Little’s leadership

Written By: - Date published: 11:09 am, February 1st, 2015 - 97 comments
Categories: Andrew Little, leadership, polls - Tags:

Two positive pieces in The Herald today on Andrew Little’s leadership. First:

Has Key met his match?

More than half see potential in new Labour top man

The public’s honeymoon with new Labour leader Andrew Little is showing few signs of easing more than two months after he was chosen to lead a divided party.

A 3 News Reid-Research poll has revealed 55 per cent of voters think Little is potentially a better match for Prime Minister John Key than his Labour Party leader predecessors.

The poll, which has a margin of error of +/- 3.1 per cent, is part of a series of polls on the post-election political situation that will be broadcast on 3 News tonight. 3 News political editor Patrick Gower said the poll result was a huge boost for Little.

Early days yet, but things still going well for Andrew Little’s leadership. I wouldn’t expect any big movements in the 3 News poll tonight, but that 55% positive support for Little is good news.

Rodney Hide penned the second piece:

Little captures our attention

Little’s speech was more interesting [than Key’s] by far. … And here’s the money quote: “As a union leader I was always conscious that wealth had to be created first before it could be shared. We need to do what’s right for business so we can do what’s right for workers and their families and to keep skills in New Zealand.” Little recognises the need to create wealth before it can be spent.

As did the Labour leaders before him, who all produced surplus budget policies.

And he acknowledges that business creates wealth – and, by implication, not Government. That’s a big statement from a Labour leader. He told us how as union leader he helped business to help workers and their families. He’s not a “worker-versus-business” guy. He worked with Fonterra to achieve productivity gains and so boost the pay to workers and farmers. The bit about farmers is important. He understands the economy is interconnected and farmers are part of his economic equation. It’s all good news.

Little spoke of reducing inequality. Good. And even here he was interesting: he says the spin-off of reducing inequality is better growth. That, too, would be better for business and farmers.

Reducing inequality is better for growth. If only the Nats understood this too.

Jobs and growth are his focus. And small business. That sets him apart from Key who, in his deals with Warner Bros, SkyCity and Rio Tinto, is tied to the big end of town.

And so on.

Now I know some are reading some Machiavellian “reverse psychology” intentions into Hide’s support, but I think they overestimate both his complexity and his influence. I take the comments at face value, that Andrew Little’s leadership is receiving broad-based support. And that’s good news, because that’s what we need for the Left (as a whole!) to win.

97 comments on “Little’s leadership ”

  1. aerobubble 1

    Zero hour contracts means workers can earn less than the benefit in a week; driving down employment stats as employers can retain more staff on flexible time, all for the greater good of 🙂 the nation; stand downs make it impossible to get a benefit to make up the shortfall. so why should workers bear the burden of keeping nz competitive. surelylexibility should mean a higher wage than a full timer as its a burden extra

  2. Skinny 2

    Playing the National lite card only to grasp power, if successful then Labour switch to their radical Left agenda. This will be headlines close to the 2017 election.

  3. One Anonymous Bloke 3

    The Herald reminding the National Party who decides the outcome of elections around here.

  4. Neil 4

    It is good to see something positive about Andrew Little & Labour, I was so amazed that Rodney Hide actually wrote something positive about Andrew Little, that I just about fell off my seat. I was equally amazed that the Herald published something positive about Andrew also considering the Herald has been pro National for so long & anti Labour. Lets all hope publications like the Herald have seen the light & are starting to see through Key for what he really stands for.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1

      Don’t hold your breath.

      This is The Herald reminding Key and National the value of propaganda. The war criminal Blair gave evidence at the Levenson media enquiry:

      He described the Murdoch press, “in a speech before leaving office as “feral beasts,” he said he had decided to “manage” rather than confront them, for fear of “being torn to pieces” if they turned against Labour, or against him personally.”

      The Herald is still a short distance away from the tabloid excesses of the British media; that doesn’t mean they aren’t playing the same game.

