Top Ten “NZ Politics Daily” stories today
Below are some of the more interesting and insightful New Zealand politics items from the last 24 hours.
1) A holiday bombshell scandal dropped yesterday when Newstalk ZB’s Philip Crump reported: Green MP Golriz Ghahraman stands aside from portfolios after being accused of shoplifting
2) I went on RNZ’s Morning Report to provide some analysis on the issue – see: Green MP Golriz Ghahraman accused of shoplifting. In this interview, I explained that because we have very little information on the allegations, we have to be careful in our speculation, until we know more. But certainly, if Ghahraman is convicted of any crimes, it’s likely to end her political career. I also pointed out that the Green MP had also been through another integrity scandal back in 2017 when she had to admit that she hadn’t been fully upfront in implying in her previous career she had prosecuted war criminals when it turned out that she actually acted for the defence – you can see my column on this from the time here: Political Roundup: Golriz Ghahraman on trial – guilty and not-guilty
On RNZ I also suggested that the Greens are likely to pressure Ghahraman to resign from Parliament as her performance in recent years has been declining, and the party needs to bring newer and fresher MPs into more senior positions. And there are some in the Greens that thought Ghahraman should’ve retired at the last election. By resigning, former Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown would come in to replace her.
Beyond the alleged dishonesty and law-breaking, the Greens will be most embarrassed by the problem of an extremely highly-paid politician stealing from a very posh clothing store on Ponsonby. The Greens have tried to position themselves as a party on the side of the poor, but this episode really does raise questions of why a politician on a salary package of about $200k – and thus in the top 1% of wealthy income earners – is taking high-value goods for her own self-aggrandisement. It’s not exactly the brand that the party want for themselves. It will further the claims of critics who view the Green politicians as becoming part of the Establishment – rich and self-entitled and out-of-touch elites who are more focused on furthering their own interests than actually helping change the world.
3) In commentary on the scandal, Golriz Ghahraman is described as a “leftwing” politician. But in a paywalled Patreon post today, Matthew Hooton disputes that label, and bemoans that Ghahraman epitomizes that many of today’s so-called leftwing politicians are more focused on themselves than ideology and change, and that New Zealand needs more genuine leftwing politicians – see: Golriz is a brand, not “left” (paywalled)
Hooton asks: “can the media and social media stop calling her left-wing? That is to give her too much credit. Left-wing people are like Craig Rennie, Sue Bradford, Robert Reid, Norman Kirk, Walter Nash, Peter Fraser… you get the picture. Ghahraman has never been anything more than a brand. Everything she says or does is pretty much always about herself.”
Hooton calls for more genuine leftwing MPs rather than those focused on their own careers: “There are far too many of these sorts in Parliament now, right across the political spectrum. Hopefully she is replaced by a Green who really is left wing in the sense of being a genuine anti-capitalist social justice and environmental advocate rather than a fake one. Parliament needs at least a few genuine left wingers, and it would be good to have at least one or two.
4) The upcoming year for the Greens is also discussed today by the NBR’s Brent Edwards, who has interviewed co-leader James Shaw, saying: “Shaw says the Green Party will be focusing on issues in 2024 that formed much of its campaign policy around lowering costs for people by providing free dental care and on environmental and climate change policies” – see: Greens have best election result but end up in Opposition (paywalled)
Although Shaw says he’s disappointed by some of the new government’s climate change policies, he’s surprisingly positive, saying “The momentum [on reducing emissions] may slow down under this government but it will still continue in the same direction”. And as unlikely as it is, he “does not rule out the Greens reaching an agreement with the Government, similar to the home insulation programme agreement the Greens reached with the John Key-led Government”.
Shaw is also very happy that the new government are so committed to the emission reduction targets set by the last government: “The good thing is that the Government, the National Party and Christopher Luxon in particular, have really nailed their colours to the mast and have said, ‘no, we are going to hit the targets, we are going to hit those domestic emissions budgets, we are going to hit our nationally determined contribution under Paris, we are going to hit net zero 2050’. You know, that’s great.”
