Buzz from the Beehive
The news media made much of the ministerial statement which was announced just after Point of Order monitored the Beehive website yesterday.
The press statement from Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Associate Health Minister David Seymour was somewhat imprecise in announcing the government’s deliverance of “up to 26 cancer treatments” as part of an overall package of “up to 54 more new medicines”.
Essentially, Pharmac will receive a $604 million funding boost for medicines over four years, funded from the 2025 Budget with a Government promise it will find the money before then.
“This investment delivers on the National and New Zealand First Coalition Agreement to increase funding for Pharmac every year, Reti said.
“It also follows our record $16.68 billion for Vote Health in Budget 2024.”
But let’s face it – the handling of this initiative has been an inglorious cock-up.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins – while welcoming the new funding for cancer treatments – accordingly insisted the prime minister should apologise for the “anguish” and distress cancer sufferers faced while waiting for the announcement.
Any chance of that?
Nope. Christopher Luxon said the focus should be on the announcement and how it will positively affect about 175,000 patients’ lives, crowing that it’s an “infinitely, much deeper, much richer package” than what was promised in the election campaign.
“That’s pretty exciting.”
But Luxon admitted the Government “could have explained it better and Reti acknowledged Government communications around the issue could have been clearer.
Some media reports suggested cancer patients nevertheless were more focused on the funding than on the lack of an apology:
- NZ Herald: Pharmac ‘on notice’ as cancer patient advocates welcome ‘incredible’ medicines spend
- Stuff: ‘Out of the chaos comes good’: $604m cancer funding boost welcomed
- Newshub: Cancer U-turn: Coalition mends National’s broken promise with 54 new drugs funded
Today’s flow of announcements from the Beehive contained more law-and-order toughening. The Government has introduced a Bill today to restore the Three Strikes sentencing law,
We learn of a Government commitment with the Bank of New Zealand to invest an additional $8 million towards AgriZeroNZ to boost New Zealand’s efforts to reduce agricultural emissions.
And Maori Development Minister Tama Potaka – under the influence of the aura Puanga and the rise of Matariki – popped up to outline his priorities and key government actions “for strengthening Māori success”.
The aura Puanga had a powerful impact: Potaka was driven to produce a declaration of some 3300 words, suggesting he aspires to stand for election in one of the seats held by the Maori Party at the next election.
Over the last few months, I have seen and participated in many rich Māori experiences like:
- Te Tai Tokerau Iwi and Raukokore whānau proudly showing me dams that will unlock Māori land.
- The investiture of Tā Herewini Parata – great day. Great man. Great iwi. I’m glad we can reconvene that hui today.
- Mōkai Pātea – the people of the stars carrying out Te Maru o te Tau rituals at a place called Awarua Te Riu o Puanga; and
- Bluffies hosting me at the Ocean Beach freezing works where enterprises are growing asparagopsis seaweed, pāua, and whitebait and making gin.
These experiences and others motivate me to stand for:
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Te reo and tikanga;
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Tiriti/Treaty futures;
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Enhanced taiao outcomes;
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Improvement Māori social achievement;
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Unleashing of Māori economic development; and
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Recalibration of housing.
Māori rituals set this country apart from others, he enthused.
Puanga and Matariki tikanga are reincarnating en masse. Hautapu is now a national event – taking place this Friday with Ngāi Tahu on Kā Papa Toitoi – Treble Cone. Tapareireia koia tapa!
Astrological sentinels such as Dr Ruakere Hond and Rangi Mātāmua ONZM are inspiring thousands of New Zealanders daily. By Māori – for Māori – for everyone is something that our culture ignites.
That’s a fascinating observation from one of Luxon’s ministers, invoking the mystique of astrology
… type of divination that involves the forecasting of earthly and human events through the observation and interpretation of the fixed stars, the Sun, the Moon, and the planets. Devotees believe that an understanding of the influence of the planets and stars on earthly affairs allows them to both predict and affect the destinies of individuals, groups, and nations. Though often regarded as a science throughout its history, astrology is widely considered today to be diametrically opposed to the findings and theories of modern Western science.
Maybe Potaka should have persuaded the government to consult a good astrologer before they blundered into presenting a Budget that failed to deliver the cancer drugs promise.
He concluded:
My promise to you as it was to my uncles and aunties, parents, my wife Ariana and our tamariki, is to be the best Māori and New Zealander I can be and work smarter and harder for you and our country.
Did Winston Peters or Shane Jones ever express an ambition like that?
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Tena koutou. Ki nga kaumatua, ki nga whanau, ka maumahara tonu tatou ki a ratou.
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New support for agricultural emissions reduction
The Government and the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) are together committing an additional $8 million towards AgriZeroNZ to boost New Zealand’s efforts to reduce agricultural emissions.
Government actions strengthening Māori success
Under the aura Puanga and the rise of Matariki, I want to outline my priorities and key government actions for strengthening Māori success.
24 JUNE 2024
Transformative investment in cancer treatments and more new medicines
The coalition Government is delivering up to 26 cancer treatments as part of an overall package of up to 54 more new medicines.
Point of Order 