Open mike 20/01/2012

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 20th, 2012 - 73 comments
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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…

73 comments on “Open mike 20/01/2012 ”

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  1. Wharfie 1
    20 January 2012 at 6:55 am

    Homepage – The Aucklander
    http://www.theaucklander.co.nz
    Homepage – The Aucklander

    A poll on who is right or wrong in the POA waterfront dispute.So far 88% of voters think the CEO Tony Gibson is wrong.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.1
      20 January 2012 at 1:44 pm

      Still up at 84% with 11% saying that it’s the union who are wrong. When are our elected officials going to step in and tell the directors to stop fucking around and to start negotiating in good faith?

  2. Carol 2
    20 January 2012 at 7:31 am

    Who benefits from Sky City, the icon of casino capitalism in Auckland. It seems a deal is being done between Sky City and the Minister, Steven Joyce, that will increase the number of pokkie machines in SC. Pokkies are an extrememly addictive form of gambling, that is rigged to make a profit for the owners/managers at the expense of people often desperate to supplement meagre incomes.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6286456/Minister-casino-play-cards-close-to-chest-on-pokies-and-convention-centre

    Talks for a deal in which SkyCity foots the bill for a $350 million convention centre in Auckland in return for a series of regulatory concessions from the Government began in June last year.

    […]
    SkyCity was looking for concessions to make its $350m investment worthwhile, and a national convention centre at no cost to taxpayers was a priority for the Government.

    But which tax payers are most likely to get some financial gain from such a convention centre, and which ones are most likely to be the losers from an incresed promotion of and access to pokkie?

    The ones at the casino were “not particularly well-populated” most of the time and more machines would be worthwhile to Sky City only if it could force regulatory changes allowing more promotion of them.

    The foundation would be “very concerned” by any relaxation of the rules on the promotion of gambling.

    SkyCity company secretary Peter Treacy declined to comment on any marketing regulation changes or on the number of new machines and tables being sought.

    So is Sky City too upmarket to attract are large number of pokkie players (compared with pokies in pubs in more downmarket places), without a massive increase in promotion of the machines? I thought the logic of capitalism was meant to be “supply and demand”. If there’s no demand for the machines in Sky City (wihtout indulging in excessive promotion) why supply them?

  3. randal 3
    20 January 2012 at 8:57 am

    MSN news this am.
    POAL to make final offer.
    in a pigs eye mate.
    its time for the Auckland super city to dsimiss the board for incompetence and trouble making and appoint some directors who are there for the benefit of the people and not a narrow clique who have seized this opportunity to sell something that does not belong to them.

  4. mickysavage 4
    20 January 2012 at 9:16 am

    The International Transport Workers Federation have declared support for the Maritime Union.  In particular they say:

    We are aware of the grave situation facing our brothers and sisters in the Port of Auckland, where members of our affiliate, the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) have been monitoring events closely.

    We know that negotiation on the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement began in September of last year. We know that the two parties involved were close to signing a new agreement and the MUNZ had agreed to an increase in the use of TRACC in a gesture that would contribute to improved performance in the port.

    We are informed that POAL is now trying to remove the collective agreement with MUNZ.  In our opinion, this constitutes a fundamental attack on trade union rights in the Port of Auckland.

    We understand that the whole workforce of 300 dockworkers have been threatened with the loss of their employment if they do not sign up to a standard agreements outside the national union agreement.

    The ITF considers this behaviour as an outrageous attack on basic trade union rights.  If this attempt to force workers to abandon their existing agreements continues the ITF will declare the Port of Auckland a ‘Port of Convenience’ and will request our affiliates around the world, particularly in the Dockers and Seafarers Sections, to take immediate lawful action. 

    • Wharfie 4.1
      20 January 2012 at 9:29 am

      Yes I listened to Paddy Crumlin on ZB this morning.Much like corporate globalisation the trade union movement has built an international network.The ITF has 750 affiliates globally amounting to 7.5 million members.The Maritime Union is an affiliate and have no doubt the international brotherhood will support.

