The Atlas Network Grip on Government

This article is a summary of how embedded the influence of the two Atlas Network think tanks are in New Zealand's current government.

A useful roadmap is to scan through the front bench portfolios of the Cabinet and point out links - but there's also policy itself and where it came from and who it serves.

Plus who serves it up on a plate for consumption.

Notably Fran O'Sullivan "Went Swiss" with the NZ Initiative in May 2017 when she enjoyed a one week jolly with 39 others, mostly CEs of NZ Initiative member companies and this morning Fran has written a glowing endorsement for both David Seymour and Christopher Luxon's cabinet in the NZ Herald - mostly about opening up New Zealand for foreign investors.

"As the New Zealand Initiative has pointed out, other developed economies like France, the United Kingdom and Ireland do not even have laws with “character and competence” and “sensitive lands” requirements like our foreign investment regime." - wrote Fran before adding :

"As an Associate Finance Minister, Seymour has delegated authority in this area. Along with Cabinet minister Paul Goldsmith, he has ultimate sign-off on offshore applications to either buy existing businesses or establish greenfield ventures here."

Fran also speaks about how this neatly dovetails with fast track consenting - where Te Tiriti had been shoved aside as this Government decides it knows best and side steps the Environment Court - so it can crack on with making money for it's membership's vested interests.

The slogan "getting things done" equates to "making money for my mates" if you take a look at the kind of things getting done or getting "undone".

As you know Seymour is an Atlas Network alumni and denied Act was in any way linked to the Atlas Network to Mihingirangi Forbes on 7 February 2024.

That was proven to be a lie in may ways since - including ( but not limited to ) by the fact that Act's Vice President ( former President ) Catherine Isaac is an Honorary Member of the NZ Initiative ( Atlas Network ).

Then there's Act's founder Roger Douglas ( 1993 ) and Ruth Richardson ( Ruthanasia ) both members of the Mont Pelerin society and advocates for Act. Roger Douglas recently dissed Act - but only because it was not being radical enough according to Seymour.

In 2008 Alan Gibbs donated $200K to Act and $100K in 2011, $32,000 in 2015, $100,700 from Jenny Gibbs in 2020 - and as you know - his daughter Debbi is Chair of the Atlas Network.

Alan Gibbs set up an Atlas Network think tank The Centre of Independent Studies ( there's three around the world ) and made a fortune from flicking Telecom with David Richwhite ( another honorary member of the NZ Initiative ) out of Rogernomics.

Recently Lord Hannan broke the news at the Gibbs Farm that Jordan Williams is President and Chair of all the world's Taxpayers Unions ( Atlas Network think tanks ). Jordan Williams spent five years working for Stephen Franks former Act MP at Franks Ogilivie.

Seymour told Mihingarangi this was all a crazy pizzagate theory on the left and Chris Trotter wrote there was nothing unusual about lobby groups - but this one was really part of a global network of think tanks set up to bring neoliberalism to democracies.

The free market involves foreigners buying up our land, drilling for oil, mining for coal, putting in long term supply contracts ( 30 years ) for fossil fuels to please transnational investors, stopping complimentary emissions reduction initiatives, devolving government functions to local groups and privatising them... so much money for my mates ...getting things done ...for them.

So where do we see the Atlas Network operating behind Cabinet?

Ben Craven from the NZ Initiative is Simeon Brown's Press Secretary ( DIA ) and as you know Simeon Brown is Minister for Auckland, Energy, Local Government and Transport.

Ben Craven co-authored the NZ initiative report titled localismNZ: Bringing power to the people - which was part of a ten year campaign by the NZ Initiative to attack centralism and too many bureaucrats in Wellington.

Like no New Zealand politician before him, Luxon has made localism one of his defining themes, after he was groomed by the Atlas Network over in Switzerland - and all three heads - National, Act and NZ First sing from this same song sheet.

As you know Ben Craven worked at First Gas ( the gas pipes ) and Petroleum Exploration and Production Association of New Zealand ( Now Energy Resources Aotearoa ) for almost 2 years - and the first thing Simeon did was to "unban oil and gas exploration" despite it probably not helping to extend the life of oil and gas.

The NZ Initiative ( Atlas ) recommended Government drop the goal of achieving 100% renewable energy and instead rely on the ETS to deliver carbon reductions at the lowest cost, which is what they appear to be doing by saying they will double renewable energy, slashing GIDI projects to decarbonise industry and . Members of the NZ initiative include Genesis Energy, Greymouth Petroleum, Tilt Renewables, TrustPower, Mercury, Meridian Contact Energy, Todd Corporation ...talk about vested interests and Barbara Chapman is Deputy Chair of the NZ Initiative ( Chair of Genesis ) with a 25% stake.

When it comes to coal mining - that's Shane Jones ( Minister of Resources ) and he faces considerable litigation risk ( iwi etc ) as he goes full Trump about opening up coal mining. Mike Hosking has called Jones a potential West Coast Hero - and Barbara Chapman is also Chair of NZME - who pay the Hosk.

