The elite’s excuse for opposing a living wage

Written By: - Date published: 11:52 am, February 15th, 2013 - 66 comments
Categories: class war, jobs, wages - Tags:

Don’t you love hearing the rich say the working poor can’t have more pay? The faux concern that higher wages cost jobs from the same people who support huge executive pay packets and tax cuts? If you really believed higher wages meant fewer jobs, you would cut the CEO’s pay in half, not dick around over a few dollars an hour for real workers.

Of course, the truth is more money in working people’s hands means more demand for the basics, meaning more jobs. It’s well-established empirical fact. Anyone who argues otherwise is just using a false justification that masks their real – much less altruistic reasons – for wanting the poor to stay poor.

Well, let’s test them. How about this – the 44 top paid CEOs in the country get over $62 million between them. Halve that and you’ve got enough for over 800 living wage jobs. What do you reckon, righties? If you really honestly believe higher wages leads to unemployment, you’ll join with me in calling on those CEOs to take 50% less of the ungodly amounts they’re paid and put 800 Kiwis into work with the savings.

No? Don’t support that? Just want to sanctimoniously tell the working poor they mustn’t have more pay and give bullshit excuses about job losses when what you’re really worried about is making sure the labour cost in your retail goods and restaurant bills doesn’t go up, and, of course, in maintaining the gap between you as the wealthy elite and the poor?

Because, really, what’s the point in being rich if there’s no poor to look down your nose at?

66 comments on “The elite’s excuse for opposing a living wage ”

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  1. Stan 1
    15 February 2013 at 12:39 pm

    You will never ever get rid on inequality, it is a fact of life. Orwell was quite right when he said all men are equal but some more equal than others.

    • Colonial Viper 1.1
      15 February 2013 at 1:17 pm

      Sure you can get rid of inequality, an 89% tax rate on all incomes over $500K pa will do it.

      • BM 1.1.1
        15 February 2013 at 1:23 pm

        Your benefactors wouldn’t like that.

      • indiana 1.1.2
        15 February 2013 at 5:08 pm

        How can you demand equality when your proposal to achieve equality is based on in-equally treating all income earners? Shouldn’t the path to equality mean that everyone gets treated equally…i.e everyone pays 89% tax irrespective how much you earn?

    • One Tāne Huna 1.2
      15 February 2013 at 1:26 pm

      Stan, are you familiar with the concepts “greater” and “lesser”? Next, imagine that there can be “greater” and “lesser” degrees of inequality.

      Next, imagine that not only can inequality manifest in these so-called “greater” and “lesser” amounts, but that its level can actually be quantified.

      Then you might avoid coming across as a complete idiot.

    • Lightly 1.3
      15 February 2013 at 1:50 pm

      Orwell wasn’t saying that inequality is an immutable law of nature. In fact, he was satirsing those who do.

      “All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others” is a line used by the corrupt new rulers (the pigs) in Animal Farm to justify their privilege

      You illiterate dork

      • Lightly 1.3.1
        15 February 2013 at 2:06 pm

        the more I think about it, the more stunned I am that you think that Orwell was saying inequality is normal and unavoidable.

        You’re probably one of those idiots who reads (or, more likely, doesn’t read) 1984 and thinks that Orwell was an anti-communist rightwinger.

        In fact, he was a life-long socialist, but he was also an anti-totalitarian and elitist government, whether it came in the form of fascism, communism, or capitalism

    • Tom Gould 1.4
      15 February 2013 at 2:23 pm

      Indeed, and if all the hard left can come up with is ‘eat the rich’ nonsense like this, they will always struggle to get it up. What a sick joke to suggest that the pay of 44 people out of 4.5 million is the reason some people are poor. Ridiculous. No wonder these class warriors are so bitter and filled with rage and despair. It’s always someone else’s fault. Their glass is always half empty, unless its a chardy while plotting the revolution.

      • One Tāne Huna 1.4.1
        15 February 2013 at 2:28 pm

        When are you going to stop molesting Mr. Strawman?

