Category: imported_weekly

Helen Clark might try to deny that an underclass is flourishing in New Zealand but the public knows better. According to a recent Colmar Brunton poll, more than eight in every 10 people surveyed believed there is an underclass problem. It is little wonder - the signs are everywhere.

The Prime Minister’s Statement to Parliament at the beginning of a new Parliamentary year is traditionally the time for the government to outline its priorities for the next twelve months. In her address, Helen Clark stated: “Meeting the challenges our country faces in the 21st century requires substance, not slogans”. (To read the full speech click here)

A new poll out this week shows that fewer than half of New Zealanders consider the Treaty of Waitangi to be of significance to them. The study by Research New Zealand found that of the 55% of the 500 people surveyed who thought the Treaty had no significance, 27% were Maori and 64% were New Zealand European.

Winston Churchill once said: The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.

This week the Parole Board decided against the early release of Baily Kurariki, the 17-year-old who was sentenced to seven years in jail for his part in the killing of pizza delivery man Michael Choy in 2001. He was 12 years old at the time.

It started on the balcony. Numerous blows from the barrel of a sawn-off shotgun rained down on the teenager's head, shoulders, legs and arms, leaving bruising and deep cuts on her body. Not satisfied, Fenton dragged her into the house by her hair. Inside, he continued the beating, in front of three terrified female flatmates and their young children - aged 10 months to 3 years. As the blows continued he told them, “You are going to watch her blood splatter”, and warned them what would happen if they tried to escape. (NZ Herald, 19 Jan 07, view )

This year will see more of the government’s expensive initiatives to combat the so-called threat of anthropogenic (man-made) global warming passing into law. The bill to introduce the carbon trading scheme which exposes New Zealand to the volatile international price of carbon, and the energy strategy bill designed to increase our reliance on expensive renewable energy sources, are now in front of Select Committees (the deadline for submissions is Feb 29 - to see details click here). Both of these pieces of legislation will significantly increase the cost of living as the escalating price of power is passed on to householders. The Kyoto Protocol debt, estimated to be as much as $2 billion, also hangs over our heads.

Three years ago the government established a joint project with Local Government New Zealand to investigate local authority rating levels and to determine whether there are affordability problems. Their report claimed that there was “little evidence of a systemic affordability problem”.

This first newsletter of election year is an opportune time to reflect on the sort of government we would like to see elected in 2008.

This season’s greeting comes with my sincere best wishes to you and your family for a safe, happy and healthy Christmas and New Year. Thanks for being such a loyal reader.