Frozen meat

Written By: - Date published: 10:33 am, May 20th, 2013 - 92 comments
Categories: trade - Tags:

The Right’s fairytale machine makes a lot of Key’s supposed ability to charm foreign leaders and open doors for Kiwi trade (despite the fact that none of the FTA talks he has begun show signs of conclusion). Well, the door slammed shut for meat exports to China at the end of April. National managed to keep that secret until after the budget. No wonder, it exposes the failure of Key’s international relations style.

Just going around, having your photo taken with famous people, wearing silly hats, and filling in the rest of your time with photo-ops like (seriously) going to a Chinese pizzeria that stocks Kiwi ice cream, isn’t actually diplomacy. O’Sullivan and co like to spin that Key has made deep personal relationships with foreign leaders. But think about it, if you were the leader of a major world power and Key visited you, would he leave any lasting impression? He might be nice, but so what, you’re responsible for the direction of a world power – nice don’t enter into it. Only strategic interests matter.

As we’ve now discovered, all the clowning around in the world doesn’t mean that Key and his ministers can get the Chinese government to listen to them when the shit hits the fan. Some level of the Chinese government (presumably a senior one) has decided that it is in its domestic interests to be seen to block Kiwi meat imports and protect its own farmers (the ministry name change is obviously a pretext). Or, perhaps, they’re just testing our response.

How long will the exclusion go on for? Who knows. China doesn’t need New Zealand’s meat imports and trying to explain the ministry name change to the officials hasn’t worked in the past three weeks.

Of course, in some ways, the blame goes back before Key. The neoliberal governments gave away our bargaining power in trade and, just as importantly, the culture of realism in trade relations. We lowered all our trade barriers unilaterally rather than as part of FTAs, so now we have nothing to put back up on China for violation of its FTA with us.

And we don’t even have the culture of eye for eye that you need to be respected on the world stage. Why don’t our officials suddenly create a paperwork catch-22 for Chinese agricultural imports that sees the $200m a year of such goods that they send here blocked at the border?

Don’t give me that ‘peashooter on a battlefield’ argument – when it comes to trade (and exchange rate) when can trade blows with much larger countries because our trade flows to and from each other are of comparable scale.

So, why aren’t we fighting fire with fire?

Because we don’t know how to play rough anymore. We can’t even imagine it. For China, and anyone else, that’s an invitation to work all over us whenever it suits them.

….. on the domestic front, Nathan Guy’s career is surely over. He hid this from the Kiwi public until after the Budget on purpose and now he has made the fatal mistake of failing to front to media. They smell blood.

92 comments on “Frozen meat ”

  1. A naive judgement to partner up with China. Lest we forget.

  2. The PM is dead meat.

    • aerobubble 2.1

      A CEO of any company that altered the brand (this case MAF) and hadn’t got downstream buy in (China) would be fired by the board.

  3. Dv 3

    Why did not some one think that the name change could cause an issue?

    AND is the Zespri issue related, where a NZ company seemed to create dual invoices to avoid duty.
    And then these “NEW” export certificates show up for the meat.

    China has been difficult to trade with for a long time.
    I have read many articles about business people who have come to grief in china.

    Does anyone think that Nikki Kaye and Nathan Guy can sort it out?

    • tricledrown 3.1

      yeah remember the hoovercraft designer who was ripped off by by patsy wongs husband and jenny shipleys company!

    • Poission 3.2

      Why did not some one think that the name change could cause an issue?

      They did,however these positions were disestablished by MFAT and MAF.

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 3.2.1

        Incompetence, or a deliberate attempt to smash the government?

        Let’s worry about the niceties of the National Party’s motivation when we have our foot on their throat.

  4. BM 4

    Another government department fuck up.
    Fucking useless, no wonder no one has any respect for the public service.

    • tricledrown 4.1

      BM its their leadership under Nactional that is at fault who changed the name Nactional!
      Shifting the blame is your silly game!

      • BM 4.1.1

        Nonsense, this is just another government dept cock up, must drive ministers mad having to rely on such drek.
        Public servants seem to have this amazing ability to fuck up even the most simplists of tasks.

        • Te Reo Putake 4.1.1.1

          ” … even the most simplists of tasks”

          Like being able to write in English?

