quote:

Rhetoric:
Since 2005 he's described Asian immigration as "imported criminal activity", and dubbed New Zealand the "last Asian colony". Then there was his announcement framing himself as a lone knight against "Asian dog farmers". He's claimed that refugees come "carrying HIV and all sorts of third-world diseases." Of the Islamic community, he says "the moderate and militant, fit hand and glove. Underneath it all the agenda is to promote fundamentalist Islam—indeed these groups are like the mythical Hydra, a serpent underbelly with multiple heads, capable of striking at any time and in any direction."
In 2014 he refused to apologise for his comment that "two wongs don't make a white". This year, he's attacked the ethnicity of two top NZ Herald data journalists, saying they were spreading misinformation, "seek[ing] to justify their existence and that of mass immigration, coming mainly from Asia"; and argued that the difference between New Zealanders and Filipinos is the latter don't know how to change a tyre or fix a fence. His rhetoric is certainly hitting the mark with some audiences—a recent undercover investigation into New Zealand's alt-right and and white supremacist groups found the members proclaiming that Winston was "our guy" and "Winnie has my undying respect".

exmarx posted:

the threshold is the only really bad thing. i'd prefer stv for the electorate vote, but it would realistically be too complicated

frankenfreak posted:

Also get with the program and eliminate overhang seats somehow, even if it's just by throwing in additional balance seats like Germany does now.

quote:

Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett has promised an $82 million methamphetamine and gang crackdown if National is re-elected.

The funding - spread over four years - would go towards "tough measures" towards some drug dealers that Bennett believes have "fewer human rights than others", as well as more drug rehabilitation places.

The enforcement measures, costing $42 million, would give police new powers to search cars and houses of "serious criminal" gang members at any time with no warrant to ensure they don't have firearms, double the number of drug dog teams, increase penalties for synthetic cannabis, put new restrictions on gang members on benefits, and introduce a new charge for those who damage a property with meth production or consumption.

$40 million would go toward 1500 additional drug treatment places and community treatment.

In an extraordinary press conference following the announcement at the Higher Ground drug rehabilitation centre in West Auckland, Bennett said some gang members had "fewer" human rights than others and Prime Minister Bill English said it was good that New Zealand lacked a written constitution as it gave governments flexibility.

Police would be able to search the houses and cars of known gang members with a previous serious violent conviction at any time with no warrant under the new law, which Bennett admitted presented a human rights issue.

"It probably does breach the rights of some of those criminals but they have to have had a serious violent offence behind them already and a firearm charge and on the basis of that we are going ahead with it," Bennett said.

Asked point blank whether she believed criminals had human rights, Bennett replied "some have fewer human rights than others when they are creating a string of victims behind them."

"There is a different standard."

New Zealand is a somewhat unique democracy in that it lacks a written constitution which entrenches the human rights of its citizens in law.

Asked if the Government would be able to create a law like this in a country with a written constitution, the Prime Minister refused to address a "hypothetical," but did note that "it's good that we don't have a written constitution it's enabled the country to deal with all sorts of issues in a practical and effective way."

Anyone working at ports, mail centres, and airport baggage centres - including contractors - would require police vetting. Drugs dogs would also be introduced at domestic airports.

Anyone on the gang register of around 5000 people who was on a benefit or applied for a benefit would have to prove that any expensive asset they owned was obtained legally. If they couldn't they could have their benefit cut or refused.

Thug Lessons posted:

Can somebody explain how there are like 25,000 people in New Zealand and every one of them post 100x a day on forums so it seems like there's hundreds of millions

exmarx posted:

t.o.p party leader gareth morgan, undeterred by his party being stuck at 1-2%, continues to be a tedious little nerd.

Badger of Basra posted:

how big is new zealand's budget? just to get a feel for if $42 million for jailing drug addicts is a lot or not

Thug Lessons posted:

Can somebody explain how there are like 25,000 people in New Zealand and every one of them post 100x a day on forums so it seems like there's hundreds of millions

slinkimalinki posted:

New Zealanders are pretty bored.

safely sodomized posted:

Is there any significant movement to move yalls Labour to the left or has NZ avoided any sort of Corbynism.

Crane Fist posted:

Why does Ardern always look like she's wearing a boxer's mouthguard, what did they tell her before the debate

safely sodomized posted:

Is there any significant movement to move yalls Labour to the left or has NZ avoided any sort of Corbynism.

El Pollo Blanco posted:

The new Labour leader just answered the question of 'which do you think is worse, tax evasion, or benefit fraud?' with 'both' so...

For reference, benefit fraud costs ~$30 million P/A, much of which is recovered (the ministry of social development spent $50 million investigating benefit frauds between 2013 and 2016); frauds of as little as $1000 have been pursued relentlessly, and 65% of the worst-offending benefit fraudsters go to prison, the worst of the tax evaders get home detention.

In contrast, Inland Revenue estimates the bare minimum cost of tax avoidance and evasion to be $1.2 billion, potentially it's a lot more than that.

These things are apparently of similar severity, if you live in Labour's universe.

mrbradlymrmartin posted:

well the rich are job creators obviously

etalian posted:

just think of all the jobs they created for offshore accountants

slinkimalinki posted:

Also nzelection

Gringostar posted:

this thread is fake news

new zealand doesn't exist

http://worldmapswithout.nz/

exmarx posted: