Geoff Simmons | Page 15 | The Morgan Foundation

Which Party Will Lower Your Power Bill?

Geoff SimmonsSeptember 3, 2014Economics

The Labour/ Greens have made no secret of their proposal to reform the electricity sector, announcing the NZ Power plan over a year ago during the asset sales process. National’s approach is more of the same – gently encouraging more … Read More

National’s $100m Plan Just Smoke (and Mirrors) on the Water

Geoff SimmonsSeptember 3, 2014Environment

National’s latest water plan to spend $100m on buying sensitive land next to rivers won’t have as much impact on our water quality as lower dairy prices will, and certainly not as much as decent regulation would. Their plan sets … Read More

Nigel Latta’s show on sugar is one of the most influential pieces of TV this year

Geoff SimmonsSeptember 2, 2014Health

Nigel Latta’s show on sugar last night was one of the best of his series. The shows wrap-up made for one of TV’s most powerful moments for the year. The show simply and fairly illustrated the impact that excess sugar … Read More

The Food Industry’s Three Essential Soundbites

Geoff SimmonsSeptember 1, 2014Health

When their backs are against the wall, the Food Industry usually pull out one of three soundbites. Each of these soundbites appear sensible on their own, but when you take them as a package, it becomes clear that they are … Read More

New World wants to turn your kids into mindless zombie consumers

Geoff SimmonsAugust 28, 2014Health

Parents will know the pester power unleashed by offering collectables such as toys (or in the case of Countdown, cards). This tactic has long been used by fast food companies to lure in kids. Now it is being used as … Read More

Which political party will help you live longer?

Geoff SimmonsAugust 25, 2014Health

We wrote the book Health Cheque back in 2009, and it is surprising how little has changed in five years. In that book, we found that our health system performs pretty well on a tight budget, at least compared with other … Read More

Green’s Robin Hood Tax Misses Target on Wealth & Inequality

Geoff SimmonsAugust 18, 2014Tax and Welfare

The top tax rate on income continues to be a political football and is emerging as a key battleground in this election. Shame it is an outdated and inefficient way to raise extra cash for the Government. National’s first term … Read More

Dunne and Dusted

Geoff SimmonsJuly 2, 2014Environment, Fisheries Management

United Future underlined its dinosaur status yesterday with its “Outdoors” spokesperson’s response to our blog on Labour Party hopeful Janette Walker’s idea of licensing recreational fishers. The press release was full of falsehoods but the real question is whether United … Read More

Ruataniwha/ Tukituki: A Dummies Guide

Geoff SimmonsJuly 1, 2014Environment

There has been a lot of noise about the Ruataniwha dam, which was proposed for the Tukituki catchment in the Hawkes Bay. And rightly so, because the decision is a big deal for the way we manage our fresh water. … Read More

Food Labelling – A Tantalising Taste of Change

Geoff SimmonsJune 30, 2014Health

The Government, in line with our Australian cousins, is finally bringing in a new front of pack labelling system for all packaged food (the stuff at the supermarket). It’s a step in the right direction, but we desperately need more … Read More