NZ Politics

New baby formula standards were designed to prioritise infant nutrition and take the pressure off parents. But for formula companies, profits were at stake. And that's when the lobbying kicked in.

Concerns about misleading marketing claims on the tins was one of the reasons public health experts from New Zealand and Australia spent the past decade writing a set of regulations that would prioritise infant nutrition above all other interests.

Over 11 years, officials commissioned 36 public reports, five consumer studies and 40 stakeholder workshops, and wrote draft after draft. The regulations were all but signed and due to be implemented this year.

But in August, the government opted out of the trans-Tasman proposal last-minute, citing costs to exporters. While Australia will implement the new standards in 2030, New Zealand now intends to develop its own.

This RNZ investigation uses background interviews with industry insiders, officials and experts as well as documents obtained under the Official Information Act to show how the formula industry lobbied the government to put private profit before public health, and won.

So, uhh, has the word "bussy" ever meant something other than "boy pussy", I.E ass?

According to screenshots posted to social media, the account posted a photo of Doyle and a child with the caption: “bussy galore”.

What were they thinking?

But it also created public sector boards (or “joint ventures”) where chief executives from various agencies meet and discuss issues and provide advice to a single Government minister.

If it sounds a bit wishy-washy that’s because it clearly is. Its stated goal was to tackle major underlying problems facing the country. How’s that working out for us?

I get that this is a right wing columnist and he’s paid to be anti, but come on. Companies always decry silos and that’s exactly what this was set up to overcome when dealing with “wicked” problems, of which NZ has many.

Beneficiaries sanctioned with money management cards will often be unable to pay rent, government data shows, putting them at risk of homelessness.

The sanction for non-complying Jobseekers would lock half their benefit into payment cards that cannot be spent on rent - but official statistics from MSD show the average beneficiary is already spending more than 53 percent of their income on housing costs.

MSD confirmed to RNZ the cards - being introduced from 26 May - would see beneficiaries' Jobseeker payments split, with half going onto a payment card unable to be used on rent.

"The Money Management card will be able to be used at grocery, transport, healthcare (including prescriptions) and education suppliers ... [it] cannot be used on other expenses such as rent or utilities," general manager income Shannon Soughtton said.

We have to fight this every step of the way or we too are going to lose our democracy.

Outright theft.

Winston and Seymour are in competition to see which one can be the Trump of NZ.

Across the ditch, her risk of “inciting discord” was deemed too great to allow her into Australia. But in Aotearoa, ministerial discretion was used to overturn the rejection of Candace Owens’ visa application, with the right to practise free speech – hers considered by many to be antisemitic, transphobic, racist and extremist – considered to outweigh considerations of her being an excluded person.

So how did it happen? Documents released under the Official Information Act reveal the process that led to associate immigration minister Chris Penk overturning Immigration NZ’s decision to deny Owens a visa to visit New Zealand for a speaking event, after the Free Speech Union went in to bat for the controversial conservative American commentator.

Owens – named as the person who influenced the Christchurch shooter “above all” in his own manifesto – will deliver a speech at Auckland’s Trusts Arena next January (if you haven’t already grabbed a ticket, sales have been paused). She was due to host her first-ever live event on New Zealand’s shores in late 2024, but a decision on her Australian visa by that country’s immigration minister Tony Burke had a ripple effect across the Tasman.

This wasn't a crime before?

God I wish he'd stop saying woke every sentence. He sounds like a complete and utter fool.

Also, great seeing him on the back foot like this.

This government's embrace of Trumpism should be worrying for all of us.

Look at what Trump is doing to the US, that's our future if NZF, ACT and National have their way.

Some interesting parts that caught my eye:

1. If the hearings are a good indicator of overall submissions, most submitters oppose this bill.

17. Most of us can generally agree that the principles laid out in the Treaty principles bill do not accurately reflect what was written in the Treaty or te Tiriti, or the likely intention of those signing it.

31. Just because it’s your bill, doesn’t mean you have to show up – Act Party Justice Committee members were no-shows for most of the subcommittee hearings into the Treaty principles bill.

34. Being on the conservative side of politics doesn’t necessarily mean this bill will appeal to you, as displayed by submissions in opposition from Chris Finlayson and Dame Jenny Shipley.

37. Media interest in these things can wane pretty quickly. On the first day of hearings, essentially every media outlet was in Room 3. In the final week, only Whakaata Māori and The Spinoff remained.

Given that it's extremely rare to have a single term government in NZ, to be polling behind the opposition not even half way through your term is a dramatic swing in public opinion.

Control over the media was the most important factor in moving the USA to oligarchy and Trumpism.

We are well on the road to that destination, this is just a boost of speed.

Winston as usual showing his true colours. Why the hell should we follow the US?

Is it really a dismissal level event? I mean, everyone sees how the world is turning....he just said it out loud.

I guess he is our Murdoch now.