Open mike 11/08/2012

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 11th, 2012 - 44 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

44 comments on “Open mike 11/08/2012 ”

  1. Carol 1

    A couple of things to consider when preparing for future resource scarcities and climate change:

    http://www.nature.com/news/demand-for-water-outstrips-supply-1.11143

    Almost one-quarter of the world’s population lives in regions where groundwater is being used up faster than it can be replenished, concludes a comprehensive global analysis of groundwater depletion, published this week in Nature.

    Yet in most of the world’s major agricultural regions, including the Central Valley in California, the Nile delta region of Egypt, and the Upper Ganges in India and Pakistan, demand exceeds these reservoirs’ capacity for renewal.

    And frakking uses more ground water than many places can afford to lose:

    http://www.accuracy.org/release/nature-study-on-diminishing-groundwater-resources-another-reason-to-ban-fracking/

    Not only is the oil and gas industry turning our rural areas into sacrifice zones, it is also diverting water that is needed to grow food.

    “Drilling and fracking is not only a threat to water quality — it also uses massive amounts of water, removing much of the water used from the water cycle altogether.

    And then there’s the hunger wars:

    http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175579/tomgram%3A_michael_klare%2C_post-apocalyptic_fantasy_becomes_everyday_reality/#more

    The Hunger Wars in Our Future
    Heat, Drought, Rising Food Costs, and Global Unrest
    By Michael T. Klare

    The Great Drought of 2012 has yet to come to an end, but we already know that its consequences will be severe. With more than one-half of America’s counties designated as drought disaster areas, the 2012 harvest of corn, soybeans, and other food staples is guaranteed to fall far short of predictions. This, in turn, will boost food prices domestically and abroad, causing increased misery for farmers and low-income Americans and far greater hardship for poor people in countries that rely on imported U.S. grains.

    This, however, is just the beginning of the likely consequences: if history is any guide, rising food prices of this sort will also lead to widespread social unrest and violent conflict…

    Intensive agriculture the answer you say, Gerry? Alongside ‘drill it, mine it, sell it’? Yeah, right!

    • Colonial Viper 1.1

      US corn crop projected to be down 17% this season, to lows not seen since the 1980’s. This is because almost 70% of the midwest corn growing region is in a prolonged drought. And the US is the largest producer of corn in the world, by far.

      • bad12 1.1.1

        Just in case, and, not wishing to be an alarmist, but,buy a kilo bag of rice with your weekly shopping until such time? as the US corn production either recovers or fails altogether…

        • weka 1.1.1.1

          Or buy NZ grown grains to encourage NZ farmers to grow grain for the local market.

          • bad12 1.1.1.1.1

            Yes true, If the supermarket sells em and they aint all being fed to the cows and pigs…

            • weka 1.1.1.1.1.1

              I think the problem is that NZ farmers are so tied into the export market and that drives their crop choices. I doubt that there is any NZ grown rice though 😉
               

              • yeshe

                And it’s all GM corn that cannot withstand drought or changing conditions — seed built only for money and no sustainability, just like everything else !!

                And buying rice .. 90% of rice grown in China is now GMO … good luck shopping !

                I also heard they have already closed all the ethanol manufacturing plants in USA due to corn shortages.

                Times they are a’changing …

                • Gareth

                  ya got that all wrong…. Its an extremely drought resistant strain thats why its still alive… Its also why they have been able to increase yield despite a drying climate…

    • Hammer 1.2

      Friday, 10 August 2012 15:34 Javier Blas , Gregory Meyer, Financial Times

      The UN has called for an immediate suspension of government-mandated US ethanol production, adding to pressure on Barack Obama to address the food-versus-fuel debate in the run-up to presidential elections.
      Most US ethanol is made from corn. The dispute over ethanol promotion pits states such as Iowa that benefit from higher corn prices – and in some cases are swing states in the election – against livestock-raising states such as Texas that are helped by lower corn prices.
      The UN intervention will be seized upon by state governors, lawmakers and the meat and livestock industry, who have expressed alarm at surging prices for corn. Members of the Group of 20 leading economies – including France, India and China – have already expressed concern about the US ethanol policy.

      [Another failed UN / Green policy]

  2. Morrissey 2

    You thought Murray Deaker was sub-standard?
    Baseless claims by Tony Johnson re Belorussian shot putter

    NewstalkZB, Friday 10 August 2012, 5:50 p.m.

