Prwoperty rwights!

Written By: - Date published: 7:36 pm, May 13th, 2013 - 130 comments
Categories: capitalism, Economy - Tags:

Over at Kiwiblog David Farrar’s having a big cry about the Greens indicating they’d legislate against the dodgy contract this government has struck with Sky city. To David, the property rights conveyed by contract law are paramount above all other rights. Including the rights of the people of a sovereign nation to have their government to exercise their will.

We’ve seen this tactic play out for a long time – right wing governments privatising goods and services away from the public good. They’ll often step all over human rights as they do so – both big time (think Pinochet’s murderous regime) and small time (such as Paula Bennett’s disregard of the privacy of beneficiaries). Then they start crying about property rights and invoking the might of international capital if anyone suggests changing back.

Well I can understand how every political party supporter wants to see their party’s legacy intact forever and ever, but David is being a little bit precious with his scaremongering. Let’s put it this way, David, your Thatcherite ideals have had a bloody good run in this country. By my count your lot have had their way for nearly thirty years.

But you need to understand that this time is coming to a close. There is no longer an opposition that is willing to maintain this consensus and there’s no taste left for it in the electorate at large. And, at some stage, whether it be 2014 or 2017, things are going to change.

And by my reckoning they’ll stay changed for at least another thirty years – that’s roughly how long these things seem to go. So David, I suggest you calm down a little (and you too Phil O’Reilly) and start getting used to the fact that we’re all swinging back to the centre from the far right. It’s about bloody time.

130 comments on “Prwoperty rwights! ”

  1. QoT 1

    I love how when Opposition parties make clear public statements about policy options, it’s “sabotage”. When it’s Farrar’s mates flogging off the people’s infrastructure because they really suck at creating actual wealth and “need” more profitable things to invest it, it’s “good financial management” or whatever words to that effect.

    • karol 1.1

      Yes. NAct supporters are usually aggressively attacking the opposition parties for (in their view) having no policies.

      The full on moves to corporate dictatorship exposed by this dirty Sky City deal, have got me very angry. This is what corporate dictatorship looks like.

      • Enough is Enough 1.1.1

        Warning:

        Please refrain from reading any further down this thread.

        It descends into something far worse than the sewer.

        Ps not a response to you Karol, just getting this in near the top

        • Tom Gould 1.1.1.1

          Frankly, I’m tired of Farrar turning up in the media as some sort of independent commentator when he is clearly an arch-Tory and is paid by the Tories. Credibility zero. Integrity zero. Hypocrisy max.

          • Rodel 1.1.1.1.1

            It does surprise and disappoint me that RNZ and others present him this way. Surely they know who he works for.

    • ghostrider888 1.2

      “we” were discussing last evening how all the corporate forces came to bear on the NZPower proposal; pretty blatent “opposition”

  2. “Over at Kiwiblog David Farrar’s having a big cry about the Greens”

    That’s because he takes the coin from his masters purse and earns it word for word for word.
    His type are the first to run.

    • Tim 2.1

      “His type are the first to run.”

      Is that a typo? I’d have said his Hype are the first to run.

      They’re all having a fucking big cry about the Greens – if only because they realise they’ve probably overdone the goodwill the Lektrit has given them, and probably even overspent their political capital. (Pardon the offensive terminology)

      I’m really hoping they (the Keystone Coppers, the MSM, the Farrars, the absolute lot of ’em) stick to their respective agendas: The – MSM (where growing numbers are finding it hard to take them seriously); The National Party (and affiliates) – where its becoming increasingly obvious to a growing number of the ‘all’ that they are basically self-serving (not unlike previous oppositions however – but never underestimate the desire of a Lektrit to throw the buggers out when they realise there’s a same shit-different stink at play); Nenny Statism; a long overdue realisation by Sleepy Hobbits that one faction stands for ‘corporate welfare’, whereas the other stands for ‘Social/Public/Voting-People/Mum-in Dead Vestas/JoeAvridge Welfare. (I.e. those that actually HAVE a vote – we’re not yet at the stage where corporations and the limited liability get a vote in the nature of a person – but I’m sure it woudn’t be that far off on Planet Koi).
      I’m not saying we (Hobbits awake, Koiwois, et al) but NAct are quite obviously running scared.
      IT’s a bugger dear ole Aaron has gone – I wonder whether he’s ekshly got the balls to go ferral.

      There’s all this fear and loathing going on by those trying to (for example) justify the Sky deal – and most other shonkey shit the money trader has had a hand in.

      Joyce, Key, and ALL his minions can scream foul as much as they like. They can even try their best to lock future democratically elected governments in to regimes that attempt to ensure their will.

      Any new gubbamint, and one with balls, duly elected, and with a mandate has various means to unravel the likes of Key’s ideological imperative.
      It could be done (abiding by whatever ‘deals they strike’) – unless the beneficiaries of such deals are prepared to forgo any semblance of being within democratically elected sovereign territory.

