Open mike 20/12/2014

Written By: - Date published: 7:50 am, December 20th, 2014 - 98 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

John key being a dickhead-1The Authors of the Standard are now in holiday mode.  Posting will be less regular and dependant on individual author enthusiasm.  Open mike will continue every day and prepare yourself for some year in review posts and some recycling of old stuff.  And as R0b has said be nice to each other.

Open mike is your post.

The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

98 comments on “Open mike 20/12/2014 ”

  1. Paul 1

    This is what happens when you take away the rules protecting workers and create a hostile environment for them.

    NZ 2014.
    A paradise for bad bosses…and Mike Hosking.

    ‘Agriculture, forestry and fishing are among the biggest offenders against two pieces of legislation designed to protect workers from being ripped off by their bosses.
    The sector topped a table of 19 industries for the number of complaints to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment relating to the Minimum Wage Act, and came second in complaints about the Wages Protection Act.
    There were 843 complaints relating to the Minimum Wage Act and 248 about issues covered under the Wages Protection Act for the year ending November 14.’

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/64343382/aggrieved-workers-lay-wage-complaints

    • Murray Rawshark 1.1

      If businesses can’t treat their workers according to the minimal standards laid down in legislation, they should be nationalised without compensation. If some cop thinks that I sold drugs and bought a house and a car and a yacht with the proceeds, the government (thanks Goff) has given itself the power to take them off me without proving any crime. Why should businesses be treated so leniently?

  2. Paul 2

    Sky City turning the screw on the government.

    ‘Announcing the application, SkyCity chief Nigel Morrison revealed the cost of the convention centre had jumped to between $470 million and $530 million.
    The casino operator had previously estimated it would cost $402 million, which it agreed to cover in return for extending its Auckland gaming licence until 2048.
    SkyCity — which reported a net profit of $123.2 million last year — is now in talks with the Government on how to fund the increased cost.’

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11377103

    • Skinny 2.1

      Yeah I heard snake oil Joyce was taking the piss when he blamed the ballooning costs down to inflation, that’s was laughable as it running at 1%. Now Joyce is really spinning it, saying the original costings ” were close to” .Yeah Steve she’ll be right.

      • mac1 2.1.1

        Blenheim is building a new theatre. It was costed at $17 million in 2005 and is being built for $17.5 million currently.

        These figures would call into question the original and/or ‘revised’ estimates for the SKY casino. Certainly, it calls into question the so-called good management of business and National government alike.

        • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.1

          Sounds like a typical low bid to get the ‘job’ and then inflate it massively to boost profits. What the government should be doing in this case is simply dropping the deal as SkyCity were obviously lying about their end. And that would mean taking back the land as well – with no compensation.

          This government won’t though – they hand over the extra $100m with no questions asked and no promises on SkyCity’s behalf that it won’t happen again.

          • Paul 2.1.1.1.1

            $100 million…
            By the time the building is finished the blow out will be much larger than that.
            The government is being screwed.
            And therefore we are.

            A brave government would now declare the contract null and void and reclaim the land without compensation.

            This subservient lot though will bow to their corporate masters.

    • DH 2.2

      I think the most depressing thing about the SkyCity deal is this new news isn’t in the least bit surprising or unexpected. What the Herald should really be asking is what hooks have SkyCity got in the National Party.

      It’s interesting how they include the new hotel in the cost for the Convention Centre when it’s a totally separate business deal for SkyCity and not adding the Centre cost at all.

      Also interesting is the Herald note about the old TVNZ premises being used for the new hotel. We were told the TVNZ land was vital for the Convention Centre and now we’re told it isn’t needed at all. What the hell is going on?

  3. karol 3

    Scoop has announced the launch of “Operation Chrysalis” – an initiative to invite individuals and organisations from the community to contribute to the development and evolution of Scoop.

    It’s a long piece, some extracts:

    Scoop.co.nz, the pioneering online news resource with a deep publicly accessible archive, rich journalistic heritage and influential audience, is seeking new supporters to make it stable and sustainable into the future.

    From today Scoop is beginning a process of public consultation with the political, business and civil society groups it has served for the past 15 and a half years.

    The internal transformation process – dubbed “Operation Chrysalis” – is necessary to secure the support Scoop needs to sustainably support an informed society and a healthy democracy in a digital age [for further detail see editors notes below]. It is expected that the process will lead to a new ownership structure for the enterprise.
    [..]
    Scoop’s “Operation Chrysalis” will focus initially on building a safe structure to secure Scoop’s publishing operation which sees Scoop publish close to 1000 pieces of content – mostly press releases – each week. This operation has till now operated continuously for 5658 days.

    From today Scoop is seeking expressions of interest in from individuals and organisations in assisting Scoop in the following ways:

    Providing internet hosting services;

    Bringing new “entrepreneurial” vision and energy to the Scoop project;

    Ethical Investment & Sponsorship; and,

    Making a purchase of from Scoop’s communications product range (Newsagent, Infopages and Advertising).
    At the same time, Scoop will be moving to new leadership, with Thompson announcing his intention to depart as the site’s founding editor during 2015.