    The Huddle is a notoriously bad segment on Larry Williams Drive, which is itself a notoriously bad radio program. Featuring such brutally partisan and unpleasant commentators as Bill Ralston, his ghastly wife Janet Wilson, the unsurpassingly vicious Ellen Read, the crazed Cameron (Whaleoil) Slater, the superficially nice but not nice David Farrar and the false front bonhomie of Jock Anderson, it’s hard to imagine that whatever follows them could be any worse, but with the calibre of sports correspondents like one Tony Johnson, AKA “T.J.”, it is on many occasions, incredibly, much, much, much worse. . . . .

    LARRY WILLIAMS: Valerie Adams must have been disappointed to miss out on a gold medal, T.J.

    TONY JOHNSON: [with gravitas] Frankly, I think the winner is a cheat. The word around the traps is that she is a cheat.

    LARRY WILLIAMS: But there is no evidence of that. She passed every test.

    NIGEL YALDEN: I have seen no evidence that she is a cheat.

    TONY JOHNSON: Well that’s the word around the traps.

    Reasonable people might ask if these “traps” which “T.J.” has been “around” are the same traps which recently brought forth the bitterly fanciful notion, also unsupported by any evidence whatsoever, that the referee in the 2007 RWC quarter-final match was corrupt.

    Reasonable people might also ask how much research “T.J.” does for his assignments, and how much of that “research” is done around “traps” with names like The Flying Horse, the Crown and the Red Lion…

    • Tracey 2.1

      The USA had a now well known drug cheat called Marion Jones. However despite their relay team breaking the world record this morning, no cries of “must be cheating”. The former darling of US track and field, Carl Lewis was revealled to have tested positive for a banned substance prior to one of his olympics but the US Olympic Committee covered up the results…

      The former iron curtain states do not have the money they used to for cheating yet the prejudice remains.

      Gatlin (US) a proven drug cheat “won” a bronze… no one had the balls to question its legitimacy or the disgrace that he could even compete. Someone who may have worked damned hard and fair didn’t get a spot because of him. But he’s from the USA, so it’s ok.

      • Vicky32 2.1.1

        But he’s from the USA, so it’s ok.

        That’s the way it is these days! (Apropos of which I heard the BBC WS promoting Mitt Romney’s insane ‘running mate’ just now. So, that’s what we have to look forward to?)

        • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.1

          Look for the youtube clip where Romney introduces his running mate as the “Next PRESIDENT of the United States”

    • prism 2.2

      Morrissey
      I am sorry for you that you have to subject yourself to this sort of diarrhoea. But as you are well informed about sports broadcasting etc could you tell me who is the hyped up commentator reporting for Sky and who we hear short bursts of on Radionz Olympic results?

      • Gareth 2.2.1

        Prob mark watson… He does have some interesting insight as he was a full time athelete. Never really cracked it tho. Same with the commentary imo

        • Morrissey 2.2.1.1

          Prob mark watson… He does have some interesting insight…

          “Interesting insight”? The guy stands out as an ignoramus and a nutcase even in the notoriously ignorant and nutty world of Radio Sport.

          …as he was a full time athelete.

          So were the likes of Willy Lose, Ian Smith, and Richard Loe. None of those blokes ever has much intelligent or insightful to say, but they all sound much smarter than Mark Watson.

          Actually, on second thought, Ian Smith NEVER has anything interesting, intelligent or insightful to say. The other two have the odd moment.

          People who care about sports and sports commentating should sign this….
          http://www.facebook.com/pages/Petition-to-stop-Mark-Watson-ever-hosting-a-Radio-Sport-show-again/292523894091086

      • Morrissey 2.2.2

        Morrissey
        I am sorry for you that you have to subject yourself to this sort of diarrhoea.

        Thanks for the concern, my friend—but that few minutes of idiocy was all I have heard of those learned commentators for weeks. It is instructive to note that such grievously substandard commentary was what I heard from a random sampling. I urge you or anyone else who has a few minutes to waste, to tune in to that station, and I’ll bet Bill Clinton’s weekly whoring budget that you’ll hear something equally ignorant, inane and offensive.

        But as you are well informed about sports broadcasting etc could you tell me who is the hyped up commentator reporting for Sky and who we hear short bursts of on Radionz Olympic results?

        Mark Watson and Nigel Yalden are the most hyped up of all of them. Yalden pretends to be commentating the races, but he actually does it from a booth in Mt Wellington.

