Open mike 22/06/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 22nd, 2016 - 93 comments
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93 comments on “Open mike 22/06/2016 ”

  1. Paul 1

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

    Cruel.
    New Zealand prisons.

    A lawyer is accusing the Corrections Department of breaking the law in submitting inmates to 100,000 strip searches a year.
    Human rights lawyer Michael Bott said the Corrections Act Section 98 was clear that guards may strip search prisoners who were being moved around, but that it was discretionary.
    Mr Bott said “The Department of Corrections is breaking the law, it’s not acting in accordance with the Act, it’s a discretion, an officer ‘may’. Since when in the English dictionary does the word ‘may’ mean ‘must’. It does become degrading because what they’re doing is, without cause, they’re making prisoners take their clothes off, squat, lift up their genitals, their breasts, parting their buttocks etcetera.
    In 2006 the Court of Appeal said routine use of strip searches came close to degrading treatment under the Bill of Rights. The Law Society has said that strip searching is universally acknowledged, including in case law, to be “degrading and humiliating”.
    A total 434,304 strip searches were carried out in the four years to mid 2015 and netted 675 items, or 0.15 percent. In the least successful month 11,863 searches discovered just one item of contraband.’
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/306970/corrections-strip-searches-'degrading'-lawyer

    ‘Overcrowding appears to have been behind a protest that resulted in this afternoon’s lockdown at Mt Eden Prison.
    “With national prison numbers at a record high, the department was having to move prisoners regularly, she said.
    “[The prisoners] were just objecting to the amount of movements that have been happening.”’
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/306936/'disorder-event'-at-mt-eden-prison

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

    By contrast, Norwegian prisons…….

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01mTKDaKa6Q

    • ianmac 1.1

      Norway should be our model, and we must strenuously avoid the USA form of Democracy and Education and Security. Good stuff Paul.

  2. Paul 2

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

    Uncaring.
    New Zealand housing.

    ‘Mum shares state house garage in Manurewa with teen daughter.
    Carla Peebles-Waara needs to find somewhere for her and her children to live and fast.
    She’s staying in the garage of a relative’s Housing New Zealand property in Manurewa, south Auckland, while her application for a state house is processed.
    Peebles-Waara sleeps in the garage with her 13-year-old daughter while her two youngest children, aged 12 and 10, use one of the bedrooms.
    “We share the bed or pull out a mattress,” she says.
    Peebles-Waara is originally from Coromandel but left the area due to conflict with extended family. She arrived with her children in Auckland 10 months ago.
    The relative she’s staying with faces eviction unless Peebles-Waara and her children have moved out by June 24, she says.
    “We have to stay here but if Housing NZ says my niece is going to be evicted then we will leave.
    “I can’t take my kids and live in a car.
    “I’ve thought about going to Bruce Pulman Park [in Takanini] and putting up a gazebo with everyone else but it’s not feasible.”
    Peebles-Waara says it’s impossible to afford a private rental house in Auckland on her benefit.
    Her first application to the Ministry of Social Development for a state house, made late last year, was declined. Her second was lost and she’s now waiting to hear back about the third.
    Peebles-Waara says the hardest thing about sharing a home is the stress.
    “The strain it puts on the family is tough. I do everything I can so we aren’t a burden.”
    It’s been hard to find out what’s happening with her application and she plans to contact the ministry this week.
    “I go to Housing NZ and they tell me to go to the ministry but then they say it’s up to Housing NZ. I can’t talk to anyone and no-one is in charge of my case. I don’t have time for that.”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/manukau-courier/81289547/mum-shares-state-house-garage-in-manurewa-with-teen-daughter

    By contrast, German housing…….
    http://qz.com/167887/germany-has-one-of-the-worlds-lowest-homeownership-rates/
    By contrast, Austrian and Singapore’s public housing systems…….
    http://www.shareable.net/blog/public-housing-works-lessons-from-vienna-and-singapore

    • vto 2.1

      These people have to start squatting

      very publicly

      • riffer 2.1.1

        Pretty sure we don’t have squatters rights in our country – they call that Breaking and Entering.

    • reason 2.2

      Good post Paul ……………… wouldn’t it be great if we had a Government who actually looked around the world for things that actually work…….

      Because we have the opposite. at the moment

  3. Paul 3

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

    Greedy.
    Companies that pay workers too little.
    Power companies that charge too much.

    ‘Invercargill work hours dire for many who struggle in silence, says father.
    Southland people are staunch and walk tall, but will struggle financially without speaking up, an Invercargill father says.
    Invercargill residents Nathaniel and Kathrine Barrett, who work as chefs, are one of the reportedly increasing ‘middle-class poor’ families in Southland.
    They are looking to relocate to Christchurch or Dunedin for better hours and pay.
    Invercargill Salvation Army Invercargill Corps officer Annette Bray said the organisation was seeing a growing number of people coming to them for help.
    “There’s a working class poor. More and more people are coming through.”
    It could be that there were two family members working but together they didn’t have a full time job, Bray said.
    “Twenty-five percent of people who come to us for help, somebody is working in the family.
    “Probably in days gone by, if someone was working in the family they were doing pretty well. But these days it’s not enough.”
    Nathaniel works about 20-25 hours a week, and Kathrine 30, but with restaurant clientele dwindling in the cold Invercargill winter they had fewer work hours.
    In a typical week, Kathrine would earn about $400 and Nathaniel about $360.
    Nathaniel said the Work and Income benefit had a $600 gross income cut-off point, which they earn above.
    However, their weekly expenses topped $800………