5) The new government has axed the Productivity Commission, in favour of its new Ministry of Regulations, and today the NBR’s Dita De Boni examines whether this is really a good idea, asking the question: Who needs a Productivity Commission anyway? (paywalled). The answer, according to some economists, is “yes”, and they point to the existence of such commissions in other successful economies.
Although the article is favourable to having a commission, De Boni also sums up the criticisms of the Productivity Commission under Ganesh Nana: “They accuse it of going far beyond its remit of boosting productivity and into a host of other areas including work on issues like societal disadvantage, poverty, colonisation and racism. Not only were the choice of topics criticised by some, but the conclusions of some of the work also questioned by those who believe the Commission, under the leadership of Dr Ganesh Nana, tended towards policy prescriptions that suited the government of the day”. She also quotes Michael Gordon on the Productivity Commission's reports: “unreadable (and I'm an economist!).”
6) Wellington’s water crisis rolls on, with the public apparently increasingly angry that the council-owned Wellington Water doesn’t appear to be doing enough to fix the thousands of leaks, which is now creating a serious water shortage. And yesterday, the public got an insight into what is going on behind the scenes at the public agency when one of their engineers posted a video on social media titled “Council Engineer - Challenge one day slacking off and do no work. Making money while I play” – see Rachel Maher’s Wellington Water employee boasts about doing ‘no work’, investigation launched
7) Today The Post reports that “Wellington businesses asked to limit their water use are growing increasingly frustrated about pipes leaking water right outside their doors” – see Gianina Schwanecke’s Wellington business frustrations grow over unresolved leaks (paywalled)
The news article reports one worker on Lambton Quay on a leak outside their shop: “they had grown so frustrated they were now chalking the number of days on the pavement since the leak appeared. ‘It’s still there. We are counting the days now. We’re on day 27.’ Perkins said the leak had grown since it first appeared. ‘Compared to what it was when it was just a little leak, it’s massive now.’ The council had been called many times but was reportedly unable to repair the leak as it was still searching for plans.”
8) Police should be wearing body cameras according to today’s NZ Herald editorial – see: Editorial: Use of force on Māori suspects a grey area for law enforcement but body cameras would clear the picture (paywalled)
The newspaper makes the case that cameras would help clarify and counter problems of racial bias in how police patrol: “Body cameras would prove whether the use of pain to subdue suspects – Māori and non-Māori – was the right call and because the officer had no other options. Police use discretion when they discharge tasers and firearms. Having body cameras would protect those being arrested and those making the arrest. The Police Association is in favour because it sees this as a fairer option than a one-sided arrest filmed on a cell phone.”
9) The new Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is trying to find ways to speed up the court processes. Derek Cheng has interviewed him about one of the options. Goldsmith says that encouraging earlier guilty pleas from defendants is being looked at: “One of the suggestions put to me is the rule of thumb that you get a 25 per cent discount for pleading guilty, even if it’s the night before [trial]… There’s a good argument to say maybe you might get that 25 per cent if you plead guilty early in the case, but if it’s the night before, it might be something less than 25 per cent. That would require legislative change” – see: Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith on reducing court delays as Government key priority (paywalled)
10) In terms of youth crime, Ric Stevens has put together an important account of the latest research and statistics. Here’s the summary: “Most New Zealanders believe youth crime is getting worse. Statistics and research shows the opposite is true. The generations born since the 1990s are coming before the courts less often, and there has been a big drop in the numbers going to prison” – see: Youth crime and justice: Court and prison less likely for new generations of youth.
Dr Bryce Edwards
Political Analyst in Residence, Democracy Project, School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington
NZ Politics Daily - 11 January 2024
Paid subscribers can access the full “NZ Politics Daily” from here. The following categories of news and analysis continue: GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN SHOPLIFTING ALLEGATIONS, PARLIAMENT; WAIKATO TAINUI TAKES GOVT TO COURT, TE REO MĀORI; FOREIGN AFFAIRS; WELLINGTON WATER; JUSTICE, CORRECTIONS, CRIME; ECONOMY; EMPLOYMENT; TRANSPORT; HOUSING; ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION