Longstone resignation

Written By: - Date published: 12:18 pm, December 19th, 2012 - 56 comments
Categories: education, Hekia parata - Tags: , ,

From Vernon Small:

Education secretary quits

State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie says he has accepted the resignation of the Secretary for Education Lesley Longstone.

She was appointed to the role in November last year for a five-year term. …

There have been a series of difficulties at the ministry which has been under fire over the Novopay payroll debacle, the Christchurch schools merger and closure consultation process, the court-ordered u-turn of the closure of Nelson’s Salisbury school and the blunder and backdown over increased class sizes.

Can’t say that I blame Longstone for bailing, she was working for a Minister who is clearly well out of her depth. Early versions of Small’s article mentioned conflict with Parata (that seems to have been deleted now). Another fail for Hekia Parata, she’s the one that should be going.

56 comments on “Longstone resignation ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Mike Boon 1
    19 December 2012 at 12:22 pm

    I’m picking that National will hope and hope that we will all ‘forget’ over the Christmas break and they can get on with wrecking things when parliament gets back… I believe Foss will go before Hekia. The National spin machine led by Joyce & Key et. al. really love their weasel words and Parata is so very, very good at talking for hours without ever saying anything. An ideal National mouth. She needs to go but I doubt very much that she will. Accountability for blundering is one of the major missing links in this current government. You only have to look at John Banks’ survival this year for the benchmark.

    • Peter 1.1
      19 December 2012 at 2:26 pm

      Why Foss?

      • Mike Boon 1.1.1
        19 December 2012 at 4:09 pm

        because he’s not Hekia… I reckon she was hand-picked by the Joyce/Key spin machine… You know how much they hate to be proven wrong… or admit fault… or take responsibility… etc etc

  2. CnrJoe 2
    19 December 2012 at 12:23 pm

    the gift that keeps giving should go?

  3. Kevin Welsh 3
    19 December 2012 at 12:30 pm

    Wonder how much the golden handshake is…

  4. marsman 4
    19 December 2012 at 12:35 pm

    I read somewhere that Longstone was involved in establishing Charter Schools in England. The Nats obviously brought her here in order to ram through their Charter School Scam. Who will they get in to do that now? Rebstock? Bazely?

    • Morrissey 4.1
      19 December 2012 at 1:21 pm

      “…to ram through their Charter School Scam. Who will they get in to do that now? Rebstock? Bazely?”

      BANKS.

  5. Tiger Mountain 5
    19 December 2012 at 12:37 pm

    It’s back to Hogwarts for Longstone then and slowly onwards to eventual ignominy for Lady Gardiner.

  6. freedom 6
    19 December 2012 at 12:37 pm

    Who is now going to front up on Cambell Live. The Minister ? Ha!

  7. Dave Kennedy (bsprout) 7
    19 December 2012 at 12:47 pm

    Lesley Longstone’s resignation recognizes that appointing someone, who has no institutional knowledge of our education system, to introduce flawed ideology is doomed to failure. Longstone is a bureaucrat who was tasked implementing policy with little hope of success and it is my bet that her replacement in the role will also be an import. No one from within in New Zealand, who really understands education, would seriously consider it!

  8. NoseViper (The Nose knows) 8
    19 December 2012 at 12:51 pm

    Another overseas appointee gone. There was someone else recently also. I can’t remember her name. Does a name come to mind to anyone ?

    It is my contention that many appointments these days are made with the principle requirement that they are well versed in information technology and in changing systems from personal services to doing most on line. This in preference to getting someone with a ‘passion’ for doing well in their particular specialty. And it is a lucrative international scam where people have a name for being ‘the goods’ revolve around governments owned by large business which no longer look to get people who serve the people’s real needs and interests.

    Interesting that the MOE suggested that the Christchurch council hand over information on school closure to them, and then simply turn down the information requester. These national government departments and executives are conducting personal fiefdoms with ever less interest in serving and hearing what people want.