  3. Olwyn 3

    I see John Armstrong is doing a bit of “concern trolling” in his Herald column. I do do not usually read that guy, since he has little to offer beyond right wing cheer leading, but he is one of the few to comment on this week’s ructions. To quote him:

    “It is unclear whether the MPs’ musings were simply residual animosity from Cunliffe’s undermining of Phil Goff’s leadership in the run-up to last year’s election. The former is said to have been finance spokesman in name only so sparse was his contribution. The consequent lack of trust in Cunliffe was further deepened by a speech by him in April which was widely seen as a grab for control of the party’s left faction. That resulted in Shearer confronting Cunliffe at a subsequent caucus meeting, which saw the bulk of MPs coming down firmly on Shearer’s side.”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10826078

    Once again, the right is far more entranced by Labour’s current status quo than the left, and more than happy to reinforce it, while superficially “analysing” the situation.

    • fatty 3.1

      True, but it is the NZ Herald, they have never bothered about real news. Armstrong is a pathetic excuse for an journalist, his ignorance always outshines the facts, and he looks even more stupid when you place his article next to a press release from a respectable website:
      http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1208/S00151/roy-morgan-poll-national-44-labour-32-green-14.htm

    • Socialist Paddy 3.2

      I read it and I thought this was round two of leaks by whoever the focker is.  The allegation that Cunliffe undermined Goff is crap. Goff did it to himself.

      The suggestion that Cunliffe is staging a coup is an even bigger pile of crap. Let’s see, a senior MP leaking to a journo that Cunliffe is despised by all of caucus is somehow evidence of a Cunliffe inspired coup against Shearer? Does the guy think that we are idiots? 

      If Cunliffe can mount a coup by having some insolent prick lie about him to a Journo then he is the greatest politician that ever walked.

      It seems to me pretty clear that someone begun to stage a coup against Shearer. But it aint Cunliffe. 

      • Raw Seer 3.2.1

        David Cunliffe never ever undermined Phil Goff or the Labour Party. He fastidiously worked to make sure he acted and showed traditional Labour Party loyalty. The party membership saw that and they like that. Please stop repeating that old contrived ABC tosh.

        David Cunliffe gave a huge input, insight and direction as Finance Spokesperson. The only “sparse” aspect was his public profile: he was instructed to give Phil Goff the limelight so that Phil might go up in the preferred PM stakes. That was the openly known protocol.

        “Show me the money”: when Phil floundered on Finance and Economics on TV with John Key, Phil’s team blamed Cunliffe. Phil never had a Finance or Economics role on all of his long career: yet he took his TV briefing/preparation from his strategists/team and not directly from his spokesman, Cunliffe. Phil is a big boy. He should have made sure he had the best preparation for that gig. He didn’t. And Shearer is behaving exactly the same way.

        Helen made a mistake in not putting a proper broad leadership selection process in place. The Caucus made a mistake on not replacing Phil earlier. And now we have an embattled leadership team trying to entrench their positions with a 67% veto over the membership’s and affiliate’s wishes.

        The behaviours of the past 4-5 years has to stop and there has to be some personnel changes. Very very soon.

        • Colonial Viper 3.2.1.1

          David Cunliffe never ever undermined Phil Goff or the Labour Party.

          Quite right. The people who installed Shearer were largely responsible.

    • prism 3.3

      Can Armstrong be allowed to get away with this poison piece. If he is lying then Labour should say so. If he isn’t.. Labour needs to do something to prevent the idea of a demoralised faction ridden party getting reinforced in people’s minds. Think the unthinkable – think Queensland.

      • Olwyn 3.3.1

        +1. It’s odd that they do not consider Queensland when you come to think of it, in their determination to pull to the right.

        @ Raw Seer: I was certainly not endorsing the article or its contents, I was just drawing attention to it. And while I was convinced that the bit about failing to support Goff was nonsense, I do not have inside information so could not authoritatively refute it. My point in putting it up was to note that ever since Shearer was elected, his greatest defenders are from the right, and this remains the case. While Armstrong appeared to ‘critical engage’ with the Labour Party’s problems, he nonetheless managed to sink the boot into Cunliffe.

        • muzza 3.3.1.1

          “nonetheless managed to sink the boot into Cunliffe”

          –When the establishment systems, single out an individual for special treatment, it is wise to put the thought processes into “smell a rat” mode.

