Reposted by Bean Crusty
Not 'struggling'.
Not 'hard up'.
Not 'skipping meals'.
*Starving*
In Aotearoa. In 2026.
This is so immoral and disgusting that opposition parties should be 20 points ahead in the polls by now.
Not 'hard up'.
Not 'skipping meals'.
*Starving*
In Aotearoa. In 2026.
This is so immoral and disgusting that opposition parties should be 20 points ahead in the polls by now.
'It's just not enough': Salvation Army warns families are starving
'It's just not enough': Salvation Army warns families are starving
The Salvation Army's latest State of the Nation paints a dire picture of worsening child poverty and unemployment.
www.rnz.co.nz
February 11, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Not 'struggling'.
Not 'hard up'.
Not 'skipping meals'.
*Starving*
In Aotearoa. In 2026.
This is so immoral and disgusting that opposition parties should be 20 points ahead in the polls by now.
Not 'hard up'.
Not 'skipping meals'.
*Starving*
In Aotearoa. In 2026.
This is so immoral and disgusting that opposition parties should be 20 points ahead in the polls by now.
Reposted by Bean Crusty
My investigative piece today on Nicola Willis's surprise RBNZ Covid Inquiry announcement. She has set it up so that the results are released 6 WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTION
Please share where you can - between the voter suppression laws, and this, it could be a real killer come Nov 2026. #NZPOL #NZ
Please share where you can - between the voter suppression laws, and this, it could be a real killer come Nov 2026. #NZPOL #NZ
Did Nicola Willis just appoint Atlas Network connections to her surprise RBNZ Covid Inquiry?
Willis launches a surprise Covid inquiry with results to come out 6 weeks before the election. Most NZ publications noted her hiring of "independent" experts. I looked further into it.
mountaintui.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:20 AM
Reposted by Bean Crusty
February 11, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Reposted by Bean Crusty
February 11, 2026 at 2:03 AM
Reposted by Bean Crusty
So struggling kiwis are going to subsidize for years nz's largest gas user multinational Methanex & fonterra. The only profit Methanex make is on-selling (price gouging) their gas quotas to electricity retailers during shortages.. All very corporate socialism from Luxon.. #nzpol
February 11, 2026 at 1:55 AM
So struggling kiwis are going to subsidize for years nz's largest gas user multinational Methanex & fonterra. The only profit Methanex make is on-selling (price gouging) their gas quotas to electricity retailers during shortages.. All very corporate socialism from Luxon.. #nzpol
Reposted by Bean Crusty
Late 2023: Govt cans the 4 year project set up "to explore possible renewable energy storage solutions" and solve for the dry year problem.
Early 2026: Govt says it will spend $1bn on an LNG import facility... to address the dry year problem. www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and... #nzpol
Early 2026: Govt says it will spend $1bn on an LNG import facility... to address the dry year problem. www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and... #nzpol
NZ Battery Project | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
The NZ Battery Project was set up in 2020 to explore possible renewable energy storage solutions for when our hydro lakes run low for long periods. A pumped hydro scheme at Lake Onslow was one of the options being explored. The Government stopped the Lake Onslow investigations in late 2023.
www.mbie.govt.nz
February 11, 2026 at 12:19 AM
Late 2023: Govt cans the 4 year project set up "to explore possible renewable energy storage solutions" and solve for the dry year problem.
Early 2026: Govt says it will spend $1bn on an LNG import facility... to address the dry year problem. www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and... #nzpol
Early 2026: Govt says it will spend $1bn on an LNG import facility... to address the dry year problem. www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and... #nzpol
Reposted by Bean Crusty
#nzpol 🧵
The "it's all lobbying" crowd need to define what they actually mean by lobbying. Because right now, their definition catches virtually every participant in the policy advisory system. That is either intellectually careless or deliberately misleading. Which is it?
February 10, 2026 at 11:28 PM
#nzpol 🧵
Reposted by Bean Crusty
Whether its a tax or a levy it is rolling the turd in glitter
Also, its $2.7 Billion, and its methane, LNG is just its stage name
#nzpol
Also, its $2.7 Billion, and its methane, LNG is just its stage name
#nzpol
Tax or levy? A very simple guide to a very dumb political argument
The Government says it’s a levy. Labour says it’s a tax. But really, is there any difference?
