Soos
@soosforpeace.bsky.social
Scientist with political bent. Socialist. Humanist. A society can't thrive unless we look after everyone and everything on this planet.
The NZ Parliamentary Commissioner's office has just released a report documenting a 25% or $1 Bio decrease in environmental expenditure by this govt over 2025/2026. There will be a price to pay for this neglect.
pce.parliament.nz/publications...
pce.parliament.nz/publications...
Estimate of environmental expenditure 2025/26: Method and results
The Estimate of environmental expenditure 2025/26: Method and results shows a $1 billion, or approximately 25%, reduction in central government spending for the year ahead –...
pce.parliament.nz
December 1, 2025 at 12:52 AM
The NZ Parliamentary Commissioner's office has just released a report documenting a 25% or $1 Bio decrease in environmental expenditure by this govt over 2025/2026. There will be a price to pay for this neglect.
pce.parliament.nz/publications...
pce.parliament.nz/publications...
We are apparently not worried anymore about climate change. But a red weather warning such as that experienced today does not bode well for NZ and our primary industries.
Government lowers methane target, rules out methane taxes | RNZ News share.google/9AMETIIK7BwQ...
Government lowers methane target, rules out methane taxes | RNZ News share.google/9AMETIIK7BwQ...
Government lowers methane target, rules out methane taxes
The government is lowering its biogenic methane target for the next 25 years and is ruling out agricultural taxes on methane emissions.
share.google
October 23, 2025 at 2:10 AM
We are apparently not worried anymore about climate change. But a red weather warning such as that experienced today does not bode well for NZ and our primary industries.
Government lowers methane target, rules out methane taxes | RNZ News share.google/9AMETIIK7BwQ...
Government lowers methane target, rules out methane taxes | RNZ News share.google/9AMETIIK7BwQ...
Reposted by Soos
At a time when the government is taking away jobseeker benefits from 18- & 19-year-olds, Stats NZ recorded a 22.6% increase in the cost of tertiary education. The government has halved support for apprentices. It is another symbol of a government that is out of touch
October 19, 2025 at 10:18 PM
At a time when the government is taking away jobseeker benefits from 18- & 19-year-olds, Stats NZ recorded a 22.6% increase in the cost of tertiary education. The government has halved support for apprentices. It is another symbol of a government that is out of touch
Will our government take the hint?
October 14, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Will our government take the hint?
97% of NZ teens go online several times a day, and 60% spend over 5 hours on social media. This results in extensive exposure to marketing for alcohol, vaping and gambling , and also a in host of mental health issues. Sign the petition if you think social media are harmful to young people.
Petitions are addressed to the House of Representatives and ask that the House do something about a policy or law, or put right a local or private concern.
petitions.parliament.nz
October 7, 2025 at 3:30 AM
97% of NZ teens go online several times a day, and 60% spend over 5 hours on social media. This results in extensive exposure to marketing for alcohol, vaping and gambling , and also a in host of mental health issues. Sign the petition if you think social media are harmful to young people.
Young people in NZ are proportionally most affected by current unemployment rates (13.9%). Therefore, this move by the government to means test their benefits is a double punishment for the young people affected and their families.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Jobseeker changes: 'Punished for economic crisis they didn't create'
"We love these young people," the prime minister says, but a youth advocate says they've never met a young person who doesn't want to find work.
www.rnz.co.nz
October 5, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Young people in NZ are proportionally most affected by current unemployment rates (13.9%). Therefore, this move by the government to means test their benefits is a double punishment for the young people affected and their families.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Where is the solar plan? And why are we proposing to import huge quantities of LNG, skewing our trade deficit and climate budget, when there are so many alternative options?
Here’s my daily newsletter, podcast and email. Why didn’t the Government look at a solar and battery option instead of LNG? It would have been much faster and cheaper and the new Ruakaka battery shows it can soften wholesale price inflation. #nzpol thekaka.substack.com/p/thursdays-...
Thursday's Chorus: Where's the solar plan?
Govt's energy reforms ignored the option of a fast & big solar buildout, which Meridian's Ruakaka battery park shows would help; ANZ & BNZ fire shots to start mortgage war
thekaka.substack.com
October 2, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Where is the solar plan? And why are we proposing to import huge quantities of LNG, skewing our trade deficit and climate budget, when there are so many alternative options?
An explainer why the US govt needed to be shut down for a limited time.
Folks — this is not a normal government shutdown.
Let me explain the stakes and how we got here.
Let me explain the stakes and how we got here.
October 1, 2025 at 8:09 PM
An explainer why the US govt needed to be shut down for a limited time.
$500,000 in political donations to coalition government are associated with fast-track projects. Surely this is a serious conflict of interest. These projects should be immediately eliminated from the fast-track list on that basis.
share.google/eGpcZCT8cxf1...
share.google/eGpcZCT8cxf1...
$500,000 in political donations associated with fast track projects
The projects include a quarry extension into conservation land and a development whose owner was supported by National MPs during a battle with Kāinga Ora.
share.google
October 1, 2025 at 2:11 AM
$500,000 in political donations to coalition government are associated with fast-track projects. Surely this is a serious conflict of interest. These projects should be immediately eliminated from the fast-track list on that basis.
share.google/eGpcZCT8cxf1...
share.google/eGpcZCT8cxf1...