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 4.1.1.2

          In fact, your mate Slippery has owned up: he says he demanded the Chinese fast track some meat factories and this is their response.

        • tricledrown 4.1.1.3

          well Big Mouth you seem to be able to f up the simple lists in your sentences and obviously being a supporter of this bungling govt the evidence is that your an example of your govts incompetency!

    • prism 4.2

      BM You agree that you are no-one!

    • Te Reo Putake 4.3

      Another BM f+ck up. F+cking useless, no wonder no one has any respect for BM.

      http://www.readersdigest.co.nz/new-zealands-most-trusted-professions-2012

    • Lightly 4.4

      If it really is a naming problem, then this is what you get when you don’t spend the money you need to on your public service.

      But it’s more likely a sounding out of our responsiveness to trade war tactics.

    • felix 4.5

      “Another government department fuck up.”

      Yep, they’re pretty much continuous under National. Guess they shouldn’t have sacked so many of the people who used to do this work.

    • Murray Olsen 4.6

      MFAT was working OK before it was downsized, rebranded, restructured, renamed, and made more efficient. Public servants didn’t do that.
      On another point: the type of FTA deals that our governments sign never seem to open too many foreign doors, but they do leave ours blowing in the wind.

      • McFlock 4.6.1

        most of the public service was doing a solid job under labour – a few exceptions, but the exception rather than the rule.

        It’s amazing how shite it becomes when you fire large chunks of the public sector and make up legislation and organisations as you go along

        • BM 4.6.1.1

          I have a sneaky suspicion all the socialists within the public service are purposely trying to undermine the government by doing an even more crappier job than usual.

          Might be about time the NZSIS had a look into the backgrounds of some of these “public servants”, find out who these individuals are really working for.

          • Arfamo 4.6.1.1.1

            Nobody could do as a good a job of undermining the government as their supporters. Downsizing with consequent headless chookery is to be expected and is being delivered courtesy of National.

            • BM 4.6.1.1.1.1

              Lots of really suspicious stuff going on in the public service.
              Endless “leaks” and fuck ups seem to be the order of the day, one starts to get the feeling that there are elements within the public service that are actively working against the government and the people of NZ.
              These individuals need to be rooted out and destroyed.

              • Arfamo

                No, one gets the impression having been through similar previous public service downsizing and restructurings that there are now too few staff to do the job properly and too many dipstick managers who have no freakin idea what resources are actually needed or what their staff do.

              • fender

                You say the stupidest things BM. People risking their jobs just to stick it up Nact?
                Whatever conspiracy boy. There are so many jobs around to be had you must be correct.

                Key is the one who needs to be spied on, he’s not trustworthy and the Chinese have picked up on his lying eyes.

                • BM

                  Fanatics aren’t really renown for their logical thinking.
                  Plenty of labour/green nutbars out there ready to sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the COLLECTIVE!!!

                  • Arfamo

                    “Fanatics aren’t really renown for their logical thinking.”

                    As you consistently exemplify. Your paranoia needs treatment, not expression.

                  • Colonial Viper

                    You do realise the Collective includes you, right?

                  • Clockie

                    Bloody subversive pinko commies (“grunt-slaver-oink”), time to have a house committee investigation into un Noo Zild activities in the public sector, to be quickly followed by mobile death-squads throughout the land.

                    • NickS

                      BM is pretty much incapable of understanding why and how to co-operate and the role of co-operation in building human society over history in zero-sum interactions. Thus, I recommend mentally kill-filing him unless you’re feeling evil.

                    • NickS

                      And that reply went to the wrong place…

                  • McFlock

                    As opposed to the logic that suggests that growing failures in a system are due to hidden socialists rather than the massive cuts over the last four years.

                    Fuck off to whaleoil, he wants his bullshit back.

              • Colonial Viper

                These individuals need to be rooted out and destroyed.

                Ahhhh…the NACT leadership philosophy:

                “There shall be daily beatings until morale improves!!!”

              • Clockie

                @ BM 7.09

                “These individuals need to be rooted out and destroyed.”

                YES ! Lets turn the SIS and GCIS into the NKVD..