      • mickysavage 1.4.2
        15 February 2013 at 2:40 pm

        Tom and Stan are busily avoiding the point by suggesting that inequality is inevitable. It may be but this does not mean that we have to accept there being more and more of it.

        • Colonial Viper 1.4.2.1
          15 February 2013 at 2:48 pm

          Well that’s right…they’re being pedantic…If you get paid $25/hr MS and I get paid $20/hr they get to call that “inequality”.

          And they would be right.

          But its not a circumstance where you make more in one week than I make in one year. Which happens far too often today.

      • Lefty 1.4.3
        15 February 2013 at 5:56 pm

        Indeed, and if all the hard left can come up with is ‘eat the rich’ nonsense like this

        Whats wrong with eating the rich?

  2. Ennui in Requiem 2
    15 February 2013 at 12:42 pm

    Zet, lets just look at it slightly differently: these individuals work for organisations that effectively tax us. Like telcos, banks, power companies and yes, government departments. They are NOT capitalists, they are the top functionaries. They take no risk with their own money, they don’t generally own their organisation. And they garner the cash because their organisations can “clip the ticket” on pretty much everything.

    They are generally rent seekers, they generally provide no new value to any transaction, in short they are parasites. Smaller business can do without them. And the “consumer base” (aka citizenry) would be well rid of them.

    Your suggestion of halving their income to create jobs is obviously not going to happen, BUT that is no reason why their salaries (and the whole cadre of “managers” within these “tax empires”) should be paid more than the rest if us. A direct result of paying them the same as our meagre rations is that the size of our bills from their organisations should go down.

    • NoseViper (The Nose knows) 2.1
      15 February 2013 at 1:24 pm

      EnnuiinR Hear hear! How could we decouple the salaries? We would have to get rid of the Higher Salaries Commission or whatever. Would that require legislation or something less – say an order in council or whatever. And requiring a good return from SOEs as government does, should include a salary cap from the top echelon. Those who think they are worth more on the overseas market can bu..r off there and we will train up some of the rising talent.

      • Colonial Viper 2.1.1
        15 February 2013 at 1:31 pm

        Too complicated, an 89% income tax on personal earnings over $500K pa will do just fine.

        No idgit is worth more than $2000 pay per day anyways.

      • Ennui in Requiem 2.1.2
        16 February 2013 at 3:42 pm

        No, its more fundamental: we give teeth to legislation and regulation of monopoly / duopoly / cartel behavoir etc, take the money out of it. We also re nationalise all power, telco, etc and further put in place a public service pay scale with a maximum pegged as a multiple of the bottom wage.

  3. Stan 3
    15 February 2013 at 1:13 pm

    If you seriously think that will ever happen I respectfully suggest you are in laa laa land.

    • Colonial Viper 3.1
      15 February 2013 at 1:19 pm

      If you seriously think that will ever happen (Senior Executives giving up a fraction of their own pay to create new jobs) I respectfully suggest you are in laa laa land.

      You might be right.

      • One Tāne Huna 3.1.1
        15 February 2013 at 1:30 pm

        Nope, Stan’s comments reveal Stan’s ignorance and that’s about it.

        “Research indicates that firms will respond in a number of ways to minimum wage increases. The most common response is to reduce wage relativities across staff.”

        NZ Treasury Regulatory Impact Statement. 2009.

        • Colonial Viper 3.1.1.1
          15 February 2013 at 1:34 pm

          NB executive management in these corporates are not considered staff.

          • Rob 3.1.1.1.1
            15 February 2013 at 3:52 pm

            What about stay at home relatives that contribute nothing to society, and spend all day commenting on blogs, what should they contribute?

  4. TightyRighty 4
    15 February 2013 at 1:20 pm

    I’d rather take that 50% and have 100% more CEO’s. that would mean thousands of extra jobs for the unemployed.

  5. TheContrarian 5
    15 February 2013 at 1:50 pm

    Without commenting on the $18.40 figure one thing I can say is that $13.50 is ridiculously low.

    • NickS 5.1
      15 February 2013 at 3:57 pm

      Yeap, when looking for work on student job search I’ll usually pass over any jobs with that rate unless it’s offering really good work conditions or I’m super broke as usually another, better paying job will pop up.

