Open mike 24/05/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 24th, 2011 - 61 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

61 comments on “Open mike 24/05/2011 ”

  1. For those who need some humor in this increasingly desperate NZ check out #BrashRaps on twitter.

    • PeteG 1.1

      Most people don’t drop further into desperation each time another unfavourable poll result is released, they may glance and shrug but will just carry on with their lives.

      You should do something about your Political Delusion/Paranoia Disorder.

      Really, the country will keep chugging along ok, sometimes a little better, sometimes a little worse, but it won’t fall off the edge of the earth.

      The Camping Collywobbles are just a passing phase.

      • mickysavage 1.1.1

        PeteG is up early today and is off on his morning troll.

        I was talking about the state of the country, stupid.

        You know the better New Zealand that Key promised where kids eat cockroaches to get by. Where third world diseases have appeared. Where unemployment has soared. Where the economy is out of control and we have just had a budget constructed of lies and pixie dust.

        Where our most profitable sector per head pays less tax than our retired. Where our elected representatives ensure they can gouge themselves on luxuries while at the same time they slash budgets for very important programmes.

        You should get your head out of your arse and have a look around.

        And then be very afraid …

        • Armchair Critic 1.1.1.1

          And it’s a country where the PM’s first example of a growth industry is EQC. FFS!

        • PeteG 1.1.1.2

          Where our most profitable sector per head pays less tax than our retired.

          Can you back up this amazing claim?

          • mickysavage 1.1.1.2.1

            Like I said PeteG you should:

            1. Remove head
            2. Put into air
            3. Open eyes
            4. Look around
            5. Try comprehending

            Then ask all the questions you like.

          • lprent 1.1.1.2.2

            You do read the site don’t you Pete? Try this post on the tax payments of dairy farmers called Creaming It.

            I am puzzled how you could have written comments in the post here and here. But then I realized that neither comment had anything to do with the post.

            In that line of thought… Your comment

            Or maybe one of the aims of the blog is to discuss, debate, challenge. No?
            We don’t all have to piss into the same bottle on command.

            The answer to that is that we’d like the comments in a post to be at least vaguely related to that post. If you want to waffle on something else (and where it does not relate to the drift of the threads) then go to OpenMike. It is preferable to my other alternatives.

            • PeteG 1.1.1.2.2.1

              The so-called cream in that post has proven to be a bit curdled.

              But back to being related to that post – is the level or proposed minimum wage rise sensible:
              – at a time of already high youth unemployment?
              – after three difficult years for many businesses?
              – at a time when wage growth is predicted to spurt anyway?

            • RobC 1.1.1.2.2.2

              I think some of us would prefer your other alternatives.

              In answer to your original question, it has just been proven that PeteG does, in fact, have a reading problem.

  2. Armchair Critic 2

    National proposes to invest less in infrastructure.
    Today it’s a cut in improvements to local roads. The proposed cut is at least $60m and may be up to $200m.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/transport/news/article.cfm?c_id=97&objectid=10727451
    Let’s chuck this on to the list of National’s broken promises.

    • Draco T Bastard 2.1

      Well, I suppose that’s where some of the $1b in government savings is going to come from. Of course, they could have done better just by cutting the unecinomic RoNS out all together – that would save $10b.

      “The renewal and maintenance budgets are proposed to be held at close to current levels to drive further efficiencies in delivery,” he said.

      If we don’t pay for them it becomes more efficient 😆

      • Armchair Critic 2.1.1

        Possibly this is where some of the savings will come from.
        RONS is a slightly different thing. The RONS projects are larger scale and the B/Cs on these projects are generally much higher (to the point where most of the projects being cut provide a significant return on the money spent). And the projects affected by this announcement still need to be done, whereas the RONS projects are much harder to justify using complex things like logic. So I suppose calling this a cut is unfair, it’s an indefinite postponement.
        Another thing to consider, part of this investment in infrastructure would have had people doing work, getting paid, that sort of thing. Cutting Indefinitely postponing this work means these jobs are lost. Thanks National.