    People will come up with good ideas and discussion if given some scenarios and asked if they have any suggestions as to their preference and how they could be done better. They will soon find the holes and recognise the good points and their ideas have to be listed and then discussed to gain majority agreement. That’s how to consult effectively.

    • veutoviper 8.1
      19 December 2012 at 1:16 pm

      It was Janet Grossman who quit in June 2012 after less than a year as head of WINZ.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10844946

      • NoseViper (The Nose knows) 8.1.1
        19 December 2012 at 5:31 pm

        Thanks veutoviper
        I knew it wasn’t long ago.
        Here are some interesting features about her background that underlines the importance of IT background to appointees, not intimate and deep knowledge of the nature of their area of employment.

        <blockquote>The project to set up the Work and Income’s public self-service kiosks began before Grossman started, but the development and rollout was finalised in October, on her watch. Major security flaws allowed public access to corporate and private information for 1432 individuals. The ministry is conducting four employment investigations following a report into the privacy breaches.

        But Labour welfare spokeswoman Jacinda Ardern said if Grossman did receive the $97,000, it would be an extremely costly appointment on top of headhunting and relocating her. (There was an allowance of up to $50,000 for relocating expenses.)

        (It makes a joke of how women applying for jobs at the coalface strike negative comments about whether they might leave to have children. These trough feeders can nobly give their all for a short time, and finding it unsuitable or if hubby gets a good job offer elsewhere, leave early with a heap of money. You get it every which way.)

        Ministry of Social Development chief executive Brendan Boyle would not provide a breakdown of the $97,000 payment. He said five senior managers left this year and it would be “extremely presumptuous to assume” it went to one person.</blockquote>

        Perhaps the State Services Commission need to have a change of bums on seats as well as the Ministry of Education chess players, who need to get used to getting alongside real people. There is big money in human resources. I think that the huge salaries that are offered are actually a moral hazard to ensure the business remains bloated in its rewards for everyone.

        Can’t work out the editing. There is a change to my edit window with icons presented within it. Using blockquote didn’t work. There was no paragraphing that I put in either. I’m seeing quite a few sets of – ampersand n b s p ; except they are consecutive within the text.

  9. karol 9
    19 December 2012 at 1:07 pm

     The latest version on Stuff by Tracy Watkins et al, mentions a strained relationship with Parata:
     
     Secretary of Education Lesley Longstone has been forced to quit over a strained relationship with Education Minister Hekia Parata.
     
    Longstone’s resignation, which could cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, will raise questions about how long Parata can remain in the portfolio, after a series of blunders.
     
    State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie confirmed today had accepted the resignation.
     
    The decision for her to quit was made two to three weeks ago, he said.
    “The last six months have been especially challenging.
     

  10. fabregas4 10
    19 December 2012 at 1:25 pm

    She will not be missed. I have always believed and continue to do so that the role of the Secretary for Education is to provide a buffer for political ideology and what is best for education. Of course Longstone was not appointed to a government that would have allowed this to get in the way of their dismanteling of public education and chose someone who would follow their party line but it is quite clear that a better Secretary, a stronger one, a more knowledgeable and able one, could have and should have got in the way of the self foot shooting party to ensure that our kids were served well.

    It is a lesson for all Ministers to pick someone who actually knows something about the job and who they trust to tell them when they are doing dumb things. And that they should take the time to listen.

    Wonder if Longstone ever managed to get to a school?

  11. ruup 11
    19 December 2012 at 1:51 pm

    Hope the don’t pay her via NOVAPAY

    • bad12 11.1
      19 December 2012 at 3:03 pm

      Interesting that you should mention the No-pay people, one rumor doing the rounds at the moment is that the Parliament is also paid using the Novopay system,

      Anyone clued up on this??? sure as hell don’t hear of any big f**k-ups with the pay of that lot….

    • Craig Glen viper 11.2
      19 December 2012 at 4:42 pm

      Hope they do.

  12. irascible 12
    19 December 2012 at 2:02 pm

    Interesting that the comments in this blog http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/lesley-longstone-management-style.html have been demonstrated to have come true very quickly.

  13. Fortran 13
    19 December 2012 at 2:27 pm

    Great – a win win for the Teachers.
    Now let’s get Parata, and give her a political lesson she will not forget.

    • Craig Glen viper 13.1
      19 December 2012 at 3:19 pm

      I dont think any teachers want to give politicians a political lesson. Teachers are to busy doing a thankless job with limited resources to worry about creating more learning oportunities for politicians. The issue here is not Teachers or the Unions doing anything, this is stupid policy being implemented by a stupid National Government who have no bloody idea about how education works and they are making a bloody mess of it. Teachers use to get paid before No Pay came along! Its time for National to start taking some resposibility for its stuff ups, no blaming anyone else its personal responsibilty time its National’s “watch” its time for National to start fronting up, no more hiding like the last election.

  14. Treetop 14
    19 December 2012 at 3:00 pm

    Longstone is the first of many government appointees who will walk due to her job being untenable when it comes to there being a so called budget surplus in 2014/2015.

  15. higherstandard 15
    19 December 2012 at 3:34 pm

    Moron, good riddance, now Parata should fuck off.

    Put Ryall in to sort it out.

  16. Mary 16
    19 December 2012 at 4:19 pm

    Now, if the Labour Party had a modicum of opposition in them they’d use this as an example to say how toxic, nasty and underhand this government is. They’d make links to Key’s lies through convenient brain fades and the screeds of other ideologically driven nasties and begin to start showing the public the reality of what this government’s about.

    But I have no confidence that Labour can do this. The Greens may get close, but there’s no guarantee. Hone will hit the nail on the head by joining all the dots but the problem with Hone is that while he tells the truth nobody listens to him. Labour need to learn how to be an opposition party but I’m afraid they’re just not up to it. I blame their lightweight advisers but what ever the reason is Shearer might make some lame remarks along the lines of “we need to ensure that this never happens again” then for Key and his mates it’ll be business as usual. Pathetic, just pathetic.

    • ScottGN 16.1
      19 December 2012 at 4:36 pm

      Actually Hipkins and Turei have moved pretty smartly on this today, both of them have been loudly demanding that Parata resign. Key has been forced to issue a statement expressing confidence in his minister.

      • bad12 16.1.1
        19 December 2012 at 5:00 pm

        That will be the second time in 2 weeks that Slippery has ‘expressed His confidence’ in the Minister, what was a promise from the prime Minister worth again???…

        • ScottGN 16.1.1.1
          19 December 2012 at 5:38 pm

          John Key’s word isn’t worth jack. The government has managed this departure in the most depressingly cynical way possible. According to Rennie Longstone’s resignation was decided 2 weeks ago, which, had it been announced at the time would have allowed this issue to be debated in the final session of parliament. Instead the whole thing’s been deliberately delayed until the week before Christmas and the Minister can’t comment because she’s on fucking holiday!

      • Mary 16.1.2
        19 December 2012 at 6:17 pm

        Sure, but they’re not using this as an example of the toxic agenda this government has overall. They need to learn how to join the dots but their advisers don’t have the nous.

  17. onsos 17
    19 December 2012 at 4:34 pm

    In the realm of magical thinking that dominates cabinet, this will be viewed as a positive step. For those of us who would like to see this government fail, because most everything it succeeds at is disastrous for the people of the country, we can only hope that Key backs Perata all the way.

    For the honchos in cabinet, government is a matter of will. Through will power and the power of positive thinking, everything will come right. This is the MO for Key, who is consistently pushing English to push the same message. It’s not just electoral politics that sees them making outlandish predictions (there will be a surplus, the asset sales will proceed according to schedule, unemployment will decline, etc.). They actually think that their very belief in these things, and their belief in themselves, can make it happen.

    It is no surprise that the two fancied contenders (Collins and Joyce) exemplify this same trait, as do the favoured bulldozers (Brownlee and Bennett). Tolley was rewarded for this nonsense, and Perata has talked the game throughout. It doesn’t matter that she has been wrong, and she has failed to do what she is told.