    More at the link.

    • Paul 3.1

      Yes having to live with more pokies till 2048 AND having to pay for the Convention Centre.
      Not a good look.
      Still Sky City were probably big donors and will be calling in their debts.

      • greywarshark 3.1.1

        Don’t know why pokies are more important than Scoop’s new moves. But if Scoop can keep flourishing I am sure we will hear more about the chess moves about gambling and any other means of inserting vacuums into vulnerable people’s pockets, if they can afford or use them. I hope that many will be lining up. What would The Standard’s position be in relation to this new Scoop, the Chrysalis? A place where all will be crystal clear at the Chrysalis!

        By the way pockets are places to put something in. Some won’t have anything even the ubiquitous tissue found in every garment handed in to an op shop.

  4. Chooky 4

    Which way Peace?…Some food for thought. Mikhail Gorbachev, a man of Peace who brought down the Berlin Wall, gives his views ( He was awarded the Otto Hahn Peace Medal in 1989, the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 and the Harvey Prize in 1992)

    ‘Mikhail Gorbachev to RT: America wanted to rule the world but lost its way’

    http://rt.com/shows/sophieco/215851-gorbachev-us-ukraine-war/

    “The Ukrainian issue has intensified the tension that existed between the West and Russia: now, another Cold War is possibly lurking on the horizon. Are we to witness another stand-off – or will it be averted? The relations between Russia and the West seem to be stuck at dead-end, so is there hope common ground will emerge between the two? We ask these questions to the man who prides himself on ending the Cold War, the last leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev, on Sophie&Co today.”

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Gorbachev

    http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/fall-of-the-berlin-wall-the-iron-curtain-fell-because-of-mikhail-gorbachev–a-man-now-despised-as-a-traitor-by-russians-9849117.html

    • greywarshark 4.1

      @ Chooky
      Thanks for that link. I’m saving it for later as time preses have to get off this thing, but catching his thoughts will be interesting.
      Have a good Christmas Chooky.

      • Chooky 4.1.1

        Thanks Greywarshark….you have a good Christmas too!…personally I think if you survive Christmas that is good enough…

    • Colonial Rawshark 4.2

      Gorbachev, a naive man who capitulated to the west, and set modern day Russia up to face ever further reaching NATO encroachment.

      • greywarshark 4.2.1

        CR
        What was that then? Was it that Gorbachev gave Ukraine autonomy which then left them in a vulnerable position to become a western pawn?

        • Colonial Rawshark 4.2.1.1

          NATO gave Gorbachev assurances that they would not expand a single inch eastward toward the Soviet Union, if Moscow ceeded control of all its eastern bloc holdings. He believed them, and of course, NATO broke its promise within just a couple of years.

          • greywarshark 4.2.1.1.1

            CR
            That’s so sad. Why doesn’t Europe have a better sense of it’s own destiny and advanced diplomatic and intelligence analysts advising wisdom? Is it Europe itself or Britain allying with the USA and have they got their hooks into NATO. Can’t NATO limit the USA. They seem to spread anarchy wherever they go.

            Someone recently was saying something about Germany not being as independent and strong as I thought. Surely Germany wouldn’t be stirring again and neither Austria.

            Incidentally one meaning of anarchy is “absence of government and absolute freedom of the individual, regarded as a political ideal.” The USA can’t govern itself in a stable manner, the Republicans are barring it from that, and touts its freedoms – only for some, but having a gun might help to enforce them.

            The other meaning of anarchy is “a state of disorder due to absence or non-recognition of authority or other controlling systems.” In so many of the countries that USA supports, it either promotes a heavily controlled state of disorder, or steps in eventually to remove their despot leaving an absence of authority which is fought for by competing groups leaving no accepted controlling systems country-wide. Sounds like anarchy to me. Anarchy Rules Not OKay!

          • nadis 4.2.1.1.2

            I don’t thiknk it is as black and white as that, and there is a certain amount of history rewriting going on so that people are remembered more fondly. Gorbacheve odesnt want to be known as the guy who “gave the East to Nato.”

            Edvard Shevardnadze has always claimed there never was a deal. At the time it was crazy to think any of theeastern satellites would join Nato – they were still members of the EWarsaw pact. Gorbachev himself us on record as saying that he believed the communist parties throughout Eastern Europe would democtrtise thmeselves a la glasnost and remain in power.

            It seems bizarre that in 1990 when Russia and Germany (plus the other 4 participants) agreed that a unified Germany could join Nato (in a written agreement) that they didn’t address in writing) the other countries. I think the most likely explanation is that some vague discussions were had but nothing serious as the likelihood seemed so remote. No-one antiipated the sudden demise of the communist parties across Europe and the headlong rush of the new governments to the west. Bear in mind at that time NATO didn’t want any new members – why would English or Dutch soldiers go to fight for Hungary or Slovakia?

