Gender and the census

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 pm, March 4th, 2013 - 102 comments
Categories: Social issues - Tags: ,

Question 25 of the 2013 New Zealand Census asks:

Are you:

  • male
  • female

Spot the problem.

In response to queries on the topic, the very-helpful 2013 Census Twitter account @2013Census has said:

We just ask that people mark the response that shows how they are living their lives

Which is nice, but (a) sex and gender aren’t the same thing and (b) “male” and “female” and “are you” seem pretty inflexible.

A Facebook campaign has kicked off (well, was kicked off in 2011 when the Census was meant to be on) calling on people to tick both boxes for “gender” in order to confound the results.  Unfortunately, it’s not going to work, per @2013Census:

If the question about sex isn’t answered, or there are multiple repsonses, a response is imputed based on other answers

I’ve now asked what happens if you currently “live your life” as a man, but have given birth to babies – and thus would tick male but not skip question 25?  Which ticky-box does the “imputation” favour?  The response is:

If they’re completing their forms online they won’t be able to. If on paper it will come up with an error when the form is processed

At which point I presume they start “imputing” things again.

Here’s the clincher: despite the good key message about “how you live your life”, the fact is that the 2011 Census Content Report, when outlining why the sex question (and yep, they say “sex”, not “gender”) was not changed from 2006, says:

Sex refers to the distinction between males and females based on the biological differences in sexual characteristics.

Which pretty much seems to boil down to “penis male, vagina female”.  Hence the whole “only females can have given birth” assumption.

As 3News (but not Patrick Gower, alas) has recently covered, collecting data in this way is pretty limiting.  It means we just don’t have an overall national picture of sex and gender diversity among New Zealanders as a whole.  Think about this:  all the trans women who tick “female” but have birthed “0” children pull the fertility measurement down, while all the trans men who tick “male” but have had, say, triplets, aren’t included.

You instantly head to the comment box to say “but there aren’t that many trans men who’ve had triplets, QoT, so it doesn’t really hurt the data” but how the fuck would you KNOW?

While other government departments might collect this kind of information in their own ways, the issues are pretty obvious:  when Health collects information it’s only collecting it from people who are ill or injured; when Corrections does it it’s only collecting it from people who get into the criminal justice system.

Census needs to do a better job of collecting meaningful data about New Zealanders.  Unfortunately, double-ticking the sex box (yep, that sounds good and dirty) is only going to take up computer time.

102 comments on “Gender and the census ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. vto 1
    4 March 2013 at 7:49 pm

    I like all this important stuff and I’m especially looking forward to ticking the white middle class male box. Not that I am ONE OF THOSE, but I most certainly likes the idea of confounding the statisticians and shoving their big nosey noses back up their own noses, yesireee.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.1
      4 March 2013 at 7:56 pm

      ^^ Indicative of a person who has NFI just how important census information actually is to his life.

      • vto 1.1.1
        4 March 2013 at 8:01 pm

        fair enough – have had plenty people say that over the years. I’m sure you’re right mr bastard but various anti genes simply shove the other genes aside. I’m sure they allow for all types in their parameter machines…

        • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1.1
          5 March 2013 at 7:16 am

          fair enough – have had plenty people say that over the years.

          Then perhaps you should start listening.

          • marty mars 1.1.1.1.1
            5 March 2013 at 1:45 pm

            + 1 You should start listening vto – you might end up learning something/s

            • vto 1.1.1.1.1.1
              5 March 2013 at 4:04 pm

              You should start saying something useful and talk to the points instead of chasing me around and giving me the bash every single fucking boring time. Abuser.

              • marty mars …
                5 March 2013 at 5:33 pm

                I did talk to the point – the point of you not listening then, now or seemingly into the future.

                I am not chasing you around or giving you the ‘bash’ or being an ‘abuser’ but the non-hidden subtext of what you wrote is there don’t worry bigot.

                • vto …
                  5 March 2013 at 9:27 pm

                  Well mr racist you are chasing me around. Do you have anything useful to say or do I have to waste time and energy arguing like a schoolgirl with you.

                  You are a dipshit.

                  • marty mars …
                    6 March 2013 at 5:58 am

                    wow three nearly insults in a couple of sentences – going for the record there vot lol. What a sad sack of thickshit you are – following you around? I wish you they had taken up your request to ban you. Just don’t reply if you don’t want more – simple enough for even you to understand duh. Oh and nice to see a racist sexist bigot like you call me that insult FFS do you even know what the words mean thickshit?

                    • vto …
                      6 March 2013 at 8:28 am

                      Schoolgirl it is then. Your actions in following me around and solely commenting on my person instead of the issues are the actions of a bully too.

                      Kind of fits with your silly immature approach to most everything else like the treaty, where you show zero thought application and merely follow the popular girls around.

                      do you have any original thoughts? do you have anything original?

