Foreign banks buggering NZ

Written By: - Date published: 4:34 pm, January 10th, 2010 - 86 comments
Categories: capitalism, class war, corruption, crime, tax - Tags:

I’m no big city banker. But I was under the impression that profit is the income that is left over once you’ve paid your costs. Once you pay your tax on that, your net profit is what is left to pay to the owners as dividends or reinvest.

So how the hell did the Aussie-owned banks manage to pay out $1.7 billion in dividends to their Aussie parent companies when they only declared $790 million of profit?

It’s clear what the bastards are doing. They’re hiding profits to minimise their tax. They’re ripping us off. Just like they did in those scams that cost us $2.4 billion in tax, that we’re only now partially getting back.

We’re underwriting the buggers with the deposit guarantee scheme. And this is how they repay us. Bank staff are being made redundant. Their wages frozen. Interest rates are out of whack – the gap between savings and borrowing interest rates is larger than ever. Now, we learn they managed to hide at least $400 million in tax last year. That leaves the rest of us to pick up the burden.

I won’t do any business with the parasites. And neither should you.

Wong is duty Minister and refused to comment. What’s worse? A Duty Minister that won’t do what a Duty Minister is meant to do – respond on behalf of the government to emerging issues? Or the fact that Wong is effectively running the country while Key spends three weeks in Hawaii working on his tan?

86 comments on “Foreign banks buggering NZ ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. gitmo 1
    10 January 2010 at 4:47 pm

    If you’re convinced that they’re evading tax report them to the IRD.

    • Zetetic 1.1
      10 January 2010 at 5:10 pm

      tough on crime, eh gitmo? You righties are all for lynching poor kids stealing a few hundred bucks but banks make off with hundreds of millions and you turn a blind eye.

      • gitmo 1.1.1
        10 January 2010 at 5:16 pm

        UMMMM are you completely fucking retarded or have you just been drinking too much booze under the hot sun?

        I said if they’re evading tax report them to the IRD – in case you didn’t notice the IRD was very successful in their recent tax case against a number of these banks.

        IrishBill: attack a poster here like this again and I’ll ban you.

        • gitmo 1.1.1.1
          10 January 2010 at 7:05 pm

          Um what ?

          The dickwad attacked me I responded. Fuck what a joke.

          • roger nome 1.1.1.1.1
            10 January 2010 at 10:18 pm

            you’re just a troll gitmo. get a life.

          • mickysavage 1.1.1.1.2
            10 January 2010 at 10:31 pm

            The “dickwad” addressed directly the quality or lack thereof of Gitmo’s argument and beliefs and he responded by calling Zetetic names. Usual behaviour for a troll unfortunately.

            • gitmo 1.1.1.1.2.1
              11 January 2010 at 8:02 am

              Who would you advise the poster should contact if he believes the banks are evading tax ?

              And no the “dickwad” addressed nothing he had the usual wild rant.

              Indeed he may be a reincarnation of the famed chap after whom all dickwads are named !

              ‘Dick Wad was an American Journalist active in the 1940s, who was so unpopular with his colleagues his name became a general term of contempt.

              In an ironic twist of fate, after WWII he went on an expedition into the Amazon. He was tortured and executed by tribesmen where his body was shrunk by witch doctors and subsequently used to mop up semen in fertility rites.’

        • illuminatedtiger 1.1.1.2
          10 January 2010 at 11:28 pm

          Enjoy your timeout gitmo! We’ll miss you!

    • roger nome 1.2
      10 January 2010 at 10:29 pm

      shorter gitmo:

      “oh yeah …. bugger me harder you big city banker you!”

      • gitmo 1.2.1
        11 January 2010 at 7:58 am

        The banks I use provide me with a good service and I make far more money off them than they make off me ……… how is that being buggered in your strange little world ?

        • Pascal's bookie 1.2.1.1
          11 January 2010 at 8:08 am

          “I make far more money off them than they make off me ”

          Bet you don’t. They give you a cut of the money they make off your deposit, if they were losing on the deal, they’d not want your custom.

          • gitmo 1.2.1.1.1
            11 January 2010 at 8:16 am

            Agreed, they may lend my money on and get a higher return from a loan for a mortgage, of business loan etc.

            I suspect you get my meaning however – loaning out for other peoples mortgages doesn’t attract me as an investment and if loaning to businesses I’d do it in a more direct manner.