                I can think of a number of right wing politicians and functionaries who would love to step up to the plate in order to carry out the interrogations, beatings and executions..

              • Murray Olsen

                Yes, let’s start with Paula Bennett who leaked private citizen details. She should be rooted out and destroyed.
                Then we can move on to Michelle Boag. Good thinking, BM.

              • Roy

                ‘These individuals need to be rooted out and destroyed.’
                Now you are sounding like Josef Stalin.

  5. ghostrider888 5

    Behave towards everyone as if receiving a great guest.

    Learning without thought is labour lost. Thought without learning is perilous.

    Straightforwardness, without the rules of propriety, becomes rudeness.

    (imagine, if you will, how the powerful Chinese authorities perceive our Prime Minister and trade politicians).

  6. One Anonymous Knucklehead 6

    Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to destroy the public service with no regard for the consequences, using threats of unemployment to silence independent advice.

    • ghostrider888 7.1

      interesting that Tim Ritchie, of the Meat Industry Association, was not so relaxed about the matter; some spin or what.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 7.2

      Nice of him to admit this is the Chinese authorities’ response to his demands.

      • ghostrider888 7.2.1

        I thought that was hilarious OAK; does he think NZ is stupid, oh wait…it was Radio Live.

  7. prism 8

    I’m on a Terry Pratchett Discworld study of how to conduct devious dealings. Lord Vetinari would know that such things as the Chinese hold-up could occur and have aces up his sleeve.
    We have ACT, the little guys with big mouths, as simple and limited in their understanding of what matters and what standards we should hold as guys playing a sports game. Sports have many regulations and can be scammed. Trade individual and country to country, has infinite possible complications.

    And the first item I heard about this meat business was that it had been known about for a month.
    As further news came along the time was whittled down – so soon it will be ‘a number of days’.

    In NZ those who succeed at something then think that automatically they know about everything. Whereas research (can’t remember where) showed that generally NZ businesspeople get enough to have a big house, a beamer and overseas holidays staying at expensive venues – then their thinking brain shuts down, and only the most primitive part of the amgydala operates.
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/a/amygdala.htm

    • Colonial Viper 8.1

      Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

      What is interesting are the wealthy types who can’t ever get beyond their base needs like food, clothing and shelter. When they should have enough of those things they simple choose to get into ever more expensive and refined tastes in food, clothing and shelter, instead of moving into social, emotional and spiritual development.

      • Populuxe1 8.1.1

        And what did you have for dinner, CV? Ortolan? Veal stuffed with foie gras and caviar? Baby panda in it’s mother’s milk? With a Château Lafite Rothschild 1982? I’m sure your wife’s father’s money affords much “social, emotional and spiritual development”.

        • Colonial Viper 8.1.1.1

          Thanks for making my point.

          btw Veuve Clicquot (NV) is fine for a Monday. Anything more could be considered extravagant.

          • NickS 8.1.1.1.1

            And amusingly enough, much of the hype/taste claims about really high end wines are empirically bullshit 😉

            So for NZ$30-40 on a wine you’ll do fine, anything above that is just wasted money on keeping up with teh Joneses or foolishly trying to appear sophisticated.

  8. Dv 9

    But it doesnt make sense.
    Meat had access before keys trip to China.

    >He said in his recent trip to China, he put pressure on the country to authorise a few of New Zealand’s production plants because of the high quality. “The Chinese accommodated us, but the paperwork hadn’t caught up,” he told RadioLive.

    Paper work for plants? Not meat!!!

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 9.1

      “Put pressure”.

      Is he serious? Yeah, I bet they felt really pressurised. Then they decided to pop him like a zit.

    • Colonial Viper 9.2

      What the Chinese really want to see now is the firing of independent government meat inspectors, and the introduction of private sector self inspection in our meatworks.

      Go for gold Key!!! You can do it lad!

  9. Pete 10

    Prime Ministers, Trade Ministers and Ministers of Foreign Affairs don’t do diplomacy, they do photo-ops. All that messy, technical detail is hashed out by public servants negotiating with their counterparts and then it’s sent upstairs for approval. Of course, if you kneecap your diplomatic corps, you’re going to suffer some serious consequences sooner or later.