    Longstone will now be construed as somebody who lacked the will power to carry out policy. The other option for Key would be to question his own beliefs, which is not allowed, or his judgement in backing Perata, which is not allowed either.

    On the bright side, Perata is incapable of getting anything done — making her the best minister in government — and she is a total electoral liability. As the opposition calls for her sacking, they must be careful not to call too loud; the last thing we want is for her actually to be replaced.

    • Northshoreguynz 17.1
      19 December 2012 at 5:04 pm

      Part of me wants to agree, the other parts wants an MOE focused on teaching and learning.

  18. Penny Bright 18
    19 December 2012 at 5:08 pm

    SHOULD HEKIA PARATA RESIGN AS MINISTER OF EDUCATION?
     
    Yes?  No?

    Have your say……

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8099165/Education-secretary-quits

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
    http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com

  19. Flossy 19
    19 December 2012 at 5:13 pm

    Wasn’t the conflict in part that the Secretary was sandwiched between an “underperforming” Deputy Secretary for Performance and Change and her sister, the Minister?

  20. Populuxe1 20
    19 December 2012 at 6:26 pm

    Whatever happened to ministerial accountability? Dumping on the flunkies is shameful.

  21. bad12 21
    19 December 2012 at 6:39 pm

    There’s still big trouble in store for Hekia in the New Year, involved also may be Longstone, depending just how far up the food chain the investigation goes into who advised the Christchurch City Council to lie to those in the education sector who had requested under the auspices of the Official Information Act information they believed the City Council held on the closure of schools in that city,

    What ‘is known’ is that someone in the Ministry of Education gave the advise to lie to the City Council,

    What isn’t known is just WHO gave the order for such advice, illegal, to be passed to the Christchurch City Council,

    You have to wonder whether Longstone has been given Her 30 pieces of silver and advised to scarper in an effort by the Slippery National Government to in effect short-circuit the investigation…

  22. North 22
    19 December 2012 at 6:49 pm

    Stuff online poll: Should Parata resign ?

    Yes 85.6%

    No 14.4%

  23. Chris Oden 23
    19 December 2012 at 6:58 pm

    How much is parata being paid to be such an abject and abysmal failure in her position as moe.AND she will be getting a raise with backpay for the privilege of being one of NZs most useless and unintelligent ministers of all times.
    She should be sacked! But that will not happen because our latest you tube star and part time prime minister has blessed her with his “con fidence” Ergo, she is safe. key will be using his usual just wait and they(us) will forget in a week. It will be sweet. No one doubts me and my “popularity” Everyone adores me so if I say you’re ok then that is what the masses will believe.So just go on holiday with your big raise and back pay and don’t give a thought to the masses.They don’t matter.They are purely incidental!
    Now, must get back to my real passion, being the biggest twit on the airwaves you will ever hear. God! I love me!!
    Tedious little man!!

  24. Dv 24
    19 December 2012 at 7:03 pm

    Langstone resigned because she had a communication break down with Parata.

    Translation, Parata doesnt speak English.

    • veutoviper 24.1
      19 December 2012 at 7:57 pm

      LOL.

      Your comment reminded me of this great comment under the Audrey Young article on the Herald on whether Parata should resign –

      “Perhaps Hekia can consult her contingency plan to facilitate transition options”.

      • Rhinoviper 24.1.1
        19 December 2012 at 10:05 pm

        “Perhaps Hekia can consult her contingency plan to facilitate transition options”.

        Oh God, I understood that. Pray for me.

  25. saarbo 25
    19 December 2012 at 8:04 pm

    Parata used her childhood experience in large class sizes to justify increasing the ratio of Children to Teachers. Paraphrase “When I went to school on the East Coast I was in classes with over 40 children and look at me”

    Well, given her catastrophic cock ups, MOE now have very clear proof that large class sizes lead to extreme narcissism, inability to understand questions, bad judgement, inability to answer questions with any clarity, having an elevated opinion of your own abilities, a blame mentality………

  26. Georgecom 26
    19 December 2012 at 8:31 pm

    Longstone had to go.

