Nats take a big hit on RMA reform

Written By: - Date published: 10:36 am, September 11th, 2013 - 86 comments
Categories: Environment - Tags: ,

National is facing humiliation over it’s failure to get the numbers for its controversial Resource Management Act reforms as both the Maori Party and United Future refuse to back the legislation in its current form. This is very much a good thing for New Zealand’s environment and both parties are to be commended.

The changes, which are designed to weaken environmental protections and make life easier for property developers, have been a centrepiece of National’s policy manifesto. For over a decade now they’ve targeted the RMA as representing too much red tape (despite the fact it’s considered to be light-handed by international standards) and some of their biggest supporters including Federated Farmer and Business New Zealand have put a lot of time and energy into helping that meme along.

This is a fiasco created by Environment Minister Amy Adams, and an embarrassment for her government. It represents a basic political failure to negotiate support. This isn’t not surprising given Adam’s generally poor relationships with parliamentary colleagues, but I would have thought that Key would have had someone looking over her shoulder to make sure these reforms went through as they are very important to many of National’s most important backers.

Then again she’s a Collins supporter so perhaps it was in Key’s interests to giver her enough rope.

86 comments on “Nats take a big hit on RMA reform ”

  1. One Anonymous Knucklehead 1

    Adopting an extreme position then mollifying it slightly to appear open-minded is hardly a new tactic from National.

    • onsos 1.1

      If that was their plan, they took it too far and fouled up. They may push it through, but this looks like failure, which is not a good look on a flagship policy.

  2. BLiP 2

    Geoffrey Palmer sums things up nicely in his just-released “Analysis of the Government’s Proposed Freshwater Management and Resource Management Act 1991 Reforms”. The analysis was commissioned by New Zealand Fish and Game Council and the executive summary states:

    . . . I have concluded that the environmental protection offered by the Act will be weakened by the passage of the Government’s proposed changes. No amount of assertion or assurances given can alter that analytical fact. Further, the journey to finding out the precise consequences of the changes will be long, expensive and uncertain.

    The Resource Management Act represented a deliberate shift on the part of New Zealanders away from economic advancement at any cost towards long-term economic and environmental sustainability. It expressly acknowledged that the state of the natural environment and New Zealand’s economic development were inextricably linked. It was enacted with broad political support after years of public consultation. The Government’s proposals fundamentally erode that commitment to sustainability.

    The Government’s proposals will rewrite the principles at the very heart of the Act. Sections 6 and 7 set out the signposts by which decision-makers can achieve the Act’s purpose of “sustainable management”. The Government’s proposals will replace those provisions with a single list of competing considerations, under which principles protecting the natural environment and its recreational enjoyment will be consistently weakened, and principles promoting development will be consistently strengthened. Two decades of case-law built up in relation to the interpretation of the Act will be rendered redundant.

    • Peter 2.1

      Thanks to anglers and hunters for funding public environmental defence, once again. No one else appears to be doing it.

      • Shane Gallagher 2.1.1

        How about Forest and Bird and Greenpeace? (Just the first two to spring immediately to mind – there are a lot more)

        And the great NZ public who pour funds and untold volunteer hours into defending the environment?

        Good on Fish and Game – we are all fighting the good fight here 🙂

        • Peter 2.1.1.1

          All environmental NGOs do a great job, it’s just that as the best-funded, Fish and Game takes the brunt, particularly on legal costs, and it’s ultimately unfair for the angler and the hunter to wear that cost on their license fees (although anglers and hunters are generous people).

          We need either DOC performing its statutory advocacy functions or a beefed up Public Environmental Defender’s office that can actually undertake legal work in defence of the environment and the public.

          • Bearded Git 2.1.1.1.1

            +1000. I run an environmental group in Wanaka. We are usually outspent by developers many many times over. Once we spent $85k and the applicant spent $1.5m. (Yes, the applicant got consent)

            • vto 2.1.1.1.1.1

              Hi BG, what’s your view on the latest proposed Haast-Hollyford Road and its machinations? Seems like it is beginning to rapidly fall apart, as usual when it comes to this ludicrous scheme from the century before last.