            Bottom line if you don’t like the Ausi banks (or banks in general) don’t use them.

        • roger nome 1.2.1.2
          11 January 2010 at 6:07 pm

          no you don’t idiot. obviously you have no idea of what is meant byt fractional reserve banking. go look it up before you embaress yourself further fool.

          • gitmo 1.2.1.2.1
            11 January 2010 at 7:28 pm

            I’ll do that while you go look up how to spell embarrass.

            Where do you do your banking ?

            • roger nome 1.2.1.2.1.1
              11 January 2010 at 7:37 pm

              so i’m not a spell-master. whoopde shit. i prefer to familiarise myself with knowledge of the world than remember, but rote, an irrationally spelt language.

              you’re an attention seeking idiot, plain and simple.

              look, for a relitively simple explantion of the stupidity of the fractional reserve system (as practived in the us at least – which shares similarities with NZ) go watch 07:00 – 20:00 of the following video:

              http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7065205277695921912#

              • gitmo …
                11 January 2010 at 7:45 pm

                Odd your familiarisation process has left you painfully narrow minded and limited in your views of the world – but that may improve with a few more years under your belt.

                I know exactly what the fractional reserve system is as I said to someone else if you find the banks’ practices repugnant don’t use them.

            • roger nome 1.2.1.2.1.2
              12 January 2010 at 12:14 am

              more bluster and fluff from the thickest troll since red baiter. you’re just a pathetic no-lifer jerk, with no political analysis. what the fuck are you doing here? ‘cos you don’t belong here.

              • gitmo …
                12 January 2010 at 7:41 am

                Talking to yourself again, it’s a rather odd type of narcissism you’ve got going there.

              • roger nome …
                12 January 2010 at 10:14 am

                so, it’s “i know you are, i said you are so what am i. what an astonishing wit you have. oscar wilde would be proud

                look – nz leaches hundreds of millions in capital overseas every year to the global banking elite, and you say that you’re fine with that. one can only assume that you don’t have the interests of nz at heart. if only you could become the earnest finance spokesperson for the National Party – who have the same desire to see NZ prosper as you do.

  2. grumpy 2
    10 January 2010 at 5:04 pm

    You will probably find that the NZ subsidiary is paying “management”and ädministrative”fees. Probably also ÏT”and “HR”and any other fees the Aussies can think of.

    A good way to transfer profits. however, if NZ had lower Company Tax rates than Australia, they might decide that it is more profitable to charge those fees from NZ to their aussie companies.

    • Zetetic 2.1
      10 January 2010 at 5:09 pm

      seems an awful lot like saying if ‘you’re going to rob me anyway, here’s my cash’

      • grumpy 2.1.1
        10 January 2010 at 5:19 pm

        Still, it would be informative for someone to find out the level of “fees” charged by the Australian Banks to their NZ subsidiaries.

  3. burt 3
    10 January 2010 at 5:12 pm

    In other breaking news Zetetic takes on a raft of franchise operations specifically targeting the ones where the franchise fees exceed the operates stated profits.

    • Nick C 3.1
      11 January 2010 at 4:06 pm

      Dont forget the ones where accrued income exceeds doubtful debts. There must be some dodgy stuff going on there…

  4. Spider_Pig 4
    10 January 2010 at 5:39 pm

    You’re clearly no big city banker and you obviously have no accounting knowledge either. Dividends are paid out of retained earnings and have an impact on equity and cashflow, but no impact on profit/loss. Nor do they have a direct impact on tax liability.

    Obviously a business cannot continue to pay out more dividends than profit indefinitely. In this instance the directors obviously believe that better times are ahead and they can justify paying a higher dividend to the owners.

    And as for Wong not responding to this “emerging issue”? You’re clearly taking the piss

    • Zetetic 4.1
      10 January 2010 at 6:31 pm

      Bet you this isn’t some one off. I reckon their dividends will routinely exceed profits.

      You’ll have to read the reports. I’m no accountant. I’m just a guy who thinks it sucks that these companies treat my country like some colony to be plundered.

      You don’t have a problem with that though. eh?

      • Spider_Pig 4.1.1
        10 January 2010 at 7:53 pm

        “I reckon” is incredibly scientific of you, and then you ask ME to look at their company reports? You have shown yourself as someone who is obviously not an investor and has obviously never (or can’t?) read a company report.

