John Minto

How did it come to this?

New Zealand’s economy now depends on more Chinese mothers NOT breastfeeding their babies.

Earlier this year Nuk Korako was one of six National MPs who attended a dinner hosted by the Israeli ambassador with the aim of establishing a New Zealand Parliamentary Friends of Israel group. (For the record the other MPs were Alfred Ngaro, Tim McIndoe, Todd Muller, Jian Yang and Paul Goldsmith)

The government’s announcement today of a major regeneration project for East Porirua has all the hallmarks of Auckland’s Tamaki tragedy whereby low-income residents and families are being displaced from Glen Innes, Point England and Panmure as these suburbs are gentrified for the middle class.

Despite claiming National was concerned about Jami-Lee Ross’s mental health, Paula did her best to exacerbate it in revealing aspects of his private life.

The most important lesson to learn from the Israeli court case which saw “fines” handed down to Justine Sachs and…

It should make an uncomfortable juxtaposition for the mayor and councillors.

One week they vote an extra $220 million for a new rugby stadium without public consultation and the next they are consulting on whether they should give a $30 million loan to the council’s housing arm – the Otautahi Community Housing Trust – to build 130 more council rental homes. 

If those on the lowest incomes pay the highest tax rates that means the average Maori or Pasifika taxpayer pays a higher proportion of their income in tax than the average Pakeha family – or the average beneficiary pays a higher tax rate than a rich lister.

Bridges colleague Mike Sabin, former policeman and former National MP, was at the heart of the moral panic over meth.

I’ve had the chance to read the interim report of the tax working group over the weekend and it’s a sorry, sad document.