Open mike 02/06/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 2nd, 2016 - 78 comments
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78 comments on “Open mike 02/06/2016 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    2 June 2016 at 6:20 am

    Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
    We have become a cruel, ugly and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.

    The New Zealand prison population increases to nearly 10 000 citizens.
    The cost of our prisons increases to nearly $1 billion a year.
    Our rate of imprisonment is now the 2nd highest in the world.

    A billion to imprison people.
    Yet not enough to house the citizens of this country.
    What an abject failure this neo-liberal experiment has been since 1984.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11649023

    • tc 1.1
      2 June 2016 at 6:56 am

      Gotta give their backers at serco some growth to go with the wet bus ticket routine when they get caught out.

      How breakable are these prison management contracts or is that ‘commercially sensitive’ detail the people don’t get to know ?

    • David H 1.2
      2 June 2016 at 8:56 am

      And how many are inside for little offences like Marijuana.

  2. Ad 2
    2 June 2016 at 6:23 am

    [Good comment Ad. I will convert to a post – MS]

    Today this government shows terminal symptoms of Strategic Arse Elbow (SAE).

    Going in the one direction, this morning at 10am the Prime Minister launches construction of the City Rail Link. New Zealand’s largest-ever infrastructure project, it’s going to revolutionize rail travel in Auckland, and provide a massive boost to high-density residential and commercial investment and city living.

    Going in precisely the other direction, two hours later the government will release its National Housing Statement, which it has forecast will loosen Auckland’s growth belt so fast its trousers will fall down. This policy directive provides the government with explicit powers to undo the Auckland Plan and Draft Unitary Plan’s clear direction towards rail travel, other public transport, and higher density residential and commercial investment and city living.

    No agency in central government can provide as clear and coherent advice about the future growth of Auckland, and clearly no-one in government is. Indeed forming that coherence is precisely what the Auckland Council is for. This government is today forcing the most massive policy and programme contradiction seen in a lifetime. John Key does not know his policy Arse from his execution Elbow.

  3. Paul 3
    2 June 2016 at 6:29 am

    It was 5 degrees in Auckland last night.
    It was 4 degrees in Dunedin last night.
    It was 1 degrees in Christchurch last night.

    Not very warm to be sleeping in a car.
    Not very warm to be sleeping in a container.
    Not very warm to be sleeping in a garage.
    Not very warm to be sleeping on the street.

    Our shameful treatment of the most vulnerable in our society is being publicised in Britain. The world is being introduced to John Key’s cruel, ugly and selfish New Zealand.

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3618883/Homeless-parents-living-16-day-old-baby-fear-taken-child-services-New-Zealand.html

    • Eralc 3.1
      2 June 2016 at 11:53 am

      There’s an elephant in this particular room. Has anyone asked the question of the young mum why did she have another baby while living rough? And where is the dad? If she was thinking of wee Mereana she should have told HNZ. The baby’s place is with the mum. It would not be taken from her without good reason. Baby first.

      • greywarshark 3.1.1
        2 June 2016 at 12:29 pm

        Eraic
        “Baby first”. That ignores the parent, has no care for the mother, and refuses to see her as vulnerable just like her child, and a worthy individual, but just as one of a mating human pair. All mothers are more than that, they are worthy people in their own right and have responsibilities that are weighty and should be treated with respect and helped to cope with those tasks and needs.

        No – sex first, then baby. You ask why would a young woman conceive a baby while living rough Eraic? Can you conceive of the circumstances of living rough. There aren’t protections from the rough life, the lack of privacy and safety, being handled rough, being treated rough, from feeling weak and cold and unable to find comfort or happiness, from wanting change from feeling roughness all around and seeking friendship or a type of affection, some warmth for a while.

        And knowing that with living rough there will be no condoms for sex with the other person or persons involved who are also living rough, yet both might have some pleasure for a moment, or perhaps sex could have been forced on her.

