Labour / NZ First Government

[Zaphod]

Brilliant. Why not go even further then. Every second month off perhaps? Four day weekends?

I've heard Labour MP;s mention that there weren't enough public holidays in the second half of the year well before the pandemic struck. They also cited OECD statistics to prove that we don't have enough. Or does that prove that other countries have too many?

Sounds more like populist policy which should help in the upcoming election.

[Balance]

https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star...E2%80%99s-call

As Bob Jones observed, Cindy’s star power will not save Labour when the winter of discontent hits NZ.

[RTM]

https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star...E2%80%99s-call

As Bob Jones observed, Cindy’s star power will not save Labour when the winter of discontent hits NZ.

Thanks. Good article.

[Balance]

Unemployment, reduction in wages & salaries down to the wage subsidy $585 per week for many still employed, tough business conditions, drop in spending power, no overseas holidays - that’s ahead for NZ in the winter of discontent.

[justakiwi]

Seriously? Wow. It scares the crap out of me that Kiwis actually believe this.

Well actually, not to bad until the COVID thingy came along when he was immediately way out of his depth.
Better him him than Nancy and Joe and that lot. Jeeze !

[jonu]

Sweden, for April, recorded the highest number of deaths in one month since 1993. April was was however, still 599 deaths lower than December 1993 when Sweden was in a flu epidemic.

This is the no lockdown, be responsible Sweden that may well be exposing the over reaction and panic trap the rest of the world has fallen into.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/new...ectid=12333111

[justakiwi]

You do realise that a great many people in this country, actually earn significantly less than $585 a week?

The government is providing significant financial assistance right now which you refuse to even acknowledge. Maybe everyone needs to stop expecting that a global pandemic will not have any negative impact. There were negative impacts on everything, including economies, during the world wars. People lost jobs. Businesses fell over. Times were tough. Everyone in this day and age expects the government to magically fix it all. How about expecting that individuals will have to make some sacrifices and do what they can to contribute to their own recovery? I was talking to a woman here in my little town today, who runs a one-woman cafe/bakery. She has been closed for the lockdown duration. Guess what she did? She made a decision not to sit at home worrying about her business - she got off her butt and went job hunting for a temp job. She has been working at a local factory operating a packing machine, for several shifts each week. Her cafe is open again, but business is down, at least for now. But she isn’t whinging and complaining 24/7 - she will keep her shifts at the factory and do both jobs, until business picks up. And guess what else? She didn’t vote Labour and she wasn’t a huge fan of Jacinda, but she was happy to give this government credit for the way they have managed all of this.

If this small business owner can think outside the square and be proactive to help herself maybe others could at least consider, doing the same.

Unemployment, reduction in wages & salaries down to the wage subsidy $585 per week for many still employed, tough business conditions, drop in spending power, no overseas holidays - that’s ahead for NZ in the winter of discontent.

[Balance]

You do realise that a great many people in this country, actually earn significantly less than $585 a week.

If this small business owner can think outside the square and be proactive to help herself maybe others could at least consider, doing the same.

Yes, there are many who earn less than $585 a week.

What is happening though is that there are tens of thousands of new unemployeds (think Air NZ eg and of course, the minimum wage for a 40 hour week is now $800 people) who used to earn significantly more.

The SMEs are extremely unhappy because they compare the little help they are getting from this government vs what the Australian government is doing to help the SMEs over there. And they have the right to ask why?

Anyway, after the euphoria of being released from the lockdown and the collective sense of achievement of beating the virus have faded into the background, let’s see how NZers feel when the cold chilly wind of recession whistle through their homes.

[justakiwi]

Maybe those who were on high incomes and now find themselves unemployed, will have to make some sacrifices to help themselves. Maybe they will need to rethink their $600,000 house/$300,000 mortgage, two BMWs in the garage, and the annual overseas holiday. I am not being judgmental or nasty. I am just pointing out, that those at the top end of the “standard of living” bracket, have some room to prune costs. Sure, their $585/week job subsidy payment or unemployment/accomodation assistance might be a shock to their system, but at least they have the ability to downsize to free up capital and/or reduce costs.

It would be interesting to know how many high income people have income protection insurance. Those earning six figure incomes probably need it more than the rest of us, to ensure they can maintain their higher standard of living if they lose their job.

Yes, there are many who earn less than $585 a week.

What is happening thoughis that there are tens of thousands of new unemployeds (think Air NZ eg and of course, the minimum wage for a 40 hour week is now $800 per) who used to earn significantly more.

The SMEs are extremely unhappy because they compare the little help they are getting from this government vs what the Australian government is going to help the SMEs over there. And they have the right to ask why?

Anyway, after the euphoria of being released from the lockdown and the sense of achievement of beating the virus have faded into the background, let’s see how NZers feel when the cold chilly wind of recession whistle through their homes.

[Balance]

Maybe those who were on high incomes and now find themselves unemployed, will have to make some sacrifices to help themselves. Maybe they will need to rethink their $600,000 house/$300,000 mortgage, two BMWs in the garage, and the annual overseas holiday. I am not being judgmental or nasty. I am just pointing out, that those at the top end of the “standard of living” bracket, have some room to prune costs. Sure, their $585/week job subsidy payment or unemployment/accomodation assistance might be a shock to their system, but at least they have the ability to downsize to free up capital and/or reduce costs.

It would be interesting to know how many high income people have income protection insurance. Those earning six figure incomes probably need it more than the rest of us, to ensure they can maintain their higher standard of living if they lose their job.

Think of how many married couples with children are burdened with high mortgage payments - how do they cope with one income less?

And do remember how Labour was going to make housing affordable & available via Kiwibuild & banning overseas buyers? Hasn’t happened, has it?

Promises made but not kept - all that a good Opposition has to do is hammer home the message that it’s all the government’s fault.

And when the chilly cold wind of recession blow through NZers homes in the months ahead, the message of non delivery will get through - star power or no star power.