Open mike 29/12/2012

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, December 29th, 2012 - 45 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…

45 comments on “Open mike 29/12/2012 ”

  1. KhandallaViper 1

    —-What is characterising and feeding the ongoing divide?

    In 2009 an approach to counter Key was necessary: a Hi-profile Leadership strategy was chosen. This became the mantra under both Goff and Shearer: and anything that might distract from a singular public image of Labour being personified through the Leader became verboten.
    That is now characterised by the obsession with The Standard by the Caucus insiders and their staff. The membership 60/40 vote at Conference only confirmed and strengthened an atmosphere of paranoia.
    There are other behaviours, events and attitudes that are characteristic of what is driving the divide in the party.
    The Tamihere thing, so soon after a divisive Conference when calm was needed, involved wanton disregard of the membership’s wishes.
    The continuation of the four years of marginalising Cunliffe is another example.
    The dissing of “not one of us” MPs, and now members, is a characteristic.
    The offering of Labour seats to prominent figures on condition that they buy into the one-voice one-leader mantra is a characteristic of the behaviour splitting the party.
    The not-left not-right stance by the Leadership on social issues is one characteristic that is driving most activist members nuts.
    The mis-management of the very poor public performances for so long, followed by a strategy of only allowing the Leader to speak in rehearsed set-pieces is driving the rest of the members nuts.

    –How can the destructive spell be broken and the ground prepared for a Labour victory in 2014?

    The attitude behind the behaviour above must change.

  2. If you ever needed a reason to feel contempt for Public Relations types then this morning’s Herald provides plenty of them.

    Apparently the phrase “100% pure NZ” is, although factually woefully incorrect, justifiable on the basis that it is an advertising campaign.

    Tourism New Zealand spokeswoman Deborah Gray said some people were confusing the campaign with an environmental issue.

    “The 100 per cent Pure New Zealand campaign is a marketing campaign not an environmental promise,” she said.

    “It tells the story of how the combination of landscapes, people and activities is 100 per cent unique to us, that is 100 per cent pure New Zealand.”

    So all the hints about how great the environment are accidental. All the campaign was meaning to say is that New Zealand is 100% New Zealand, not that it is in pristine environmental shape.

    Another advertising sort David Bibby thought that we were taking it all too literally.

    “Advertising is all about accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative, so if you start from that premise, advertising is a selling process,” he said.

    Truth is obviously less important than achieving the sale.

    Thankfully Professor Shaun Hendy was also interviewed. He said that on a per-capita basis, New Zealand had one of the highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. He backed up Mike Joy’s statement that it was wrong to call NZ “100% pure”.

    It is interesting that there should be a debate on whether the truth or lies should form an acceptable part of an advertising campaign.

    • karol 2.1

      Deborah Gray certainly has the corporate -lie-speak down pat.

      “It tells the story of how the combination of landscapes, people and activities is 100 per cent unique to us, that is 100 per cent pure New Zealand.”

      And, of course, there’s no double meaning intended in the use of “100 per cent pure New Zealand”? – especially when used in connection with pristine-looking landscapes?

      And PhD marketing candidate Bibby is well on the way to perfecting the corporate-speak. He’ll probably be co-opted to being an MP candidate before too long.

    • Mikeysavage:

      So will queensland drop their advert of “Beautiful one day, perfect the next”???? if it rains??

      Of course not, its about branding.

    • xtasy 2.3

      MS: It is all “aspirational” anyway under the Key led government. So anything goes, you can promise the blue sky, tell lies and say, we endeavour to reach the truth and aspire to get better, at all times. That is where we are, and the MSM just repeat the crap, as they are themselves no longer able to work on issues of substance (see the new announcement by Fairfax today).

      MONEY does the talking, and the whores are dancing, as the boat is about to come in, full of desperate sailors, wanting to spend their money to get the hormones going.

  3. veutoviper 3

    Also in today’s Herald online, a well-written rebuttal to Fran O’Sullivan’s column last Saturday white-anting Chief Justice Sian Elias and calling for her to recuse herself from hearing the water rights claim – or at least (I suspect) testing the waters on this.

    O’Sullivan’s column is here

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10855648

    A taste:

    “It would be a big call to challenge the Chief Justice, who has (in fact) presided over at least three Supreme Court hearings in which the Maori Council has been a plaintiff without facing any challenge from the Executive. But Cabinet ministers are understood to have asked Crown Law to look at whether grounds do in fact exist for a challenge, or a request to be made to her to stand aside.