    • Deadly_NZ 2.2

      What about STOPPING the bloody useless Holiday highway?????? A cut in improvements?? they gonna stop painting the green cycleway lane on every highway, and I have seen some (Cycle Ways) that you would need to have a death wish to use them.

  3. Jim Nald 3

    Forgive me if the following topic has already been covered and if I might be repeating it here.

    As a point to compare and contrast the screams against lifting the minimum wage and the so-called austerity push to slash Kiwisaver:

    – what is the Government doing about capping the rise in ministerial pay packets and benefits?

    – by how much are the superannuation schemes of parliamentarians being cut back?

  4. Campbell Larsen 4

    It seems that the govt is happy to give handouts to companies – Tourism Holdings earnings were up after the quake – all those caravans that no one used (but the govt still paid for) made a big difference to their bottom line – now, I wonder which ministers have interests in tourism holdings or related companies….

  5. Oleolebiscuitbarrell 5

    Didn’t Goff look hopelessly out of his depth on the news last night? Labour would only spend $800m on the R&D tax credit (because that is all they have) but Goff had no idea about how they make sure they stayed under this cap. Didn’t know if the credit would be available to foreign owned companies. Two days after announcing his flagship policy he clearly has no idea what it it about.

    What with the most recent poll, maybe Labour has nothing to lose by changing leaders.

    • Campbell Larsen 5.1

      Not as hopelessly out of depth as shonky did on Hard Talk – maybe National should replace him – oh that’s right he is leaving once he has destroyed the country and ‘earned’ his knighthood.

      • Oleolebiscuitbarrell 5.1.1

        Campbell, can you see the difference? What is 53 less 28?

        • Campbell Larsen 5.1.1.1

          58 less 28 is bullshit polling, that’s what it is – people that believe in what they are doing and saying don’t have to point to what other people apparently think in order to make their point.

          • Oleolebiscuitbarrell 5.1.1.1.1

            Unfortunately for Mr Goff, in a democracy, politics is a popularity contest. If people do not like what you are saying, they will not vote for you. So, if Labour wants to ever again get power, they will have to work out how to be more popular.

            This is not a problem Key presently has.

            • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1.1.1.1

              Yes, it is strange that people like a proven liar. Perhaps the problem is that the MSM isn’t pointing out that he is a proven liar.

            • Campbell Larsen 5.1.1.1.1.2

              In a democracy it is supposed to be a policy contest, not a ‘popularity’ contest.
              Smile and wave, or sneer and wave as it has become, is not a policy, it is a distraction, and the sooner people realize that, the sooner we will be rid of Shonky and the misguided cult of personality that surrounds this charlatan.

              • Oleolebiscuitbarrell

                “…and the sooner people realize that, the sooner we will be rid of Shonky…”

                That’s Labour’s plan. Hoping people “wake up”.

                I can see the billboards now:

                “Idiot people of New Zealand, stop being stupid. Vote Labour”.

                • Campbell Larsen

                  LOL – it’s people like you that make suggestions that include calling people ‘idiots’ reasonable

                  Though, becuase I’m not into blaming people for being mislead, I would have gone for:

                  “People of New Zealand, stop fawning over the lying asshole that is trying to destroy your future”

                  I’m willing to give you another chance too – though something tells me it will be wasted.

                  Why do all the trolls try and make out like the left think people are stupid? The very reason the left is still in this to win is bcause they know that people are not. People can be mislead by a complacent MSM and a corrupt government – but eventually they will see through the bullshit.

                  If anyone it is National that thinks people are stupid – they are banking on it – because neither their persons nor their policies stand up to scrutiny.

                  • Oleolebiscuitbarrell

                    Don’t you just hate stupid people? Oh, and I think you meant “misled” (twice).

                    • Campbell Larsen

                      Is that that the best criticism you have got? Spelling? Lame bro, lame – how about you turn off your spell check (it’s disabled in my browser currently) and see how well you do.

                      As for hating stupid people, or just people generally – I’m pretty sure that’s you mate.