        It’s incredible that people on the left associate profit as evil. So no, I don’t have a problem with having four of the worlds safest banks in the world operating in NZ and thank them for not requiring to be bailed out to the tune of billions of dollars of taxpayers money, like the state backed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

        • Pascal's bookie 4.1.1.1
          10 January 2010 at 8:09 pm

          Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac aren’t banks.

          I think though, that in light of dividend payments like these, the deposit guarantees can be scrapped, or maybe just apply a special tax on the shareholders to pay for them if needed.

        • Bill 4.1.1.2
          10 January 2010 at 8:12 pm

          Net profit isn’t evil spider pig and neither is the fact that it results from a system of exploitation that casually consigns hundreds of millions of us to die prematurely of starvation, thirst and preventable disease in order to allow a wee few of us to live in a lap of ‘unimaginable’ luxury.

          See. If all that was evil, then there would be nothing much we could do about it. It would have some ‘natural’ inevitability about it that we mere mortals could only stand back and observe.

          Luckily, what you term evil is simply and only the product of our activity. And we can alter that.

      • roger nome 4.1.2
        10 January 2010 at 10:23 pm

        i reckon the whole fractional reserve banking system’s fucked. banks are able to profit billions off lending money that they don’t have. we need to take the banking system back, so it works for the people instead of the global elite. try telling that to the right-wing sheep like gitmo though. all you’ll get is “must protectect outdated ideology” bahhhh!

        • Nick C 4.1.2.1
          11 January 2010 at 9:48 am

          You can start then by taking all of your money out of the bank (including Kiwibank, they use fractional reserve lending), and stashing it under your bed. I on the other hand will continue to seek a favourable rate of return like everyone else.

          • roger nome 4.1.2.1.1
            11 January 2010 at 6:13 pm

            at least with kiwa ibank the profits of the FRB goes back to the state (the people). That’s a far better option than the aussie banks. not optimal however. optimal would be no loans, but public works projects to provide for all housing and transport, funded through a progressive tax system. that would eliminate most inflation and foriegn debt, and we would be a far richer country for it. i won’t hold my breath for our politicians to se sense though….

  5. yess 5
    10 January 2010 at 6:05 pm

    Zetetic is clearly just a union troll.

    IrishBill: the only troll I see here is you. Take a week off.

    • Zetetic 5.1
      10 January 2010 at 6:26 pm

      Don’t know how I can be a troll on a blog I’m a writer for.

      Good to see you have no actual response though. Just a little cry.

      only the weak and the dumb don’t join unions.

      • Noo 5.1.1
        10 January 2010 at 7:35 pm

        Don’t cry too much.

      • Jagilby 5.1.2
        11 January 2010 at 4:47 pm

        “only the weak and the dumb don’t join unions.”

        Or those who have invested their time (and money) to gain skills that are actually valuable in the real world (i.e. not lifetime academics, union hacks, rent-a-mobsters etc).

        • Bright Red 5.1.2.1
          11 January 2010 at 5:20 pm

          doctors, teachers, and other professionals are among the most highly unionised of all. They know it works for them. And what profession doesn’t have some kind of quasi-union like a professional association to look out for members? Hell, even capitalists have unions – BizNZ, Business Roundtable.

          The strong always pool their strength. It is the weak, and usually poor, who have to go it alone, or the scabs who ride on the backs of their unionised co-workers but are too afraid of the bosses to get in the union themselves.

  6. dave brown 6
    10 January 2010 at 6:07 pm

    Who gives a fuck how the banksters cook the books?
    I’m for one big publicly owned Kiwi bank and the other parasites can drop dead.

  7. yess 7
    10 January 2010 at 6:10 pm

    And Dave Brown is clearly deluded.

    • gitmo 7.1
      10 January 2010 at 6:11 pm

      A quick look at redrave’s blog will confirm that.

      • Spider_Pig 7.1.1
        10 January 2010 at 7:59 pm

        I was about to tell him to go live in Cuba, but then had a quick look at his blog. Yes, clearly deluded if he thinks communism is the answer! You would have thought what is happening in China would make these people realise how wrong they are? Controlled socialist economy = poverty and death; Market based economy = ever increasing prosperity

      • dave brown 7.1.2
        10 January 2010 at 9:33 pm

        gitmo you are you happy to be ripped off by aussie banksters obviously you don’t miss the money or yur 1 of them.