      • muzza 1.1.2
        5 March 2013 at 8:34 am

        Spoken like a person who has NFI what else the census is used for!

        • vto 1.1.2.1
          5 March 2013 at 8:45 am

          Well muzza and dtb just above, I am more persuaded by the points below at 5 and 5.1 than your opinions on this matter.

          The rest of New Zealand, represented via government, has lost my confidence in the way it acts against me and my family as a government and it simply will not happen. I do not trust the government. Its current leaders are corrupt and are liars. Many government departments either intentionally or purposefully misuse exactly this information. Government misuses its power all the time.

          When I get honesty, credibility, competency and reasonableness of action (e.g. EQC) then I will reconsider. But quite frankly NZ has created an organisation that fails and I’m against it. There will be no cooperation until then. Unfortunate isn’t it.

          That may well be a case, to an extent, of biting off one’s nose to spite the face, but it aint quite is it. It is something different.

          • muzza 1.1.2.1.1
            5 March 2013 at 8:50 am

            VTO, my comment was aimed at DTB – check the indenting – edit not working so could not amend it to include DTB..

          • handle 1.1.2.1.2
            5 March 2013 at 8:51 am

            It pays to bite the right nose. The Statistics department has no relationship with the problems you and others have been having with EQC.

            • vto 1.1.2.1.2.1
              5 March 2013 at 8:57 am

              Not my problem handle, and that is pathetic reasoning in light of the points made. Noted mr muzza, woops

    • McFlock 1.2
      4 March 2013 at 8:05 pm

      Combination of European/pakeha, Male, and income bracket.

  2. the pigman 2
    4 March 2013 at 7:50 pm

    file under: “first world problems”

    • TheContrarian 2.1
      4 March 2013 at 7:52 pm

      Heh

    • Colonial Viper 2.2
      4 March 2013 at 8:13 pm

      Yep. Mind you, we are a first world nation. Having said that, the statisticians will not want to see this question removed or changed as it will obliterate comparability with all previous data.

      • QoT 2.2.1
        4 March 2013 at 8:35 pm

        As my post notes, they have seriously considered the question on several occasions, and there are plenty of other questions which have changed (like “New Zealander” as an ethnicity option *shudder*), been added, or been removed over time as data needs have changed.

        • vto 2.2.1.1
          4 March 2013 at 8:39 pm

          why would you shudder at that?

          • Colonial Weka 2.2.1.1.1
            4 March 2013 at 9:01 pm

            NZer isn’t an ethnicity. It’s a nationality. Big difference.

          • Pascal's bookie 2.2.1.1.2
            4 March 2013 at 9:02 pm

            I shudder at it.

            Firstly, NZer is a nationality not an ethnicity.

            now that might sound a bit pedantic, but it matters,

            because,

            If you conflate them you are saying that in your mind this an ethnic state. That there is a thing called an ethnic New Zealander, (whatever that is), and some others, who are what exactly? Not New Zealanders? So who are these non-New-Zealanders then? Those who describe themselves as being Maori, Pacific Islander, Asian, Celtic, you get the point. Those people are not New Zealanders, not really, not ethnically, not in the way New Zealanders are.

            That’s fucked up for starters.

            Secondly the sole reason it’s included, even though it makes no sense, is because people objected to being categorised as ‘european’, (and fair enough), but also objected to the word ‘Pakeha’, which means exactly the thing they were saying European doesn’t mean for them. But they don’t want to call themselves Pakeha because err, reasons, but can’t think of anything to call themselves, so decided that they are the real NZers, and that everyone else, isn’t.

            So that’s why it makes me shudder.

            It’s lame arsed childish racism at best, and proto-fascist racial statism at worst.

            • vto 2.2.1.1.2.1
              4 March 2013 at 9:14 pm

              Well I did wonder all those types of things, but firstly what you describe there doesn’t fit a definition of ethnicity.

              Secondly, your sentence “Those who describe themselves as being Maori, Pacific Islander, Asian, Celtic, you get the point. Those people are not New Zealanders, not really, not ethnically, not in the way New Zealanders are.” kind of defeats itself.

              Thirdly, why do you assume only white NZers may want to identify with New Zealand culture?

              Fourthly, how on earth is it racism? If anything it removes race entirely from the issue. The third point above in fact points to the racism being in the other direction.

              Fifthly, is it not possible to identify with more than one ethnicity? Is it not possible to have an ethnicity and then a ‘sub-ethnicity’? (without any inference of inferiority).

              Sixthly, the point was more about the shudder than the actual point of QoT’s. She has shown a consistent hostility towards white NZ over a considerable period and it was aimed more at this stereotyping and abuse (stereotype plus abuse equals bigotry).

