Almost a year ago, I warned that the right wing NZ government was planning to exchange and/or dispose ("sell") up to 67% of NZ's conservation land. To be clear, that's almost 5 million hectares of our conservation land. And all for the purposes of supposed "economic activity"; never mind that tourism and NZ's clean, green image is one of the major drawcards and never mind, the precious ecosystems, fauna and flora, and wildlife existent in these areas - much of which is endangered. But of course that's moot for a government hell bent on emulating itself to the ideology and track record of America's Trump and Australia's Hanson. There's a reason why Hanson is supported by Australia's richest woman, mining magnate Gina Rinehart. It pays to be in their good books, as Hanson's new private jet gift demonstrates. Back to Aotearoa New Zealand, the government is pressing ahead on its plans. More than 50% of all bills by this right wing ...
I've said for a while now that the left block cannot win in Aotearoa New Zealand politics without the Greens pulling their weight. Labour has done well to claw back its support, as I wrote almost a year ago now: "I Hate Labour, But Wait, Why?" Labour is now the most popular political party in New Zealand, consistently tracking above 32%. Today's Talbot Poll result reveals the Greens have experienced a surge in support to 13%, up 4%. Labour is at around 34% and National remains under 30% with lack luster leadership and a track record of poor economic performance, and an anti-environment bent in the vein of the current US administration. The National led Coalition right wing government has been hugely damaging to the environment. Whether it is bringing back deep sea trawling, perhaps one of marine nature's most destructive impacts, or allowing wide scale coal mining expansion into critical natural reserves, or whether planning to flog off / commercialise up to ...