Open mike 18/06/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 18th, 2016 - 48 comments
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48 comments on “Open mike 18/06/2016 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    18 June 2016 at 6:55 am

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

    It was -2 degrees in Christchurch last night.

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

    The media may think John Banks’ ‘multi-million dollar Auckland CBD penthouse’ , Dagg’s ‘eureka moment’,and Kylie Jenner struggling with the Kiwi accent are all important news items, but they are not.

    The majority of the media is doing everything they can to support Paula Bennett and move homelessness off the headlines.

    “Try walking in my shoes, it’s not actually that easy.”

    This was the challenge TA set to Prime Minister John Key. But really it’s a challenge for us all.

    • b waghorn 1.1
      18 June 2016 at 7:20 am

      Is it naive of me to wonder how a life time public servant like banks can afford a luxury apartment with silk wallpaper?

      • Paul 1.1.1
        18 June 2016 at 7:27 am

        John Banks can’t recall.

        • save nz 1.1.1.1
          18 June 2016 at 9:32 am

          +1 Paul. Love how it was a US citizen that nobody had previously heard off and without a new trial, that got Banks off – justice seems so different for politicians than the Teina Pora case. sarc.

          Banks also sold off the Auckland council housing when he was Mayor and pushed through Charter schools.

          No wonder he can afford a plush apartment.

          • Paul 1.1.1.1.1
            18 June 2016 at 9:35 am

            A lot of dodgy millionaires and billionaires appreciate politicians like Banks.

            • save nz 1.1.1.1.1.1
              18 June 2016 at 9:41 am

              Lucky now with Keys 0% tax havens no question asked dodgy anonymous donations to politicians are so much easier!

              No wonder Key is so popular around the world!

              Although I have to say considering how ‘popular’ Key is supposed to be, he is surprisingly ineffective at getting any good deals for NZ or helping NZ citizens around the world.

              But maybe that is not the point.

      • Visubversa 1.1.2
        18 June 2016 at 9:12 am

        He has never served the public. He has served the interests of big business – which he has desperately tried to be part of. He has been involved with small businesses, he was a co-owner of part of the Tony’s restaraunts when there were quite a few of them in Auckland, and he hit the headlines with connections to some bunch selling some sort of bee products. He has made money from business. I worked in one of his restaurants in the 1970’s. The chef had Sunday nights off and Banks used to come in and try and do the grill cooking himself. It was a drams ‘cos if he got more than 3 steaks on the grill at once – he panicked and gave everyone around him a hard time. Sunday nights we worked hard to recommend anything but steak.

      • Ski 1.1.3
        18 June 2016 at 12:52 pm

        John Banks is a capable businessman, he has owned a number of very successful companies and has accumulated wealth – there you go.

      • joe90 1.2.1
        18 June 2016 at 10:30 am

        Other delights from the New Observer – FL Homo Shootings: “Hoist on own Petard” or Cox Murder: Democratic Hypocrisy and Germany: Invaders Have Multiple Wives but my absolute fav is “Transgender” Mental Illness Spreads.
        /

      • Wayne 1.2.2
        18 June 2016 at 6:42 pm

        I read the attachment. Following the uprising by the Syrian people the US lead by Obama was very consistent in saying Assad had to go. This email adds noting new to that narrative.
        It was the Syrian people who started the uprising against Assad and it was he who has brutally put them down.
        The Syrian uprising was not caused by the US, despite what Kevin Hestor says. This is just more disinformation by the Hilliary haters.

        • Jenny 1.2.2.1
          18 June 2016 at 7:55 pm

          Kevin Hester needs to wake up. Assad is a mass murder. Who has secured Israel’s northern border and allowed his country to be used as destination for CIA special rendition for the purpose of torturing suspects held in CIA custody, because the US constitution forbids torture in the US.

          Assad was the favourite of the West being the only Middle Eastern ruler to overnight as a guest of the Queen in Buckingham palace. For his service to Western imperialism in the Middle East, Tony Blair once tried to lobby parliament to give a British Night Hood to Assad.

          Assad has been slaughtering his people from the safety of the air since 2011 after his people revolted and many of the army refused to follow Assad’s orders to shoot them down and instead joined the people and turned their guns on the regime.

          This war could have been ended long ago if the west had allowed the Syrian people access to anti aircraft weapons. Instead the west has stood by while Assad has carried out his genocide.