              • Bearded Git

                Just a tourist route. Very expensive to build (much more expensive than numbers floated is my guess) and not viable even as a toll road. All the smart and influential people in Wanaka and Queenstown hate it because it will wreck an unspoiled wildernaess area and reduce visitor numbers to these two towns. There is also an issue about access along part of the route.

                • vto

                  Yes agree completely with all of that. The backers (Westland Council property holding company mainly) also are falling apart and can’t get their internal shit together, let alone begin to address any of those gigantic issues. Keep an eye for it to be quietly dropped…… until the next generation of bozo comes along and gets all excited again..

    • alwyn 2.2

      Ah, so old Geoffrey is still spouting his rubbish about things he doesn’t know anything about.
      The poor fellow has never got over the fact that he was kicked out of power a quarter of a century ago after proving to be the worst Prime Minister New Zealand has had since before the second world war.
      Can you really read the rubbish you are quoting above and not come to the conclusion the Geoff’s mind has gone?

      • Tracey 2.2.1

        can you address each point made by Palmer above so we can see exactly how that makes him someone who has lost his mind?

      • BLiP 2.2.2

        National Ltd™ 101: when confronted with irrefutable logic and/or undeniable facts, apply ad hom.

      • Ian 2.2.3

        So you don’t like Geoffrey and lambast him as worst PM since before WW II. I’ve never cared for his views that much either, but probably for different reasons. So your benchmark criteria for ‘poor’ or ‘worst’ is what, in judging current & past PMs? Its all very well to make a vitriolic statement but its just hot air if it isn’t anchored to something.

        • alwyn 2.2.3.1

          I’ll limit my objections to GP to just a couple of points.
          The first was his inclusion of that awful clause in the SOE legislation to the effect that nothing they do is allowed to conflict with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. He then never made any attempt to document what were the principles he was talking about.
          He apparently told Richard Prebble at the time that the the clause was meaningless, would never apply to anything and was just a way to get the Maori caucus members in the Labour party of his back.
          Well it is brought up by every judge, tribunal and iwi group who then argue that it means anything they want it to. So much for his foresight.
          As to being the worst PM. He had the charisma of an old piece of chewing gum and was leading his party into the slaughter house in the 1990 election. As an act of desperation the Labour party defenestrated him about six weeks before the election. Moore never had a chance of winning but at least he saved the party from a massacre and the loss of most of their seats.
          A person I know, who was close to the Government at the time, said that both Clark and Cullen thought they would lose their seats unless they got rid of Palmer. I don’t know whether that was true but it seems plausible.

          • Adele 2.2.3.1.1

            Kiaora alwyn,

            What redneck hole did you crawl from? The principles of the Treaty are an invention of the Courts, as the reality of the Treaty would have meant that Pākehā New Zealand would have to accept full Māori authority over lands and waterways. The principles dilute the full effects of the articles. You should thank Geoffrey Palmer not deride him.

            Geoffrey Palmer in this country’s foremost consitutional expert and any behaviour you attribute to him that is not honourably motivated is simply you being an ugly little person with an aneurysm for a neck.

            • alwyn 2.2.3.1.1.1

              Of course the “principles” of the Treaty are an invention of the courts.
              That is what I am objecting to. If GP had wanted to give this power out he should have damn well said what he meant, rather than leave it to an unelected group of self indulgent jurists.
              That may be your interpretation of what the Treaty “really” means but not everyone would agree with you.
              Geoffrey may be New Zealand’s most self proclaimed “foremost constitutional expert” but it doesn’t mean that it is true.