              Seventhly, surely you can see that an ethnicity can develop from a group fo people living in one place for a period of time and developing their own culture. That is after all how all other ethnicities have developed. Or can that not happen in these islands..

              Eighthly, see point firstly. I fail to see how anything you said there relates to ethnicity and its definition.

              • QoT …
                4 March 2013 at 9:18 pm

                She has shown a consistent hostility towards white NZ over a considerable period

                Citation or fuck off out of my post.

                • vto …
                  4 March 2013 at 9:21 pm

                  Ban me.

                  The post you did on the land deal at the naval base.

                  The post you did on tv3 racism just last week.

                  Proof. Want more?

                  Bigot.

                  • Colonial Weka …
                    4 March 2013 at 9:22 pm

                    Quote and link, vto.

                    • QoT …
                      4 March 2013 at 9:37 pm

                      Well, and then he’s got the trouble of establishing that I hate all white people, or something. Because apparently “being critical of racism” is the same thing in vto’s head.

                    • vto …
                      4 March 2013 at 9:43 pm

                      heh, look sorry for the vibrancy of my go at you. (Need to keep calm calm and be more diplomatic). Let’s take that issue up again some other time and not derail your post.

                    • QoT …
                      4 March 2013 at 9:45 pm

                      No, vto, let’s not take the issue up again, because I’m sick of your bullshit misrepresentation of my arguments.

                    • vto …
                      4 March 2013 at 10:07 pm

                      What, let’s not discuss what are weaknesses in your opinions in my opinion? That doesn’t seem to fit within the realm of blog thrashings on here.

                      And here is a link to that Devonport article. The post of yours which referenced no evidence to support the claims made. Not even a search of the linked docs referred to any of those assumptions of yours. In my opinion it simply showed a real deepset animosity towards certain ethnic types in NZ. http://thestandard.org.nz/new-record-set-in-ironic-racism/#comment-458064

                    • Colonial Weka …
                      4 March 2013 at 10:22 pm

                      One link doesn’t demonstrate ‘consistency over a period of time’. And being sarcastic about Devonport pakeha doesn’t demonstrate ‘hostility towards white NZ’.

                    • marty mars …
                      5 March 2013 at 1:54 pm

                      ahh such sweet memories – that thread you linked to doesn’t do your credibility any favours vto – try listening to what others are saying – it’s not that fucken hard mate, jeez

                    • vto …
                      5 March 2013 at 4:07 pm

                      Oh look, there’s marty mars again not addressing the subject in any sense, just me.

              • Pascal's bookie …
                4 March 2013 at 9:25 pm

                All righty, define ethnicity.

                But however you do it, you’re going to be left with the idea that, if you have NZer as an ethnicity, then you are saying that it is different from Maori, as an ethnicity.

                Which will be saying that ‘Maor’i aren’t ‘NZers’ unless they subscribe to being this NZer ethnicity (whatever that is).

                Which is what I said. That you are conflating the nationality with an ethnicity. Can you give me a good reason to do that?

                • vto …
                  4 March 2013 at 9:31 pm

                  Well a quick google comes up with this “The fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition.”

                  Other online and written versions refer to its origin being in a form of “nation”.

                  And no, identifying with NZ ethnicity does not in anyway mean you cannot identify with Maori ethnicity. Or that one is somehow better or worse or has an effect on another. As I said, it is entirely possible and reasonable to have multiple ethnicities, layered up in many ways. Pretty simple.

                  • Pascal's bookie …
                    4 March 2013 at 9:42 pm

                    Sigh.

                    What if you don’t identify with this Nzer ethnicity. If you don’t tick that box?

                    Do you consider yourself to be the same ethnicity as every New Zealander. Ooh look, that’s a tautology, because you defined your ethnicity as being ‘New Zealander’ so of course you are, and someone sees themself as other than you, then they are not, by definition, a New Zealander.

                    What’s simple, is that I see myself as Celtic, and Pakeha. I don’t see myself as Maori, or Chinese or Indian or Samoan or Fijian, or any other ethnicity, but I have no problem with all of those ethnicities being New Zealanders to exactly the same extent as I am.

                    When you say you are a New Zealander, you are saying others have to also claim that ethnicity if they want to be New Zealanders.

                    There was a time when nations were ethnically defined. But times have changed. What Nations are, has evolved, and that’s a good thing all told. Unless you’re, you know, a racist.

              • Colonial Weka …
                4 March 2013 at 9:31 pm

                “Seventhly, surely you can see that an ethnicity can develop from a group fo people living in one place for a period of time and developing their own culture. That is after all how all other ethnicities have developed. Or can that not happen in these islands..”

                Yes, it can happen here, just not in 200 years. Ethnicity develops over very long periods of time, and intrinsic to it is blood relations. When the various cultures that formed NZ (Maori, British, European, Pacifican, Chinese etc) have been living TOGETHER and intermarrying for a long time, then we might see a NZ ethnic identity evolve.