      (Hint – one simple way is via a Sovereign Nation-State’s right to raise taxes – something someone elsewhere on this site has alluded to). IT could also be done in a way that the defenders of democratic principles couldn’t possibly object to its implementation.

      What side do you want to be on Mr Key?
      (Awe, yea, but Nah, I’m comfortable going forward).

      My only concern is that the current opposition ‘leadership’ (and I use that word with reservation), doesn’t have the balls or readiness to implement the necessary at short notice – as was the case when Muldoon was about to fall. I sincerely hope they have a plan – logistical and strategic.

    • Paul 2.2

      Maybe if the Greens win, people like Farrar and will decide to leave New Zealand and inflict their odious world views on others.

    • Ennui 2.3

      Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself are much condemned to have an itching palm, To sell and mart your offices for gold to undeservers.

  3. vto 3

    Farrar’s point on this is the ultimate in hypocrisy….. and uselessness…..

    This far right government is legislating to overturn not just a contract of an earlier government but an entire law, The Gambling Whatsitsname Act 2003.

    And yep, the right’s entire philosophy around business and investment has been proved impotent. Example, having to give the NZX people a government-owned business so they having something worthwhile to invest in. Pathetic pussies.

    I mean, if the business world was as good as government in creating wealth it would have created its own electricity companies. They’ve had 30 years or more to do so. The bloody “assets” (i.e. the dams) are all valued up in these things so no cry about having to build such a big thing. (exactly like the dairy industry – also on the tit of government)

    But they haven’t. New Zealand business has not created any of the serious wealth on the NZX, they just leach off it. Leach off the government, like big sookie cry babies who need nanny government to hold their widdle hand.

    They are by any measure more bludging than the biggest beneficiary in the land.

    Bwoody bwudging business sqwealing my pwoperty wights, my pwroperty wights, they bwoody make me thick.

    • Tim 3.1

      I’m glad you characterise this bugger’s muddle that’s called a government as “far right”.

      Everywhere, it’s referred to as ‘centre right’, yet if you actually look at the incremental (but very consistent) changes, it’d be the closest thing to a fascist government I’ve ever come across in 50 years.

      • karol 3.1.1

        Yep.

      • Myrlock 3.1.2

        The closest thing to fascist government i have ever come across.

      • Paul 3.1.3

        The people defining it as centre right as extreme right.

      • SpaceMonkey 3.1.4

        Agreed!

        • Tim 3.1.4.1

          Many on here (the last time I made the comment that this gubbamint was the closest thing to fascism I’ve ever seen) disagreed, arguing that the Nationalist element was missing.
          What I reckon they fail to realise is that there IS an ultra-nationalism at play. That nationalism is simply “corporate nationalism” – or “the Corporate Nation”. Funny (strange funny) really in that its disciples are usually those that object to the concepts of a Maori Nation, or The Nation of Islam – collective affinities and cultures that can exist within geographic spaces – often legally defined entities called States. I often despair about the Middle East situation and what is described as a 2 state solution. What they really mean is a 2 nation solution with (or without) a single state.
          Even more depressing is that, just like the last wave of fascism, citizenry failed to wake up till well after it had bitten them in the bum.
          Apathy is the Corporate Nation’s greatest friend.

      • Populuxe1 3.1.5

        Why? Were you in a coma for the Muldoon years? No, the current crop of Nats, wheile many loathesome things, aren’t Far Right, not by any stretch of the imagination. The American Democrats are Far RIght compared to National (even with ACT in tow).

    • Murray Olsen 3.2

      Can’t argue with such cogently expressed sentiment.

  4. Anne 4

    Love your title IB. Says it all. He’s always reminded me of a spoilt brat.

  5. Alanz 5

    I’m waiting for the other David, apparently the leader of a major opposition party, to speak out.

  6. Wayne 6

    Irish Bill,

    Legislating against a specific agreement, without compensation (as opposed to say increasing taxes, increasing social provision, implementing Power Co, expanding KiwiSaver or a host of similar things) is not a centre position. It is a far left position. Actually quite similar to Venezuela or Argentina.

    And I might add I thought that the comparison of Power Co to North Korea was not tenable. It seemed to me to be a quite conventional social democratic position and would not really surprise other nations like us, or the capital markets. It would be simply priced in, as indeed it was.

    I guess that is why Labour has not immediately endorsed the Greens view. They will know the risk to New Zealand’s reputation.

    • vto 6.1

      “Legislating against a specific agreement, without compensation (as opposed to say increasing taxes, increasing social provision, implementing Power Co, expanding KiwiSaver or a host of similar things) is not a centre position. It is a far left position. Actually quite similar to Venezuela or Argentina.”