Reposted by Soos
Looks like a good time in the news cycle to tackle three big myths 🧵
❌ NZ pension costs are an unsustainable burden ❌
Seriously, no, for lots of reasons.
1. Our current Govt spending on pensions is low compared to most other advanced economies. And... [1/n]
❌ NZ pension costs are an unsustainable burden ❌
Seriously, no, for lots of reasons.
1. Our current Govt spending on pensions is low compared to most other advanced economies. And... [1/n]
September 28, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Looks like a good time in the news cycle to tackle three big myths 🧵
❌ NZ pension costs are an unsustainable burden ❌
Seriously, no, for lots of reasons.
1. Our current Govt spending on pensions is low compared to most other advanced economies. And... [1/n]
❌ NZ pension costs are an unsustainable burden ❌
Seriously, no, for lots of reasons.
1. Our current Govt spending on pensions is low compared to most other advanced economies. And... [1/n]
Losing ever more of the fantastic reputation we had under the humanitarian prime Minister Jacinda Adern. Peter's actions are deeply shameful.
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ex-race-r...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ex-race-r...
'Shame on us': Ex-Race Relations Commissioner slams Govt's 'torturous logic' on Palestine
Winston Peters told the UN that NZ is 'not ready' to recognise Palestinian statehood.
www.nzherald.co.nz
September 28, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Losing ever more of the fantastic reputation we had under the humanitarian prime Minister Jacinda Adern. Peter's actions are deeply shameful.
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ex-race-r...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ex-race-r...
Reposted by Soos
#NZpol Several times now Winston Peters has not represented *NZ’s* position in some pitches at the UN, but a (tiny) minority who helped his party get over the threshold into parliament.
That’s misrepresentation. Surely a party’s internal politics should not be lead NZ foreign ministry work?
That’s misrepresentation. Surely a party’s internal politics should not be lead NZ foreign ministry work?
September 26, 2025 at 6:41 PM
#NZpol Several times now Winston Peters has not represented *NZ’s* position in some pitches at the UN, but a (tiny) minority who helped his party get over the threshold into parliament.
That’s misrepresentation. Surely a party’s internal politics should not be lead NZ foreign ministry work?
That’s misrepresentation. Surely a party’s internal politics should not be lead NZ foreign ministry work?
Reposted by Soos
“Our brain never changed, only our technology did. We may have acquired new clothes, customs, careers and gadgets, but our brain’s factory settings, our inherited traits, still belong in the Stone Age”
open.substack.com/pub/georgets...
open.substack.com/pub/georgets...
September 19, 2025 at 11:57 AM
“Our brain never changed, only our technology did. We may have acquired new clothes, customs, careers and gadgets, but our brain’s factory settings, our inherited traits, still belong in the Stone Age”
open.substack.com/pub/georgets...
open.substack.com/pub/georgets...
Reposted by Soos
The "common good" is a set of shared values about what we owe one another as citizens who are bound together in the same society. A concern for the common good—keeping the common good in mind—is a moral attitude. It recognizes that we’re all in it together.
September 13, 2025 at 8:01 PM
The "common good" is a set of shared values about what we owe one another as citizens who are bound together in the same society. A concern for the common good—keeping the common good in mind—is a moral attitude. It recognizes that we’re all in it together.
Reposted by Soos
Every country has its big lie moment. This was the right's - the economy.
National inherited a AA+/AAA credit economy, one of the lowest OECD debt to GDP ratios, “better than expected” finances & positive growth expectations.
Importantly Treasury always forecasted inflation drops & no recession.
National inherited a AA+/AAA credit economy, one of the lowest OECD debt to GDP ratios, “better than expected” finances & positive growth expectations.
Importantly Treasury always forecasted inflation drops & no recession.
My Friend, Christopher Luxon
Is it time to say Goodbye? Plus: The Big Lie told by the right wing parties and media that helped Luxon and his Coalition partners win in 2023.
open.substack.com
August 4, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Every country has its big lie moment. This was the right's - the economy.
National inherited a AA+/AAA credit economy, one of the lowest OECD debt to GDP ratios, “better than expected” finances & positive growth expectations.
Importantly Treasury always forecasted inflation drops & no recession.
National inherited a AA+/AAA credit economy, one of the lowest OECD debt to GDP ratios, “better than expected” finances & positive growth expectations.
Importantly Treasury always forecasted inflation drops & no recession.
Reposted by Soos
Christopher Luxon thinks that the best way to increase the value of a home is to invest less and less in its upkeep
I wonder how the economy can grow the PM’s fiscal strategy means another $27.9 billion in cuts over the next three years. ‘Cut after cut, yielding not much but low growth, a slack labour market and little inroad into rebuilding the fiscal position‘ #nzpol www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...
After Investment Boost, Budget 2026 needs to be about polling boost – Thomas Coughlan
OPINION: Treasury told ministers that years of cuts will be needed to maintain spending.
www.nzherald.co.nz
September 7, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Christopher Luxon thinks that the best way to increase the value of a home is to invest less and less in its upkeep
Reposted by Soos
$20mil is a huge amount for the Fund, and a pittance to the govt.
