Open mike 08/03/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 8th, 2011 - 32 comments
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32 comments on “Open mike 08/03/2011 ”

  1. Jenny 1

    .
    Around 30 Sky city workers have been locked out. The bosses say they can
    come back when they sign individual agreements.

    Unite and the SFWU have called all members out in response. Their press
    release says 200 have walked out.

    All through yesterday they have maintained a serious picket to stop
    customers and scabs from getting through.

    A witness visited the picket twice in the afternoon, both times he saw pushing and
    shoving between unionists and security guards. A paddy wagon was arriving
    just as he left at just after 7 last night.

    Sky City is probably the biggest private sector union site in the central
    city. Workers there have been fighting to build and maintain their union
    for the last decade.

    This looks like being a crucial battle for unionization of low paid
    service workers.

    Joe Carolan a Unite organiser has asked for supporters to come down, to help.

    So spread the word.

    • David 1.1

      And the lockout is over. Presumably the staunch picketing was enough to management to the negotiating table. Hopefully this time they be prepared to offer something.

  2. ZeeBop 2

    But think of the profits (sounding and loaded like ‘think of the kids’, ‘the children, the children’,
    the next generation will thank us if we are greedy for more profit).

    Rent seekers have been downplaying the thirty year glut of cheap oil so they
    could distort the way the wealth was use, i.e them not society (which temporariily
    no longer existed). This is the motivation for PPP at all costs and no analysis.

    So we see in ChCh, where half a city is shut down by natural phenomena – well
    at least the leaky building problems in that half of the city is solved. And we all
    know how an art gallery gets the investment to survive the quake but
    the people who would inhabit the emergency centre had no problems with
    letting leaky homes be built and now homes on land prone to liquefaction.

    You see all those years of wealth and profit, that increased inequality, was
    misdirected from better purposed spending, but also in the rush to do away
    with government governing and allow for profit, we see a general
    freeing up of the market to under-produce on sustainable and resilience.

    When tens of thousand flood out of ChCh, internal refugees, seeking government
    welfare centres and offices across the country – the welfare report is quietly
    shelved along with a misdirection on student union interest and WTF cuts.

    Even spin now is used to move National government to the left, the stark reality
    of petrol rises hitting home on the back of the ChCh tremor. Mining on, mining
    off. Asset sales full steam ahead, then watered down asset sales.

    National have a choice, drop their stupid policies and ideology or become
    unelectable, a loony party unable to keep up with changes that voters
    have to immediately respond to and are fed up having to wait on governing
    politicians who seem puzzled that we aren’t all cheering them on any more.
    They don’t get that the light never shined out of their behinds, it was all
    just cheap oil.

    • Draco T Bastard 2.1

      We really don’t want National to drop it’s loony policies. What we want, and need as a society, is for people to realise that their policies are loony so that National will never see the treasury benches again.

  3. Salsy 3

    The UK Govt has started seriously panicking about oil. Strategy for electric cars by June, low carbon homes and a “green” bank..

    • Colonial Viper 3.1

      They got no money to do this with, and how are they going to justify the tens of thousands of job losses well on the way? Cameron explicitly declared the civil service the enemy of enterprise at the tory conference – just 2 days ago.

      I suppose soup kitchens could be low emissions.

      Its madness and they have no hope of success.

      • ZeeBop 3.1.1

        Sorry but your wrong, governments are about continuity, if they don’t have the money they
        print it. Look at the U.S. Of course this should mean inflation, or hyper inflation, since inevitable citizens have less value in the currency. The effect of a bout of inflation is to lower the value of the hoarders of financial wealth, unless they own something that makes money they become poorer faster. Now given that a lot of wealth is going to be lost from higher oil prices making a heap of business model unprofitable, there’s going to be more room not less for the UK government to print money and so stimulate a new generation of businesses geared to the new lifestyle possibilities of peak oil. So when the UK govt says austerity, it means more wiggle room, more warning to the current rich watch out your about to bleed, and massive social change. Now this doesn’t work in NZ because our debt is held by foreigners, as such we have no room to move because the people who own, who will hurt, who need to change, are not under the sovereign control of NZ. All government can do is rebuild the economy to serve the people rather than absent landlords – which Nat-Lab are not even discussing. So expect more inefficient waffle from politicians, looking like lame asses is all they have now.