            • vto 2.2.3.1.1.2

              Adele your selective selection of selected legal applications makes you look silly

      • ianmac 2.2.4

        How about this for identifying the threat from the “Reforms:”

        Huge risk of environmental damage and loss of local democracy from planning reforms by A. Omundsen
        Proposed planning reforms have been heavily contested by environmental, community, legal and professional organisations around the country……..Approximately 13,000 submitters on the planning reforms discussion document are disappointed that key concerns raised have not been reconsidered. The fact that the proposed changes to the principles of the planning legislation will “significantly and seriously undermine environmental protection” has been demonstrated by members of the legal profession, including Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Resource Management Law Association and DLA Phillip Fox Lawyers.

        http://www.pundit.co.nz/content/huge-risk-of-environmental-damage-and-loss-of-local-democracy-from-planning-reforms

      • Martin 2.2.5

        worst sinceWW2? surely the present one must have that honour, or Syd Holland?

        • Rodel 2.2.5.1

          Yechhh! Syd Holland. When I was a little boy he shook my hand once. I’ve been washing it daily ever since.
          If the present one did that to me dunno how I’d cope.

        • alwyn 2.2.5.2

          I realise it isn’t a very popular opinion on this site but I’m in agreement with Chris Trotter in my opinion of John Key. He is by far the most gifted politician of our age, and the Labour party are stupid in underestimating his skills.
          About Holland? Yes he wasn’t very good I must admit.
          Do you realise that if Keith Holyoake hadn’t lost his seat in 1938, and been out of Parliament until the next election in 1943 he would have probably been the leader of the National party in 1949, become Prime Minister and probably been like Menzies in being PM for about 20 years?

          • tricledrown 2.2.5.2.1

            Alwynger You been smoking lame duck weed.
            Whats Keys Majority in parliament lame DucKey limps to next election with no majority
            doesn’t sound like holyoake or menzies.
            They were far more pragmatic and inclusive!

            • alwyn 2.2.5.2.1.1

              I must agree that whatever you have been smoking is a great deal stronger than mine.
              Indeed I find that I have a great deal of difficulty in even reading the disturbed rambling of this and your other post just below.
              Key sounds very like Holyoake, who I knew, to me.
              Incidentally in the post below you seem to think that I, or perhaps you mean John Key, is a member of the Religius Society of Friends, or the Quakers as they are often referred to.
              Not true for me and I don’t think so for John Key.

      • tricledrown 2.2.6

        alwym your quakers that was till lame ducKey !
        Alwyn your pathetic desperation is laughable!
        Geoffrey Palmer Is our most educated and knowledgeable expert on constitutional law!
        Simon Upton (National Party conservation minister Rhodes scholar) brought Sir Geoffreys draft RMA to parliament and it was put into law by the National party.

    • Ennui 2.3

      Thanks BLiP for mentioning us anglers and hunters. This is of course all part of a much bigger issue: the defense of and protection of the commons.

      My experience of being involved in environmental issues over the years is that the grab for resources, usually unpaid or barely paid for (water extraction, mining) has been dismal. We win point victories at great cost for the environment, then have to defend, losing in an erosive sense. We kill our environment for the enrichment of the few, who in turn justify it as economic necessity. And we all are guilty of creating the economic demand with our new trinkets (iPods, cars etc).

      I want a new Labour government to take the issue of the privatization of the commons very seriously. The biggest single issue outside of environmental degradation for our citizens is the privatization of access by stealth. No access to beaches, lakes, rivers unless you pay, and even outright exclusion. The last Labour government did not give a flying f**k about this. Lets hope the next one does.

      • vto 2.3.1

        Yes, access to the public realms is a biggie. It annoys me greatly when public access routes have locked gates on them. If retaliation is considered appropriate then one method of vengeance is to slap a second large lock on it and throw away the key….

  3. Peter 3

    It’s a very big win, and an example of MMP in action. Thanks to Peter Dunne and Tariana Turia (although I suspect it was Flavell and Sharples who pushed her). I’ve been working on RMA changes professionally and personally for nearly two years, and it’s been frantic and stressful trying to achieve even minute gains against this government, but it seems that the general pressure from all sides has resulted in at least a stay of execution.