      So by your brainless logic, legislating FOR a specific agreement is actually a far right position, which is exactly what people have been saying about this government for a long time. That it is like a Chile or a USA.

      ffs

      • Ed 6.1.1

        I think the Labour Party and the Greens are playing this one very well. Some needed to hear that the deal will be dealt to – others need to hear that this will not be done in a way that costs us a lot of money – or just as valuable in terms of reputation risk. As others have pointed out, there are other ways of achieving the objective, but there is no point in talking them through before the current deal is clearer and cannot be changed. Even a foreshortened parliamentary process will give opportunities for the stupidity of this policy to be clearly spelled out.

      • Populuxe1 6.1.2

        It’s no more absurd than characterising Fonterra as a socialist collective.

        • Colonial Viper 6.1.2.1

          it’s a capitalist suppliers collective. And a very effective, profitable one.

        • vto 6.1.2.2

          .

          it’s a collective pop, that’s the point about fonterra

          it is obviously worth replicating over all the new zealand landscape, not just the farming landscape

    • karol 6.2

      “the risk to New Zealand’s reputation” with whom?

      I can’t say I’m proud to be in a country that does such a dirty deal, enabling money laundering, and not creating anything productive or useful to the majority of Kiwis, while leeching off some of the most vulnerable.

      Would only that this government would put so much effort into building the affordable housing that so many low income Kiwis need now?

      I can’t tell you how disgusted I am with this deal.

      Not proud to be an Aucklander right now, either.

      • thatguynz 6.2.1

        +1 Hear hear. I gave up being a proud New Zealander in a political or economic sense quite some time ago. Our government was subjugated and nobody seemed to give a damn (and the vast majority still don’t).. If anyone believes that they serve us, the people then I have an igloo to sell you in Hawaii..

        What “representative democracy” had turned into in New Zealand is an unadulterated disgrace and quite frankly is simply disgusting.

        • Grantoc 6.2.1.1

          Your sanctimonious hysteria is laughable.

          If you really believe that “representative democracy ….. is an unadulterated disgrace and quite frankly disgusting” in NZ etc etc ; there is a solution – you could go and find your Green/Socialist paradise elsewhere.

          Maybe North Korea fits the bill? They even call themselves the Democratic Republic of North Korea. Tailor made for you.

          • Colonial Viper 6.2.1.1.1

            You speak of sanctimonious hysteria in your first paragraph.

            And finish with North Korea in your last.

            The irony (stupidity) I can’t decide which.

          • One Anonymous Knucklehead 6.2.1.1.2

            Grantoc, you tinpot wanker, where do you get off telling NZ citizens to leave the country? What a piece of trash.

            • Grantoc 6.2.1.1.2.1

              Well, you are living proof my point Knucklehead.

              No rational well argued counter argument from you. Simply a hysterical torrent of abuse when a point of view is expressed that you disagree with.

              How can you be taken seriously?

              Cheers

              [lprent: Perhaps if you’d made an effort and made an “rational well argued” argument that was more than the ravings of a complete fuckwit irrelevantly raving about North Korea, you’d actually get a counter argument. At present I have you pegged as a simple flame troll. Read the policy and consider that you just got your second warning.

              And please stop waving your dick around – that is something you could do on Whaleoil with the other people whose brain resides in a shrivelled pale blue phallus. ]

              • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                To merit a counter-argument you’d need to have made an argument in the first place, instead of telling people to leave the country like some sort of frustrated meter maid.

                I’m quite happy with the way my comment expresses my contempt for you, thanks.

    • IrishBill 6.3

      Legislating against a specific agreement, without compensation (as opposed to say increasing taxes, increasing social provision, implementing Power Co, expanding KiwiSaver or a host of similar things) is not a centre position. It is a far left position. Actually quite similar to Venezuela or Argentina.

      And that, Wayne, is the exactly the argument we’ve heard from the right again and again. The problem is, you can’t have a centrist social democratic mixed economy when everything has been locked into a neoliberal paradigm by a series of contractual arrangements. Unless you bust those arrangements.

      Like David, you’re suffering from a failure of imagination – just because you believe in the ultimate sanctity of contract doesn’t make it a natural fact. Indeed, you should have considered the long-term implications of your actions when you (and other right-wing governments) tried to use that notion to lock in unpopular and divisive economic policies.

      I guess that is why Labour has not immediately endorsed the Greens view. They will know the risk to New Zealand’s reputation.

      OMG. Are you saying we might slip from being the second best country in the world to do business in to the 10th??? That we might find it a tiny bit harder to borrow money to fuel our housing bubble??? And all we’d get in return is some economic sovereignty and a more egalitarian society??? Well bugger me, maybe you’re right. Or maybe you’re just invoking the might of international capital to keep your legacy of economic disparity intact. You know, like I said you would.

    • Pascal's bookie 6.4

      Wayne, what seems to me to be different about this deal is that one side of it is regulatory.

      Joyce was on the radio comparing it to other contracts governments enter into, like road building, or what-have-you, but that strikes me as being different in terms of the nature of the deal.