          • OneTrack 1.2.2.1.1
            18 June 2016 at 8:18 pm

            Your plan is to give anti aircraft weapons to Islamic State? Of not them, then who?

        • One Two 1.2.2.2
          18 June 2016 at 9:45 pm

          Nobody seriously believes that, not even you

          PNAC

  3. Paul 3
    18 June 2016 at 7:12 am

    Cruel, uncaring

    Salisbury School facing closure: ‘My daughter has nowhere to go’
    A parent of a pupil at Salisbury School has spoken of his anger and disappointment over the proposal to close the special needs school saying his daughter has “nowhere else to go”.
    It follows the announcement yesterday that the Ministry of Education had initiated consultation over the future of the school, due to a declining roll and the financial viability of the residential Nelson girls school.
    Matt Clayton, himself a secondary teacher, said Salisbury School was an “amazing” facility, that had turned his 14-year-old daughter’s life around in the year-and-a-half she had attended. He was “disgusted” the Ministry could consider closing it, he said.
    ……
    “In my opinion, they’ve set this up from the beginning to close it, and I’m just disgusted with them,” he said.
    “What kind of society do we live in where we’re always prioritising money over the welfare of the citizens?”
    Ms Parata denied she had been intent on closing Salisbury School, or that she had tweaked the process to ensure its falling roll.’

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11658541

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11658541

    • ianmac 3.1
      18 June 2016 at 9:03 am

      Yes Paul. It was always going to happen because of the school having won the case to stay open in 2014, caused a Ministry backlash. Parata does not like being foiled so the Ministry made it almost impossible for new pupils to be enrolled. Hence the roll dropping to 14. This will justify the closure and as Smith says the land in a central location is very valuable. Money before the kids being front and centre.

    • save nz 3.2
      18 June 2016 at 9:36 am

      +1 Paul – I hear Scenic hotels are short of money, like Sky City and Saudi Businessmen.

      There is also plenty of money for convention centers in Christchurch that after 60 million still have not got anywhere in the build. NO problem!

      Brighter futures for Real Estate NOT families

      should be the Natz new slogan.

  4. Paul 4
    18 June 2016 at 7:17 am

    20 billions dollars spent on ‘defence’ – and yet we have no homes to live in to be defended in.

    ‘Imagine the number of state houses and affordable apartments this country could build over the next 15 years with even half the $20 billion currently promised to the NZ Defence Force. Surely, in a democratic state, it is the adequate provision of health, education, housing and employment that should take priority over the vast sums required to purchase the most up-to-date weapons of war? If national defence does not mean ensuring the basic welfare of every citizen – then what does it mean?’

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/80986483/Chris-Trotter-How-many-houses-could-we-get-for-20-billion-spent-on-defence

    20 billions dollars spent on ‘defence’ – to defend our sovereignty and yet we give it away by signing the TPP.

  5. Paul 5
    18 June 2016 at 7:31 am

    I predict this won’t be news in the western media.

  7. Penny Bright 7
    18 June 2016 at 9:00 am

    As an Auckland Mayoral candidate – I strongly recommend that Auckland citizens focus disapproval of Auckland Council (and CCOs) performance, in the form of submissions to the Local Government and Environment Select Committee on this latest proposed legislation to spread the CCO model and Council amalgamations:

    Seize the moment!

    Email your complaints and experiences about Auckland Council and CCOs directly to the ‘law makers’.

    http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/sc/make-submission/51SCLGE_SCF_00DBHOH_BILL69266_1/local-government-act-2002-amendment-bill-no-2

    “Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No 2)
    Should your local authorities work together more?

    Does your community need more options when it comes to reorganising the council, and should councils make greater use of joint council-controlled organisations for services?

    Tell us what you think.

    The closing date for submissions is Thursday, 28 July 2016 ”

    Penny Bright
    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
    “Activists – get things done.”

  8. weka 8
    18 June 2016 at 9:20 am

    Reposting this (from Paul the other day I think)

    Ten Ways to fix NZ’s Welfare State.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11657642

  9. Penny Bright 9
    18 June 2016 at 10:03 am

    It seems that my nine year, one person ‘rates revolt’ for transparency in the spending of public rates monies on private consultants and contractors by Auckland Council (formerly Auckland City Council) and CCOs, is finally getting the attention from the lawmakers that it deserves?