    • Wharfie 4.2
      20 January 2012 at 9:34 am

      ITF warns Port of Auckland is ‘on brink’
      http://www.itfglobal.org

      • Sweetd 4.2.1
        20 January 2012 at 10:36 am

        From the article http://www.itfglobal.org/press-area/index.cfm/pressdetail/6907

        “If this attempt to force workers to abandon their existing agreements continues the ITF will declare the Port of Auckland a ‘Port of Convenience’ and will request our affiliates around the world, particularly in the Dockers and Seafarers Sections, to take immediate lawful action.”

        What is a ‘Port of Convenience’?

        • felix 4.2.1.1
          20 January 2012 at 10:46 am

          About $6.99 at the four square, usually.

        • Wharfie 4.2.1.2
          20 January 2012 at 11:26 am

          It’s a Port with no ships.International shipping companies will be reluctant to visit these Ports.

          • Sweetd 4.2.1.2.1
            20 January 2012 at 1:01 pm

            Thanks Wharfie for the explanation.

            As to the next part,

            “will request our affiliates around the world, particularly in the Dockers and Seafarers Sections, to take immediate lawful action.”

            Is this polite speak for blacklisting, and unions around the world would pressure shipping lines to not use PoL?

        • Akldnut 4.2.1.3
          20 January 2012 at 12:50 pm

          Pub or outhouse or cat house. lol

  5. beachbum 5
    20 January 2012 at 9:29 am

    Are there actually some sisters at the Waterfront? How many?

    • Wharfie 5.1
      20 January 2012 at 9:49 am

      There are a large amount of women working on the wharves too many to count

    • Jenny 5.2
      21 January 2012 at 10:01 am

      Apart from support staff, my last report was that there are two straddle drivers who are women.

      I might add that in my opinion, (and many of the wharfies would agree with me here) they are two of the most capable and professional drivers there.

      I might add that straddle driving is one of the most nerve racking jobs in the world. As they move they sway and jerk alarmingly. Due to the uneven surface of the Auckland wharf, just driving in a straight line is to experience undulation not unlike being at sea.

      Without a box on board straddles are dangerously top heavy.

      Even with a box on board they are not that much safer, often the weight inside the box is unevenly distributed, making the straddle tilt alarmingly.

      The driver has to deal with huge blind spots. The blind spots are made worse by having a container on board.

      Errors are very easy to make.

      And often fatal.

      No one has ever survived the toppling of a three high straddle.

      Driving a straddle is a highly skilled and nerve racking job. Not even those with long experience in truck driving or heavy machine operating can get into the cab and drive a straddle.

      The first thing, you must overcome the fear of being suspended in a fragile moving glass case over ten metres above the ground with no easy escape. An eery mix of claustrophobia and agoraphobia.

      Some new hires have sat in the cab for the first time, only to climb down and never return.

      In the ’70s the first container handlers could straddle one box. To maximise the use of space on the wharves, this soon saw straddles that could place one box on top of another. Two highs.

      Two highs have been replaced with three highs, and there are even four highs being built. (though rarely deployed, Due to the greater risks and danger in their operation).

      Another hazard of straddle driving is the unnatural sideways operating position, which requires the drivers to look sideways over their shoulders while picking up or placing containers.

      Driving straddles is not the only dangerous and unhealthy job the wharfies do.

      As well as driving, straddle operators take turn about at lashing. (event the name sounds punishing).
      The job is to tie down the containers to the deck of the ship with steel rods. The risk to life and limb is high, and injuries are common and even deaths have occurred from lashing accidents. The steel rods can be dropped and sometimes if they are worn or over tightened even snap, breaking bones and cracking skulls.

      The other dangers of lashing are that it is often done at night and in bad weather. The incidence of slip and fall injury on unfamiliar decks is high.
      Another hazard of lashing is that the work is done in the blindspot of the container crane operator.

      Contracting out will make all these problems worse. One of the main things that the management have wanted for a long time is to abolish the one way system for straddle driving at the Auckland wharf. Because of all the blind spots, ahead and behind and to the side, this makes straddle driving safer, the management says, doing away with the one way system would save time, as the straddles could cross each others paths and no longer have to make a full loop when transporting boxes around the port. As at Tauranga safety is sacrificed for profit.