                And in that time, nationality can change. New Zealand IS already a nationality, and I don’t share ethnicity with Maori or Indian people who share the same nationality as me. Get it?

                I’m ethnically celtic/gaelic. But it doesn’t make sense to call myself ethnically Scottish, does it? Scotland hasn’t been around that long (nations change suddenly), but the culture and genealogy that makes up celtic ethnicity has.

                • vto …
                  4 March 2013 at 9:41 pm

                  See my reply above to P’s b. My opinion is that ethnicity can develop in a much shorter period, going by the definition. It is just a “common national or cultural tradition”. If that common tradition involves a mix of other traditions it is still a tradition. I don’t see any requirement for uniqueness in there, just a shared tradition of a form.

                  I think the definition of ethnicity on here has been assumed to be much narrower than it is.

                  Personally, I can identify with more than a couple of ethnicities, including NZ. Each of a different form, some weaker some stronger, but each still very real.

                  • Pascal's bookie …
                    4 March 2013 at 9:49 pm

                    So who isn’t ethnically New Zealander then? What are the boundaries? How is it defined?

                    • vto …
                      4 March 2013 at 9:59 pm

                      I think a definition was already outlined above.

                      Who isn’t? Well, someone who doesn’t “… belong to the social group that has a common national or cultural tradition.”. Going by the definition that is.

                  • Colonial Weka …
                    4 March 2013 at 10:10 pm

                    ““… belong to the social group that has a common national or cultural tradition.””

                    Going by that definition the local rugby club or flower arranging group are ethnicities.

                    I can see that are you ignoring the points I raise in favour of repeating your assertions.

                    • vto …
                      4 March 2013 at 10:17 pm

                      I thought I had answered them – your points about the time necessary to develop traditions and the difference between nationality and ethnicity? Most definitions of ethnicity refer to nationality of a kind and a component. And there is no reference to how such common traditions must be formed – merely that they exist.

                      A bit like the struggle recently with the definition of homophobic, there seems to be a difference in opinion over what ethnicity actually means. If only there was some independent arbiter, like a dictionary…

                      It would seem that what we may have here is a bit of classic kiwi cultural cringe (even saying that can make some poor people cringe). You know…. the old “we don’t have a culture” crappola. Sheesh, that particular one drives me nuts with its idiocy and blatant incorrectnesses. People need to mature I think – cultural cringe begets cultural cringe.

                    • Colonial Weka …
                      4 March 2013 at 10:28 pm

                      Nah, we have NZ culture alright, and I don’t cringe about it at all. I like NZ culture (except for the racist, dominating bits of course). But culture does not equal ethnicity. I think you are seriously missing the ethnic part of ethnicity.

                      If you say that NZ is an ethnicity, then you are equating ethnicity with citizenship or residency. Is the Cambodian refugee who is given NZ citizenship ethnically NZ? That’s just silly.

                      And you are still not responding to my points as I raise them.

                    • vto …
                      4 March 2013 at 10:36 pm

                      ” But culture does not equal ethnicity. I think you are seriously missing the ethnic part of ethnicity.”

                      I never said it did. The definition refers to a social group with common culture and traditions, nothing more nothing less.

                      “If you say that NZ is an ethnicity, then you are equating ethnicity with citizenship or residency. Is the Cambodian refugee who is given NZ citizenship ethnically NZ? That’s just silly.”

                      I am doing nothing of the sort. Residency and citizenship are clearly different things again. Sheesh, surely you can see that you can be a resident and yet share none of the “social groups common national or cultural tradition.”

                    • vto …
                      4 March 2013 at 10:41 pm

                      I’ve got it. To avoid the confusion around New Zealander as an ethnicity, given its relation to residency, citizenship and nationality (even though ethnicity requires a form of nationality about it), how about we create a new ethnicity called Aoteroan, or something similar. Something which refers to the unique mix of cultures and traditions from many fine parts of the world and which exist together as our social group.

                    • Colonial Weka …
                      5 March 2013 at 12:33 am

                      vto, I like ‘pakeha’ – referring to white NZers, and can’t be used by white people anywhere else. But honestly I see such huge differences between pakeha and maori cultures that the idea we are part of one ethnicity just grates.

                      “how about we create a new ethnicity called Aoteroan, or something similar.”

                      ‘cept lots of us live in Te Wai Pounamu 😉 (many Mainlanders see their place as culturally distinct from the North Island) See how complicated it gets? Plus I don’t think ethnicity is something created intentionally. It’s something that evolves out of certain circumstances.

                      Like I said, I think it will happen in time, but not at the moment. I think pakeha culture will be assimilated into polynesian culture, and at the point pakeha will better understand the value of ethnicity 😉

                      btw, I think the dictionary definition you are using is too limited. eg many ethnicities have evolved without nationhood existing.

