Question Time 04.05.2023

First, a request from Gary to RNZ: he's looking for an archive interview... John Campbell talking with John Peel (a psychedelic music broadcaster/promoter) in the early 2000's. Apparently it was when Campbell was hosting the morning show. Michael Woodhouse chatted with Gary on the steps about the Johnny Blades interview today, so I think that was a successful piece. - Weather = really shit. My storm jacket is solid, but it isn't waterproof. 🌧️ - Whaitiri update: Whaitiri will be sitting alongside Te Pāti Māori according to her letter to the Speaker. Labour has clarified that she is no longer a member of the Labour Party. Rurawhe shamed Simeon Brown and Nicola Willis for heckling him. - Question 1: 'waffle tax' -- good quip, slightly laboured delivery. 👋 I'm enjoying the running Labour gag about Nat questions implying Labour will win the Election! - Question 2: Kōhanga reo pay equity. A 35% pay increase for roughly 2,000 kaiako and kaiāwhina. Side-note -- why were there only 11 questions yesterday? - Question 3: MoE doesn't keep track of days lost to industrial action. The PPTA says roughly 1000 schools were closed by the strikes. - Question 4: 1 million period products given to schools. - Question 5: dog-whistle question. My two cents on the co-governance issue: Iwi are supposed to govern themselves; if they prefer a different democratic (or non-democratic) arrangement to choose their board seats, then that's for them to decide. Also, fun fact: I didn't realise that Meng Foon had donated to Kiri Allan's campaign.

Someone's phone went off! I couldn't see it, but it sounded like the Greens-ACT section. It was definitely a politician's phone. 🤣 - Question 6: victim's experiences of the justice system Additional funds announced. - Question 7: 'case management' re: MSD no longer includes group seminars, which has changed the stats. I attended a jobseeking course last year, but actually I only found a job after that course had run out. I got some interviews, but I think the cannabis Ad on my CV made it difficult, along with the 'they' pronoun on my CV. Spotted Nanaia looking stylish in the House. 👋 - Question 8: increased income threshold for hardship assistance. $64 million in Civil Defence payments to 100,000 Kiwis during the recent environmental crises. Is the funding adequate? Ricardo's supplementary: should MSD tell people their maximum entitlements before they tell MSD how much money they need? It wasn't really answered - Labour said MSD is more transparent about maximum entitlements than it previously was, but ignored the underlined section. - Question 9: why do the Nats pick on Tinetti so much? 👋 - Question 10: extending our defence commitments in Ukraine. 440 NZDF personnel have been deployed so far. Andrew Little announced they are extending the deployment of 95 NZDF infantry trainers until 30 June, 2024. Humanitarian assistance: NZ has spent $30 million over the last year, and announced another $4 million + further restrictions on Russian and Iranian goods. - Question 11: prisons question. Damp squib. Kelvin Davis was quite poised today. - Question 12: Parker shouted over the vociferous heckles of the Nats while plugging the tax reports. Rich People also pay less GST than everyone else! 🤯 - Random notes: we were sitting above the ACT party. I could see the Greens if I leaned forward, but was mostly eyeballing the Labour party. Apparently Louisa Wall might stand for Te Pāti .. Gary seemed to think she'd confirmed that, but I think it's still a rumour. I prefer it when the opening prayer is in Te Reo rather than English. 👍