If I was prime minister

[C_T_Russell]

(For what it's worth, many of these ideas have been floated to varying degrees from ACT, NZF and National)

I would:
*remove charity status from all cults and that religion alone is not enough reason for charity status, I.e they have to demonstrate they are giving back to the community in some shape or form and not only looking after their own members, most churches/faiths with the exception of a few fundamental denominations already qualify, so no real issue here. If any of their beliefs and practices shun members for leaving or "breaking" their rules then they are automatically disqualified no matter what.
*initiate a referendum (maori only) to review if the maori seats are relevant today in govt, they have largely served their purpose and only a fraction of maori are on the maori roll and many maori are elected on the general roll anyway.
*End co governance
*Shut down the ETS
*Remove all carbon tax
*greatly reduce immigration and only allow critical skilled workers that we are desperate for such as health.
*Ensure the education system is politically neutral
*reopen our mothballed coal mines and begin exports
*open up more mines such as gold, but make them state owned so that more profits stay in NZ
*restart oil exploration and invest into a new smaller refinery in the Taranaki region
*Initiate a referendum on making NZ a republic as declared in the original declaration of independence that NZ had (he whakaputanga)
*initiate a referendum on whether our nuclear free policy is still relevant, I.e would we ban nuclear ships/subs from entering our waters if we need assistance allied countries to defend us in a potential conflict/war? (Aussie is getting nuclear subs that we might need for example)
*build solar farms and make solar on all new home builds mandatory, and introduce legislation that ensures owners get fair unit rates from the power they sell back.
*explore options for a small nuclear modular reactor to be built.
*Diversify our primary sector exports ASAP, we are far too reliant on China.

[harm_less]

What about pot holes, logging slash, hospital waiting lists, nitrate pollution of aquifers, managed retreat of weather event affected dwellings, Auckland traffic congestion, and wool prices, or will you just be addressing the RWNJ focussed issues?

[C_T_Russell]

What about pot holes, logging slash, hospital waiting lists, nitrate pollution of aquifers, managed retreat of weather event affected dwellings, Auckland traffic congestion, and wool prices, or will you just be addressing the RWNJ focussed issues?

Totally would want to address all those issues too, most definitely.
Look at all the potholes under this left govt and lack of roads, we dont have enough roads in this country and they are not future proofed to handle more volume.
Managed retreat is just climate propaganda. Those homes should never have been built in flood zones and in Auckland, those homes were built with no proper drainage or storm water for example.
Much cheaper to address flood mitigation,  stop banks, etc than to buy everyone out.
Wool prices are unfortunately something to deal with unless more products come to the market, thankfully there are startups such as wise wool that featured on country calendar that produce insulation.
Unless farmers start farming merino, then clothing will be a limited market for wool.
But I agree, it's a valuable resource and ir irony is this government wants to penalize sheep farmers when wool is a very sustainable product with far lower carbon impact than synthetic fibre and doesn't make microplastics.

[alpha111]

How do we vote for you?

[C_T_Russell]

How do we vote for you?

I would have to create a new political party first!

[R2x1]

The suicide festival party?

Free and compulsory membership to ALL politicians that haven't revoked at least one law this semester.

[Kenj]

Free beer for the workers?

[R2x1]

Free and compulsory . . .

[Lilith7]

Definitely agree with that first one, & the solar one.

But if I was a benevolent dictator, I'd make teaching empathy in schools throughout all years of schooling compulsory. And add things such as basic parenting (taught by actual parents who've been trained to comunicate well with kids) budgeting, cooking & gardening to be taught by experienced people because teachers have enough to do already.
Teaching & nursing would be far more valued, properly paid & have excellent work conditions.

Any damn fool who wants to be a politician should be prevented from doing so; in the words of Mark Twain:

"The desire to become a politician should be sufficient to warrant being banned from ever doing so for life."


Remove greed based Neo LIberalism from this country forever.

Help farmers to find better ways of farming rather than using chemicals, some of which have been found to be extremely harmful.

Raise taxes (NOT to a punitive level though) & use those to as far as possible, pay for education & health so that its no longer only those able to afford private healthcare who have the means to avoid living in extreme pain.
Ideally, education at all levels would be freely accessible on any subject thoughout a person's entire life - if we were able to do that across the entire world, the differnece it would make to us all would be huge.

[Kenj]

Definitely agree with that first one, & the solar one.