    “Conclusion

    We would like to thank the OAG for its report on the governance and accountability of CCOs. The report provided us with useful information that helped us consider Ms Bright’s petition.

    We also would like to thank the petitioner for coming down from Auckland to speak to us about her petition.

    We agree that ratepayers should be able to easily access information about how public money collected through rates is spent.

    We support the petitioner’s plea for transparency and standardisation of the information that Auckland CCOs provide to the public. …”

    http://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-nz/51DBSCH_SCR69296_1/924613ec7fb831c4e74bd062f73287ac2ceb5081

    Penny Bright
    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate
    “Activists – get things done.”

    • te reo putake 9.1
      18 June 2016 at 10:17 am

      Excellent result, Penny! Here’s hoping Parliament acts on the recommendations and the council takes note, too.

      • Penny Bright 9.1.1
        18 June 2016 at 12:59 pm

        Thank you te reo putake.

        Kind regards

        Penny Bright
        2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

    • save nz 9.2
      18 June 2016 at 2:48 pm

      +1 Penny

      • North 9.2.1
        18 June 2016 at 8:50 pm

        Go Penny ! I think maybe when Ze-Good-Lord was handing out Ze-Balls he/she missed Ze-Non-Man-Key and you ended up wiv’ Ze-Balls meant for him. And Ze-Good-Lord made a very good choice……because why would you waste Ze-Balls on Ze-Non-Man-Key and further he/she knew that you would use Ze-Balls much better than Ze-Non-Man-Key. Whom he/she nevertheless bleezed wiv’ Ze-Defining-Arsehole. Go Penny !

  10. joe90 10
    18 June 2016 at 11:12 am

    The great news keeps a’comin.

    We’re officially living in a new world.

    Carbon dioxide has been steadily rising since the start of the Industrial Revolution, setting a new high year after year. There’s a notable new entry to the record books. The last station on Earth without a 400 parts per million (ppm) reading has reached it.

    http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/antarctic-co2-hit-400-ppm-for-first-time-in-4-million-years/?WT.mc_id=SA_TW_ENGYSUS_NEWS

    • One Two 10.1
      18 June 2016 at 2:27 pm

      396, 397, 398, 399….

      400

      Arbitrary values

    • Jenny 10.2
      18 June 2016 at 8:27 pm

      The Green Party held an AGM where they marginalised debate on climate change, in favour of a “Centrepiece Swimmable Rivers Campaign”

      Ignoring the fact that warmer air holds more moisture and is responsible for record flooding events around the world which have turned normally placid rivers into raging deadly torrents. Will destroy all their efforts.

      The Green Party need to wake up. As the climate crisis deepens, having somewhere nice to swim will be the least of our worries.

      https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/a-climate-of-apathy/

      Can you spot the missing two words?

      http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11651056

      While the Green Party are busy wading in the environmental shallows, unseen and not mentioned on the signs warning against swimming, is a monster waiting to eat them whole.

      • Colonial Viper 10.2.1
        18 June 2016 at 8:44 pm

        I am told that the Greens understand the true scope and crisis of the climate emergency we are facing…

        • Jenny 10.2.1.1
          18 June 2016 at 11:21 pm

          A citation for that would be nice CV.

          CV even if you were to find a citation describing the Green Party’s understanding of the true scope of the crisis; (which I hope you can).

          Understanding the true nature of the climate emergency is still not the same as wanting to do something about it.

          When there is so much they could be doing….

          The Green Party as an organisation have shown very little political will to face up to the climate crisis.

          • Kiwiri 10.2.1.1.1
            18 June 2016 at 11:29 pm

            The Greens don’t wanna scare the horses?

            • Jenny 10.2.1.1.1.1
              19 June 2016 at 12:09 am

              The horses need to be scared, they need to be terrified.

              That is, if we are to mobilise the forces we need to fight climate change. The sort of fear that saw society mobilise to fight terrorist bogeymen like Isis, or Al Qaeda, (remember them?)
              The threat presented to humanity by climate change is far greater by many magnitudes than that presented by these little terror groups.

              When it comes to climate change our political leaders are so, Ho Hum; cleaning up dirty rivers so that we can swim in them are our priority.