            Gorbachev miscalculated – he thought he could manage a change that left the communist elites in power.

            • Colonial Rawshark 4.2.1.1.2.1

              Gorbachev miscalculated alright. But the institutional elites – i.e. the ones in the military and the KGB, not the remnant political branches which had to be swept aside – did indeed retain power (and garner the wealth). Hence the phenomenon of Putin and also the oligarchs.

              • nadis

                That, I agree with. Struggling to think of a country in the last 100 years which has been looted as much as Russia. Maybe some African countries?

                Maybe the US in the 1860s-1880’s thought the difference is that wealth didn’t leave the country and has been pretty heavily recycled now.

      • Chooky 4.2.2

        +100 CR…yes well i agree he was naive in retrospect…and probably why Gorbachev is very unpopular in Russia today…and why Putin is very popular with Russians

        ….but that just makes Gorbachev’s and Russia’s trust and past good intentions for Peace even more poignant

        …and throws into particularly sharp relief what Gorbachev says today, as an old and wiser man, about the USA war machine economy

  5. Sanctuary 5

    I am not saying the Sony hack was anything other than an astoundingly lawless act, but imagine how Fox news and the US government might react if the Chinese and Russians made a high profile comedy blockbuster co-production entitled “Assassinating Barack Obama”…

    • ianmac 5.1

      On a different scenario Sanctuary, I was thinking of the grief and shock at the Sydney loss of life and the tragedy of the Pakistan raid. In both cases famies and society at large were so upset.
      Then I thought of the tragedies happening all the time during the Afghanistan conflict and the Iraq disaster and drone attacks and the Israeli “retaliations.” Imagine the grief of hundreds of thousands of families in those regions. Whole families wiped out. Do we think that only the West have grieving families?
      The Powers claim legitimate and accidental collateral damage.
      As you say, imagine how we would react if the tragedies were the other way round.

    • nadis 5.2

      The US makes those movies themselves. As does the UK:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_a_President_%282006_film%29

      Pretty sure the US government didn’t notice.

      • greywarshark 5.2.1

        nadis
        You seem to deliberately miss the point or bring up some assymetrical example.
        A film made in 2006 was within a different climate and not the culture we have now.
        Ever since 2001 and the attack on the towers in USA there is a constant tightening of reaction to real or imagined dangers and pro-action by closing down likely points of trouble.

        • nadis 5.2.1.1

          ?

          2006>2001

          Not sure what I am being accused of. Your comment is remarkably incoherent.

          Sanctuary asked the question “what if someone else made a movie about killing the US president. Imagine the outrage”

          Just google “movies about killing the president”. There are plenty. Not seeing much outrage. Also not sure why “the interview” itself is so offensive.

          • RedLogix 5.2.1.1.1

            I think the difference is that the movies you are thinking of are all of American (or US sympathetic origin). I’m guessing that in them the assassins are fairly reliably depicted as the bad guys and the hero gets to variously liquidate them all in order to make the world safe once more for the American way.

            Now I know nothing about the Interview but I have to think that its plot didn’t quite follow this well-worn propaganda path.

            In particular if say the Chinese were to make a movie about interviewing President Obama with extreme prejudice – and the trigger men were portrayed as the good guys – you have to think that most Americans would be pretty unhappy. (Well apart from a substantial cohort of GOP nutters).

            • nadis 5.2.1.1.1.1

              I dunno – for all it’s faults the US still has a greater respect and allowance for free speech than any other country in the world. I suspect most Americans wouldn’t care. Plenty of nations and people overseas (as well as a few domestically) are calling “death to Obama” – the Americans are used to it. Not sure why putting it in a movie makes it more offensive.

              • greywarshark

                I don’t respect sweeping statements like this the US still has a greater respect and allowance for free speech than any other country in the world.>/i>
                Because even if it is true then there is huge opportunity for abuse and harrassment that leaves the recipient anything but free to respond in kind or any other way.

    • Murray Rawshark 5.3

      Fox News and both houses of the US Congress would love a high profile comedy blockbuster co-production entitled “Assassinating Barack Obama”. I don’t follow.

    • Lindsey 5.4

      Fox News would be really happy. Half their fan base would queue up to attend.

  6. millsy 6

    That pic of Key above pretty much sums him up, along with his followers (who are beginning to have the attitude of Mao’s red guards).

    • Clemgeopin 6.1

      After all the bad stuff, the dirty politics, the bad laws for workers, the sell of of NZ assets, the tanking economy, the massive debts, the constant lies that Key and his government have indulged in, it is incredulous that Key still seems popular. Why?

