pn752. NZ Government's "raft of measures" to help the poor citicized by ACT

The NZ Government has announced a raft of measures, including a weekly $20 increase for those on the main benefit, which will help at least 355,000 of our poorest people (see link.) 

Finance Minister Grant Robertson  says it's the "biggest lift in a generation."  ACT's Karen Chhour says it is "an insult to middle New Zealanders who are working hard to get ahead but being squeezed in every direction to increase benefits today

Who is really being raped? Mallard, the media and democracy (pn648. )

Accusing someone of rape is a serious thing, and difficult to withdraw. Parliament Speaker Trevor Mallard must be regretting that mistake, especially now when he's being bombarded by media articles demanding he resign.  

But that is not the point of my story. My focus is on the media and society, not Mallard.  I'm wondering why the media has gone so far overboard on Mallard's fumbled rape charge when there are so many more important issues facing the country. I doubt it was a moral or human rights concern, although it would be nice to think so.   It seems more likely a pursuit of a nice sexy honey-pot  story that attracts readers and pleases advertisers,  and for at least two of them, the NZ Herald and NewstalkZB, it provides another chance to attack our left-centre government.

pn587. Worthy but woeful, Labour's plans for the future

Rod Oram in Newsroom argues:

The government's plans are woefully generic, worthy but geared to incremental improvement. They will ease the pain of Covid and help us achieve a modest recovery. But they won’t build our prosperous and sustainable future.  Click here to read the full article

See also Susan St George on bureaucratic blocks to welfare reform.

NZ Budget Implementation Now Needs to Directly Address People's Main Concerns: New Report Findings

pn414

Mike Treen on The Daily Blog notes that in a new survey by the EY accounting and consultancy firm one of the most revealing  issues people was what people  felt about in relation to the economy

The survey found increased living costs, especially power increases, and the cost of basic services were the main concern and falling house prices the least.

EY’s David Snell commented there was little in the Budget addressing these issues. “Of course, people were also concerned about government funding for health and education, but it seemed low wage growth in the past few years was being felt strongly ...

The Gap Widens: NZ Rich Buried in Money

Graeme Hart, worth $10billion. pn241

While New Zealand's richest men just got a lot richer, the collective wealth of the country's poor nose-dived.

A report, Public Good or Private Wealth, being released by Oxfam at 1pm today (12.1.19) shows how the growing gap between rich and poor was undermining the fight against poverty, damaging local economics and fuelling public anger across the globe. Read all about it here.