Some notes on Chippy's Speech.

Rather than penning a full transcript - here's a few mad dash notes about what Chippy said in his speech.

After a multicultural greeting - Chris Hipkins talked about how five months ago he gave the hardest speech of his life.

A speech conceding that Labour lost the election and he recounted the list of challenges faced like, the pandemic, natural disasters, terrorist attacks - and how New Zealanders voted for change.

Then he made the point that five months on, New Zealanders are getting something quite different to the change they were thinking about.

He mentioned how we did not want the Nats to mess with our world leading Smokefree legislation - rolling it back - nobody voted for that - what the actual - come here and say that - and these huge tax cuts for landlords who voted for that - was that you Amanda - and who voted for winding back Climate Change and Chippy asked - did they vote to suspend all work on hospitals and other critical infrastructure?

No they didn't that was for sure as sure can be sure, to be sure.

Chippy reckoned Kiwis did NOT vote for "tough love for others" while Luxon clung to that cash like a slobbering egg.

Chippy talked about how so many economists - a sea of economists - no an ocean of economists - had told Luxon and Willis that their numbers were utter stinking rubbish before the election, but no way would up my arse Luxon and snooty down by toffy nose Willis admit to that fact and instead - the crooked people dressed in fine cloth and spin - insisted that their numbers were rock solid like a cheesy radio station playing all the classic BS.

The Chipster marched on to say - these mofos have done it to themselves with their so called Financial Crisis - and he righteously mocked them for what they called wasteful spending.

Like free prescriptions - was not wasteful spending Mr Egg.

And paying nurses and teachers properly was not wasteful spending you utter neoliberal flower pot.

Supporting those with disabilities IS NOT WASTEFUL SPENDING - said Chris Hipkins and the very sky above - ripped open and a loud voice said - YOU GOT THAT RIGHT CHRIS !!!

Yes it was like divine intervention.

There was a story or two about empathy and how we all need to share the love and have more empathy - one story - Chris said he will always remember - about the school child who had no love in his own life and who was always in trouble at school and - how he tenderly hugged and nurtured a baby in his arms - and asked his teacher - could a child who was never been loved still be a good father?

Chris Hipkins saw the boy grown up with his own family and it really spoke to him about how we can all make a difference and what matters is People - not just a cost benefit analysis - and yanno this is a country not a company.

So it should not be run like one.

Chris spoke about ANZAC day and building all those houses and roads after the war - and how many found comfort at the RSA - and how they thought the taxes they paid were their contribution to a society free from economic oppression.

The collective effort helped society to thrive.

There was some nostalgia - about some Labour highlights and how Labour helps New Zealand - eg. Homosexual Law Reform and bringing Conservation to the fore but also some regret and mixed feelings about economic reforms ( eg Rogernomics ) and the four decades that followed.

Chris Hipkins said it was time to acknowledge that a rising tide does not lift all boats.

That resonated around the room.

Chris said the majority had to bail water and some had been left to sink. This was a direct shot across Luxon's bows - who had used that old neoliberal quote before the election.

Chippy said hard work is no longer the ticket to getting ahead - and how the majority are worth a lot more than they earn.

He said it was time to rethink the system.

Prioritising the economic interests of landlords was not helping and there's fear that the next generation may be the first to be worse off then their parents.

Economic insecurity was touching more lives than ever.

There was talk about what the solutions in future may look like - as Chippy chatted how we could shape and craft things like tech which makes us borderless and a new approach.

He said Labour's challenge was to define what the new collectivism looks like as tech makes people redundant faster than before.

Slogans certainly were not solutions as we all thought of Luxon and his rubbish - as Chippy made the point that Climate Change was actually a big opportunity and finally Chippy mentioned tax.

Ah tax, the favourite topic on the right.

Chippy said the current tax system is inequitable and unsustainable.

He said New Zealand is more reliant on income tax than other nations we compare ourselves to.

Then he said - under this government those with multiple properties are getting tax breaks while people who work in a job are being taxed on every dollar they earn.

Yes that is unfair and very true.

Now is the time for the debate announced Chippy.

He said all of the options are back on the table at Labour and shortly the Labour Policy Council will be getting stuck in about tax...and how Labour will use its time to listen, to research and to develop new policies.

By 2026 he said Labour will be better prepared than any other opposition in New Zealand History.

Yeah man, sounds good.

Some notes on Chippy's Speech.

G