This ain’t about saving money or balancing the books or whatever bollocks NactF want you to think.
This is a deliberate and sustained attack on science, scientists, and the entire concept of thinking and knowledge.
This ain’t about saving money or balancing the books or whatever bollocks NactF want you to think.
This is a deliberate and sustained attack on science, scientists, and the entire concept of thinking and knowledge.
More cuts to the Marsden Fund. This time $20 million from the annual budget cut starting next year. This is on top of previous cuts by this government. They are trying to skip the 'priming the pump' step of public research as a driver of the economy. How well that is going to work?
#NZPOL
#NZPOL
Fewer Marsden Fund grants after government cuts
A major research fund has been forced to slash its grant allocation by more than $20 million next year.
www.rnz.co.nz
September 6, 2025 at 10:25 PM
$20mil is a huge amount for the Fund, and a pittance to the govt.
This ain’t about saving money or balancing the books or whatever bollocks NactF want you to think.
This is a deliberate and sustained attack on science, scientists, and the entire concept of thinking and knowledge.
This ain’t about saving money or balancing the books or whatever bollocks NactF want you to think.
This is a deliberate and sustained attack on science, scientists, and the entire concept of thinking and knowledge.
Reposted by Soos
More pine trees, less native trees, more foreign private profit, less local land ownership, more slash, less climate mitigation, more damage to native flora & fauna (biodiversity) MORE CORPORATE EXPLOITATION OF AOTEAROA NZ. #OneTermGovernment #nzpol #Election2026
www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-t...
www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-t...
Fourth Hawke’s Bay farm in five months sold to overseas buyers for forestry
'Marginal' land was chosen because 'we don’t want to pick the eyes out of the community'.
www.nzherald.co.nz
September 5, 2025 at 2:45 AM
More pine trees, less native trees, more foreign private profit, less local land ownership, more slash, less climate mitigation, more damage to native flora & fauna (biodiversity) MORE CORPORATE EXPLOITATION OF AOTEAROA NZ. #OneTermGovernment #nzpol #Election2026
www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-t...
www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-t...
Totally agree. Once again, we are selling NZ off to foreign investors.
About those $5m homes (~US$2.8m) for foreigners - that can be large parcel of land in prime real estate, a farm with a house, it can be conservation land this govt plans to sell. It shouldn't be for sale & this govt won't even give us a say? Unacceptable & absolute betrayal #nzpol
September 3, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Totally agree. Once again, we are selling NZ off to foreign investors.
Who is our government really working for? Is it for every new Zealander or is it corporate profit?
newsroom.co.nz/2025/08/23/a...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/08/23/a...
Anne Salmond: Who is this Government working for?
On a range of environmental and legal measures involving forestry, the coalition Government seems to be doing the opposite of what people and communities need, writes Dame Anne Salmond
newsroom.co.nz
August 24, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Who is our government really working for? Is it for every new Zealander or is it corporate profit?
newsroom.co.nz/2025/08/23/a...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/08/23/a...
Reposted by Soos
Labour borrowed to save lives, invest in infrastructure, healthcare, education etc. National's borrowings are going to fossil fuel companies, tobacco, landlords, tax cuts. The former provides return on investment & helps the economy - the latter is depletive
(3 of 3)
#nzpol
#debt
(3 of 3)
#nzpol
#debt
August 19, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Reposted by Soos
I give high marks to Ardern, Roberston and the party for how they handled Covid irrespective of "hindsight economics" from Treasury
Here's my reasoning -
Here's my reasoning -
August 19, 2025 at 5:24 AM
I give high marks to Ardern, Roberston and the party for how they handled Covid irrespective of "hindsight economics" from Treasury
Here's my reasoning -
Here's my reasoning -
Wow. NZ First - Winston and Shane in particular - have insulted and abused other MPs and the general public incessantly for the last couple of years. Now follows this weak excuse by Winston, following Chloe's expulsion for calling other MPs merely "spineless".
Brownlee's double standards.
Brownlee's double standards.
Winston Peters apologises for labelling Green Party as 'deluded, woke'
It comes four months after the Foreign Minister made the comments during a speech.
www.rnz.co.nz
August 19, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Wow. NZ First - Winston and Shane in particular - have insulted and abused other MPs and the general public incessantly for the last couple of years. Now follows this weak excuse by Winston, following Chloe's expulsion for calling other MPs merely "spineless".
Brownlee's double standards.
Brownlee's double standards.
This law was put into place with cross-party support in 2019. That does not seem to mean anything once ideology takes over a government.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
How Jacinda Ardern’s ‘groundbreaking’ climate law has become ‘a shell’
The Zero Carbon Act promised to lock climate ambition into law. But with key policies repealed, delayed or watered down, the once 'world-leading' legislation has become a husk of its former self.
www.rnz.co.nz
August 18, 2025 at 8:27 PM
This law was put into place with cross-party support in 2019. That does not seem to mean anything once ideology takes over a government.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...