Cannabis law reform is finally gaining momentum under the Labour/ NZ First Government. TOP’s policy on this issue – advocating legal, regulated and taxed cannabis, a grow-your-own allowance and a legal use age of 20 – was one of the most clearly articulated in the 2017 General Election. Like all TOP policies, it was evidence-based, harm reducing and included an economic impact analysis. 

Bad news first: TOP would abolish Paid Parental Leave. Now the good news: we would give ALL families with children under three $200 per week; no questions asked. Labour is targeting the middle class, telling low-income families to go to hell.

Labour has begun to make its way through their list of promises for the first 100 days in office. So far we have been somewhat underwhelmed by the policy announcements made; you can see our thoughts on Labour’s minimum wage increases and their foreign ownership ban here. In general this Labour-led Government looks like a continuation of the red/blue duopoly we have seen in recent decades. They are keen to look like they are busy doing something but in essence are addressing symptoms without really dealing with the underlying issues behind them. 

The new government has taken no time extolling its desire for a higher minimum wage. $20 by 2020 is the number they’ve chosen, probably more for marketing purposes than anything evidence based.

Does anyone seriously think that Labour’s first loud policy initiative is anything but window-dressing for the masses, a solution chasing a problem that hasn’t even been evidenced? Sure, Phil Twyford doesn’t like Chinese-sounding names, but that is hardly evidence.

Dear Members, Candidates, Supporters and TOP Voters

Well we’ve arrived, a new government has been announced – congratulations to our new Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The next relevant event will be what policy has been agreed on. At The Opportunities Party (TOP) all that matters is policy so the outcome of the election is still for us, to be discovered.

As most of you who have followed along will know, we are driven by evidence based policy that will make New Zealand better for all those living here.  In the aftermath of the election, we want to find out how successful we were at getting this message across, and how we can improve it. 

That was a disappointing outcome for TOP from my perspective, but at least we now know that there are 50,000 early adopters out there for TOP & our best practice, evidence-based policy which promotes economic growth, social justice, and environmental sustainability. Thank you for caring and appreciating the difference between robust, progressive policy that benefits everyone, and the stagnant, tribal-based politics that has long been New Zealand's status quo.

ACT and the Green Party’s idea of putting a tax on carbon isn’t the best way to fix our emissions problem. Nor for that matter is a nitrogen tax the best way to solve our fresh water woes. Cap and trade systems are far better, and here’s why. 

On Backbenches last night Green Party candidate Golriz Ghahraman refused to be drawn on any details of the Green Party immigration policy. Their policy appears to be to talk about it in terms of values only, but who and how many people do they want coming into the country? It is the inability of the Green Party to face up to these basic tough questions that leaves one feeling a bit uneasy about them being in government.