  6. Lanthanide 6

    Here’s an “insider view” of Goff at yesterday morning’s weekly press stand-up meeting:
     
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/blogs/what-s-he-said/5043611/Labouring-the-point
     
    Doesn’t make pleasant reading. It starts of sounding a bit like spin, but by the end of it it sounds like Goff really should be doing better, as leader.

    Perhaps the media’s continued piling on about Labour is a result of Goff’s poor PR handling. Much as we see Key acting like a child in parliament which never seems to filter back into the media, perhaps Goff acting like a child with the media is what they report on.

    • Draco T Bastard 6.1

      They asked him for policy details and got upset that they weren’t told them. Meanwhile, they’re not even asking Nact for policy details, ie, where are the $1b in government savings coming from? How much did they cut each departments budget to get those savings?

      • ianmac 6.1.1

        Exactly. Key says “could loose 6,000 jobs.” Interviewer should say “Prove it Mr Key.” But no.

  7. Campbell Larsen 7

    ‘Insider view’ Lanth? The whole article reeked of shonky love – I agree completely with Goff – if it weren’t for the fact that Duncan is fat and Guyon skinny it would be hard to tell the rubbish that comes out of their mouths apart.

    • Lanthanide 7.1

      “Insider” in the sense that a journalist has described what actually happened at the stand up, instead of writing a story about what Goff said (or didn’t say).
       
      Maybe they’re biased. But it’s still an uncommon report of an apparently weekly tradition.

  8. Morrissey 8

    More evidence of slipping standards at National Radio [from Friday 20 May]

    On Friday 20 May, this writer (i.e., moi) was challenged by a rather confused and uninformed (these traits always go together) but dramatically ambitious joe90. Unfortunately, our friend Joe did not linger long enough to post up his response to my corrections of his quibbles.

    Perhaps joe90 would like to make a reasoned (i.e., no indolent flinging of empty and abusive epithets like “wingnut”) response at his leisure…

    joe’s original post can be found HERE…
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-20052011/

    And here is the Breen response…

    Nice attempt at dramatisation, my friend. You should approach that tired old codger John Barnett about a screenwriting job; the ones he employs on his movies are certainly not much chop.

    However, while your dialoguing shows promise, you need to pay attention to your understanding of content, which is sadly lacking. I’ll deal with just the most glaring errors….

    1.) Me….what’s contentious, the US position is bla .bla, the Israeli position is bla..bla..
    Actually, it’s the US and the whole world versus Israel.

    2.) Morrissey…..I’m right and all the world thinks so too.
    That is correct. You are trying to scoff at this writer (i.e., moi) as out on a limb; actually, my position is the mainstream one.

    3.) Me…. Palestine is a fuck up but at least someone is trying,…
    WHO is trying, Joe? And who is it that is responsible for it being a “fuck up”?

    4.) …you’re starting to mirror the wingnuts who as long as they get to be on what they think is the right side don’t give a rats about the people on the other side.
    There you go again! It’s easy to throw around empty epithets like “wingnuts”, especially when you aren’t up to speed on an issue. Have you been listening to that penetrating analyst Leighton Smith on NewstalkZB, by any chance?

    5.) Last word to ME.. he may not have met my expectations but Obama winning another term is the first real opportunity since Begin and Sadat for a lasting peace in the region.
    On what basis do you make that statement? Obama has done precisely nothing to stop Israel’s depredations in Gaza or the West Bank. You would know that if you had any familiarity with Israeli and Palestinian politics.

  9. todd 9

    Worst Budget Ever

    http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/05/worst-budget-ever.html

    Now there was a fair bit of bagging the budget before it even hit the printing press. Many taking their cues from Nationals indication that the 2011 budget would deliver more of the same ineffectual and outdated policy’s that have led to New Zealands financial difficulties in the first place. As the dust settles, the Jackal decided to have a look at Bill English’s baby, and it’s not a pretty sight.