      • Pete George 4.1.1

        How daft is it that you turn good coverage into a bitch about something?

        It almost looks like you’re trying to sabotage anything positive about Labour here.

        Little has built on a good start and it’s being recognised. He could do well for Labour but will need support from the base. That obviously isn’t your interest.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1.1.1

          🙄 and 😆 at poor butt-hurt Petty lashing out.

          Cynicism about The Herald equals sabotaging Labour, ‘apparently’.

        • Skinny 4.1.1.2

          We all know Little has started well. Do you think if Little had come in as leader instead of Cunliffe he would have got such a dream run? I bloody doubt it, and it’s years away from the next election.

          Hide is just pumping up ACT the extreme Rights stocks so they can rebuild as a force in politics. I note Hooton has been doing the same. Snakes & ladders of the political game.

          • weka 4.1.1.2.1

            “Do you think if Little had come in as leader instead of Cunliffe he would have got such a dream run?”

            I’ve been thinking about that. It’s almost like Labour needed to go through the Cunliffe year, get things off its chest, or even just have things in plain sight, and then it could move on. I also doubt that Little would have been ok if he’d come in as leader at that time.

            • Skinny 4.1.1.2.1.1

              The son of a preacher was too fake, you either liked him or hated him so to speak. Little would have won the election in my view. He simply wins in 2017, Key will be overthrown next year. They will probably have to go to the polls with Brownlee as PM.

  5. Anne 5

    Now I know some are reading some Machiavellian “reverse psychology” intentions into Hide’s support, but I think they overestimate both his complexity and his influence.

    Couldn’t agree more. Far from dumb, Rodney Hide is nonetheless like many NZers who have a less than esoteric understanding of the complexities surrounding some political (and other) topics. I give as an example an argument I had with Hide many years ago about the importance of preserving historical buildings for posterity. He genuinely didn’t comprehend. All he could see was a bunch of shabby wooden structures which he couldn’t conceive of being restored to their former glory. Waste of money he thought… “Pull em down and put modern buildings in their place” he said to me.

    Such people don’t like or trust intellectuals for the same reason, and I believe this was the underlying cause of their antipathy towards Helen Clark and more latterly Phil Goff, David Shearer and David Cunliffe.

    Andrew Little on the other hand has had years of valuable experience dealing with such people from the pinnacle of the business world… through to the local union representative. He knows how to get his message through to them without upsetting too much their ‘black and white’ view of the world.

    • weka 5.1

      “Now I know some are reading some Machiavellian “reverse psychology” intentions into Hide’s support, but I think they overestimate both his complexity and his influence. I take the comments at face value, that Andrew Little’s leadership is receiving broad-based support. And that’s good news, because that’s what we need for the Left (as a whole!) to win.”

      It is of course possible to be both.

      It’s not reverse psychology so much as he probably does see positives about Little. But how he presents them amongst the dogwhistles is what makes him not to be trusted.

      Gower’s got his anti-Green thing in full spin too. I think it’s fine to see positives in the media about Labour and Little and to highlight them, but let’s not forget that the likes of Hyde and Gower are fundamentally opposed to a left wing govt to the point of doing what they can with their power to prevent that from happening.

  6. weka 6

    Glad to see Labour getting some good news, and well done Little and his team. I think his cautious response about these things going up and down is wise too.

    Gower, “The Greens will have their worry beads out.”

    🙄 I think the Greens will be going, fantastic, now we have a chance of being part of a left wing government. It’s hard to see how Gower could make his bias any more obvious (either that or he’s stupid).

    • Pete George 6.1

      Maybe you should wait until tonight’s poll result. Which is presumably polled pre-Norman’s announcement on Friday.

      It’s going to be a tricky leadership transition period for the Greens, especially if Labour pick up their support again.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 6.1.1

        🙄

        Because Labour support could only come from the Greens, Gower’s little parrot.

        • weka 6.1.1.1

          I’m just curious how the GP is supposed to get in govt if Labour don’t do well.