        And she knows too that she will not likely receive compassion from prating people who have no love of the agape sort (Greek for general love of humanity.This type of love was further explained by Thomas Aquinas as “to will the good of another.”)[5]

        Did you know that the ancient Greeks had four words for different forms of love? Have a look at the Wikipedia entry and see if you have experienced any of them.
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_words_for_love

    • Lanthanide 3.2
      2 June 2016 at 12:43 pm

      Initially thought this was going to be about global warming.

      We still haven’t had a frost this year in Christchurch. Usually the first one is in April. Next few nights have forecast minimums of 0C, so we might get a frost.

    • Bill 3.3
      2 June 2016 at 2:59 pm

      From the linked article…It is estimated there are about 35,000 ‘moving between temporary and insecure accommodation’ in New Zealand.

      I’m picking that’s a massive under estimate. Many, many rental situations (most) are anything but secure and a million light years away from anything that might be considered even semi-permanent.

  4. miravox 4
    2 June 2016 at 6:53 am

    You just know Judith Collins is spinning when she compares NZ imprisonment rates with New South Wales instead of Australia… or Scotland… or Finland… even England or whatever European country except the US.

  5. amirite 5
    2 June 2016 at 7:27 am

    Look, at the end of the day. it’s the free market and frankly, who cares about the safety of infrastructure being built and the people’s lives if it collapses. As long as we can do it on the cheap and for profit!

    ‘The contractors who imported 1600 tonnes of substandard steel for new highway bridges were warned the deal was too good to be true.’ http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/305400/contractors-told-weak-steel-price-'too-low‘

    • whispering kate 5.1
      2 June 2016 at 8:16 am

      I heard that woman from the Transport Agency on RNZ this morning too, she was half-witted and sounded doped up and was a disgrace to the Agency. So we now “have to let the free market prevail and no, we are not interested in who the providers of the steel were, its up to the suppliers to sort that out”. What is it going to take, a massive bridge collapse or a high-rise to collapse before this Government will take ownership of any responsibility for our safety. I have never heard such a disgraceful interview from a Government Agency quite like it – so its going to be the same old same old, who will want to drive through to Hamilton from now on wards, god knows what sort of construction strength these bridges will be and heaven help people who buy into these new apartment buildings in the city. How low can this Government go, they are bloody useless.

      • M. Gray 5.1.1
        2 June 2016 at 10:25 am

        agree why didn’t she reveal the supplier maybe this is sensitive information good job that what happens when you go cheap

  6. Penny Bright 6
    2 June 2016 at 7:52 am

    PM John Key still saying New Zealand is not a tax haven?

    “How Mossack Fonseca used NZ – in its own words | Radio New Zealand News

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/305300/how-mossack-fonseca-used-nz-in-its-own-words

    Panama Papers NZ – A 2014 email sent by Mossack Fonseca’s New Zealand representative lays out exactly how the company uses foreign trusts in this country.

    An investigation into the Panama Papers – an unprecedented leak of 11.5 million files from the database of the world’s fourth largest offshore law firm, Mossack Fonseca – by RNZ,One News and investigative journalist Nicky Hager has lifted the lid on how New Zealand is part of a tangled web of secretive shelf companies and obscure trusts. It has also raised questions over the country’s foreign tax rules, including its disclosure requirements.

    Now, an email sent by Mossack Fonseca New Zealand’s Daniel Leon has revealed – in his own words – the measures clients can take if they do not want their names to appear on the public paperwork.

    The email was in response to an enquiry on behalf of Juan Fernandez Methol from Studio Damiani, a Uruguayan firm offering legal and accountancy services to provide inheritance and tax “financial solutions”.

    …..”

    Penny Bright
    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

  7. miravox 7
    2 June 2016 at 8:39 am

    If this guy was a bene or a greenie it would be all over the news about how he’s bringing the country into disrepute with twisted values, taxpayers $$$ etc. etc.