              • Jenny …
                19 June 2016 at 12:44 am

                A sober look at the possibility of moving to 100% renewable economy.

                http://ecowatch.com/2016/06/15/our-renewable-future-heinberg/

                It seems that it is possible.

                All that is missing is the political will.

                So who is going to supply it? not the Green Party who are busy prioritising swimmable rivers. Not National who are committed to business as usual. Not Labour who support deep sea oil drilling fracking and opening new coal mines.

        • Jenny 10.2.1.2
          19 June 2016 at 6:59 am

          “I am told that the Greens understand the true scope and crisis of the climate emergency we are facing…”
          Colonial Viper

          Many years ago I remember reading a startling quote from a German intellectual and academic who had fled the Nazis.

          He said that he could forgive even some of the top leaders of the fascist regime. (They were ignorant brutes). But, he said those he couldn’t forgive, were his fellow intellectuals and academics in the universities, who knew fascism was wrong, and could have spoke up, but said nothing and went along with it. Some of them even lending the regime false credibility they knew had no factual base.
          In his opinion it was the educated intellectuals who knew better who should have been on trial at Nuremburg. Who because they knew fascism was all based on intellectual falsehoods racism and lies should have been the ones on trial and held to account.

          When millions are dying from the extreme weather and climatic events predicted by the scientists, and if a Nuremburg type hearing is ever called to afford blame and try the guilty for this man made tragedy. Those politicians and leaders with foreknowledge old enough to have acted to prevent the tragedy, and who were in in a position to do so, but instead did and said nothing, these are the people who should be the first in the dock to be held to account.

          https://www.rt.com/news/347111-nazi-auschwitz-trial-hanning/

  11. marty mars 11
    18 June 2016 at 12:06 pm

    I recommend this talk very highly – What happens to the people we save.

    This is about gunshot wounds and the US and obviously relevant to recent events. It is also relevant to us here in this country because we also patch people up and send them off to fend for themselves. After trauma people need help – physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually if they are that way inclined – families and whānau need help, communities need help, the people that support all of these people need help. EMPATHY via active and genuine listening. That helps.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXSqOQ1odNI&w=560&h=315%5D

    [FYI, it seems you’re among a clutch of commenters who are dropping into moderation (Hell, I’m dropping there myself if I’m not signed in!). Don’t know why it’s happening and won’t be around for the rest of the day to release stuff. Anyway, thought you should know] – Bill

  12. North 12
    18 June 2016 at 8:09 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11659052

    “Nothing to see here……” as they say. Man made a mistake. Apologises. Effete Non-Man doesn’t have the balls to apologise. Course this will be seen differently by the MSM arse-suckers. But doesn’t alter the fact. Effete Non-Man doesn’t have the balls to apologise. Ever ! Oh, except to Slater Porn.

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    This is one of the (extra) weekly columns on music or movies. Plenty of solid analyses of Possession exist online and most of them – inevitably – contain spoilers. This column is more in the way of a first-timer’s aid to getting your initial bearings. You don’t need to have ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Portrait of a Man.
    I am painting in oil, a portrait of a manWho has taken all the heart aches,And all the pain he can stand.I am using all the colors of blue,I have here on my stand.I am painting in oil, a portrait of a man.This has been an interesting week for me. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to May 17
    Helen Clark joins the Hoon as a special guest talking whether Aotearoa should join Aukus II, and her views on the fast track legislation and how Luxon and the new Government are performing. File Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 17-May-2024
    We’re at the end of another week. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked if the Herald’s poor journalism will cost lives On Tuesday Matt covered Wayne Brown’s proposal for public transport in the Long ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago

  • Rishi’s relaunch
    With an election due in less than nine months, Britain’s embattled PM, Rishi Sunak, gave a useful speech earlier this week. He made a substantial case for his government, perhaps as compelling as is possible in the current environment. Quite an achievement. His overall theme was security, first pulling ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    4 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #20 2024
    Open access notables Publicly expressed climate scepticism is greatest in regions with high CO2 emissions, Pearson et al., Climatic Change: We analysed a recently released corpus of climate-related tweets to examine the macro-level factors associated with public declarations of climate change scepticism. Analyses of over 2 million geo-located tweets in the U.S. showed that climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • The thrilling possibilities of charter schools
    You can be all negative about these charter schools if you want, but I’m here to accentuate the positive. You can get all worked up, if you want to, by the contradiction of Luxon saying We’re going to make sure that every school in the country is teaching exactly the same ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • This Unreasonable Government.
    Losing The Room: One can only speculate about what has persuaded the Coalition Government that it will pay no electoral price for unreasonably pushing ahead with policies that are so clearly against the national interest. They seem quite oblivious to the risk that by doing so they will convince an increasing ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • Supreme Court weighs in on name suppression
    Name suppression decisions can be tough sometimes. No matter your views on free speech, you have to be hard-hearted not to be torn by the tug of the competing arguments. I think you can feel the Supreme Court wrestling with that in M v The King. The case for ...
    Media Law JournalBy Steven
    5 days ago

  • Is This A “Merchants” Government?
    The Merchants of Menace: The Coalition Government has convinced itself that the “Brahmins’” emollient functions have become much too irksome and expensive. Those who see themselves as the best hope of rebuilding New Zealand’s ailing capitalist system, appear to have convinced themselves that a little bit of blunt trauma is what their mollycoddled ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • This is what corruption looks like
    When National first proposed its Muldoonist "fast-track" law, they were warned that it would inevitably lead to corruption. And that is exactly what has happened, with Resources Minister Shane Jones taking secret meetings with potential applicants: On Tuesday, in a Newsroom story, questions were raised about a dinner Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Take that, Vladimir – and be warned: we have plenty more sanctions (at least, we hope so) in our ...
    Buzz from the Beehive One day – hopefully – we will push that Russian rascal, Vladimir Putin, beyond breaking point.  Perhaps it will happen today, when he learns that Foreign Minister Winston Peters is again tightening the thumbscrews. Peters announced further sanctions, this time on 28 individuals and 14 entities ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • More Harm Than Good.
    How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought New Zealand to the brink of economic and cultural chaos.TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition Government’s failure to retain, and build upon, the public ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • The Ombudsman fails again
    In 2020, the Operation Burnham inquiry reported back, finding that NZDF had lied to Ministers and the New Zealand public about its actions in Afghanistan. The inquiry saw a large number of documents declassified and released, which raised another problem: whether they had also lied to the Ombudsman in his ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • No Time To Think: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    “Members of Parliament don’t work for us, they represent us, an entirely different thing. As with so much that has turned out badly, the re-organising of MPs’ responsibilities began with the Fourth Labour Government. That’s when they began to be treated like employees – public servants – whose diaries had ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Lobbying for Waikato’s Medical School causing problems for the Govt
    It’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a third medical school in New Zealand, ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Picking Sides.
    Time To Choose: Like it or not, the Kiwis are either going into AUKUS’s  “Pillar 2” – or they are going to China.HAD ZHENG HE’S FLEET sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • Universities offer course in self-serving cowardice
    Henry Ergas writes –  When in Randall Jarrell’s Pictures from an Institution, a college president is accused of being a hypocrite, the novel’s narrator retorts that the description is grossly unfair. After all, the man is still far from the stage of moral development at which the charge ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • The teacher trainee challenge
    David Farrar writes –  Radio NZ reports: The Education Review Office says too many new teachers feel poorly prepared for their jobs. In a report published on Monday, the review office said 60 percent of the principals it interviewed said their new teachers were not ready. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Words and (in)actions
    New Zealand’s economic performance and the PM’s vision   Michael Reddell writes –  When I wrote yesterday morning’s post, highlighting how poorly both New Zealand and its Anglo peer countries have been doing in respect of productivity in recent times (ie, in the case of New ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • What do you hope for/fear from the budget?
    Hi all,Firstly - thank you! You guys are awesome. The response I’ve received to last night’s mail has been quite overwhelming. It’s a ghastly day outside, but there are no clouds in here.In case you didn’t read my email and are wondering what on earth I’m talking about you can ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on ACT’s charter schools experiment
    If there was still any doubt as to who is actually running this government – and it isn’t the buffoon from Botany – then this week’s announcement of a huge spend up on charter schools has settled the matter. While jobs and public services continue to be cut in the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Drought fuels wildfire concerns as Canada braces for another intense summer
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Gaye Taylor As widespread drought raises expectations for a repeat of last year’s ferocious wildfire season, response teams across Canada are grappling with the rapidly changing face of fire in a warming climate. No longer quenched by winter, nor quelled by the ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus and pick ‘n’ mix for Thursday, May 16
    Half of Christchurch City Holdings Ltd’s directors and its chair resigned en masse last night in protest at Christchurch City Council’s demand to front-load dividends File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The chair of Christchurch City Council’s investment company and four of its independent directors resigned in protest last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Controversial proposal could threaten coalition
    The University of Waikato has reworded an advertisement that begins the tender process for its new $300 million-plus medical school even though the Government still needs to approve it. However, even the reworded ad contains an architect’s visualisations of what the school might look like. ACT leader David Seymour told ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Of Rings of Power Annatar, Dramatic Irony, and Disguises
    As a follow-up to the Rings of Power trailer discussion, I thought I needed to add something. There has been some online mockery about the use of the same actor for both the Halbrand and Annatar incarnations of Sauron. The reasoning is that Halbrand with a shave and a new ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago

  • The future of Nick's Kōrero.
    This isn’t quite as dramatic as the title might suggest. I’m not going anywhere, but there is something I wanted to talk to you about.Let’s start with a typical day.Most days I send out a newsletter in the morning. If I’ve written a lot the previous evening it might be ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • The PM promises tax relief in the Budget – but will it be enough to satisfy the Taxpayers’ Union...
    Buzz from the Beehive The promise of tax relief loomed large in his considerations when  the PM delivered a pre-Budget speech to the Auckland Business Chamber. The job back in Wellington is getting government spending back under control, he said, bandying figures which show that in per capita terms, the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Fucking useless
    Yesterday de facto Prime Minister David Seymour announced that his glove puppet government would be re-introducing charter schools, throwing $150 million at his pet quacks, donors and cronies and introducing an entire new government agency to oversee them (the existing Education Review Office, which actually knows how to review schools, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Setting things straight.
    Seeing that, in order to discredit the figures and achieve moral superiority while attempting to deflect attention away from the military assault on Rafa, Israel supporters in NZ have seized on reports that casualty numbers in Gaza may be inflated … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • Far too light a sentence
    David Farrar writes – Newstalk ZB report: The man responsible for a horror hit and run in central Wellington last year was on a suspended licence and was so drunk he later asked police, “Did I kill someone?” Jason Tuitama injured two women when he ran a red ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Unwinding Labour’s Agenda
    Muriel Newman writes –  Former US President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.” The fight for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Sequel to “Real reason Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Chhour”
    Why Courts should have said Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Karen Chhour Gary Judd writes – In the High Court, Justice Isacs declined to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal to compel Minister for Children, Karen Chhour, to appear before it to be ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • The Govt’s Fast-Track is being demolished by submissions to Parliament
    Bryce Edwards writes –  The number of voices raising concerns about the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill is rapidly growing. This is especially apparent now that Parliament’s select committee is listening to submissions from the public to evaluate the proposed legislation. Twenty-seven thousand submissions have been made to Parliament ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • A generation is leaving at a rate of one A320-load per day
    An average of 166 New Zealand citizens left the country every day during the March quarter, up 54% from a year ago.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy and housing market is sinking into a longer recession through the winter after a slump in business and consumer confidence in ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • NZUP RORS back to life
    The government has made it abundantly clear they’re addicted to the smell of new asphalt. On Tuesday they introduced a new term to the country’s roading lexicon, the Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS), a little brother for the Roads of National (Party) Significance (RoNS). Driving ahead with Roads of Regional ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • School Is Out.
    School is outAnd I walk the empty hallwaysI walk aloneAlone as alwaysThere's so many lucky penniesLying on the floorBut where the hell are all the lucky peopleI can't see them any moreYesterday morning, I’d just sent out my newsletter on Tama Potaka, and I was struggling to make the coffee. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • How Are You Doing?
    Hi,I wanted to check in and ask how you’re doing.This is perhaps a selfish act, of attempting to find others feeling a similar way to me — that is to say, a little hopeless at the moment.Misery loves company, that sort of deal.Some context.I wish I could say I got ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • The Rings of Power: Season Two Teaser Trailer
    I have hitherto been fairly quiet on the new season of Rings of Power, on the basis that the underwhelming first season did not exactly build excitement – and the rumours were fairly daft. The only real thing of substance to come out has been that they have re-cast Adar ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