          Besides which, the GP want change not power. Unlike Gower. Or Mr Beige Vower.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 6.1.1.1.1

            Gower’s lies aren’t meant to make logical sense: he just has to repeat them over and over again: dann lĂŒge grĂŒndlich.

            A manifestation of prejudice designed to reinforce prejudice, rather than present any sort of argument. A substance-free appeal to emotions.

            Only a beige parrot would mistake them for serious political analysis.

  7. I know some are reading some Machiavellian “reverse psychology” intentions into Hide’s support

    I wouldn’t call it “Machiavellian”, both because that term is woefully, inaccurately over-used but also because it’s not about some grand, complex scheme. The fact is, Hide says:

    The David Cunliffe experiment of tacking left is over.

    … when many people’s criticisms of Cunliffe’s leadership is that he moderated his initially strong leftwing statements.

    Praising Labour leaders for ~appreciating the middle voter, not those crazy Greenies~ is bog-standard rightwing dogwhistling, designed to make lefties freak out that Little is selling us all down the river.

    This is classic Hide/Hooton/Farrar say-whatever-needs-to-be-said-to-spread-the-narrative. In this case, reinterpreting Little’s state of the nation as an appeal to “the centre” so as soon as he announces any definitive, progressive policy they can say “oh dear, he’s tacking left, middle New Zealand won’t like that.”

    • b waghorn 7.1

      You may be right about Hyde playing games I don’t know ,but as a middle of the road sort of person I saw it in a positive light towards little and I doubt many Joe average kiwis wouldn’t see it that way to.

      • You’re right, most people don’t read newspapers/political opinion pieces/with the same critical analysis as a pols geek like me.

        Which is exactly the point: most people reading that column are going to get a vague sense of:

        – Rodney Hide likes what Andrew Little is saying
        – This is because Andrew Little isn’t a crazy leftie
        – Unlike those whacky Greens, but he does still have to work with them
        – Hmm, maybe I’ll keep voting National / this is why voting is pointless they’re all the same

        And lo, it came to pass that voter turnout was depressed and a lot of people like That Nice Mr Key.

        (I must point out that none of this is because I think people are stupid, and I do not subscribe to rubbish like Martyn Bradbury’s endless bitching about “muddle Nu Zilind”. I just acknowledge not everyone is a political animal and not everyone works in professional communications like me.)

        • b waghorn 7.1.1.1

          I think Little might be lefter than he’s given credit for but he knows he’s going to have to box clever and not scare the masses ,
          I’ll be interested to see what he says on the green party when it comes up.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 7.1.1.1.1

            Don’t worry, there’ll be no shortage of right wing vested interests buying as many scary column inches as they can afford.

    • I agree and I also think that these right wing commentators use praise whether faint or loud to set up there own ‘credibility’ base – as in “look I’m fair, I wrote that and now I’m writing this” when they unleash their real agenda – that agenda is to ensure the right stay in power.

      • Exactly! “How can you call me a rightwing hack, I said nice things about Andrew Little that one time”.

        Slater does the same based on his semi-regular attacks on parts of the National Party which he doesn’t like.

        • Sacha 7.2.1.1

          And Farrar’s Taxpayers Onion tells off govt departments too, so there. Innoculation is not a new tactic.

          • emergency mike 7.2.1.1.1

            Agree with Stephanie and marty’s points here. It’s like some people haven’t heard of the ‘build them up so we can knock them down’ technique perfected by the British press.

    • Incognito 7.3

      The way I interpreted Hide’s opinion piece was that he’s trying hard to build a (new) narrative to box in Little. Perhaps the “Angry Andy” narrative wasn’t powerful enough.

      • Pete George 7.3.1

        It was a stupid narrative and only Slater seemed to be trying to push it.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 7.3.1.1

          And John Key.

          And the New Zealand Herald.

          And David Farrar.