      Beachbum, as to your question:

      Are there actually some sisters at the Waterfront?

      In my opinion not enough. But will de-unionising the wharves make this situation any better?

      Definitely not. As the wharfies have pointed out, the new casual rosters will make family life impossible. In our society most child rearing falls to women. Having to start a shift at a moments notice on a phone call from the boss would make it this job impossible for most women.

  6. Jackal 6
    20 January 2012 at 10:38 am

    Good riddance Perry

    I’ve been cringing at some of the happenings in the American Republican presidential nomination race lately… particularly the candidates obvious mental deficiencies and bigotries. The clear winner there has to be Texas Governor Rick Perry…

    • mik e 6.1
      20 January 2012 at 9:48 pm

      just about all presidents from Texas are war mongers good riddance Perry & Gengrich by the look of it

  7. travellerev 7
    20 January 2012 at 11:11 am

    Turns out most people really are sheeple. That would explain a lot.

    • vto 7.1
      20 January 2012 at 12:01 pm

      The herding mentality has been probably the most essential component of manwomankind’s advancement over the millenia. At least as important as the mentality which sees some humans go off on their own tangents and unilaterally come up with other advances. Both herds and individuals have their place.

      Imagine if sheep didn’t flock …………..

      • McFlock 7.1.1
        20 January 2012 at 12:24 pm

        If sheep didn’t flock, they’d get awtully fence.
           
        The other point is that the article confuses basic crowd dynamics (which has generally good reasoning based on limited tactical information and no clear objective) with rational thought. I care more about my career direction in five years than I do about where I wander in a hall.
           
        A bit of an ookey technique to get followers, though – demonstrate the problem (you need improvement in planning and critical thinking) by equating the majority of other people with animals who tend to mill around (and therefore, by extension, do not think logically). I’m imaginging a sort of Tony Robbins speech that Nietzsche would give, if Nietzsche became a motivational speaker to earn some $$$ (Ayn Rand would miss the subtlety of the technique). 

      • DJL 7.1.2
        20 January 2012 at 1:48 pm

        Shreck must have been a genius!

        • McFlock 7.1.2.1
          20 January 2012 at 3:15 pm

           

          City Gent
          But where did they get the idea from?

          Rustic
          From Harold. He’s that sheep there over under the elm. He’s that most dangerous of animals, a clever sheep. He’s the ring-leader. He has realized that a sheep’s life consists of standing around for a few months and then being eaten. And that’s a depressing prospect for an ambitious sheep. He’s patently hit on the idea of escape.

          City Gent
          Well why don’t you just get rid of Harold?

          Rustic
          Because of the enormous commercial possibilities should he succeed.

          yeah okay – couldn’t resist. Where two or three are gathered together, then they shall perform the parrot sketch, and all that.

      • Vicky32 7.1.3
        20 January 2012 at 9:14 pm

        The herding mentality has been probably the most essential component of manwomankind’s
        😀 It’d be a lot simpler, less jarring (but less obvious and wouldn’t therefore net you brownie points) to just say “humankind’s”… lol…

    • Lanthanide 7.2
      20 January 2012 at 12:18 pm

      Not really much of a study, since this sort of thing has been demonstrated in fish shoals.

    • Pete George 7.3
      20 January 2012 at 12:23 pm

      Sheep have been domesticated for a long time – who do you think they learnt off?

      If you herd sheep they usually group together, but if pressured to move usually a maverick will decide buck the trend, supported by a couple of other tentatives. If the breakaway looks like succeeding it will gather momentum and the rest will then try and follow.

      The best way to herd sheep (apart from using overbearing force) is to let them mill in their flock and wait until the lead sheep take a step in the direction you want them to go, then nudge the rest to follow them. They think they are doing what they want. Win win.

      The same principle applies to training of any animals, and children, and sheeple.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.4
      20 January 2012 at 1:49 pm

      Don’t think that’s valid. At an instinctive level going where someone else has already been is a survival trait. What we need to know is what people think when given facts and options.

