Who are you voting for?

Who are you voting for? Over the last three years, I've written so many pieces talking to people whose lives this government has tried to destroy. Women workers, disabled children and adults and their families, trans people, Māori, parents struggling to feed their kids, queer folks, public servants, nurses, teachers, teacher aides, climate scientists...I've been deeply involved in my community trying to repair harm.

And it's made me sure of who I am voting for. My question is who are you voting for? And with the election on Saturday, who will you talk to about this? To try to persuade them to vote for their community?

I'm voting for all of our children. Child poverty is getting worse. According to MSD an estimated 210,600 children - roughly the population of Wellington City - are living in households below the poverty line.

Apparently feeding your kids is easy

...as long as you're not the one doing it.

Emily Writes WeeklyJosh Drummond

I'm voting for women and workers. By destroying pay equity, this government stole the futures of 180,000 workers. Mostly women. In just one 45 minute meeting, the government retrospectively stripped nurses, teachers, carers and other women-dominated workforces of the right to pursue pay equity claims under the Pay Equity Act.

Government's treatment of women in Aotearoa goes to the United Nations

One year after legislation killed existing pay equity claims and basically ended the opportunity to bring new claims, the government is being taken to the United Nations. It's a huge deal. The team bringing the complaint to the UN includes Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission and New

Emily Writes WeeklyEmily Writes

I’m voting for families supporting their brave tamariki as they fight cancer in understaffed and under-resourced wards. The mother of a toddler whose cancer treatment was delayed due to staff shortages at Starship Hospital told RNZ often her son was screaming and writhing in pain while they waited for a nurse due to staff shortages.

The nurses of Ward 27B

I have been horrified by what families are going through with their children due to this government’s health care hiring and funding freezes. When I heard what was happening on Ward 27B, the children’s cancer ward at Starship, I was devastated. I have been in the healthcare system

Emily Writes WeeklyEmily Writes

I’m voting for clean rivers and beaches for my tamariki and their tamariki to swim in. The coalition Government 'demolished a cornerstone of environmental protection' this year, committing what was described by Greenpeace as "one of its most destructive acts against nature". This government ended the Ministry for the Environment which had a 40-year-history.

A new generation of Elves?

How far is too far for our rangatahi? On Friday, rangatahi all over Aotearoa will walk out of school to protest the government's inaction toward climate change. For my son, just 13 years old, it will be his third school strike. Feel free to skip to the comments if

Emily Writes WeeklyEmily Writes

I'm voting for climate action. ACT and NZ First have both said they will quit the Paris Agreement and abolish the Climate Commission. They plan to scrap net zero target and repeal Zero Carbon Act.

In February, as Aotearoa faced weather bombs, Climate Denier Shane Jones shut down our country's involvement in a global plan to move us away from fossil fuels. Australia, the UK, the European Union and a group of Pacific nations were among 80 countries pushing for a 'road map' to be included in the formal negotiations at COP30.  Aotearoa's negotiating team was considering signing the declaration. I'm voting against a government that has attacked our whenua over and over again.

I don't want to "adapt" to terrifying weather

Devastating climate change is here, thanks to oil companies and politicians. What are we going to do about it?

Emily Writes WeeklyEmily Writes

I’m voting for the mothers and fathers who have to go without food so their children don’t. One in three households are struggling for food in our country. In March, the Hunger Monitor confirmed Aotearoa is facing growing food insecurity.

I’m voting for the 25 year old who can’t get a job so can’t begin to start their life because 1000 people are applying for roles as meat packers. 1000 people are applying for roles as meat packers.says youth unemployment is at crisis level.

Choose your own adventure as a one term government

Could you make it as a minister in a one-term-government? Here's your chance to choose your own adventure as a leader (or minister) in coaltion of cruelty comprising of the National Party, ACT Party and New Zealand First. Next month, you'll have been in power for

Emily Writes WeeklyEmily Writes

I’m voting for the parent whose disabled child lost all of their supports. Official statistics suggest that more than a quarter of disabled children live in poverty and that children in disabled households are 4.5 times as likely to be experiencing severe material hardship compared with children in non-disabled households. This government has relentlessly attacked disabled adults and children and their families.

I'm voting against a coalition government that snuck through two bills attacking disabled adults, children, and their families. One of them was introduced without consultation or warning, aimed at paving the way for income testing and asset testing for disabled adults and children.

Breaking: the Government is attacking disabled people and their carers. Again.

Late last night, the coalition government snuck through another bill attacking disabled adults, children, and their families. The bill, introduced without consultation or warning, paves the way for income testing and asset testing for disabled adults and children. It also narrows the ability of families to get support for their

Emily Writes WeeklyEmily Writes

I’m voting for the trans person who is afraid to use the bathroom, who has faced ever-increasing attacks by bigots emboldened by a hateful government.

How you can stand up for trans kids being targeted by this government

Something you might not know about but need to know about!

Emily Writes WeeklyEmily Writes

I’m voting for the children who no longer have a nourishing lunch at school and have no teacher aide support to assist them with a quality education. I don't want to see schools having to choose between heating the classroom and having a teacher aide.

I'm voting for teachers who were pitted against their own students and families and encouraged to punish and fine families over absences.

I’m voting for the mother who has to watch her grandchildren grow up in Australia because there’s no future for her children and mokopuna in this country. A poll just found almost half of 18-24-year olds surveyed seriously considered moving away from New Zealand in the last 12 months, with 10% of young New Zealanders saying they were actively trying to leave. 

