van Velden is appalling, as are most of the other female coalition Ministers. They seem determined to be more heartless and privileged than their male counterparts. It feels like time for a mass protest by female employees (and male colleagues who support them) affected by this disgusting piece of legislation.
I've also emailed van Velden and Costello with the following:
"I am appalled at the legislation being forced through under urgency (why?) that will set back efforts to obtain equal pay for many essential workers, probably for decades. At a time when New Zealand is haemorrhaging qualified individuals to other countries with a better estimation of their worth, how exactly is mean-spirited legislation like this going to help New Zealand in any way? It may be time to take a closer look at the destructive fiscal policies espoused by the coalition government, particularly its ACT Ministers, and engage in a little human-centred long-term thinking.
We are desperately short of nurses, teachers, aged care workers, early childhood teachers and teacher aides. They are already badly treated, overworked and underpaid. Why on earth are you proposing devaluing their efforts further?
Have a think about taxing the wealthy and preventing profiteering from the buying and selling of multiple houses. The additional income would allow us to pay important staff properly."
The most important thing any of us can do, if we lie anywhere left of the current right-wing political mess, is to encourage others to vote in the next election. The right wins because its supporters vote, while those on the left have a dreadful tendency to quibble about minor policy issues, or decide that there's no point in voting at all because nothing fits their ideals. The compulsory voting requirement in Australia probably ensured the recent victory for Albanese's government. While we can't get that introduced here in time to address the 2026 election, we can keep harping on about the need to vote, and to vote strategically.
I am so upset by this. It has taken years and lots of peoples volunteered time and money from people on low incomes to pay for all the research needed only to be dumped so close to the finish line. This was a lot of people's only hope of a living wage. Just because you provide care you are not worth a living wage. If care stops, the whole economy will fall apart. But that is what is happening. People can't afford the low wages so we have so many job vacancies in essential health, teaching and other caregiving roles.
On the up side, like Trump himself, they are becoming more and more hated. These ghastly bills are driving us to consider what we want in a government and to understand policy more. It's a long way off until the next election - I can't wait for ACT to be absolutely crushed by sensible voters.
I think ACT support remains strong - their ideas keep popping up in all forms of social media, radio talkback, etc - they are very vocal and plausible and I think we need to be equally as vocal with as equally well thought out arguments in every space possible if NZ is to retain a culture of inclusiveness. It will be whoever has the ear of the general public who wins the next election.
I know a few people (family) who previously admired Seymour on some level, even if they didn't vote for ACT. They now all think Seymour and ACT are dreadful for Aotearoa. I know it's a small sample size, but it gives me hope. Half of them have also gone off Winnie, and that's the older ones, so that's also adding to my optimism.
ACT knows how to play to their gallery. There is a minority in the community who will continue to like their ideas. Unlike in earlier coalition arrangements under MMP, in this one, the minor players are being allowed to push their policies, keeping up their public profile. Yes, we must be more vocal with our alternatives.
We need to remove this nightmare CoC now before they destroy Aotearoa. There is not a day that goes by when this CoC have not announced some heinous backward policy change.
Yes Bryan, you nailed it. The attack on TE Tiriti and the TPB and Maori was racist and inhuman. Now, a betrayal on women which is mysognist and sexist, an attack on democracy and fascist in its execution. Surely those who voted for this very extreme CG do not vote for this.
I've been trying not to swear so much lately - but this govt is making that extremely difficult. They're true Neo Liberals in being heartless & able to ignore the suffering they're causing. This is a disgraceful betrayal of women & the underpaid work they do in order to keep things running, & perhaps not dissimilar to the situation I've read about just after WW2 when despite their efforts to help keep the country going, (without which the war may well have been lost) women were ushered back into the kitchen. I sincerely hope this will be the main issue whch brings down this destructive & merciless govt. - they deserve it to be.
Van Velden’s legislation is draconian - the only, and I hope significant positive on the horizon in 2026 as an outcome of marginalising women, is that it will be the nail in the coffin for this Govt and they will be thrown out of power!
So they got people really riled up with the treaty and now this. Is this a smoke and mirrors thing? What horror are they going to try and slip through while we scream outrage at this? Too long have the carers and volunteers supported this system. Utterly disgraceful.
Probably trying to avoid the Regulatory Standards Bill being noticed - the apparently boring but much scarier version of the Treaty Principles Bill. But they're also just being mean and nasty, particularly to those least able to fight back, which is standard practice from governments with this mindset.
Yes Judy the Regulatory Standards Bill is very scarey . Are these other things Trojan Horses? I don't think so. They just have a cruel and uncaring agenda and are focused on getting and keeping power to achive it
van Velden is appalling, as are most of the other female coalition Ministers. They seem determined to be more heartless and privileged than their male counterparts. It feels like time for a mass protest by female employees (and male colleagues who support them) affected by this disgusting piece of legislation.
I read about this yesterday. I am still stunned. And the only thing we can do is wait till the next election? Outrageous.
I've emailed both my local mp and Casey Costello, minister for the elderly, to protest. Hopefully, they will be inundated with emails!
