In 2020 it was Covidiocy, now it’s a major Middle East war that is causing economic hardship, particularly for the Working Class.
A month ago West Texas Crude was at $US 67 a barrel; now it’s $104 and has been higher. For discretionary petrol users — except of course for overpaid system elites and rich lawyers — higher prices will result in less use; but with diesel most of its usage is not discretionary.
Simon O’Connor points out today that NZ’s government boffins should have anticipated it; but of couse if you only have limited storage capacity in the first place there’s not a lot that can be done. The Jacinda regime wanted the Marsden Point refinery gone and so it went.
Simon also points out “The Greens and others are finally waking up to the fact – though not admitting – that we need oil and gas. Never forget though, it was the previous Labour government that banned new oil and gas exploration. As we suffer the consequences of the current conflict in the Middle East, perhaps we should reflect on how we could better ensure our own energy needs. We do not seem to have learned from the Covid era either, including the current fuel panic mirroring our then obsession with toilet paper!”
So when will the banging cease, at least in the immediate fun zone? Despite all the bravado from the Islamist regime in Iran, its compatriots are sure to be suffering as much as everyone else, and possibly more so. The commanders are probably hoping that because of all the missiles that Nato has used in its war on Russia, US stockpiles are soon going to be depleted while their’s will last longer. There are no accurate figures for the latter, but we do know that Zelensky has used up nearly all the air defence missiles that Nato had in 2021 and US production isn’t enough to keep pace. We also know that ‘The Three Amigos’ — Starmer, Macron and Merz — don’t want any of their missiles going to the Middle East: they want them for their planned (read fantasy) invasion of Russia in 2028.
Every day we watch reports from the well-informed anti-war faction of the US Republican Party, and also the reports from Israel and pro-Israel Tousi.tv — getting both sides of the story is always important (the Leftist Legacy Media don’t believe in giving you that.)
That was my immediate reaction to the news that Stuff’s printing plant at Petone will shut down next year and printing operations will be relocated to Christchurch.
The paper most affected will be The Post, Stuff’s Wellington morning paper – known in a previous incarnation as The Dominion Post, a masthead whose name was itself an ungainly amalgam of its precursor titles The Dominion and The Evening Post.
The Post is on its knees already. It won’t survive this upheaval. [Excellent –-Eds]
Let’s deal with this high-octane elephant up front. In my February update the world was looking positive.
Treasury were forecasting 3% growth, the best in a few years, and businesses were telling me about a great start to the year. Everything changed once again when Donald Trump took on Iran and the resulting conflict shut-down shipping routes for lots of the fuel we rely on.
We have not run out of fuel. We have normal levels in New Zealand still, and on Wednesday I met with a maritime surveillance company who showed me the live-track of all the fuel ships heading to NZ as expected. But there are two challenges.
Firstly, some people panic-buy (if you’re big enough that you have your own tank to store it in). That can create the impression there is more demand than there really is, and that panic can spiral if it’s not managed.
Secondly, although supply-lines are currently still assured, the price has gone up dramatically. We see that immediately at the pump and it can [will –Eds] also flow through to other costs like food.
Fuel was over $3 per litre in 2022, but it’s still a big shock to see it back to those old levels.
We are acting to help. We’re giving $50 per week to families through the In-Work Tax Credit. This will help 143,000 families. The reason it was targeted to these families is that unlike everyone on a benefit or pension, they don’t get a weekly increase on April 1st.
We don’t want to drive up prices. The ‘cost of living’ payments under Labour (the ones that went to dead people and backpackers) were from borrowed money, were not targeted, and ultimately led directly to higher prices; that hurt everyone in the long-term.
In contrast, by using money that was otherwise going to be spent in the budget this year anyway, our solution doesn’t add extra stimulus (or demand) into the economy, so it doesn’t drive up prices. The conflict in Iran is doing that already and we don’t want to make it worse.
We are still feeling the pain of 2022/23 and so we are very wary of going too far and making it worse. But we also feel the same pain that everyone feels at the pump so we have to act responsibly.
This is all about balance and compromise.
Read these five stories: Fixing the Basics in Kapiti
Rosemary showed me the scar on her leg from where she got a new knee thanks to our work to speed up surgeries by funding public operations through private hospitals. It’s all about getting patients the help faster and it is helping local residents in Kapiti.
I met a woman this month who told me how much nicer it is having the new Breast Cancer clinic in Waikanae which we opened last year, instead of the old cold bus. Another local health investment we made.
When I was at Plimmerton School they showed me some of the projects they were using their extra school property funding for and how this was helping their school. Very encouraging.
This month a local school principal told me how “brilliant” it had been having a learning support coordinator for the first time. It’s all about helping our children achieve at school.I’ve loved hearing from dairy owners relieved that ram-raids are a thing of the past. There were approximately 690 less victims of violent crime in our electorate last year compared to two years ago.
Milestones
I’ve knocked on the doors of over 1000 locals this year. I believe in hard work on the ground, while I’m up against some who believe that noise online counts for the same. I don’t.
The constant feedback I get is that people see me at every local event, on their doorstep, at their community group, in their business and they value that presence. With your support I will keep up this work-rate not just until the election, but beyond as I continue as your local MP.
Celebrating our amazing producers
I’m working hard to grow opportunities for local families. Part of this comes by supporting local business.