                    • McFlock …
                      5 March 2013 at 1:31 am

                      if we’re talking census, you might want to use the statsNZ definition:

                      4.2.3 Currently, an ethnic group is defined in official statistics (Statistics New Zealand
                      2005, p2) as people who have some or all of the following characteristics:
                      • a common proper name
                      • one or more elements of common culture, such as religion, customs or
                      language
                      • a unique community of interests, feelings and actions
                      • a shared sense of common origins or ancestry
                      • a common geographic origin.

                      Their 2009 review of ethnicity statistical standard also had a nice discussion about the entire “NZer” issue.

                  • Beryl Streep …
                    4 March 2013 at 11:26 pm

                    I don’t care what the Standard considers to be a New Zealander. I come from a Pacific Island, German and English background but I was born and brought up here. When people ask me where I’m from, I’m from New Zealand and I’m a New Zealander.

                    The sheltered white folks here might find it easy stating their ethnicity but those of us with more complicated backgrounds would like to identify with the country we feel is our home. That’s why I’d prefer to say I’m a New Zealander than tick a multitude of ethnicity boxes. Please stop painting this as the racist’s option. It’s a very myopic and eurocentric viewpoint.

                    • lprent …
                      4 March 2013 at 11:36 pm

                      “the standard” is a dumbarse computer program. As the system operator I tend to regard people thinking of it as a “person” as having a serious mental deficiency known as “being a troll”. I suggest you address the actual person and explain why you disagree before I decide you need a bug treatment. And FFS read the policy. It may save you from my moderating attention..

                    • Beryl Streep …
                      4 March 2013 at 11:47 pm

                      My apologies, I was responding to Pascal’s bookie’s comments specifically and not “the standard” as a whole.

                      Policy read and bookmarked for future reference.

                    • Colonial Weka …
                      5 March 2013 at 12:22 am

                      Beryl, I understand what you are saying about identity however I think for the census, it is useful for the govt to have the details.

                      “When people ask me where I’m from, I’m from New Zealand and I’m a New Zealander.”

                      Yes, me too. Doesn’t tell that person anything about my ethnicity though.

                      “The sheltered white folks here might find it easy stating their ethnicity”

                      IME, many sheltered white folks have difficulty talking about their ethnicity. And when they get round to thinking and talking about it, it’s not necessarily an ‘easy’ thing for them. But generally it’s ultimately positive, because it takes them back to where they have come from and gives them a sense of connection. I’ve seen many pakeha feel better about themselves and the country they live in after going through that process.

                    • Beryl Streep …
                      5 March 2013 at 12:55 am

                      The thing is Colonial Weka, if you’re not white or maori then you tend to get the “where are you from?” question quite often. When you say you’re from New Zealand, the next question is invariably “Where are you REALLY from?”

                      I find that line of questioning quite insulting and I doubt it’s something that white New Zealanders come up against.

                      Sure, I understand that a different accent might tip people off but my kiwi accent is more twangy than Rhys Darby’s! I feel offended when people treat me as a foreigner in my own country.

                    • vto …
                      5 March 2013 at 8:35 am

                      Colonial Weka and Beryl, you make good points (especially the one about te wai pounamu he he). However for these purposes I think the knockout punch comes from the census definition pointed out by McFlock.

                      It would seem that New Zealander could fit within that definition quite easily (or pakeha, but what about people who are not pakeha but identify as a NZer? So, doesn’t quite get there. Although pakeha could very easily be an ethnicity of its own separate to NZer).

                      It seems still that people can have multiple ethnicities and that that is appropriate in a country such as this. Imo, New Zealander is a legitimate ethnicity as is Maori, Celt, Pakeha, on it goes.

                      Perhaps this issue is all part of our growth as a nation …….

                    • McFlock …
                      5 March 2013 at 12:08 pm

                      lol

                      Yes, people can have different ethnicities. They can even change ethnicity over time. But “New Zealander” seems to conflate nationality and ethnicity, and does nothing to describe the population – although the census report I linked to does mention that “New Zealanders” tend to be middle aged, slightly rich, previously Euro/pakeha males.

                      Basically, if you put NZer on the form and I did too, it’s quite likely that the only commonality we have is geography and language. “New Zealander” is a poor term to describe your cultural heritage and ancestry.

                    • vto …
                      5 March 2013 at 4:06 pm

                      It’s not just about “cultural heritage and ancestry” is it though mcflock. Check the definition you posted yourself.

                    • McFlock …
                      5 March 2013 at 4:26 pm

                      You are precisely correct while single-handedly trying to make the ethnicity question a tautological waste of space.

