Open mike 23/10/2013

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:00 am, October 23rd, 2013 - 114 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step right up to the mike…

114 comments on “Open mike 23/10/2013 ”

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Paul 1

23 October 2013 at 6:27 am

John Key’s New Zealand…
“Benefits cut for 13,000 parents in new regime”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11144397

“Mother with newborn told to get a full-time job”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11144400
- miravox 1.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 7:13 am
  
  More John Key’s New Zealand
  Child abuse rising…
  
  http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9314332/Child-abuse-is-rising-in-NZ
  
  National Party – “Building a stronger NZ for families”
- millsy 1.2
  
  23 October 2013 at 7:25 am
  
  13,000 parents. And as usual, the figures only tell half a story. Put it this way, you have to be pulling a long bow if you think that there are 13,000 decent landlords out there who are going to be understanding as to why their tenants are going to fall behind on rents…
amirite 2

23 October 2013 at 7:17 am

Most benefits cut in the Northland and Waikato region. Unemployed expected to concoct jobs out of thin air.
I hope 2014 will be the death of you, National.
- Tiger Mountain 2.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 7:36 am
  
  Dirty filthy Paula Bennett’s demise will certainly be ‘nice to have’ but it is going to be a long wait for the children being tortured week in week out by this ‘starve ’em out’ tory government.
chris73 3

23 October 2013 at 7:18 am

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9315726/Brown-campaign-tipped-off-by-National-MP

– This is getting even better! More revelations the more interesting it becomes
- millsy 3.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 7:29 am
  
  Im over hearing about this now. Whether Brown can keep it in his pants (A friend told me that all she was thinking is that why would any woman want to sleep with him — a reference to his looks), is not really any of our business.
  - amirite 3.1.1
    
    23 October 2013 at 11:34 am
    
    I agree, it’s not. However, he should just shut the fuck up but he keeps whingeing in the media how his privacy has been invaded and seeking some sort of protection from prying eyes but guess what Len, that’s what comes with having a public job. Ultimately, it’s his own fault although no one should lose their job just for cheating on their partner.
- miravox 3.2
  
  23 October 2013 at 7:38 am
  
  That’s looking bad for National – they’ve said they knew nothing about the affair.
- Te Reo Putake 3.3
  
  23 October 2013 at 7:48 am
  
  Have to agree with you, Chris. The more that comes out, the worse it looks for National. From your link, it appears even more likely that the threatening texts came from the Palino/Slater camp. And, if its true that Brown was tipped off by a Nat MP (there are some decent ones, I suppose), then that confirms the philosophical split in Tory ranks.
  
  I hope this one runs and runs!
  - miravox 3.3.1
    
    23 October 2013 at 8:16 am
    
    Dunnokeyo, true to form, is not asking MPs (including himself, I guess) who knew about it.
    
    Some of interestingly phrased sentences in the Tracy Watkins piece
    
    Strange how Key knows whats going on around the traps with Labour and SkyCity, but not with National and dirty politics.
    - karol 3.3.1.1
      
      23 October 2013 at 8:49 am
      
      NZ Herald, Bernard Orsman says Penny Webster (former ACT MP and Brown supporting councillor for Rodney) will neither confirm nor deny she is the Nat MP that tipped off Brown.
      - ScottGN 3.3.1.1.1
        
        23 October 2013 at 10:23 am
        
        I think the article says that Penny Webster was the Councillor whom the Nat MP passed the tip to and she then may or may not have passed the info on to Brown’s team. She’s not a National Party MP.
        
        Morrissey 3.3.1.1.1.1
        
        23 October 2013 at 10:28 am
        
        There are people with a conscience in every organization—including the National Party. Someone will eventually blow the whistle on the wrong-doers, often at great personal cost when their identity is disclosed.
        
        Tim …
        
        23 October 2013 at 4:22 pm
        
        Exactery. Often takes a while for certain ‘masters of the Universe’ to get used to the phenomenon though (aye?) !
        I reckon those in the Neshnool Party you’re thinking of are on the turn about now. I can think of one in particular
risildowgtn 4

23 October 2013 at 7:18 am

Hah

Wonder who it was???……

None of them have any scruples…….

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9315726/Brown-campaign-tipped-off-by-National-MP
- JK 4.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 8:36 am
  
  And here’s a bit more – useful background info from way back
  
  http://www.frontpage.co.nz/news/muldoons-ghost-haunts-whaleoil/
phillip ure 5

23 October 2013 at 7:22 am

funny tv alert..!

http://whoar.co.nz/2013/ed-media-heads-upalert/

“..ed:..need a laff..?

..peter wiliams is co-hosting the tvone breakfast show..

..and williams is the benchmark for awkward/clumsy host-smalltalk/links..

..watchers get to excruciate along with him..

..and his old-man-raving-on-talkback opinions – are also a bit of a hoot..(all punctuated by his rictus-grin..)..”

(williams is on fire today..i am doing regular updates..)

phillip ure..
marty mars 6

23 October 2013 at 8:12 am

Good article and the Oil Spill Map modelling is excellent.

A deep-sea oil spill could devastate some of New Zealand’s favourite beaches, with the effects stretching as far as the international dateline, new modelling from Greenpeace suggests.

Texan oil giant Anadarko begins exploratory drilling in the Taranaki and Canterbury Basins this summer.

Greenpeace New Zealand asked scientists to make detailed estimates of how far an oil slick could stretch, based on wind, tide and sea currents.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/9314285/Oil-spill-projections-paint-big-black-stain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLiwk9rK-3E

This is a good way to get the information out there – short, sharp messages that tell the story and that can be easily shared via social media.
- marty mars 6.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 8:26 am
  
  Labour’s environment spokesman, David Shearer, said his party did not rule out deep-sea drilling but expected that any companies making applications would have to be “world class” and demonstrate they had robust safeguards in place.
  
  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11144470
  
  right thanks for that – at least (sarcasm) we know where labour stands on this.
Kevin Welsh 7

23 October 2013 at 8:46 am

Whats up with the masthead? Only just noticed…
- Tat Loo 7.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 8:50 am
  
  thestandard.org.nz/cam-slater-politely-being-called-a-lying-arsehole/
  
  That’s lprent for ya!
  
  But have fun reading this…. I know I did. I even altered the banner to paraphrase a Pratchett joke while I was waiting for a server upgrade.
Morrissey 8

23 October 2013 at 10:00 am

LIARS OF OUR TIME 
No. 31: John Palino

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Suggestions now that I, an entrepreneur, TV personality and political novice, am somehow orchestrating some grand right-wing conspiracy to unseat Len after the election are so wrong and so absurd they do not stand up to even the remotest test of common sense.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

—-Failed Auckland mayoral candidate JOHN PALINO, 20 October 2013
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9304635/John-Palino-I-was-never-part-of-any-plot