    There’s also something else going on here – the rise of the Blue Greens now that Nick Smith is back in Cabinet (he is ranked above Adams, and no doubt still has a direct line to the man with the chequebook, his old mate Bill English). Smith isn’t perfect, but he’s the best friend the environment in this government right now, and wins such as this don’t come every day.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 3.1

      Seems like Amy Adams shouldnt have been living it up at the Americas Cup over the last week and instead been at her desk in Wellington…. you know doing stuff that thats in her portfolio….not quayside in San Francisco

    • Tracey 3.2

      well done on your efforts… it’s a battle won but not the war?

      • Peter 3.2.1

        Hard to work out what is the battle and what is the war currently, but it’s a step in the right direction. The RMA changes were a direct response to Fish and Game and others having success in the Environment Court and High Court over regional water plans and regulations, and the strength of the arguments (environmental, social, economic) were such that the only way that National could see to win after that was to change the law (in Canterbury first, and with the now scuttled RMA changes).

        There will be another round, and some changes, but critically, it puts the legislative timeframe out beyond Christmas and into election year, and Key does not want that at all.

        • Tracey 3.2.1.1

          I have experience banging my head against the brick wall that is govt depts so can appreciate how hard this fight is.

          • Peter 3.2.1.1.1

            They can all be circumvented, you just need the funds, good arguments, and good lawyers (hence the funds). Minimum $100,000 for these fights, sometimes upwards of $1,000,000.

    • onsos 3.3

      Do you think the Blue Greens have had a hand in this?

      It would mark real problems for National if they did. This is a bad piece of business for National; it marks a real failure of political management. If it is the result of white-anting from Nick Smith, then that would mark real internal problems for National.

      I wouldn’t put it past Smith. He is a clumsy and incompetent operator, whatever his views on the environment.

  4. Winston Smith 4

    I don’t understand this, apparantly we’re living in a dictorship under National so how could this happen?

      • Winston Smith 4.1.1

        I now fully expect everyone on here to sing P. Dunnes praises over this…yeah right 😉

        • Colonial Viper 4.1.1.1

          Peter Dunne has done a pretty good thing for the country. He was always in tune with environmental and conservation issues. He’s really come through this time.

          • Winston Smith 4.1.1.1.1

            Well played

          • Francis 4.1.1.1.2

            After the GCSB thing, I’m not sure I’d trust him that much.

            Wouldn’t surprise me if it’s another “willing seller, willing buyer” ploy. Then again, he may as well hold the government to ransom. At least it will delay legislation…

    • tc 4.2

      Dictators fall and amongst the first signs are support from current allies being withdrawn.

    • fender 4.3

      Yes WS we are certainly living under a National “dictorship”/ dick-tor-ship.

      Looks like some more threats will need to be directed at Dunne to make him do another GCSB style flip-flop.

      • Mary 4.3.1

        Dunne will flip-flop regardless. That’s what he does. He sees his job as maintaining the facade of democracy in New Zealand.

        • Arfamo 4.3.1.1

          Yes but the facade has crumbled away to reveal a self-serving idiot who has been making a fool of himself ever since the Vance affair. He’s my MP. I’ve never voted for him and only met two people who were prepared to admit they did. If Labour put up a seriously decent candidate I don’t think he’ll be re-elected.

    • Saarbo 4.4

      Yes, appears to be unravelling…

  5. wyndham 5

    Don’t have too much faith in ‘Mr. Reasonable’ Dunne. Odds are that he’s just showing Key that he is still annoyed over the Dunne / Vance emails affair. Watch for him to change his stance once the odd meaningless alteration has been made to the bill.

    • Tracey 5.1

      using it to make sure he has no opposition next year in Ohariu?

    • Arfamo 5.2

      Odd and meaningless largely sums up United Future and Peter Dunne. You’re probably right that any Nat-proposed amendment, however vacuous, will secure his vote.

    • BLiP 5.3

      Watch for him to change his stance once the odd meaningless alteration has been made to the bill.