When I became MP I identified that our food and beverage producers were a key element of our community that were under-represented, not supported enough and not celebrated. It’s pleasing to see others picking up this work now and also working to support them.
I’ve just run my second TASTE event where we celebrate amazing local businesses, and we connect them with restaurants, cafés and supermarket owners from across NZ, with the intent of having their products picked up and sold. This has become such a highlight that this year the PM hosted it with me.It was a huge success, and I’ll share more stories of the local wins that came from it soon. Meantime, watch these videos to get a taste for yourself. HERE and HERE.
Ō2NL Expressway progress
I recently went to check on progress building our new expressway to Levin. It’s looking great! National started this after Labour cancelled it back in 2018 and I’m so proud to see it full-steam ahead. You can see the video of my visit here.
NZTA are consulting on slowing down roads, having just sped them up. This is super frustrating and I have no idea why they’re doing this. I’ve raised it with the Minister but in the meantime you can submit on the changes here.
What’s trending this month? Here are a few stories that got lots of attention locally. If you missed them, have a look–
A New Zealand First Minister proposed some changes to fishing laws, and one of them was going to remove the minimum size for fish caught by commercial operators.
I oppose this and so do National.
Along with many other National MPs, I took the messages I received to Wellington, and the PM stepped in and spoke with NZ First. As a result those plans have been cancelled and minimum size limits will remain protected. This means fishing stocks will be protected for generations to come, and our kids and grandkids will have the same joy fishing our waters that so many Kiwis enjoy today. I’ve offered to meet with any local fishing clubs or groups that want to and that offer remains.
Over-60s morning tea with Katie Nimon
Join us on 1 May, 10am at the Raumati Bowling Club, for morning tea and a chance to speak with, and hear from, special guest Katie Nimon, MP for Napier. These are always popular events, and we’d love you to join us (even if you’re under-60!).
3 July, 10am, Paulo Garcia, MP for Grey Lynn Coast Community Church, Paraparaumu
7 August, 10am Sam Uffindell, MP for Tauranga, Whitby Bowling Club
4 September, 10am Stuart Smith, MP for KaikōuraVenue tbc
Where I’ve been locally
The last month has been typically busy. I’m grateful for the constant feedback from people who notice I turn up where others don’t; I’m proud to be busy, available, and present in our community. Someone told me last week that “no one else is working this hard for our region,” and I take that as a compliment.
This month I went to:6 schools, 12 community groups 21 community events
3 markets
13 not-for-profits
15 businesses and Government departments
4 radio interviews
10 select committee meetings
4 weeks of Parliament sitting and heaps of local constituent meetings.
Why I’m standing again this year
It’s been an absolute privilege to serve as our local MP, and I’m asking you to give me three more years at the election this year.
I’m motivated by people, by community, by our country, and by service. They are what matter to me the most.I’ve always said that I know I can’t change the world but I can make a world of difference to the people I meet each day in our region. I think of the woman who came to my office with nowhere to live, and had keys to a house that afternoon. I think of the gentleman who had been waiting years for an operation and I got him the appointment. I think of the young mum who needed a bit more support at home, or the boy who couldn’t get transport to school on time. You won’t know who they are walking down the street, but I know the difference that my advocacy and support made in their lives. I believe that all adds up and slowly changes our community for the better.
I believe our country is at its best when our community is at its best. It’s an honour for me to visit so many groups and organisations that do amazing things in our community. I don’t believe that government holds the answers to every problem. We hold so much potential in our region, we just need to unlock it and that’s where Government can often step in. I’ve supported initiatives from the new mini golf to charities like coastguard and hospice, and I regularly put my own time, energy, money and sweat into helping local causes. We have the best community here and we should celebrate it more.
My 23 years of military service at home and in conflict zones around the world leave me with a deep passion for New Zealand. There is no other place I want to raise our family, or to live. We may face challenges but I’ve seen enough other places on earth to know that where we live is the best little country on earth. I’ll continue to dedicate my life to serving this place we call home.
And service really does drive me. It could be the Air Force, it could be the charity I founded, it could be the school board, or it could be as MP. My life revolves around service and always will. It is our country, our community, and our people that matter most to me, and that’s why I want to keep serving as your local MP.
Upcoming–
Seniors Morning Tea — 1 May, 10am Katie Nimon, MP for Napier Raumati Bowls Club
BA5 with Grant Elliott — 7 May, 5.30 pm Kapiti Boating Club, $10
It was once arguably America’s most appealing city — but years of Far Left rule and policies have ruined it.“It’s what happens when ideology replaces common sense.” And it’s the same ideology as Labour/Greens in NZ have.
When shoplifting under $US 950 at a time was effectively legalised, this was the consequence —
Swedish people are now already a minority in Malmö which is the third largest city in the country.
If you had told someone in the 1990s that this would be the case, then you might have been labelled a ”far-right conspiracy theorist”.
However, it is happening. The borders are still wide open in Sweden it seems, because since 2020, around 600.000 people have gotten residence permit in Sweden. That is over 5% of the population in just 5 years.
Some on the left see this as a good thing, with more “cultural diversity”.
But others on the right think this is going too far.
”It is a mathematical truth that Swedes are becoming a minority” said Jimmie Åkesson, party leader of the Swedish Democrats.