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/80772395/invercargill-work-hours-dire-for-many-who-struggle-in-silence-says-father

    By contrast, this is how Italian workers are treated.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnqNjf5UM6Y

    • vto 3.1

      Yep.
      In NZ it is still cheaper for employers to pay the minimum wage than to keep slaves…

      …. people should think on that

  4. Jenny 4

    A Mayor who has the guts to admit that climate change is real, is vilified by residents of South Dunedin, who refuse to accept that the flooding events they have experienced will be repeated and worsen no matter what the council does.

    Thinking that it will make a difference to their future, some of these residents have vowed to depose the Mayor because of his belief in climate change.

    http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/387568/anger-about-south-dunedins-future

    South Dunedinites might just be joining the list

    http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/bring-climate-change-back-from-the-future/

    But this sort of denial of reality is dwarfed by the New Zealand Green Party co-leaders, one who barely mentioned climate change in her Centrepiece Environmental Campaign Launch, and in fact has rarely ever spoken of it in her entire political career. And the other co-leader who in his speech imagined a future where New Zealanders holiday at beaches where the sea level remains unchanged. But doesn’t proposes one single concrete policy or program of how we get from the reality of sea level rise happening now, to his imagined world where it is, ‘not a problem’.

    And who seem determined to maintain their policy of keeping debate about climate change out of the election campaign for a third straight election.

    Despite this being the government’s worst performing portfolio* where the government could take some real hits.

    Why?

    I have been told by senior Green Party executive members that the reason is that the Green Party don’t want to raise contentious issues like climate change, is in case it imperils their newly signed MoU with the Labour Party.

    And as we should all know by now, the Labour Party’s policy on climate change to all intents and purposes is little different to the government’s.

    So what will be the result?

    Climate change will not be addressed, again. No incoming government will have a mandate to act on it. And the residents of South Dunedin will be left, until they are literally wading in it.

    But I suppose the good thing is that at least the issue of climate change may get a good thrashing in South Dunedin instead of being ignored everywhere else.

    *(with the possible exception of housing).

    • Paul 4.1

      Neoliberalism has destroyed democracy – by design.
      We just get to pick the least bad option.

    • ttd 4.2

      “I have been told by senior Green Party executive members that the reason is that the Green Party don’t want to raise contentious issues like climate change, is in case it imperils their newly signed MoU with the Labour Party.”

      I happen to know that the statement above is complete and utter bullshit.

      • Jenny 4.2.1

        Really?

        How so?

        And might I also ask how you account for the Green Party’s ignoring of climate change as their leading environmental campaign, in favour of “Swimmable Rivers”?

        Because believe me finding somewhere nice to have a swim will be the least of our problems.

        • Sacha 4.2.1.1

          Jenny, we had this same discussion with you day after day before the last election. If the Greens decide strategically that voters are more likely to engage with ‘swimmable rivers’ than something as huge (and still lied about) as ‘climate change’, then they are smart in their focus.

          If you are that keen on only the one topic, by all means start your own single-issue party and contest the election. But please don’t waste oxygen in places like this.

          • weka 4.2.1.1.1

            +1

            It’s also a lie that Jenny is telling that the GP are ignoring CC to focus instead on rivers (and as if those things are’t related anyway).

          • Jenny 4.2.1.1.2

            “If you are that keen on only the one topic, by all means start your own single-issue party and contest the election….”
            Sacha

            In fact I have done exactly this.

            http://www.climate.org.nz/our-vision/

            The Climate Party don’t want to win seats or get into parliament the purpose of the Climate Party is to raise the issue of climate change, when no one else will, to hold the other parties to account when they refuse to address the looming threat posed by climate change.

            Strangely, (or maybe not so strangely) the majority of the members of the Climate Party are also current Green Party members frustrated at their own party’s unwillingness to front up on climate change.

            For instance the Climate Party stood in the Northland by-election when the Greens refused to put up a candidate to challenge the Nats, Labour and NZ First over their support for climate destroying extreme fossil fuel technologies like deep sea oil drilling when the Green Party refused to.

            http://www.climate.org.nz/

            As well as standing in the upcoming local body elections, the Climate Party is also considering standing in any resulting Roskill by-election particularly if the Green Party again decide to go light on the contenders, all of whom support deep sea oil drilling BAU and all the rest of it.

            But this is only one of the levers I am jumping up and down on.

            To get them to move I am jumping up and down on all of them.

            Anyone who knows the true portent of climate change and who is appalled at the lack of political will from our leaders to face up to it, could do no less.

            “…..But please don’t waste oxygen in places like this.”
            Sacha

            Sascha I am sorry if you feel I am stealing your oxygen.

            That suffocating feeling you are experiencing, might be from having to face up to some harsh truths that you would rather not.

