Musings from the shores of Lake Taupo

Summer

We are now in mid summer here in Taupo NZ and the heat is becoming oppressive. The first month of Summer was relatively cool and comfortable. Alas now we suffer. 24C here is a heatwave. Taupo is around 1100metres ASL. We now have a new PM as Jacinda has stepped down. Chris Hipkins is now top dog and we have to wait to see how he will do. Things are not good here with high inflation plus a major crime wave that originated when Govt, at the time, savagely increased tobacco taxes. Corner shop robberies for tobacco products then took on a life of it's own and evolved to robbing all orts of shops plus petrol stations. It is evil but Govt will not accept responsibility nor do the opposition parties kick up a fuss or plan to reduce the taxation. Some corner shop owners have been murdered while other s maimed and sustain broken arms and the like during violent armed robberies.one shop owner lost an eye. Shop owners have paid a terrible price for this govt madness . It is a tyranny. After tobacco we can only tremble and wait to see what sector of citizens they will target next. New laws targeting raising the age to purchase tobacco up a year every year has evidently been approved by the bill of rights lackeys. It says more about our pathetic bill of rights than anything else. Govt must accept responsibility and accountability for this crime wave and shop keepers need financial remedies for the violence meted out to them.