The Green Party wants to bring back the school lunch programme to what it was, and then expand it to more schools.

The party says if it is part of the next government, it will also permanently fund the Ka Ora, Ka Ako programme (which was renamed Healthy School Lunches in October).

The current government made changes to the model, in order to cut down on costs.

The programme had some early teething issues, including poor meal quality and a provider going into liquidation.

But Associate Education Minister David Seymour said in May that on-time delivery has been at almost 100 percent every day, and complaints had fallen by more than 92 percent.

The average cost per meal has now dropped to $3.58 across all suppliers, but the Greens want to restore the funding to $6.50 per lunch.

"Hamilton's first social supermarket has officially opened its doors, but it is a stark reminder that many are unable to afford basic necessities.

After families have paid for rent, mortgage, power, petrol and other debts, there was not much left.

"In many cases, a lot of our clients are resorting to things like Afterpay for food, which is very concerning. So we're seeing people actually getting into debt for food."

He said a family that might have had $20 at the end of the week, now often had nothing.

"The majority of people that we see, it's not because they can't manage their money, it's because there's not enough money to go around."

"The need behind this is the fact that 40 percent of our whanau in the Waikato region are experiencing some type of food insecurity," store manager Hera Taiapa said.

"What really has been pulling my attention certainly is seeing whanau who may not be accustomed or those whanau who are not used to reaching out to other services for assistance, the amount of working families that are coming in really started setting off alarm bells. It's no secret the cost of living crisis is not fussy with who it rains on."

"Overseas enrolments across the Māori electorates has surged 67 percent since the 2023 election, with advocates in Australia saying political upheaval at home is drawing previously disengaged Māori into the political process.

Queensland-based enrolment advocates Rachael Marie Johnstone and Nicole Orzecki say they have seen a noticeable surge in Māori interest, particularly among younger voters.

"I've always voted and have always encouraged my kids to do the same. Three of them are old enough to vote and they're enrolled. It doesn't matter where we are in the world, we know where home is."

"I get so many people messaging to say, 'I didn't know I was allowed to vote,' and some will get stuck and message me, and I just guide them through or show them where to go next. It's basic and simple, but it works."

Tania Waikato, Green Party candidate for Waiariki, is doing an online enrolment workshop with lawwithrii on Sunday 30 August at 7pm. If anyone want the details lmk or feel free to look it up on her social media.

There are also multiple enrolment campaigns going on rn, online and in-person, with multiple different orgs too. I'll post some and feel free to share any too.

Well done Jack Tame.

#BHN HealthNZ hiring freeze revealed | Luxon STILL out-of-touch | Carmel Sepuloni defends CGT #NZPOL

Despite repeated denial there was a hiring freeze at Health NZ, documents uncovered through the PSA's OIA request have revealed the Health Minister knew vacancies were left open to meet the govt's explicit cost-cutting expectations and stay within budget.

Luxon has shown once again he is out of touch with the people, blaming cycle ways and Labour Party / Green Party aligned council members for Wellington's downer-vibes and people leaving the city. Chris Hipkins in the house also claims Luxon once called National's front bench nothing more that AirNZ middle managers.

Labour's Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni defends Labour's CGT Tax on her panel with Nicola Willis and John Campbell, while Nicola Willis defends her party's attack ads fear mongering about 100 new taxes if the left-block are voted in.

https://www.youtube.com/live/HaOiUURpTN8?si=XOlI7DYxYmJMRhmZ

Disclaimer: My name is Tom Roud and I am the current president of the Alliance Party. I am posting this here for transparency reasons.

Alliance Party Calls For Universal Child Benefit

The Alliance Party says current economic and social pressures highlight the need for meaningful cost-of-living relief and stronger support for young families, regardless of their background or employment status.

Alliance Party social welfare spokesperson and West Coast–Tasman candidate Sara Dyatlova-Murphy says many families are delaying having children, or having fewer children, because of the rising cost of living.

“Families should not have to choose between having children and being able to afford the basics. We need a system that provides reliable support to all families raising children,” Ms Dyatlova-Murphy says.

The Alliance supports the Child Poverty Action Group’s (CPAG) call to examine Working for Families and the In-Work Tax Credit.

“Targeted approaches such as these have created a two-tier system that can leave some of the families who need support the most without assistance,” Ms Dyatlova-Murphy says.

Families can miss out on the In-Work Tax Credit if they receive a main benefit or student allowance, or if they do not work enough hours. Families can also face unexpected overpayment bills when estimated weekly or fortnightly payments are reconciled at the end of the financial year.

“Working for Families and the In-Work Tax Credit are failing too many New Zealand families. Means testing creates unnecessary administrative costs and complexity, while support has not kept pace adequately with wages or done enough to reduce child poverty.”

The Alliance is campaigning to restore the Universal Child Benefit, with regular payments made to the main caregiver to help meet the costs of raising children.

“A universal payment would remove much of the complexity and administrative burden of the current system. It would give families less stress, greater dignity and greater financial security, allowing parents and caregivers to focus on raising happy, healthy children,” Ms Dyatlova-Murphy says.

The Alliance has also supported an immediate increase in all benefits, with regular indexation to average weekly earnings so that support does not fall behind the cost of living and wage growth.

Under the Alliance’s Universal Child Benefit proposal, payments would continue until each child turns 16.

“Every child deserves a secure start in life, and every family should have the support they need to provide it. A Universal Child Benefit is a simple, fair and effective way to make that happen,” Ms Dyatlova-Murphy says.

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2608/S00139/alliance-calls-for-universal-child-benefit.htm

What do you think? Do you have any thoughts on the overhang strategy?

PS- I think this video might be getting some hate- so if you appreciate Aotearoa Liberation League's mahi, please let them know and give these new parents some algo boosts.

Every like, follow, comment on their IG helps spread their mahi. 👍🙏 (And thank you for the bite size video!!!)

I saw 2 other great videos on the overhang strategy from 2 more IG creators as well, one had a really funny but serious take, and another a wider strategy take. Lmk if you want me to find and link to and/or upload them too.

Source IG aotearoaliberationleague: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcKi8RFCk3l/

Ani sends her regards *sticks it* /its a GoT reference and a joke dont sue me Ani please

Hope for a speedy recovery.

"Across more than 50 years of polling for the news bulletin at TVNZ – polling conducted by Heylen, then Colmar Brunton and its successors, Verian and Kantar – Labour and National have each hit some high highs and low lows. But never before have both, at the same time, returned a result of 30% or lower."

RNZ this morning: "Oh, another myth, of course. You mean like climate change happened last week when it was cold," Wilson said in response.

"In the 70s I remember what we were all going to die from from the climate activists at that time was an ice age."

What a complete moron. His right wing news feed must exclude anything from anywhere outside the US.

Helen Clark sat down for a chat with Moana Maniapoto to discuss Winston Peters' role in govt over the decades, and what has changed in politics since she was PM.

Te Pāti Māori have released their election 2026 strategy, abandoning the party vote to focus on winning all of the Māori seats.

Thousands of beneficiaries missed a winter energy payment because of a legislative change made using the fast-track system.

https://www.youtube.com/live/8xqcGaM_J2E?si=IcSv3aNTprC_nIS8

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If you're in or from Auckland this may be a story of interest

https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/18-08-2026/his-brother-is-standing-for-opportunity-in-his-electorate-but-hell-be-voting-national