  8. mickysavage 8
    20 January 2012 at 11:21 am

    So Meridian is walking away from the Hayes windfarm project.
     
    Once upon a time Meridian prided itself as a clean green energy supplier.  Then in what can only be called a fit of pique Gerry Brownlee saddled it with a diesel power generator thereby trashing its image.  The management complained at the time but to no avail.
     
    It is not surprising that it is now walking away.
     
    I acknowledge concerns about the effects the windfarm would have had on scenery and believe that more modest community endorsed windfarms are the way to go but it is a sad day if a formerly proud renewable energy company is giving up on renewable energy.

    • queenstfarmer 8.1
      20 January 2012 at 1:30 pm

      I must say I don’t understand the huge opposition to wind farms. I’ve always thought the windmills look quite graceful, and it’s kind of cool to be able to “see” the power being generated perfectly cleanly before your eyes.

      • mickysavage 8.1.1
        20 January 2012 at 1:40 pm

        I don’t disagree qsf. 
         
        I do appreciate the unique beauty of Central Otago and the loss of power being transmitted to Auckland was huge so it is better if they are smaller and located closer to Auckland but as such I think that we should embrace them rather than oppose them.

        • Pete George 8.1.1.1
          20 January 2012 at 1:51 pm

          Embrace your own.

          Seriously. Micro local or onsite to complement the existing infrastructure makes more sense than ruining more countryside.

          • mickysavage 8.1.1.1.1
            20 January 2012 at 1:54 pm

            Do I sense a bit of southern hatred for Aucklanders there petey?

            • Pete George 8.1.1.1.1.1
              20 January 2012 at 2:02 pm

              Not at all. We should all embrace more micro generation, down here too. I’m a strong advocate of as much efficiency and self sufficiency as possible wherever you live.

              Plus, we need to keep some wild river, and transmission lines are more of an eyesore than the windmills. And yeah, there is a special character to the Otago WOP.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                20 January 2012 at 3:16 pm

                Efficiency and self sufficiency are often contrary and that’s why we live in a community. Ubiquitous services like power generation and reticulation should be a community monopoly as it’s the most efficient way to provide it.

                Transmission lines should be underground DC cables and thus not an eyesore.

              • Armchair Critic …
                20 January 2012 at 11:10 pm

                We should all embrace more micro generation
                Yes, we should.

            • vto 8.1.1.1.1.2
              20 January 2012 at 2:32 pm

              mr micky, the waitakeres are perfec for probably a thousand or so graceful turbines. Try that on for size amongst your fellow Aucklanders – like to see the reaction ….

        • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1.2
          20 January 2012 at 1:53 pm

          I think NZ should be developing floating wind farms via government funding.

        • prism 8.1.1.3
          20 January 2012 at 2:19 pm

          I was listening to a radio historical report about the Karapiro dam and they mentioned that in creating electricity from this river system very beautiful falls, I think Horahora, were eliminated. We like hydroelectricity but the dams drown land, change river flow, cause silting behind dam walls that would enrich lower country, and interrupt fish life and spawning.

          We can’t get electricity without changing something. Wind turbines are graceful modern shapes. I wonder if the birds are affected though. I haven’t heard from an ornithologist on this.

          • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1.3.1
            20 January 2012 at 3:54 pm

            I wonder if the birds are affected though.

            A few die but not enough to be a concern (it’s not going to push an endangered species over the edge). Everything else we do is though – destruction of habitat to build cities, farms, etc etc.

          • Vicky32 8.1.1.3.2
            20 January 2012 at 10:56 pm

            Wind turbines are graceful modern shapes. I wonder if the birds are affected though. I haven’t heard from an ornithologist on this

            May I say “sod the birds” or will I be jumped on from a height? 😀 It seems to me there’s a fraction too much NIMBYism happening here. By all means, let’s have renewable energy, but not if it spoils my scenery or my holiday….

          • Daveosaurus 8.1.1.3.3
            21 January 2012 at 1:17 am

            I’ve only ever seen the suggestion, that birds are unduly affected by wind farms, made by anti-science denialist cultists. If anyone was really serious about preventing threats to bird life, they’d ignore wind farms and seek to ban domestic cats.

