The disability community deserve better. The Minister knew about funding issues at Whaikaha last December, didn’t do anything, and then signed off on changes to funding that would hurt people with disabilities and their carers.

It’s disgraceful and she should go.

On becoming govt National scrapped 20 hours free early childhood education for 2 year olds. This week they announced a rebate for ECE that costs $500m less, in other words, they are boasting about a $500million cut to early childhood education funding.

Nicola Willis was scathing when the previous govt adjusted the spending allowance in the Budget. Her solution seems to be to just not set a spending allowance in the first place! It’s easy to see she can’t make the numbers add up. The govts promises are unaffordable.

Using year to Dec figures net migration to NZ under Labour was 135,844 and under the Labour/NZ First govt it was 158,999. Blaming migrants for NZ's current economic challenges is wrong. Migrants work hard and contribute hugely to our economic prosperity. We should thank them!

They are threatening to cut funding for school lunches for hungry kids yet somehow Christopher Luxon’s National government found the money to make a handful of mega landlords tax cut millionaires. Their priorities are simply wrong!

Labour’s first 𝟏𝟎𝟎 days of 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 vs National’s 𝟏𝟎𝟎 days of taking New Zealand 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬.

Very sad to hear of the passing of Rt Hon Jonathan Hunt, former MP, Minister, Speaker, diplomat and lifelong Labour Party member and supporter. Jonathan devoted his life to public service and made a huge contribution. My thoughts are with his family.

A healthy democracy relies on a healthy “fourth estate”. Today’s cuts at TVNZ hot in the heels of Newshub’s imminent demise are another hammer blow. It’s time for the government to show real leadership. Kiwi citizens need and deserve better than this.

The government’s claim we “can’t afford” to continue with the free and healthy school lunches programme rings a bit hollow given their decision to prioritize tax breaks for mega landlords. School lunches are affordable, the National govt is choosing to prioritise other things.

Christopher Luxon is treating hard-working Kiwis like his personal ATM. Premier House needs some work, but he could still live there at no additional cost to the taxpayer. He chooses not to and instead claim an extra $1,000 a week to live in his own house. It’s a rort.

The solution to the demise of Newshub can’t be to starve the one remaining TV news broadcaster of funding as David Seymour seems to be suggesting. That would be a double blow for democracy. A well-resourced, independent, diversified media is vital to a free and open society!

Great to spend time in person with my counterparts from around the world. It’s important New Zealand works with other like-minded countries to support our shared interests and build our economy through trade of goods and services.

🇳🇿🇫🇷🇱🇹🇯🇵🇦🇺🇩🇪🇳🇴🇰🇷🇳🇱🇺🇦🇨🇦🇸🇪🇪🇪🇩🇰🇺🇸🇬🇧🇧🇪

Auckland - Avoid non-essential travel today. Stay home if you can. If you do have to travel, drive to the conditions and never drive through floodwaters. If you come to a flooded area, turn around and go another way. Put safety first. Don’t take any chances.

⚠️ #UPDATE : I’m on the ground at St Leonard’s School evac centre. AKL Emergency Management are here making assessment of needs & helping provide a safe + dry place for people to shelter. MSD’s 0800 num will be activated at 7am in the morning. (0800-400-100)

The Beehive Bunker is being stood up to help with coordination of the emergency response in Auckland. I’ve asked for the frequency of public updates to be increased as soon as possible.

⚠️ #AucklandFloods : Significant flooding is impacting parts of Tāmaki Makaurau. I’ve just popped down to an evacuation centre which has been set up at St Leonard’s School, 15 Saint Leonards Road, Kelston.