    But he’s just a dude – salesman – trying to make a buck and had a few problems that led him astray. He cost the country $37m. Probably will get home detention. He doesn’t even rate the front page.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/crime/news/article.cfm?c_id=30&objectid=11648954

  8. Andre 8
    2 June 2016 at 8:47 am

    Who’da thunk it? Turns out it’s cheaper in the long run to look after the homeless than just turf them out onto the streets.

    http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2016/06/01/3783768/san-francisco-homeless-housing/

    • Paul 8.1
      2 June 2016 at 9:16 am

      At $1300 per week that should be obvious to anyone.
      But we are dealing with ideologues.

      • save nz 8.1.1
        2 June 2016 at 11:13 am

        Yep, giving them housing will save money in the long term, but that is not the point- it should not be about saving money – but decency of a society to say we do not tolerate homelessness!

        • Andre 8.1.1.1
          2 June 2016 at 11:24 am

          Sadly we have reached the point where the decency of society argument falls on deaf ears. It’s only the dollars argument that might filter through. Sometimes.

      • Bearded Git 8.1.2
        2 June 2016 at 11:19 am

        I think it was John Campbell’s marvelous work on the destitute people forced to pay $1300 a week THAT HAD TO BE PAID BACK that has finally caused the housing issue to blow up in the face of the government.

        Issues that are easy to understand and that are manifestly unjust are the ones that resonate with the public.

        • greywarshark 8.1.2.1
          2 June 2016 at 11:54 am

          Bearded Git
          I think this part of your comment is one that should be borne in mind all the time by politicians and activists, and particularly in the run up to 2017 elections.

          Issues that are easy to understand and that are manifestly unjust are the ones that resonate with the public.

          • greywarshark 8.1.2.1.1
            2 June 2016 at 11:59 am

            lprent
            I had an unusual message come up while I was trying to place the above comment – something about this web site is not encrypted …something.
            My Firefox has not been updated for a while and that might be the reason.

            (It illustrates how this new boon to mankind of the internet is constantly being challenged by various factors so that it is not as wonderful as could have been.)

        • Chooky 8.1.2.2
          2 June 2016 at 10:18 pm

          +100 Bearded Git…John Campbell did a terrific job

  9. mauī 9
    2 June 2016 at 9:36 am

    The PM would go 12 rounds with Harumbe the gorilla until he found out that the little boys mum was actually on a benefit paying back a motel debt for the next few decades, then he be like yeah..naaa.
    http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/80655729/Prime-Minister-John-Key-would-not-have-killed-Harambe-the-gorilla

    • weka 9.1
      2 June 2016 at 11:01 am

      Leaving aside that that is a truly weird article, I think this is another example of the Hoskin Approach. We don’t need experts. The people that shot the gorilla were wrong because. Despite them being an actual dangerous animals response team ie experts.

      • mauī 9.1.1
        2 June 2016 at 11:24 am

        Definitely a really weird one, I see no author put a name to it either.. It seems to be one of those lets keep the PM in the media, any publicity is good publicity stories.

        On the gorilla, I find it interesting the story is that the gorilla was throwing the child against the wall. This goes against what an Ape expert said the other day that it would be in more a protective mode. Also, if you just shot a gorilla, wouldnt it be a great cover to say the gorilla was being extremely violent so it had to be done.

        • weka 9.1.1.1
          2 June 2016 at 11:51 am

          True, although I think it’s almost impossible to assess the story from this distance. It will be interesting to see if better video footage shows up.

        • b waghorn 9.1.1.2
          2 June 2016 at 4:05 pm

          The first footage they had on TV made it look like the ape was being protective, the more extended footage made me think they had no choice but to shoot.