      • weka 4.2.2

        While I think it is possible that Jenny has spoken to more than one senior GP exec, I tend to agree that she is misrepresenting the GP in that statement, not least because she’s been doing that for some time now.

        Google tells me that in the past month alone the GP have said and done these things in relation to Climate Change,

        James Shaw’s budget speech has a whole section on CC,

        http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1605/S00555/green-party-co-leader-james-shaws-2016-budget-speech.htm

        A picture of Shaw and Little together at a Climate March in Auckland used in an article about the MoU,

        http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/305770/greens-and-labour-cement-plan-to-oust-national

        Julie-Anne Genter on National’s roading plan and Climate Change,

        http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/305849/no-thought-given-to-pollution-in-new-road-plans-greens

        Press Release on transport including climate,

        http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1606/S00142/national-spends-billions-driving-up-transport-pollution.htm

        Transport policy coverage (climate change!),

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/80317784/Green-Party-transport-policy-Get-rid-of-trucks-move-freight-to-rail-and-sea

        Greens on trade deals including climate,

        http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/5/254665

        Andrew Little at GP AGM saying that a govt he led would be “world-leading” on climate change,

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/80751030/labourgreens-say-theyll-take-on-nationals-formidable-political-machine-at-greens-conference

        Hague on CC and impacts on health,

        http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/blogs/2016/june-2016/01/minister-no-boy-scout-in-dealing-to-wide-ranging-health-effects-of-coming-climate-change.aspx

        Press Release on ETS,

        http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1605/S00387/scrapping-two-for-one-in-ets-not-enough-to-save-our-climate.htm

        Press Relsease on GHG inventory,

        http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1605/S00406/time-for-the-government-to-do-the-right-thing.htm

        And so on. It’s ridiculous to claim that the GP have put CC on the back burner. Here’s the google list just for the past month (news in NZ on Green Party +climate)

        https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=green+party+climate&num=100&cr=countryNZ&client=firefox-b&biw=1231&bih=695&tbs=ctr:countryNZ,qdr:m&tbm=nws&source=lnt&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjMwtKKg7rNAhUEFpQKHWoxDxoQpwUIEw&dpr=1.33

        Jenny like many of us you have a lot of passion about climate change, but you are basically telling lies about the GP. There are things they can be criticised for, but making out they are avoiding climate change is just plain wrong.

        • Colonial Viper 4.2.2.1

          Anything about a timeframe phasing out the imports of petrol, diesel or gas.

          • weka 4.2.2.1.1

            You’d have to do that research yourself CV.

            • Colonial Viper 4.2.2.1.1.1

              As far as I can tell we have ten or so years to avoid 3+ deg C global warming from becoming inevitable (2+ deg C being a done deal now), which at 430ppm can be considered a dead certainty a couple of decades down the track.

              This means in the next couple of years, slashing the numbers of commercial flights, slashing numbers of cars on the road, slashing back livestock herd numbers, slashing imports of energy, slashing the use of road freight.

              So I am looking for concrete steps, not just market mechanisms, or just measuring how deep in the hole we are.

              • weka

                I look forward to hearing your proposals and strategy CV.

                • Colonial Viper

                  There are a bunch of proposals right there in my comment.

                  • McFlock

                    That’s all they need to propose to get your vote, eh?

                    Good-oh.

                    Some days you want parties on the Left to try to get elected, other days you want them to promise bringing about a two-year energy, regional, and transport collapse.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Who said about getting any votes. I’m just talking about what steps are required to save the nation from sinking under multi metre sea level rise by the time today’s school kids retire.

                    • Peter Swift

                      With an eye to getting elected, are you suggesting political pragmatism by a vocal minority on the left is being substituted by throwaway, lack of substance, la la land, that’ll show the other 99% who means business, wishful thinking rhetoric? lol

                    • McFlock

                      Yes. that’s your topic for today.

                  • weka

                    I was meaning in terms of things getting done e.g. the concrete steps. They’re good ideas, and now we need to work on the how.

                    For instance, I think one good way to get dairying reigned in is to get the Greens with more MPs and in govt. It’s a reasonably high priority for them (reducing dairying), and it has a lot of support nationally. In addition to that, and more difficult, is getting good people standing for regional councils and then getting people to vote for them. Lots of other things that can be done too, and IMO need to be done alongside the general changing of the culture.

                    etc. We know what needs to be done. We’re not so clear on how to proceed.

                    • Lanthanide

                      To be fair, I don’t think “get the Greens elected” is really any more of a concrete step than what CV said to begin with.

                    • weka

                      But if asked I can say here are the things we can do, x, y, z that help the GP get more MPs in parliament.

                      I see a lot of people saying a, b, c is what should happen without thinking past that point. Which is fine, we need people who can recognise what should happen. But we also need people who can actually makes things happen and the GP happen to be some of them. Jenny telling lies about the GP, I just don’t see the use in that, or the strategy or what she hopes to achieve.

              • Richardrawshark

                Really think we can get the greater population to take any action on climate change CV, when they are all so wound up making a dollar ignoring it.

                I think it’s banging our head against a brick wall to get all those self absorbed people to take action themselves, there is probably an acronym for everyone expecting either the government to save their asses or the neighbour doing it for them.

