Chris Hipkins

Preventing people from enrolling to vote during advance voting is a draconian measure that could rob tens of thousands of Kiwis of their democratic right to vote, and there is no good reason for it. It’s anti-democratic.

I’m saddened to hear that a life has been lost in connection with flooding across the top of the South Island. My thoughts are with everyone affected.Thanks to the many people supporting their neighbours, emergency services workers, volunteers, and many others.

It is with a heavy heart we acknowledge the sudden passing of our colleague and friend Takutai Tarsh Kemp. Our thoughts are with her whanau and our colleagues of Te Pāti Māori at this sad time. Nō reira okioki mai na koe e te tuahine, e te hoa.

Warmest congratulations to re-elected Australian PM Anthony Albanese. Australia is our closest friend and neighbour and the relationship between our two countries has been strengthened considerably under the Albanese government. My very best wishes to him and the Labor team.

Before the election National said our govt hadn’t done enough to build more intensive care (ICU) beds. Now they’ve cut the 30 we were building in Dunedin back to just 20. Is there any promise they won’t break?

Very sad to hear of the passing of Pope Francis. Throughout his papacy, he showed deep compassion and an unwavering commitment to social justice, inclusion, and the dignity of every person. His leadership challenged us all to build a fairer and more caring world.

The NZ govt must continue to stand with Ukraine. The values they are fighting for are Kiwis values. We should continue to do all we can to support them. Time for our govt to speak up!

Christopher Luxon has set the bar for ministerial conduct so low Ministers have to sack themselves. Andrew Bayly should’ve been gone months ago. After finding out about the latest allegation on Wednesday, the PM waited days for him to resign when he should’ve been sacked asap.

Real men don’t barricade women and children. Real men don’t threaten and intimidate. Real men don’t preach hate. Real men DO show respect, compassion & love. Real men are comfortable enough in who they are to celebrate the diversity of others. Brian Tamaki you are just a boy.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon refuses to say that David Seymour’s antics driving up parliaments steps, anti-immigrant comments by Winston Peters & Todd McClay & threats by Shane Jones to cut funding for charities who criticize govt don’t meet his standards. Does he have any?

The new Health Minister refuses to express confidence in the Health Commissioner hand-picked by the Prime Minister. Just another day under the Coalition of Chaos… #nzpol

Mike's Minute: We are losing to the Australian economy Mike Hosking read a comparison between the Australian economy and New Zealand's and he thinks the difference is stark.

The National govt told the reserve bank to ignore keeping people in employment and slam on the brakes harder. they even changed the law to tell them to do that. Now even Mike Hosking can see the damage that’s done! www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-...

Social/state housing makes up about 4% of all our houses. The OECD average is about 7%. Under Labour, we were catching up by building more new state houses than any govt since at least the 1970s. National has slashed the build programme. That means more homelessness.

At a time when Kiwis deserve a government focussed on creating jobs, increasing incomes, building homes and fixing healthcare they instead have to suffer a government that is at war with itself and a weak PM who won’t enforce basic standards of ministerial accountability. #nzpol

So how many strikes is that for David Seymour?

If Christopher Luxon had any standards he would sack David Seymour immediately.

Just say the ground was sloping or something…

Today’s unemployment numbers show once again how this government is making things worse not better. Getting Kiwis back into work, and making sure that hard work pays off with a decent pay packet, will be a top priority for our next Labour government.

When National MP Alfred Ngaro said charities would lose their funding if they criticised the government Bill English reprimanded him and made him apologise. Christopher Luxon needs to show the same standard of leadership and reprimand Shane Jones for his intimidation. #nzpol

The ACT Party attacks the courts when it suits their political purposes but then hide behind name suppression when one of their own is charged and convicted of sexual abuse. Disgraceful.

This National/ACT government are working from the same old neoliberal playbook, defund public services, run them down, then use that as an excuse to privatize them. It’s based on ideology and the people who pay the true price are everyday Kiwis.

The National/ACT government want to entrench two standards of citizenship: one standard for those who have wealth, and a lower standard for those that don’t. They are a government of entrenched privilege and they’re totally out of touch with the Kiwis who work hard for a living.

Christopher Luxon says we need to say “yes” more and “no” less, yet his government said NO to new interisland ferries, NO to new state houses, NO to Dunedin hospital, NO to affordable water reform, NO to school upgrades, and NO to higher wages.

Kiwis are delivering their verdict on this government with their feet - 125,000 gave up and left last year. That’s a person heading for the departure lounge every 4 minutes. The National/ACT agenda of slashing and privatizing will only drive more away.

Ethnic communities will be disappointed to see their previous voice in the Ministry unceremoniously sacked. Mark Mitchell’s appointment to the role doesn’t exactly scream diversity and inclusion!

Simeon Brown seems to have been given the job of better marketing the govt’s abysmal performance in health, rather than actually improving health outcomes for Kiwis. Given in his previous portfolios all he “delivered” was hot air and slogans let’s not hold our breath.

Andrew Bayly meanwhile seems to be failing upwards. The man who thinks Kiwis who work late are losers has now been promoted to be Minister for ACC. Another demonstration of the contempt this govt has for people who work for a living.

Tasking Nicola Willis with “economic growth” begs the question of what she has been focussed on for the past year as Minister of Finance if not that? Her Austerity programme is resulting in the biggest cuts to govt investment in a generation. Maybe start there…!

Christopher Luxon appointing the governments newest and most junior minister as Minister for the South Island shows this govt’s absolute contempt for the mainland. He won’t sit around the Cabinet table when all the big decisions are being made, so what’s the point?

NZ is totally off the track now with Nicola Willis spiralling our country deeper into recession. 🧵