Frank Newman: Straight Talk - Hamilton or Kirikiriroa?

National MP Todd Muller is showing his true worth as a leader of the Party. In a speech at the Te Puna Rugby Club on the weekend he has added his thoughts to the debate about the removal of the Captain Hamilton statue. 

That statue of course was removed at the initiative of Hamilton's first term Mayor, Paula Southgate, after a Maori sovereignty activist threatened to deface it. Presumably the Black Lives Matter protests presented the perfect opportunity for him to do so again, having already defaced it in 2018.

Here's what Mr Muller is reported to have said: "It's not for a leader of a political party to say what statue goes or stays…One of the strengths of our country is we are able to have the capacity for conversations like this."

Great to have that cleared up!

Frank Newman: Straight Talk: It's getting ridiculous

Things are now getting ridiculous. It's time for She-Who-Shall-Be-Obeyed to look beyond her own stage performance and remove all COVID-19 restrictions that apply to internal work and travel.

There is only one case in New Zealand. One case!

Many people are being more sensible than the Prime Minister and behaving as though no restrictions exist. Unfortunately, there are still quite a lot of dimwits who need politicians to do their thinking for them. These are the people that scream "social distancing" when a shopping trolley passes within spittle distance. And then there are the businesses that must behave according to the government's definition of "responsible" because if they don't they will get dobbed in by the busy-bodies and end up with Mr Plod knocking on their door.  

Frank Newman: Straight Talk - Muller and Kaye

Muller and Kaye. That was the choice. It was the wrong choice in my view. 

That's not to say Muller does not have positives, and I have to say his "maiden" speech as National's leader hit the right notes and his personality showed signs of life, which is encouraging. That speech promised a strategy that targeted Labour's weaknesses. It's not rocket science but something National has not done well of late. 

Muller acknowledged Labour's strengths (Ardern and Robertson primarily) which portrayed a sense of realism and it avoided picking an argument with those who think Arden in particular has done a good job during the crisis, which is most people. The strategy will instead focus on the many weak-links in the Labour line-up and focus on their track record of promising big and delivering little.

Frank Newman: Straight Talk - National is its own worst enemy

Labour's cleverly orchestrated campaign to undermine National's leadership is now gaining traction within the National caucus. 

A challenge to the leadership of Simon Bridges will be held on Friday (22 May).  

That campaign went up a notch today when former National Prime Minister Jim Bolger publicly backed Todd Muller to replace Simon Bridges. It was a direct swipe at Judith Collins, the other frontrunner for the top job.

Frank Newman: Straight talk - Oh dear: Deborah Russell

Deborah Russell is the Labour MP for New Lynn. She is apparently, a tax expert and a well respected academic - respected by whom is not clear. 

These things she may be, but based on her comments about the collapse of small businesses she does not seem to have much comprehension of what it’s like to run a business and nor does she seem to have much empathy with people who actually contribute the wealth that she and her colleagues consume.

Frank Newman: Straight Talk - Uber Eats

Uber Eats describes itself as a food delivery platform, but its more than that. It’s also a sales platform and that's the attraction for food outlets - it's a source of new business that they would not otherwise gain.

Of course it comes at a cost: between 30% and 35% of the sale value. That cost has come under attack from the Restaurant Association NZ.

In a press release, it's Chief Executive Officer, Marisa Bidois, called on the government to "enforce a cap on commission rates for third party delivery apps." Their headline refers to Uber who they said was "taking the shirt off the industry’s back".

Frank Newman: Straight Talk - The good news and the bad news

The good news and the bad news.

The good news first. The latest round of relief for business was announced on the 14th of April.  There are a number of measures but two points are significant:

Frank Newman: Straight Talk - The Green's black hole

The Greens want to spend $9 billion on a "high-spec" intercity commuter rail network between Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. See Press release >>>

Frank Newman: Dear David

19 April 2020

David Seymour
Leader, ACT NZ
Parliament Buildings
Wellington

Dear David

Congratulations on drafting legislation to extend the Ministerial and public sector chief executive pay cuts announced by the Prime Minister to all MPs.  (See press release >>>)

I agree with your sentiments when you say, "New Zealanders are making extraordinary sacrifices right now. It is only fair that all MPs show solidarity and make them too.”

I am writing this open letter to you to request that the draft legislation be amended to include those who have their remuneration set by the Remuneration Authority and local government elected officials in particular.

Frank Newman: Straight talk - Dumb idea of the day

Congratulations to Dr Simon Chapple , Director of the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies in the School of Government at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, and recipient of the dumb-idea-of-the-day Award. The day is not over yet so at this stage the award is provisional.

Here's his idea.

Frank Newman: Straight talk - Cafes and restaurants buggered

Our Supreme Leader and She-Who-Shall-be-Obeyed has outlined how we shall behave under Lockdown Level 3. For most it will be back to business with sensible precautions, but not for all. Astoundingly, restaurants and cafes will remain closed. Diplomacy aside, that's a stupid decision.

For many café and restaurant owners it will extinguish what was a light at the end of the tunnel. Those that have been hanging on in hope will now have to accept their business in buggered. They will put up the "Closed for Good" sign, sack the staff, and let the landlord know they now have a vacant building.

Frank Newman: Straight Talk - Dump the RMA

If the government wants to get New Zealand working it should get rid of the Resource Management Act (RMA). Even one of its architects, Geoffrey Palmer, has said it's broken. It is, and has been for quite some time, which is why it's so frustrating that the problem has been allowed to persist for so long, more so because National's tinkering during its last term made it worse not better.

The RMA started out with great intentions. 

Frank Newman: Straight Talk - a Foreigner's Insight

Sometimes the obvious just needs to be stated, and sometimes it takes a foreigner to say it.

Stuff reports on an article appearing in the Bristol Post about a UK man and his wife Mike and Yvonne Rowland, holed up in a dinky hotel room in Auckland - see HERE.