More liars of our time….
No. 30 Alan Dershowitz: “I will give $10,000 to the PLO if you can find a historical fact in my book that you can prove to be false.”
No. 29 John Banks: “I have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. And never, ever would I ever knowingly sign a false electoral return. Never ever would I ever.” 
No. 28 John Kerry: “…we are especially sensitive, Chuck and I, to never again asking any member of Congress to take a vote on faulty intelligence.”
 No. 27 Lyse Doucet: “I am there for those without a voice.”
 No. 26 Sam Wallace: “So here we are—Otahuhu. It’s just a great place to be, really.”  
No. 25 Margaret Thatcher: “…no British government involvement of any kind…with Khmer Rouge…”  
No. 24 John Key: “…at the end of the day I, like most New Zealanders, value the role of the fourth estate…”
   No. 23 Jay Carney: “…expel Mr Snowden back to the U.S. to face justice…”
   No. 22 Mike Bush: “Bruce Hutton had integrity beyond reproach.”
   No. 21 Tim Groser: “I think the relationship is genuinely in outstanding form.”
   No. 20 John Key: “But if the question is do we use the United States or one of our other partners to circumvent New Zealand law then the answer is categorically no.”
   No. 19 Matthew Hooton: “It is ridiculous to say that unions deliver higher wages! They DON’T!”  
No. 18 Ant Strachan: “The All Blacks won the RWC 2011 because of outstanding defence!”   
No. 17 Stephen Franks: “Peter has been such a level-headed, safe pair of hands.”   
No. 16 Phil Kafcaloudes: “Tony Abbott…hasn’t made any mistakes over the past eighteen months.”   
No. 15 Donald Rumsfeld: “I did not lie… Colin Powell did not lie.”
   No. 14 Colin Powell: “a post-9/11 nexus between Iraq and terrorist organizations…connections are now emerging…”
 No. 13 Barack Obama: “Simply put, these strikes have saved lives.”
     No. 12 U.K. Ministry of Defence: “Protecting the Afghan civilian population is one of ISAF and the UK’s top priorities.”
   No. 11 Brendan O’Connor: “Australia’s approach to refugees is compassionate and generous.”   
No. 10 Boris Johnson: “Londoners have… the best police in the world to look after us and keep us safe.”
   No. 9 NewstalkZB PR dept: “News you NEED! Fast, fair, accurate!”
   No. 8 Simon Bridges: “I don’t mean to duck the question….”   
No. 7 Nigel Morrison: “Quite frankly, they’ve been VERY tough.”    
No. 6 Herald PR dept: “Congratulations—you’re reading New Zealand’s best newspaper.”    
No. 5 Rawdon Christie: “…a FORMIDABLE replacement, it seems, is Claudette Hauiti.”
     No. 4 Willie and J.T.: “The X-Factor. Nah, nah, there’s some GREAT talent there!”
    No. 3 John Key: “Yeah we hold MPs to a higher standard.”
    No. 2 Colin Craig: “Oh, I have a GREAT sense of humour.”    
No. 1 Barack Obama: “Margaret Thatcher was one of the great champions of freedom and liberty.”
Morrissey 9

23 October 2013 at 10:20 am

Forget the drone strikes: here’s something positive
All hail the gallant U.S. president

To quote Charlie Brooker, Barack Obama often makes women melt—usually after he’s dropped a bomb on them.

Here, for a change, he’s actually doing something useful….

http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2013/oct/22/barack-obama-speech-catch-fainting-pregnant-woman-video
- Draco T Bastard 9.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 11:13 am
  
  That’s actually horrifying. WTF didn’t everyone behind him get her help before he did. They could see that she was in trouble.
  - Tat Loo 9.1.1
    
    23 October 2013 at 11:25 am
    
    This is a country where a 12 year old boy just shot his maths teacher, shot and seriously wounded at least two young class mates, then killed himself with the gun.
    
    From the outside, it’s not looking like it’s going well.
    
    BTW one of the USA’s largest hedge funds has just stopped investing in rental houses, and started investing in trailer parks for the poor. The reason: at that level of poverty people don’t go anywhere, property maintenance costs are next to zero and the income streams are extremely steady and predictable.
    - Rogue Trooper 9.1.1.1
      
      23 October 2013 at 12:04 pm
      
      that Hollywood trailer is trash.
ScottGN 10

23 October 2013 at 10:31 am

Just watched question 3 from yesterday’s QT. Good work from Cunliffe to the PM. You are starting to get the sense that there is a noticeable shift in tone in the House these days. More and more I love seeing the worried, slightly bewildered look on Louise Upston’s (she’s the Nat’s Senior Whip) face as she sits behind the PM.
- bad12 10.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 1:13 pm
  
  You are on to it ScottGN, there’s a lot to be ‘read’ from those who sit in the rows behind the front Benches in the Parliament,
  
  Interesting also from yesterdays sitting in the House, was that Mana’s Hone Harawira seen sitting in the front row of Labour’s Bench’s,
  
  An interesting message could be inferred from that…
- felix 10.2
  
  23 October 2013 at 7:12 pm
  
  Upston always does that “look”. I think she imagines that it makes her look like she’s following what’s said, but I’m not fooled.
  
  bad12, that’s Hone’s allocated seat. It’s at the end of the Labour seats. http://www.parliament.nz/resource/0001905349
  - Morrissey 10.2.1
    
    23 October 2013 at 9:29 pm
    
    Diligent head-nodders like Louise Upston and her bench companion Tim McIndoe are an essential part of National Party strategy. Don’t knock those who only sit and nod. At least when they’re sitting and nodding they are not speaking…..
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ELpSI6Gido
    - felix 10.2.1.1
      
      24 October 2013 at 7:29 am
      
      The pair of them remind me of those nodding dogs you used to see on the parcel shelf.
- Murray Olsen 10.3
  
  23 October 2013 at 9:22 pm
  
  Upston always looks as if she’s worried that something might be going on that is too sophisticated for her intellectual equipment to understand. I suspect she’s right.
  - felix 10.3.1
    
    24 October 2013 at 7:30 am
    
    Ha! That’s it exactly.
Chris 11

23 October 2013 at 11:46 am

Help required… I cannot open QoT’s Fuck off Jones post.

When I open it the page is blank, I’ve tried opening the article in the Feeds menu the same thing happens.
greywarbler 12

23 October 2013 at 11:47 am

There is much discovery about brain functioning. Scans show parts of the brain will light up when one is thinking of a particular thing in a particular way. I think they can show whether someone can think around a problem, assess pros and cons and possible outcomes.

If so perhaps citizens could demand a brain scan profile on politicians for certain areas that would show development in problem solving and judgment. We can then ensure that those we get into the House are capable of rational thinking and decision making and we are getting what we pay for.

There is much mendacious talk from pollies about being good servants of the taxpayers’ money. Taxpayers should start throwing their weight around to ensure their servants are doing a good job for good value. At present when taxpayers’ money is mentioned, there’s a feeling of a naughty schoolboy creating a feel-good alibi at school before commiting some foul play.

That’s playing the teacher for a fool. Our politicians do the same with taxpayers.
captain hook 13

23 October 2013 at 12:08 pm

who heard john banks whining on telly last night that the people of NZ dont like him anymore.
I wonder why they dont like him?
- veutoviper 13.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 12:51 pm
  
  Who would know, captain hook? Perhaps we all have selective memories like Banks.
  
  But good news(hopefully) for Graham McCready on RNZ National Midday report.
  
  An Auckland barrister and former Crown Prosecutor, Michael Lloyd, has offered to provide his services for free to McCready if the Solicitor-General decides not to take over the prosecution.
  
  At about 12min30secs in this link to Midday Report
  
  http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/middayreport/audio/2573797/midday-news-for-23-october-2013
  
  I don’t know anything about Michael Lloyd, but in many ways I would prefer to see a private barrister involved rather than the S-G to avoid any whitewashes (real or perceived).
  
  This of course presupposes that Banks’ latest attempt to get the case dropped does not succeed – ie his seeking a High Court judicial review of the District Court judge’s decision.
  
  Morning Report also had a short discussion on this with Graeme Edgeler suggesting that the High Court review* was unlikely to affect the DC committal for trial or the timescale of the DC trial. He considered the two processes would run in parallel.
  
  http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2573770/banks-says-he's-filing-for-judicial-review-to-speed-up-process
  
  * This presupposes that the High Court does in fact agree to a judicial review.
  - bad12 13.1.1
    
    23 October 2013 at 1:19 pm
    
    Yes Banks might think money can buy Him a Legal Eagle with which to stymie Graham McCready’s prosecution, He has a problem tho when the professionals become involved…
  - Graeme Edgeler 13.1.2
    
    25 October 2013 at 3:41 pm
    
    * This presupposes that the High Court does in fact agree to a judicial review.
    
    The High Court doesn’t have to agree. If Banks files an application for judicial review there will be a judicial review.
fambo 14

23 October 2013 at 12:42 pm

One of the top guys at Treasury (not sure which one) is going to be interviewed by Brian Crump on Nights at National Radio tonight (Wed) re criticism from a Sydney professor and Brian Roper of Dunedin University -it should be very interesting, especially (as Roper pointed out on Monday) Treasury has a huge amount of political power.
- Tiger Mountain 14.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 12:53 pm
  
  Treasury has requested this right of reply according to Crump last night. Am expecting the usual crappola to go largely unchallenged as Crump is not usually a combative or particularly knowledgeable presenter on political matters as he has shown when up against Israeli spin doctors for example.
  - MrSmith 14.1.1
    
    23 October 2013 at 7:08 pm
    
    I suspect Crump is a God botherer after a recent comment he made, someone correct me please.
    - Rogue Trooper 14.1.1.1
      
      23 October 2013 at 8:31 pm
      
      and?
- millsy 14.2
  
  23 October 2013 at 8:57 pm
  
  It sure does. It managed to push out engineering, technical and scientific expertise from the public service in only a few short years.
  