      • Lanthanide 8.1.2
        20 January 2012 at 1:46 pm

        I agree.

        This protest seems to have been led by a poet and a painter, though.

        • Salsy 8.1.2.1
          20 January 2012 at 1:55 pm

          I happen to know the poet and have found his position on this boringly obsessive and somewhat bourgeoisie.

        • mik e 8.1.2.2
          20 January 2012 at 9:57 pm

          I’m with Graeme Sydney on this.
          Transmitting power to the North Island is a huge waste of resources over 80% of the power generated is lost by the time it gets to the user dumb idea it would be better to build generating capacity close to large populations and industry.

          • Draco T Bastard 8.1.2.2.1
            20 January 2012 at 11:45 pm

            And there’s a hell of a lot of space in the Hauraki Gulf and a lot of wind. You’d still use a full national grid but it’d be a smart grid that minimised transmission distance.

          • Colonial Viper 8.1.2.2.2
            21 January 2012 at 12:06 am

            Transmitting power to the North Island is a huge waste of resources over 80% of the power generated is lost by the time it gets to the user

            hmmmm. I don’t think it is anywhere near that high. I know that DC losses on the long distance high voltage lines are much much lower than that.

      • felix 8.1.3
        20 January 2012 at 1:49 pm

        Yeah I quite like them too. Can see a bunch of them from where I live.

        Reminds me of Len Lye.

      • mik e 8.1.4
        20 January 2012 at 9:51 pm

        So did Don QuEENiote!

    • lulu 8.2
      22 January 2012 at 10:10 pm

      Hi Mickey,
      Sorry to have missed your discussion thread on Meridian’s decision to abandon Project Hayes but here is a late contribution.
      The problem the Environment Court found with Project Hayes under the RMA was that Meridian overstated the benefits and understated the costs of inundating the environment. It coined the term “outstanding landscape” which sits, for the moment, as a precedent for other appeals.
      The RMA doesn’t consider costs per se. That being said, Project Hayes has been identified by a number of agencies as relatively expensive compared with other more reliable generation sources, generation closer to the demand centers and anything north of the “Cook Straight cable”. Refer to the Electricity Commission’s Statement of Opportunities which was current at the time of the hearings.
      What we are seeing here is that the new CEO of Meridian Mark Binns is intent on rational investment. It bodes well for the cost of power in this country and the management of our SOEs.

      • Colonial Viper 8.2.1
        22 January 2012 at 10:24 pm

        It bodes well for the cost of power in this country and the management of our SOEs.

        Alternatively, it bodes well in terms of profitability for the new private shareholders.

        • lulu 8.2.1.1
          22 January 2012 at 10:51 pm

          Hi CV

          You missed it. Let me be more clear.

          Project Hayes was ridiculously expensive compared with many other potential projects in NZ. If Meridian had gone ahead with it taxpayers would have been worse off. Under a minority sale scenario the value of the assets would have been less. With either ownership model power prices to consumers would have to be higher. Meridian are right to dump the project.

          Go right ahead and put your spin on it. You can’t or won’t argue that it was a good project for New Zealand. Compared to many other projects it wasn’t and Mark Binns has called it. End of story.

  9. prism 9
    20 January 2012 at 1:55 pm

    Down there in Alabama they have toughened up on migrant Workers. These industrious people should be kept out was the decision. The Department of Homeland Security runs an E-verify check on the eligibility prospective immigrant workers for employers. Bureaucrats turning their wagons in a circle – next thing they will have arrows aimed at these pesky people who want to work. Considering that USA drug and other policies are so detrimental to Mexicans and others, it is only fair that they offer some over-the-border aid to those affected.

    These despicable people had been taking the work that should be available to Alabambers. Not, the tomatoes are staying unpicked in the field – hundreds of boxes of them. Rednecks win again – but what was the prize? And where was the good ol’ traditional common sense?

