Joyce’s dirty deals: international convention centre

Written By: - Date published: 8:35 am, February 23rd, 2012 - 57 comments
Categories: capitalism, corruption, Steven Joyce - Tags: , , ,

Steven ‘White Elephant’ Joyce isn’t content with building highways to nowhere with costs that exceed the benefits. Now he wants an international convention centre in Auckland that’s just as pointless. But he doesn’t want the government to pay. So, he’s cutting a dirty deal with more law for sale and more pokie machines blighting our communities.

The Auckland Convention Centre doesn’t make any sense. The big idea is basically ‘build it and they will come’ – construct a honking great convention centre and all this international organisations will just decide to spend a couple more thousand per head flying their attendees to the most isolated country on earth for their international conferences. MED’s analysis (which ignores the affect higher oil prices and better tele-presence technology are already having on the the market for international conferences, and blithely discounts the economic crisis) estimates that for every dollar spent, New Zealand would reap between 67 cents and $1.61 in benefits. The comparator I like to use is that early childhood education has a BCR of better $6 and $10 for every dollar invested.

Now, I guess even Bill English can do the sums on this one, because the government isn’t going to pay for the convention centre itself. Instead,Joyce is cutting a dirty deal to make it worth SkyCity’s while to build it.

The convention centre isn’t an economic proposition itself, so Joyce is planning to give them something they do value – licences for 350 to 500 more pokie machines and some other kickbacks.

The Problem Gambling Association estimates that each additional pokie machine creates an extra problem gambler and Auckland it meant to have a sinking lid on the number of the fucken things but that’s fallen by the wayside (is this shit the reason we all fought for you, Len?) and Joyce is preparing a Bill specifically to give favours to SkyCity. It will be a Bill that will pass by one vote as the Maori Party will almost certainly oppose more pokie machines afflicting their people. That one crucial vote will be that man Peter Dunne – who is well-known to be in the pockets of the gambling industry.

The rich get their convention centre. The poor get addicted to gambling.

Once again, our Parliament will spend its time passing a law specially to benefit a company – one that is already a legislative monopoly so that it will build a white elephant convention centre. Meanwhile, poverty rises, quarter of a million Kiwis are jobless, and the government’s too busy to do anything about it.

57 comments on “Joyce’s dirty deals: international convention centre ”

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  1. higherstandard 1
    23 February 2012 at 8:46 am

    As a taxpayer and an Auckland ratepayer can I state how pleased I am that I am not being fleeced to pay for this convention centre.

    • Zetetic 1.1
      23 February 2012 at 8:55 am

      false dichotomy.

      The choice isn’t between the ratepayer paying or Joyce’s dirty ‘law for sale’ deal that will see more people addicted to gambling.

      You could just not build the fucken thing.

    • Kotahi Tane Huna 1.2
      23 February 2012 at 9:01 am

      But it’s ok for gambling addicts to be fleeced instead?

      • higherstandard 1.2.1
        23 February 2012 at 10:01 am

        People have a choice go to the Casino/lotto shop and be fleeced or don’t go to the Casino/lotto shop, it’s a bit like booze and tobacco in my ideal society they wouldn’t exist.

        • Colonial Viper 1.2.1.1
          23 February 2012 at 10:07 am

          the bullshit “choice” argument? either you think some activities are hazardous and need to be controlled/minimised or not. You also just ignored the deliberately designed neurobiologically habit forming nature of some of these activities which means more than ever that the illusion of “choice” is exactly that.

          • higherstandard 1.2.1.1.1
            23 February 2012 at 10:21 am

            Ok let’s close down the Auckland casino then – you can pass that on to whatever political party/mayoral candidate that wants to run on that ticket along with the associated job losses and loss of return to shareholders.

            Oh and let’s ban the lotto as well.

            Alternatively let’s not ban it and put in place some controls to minimise abuse by those who can’t afford to gamble the money away.

            • Colonial Viper 1.2.1.1.1.1
              23 February 2012 at 10:26 am

              You don’t believe its possible to have a modern advanced prosperous nation without casinos? Singapore only got its first casino a couple of years ago.

              Worth bearing in mind that corporate led community wealth extraction mechanisms esp. those which go on to externalise massive social damage, need to be severely curtailed.

              • higherstandard …
                23 February 2012 at 11:01 am

                “You don’t believe its possible to have a modern advanced prosperous nation without casinos? Singapore only got its first casino a couple of years ago.”

                Um what ? Where did I state that ?

                “Worth bearing in mind that corporate led community wealth extraction mechanisms esp. those which go on to externalise massive social damage, need to be severely curtailed.”

                Agreed also worth bearing in mind that government/local body led community wealth extraction mechanisms esp. those which go on to externalise massive social damage, need to be severely curtailed.