    Elias’ prior connections with the Maori Council were so deep that it is surprising that issue has not come up in a considered way before.”

    Bold is mine. Many of the 41 comments on the article were negative to O’Sullivan’s assertions

    Today’s rebuttal is by Richard Cornes – “Dr Richard Cornes is a NZ-trained lawyer and legal academic specialising in Supreme Courts. He is a senior law lecturer at Essex University, in England.”

    Dr Cornes is succinct,to the point and well-worth reading – and hopefully IMO his rebuttal will put an end to any suggestion the the Chief Justice should be challenged or recuse herself. As he points out:


    The Chief Justice was appointed to the bench in 1995 during the fourth National Government’s term of office. It must be at least 17 years since she acted for the Maori Council, and quite possibly more. Simply having been the council’s lawyer does not come close to meeting the threshold set by the common law for recusal.

    There have not been similar calls for the court’s second most senior member, Justice McGrath, to recuse himself whenever the Government is a party before the Court. Justice John McGrath was the Solicitor-General (the Government’s top lawyer) for 11 years before he became a judge in 2000. On the reasoning attributed in Saturday’s report to the unnamed Cabinet ministers – that having acted for a party over a significant period disqualifies a judge from hearing cases involving his or her old client – Justice McGrath would spend an awful lot of time alone in his Supreme Court office while his colleagues decided all those cases involving the Government. That would obviously be nonsensical. And there is nothing odd about having appointed a former Solicitor General to the bench – to do so is common elsewhere in the world.

    New Zealand has a proud history of an independent and impartial judiciary. We can take comfort that all the judges who will sit on the water rights appeal – not just Chief Justice Elias – will give the parties a fair hearing and decide the case according to the law. It would be best if a named Cabinet minister came forward and said so.

    I somhow doubt that we will see “a named Cabinet minister come forward”.

    • Fortran 3.1

      Sure the Cabinet Minister was real – oh – it will spoil the story otherwise.

    • xtasy 3.2

      O’Sullivan is a real damned trouble maker and biased stirrer, I must say. She was trying to politicise the appointment of judges in general. If she would have her way, most judges would not be allowed to hear any cases, as they would all have been acting as legal representatives of various parties before, who may bring new cases, and thus put them at risk of “privilege” or bias.

      That is well over the top. I do not rule out that some judges may be biased on certain issues due to personal views. But the fact is: Judges have a role and responsibility to interpret the law and to rule on existing law as it is.

      That sets clear standards and limits on what a judge can do.

      The personal view or emotions of a judge will have to be put behind this absolute requirement, to interpret and apply the law, as it is written and valid.

      NZ is in political terms perhaps close to being a “banana republic” kind of system, but I cannot really see this to be the case at the courts.

      We have had controversial rulings and determinations over year, and always some will say, that makes no sense, that is biased or whatever. But generally, my impression is, besides of the executive and legislative, the judiciary is about the least corrupted and most independent institution in NZ.

      So Dame Elias is there, will also not make a decision on her own at Supreme Court level anyway, and I think Fran O’Sillivan went over the top yet again with another politically motivated article, to throw doubt into an area she has little knowledge and qualifications in. I am really sick of Fran’s articles, most of which are so damned biased, and she is one of the worst examples of modern day journalism in NZ.

  4. Polish Pride 4

    !o Signs we live in a false Economy
    very American but there are many parallels with NZ not to mention thant the US economy and financial markets have been shown to have a significant flow on effect to the rest of the world…. food for thought anyway..

    http://www.theidealistrevolution.com/10-signs-we-live-in-a-false-economy/

  5. Rogue Trooper 5

    Doc; Hebrews 10:25 (i know, it’s a battle)

    now what about smiles and greetings in the street? I observe a 50 / 50 response rate; yin yang, or
    Bipolar Nation

    Scar Tissue-RHCP say it all? Mr Sarcasm and know-it-all
    (Been Away Too Long-Soundgarden); hope you’re not working for the art race-Ska

    Fairfax tears holes in the worth of tissues

    Whanganui Infrastructure “stinks”; Laws should feel Right at home checking out the crack

    Nick Lowe-Jesus of Cool? i coulda been a Lawyer a Doctor or a Thief, it’s all the same to Thee

    (the dogs are talking…the dogs are talking, Underground, according to the Soul Surgeon)
    (to that Guy, I collected childrens games too; Snakes and Ladders)

    11:2 When pride comes, then comes dis grace, but with Humility comes wisdom

    4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath
    ya gotta roll the correct throw to get outta this place

    The Message of Isaiah in 24 is that of a Damaged World
    -devastation of the earth
    -sellers and buyers
    -borrowers and lenders
    -debtors and creditors

    The earth dries up and withers, languishes and withers in the Heat, defiled by it’s people through
    disobedience and a broken covenant (coven) of stewardship; regretfully, people must bear the
    guilt for what they have harmed. Better a culture of guilt than shame.

