The Insider
Could have been worse
Diplomats have to be quick on their feet. One was being quizzed about the apparent failure of the much-touted NZ-China Year of Tourism, and the 39,000 fall in the number of visitors from China in the year ended September. He replied: “But you don’t know the counterfactual, about what would have happened without the promotion.” He also pointed out that the number of NZ residents in China who returned home was up 11,600 — maybe the promotion made them all homesick.
Under the volcano
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is not even bothering to mask her ongoing irritation at NZ First Minister Shane Jones and his less than ministerial ways. His fondness for bellowing in Parliament is not endearing him to many others, either. This week in the House, David Parker was expressing his personal view that he was willing to consider moving private fireworks sales to Matariki in June, as Jones loudly interjected “Ma¯ori-works, Ma¯ori-works!” Speaker Trevor Mallard shut him up, asking “has Vesuvius stopped?” Funnily enough, when the Zero Carbon Bill passed into law, Jones was uncommonly silent.
Fear of technology
Telcos are beseeching the Government to get involved in the debate about the health effects of 5G technology, as they find that much of what they say is dismissed as “being backed by big money”. Some of the anti-5G public meetings have strong similarities with campaigns against fluoridation and “globalisation” generally. One rally featured an “electro pollution consultant” who claimed that “a tin foil hat works well as it’s shiny and reflects radiation”. Another promoted their installation of home fibre cabling as an alternative to Wi-Fi, as wireless would be bad for people when combined with 5G.
Justice takes time
There has been some debate in legal and bureaucratic circles about the timing of the Royal Commission into the Attacks on Christchurch
Mosques. It was due to give its report back to ministers on December 10. At a cost of an extra $3 million, it has now been extended to April
30, but that is still months before the trial of the accused is due to begin.
There is a lot of public interest in what agencies knew, or should have known, and whether anything could have been done to prevent the massacre. But some are arguing that anything which could affect a trial is best avoided. Don’t be surprised if the report is delayed again.
Top of the South
Labour has again selected Rachel Boyack as its candidate for Nelson in the 2020 General Election, and is talking up its chances of gaining the seat. It seems a long shot, as the incumbent Nick Smith (left) has held Nelson for years and last won it with a majority of 4283. However, that was a reduction of more than 3000 and came as the Greens ran a strong campaign, with their candidate picking up more than 9000 votes and Labour winning the party vote. Smith has said he will very shortly announce his decision on whether to stand again. Another key is whether Labour and the Greens can come to some accommodation — even if it’s limited to not trying too hard for the electorate vote.
Junk’s in the mail
Christmas is almost upon us, and MPs will soon be furiously scribbling out cards to people, many of whom they detest. But it is not all one-way. This week in the mail, a lobby group has sent MPs a copy of Frederic Bastiat’s 1850 free-market treatise The Law.
This was probably as welcome as the letters and parcels packed with nonrecyclable single-use plastics being mailed to MPs in Parliament via freepost. The lobby group behind that even boasted that they sent 130 plastic-stuffed letters to one NZ First MP, Jenny Marcroft. They may be disappointed to know that Parliament’s mail screening machines pick up such junk mail.
Green shuffle
The shuffling of Green Party staff continues. Nadine Walker is leaving behind her lengthily titled role — acting strategic communications manager for Minister James Shaw. She will be replaced by Danny Stevens, who will probably just be a plain old ministerial press secretary. Walker returns to being chief press secretary, while Stephanie Rodgers, who was filling in as chief press secretary, is now back to working solely as Jan Logie’s press secretary.