                The land of Apathy.

                • Colonial Viper

                  I have a suspicion that 10% to 15% of the population is at least partly open to Major Change.

                • b waghorn

                  “The land of Apathy.”
                  It may of been different if we hadn’t had 7 years the of useless spinless kind of government we’ve had.
                  Keys greatest legacy is the fact he didn’t use his incredible popularity to lead this country down a sustainable path. Shame on him.

                  • Richardrawshark

                    Well the point I was making is it has been the worst time ever, with crap that wasn’t near tolerated before, and not a decent protest in sight.

                    To Me Minto was the activist side of politics, and a bloody good protest organizer.

                    Where is he now, oh Mana

        • Rosie 4.2.2.2

          Thanks for the comprehensive list weka.

          There are number of things I’ve heard lately that give me some new found confidence that Lab/Green together are serious about CC. Little’s speech at the Green Party conf for one – that was a no nonsense reference to CC action and the first time I’ve been reassured about the Labour view to CC.

          Then quite some time ago Julie Anne Genter and Grant Roberston were on the panel of Backbenchers. Can’t remember the National MP, it was a male. He was useless on all the CC questions, as you could expect but GR and JAG were on fire. It was some before the announcement of MoU but GR and JAG were clearly on the same page about working on CC action if they were in the next govt together.

          This is clearly something they have discussed and have agreed upon.

          We may not always get the messages that fit exactly with our unique views and may not always get the answers we want to satisfy our own particular questions, but looking at the bigger picture, it looks like we’re on the right track if we are to do anything about CC mitigation.

          All we need to do if change the government and not get hung up about the little things.

          • weka 4.2.2.2.1

            Good to hear about JAG and GR! I have the sense that good things are happening and that we need to allow them time to build this. I agree about not getting hung up on our individual views and what we think should happen, but to focus on supporting the stuff that is working in the right direction.

            I find it interesting that some people don’t see the advantage in having a L/G govt, as if the only good solution is the revolution. I’m not waiting for the revolution, I want us to do everything we can now.

            I’m expecting that people will be going through various levels of pretty uncomfortable emotions e.g. fear about climate change. That will make us at times act in ways that are contrary to our best interests.

            • Rosie 4.2.2.2.1.1

              I thought the revolution was going to arrive in 2011 on the back of the Occupy Movement. Ha ha! Hindsight and all that……………..

              Since then I see revolution in every day achievements, like encouraging your neighbour to see the environmental benefit and convenience on catching the bus to work and leaving their gas guzzler SUV at home in the garage.

              Sounds corny, be WE can be and are the revolution – don’t leave that to the Politicians, god knows where that would leave us.(Rogernomics was a revolution) Instead encourage and support our parties that have a vision and progressive ideas and help them get us all there.

              • weka

                I agree. And Occupy was revolutionary. Because now there is a whole new swathe of people in the US politicised around what’s really going on. That’s invaluable. We’re just looking at it in too short a time frame. If Rogernomics took a decade and they had all that power and resource available to them, I think we can allow that it might take grassroots longer.

              • Draco T Bastard

                Sounds corny, be WE can be and are the revolution – don’t leave that to the Politicians, god knows where that would leave us.

                QFT

          • Jenny 4.2.2.2.2

            “Then quite some time ago Julie Anne Genter and Grant Roberston were on the panel of Backbenchers. Can’t remember the National MP, it was a male. He was useless on all the CC questions, as you could expect but GR and JAG were on fire.”
            Rosie

            The thing is Rosie, that the political pressure not to raise climate change in the elections is starting to come on now, and will get even stronger as we get towards the electioneering period.

            Voices inside the Green Party very strong on climate change like Gareth Hughes for instance were sidelined and pretty much effectively silenced at the last elections.

            It will happen again with Julian Genter in the GP, and Grant Robertson in the LP.

            Will these two if they are “on fire” as you say, have the courage and determination push past this suffocating influence?

            I expect that to do so, they will both have to be more than outspoken, to be able to take on their party machines which are intent on playing down this issue.

            In fact they will have to do a Winston Churchill.

            Churchill was a backbench Independent MP ignored and villified for his constant harping on about the nazis threat, but who refused to shut up and sit down, and take his place and wait his turn.

            To get climate change a hearing in 2017 GR and Jag (as you call them) will need that same determined pugnacious bulldog spirit on climate change, that is if they want to achieve a breakthrough on climate change.

            They will need to defy the conservative voices in their own parties, terrified of offending the establishment and the keepers of “accepted political wisdom”.

            The first thing both need to do if they are serious, is to get climate change debated in the house. If they are really serious about climate change they need to putup some private members bills on climate change to go into the ballot. Though this is their legal right, they will need to oppose their party hierarchies to do so.

            For instance:

            The Green Party say, that they are opposed to the pollution trading scheme known as the ETS, and want it scrapped. A bill to repeal the ETS, if it was drawn from the ballot, would be a good start in getting the ball rolling in starting a national debate on climate change. And for the burning need to take proper serious action.