        • gitmo 7.1.2.1
          10 January 2010 at 9:45 pm

          Actually I prefer them to be in debt to me than the other way around………… oh noes I is making money off them, I must be a capitalist pig !

          • Macro 7.1.2.1.1
            10 January 2010 at 9:53 pm

            you capitalist pig – you should be making money off NZ owned banks instead like I do!

          • roger nome 7.1.2.1.2
            10 January 2010 at 10:32 pm

            “harder … harder banking man – pound that right-wing mangina!”

            • gitmo 7.1.2.1.2.1
              11 January 2010 at 8:06 am

              I suggest you see a sex therapist.

              • roger nome …
                11 January 2010 at 6:15 pm

                lol – i get plenty of sex therapy from the obliging young ladies of dunedin thanks. anyhow – how is that busted sphincter treating you?

            • gitmo 7.1.2.1.2.2
              11 January 2010 at 7:20 pm

              Yes I hear that they use your mouth as a receptacle for their excrement when you fulfil your fantasy of posing as a public convenience.

              My sphincter’s fine thanks although it may not be tomorrow after the curry I’m having this evening

              • roger nome …
                12 January 2010 at 12:09 am

                still not anything to the debate i see git, just trolling as per usual. still whatever makes life worth while for you. poor unfulfilled soul. i’ll leave you to your sad world.

              • gitmo …
                12 January 2010 at 7:37 am

                Oh the irony

  8. Quoth the Raven 8
    10 January 2010 at 6:42 pm

    We’re underwriting the buggers with the deposit guarantee scheme. And this is how they repay us.

    The deposit guarantee scheme was a blatant bit of corporatism from Labour.

  9. Draco T Bastard 9
    10 January 2010 at 7:04 pm

    Foreign ownership of businesses and land is bad for the economy. Even the university economists know this as they taught me that while I was at university. Then they did the whole but, but, but twisting of basic fact to say that it was all good.

    One day, we’ll fire the bloody economists.

    • Macro 9.1
      10 January 2010 at 8:50 pm

      Ditto that DTB.
      I stopped after several papers – I just couldn’t take any more of their false logic and concentrated on logic and mathematics instead.
      Economists are the soothsayers of the modern era – the high priests who provide the “state” with the justifications for their self-serving actions.

      • Nick C 9.1.1
        11 January 2010 at 12:06 am

        Some people just find different logic applied in different ways/areas more appealing, for example i was never much good at maths.

        Although i suspect in this instance you quit because you found ideology more appealing than logic.

        • roger nome 9.1.1.1
          11 January 2010 at 1:14 am

          you might try providing more rational argument and less speculative opinion next time nick …..

          • Nick C 9.1.1.1.1
            11 January 2010 at 10:04 am

            Well it seems illogical that economists are ‘soothsayers’, given how much time very intelligent people have dedicate to studying it.

            • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1.1.1.1
              11 January 2010 at 10:20 am

              As Steve Keen points out – those economists are still using mathematics from the 19th century ie, mathematics that the mathematicians threw out about a century ago. It’s the economists logic that is wrong – very wrong.

            • lprent 9.1.1.1.1.2
              11 January 2010 at 11:04 am

              Intelligent? Sometimes hard to prove that.

            • Armchair Critic 9.1.1.1.1.3
              11 January 2010 at 11:47 am

              Economics seems to be sociology without the humanity, and dressed in a facade of mathematics to make it look like a respectable science – which it isn’t.

  10. BLiP 10
    10 January 2010 at 7:43 pm

    National Ltd® has started to get its fingers into the pie, plus most of its personal loans come via those fuckers at GE Finance, but anyone not banking here is a mug. For those in need of just basic banking services and those, like me, who want to share the love, these guys are ace as well.

    What are you waiting for . . . more containers of New Zealand currency to be loaded up and shipped off to Aussie before Recession Mk II hits town?

    • Macro 10.1
      10 January 2010 at 8:52 pm

      tsb is bloody good as well

    • tomfarmer 10.2
      10 January 2010 at 9:41 pm

      Blip,

      what distinction if any do you make between currency and money.?