  Expertise we should be thanking in the light of a report last week that found that old school timber framed school buildings (the ones that the education boards and the old Education Department designed) didnt need much earthquake strengthening because they were rather resilient.
idlegus 15

23 October 2013 at 1:02 pm

govt changed the deed of understanding regarding nz post, 3 day delivery & which will mean the loss of half the posties, 5000 plus? in 2015, but there’s talk it could be moved forward, so if you thought mail was slow now wait til 3 day delivery (3 day delivery is where a street will be delivered to every 2 days, so posties will still be working 6 days, it just means they only need half the workforce).
- Te Reo Putake 15.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 1:51 pm
  
  Are you sure it’s been agreed? I thought it was a proposal yet to be signed off (and that Post are actually happy to settle on 4 day delivery, incl Thurs and Fri when the advertising materials for weekend sales are usually delivered).
  - idlegus 15.1.1
    
    23 October 2013 at 2:24 pm
    
    sorry, should have put a link. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/9317284/NZ-Post-may-reduce-delivery-in-2015 big meeting tomorrow for us posties.
    
    & of course it hasnt been decided yet, but the deed has been changed, so there will be changes.
    - Te Reo Putake 15.1.1.1
      
      23 October 2013 at 5:32 pm
      
      Cheers, Idlegus. Good luck tomorrow!
    - Rogue Trooper 15.1.1.2
      
      23 October 2013 at 8:32 pm
      
      Big Love to Posties.
idlegus 16

23 October 2013 at 1:37 pm

3 days a week for urban, but the farmers/rural get to keep 6 day delivery…
- millsy 16.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 8:43 pm
  
  Post might not be sexy, but you cannot beat it for reliability, and its the best way for official correspondence.
  
  I hate to think how many people will miss important deadlines because NZ Post didnt deliver their bills /important documents in a timely manner.
Penny Bright 17

23 October 2013 at 1:40 pm

In my considered opinion, both Mayor Len Brown and Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, have done a great job for those who REALLY run the Auckland region – the unelected Committee for Auckland and the NZ Property Council.

So – why would the Committee for Auckland and the NZ Property Council want Len Brown replaced as Mayor?

That’s why, in my considered opinion, any ‘inquiry’ organised by Auckland Council CEO Doug McKay, (a member of the Committee for Auckland) which he has delegated to Ernst and Young (a member company of the Committee for Auckland), which potentially involves Sky City (whose CEO, Nigel Morrison, is a member of the Committee for Auckland), has significant ‘conflicts of interest’.

(Don’t take my word for it – check for yourselves ….. )

http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz/membership/member-organisations

In my considered opinion, ANY inquiry into Mayor Len Brown, should arguably be conducted by the ‘lead’ agency in NZ, supposedly fighting corruption – the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

Whether Len Brown paid for his alleged use of a Sky City hotel room for his illicit sexual relationship is, in my opinion, not the point.

What concerns me is Len Brown’s support at Auckland Council Governing Body level for Sky City on 27 June 2013:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10893526

The minutes:

SkyCity.http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/SiteCollectionDocuments/aboutcouncil/governingbody/governingbodymin20130627.pdf

Was Len Brown effectively ‘beholden’ to Sky City, some of whom must have known about his use of their premises for his illicit sexual affair?

‘Perceives’ to be so to me.

NZ needs an Independent Commission Against Corruption, and enforceable ‘Codes of Conduct’ for both local and central government elected representatives.

Penny Bright
2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate

http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz (ACTION PLAN)
Bill 18

23 October 2013 at 1:59 pm

No idea about the in’s and out’ of this call for Clare Curran to be stood down (ie, are the motivations genuine or just political). But having come across it, thought it might be of interest to one or two people hereabouts. And maybe somebody more up to speed on such machinations could offer some informed context?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503438&objectid=11144140
risildowgtn 19

23 October 2013 at 2:20 pm

Seems MP Mark Mitchell was the one who tipped off Brown re his affair was gonna be exposed

Never heard of this MP before…

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9315726/Brown-rumours-rife-within-National-camp
NickS 20

23 October 2013 at 2:54 pm

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/canterbury/9315917/Nitrate-warning-freaking-out-Cantabrians

Typical Federated Farmers leadership…
- millsy 20.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 8:44 pm
  
  You want your water storage schemes, cockies?
  
  Well guess what, you will have them, but they will be owned the NZ Goverment. And they will have strict rules on when and how they can be used.
Tim 21

23 October 2013 at 4:36 pm

Exactery. Often takes a while for certain ‘masters of the Universe’ to get used to the phenomenon though (aye?) !
I reckon those in the Neshnool Party you’re thinking of are on the turn about now. I can think of one in particular
Tim 22

23 October 2013 at 4:45 pm

Oh, by the way Morrisyey (btw) …. I Hope like hell you’re not listening to the Panel atm (at the mo’) – ‘cos that regular guy JUM just wants to cover you with ‘wrap-around’ services and National Party-type leeeeerve..
It’s just SOOOO much goodness I can hardly cope. I need another lay down!

Btw (By the way) … is that deep-voiced authorative sounding femme shoving her thrupence worth against-or alongside Le Bernard – well who da fuck is she basically? A Cormandel MuthaEarth maybe?
I guess they’ve got mortgahes to pay
- Tim 22.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 5:04 pm
  
  Buggeration – stitch one Perl one C++ one ASM one, bug fix to the left, another to the right.
  My submissions don’t seem to fit with what was intended.
  Better that though than a ‘risk manager’ providing advice on how such submissions might meet up with the comments for which the reply was intended. (A cast of thousands has already attempted to reinvent the wheel, and they’re still fuckin at it – while Rome burns)
- Morrissey 22.2
  
  23 October 2013 at 9:02 pm
  
  Oh, by the way Morrisyey (btw) …. I Hope like hell you’re not listening to the Panel atm (at the mo’) –
  
  Yes, Tim, I was listening. I did not think much of it. I’ll put up my impressions—-or is it a transcript?—some time tomorrow.
ScottGN 23

23 October 2013 at 5:19 pm

Been watching a bit of CBC’s Power and Politics (I know, I should get out more). It looks like the shit has really hit the fan for Stephen Harper (Key’s bestie in Canada) as the Senate expense scandal goes nuclear.
risildowgtn 24

23 October 2013 at 5:50 pm

Wonder IF any other Councils will follow suite:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9317894/No-free-lunch-for-councillors

Nah
chris73 25

23 October 2013 at 6:03 pm

“There’s got to be some protection here and presently there’s just nothing. And that I think provides for a conundrum, not just in our democracy, but in all.”

– Ok so Len wants “protection” (I’ll ignore the comedic elements) and I’m interested in the lefts perspective on this because I think this a very bad idea and heres why:

Len wants the media to look the other way while he does whatever it is he wants to do and I think thats the wrong attitude to have, if the media ackshully got of its collective but and did their jobs and reported politicians failings then maybe politicians (both sides of the house) might act more like we expect them to act as well as the idea of any govt controlling the media being a really bad idea

Also what does this mean for political blogs because I know theres a few (probably more) who’d like to see whaleoil censured (if not outright banned) but what would happen if the right wing politicians decided that the Standard needed to be censured…

So I think its a slippery slope Lens on and it should be a cause for worry for everyone
- Pascal's bookie 25.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 6:29 pm
  
  I’d have to hear what he actually means though.
  
  Also, I’d like to see some polling that indicates people really do want a UK style tabloid press to develop here. No doubt some do, but how many?
  