            Who knows? it may even pass. On the Right, both NZ First and the ACT Party say they want the ETS scrapped.
            The only defenders of pollution trading in parliament are the National and Labour Parties.
            If Grant Robertson is genuine in his concern about climate change, just like Churchill, he would be loudly demanding and lobbying inside the Labour for Labour to join the rest of the opposition to carry a members bill to repeal the ETS.

            Without the fig leaf of this provenly fraudulent pollution trading scheme, the National government would be left naked in front of the world community for not meeting their international obligations that they signed up to in Paris to do something about climate change. And might even be forced to take some proper more effective action.

            Would Genter and Robertson be prepared to rock the boat in such a manner?

            Time will tell.

            My guess is no, and that like many before them, they will buckle under the pressure and shut up. And sit down and do what they are told.

            The above strategy is only a suggestion, there are a number of other bills around the issue of climate change that could start the debate on climate change in the House and nationally.

            (To keep the political silence, I have been assured that no Private Members bills on climate change by MPs from either party will be allowed to be put in the ballot leading up to the election.)

        • Jenny 4.2.2.3

          @ weka 4.2.2

          My that is an impressive list of links. You almost had me convinced. Except for one thing. There is a big difference about talking about climate change and actually doing something about it.

          The most interesting link from your list, was from the Green Party AGM. And that link was to a speech given by…. wait for it…..

          Andrew Little the leader of the Labour Party.

          And it was indeed far and away the best speech of the Green Party AGM, and Little actually said that he was going to do something about climate change, make this country a world leader on climate change.

          This would have been the perfect opportunity for the Green Party to take Andrew Little at his word and put up some policy for addressing climate change.
          The Green Party instead announced that they will be campaigning about making our rivers swimmable again. And that this will be their “Centrepiece Environmental Campaign”. Overall Andrew LIttle mentioned climate change more times than both the Green Party co-leaders combined.

          ‘Swimmable Rivers’ is nice but not much use without a ‘Survivable Climate’

          Warm air holds more moisture, climate fuelled super storms and unprecedented rain events will turn any sizeable river into a deadly muddy torrents that will destroy any water treatment infrastructure on their banks.

          Andrew Little must be wondering whether he made the right decision to talk about climate change so much, when the Green Party seem determined not to campaign on it.

          • Jenny 4.2.2.3.1

            The intent and direction is clear.

            • Jenny 4.2.2.3.1.1

              At the last election the political parties had to be dragged kicking and screaming to discuss climate change.

              Greenpeace, (in a departure from their usual policy to not become involved in politics), had to run a “Climate Voter” petition to force the political parties to debate climate change.

              http://www.climatevoter.org.nz/

              The “Climate Voter” petition collected over 63 thousand names before the political parties agreed to discuss climate change.

              It will be interesting to see whether under the leadership of Russell Norman, Greenpeace will again run another “Climate Voter” petition.

              • Jenny

                Unfortunately despite their success in getting the political parties to debate climate change, the Greenpeace initiated debate was not carried on any MSM channel and could only be viewed on the internet. And only by those aware of it.

                Maybe this time climate change might be one of the topics of the MSM televised debates.

                But, I don’t think so.

                But, I could be wrong. The affects are becoming more apparent. And it is becoming harder to maintain the silence.

              • weka

                “Greenpeace, (in a departure from their usual policy to not become involved in politics), had to run a “Climate Voter” petition to force the political parties to debate climate change.”

                Citation needed for the claim that all parties were refusing to talk about climate change before the Greenpeace initiative and had to be forced to debate the topic. Better be good Jenny or I’ll be calling you a liar from now on.

                • Jenny

                  Is this a joke?

                  As well as insulting all those who fought to get climate change debated in the last election.

                  Weka asks me to provide a citation for something that didn’t happen, or he will call me a liar from now on.

                  How can I provide a citation for something that didn’t happen?

                  I may be good, but I am not that good.

                  Maybe Weka might like to explain how I could possibly do that.

                  Maybe his next challenge will be for me to find some unicorn horn, or rocking horse shit.

                  I’ll tell you what, instead of me trying to prove a nullity,

                  How about this. Weka, instead of me trying to find evidence of things that don’t exist, I challenge you to name something you claim does exist.

                  Can you name just one other debate on climate change, between the political parties at the last election?

                  I’ll make it easy for you, I won’t even demand that you provide a citation.

                  P.S.

                  Weka, for you to label me “a liar from now on”, for not being able to do the impossible, in my humble opinion, says more about you, than me.

                  If you try it, I will definitely be asking you for a citation with evidence to prove your accusation that I am a liar. Needless for me to say, what people will think of you if you can’t provide such proof.

                  • Jenny

                    Maybe I am being a bit harsh, and people really are starting to create citations for things that don’t happen.

                    Nothing happened today. Here is the citation. ( ……… )

                  • weka

                    “If you try it, I will definitely be asking you for a citation with evidence to prove your accusation that I am a liar. Needless for me to say, what people will think of you if you can’t provide such proof.”

                    You said,

                    At the last election the political parties had to be dragged kicking and screaming to discuss climate change.

                    Greenpeace, (in a departure from their usual policy to not become involved in politics), had to run a “Climate Voter” petition to force the political parties to debate climate change.