      • BLiP 10.2.1
        11 January 2010 at 2:39 am

        A technical question which raises the wider issue involved – in addition to our cash, the Aussie banks are also exporting jobs, goodwill, their reputation, and whatever skerrick of trust that remained in their relationship with customers.

        • tomfarmer 10.2.1.1
          11 January 2010 at 12:10 pm

          BLip,

          if that answered my query I’ll admit to finding to my surprise (and delight) the avoidance of an ideology which does indeed stipulate a strong and clear distinction between money and currency..

          allow me add, too, that folk with this hang-up are largely and unctuously – nay most unctuously – complexed conservatives. Complexed by their so-called libertarian views.

          For the record, and for those among us curious at their goings on, the fail test is getting Chicagoan economist, Ronald Coase, wrong. BY ignoring his theme in the paper “The Problem of Social Cost”.

          It may help. I think, to take a look at Mark Thoma’s Economist’s View blog just now, who gives the topic a little time and worthwhile perspective.

  11. Rob Carr 11
    10 January 2010 at 7:53 pm

    I knew there was a reason we had Kiwibank.

    • Spider_Pig 11.1
      10 January 2010 at 8:04 pm

      Note that there were already NZ based banks before Kiwibank, such as TSB Bank, but isn’t it great to have the choice? Or would the Leftists here prefer we had no choice and we were all forced to bank with one entity?

      And let’s not stop there. Supermarkets should be nationalised (let’s call it Kiwimarket) also as they make profits and profits equal bad

      • Macro 11.1.1
        10 January 2010 at 9:10 pm

        If you have the time Spider – read Carolyn Steel’s “Hungry City” for a real in-depth examination of just how well those supermarket chains are ripping you off! And yeah in the past states did take ownership of the problem of feeding their people in one way or another. Today the food supply is left almost entirely to nameless faces whose only concern is profit and filling the shelves as and when needed. This process of food distribution means that we now have the most inefficient (in terms of energy consumed) systems imaginable. 1 calorie of grain eaten requires 10 calories of oil. It’s even worse for meat. And 7 times worse again for dairy. The fact is, if we don’t change our ways and soon, we (and i mean the western world) are about to become as hungry as the third world in a few decades time. There won’t be enough phosphorous left for “conventional’ farming practices – we are throwing it all away into landfills (one third of food in developed countries is thrown away) and discharging it in large quantities as effluent (human) into the sea.

      • dave brown 11.1.2
        10 January 2010 at 9:35 pm

        Spider pig you catch on fast where will you stop?
        FUNDAMENTALLY

  12. Bill 12
    10 January 2010 at 8:01 pm

    Buggery is only step one.

    Step two is when they scrape you off the floor and bleed you dry…”Cerberus Capital (…) recently made a $1.8 billion killing on their human plasma investment, (…) Talecris, which they bought for a mere $82.5 million just four years earlier. Meaning Cerberus made 23 times their investment on human plasma. They did it by the most savage, heartless means possible: by paying peanuts to their impoverished human plasma donors, (…) jacking up the price of plasma by restricting supply (a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission accused Cerberus Plasma Holdings of “operat[ing] as an oligopoly’), and then selling the refined products to the most desperately ill, patients (…). The products cost so much—one, IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) cost twice the price of gold as of last summer — that American health insurance companies have been dropping or denying their policy holders in increasing numbers, endangering untold numbers.”

  13. tomfarmer 13
    10 January 2010 at 9:28 pm

    Would it profit you folks to know of whether the NZ government bank guarantee scheme is yet a margin trade arrangement..?

    Not saying it is you understand, only asking..

  14. Policy Parrot 14
    10 January 2010 at 9:37 pm

    I would expect that the pre-announced profits of the big 4 would include the IRD’s conditional liability, plus spare for interest penalties, court costs etc. The fact that they chose not to appeal (in the final instance to Supreme Court) probably meant that they saved considerable interest, penalty and court costs, plus the judgement was smaller than some observers projected.

    This is probably responsible for the difference between profit and dividends in this instance. As Spider-pig says, it has more to do with retained earnings, and cashflow in the short-term than profits. However, these companies are required to conform to minimum liquidity standards under NZ statute, and it might be interesting to see how much closer this dividend round brought them to that. Would also be interesting if such a large discrepancy between profits and dividends would be possible without the luxury of a NZ government backed deposit guarantee.