                      The criteria are broad. But the point I was making was that people who insist on calling their ethnicity “New Zealander” are generally of one narrow socio-economic group. Seeing if Maori have median incomes significantly lower than European/Pakeha is more interesting and more useful from a policy perspective than “New Zealanders have higher incomes than Maori”.

                      Additionally, we have a “some or all” qualification in the criteria. The more precise in ethnic description one gets, the greater number of criteria will be satisfied. “New Zealander” is probably the weakest grouping we can have with a proper name. It says nothing about you or me other than that we have citizenship. Guess what – that’s another question on the census form.

                    • vto …
                      5 March 2013 at 5:22 pm

                      McFlock “You are precisely correct while single-handedly trying to make the ethnicity question a tautological waste of space.”

                      Rubbish. Do you think my intentions are something different from what is expressed? And it is solely your view from within NZ that makes it so if so, which is only relevant to the silly sensus.

                      McFlock “The criteria are broad. But the point I was making was that people who insist on calling their ethnicity “New Zealander” are generally of one narrow socio-economic group. Seeing if Maori have median incomes significantly lower than European/Pakeha is more interesting and more useful from a policy perspective than “New Zealanders have higher incomes than Maori”.

                      I’m sure you’re right when it comes to the usefulness of the data collected, if that is the overriding criteria for determining ethnicity, but your second sentence is shitbull.

                      McFlock “Additionally, we have a “some or all” qualification in the criteria. The more precise in ethnic description one gets, the greater number of criteria will be satisfied. “New Zealander” is probably the weakest grouping we can have with a proper name. It says nothing about you or me other than that we have citizenship. Guess what – that’s another question on the census form.””

                      citizenship is nothing to do with ethnicity except by coincidence but I’m sure you knew that having read the posts above. And, sure your first two sentences are again about the usefulness of the sensus and less about what constitutes ethnicity.

                      What was your point?

                    • McFlock …
                      5 March 2013 at 9:21 pm

                      oh, okay, when it doesn’t suite you the Census is silly, but when it does suite you it’s a “knockout punch”.

                      In case you haven’t noticed, this conversation about ethnicity is in the context of the census: should you tick “NZer” or “white middle class male”?

                      And yes, seeing correlations between differences in ethnicity and, e.g. income is the first step to identifying systemic ways this country excludes people from full participation.

                      Getting bored.

      • the pigman 2.3.1
        4 March 2013 at 11:33 pm

        I embrace and encourage people to live as whatever gender they wish to live. I agree that the State should acknowledge and recognize those individuals and their way of life.

        Yes, we are all free to share our hopes of what a utopian society might look like. A reality, and concession, entailed in that is that the Left faces being caricatured into a grab-bag of assymetric issues and is painted as having lost its way on those that have resonance and significance to the electorate.

        You might think it populist, equate it to the crying shame of New Labour or the Mallarfia, but my experience is that getting worked up about something which is relatively small in the context of political battles dilutes and factionalises the Labour movement. And whilst we have to advocate for the socially disposessed, don’t be surprised if you find them dancing on stage with Key at the Big Gay Out in some masochistic attempt to become a part of the mainstream.

        • QoT 2.3.1.1
          5 March 2013 at 5:38 pm

          Gee, pigman, life must be really difficult for you if you think political activists are incapable of caring about multiple issues at a time. Also? You might like to reconsider referring to my opinions as “getting worked up” about something, because it contributes to a culture which marginalises women’s activism and anger and also I will delete your comments if you do it again.

          • ropata 2.3.1.1.1
            5 March 2013 at 5:56 pm

            The reason Labour lost power:
            – over emphasis on identity politics
            – minimal effort to fix worsening *economic* inequality
            – being nasty to people who expressed reservations, acting like the thought police
            – lack of connection to the “ordinary bloke”

          • the pigman 2.3.1.1.2
            5 March 2013 at 8:15 pm

            What has it got to do with women’s activism? How is it that you’re always able to personalise a throwaway packet of language by drawing the very long bow between my comment and the inference you draw that you’re being told you’re “just a hysterical wimmin”. no no no no no, I am all for analyzing the semiotics of language, but that was NOT in there. (For the record, I think a male is equally capable of “getting worked up”.)

            Your post may be LGBT activism, but it is not women’s activism. Off the cross, please.

  3. lprent 3
    4 March 2013 at 8:02 pm

    I was considering… All of you non-religous types (like me). Lets pick a religion and push it. Not Jedi this time – they ignore that…

    Make NZ catholic or even better MUSLIM… Lets call it the Prosser effect.

    • Colonial Viper 3.1
      4 March 2013 at 8:08 pm

      Convert to Islam for a day, then repent?

    • TheContrarian 3.2
      4 March 2013 at 8:11 pm

      lets make NZ more secular.

      Tick no religion

      • Colonial Viper 3.2.1
        4 March 2013 at 8:16 pm

        The people need something to believe in. If not religion it will be free markets, consumerism or the temple of the self.