      The government has been quite clear about the benefit of this deal being that the crown isn’t having to pony up any dosh, which just highlights how different it is to a road construction.

      Instead this deal is around the regulatory environment in which the casino expects to operate in for the thick end of half a century. It does seem problematic to me that the government is cutting a deal which, on the face of it, just exempts a company from whatever an elected government might choose to do.

      The pokies is the least of it. What if the cashless systems are used for money laundering, as they are in many other places? We will have to compensate SkyCity, who has already had issues with the, ahem, seedier parts of the economy, if we want to clean it up?

      The icing on the cake was seeing the casino boss on the TV talking about how difficult it is to deal with regulatory risk. Almost as if running a casino involves a bit of a gamble.

      Another point is that this deal pays for the convention centre via externalities. If the centre is not economic for the owner, but would be beneficial for the city, then the way to fund it should either be through a tax or ratepayer subsidy, or via finding out who the beneficiaries are of the economic growth and targeting them via a levy of some sort. This is not only clearly a case of government picking winners, but of hidden transfers.

      At the end of the day, we have gambling regulations for reasons. If those reasons are shit, then we should get rid of the regs. But if we do not want to get rid of the regulations because we think they actually serve a good purpose, then this deal is can only be seen as a corruption of those regulations in order to give wealth to selected individuals.

      In which case the risk of that corruption being messed with by a future government is a risk the casino has taken on with its eyes wide open. If they can’t afford to lose, they shouldnae fucking gamble.

    • ghostrider888 6.5

      it’s NZPower, get off the Mapp.

  7. “I’m the Queen and I can do what I bloody well like!” ~ Blackadder

    The old adage that the king can do no wrong means that if the king does do wrong then he is no longer rightfully the king, and no duty exists to obey him.

    “If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so.” ~ Thomas Jefferson.

  8. Dv 8

    Property rights was the argument used by the slavers against abolishing slavery!!!

  9. Making fun of someone with a speech impediment.

    Real Classy guys.

    • IrishBill 9.1

      He’s got a speech impediment? I can’t say I’d noticed that – I was simply aping the tory-boy stereotype to underscore his petulance. I think you’re letting your political correctness get a wee bit carried away there, Brett.

      • Brett Dale 9.1.2

        He was born with it, as a child, your making fun of it? What’s next, make fun of a kid with classes, because he doesnt support your ideology? make fun of a fat kid?

        Cheap shots will get you nowhere.

        • IrishBill 9.1.2.1

          There’s a certain type of rightie who seems incapable of getting the right end of the stick. Burt’s another. I think of you two as the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of the Standard. Stoppard’s R&G, not Shakespeare’s.

          • Brett Dale 9.1.2.1.1

            If a right wing website made fun of someone’s speech impediment you would be up in arms. I also don’t get your reference. So your just blabbing to yourself.

            • IrishBill 9.1.2.1.1.1

              It may come as a shock to you, Brett, but I’m not all PC like you are. Which is why I can point out that the reason you don’t get my reference is because you’re thick.

              • If you have to explain it, its clearly not funny or clever.

                • geoff

                  If only ya mum had been a bit further off the ground when she dropped you on your head, Brett…

                • felix

                  Then you’ll be delighted to learn that Irish doesn’t have to explain it, won’t you Brett?

                • Clockie

                  If you were a bit more clever he wouldn’t have to explain it. Better still, if you had any intellectual fire in your belly (also known as curiosity) you’d go and look up the reference. Why not. It’s easy. A few key strokes away. Why stay ignorant all your life?

        • felix 9.1.2.2

          “What’s next, make fun of a kid with classes, because he doesnt support your ideology? make fun of a fat kid?”

          That’s just Farrar again, the tubby little speccy tory fuck.

          And Bwett, putting on a toffee-nosed tory-boy accent isn’t making fun of anyone’s impediment, unless you think being a toffee-nosed tory-boy is an impediment. Which I happen to think it is in many ways but I’m surprised to see you agree.

          • The Al1en 9.1.2.2.1

            “That’s just Farrar again, the tubby little speccy tory fuck.”

            My quote of the day 😆

            • ghostrider888 9.1.2.2.1.1

              Don’t let the sun go down, You and I, Long Away, on Philadelphia freedom; London, Paris, Rome…tonights the longest night!

          • Brett Dale 9.1.2.2.2

            Felix:

            Im pro choice, pro gay marriage, anti war, believe in climate change, how am i right wing?

            • felix 9.1.2.2.2.1

              I don’t know, Brett. Maybe that’s why I didn’t say anything of the sort.

            • Clockie 9.1.2.2.2.2

              You reckon that’s all there is to it Brett? Nothing else? Sure you can’t think of something else that makes up the difference between “right”and “left”??

              Clue: The things you’ve mentioned have to do with personal liberty and well being. They have very little to do with what the individual owes society in return, or what members of society owe each other. There’s a famous phrase, how does it go? Perhaps you can help me out here..