          Only they didn’t “seem” to be doing it – I’ll leave the weasel words to you.

          • Sacha 7.3.1.1.1

            Just a beige coincidence, surely. Oh, you mean someone wrote a book last year about similar conniving?

          • Pete George 7.3.1.1.2

            Are you making that up or do you have evidence?

            I don’t remember seeing Farrar use it. Nor Key. Only once by Steven Joyce in Parliament on 26 November (the “cut the crap” day which I thought was good from Little).

            Searching NZ Herald they reported that from Parliament but that’s the only hit on ‘Angry Andy”.

            And only from Slater (frequently) since.

            If you have other evidence I’ll add it to my post.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 7.3.1.1.2.1

              Yes, I have evidence, gained from one simple Google search using the terms “Andrew Little angry”.

              Google tailors its results though, so I expect you’ll just end up reading interesting facts about beige.

              • Pete George

                Well it will be simple for you to prove it with your evidence.

                And if you don’t I’ll presume you’re buillshitting again.

                • Incognito

                  A Google Advanced search on “Angry Andy” on the Kiwiblog site or domain gave me 50 hits. Do you want me to list all 50 links for you?

                • One Anonymous Bloke

                  🙄

                  No-one cares what the chief fact-checker presumes. Sad and true.

                  Can you do something for me, Pete? Every time you plagiarise my remarks at Yawns, include the following disclaimer, there’s a dear.

                  OAB says: get your petty unoriginal shite, right here at Yawns, with Petty George, the beige parrot.

                  • Pete George

                    So you must have bullshitted again. And have switched to your usual diversion and evasion.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      Or, I’m not providing you with links on principle. I told you how to find them, and that was more than you deserve.

                      No wonder your fact checking website was such a complete embarrassing failure, just as everyone said it would be.

                      I’ll post the links if you’ll give me your word that you won’t use them, or any material they contain, at Yawns.

                      Edit: and 3News.

                    • Pete George

                      You’re digging yourself deeper. Caught out lying? Unless you can prove you weren’t.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      Key, Joyce, Farrar, 3News, The Herald, even Jamie Mackay has no trouble finding the facts.

                      Either find the links yourself, or commit to not using them at Yawns. Your choice.

                    • Pete George

                      It seems clear “you are unable to substantiate with some proof”. Hard to see that as anything but a lying smear followed by lame excuses diversions.

                      Thanks, you’ve been helpful.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      What you find hard is none of my concern. What you find credible loses credibility thereby, as a result of your persistent banal unoriginal mendacity, as has been demonstrated here many many times.

                      You’re a liar, your website is a vehicle for lies. My contempt for it is matched by my contempt for you, and what’s more, it’s widely shared. The contempt, that is, not your website.

                      This website’s boring, mindless, mean.
                      Full of pornography.
                      The kind that’s clean…”

                      Apologies to Johnny Clarke

                    • Pete George

                      OAB – so you either made a false assumption or dishonestly made up an accusation, then in any case turned it into a lie with a series of lies when challenged, and then you resorted to making dirty insinuations.

                      Not a good look is it. You couldn’t get much lower or dirtier, but knowing you you’ll try.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      🙄

                      You can lash out angrily as much as you like, Petty (although puce and beige don’t really mix), my position won’t change 😆

                    • Pete George

                      I’m not angry at all. Are you? You’re the one who keeps lashing out.

                      I’ve just calmly held you to account and put your lies and abuse on record.

                    • Clemgeopin []

                      You are quite a mendacious thread derailing litigant. Then you go and use all these comments to write detailed articles about TS conversations to fill pages of your boring website like you did yesterday and like you do so very often! Seems like a cunning, poor and silly scheme of a nincompoop! Try writing about some real worthwhile issues man!
                      For example, how about writing about the huge wealth and income inequality, Key’s dodgy traits, the brilliance of Catton, the RW rogues…Just four topics for you to grapple with as a start.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      🙄

            • marty mars 7.3.1.1.2.2

              “If you have other evidence I’ll add it to my post.”