      Not like he hasn’t done it before. A cynic might suggest that both he and the maori Party are using the trick to gather some publicity for themselves while setting the stage for National Ltd™ to demonstrate its green credentials with a backtrack on one or two insignificant clauses deliberately placed in this License To Pollute legislation.

  6. Sookie 6

    Contrary to the usual Nat posturing, the amendments decision released last month was slightly watered down from the original discussion document. But it is still a big relief to see the usually pestilent Maori and United Future minions blocking the bill. As a Planner I didn’t have big concerns about the Council-bashing amendments proposed, but the Section 6 and 7 amendments were horrendous and likely to cause case law chaos. However I expect some form of bill will go through with minion support.

    • Bearded Git 6.1

      Very very very very slightly watered down The key changes to s6 and s7 that gutted the Act and the sly changes (insertion of a word here and there) that also caused landscape protection to be watered down and extra costs for Councils and community groups were still there. In particular the imposition of a national District Plan is madness.

  7. vto 7

    This is brilliant news.

    In our business we deal with the RMA all the time sometimes. It is no major hurdle of red tape – if you do your homework, consult with those affected, negotiate / deal with the relevant authority/s, don’t apply for outlandish projects, and go about things in an open and clear manner then there is never a problem.

    Half the problem of the people I have always come across who complain about the RMA is themselves and their attitude. They expect that the world should be there just for them and they cannot see how others may have an alternative view on their desires. This attitude is generally prevalent right across their character.

    As for the proposed changes by this horrible government – they give me the shivers. As said during their first term, this lot recognise that for them and their supporters this is a last grab at resources and the like before they lose office and the already swinging pendulum against their ways beds itself into the kiwi psyche and society. It is a last grab, nothing more.

    • Bearded Git 7.1

      +1000

    • beGone Craven SpyBill leopard 7.2

      +1 VTO,

      Yep, not only do these people not do their homework and think everything should be arranged to their desires (regardless of the damage) they waste a lot of councils and communities’ time and money that would be better spent on better, more well formulated business designs.

  8. tracey 8

    Agree with vto. Most who dont like the rma dont like it because it limits tge damage their project can do to the environment

  9. Sable 9

    The environment has taken enough of a beating at Nationals hands so its good to see that Dunne and the opportunists party have finally grown something that vaguely resembles a conscience. The question of course is why? Could it be they see the writing on the wall and don’t want to sink beneath the political waves with Captain “Whitewash” Keys come next election?

  10. I hate the RMA and this piece of legislation She is passing has made me confirm my vote back to National Next year.

    Excellent national and thank God for you.

    OK cool thanks Mr Key and national to kick the RMA out the window.

    Also thanks for the Housing accord. At least something happening there

    Shame on Greens for apposing it when the say they want affordable home for he poor.

    Oh and whats interesting is the right wing counsellors apposing the Draft Unitary Auckland plan

    Shame on you.

  11. bad12 11

    i would say the opposition from both the Maori Party and Untied Future is a bit of both, i do not like to ascribe to either party any credit for anything as both are what keeps the current abysmal National Government on the Treasury Benches,

    United Future with much fanfare befor the 2011 election did announce it was joining forces with the ‘huntin and fishin’ crowd as it’s political voice and as ‘the Hairdo’ had sucked in and sunk various other political groupings without trace like the black hole in space of New Zealand politics over the years i just thought ‘there goes another one’

    i don’t for a minute tho believe that Dunne will be opposing the changes to the RMA for purely altruistic reasons and it is obvious that He will get months of free publicity out of such opposition, much needed oxygen heading toward November 2014, He being nearly as two faced and Slippery as the current holder of that title the Prime Minister, is likely to allow the Legislation to proceed on the cheap once He has milked it for all it’s worth in terms of news coverage,

