29 Comments
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Lucy Conway's avatar

As I read somewhere today: I’m no cactus expert, but I know a prick when I see one.

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Michael Smythe's avatar

Luxon directly abused the democratic process of debate, expert input and public scrutiny by signing up to a foregone conclusion in the Nat/Act Coalition Agreement, i.e. they agreed to:

"Legislate to improve the quality of regulation, ensuring that regulatory decisions are based on principles of good law-making and economic efficiency, by passing the Regulatory Standards Act as soon as practicable."

This is not in the Nat/NZF agreement so they do not have the numbers - but - what quid-pro-quo will New Zealand First extract to provide their support? Or will they play the hero by scuttling it? Will National attempt to fulfill the agreement by proposing radical ammendments that everyone but Act will support? Will pigs fly?

Meanwhile, I am among the chosen! Email received yesterday: "You have been selected by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee to be invited to make an oral submission on the Regulatory Standards Bill." My written submission began: "My overall objection is that this bill has a narrow-minded and monocultural approach to the purpose of regulations."

Finally, for an excellent December 2022 descriptor of David Seymour read pages 320-321 of Jacinda's memoir. Read beyond the brilliant punchline to enjoy the retort Finland PM Sanna Marin really wanted to deliver to a journalist.

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Jill Proudfoot's avatar

I'm very glad you will be there to represent us all, Michael. Well done! I'm sure you'll be among at least some excellent company

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Michael Smythe's avatar

Thanks Jill - you are very correct about the esteemed company. I have just received the Tuesday schedule:

Bay of Many Coves Resort Limited

David Harvey

Toitū Te Tiriti

Parents of Vision Impaired NZ

Garry Moore

Ellen Tapsell

The Community Development Team of The Community of St Luke in Remuera Auckland

E Tū

Anne O'Brien and Jeremy Finn

Kevin Hague

Royal Australasian College of Physicians

Te Kahui Raraunga

Taxpayers' Union

Aaron Hawkins

Donna Awatere Huata

BREAK

Migrants against the Acceptable Standard of Health Aotearoa

Pacific Panthers

Cantin Consulting

Max Harris

Department of Public Health, Otago University

Michael Smythe

New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Mokopuna

New Zealand Law Society Te Kahui Ture o Aotearoa

Latin Americans Supporting Tino Rangatiratanga

Lawyers for Climate Action Aotearoa

The Tree Council

BusinessNZ

Environment and Conservation organizations of NZ Inc.

Jonathan Boston

New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Council

Sharleen Briden

Tania Waikato

Eddie Clark

Environmental Network Manawatu

Tangata Whenua Social Workers Association

New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties

Gollins Commercial Limited

Maranga mai - Working group on racism

Tina Ngata

Eugenie Sage

Jane Kelsey

Ganesh Ahirao

Nga Kaimahi Whenua o Ngati Ira Charitable Trust

NZ Airports Association

Post Primary Teachers Assocation

Greater Wellington Regional Council

Monopoly Watch NZ

National Centre for Women's Health Research NZ

Rights Aotearoa

The Methodist Alliance

Wairewa Runanga Incorporated Society

Nga Taikura Taiao o Tuwharetoa

Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) of Aotearoa NZ

Waikato River Authority

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Jill Proudfoot's avatar

Woohoo! Esteemed company indeed. You will fit in perfectly.

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Murray Olsen's avatar

Seymour is possibly the only person I have ever come across who, whatever the topic, thinks he knows more than all the experts. He is an astounding and amazing example of Dunning-Kruger syndrome.

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Mac Stevenson's avatar

He's also one of many words one doesn't use in polite society.

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Michael Smythe's avatar

Jacinda managed it in her hot-mic moment.

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Kim Shaw-Williams's avatar

Yeah, and I still grin to myself when I remember hearing and seeing her during that moment.

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Richard Keller's avatar

Seymour is an ideological absolutist (which makes him an 'extremist'). He doesn't need to have 'support from experts'. Although in this 'Post Truth Era where denial has become mainstream', even the boring out of date National Party wants to somehow become such an absolutist party because they know this is their last chance, desperately trying to hold on to a dead past (exploitation), before reality takes charge.

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Marnie M's avatar

And his recent posts suggest he's trying to take credit for Wegovy becoming available soon in New Zealand.

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Phil Malpas's avatar

Maybe it is time to think of what we actually do if this Bill somehow gets passed? The next step that we will have to take action and not just hope someone (else) will do something!

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Kim Shaw-Williams's avatar

Glad you said this Phil, somebody sure as hell needed to!!

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Michael Smythe's avatar

Demand a snap election?

Call a general strike?

Ask the opposition parties to boycott parliament?

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Anne L's avatar

Yes! Do all three. It can be done. It should be done. It will be done.

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TrevorN's avatar

If the select committee "selected" oral submissions on the bill proportionately, then 1.1 of the estimated 360 would be from a supporter.

I think we all know that the submissions will be carefully curated "in the interests of balance" (sic).

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Jill Proudfoot's avatar

Yes, a much-abused term.

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Kim Shaw-Williams's avatar

It would surely be nice to see one of the powers that be in Aotearoa publicly say the following to Seymour the Smirk: "getting only 8% of the vote means that 92% of the eligible voters in this country didn't want to hear anything you had to say, so..."SHUT THE F**K UP!!!"

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Michael Smythe's avatar

Dame Anne Salmond's Newsroom article stated upfront:

"At the last election, Act was the only party to put forward such a proposal, and it won only 8.6 percent of the vote; 91.4 percent of voters did not support that party. This bill cannot remotely be taken to express ‘the will of the people.’ "

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Jill Proudfoot's avatar

Maybe Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke would oblige! She has the courage, the presence, the voice, the profile, and a huge social media following! She also has an excellent feeling for the ideal moment to launch an ambush. Anyone know her well enough for a chat?

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John Egenes's avatar

Thank you, David, for continuing to keep this out in the open. We need to keep shining a bright light on the skullduggery that's being created in dark places, and we need to continue to expose it for what it is: an underhanded and despicable display of the "hooray for me, and f#ck you" brand of unbridled greed from the likes of Seymour, Luxon, and the rest of the selfish pricks who make up such a large part of their parties.

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Andrew Lovrin's avatar

JFC!

Being in a position of power & actual influence has gone straight to Seymour's tiny brained head.

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David Tippett's avatar

It's not so much his brain that is tiny as it is his tiny heart.

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Wendy's avatar

Oh please let the other parties in this abominable coalition listen to reason for once! Surely the opposing voices are too many and too esteemed to simply be ignored?

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Anne L's avatar

All the more reason to be ignored. The truth is, these wannabee famous pollies are jealous. Even if they pooled their collective brain cells, it couldn't make up for even one of those most esteemed academics and experts.

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Maxine@rednest.nz's avatar

Please make this open and spread far and wide!

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David Slack's avatar

It's a free edition, fire at will 😎

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Jane Poata's avatar

Heartening to read all your esteemed comments as well as the open letter and your appropriate invective, Dave. What baffled me in the last few days was a recent ep of The Detail played on RNZ about this bill which only added to the confusion by trying to be non-partisan....or something. Laura Walters who very kindly likes to call this bill the 'good lawmaking' bill seemed to be making a great show of being naive in the extreme...and there was hardly a mention of the effect on Te Tiriti...which makes me all the more grateful for your sound and definitive approach.

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Alma Rae's avatar

A pox on all their houses - especially Luxon's.

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