                    That in context above is a statement that political parties were not willing to debate climate change until Greenpeace forced them to. It’s a lie (I looked, the Greens announced their climate change policy before the Climate Voter thing), so yes I call you a liar.

                    I will do this each time you spam the site with misleading statements about the Greens (and probably Labour if I see those too) that you can’t back up with evidence. If you don’t want this to happen I suggest that you think about how you present your ideas and start expressing your opinions as opinions instead of statements of fact.

                    edit,

                    GP climate policy launch 1/6/14

                    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10108920/Greens-launch-climate-change-policy

                    Greenpeace Climate debate 3/9/14

                    http://www.climatevoter.org.nz/debate/

                    • Jenny

                      Weka asks me to prove something that didn’t happen, ie that the political parties didn’t have any other debates about climate change. This demand to provide evidence that these debates didn’t happen is accompanied with a threat to slander me if I can’t provide evidence of something that didn’t happen. I pondered this illogical demand, and asked instead that Weka give evidence of these other election debates on climate change.
                      Weka doesn’t do this, instead offers up something else entirely.

                      Jenny said: “Greenpeace, (in a departure from their usual policy to not become involved in politics), had to run a “Climate Voter” petition to force the political parties to debate climate change.”

                      And provided a link.

                      http://www.climatevoter.org.nz/

                      Weka said: “(I looked, the Greens announced their climate change policy before the Climate Voter thing), so yes I call you a liar.”

                      I am sure that all the political parties released their climate change policy, somewhere before, or during the election, in some form or other. This is not the same as being willing to debate the topic. Or be willing to make climate change an election issue.

                      And we are again seeing early signs of this, with the Greens announcing that their “Centrepiece Environmental Campaign”, Will be “Swimmable Rivers” and barely mentioned climate change.

                      The early signs are that 2017 will be a rerun of 2014 as far as the climate goes. And that the political parties will be just as reluctant to debate this issue, unless they are forced to.

                      And that climate change will again not be an election issue.

                      Despite it being one of the Government’s weakest performing portfolios, where they could take some real hits.

                      Despite climate change being one of the greatest catastrophes ever faced by humanity.

                      Instead for the second time, it again looks as if the government will be given a free pass on this issue by the opposition parties.

                      And Business As Usual will continue untroubled for another three years. Three years we haven’t got to waste.

                    • weka

                      “Weka asks me to prove something that didn’t happen, ie that the political parties didn’t have any other debates about climate change.”

                      You didn’t say that Jenny. You said,

                      At the last election the political parties had to be dragged kicking and screaming to discuss climate change.

                      Greenpeace, (in a departure from their usual policy to not become involved in politics), had to run a “Climate Voter” petition to force the political parties to debate climate change.

                      “Parties had to be dragged kicking and screaming to discuss CC”

                      “Parties didn’t have any other debates about CC”

                      They’re not the same thing. You lied before and now you are lying again about what you said.

                      I am sure that all the political parties released their climate change policy, somewhere before, or during the election, in some form or other. This is not the same as being willing to debate the topic. Or be willing to make climate change an election issue.

                      Actually it is. It’s what political parties do. On the other hand, if you have evidence that say the Greens deliberately avoided talking about CC and refused to debate either formally or generally, by all means post it. Otherwise I will call you a liar again.

                      July 28: The Politics of Climate Change. An Election Debate

                      Hon. Dr. David Clark (Labour Party) and Hon. Metiria Turei (Green Party) will be discussing their parties’ stance on climate change, and their strategies and policies to mitigate and adapt to climate change in New Zealand.

                      http://www.otago.ac.nz/occnet/news/seminars/

                      Stop telling lies Jenny. Tell the GP and everyone here that you want them to speak louder and stronger and take more action on CC, but stop telling lies about them, it’s not necessary.

                    • Jenny

                      Hi Weka from the link you gave; The climate policy launch was on the 1st of July, and not during the election campaign.

                      20 August 2014 (Wednesday)
                      Writ Day – Governor General issues formal direction to the Electoral Commission to hold the election.[24]

                      Electoral roll closes for printing (all people enrolling after this date must cast special declaration votes)

                      Official campaigning begins; radio and television advertising begins

                      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_general_election,_2014#Dates

                      Weka can you provide anything, about climate change (outside of the “Climate Voter” debate) from any of the parties during the election period itself?

                      Weka you may argue that I am being pedantic about the dates; But there was a reason that the “Climate Voter Campaign” became necessary during the election itself.

                      Of particular note from the article you linked to, was the attached poll on whether people supported the Green Party idea of a carbon tax, or not.

                      Interestingly, if the people who supported the carbon tax, were added to the people who wanted more information, in effect if the Green Party had given a further lead, they could have won this debate.

                      But this was never followed up during the election campaign proper. Why not?


                      What do you think of the Greens carbon tax proposal?

                      Fully support it
                      496 votes, 40.9%

                      Sounds interesting, need to know more about it
                      153 votes, 12.6%

                      Not a fan at all
                      563 votes, 46.5%

                      Total 1212 votes

                      But they never heard about it again.

                      It is my contention that it is leadership on climate change that was missing during the election campaign itself.

                      Weka do you still deny this?

                      Will there be another climate policy launch by the Green Party before the 2017 election?