    The Maori Party opposing the changes to the RMA is a different kettle of fish and i would suggest it’s being pushed from Te Ururoa Flavell to stop the Waka of the Maori Party sinking below the waves as an irrelevancy in the current Parliament, a lot too little to late is my diagnosis and my understanding is that like ‘the Hairdos’ United future befor it, the Maori Party would have if pressed to provide proof, trouble coming up with the required numbers to keep it as a party under the current rules,

    There is tho down at flax roots level a growing number of young Maori switched on to the Green message so Flavell could be said to be representing them,

    The wild card in the pack that has not yet been mentioned in relation to their attitude to the changing of the RMA is of course Winston’s NZFirst, Winston working on that old adage that any publicity is good publicity might yet decide to give National NZFirst’s support while milking it for all it’s worth in the media…

  12. MrSmith 12

    And sorry peasants Amy couldn’t be reached for comment as she was currently watching the Americas cup Live in San Fran. If my memory serves me right Amy’s just another farmer/farmers daughter blatantly working for her kin folk here, like Bill English, Nathan Guy, David Carter etc

    Watch Keys lap dog Dunne roll over once again for a tummy rub and a couple of bones on this one.

    Good on the Maori party for growing a spine tho.

    • vto 12.1

      You know what makes me laugh at people like those you listed MrSmith?

      That is their constant cry that they DO care for the land and they DO ACTUALLY want to leave the place better than they got it, and they REALLY DO look after the land when the reality facts indicate that the likes of Adams and Guy and Carter and English, and their ilk absolutely do not care for the land, and absolutely do not leave it in better condition that when they got it.

      Evidence: no rivers for swimming or drinking in the Waikato (prior to them all rivers in Waikato were safe for swimming and drinking)
      Evidence: 60% of NZ rivers unsafe (prior to them 100% were safe. In fact even 20 years ago more rivers were safe)
      Evidence: Scarcity of natural flora and fauna in their areas (prior to them there were natural wonderlands all over the whole place).
      Evidence: Land in East Cape region scarred and eroded all over (prior to them was virtually no erosion).
      Evidence: Erosion in most all parts of NZ farmed areas (prior to them was no erosion).
      Evidence: Canterbury drinking water wells are steadily being polluted (prior to their dairy herds the water was world class).
      Evidence: Rivers now running dry and destabilising habitats (prior to their irrigation rivers ran more)

      Actually, it doesn’t make me laugh, it makes me cry…

      The farming sector of NZ has not looked after the land or the environment at all and when they claim they do their bullshit should be shouted down. They do not like being confronted with this – they get all het up and fume and steam and storm off. With not an answer in sight.

      They have failed to look after the land.

      • srylands 12.1.1

        Prior to “them” there was nothing.

        Without “them” New Zealand would look pretty much like PNG does today (without the copper mines)

        Answer is to lift standards and water management. Adopt policies to make the country more prosperous. Start by promoting agressive oil and minerals exploration.

        You need to adopt solutions that are consistent with growth. There is no point in attacking dairying.

        • vto 12.1.1.1

          What was being attacked there srylands was the farmers own claims that they look after the land and leave it better than when they got it. It was not an attack on farming it was an attack on farmers claims.

          And further, you do not need to start from scratch to evidence this i.e. before farming began, you can do it over only the last twenty years in many parts of the country.

          • srylands 12.1.1.1.1

            “And further, you do not need to start from scratch to evidence this i.e. before farming began, you can do it over only the last twenty years in many parts of the country.”

            Yes I agree.

            • vto 12.1.1.1.1.1

              Really? Great.

              Having said all of that, of course there is without doubt a change in the air and on the ground whereby sustainable farming allowing the surrounding environment to begin to recover some of its previous condition is being practised. Such things include planting and protection of wateways and less use or targeted use of fertiliser, etc.

              So, some kudos for them that do so.

