Been on the side line of politics.. well bit of a dabble in my early to mid days to be honest.. a little for a good 50yrs now.
Both the left and right, which to be one or the othe in NZ is an impossibility..
EG.. in spite of muldoons "red under the beds" NZ was far more socialist and controlled in those days than any other time in our history.

Dave:
I can not remember when I last read as many thoughtful considered posts without any nastiness or name calling.

Yeah.. lot different intelligent thoughts etc and  civilised debate.
When that happens it seems we actually think thru these things rather than try to drop a ton of bricks on someones head or gang up..
Old saying.. "Violence (insults put downs etc) is when one runs out of intelligence"
that says a lot about the ppl now here.

cirrus wrote: So the elite will drive in their state (taxpayer) funded  tesla,while the rest will pay huge tax to drive petrol.

What a funny thread.Gone from being privileged to Disliking Jacinda and her Government and everything in between.Hmm guess its winter so no fishing going on!!

Pcj wrote: What a funny thread.Gone from being privileged to Disliking Jacinda and her Government and everything in between.Hmm guess its winter so no fishing going on!!

Of course, how could it go any other way?
It seems the privilege various posts have laid out is actually shared by all NZers. And now under constant threat from new Covid measures, old race cards being played and socialists policies.

The privilege I live for is simple, free choice and liberty and the least amount of government interference in our lives. Unfortunately the ever growing sectors of society who think governments can fix everything are sadly mistaken and are seemingly prepared to sacrifice everything that worked for generations for ideas that sound good in theory.

Just this week we saw what was said about education as another example. This after implementing a series of policies over the past two decades from no doubt well meaning ministers who have intellectuals in their ears telling them what’s best. Turned out it wasn’t.

whippersnappyr wrote: Kevin.S wrote: cirrus wrote: So the elite will drive in their state (taxpayer) funded  tesla,while the rest will pay huge tax to drive petrol. Only if you get the very bottom of the range of the cheapest model.  The rebates only cover cars costing up to $80k which doesn't go that far at a Tesla dealership. Elites don’t buy entry level model 3 Tesla’s.  For about 30 minutes I wondered whether I should bring forward my planned car upgrade either to A)consider an electric car because receiving money rather than spending it would be a nice change  B) buy the performance vehicle planned ahead of needing to pay an extra tax for it. In the end I decided I should just stick to my plan. I can see owning an electric car in the future but not until there are many fast charging options and I would only want an 800v vehicle and there aren’t that many choices just yet. I will wait and buy my performance car likely have to pay an extra $5k for the privilege. In 5 years time the media will be full of articles about abandoned Nissan Leafs which were imported for a net cost to the owner of about $6k with already dying batteries that now won’t go more than 10km in a single charge.   Such is life.

whippersnappyr wrote: Kevin.S wrote: cirrus wrote: So the elite will drive in their state (taxpayer) funded  tesla,while the rest will pay huge tax to drive petrol. Only if you get the very bottom of the range of the cheapest model.  The rebates only cover cars costing up to $80k which doesn't go that far at a Tesla dealership. Elites don’t buy entry level model 3 Tesla’s.  For about 30 minutes I wondered whether I should bring forward my planned car upgrade either to A)consider an electric car because receiving money rather than spending it would be a nice change  B) buy the performance vehicle planned ahead of needing to pay an extra tax for it. In the end I decided I should just stick to my plan. I can see owning an electric car in the future but not until there are many fast charging options and I would only want an 800v vehicle and there aren’t that many choices just yet. I will wait and buy my performance car likely have to pay an extra $5k for the privilege. In 5 years time the media will be full of articles about abandoned Nissan Leafs which were imported for a net cost to the owner of about $6k with already dying batteries that now won’t go more than 10km in a single charge.   Such is life.

Yep...funny how such a small word can agree with such a big statement.

Anyway , stuff the media BS...
 Here is the actual summary of things

https://www.interest.co.nz/news/110817/how-much-could-you-save-or-pay-buying-newly-imported-car-under-governments-new-feebate

Dont bother with the comments below..seems so many havnt actually thought it thru.

I agree with the principles in the long term of things...
Except we (Government) have to sort serveral things.
1/ A population growth (or stagnant) long term policy and direction. Without this policies will be , after the event , expensive to tax payers, patch ups.. Which is what has been happening for the last few yrs. education , health, environment, water, justice, housing, infrastructure, social engineering etc.
2/ With long term population policy, we can then plan long term energy policies.. wind farms, solar, dump coal and oil fired generation which is huge... and growing ...
 But ATM there is no long term energy production plans, wind farms solar, infrastructure for it.. which will result in more power cuts, freight hold ups,.. just a continuous patch up as events happen till , as what happens socially and economically everything falls in on its self.

We are currently well past the end of the long term planing of the pre 1970s...50yrs ago... putting patch 'fixes' on patch fixes' and what long term plan there has been, has reached its expiry date, in may cases before being built.

Yes think you have a point there.. on the short term.
 Long term (subject to battery disposal and energy supply issues not sorted yet) I think  this is going down the right track, long term.
If a contractor needs a grunty ute to pull cables and gear on a trailer up mountains with no 'tracks' to build/ maintain towers.. Then drive the 600/700kms home...The question of paying the tax doesnt come into it...its just past on.
No choice..as are so other things we now take for granted we pay.
On the other hand if a person.. like me..retired, tow the boat, and can tow a boat 3x times the weight of mine.. buys one then yes I acept I have to bite the bullet.

On the other hand, why the hell (mentioned before) do I have to sort my plastics for recycle when we have the technology to only use recyclable?
Why do I pay the same rates for putting out my rubbish bin once every 3 weeks, when others fill theirs every week?
Why do we have to pays 1000s in resource consents, special water meters etc if we save water by using rain water in the toilet?
We recycle ALL our food, organic, garden/tree clippings by composting have for 1/2 century..so why do we get charged same as those who dont give a stuff?
Why did it take several yrs to bag supermarket bags and bring back 70+yr old paper technology

OH yeah these doesnt effect our international carbon emissions reputation.... that sucks... like really sucks.

And why is Jacinda suddenly back tracking from the CHCh movie ..about her.. that would have got Tax paper funding..AND release in time for the next election.

Where the hell are the far more honest 'Civil duty' based of yesteryear? Oh yeah they get snowed under, and if rise to the surface, get undermined and dumped on.

NZ NEEDS brave, well long term,  often political suicide, legislation. If we dont...
Unfortunately when we are gone, even before, the finger will point at us...because of who we choose to make these hard calls...
" I can smell the 'carbon emissions and pollution' on our pollies breath"

Whatever happens it appears employment for the reasonably able bodied will be assured if what I just witnessed is the norm.

Muppet wrote: I see the school climate change brigade has been disbanded because it’s too white 😂 Their voices don’t count because they are not priority and not affected as much. How’s the electric car incentive sounding now?

Bizzare. The times they Are a -changin..