  10. prism 10

    Heard on Radionz 8.20 this morning.
    1 Kiwirail are worried about low use of Gisborne-Nspier railway. By coincidence I am reading a crime thriller and the hero travels by AmTrack. The author digresses into the history of AmTrack – American Track which was underwritten by the government trying to save the railways from collapse after they had backed freight while discarding passengers by offering them deteriorating services, but then freight went to large trucks. Sound familiar?

    AmTrack did offer a service to travellers taking their cars who drive into a rail van enabling long distance travel in relative ease. If we NZ had that service and used it a lot, and also made car purchases too difficult and expensive for young guys, it could slash our road accidents and release the police to work catching crims and trying to turn saveable youth rather than personning road blocks interfering with thousands of people to catch the trace of gold or rather dross hundred or so over the limit.

    2 Pharmac is one bureaucracy that you would think that a NACT government would like and call efficient and effective. The USA medical system is one of the most expensive in the world and not efficient and effective because only heaps of money will give good outcomes and the devil take the (poor) hindmost. Their medicines are so dear that where USA and Canada are close enough to wave to each other, USA people cross the border and buy their medical needs in Canada.

    If we get a PPPPTTA or whatever the acronym for being throttled with USA ‘free trade’, at the cost of losing Pharmac, we lose in almost all directions. They will screw us abroad and at home, and do the highwayman with our pharmaceuticals demanding – ‘Your money or your life’.

    • ianmac 10.1

      Gareth Morgan has written a stirring defence of Pharmac and concern should National trade its independence for a “Free” Trade deal with USA.
      “The drug company claims that Pharmac has failed are based on the fact that New Zealand’s pharmaceutical budget is much lower and is growing slower than other countries. To suggest this is a bad thing completely misses the point of having Pharmac in the first place. If anything this is a sign of Pharmac’s success. …………National shot itself in the food on the whole Herceptin issue. At the time it was a cynical political vote grab, but now it faces the consequences.
      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10727573

      • prism 10.1.1

        ianmac – I really enjoyed reading Gareth’s racy style which speaks veritas, no lightweight fluff. Our butter and wool USA – let’s swop for your Harley Davidsons! Now that’s a good idea.

  11. Morrissey 11

    Brave SEAL teams keeping the world safe—from Grenada and Panama
    National Radio, Monday 23.5.2011
    Noelle McCarthy interviews ex-Navy Seal STEPHEN TEMPLIN, co-author of a book called SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper.

    Back on March 8th, when she interviewed the reptilian supporter of grave-robbing and knife-killing, Garth McVicar, Noelle McCarthy struggled to disguise her contempt and revulsion. See the transcript of that interview HERE…
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-09032011/#comment-306178

    With today’s guest, however, Noelle managed to keep a lid on her feelings. Her guest was Stephen Templin, an ex-U.S. Navy SEAL sniper. Rather than confront Templin like she did McTheKnife, this time she let her interviewee hang himself by simply outlining what it was he and his brave mates did, and more to the point, who they did it to.

    What they did and do is standard boys’ own, gung-ho stuff—one per cent of applicants get in, basic training is hell, and no SEAL is allowed to tell even his room-mate what mission he’s been assigned to. A Navy SEAL has to be as fit as a professional triathlete, and be able to swim like a fish. Their commanders have to be skilled lobbyists, in order to keep getting funded by Congress, so that they are supplied with the very latest technology—like Stealth helicopters. All very exciting and derring-do.

    And then, we find out just who are the targets of all this training and firepower. Here, the illusions fall apart somewhat. Noelle had the sense not to challenge him, but instead just let him talk, so that the listeners could savour the absurdity of his message.

    Because anyone with a heart, or a shred of conscience, would be appalled by what Templin revealed….

    NOELLE: What kind of missions have you been on?
    TEMPLIN: Well, the big one was Grenada. Everybody wanted a piece of Grenada!
    NOELLE: Mmmm hmmmm….
    TEMPLIN: Then there was Panama! And there’s a lot of problems with pirates in Somalia. Seal Team 6 took down the pirates on that boat in Somalia…”

    So that’s it, then! How lucky the American people are to have an elite force ready and waiting and fully armed and loaded, at all times, just itching to “have a piece” of tiny, defenceless, third world countries.