              • Thats what she said???

                • Clockie

                  As I thought, a deep and reflective thinker.

                  Honestly Brett, I can’t figure out why you bother. You’re clearly proud of being intellectually lazy and I doubt if you’ve developed an intimate relationship with very many books for grown ups. What do you get out of spouting facile rubbish when even you know that’s all it is. Has it occurred to you that you may have a malnourished brain buried deep in there somewhere and it’s really unfair not to feed it something now and again.

                • Populuxe1

                  Give up, Brett – they’re stuck on a vertical model of socialism that went out with Marx and class consciousness.

          • Grantoc 9.1.2.2.3

            The abusive intolerance and bigotry of the so called liberal left is sometimes breathtaking in its hypocracy – as extremely well demonstrated by you felix

            Actually your statement demonstrates the kind of thinking one would more typically associate with facist Germany.

            [lprent: Another day, and another fool projecting their prejudices on how others should act. Plus proving Godwin right yet again. What is the betting that he will also prove to be another fuckwit obsessed by the sexual practices of others.

            After all reading what individuals actually say and responding to them is obviously too difficult for a dipshit like Grantoc when it is so much easier to not think and to wander down the well worn paths of simple minded stupid bigotry. And I can see why. Writing in the Grantoc style sneering at myths with pompous blustering is so so much easier than dealing with actual reality.

            Anyone care to take bets on how soon this fool hits a policy problem. ]

            • Colonial Viper 9.1.2.2.3.1

              Meh don’t take the moral high ground unless you deserve it mate. And WTF do you know about “fascist Germany” Mr Godwin?

      • Tim 9.1.3

        My daughter-in-law tells me he does, and apparently it used to be so bad as to totally prevent speech. So while he’s to be admired for overcoming that impediment, it’s a shame its not put to better use.

        Ah…. I see Karol’s cracked it at 9.4 below

    • vto 9.2

      he is not acting as a someone in this setting mr dale he is acting as a puppet, a stooged stool, a paid mouthpiece working strenuously to do such things as;

      increase the number of gamblers in the country

      decrease the kiwi ownership of assets

      cut wage levels and workers conditions

      refuse increased maternity leave, all while at the same time………

      handing out $400million to dairy farmers

      dumping on democracy to hand out consents to dairy farmers

      handing out $1,700,000,000 to scf investors

      give himself taxcuts

      … on it goes….

      so he is not ‘someone’ in this context, he is part of an entity actively working / conspiring to make substantial change to people’s lives.
      i think the gloves generally come off when peoples lives are threatened like that.

      • Brett Dale 9.2.1

        Well go after, what he is doing, why take cheap shots?

      • Tim 9.2.2

        It’s also a shame he doesn’t appear to be so concerned about the ‘property rights’ of those being displaced, and under-compensated as the result of things such as RoNS on the Kapiti Coast (and presumably elsewhere). Somehow I guess he’d argue a greater good in such cases. I wish he’d try that on in this case.

    • joe90 9.3

      Speech impediment my arse – roundy boy’s simpering whine would do justice to a Dwaine B.Tinsley character.

      • Brett Dale 9.3.1

        name calling huh? Why not just call him four eyes?

        • ak 9.3.1.1

          That’s lovely Bretty, now off to bed my man, big day tomorrow, don’t want to miss Aaron Utu eh? Nigh nigh wee fella

          • Brett Dale 9.3.1.1.1

            Couldnt care less about his Aaron, just counting down the days till the very last office, not what some lazy politician who never help those in the redzone, is going to do in his final speech.

    • karol 9.4

      Farrar does have a speech disability. If I recall correctly, I thought he had dyspraxia.

      ie a problem in pronouncing words. He has said he sometimes uses his second or third choice of word when speaking as he couldn’t be certain he could pronounce his first choice correctly. It is not something to be laughed at.

      This is different from the rhotacism Irish uses in the post’s title.

      It can be the result of a difficulty with pronouncing R’s specifically, but is also an affectation historically used by Brit upper-class fops. Also, it’s associated with prolonged childhood as many children take a while to learn to pronounce their Rs.

      • Anne 9.4.1

        an affectation historically used by Brit upper-class fops.

        This reminds me of an Elizabethan party I attended many years ago. It took place in a rather shabby little castle on the outskirts of London and was full of upper class toffs who talked exactly as karol has described. They were draped over mantlepieces and sprawled in exaggerated ‘relaxed’ poses over chairs and couches and they constantly laughed loudly at precisely nothing. I kept my mouth shut for fear my Kiwi accent would send them hysterical and escaped at the first opportunity.

      • Ed 9.4.2

        I have listened to Farrar often enough on the National programme in the afternoons on National Radio. He has a particualr New Zealand accent, and is inclined to be a bit precious, but I don;t think he has a noticeable speech impediment, or dispraxia. I didn’t see the title as pointing to such issues either – Farrar is a typical National person that confuses basic concepts for his own ends, and adopts a special NAct vocabulary when it suits. Perhaps I have missed the point.