  Also some polling on what ‘our expectations’ are around politician’s private lives, and whether that only applies to politicians and not private sector executives, journalists, police, doctors, teachers, etc, and so on, and so forth.
  - chris73 25.1.1
    
    23 October 2013 at 6:52 pm
    
    Well ok reporting on him having an affair is no big deal but him knobbing someone in work time in council offices is a big deal because someone doing the same thing but in a lesser role is likely to get the sack
    
    Again him doing someone is not a big issue but him giving his bit on the side a reference for a job in a council affiliated role is a big deal
    
    Doing someone in a motel is not an issue but doing someone in skycity when you’ve voted for them could be construed a certain way especially if the cost is a bit less…
    
    I just don’t think theres middle ground here, its either all on or all hidden and I’d rather see its all on as it might then make politicians act a bit better
    - felix 25.1.1.1
      
      23 October 2013 at 7:59 pm
      
      knobbing someone in work time in council offices is a big deal”
      
      lolwut? You mean if it were shown that Brown only got his end away after 5.30 pm Monday to Friday and after midday Saturday you’d be fine with it?
      
      “Work time” doesn’t really apply to senior politicians. They’re always working.
      
      Also I don’t believe you.
- Rogue Trooper 25.2
  
  23 October 2013 at 6:45 pm
  
  FO
  - The Al1en 25.2.1
    
    23 October 2013 at 7:00 pm
    
    Foreign office?
    - Rogue Trooper 25.2.1.1
      
      23 October 2013 at 8:11 pm
      
      further
      - Rosie 25.2.1.1.1
        
        23 October 2013 at 8:21 pm
        
        swears?
        
        Rogue Trooper 25.2.1.1.1.1
        
        23 October 2013 at 8:25 pm
        
        reluctantly
        
        Rosie …
        
        23 October 2013 at 8:41 pm
        
        You’re not one for a cussin’
        
        Rogue Trooper …
        
        23 October 2013 at 8:42 pm
        
        it’s in me 🙂
- felix 25.3
  
  23 October 2013 at 7:05 pm
  
  “but what would happen if the right wing politicians decided that the Standard needed to be censured”
  
  Yeah, because it’s his blogging that’s got Cameron in the shit. 🙄
greywarbler 26

23 October 2013 at 6:15 pm

The evening news is on. This calculating ruthless man planned the murder of his woman friend. He hid in her ceiling and cut her throat when she was in bed. Her 15 year old son found his mother like that. He got seven years I think.

Then someone from South Africa was out on bail and killed the mother of his child. She was trying to keep him away from it. This may be one of the tragedies stirred up by WINZ insisting on uncovering every penis involved in making a baby. Sometimes it would be better fro a mother not to have any thing to do with somebody she has found is just a low-life. But you get help docked if you don’t give them information because they want their pound of flesh before they will help you maintain your pound of flesh. They want to place responsibility on the shoulders of someone who resents that burden. And these repercussions can result.
I think they said that his wife helped him to get away. He got away on a false passport. We went to a lot of trouble and expense to get him back and try him. I think that the victim’s family might have been given the option of them not doing that but of having a large sum put in a trust fund instead. The warrant to remain open in case he ever came back. Family might prefer that.

Someone’s barrister read out someone’s heartfelt sorrow blah blah . A relation said …
Somebody cried. It’s sick making. I don’t want to hear how many tears and snot was shed by the victim, the perpetrator, the witnesses. I don’t want this sorry affair paraded for ghoulish people to emote about. I do want to see good support for victims and better attitudes encouraged in both men and women and women given psychological help so they can avoid being drawn to such utter shits.

And no public victims reports. Read them out to the perpetrator or play a CD of it over to them.
If it was me I wouldn’t like to look at the slime.
- Rosie 26.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 8:02 pm
  
  17 years warbly:
  
  http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/2573839
Molly 27

23 October 2013 at 7:01 pm

Attended a brief workshop this morning unveiling the “Thriving Communities Action Plan” from Auckland Council. It was adopted by the outgoing council and the final document will be released before the end of the year.

There seems to be some good intent in terms of empowering communities, including providing local procurement opportunities, community ownership of assets, networking of social entrepreneurs etc.

Pleasantly surprised.
bad12 28

23 October 2013 at 7:10 pm

What’s up with Nationals latest act of asset theft, also known as the part sale of an SOE, did it by any chance FLOP,

If Slippery was looking at a triumphant number of Ma and Pa investors willing to pay top dollar for what they already own you would think that Him and Ryall would be fronting the announcement on the 6 oclock news,

Ryall was last seen scarpering across the Parliaments forecourt as if being chased by a bailiff and someone is supposedly announcing the ‘sale’ details at 7.30 tonight…
vto 29

23 October 2013 at 7:18 pm

How come rural folk rely more on the post than urban folk? How come rural will still get 5 days delivery and urban 3?

Don’t make no sense whatsoever – just another silly assumption with not an ounce of reason behind it. None.
- idlegus 29.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 7:49 pm
  
  fed farmers lobbied amy adams heavily, is my guess.
  - vto 29.1.1
    
    23 October 2013 at 8:04 pm
    
    Sure of course. But nobody has given a reason why they think they are more reliant on 5 day service than urban folk.
    
    Because there isn’t a reason.
    
    Is there?
    - idlegus 29.1.1.1
      
      23 October 2013 at 8:07 pm
      
      you are correct.
      - vto 29.1.1.1.1
        
        23 October 2013 at 8:12 pm
        
        I wish I wasn’t because that means I am being lied to and bullshitted by Amy Adams.
        
        If anything, urban folk, especially the elderly, would rely on the post more – for formal matters and for the social contact as many of them communicate by post. They are also far less self-sufficient than rural people and need services such as these.
        
        More stinking shit from this government.
        
        millsy 29.1.1.1.1.1
        
        23 October 2013 at 8:50 pm
        
        Exactly, as I said above, I hate to think how many deadlines are going to be missed by people, thanks to these new rules.
  - RedBaronCV 29.1.2
    
    23 October 2013 at 8:11 pm
    
    If Farmers didn’t get a daily delivery their letterbox would be overflowing from the cheques to bank and the high end brochures advertising audi’s boats etc etc
  - Rosie 29.1.3
    
    23 October 2013 at 8:16 pm
    
    I did hear somewhere on the news today that NZ Post received a “robust” reaction from the rural community. I’m not sure how it’s going to work re the extra cost as urban folks can pay for a “premium service” and get their mail delivered more than 3 days per week. I guess the rate stays the same for the rural folks if their delivery remains as per usual. Kicks in mid 2015.
    
    Not sure why their reliance on postal service differs from everybody else. Has it got something to do with poor broadband connections, therefore they may not receive comms and bills etc on time?
    
    Speaking of ruralites, did ya see the one about the buttermilk dumping in where was it, central north Island, on Campbell Live last night? Apparently its a common practice in spring when those poor darling industrial cows are producing extra milk. What to do? Farmer logic says dump it and leave it to rot. More waste. More environmental damage. More disrespect to animals (she’s already had her baby taken from her and is mourning – they do, they’re very maternal, and now her milk is dumped too)) More couldn’t care less, she’ll be right.
    - vto 29.1.3.1
      
      23 October 2013 at 8:28 pm
      
      Imagine the stench…..
      
      “robust reaction”. I could just imagine that too – poor precious farmers. They are very important you know / sarc.
      
      I don’t like to have a go at this sector of our country so often but ffs they pull shit all the time which bears no relation to reality and all relation to their preciousness, puffed up chests and empty logic.
      - Tat Loo 29.1.3.1.1
        
        23 October 2013 at 8:30 pm
        
        You got to admit though, it works for them.
    - millsy 29.1.3.2
      
      23 October 2013 at 8:49 pm
      
      The farmer should be bottling and selling it. According to all the older folks I know, buttermilk was a very popular childhood drink of choice. And kids would break their backs doing chore after chore so they would get that sweet nectar.
Philgwellington Wellington 30

23 October 2013 at 8:02 pm

Xox vto
Rural tends to vote Nashonool.
greywarbler 31

23 October 2013 at 8:14 pm

All you wanted to know about austerity and were afraid to ask, at breakneck speed. This is dazzling stuff.
Go to google – mark blyth you tube
and
http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ltSSkq0AAAAJ&hl=en
- Tat Loo 31.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 8:34 pm
  
  I see he’s published with Nassim Taleb before. Very nice.
- greywarbler 31.2
  
  23 October 2013 at 9:09 pm
  
  More Mark Blyth – a google talk.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQuHSQXxsjM
  Mark Blyth: Austerity – The History of a Dangerous Idea
  He’s so interesting you forget this is really serious. And he manages to tell us unbelievably terrible stuff and you’re fascinated. He finds some useful stuff that countries could do, what Brazil has done for instance. There is some hope out there. What a speaker.
  