      • The Murphey 6.1.1

        A. ‘Herd Mentality’

        Apply to all aspects of what masquerades as ‘life’ and realize that the lies and deceit operate at 360 degrees

        Not one single theme is ‘immune’ from duplicitous nature of the man made environments we are trapped into from birth and the psychological warfare which exists at the core

      • millsy 6.1.2

        Because there are 2 sides to the average Kiwi. One side is “sweet as bro” and will give you the shirt off their back . The other, more sinister, side is willing to smash beer bottles over women and childrens head to watch a rugby match. Key subtly brings out the latter side while making himself out as the former.

  7. It’s A Man, It’s A Golfer, It’s A Fan, It’s A Fisher! John Key’s Getting A Happy Makeover While People Starve On Christmas.

    • RedLogix 7.1

      No you don’t understand – poor people are just sick losers, while their betters are out there working hard to halve their golf handicap.

    • Olwyn 7.2

      This year they seem to be laying it on thicker than usual – fun-Key snaps are everywhere. Here grinning away with Kate Perry, there in a fishing hat, here hanging out with radio jocks in a gonky tee shirt. Isn’t he due in Hawaii sometime soon?

      • Ffloyd 7.2.1

        Personally I think smirkey is an absolute embarrassment to NZ. Does he not realise what a dork he looks. Do his people send out these ridiculous puff pieces to newspapers and they print them, or do they follow him around to get these absolutely sad photos of our esteemed pm. Genuine question. Could tolerate them if he had been a halfway decent pm, but he hasn’t so I can’t. I don’t know how many business peopleI have spoken to recently who are finding things very slow at the moment. Key and English have got a lot to answer for.

  8. Yep, You’re either a winner or a loser on John Key’s planet and everybody wants to be with the winner!

  9. Clemgeopin 9

    Getting to know a little bit more about our Andrew:

    “For three days Labour leader Andrew Little shut himself in a room and set about writing a personal message in 450 different Christmas cards.

    While countless business and politicians have sent out screeds of computer printed festive cards, the New Plymouth-born political heavyweight took it upon himself to give each of his cards a unique message.

    “I had a couple of days off and I was supposed to spend them with my son. But he got a bit sick so I sat down and got stuck into my Christmas cards. It took a significant part of each day for three days,” Little said.

    The effort burned through two pens, came close to causing him a repetitive strain injury in his hand and taxed his memory for messages particular to each person. Despite that, he said he was likely to do it again next year.

    “You try and do something personal for each. I think the personal touch is important.”

    Recipients of his personalised cards, which feature a picture of Little and his wife Leigh Fitzgerald at Wellington’s Island Bay, included many members of the New Plymouth and Whanganui Labour Party chapters and business and community leaders he dealt with in the last year.’

    Read more here:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/christmas/64345909/merry-christmas-merry-christmas-merry–

    • The Al1en 9.1

      Should have spent the time thinking up an apology to New Zealanders for supporting john key’s lapdog spy bill.

      Far to meh about little to praise him for his dedication to writing individual christmas card messages.

    • b waghorn 9.2

      The main thing I take from a story like that one on stuff is the press are being positive about a labour leader ,if the herd on stuff change direction keys gone in 3 or even sooner

  10. Having to fill in a “Current ye@r” box under the submit button every time I make a post.
    And when I don’t I’m getting…

    “Go back and try again.
    Error: answer is wrong. [3.3]
    Comment was blocked because it is spam.”

    Also the feeds are gone, just showing – [tabs] [tab title="Feeds"]

    And search is in advanced mode by default which it usually wasn’t for me.

    Edit:
    And when I do an edit, I get a full screen page instead of a pop up, and when saved it doesn’t return me to the previous page.

    • b waghorn 10.1

      Having there same . thanks for the tip I’d been putting the whole date in not just 2014

      • The Al1en 10.1.1

        Good to know it isn’t just me. Ta for confirming.

        Started for me yesterday. When I click to reply it refreshes the page and opens the reply box after the last post at the bottom of the screen, not necessarily the one I’m replying to.
        If I scroll up and click reply again, the box opens under the correct post, though still with confirm the year spam check.

        On Chrome Version 39.0.2171.95 m

    • greywarshark 10.2

      Same. No trouble about putting the year and if forget, get a reminder and a return to comment.

      And when I reply it does the same as The Allen says. The comment box at the bottom notes the comment name being replied to which is handy. But if you want to refer to something in that comment, you have to go searching for it – hard if the thread is long and tangled!

      When I edit I get a small box in left-hand (of course) corner of the screen which works as usual. When saved just sits and I have to use return to get back. I am returned to the original comment and I have to refresh with F5 on Firefox (as yet not updated), to get the new revised better comment.

      Also the edit button doesn’t show time limit ticking away beside it.
      edited multi

    • lprent 10.3

      Sorry, been relaxing after work finished. It looks like a bug from the upgrade to WordPress 4.1 yesterday and the ougin upgrades that went with it.

      I will have a look at it. But I am on the android pad that the mall. So it have to wait until after the movie.

      • The Al1en 10.3.1

        No worries, just making sure you were aware of the problem.

