour and help ensure that the blogosphere is well balanced and representative of many different views. We can't let New Zealand think that only tories live online!


My first real "political" post will be up tonight - a comment on John Key's State of the Nation Speech. Hence the title of this post, I have Confidence. For I do. I have confidence that Labour can continue its steady hand governing this country, and win the 2008 election to form a new government.


And I'll be using this blog to tell you why :-)