    If the banks are abusing the safety net of the deposit guarantee system, it might be time to review its broad-based approach.

  15. quenchino 15
    10 January 2010 at 10:48 pm

    If the banks are abusing the safety net of the deposit guarantee system, it might be time to review its broad-based approach.

    Unfortunately no one nation can easily afford to remove it’s scheme precipitately, without money being rapidly pulled out of that country to others that were still perceived as ‘safe’.

    Indeed I recall Dr Cullen saying at the time it was introduced how reluctant he was about it all, and that he expected it would have ‘perverse effects at the margins’. He also expressed an even bigger long term concern about how it would all be unwound in any sort of co-ordinated fashion… as obviously the banks would have no incentive to co-operate and would play off one nation’s govt against the other in order to delay matters as long as possible.

  16. Noo 16
    11 January 2010 at 6:33 am

    Oh my god, where do you guys get your material Zetetic, Roger Nome, blip et al? You really are deluded.

  17. Gosman 17
    11 January 2010 at 9:22 am

    If this analysis is correct and not just a pile of leftist nonsense then Kiwibank should be raking in either new customers and/or profits. I can assure you that none of those things are happening. Kiwibank is making a slow and steady growth in customers, and Profits are okay but not spectacular.

    • Pascal's bookie 17.1
      11 January 2010 at 10:04 am

      I’d say bank switching is a fairly sticky thing. It’s a pain in the arse.

      • Gosman 17.1.1
        11 January 2010 at 10:25 am

        Bank switching is much easier than you realise. Certainly all the Retail Banks I have worked for have not thought it is easy to hold onto customers.

        • Pascal's bookie 17.1.1.1
          11 January 2010 at 10:33 am

          “Certainly all the Retail Banks I have worked for have not thought it is easy to hold onto customers.”

          Heh 😉

        • roger nome 17.1.1.2
          12 January 2010 at 10:17 am

          am i to understand that you have no knowledge of the excessive fees that banks charge in the event that you switch your mortgauge over to another bank?

    • lprent 17.2
      11 January 2010 at 11:25 am

      Gosman: Perhaps you should put this statement into perspective.

      Kiwibank is making a slow and steady growth in customers, and Profits are okay but not spectacular.

      Growth in customers is always expensive. The strategy choice in any business is usually to either increase customer or increase profits at any particular point in time. It is usually difficult to do both. Kiwibank looks like it is managing it.

      But from what I understand is that few if any of the other banks are increasing in customers at all. So they don’t have any of the same business factors.

      Your statement is a bit meaningless without context, if fact it almost looks like it was there more for effect than anything serious.

      • Gosman 17.2.1
        12 January 2010 at 8:40 am

        The NZ banking market is very mature. Hence why there aren’t any massive growth in Customers from the established banks. However the point is if the analysis behind the post that started this thread was correct then Kiwibank would be beating off the new customers that would be trying to join and/or making super profits along the lines of what is be suggested the Aussie banks are making. I can assure you this is not the case.

  18. Murray 18
    11 January 2010 at 11:31 am

    i did read somewhere that the main reason NZ weathered the recession so well was because of the stability of the Aussie banks

    • tomfarmer 18.1
      11 January 2010 at 11:54 am

      Murray,

      the source – preferably online – would be nice. Perhaps even helpful.

      Timing, too, since pre-Ratings Agency revaluations and related consequential events might enable greater validity to/for this information.

      • Gosman 18.1.1
        11 January 2010 at 8:13 pm

        What happened is that the Kiwi subsidaries of Aussie banks relied heavily on their parent organisations to source cheap capital. Hence why we didn’t suffer a credit crunch on the scale of the US or UK.

        It is one of the big problems Kiwibank is facing as it has to source capital from the open market or from deposits, which is a hell of a lot more expensive than what the Aussie own banks can get their working capital for.

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  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    7 hours ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    8 hours ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    10 hours ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    12 hours ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    18 hours ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    19 hours ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    19 hours ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    21 hours ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    22 hours ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    22 hours ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    22 hours ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    22 hours ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    22 hours ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    23 hours ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 day ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    38 mins ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
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    1 day ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
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    1 day ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
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    1 day ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
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    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
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    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
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    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
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    4 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
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    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
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    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
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    4 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
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    7 days ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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