Explained: This article explains the political background, key decisions, and possible outcomes related to Explained : India FTA fight: Trouble brewing in coalition as Winston Peters pushes his advantage – Audrey Young and Its Impact and why it matters right now.
These comments go a lot further than just a disagreement over a point of view. They suggest NZ First’s coalition partners are being deceitful, and there is clear disagreement about the facts. Peters is walking all over his partners.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Trade Minister Todd McClay have been firm and measured in their response so far, but could go a lot further and harder in addressing some of Peters’ generalised claims.
For example, while New Zealand has agreed to the equivalent of 1667 three-year temporary employment entry visas per annum for India (capped at a maximum of 5000 at any point in time), all but 200 are to be drawn from within the 13 skilled occupations deemed by Immigration NZ to have a skills shortage. They are not in addition to it. The other 200 visas per annum would be issued in “iconic” Indian occupations (yoga, music, chefs and ayurvedic practitioners).
NZ First’s fortunes are on the up, and Peters’ decision to highlight the immigration aspects of the FTA deal agreed just before Christmas may have something to do with that.
The situation calls for an informal grand coalition – at least between the National and Labour parties – to work against Peters on the FTA. It may be tempting for Labour to just let the coalition stew in its own conflicts, but Peters is just as big a threat to its support.
A well-hatched plan for Collins
It has become a lot clearer now as to why Judith Collins mellowed this term and rarely engaged in the polarising politics she has been famous for.
She made it known yesterday, after announcing her retirement from politics, that she had been eying the job of president of the Law Commission for some time and had discussed it with the Prime Minister last year.
And she emphasised the importance of cross-party work to achieve legislative change that survives a change of Government.
The fact that she wants the job at all indicates that, at her core, she is a real legal beagle.
The Law Commission is often tasked by the Government to review problematic or old law, such as has happened with laws relating to tikanga and to possible hate speech law, but it can also undertake reviews itself.
It is a job that requires a bipartisan approach and the ability to work for any Government.
Unlike former Labour Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer, who was appointed president 15 years after leaving politics, Collins will go directly into the role.
In her favour, Collins has been a highly orthodox Attorney-General.
The plan was clearly hatched last year. After Dr Amokura Kawharu ended her five-year term and was appointed a High Court judge, Dr Mark Hickford was appointed in November for a six-month term and as a member of the commission for a five-year term.
The politics of disasters
It happens almost every time there is a weather-related disaster these days that political debate quickly turns to climate change, and the Opposition is accused of politicising a tragedy.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins: “Two years ago, Grant Robertson and I took to Cabinet a paper that offered $6 billion worth of funding for national resilience to deal with the fact that we are now prone to far more extreme weather events … Unfortunately, this Government cuts all of that funding.”
Finance Minister Nicola Willis responded: “All they had done was say in future, we will borrow $6b for potential projects. Our Government has actually done the work of identifying specific projects … And I just want to say I think it’s a real shame that in the wake of what has been a tragedy, Chris Hipkins has been so quick to leap into something I see as quite petty.”
Green MP Julia Anne Genter was more direct in a Facebook post: “Alarmingly, despite the seriousness of what took place in Tauranga, Pāpāmoa and Warkworth, some of the initial news coverage and statements by politicians failed to address the role of climate change in these tragedies.” And with no subtlety, she ended the post calling for volunteers for the election.
Right then wrong then right
Hipkins took issue with one of Associate Education Minister David Seymour’s answers in question time yesterday after Seymour read out a testimonial from a satisfied parent with a child at a charter school.
“For the first time in his schooling, he was able to tell me with excitement what he’d learned about King Charles V and Mozart and that he was able to do lots of learning because they keep the classes quiet and focused,” Seymour said, quoting the parent.
Hipkins raised a point of order about the reference to Charles V: “The member may have misspoken, but given that he’s speaking to our head of state, I think maybe he may wish to correct himself. He referred to King Charles V; the current reigning monarch of New Zealand is King Charles III. Unless there is some great mystery that he is aware of that we are not, perhaps he could enlighten the House as to whether he made a mistake or not.”
Seymour accused Hipkins of trying to “belittle” a parent, but it was Speaker Gerry Brownlee whose guess was on the money.
Ruling on Hipkins’ point of order, he said “perhaps there was a European King Charles … which the member himself is not aware of”.
Brownlee was correct. Follow-up investigations show that the charter school was teaching lessons on the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.
By the way …
• Labour MP and former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe broke with tradition when he delivered his valedictory speech last night to an almost full debating chamber. He did not use speech notes and instead spoke quietly about some of his times in the chair, such as taking his first point of order from Labour’s Iain Lees-Galloway. He said he did not understand the point Lees-Galloway was making, and nor did Lees-Galloway. Unfortunately, what is meant to be a 15-minute speech went on for 30 minutes.
• Joseph Mooney is the MP for Southland … not Penny Simmonds, as I have claimed here more than once. Simmonds is the MP for Invercargill. Apologies to both.
Quote unquote
“I thought it was incredibly disrespectful.” Prime Minister Christopher Luxon bluntly addresses President Donald Trump’s scepticism about the contribution of non-US countries to combat in Afghanistan.
Micro quiz
Judith Collins has been the MP for Papakura and what other electorate? (Answer at the bottom of this article.)
Brickbat
Goes to former Labour leader Phil Goff for using every opportunity to attack Winston Peters on foreign affairs, including imploring him this week to “bloody grow some balls”. Gross. And it smacks of sour grapes, given that Peters sacked him as a diplomat. Goff needs to pick his battles and not crowd out his elected former colleagues.
Bouquet
Goes to Labour MP Camilla Belich and National MP Greg Fleming for working together to introduce a member’s bill today to guard against modern slavery. It is bound to pass. More please. There is huge untapped potential in the power of co-operation between the two biggest parties.
This week’s top headlines
Slavery legislation: Act’s lack of support for modern slavery bill sees National team up with Labour
FTA fight: Christopher Luxon calls out Winston Peters over India immigration claim
Analysis – Collins resignation: Outrageous Fortuna: The life and times of Judith Collins – Thomas Coughlan
Inflation: Nicola Willis calls inflation data a ‘blip’, but acknowledges Reserve Bank will eventually have to start hiking rates
NZ First surge: Winston Peters shrugs off poll bump as he shuts door on Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori
Analysis – crisis management: Politics of a storm – How did Christopher Luxon, Chris Hipkins handle weather tragedies back at Parliament? – Jamie Ensor
Auckland intensification: Housing Minister Chris Bishop says he has ‘sensible’ solution as Govt mulls changes to density plan
Election strategy: Inside the 2026 election machine – the strategists shaping the fight for your vote
Building warranties: Homeowners could be left exposed as Govt gives itself an out on requiring new-build warranties
Troop slur: ‘Could not be more front line’ – MP who served in Afghanistan backs Christopher Luxon’s rebuke of Donald Trump
Fees-free scheme: ‘Deadweight cost’ – Why Labour’s fees-free tertiary education scheme didn’t work
Media law: Broadcasting Standards Authority calls for law change to deal with ‘rapidly evolving’ media, expects declining levy revenue
Quiz answer: Judith Collins was elected to Clevedon from 2002 to 2008, before the electorate was abolished.
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