                • McFlock …
                  23 February 2012 at 12:14 pm

                  “Agreed also worth bearing in mind that government/local body led community wealth extraction mechanisms esp. those which go on to externalise massive social damage, need to be severely curtailed.”
                     
                  Agreed – cancel the convention centre of doubtful benefit, cut the number of pokies with confirmed costs, and invest in giving our workforce better skills than dealing cards and serving drinks.

              • Fermionic Interference …
                23 February 2012 at 10:09 pm

                And the casino in Singapore is free entry to foreigners but costs (last I heard) $100 SG to enter for SG citizens to protect locals from gambling addiction.

            • Jackal 1.2.1.1.1.2
              23 February 2012 at 10:53 am

              CV Is right… there is no way the “personal choice” argument holds any water. The government has a responsibility to ensure society is not plagued by gambling etc.

              National is meant to be working for the people, not their corporate mates that have little concern for the societal harm their destructive businesses and greed causes.

              • Populuxe1 …
                23 February 2012 at 6:30 pm

                Absolutely – addiction negates free will at the basic level. Something Neolibs never grasp.

            • Kotahi Tane Huna 1.2.1.1.1.3
              23 February 2012 at 10:57 am

              “Some controls to minimise abuse…” Like a maximum number of pokies for example?

              Like not offering regulatory changes in exchange for development projects?

              I cannot see how you can marry your distaste for gambling with your support for this government.

              • higherstandard …
                23 February 2012 at 11:06 am

                Lie alcohol the casino genie has been let out of the bag and exists in our society whether we like it or not.

                To dismantle it now is possible but would be difficult and cost significant jobs etc etc.
                From my perspective to drop another couple of hundred pokie machines into the casino is unlikely to add much to the deleterious effect that already exists.

                Again let me state my original position that was somewhat removed from the discussion you seem keen to have.

                ‘As a taxpayer and an Auckland ratepayer can I state how pleased I am that I am not being fleeced to pay for this convention centre.”

                • Kotahi Tane Huna …
                  23 February 2012 at 11:25 am

                  Ah, but you will, as Peter points out below – in the extra social and economic costs associated with the extra gambling it will bring.

                  “unlikely to add much to the deleterious effect that already exists.” No, that’s not what the Problem Gambling Association says – and Eddie’s original article points out.

                  You have no opinion on the trade in regulatory standards?

                • Ianupnorth …
                  23 February 2012 at 11:53 am

                  But you can force much of the gambling genie back into the bottle by limiting access to Pokies, the TAB, etc.
                   
                  Re. your last line, for once I tend to agree; we already have too many unused convention centres (see my comment at 10)

                  • higherstandard …
                    23 February 2012 at 1:20 pm

                    I agree with your Ian, however, if action is taken to limit such access you will then be howled down by commenters here about the govt. restricting individuals rights to spend money on what they want when they want.

                    • Kotahi Tane Huna …
                      23 February 2012 at 1:34 pm

                      Um, no. Plenty of places have already implemented “sinking lid” policies without any such display of outrage.

                • Jenny …
                  24 February 2012 at 5:40 am

                  You will be, don’t worry. When the thing becomes uneconomic just wait until the delays, cost over runs and other hidden costs all rise to the surface.

        • Fortran 1.2.1.2
          23 February 2012 at 12:45 pm

          I hate being forced to go into a Casino, or to take up smoking.

          • Uturn 1.2.1.2.1
            23 February 2012 at 12:49 pm

            What forces you to comment here?

            • Ianupnorth 1.2.1.2.1.1
              23 February 2012 at 1:09 pm

              I’ll answer that for Fortran; the genetic code that makes RWNJ’s immune to criticism or self-awareness

          • Jenny 1.2.1.2.2
            24 February 2012 at 5:46 am

            Poverty, desperation, forces (some) people into casinos to take an almost hopeless risk. Mostly those made victims by the failed neo-liberal experiment.

    • Peter 1.3
      23 February 2012 at 9:12 am

      But you will be paying for the social cost of problem gambling!

  2. Tom Gould 2
    23 February 2012 at 8:52 am

    After the Warners deal, nothing is off the table with these guys. Didn’t they have their swanky election night party at Sky City? Did they pay for it? Normal commercial rates? And Key now wants to give our tax records to Google for safe keeping? They cannot talk about any of these deals, of course, due to ‘commercial sensitivities’. Hahaha!!! And the MSM let them get away with it. Lazy slugs.

    • marsman 2.1
      23 February 2012 at 9:19 am

      Everything these slimeballs do is destructive to NZ but profitable for their corporate chums. They have no sense of community of fairness or of decency. They are scum of the lowest order.