    Edit: this may be either a case of the Chinese being exceedingly bureaucratic, or they may be trying to send us a message on several issues. The Dalai Lama is visiting the country soon. Further, they may be concerned about our rapprochement with the US as the Americans pivot their foreign policy towards Asia. Of course, the policy wonks at MFAT have been decimated, so who’s going to read those particular tea leaves?

    • prism 10.1

      Pete
      Taiwan is moving faster to an agreement with us before it gets boxed out by the TPP or that’s what I picked up from the news. How is the ‘rapprochement’ between them an China now?
      We tend to get our tea leaves from Sri Lanka now, so they’re out for info.

      And we’ll get on down and crawl along the red carpet after the Yanks, the Nacts have always loved them, so glamorous, and they speak English or nearly. And they have never been charged a poll tax to come to NZ, so have been the bees knees.

      • Tim 10.1.1

        “And we’ll get on down and crawl along the red carpet after the Yanks, the Nacts have always loved them, so glamorous, and they speak English or nearly” …..

        and of course they’re Masters of the Universe – the disposition John Key likes to display whilst on his little jaunts with his wannabe Masters of the Universe during ‘talks’ and ‘foto-ops’.

        It’s a disposition that often goes down like a cup of cold sick by his hosts, though diplomacy and good manners often prevent those hosts from saying so (not that John Key would hear them anyway).

      • History of Violence 10.1.2

        Send the shipment to Taiwan as a trade sweetener at a discount We will end up discounting it anyway or dumping it, lets make our own statement. That will piss them off.
        Let them eat their own plastic milk powder as well.
        Previous poster was correct its just the chinks putting their foot on our throat because that’s the way they operate, they aren’t nice, like crocodiles they will just wait for these chances with a smile.
        Classic Asian MO, from experience stand up,to them hard.
        Many years ago brought container of batteries from China, just crap, told supplier was going to drop off outside Chinese Embassy, loaded into truck sent photo was on way, low level brinksmanship but worked. Was going to as we’ll.
        Who’s idea was it to rebrand MFAT anyway, why? How much? Still thinks its a good idea?
        Guys a joke, lets make 5 November Guy Fucks Up Day. Don’t blow up Parliament though we will need it next year.

  10. Ancient Ruin 11

    Has this anything to do with a trade deal with Taiwan? China finding a way to spite that particular transaction?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8691400/NZ-close-to-Taiwan-free-trade-agreement

    • Arfamo 11.1

      Good point.

      From your link: “Sources say negotiations have been progressing smoothly and the most complicated issues, including the vexed issue of Taiwan’s complicated relationship with mainland China, are already largely resolved.”

      Perhaps the “sources” were unreliable spin-meisters?

  11. emergency mike 12

    “Some level of the Chinese government (presumably a senior one) has decided that it is in its domestic interests to be seen to block Kiwi meat imports and protect its own farmers (the ministry name change is obviously a pretext).”

    So is this the same John Key that was recently a guest in China and took the opportunity to announce that his country would fight against China’s ally North Korea?

  12. prism 13

    emergency mike
    You are making it so hard for Key with your rotten questions. /sarc Soon he’ll be at the stage where he wakes up in the morning but can’t make up his mind to get out and face the day. What to do? Which way to go? What should I say that will give me the biggest advantage?

  13. ropata 14

    The only solution is to sell more NZ farms to China, that way they will obtain more meat and dairy from our fair unpolluted lands, without the need for pesky trade rules (or employment contracts or RMA)

    /sarc

  14. ak 15

    Snuggling up to Taiwan.

    Stating military support for South Korea.

    But most directly insulting, and probably never forgotten; talking publicly about China “extending its tentacles in the South Pacific”.

    Thanks Johnny. Decades of work down the drain with one ignorant wank.

    • Arfamo 15.1

      I think you may be onto something here. A simple notification of a name change of a certifying authority should have been easy to arrange. I don’t think that’s the problem. Is is not a fairly common PRC government approach when they are unhappy with statements by the leaders of other countries to suddenly do something like this? As a very effective way of letting the offending country know not to insult them and make them lose face like this again?

      • ak 15.1.1

        Correct, Arfa. I’d suspect some additional gruesome emission has slipped from the gob of the greasy geek who’s just visited – and they might’ve also learned well from our own dear old poms, who used to use even more slippery excuses to placate and pamper their own cockies.