  And he mentions that he was brought up by his grandmother. Fairly poor and now he is an Ivy League professor at a huge salary. And what fuelled this trip of social mobility. The welfare state! And he repeats all the negative things that the neolibs say about it.
  
  So there is a fountain of information, and it keeps coming. Very good.
  
  This one caught my eye – I don’t know anything about the substance.
  At Occupy Boston Mark Blyth Asks: ‘Should the Poor Insure the Rich …
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTRjMkv92Z8‎
Pascal's bookie 32

23 October 2013 at 8:28 pm

Live twitter reax to the pretty floppy Meridian float:

https://twitter.com/search?q=meridian&src=typd

$1.50 per share, bottom end of the range.
1.6B raised.
62k ‘Mum and dad’ investors (compared to 110k for MRP)
Pascal's bookie 33

23 October 2013 at 8:32 pm

Cosgrove’s statement here:

http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/meridian-sale-failure-cosgrove/5/171716?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

“I don’t know how John Key and Bill English can look the taxpayers of New Zealand in the face. They have they sold half of a valuable long term asset for $1.2 billion less than they told the public they would sell it for in 2011. And just 62,000 retail investors, including institutions, bought shares.

“John Key and Bill English threw everything they could at making this sale a success, even offering a Suzanne Paul-style buy now – pay later scheme. Despite offering everything but a free set of steak knives just 62,000 people wanted to buy in.

“The number of investors in Meridian is half that of Mighty River, which was half that of Contact Energy when the National Government sold it in 1999. At this rate of success they will be paying people to buy Genesis Energy shares.

Greens here:

http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/meridian-another-failure-national%E2%80%99s-asset-sales-greens/5/171717?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Only 62,000 retail shareholders have bought shares in Meridian Energy. That compares to 113,000 who bought shares in Mighty River Power and an expected take-up of 250,000 buyers per sale when the asset sales were being planned. 62,000 equates to just 1.4% of the New Zealand population.

Buyers will reap the benefit of paying only $1 per share up front and the remaining 50 cents in 18 months’ time – the total cost to the Crown of these interest free loans will be $50 million. Overseas investors bought 28% of the shares sold (13.5% of the company), meaning the New Zealand taxpayer is paying $14 million to incentivise foreign institutions to buy our electricity company.

“The Meridian flop confirms that National’s asset sales are a failure and a huge waste money,” said Dr Norman.

“Only 1% of Kiwis bought shares in Meridian. The other 99% of us have lost the profits from a strategic asset and can now look forward to higher power prices.

“The Meridian sale cost around $90 million. We know the ‘buy now, pay later’ scheme alone will set taxpayers back $50 million while the fees for brokers, lawyers, and ad-men will add around $40 million to the bill. That’s on top of the $173 million that National’s asset sales have already cost the taxpayer.

“Mr Key has just cost the New Zealand taxpayer $14 million to subsidise overseas buyers as they swoop in to take a chunk of Meridian and its profits.
- vto 33.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 8:36 pm
  
  Fucking great isn’t it.
  
  Meridian goes from being owned by 100% of New Zealanders via government ownership…
  … to only 51.4% now.
  
  dumb
  
  cheats
  
  liars
  - Lanthanide 33.1.1
    
    23 October 2013 at 8:44 pm
    
    ?
    
    Including the government’s stake, Meridian will be 86.5% owned by NZers.
    - vto 33.1.1.1
      
      23 October 2013 at 8:50 pm
      
      Oh yes, silly maths brain fell outa my head…
  - Murray Olsen 33.1.2
    
    23 October 2013 at 9:53 pm
    
    You’re correct mathematically. Lanthanide apparently has problems with comprehension. He/she/it apparently missed the “100% of” in “owned by 100% of New Zealanders via government ownership”
    - vto 33.1.2.1
      
      23 October 2013 at 10:13 pm
      
      hmmm, perhaps….. 100% of New Zealanders used to own 100% of Meridian. Now 100% of New Zealanders own only 50% and of those New Zealanders 1.4% of them own 86%.
      
      I think ….. my brain is bruised … time for zzzzzzzzzzzz
      - Rogue Trooper 33.1.2.1.1
        
        23 October 2013 at 10:16 pm
        
        the alpha, and the omega
- Rogue Trooper 33.2
  
  23 October 2013 at 8:36 pm
  
  sigh
- millsy 33.3
  
  23 October 2013 at 8:46 pm
  
  What we should be doing is putting Manapouri into a seperate SOE, and putting half the profits into the conservation estate and the other half into a fund for Southland when the smelter closes.
Morrissey 34

23 October 2013 at 8:41 pm

In “honor” of a stolen game, a vacuous tribute
Campbell Live sinks to a new low
TV3, Wednesday 23 October 2013

Campbell Live has been for a long time now a beacon of serious and thoughtful journalism in this country. But not tonight—because it’s PARTY TIME! Remember, it’s October 23, the second anniversary of New Zealand’s hugely controversial Rugby World Cup final “victory” over a clearly superior France.

The truth is, however, that far from a stirring one-point win for the All Blacks, as it is usually portrayed by the likes of John Campbell, for anybody who cares about rugby football that match will be forever tainted by the memory of South African referee Craig Joubert‘s failure, or refusal, to penalize the All Blacks as they engaged in a systematic strategy of flagrant cheating in the second half.

But two years is obviously too soon for the clearly still awe-struck John Campbell. It would not be seemly to raise questions about the referee’s performance (or lack of performance) in that game. It would be disloyal. And lined up for later in the program was Sir Graham Henry himself. It just wouldn’t be nice to cast more doubt on the validity of that victory.

So instead of taking a look at Joubert’s behavior, Campbell announced that the program would not be looking at the match itself, only at the celebrations that followed.

The program had three parts to it: 1.) a visit to the Birkenhead “man cave” of one Johnny Townsend, who has been anointed by Campbell (or his producers) as the country’s number one All Black fan; 2.) an interview with “Sir” Graham Henry; 3.) to cap the good vibe, a performance of “Poi E” by the legendary Patea Maori Club.

But first it was off to Johnny Townsend’s place, and an excruciatingly drawn out, toe-curlingly mortifying tour of the man-cave, full of Johnny Townsend’s embarrassed and awkward friends and family….

JOHN CAMPBELL: Why do you love the All Blacks so much?
JOHNNY TOWNSEND: I always have. I love the game, and I’m a Kiwi. And my wife’s father was an All Black.

…..[Now THAT was an interesting bit of information. Campbell, however, didn’t follow up. Johnny revealed later that his wife’s dad was the North Auckland legend Nau “Big Horse” Cherrington, who played in the first test against the Lions in 1950.]….

CAMPBELL: Who’s that bugger over there?
JOHNNY TOWNSEND: That’s my brother in law.
CAMPBELL: He looks like a good bugger!

…..[Some awkward laughter, then further silence]…..

CAMPBELL: Coming up after the break: some whimsical memories of the match with Sir Graham Henry!

……..ADVERTISING…….

CAMPBELL: Welcome back to this special commemoration of the All Blacks’ World Cup victory! Let’s go back to that night—not the game so much, but the celebrations after.

…..[Film of deliriously happy, noisy fans. Then we’re in a pleasant garden. It’s a sunny day. Campbell is standing with a relaxed “Sir” Graham Henry.]…..

CAMPBELL: The All Blacks were euphoric! World champions again after twenty-four years!
SIR GRAHAM HENRY: It was marvelous! They had been the best team in the world for a long time, but they couldn’t win it. But then Richie and the boys did the job! *

…..[Cut to John Campbell interviewing Ali Williams straight after the final. The noise is cacophonous.]……

ALI WILLIAMS: [shouting] Boys just wanted it more!

[He hugs Campbell, who laughs in delight. Ironically, in the right foreground the non-referee skulks away from the camera.]

