Let’s be real—New Zealanders work hard, pay their taxes, and expect those in power to use that money responsibly. Instead, we’re watching political theatre unfold, while urgent crises go unaddressed.
Haka Should Not Include Gun Gestures—Intimidation Is Unacceptable
A haka is a powerful cultural statement, but intimidation has no place in Parliament.
The recent protest haka included gun-like gestures, which crossed the line into disorder and intimidation. Parliament should be a place for debate, not threats—this behavior should never be normalized.
Yet instead of swiftly addressing this incident, Parliament wasted hours debating the punishment—valuable time that should have gone toward urgent national crises instead.
Has MMP Failed Us?
I voted for MMP to prevent the one-party rule we had before, ensuring government accountability. Yet, as seen after Labour’s COVID election win, major policies were pushed through unchecked.
Now, we’re slipping back into self-serving governance, where decisions aren’t questioned, measured, or justified.
Do we need a panel to scrutinize government actions, ensuring they serve the people, not politicians?
Should there be real accountability for taxpayer money?
How do we ensure policies—like landlord tax breaks—actually benefit Kiwis, not political interests?
If they didn’t measure it, did they even care to check?
Debating a Punishment While Real Crises Are Ignored
With hours wasted on arguing over penalties, critical issues were left sidelined once again.
How many urgent national crises have been pushed aside for performative politics?
- Housing—soaring costs, skyrocketing rents, families living in cars.
- Climate change—rising seas, extreme weather, fragile ecosystems.
- Cost of living—grocery bills through the roof, wages failing to keep up.
- Cybersecurity—CERT NZ reports $6.6 million lost in Q1 2024 alone, an 84% increase from the previous quarter (CERT NZ, 2024).
- Social media bullying—costing NZ $444 million per year, according to a report by Netsafe and Sense Partners (Netsafe, 2024).
Ask a Homeless Person What Matters More
Parliament spends $11,000+ per hour on wages alone.
Ask a homeless person or a struggling parent if they’d rather see that money spent on housing, healthcare, or education instead of dramatic displays and personal branding. See what they say.
Was the Landlord Tax Break Passed Without Financial Bias?
The return of interest deductibility for landlords was passed in urgency, allowing landlords to claim back up to $3 billion in tax breaks.
This raises serious concerns:
- Did MPs with financial interests in property stand aside from voting?
- If not, why weren’t they required to?
- Was this policy rushed through without proper scrutiny?
Did This Actually Benefit Renters?
Despite claims that landlord tax breaks would help renters, experts say it’s unlikely to lower rent prices.
- Rent prices didn’t rise faster when deductibility was removed, so reinstating it won’t necessarily bring them down.
- Landlords benefit, but tenants see no direct relief.
- If the government didn’t measure the impact, how do they justify the policy?
The Bigger Question: Who Is This Government Serving?
- Why was this passed in urgency?
- Who actually benefits—landlords or everyday Kiwis?
- Where is the accountability for policies that don’t deliver measurable results?
The Hypocrisy is Clear
Luxury Benefits While Kiwis Tighten Their Belts
New Zealanders are told to tighten their belts—to accept rising rents, higher grocery prices, and stretched public services. Meanwhile, politicians enjoy unchallenged benefits, including taxpayer-funded luxury cars, expense accounts, and post-office privileges.
- Public sector workers are told to do more with less, yet ministers still have access to upgraded vehicles, travel perks, and tax exemptions.
- Families struggle with the cost of living, yet former Prime Ministers continue to receive taxpayer-funded cars—even after leaving office.
- Government agencies are being forced to slash budgets, yet the fringe benefit tax remains an uneven playing field, allowing political perks to go unchecked.
What message does this send?
That the rules apply to the public, but not to those in power.
That politicians deserve comfort while the country struggles.
If New Zealand is expected to cut back, shouldn’t those elected to serve lead by example?
Could They Actually Live on What They Expect Others To?
Politicians make decisions that shape the financial future of millions. They set minimum wages, adjust benefits, and impose taxes, yet most have never had to survive on the incomes they dictate.
- Could an MP live on the minimum wage—pay rent, buy groceries, cover transport, and still save for emergencies?
- Could a minister afford to raise children on the exact benefit they expect struggling families to get by on?
- Could they cover housing costs without access to government-provided allowances, reimbursements, and perks?
For many Kiwis, the reality is cutting essentials just to get through the week. Yet politicians approve policies that squeeze the public further, while continuing to enjoy unchallenged privileges.
If leaders had to live under the same financial pressure as everyday New Zealanders, how many policies would suddenly change overnight?
Public Transport Over Private Cars—A Smarter, Safer Choice
Government spending on luxury vehicles for politicians has long been questioned, with taxpayer-funded cars costing up to $70,000 each. But beyond the financial burden, there’s another issue—traffic offences involving politicians and their partners.
Switching to public transport or taxis would:
- Reduce incidents of reckless driving and traffic violations.
- Eliminate personal misuse of taxpayer-funded vehicles.
- Support local taxi and transport businesses, keeping money in the economy.
- Encourage politicians to experience public transport firsthand, improving policy decisions.
With public transport safety measures being strengthened, this shift could also enhance security for politicians while benefiting everyday Kiwis.
Language Matters—Misunderstandings Fuel Division
For over 150 years, we’ve been arguing over a peace treaty, yet words don’t always translate perfectly.
Consider these differences:
- "Thongs" in Australia are jandals, but in England, they’re G-strings.
- "Fit" in England means attractive, but in NZ and Australia, it means athletic.
- "Table" means to discuss in NZ, but to delay in the US.
If small linguistic shifts create misunderstandings, imagine how much confusion exists around a 150-year-old treaty, written between two cultures who never spoke the same language and had no interpreters available.
New Zealand is rich in diversity, shaped by Māori heritage, European influence, Pacific traditions, and global perspectives. Instead of division, what if we embraced the best of all cultures, creating a society that honors history while moving forward together?
Both the Māori flag and the New Zealand flag hold immense cultural significance—they should not be dismissed. But maybe, the flag chosen by the people today can be the symbol that unites us, acknowledging both cultures, history, and the hurt of the past, without erasing their importance.
A country that remains divided cannot move forward—it’s time to find a way to stand as one.
Because this is what we’re paying for.
Bottom Note: How the Cost Estimate Was Calculated
The $11,000+ per hour estimate is based on annual salaries for MPs, Cabinet Ministers, the Prime Minister, and the Speaker, divided by working hours.
This figure does not include additional costs such as:
- Staff wages
- Operational expenses (security, legal reviews, broadcasting)
- MP benefits packages
- Flights, travel, and accommodation costs
- Government-funded vehicles, travel perks, and accommodation subsidies
Meaning the real taxpayer burden is even higher than this estimate.