    • ianmac 10.1
      20 January 2012 at 10:34 pm

      You might remember a tribe of scouts being on camp in the hills behind Paraparaumu one weekend. They made a model hot air balloon and launched into the night and it drifted seawards and over Paraparaumu township.
      The police were flooded with eyewitness sightings of a genuine UFO with descriptions that suggested this huge craft must have been the size of at least a football field and that aliens were spotted looking down. They were I tell you. The Scouts on returning on the Sunday night were stunned at the effect that their little hot air balloon had.
      (I like making model balloons the smallest being just 5 sheets of tissue papere in a box shape, a little bit of cardboard around the opening from which florist wire was used to hang a wad of cotton wool soaked in meths.)

  11. tc 11
    20 January 2012 at 3:25 pm

    I see the akl convention centre is yet to get off the ground after the gov’t awarded it to the casino in return for gaming concessions.

    Wonder if it would be already underway is it wasn’t given to someone without a vested interest in making gambling alot easier and more pervasive than they already are.

    Where’s it meant to be located anyway ?

  12. Michael Nolan 12
    20 January 2012 at 5:16 pm

    http://www.petitiononline.co.nz/petition/john-key-don-t-sell-our-state-owned-assets/1432

    Governments in New Zealand have succumbed to the neoliberal movement since 1987, when the first round of asset sales began.

    Under these policies, New Zealanders have experienced the greatest increase in income inequality in the OECD.

    John Key is leading us down a path that is PROVEN TO FAIL. Long term, this move makes almost all New Zealander’s poorer, while opening the door to overseas ownership of the jewels in our crown.

    Only 32% of the enrolled electorate voted for the National Party.

    This is NOT A MANDATE to sell assets that belong to us all, when the only ones in the country who can afford them are the rich elite who enjoyed billions in Key’s tax cuts, increasing the wealth of the have’s, and reducing the lot of the have-not’s.

    http://www.petitiononline.co.nz/petition/john-key-don-t-sell-our-state-owned-assets/1432

    INVITE, SHARE, SIGN!

  13. Jenny 13
    20 January 2012 at 5:42 pm

    Truely amazing.

    Alleged internet pirates denied bail, held in custody.

    Alleged South Canterbury fraudsters given name suppression and not even required to be present in court to face their charges.

    So much for justice being blind, at least in NZ.

    If the kid glove treatment carries on for the SCF accused. Not only will they get off, but the state will probably award them Knighthoods.

  14. Colonial Viper 14
    20 January 2012 at 6:45 pm

    NZ base for ‘megaupload.com’ closed down

    Dozens of NZ police officers used to help out big Hollywood studios after year long investigation. NB its usual entertainment industry practice to multiply the damages they have suffered by a large arbitrary factor to make these stories newsworthy.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10780033

    Anonymous shuts down US govt sites in retaliation

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/federal-indictment-claims-popular-web-site-shared-pirated-material/2012/01/19/gIQA4rDwBQ_story.html

  15. just saying 15
    20 January 2012 at 10:56 pm

    Probably a bit late to put this up.
    Always worth reading, Laurie Penny expresses some of the tribulations, contradictions, hypocracies and consolations of the London Occupy movement:

    http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/laurie-penny/2012/01/occupy-movement-london

    There are different ways of being on the streets, and all of them are political. As the recession immiserates more and more of us, resistance will increasingly become a process of negotiating trauma, of developing economies of care that include the lost, the destitute, the down-and-out, those who cannot be “fluffy” because they have become crusted over with the debris of desperation. When these occupations are evicted, not everyone involved will be able to go home, scrub the dirt out of their hair and go back to work. Those who have lost their jobs and homes, those who left them to protest, and those who never had them in the first place attract disapprobium from their own side as well as from those determined to slander the anti-capitalist movement as filthy and unkempt. Useful activism, however, usually involves getting your hands dirty.

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    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 hours ago

  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    10 hours ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

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

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
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  • Taupō takes pole position
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  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
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  • Government backing mussel spat project
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  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
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  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
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  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
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  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
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  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
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  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
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  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
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  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
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  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
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  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
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  • Navigating an unstable global environment
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  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
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  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
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  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
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  • Joint US and NZ declaration
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  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
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