CAMPBELL: There are two things I remember—the noise, and then how for twenty minutes in the second half it just went deathly silent.
SIR GRAHAM HENRY: I think they’ve kept on growing which is hugely important, and they’ve ticked that box beautifully!
CAMPBELL: Champions. Truly champions!
SIR GRAHAM HENRY: A huge feather in the cap for Richie and the boys.

[Back to Campbell in the Birkenhead man cave. He speaks to camera, like he’s some kind of philosopher…]

CAMPBELL: It is only a sport. Tonight we can truly say we are the world champions. I know it’s only just a game but what a game it’s been! What a game it’s been!

The program ends with a recording of the 2011 Auckland performance at the tournament by the Patea Maori Club.

* That line (“Richie and the boys did the job”) is nearly word for word the same as Sir Colin Meads’s dodgy deer-velvet ad.
…………………………………………………………………………….

Judge for yourself whether it was the All Blacks who won that game, or a certain South African who refused to blow his whistle….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7C6bTHyC0U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMPYRxYBba4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p1YkXbWZg0
- Rogue Trooper 34.1
  
  23 October 2013 at 8:46 pm
  
  deeper sigh
  - Morrissey 34.1.1
    
    23 October 2013 at 8:58 pm
    
    That’s one response, I guess. I would have expected something more thoughtful from your good self, however.
    - Rogue Trooper 34.1.1.1
      
      23 October 2013 at 9:13 pm
      
      nothin’ personal, gist that it’s late In The Evening . Be well under observation my friend. 😀
      
      (now, that’s fine workmanship).
      - Morrissey 34.1.1.1.1
        
        23 October 2013 at 9:16 pm
        
        Good night, sweet prince.
        
        Rogue Trooper 34.1.1.1.1.1
        
        23 October 2013 at 9:37 pm
        
        as you know, I dislike the behaviour of bullying immensely
        
        Personal Most Memorable Cinematic Moment
        -Oskar introduces mercy to Amon (who later goes on to shoot the boy anyway).
        
        Second Most Memorable Cinematic Moment
        -Goeth’s miss-firing side-arm
        
        Third…
        “we are not going to take orders from these people”- Amon Goeth.
        
        …carry on
- millsy 34.2
  
  23 October 2013 at 9:07 pm
  
  What? Did we win a world cup or something 2 years ago? Sorry, I forgot all about it. Had better things to worry about.
  - Morrissey 34.2.1
    
    23 October 2013 at 9:15 pm
    
    What? Did we win a world cup or something 2 years ago?
    
    No we didn’t win it. Not really. Not fair and square. We wouldn’t have won it if there had been an impartial referee on the field.
    
    It was not for reasons of time constraint that Campbell announced he would not be talking about the actual match that night…..
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7C6bTHyC0U
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMPYRxYBba4
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p1YkXbWZg0
Tat Loo 35

23 October 2013 at 8:49 pm

Learn way more about the fraud underlying the GFC, and also about governments spending money into existence (instead of borrowing it) at the following podcast:

http://stephaniekelton.com/2013/10/21/bill-black-and-randy-wray/

one insight: The Democrats and Republicans are engineering multiple debt ceiling crises as a way to put Social Security on the table and in a bipartisan move, knife it.
ghostrider888 36

23 October 2013 at 8:50 pm

More Mud -rakin’ to be done.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Smoke And Mirrors.
You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
3 days ago

What is Mexico doing about climate change?
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
Skeptical Science
3 days ago

State of humanity, 2024
2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
4 days ago

Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
4 days ago

The case for cultural connectedness
A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
4 days ago

Useful context on public sector job cuts
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated. While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
4 days ago

Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
4 days ago

Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
4 days ago

True Blue.
True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
4 days ago

Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
PolitikBy Richard Harman
4 days ago

2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
Skeptical Science
5 days ago

Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts
Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...
Gareth’s WorldBy admin
5 days ago

Or is that just they want us to think?
Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
5 days ago

Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
Skeptical Science
6 days ago

Arguing over a moot point.
I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
6 days ago

No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
Bowalley Road
6 days ago

Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
6 days ago

Sad tales from the left
Michael Bassett writes – Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
6 days ago

In Whose Best Interests?
On The Spot: The question Q+A host, Jack Tame, put to the Workplace & Safety Minister, Act’s Brooke van Velden, was disarmingly simple: “Are income tax cuts right now in the best interests of lowering inflation?”JACK TAME has tested another MP on his Sunday morning current affairs show, Q+A. Minister for Workplace ...
Bowalley Road
6 days ago

Don’t Question, Don’t Complain.
It has to start somewhereIt has to start sometimeWhat better place than here?What better time than now?So it turns out that I owe you all an apology.It seems that all of the terrible things this government is doing, impacting the lives of many, aren’t necessarily ‘bad’ per se. Those things ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
6 days ago

Release: Dark day for Kiwi kids as a third of Govt cuts affect them
News that 1000 jobs at the Ministry of Education and Oranga Tamariki could go is devastating for future generations of New Zealanders. ...
Labour Blog
2 days ago

Release: Alarm as Government signals further blow to school lunches
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Labour Blog
2 days ago

Release: Quick, submit – stop Govt’s dodgy approvals bill
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Labour Blog
3 days ago

Government throws coal on the climate crisis fire
The Government’s policy announced today to ease consenting for coal mining will have a lasting impact across generations. ...
Greens
3 days ago

Release: Public transport costs to double as National looks at unaffordable roading project instead
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
Labour Blog
4 days ago

Release: Cost of living in Auckland still not a priority
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Labour Blog
4 days ago

Greens look to fast-track submissions on harmful law
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
Greens
7 days ago

Release: Govt should stop making people’s lives harder and build more homes
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Release: Melissa Lee missing in action on media
The action Melissa Lee promised to protect democracy and the media sector is missing, Media and Communications spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Landlord Government leaves little hope for renters
The Government’s announcement on tenancy rules prove that it does not care about renters. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Opportunity to build a more sustainable economy
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Significant step forward in fixing cruel and unjust past
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Missed opportunity but NZ will surely one day recognise the right to a sustainable environment
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Release: Don’t cut our lunches – clear message sent to Government
Tens of thousands of people are demanding the Government commits to fully funding free and healthy school lunches. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Release: Govt makes U-turn on Suicide Prevention Office
Labour welcomes the Government’s U-turn on the closure of the Suicide Prevention Office, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

CCC issues warning over further climate delay
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Luxon targets lame and lousy example of leadership
If talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Luxon targets are lousy example of leadership
If talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: Commitment to disability communities missing from Govt priorities
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Methane target review is dangerous duplication
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: Government must commit to school building project for disabled students
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: National must take mental health seriously
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Referendums for Māori wards a racist step backwards
The Government's imposed referendum on Māori wards is a racist step backwards for Māori representation, and disregards Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: Job losses at Health not worth it for tax cuts
New Zealand will feel the harm of the National Government’s reckless cuts to jobs at the health ministry for generations, says Ayesha Verrall. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Press release: No Māori initiatives in Government’s nothing plan
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Thirty six point PR spin
The Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Thirty six point PR spin
The Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Thirty six point PR spin
The Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: Social housing off Government’s to-do list
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: Less money in most people’s pockets this April
Changes to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago

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

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

Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
18 hours ago

Taupō takes pole position
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
19 hours ago

Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
21 hours ago

Government backing mussel spat project
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
22 hours ago

Government focused on getting people into work
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 day ago

Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 days ago

Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 days ago

Inflation coming down, but more work to do
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 days ago

School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 days ago

Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 days ago

Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 days ago

Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
7 days ago

Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
7 days ago

Roads of National Significance planning underway
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
7 days ago

Navigating an unstable global environment
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
7 days ago

NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
7 days ago

Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Joint US and NZ declaration
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “While there are no set timeframes for ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
The New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Tenancy rules changes to improve rental market
The coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with China
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Freshwater farm plan systems to be improved
The coalition Government intends to improve freshwater farm plans so that they are more cost-effective and practical for farmers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay have announced. “A fit-for-purpose freshwater farm plan system will enable farmers and growers to find the right solutions for their farm ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Fire engineering expertise may take a big hit with job cuts at MBIE
The public sector cuts are poised to take out a big chunk of expertise at the country's building regulator. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 hour ago

“Fast-track Law To Kill Kiwi”: Students Say Fight Against Anti-democracy Legislation Is Only Jus...
Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...
Scoop politics
2 hours ago