      • Chooky 9.1.2
        2 June 2016 at 10:20 pm

        I can never see Hoskin as more than the fruit and vege man…he was marvellous at this

    • joe90 9.2
      2 June 2016 at 12:07 pm

      That’s a relief….
      /

      This one tweet sums it up perfectly:

      bri ••• ‎@BriSteirer

      but also yo if you are tweaking about this gorilla being shot i’ve got a story about this kid named tamir rice that will BLOW YOUR MIND
      1:02 PM – 31 May 2016

      As another Facebook post — this one by Emily Bingham — put it:

      All my fellow Ohio people enraged about the senseless killing of a gorilla. Boy do I have a WILD story for you about a little boy named Tamir Rice.

      https://www.romper.com/p/this-one-tweet-about-harambe-the-gorilla-makes-the-outrage-more-disturbing-11535

  10. save nz 10
    2 June 2016 at 11:09 am

    And the good news in the US is…. (sarc).. thanks failed neoliberalism

    “The winners have taken all: Middle class incomes are plummeting — with no relief in sight
    The staggering reality is that half of America is in financial distress and at risk of falling deeper into debt”

    http://www.salon.com/2016/06/01/the_winners_have_taken_all_income_among_the_middle_class_is_plummeting_partner/

    P.s I put the US articles in, because similar things are happening in NZ, but we don’t have a MSM that will report them or a government that keeps politically neutral statistics to measure the change …

  11. Red delusion 11
    2 June 2016 at 11:18 am

    I see trotter has put the boot into the clumsy so called labour green MOU, arguing it’s nothing like the successful alliance and labour tie up, more the dance of the desperate. Give trotter his dues, he is one astute bloke

    • Bearded Git 11.1
      2 June 2016 at 11:21 am

      Trotter hasn’t got a green bone in his body.

    • weka 11.2
      2 June 2016 at 12:02 pm

      Yeah, nah. He appears to be saying that he thinks they went about it the wrong way.

      But whatever else I may be, I am not a cheerleader. If I believe the Labour and Green parties have announced their new “Understanding” far too soon; without preparing the electorate or priming the news media; without securing real and valuable gains for both partners; without carefully gauging the reaction of both their members and their voters; and without having straightforward answers to journalists’ straightforward (and entirely predictable) questions; then I reserve the right to speak bluntly and critically about these deficiencies.

      Pretty easy to refute all those points anyway.

      http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/06/01/unconvinced-why-chris-trotter-is-so-sceptical-about-the-labour-green-understanding/

      • Red delusion 11.2.1
        2 June 2016 at 12:17 pm

        It will end in tears, has not been thought through, I guess time will tell

        • weka 11.2.1.1
          2 June 2016 at 10:30 pm

          Or it has been thought through and you and Trotter don’t understand the strategy.

        • Bearded Git 11.2.1.2
          3 June 2016 at 12:56 pm

          Red d-read Toby Manhire in the Herald today. he gets it right, as did Keith Locke on Morning Report.

    • Wensleydale 11.3
      2 June 2016 at 5:13 pm

      And yet if he’d articulated an opinion that didn’t so conveniently align with your own, you’d no doubt be calling him a pretentious socialist arsehole who doesn’t know his arse from his elbow.

  12. Jenny Kirk 12
    2 June 2016 at 1:02 pm

    ” without preparing the electorate or priming the news media;” sounds to me like Chris Trotter is more than a bit miffed that he wasn’t tipped off the news beforehand, Weka.

    • adam 12.1
      2 June 2016 at 2:32 pm

      I found the financial and membership claims to be the most important part of the piece.

      And the fact the vaulted labour war chest is now mythology, the left should go after electorate seats, especially off neo-con laborites.

      • Colonial Viper 12.1.1
        2 June 2016 at 3:59 pm

        I thought that Trotter’s comments about the poor political lead up and PR planning around this announcement was particularly telling.

        If Trotter is correct, there will be fuck all political follow up from this partnership over the next month or two.

