Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 19/7/27

Help (besides prayer) is to be provided for pot and other addicts – and the government is hastening to plug potholes, too

Recent news reports suggest perhaps there is a place for prayers in the New Zealand health system.

In the absence of medical treatment, the karakia which Health New Zealand is encouraging should provide some comfort – in some patients, at least.

Kerre Woodham: There's got to be better ways of managing our mental health services

You will remember there was some alarm in some quarters when the New Zealand Police Service announced they'd be looking to step back from attending calls from people in psychological distress.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 21/3/24

Willis is undeterred by GDP slowdown and IMF advice, although she is talking of “tax relief” rather than tax cuts

One minister is talking tough while a colleague – whose ministry had acted tough and drawn a barrage of flak – has shown an official softening.

Some ministers are doing what Labour was good at, which is distributing public funds to causes regarded as worthy or needy, while another has portended the prospect of a contentious Labour decision – to shut down the Marsden Point oil refinery – being reversed.

Point of Order: Here’s how Ayesha Verrall explained the spending (less than $1m so far).....

..... of $27.45m for crisis mental health services

Health Minister Ayesha Verrall demonstrated she has become a dab hand at ducking being needled at Question Time, when she was pressed to explain what has happened to many millions appropriated for mental health services in last year’s Budget.

In Parliament this week, she was questioned only about one chunk of the funding – a $27.45 million portion – and about why less than $1 million of this has actually been spent on the services it was intended to provide.

National’s Matt Doocey asked her:

Clive Bibby: Curious response to mental Illness campaigner

One thing you learn when entering public debates in the modern era is that you should be prepared for a trashing if you choose to defend people who speak out against those who set the rules that govern our society.

It isn’t hard to work out that the aim is to silence those who have, because of their own life experience, formed an opinion which may differ from the popular narrative.

And, as if to deter any support for these renegades,  you yourself will become subject to similar character assassination simply because you have chosen to bat for the other side.

It becomes a disgraceful exhibition of what happens when journalists have sold their soul to the highest bidder - the popular woke agenda.

The latest example of this trend is the case of one of this country’s most popular rural  mental health campaigners - Doug Avery, who has earned a reputation for helping save the lives of many exhausted kiwis who were pretty close to calling it quits.

Point of Order: Govt highlights benefits for Tauranga in funding deal.....

.....but (in smaller type) beneficiaries learn they must repay the debt

Geography, ethnicity and your occupation will determine the extent to which you might benefit from the latest hamper of goodies to be distributed by the Beehive.

But be warned. Being a beneficiary may result in levies being imposed.