                      Will it be followed up during the election?

                      Weka will the “Swimmable Rivers” Centrepiece Campaign launch be followed by a Climate Policy Campaign Launch?

                      By the tone and language of your attacks, I am guessing not.

                      But it is still early days, and a lot of water has to go under the bridge yet.

                      And hopefully I will be proved wrong. Time, as they say, will tell.

                    • Jenny

                      Jenny is a lying liar who lies. Don’t let up now Weka your hysteria is starting to show.

                      Instead of digging a deeper hole for yourself, how about answering the question.

                      “Can you name just one other debate on climate change, between the political parties at the last election?”

                    • weka

                      Jenny you claimed that all the political parties had to be dragged kicking and screaming to a debate about climate change. It was a lie.

                      I can keep putting up links that demonstrate that the GP was working on CC issues during the campaign, even though they weren’t working on that in the way you thought was necessary. But it won’t change the basic facts that you actively tell lies about the GP (and others) in your attempt to make CC more visible and to get more people to act. I think your strategy is counter-productive, so I will just keep naming the lies as I see them. I’m more than happy for people to look at our respective arguments and reach their own conclusions accordingly.

                    • Jenny

                      I look forward to seeing these links.

                    • weka

                      You can deflect and avoid all you like Jenny, but I’ve called you out as a liar and provided evidence.

            • Jenny 4.2.2.3.1.2

              The intent and direction is clear.

              And is part of a repeated pattern.

              • Jenny

                Rather than debate the reasons why “Swimmable Rivers” has been made a “Centrepiece Campaign” and climate change has not.

                weka deliberately chooses to deny the reality, that “Swimmable Rivers” has been favoured over climate change as the Green Party “Centrepiece Campaign”.

                Instead of trying to explain the reasons behind this decision

                Hysterical abuse and slander by weka, on no evidence, only highlights weka’s inability to defend the Green Party’s decision.

                • Jenny

                  “I can keep putting up links that demonstrate that the GP was working on CC issues during the campaign,…”
                  weka

                  Still waiting…..

                  • Jenny

                    My fear weka is that the perverse climate change ignoring that I noted by the Green Party at the last election, in light of the obvious worsening of the problem, will be even more grotesque than last time.

  5. Greg 7

    A Key inspired Toll on Auckland highways is a fantastic idea, and will remind Auckland drivers every day to vote Key out ext year.
    It will save Labour a fortune in election advertising.

    • Paul 7.1

      The wealthy live in the inner city suburbs and will pay less.
      The middle and working class, commuting from west and South Auckland, will pay most of this tax.

      Simpler and fairer:
      Make public transport free.
      Build more buses and trains and railtracks.
      Build more quality high density housing on onner city suburbs.
      Build them in New Zealand.
      Start apprenticeships in the relevant industries.

  6. M. Gray 8

    Tolled roads In Auckland will add more inequalities to our already inequitable country. Tolls are not fair to the poor especially the working poor. If they do toll the roads there needs to be alternative options other wise we will see more NZ families/people living in cars.

  7. Jenny Kirk 9

    “And as we should all know by now, the Labour Party’s policy on climate change to all intents and purposes is little different to the government’s.”

    This comment by Jenny @ 4 above is also utter bullshit.

    In fact, Jenny (whoever you are), you are constantly misquoting Labour, and its about time you had a good look through Labour’s policies that have been announced, the Future of Work commission, and the Policy Platform before you start mouthing off about Labour’s inadequacies.

    For the record :
    1. The Government must act urgently on climate change in the wake of the Royal Society’s report released today, says Labour’s Climate Change Spokesperson Megan Woods. Media Release 19 April 2016
    “Amongst other climate related threats, New Zealand is facing a rise in sea levels of between 30 centimetres and 1.1 metres in the next 100 years while the Government continues to sit on its hands….”
    2.Labour’s ‘Future of Work’ programme is part of the answer to a transition into such an economy.
    ☐ Supporting the creation of cooperatives that would help build a more sustainable economy
    ☐ Investing in low carbon and environmentally sustaining projects

    • Colonial Viper 9.1

      We have ten to fifteen years to cut our GHG emissions to near zero Jenny. We have already guaranteed ourselves a 2 deg C to 3 deg C global temp rise in the next 20 years, and we are on track for a 5+ deg C rise this century.

      Which means sea level rise could be 6m this century (half from the West Antarctic and half from Greenland).

    • Colonial Viper 9.2

      I should say that Labour’s future of work programme is looking like nothing more than another effort at pretend and extend. It will pretend that economic growth is just around the corner, and it will extend the economic status quo wherever possible.

    • weka 9.3

      “This comment by Jenny @ 4 above is also utter bullshit.”

      She’s been telling lies about the GP as well. I guess she is expressing her opinion (that there is not enough difference between L and N on CC), but she does then tend to use some pretty long winded ways to express that that too often are misleading. I have no idea what her strategy is given that Labour are moving slowly in the right direction and are more likely to move faster if encouraged. As is often the case, people who want to knock allies down don’t usually have anything better to put in place.

      • Ad 9.3.1

        I can think of about ten regular commenters here who are so extreme they don’t fit into any political party in Parliament now or last time.