        • karol 9.4.2.1

          I had noticed previously that Farrar has an unusual way of speaking. I heard him talking about his speech disability on The Panel on RNZ one afternoon when I was driving. He was paying homage to the elderly speech therapist who had helped him manage, and largely overcome, his disability in his younger days.

          He said he still sometimes avoids using words, and selects an alternative, if he can’t be sure that he will be able to pronounce them correctly. He has to practice pronouncing words he hasn’t used before/a lot, before he can be confident in using them.

          But Brett is using this as a diversion from the affected upper class speech parodied in the title – it’s something that a load of people in affect whether or not they have a speech disability – the vast majority of those posing toffs don’t have any speech disability.

    • geoff 9.5

      And he looks like the penguin! If ever there was a person whose revolting personality was matched by their physical appearance it would be David Farrar. What a scumbag!

      Are you up in arms because you’re an ugly muthafucker as well, Brett?

      If your looks matched your personality then you must resemble one of the characters from the Mos Eisley cantina.

      • Brett Dale 9.5.1

        Geoff:

        Well I do make billy bob thorton look like brad pitt and have been told I look like flea from the red hot chilli peppers.

        But what does looks have to do with what he is saying.

        Its a cheap shot to make fun of a speech impediment because you don’t like a guys politics.

        • geoff 9.5.1.1

          Cheap shot? Who fucking cares, Farrar should be shot with a ball of his own shit and dropped from a helicopter onto white island with Steven Joyce and Tony Ryall strapped to him.

          • Brett Dale 9.5.1.1.1

            Thats a slight overreaction.

            • geoff 9.5.1.1.1.1

              No, it’s a fucking great idea for stimulating the tourism industry!

              Come to NZ, drop scumbag, thieving torys from a chopper into the belching heart of an active volcano!

              I think those high net-wealth, socialist leaning, Chinese tourists would love to have a go at that.

              • Arfamo

                “Thats a slight overreaction.”

                Ok, Fair enough. Farrar should be shot with a ball of his own shit and dropped from a helicopter onto white island with Steven Joyce and Paula Bennett strapped to him. Is that about the right level of reaction?

        • felix 9.5.1.2

          Nobody made fun of his speech impediment Brett.

          If you think someone did, then point it out.

          • Brett Dale 9.5.1.2.1

            The title of this post.

            • felix 9.5.1.2.1.1

              …does not refer to a speech impediment.

              Think about it Brett. Imagine Farrar saying “Property rights”. It sounds nothing like the title of the post, does it?

              Know why?

    • tricledrown 9.6

      brett thwats wot hapens wen yu r born width a silber spoon in your mouth

  10. Paul 10

    Brave of you to read Kiwiblog.
    Dangerous to spend too long in the sewers

  11. Draco T Bastard 11

    Should anyone have the right to affect you without your say so?

    Bye, bye property rights, hello human rights.

  12. georgecom 12

    The Nats line is that they have a mandate from the last election to sell state assets. They were voted into Govt with a policy which entitles them to enact the sales.

    So, if a political party has a policy to repeal the pokies for sale deal, and gets elected, then it too has a mandate to enact its policy.

    Simple really, just apply Davids rationale to the situation and he has little to grizzle about.

    As for property rights, the Nats have breached property rights with their sale of out assets. The assets are ours and belong to us as a nation. The nats have shown little respect for our property rights as they go ahead with the first of several sales.

    Suddenly however Farrar is moaning about property right being breached. Funny how he can’t seemingly apply a logical argument across the political spectrum.

    • UpandComer 12.1

      You don’t know what property rights are. What the Greens want to do is akin to the govt legislating to come in and take your motorbike which used to belong to the post office. It’s not your property if you don’t have the right of refusal. You ‘owned’ the public power companies in the same way you ‘own’ public toilets outside your local. You derive some benefit from them, you use them, but you don’t bloody own them. Keep saying it, and it still sounds just as stupid as the first time.

      As to above posters calling this govt ‘fascist’ one thing about fascist govts is that they ignore property rights, electoral law, the general law, make legal what is/was illegal to punish their political opponents, and turn the public service into their partisan creature. That would be Labour, even without the malign influence of the Greens, who basically want to destroy the economy. I even give Labour credit that they don’t want to destroy the economy as a matter of principle even if they will through unintended consequences.

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 12.1.1

        What nonsense! As though a regulatory environment were a piece of property to be bought and sold!

        What about the property rights of the other bidders, disadvantaged by Key’s insider trading? It’s time to send a clear message that corrupt back room deals by the National Party don’t bind Parliament.

      • Colonial Viper 12.1.2

        Without any concept of the commons, or what the “economy” actually entails, your half assed musings are barely just quarter-assed.