        Enjoy the movie. If the problem is fixed soon, I guess you’re watching The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

        • lprent 10.3.1.1

          Indeed. It was rather boring because they somehow didn’t manage to make the storyline clear about why there was a such a battle.

      • just saying 10.3.2

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPNWQ6EOoKQ

        At last I know why I keep bouncing back as spam. Tried to post this five times this morning. In honour of seeing my Irish mum in a couple of days, some amazing Irish blues. Rory gallagher “A Milllion Miles Away”

        Miss you Rogue Trooper

        • lprent 10.3.2.1

          Ok. I just have to clear the cache. I think that will fix the main problem.

          • b waghorn 10.3.2.1.1

            Back to normal now cheers only thing not going is if I tap my name in replies it says none found in search.

            • Jenny Kirk 10.3.2.1.1.1

              Yes – mine is now back to normal again too. Thanks lprent. I thought it was me muckin’ up the innards of my pc ! relieved to find it wasn’t me.

              • Anne

                Yep. Hit’s the self esteem barometer a bit to be told one’s contributions are nothing but spam. 😈

            • lprent 10.3.2.1.1.2

              Thanks. Looks like a problem in the search engine.

              Just finished fixing the Feed. So I guess that the search is next. I guess it is about time to replace the hacked version I did about 5 years ago.

  11. b waghorn 11

    Testing this thing on

  12. Morrissey 12

    North Korea not the only pariah regime intimidating the film industry

    Tough-guy Hollywood star George Clooney is fuming, in a laid-back, cool, method kind of way: “We cannot be told we can’t see something by Kim Jong-un, of all fucking people,” he spluttered in an interview the other day. “We have allowed North Korea to dictate content, and that is just insane.” [1] And President Hopey Changey said this morning that he wished the Sony bosses had talked to him before they canned that unfunny Seth Rogen film. [2]

    So American liberals are really upset about the censorship of free expression, right? They speak out against corrupt and evil regimes that try to shut down debate, right? Well, not exactly….

    Israeli government attempts to shut down Nakba film festival in Tel Aviv
    by SARAH LEVY, Mondoweiss, December 11, 2014
    http://mondoweiss.net/2014/12/government-attempts-festival

    Imagine if in the U.S. it were illegal to teach about the genocide of the Native Americans or the violent and gruesome system of slavery in North America. Imagine if you could be punished for simply mentioning the suffering of the indigenous people on Thanksgiving, or for questioning the nobility of Columbus of Columbus Day.

    In Israel, this reality is not far fetched. Any Israeli institution with public funding that mentions, teaches, or mourns the Nakba (Arabic for “catastrophe”) can be fined, and individuals can be sentenced to prison for their involvement.

    Recently this law threatened to cause trouble for the Israeli non-profit organization Zochrot as they prepared for their second annual “48 mm—International Film Festival on Nakba and Return” in Tel Aviv.

    This year’s festival, which was attended by hundreds of people, mostly Israeli, featured three film shorts made by Israeli directors specifically for the weekend, as well as longer films made in Palestine, Israel, and abroad on the subject of the Nakba and the right of return for Palestinian refugees. Highlights of the festival this year included Mahdi Fleifel’s A World Not Ours, which documented life inside a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon including the residents’ hopes, dreams, and depressions; Fida Qishta’s Where Should the Birds Fly, a “visual documentation of the Goldstone Report,” that showed Israel’s horrific Operation Cast Lead of 2008-9 against the Gaza Strip and spent time with several young survivors of the attack; and the Israeli premier of the film A People Without a Land, Eliyahu Ungar-Sargon’s compelling…..

    See more at…
    http://mondoweiss.net/2014/12/government-attempts-festival#sthash.mJRfTM99.dpuf

    [1] http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/dec/19/george-clooney-sony-pictures-hack-the-interview
    [2] http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30555997

    • The Murphey 12.1

      Q. Which is more likely the offending entity based on technical capability and motive?

      1. NK
      2. NSA
      3. [pick an acronym]

      Q. What legislation has been heavily debated but as yet blocked through the houses of US Governance ?

      Q. Given the nature of what is ‘sold’ what grounds would Hollywood ‘stars’ have in acting as moral compass in ethical discussions?

      • miravox 12.1.1

        How about you start giving an opinion on your own questions sometime instead of expecting* other people to answer for you?

        * maybe you like just putting things out there – I’m open to be corrected

      • Morrissey 12.1.2

        Q. Which is more likely the offending entity based on technical capability and motive?
        1. NK
        2. NSA
        3. [pick an acronym]

        My guess is: Anonymous. Or one of Cameron “Blubberguts” Slater’s cronies. They probably support North Korea.

        Q. What legislation has been heavily debated but as yet blocked through the houses of US Governance?

        I’m not quite sure. Please explain!

        Q. Given the nature of what is ‘sold’ what grounds would Hollywood ‘stars’ have in acting as moral compass in ethical discussions?

        Not a lot. Most of them—not all, but most of them—do no reading, and are unbelievably ignorant.

