How is your govt running your country.

[Kiwifruit]

As l have varied interests similar to so many covered on the forum. The bike and motorcycling is a given.
Many on here make comment regarding the PC world into which we are thrust. Our present govt in NZ have stopped any oil and gas exploration in the name of climate change, yet have little regard for those relying on that industry for their employment and income.
They promote greater gender diversity. A company told a female job applicant they had chosen a man for the job because he was stronger and heavy lifting is involved. Its now front page news as she's now decided to have been descriminated against.
Our Prime Minister wishes to take refugees from Manus Island that Australia wants to be rid of. Along with this our govt wishes to double our refugee intake. They get every assistance while so many genuine Kiwis in need go without.
Infrastructure is overloaded, there is a shortage of housing. Migration has put pressure on the demand for housing forcing up property prices. First home buyers are faced with having to service massive mortgages if they want to get on the property ladder.
Don't get me wrong NZ is a great place to live and a wonderful place to visit.
What l don't understand is that we seem unable to learn from the mistakes that have been made by other countries as they lose their national identity through large scale migration.
A Chinese businessman recently donated $100,000 to an opposition political party. It was suggested that he wished to recommend a candidate. It appears the donation was made in many small donations so as to make the donation non declarable and therefore invisible.
To put your head up and oppose, or have a differing view from the PC politicians is likely to get you called a racist or homophobic.......  Certainly not sensible.
So Mark l assure you, you are not alone.

[KiwiCol]

FYI, Akl fuel is still cheaper with the added tax than ours is down here. Just over $2.50 a litre for 95.   It's madness, if you can get fuel at $2.18 or $2.20 a litre, you think you're doing well, until you remember it was just a short time ago it was under $2.00!  We're all being milked & screwed over.

[RossP]

Our government is totally screwed, has been for years.

Too much immigration, bringing in thousands to go on the dole and stay there.

I have been to the Government dentist for treatment twice in the last month.

There were 34 people in the waiting room on my first visit, there were only 2 Aussies.

There were 37 people in the waiting room on my second visit, there were only 4 Aussies.

Bloody joke, all immigrants over the last 15 years should be sent back to wherever they came from.

[Tug]

Any complaints are racist now or discrimination, my son in law has a young lady as an apprentice, the job entails lifting 25kg valves in place, but she can't by law lift a 25kg weight, how the f**K can you be given a job which you will never be able to do.

The world has gone nuts     

[Batkwaka]

You get what you vote for, don't forget the Parlaiment is not Govt, we the people govern through our representatives in Parliament. The common problem I find is everybody wants a majority government that end up blocking debate and forcing through unacceptable legislation regardless of which political spectrum the evolve from. Vote for independents and you will find the two (usually 2) majority Parties will have to start working for the common interest instead of Political Party Interests.
For me this like the complaints about millenials, we we created them so we reap what we sow. Same as Politics.

[Kiwifruit]

Batty we have got a govt cobbled together from the 3 losing parties. Joined together they just pipped the single most popular party. The party that got 7% of the vote is now the most powerful as the govt was decided by which way they jumped.
If there were an election tomorrow l would be hard pressed to find someone competent to vote for.

[owen426]

Bloody joke, all immigrants over the last 15 years should be sent back to wherever they came from.

What happened 16 years ago? 

[Batkwaka]

We have a Govt formed of two losing parties, the Liberals and the Nationals called a Coalition Government, now a minority again because of in fighting & backstabbing. The benefit of your situation is if one the three small parties deals with the with the fourth they can stop policy being implemented, they would have to be democratic about it. A Majority Govt just sell you off to companies like Adani with your only hope of sanity coming from the senate (except in Qld). The worst times comes when these Parties control Both Houses of Parliament and then watch corruption reign unfettered.
I did read once the problem with modern politics is they are all Lawyers and Accountants, when we need architects, Engineers and other competent people that know what they are talking about. A classic example is the NBN shambles here in Australia because Malcolm Turnbull the accountant was put in charge of infrastructure and had no idea what he was doing, just what the initial price tag would be IF the plans followed his fantasy.

[Tony Nitrous]

Australia need migrants. What it needs are skilled, hard working migrants not free loaders and dole bludgers, Australia has shown it is quite capable of breeding plenty of those.

Migrants who go through the right channels have skills, money, health, education, police checks, and are a benefit to the country, unlike many who were born here.
The biggest joke are the "Fuck off we're full" bumper stickers, normally on vehicles driven by folk that couldn't get into Australia if they were born elsewhere, and don't realise how the migrant population keeps their country running and will be supporting them in old age and their dole bludging relatives.

We (Australians) have a growing elderly population and the current birthrate and young folk aren't in proportion to support this. The population really isn't the issue in Australia, the lack of infrastructure and work ethics is an issue. The population NEEDS to grow, but it needs to be managed and done correctly.

We should allow in skilled migrants that benefit the country.
We should take asylum seekers, GENUINE ones for who it's a mater of life and death, NOT everyone with a bullshit story who fancy's moving here.
We should also looking at the benefits we give to out own lazy meth heads.

40 years in the UK, 14 years in AU, regular visits back to the UK and trips to many other countries. Do we have a great government in AU? No, but there's a lot worse and much as I shake my head at those in power I'd still rather live here than the UK or anywhere else.

We need more Bob Katter / Dick Smith's types running the place and less corrupt union supporters and those that frequently back stab their own leaders. 

[Tony Nitrous]

If I ever question living in Australia and how it's managed, I spend some time in the UK.  It never fails to make me put the UK passport away and proudly hold up my AU one and be glad to come back here.

[MarkN]

Seems like I poked a bear with this!

Strange how most of the comments are of a similar vein. We all appear to be patriotic for our respective countries and I am sure I'm not alone in thinking that things have gone to the dogs in recent years. Politicians are too busy looking after themselves and ensuring their own futures, in my opinion, than representing the folks who voted for them. "Brexit" is an example, whether you voted for it or not the majority did and that's how a democracy works, but you would be forgiven for thinking, courtesy of the media, fashionable comedians and certain politicians, that this is not the case. Cowardly Cameron did one when things didn't go his way leaving Mrs May to pick up the pieces... although I don't particularly like her either. I also agree with the comment about not knowing who to vote for next time...same over here

PC has ruined the world by the sounds of it and until someone grows a spine and tells all these pricks to fuck off things won't improve - but I don't see that happening in my lifetime.

[shanered6]

Im not going in to a big speech about the uk goverment !!...... but to answer the question .... THERE A BLOODY SHAMBLES 
We voted out now lets just bloody leave !!!

[Tony Nitrous]

Our PM got stabbed in the back by his own party.

When he lost power he said "enoughs enough, I'm off on Holiday"

His party then got the shits because he didn't defend his own seat or support another member who stood for it.  This WAS important as they govern with barely enough seats.

The dick heads did the dirty on him and cried when he didn't support them afterwards.... 

They are only in because the opposition is useless and supports corruption or they would have been out ages a go.




Bexit ? Have fun with that one! 

[Tony Nitrous]

I plan on being some recluse / hermit / doomsday prepper / self sufficient / miserable old bastard and politicians and the rest of society can all go to hell.

[MarkN]

If I ever question living in Australia and how it's managed, I spend some time in the UK.  It never fails to make me put the UK passport away and proudly hold up my AU one and be glad to come back here.

We looked at joining you about ten years ago but we were both too old to be considered for employment  I love my country but hate what's happening to it