    Be still and know that I am watching
    Be still and know that I am listening
    Be still and know that I am tasting
    Be still and know that I am touching
    Be still and know that I am feeling
    Be still and know that I am
    Be still and know
    Be still
    Be
    (mmmm…smell that fragrance) Could be Barbiecue

    Right, lets leave the City, and erect a tent city; Sheriff Joe Arpaio would see the possibilities.

    cos we’re livin with a love for the common people, far from the hearts of a family man
    cues and cues at (former) Fantasyland. The things that we will do for our children to see
    yet cannot see to do for our children; bus y lanes for mobility scooters next?

    -One Good Man. (Rossington Collins Band) Three Times As Bad
    This is The Way, Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere
    (gimme three steps Mr, gimme three steps more, gimme three steps Mr and we’ll be in the door…

    It’s The End of the World as we know it, and I feel fine; gonna be Made, over 30, In The Shade

  6. Rogue Trooper 6

    Rode over this button sign on the cycle Way here-
    http://www.skip.org.nz/ (links are not happening for me, but we can type)

    now, back to

    Jonah (easily deceived and senseless)

    sooo, Assyria defeats Damascus, ending almost a century of sporadic see-saw conflict
    between Israel and it’s neighbour
    (prior to that time the king of Damascus had even been able to control Internal Affairs in the
    northern kingdom)

    Yet, soon after Triumph, Israel began to gloat over new-found power, feeling jealously complacent about her forward status with God, focusing on her “expectations” of the “day of the LORD” when
    darkness would engulf other sites leaving Israel to bask in His light (not).

    The Lord announced he would “spare them no longer”, and this included sending Jonah to Nineveh
    (like a Glittering Prize, up on the Waterfront, get in, get out of the rain; Don’t you forget about me,
    I’ll be around, dancing with you baby…), i digress, to warn of the imminent danger of divine judgement.
    There is an assumption; the books’ accounts sprang essentially from the whales imagination.
    Nonetheless, the book of Jonah recounts real events in the life and trembling ministry of the
    Hooked himself;

    But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish (Phoenicia?, well plenty of sails)
    anyway, Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea. All the sailors were afraid and each cried
    Out, to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the load. Then the sailors
    said, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity”. You know where they fell (they knew he was running away from the Lord because he had already told them so)

    Meanwhile, the sea was getting higher and saltier. “Pick me up and throw me into the sea”, replied Jonah, “I know this is my fault that this great blitz has come upon you.”

    But,,the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah. Thus he began his slippery prayer, which could have been a prayer of thanksgiving for deliverance as he was sinking into the depths of a
    Great Depression; his gratitude could have been heightened by his knowledge that he deserved
    Death, but that God had shown him extraordinary mercy.

    And then what? After God spares the sacks at Nineveh Jonah was angry that God would have
    Compassion on an enemy of Israel; “O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than
    continue spewing this filth.

    Jonah goes at sits on an eastern beach, maybe out pass the dump, (probably be “green fields”
    developments soon). There he made himself a panic shelter, sat in it’s shade with a chardonnay
    and waited to see what Len and Gerry would do to the city. Then, the Lord God provided a vine,
    made it grow up over Jonah to give shade from the UV and also ease his discomfort.

    Initially, Jonah was very happen with the vine (probably a castor Oil plant, God being gracious
    towards this stubborn “prophet”), but at the dawn of the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine in a Standard way so that it withered. When the Son rose, God provided a
    scorching East wind, and the Son blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. Thus, he wanted
    to be cast and die again; “Angry” he cried out to God, “I am angry enough to die”.

    -Her Man (Karma Police; this is what you get when you mess around)

  7. Rogue Trooper 7

    “if you do not at first succeed, try and try again”; correction, do not try, Do!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvAn8PzM-c8

  8. Rogue Trooper 8

    A-freakinmen 🙂 (still no p.c)

    🙂

    • Populuxe1 9.1

      African American. Jew. Jew. Sensing a theme….