  6. tsmithfield 6
    15 February 2013 at 1:59 pm

    Problems with the “living wage”.

    1. It will be highly inflationary. Not only will companies have to pass on the cost of the “living wage”, but other more-skilled staff members currently being paid at that level will demand an increase in their wage to maintain the differential. These costs will be passed on to consumers, many who will be on the “living wage”. So, the “living wage” will unlikely keep up with cost of living increases, so probably won’t be an actual living wage no matter what level it is set at.

    2. Exporters won’t be able to pass on the costs as they can only get the market rate in the given export country. So, it will be bad for exporters.

    • Lightly 6.1
      15 February 2013 at 2:10 pm

      it wouldn’t be inflationary – it would be a redistribution of income. And if its adoption creates a one-off increase in inflation it’s spread across all consumers, whereas the benefits of the living wage are concentrated on those who need it. In other words, it does its jobs.

      Exporters’ labour costs are a small portion of their costs. Most low paid workers don’t work in the tradable sector. Even in a worst case scenario, the increase in costs to exporters would be a couple of percent – miniscule compared to the costs of the rising exchange rate.

      • tsmithfield 6.1.1
        15 February 2013 at 2:29 pm

        I fail to see how you can claim it is a redistribution of wages unless you are saying that the tax-payer will top up the wages (which is effectively what happens now under WFF). And the fact that workers will seek to maintain pay differentials means that increases won’t be limited to those on the “living wage”. Also the velocity of money through various stages of the production cycle means that the effect won’t be one-off. So, it will be inflationary.

        Also, if the wage costs are set at a higher level than what employers think is the actual value, then employers will look to find ways to reduce the number of employees at that level, through automation, system improvements, etc.

        Finally, there will be less incentive for employers to take on new employees, so unemployment will rise.

        • Colonial Viper 6.1.1.1
          15 February 2013 at 2:38 pm

          What are you so afraid of?

          When and if inflation begins to bite down the track, we’ll just take money out of the economy.

          Also, if the wage costs are set at a higher level than what employers think is the actual value, then employers will look to find ways to reduce the number of employees at that level, through automation, system improvements, etc.

          This is beneficial. NZ enterprises investing in higher technology for their factories and businesses.

          This will let employees move to higher skilled jobs.

          Finally, there will be less incentive for employers to take on new employees, so unemployment will rise.

          Now you’re being ridiculous. Aggregate spending and demand in the economy is going to climb, employers will need a lot more staff to keep up, or risk losing business to competitors.

          You really ain’t very good at this mate.

          • tsmithfield 6.1.1.1.1
            15 February 2013 at 3:10 pm

            “When and if inflation begins to bite down the track, we’ll just take money out of the economy.”

            Taking money out of the economy will increase unemployment. Probably at the expense of those on a “living wage”.

            “This is beneficial. NZ enterprises investing in higher technology for their factories and businesses.

            This will let employees move to higher skilled jobs.”

            Why would they bother training for higher skilled jobs if they can’t get higher than the “living wage” which will be an effective ceiling for many.

            “Now you’re being ridiculous. Aggregate spending and demand in the economy is going to climb, employers will need a lot more staff to keep up, or risk losing business to competitors.”

            Remember, aggregate spending and demand increase is highly inflationary, reducing the spending power of the “living wage”. So, you are in affect agreeing with me. By your own argument, the resulting inflation will prompt the RB to withdraw funds from the economy, hurting those on the “living wage” when they lose their jobs as a result.

            Your turn.

            • Colonial Viper 6.1.1.1.1.1
              15 February 2013 at 4:31 pm

              Nah you’re full of shit.

              IF and WHEN inflationary pressures become excessive, the Govt has many choices to pull inflation and money out of the economy.

              Currently however the NZ economy has a huge amount of productive under-utilisation and that will keep inflation low for a long time.

              • Rogue Trooper …
                15 February 2013 at 4:34 pm

                as i commented the ova’ day, i don’t believe that this living wage is gonna fly; Corporate response-
                “if min wage goes up, we’ll have to source cheaper options” (I’m thinking, that recycle robot left cleaning up the planet…)

                • Colonial Viper …
                  15 February 2013 at 6:33 pm

                  Economic blackmail.