        • Vicky32 3.3.1.2

          My point in putting it up was to note that ever since Shearer was elected, his greatest defenders are from the right

          Please define right in this context… I gather Cunliffe is being put forward as everyone’s hero because he’s ‘left’, but I’d like to see some proof of this.

  4. Colonial Viper 4

    Disinformation and dishonest debate tactics of the MSM

    Posted elsewhere too, but included here because they are good

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/disinformation-how-it-works

    Lie Big, Retract Quietly: Mainstream media sources (especially newspapers) are notorious for reporting flagrantly dishonest and unsupported news stories on the front page, then quietly retracting those stories on the very back page when they are caught. In this case, the point is to railroad the lie into the collective consciousness. Once the lie is finally exposed, it is already too late, and a large portion of the population will not notice or care when the truth comes out.

    Unconfirmed Or Controlled Sources As Fact: Cable news venues often cite information from “unnamed” sources, government sources that have an obvious bias or agenda, or “expert” sources without providing an alternative “expert” view. The information provided by these sources is usually backed by nothing more than blind faith.

    Calculated Omission: Otherwise known as “cherry picking” data. One simple piece of information or root item of truth can derail an entire disinfo news story, so instead of trying to gloss over it, they simply pretend as if it doesn’t exist. When the fact is omitted, the lie can appear entirely rational. This tactic is also used extensively when disinformation agents and crooked journalists engage in open debate.

    Distraction, And The Manufacture Of Relevance: Sometimes the truth wells up into the public awareness regardless of what the media does to bury it. When this occurs their only recourse is to attempt to change the public’s focus and thereby distract them from the truth they were so close to grasping. The media accomplishes this by “over-reporting” on a subject that has nothing to do with the more important issues at hand. Ironically, the media can take an unimportant story, and by reporting on it ad nauseum, cause many Americans to assume that because the media won’t shut-up about it, it must be important!

    Dishonest Debate Tactics: Sometimes, men who actually are concerned with the average American’s pursuit of honesty and legitimate fact-driven information break through and appear on T.V. However, rarely are they allowed to share their views or insights without having to fight through a wall of carefully crafted deceit and propaganda.

  5. bad12 5

    The other ‘deep thinker’ in the Heralds team of ‘opinion piece’ writers Fran O’Sullivan made some very un-refreshing comments today on the Court of Appeals decision to allow the sale of the Crafer Farms to go ahead,

    Spot the snide attack upon Maori who She accuses of ‘bleating’ in their attempt to regain through commercial means farms of significance within their Rohe,

    The real information imparted within the abysmally written piece by O’sullivan is tho of greater interest than Her equally abysmal opinions,(spose those are what you get when you take a basic press hack reporter and ask Her to give a opinion),

    The ‘new owners’ of the Crafar Farms are very busy people right now having put together a consortium within China with the intent of in the next 5 years building a series of standardized dairy units, (farms), to be initally stocked with a total herd of 200,000 cows,

    Obviously the intelligence to build such a foundation for the new Chinese dairy industry will have been gained from the buy in to the Crafar Farms and it will be from Crafar that i would imagine that the breeding herd will be sourced,

    I have no objection to the Chinese gaining such valuable knowledge they after all have purchased such at the going rate in terms of the Capitalist ism although my good mood evaporates at the thought of the loss of even more land to overseas interests,

    The New Zealand dairy industry tho will by dint of the announced mega-expansion of the Chinese dairy industry, it wont stop at 200,000 cows and will probably rival in out-put in ten years time our own giant Fonterra, will have to aim for being debt free by 2020 as Chinese production even if confined to internal Chinese consumption will effectively collapse the demand for the New Zealand product enjoyed at the moment,

    http://www.topix.com/…/fran-osullivan-crafar-farms-decision-a-breath-of-fresh-air

    • millsy 5.1

      Fran O Sullivan reminds me of those idiots in the 1930’s who thought Hitler and Mussolini were wonderful people who would whip their countries into shape…

  6. BillORees 6

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10825760

    Bryce Edwards has a very thoughtful analysis in the Herald, examining the current Labour Party issues in light of wider challenges for political partys. 

    A few teasers…

    Ideology and political principles are drained as the hired guns focus on the whims of a small group of swinging voters and the result is bland and, in the end, counter-productive. ‘Labour-lite’ and ‘National-lite’ are leveled as insults, but are not proof of a national consensus over policy….
     