      • Morrissey 9.1.1

        I sense a theme: your continued desperation, evident all too clearly in your inability to argue without telling the most rancorous lies.

        • McFliper 9.1.1.1

          I found it pretty funny.

          • Morrissey 9.1.1.1.1

            Yes, Hive Mind Syndrome does that to people.

            • McFliper 9.1.1.1.1.1

              Or it could just be that it was a pretty funny comment, but your conceit doesn’t let you see it.

              • Morrissey

                Funny if you’re in the business of slandering someone, as you are ineptly trying to do.

                Otherwise, it’s about as funny as a Bernard Manning routine attacking “the Pakis”, an Andrew Dice Clay rant against Asians, or a Seinfeld quip about “ugly homeless people”.

                • McFliper

                  Nope. It was funny against you and only you simply because it juxtaposed your description of the photo with previous debates you have had with P.

                  Oh, and those who falsely accuse others of having been found guilty in a law court should be wary of using the “slander” accusation. Just saying.

                  • Morrissey

                    Nope. It was funny against you and only you simply because it juxtaposed your description of the photo with previous debates you have had with P.

                    Previous “debates”? Hurling absurd, groundless but incendiary accusations is not debating in any accepted sense of the word.

                    ….those who falsely accuse others of having been found guilty in a law court should be wary of using the “slander” accusation. Just saying.

                    What on earth are you darkly insinuating? It looks like your job is to issue ominous vague warnings while the other fellow hurls around the inflammatory language.

                    Either way, you look like a pair of incompetent clowns.

                    Unfunny clowns, to boot.

                    • McFliper

                      Previous “debates”? Hurling absurd, groundless but incendiary accusations is not debating in any accepted sense of the word.

                      Then why do you do it?
                      For example:

                      What on earth are you darkly insinuating?

                      So your memory expires some time before the five day duration. I was simply “insinuating” that your repeated accusations of others being defamatory are somewhat hypocritical. And every time you make one, it gives others an opportunity to describe you as a delusional and obsessive hypocrite. Hence maybe you should try another tactic, such as (and I’m just throwing this out there as an option) providing evidence for your claims.

                • Te Reo Putake

                  “… or a Seinfeld quip about “ugly homeless people”.”

                  Citation. please, Moz. I’d hate to think you’re making shit up again.

                  • Morrissey

                    “… or a Seinfeld quip about “ugly homeless people”.”

                    Citation. please, Moz. I’d hate to think you’re making shit up again.

                    ELAINE: You know what? That’s discriminatory. That is unfair. Why should these women have all the advantages? It’s not enough they get all the attention from men, they have to get all the waitress jobs, too?

                    JERRY: Hey that’s life. Good-looking men have the same advantages. You don’t see any handsome homeless.

                    (scene ends)

                    [setting: doctor’s clinic]

                    GEORGE: You see, It’s right here. It’s all white…

                    DOCTOR: Oh yeah. Yeah. I’ve never seen this before.

                    GEORGE: You’ve never seen this before?

                    http://www.seinology.com/scripts/script-63.shtml

                    • Te Reo Putake

                      Thanks for that, Morrissey. Good to see you pointing out your own mistakes, that’s a sign of maturity.

                    • Morrissey

                      Thanks for that, Morrissey. Good to see you pointing out your own mistakes, that’s a sign of maturity.

                      What mistake did I make? Did Seinfeld sneer at homeless people or not?

                      Or perhaps you think it’s funny to laugh at the down and out.

                    • Te Reo Putake

                      Your mistake was using quotation marks. And misunderstanding the joke.

                      Full list of Seinfeld writers here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098904/fullcredits

                      Amazingly, some of the names don’t appear to be Jewish. But that just shows the cunning of the IDF/JDL/Zionist conspiracy, doesn’t it?

                    • Morrissey

                      And you’re still, moronically, trying to smear me as a conspiracist anti-Semite.

                      Character assassination might seem easy, I guess, but you’re not really clever enough to keep telling lies like this.

                    • Te Reo Putake

                      I don’t write the comments that have “Morrissey” at the top. They’re all your own work.

                    • Morrissey

                      No, that didn’t work, either, my friend.

                      Larry David you are not.

      • Pascal's bookie 9.1.2

        Pretty dodgy that that’s what you see when you look at that picture Pop. Apart from Wolfowitz, who else is Jewish there BTW?

    • None, was it a trick question?