                  Usual capitalist/bankster tactic.

                  BTW the State can always return the favour.

              • tsmithfield …
                15 February 2013 at 4:39 pm

                “IF and WHEN inflationary pressures become excessive, the Govt has many choices to pull inflation and money out of the economy.”

                And one of those ways is to tolerate an increase in the rate of unemployment. For other methods the government has at its disposal, the effect is to increase unemployment. So it seems to me that you are unwittingly advocating an increase in unemployment.

                “Currently however the NZ economy has a huge amount of productive under-utilisation and that will keep inflation low for a long time.”

                “Productive under-utilisation” is effectively the current unemployment rate. As shown above, a “living wage” will increase not reduce “productive under-utilisation”.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  15 February 2013 at 6:37 pm

                  More bullshit baffles brains from TS.

                  Read up on your NZ history. NZ had decades after 1940 with near zero unemployment, manageable inflation and workers able to buy a house and support a young family on just one income.

    • Colonial Viper 6.2
      15 February 2013 at 2:14 pm

      it won’t be inflationary – not while there is plenty of spare productive and competitive capacity in our economy. Consumers will continue to shop for good deals and will reward suppliers who can deliver on them.

      Trust the market tsmithfield.

      2. Exporters won’t be able to pass on the costs as they can only get the market rate in the given export country. So, it will be bad for exporters.

      What a weird thing to say. With a lower NZ dollar, exporters will get more NZD per unit sold overseas. More NZD garnered means more profits.

      • tsmithfield 6.2.1
        15 February 2013 at 2:30 pm

        Except, if the “living wage” is inflationary, then the dollar will go up, as the RB will need to lift interest rates. So, exporters will be worse off, not better.

        • Colonial Viper 6.2.1.1
          15 February 2013 at 2:34 pm

          Its easy to depress the NZD ts.

          • tsmithfield 6.2.1.1.1
            15 February 2013 at 2:55 pm

            Yeah. Just vote a left government in. The NZD will quickly “adjust” to that change of circumstances.

            • Colonial Viper 6.2.1.1.1.1
              15 February 2013 at 2:59 pm

              LOL that’s exactly what John Key reckoned the Goldman Sachs bankster said about a Labour win

              • McFlock …
                15 February 2013 at 4:00 pm

                but but but Labour will increase the minimum wage, which apparently will increase inflation and cause OCR adjustments that’ll raise our exchange rate! So under labour our dollar will simultaneously increase and decrease in value?

                • Colonial Viper …
                  15 February 2013 at 4:26 pm

                  Yeah that’s about where we get to with these privilege protecting Righties. But hey, free market neolib economics has worked so well for NZ and for Europe and the USA, what can possibly go wrong with more of the same medicine.

                • tsmithfield …
                  15 February 2013 at 4:34 pm

                  Nothing contradictory there at all.

                  The first instance describes the effect all things being equal.

                  The second instance describes the effect if a left leaning government ever actually gets a chance to impliment a whole suite of loony policies (e.g. money printing etc).

                  • McFlock …
                    15 February 2013 at 4:55 pm

                    lol

                    So basically, if a left wing government entered power and implemented measures like minimum wage, printing money, increasing benefits to a dignified level, and greater access to healthcare and education, then:
                    the dollar would decrease,
                    exports increase,
                    more people would be paid more (and fewer paid gazillions) so inequality would decrease,
                    more people would be employed actually making shit for the export market,
                    and more taxpayer money would be spent on healthcare and education.

                    Sounds like hell. I can see why tories want to avoid it…

                    • tsmithfield …
                      15 February 2013 at 5:00 pm

                      There is a difference in the effect of a decrease in the value of the dollar that makes exporters more competitive compared to the dollar crashing in an uncontrolled way, with all sorts of negative consequences.

                    • McFlock …
                      15 February 2013 at 5:40 pm

                      Indeed. Things might get as bad as 7% official unemployment.