  13. Morrissey 13

    The Standard was on to Blubberguts’s antics four years ago

    This one is from the archives, but it’s well worth reflecting that Blubberguts has been telling lies and orchestrating mayhem under our very noses for a long time. Nicky Hager’s book was not a revelation, but a confirmation, to anyone who had eyes, and the sense, to see….

    The real story on Slater’s videos
    by MARTY G 10:30 am, September 21st, 2010 – 163 comments

    Twice in a fortnight, we have had the unedifying spectacle of media running a false story based on a video on Cameron Slater’s Whaleoil blog. First it was the fake video that purported to show Jim Anderton saying only an earthquake could make him lose the mayoral race. Last night, it was a story that Labour’s Mana candidate, Kris Fa’afoi applied for a job with National shortly before going to work for Labour.

    In both cases, media simply ran a story based on Slater’s word and the video he gave them.

    Anyone who has met Slater knows he’s more than a few sandwiches short of a picnic. He doesn’t have the access or the ability to conjure up fake videos of Anderton from local TV or Fa’afoi using two year old footage. Slater is merely the crazy tool of the National Research Unit. They’re obviously behind most of the interesting material that Farrar and Slater release* and these put-up videos are no exception (Slater gets the stuff Farrar turns down).

    Now, my comrades in the media, here’s a real story for you: how National uses proxies to run up false, muckraking media stories while appearing to keep its hands clean. It might take some actual research…..

    Read more….
    http://thestandard.org.nz/the-real-story-on-slaters-videos/

    • miravox 13.1

      Nice, Morrissey.

      Not much more to say really, except come back Marty G. I liked those graphs and things that you did too.

      Seriously, I have missed the Marty G posts. I appreciate the authors here very much, but Marty G occupied a rather unique space that has yet to be filled.

    • Anne 13.2

      The sheer disgrace is that four years and one revealing book later the obnoxious worm is still at it, and many in the media are still accessing his discredited stories for public consumption and indeed associating with him.

  14. Morrissey 14

    The right wing in Britain hates democracy, Russell Brand—and Russia

    Over the last few days the Murdoch empire has been expressing jubilation over the fall in the value of the rouble. But, as this article points out, British state media like the Sun and the BBC should take a closer look….
    http://wingsoverscotland.com/it-could-be-worse/

  15. “..Could cannabis oil reverse the effects of cancer?..

    ..a film following six patients receiving the controversial treatment is released..”

    (cont..)

    http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/could-cannabis-oil-reverse-the-effects-of-cancer-9934577.html

    • (further to above..)

      “..growing scientific research now suggests that cannabis oil may also possess anti-cancer properties that help stem the growth of malignant tumours.

      The crème-de-la-creme is seen as 1:1 oils – which contain equal amounts of THC and CBD –

      – which,when combined – are more effective.

      CBD also has the added benefit of moderating the psychoactive effects of THC..”

      • The Al1en 15.1.1

        Twice in a week 🙄

      • phillip ure 15.1.2

        (and further to above..)

        “..These trials can’t come soon enough – believes Peter McCormick – a lecturer in Cell Biology at the School of Pharmacy at the University of East Anglia –

        – who earlier this year found that THC could help combat the growth of cancerous cells.

        “There are hundreds of reports out there and I do get concerned about them being written off as some anomaly –

        – or people trying to push recreational drugs into a legalised setting.

        The reality is that there are plenty of cases where cannabinoids do seem to be doing something –

        – and our study is further evidence that more research needs to be done..”

        • The Al1en 15.1.2.1

          🙄 For balance. Wall of text alert.

          http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2012/07/25/cannabis-cannabinoids-and-cancer-the-evidence-so-far/

          We often see websites with long lists of scientific papers claiming that cannabis is a “cure” for various cancers. However, when we look at the detail of the data and the experimental detail of the research, it becomes clear that although they may be interesting and build evidence to show that cannabinoids may one day bring benefits for cancer patients, they are far from being a cure.

          The main point to realise is that virtually all these studies have been done in cancer cells grown in the lab or in animals. These are quite artificial systems and are much less complex than a real cancer growing in a patient.

          For example, most experiments with cells grown in the lab use cancer cells that were originally taken from a tumour many years ago, but have been grown for a long time in the lab – known as cell lines. One problem with such cells is that they are all very similar on a genetic and molecular level, but we know that in real cancers, the cells can be very different from each other and respond in different ways to treatments. Also the usual way of testing cannabinoids in animals has been done by transplanting cancer cells (either mouse or human) into mice. Usually only a small number (5-20) will be used for each experiment.

          There’s growing evidence that these particular kinds of models (known as xenografts) aren’t as good at suggesting a treatment could work, compared to more sophisticated genetically engineered animals, as they don’t accurately represent the situation in real tumours. So although these kinds of experiments can point towards useful approaches, as well as revealing the underlying molecular ‘nuts and bolts’ of what’s going on, they can’t tell us if something will definitely treat cancer effectively and safely in human patients. They do not “prove that cannabis cures cancer”, as the headlines would have us believe.

