David Seymour

[pete376403]

It’s the way the rest of the world does it on big jobs. It’s the power of having all the gear ready to go vs the likes of Higgins or Fulton hogan having to get around to ordering 20 each of new motor graders, bulldozers haul trucks etc. Plus it’s the management experience of knowing how to make a big project work.
Even in the likes of USA another company from out of state sometimes travels thousands of miles to do an important job because they have the collective skill set to make it all happen on time.
Funding would prob be the 50/50 public private model national proposed.
Tolls are pure cashflow which any business loves.
Even at a modest 2$ toll on 10,000 vehicles a day is $7.3 million a year.
It’s a bit like the home handyman vs getting a professional tradie in to do job quickly and better.

All that aside I think we really should bring back ministry of works as an infrastructure civilian engineer army and give all our troubled youth some purpose and skills. Flood protection works alone has decades or work let alone the roads as well.

Professionals (architects, engineers, project managers and tradies) were in the main responsible for the leaky homes fiasco. I agree about the MoW - the big hydros were mainly MoW and they seemed to have worked well

[pzkpfw]

So ACT want to raise the pension age to 67.

Might be a good idea, but that's not what (most) people vote for; (most) people vote for immediate personal benefit (like, lower taxes (and screw whatever they paid for)).

ACT has been polling well, will this affect it?

They do riots in France ...

[george formby]

He wants to pay Doctors for taking on more patients.. No detail was given with that statement but it gave me pause for thought as to how that would effect the quality of health care and training for future GP's.

[pzkpfw]

I'm pretty sure Doctors (the whole health care area really) don't think they're paid enough for the patients they already see!

[george formby]

I'm pretty sure Doctors (the whole health care area really) don't think they're paid enough for the patients they already see!

Exacary. I know a couple of Doctors and they are incredibly frustrated, they have been for a long time.

[R650R]

So ACT want to raise the pension age to 67.

Might be a good idea, but that's not what (most) people vote for; (most) people vote for immediate personal benefit (like, lower taxes (and screw whatever they paid for)).

ACT has been polling well, will this affect it?

They do riots in France ...

It would take 8 years to take effect as they plan to add on 3 months each year. I work with many guys close to retirement age and many choose to keep working part time anyway for fitness and social contact, sense of purpose etc.
If you’re relying solely on that pension money at 65 you’re already in a world of misery anyway. It’s prob not an issue for many due to private pensions/super funds/investments and maybe even a younger partner who is still working.
The money saved would be used to pay down debt and improve standard of living.
The alternative world is a labour lead welfare crime ridden country where it’s not safe to walk to shops or doctor in your old age.
My fav bit of the minority power brokers debate was David costed out the extra prison beds for keeping ratbags in jail. It’s only a dollar a day for every nz person in tax.

[pete376403]

It would take 8 years to take effect as they plan to add on 3 months each year. I work with many guys close to retirement age and many choose to keep working part time anyway for fitness and social contact, sense of purpose etc.
If you’re relying solely on that pension money at 65 you’re already in a world of misery anyway. It’s prob not an issue for many due to private pensions/super funds/investments and maybe even a younger partner who is still working.
The money saved would be used to pay down debt and improve standard of living.
The alternative world is a labour lead welfare crime ridden country where it’s not safe to walk to shops or doctor in your old age.
My fav bit of the minority power brokers debate was David costed out the extra prison beds for keeping ratbags in jail. It’s only a dollar a day for every nz person in tax.

Superannuations as a sole income isn't the immediate kiss of death. My wife and I are both receiving super, no other income and living pretty well thanks. Helps to have no debt, no mortgage, no HPs etc. Asset rich (house is worth silly amounts) but quite happy where we are, cash not-so-poor, reasonably late model car, 3 bikes. Suppose it depends how well or how badly you ran you life prior to retirement

[pritch]

So ACT want to raise the pension age to 67.

That, like most other ACT policies, doesn't seem thought through. Retirement at 67 is fine for sedentary workers but for people doing hard physical work, and who have bodies giving out after years of repetitive strain, it's too old. Because a high proportion of Maori and Pacifica are involved in physical work and will be effected by this change it will likely be perceived as racist. Allowances for early retirement need to be included.

Still, it's an odd idea to float as a vote winner. Looking at the people flocking to Luxon, Peters' and Seymour's meetings though, suggests they already have their super.

[pritch]

The alternative world is a labour lead welfare crime ridden country where it’s not safe to walk to shops or doctor in your old age.

You need to stop taking those drugs. This is rated one of the very safest countries on earth. That doesn't mean nothing bad happens, but it does mean things are worse nearly everywhere else. That line is put out by cynical politicians because there is a chunk of the population will believe any crap they throw them.

[R650R]

You need to stop taking those drugs. This is rated one of the very safest countries on earth. That doesn't mean nothing bad happens, but it does mean things are worse nearly everywhere else. That line is put out by cynical politicians because there is a chunk of the population will believe any crap they throw them.

No that line is put out by people who remember what NZ was like 20 years ago. Since then failures by both sides have let things run away in particular the message of the last six years of “we are going to lower imprisonment rates, be kind, no police pursuits etc”

[R650R]

Two people talk about Act party

[sugilite:Me]

I actually don't mind Seymour as a person, his policies not so much.
Wants to make cuts all over the show to social spending. but strangely not interested in looking at tightening up laws on large companies dodging tax which would bring in mega bucks to the tax take. Pffft

I spose the rich and powerful types might be able to look forward to a higher quality hand-job under the table than the slightly less quality version they have been getting for the last 6 years.

[husaberg]

I actually don't mind Seymour as a person, his policies not so much.
Wants to make cuts all over the show to social spending. but strangely not interested in looking at tightening up laws on large companies dodging tax which would bring in mega bucks to the tax take. Pffft

I wonder how much his huge advertising budget is founded by those same big business interests.....

[pritch]

No that line is put out by people who remember what NZ was like 20 years ago. Since then failures by both sides have let things run away in particular the message of the last six years of “we are going to lower imprisonment rates, be kind, no police pursuits etc”

Last year we were still second safest country on earth, or fourth, depending which survey is quoted. Luxon and Seymour are spouting rubbish for the simple minded.

[R650R]

Last year we were still second safest country on earth, or fourth, depending which survey is quoted. Luxon and Seymour are spouting rubbish for the simple minded.

Yeah it’s prob safer here than downtown Mogadishu. But I want the safety we had before labour let it all run riot

https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/crime...pe-from-police

Last month, Stuff revealed how youths were to blame for an unprecedented spike in car thefts in Christchurch.

In July, nearly 600 vehicles were stolen in the city – numbers never before seen by officers who’ve been in the job for decades.

Officials throughout the justice system are growing increasingly worried about the threat the troublesome youths pose, not only to themselves, but to innocent members of the public.

At the time, Todd said he believed it was only a matter of time until someone was killed.