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

  • Talking Reo with the PM
    “The thing is,” Chris Luxon says, leaning forward to make his point, “this has always been my thing.”“This goes all the way back to the first multinational I worked for. I was saying exactly the same thing back then. The name of our business needs to be more clear; people ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • Waitangi Tribunal’s authority in Chhour case is upheld – but bill’s introduction to Parliament...
    Buzz from the Beehive It’s been a momentous few days for Children’s Minister Karen Chhour.  The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision which blocked a summons order from the Waitangi Tribunal for her. And today she has announced the Government is putting children first by introducing to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • Australia jails another whistleblower
    In 2014 former Australian army lawyer David McBride leaked classified military documents about Australian war crimes to the ABC. Dubbed "The Afghan Files", the documents led to an explosive report on Australian war crimes, the disbanding of an entire SAS unit, and multiple ongoing prosecutions. The journalist who wrote the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • Government to rollout roadside drug testing
    The Coalition Government will introduce legislation this year that will enable roadside drug testing as part of our commitment to improve road safety and restore law and order, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Alcohol and drugs are the number one contributing factor in fatal road crashes in New Zealand. In ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Minister responds to review of Kāinga Ora
    The Government has announced a series of immediate actions in response to the independent review of Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “Kāinga Ora is a large and important Crown entity, with assets of $45 billion and over $2.5 billion of expenditure each year. It ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour is pleased that Pseudoephedrine can now be purchased by the general public to protect them from winter illness, after the coalition government worked swiftly to change the law and oversaw a fast approval process by Medsafe. “Pharmacies are now putting the medicines back on their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago

  • New Zealand-China Business Summit
    Tēnā koutou katoa. Da jia hao.  Good morning everyone.   Prime Minister Luxon, your excellency, a great friend of New Zealand and my friend Ambassador Wang, Mayor of what he tells me is the best city in New Zealand, Wayne Brown, the highly respected Fran O’Sullivan, Champion of the Auckland business ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago

  • New measures to protect powerlines from trees
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced that the Government will make it easier for lines firms to take action to remove vegetation from obstructing local powerlines. The change will ensure greater security of electricity supply in local communities, particularly during severe weather events.  “Trees or parts of trees falling on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani win top Māori dairy farming award
    Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani were the top winners at this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy awards recognising the best in Māori dairy farming. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced the winners and congratulated runners-up, Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board, at an awards celebration also attended by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • DJ Fred Again – Assurance report received
    "On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden.  “I raised my concerns after being ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • District Court Judges appointed
    Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Unions should put learning ahead of ideology
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools.     “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Craig Stobo appointed as chair of FMA
    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Budget 2024 invests in lifeguards and coastguard
    Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand and Tuvalu reaffirm close relationship
    New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says.  “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019.  “It is my pleasure ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand calls for calm, constructive dialogue in New Caledonia
    New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.  “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand welcomes Samoa Head of State
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Island Direct eligible for SuperGold Card funding
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Further sanctions against Russia
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • One year on from Loafers Lodge
    A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Pre-Budget speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • New Zealand and Vanuatu to deepen collaboration
    New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says.    “This ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Penk travels to Peru for trade meetings
    Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Minister attends global education conferences
    Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Education Minister thanks outgoing NZQA Chair
    Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Joint statement of Christopher Luxon and Emmanuel Macron: Launch of the Christchurch Call Foundation
    New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.   This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Panel announced for review into disability services
    Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Minister welcomes Police gang unit
    Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • New Zealand expresses regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners.  “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • New Chief of Defence Force appointed
    Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government puts children first by repealing 7AA
    Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Defence Minister to meet counterparts in UK, Italy
    Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Charter schools to lift educational outcomes
    The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • COVID-19 Inquiry terms of reference consultation results received
    “The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • The Pacific family of nations – the changing security outlook
    Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests  Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues  Ladies and Gentlemen,  Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru    It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and Papua New Guinea to work more closely together
    Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Driving ahead with Roads of Regional Significance
    The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand congratulates new Solomon Islands government
    A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office.    “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand supports UN Palestine resolution
    New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium
    Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • $571 million for Defence pay and projects
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Climate change – mitigating the risks and costs
    New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Getting new job seekers on the pathway to work
    Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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