I've also emailed van Velden and Costello with the following:
"I am appalled at the legislation being forced through under urgency (why?) that will set back efforts to obtain equal pay for many essential workers, probably for decades. At a time when New Zealand is haemorrhaging qualified individuals to other countries with a better estimation of their worth, how exactly is mean-spirited legislation like this going to help New Zealand in any way? It may be time to take a closer look at the destructive fiscal policies espoused by the coalition government, particularly its ACT Ministers, and engage in a little human-centred long-term thinking.
We are desperately short of nurses, teachers, aged care workers, early childhood teachers and teacher aides. They are already badly treated, overworked and underpaid. Why on earth are you proposing devaluing their efforts further?
Have a think about taxing the wealthy and preventing profiteering from the buying and selling of multiple houses. The additional income would allow us to pay important staff properly."
What a bunch of fascists we have in government at present!
The most important thing any of us can do, if we lie anywhere left of the current right-wing political mess, is to encourage others to vote in the next election. The right wins because its supporters vote, while those on the left have a dreadful tendency to quibble about minor policy issues, or decide that there's no point in voting at all because nothing fits their ideals. The compulsory voting requirement in Australia probably ensured the recent victory for Albanese's government. While we can't get that introduced here in time to address the 2026 election, we can keep harping on about the need to vote, and to vote strategically.
How low can this government go? Such a hypocritical and cynical move… it disgusts me!
Until they are voted out. What scares me, is what they still plan to do......
I totally agree Karen!
I have said for a long time that in this country women and children don't count, but this is one of the most blatant examples.
An abuse of process, undemocratic, Trumpian - this is not Aotearoa NZ!
Absolutely!
I am so upset by this. It has taken years and lots of peoples volunteered time and money from people on low incomes to pay for all the research needed only to be dumped so close to the finish line. This was a lot of people's only hope of a living wage. Just because you provide care you are not worth a living wage. If care stops, the whole economy will fall apart. But that is what is happening. People can't afford the low wages so we have so many job vacancies in essential health, teaching and other caregiving roles.
On the up side, like Trump himself, they are becoming more and more hated. These ghastly bills are driving us to consider what we want in a government and to understand policy more. It's a long way off until the next election - I can't wait for ACT to be absolutely crushed by sensible voters.
I think ACT support remains strong - their ideas keep popping up in all forms of social media, radio talkback, etc - they are very vocal and plausible and I think we need to be equally as vocal with as equally well thought out arguments in every space possible if NZ is to retain a culture of inclusiveness. It will be whoever has the ear of the general public who wins the next election.
I know a few people (family) who previously admired Seymour on some level, even if they didn't vote for ACT. They now all think Seymour and ACT are dreadful for Aotearoa. I know it's a small sample size, but it gives me hope. Half of them have also gone off Winnie, and that's the older ones, so that's also adding to my optimism.
ACT knows how to play to their gallery. There is a minority in the community who will continue to like their ideas. Unlike in earlier coalition arrangements under MMP, in this one, the minor players are being allowed to push their policies, keeping up their public profile. Yes, we must be more vocal with our alternatives.
We need to remove this nightmare CoC now before they destroy Aotearoa. There is not a day that goes by when this CoC have not announced some heinous backward policy change.
Unbelievable ... I am so very disappointed in all the national MPs who are women who voted this through .
ACT are outrageous and arrogant so no point in trying to negotiating with them other than voting them out next time ..But the National MPs??? .🤬
What would a complete withdrawal of all women (who feel this is wrong ) of labour in their workplace and in their homes be like I wonder ?💪
Yes Bryan, you nailed it. The attack on TE Tiriti and the TPB and Maori was racist and inhuman. Now, a betrayal on women which is mysognist and sexist, an attack on democracy and fascist in its execution. Surely those who voted for this very extreme CG do not vote for this.
I've been trying not to swear so much lately - but this govt is making that extremely difficult. They're true Neo Liberals in being heartless & able to ignore the suffering they're causing. This is a disgraceful betrayal of women & the underpaid work they do in order to keep things running, & perhaps not dissimilar to the situation I've read about just after WW2 when despite their efforts to help keep the country going, (without which the war may well have been lost) women were ushered back into the kitchen. I sincerely hope this will be the main issue whch brings down this destructive & merciless govt. - they deserve it to be.
Incomprehensible!
👍
Van Velden’s legislation is draconian - the only, and I hope significant positive on the horizon in 2026 as an outcome of marginalising women, is that it will be the nail in the coffin for this Govt and they will be thrown out of power!
Such blatant cruelty. What can we do about these daily infringements to our freedoms. The freedom to negotiate fair wages etc…
Under urgency! On what grounds?
So they got people really riled up with the treaty and now this. Is this a smoke and mirrors thing? What horror are they going to try and slip through while we scream outrage at this? Too long have the carers and volunteers supported this system. Utterly disgraceful.
Probably trying to avoid the Regulatory Standards Bill being noticed - the apparently boring but much scarier version of the Treaty Principles Bill. But they're also just being mean and nasty, particularly to those least able to fight back, which is standard practice from governments with this mindset.
Yes Judy the Regulatory Standards Bill is very scarey . Are these other things Trojan Horses? I don't think so. They just have a cruel and uncaring agenda and are focused on getting and keeping power to achive it