Wednesday 13 February 2019
1) Jacinda Ardern gave her opening Statement to Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
The facts:
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern discussed the progress of her Government, as well as the Government’s ongoing agenda. She gave her statement under the three themes of economy, wellbeing and leadership. Ardern also emphasised that this government has been, and will continue to be, a careful manager of the Government books. In this regard, the Prime Minister sited the self-imposed budget responsibility rules of the coalition government.
Analysis:
Ardern’s statement to parliament was aimed to both highlighted the government’s reform agenda, while making clear that the government is a prudent manager of the economy. The government’s wellbeing agenda was emphasised, especially in relation to the wellbeing of youth. Jacinda also emphasised this government’s commitment to raising the material situation for Maori and Pacifica. Overall the PM’s statement will raise the expectations of the general electorate in regards to poverty reduction, Maori and Pacifica advancement, and the shift to sustainable low emissions economy.
However, the government’s reform agenda is still severely restrained by the self-imposed budget responsibility rules. These budget responsibility rules seriously limit the government in terms of spending and investment, and mean that the coalition can, in reality, only have a reform-lite programme. Therefore, heightened expectations of what this government can achieve will only be partially fulfilled.
2) Chinese company Huawei is attempting to win the hearts and minds of New Zealanders.
The facts:
Huawei has put out an advertisement in today’s papers, arguing against the Governments ban on Huawei 5G plans in this country. Huawei’s campaign is led with the slogan “5G without Huawei would be like rugby without New Zealand".
This advertising campaign by Huawei is a public response to the decision by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) in December to block a proposal from Spark to use 5G equipment from the Chinese firm. THE GCSB ban on Huawei 5G plans was made because of a claim of a "significant network security risk".
Analysis:
The Labour-led Government will not be happy with this propaganda effort by Chinese company Huawei. The Government’s decision to ban Huawei’s 5G rollout has already led to retaliations by the Chinese government. And now Huawei, with the presumed approval of the Chinese government, is engaging in an ostensibly light hearted campaign against the NZ government.
The government will perhaps come to regret its decision to ban the Chinese company from being involved in NZ’s digital infrastructure, especially as the consequences for New Zealand’s relationship with China become clearer.
3) 40th anniversary of the Iran revolution.
The facts:
It’s 40 years since radical Shia Islamists took power in Iran. In February 1979, the Islamic leader the Ayatollah Khomeini ended centuries of monarchic rule in Iran.
Initially a coalition of Islamists, liberals and leftists made up the new revolutionary republican government. However, the Islamists hold on the government and the overall state apparatus eventually became hegemonic. Secular liberals and leftists, who initially supported the Iran revolution, generally met an eventual bloody fate at the hands of their former Islamist radical allies.
Analysis:
The 1979 Iran revolution was one of the most significant historical events of the 20th Century. The revolution provided a blueprint and a model for radical Islamists striving for hard-line and militant religious regimes. Despite being a Shia dominated revolution, the Iran revolution influenced many radical Islamists throughout both the Shia and Sunni Muslim world. The consequences of this religious revolution are still playing out today, where Islamic religious identity continues to be a significant dimension of world political struggles.
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This political roundup by John Moore is an extension on the five-minute breakfast political roundup that John gives on Radio One Dunedin, Monday to Friday at 9am.
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