‘We have thousands of Modis’: the secret behind the BJP’s enduring success in India
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
2 hours ago

Online schooling is not just for lockdowns. Could it work for your child?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
2 hours ago

Hear me out: You can shove your reusable period products
Yes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...
The SpinoffBy Kristin Kelly
2 hours ago

Rip It Up And Start Over – Fast-Track Approvals Bill Needs To Be Scrapped
“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...
Scoop politics
2 hours ago

Maori Authority Warns Government On Fast Track Legislation
The Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...
Scoop politics
2 hours ago

Why the government’s haste in changing the health system could come back to haunt it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
3 hours ago

Many suicides are related to gambling. How can we tackle this problem?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
3 hours ago

Things that go buzz in the night – our global study found there really are more insects out after ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
3 hours ago

Why don’t Australians talk about their salaries? Pay transparency and fairness go hand-in-hand
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
3 hours ago

‘Character’ And Its Impact On Immigration Status
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...
Scoop politics
3 hours ago

20,000 more on jobseeker benefits than this time last year
The government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...
The SpinoffBy Catherine McGregor
4 hours ago

All of the Raglan Roast cafes in Wellington, ranked from worst to best
Raglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...
The SpinoffBy Zoë Mills
6 hours ago

Auckland uni students threaten rent strike over rising accommodation fees
Residents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously. The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
6 hours ago

Warning of death from a million cuts as Oceans Secretariat dissolved
Shane Jones says people voted for change, but opponents say small cuts such as ending a special oceans secretariat are starting to add up The post Warning of death from a million cuts as Oceans Secretariat dissolved appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Andrew Bevin
6 hours ago

Defence deal to counter Beijing’s aggression in South China Sea
New Zealand and the Philippines have signed a new maritime security agreement and stated their concerns over activity in the South China Sea, as Chinese vessels continue to flout international law. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos committed to signing a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement by ...
NewsroomBy Laura Walters
6 hours ago

Wellington’s ebb and flow of public servants
The thousands of government “back-office” job cuts are causing widespread pain in the capital city. In today’s episode of The Detail, we speak to three journalists and a think tank researcher, looking at the larger picture around the cuts and what effect it will have on Wellington, a city that’s ...
NewsroomBy Tom Kitchin
6 hours ago

New Zealand transport planning has gone off the rails
Opinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...
NewsroomBy Dr Timothy F Welch
6 hours ago

Daily crossword, Friday 19 April
The post Daily crossword, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles
6 hours ago

Brakes on transport and logistics sector as demand for freight slows
The transport sector is currently in the slow lane The post Brakes on transport and logistics sector as demand for freight slows appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Emma Hatton
6 hours ago

Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 19 April
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles
6 hours ago

Financial literacy should be on all of us
Opinion: With maths understanding at 42 percent for Year 8 students, there’s no doubt something has to be done. But how? The post Financial literacy should be on all of us appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Bryce Marsden
6 hours ago

Missy rustles to stardom in Canada
Hineaupounamu ‘Missy’ Nuku has been scaling mountains in Canada for her college basketball team, the Lakeland Rustlers. Alberta is currently home for the 20-year-old point guard, who is in her first year of a scholarship at Lakeland College, where she is studying for a business degree. She has certainly made ...
NewsroomBy Aiden McLaughlin
6 hours ago

Emissions fall again – now NZ needs to up the pace
Official figures confirm New Zealand produced less climate pollution in 2022 than in any other year in the 21st century The post Emissions fall again – now NZ needs to up the pace appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Marc Daalder
6 hours ago

Grattan on Friday: Ethnic tensions will complicate the Albanese government’s multicultural policy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When ASIO boss Mike Burgess delivered his annual threat assessment earlier this year, he stressed the rising danger posed by espionage and foreign interference. “In 2024, threats to our way of life have surpassed ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
12 hours ago

Group plans work to improve safety of female MPs
New research shows harassment of elected officials - especially women - is on the rise. ...
Radio NZ – political
13 hours ago

Ukraine warns of WW3 ahead of long-stalled Congress aid vote
Ukraine's Prime Minister says his country desperately needs the US to approve long-stalled security assistance. ...
Radio NZ – political
14 hours ago

PSA astonished Education Minister expects hiring of contractors to review curriculum
Hiring contractors is an appalling solution when people who could do the work are losing their jobs, the PSA says. ...
Radio NZ – political
15 hours ago

Crown lawyers attempt to block Waitangi Tribunal summons to Minister for Children
The Tribunal had called on Minister for Children Karen Chhour to provide evidence at an urgent inquiry into the repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. ...
Radio NZ – political
17 hours ago

Luxon refuses to guarantee public consultation on AUKUS Pillar 2
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says it's "far too premature" to be confirming whether the public would be consulted on joining AUKUS Pillar 2. ...
Radio NZ – political
17 hours ago

Visualising the 1800s or designing wedding invitations: 6 ways you can use AI beyond generating text
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University Midjourney image by T.J. Thomson As more than half of Australian office workers report using generative artificial intelligence (AI) for work, we’re starting to see this technology affect every ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
18 hours ago

Falls, fractures and self-harm: 4 charts on how kids’ injury risk changes over time and differs fo...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Nicole Sharwood, Injury epidemiologist | Expert Witness, UNSW Sydney Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock Injuries are the leading cause of disability and death among Australian children and adolescents. At least a quarter of all emergency department presentations during childhood are injury-related. Injuries can ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
18 hours ago

Choice and control: will NDIS reforms mean people with disability don’t get to decide who they liv...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Di Winkler, Adjunct Associate Professor, Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University Shutterstock/Ground Picture Many Australians with disability feel on the edge of a precipice right now. Recommendations from the disability royal commission and the NDIS review were released late ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
18 hours ago

Asbestos in playground mulch: how to avoid a repeat of this circular economy scandal
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Salman Shooshtarian, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Salman Shooshtarian Asbestos has been found in mulch used for playgrounds, schools, parks and gardens across Sydney and Melbourne. Local communities naturally fear for the health of their ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
18 hours ago

Could Albanese’s bet on homegrown green industries be the boost our regions deserve?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Madeline Taylor, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie University Cloudy Designs/Shutterstock Right now, there’s a global race underway. The goal: bring back manufacturing and energy jobs as the energy transition speeds up. In 2022, America launched its mammoth Inflation Reduction Act and the ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
18 hours ago

Watch: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon won't say if government will consult public on joining ...
Asked multiple times if the public will be consulted on joining the defence pact, Luxon repeatedly said that was yet to be worked through. ...
Radio NZ – political
19 hours ago

Watch live: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks in Philippines
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is speaking to reporters on the third leg of his Southeast Asia trip, from Manila in the Philippines. ...
Radio NZ – political
19 hours ago

Māori lawyers call Shane Jones' Waitangi Tribunal comments 'inappropriate'
The Māori Law Society says his comments breach the principle of the separation of powers and the Cabinet Manual. ...
Radio NZ – political
20 hours ago

Abortions Increase 25% Since Law Change
Family First says that the latest abortion statistics make grim and upsetting reading, with a 25% increase in abortions since the decriminalisation of abortion in March 2020. According to an Official Information Act request received by Right to Life ...
Scoop politics
20 hours ago

Over Half Of New Zealanders Feel That The Country Is In Decline And That Our Society Is Broken
Ipsos New Zealand's inaugural participation in a global study on populism reveals a pervasive sense of societal and economic decline among New Zealanders. MORE DETAILS AND FULL REPORT HERE Ipsos New Zealand's inaugural participation in a global study ...
Scoop politics
20 hours ago

Australia’s new defence strategy is big on ideas, but lacks one key ingredient: well-trained soldi...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Layton, Visiting Fellow, Strategic Studies, Griffith University There have been a lot of defence announcements recently about buying new equipment, building up Australia’s manufacturing capabilities, creating local jobs, new legislation to support AUKUS and even a new defence chief. In ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
21 hours ago

What does Steve Smith’s Stateside signing mean for cricket in the US – and Australia?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney Steve Smith, one of this generation’s finest batters, has conquered much of the cricketing world during his career, and he now has set his sights on a new frontier: the United ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
21 hours ago