          Put simply, Petri dishes are not people.

          • phillip ure 15.1.2.1.1

            from yr link..

            “..But that’s the lab – what about clinical research involving people with cancer? Results have been published from only one clinical trial testing whether cannabinoids can treat cancer in patients, led by Dr Manuel Guzman and his team in Spain. Nine people with advanced, terminal glioblastoma multiforme – an aggressive brain tumour – were given highly purified THC through a tube directly into their brain.

            Eight people’s cancers showed some kind of response to the treatment, and one didn’t respond at all. All the patients died within a year, as might be expected for people with cancer this advanced.

            The results from this study show that THC given in this way is safe and doesn’t seem to cause significant side effects. But because this was an early stage trial, without a control group, it’s impossible to say whether THC helped to extend their lives. And while it’s certainly not a cure, the trial results suggest that cannabinoids are worth pursuing in clinical trials..”

            did you even read it..?

            ..and yr link is from 3 yrs ago..

            ..mine is from today..

            ..and that can be a lifetime in medical research..

            (doh..!..what’s the emoji for looking like a fucken idiot..?

            ..shouldn’t you be using that one..?..)

            • The Al1en 15.1.2.1.1.1

              From my link – Did you even read it? 🙄 😆

              [Please note – we are updating this blog post regularly as new research is published.]
              And
              Kat Arney – July 4, 2014 – Additional information:

              As I wrote, my response is for balance, so not going to get in to a debate with you, which you’ll withdraw from in an unseemly manner anyway. But soon as there’s proof there’s a cure for cancer, what ever cures it, I’m sure we’ll all know about it without having to resort to the deliberately disingenuous.

              At the moment cancer research uk trumps the The daily mail or Independant or Guardian or whoever, even you, believe it or not 😆

              • (i repeat..did you even fucken read it..?..yr own link..?..)

                “..the trial results suggest that cannabinoids are worth pursuing in clinical trials..”

                what does yr small ever-fizzing brain take those words to mean..?..

                ..(take yr time..!..)

                • The Al1en

                  Well you clearly didn’t if you missed the amendment notice with this years date and claim it’s three years old 😉 😆

                  If you have a problem with the added conclusions of the blog writer, (hint – it’s at the bottom of the page, which unlike me, you haven’t read all the way down to) contact her and seek clarification as to why she would write conflicting information, though reality is she does preface your ‘proof’ with “Results have been published from only one clinical trial”.

                  Other than that, I have nothing else for you 🙂

                  • and you really need to check yr sources a bit closer..

                    ..it has the correct sounding (‘impartial’) name..

                    ..’cancer research uk’..

                    ..but it is actually a give-us-money!-site..

                    ..what some might call a scam..

                    ..and it’s certainly not what you are trying to claim it is..

                    ..you are such a buffoon/fool..!

                    ..aren’t you..?

                    “..Other than that, I have nothing else for you..”

                    • The Al1en

                      “..but it is actually a give-us-money!-site….what some might call a scam..”

                      🙄 Cancer research UK a scam. Er, okay, but only a idiot would write it down.

                    • The Al1en

                      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer_Research_UK

                      “Cancer Research UK is a cancer research and awareness charity in the United Kingdom,[3] formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.[4] Its aim is to reduce the number of deaths from cancer. As the world’s largest independent cancer research charity[5][6] it conducts research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Research activities are carried out in institutes, universities and hospitals across the UK, both by the charity’s own employees and by its grant-funded researchers. It also provides information about cancer and runs campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the disease and influencing public policy.”

                      “On 18 July 2012 it was announced that Cancer Research UK was to receive its largest ever single donation of £10 million from an anonymous donor. The money will go towards the £100 million funding needed for the Francis Crick Institute in London, the largest biomedical research building in Europe.”

                      “In the financial year 2010/11 the charity spent £332 million on cancer research projects (around 69% of its total income for that year). The bulk of the remaining costs were spent on trading and fundraising costs, with a small amount also spent on information services, campaigning and advocacy, administration, on other activities, or held in reserve.”

                      Those bastard scammers 🙄

                      “In June 2011 Cancer Research UK was one of several health charities (along with the British Heart Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Society and Parkinson’s UK) targeted by the animal rights organisation Animal Aid in a publicity campaign involving a series of advertisements in British newspapers urging members of the public to stop giving donations to organizations that fund medical research involving animal experiments.”

                      Aaaah, get it now 🙄

                      See those bits

                      “and you really need to check yr sources a bit closer..”
                      “..but it is actually a give-us-money!-site….what some might call a scam….and it’s certainly not what you are trying to claim it is..”
                      and
                      “..you are such a buffoon/fool..!…aren’t you..?”

                      😆

                    • yr modus operandi is the same as p.g..

                      ..never answer when called..

                      .and just dive off to some other/fussy/carping/nagging point/angle..

