MS Butler

OPINION: Back in February, the Government launched a glossy new website to accompany Christopher Luxon’s ‘Going for Growth’ push. It was the theme of his State of the Nation speech. A rebrand for 2025, which was to be the year of growth. Finance Minister Nicola Willis was given a new title - Minister for Economic Growth - and charged with turning slogans into results. Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop was dispatched with his shiny new shovel to turn sods into roads, science centres, and bitumen import terminals. The website has not been updated since. It is hard to think of a better metaphor for the Government’s economic story so far. A slick launch, big promises, and then ... nothing.

Ten of the 16 industry sectors measured by Stats NZ went backwards, including manufacturing, construction, retail and healthcare. Willis tried to pin the blame on US President Donald Trump, whose Liberation Day tariffs were announced in early April. “The economy had been growing strongly in the previous six months, but suddenly had the stuffing knocked out of it,” she told reporters. That’s a hard sell. For one thing, the real hit to export receipts won’t show up until later this year. For another, other countries facing the same tariffs have managed to keep growing: Australia rose 0.6%, the EU 0.2%, the UK 0.3%. Even Canada, which did go backwards, shrank by less than half our rate. And GDP has fallen in nine of the past 15 months, long before Trump’s tariffs landed. Willis insisted the picture is not as bleak as the June quarter suggests. She called the figures “backward-looking”, and pointed to falling interest rates and signs of improved sentiment.

For weeks, she and Luxon have been trying to talk up the economy. Following the Reserve Bank’s decision to cut the OCR to 3% in August, she decried the “merchants of misery” who were doubting the recovery. It’s a bit rich. In 2023, National spent months doom-mongering about the state of the economy under Labour. Once in office, they doubled down on the narrative that everything was a mess. Even as Willis tried to spin the latest figures as temporary turbulence, she was weaving horror stories about the country’s debt burden.

Someone has to take the blame. If not Luxon, Willis is the obvious target. The finance minister is front and centre in the Government’s ‘year of growth’ story, and she is often talked about as a potential leadership contender herself. Much has been written about caucus wariness to oust a sitting prime minister and open up factions and old wounds in the process. But there are two other factors to consider: Winston Peters and David Seymour. History, and Jenny Shipley, will tell you it’s a bad move to remove a leader with whom Peters is in coalition. At least without his express permission. Luxon’s continuing weak leadership boosts both parties’ vote share next year. Willis poses more of a threat. In the scramble to protect his position, the next question becomes: who blinks first?

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When the only thing growing is leadership speculation

Andrea Vance
September 21, 2025

Some highlights below, source in threaded post
#NZPol

Pamela Taylor suggests Family court judges and lawyers "deliberately torture families and steal their resources "...

Also this 😵‍💫😳

Gaza March for Humanity remains 9.30am, Saturday 13 September, but will now assemble at Aotea Square. The march will then proceed through the CBD, concluding at Victoria Park With an image of Aotea Square this below

Anyone who is attending this in Auckland - heads up. Change of plan due to forecasted winds of up to 80 km/hour on the bridge tomorrow. Still going ahead but change of location #nzpol #auckland #kiwi

* albeit

No-one's talking to anyone...? 🤔

WP finally got the viz on, albiet in petty defiance left it undone... 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Don't know who that was, but ACT helpfully released theirs 😉

www.act.org.nz/news/act-lau...

Is this 'cuddling up'..?

There's no point just preaching to the friendlies. Surely it's also about taking the message to all...?

To be fair, 3 x list MP Willis has - historically - not gained that many votes... 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes, roasting really yum. But I also cubed into a Thai green chicken Curry, and a fish lasagna. Grated with a simple citrus & fresh herbs dressing (I had basil & dill) 😋

YouTube video by RNZ Mata Reports | ACT: The Foreign Influences That Have Shaped David Seymour's Political Agenda | RNZ

#nzpol
IT’S HERE!!!

youtu.be/QLOjiiC3P1Y?...
#atlasnetwork @lucyham.bsky.social

ACC admits failings as controversial ex-manager’s emails emerge A former senior ACC exec left out details when he disclosed a conflict of interest. Now the government agency has launched another review of its processes.

Good work by @paulapenfold.bsky.social following up conflict of interest story involving former ACC manager JohnBennett seconded to #HealthNZ And $1M contract to mate. Looks dodgy as.
#NZpol
www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3606...

Marquee de Province heirloom pumpkin

I mostly have veggie seeds. Most have come from heritage seed banks initially & then I harvest seed from my best crop. Currently I have heirloom Musquee de Provence pumpkin seeds, so good! Just eating my first grown from last yrs seed & it's so sweet that eating raw is almost like melon 😋

Yes please 🙏 🍀

Indeed. A missed opportunity on Tame's part in making it such a binary discussion - "what did you get wrong" & "preparedness going forward" - without exploring impacts still happening now & potentially well into the future of *this virus...

Yes, agree.
But 1 glaring omission IMO was that the focus on 'deaths' as a measure of seriousness neglected to consider those who suffered/ continue to suffer from long covid, & also those who are now experiencing impacts on heart, respiratory, other organs as a result of infection.

Pretty much followed this except instead of that set-test method I use a dollop test on cold plate - either forms a skin or leaves a track if pull finger through..

rediscover.co.nz/feijoa-jelly/

I couldn't find one but appreciate if someone could point to it 🤲

Jars of feijoa jelly

Hope you feel better soon 🤗

I just love how feijoa jelly turns that gorgeous rose colour!

#nzseedsaving #nzpol Does anyone know of Aotearoa seed saving and seed swapping Bluesky groups please? I've only put in nzpol so I get a response as I've no idea which hashtag names will get a response. Food as a lure.

I made feijoa jelly this week, and feijoa leathers. Very satisfying 🤲

No but I'm keen too! Had a quick search for NZ gardening but no luck.. I'm not that versed in the search engine though, perhaps others might help... 🤲

#nzseedsaving

Oh, sadness! 😔 🤲

Agree! And the kitty is so gorgeous, just a sneaky peaky snapshot; love it! ❤️

Re Frank's point, I've only just recently got Netflix, & feeling kinda 'modern' with it 😉'... Don't have a TV so don't tend to look for the free-to-air options..

Oh sheesh, not playable here?

(DVDs are old-school...? 🫣🙃 😉)

Both my daughter & my mum love having pretty fingernails; they'd appreciate your petals & your kitty!
I'm more of a toenail polish person. But do happily submit to colourful Xmas nails when my daughter's home... with decals 🤗

Agree, good points

Abilities Group Abilities Group asks for your help, as we support our 100+ disabled staff and volunteers following a devastating fire.

Abilities Group had the building that caught fire in Glenfield yesterday - not only are they a service provider for the Shore, they're also an employer of over 100 people with disabilities and they're now asking for donations to assist with rebuilding and supporting their staff.

Thanks! And I just found it on Netflix too 🤗