                  • Pascal's bookie …
                    15 February 2013 at 5:31 pm

                    The second instance describes the effect if a left leaning government ever actually gets a chance to impliment a whole suite of loony policies (e.g. money printing etc).

                    Imma gonna let you finish but have to step in right here and ask if you voted for Don Brash? When John “let’s be more like Ireland” Key was in the finance role.

                    How very dare you Ts.

                    Fuckin shameless is what it is.

          • King Kong 6.2.1.1.2
            15 February 2013 at 2:59 pm

            Yes, by making it read some of the economic buffoonery on here. Very depressing.

            • McFlock 6.2.1.1.2.1
              15 February 2013 at 4:57 pm

              You do realise that the pictures on notes and coins are merely artistic representation of real people, not real people in themselves, right?

              While we’re at it, your TV is not full of very tiny (but incredibly horny and violent) gnomes.

  7. AmaKiwi 7
    16 February 2013 at 12:21 am

    Back in the olden days when Playboy was often illegal, a judge said, “I cannot define pornography, but I know it when I see it.”

    I cannot define immoral inequality, but I know it when I see it. I see it now.

    Why was there a revolution in France? Because by 1789 one third of the people of Paris were homeless.

    “But that can’t happen now. Yeah right.”

    A lot of tonight’s comments have been a pissing contest between those who thought Playboy was pornographic and those who didn’t. Keep pissing but no one is likely to change their mind based on the arguments above. My hope is that when the revolution overthrows neo-liberalism we won’t have a reign of terror.

  8. jim 8
    16 February 2013 at 11:15 am

    Surly it is immoral for a worker to earn a minimum wage, that does not support a worker or their family enjoying what others take for granted as normal, family days out, sport participation, going to the movies and the like,let alone earning enough to service the Kiwi dream a mortgage.

    My lad and two of his friends, applied for work in the South Island through W.I.N.Z. they were given assistance by W.I.N.Z for travel costs and assured that they would be going to a job that would employ them 40 hours minimum, when asking about the pay rate W.I.N.Z.assured them it would at least be set at the minimum wage.When they arrived at this Vineyard the contractor who was employing them said that he had accommodation for them at his farm, at the cost of $135 per week, that entailed a bed and a lift to and from the place of work,supply your own tucker.When asking him what the hourly rate was “we work productivity the more you do the more you get”,the job entailed what is known as vine rubbing at the magnanimous pay rate of 4 cents per plant.The boys said it was back breaking hard yaka and after paying the rent they and others had little left for tucker.

    This is the sort of exploitative employment that has been running rampant for the better part of ten or more years in N.Z.not only by wine exporters and their contracting agents, but also by many producers of food products who are making healthy profits yet plead poverty when asked to pay a affordable living wage.

    • Rogue Trooper 8.1
      16 February 2013 at 2:18 pm

      Yep

      • jim 8.1.1
        16 February 2013 at 6:08 pm

        They got back and held their breath that the minimum stand down period for applying for a benefit would not be extended, due to them not getting the sack,three months minimum stand down for not getting sacked.W.I.N.Z. eh!.

    • blue leopard 8.2
      17 February 2013 at 10:55 am

      @Jim
      Your comment is are really good illustrative example of what I hear a lot of too.
      There is perhaps two types of employers in NZ (minus the corporations).
      ~Type one: who really are achieving a small profit and wouldn’t be able to afford a minimum pay increase.
      ~Type two: the type you describe.

      I was just having a discussion with someone the other day, how there appears to be a culture of begrudging employees wages; that the expense of wages are simply not considered a necessary cost of the business. (I.e. less vitriol about the cost of food, plants, fertilizer- the physical, non-human components to the business). There is no real acceptance of either the real value that the worker provides (no workers, no business; the workers are the business), nor that the worker requires to be able to feed, clothe and house themselves with hopefully a little over those costs to save for a rainy day.

      Sadly, I have seen these attitudes openly displayed by those who are paying the absolute minimum wage to boot. Very ungenerous attitudes all round.

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    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    17 hours ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    17 hours ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    18 hours ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    19 hours ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    19 hours ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    19 hours ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • 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
    2 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
    14 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
    19 hours ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
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