        • TheContrarian 3.2.1.1
          4 March 2013 at 8:26 pm

          “The people need something to believe in”

          Maybe, but orgainsed religion – something provably false, is not one of them

      • felixviper 3.2.2
        4 March 2013 at 11:51 pm

        “lets make NZ more secular.”

        Or maybe we could just get an accurate picture of what NZ really is and not pointlessly game the collection of such data.

        • muzza 3.2.2.1
          5 March 2013 at 8:43 am

          What NZ is….

          NZ is a bad lab experiment, and playing agent of *the crown* while filling out the forms is going to do nothing other than confirm it, and assit with future messing with people!

          This post is an example of the mess NZ has been turned into!

    • toad 3.3
      4 March 2013 at 8:25 pm

      Not Catholic – that will still preclude us acceding to the Throne, despite the legislation before Parliament.

      A Muslim can be King or Queen and head the Church of England, but a Catholic, by law, cannot.

      • GregJ 3.3.1
        4 March 2013 at 9:51 pm

        A Muslim can be King or Queen and head the Church of England,

        Actually I doubt that you could be – the Act of Settlement requires the monarch to “be in communion with the Church of England” which implicitly prevents those of other faiths and even other Christian sects (other Protestant, Orthodox etc.). It is just that the Act is explicit about Catholics not succeeding to the throne (and the marrying of Catholics).

        The monarch is also required to make a declaration on their accession (the Accession Declaration Act 1910) which states: “I [here insert the name of the Sovereign] do solemnly and sincerely in the presence of God profess, testify, and declare that I am a faithful Protestant, and that I will, according to the true intent of the enactments which secure the Protestant succession to the Throne of my Realm, uphold and maintain the said enactments to the best of my powers according to law.”

        – so I’m not sure you could make it if you were not a Protestant Christian.

        A quick look at the wording of the New Zealand Bill doesn’t change the requirement to be in communion with the Church of England.

    • Beryl Streep 3.4
      5 March 2013 at 12:23 am

      Question 18: What is your religion?

      Can’t all us non-religious people just tick the first option ‘no religion’ instead of making up a religion or picking a religion to push. I believe New Zealand would be a more caring society if more people ticked ‘no religion’ if they aren’t really religious.

      http://www.humanist.org.nz/

  4. karol 4
    4 March 2013 at 8:14 pm

    I just filled in most of the form. There were a couple of questions I had difficulty with – not enough space and no space for exceptions. For my permanent job I spend exactly equal time in 2 locations, but there’s only space to put the one where I spend MOST of my time…? My job activities over the last week have been quite diverse and hard to give one short label to cover them all.

    My minor disability – I can tend to my daily requirements, but can’t do some activities the way most people do them… and occasionally I need to ask someone for help – so I’ve opted for can do most daily tasks that everyone can do.

    etc, etc.

    And, if I don’t state that I am male/female, they will not be able to decide for me, on the basis of my answers to other questions – except through making an assumption about my first name. What if I answer “male” and they think I answered incorrectly based on my name?

    • karol 4.1
      4 March 2013 at 8:20 pm

      Edit: the question is a disability that “stops you from doing everyday things other people can do?” No “most” in it. I say “no”.

      • handle 4.1.1
        4 March 2013 at 11:05 pm

        I can see your reasoning Karol. How did you answer the more detailed question just before that one?

        • karol 4.1.1.1
          5 March 2013 at 8:11 am

          Yes, and one of them was a bit difficult to answer too. So my form does indicate a bit of a disability in spite of me saying I can do everyday things other people can do…. though, I can’t quite do everything and have work-arounds, as well as organising one or two aspects of my living space and accessories so I can do what I need to do.

    • QoT 4.2
      4 March 2013 at 8:37 pm

      except through making an assumption about my first name

      I’m pretty sure they’ll have some big fancy algorithm for imputing sex where it’s left unnoted.

      • lprent 4.2.1
        4 March 2013 at 9:28 pm

        I did that by looking through the electronic electoral roll when I was working on it (and authorised to do so) and looking at the Mr/Ms/Miss/Mrs and the first name. Turns out out that I was only “probably female” – that was a surprise as I’d set it to be at least 10 to be not assertively statistically “female” or “male”. Turns out that “Sue” was probably female as well……

  5. vto 5
    4 March 2013 at 8:17 pm

    Given the privacy breaches of government departments over the last while, how are we supposed to believe that the information is kept confidential or not used for any other purpose?

    This is of course doubly triply so given the brazen lying and corruption that John Key and the current government undertakes.

    They are not to be trusted and it must be assumed that your personal information is going to be used for god knows what purpose. This must be the default position. As such there exists an obligation to mash it up.