                      ..fuck off..!..tr*ll..!..

                      ..u.r. back on ignore..

                    • The Al1en

                      “yr modus operandi is the same as p.g….never answer when called…and just dive off to some other/fussy/carping/nagging point/angle….fuck off..!..tr*ll..!….u.r. back on ignore..”

                      ” so not going to get in to a debate with you, which you’ll withdraw from in an unseemly manner anyway. ”

                      Off to buy a lotto powerball ticket. If they do a knucklehead version, I’ll get one for you. 🙂

                    • greywarshark

                      What a pain you two are The Allen and phillip ure.
                      From now on I think everyone should address you as they start off as buffoon or fool.

                      On another comment there is a report about Gaza being bombed by the Israelis. Two peoples having a real war over land life and everything. And yet you practice those techniques of attack and mock, get under the skin, mock, then back to attack and mock.

                      You should not practice this on a site where people are trying to cut through this bullshit. There is enough already going on in our society and all over the world. Yet you bring on your petty name-calling that is right at the start of conflicts. Calll each other out if you get annoyed, and then leave it alone, still unresolved. Agree to differ semi-politely. Because going on and on just makes this boring comment seem deja vu.
                      edited

  16. b waghorn 16

    http://info.scoop.co.nz/Livestock_Improvement_Corporation
    Trying to work out how to link ,this is about how through a breeding blip lic think they have descovered a way that will keep cows milking in tropical areas and cope with global warming. Its under the title hot and hairy

  17. joe90 18

    More misery.

    Mohammed Omer  @Mogaza · 5h 5 hours ago

    Unconfirmed report from medics: one killed in last #Israeli airstrike on #Gaza
    0 replies 107 retweets 26 favorites

    Mohammed Omer  @Mogaza · 5h 5 hours ago

    Drones and F16s I did not miss you in #Gaza
    0 replies 72 retweets 28 favorites

    Mohammed Omer  @Mogaza · 5h 5 hours ago

    Bombing #Gaza now
    0 replies 148 retweets 28 favorites

    Mohammed Omer  @Mogaza · 5h 5 hours ago

    F16s are flying overheads now! What is the next target? #GazaUnderAttack
    0 replies 122 retweets 25 favorites

    Mohammed Omer  @Mogaza · 5h 5 hours ago

    electricity wires have been cut after #Israeli airstrikes on south #Gaza Strip
    0 replies 124 retweets 30 favorites

    https://twitter.com/Mogaza

  18. batweka 19

    An atheist, a vegan, a libertarian, and a BMW owner walk into a bar…

    I only know because they told everyone in the bar within 2 minutes.

    😉

    (h/t twitter)

  19. joe90 20

    Where Harper goes…..

    Alternatives and 52 other charities have been caught in a net created by the 2012 federal budget, when the Harper government gave the revenue agency millions of dollars to audit the political activities of key charities. The initiative coincided with provocative comments by cabinet ministers painting environmental groups as “radicals” and “money launderers.”

    The first wave of 10 audits targeted environment charities, most of whom oppose the government’s promotion of energy pipelines and the oilsands, but later audit waves expanded to include anti-poverty, human-rights and international aid groups.

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/alternatives-foreign-aid-charity-faces-closure-after-revenue-canada-audit-1.2878105

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-revenue-agency-says-preventing-poverty-not-allowed-as-goal-for-charity/article19763321/

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canadian-aid-groups-told-to-keep-quiet-on-policy-issues/article1215648/

  20. greywarshark 21

    @ joe90
    I tried the cbc link but it seemed to have difficulty in loading. The globeandmail report referred to poverty a lot and how preventing it wasn’t on, though alleviating it was, and I wondered have they defined poverty. It is a generic term. There seemed a poverty of facts about the actual measurement by Canada of what income and life circumstances constitute poverty! So how can they talk about it so glibly?

    Certainly whenever you mention wealth there are people pouring out of the woodwork talking themselves out of being wealthy or rich. Years ago when I and partner built a house it was about 10 times the lowest wage, about !0,000 pounds all up or say, $25-30,000. Now $40,000 is a lowish wage so 10 times, would give $400,000 for a nice 3/br city house. Not many around, lucky to find a 2 bedroom unit on handkerchief section for that.

    People who have had to pay double $400,000, can well feel poor with not much to spend. Hard isn’t it, to understand real poverty when individuals are concentrated on themselves and house prices are inflated by lax government input to contain demand and inflationary subsidies to landlords. The subsidies should have gone to cheap loans to encourage savings and good financial health of individuals. Though economic activity might have fallen without the push for the consumer society. When we looked in our financial mirrors we wouldn’t see the image of the fairest country of all, as Blinglish is always portraying.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • At a glance – Does CO2 always correlate with temperature?
    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 ...
    4 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 hours ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    7 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    8 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    9 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    9 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    12 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    13 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    13 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    14 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    15 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    17 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    2 days ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T10:10:41+00:00