The Bonfire of the Vanities
Nicola Willis wants to take food from hungry children. Hungry children do not learn well. Children who do not learn well do not attain a high educational standard. Children with no qualifications find it hard to get a job. They often choose alternative pathways in life. They are at risk of ending up in prison. Nicola Willis wants to build more prisons and reduce the wasteful spending of food in schools. We think this might have come out of the right wing think tank she headed up. It doesn't make any sense to us, but she might need those prisons to house all the people she will condemn to poverty.
The winter energy payment is also under fire. They have said it will stay for now. But watch this space. This and numerous other welfare initiatives will all go on the bonfire. If they are elected, they can do what they like. And they usually do.
Nicola Willis wants to sell billions of dollars of real estate to foreign buyers, in addition to opening up immigration and allowing a lot more people in. It will fuel a deepening housing crisis and even worse affordability for kiwi families. This would also flow on to rental prices.
But don't panic yet. It might not eventuate. Maybe she is just in fantasy land imagining that there are that many interested foreign buyers out there. If that's the case the money to pay for their tax cuts would have to come from somewhere else. Nationals go to budget has always been Health, Education and Welfare when they need some extra cash.
It hasn't escaped our notice that Christopher Luxon, John Key, Nicola Willis and Hugh Fletcher are all very good mates. Did Key know when he increased immigration quotas significantly during his term that it would flow on to more housing demand? National likes to reuse the same old tired initiatives, cf boot camps, roads of national significance, welfare penalties etc. Are they gearing up to produce another steep rise in house prices? Home ownership on the bonfire?
Another area they repeatedly use as a cash cow is public housing. This was a particular fetish of Bill English. Nicola's side-kick, Chris Bishop, really loathes Kianga Ora, (formerly Housing NZ). He's vowed to dismantle it, sell off our public housing stock and farm the business of providing public housing out to various charities. Its the same old tired neoliberal argument that a private enterprise can do better. But their definition of better is different to ours.
Don't hold your breath if they manage to form a government. We bet the amount of funding that housing charities receive would be minuscule. But the sales would be massive. Kianga Ora on the bonfire. It always amuses us when we hear people accusing Labour of not delivering on housing, when they have built more houses in their current term than National ever has.
Lurking in the wings, also in the National caucus is Judith Collins. We can't wait to see what the queen of dirty politics has up her sleeve. She's probably stoking the bonfire as I write.
Poll: Do you think banning gang patches is reasonable?
With the government cracking down on gangs, it is now illegal for gang members to display their insignia in public places whether through clothing or their property.
This means arrests can be made if these patches are worn in places like restaurants, shops, on public transport or ferries, and on airplanes. Arrests were made recently at a funeral.
Do you think this ban is reasonable?
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79% Yes
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19.9% No
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1.1% Other - I'll share below
Kapiti Coast Distilled: A Family and Friends' Foraged Gin
In an exciting development for local spirits enthusiasts, Elsewhere Gin has released a limited edition Kapiti expression that truly captures the essence of our coastal region.
This unique gin, priced at $95 per bottle, is the result of a heartwarming collaboration between Elsewhere Gin and Mark Rose's parents and their friends in Kapiti who embarked on a community foraging adventure, handpicking an array of native botanicals including kohekohe, kauri tips, strawberry guava, horopito, and kawakawa. These locally sourced ingredients were combined with classic gin botanicals, lemon, and rosemary to create a spirit that is both familiar and distinctly Kapiti.
The gin offers a sensory journey through our coastal landscape. It opens with subtle vanilla notes from the kohekohe, followed by the sweetness of strawberry guava. The addition of horopito lends a peppery kick, while kawakawa adds a unique herbal complexity. The finish showcases the zesty lemon and aromatic rosemary that grow abundantly in our region.
"This gin is a love letter to Kapiti," says Rose. "It's not just my creation, but a true community effort. Every sip tells a story of our unique ecosystem, our shared knowledge, and the incredible flavors we have right here in our backyard."
With only a small batch produced, this Kapiti gin is expected to sell out quickly. It's more than just a drink; it's a bottled experience of our local terroir and community spirit, perfect for those who appreciate the finer aspects of craft spirits and the beauty of our coastal home.
Available exclusively through Elsewhere Gin, please contact Michael Anderson for this limited edition gin that offers a rare opportunity to taste the Kapiti coast - and its community - in a glass.
Michael Anderson
021 620 065
Email; michael.anderson@xtra.co.nz
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
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