  4. joe90 4

    New Hampshire politician talks about disenfranchisement because there “are kids voting liberal, voting their feelings, with no life experience.”

    “They go into these general elections, they’ll have 900 same day registrations, which are the kids coming out of the schools and basically doing what I did when I was a kid, which is [vote liberal],” he said. “They don’t have life experience and they don’t have life experience and they just vote their feelings and they’re taking away the town’s ability to govern themselves, it’s not fair.”

    Previously.

  5. Sideshow Bob, acclaimed mayor of Christchurch, has totally outdone himself in the irrelevent taking the piss stakes.

    Yesterday, on the telly, we were treated to the truly glorious sight of his majestic mayoralness pimping portable toilets and proclamating procedures re: how to engage them.

    Yes thats right, he’s now telling Churtown people how to take a shit. Sad thing is, there will now be thousands of earthquake affected getting round with dags and skidmarks, as he forgot to tell them how to also wipe their arses properly.

    or perhaps that’s the subject of today’s media briefing.

  6. hellonearthis 6

    I hear Work and Income NZ are claiming that 8,000 beneficiaries went off welfare and into work in FEB. Isn’t that just the students start at University and Polytechnics. http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/bennett-benefit-numbers-decrease-february/5/84846

  7. todd 7

    Child Poverty in New Zealand

    http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/03/child-poverty-in-new-zealand.html

    There is no question that child poverty is a major problem for New Zealand. Because of various Governmental policies over the last few decades, we now have an epidemic of one in five Kiwi children growing up in poverty…

  8. Draco T Bastard 8

    An interesting non-article by Roubini. It merely points to a Truthout article about the ills of selling state assets and recommends that you read it.

  9. Morrissey 9

    Listeners to Radio New Zealand National were treated to Joe Bennett reading form Part 2 of his book Hello Dubai this morning (10.45 a.m. Tuesday 8 March 2011).

    Bennett delivers the reading in his distinctive sing-song, slightly lisping voice, sounding at every moment as if the mirthfulness of the world is going to overwhelm him at any moment. Most of what he reads is uninteresting observational stuff that’s been done much better by the likes of Peter Calder. Bennett affects to find whimsy and pathos all around him, and waxes philosophical about the great divide in Dubai between the blonde expat women joggers and the anonymous Asian workers ignored by everyone except the condescending and amused Bennett.

    If he left it at that unambitious level, Hello Dubai would quickly join the list of other deservedly ignored and soon forgotten sub-literary attempts at imitating Paul Theroux. But, foolishly, Bennett decides to comment on something way beyond his competence. He mentions that during his stay in Dubai, the papers are “full of coverage” of the Israeli military massacre in Gaza. Bennett is struck by the full- colour pictures of dozens of the victims: “These are pictures you would never see in a western newspaper,” he asserts. Then, without missing a beat, in the next sentence he states that the media in Dubai are “heavily censored. There are some things you cannot say and some things you must say, and one of those is ‘Boo to Israel'”.

    The Israeli destruction wrought on Gaza was denounced by the United Nations as a mission to “punish, humiliate and terrorize” the captive Palestinian population. To actually do one’s job as a journalist and reveal some of the consequences of Israel’s war crimes is not saying “Boo to Israel”, it’s called reporting. Dubai, unlike the United States and Britain and Australasia, freely shows the Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera, which gives extensive, highly informed coverage to both Israeli and Palestinian viewpoints—in stark contrast to the BBC, the ABC and the American networks. If there is “heavy censorship and a keen awareness of what you must and must not say”, it is not the Arab media that are guilty.