    Contrary to what some MPs may think, they can’t actually run their campaigns with just parliamentary staff…
     
    Shearer’s ‘guy in my electorate’ who resents beneficiary bludgers may not read the Imperator Fish blog, but those who do read it represent a lot of pamphlets delivered, doors knocked, voters driven to polling booths and discussions with friends about who to vote for. Some of them may even be sickness beneficiaries.

  7. Pascal's bookie 7

    Things sure are going swimmingly in Aghanistan. In Vietnam there was talk about a ‘decent interval’, the idea being, pretty much, ‘declare victory and leave.’

    http://wapo.st/QOGKl8

    The other phrase in play, is always, ‘decide who to lose to’.

  8. NickS 8

    Grrrrr:
    http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/08/10/summary-of-thunderf00tphil-masons-disgrace/

    Why am I not fucking surprised in the least thunderf00t would do such a fucking stupid thing?

    Oh right, it was the string of downright stupid blog posts displaying complete fucking blindness and selective reading skills on feminism and inability to practice scepticism101 both at FTB and on his personal soapbox…

    And it gets worse:
    http://freethoughtblogs.com/nataliereed/2012/08/10/all-in/
    Threatening to out a transperson is just fucking heartbreaking and worthy of you being branded a complete fucking idiot.

  9. The fracking debate is heating up and Gareth and touring Australian environmentalist Drew Hutton need to be listened to and have their concerns taken seriously. Phil Heatley and Nick Smith haven’t been entirely honest about this rapidly expanding industry:
    http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/the-facts-around-fracking-frenzy.html

    • Jackal 9.1

      Nice roundup there Dave Kennedy.

      In my opinion, Nick Smith’s pro-fracking article just confirms what a complete ignoramus he is.

      THE hysteria sweeping the country over fracking is like a modern-day version of the Chicken Licken story. It is not the sky falling in but a fear of what is happening underground that has seen groups like Frack-Free Tairawhiti form. Some councils have also jumped on the Green’s “Don’t Frack with NZ’’ bandwagon. It is time to inject some science and common sense into the debate.

      […]

      The second concern is pollution of waterways and aquifers. These risks are also low. The proppants used are just fillers and the toxicity of the lubricants is similar to dish washing liquid.

      Ah yes! The old it’s as safe as dishwashing liquid rubbish, which Smith also used to describe CoreXit 9500 when it was applied in close proximity to Tauranga residents to disperse the heavy oil leaking from the MV Rena… Nothing like a bit of cancer-causing hazardous toxins and endocrine-disrupting chemicals to wash the dishes with eh!

      Josh O’Neill has a good response to the idiotic argument of National’s former Conservation and Environment Minister.

      Dr Smith says “small amounts of proppants and lubricants” are used in the process. A report on fracking to the US House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce last year said that over the course of the life of a well around 440,000 litres of chemicals are used. So it probably depends on how one defines “small”.

      The industry and politicians keep saying the chemicals are no worse than household cleaners and ice cream ingredients but the potential for 440,000 litres of “dishwashing liquid” (per well pad) entering our environment is enough reason for a ban on fracking. A report tabled in the US House of Representatives last year said 29 of the chemicals injected into wells were known or suspected human carcinogens.

      […]

      Let us also consider the science on climate change that clearly shows we are not making the changes required fast enough and cheap fossil fuels are major contributors to the problem. There is competing evidence on gas as a better alternative to coal as a transition fuel, with some studies showing gas will be worse in the long run.

      Like Dr Smith, I am passionate about New Zealand’s natural environment. We want to bequeath our children a nation with a great lifestyle, a strong economy and a clean environment — but without the latter, the first two don’t exist. All this will only be possible if we take a rational, science-based approach to our natural resources and risk management.

      Speaking of water contamination, over 20% of the worlds replenishing fresh water has now been irreparably destroyed. Water will soon be in short supply… Perhaps why National is trying to ensure a large amount of it is privatized with the Mixed Ownership Model Bill.

  10. captain hook 10

    thats right dave kennedy.
    they should tell us how many states in the USA have completely poisoned their water tables and aquifers and how they get their freshwater requirements now.

  11. Draco T Bastard 11

    Now this is interesting and would go a long way toward improving houses in NZ. A building material and insulation made out of hemp.

  12. Logie97 12

    Seems that whenever Owen Glenn reveals his hand as supporting an organisation they go belly up..
    Now its the warriors turn.The Warriors are having a nightmare since he started shouting from the rooftops how wonderful he was going to be for them …

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T13:50:13+00:00