              Good that you are admitting your comment-rolling is to help build your posts – well done you 🙂

      • b waghorn 7.3.2

        I hoped Little would of taken ‘angry andy’ and run with it ,started the odd speech with ‘damn right I’m angry and this is why…..’

        • One Anonymous Bloke 7.3.2.1

          “I’m angry”.

          Do you write headlines for The Herald by any chance?

          • b waghorn 7.3.2.1.1

            There’s a lot to be angry about at the moment in this world , shying away from showing it because a mentally I’ll blogger is trying to use it against you is no good.

        • Murray Rawshark 7.3.2.2

          Not a bad thing being angry when short sighted fools are relashed bout that and at the end o the day, most kiwis dowan an duncare about any worrung about a owzin crys. They know my gumint is a trong gumint an will looafta their bestrests.

  8. Pastimes for the irrelevant:

    Milo tasting.

    Nit-picking.

    Cross word puzzle.

    Very cross word puzzle.

    Nit counting.

    Shipwreck in a bottle.

    Finger wagging aerobics (to the tune of Beige Monday)

    Sorting the James Last and Val Doonican collection in alphabetical order

    Nit sorting.

    Sorting the James Last and Val Doonican collections in chronological order.

    Nit circus.

    Sorting the James Last collection in alphabetical order and the Val Doonican collection in chronological order.

    Sorting the James Last and Val Doonican collections collectively in chronological order.

    Integrating the Roger Whitaker collection with the now combined James Last and Val Doonican collection.

    Realising that the Roger Whitaker collection was integrated with the James Last and Val Doonican collection in alphabetical order.

    Apoplectic word puzzle.

    Resort combined Roger Whitacker, James Last and Val Doonican collection in chronological order.

    Segregate Roger Whitaker, James Last and Val Doonican collections and sorting them all in alphabetical order.

    Sorting out entire Internet.

  9. Penny Bright 9

    Labour, in my view, need to show that they have well and truly ditched neo-liberal Rogernomic$.

    So – when are Labour going to come out hard and strong against the proposed Wellington Supercity, and the disastrous Auckland – PROVEN ‘Supercity for the 1%’ – which has PROVEN to be ‘Rogernomic$’ at local government level?

    Penny Bright

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz

  10. Penny Bright 10

    I note that two people who are pushing very hard for the proposed Wellington ‘Supercity’ are Porirua City Councillor Ken Douglas (in my considered opinion – a most treacherous ‘Rogernome’ – who arguably did very nicely himself out of ‘Rogernomics’), and Fran Wilde (Greater Wellington Regional Council Chair) who from 1984 – 1987 was the Chief Labour Party Whip during those pivotal ‘Rogernomics’ years.

    Lest we forget ….

    Penny Bright

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz

  11. Justme 11

    55% say Little is a POTENTIALLY better match to Key, than the other labour leaders.

    I wouldn’t be celebrating on this one. It is like being asked which would you prefer, a kick to the nuts, or having them cut off, and then proclaiming that most people prefer getting kicked in the nuts, as a positive thing.

    The big question is, do people prefer Little to Key? Remember, the wording of the questions.

    • The Chairman 11.1

      Indeed, Justme.

      To claim Key has met his match or Little is a formidable opponent based on the result of that question is clutching at straws.

    • Skinny 11.2

      Which Gower will spin around to, this is not a great result for Andrew Little considering the others all failed, yet a strong 45 % still doubt Little can beat the flogged also rans.

      The poll result details clearly has Pete G fizzing at the bung.

  12. The Chairman 12

    The first political poll of this year has actually seen Labour slip down 1%

    http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=200809

    Labour’s new leader, coupled with their support of new surveillance laws, SME tax defaulters amnesty, and zero tolerance failed to muster voter support.

  13. The Chairman 13

    Rodney Hide says the David Cunliffe experiment of Labour tacking left is over, claiming it’s good news for Labour as he believes they have to win the middle to win Government.