    Bennett’s puerile, trivializing words stand in marked contrast to the writing of informed New Zealand journalists like Jane Young and Gordon Campbell. Yet while those two outstanding writers are largely unheard on our leading public broadcaster, an ignoramus like Joe Bennett is given the pulpit of a prime spot to spout his ignorant and prejudiced views.

    “Sounds like us”? Yeah right.

    • ianmac 9.1

      But Joe is not purporting to be journalist or a political commentator. He is resonating to me as an observant tourist and just below the surface is a wry commentary on the pretensions of the new rich and the weird UAE contradictions. While you Morrissey may be commenting for Palestinians, which is fine, but to attack Bennets style and content is daft.
      Perhaps you could usefully explore what will happen at the border between New Egypt and Gaza, and leave Joe out of it.

      • Morrissey 9.1.1

        1.) But Joe is not purporting to be journalist or a political commentator.
        Actually, that is exactly what he’s doing. It’s not the first time, either; a couple of years ago he wrote a particularly foolish and ill-informed opinion of Venezuelan politics, of which he knows about as much as he does about Middle Eastern politics.

        2.) …wry commentary on the pretensions of the new rich and the weird UAE contradictions.
        That “wry commentary” is fine as long as he sticks to what he’s good at—trivial and inconsequential things like getting all lyrical about the suntans on young women. When he brings that same vacuity to the arena of politics and war crimes, it’s a different matter.

        3.) …to attack Bennets style and content is daft.
        Do you understand the point of criticizing something? Style and content is exactly what you criticize.

        4.) Perhaps you could usefully explore what will happen at the border between New Egypt and Gaza…
        Well, with the overthrow of the dictator, hopefully democracy will come to Egypt. If it does, the illegal Israeli blockade will not be supported by Egypt like it was by the dictator. Who knows?—other than it can’t be any worse there than it is now.

        5.) …and leave Joe out of it.
        Joe Bennett knows nothing about politics. He’s neither a serious nor a critical commentator. Of course he will be left out of it.

    • Draco T Bastard 9.2

      If there is “heavy censorship and a keen awareness of what you must and must not say”, it is not the Arab media that are guilty.

      Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land covers the censorship that prevents Westerners from knowing the truth about Israel.

  10. Draco T Bastard 10

    Wonder why there is so much pressure for the RBNZ to cut the OCR? First we got the PM telling us that a cut in the OCR was expected and now we have a foreign national working for a foreign business telling us that it’s needed.

  11. lprent 11

    The server has been getting a bit loaded in the last couple of days due to the Christchurch quake black humor post. It was starting to falter due to RAM getting in short supply and the server starting to thrash. It hasn’t been helped by a number of search bots that seem determined to read the entire site.

    I removed some monitoring operations that were sucking up resources and rebooted it (last reboot was 42 days ago and there were some updates to apply as well).

    Took a bit longer than expected to come back up – mostly because two posts got published while the web server was going up.

    Looks a lot healthier now, but we’re nearly at upgrade time again.

  12. Wow Key and Goff are speaking in Parliament on the Christchurch Earthquake. Key was wooden, read a prepared speech and spoke in a monotone. Goff was very personable, spoke of his personal experience and spoke with some emotion. He thanked everyone who was involved and named all the major groups.

    He nailed it.

    If course I could be accused of being biased …

  13. Draco T Bastard 13

    The end of the ‘Washington consensus’

    Before China “gets” Colombia, there is now a rallying cry that says the US must pass the US-Colombia Free Trade deal – which would make Colombia deregulate its financial services industry, scrap its ability to design innovative policies for development, and open its borders to subsidised farm products from the United States. According to a study by the UN, the agreement will actually make Colombia worse-off by up to $75m, or 0.1% of its GDP.

    Considering that any FTA with the US will have the same policies why are we in talks to have such an agreement? We should be having the discussion about having one with all the facts laid out for everyone to see and, as the facts show that such an agreement is detrimental to us, then deciding not to have such an agreement.

