The case for not ditching our vodka (as a gesture to admonish Putin) is that we might need it when Three Waters are flowing

 

Motivated by the Parliamentary consensus which resulted in the passage of historic sanctions legislation in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine, Point of Order has tipped out its Stolichnaya Vodka. 

Whether we should also burn the copy of The Brothers Karamazov that sits in the office book shelf is still under discussion at the PoO board table. 

Tipping out the vodka wasn’t an easy decision.  We risked doing something that would find favour with Nanaia Mahuta, whose smiles of approval we would prefer to avoid because the Three Waters programme she is dogmatically promoting is anathema to all members of the team. 

By our reckoning, the vodka is precious because it could well turn out to be cheaper than the water that flows through our taps after she has rammed her highly unpopular reforms into law.

Regardless of any price considerations (we further reasoned), we will need a stiff snifter or two for medicinal purposes to treat our depression after she has seriously watered down the country’s democratic arrangements with her co-governance plans. 

We were won over by the sentiments expressed in her press statement and by other MPs during the parliamentary debate on the new law.

The Minister of Finance’s tax promise has not been broken (really?) if nobody but him promised it, the PM is saying

Let’s see.  The government is denying it has broken a promise with the housing package it announced today while the Corrections Minister is apologising for the bad treatment of women – some say it was torture – in the prisons for which he is responsible while his colleague, Nanaia Mahuta, is rebuking China for its human rights performance. In other announcements,

• The Government has extended support to the aviation sector until the end of October to help keep the country connected with its trade partners and maintain international passenger services;
• Maori Development Minister Willie Jackson paid tribute to Annie Aranui, describing her as “a servant to the people” whose “selfless dedication to Tairāwhiti and the Hawke’s Bay community will be sorely missed”;
• Arts and Culture Minister posted a speech she delivered at an NZ Opera  performance of  Ihitai ‘Avei’a – Star Navigator, which explores Pacific navigation and the coming together of Polynesian and European peoples.

The big news of the day was the Government’s housing package to support first-home buyers.