      • Pascal's bookie 9.2.1

        Cheney is most definitely a war criminal. Check out his role in the development of the torture program for starters, and the attempts to keep it out of the courts including the pressure he was putting on Justice officials.

      • Morrissey 9.2.2

        Idiot.

    • xtasy 9.4

      I heard Bush senior was in hospital too, due to serious ill health. Now is this the curse coming to follow all those war mongers that went mad in Iraq??

  9. Rogue Trooper 10

    Taxi, “Taxi Cab” (sounded good if you can hail it)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDr-8ezlpU

  10. Rogue Trooper 11

    Do you see what I see…Do you see what I see…
    all over bar the shouting now. Peace in our times?
    Obama’s “Politics of Hope”?
    Wow! Firefighting heart attacks as ambulance
    Crews struggle to gurney all the demand
    (inside goss’; that field their RHnesses graced is “not very friendly”)
    Thats strange, plenty of pubs, yet it’s all on the q.t about “that” Guy
    everyone knows someone, Everybody knows the dice are loaded
    everybody knows the good guys lost
    Emmerson takes an excellent toss of the waldork salad.

    Boehner, what a no-brainer
    “sometimes Satan come as a man of peace”
    (he flays and blames the game) two-faced plier
    Syria; S.O.C it to the Ass. Ad-“more bloody chaos to come”
    Thatcher and Savile from the same predatory row.

    H.B.Today: power rises prices on av $107 p.a up to $2fitty (Nat; 117, 400 respectfully yours)
    Privatisation and dribbling asset sales. Further spiking to come for 13. Filthy Few
    commercial Krays lie their pots a stones throw from the shore.

    The Lord sung sam a telegram Tool today
    Cayced the “H” and “Stinkfist” out
    so, for $19 prepaid per month we are able
    and willing to keep tabs on the posse and the pound
    a stirling idea.This freedom tramping is a real take off
    virtually rock into your local public library
    use the loo. Staff log on;
    News Sources
    Press Display
    Library Access
    Titles by Country, Wallah, world at our fingertips for free
    Thats two steps, just some a.v to see the whites of their lyin feline eyes
    To go thanks. Yes, I would walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more
    to be the man who fools you at your door. Brut 24 hour performance
    Nothin’ like an original Better Man Spoonman for Pearl Jam.

    Low”burn” (couldn’t make that up) High”bury” too
    Whats next? Poverty Bay? Flick is my name
    now when aussie has it’s scrubfires, kiwis have the same
    Tokes urea out his rrrs. Animal Nitrate
    It’s not only India where men give women a curry up
    Calling Doctor Bombay, Calling Doctor Bombay
    Swami Berlusconi’s got away and “returns from the dead”.
    that silver fox

    SAM’s bewitching Arabian Knights
    steaming into narrow straits.’Muz next?
    another rogue “satellite” state 4.95 a plate
    Pyongyangs gettin’ in tune Going Mobile
    another “Shining Son”
    Starvation is a spreading problem; Marmageddon.

    New Brighton, old brighton apiers
    water water everywhere.Wizard spell it.does.not.sink
    back to science; blindly stab botox in the park next son?
    (one luckless family’s holiday tent is pitched at the ablution entrance)
    great sadness to see. always the bungled and botched
    “she’ll be right mate”

    -The Singing Detective (with a long ride from Black Bess)
    -rest tomorow N.I.B, oops I meant Born Again (keep it warm) 😉
    check out The Warning

  11. Rogue Trooper 12

    We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because some are slow to learn.12. In fact
    though by this time you could be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of
    God’s word all over again. You prefer milk, not solid food! 13. Anyone who lives on milk, being still
    an infant, is not aquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature,
    (us old soldiers here bearing The Standard), who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from unhelpful thinking. Therefore, let us leave the elementary teachings about
    Christ (knows what?) and go on to maturity etc etc.

    IV.It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who
    have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are
    crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

    Seven. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop Useful to those for who it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces gorse and california thistles
    is worthless and in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
    (this may well be “hypothetical”, a warning, or a prophecy of more loss to come, yet I do not make stuff up; all these ramblings just come, I scrawl a few lines for about an hour while having
    break fast, or cycling / walking around and then The Word just flows out; the immature beseech
    me to speak in “tongues” Hello? 🙂 )

    anyway, Jesus is more than ” just alright” with me; Way.

    -John (Back Pages Man)(just checked “beseech” with merriam, and thats exactly what “they”
    attempt. Oh Well, good thing I began with Mk VII and am a convinced Universalist, yet,
    How long, how long must we sing this song?