  14. Whatever happened to the excellent company Fisherand Paykel ? Not so long ago it was the pride of Aotearoa .A top class company that produced top class products , it also had a good record of fair employment . I wonder if that is the case now. One thing is sure its products ,now made in China are a disgrace.They can only be described as crap. For instance their stoves once a wonder now fall,apart , the fittings are poor and and they are liable to blow fuses ect at whim .I wonder if the same is happening to other firms who have moved to China.

    • Colonial Viper 14.1

      Apparently the move to foreign manufacturing has been a disaster. Things like – minor fault with a new washing machine purchased by a customer, plant in Thailand or Mexico or wherever cannot source a spare replacement part to send to Service in NZ to fix the problem, months later pissed off customer has to be finally given a complete brand new washing machine to fill the conditions of the warranty.

      Many other “out of the brand new box” failure stories as well.

      Oh yeah, Haier (Chinese) now part owns F&P Appliances (but not Healthcare) but I didn’t think that they did any of the *F&P* manufacturing in China.

      (edit – though it wouldn’t surprise me)

  15. Pascal's bookie 15

    The first comment in this thread:

    http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2011/02/a_quick_photoshop.html#comment-803583

    used to have a response from dpf tacked to the end of it.

    That response read:

    [DPF: The Police have obviously been reprimanded for their oversight. TV3 tonight showed another looter in court, and he looked like he had fallen down at least four sets of steps]

    I guess he thought better of it after what comes to light in this thread at PAS:

    http://publicaddress.net/hardnews/about-arie/

    ie, It does look like Arie Smith, the guy dpf was ‘joking’ about, was assaulted by Australian police before being perp walked in front of the media.

    I would have thought a front page retraction/apology might have been more in order than a discrete deletion in terms of bloggy etiquette, but hey, he’s just fomenting mischief right?

    • pollywog 15.1

      As a whale in oil or a kate in cactus, he’s never more happy than when fomenting

      bless their mischievous little cottonsocks

  16. Jum 16

    Just listening to the debate on Legal Services Bill; a suspicious person must be wondering why Maori land is placed under disposable assets, when it is not allowed to be disposed of by individuals.

    To go one step further with that suspicion, maybe a later bill will pave the way for Maori land to be freed up for selling, which fits perfectly with my belief that National/Act never does anything that doesn’t benefit the rich and powerful. That is the reason, maybe, that Maori land is in the disposable assets listing as possible assets to sell to pay for legal advice. And Maori (Tariana Turia) don’t seem to mind or worry about this strange anomaly.

    • millsy 16.1

      I belive, Jum, that the iwi elite will welcome a chance to ‘free up capital locked up to further the interests of our people’.

      On a seperate topic, I remember back in 1996, when the Works and Development Services Corporation (MOW’s emaciated SOE successor) was sold off, and one of the Alliance MP’s said something to the effect that we would miss all that expertise when a natural disaster occured.

      Guess what?

      • Jum 16.1.1

        Millsy,
        So where does that leave the foreshore and seabed legislation – land to Maori, never to be sold off – what a lie…

  17. todd 17

    Asshole of the Week Award: David Farrar

    http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/03/asshole-of-week-award_08.html

    Recently Parliament had its second reading of Nationals Foreshore and Seabed bill MK2, which has been highly controversial. Now Independent MP Hone Harawira strongly opposed the bill and the toll of trying to uphold the mandate given to him by his people is one he is undertaking with dignity…

  18. logie97 18

    In a Herald report this evening
    “One firefighter injured an Achilles heel…”

    Now what part of the anatomy might that be I wonder?

    • Vicky32 18.1

      Once again, a reporter’s lack of general knowledge has bitten her/him on the bum. 😀

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    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
    4 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
    5 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
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    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
    2 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
    7 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
    9 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
    9 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
    23 hours 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. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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