The Government has just announced it will provide $4 million of taxpayer funds for political advertising. Both National and Labour each get over $1 million, and the other two Establishment parties of The Greens and NZ First get about half of that to blow on promoting themselves.

The state of our freshwater has got so bad that scientists, tourism operators, health experts and environmental organisations have come together to speak out. What has brought this group together in an unprecedented stance? Their concerns are shared because clean water is the backbone of our economy, our environment and our society. Tourism is our number one export earner, and our 100% Pure brand is under threat. Even more worrying are the problems with contaminated drinking water that we are seeing in Canterbury (with rising nitrogen levels) and the Hawkes Bay (with bacteria). 

As predicted, the Reserve Bank has asked for Debt to Income Ratios to help dampen down the housing market. That would mean that borrowers can’t borrow more than 5 times their income. This would shut about 2,000 first home buyers and 9,000 investors out of the market. The trouble is that it won’t stop the truly rich, because they don’t need debt anyway. 

Okay so I just finished reading the Reserve Bank’s report on the financial stability of New Zealand, and basically we are stuffed. Like honestly, right now I’m considering popping out to Pak’n’Save to buy canned goods in bulk. 

Playing backyard cricket with my brothers we used to say that cheats never prosper. In other words if you lie or break the rules, you’ll only end up hurting yourself. That is certainly the case with the United States pulling out of the Paris Agreement, and something that our own Government is also familiar with.  

The President of the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Abe Gray has resigned his office to join The Opportunities Party (TOP).

It is not very often that you get agreement among three such disparate groups as unions, banks, and academics, but that is what is happening as all three call for a tax on property.

“I’m proud to announce our second set of candidates,” says The Opportunities Party founder Dr Gareth Morgan. “It is notable that they are all from the Canterbury Plains and Otago lakes area, which shows the strong response The Opportunities Party (TOP) has had in this area. People are sick and tired of watching their fresh water degrade. It is time for change.”

THE OPPORTUNITIES PARTY LEADER DR GARETH MORGAN WELCOMES PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSIONER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT’S STAND ON FERAL CATS.

Jan Wright has released her penultimate report as Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment; this one is about ensuring our native birds can thrive on mainland New Zealand. Here are five things you need to know about the report.