    • Colonial Viper 12.2
      2 June 2016 at 4:20 pm

      ” without preparing the electorate or priming the news media;” sounds to me like Chris Trotter is more than a bit miffed that he wasn’t tipped off the news beforehand, Weka.

      That’s a rather uncharitable interpretation.

      A more professional one is that Labour didn’t do the ground work needed to get the most PR and media mileage from this announcement.

      • McFlock 12.2.1
        2 June 2016 at 4:47 pm

        actually, “uncharitable” is to single out Labour for perceived failings in a joint presentation.

        What “groundwork” did the Greens do to “get the most PR and media mileage from this announcement” (and other safely vague and unsubstantive accusations)?

      • weka 12.2.2
        2 June 2016 at 10:39 pm

        “… the Labour and Green parties have announced their new “Understanding” far too soon;”

        How so? It’s just as easy to argue that this is a good amount of time, it allows the electorate to see the relationship in action well before the pressures of an election year. By the time the election campaign proper starts, lots will have been ironed out and people will have gotten used to the idea. It also means they are prepared if Key calls the election early.

        “without preparing the electorate or priming the news media;”

        I liked this. I’m especially impressed that there were no leaks from Labour. That’s a good sign. What prepation of the electorate should have happened? What priming of the media?

        “without securing real and valuable gains for both partners”

        The gains are very obvious to me. What is Trotter referring to?

        “without carefully gauging the reaction of both their members and their voters”

        I can see this both ways. I don’t have a problem as a GP member with this having been done in secret, because I’m pretty sure that most GP members have been wanting this to happen for a long time. If it had been done publicly we would have had months of MSM beat ups. I think how they did it was preferable.

        “and without having straightforward answers to journalists’ straightforward (and entirely predictable) questions”

        What? Paddy rabid terrier Gower’s questions about NZF? The question was asked and answered. L/G are going to change the govt, and both are very open to working with NZF or any party that shares their aim.

        I didn’t see Trotter’s original bit on tv, so maybe he made a better argument there, but his piece on TDB is all puff.

    • Bearded Git 12.3
      3 June 2016 at 1:14 pm

      I thought the MOU release worked well as a an ‘out of the blue” coup. It certainly got plenty of media coverage and debate going.

  13. McFlock 13
    2 June 2016 at 1:14 pm

    National’s War on Dunedin (or is that “War on the Regions” in general?) continues: Agresearch Invermay facility confirmed to lose 56 jobs in a bloody stupid decision.

    • Gangnam Style 13.1
      2 June 2016 at 3:32 pm

      Still smarting over Hillside, I see its still empty, what a freakin’ waste!

  14. whispering kate 14
    2 June 2016 at 1:49 pm

    What I can’t understand about this Government is – why it doesn’t want to govern this country, it is doing nothing. These large metropolitan cities do not promote unfettered immigrants to come to this country, nor do they ask them to live in these cities. The Gov. is not prepared to help out with the infrastructure needed to implement these new outer-city subdivisions and is putting the burden on the councils. It also will not allow these councils to raise funds from its citizens to get on with the infrastructure and public transport, with tools like road tolling to help pay for the roads.

    The Government also will not bring in policies to slow the housing market, like a CGT or making immigrants build new homes, reducing the number of homes a person or trust can own in Auckland, a penalty for leaving homes empty for any length of time. They are absolutely sitting on their backsides and leaving these councils hamstrung and making the rate payers bankrupt themselves – don’t they pay enough taxes as it is. If they are not prepared to spend tax payer’s money, then they could at least enact legislation which miserly Double Dipper won’t have an excuse to hug the purse strings over. For the love of God, does this Government actually do anything at all?

    How can these neo-liberals who love this Government see anything worthwhile in their governing, it just isn’t logical at all.

    • emergency mike 14.1
      2 June 2016 at 2:54 pm

      Every time I see someone complain that the opposition offers no credible alternative, I find myself wondering how the current govt offers anything credible whatsoever.