    Heretaunga.

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    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks for Monday, April 22
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: writes via his substack that’s he’s sceptical about the IPSOS poll last week suggesting a slide into authoritarianism here, writing: Kiwis seem to want their cake and eat it too Tal Aster writes for about How Israel turned homeowners into YIMBYs. writes via his ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The media were given a little list and hastened to pick out Fast Track prospects – but the Treaty ...
     Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Just trying to stay upright
    It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • “Unprecedented”
    Today, former Port of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson went on trial on health and safety charges for the death of one of his workers. The Herald calls the trial "unprecedented". Firstly, it's only "unprecedented" because WorkSafe struck a corrupt and unlawful deal to drop charges against Peter Whittall over Pike ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Time for “Fast-Track Watch”
    Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on fast track powers, media woes and the Tiktok ban
    Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
    2 days ago
  • The Government’s new fast-track invitation to corruption
    Bryce Edwards writes-  The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    2 days ago
  • Maori push for parallel government structures
    Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • An announcement about an announcement
    Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • All the Green Tech in China.
    Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Western Express Success
    In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard’s pick ‘n’ mix of the news links at 7:16am on Monday, April 22
    TL;DR: These six news links stood out in the last 24 hours to 7:16am on Monday, April 22:Labour says Kiwis at greater risk from loan sharks as Govt plans to remove borrowing regulations NZ Herald Jenee TibshraenyHow did the cost of moving two schools blow out to more than $400m?A ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to April 29 and beyond
    TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #16
    A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
    2 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: The Government’s new fast-track invitation to corruption
    The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Thank you
    This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Determining the Engine Type in Your Car
    Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
    3 days ago
  • How to Become a Race Car Driver: A Comprehensive Guide
    Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
    3 days ago
  • How Many Cars Are There in the World in 2023? An Exploration of Global Automotive Statistics
    Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
    3 days ago
  • How Long Does It Take for Car Inspection?
    Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
    3 days ago
  • Who Makes Mazda Cars?
    Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
    3 days ago
  • How Often to Replace Your Car Battery A Comprehensive Guide
    Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
    3 days ago
  • Can You Register a Car Without a License?
    In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the Rule If you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
    3 days ago
  • Mazda: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Reliability, Value, and Performance
    Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
    3 days ago
  • What Are Struts on a Car?
    Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
    3 days ago
  • What Does Car Registration Look Like: A Comprehensive Guide
    Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
    3 days ago
  • How to Share Computer Audio on Zoom
    Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
    4 days ago
  • How Long Does It Take to Build a Computer?
    Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
    4 days ago
  • How to Put Your Computer to Sleep
    Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
    4 days ago
  • What is Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT)?
    Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
    4 days ago
  • iPad vs. Tablet Computers A Comprehensive Guide to Differences
    In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
    4 days ago
  • How Are Computers Made?
    A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
    4 days ago
  • How to Add Voice Memos from iPhone to Computer
    Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
    4 days ago
  • Why My Laptop Screen Has Lines on It: A Comprehensive Guide
    Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
    4 days ago
  • How to Right-Click on a Laptop
    Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
    4 days ago
  • Where is the Power Button on an ASUS Laptop?
    Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
    4 days ago
  • How to Start a Dell Laptop: A Comprehensive Guide
    Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
    4 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Serious populist discontent is bubbling up in New Zealand
    Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • How to Take a Screenshot on an Asus Laptop A Comprehensive Guide with Detailed Instructions and Illu...
    In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
    4 days ago
  • How to Factory Reset Gateway Laptop A Comprehensive Guide
    A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
    4 days ago
  • The Folly Of Impermanence.
    You talking about me?  The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
    4 days ago
  • A crisis of ambition
    Roger Partridge  writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Have 308 people in the Education Ministry’s Curriculum Development Team spent over $100m on a 60-p...
    Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • 'This bill is dangerous for the environment and our democracy'
    Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Bank of our Tamariki and Mokopuna.
    Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The worth of it all
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, 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?Full story Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
    Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
    4 days ago
  • What is the Most Expensive Sport?
    The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
    4 days ago
  • Pickleball On the Cusp of Olympic Glory
    Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
    4 days ago
  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
    Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
    4 days ago
  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
    Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
    4 days ago
  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    4 days ago
  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
    Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
    4 days ago
  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
    The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
    4 days ago
  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    4 days ago
  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    4 days ago
  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    4 days ago
  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    4 days ago
  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    5 days ago
  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week ago

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