    Her relationship with Parata had deteriorated
    She was involved in the class size spanking the Government took and, I would pick, has little idea about the implications of Paratas decision
    She was involved in the Christchurch school closure debacle
    She was part of the Novopay disaster
    She was on deck when the Government was forced to back down over the closure of Salisbury School
    She tried to front foot the introduction of charters schools,which had failed overseas to remedy education underachievement and isn’t needed in NZ.

    However, the person who created all these problems for her needs to go as well, Hekia Parata.

    Longstone inherited the shonky and bungled National Standards policy. That goes back to Tolleys failure
    Tolley also presided over the initial development of Novopay
    Parata was the person behind the class size policy
    Parata lead the Christchurch school closure debacle
    Parata was the Minsiter when the Salisbury School closure was overturned in the courts
    Parata was the Minister, alogn with Banks, responsible for bringing in Charter Schools.
    Parata set the tone for her relationship with Longstone, not vice versa.

    Longstone gone, Parata has to be next. Her failure to front on this issue has seen the total destruction of her credibility within 12 months.

  27. Chris Oden 27
    19 December 2012 at 9:18 pm

    Not only parata should go but key should go also. I am sick and tired of this effing sideshow that is key. He has made a laughing stock of our Parliamentary system aided and abetted by media who are equivalent to a dog lying on its back waiting for rub on its tummy.
    Oh! and also, Bouncy Paula, waste of a large amount of space. What have these people achieved Just the total ripping out of the heart and soul of New Zealand.
    Their platitudes about “or kids””our children” are so false they are laughable coming from these overfed, overdressed, overmadeup so called CARING women that it is an insult to all real women out in the Community doing the jobs that these abysmal apologies for womenhood should be addressing.
    Shame on parata and bennett.They are not Honourable.

  28. AwakeWhileSleeping 28
    19 December 2012 at 11:02 pm

    Parata, the invisible minister.

  29. North 29
    19 December 2012 at 11:09 pm

    It’s now a virtual convention (seemingly without notoriety ???) that whenever the shit hits the fan our “leaders”, the PM, cabinet ministers, the backwoodsmen sitting behind them…….all run for cover.

    Morning Report and “the bird…..”. How well we know it.

    Morning Report and “the minister was not available for comment”. How well we know it.

    These are the people who in poses from near malice to vacuous vivacity exhort us to perform all the things that make Planet Key great – responsibility, accountability, manning-up, owning your shit.

    My God.

  30. tracey 30
    20 December 2012 at 8:42 am

    Rememver the decision to cut diplomats and how the ceo, not the minister took the fall…. Major pattern

  31. NoseViper (The Nose knows) 31
    20 December 2012 at 9:10 am

    There was a comment at 7.12 a.m. on Radionz on Longstone. –
    According to Teacher Education Professor John O’Neill at Massey University, the Secretary for Education Lesley Longstone lacked a crucial understanding of New Zealand’s education sector.

    He also made the point that she seemed to be aligned to the government’s education privatisation direction. So when the advice that government gets from its supposed impartial and widely experienced and objective civil servants is actually slanted from the beginnings, it’s no wonder we are running around in ever decreasing circles until we reach paralysis and are frozen in mid-speech.

    Couple that to a new entrant to cabinet from the aggressively ambitious women rookies who are picked because they are bright, fluent and as good in a scrum as a bloke, then we don’t get sober reflection and desire to serve the people well. It’s self-advancement, serve the party and get promotion and what are oodles of money compared to your average josephine.

  32. Dv 32
    20 December 2012 at 9:24 am

    Just listened to a Canterbury principal who is trying to appoint staff to replace staff leaving. Cant appoint permanent because of the uncertainty.
    (He also said that staff changes had increases in problems with NovaPay and thinks problems will continue for several months.)

    Where is the Minister?
    On holiday and getting a pay rise!!

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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day 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
    1 day ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours 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
    19 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
    21 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
    22 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
    22 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
    23 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
    23 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
    1 day 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
    2 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
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