        They are entitled to speak, and entitled to be schooled.

        • weka 9.3.1.1

          I’d have less of a problem with Jenny’s comments if they were expressed as opinion. The deceitful stuff takes time to address, time I’d rather spend on other things.

  8. Bearded Git 10

    This really is a u-turn government:

    Mining in the National Parks
    Raising GST
    Tolls on Auckland roads

    I know there are many more that don’t come to mind-anyone like to add to the list?

  9. Jack Ramaka 11

    Still the most popular PM in NZ History, either the polls are rigged or we really are not thinking straight, his forex trading and profit making ability in the merchant banking industry haven’t been transferred over into the performance of the NZ Economy which most voters thought would be the case.

  10. Chooky 12

    Now about Hillary…Hillary Clinton exposed…and Hillary in foreign affairs aint pretty ( in fact it is pretty awful!)

    ‘Hacker ‘Guccifer 2.0′ publishes DNC campaign docs with strategies for defending Clinton’

    https://www.rt.com/usa/347681-guccifer-clinton-dnc-defense/

    • joe90 12.1

      Would you be so positively gleeful had the NSA led an assault on the Green party?.
      /

      http://www.neowin.net/news/the-russian-government-hacked-the-dnc-after-all

      • Chooky 12.1.1

        ?

        • Colonial Viper 12.1.1.1

          Joe90 is losing the plot. He thinks the powerful elite deserve to be able to hide the truth from us.

          • Chooky 12.1.1.1.1

            +100…have to agree…yup and it is more about what Hillary’s emails reveal about her and her friends war crimes foreign affairs …than about the actual hacking itself…

            …and absolutely no one can even remotely accuse the Greens of indulging in this sort of disgraceful invasion and destruction of sovereign nations in the Middle East…so the analogy is totally misleading

            btw doesnt NSA spy/hack everything anyway with this jonkey nacts government’s conivance and the Labour Party’s agreement….Foreign Spy Bill and all that …so NSA is probably spying on the Greens anyway!

  11. katipo 13

    I note the ‘Get Rid of Hosking’ petition now has 15,500 signatures
    https://www.change.org/p/tvnz-get-rid-of-hosking-1347aa6d-8044-4a33-ba59-7fe0a5dba42b

    To paraphrase Nick Smith’s rational for sacking the elected ECAN board….
    the State funded Hosking has now become a “dysfunctional mess”.
    Perhaps he could be replaced by a commissioner.

  12. Draco T Bastard 14

    Stop showering so damn much

    In his latest episode, Hamblin takes on showers. The question is, do we really need them? Or do they do more harm than good? As Hamblin points out, some scientists theorize that washing off the helpful bacteria on our bodies actually makes us less clean by disturbing our own delicate ecosystem.

    It appears washing and using soap extensively may actually be the cause of bad BO.

    • Andre 14.1

      The complete rebuttal in two words: teenage boys.

    • ianmac 14.2

      Read somewhere that ocean sailors limited in fresh water, seldom washed and after a while the bacteria settled down and the sailors became odorless.
      In swimming pools the smell of chlorine is because there is too little and the bacteria are only partly broken down. Therefore extra chlorine is needed to break through.
      Not the same thing but misunderstanding occurs with both scenarios.

      • McFlock 14.2.1

        Sailors can wash with salt water.

        And apparently submarines got pretty stinky in the old days…

  13. AsleepWhileWalking 15

    This is pretty annoying. If you want donations then at least put up a givealittle page and ask the reporter to link to it.

    Article is from a month back (so a month has been wasted). New article in stuff today. They only need $14K.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/79817574/medical-equipment-donated-from-nelson-to-help-diabe

  14. mac1 16

    New immigrants. I hope that they do the job without unforeseen consequences. WASPs I might tolerate- a not psyllid idea.

    https://nz.news.yahoo.com/top-stories/a/31889069/wasp-brought-in-to-curb-plant-pests/#page1

  15. Chooky 17

    ‘Trump backs Brexit, urges Europeans to ‘reconsider’ EU membership’

    https://www.rt.com/uk/347726-trump-brexit-referendum-eu/

    “A Trump spokesperson has reaffirmed the presumptive Republican nominee’s support for a Brexit, claiming he is “very much in favor of countries doing what is best for them and their people…

    …”Trump is one of the few voices in US politics on either side of the aisle who has spoken out in favor of a Brexit. His Democratic rival Hillary Clinton has voiced support for the Remain campaign. Clinton’s top policy adviser told the Observer in April: “She has always valued a strong United Kingdom in a strong EU. And she values a strong British voice in the EU.”

    READ MORE: Obama’s ‘misguided’ EU referendum intervention threatens UK sovereignty, say US lawmakers

    https://www.rt.com/uk/347463-republican-congressmen-brexit-obama/

    Three republican senators have condemned President Barack Obama’s intervention in the Brexit debate.

    During a visit timed to coincide with Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday earlier this year, Obama warned the United States would be in no hurry to agree a bilateral trade deal if Britain was no longer in the EU…

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  • 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
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    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 ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    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
    4 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
    9 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
    11 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
    12 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
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    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
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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
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  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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