      • Colonial Viper 14.1.1
        2 June 2016 at 4:26 pm

        Voters want to see a clear alternative to National’s laissez faire hands of the wheel style of management.

        Is Labour going to stop foreigners buying houses? Is Labour going to exit NZ out of the TPP? Is Labour going to bring back the CGT? Is Labour going to end land banking? Is Labour going to end property investors who own a dozen or more houses?

        Can you say yes to any of the above?

        If not, that’s probably why people don’t see Labour offering a clear alternative, merely a watered down one.

        • emergency mike 14.1.1.1
          2 June 2016 at 6:41 pm

          CV, the subject of my comment was the credibility of the current govt. I neither made nor invited any comment on that of the opposition. So while you are of course free to rant/vent about whatever you like, I’ll pass on your questions.

        • Chooky 14.1.1.2
          2 June 2016 at 10:33 pm

          +100 CV

  15. greywarshark 15
    2 June 2016 at 2:09 pm

    BUSINESS
    In caps because it needs our scrutiny more.
    Fonterra
    Ag Research
    Steel

    $133m AgResearch restructure gets go-ahead
    The government has given AgResearch the go-ahead for a controversial major restructure that will cost $33 million more than first proposed.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/305405/$133m-agresearch-restructure-gets-go-ahead
    (NZ has a conservative government that doesn’t follow it’s own basic precepts ‘that if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it.’ This is a useful taonga but only Maori have the nous to defend and protect taonga, the rest of us have been hypnotised by a $50 note waved in front of our eyes, with TINA and tax cuts repeated monotonously.
    his disruption to Agresearch shows the desire to invest less in things of importance to the country’s future, and bleed most of its resources to cash up the nation while it’s still apparently alive.)

    Steel –
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/305386/importer-of-weak-highway-steel-revealed
    NZ Steel and Tube, long term business here, but being undermined by the cheap efficiency thing of free markets.

    (Youtube has numbers of vids of roads where huge holes have appeared. No doubt they’re traceable to bad design, construction and implementation. We’ll end up with the same if corrupt practices become regularised here. But government isn’t exercised and won’t investigate. Who cares? Well we do.)
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/305427/govt-won%27t-investigate-weak-steel
    and
    Transport Agency unsure where bad steel came from
    6:38 AM.The Transport Agency doesn’t know where 16-hundred tonnes of bad Chinese steel for new highway bridges came from, and says it won’t be asking.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201802984 2+m.
    and
    Contractors who imported steel warned (Fulton & Hogan? Listen and find out.)
    8:19 AM.The contractors who imported 16-hundred tonnes of substandard steel for new highway bridges were warned the deal was too good to be true.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201803012

    NZ economy performs well
    (However – this from the bureau that facilitates the spread of economic fashion styles for the season – the winter of our discontent and other three seasons as well.)
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201802990 ..49s
    6:58 AM.New Zealand is expected to be one of the stronger growing economies in the world in the coming year according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development..

  16. greywarshark 16
    2 June 2016 at 2:26 pm

    And Fonterra
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201802998
    The interviewee stated that Fonterra is right to be moving to value added product and away from the dried milk staple. And that marketers will be accenting NZ grass fed quality and good animal practices etc. All the things that have been put into jeopardy by profit oriented, milk rush overstocking and imported palm kernel feed with extra insects or pests of some sort or other.

    NZ – tops in cupidity and stupidity in a wide range of fields and paddocks – 100%!

    • Colonial Viper 16.1
      2 June 2016 at 2:31 pm

      Only 10 plus years late but what the hey.

      • greywarshark 16.1.1
        2 June 2016 at 2:58 pm

        Yeah what the hay, hey. I too thought about that long time lead.. I remember before the last or the one before last appointment, of the top Udder, commenters were saying that he was mostly experienced in commodities and didn’t have the background that would take us into value added.

