Daman

Earlier this year, Minister of Justice Paul Goldsmith changed the electoral rules, ending the democratic right of voters to enrol up to election day. Enrolment now ends 13 days before election day, this year on 25 October. Both the Ministry of Justice and Electoral Commission advised that the restriction was counter-democratic and could undermine the participation of young people, Māori, Pacific, and Asian groups. A report from the office of Attorney-General Judith Collins said that the change breached the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. Goldsmith claimed that this would speed up and prevent delays in vote processing. The Electoral Commission said the changes would make no such difference. The reality? Goldsmith has imposed restrictions on late voting, special votes, and the brown vote, which always favour the left, to help the unpopular coalition government win the election. Latest Electoral Commission monthly data reveals that Māori-led enrolment campaigns have overcome Goldsmith’s ploy in the Māori electorates. The Māori roll has set another record high. The increase in the roll is the highest since the first MMP election in 1996. Changes between the Māori and general roll under the Māori Option favour the Māori roll 3-to-1. New enrolments on the Māori roll are double those for the general roll. Overseas enrolments in the Māori electorates have doubled since 2023. Enrolments on the Māori roll outnumber those on the general roll in every age group except over 70-yrs. A comparison of Māori enrolments between age groups on the Māori and general rolls and with earlier elections confirms that the Māori electorates have defeated the Goldsmith gambit. drrawiritaonui.substack.com/…

Youth unemployment at 25.3% is the highest in 30 years. The median wage is $62,000. A youth benefit is about $15,000. If parents who earn just $67,000 are to suppport their unemployed child then their income will drop 16.1% below the median wage. Meanwhile the wealthiest income earners in Aotearoa are paying less than half the tax of middle income earners. Way to go National, Act and NZ First. rnz.co.nz/news/politics/2302…