A love letter to Wellington: when i open the shop by romesh dissanayake, reviewed
Madeleine Ballard reviews the debut novel from romesh dissanayake. when I open the shop, the debut novel by Naarm-based Aotearoa writer romesh dissanayake (Sri Lankan, Koryo Saram), is a narrative of grief. Devendra loses his mother, opens a noodle shop on The Terrace, grieves, and emerges changed. But just as ...
The SpinoffBy Madeleine Ballard
21 hours ago

Minister Concedes Contractors Will Be Hired To Do Work Of Axed Ministry Of Education Staff
The PSA can’t believe that the Minister of Education is happy for her ministry to hire contractors at the same time it is dismissing 565 workers. ...
Scoop politics
21 hours ago

Attempt to bar diplomat from Myanmar military junta fails
Myanmar community members applied to the courts to bar the diplomat from attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. ...
Radio NZ – political
21 hours ago

LGNZ Welcomes Govt Earthquake-prone Buildings Decision
LGNZ has advocated for this decision as part of a remit led by Manawatū District Council. ...
Scoop politics
22 hours ago

AUKUS Pillar 2 a 'fragrant, methane-wrapped bull***' – Bob Carr
The former Australian Foreign Minister has continued to warn New Zealand against joining the defence pact. ...
Radio NZ – political
22 hours ago

Enforceable undertaking issued to abc accounting services limited after continued non-compliance.
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has accepted an enforceable undertaking agreement from ABC Accounting Services Limited (ABC) under section 81 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (AML/CFT Act). ...
Scoop politics
22 hours ago

REVEALED: RNZ’s Hypocrisy Over Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill
The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that Radio New Zealand (RNZ) spent $71,842.53 on Facebook advertising over the past 12 months, despite earlier this year coming out in support of the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill , which would force the likes ...
Scoop politics
23 hours ago

Police rejected 'very good offer' – Mark Mitchell
Police Minister Mark Mitchell says the pay offer rejected by police was the best the government could put forward under difficult financial circumstances. ...
Radio NZ – political
23 hours ago

How can we have truth-telling without the Voice? Our research shows a way forward
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Heidi Norman, Professor, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, Convenor: Indigenous Land & Justice Research Group, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock The Uluru Statement from the Heart set out the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for “Voice, Treaty, Truth”, in ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
23 hours ago

NZ education scores must improve – but another polarising ideological pivot isn’t the answer
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bronwyn E Wood, Associate Professor in Education, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Getty Images You don’t need to look hard right now to see concerns about Aotearoa New Zealand’s education system. Declining performance in international testing has been ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
23 hours ago

An updated tally of the public sector job cuts
The coalition government has made it well known it expects departments to cut roles. We break down the numbers as they currently stand. Updated: 12pm, April 18 Before last year’s election, both National and Act made it clear that the public service was squarely in their crosshairs. Both parties, now ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
23 hours ago

Confessions of an unlikely petrolhead
Checkered Flag director Natalie Wilson on her lifelong love of motorsport, and the allure of Pukekohe Park Raceway. One childhood summer when my world revolved around winning stuff off the radio, I bagged tickets to Western Springs Speedway and then to Waikaraka Park in what was a dream season for ...
The SpinoffBy Natalie Wilson
23 hours ago

'Ambitious' trade pledge headlines Luxon's Thailand stop
The Prime has announced a commitment to triple two-way trade with Thailand by 2045, but it only requires maintaining current growth. ...
Radio NZ – political
23 hours ago

‘The right person’: What did Solomon Islanders vote for?
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara After a relatively well organised and peaceful day of voting in Solomon Islands yesterday, the electoral commission is working with donor partners to safely transport ballot boxes from polling stations all over the country to centrally located counting venues. It is a ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
24 hours ago

What it’s like to be made redundant by the Ministry of Education
I was one of hundreds of people who lost my government job this week. Here’s exactly how it played out. It is a Friday. I’m in the middle of an online Teams hui working out the finer details of a series of workshops we’ll be presenting next week. It’s a ...
The SpinoffBy Anonymous
1 day ago

What are ‘Ozempic babies’? Can the drug really increase your chance of pregnancy?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karin Hammarberg, Senior Research Fellow, Global and Women’s Health, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University Joshua Rodriguez/Unsplash Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are taking drugs like Ozempic to lose weight. But what do we actually know about ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Why the kookaburra’s iconic laugh is at risk of being silenced
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Diana Kuchinke, Lecturer in Ecology, Federation University Australia Linda Robertus/Shutterstock Once, while teaching a class of environmental science students in China’s Hebei University of Science and Technology, I asked who knew what a laughing kookaburra was. There were many blank faces. ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claire Breen, Professor of Law, University of Waikato smolaw11/Getty Images School truancy has been a concern across the political spectrum for years. But proposed solutions have largely failed to address the core reasons for unexplained school absences. Despite the apparent ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

‘Listening is the most important part’: 10 things students with disability and their families wa...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melissa Cain, Senior Lecturer in Inclusive Education and Arts Education, Australian Catholic University Agence Olloweb/Unsplash, CC BY About 90% of Australian students with disability attend mainstream schools. Equitable access and participation in education is a fundamental human right. But as last ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Will global oil supply be at risk if Iran and Israel pull the Middle East into war?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flavio Macau, Associate Dean – School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University Tensions in the Middle East have escalated following Iran’s weekend missile and drone attacks on Israel, heightening concerns of a wider conflict. As with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

No, getting your boyfriend to peel an orange won’t prove his loyalty. Why TikTok relationship ‘t...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edith Jennifer Hill, Associate Lecturer, Learning & Teaching Innovation, Flinders University Shutterstock Have you ever wondered if your partner really loves you? Well apparently so have thousands of TikTok users, who are testing their theories for the world to see. In ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

New Zealand’s Annual Emissions Fell In 2022, For Third Successive Year
This is the third successive decrease year-on-year. New Zealand’s gross emissions for 2022 were 78.4 Mt CO2-e. ...
Scoop politics
1 day ago

Oranga Tamariki job cuts: 'We can't establish what their endgame is'
Oranga Tamariki has failed to explain how hundreds of job cuts will achieve a better outcome for children, a children's advocate says. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Help Me Hera: My parents won’t help out with my kids
They pressured me to have children, and I had two. Now they won’t lift a finger. Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nz Hi Hera, I suspect it’s a familiar pattern. Back in the day, as a single gal, I was plagued with questions from my parents about when I would find ...
The SpinoffBy Hera Lindsay Bird
1 day ago

Care Workers Call For Fairness On Pay Equity Anniversary
“The Government has an opportunity here to really correct the course for the care and support workforce, and the people they look after. This cannot be just another area left in the cold, we need real leadership to ensure the proper quality of care ...
Scoop politics
1 day ago

First evidence of ancient human occupation found in giant lava tube cave in Saudi Arabia
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mathew Stewart, Research Fellow, Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University The western passage of the Umm Jirsan lava tube. Green Arabia Project If you look from above, you can see thousands of stone structures dotting the landscape of the Arabian ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 day ago

Teachers worry about curriculum, NCEA changes amid staff cuts
More than 500 jobs are likely to be cut at the Education Ministry with concerns about how the curriculum and NCEA changes will now be managed. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Government IT systems need a $800m overhaul
The government is facing a bill of more than $800 million to overhaul back-office IT systems, and attempts to lessen its impact have hit delays. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Over 3,000 public service jobs now proposed to go
The Ministry of Education confirmed a proposal to reduce headcount by 565, while Oranga Tamariki’s proposal would result in a loss of 447 jobs, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Ministry of ...
The SpinoffBy Anna Rawhiti-Connell
1 day ago

Kāinga Ora delays building projects ahead of review
Kāinga Ora is unable to say how many new KiwiBuild developments have been delayed as it waits for the outcome of the government's independent review of the state housing agency. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Owners of earthquake prone buildings given four extra years to complete strengthening
A review into the regulations was also being brought forward. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Corrections Accepts Recommendations Following Auckland Prison Inspection
The Inspectorate made three overarching recommendations following the inspection, all of which have been accepted in full by Corrections. ...
Scoop politics
1 day ago

Open mike 23/10/2013

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