  13. Pete 13

    It doesn’t even have to be a reversal of the license. How about an increase in the casino duty? At present, it only stands at 4% . Now the Nats tell us that 15% is an entirely reasonable tax to pay on most transactions, so surely no-one, aside from the casinos, would find such a rate too objectionable.

    IANA accountant, butin 2012, Sky City paid $62 million in casino duties, and returned a total profit of $179 million before income tax. If the casino levy were at the same level as GST and all other things being equal, they would have suffered a loss of $50 million.

    Let them keep their precious license. Tax them into oblivion.

    • Lanthanide 13.1

      Yeah, I thought about that too. The clause is apparently about changes to the gambling laws. So don’t touch the gambling laws, but get them through other avenues.

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 13.1.1

        No. The National Party and Sky City have entered into a corrupt arrangement. Annulling that arrangement will send a message that you can buy the National Party as much as you like: Parliament will not be bound by bribery and insider trading.

        • Colonial Viper 13.1.1.1

          Correct. Odious arrangements like this which disadvantage the peoples of an entire nation can be swept away as unconstitutional and illegitimate.

  14. xtasy 14

    Let David “Farrarcious” cling to his “property” or “domain rights” at his damned “Kiwiblock”(head) forum. If anyone does not sing from his songbook, one soon gets some subtle and not so subtle messages noted underneath comments, something like “demerit” points, and if he gets too uptight, he just blocks people from posting there.

    That is the mindset of a control freak of sorts, who wants to have things go his way, or the way of the party he favours, and we know which one that is.

    So property rights, and contracts binding through generations, he seems to think as being right.

    That basically could mean as much as valididating slave contracts too then, could it not? Democracy does mean something else. Well, maybe some compensation could be expected, but such matters could likely be looked at by the courts, to see what is “reasonable” and what is not.

    Having a government hand out and grant licence exptensions to a time a generation away, that is not what I consider reasonable. What about the sovereign, being the people who vote governments and representatives in and out?

    In some subtle way I see “Farrarcious” expose himself as being not so democratic after all.

    And all this now seems to depend on the man with the towering, greying hairdo, trying to be so fashionable and liberal and “sensible” again? Well, he was not damned sensible when voting for the damned draconian welfare reforms and other laws to go through Parliament. And he fiddles with stupid regulations and rules on synthetic freely available drugs, rather than perhaps show common sense and decriminalise the natural stimulant to possession of a small, acceptable amount for own use (by adults).

    Gosh, sigh, this country is sinking into the bottomless mire-pit deeper by the day, is there any hope, are there any thousands assembling in the streets to take a stand? I hear nothing, I see none, I expect none.

    Good night and sleep fast, as soon the sun rises for another day in servitude.

    • tracey 14.1

      “So property rights, and contracts binding through generations, he seems to think as being right.” Except the Treaty f Waitangi which many of his readers/posters think is outmoded and needs to go…

    • Populuxe1 14.2

      “That is the mindset of a control freak of sorts, who wants to have things go his way, or the way of the party he favours, and we know which one that is.”

      Well goodness me, that’s just about everyone here, too

  15. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 15

    “Prwoperty rwights”.

    It’s so funny when you say it with that speech impediment. It enables us all to laugh at just how silly property rights are.

    Can you do any others? I can’t wait to hear your maori, or perhaps that little gay voice with a hiss in the end?

    • xtasy 15.1

      I am sure that there are some “others” fitting “fools” with funny names.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 15.2

      Do you read it as a speech impediment? I think it mimics the sort of childish whinging that passes for wingnut logic.

      • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 15.2.1

        It’s silly to whine over property rights. These are not rights at all. I laugh every time I think about them.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 15.2.1.1

          Property rights? This is about insider trading and sleaze. What about the property rights of the other bidders who were unfairly and illegally disadvantaged by John Key’s corrupt business practices?

          • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 15.2.1.1.1

            Don’t be silly. This is a brilliant plan that will make us all rich. We get every government employee to be paid one month in arrears. Then we change the rules on the day before they are paid and get all of their labour for free! If they complain, we tell them: Parliament is sovereign! Don’t you believe in democracy, you wingnuts!. [BTW, I love using the word “wingnut”, as it is both insulting and funny]. We use that money to buy everyone in New Zealand as many ponchos as they want. Ponchos are both practical and stylish.

            We can do this for, what do you reckon, at least three months?

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 15.2.1.1.1.1

              What about the property rights of the bidders who were disadvantaged by John Key’s corrupt business practices?

              • prism

                OAK True. To prepare an offer to dd\eal takes a lot of time, expertise, and so costs large. Joyce this morning chortling about the silly Greens and Labour – well he just can’t believe how silly they are- is so mendacious.

              • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell

                No, One Anonymous Knucklehead, there are no such thing as property rights. Only wingnuts (gets me every time) think there are, and we all know how crazy they are.