    Well here is something to ponder:

    Labour’s housing policy to fill market voids and build new homes comes from the left and was widely liked by voters across the political spectrum.

    Therefore, why is it often assumed (largely by right-wing pundits and a number of right within the left) Labour has to tack right to win the centre vote?

    • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1

      What makes you think they believe it?

      • The Chairman 13.1.1

        That’s assuming I believe they believe it, which of course is irrelevant and doesn’t answer the question asked.

        Whether they believe it or not it’s what they often tout and advocate.

        We are now seeing similar happening to the Greens with the departure of Norman.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1.1.1

          Well, you asked “why is it often assumed…?”

          If you think they don’t believe it the answer to the question is pretty obvious: they’re acting in bad faith, with who knows what motive – and I can think of a few.

          • The Chairman 13.1.1.1.1

            If acting in bad faith is the answer, why is Labour taking the advice on board ?

            • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1.1.1.1.1

              Who says Labour’s taking the advice on board? On any given day, you’ll find everyone from John Key to John Armstrong to Matthew Hooton to Gosman to Fisiani to Redbaiter offering “advice” to the Left, not to mention a steaming pile of beige banalities from wannabes.

              If you think Labour has moved to the Right make your case. If you think they’ve done so on the advice of tr*lls, salaried or otherwise, I think you may be wrong 😉

              • adam

                One Anonymous Bloke, I believe labour don’t have to track to the right. They are right. If we measure a party on the most important issue – political economy – Labour is a right wing party. No tracking needed, just a bunch of fluff, some pretty pictures, and bang – the left can get fooled again – or is that stabbed in the back again, by these traitorous lovers of liberalism.

                • One Anonymous Bloke

                  There are lots of different ways to look at that: on the one hand Lab6 will be farther to the left than Lab4, so clearly they’ve tracked left in the meantime. How “Liberal” is Kiwibank or WFF?

                  On the other hand some cynics say that the Sheeple are like a metronome with a decadal pulse, which implies that all you need to get reelected is to wait your turn irrespective of policy.

                  Still others that the media controls the narrative, or that possible narratives are controlled by other external factors, or that Labour represents a marriage between pragmatism and principle.

                  Reality is somewhere in all of that. Labour are to the right of me, I know that much.

                  • adam

                    But Franco could have been considered left of Mussolini. Still didn’t make Franco a left winger.

                    What worries me, and always worries me – is that we will be feed fluff again, lies again and told this or that is left wing – when in reality it is not. Kiwibank is still a part of liberalism and fits a liberal approach to economics. Working for families – again, still part of a liberal economic approach – no matter how much the right in this country may want to call it communism. Both help working people, and don’t get me wrong, this is a good thing – but both are a good fit with liberal economics – which essentially is a nightmare for working people.

                    I’m not convinced labour can do anything fundamentally good for working people. They have sucked from the sewer of liberalism for so long – they just can’t change people lives for the better.

              • The Chairman

                Labour’s appeal to SMEs of late clearly implies a further re-positioning to the right.

                I’d point to new policy, but it’s yet to be announced.

                But Adam is correct. Labour are most closely aligned with National.

                Kiwibank was a product of Alliance and WFF is an employer subsidy, aiding business while keeping wage demand down.

                • One Anonymous Bloke

                  Replying to both Adam & TC:

                  There’s little I’d disagree with in either of these comments. I think good solutions to the problem are to be found in the question “what are the possible* narratives” – and what are the forces that shape them?

                  Much beyond that is infertile territory for public discussion – as eloquently articulated by Pascal’s Bookie recently.

                  *electable, for example.

  14. The Chairman 14

    Jacinda Ardern says Mr Little’s speech was a “vision for where Labour wants to go and he couldn’t be expected to come out with the nitty-gritty of policy -TV3.

