Jess Vandy

It's called the silly season, not the stupid season. Merry Christmas

Today marks 156 years since the New Zealand ensign was proclaimed, two years later the design was updated with the stars of the Southern Cross and the New Zealand Flag was born!

𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 ACT Leader David Seymour is welcoming moves to roll back mandatory climate reporting requirements for most companies, and says ACT will campaign to go further. "We were right then, and we’re right now. ACT alone opposed this regime from day one. We voted alone against the law in 2021. We oppose every attempt to force ideological accounting rules onto businesses who just want to get on with serving their customers and rewarding their workers," says Mr Seymour. “People are rightly concerned about high costs. Kiwis cannot afford Climate Related Disclosures that add cost without getting environmental results. Businesses already want to emit less, to avoid Emissions Trading Scheme costs. The paperwork was just virtue signalling. It’s another thing we’re fixing because the cost of living matters to New Zealanders. "Labour wanted to turn every business into a climate activist. The result was higher compliance costs, fear of being ‘debanked’, and pressure on companies to play politics instead of growing wealth, hiring workers, and serving customers. "Today’s announcement will save time and money for many businesses. That's good news for customers too. New Zealand doesn’t need another spreadsheet, we need capital flowing to the best ideas, not the best climate disclosures. “This is yet another move reflecting ACT’s principled leadership. In recent times we’ve seen the Government reverse Earthquake Legislation and Zero Carbon Act targets. In these cases ACT voted alone against the entire Parliament, only to be proven right years later. In the case of the Oil and Gas Ban, only ACT and National opposed the ban, now there is a majority to reverse it. "We wholeheartedly support this Government action, but we believe it could go further. Large entities like banks are still subject to this regime. That means lending decisions are influenced by climate checklists and not simply risk and return. ACT will be campaigning to get rid of this rubbish for all entities, including banks and insurers."

BREAKING: Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, Grant Robertson, and Ayesha Verrall have refused the request to appear in public hearings before the Royal Commission COVID inquiry.

Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, Grant Roberston, and Ayesha Verrall have all colluded and decided to decline to give evidence at the COVID-19 Royal Commission public hearings. The ‘Podium of Truth’ has become the ‘Podium of Evasion’. These former ministers do not want to sit in a public hearing and answer the hard questions that every New Zealander deserves to know. If ever there was a definition for “a different kind of ‘abuse of’ power” this is it. New Zealand First demanded a second inquiry to ensure there was public accountability for the decisions made during the pandemic. These former Labour ministers are undermining the entire action and purpose of the inquiry to avoid public scrutiny. The Royal Commission has stated today that “the COVID-19 pandemic was a significant event that affected every New Zealander…we remain of the view that the public being able to see former ministers questioned about those decisions at a public hearing of a Royal Commission of Inquiry would significantly enhance public confidence in our process.” Those former Labour Ministers have shown they care nothing about public confidence, and worse, are treating the entire public with distain and contempt. The Royal Commission has stated that the refusal of former ministers, in this case, to attend the public hearing is a refusal to answer questions in a public hearing. Those former ministers were at the heart of decisions that affected hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders. Cost livelihoods, careers, businesses, connection with families, and had a disastrous effect on the economy and future of our country – yet they refuse to be held to account. The public deserve an answer about why they are refusing to be held publicly to account.

ANNOUNCED TODAY: Ratepayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for climate activism, and ACT councillors will put a stop to it. 🟡No local emissions reduction plans 🟡No ‘climate emergency’ declarations 🟡No ratepayer-funded climate junkets 🟡No emissions reduction slush funds 🟡Emissions disregarded in all consenting and land use decisions 🟡Spending based on value for money, not carbon 🟡Continued improvement of infrastructure like stormwater and stopbanks In the coming days, ACT Local will begin announcing candidates for October's elections. We will cut waste, keep rates down, and focus on delivering the services that matter – like roads, rubbish, and infrastructure.

Labour are lying. Let’s set the facts straight.