                What we want is the government involved in the detail of every transaction going on in the country, so as to provide jobs and prosperity for all. I personally hate it when they do nothing, as it shows they do not care. On this basis they should own all parts of the economy and direct everything that is happening. Except, of course, until they do, when we will decry them for entering into such deals.

                Surely, it’s not much to ask.

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                  Well, the National Party was involved in this deal from go to whoa, and they trampled all over the property rights of the other bidders in a manifestly flawed process, so I’m not sure where you’re going with that.

                  • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell

                    I hope you are not falling for that property rights, thing, One Anonymous Knucklehead. You know, I call them “Pwoperty Rwights” to indicate my disdain for the whole concept. After the always classic “wingnut”, it is my favourite expression.

                    If it is better for the people of New Zealand for the government to trample over pwroperty rwights, surely you see, it should do this.

                    That’s all the Nats have done to the other bidders, who were probably rich already anyway. Why should we care about them?

                    • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                      Why? For the same reason that we uphold property rights, which far from disdaining, I am advocating should apply equally to all, not just The National Party’s clients.

                      I note that the “property” being bought and sold in this transaction is the law, and the old adage which holds that when law is for sale the first thing to be bought will be legislators.

                    • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell

                      I thought you were disdaining them. Especially when you said: I think it mimics the sort of childish whinging that passes for wingnut logic. I loved that bit. It cleverly used my favourite put-down (wingnut) while, at the same time, saying that pwoperty rwights (which I also hate) were illogical.

                      It was like a double-whammy of genius.

                      Give us more like that and keep ’em coming.

                    • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                      Looks like the point sailed right over your head.

                      How can this be about property when the contract is for the sale of a regulatory environment?

                      How can this be about property rights when the property rights of the other bidders are being undermined?

                      The use of the phrase “prwopety rwights” is a gesture of ridicule and contempt aimed at David Farrar, not an acknowledgement that he has a valid argument. Can you see the difference?

                      .

                    • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell

                      When I said “keep ’em coming” I dared not hope for the skill and elan that you have subsequently displayed. You have exceeded my already high expectations. Accept my heartiest congratulations.

                      In answer to your questions:

                      1. How can this be about property when the contract is for the sale of a regulatory environment?

                      As always, you are absolutely correct. Anyone who says that a future government accepting the benefit of a $450m Convention Centre but welshing on their side of the deal, really does not understand prwoperty rwights. $450m is not, on any reasonable definition, prwoperty.

                      2. How can this be about property rights when the property rights of the other bidders are being undermined?

                      There were simply too many references to property rights in your question for me to be able to process it. Irishbill and I are agreed that there are no prwoperty rights. For anyone.

                      3. The use of the phrase “prwopety rwights” is a gesture of ridicule and contempt aimed at David Farrar, not an acknowledgement that he has a valid argument. Can you see the difference?

                      Yeah, Farrar, wanker. He thinks there are pwoperty rwights. And there aren’t.

                    • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                      Yep, you’ve got nothing. hence the attempt to distract and divert.

                    • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                      “…officials effectively worked with SkyCity for some months, giving detailed feedback and engaging in some preliminary negotiations, while the other proposers were kept on hold and given very little information”

                      Auditor General’s report.

                    • Tracey

                      It is no more an abuse of democracy (as Joyce calls it) for the greens to suggest they will reverse legislation to overturn a commercial contract thanit is for a party to use a slim majority to grant an excessive deal to a party that cannot be undone (democratically) without much financial hardship. By extending the licence so extremely Joyce has overridden the very democratic process he is squealing at the Greens about.

                      Where is the report that says Auckland needs this conference centre? Are the projections of income and what-have-you the same as for the World Cup of Rugby (ie grossly inflated). Now if sky city wants to pay for the rail loop…. that MIGHT require something thinking from a public interest point of view.

    • tracey 15.3

      “that little gay voice with a hiss in the end?” Do you mean that strong teeth sucking noise the PM made on TV3 news last night when he finished speaking???

  16. tracey 16

    It is no more an abuse of democracy (as Joyce calls it) for the greens to suggest they will reverse legislation to overturn a commercial contract thanit is for a party to use a slim majority to grant an excessive deal to a party that cannot be undone (democratically) without much financial hardship. By extending the licence so extremely Joyce has overridden the very democratic process he is squealing at the Greens about.

    Where is the report that says Auckland needs this conference centre? Are the projections of income and what-have-you the same as for the World Cup of Rugby (ie grossly inflated). Now if sky city wants to pay for the rail loop…. that MIGHT require something thinking from a public interest point of view.

  17. joe90 17

    Speaking of speech impediments – have a wee giggle about vocal fry, the teen speak of Bridges and Coleman.

  18. Lionel 18

    My sentiments precisely

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  • 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 ...
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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 ...
    4 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
    4 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 ...
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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

  • $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 hours 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
    7 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
    7 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
    8 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
    8 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
    9 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
    11 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
    22 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
    1 day 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 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
    2 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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