    Meanwhile, while the aspiration desired was widely accepted, aspirations mean little if they can’t be seen to be achieved. Therefore, many were left asking how will these aspirations be fulfilled? Thus, wanted to hear the nitty-gritty.

    With a number from Labour recently laying the election loss on voters not understanding their policy, one would think policy would be clear and at the forefront this time around.

    • Colonial Rawshark 14.1

      Labour has fucking shitloads of policy detail. At the last two elections Labour issued a magnitude more policy than National did. However it is Labour’s credibility, sincerity and unity which has torpedoed them time and time again.

      • The Chairman 14.1.1

        Yes, they do have policy. A number of which wasn’t well liked.

        But as far as their new vision goes, the policy detail was lacking.

        Perhaps they know that will also be widely disliked, thus are largely trying to get through on rhetoric?

        The speech got attention, thus it was a failed opportunity to get the policy across. If they really wanted to put it out there that is.

        • Colonial Rawshark 14.1.1.1

          Fair enough.

          At a macro level, creating jobs is easy. You have to spend into the economy. After that point you only need to decide: how to fund the spending (in our current system you have to have a mix of debt and taxes), what proportion of public/private spending you want, and what exactly is going to be invested in.

          • The Chairman 14.1.1.1.1

            How will the money be spent into the economy?

            And what safeguards will ensure that expenditure results well paid jobs, let alone creates new jobs?

  15. Colonial Rawshark 15

    As did the Labour leaders before him, who all produced surplus budget policies.

    Government budget surpluses are a major mistake for a nation which suffers from chronic current account deficit. Labour still doesn’t appear to understand this.

    Insisting on a government budget surplus means that the government will force the private sector, especially households, into a deficit position.

    In other words, a government budget surplus means that it is extracting more money out of the NZ economy than it is putting in. And because the current account is in deficit (money is being lost overseas) it means the domestic private sector will be the big loser.

  16. Penny Bright 16

    I was VERY involved in the Engineers Union in the 1970s / 1980 – 1981, was Vice-President of the Wairarapa Trades Council, and knew Ken Douglas from those ‘olden days’ – when he, in my considered opinion, was an advocate for working people – not the corporate 1%.

    Penny Bright

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz

  17. A Voter 17

    Dont you get tired of someone who has raised the national debt to the level and more of prior to Helen Clarkes govt and blaming it on the global recession ,falling dairy prices, increasing av oil prices,etc
    WHEN it is the chronic adherence to trad Tory concepts, hatred of socialism ,depowering the masses , involving the country in wars that are none of our business even to the point that military leaders of our country get to influence the policy of the elected govt by declaring media cannot be dissenting in their publishing information about the activities of the govt and its allies, also eavesdrops on everyones private communications and lies to the nation that it happens
    Selling the govt assets to feed the rich under the guise that trickle down will eventually raise the standards of all
    Well fuck you Key and all who swear allegiance to your self serving govt
    you are the worst that has happened to NZ on a par with Sid Holland
    You are a fascist or a bloody Zionist take your pick or add them together
    pretty much sums you up
    GO gettum Andrew and teach him a lesson about ethics that he wont forget

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    2 hours ago
  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 hours ago
  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 hours ago
  • 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
    6 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
    8 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
    8 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
    9 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 KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    9 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
    10 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 ...
    11 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
    12 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
    14 hours ago
  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats why they introduced the Recently Deleted folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Heres how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on Edit. Select Show Recently Deleted. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose Recover to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    15 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 ...
    22 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 ...
    23 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 ...
    23 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 ...
    23 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 ...
    23 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 ...
    23 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 ...
    24 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 ...
    24 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
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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, ...
    1 day 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, ...
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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 ...
    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 ...
    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
    2 days ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    2 days ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    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 KƍreroBy 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
    3 days ago
  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    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 ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to 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 KƍreroBy 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 ...
    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 KƍreroBy 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 ...
    4 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 ...
    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 KƍreroBy 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
    5 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 ...
    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 ...

    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
    6 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
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