The focus is on Parliament and the behaviour of politicians as the election approaches. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Parliament Buildings, the Beehive and Parliament House, photographed at dawn, Wellington. 02 September, 2025. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Letter of the week
NZ needs a reset
The disgraceful behaviour of particularly minor-party politicians during the past three years does not mean we need an MMP referendum, Christopher Luxon.
I believe the majority of eligible New Zealand voters are over the destructive distractions of minor-party politicians, their whacky policies, their waste of money and waste of everyone’s time.
What we want is a reduction of 50 politicians to a total Parliament of 70 members; a reduction of the unproductive Public Service to a maximum of 35,000 people, whole departments amalgamated or closed; a Government that can focus on strict financial management and an ability to prioritise spending within our income.
Consolidate local councils, eliminate unproductive tribunals and start listening to voters rather than the costly consultants and legal leaches bleeding this country to bankruptcy.
New Zealand is in dire need of a reset. Campaign on that, Christopher Luxon.
Gary Carter, Gulf Harbour.
Unemployment
Is anyone surprised that unemployment figures are rising? It was inevitable.
AI and self-service checkouts have taken jobs previously done by humans. It is sad that there are few jobs available for students who now have to rely for a living on parents, possibly on stretched incomes themselves.
I refuse to use self-service checkouts on principle.
Anne Martin, Helensville.
Work-ready programmes
I have a young grandson who is now in his third year of unemployment. Being so-called work ready, money is put into his bank account on a regular basis. This is just programming him into becoming a beneficiary long term.
When I look at the state of rubbish on our streets and roadsides and other jobs that could be done in the community, I believe it is way past time the PEP schemes run under the Muldoon Government were brought back, and young people like my grandson were picked up and given jobs to do.
This would give them a reason to get out of bed in the morning, get off their phones and iPads, boost their self-confidence meeting others in a similar position, plus teach them that nothing is free. It would also have the added bonus of making them aware one shouldn’t throw rubbish out of a car window.
David Little, Whangārei.
It’s the economy, stupid
What’s the received wisdom about the state of the New Zealand economy?
Then how come, according to Xero, in the June quarter small business had its best quarter in nearly four years with sales rising 8.6% year on year?
Unsurprisingly, agriculture was the standout, with sales up 16.3%, helping drive the national result.
Construction rose 11.0%, and manufacturing increased 8.6%. Retail trade grew 6.4%. Even hospitality, supposedly in a death spiral, was up 2.9%. All this suggests that the New Zealand economy has at last turned the corner.
David Morris, Hillsborough.
AI data centre
NZ has a documented history of poor decisions regarding major national projects. Poor decisions, cost blowouts and billions of dollars wasted.
We’re about to do it again with the Southland AI data centre, now given consent. Hundreds of groups across the US and internationally are protesting such centres because they use immense amounts of power and vast quantities of water. New York State has imposed a moratorium to give itself time to finalise standards.
Surely it seems only common sense for us to exercise a similar degree of caution before going ahead with this. Nobody wants higher power prices and contaminated water.
The Green Party recommends a one-year period to think about it before a decision is made. Think now, instead of “Think Big”?
Susan Grimsdell, Auckland Central.
Nuclear world
In the 80s, when the US and the Soviet Union were armed to the teeth with thousands of nukes, we used to remind people on August 6 every year about the nuclear devastation that one small nuclear bomb equivalent to 15 kilotons of TNT did to the people of Hiroshima in 1945.
Of course, three days later the bombing of Nagasaki was commemorated in much the same way. At the same time, we were discovering the horrific damage done to Pacific Islanders from nuclear testing in the Pacific.
Nowadays, the world has moved on. We seem to think that MAD (mutually assured destruction) is keeping us safe from nuclear annihilation by the so-called super-powers. But since 1945, many smaller states have acquired them, so that in the minds of many there are safe nukes (USA, Israel) and unsafe nukes (Iran, China, Russia).
Conveniently forgetting that Osama Bin Laden was a Saudi, President Trump was recently happily giving Saudi Arabia nuclear technology. The Saudis backed out when, after pressure from Israel, he tried to include the normalisation of ties with Israel in the deal.
This whole Iran war is about nuclear weapons, although we were told by Trump himself last year that their whole nuclear capability was destroyed.
It’s time again to revisit the devastation of Hiroshima and reflect that there are no good nukes. As we used to say, “All children need smiles, not nuclear missiles”.
Sue Rawson, Tauranga.
City Rail Link
I am very surprised that Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is able to put a positive spin on the CRL.
Many of the neighbouring businesses that he is so sure will enjoy a surge have gone bankrupt. The CRL is a dreadful waste of public money, and the only business that will enjoy increased patronage is the casino.
Auckland downtown is a disaster zone, and why people would like to visit is beyond me. The cost blowout is a result of fiscally incontinent people wasting public money on gold-plated underground cathedrals.
Better is the enemy of good enough, and good enough was all we needed and could afford; we are not a rich country.
Neville Cameron, Coromandel.
Power bills
We were chatting with friends this week about power bills – living in Papamoa, Te Puke, and the Hutt Valley. All pay just over $500 for the month – how is this even possible?
Extra fees, fixed charges, and whatever other tricks up their sleeve they have, it is just rampant.
It is a battle of wits with these greedy corporations, as they sure have no problem in giving us the middle finger.
Glenn Forsyth, Taupō.
Take care, Winston
If Winston Peters lands in hospital, will he tell the nurse caring for him to “go back to his/her own country”? That would be a disaster because our hospitals rely on overseas-trained health care professionals. And I hope he doesn’t end up in a rest home; if we send all the aged-care workers “back to their own country” the sector will collapse. Will Winston instruct NZ First supporters with British accents to go back to their own country? Oh, that’s right, they’re not immigrants, they’re expats.
I came to Aotearoa New Zealand 40 years ago and I’m still shocked when people around me grumble about “immigrants” while clarifying that they don’t mean me. I came from Canada, and for reasons too easily identified, I’m not considered by them to be an immigrant.
Although I’m not sure what I am, beyond sad. Because racist behaviour like that from our Minister for Foreign Affairs is a sad indictment indeed.
Leanne Pooley ONZM, Ponsonby.
A quick word
Your correspondent Jim Arrowsmith criticises Luxon’s business ability because he has never started a business. Fair enough, but maybe he could enlighten us with how many of the other current leaders have started a small business or even worked in a leadership role in a private enterprise.
Patrick Grant, Stanmore Bay.
Good to see some clear career pathways with the new school subjects promoting further study and supporting our industry needs. I would’ve thought that with the chaotic transition into adulthood, students would also benefit from learning about financial literacy, flatting, legal rights, job-seeker skills, mental resilience and navigating change.
Alison Redfern-Daly, Titirangi.
AI will fail simply because it was designed by humans, who are intrinsically flawed. Unless of course the perfect human being can be found. The only one who would come even close was Jesus of Nazareth and he passed away some 21 centuries ago.
Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay.
Prime Minister Luxon is not happy with our MMP system of voting, and the situation he is in with two “rogue” coalition partners. There is another option that he did not consider in 2023, but he might like to consider after the 2026 election; he could negotiate a grand coalition with the Labour Party and form a centrist coalition Government.