    Look out, Tokelau! SEAL Team Six could be headed your way soon!

  12. RobC 12

    Quiz Time: Who said this?

    “NZ does not have a debt problem, NZ has a long-term growth problem. NZ is 22nd in the OECD. We lost 79,000 people last year. Our growth is basically anaemic.”

    • Colonial Viper 12.1

      And the answer is?

      • wtl 12.1.1

        I’m guessing Brash.

        • Draco T Bastard 12.1.1.1

          Nope, pretty sure that was JKey in either 2k7 or 2k8

          • RobC 12.1.1.1.1

            Draco gets the prize. It was John Key after the Budget 2008 on Campbell Live. His next sentence was “We can run the economy much better and I think NZers should trust us to do that”.

            • Deadly_NZ 12.1.1.1.1.1

              And now after 2.5 years he now have the answer to that statement. You Can’t run the economy better, and we don’t trust you to do that.

  13. Morrissey 13

    Super-Scary Israeli Commandos in Action

    May 16, 2011

    Israel’s military intelligence capabilities are legendary—a tiny country of peace lovers can’t survive amidst a sea of hostile Arabs without such powers.

    Today we witnessed the best of Israel’s elite undercover crack commando operatives in action as they…arrested and beat up unarmed teenagers.

    http://www.kabobfest.com/2011/05/super-scary-israeli-commandos-in-action.html

  14. Labour’s Chch MPs are still putting out their Christchurch Earthquake Bulletins btw. They’re up to 47 now.

  15. Here is the link to a French inhabitant of Tokyo who has been keeping everybody posted about the Fukushima power plant over the last two months. According to him the Government of Japan has just announced that reactors no 2 and 3 also melted down in the direct aftermath of the Earthquake.
     
     

  16. Gawd, Jim Mora is on the radio with a couple of old grumpy men who know everything and insist on voicing prejudices rather than see the nuances.
     
     
     

    • Colonial Viper 16.1

      I like public broadcasting but it needs to be seriously sorted out.

    • Morrissey 16.2

      What a disgraceful show it was. Jim’s guests were Graham Bell and John Dunne, the brother of the M.P. for Khandallah.

      The way they went after that woman from the council was ridiculous. Neither of them listened to a word she said. And neither did Jim, sadly.

      Bell is a hard-bitten old cop who is accustomed to others deferring to his bluster. Only occasionally is he paired up with someone prepared to challenge him. Gordon Campbell certainly did, and Bell got very upset and angry. He forgot that it wasn’t the squad-room at the CIB, and Campbell is not a man to be intimidated. A pity that the same can’t be said for Jeremy Elwood and Chris Trotter, who have both bent over backwards to agree with Bell.

      Dunne is a great, great football commentator—far and away the best to cover Canterbury games in the last twenty years. That’s where his talents end, though. His opinions are conservative, which is fine if there is evidence of some thought behind them. Sadly, there seems to be little, on this afternoon’s evidence. Although he has a marvellous, sonorous voice, there’s not a lot going on upstairs from the mouth.

      I’m tired of these sad old self-styled “curmudgeons”—Don Donovan, Garth George and Rosemary McLeod are three more—and their gouty prejudices. They seem to think their advancing years lend them some sort of wisdom, or authority. As we heard this afternoon with the rabid, cloth-eared attack on the council woman, that’s not true at all.

      • ianmac 16.2.1

        Yes Morrissy. They are depressing. I gave up after 40 minutes. Note that Bell reckons NZers love to see how their society works bt watching his crime show. If that is so, we are all drunken, sleazy, deviants. But not the people that I know.

        • Morrissey 16.2.1.1

          Then you obviously don’t mix with people from ACT or the S.S. Trust.

  17. McFlock 17

    New Horizon Poll showing Lab and Nat coalition blocks “neck and neck”, even though labour still on 26%.