              I guess one of the questions is – taking into account the improvement being made as just described, is the bigger picture actually improving overall? Or do the new and intensely heavy practices in other areas outweigh those positive improvements …

              … looking at the evidence over those last 20 years the conclusion would have to be that the bigger picture is continuing to worsen i.e. farmers are not leaving the land / environment in better condition than when they got it, they are instead eating it. And I suspect that is in pursuit of the riches at the end of the irrigator… which only seem to be intensifying

        • marty mars 12.1.1.2

          srylands no, subsequent to “them” there will be nothing. They came, they saw, they conquered. That is their legacy – nothing. Sure ‘they’ created wealth for ‘their’ families along the way but the cost has cost us all.

        • MrSmith 12.1.1.3

          “Answer is to lift standards and water management.”

          That’s right srylands and National are doing such a great job on that front!

          http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2013/09/a-licence-to-pollute.html

          “But a draft version leaked to the Weekend Herald was criticised by Massey University’s Russel Death as having “extremely weak” limits on key measures, particularly those for nitrates in rivers and streams.

          […]

          The maximum nitrate concentration proposed in the document is 6.9mg a litre of water, which Dr Death said would result in “out of control” algae growth.”

        • tricledrown 12.1.1.4

          Schrillglands getting bored at the Cosby textor Office again!
          By putting mining and oil to the fore you are attacking dairying if we strike a big reserve of oil our dollar will sky rocket a put the dairy industry out of business our economy is so small it would damage just about every productive sector !
          Another load of bulls hit from
          Shortsighted
          retarded
          yellowbellied
          loudmouthed
          analyretentive
          nialistic
          dumbarse
          suckhole!

  13. swan 13

    I guess we will have to put up with high house prices for longer now then.

    • McFlock 13.1

      nah mate.
      We’ll just need a progressive housing policy that doesn’t rely on the avarice of slumlords.

  14. xtasy 14

    How amusing to see on “The Vote” tonight one John (the amnesiac) Banks sit next to Peter Done, and go on about the RMA needing to be reformed, to have less rules to build “hay barns”. He later went on about “granny flats” in Epsom taking too long for consenting.

    Yet it is Dunne, aka “Done”, who alongside the Maori Party now has pulled his support to the RMA Amendment Bill.

    “Done” was silent there, so hey, some interesting developments on that front. But I bet, he will “consult” with Amy Adams and come to some sort of “agreement” that will be good for United Future (and their clientele).

    I would not put too much hope into Dunne and his agendas, and Maori Party are irrelevant on this anyway. Dunne sold out on so much, he is just focused on more “profiling” and “prominence” for his party and himself in the mainstream media, none else, I fear.

    • miravox 14.1

      “I would not put too much hope into Dunne and his agendas”

      His agenda? – Where his funding will come from.

      Didn’t and outdoor recreation party / lobby group merge with United Future aways back? Anything that affects their interests will get serious attention from Dunne.

  15. Arfamo 15

    The Vote is a load of drivel in my opinion but I did find the resounding vote in favour of the Opposition tonight invigorating. The Nact government will be starting to sweat as they face the scary reality of a Labour Party led by someone who can easily rubbish their bullshit.

    I don’t think Peter Dunne did himself any favours tonight. His most memorable comment was an egregious ageist insult thrown at Winnie Peters for no apparent reason. The man has been making a total dickhead of himself ever since the Vance “affair”. Doubt he’ll retain his seat this next time round.

  16. tricledrown 16

    Its funny how tough polution laws are enforced on urban businesses while rural businesses get off very lighty travelling aroud the country side seeing massive burn offs by farmers ruining the views and Air quality is just unbelievable tourists local and foreign come to see our fantastic scenery and all they get is a blue haze and rivers they shouldn’t swim in.
    Typical hypocrasy from a very powerful minority!

  17. David H 17

    I was watching the Hair on TV the other night/morning, cant remember which been a little ill, but what made me feel even worse was Dunny saying that the only thing that bothered him was section 2 of the RMA act the rest was ok. I hope i was delirious, but i fear not.

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    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 hours ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    4 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    5 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    9 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    10 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    12 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    15 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
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    1 day ago
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