    • SandFly 2.2
      23 February 2012 at 8:12 pm

      And not forgetting using our security forces to protect Warner n Co’s distribution channels by disrupting Dotcom n Co.

  3. Kotahi Tane Huna 3
    23 February 2012 at 8:59 am

    Fairfax media covered this last year by comparing the Australian response in a similar situation.

    “State treasurer Jack Snelling went scathingly public on the idea last week, describing how he planned to deal with casino officials at a coming meeting.
    “I will tell them they are dreaming,” he said. “There is no way we are going soft on them in our discussions [over the licence] in exchange for them investing in the Riverbank.”
    The whole proposal was “a bit of a try on”, said Snelling.
    So annoyed was Snelling with the attempted linkage, he invoked the spectre of ending the casino’s exclusive licence.

    The National Party is corrupt. It represents foreign interests against the country.

    • Vicky32 3.1
      23 February 2012 at 5:33 pm

      “I will tell them they are dreaming,” he said. “There is no way we are going soft on them in our discussions [over the licence] in exchange for them investing in the Riverbank.”
      The whole proposal was “a bit of a try on”, said Snelling.

      Quite a contrast!

      • Kotahi Tane Huna 3.1.1
        23 February 2012 at 7:20 pm

        Yes. There is no corruption in New Zealand, we just have lower standards.

        • Jenny 3.1.1.1
          24 February 2012 at 5:56 am

          Great link up KTH. And so true.

          With the example you have provided.
          You have skewered this corrupt and immoral politician with a real world contrast with someone with morals.

          Snelling’s sense of moral outrage, not motivated by a single shred of self interest, in contrast to Joyce’s immoral trade off.

          No doubt at the end of his political career Joyce will be well rewarded in the traditional way, with a directorship, or some such.

  4. HappyGoLucky 4
    23 February 2012 at 9:02 am

    An easy way to stop this is to get Len Brown, who is a Labour member and an avowedly left-leaning Mayor, to come out and oppose this deal of pokies for a convention centre.

    C’mon Len, get off the Ports of Auckland fence and do something about pokies!

    • Tom Gould 4.1
      23 February 2012 at 9:29 am

      Another approach might be for the Tories new besties, the Greens, to cut it as part of their coming deal? Now that’s real bargaining power. Come on, Metiria, put your baubles where your mouth is.

    • Jenny 4.2
      24 February 2012 at 6:00 am

      You mean ol’, roll over, Brown. Happy with union busting, and the paving over of the Waitemata Harbour.

  5. Colonial Viper 5
    23 February 2012 at 9:15 am

    NZ law is no more than a business bargaining chip which can be given away for the right NACT deal.

  6. ghostwhowalksnz 6
    23 February 2012 at 9:26 am

    You have forgotten about the reduced casino duty and gambling machine turnover tax that Skycity wants ‘adjusted’ to more in line with their Australian operations. This is the real stickler

    Morrison confirmed that an early renewal of New Zealand licences that fall due in 2021 was still among the issues that were on the table.

    He insists “it’s not worth hundreds of millions of dollars”. But he acknowledged that renewal – avoiding another regulatory review – might be very valuable to the company.

    SkyCity is seeking additional rights to pokie machines and table games. It is seeking removal of any rules in New Zealand that are more restrictive than its casinos face in Sydney or Melbourne.

    The last part is incorrect as Skycity casinos are in Adelaide and Darwin

  7. Macro 7
    23 February 2012 at 9:43 am

    Talking of Australian operations
    Here is an ABC report on Perth’s new (as it was then 2006) convention centre
    http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/wa/content/2006/s1652053.htm
    Latest news is that the folks running it now want an “upgrade” after 8 years. Maybe because there are just too damn many of the things and fewer who can afford them.

  8. Hami Shearlie 8
    23 February 2012 at 10:17 am

    Love the “white elephant” tag for Steven Joyce. I’ve always thought he reminded me of an elephant. The shape of that head! Give him a trunk and huge lobes and there you have a nz jumbo. Without the noble and fine qualities of a real elephant though, you know, like loyalty, protecting the weak, faithfulness, marvellous memory etc!!

  9. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 9
    23 February 2012 at 10:29 am

    The rich get their convention centre. The poor get addicted to gambling.

    You mean the stupid get addicted to gambling, surely. Or do you consider them to be the same people?

    Mustn’t let the poor make their own decisions.

    • Colonial Viper 9.1
      23 February 2012 at 10:43 am

      Wealthy people get addicted to the pokies/gambling and flush their fortunes away too. They can hid it for a bit longer obviosuly.

      Mustn’t let the poor make their own decisions.

      Musn’t let the poor be manipulated by gambling machine design psychologists, more like. Do you really naively think that the addictiveness of the pokies is an accident???

      • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 9.1.1
        23 February 2012 at 10:48 am

        You had best have that argument with Eddie. He clearly thinks that it is the poor who are addicted to pokies.

        • Colonial Viper 9.1.1.1
          23 February 2012 at 11:01 am

          Mental health problems exist across the income spectrum. More prominent and visible amongst the poor of course, but the number of people from wealthy families who are fully fucked up cannot be underestimated either. Depression, medication/alcohol dependence, drug use, AWOL children etc.

      • Macro 9.1.2
        23 February 2012 at 11:05 am

        As the residents of Upper Hutt can testify pdf.
        Renshaw and Edwards – both prominent Lawyers in Upper Hutt defrauded their clients to the tune of around $30 million in the early 1990’s, to finance gambling, and property speculation.

        • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 9.1.2.1
          23 February 2012 at 11:22 am

          Complain to Eddie. He is the one stereotyping the poor as gamblers.

    • felix 9.2
      23 February 2012 at 10:53 am

      Pokies are nothing but machines for creating money out of misery, and it doesn’t matter to me whose misery it is. They should all be fucking crushed. There’s a job for Collins if she ever decides to do something useful with her life.

      Oh shit, see what I did? I just unwittingly bought into the “wealth creation” bullshit, didn’t I. Of course pokies don’t “create money”, they just take it from the many and concentrate it in the hands of the few.

      lol.

  10. Ianupnorth 10
    23 February 2012 at 11:49 am

    On Convention Centres…..
    Claudelands Events Centre, supposedly losing heaps
    Rotorua Energy Events Centre, supposedly losing heaps
    TECT Events Centre at the Mount, already losing heaps.
     
    Don’t know about Taupo’s ‘Great lakes’ convention centre, but guessing it would be in the same situation.
     
    Who are they built for? presumably the egos of local councillors?

    • Uturn 10.1
      23 February 2012 at 12:41 pm

      If that’s the case, the trick with this deal is that National will ultimately be screwing it’s dumb rich mates, or as one gunnery sargeant put it, they’re the type of guys that would “…fuck a person in the ass and not even have the goddamn common courtesy to give him a reach-around.”

      Lots of complaints here about the damage the Nats and supporters do to people they don’t like – not much to be done about that from here – but there is a certain black humour in that those types hate their friends too. What a souless bunch of zombies; ripping each other apart in a race to be the the most dead inside before they hit the cemetary. Then they come on here complaining about their political enemies stereotyping the poor as gambling addicts, people they stereotype as lazy scum themselves; or crying for the welfare of Indian sweat shop workers that keep them in high fashion each season and that if they didn’t buy the stuff the poor in India would starve. Die starving scum, but not before you finish my next shirt!

      You have to admit, these people are so base in their abilities that they are unintentionally hilarious. Even hamsters get off the treadmill once in a while. Are the Young Nats actually genuine or some kind of ironic satire theatre company?

  11. tc 11
    23 February 2012 at 12:25 pm

    What about the Viaduct events centre that was recently completed and the cloud and the eden park temporary rennovations, Wynyard quarter and then there’s all the work on train stations for RWC now being pulled down and redone for various reasons.

    We totally suck at this long term do it right first time infratsructure stuff and as much as I think mallard’s a tosser he was right about a waterfront stadium or something alongside the CBD where transport hubs are and water access for ferries exist.

  12. shorts 12
    23 February 2012 at 12:30 pm

    why do we even need a(nother) convention centre, seems to me we have too many as it is

  13. Jim in Tokyo 13
    23 February 2012 at 3:06 pm

    Monorail!

    • Ianupnorth 13.1
      23 February 2012 at 3:55 pm

      Better still remove cars from Tamaki Drive and replace it with a modern tram system and safe cycle routes, then Auckland can claim to be a livable place.

  14. lefty 14
    23 February 2012 at 7:16 pm

    If you want to understand any government decision to do with pokies there is just one way to do so.

    Follow the money.

  15. Carol 15
    23 February 2012 at 8:59 pm

    Eddie summarised Joyce’s plan as:

    The big idea is basically ‘build it and they will come’

    Or maybe it’s:

    http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2011_1227if_you_build_it_corruption_may_come_herald_casino_review_finds_

  16. DH 16
    24 February 2012 at 6:25 pm

    There’s a big red flag waving on this. Convention centres are the remit of local Govt, MED should not be involved in this at all. A new convention centre in Auckland would merely pull convention business away from other cities like Wellington, central Govt doesn’t get involved in such municipal economic activity. The flagrant breach of process is concerning & strongly suggestive of ulterior motives.

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    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
    23 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
    23 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
    24 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
    55 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
    2 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 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
    17 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
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