  18. Craig 18

    Christian Right pressure group “Family First” will be holding its annual “Forum on “the Family” in Auckland on July 6, 2011. Will this ‘pro-family’ group be discussing *real* issues of importance to mainstream New Zealand families like housing, social service cutbacks, access to medical services, income maintenance and support, quality public education, affordable food, homelessness and poverty.

    Well…no. It will, however, have New Right anti-welfare activist *Lindsay Mitchell* as one of its *keynote scheduled speakers*. Note that there is *no one* scheduled to provide a balancing perspective on welfare policy from mainstream social service providers at the coalface. If I were the Coalition for Social Justice, I’d email Family First and ask why. I’ve already tipped off Sue Bradford (hee hee hee)…

    Oh, and brave Phil Goff is going to be quizzed on his deviation from social conservative ideological purity (their version of political correctness) when it comes to (deep breath) abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, prostitution, welfare policy etc etc, along with Key. Incidentally, why is Key never this forthcoming with LGBT interviewers, progressive journalists or media outlets?

    (ugh): Forum on “the Family”: http://www.forumonthefamily.org.nz

  19. Craig 19

    Oh, and fundamentalist pop parenting guru Ian Grant and Jim Wallace of the fundie “Australian Christian Lobby,” notorious for ranting and raving against Muslim Australians and same-sex marriage proper on Anzac Day…

    • Deborah Kean 19.1

      AFAIK, Ian Grant is not a fundamentalist! You really have to stretch the meaning of fundamentalist to get it to include him. (In fact I would love to know your definition of fundamentalist)
      Vicky

      • Craig 19.1.1

        He opposed the Hero Parade in the nineties and acknowledges that his stance on ‘family’ owes a lot to US Christian Right groups like “Focus on the Family’. Yes, he is a fundie.

  20. Herodotus 20

    Why is the RWC being touted as being a winner for our economy (now a big loser ecomonic wise) when we are giving money away and jobs that we cannot afford to. Whos country and economy is this and who benefits and suffers from these crap decisions??
    And why has that useless opposition (labour no good for anything) not got hold of these and run with them hard in the media and at the conference. (If they did then why was there nothing when searching on the net)
    http://www.worldcup2011newzealand.com/2011/05/tax-breaks-for-rugby-bodies/
    http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/outrage-over-visa-extensions-rugby-world-cup-4186681

  21. todd 21

    Asshole of the Week Award – Edward S. Lancaster

    http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/05/asshole-of-week-award-edward-s.html

    Not many people would have heard of Edward S. Lancaster. He’s a forgettable kind of guy. Mr Lancaster is the head honcho of an Aussie mining exploration company called Grey Wolf Resources NL, which has recently been sniffing around New Zealands resources. But before we get ahead of ourselves, there’s one thing you need to know about Mr Lancaster, he’s a complete conman and has a long history of fraudulence and deceit. No wonder Mr Lancaster has come out in support of Nationals plundering policies. It appears that birds of a feather really do flock together.

  22. Draco T Bastard 22

    Spanish Voters Reject Austerity

    The usual IMF solution, involving preserving capital at workers’ expense – a package including wage and benefit cuts, less social spending, privatizing state resources, mass layoffs, deregulation, lower corporate taxes, maintaining debt service, and harsh crackdowns on resisters.

    In the 1980s, it was Reaganomics, trickle down, and Thatcherism. Today it’s “shock therapy,” and forced austerity, the same scheme pitting capital against people – disposable workers tossed out for big money’s gain, bankers most of all.

    Sound like anywhere close?

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    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats why they introduced the Recently Deleted folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Heres how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on Edit. Select Show Recently Deleted. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose Recover to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    13 hours ago
  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    20 hours ago
  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    20 hours ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    21 hours ago
  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    21 hours ago
  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    21 hours ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    21 hours ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    21 hours ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    21 hours ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    22 hours ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    23 hours ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    23 hours ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    23 hours ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    24 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
    24 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    2 days ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    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 ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to 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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...

    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 ...
    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 ...
    6 days ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 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
    23 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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 ...
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