Simeon Brown's Transport Budget had a $24 Billion hole and there was much talk about China or the Super Fund to fill the gaps. The NZ Initiative recommended Brown introduce urgently a practical and durable system of congestion charging in New Zealand’s congested urban centres. We are seeing many of the NZ Initiative recommendations become policy - and as you know those hidden fuel taxes and hikes to registration came as a nasty surprise.

Chris Bishop is Minister for RMA reform, Infrastructure, and Housing and the NZ Initiative recommended Bishop get rid of Labour's RMA which he rushed to do. These areas have huge vested interest from Retail Banks, Mortgage Companies, Real estate, and of course the energy companies. The NZ initiative members include, ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac, Kris Pederson, Colliers, Krukziener Properties, etc.

Bishop is not disclosing what projects will be whipped through on a schedule to get past Te Tiriti - and James Shaw has exposed the way Bishop is playing dodge ball here.

Bishop's Dad John Bishop was first chair of the Taxpayers' Union ( Atlas ) for four years, and good old Chris ( matey mate mate ) used to work for Philip Morris a former member of the NZ initiative.

Luxon himself has been adopting NZ initiative recommendations as previously mentioned - but we all know his economic policy adviser is Matt Burgess from the NZ Initiative. After Burgess use to work for Charles River Associates ( helping fossil fuels ) he got involved as CE of iPredict ( nats gaming ) and became an advisor for Bill English. Burgess eventually became the champion for not doing anything to bring down emissions - but leave it to the ETS and wrote many articles ( platformed by NZME ) that relied on the draft Climate Commission report ( 100% renewables and ETS ) but the final report said - we need complementary emissions reduction not just the ETS ( Mr Free Market chips land where they fall ).

Burgess is ensconced in the Prime Ministers office whispering in Luxon's ear - along with others - and we've seen the end of GIDI projects ( coal boilers removed from schools and Industry ) plus the end of the Clean car Discount, and pretty much any action to reduce emissions - as EV's get more expensive and barriers to entry are raised. This all helps vested interests to slow down our emissions reduction as Luxon also extended the delay for us to bring agriculture into the ETS. The reducing cap on the ETS pretty much nixed the arguments of Burgess but the NZ Initiative are still banging on about this.

Nicola Willis was a director of the NZ initiative between January 2016 and February 2017 so that looks after itself - plus her Dad was a Bell Gully lawyer ( aren't they all ) and involved in oil and gas exploration and companies that had permits off Taranaki.

The Foreign Buyers Luxury Real Estate Scheme to pay for Nicola's Tax Cuts was ended by Winston ( Gravy for Banks and Real Estate ) - so presto - The Smokefree legislation replaced it - raising about $500 Million per year at the expense of 8,000 lives and $5 Billion in health costs. Casey Costello former TPU ( tobacco funded ) and Hobsons Pledge has been in hot water over hiding documents and allegedly fibbing to RNZ - but let's not forget that Imperial Brands and BAT ( British American Tobacco ) are members of the the Atlas Network NZ initiative.

Erica Stanford - when it comes to being Minister of Education - almost immediately handed over the thinking to a working group chaired by NZ Initiative, Michael Johnston. The MAG - will provide advice to the Minister of Education on the mathematics and statistics and English learning areas, the draft Common Practice Model, and literacy and maths. Yep.

David Seymour ( Atlas ) is gutting regulations as fast as he can - much of it about agriculture and those pesky Māori concerns with the health and wellbeing of water. Seymour wants an end to SNAs ( protected areas for environmental reasons ) and of course He Waka Eke Noa, which threatens to make Kiwi farmers the first in the world to pay an emissions tax.

Just today Seymour is cutting regulations around Early Childhood education...and on and on the protective regulations that are there for a good reason - will be cut.

We all saw Seymour pick on the hungry poor kids and their free lunches - while Luxon doubled down that he was entitled to his $52,000 despite about $100,000 being spent of making Premier House liveable since mid February 2024.

Seymour also swung at media, the ladies doing the Haka, Professor Kidman ( is this a death cult? ) and Chlõe for getting a promotion.

We also saw NZME NZ Herald trio of Claire Trevett, Audrey Young and now Fran O'Sullivan come out swinging in sycophantic support for this Alas Network captured Government.

Claire declaring Luxon had done a good job as PM until his "I am entitled" moment, Audrey give a bouquet to Gerry for a "superb" job when it was just terrible - and now Fran for Luxon's cabinet - "who have a refreshing “get real” approach as they roll out their major change agenda".

I've likely missed a number of other ways the Atlas Network have a grip of this Government - especially via their 200,000 strong membership of the TPU - and all those campaigns they run in order to get headlines and shift public opinion and policy.

As you can see the Cabinet is pretty captured as tentacles reach inside it and vested interests shape policy while some media blow smoke up its arse.

That was all I had to say really.

The Atlas Network Grip on Government

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