    • kiwicommie 15.2

      Yep, piss off the Chinese leadership; great foreign policy John.

  15. Steve 16

    Funny how Audrey Young, of the Herald (John Keys chief cheerleader) has gone silent.Here were her China headlines a month ago.”A new era of trust with China” “Key raises a glass to China friendship” “New Zealand gets a lot of attention” “Charm and NZ-China friendship need boost of Fifth Milestone” Yeah Right

    • kiwicommie 16.1

      I think the media are starting to realize their cheerleading is no longer bringing them the flowers it used to. Check the comments in the Herald or on Stuff, the most thumbs up are usually for comments that disagree with the government. 😉

  16. Steve 17

    The problem won’t be solved till they sort out the paperwork I.e. Many large paper bags filled with cash like the suitcases for Zespri.

  17. fambo 18

    Time to boycott $2 shops!

    • kiwicommie 18.1

      Why not go there more often, the more pressure on National the better.

  18. BeeDee 19

    “Has this anything to do with a trade deal with Taiwan? China finding a way to spite that particular transaction?” and “talking publicly about China “extending its tentacles in the South Pacific”.”
    To which add bad publicity over university papers being written and sold for Chinese students’ to pass degrees in NZ. Loss of face in our media, when China would expect censorship of such matters.

    • kiwicommie 19.1

      I think the Chinese government has given up trying to understand National, since this meat disaster I wouldn’t be surprised if China is looking forward to a change of government in New Zealand too.

  19. Arfamo 20

    On reflection, and reading comments above, John Key has said and done a number of things that the Chinese government will not be at all happy about. They have waited until the right moment and retaliated, just to let him (and successive NZ governments) know who actually holds the cards and what is expected to be said (or not said), and done (or not done) in respect of trade and diplomatic relationships with PRC. I think they have given John Key a lesson in realpolitik. And look at how effective it has been. He made their officials and leaders look less important than other leaders and officials he courts – like the US. Now they have done the same to him and his officials.

    • kiwicommie 20.1

      They don’t like John Key sucking up the US in several matters, John Key unraveled all the careful work Helen Clark and Winston Peters did in foreign policy i.e. keeping the US happy, while keeping China and others happy. I wouldn’t describe the last Labour government’s foreign policy as a perfect balancing act, but they couldn’t have made as big a blunder as National has done with this meat issue, they understood that there is only so far you can go in befriending a nation before you upset other nations.

  20. Myrlock 21

    I would like to know if the meat is really frozen or if the meat is live? We export live cows to China now.

  21. freedom 22

    Nathan Guy in full patronizing mode on NAtRad

    ‘You have to understand Kathryn, we are a trading Nation”

    WTF

  22. Poission 23

    China has been using the Farrar school of statistics methodology in their BOP Accounts.

    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-20/china-trade-surplus-seen-by-bofa-at-one-tenth-official-figure.html

  23. unicus 24

    Key like all delusional individuals has swallowed his own bullshit – he thought the Chinese liked him – he tried to leverage influence off the reputation’s of real New Zealand leaders ( Rewi Alley – Helen Clarke et al ) – they have spat in his face and good on them .

  24. Poission 25

    in RNZ ag report there was an interesting development..

    Namely that the meme promoted by Key,that meat exports are being held due to the name change on the phytosanitary certificates was the reason.As the same name change has not affected other exports such as dairy etc implies that Key is misleading the media and public once again.

    • Arfamo 25.1

      Exactly. I think John Key is being given a lesson by the PRC government. Part of the lesson requires that he think about why he’s being given a lesson, another part requires that he be made to look like an impotent fool to the NZ public.

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    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    23 hours ago
  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • 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 ...
    24 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
    1 day 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
    1 day ago
  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep 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 thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats 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. Heres 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. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen 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 ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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, ...
    2 days 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, ...
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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
    2 days 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 ...
    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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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 ...
    4 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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 ...
    4 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours 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
    18 hours 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
    19 hours 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
    19 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
    20 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
    20 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
    22 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
    1 day 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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 - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days 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
    2 days 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 days ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
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