www.stuff.co.nz
February 10, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Whether its a tax or a levy it is rolling the turd in glitter
Also, its $2.7 Billion, and its methane, LNG is just its stage name
#nzpol
Also, its $2.7 Billion, and its methane, LNG is just its stage name
#nzpol
Reposted by Bean Crusty
Sigh yet another article focussed on the "debate" about tax vs levy and "politics"
Newsroom usually do better that this fluff
The real debate is about burning imported fossil fuels vs renewables generated in NZ
And of course climate change
Newsroom usually do better that this fluff
The real debate is about burning imported fossil fuels vs renewables generated in NZ
And of course climate change
February 10, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Sigh yet another article focussed on the "debate" about tax vs levy and "politics"
Newsroom usually do better that this fluff
The real debate is about burning imported fossil fuels vs renewables generated in NZ
And of course climate change
Newsroom usually do better that this fluff
The real debate is about burning imported fossil fuels vs renewables generated in NZ
And of course climate change
Reposted by Bean Crusty
Our electricity bills are simply taxation by other means. The government is the major shareholder in most of the gentailers, and the primary beneficiary of unnaturally inflated prices and excessive dividends. This is just taxation via our power accounts
#nzpol
#nzpol
If it walks like a tax and quacks like a tax, it's probably a tax.
Tax is fine, but don't use it to increase electricity costs AND climate change with something that will be a stranded asset anyway!
Govt under pressure over gas plan as Kiwis will feel sting of #GasTax
Tax is fine, but don't use it to increase electricity costs AND climate change with something that will be a stranded asset anyway!
Govt under pressure over gas plan as Kiwis will feel sting of #GasTax
Tax or levy? Government under pressure over gas plan as Labour says Kiwis will feel sting
The Govt has announced construction of a NZ liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility.
www.nzherald.co.nz
February 10, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Our electricity bills are simply taxation by other means. The government is the major shareholder in most of the gentailers, and the primary beneficiary of unnaturally inflated prices and excessive dividends. This is just taxation via our power accounts
#nzpol
#nzpol
Reposted by Bean Crusty
Reposted by Bean Crusty
Forestry sector calls for rates cap as It tries every which way to reject any and all accountability for the cost of forestry on local roads, rivers, livelihoods and communities. #nzpol www.rnz.co.nz/news/country...
Forestry sector calls for rates cap after bill increases 570 percent
A 1100-hectare block near Wairoa had its annual rates bill skyrocket from $30,000 a year to $200,000.
www.rnz.co.nz
February 10, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Forestry sector calls for rates cap as It tries every which way to reject any and all accountability for the cost of forestry on local roads, rivers, livelihoods and communities. #nzpol www.rnz.co.nz/news/country...
Reposted by Bean Crusty
Of course they will. New Zealand First will campaign on reinstating sweeping ministerial powers in the fast track legislation this election - Is this because they don’t want their pet donor projects stopped by expert opinion and legitimate environmental concerns? #nzpol www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
NZ First to campaign on ministers getting final say in fast track projects
Deputy leader Shane Jones says he will campaign on a system where politicians "failed or flourished" by making big calls.
www.rnz.co.nz
February 10, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Of course they will. New Zealand First will campaign on reinstating sweeping ministerial powers in the fast track legislation this election - Is this because they don’t want their pet donor projects stopped by expert opinion and legitimate environmental concerns? #nzpol www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Reposted by Bean Crusty
The latest Transparency International Corruption Perception Report is out and NZ is not doing as well as we're used to. Slipping from a peak of 91/100 in the mid 2010s to 81/100 last year. We also slipped 2 places in overall rank since 2024.
#nzpol
#corruption
www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2025/...
#nzpol
#corruption
www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2025/...
February 10, 2026 at 10:49 AM
The latest Transparency International Corruption Perception Report is out and NZ is not doing as well as we're used to. Slipping from a peak of 91/100 in the mid 2010s to 81/100 last year. We also slipped 2 places in overall rank since 2024.
#nzpol
#corruption
www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2025/...
#nzpol
#corruption
www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2025/...
Reposted by Bean Crusty
Reposted by Bean Crusty
#NZPol As of right now there is literally zero actual news on Stuff’s homepage. Zero. It’s all just tabloid trash with a mild corporate normalising consumerist backdrop. Fucking embarrassing.
February 10, 2026 at 9:07 AM
#NZPol As of right now there is literally zero actual news on Stuff’s homepage. Zero. It’s all just tabloid trash with a mild corporate normalising consumerist backdrop. Fucking embarrassing.
Reposted by Bean Crusty
“The lakes are low, the sun hasn’t been shining, the wind hasn’t been blowing, and we have an inadequate supply of natural gas to meet demand,” [Simeon] Brown said. (August 2024)
These are not serious people. These are seriously deranged people trying to make words fit a predefined agenda.