I'm the 'deserving poor' and you could easily become me

When you're the political football.…

Emily Writes WeeklyEmily Writes

I'm voting for the kuia and kaumātua who fought so hard for the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori, who felt so proud watching their mokopuna speak their language proudly only to see this government try their hardest to erase it again. I'm voting for the future of Aotearoa, given this government's racist campaign against Māori triggered a United Nations condemnation.

I'm voting against a government that continually dismantled Māori health initiatives including the scrapping of Te Aka Whai Ora. The Māori Health Authority was destroyed under urgency in less than 24 hours. The government’s Pae Ora amendment bill silences Māori voices in health. This year's Health budget allocated just 2.7% of spending to delivering hauora Māori services.

A list of (almost) every government attack on Māori and Te Tiriti

Not too long ago I was discussing the government and their attacks on Te Tiriti with a group of people. One of them said I know there's been the Treaty Principles Bill, but has there really been much else? One of the things this Government does is 'flood the

Emily Writes WeeklyEmily Writes

I'm voting for our immune-compromised whānau and disabled whānau and our elderly and everyone who developed a chronic illness from COVID and flu this year. Tāmaki Makaurau just recorded its worst week for flu hospitalisations in a decade, with ten-hour waits for hospital beds.  Hospitals are cancelling surgeries so beds can instead be used for emergency patients. Healthline has had to call in reinforcements. The St John Ambulance service received a record 2,562 calls through 111 on Saturday, a 34% increase from a typical day. That's one call made every 20 seconds. One school in Whakatane had 125 of its 431 students away sick, along with 10 staff members.

I'm voting against a government that ordered Health New Zealand to end double shifts and imposed new limitations on replacing sick staff in wards during the day to save money.

This government is making you sick

So many of us are sick. And there's a reason for it.

Emily Writes WeeklyEmily Writes

I'm voting for people who despite working so hard and struggling through incredibly long hours, are taxed more than rich people who inherited their wealth. I'm voting against a government that has made the rich richer. I'm voting for taxpayers who had to give a $2.9 billion dollar tax break gift for landlords when they themselves don't even own a house. This government gave $800 million more than what National had originally budgeted for. Approximately 346 landlords who own at least 200 properties each make around $464 million between them.

I'm voting against the greed of this government. Christopher Luxon earns $471,049 a year, plus perks. His net worth is estimated at around $21 million to $30 million. As Leader of the Opposition his houses earned him 15 times more than the $296,007 salary. Yet he called poor New Zealanders "bottom feeders."

The Crushing True Cost of Tax Breaks For the Rich

Who is paying and how?

Emily Writes WeeklyEmily Writes

I'm voting for all of the public servants who not only lost their jobs because of this government but were harassed and abused and insulted by this government. The Employers and Manufacturers Association said in the first year under this government, their advice line for restructuring and redundancy support surged by nearly 90 percent.

Scoop: Squid Game Public Sector to be filmed in wellington

And it’s all thanks to the coalition government!

Emily Writes WeeklyEmily Writes

I'm voting for people on minimum wage. The minimum wage increase was below inflation under this government. Brooke Van Velden wanted it to be just 1.3%. The recommendation was 4%. Eventually Cabinet landed on 2%. This miniscule increase impacted the earnings of about 164,400 New Zealanders who would otherwise have had more to spend on essentials.

I'm voting for anyone who has suffered from depression or anxiety or any mental health issues. I'm voting for suicide survivors and the families who have to carry on after losing a loved one to suicide. A Health New Zealand Lakes memo said medical cover for infant, child and adolescent mental health services reduced by 90%. New Zealand has the highest suicide rate for children, a survey of wealthy countries shows.A Barnardos Aotearoa schools survey found that 76% of schools have seen an increase in students asking for counselling under this government – up from 60% in 2023. 

I'm voting for the carers who suffered brutal suicidal ideation over the attacks on their disabled children.

"They don't care if you live or die"

Battling The System

Emily Writes WeeklyEmily Writes

I'm voting for children in early childhood education and their teachers. David Seymour made it his personal mission to push early childhood education centres to trade off early learning quality and its cost. It's believed that as many as 400 ECE centres could close in the next year.

I'm voting against privatising education, which will only make costs higher for families. Government measures aiming to deregulate early childhood education will undermine requirements for qualified teachers and remove safety and curriculum standards that uphold children’s wellbeing.

One in three ECE teachers is considering leaving the sector, citing burnout, workload, and uncertainty over pay parity.

100 reasons to support the mega strike

Are you ready to show up? Tomorrow, more than 100,000 nurses, doctors, teachers, health workers, dentists, social workers, support staff, and teacher aides will strike. It's believed to be the largest industrial action we've had in more than 40 years. It's also a brave action. Striking

Emily Writes WeeklyEmily Writes

I'm voting against a government that repeatedly lied about the impact of their cuts on public services. I'm voting against a government that has used AI slop to make fear-mongering ads full of misinformation. I'm voting against a deputy prime minister who implied Jacinda Ardern was part of a conspiracy involving the mosque attack shooter. I'm voting against people with no morals or values who want to make as much money as possible at the expense of the people of Aotearoa.

The government's creative storytelling must be addressed

Today, I'm happy to share a guest post from one of the best people I know. My dear friend Helen Gilby is so bright and so funny. And y’all loved her last posts, Seymour's Aotearoa: How to Lose a Country in 10 Clauses and America: Making the

Emily Writes WeeklyEmily Writes

I'm voting to get our country back.

We have never been a perfect country. But the cruelty we have seen under this government has been frightening. I fear another three years of hate will make Aotearoa unrecognisable.

I hope come election day we can try to be better and do better by each other.