        So now we are forced to accept a ‘new’ idea, after half destroying the countryside and the country’s variety of exports, and dairy farmers being given the greatest subsidy of all, preferential access to natural rivers and aquifers. The loss of the Canterbury Plains grain growth in favour of watering it for bigger profits from dairy exports of mainly one product furthers the loss to the country’s food stability and reserves.

        Then the wiping out of our protective duties against imports, enabling our domestic economy to live and not be undermined by the vast industry of the rest of the world and its slave employees has led to the extreme impoverishment in the towns.

        All this for dairy farmers, who have often leveraged themselves into multiple farms which they didn’t want to work themselves, and so installed either IT so they didn’t have to get cowpats on their shiny shoes, or overworked, underpaid employees. Or they sold the productive land to foreigners for a bit fat once-off profit to them, and a drain on our export returns for ever probably. And the government has planned all this. And they have the gall to sneer at Chinese five year plans, and how planned economies pick winners and don’t let the market developments show which way to go. What’s happened here under National is just the same, except they have too much guile to admit it.

        As I said before NZ tops in the developed world for cupidity and stupidity, 100% pure.

  17. adam 17
    2 June 2016 at 2:33 pm

    I like reading most anything from Wayne Hope.

    This piece is great and he aces it.

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/06/01/one-party-media/

    • Bill 17.1
      2 June 2016 at 3:43 pm

      His take on media seems fair enough from a quick perusal. But a one party state requires that there be no choice of political parties to vote for. And that’s most definitely not the case in NZ. Even when and if one party dominates the political landscape, that’s still not a ‘one party state’. Shame he uses such rhetoric and even seeks to defend it.

  18. Draco T Bastard 18
    2 June 2016 at 2:53 pm

    Airbus showcases 3D-printed drone at Aerospace expo in Berlin

    Among Thor’s main advantages is its low price tag and high reusability. Unlike conventional UAVs, which can cost hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars, the total cost of the printed parts that make up Airbus’ newest creation is around €25,000.

    As I’ve said before – 3D Manufacturing is the future and it removes all the false economies of scale that gets large factories in China working. With this type of manufacturing capability international trade in products disappears. The only thing left to trade will be information and information trade really only works when it freely shared without the artificial barriers of copyright and patents to get in the way.

    • adam 19.1
      2 June 2016 at 3:30 pm

      That was brilliant. Thanks emergency mike

    • Chooky 19.2
      2 June 2016 at 10:40 pm

      yes I wondered about that claim of jonkey…maybe he should become a real estate agent….i am sure there will be a BIG run on these houses now, especially as there are so few of them and there are so many needing affordable houses in Auckland ( not that just under $500,000 for these little out of the way places is reasonable price)

      and of course the homeless won’t be able to afford them!

      ( so thanks, but no thanks jonkey)

  20. Bill 20
    2 June 2016 at 3:25 pm

    This is worth a watch if you’ve a spare half an hour. Vice TV did a kind of ‘fly on the wall’ short docu on Jeremy Corbyn covering two months prior to the recent local elections in England and Wales.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94ptAcbfKP0

    • Kiwiri 20.1
      2 June 2016 at 4:26 pm

      Thanks for pointing that out, Bill.

      Reminds me of the relentless attack against another party leader in another country.

    • ianmac 20.2
      2 June 2016 at 8:33 pm

      Thanks Bill. He/We have an uphill battle.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 hour ago

  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    2 hours ago

  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 hours ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 hours ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 hours ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 hours ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    9 hours ago

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

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

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

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    12 hours ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
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  • $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 ...
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    5 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 ...
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    7 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 ...
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    8 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 ...
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    9 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 ...
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  • 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 ...
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    10 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 ...
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    12 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
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    23 hours ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
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    3 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
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    4 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
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    4 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
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    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
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  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
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    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
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  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
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    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
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    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
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    5 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
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  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
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  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
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  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
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  • Navigating an unstable global environment
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  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
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  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
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  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
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  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
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  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
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