These are not serious people. These are seriously deranged people trying to make words fit a predefined agenda.
February 9, 2026 at 9:26 PM
“The lakes are low, the sun hasn’t been shining, the wind hasn’t been blowing, and we have an inadequate supply of natural gas to meet demand,” [Simeon] Brown said. (August 2024)
These are not serious people. These are seriously deranged people trying to make words fit a predefined agenda.
These are not serious people. These are seriously deranged people trying to make words fit a predefined agenda.
Reposted by Bean Crusty
A piece from Progressive International focused on the embeddedness of Maria Machado, Nobel Prize winner 🙄, in the #AtlasNetwork.
See what Atlas partners have been doing to Venezuela after Chavez challenged Exxon & its profits, and the neoliberal consensus.
progressive.international/wire/2025-12...
See what Atlas partners have been doing to Venezuela after Chavez challenged Exxon & its profits, and the neoliberal consensus.
progressive.international/wire/2025-12...
February 10, 2026 at 5:31 AM
A piece from Progressive International focused on the embeddedness of Maria Machado, Nobel Prize winner 🙄, in the #AtlasNetwork.
See what Atlas partners have been doing to Venezuela after Chavez challenged Exxon & its profits, and the neoliberal consensus.
progressive.international/wire/2025-12...
See what Atlas partners have been doing to Venezuela after Chavez challenged Exxon & its profits, and the neoliberal consensus.
progressive.international/wire/2025-12...
Reposted by Bean Crusty
#nzpol
Pull the plug NOW.
Pull the plug NOW.
About 45% of gas produced in this country goes to Methanex, the Canadian multinational. Fonterra is another significant gas user. Just in case you are wondering who stands to benefit most from the planned LNG plant which is to be paid for by me, thee and every other individual user of power.
February 10, 2026 at 5:39 AM
#nzpol
Pull the plug NOW.
Pull the plug NOW.
Reposted by Bean Crusty
"Unlike many countries, New Zealand does not require lobbyists to register, disclose their clients or funding sources, or adhere to ethical standards."
I bet this was helpful in this gas case!
And imagine the lobbying against lobby rules that's going on too!
theconversation.com/lobbying-reg...
I bet this was helpful in this gas case!
And imagine the lobbying against lobby rules that's going on too!
theconversation.com/lobbying-reg...
February 9, 2026 at 11:36 PM
"Unlike many countries, New Zealand does not require lobbyists to register, disclose their clients or funding sources, or adhere to ethical standards."
I bet this was helpful in this gas case!
And imagine the lobbying against lobby rules that's going on too!
theconversation.com/lobbying-reg...
I bet this was helpful in this gas case!
And imagine the lobbying against lobby rules that's going on too!
theconversation.com/lobbying-reg...
Reposted by Bean Crusty
FYI I’ve opened this up for full public reading, listening & sharing after requests from paying subscribers. Their support allows me to do this kind of public interest journalism on Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate & poverty in public. #nzpol thekaka.substack.com/p/why-not-sp...
Why not spend $2.7b on solar & batteries instead?
Govt to pay up to $180m/year or $2.7b over 15 years to lease LNG re-gasification plant, paid for by $15-$30 'levy' per household per year. That $2.7b would build four Benmore Dams worth of electricity
thekaka.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:59 AM
FYI I’ve opened this up for full public reading, listening & sharing after requests from paying subscribers. Their support allows me to do this kind of public interest journalism on Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate & poverty in public. #nzpol thekaka.substack.com/p/why-not-sp...
Reposted by Bean Crusty
Or we could spend that $billion on getting industrial users off gas completely, insulating them from price spikes and lowering their emissions in the process. In fact, we used to have such a policy - GIDI. It was great value for money.
National repealed it.
National repealed it.
February 9, 2026 at 5:02 AM
Or we could spend that $billion on getting industrial users off gas completely, insulating them from price spikes and lowering their emissions in the process. In fact, we used to have such a policy - GIDI. It was great value for money.
National repealed it.
National repealed it.
Reposted by Bean Crusty
My household imports ~12 MWh / year (yes, I have a spreadsheet). So National's $4/MWh levy to subsidise big industrial gas users eats almost all the $50/year I'm expected to save.
Houses without solar are going to get really screwed.
Houses without solar are going to get really screwed.
February 9, 2026 at 4:58 AM
My household imports ~12 MWh / year (yes, I have a spreadsheet). So National's $4/MWh levy to subsidise big industrial gas users eats almost all the $50/year I'm expected to save.
Houses without solar are going to get really screwed.
Houses without solar are going to get really screwed.