    • RedBaronCV 5.1
      4 March 2013 at 9:29 pm

      Don’t get me started. They go on and on about how secret it is. Well, four minutes under urgency in parliament one afternoon and Stats will be data sharing with the rest of the government. It’ll give Paula the chance to read out everybody’s details over the air. What’s the bet that something in Christchurch will mean that Gerry has to absolutely access all that detail. Save the Nact party a bundle for profiling.
      If they were serious about secrecy they would not ask for names and allow households to identify themselves as resident A,B C etc.

      Then there’s all the rubbish about the size of the mesh blocks- about 40 houses but I suspect closer to 30. Just how many gay couples, single parents, single old folk are there going to be in some of these blocks. About 1, so anybody who can afford to buy mesh blocks (priced for corporate affordability only so no chance of the peasants checking their own details) will be able to pretty much identify the exact details of these households. In some entire suburbs there may be only 3-4% of some household types so deductions “like wow all the same sex relationships in our burb earn over $50000” are right out the front.

      Then there is the demand that one member of the household invade the personal privacy of all the others (not legal?) or they will be prosecuted. Those who have been fibbing about their age for years are going to be outed and what about all the teenagers who have been having a few smokes more than they should -time to front up?

      Stats have also gone very quiet too on who is sponsoring some of the questions. All the ones around Family Trust ownership are apparently requested by the IRD, coming to a Penny v Hooper mesh block near you.

      Then there is the general useless nature of some of the questions – how does looking for a job in the last few weeks morph into a long term demographic trend? Looks more like Paula will be coming around to check up on you.

      Notice all the grooming going on, fill it out on the web, and soon it that will be the only way you can do it. Limits the creativity!

      Still my all time favourite is the question that asks if you have “difficulty learning, concentrating or remembering.” If you can remember to tick this then I guess that it would be okay to colour in the rest of the form with crayons and do doodles in the margins, on the grounds that the other answers have escaped you.

  6. Sosoo 6
    4 March 2013 at 8:23 pm

    My sister is a tranny (her preferred term). She will tick female.

    The number of people whose gender does not match their biological sex at birth is statistically insignificant. The number who care about this census question, even more so.

    • QoT 6.1
      4 March 2013 at 8:38 pm

      Nice to know you didn’t read the post. Sosoo. Also, fun fact: “biological sex” is not the pure little binary you want to pretend it is.

      • Swan 6.1.1
        4 March 2013 at 8:58 pm

        Are you talking about chromosomal conditions? Otherwise it is binary. X and Y chromosomes are very different and do not lie on a continuum.

      • Sosoo 6.1.2
        5 March 2013 at 1:38 pm

        You’re overlooking the fact that the census has to be completed by regular people who are mostly unaware of the theoretical artifact that is the distinction between sex and gender. Most people who have been to university probably have only a vague idea of what it means.

        The number of cases that will diverge from the norm is statistically insignificant. Given that fact it isn’t worth confusing a large proportion of people who will be taking the census and creating more noise in the results than would be eliminated by having a more detailed question.

        The census has to be completed by ordinary people. That means there is always going to be a trade off between accuracy and getting people to understand what they are answering. This is one of those cases. It’s not some right wing plot.

        • QoT 6.1.2.1
          5 March 2013 at 5:40 pm

          Oh, fuck off, Sosoo. If people can remember the exact address they lived at 5 years ago and calculate their total 12-month-prior income they can cope with “what gender are you” and multiple ticky-boxes.

        • felixviper 6.1.2.2
          5 March 2013 at 5:54 pm

          “The census has to be completed by ordinary people. “

          Nope, by everyone.

  7. Colonial Weka 7
    4 March 2013 at 9:06 pm

    Yeah, this is pretty fucked. The NZ govt is saying that trans and intersex people are not relevant to govt services or the country. I can’t see how the numbers of transgender and intersex people is statistically insignificant. Don’t we want to know how many there even if the numbers are small relative to female or male?

    • Sosoo 7.1
      5 March 2013 at 1:50 pm

      Yes. But it’s not as if the government or other agencies can’t conduct other more targeted surveys to that end. A census is a blunt instrument.

  8. Descendant Of Sssmith 8
    4 March 2013 at 9:20 pm

    A born as + currently living as, two question option would keep both continuity with past census data and represent current situation and give quantitative data about numbers.

    I’d like to think there would be acceptance these days of the variety of human diversity to the point that planning and policy bowfins should have the information to consider issues such as sexuality. I haven’t seen this years questions yet – they should by now be asking about sexual preference and diversity but one suspects not.

    Don’t want to scare the horses do we?

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – 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’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 hours ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 hours ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 hours ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 hours ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    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
    6 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
    6 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 ...
    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
    9 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
    19 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
    20 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
    47 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
    3 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 - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-19T02:57:56+00:00