But if I was a benevolent dictator, I'd make teaching empathy in schools throughout all years of schooling compulsory. And add things such as basic parenting (taught by actual parents who've been trained to comunicate well with kids) budgeting, cooking & gardening to be taught by experienced people because teachers have enough to do already.
Teaching & nursing would be far more valued, properly paid & have excellent work conditions.

Any damn fool who wants to be a politician should be prevented from doing so; in the words of Mark Twain:

"The desire to become a politician should be sufficient to warrant being banned from ever doing so for life."


Remove greed based Neo LIberalism from this country forever.

Help farmers to find better ways of farming rather than using chemicals, some of which have been found to be extremely harmful.

Raise taxes (NOT to a punitive level though) & use those to as far as possible, pay for education & health so that its no longer only those able to afford private healthcare who have the means to avoid living in extreme pain.
Ideally, education at all levels would be freely accessible on any subject thoughout a person's entire life - if we were able to do that across the entire world, the differnece it would make to us all would be huge.

Interesting bit on tax there. Without looking it up, I think Denmark has one of the highest tax rates but is compensated by being one of the happiest countries. Sounds OK to me. Problem would be finding the right lot to deal with it.

Lillith7 for Benevolent Dictator!!!    OK?

[Lilith7]

Definitely agree with that first one, & the solar one.

But if I was a benevolent dictator, I'd make teaching empathy in schools throughout all years of schooling compulsory. And add things such as basic parenting (taught by actual parents who've been trained to comunicate well with kids) budgeting, cooking & gardening to be taught by experienced people because teachers have enough to do already.
Teaching & nursing would be far more valued, properly paid & have excellent work conditions.

Any damn fool who wants to be a politician should be prevented from doing so; in the words of Mark Twain:

"The desire to become a politician should be sufficient to warrant being banned from ever doing so for life."


Remove greed based Neo LIberalism from this country forever.

Help farmers to find better ways of farming rather than using chemicals, some of which have been found to be extremely harmful.

Raise taxes (NOT to a punitive level though) & use those to as far as possible, pay for education & health so that its no longer only those able to afford private healthcare who have the means to avoid living in extreme pain.
Ideally, education at all levels would be freely accessible on any subject thoughout a person's entire life - if we were able to do that across the entire world, the differnece it would make to us all would be huge.

Interesting bit on tax there. Without looking it up, I think Denmark has one of the highest tax rates but is compensated by being one of the happiest countries. Sounds OK to me. Problem would be finding the right lot to deal with it.

Lillith7 for Benevolent Dictator!!!    OK?

Nooooo!!! Christonabike! 

The stuff of nightmares, that is.

I swiped the idea from those Nordic countries - their mix of socialism & capitalism seems to work well for them, & we could do worse than to, as fas as possible do likewise.

[Zurdo]

I'd give myself a raise - I deserve it !

[Lilith7]

I'd give myself a raise - I deserve it !

I'll second that for you.

[Zurdo]

Ok, I'll give all of us a raise then ! All part of being Prime Minister.

How about some new cars, we need new cars...I'll have the flash one, and yous others can choose what you like.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Forget it darlings. When I am Queen none of you are getting anywhere near the reins of power.

And no new cars either. You think I'm made of money?

[Lilith7]

Forget it darlings. When I am Queen none of you are getting anywhere near the reins of power.

And no new cars either. You think I'm made of money?

How about everyone gets an Ebike,then? 

I could live with that, as long as I can add pannier bags, basket & carrier.

[Kenj]

Forget it darlings. When I am Queen none of you are getting anywhere near the reins of power.

And no new cars either. You think I'm made of money?

How about everyone gets an Ebike,then? 

I could live with that, as long as I can add pannier bags, basket & carrier.

Nope, I kept falling off mine. Hence the mobility scooter

[Oh_hunnihunni]

If the e bike costs more $1.85, then no, sorry...

Besides dogs hate bikes.

[Kenj]

If the e bike costs more $1.85, then no, sorry...

Besides dogs hate bikes.

The pavement had a fascination for my bike. It used to like having a lie down and a cuppa tea on the ground but never consulted with me when it wanted to do so!

[Lilith7]

How about everyone gets an Ebike,then? 

I could live with that, as long as I can add pannier bags, basket & carrier.

Nope, I kept falling off mine. Hence the mobility scooter

Well then either mobility scooter or ebike.

Or of course, an ever handy broomstick. Complete with cat.