Open Mike 16/09/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 16th, 2016 - 80 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

openmikeOpen mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

80 comments on “Open Mike 16/09/2016 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Paul 1
    16 September 2016 at 6:16 am

    Nicholas Jones shows he is just another Tory shill.
    What a patsy piece on Parata.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11710547

  2. Paul 2
    16 September 2016 at 6:19 am

    Our economy is performing brilliantly … so are we better off?

    Simple answer for 90% of us, Liam.
    No.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11710745

    A couple of articles he should read.

    Economic lies about the “rock star economy”
    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/09/13/economic-lies-about-the-rock-star-economy/

    We have a rock star economy addicted to meth
    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/09/15/we-have-a-rock-star-economy-addicted-to-meth/

    • Puckish Rogue 2.1
      16 September 2016 at 9:05 am

      “Strip out the student/worker visa scam immigration and rebuilding from a natural disaster and our actual growth rate is a mere .6%”

      – But you can’t strip it out, its already there. May as well say without the 3.6% growth we’d have 0% growth

      • Wayne 2.1.1
        16 September 2016 at 9:57 am

        Population growth of 2.1% and annual growth of 3.6% should produce per capita growth of 1.5%. So I am a bit skeptical about the Westpac economist analysis which produced the 0.6% figure.

        A fair bit of the population growth is in people with temporary and student visas. Many of them, especially students, will be in relatively low paid jobs, so i would wonder if they really increase per capita growth, as opposed to just matching population growth.

        I appreciate the actual increase in activity might be concentrated in certain sectors such as construction, but it is invariably the case certain sectors grow faster than other. A few years ago the high growth sector was dairy. In fact you can have declining sectors even in a period of high growth.

        Probably the best thing about current growth is that it will reduce unemployment, especially among younger people with limited skills. In fact construction generates quite a few moderate and low skilled jobs. It gets them on the ladder to better jobs.

        In North Shore (nearly 10% of the NZ population and a reasonable reflection of much of New Zealand – though I accept North Shore as a whole is better off than say South Auckland) the effects of growth are pretty evident, and seem widespread.

        • Garibaldi 2.1.1.1
          16 September 2016 at 4:54 pm

          Really great growth in the poverty area too Wayne. Food banks are creaming it and the Salvation Army et al are having a prolonged growth spurt. Prison growth must hold you in awe and it must be heartening to see your brighter future blossoming.

          • Macro 2.1.1.1.1
            16 September 2016 at 5:29 pm

            🙂

            Growth in our community food bank has been an astonishing 100% over the past year. I wonder if Bill will crow about that?

          • North 2.1.1.1.2
            16 September 2016 at 9:00 pm

            Poverty ? What’s poverty ? Wayne doesn’t see poverty. Wayne is a perennial ‘Young Nat to Old Nat’ trougher. Wayne’s acknowledgment of such ‘horridness’ is to the scandalously temeritous mention of it, rather than the fact of it.

      • McFlock 2.1.2
        16 September 2016 at 11:52 am

        Actually, you can. If the bits keeping the aggregate high are outliers, then yeah, it’s misleading to keep them in.

        If everywhere in the country was in recession, but wgtn had gdp increase of 1000%, then the figures would say “healthy growth” when the facts for almost everyone on the ground are “recession”.

  3. Paul 3
    16 September 2016 at 6:38 am

    Is this the way to solve Auckland’s traffic woes?

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11710710

    No.

    This is.
    Here is a list of cities that currently provide public transport for free.

    https://farefreepublictransport.com/city/

    • Colonial Viper 3.1
      16 September 2016 at 8:28 am

      At the same time you have to massively ramp up the cost of using personal car transport on Auckland’s motorways, otherwise as the roads empty out it will become more appealing and more convenient to get back into cars.

      • Bill 3.1.1
        16 September 2016 at 10:44 am

        At the same time you have to massively ramp up the cost of using personal car transport…

        No you don’t. You can give the petrol away for free and reduce its availability at something like 15% per annum and we get to be fossil free (ie – car free) by around 2030.

        If you insist on looking at in terms of $$$, then maybe the prospect of a stranded asset – that 4WD that’s destined to be junk and impossible to re-sell would be a good enough incentive to get off the personal transport gravy train (sorry for the mixed metaphor 😉 )

        edit – should edit to add that the initial cost of giving petrol away for free would be less than $2 billion and that we currently subsidise the fossil industry to the tune of about $2.5 billion per annum.

        • Colonial Viper 3.1.1.1
          16 September 2016 at 11:05 am

          Yes, you could potentially do it the ‘free but reducing volume’ way. However a population trained to think in terms of electronic dollars and not physical reality could end up pretty confused with how to correctly anticipate and appropriately act.

          • Bill 3.1.1.1.1
            16 September 2016 at 11:34 am

            meh – fill the tank. Bowsers cut out when pre-programmed trajectories of delivery volumes are exceeded and back on again when trajectories are back in range. (Have current and likely availability prominently displayed in a user friendly format in every forecourt)

            In essence, getting petrol would be no different to the present, where motorists drive to the station that lets them cash in that supermarket docket or to the one that has a slightly lower price.

            As for buying a $40 000 hunk of metal (or whatever it might cost in 2020 or 2025) with the expectation that some of the outlay will be recouped further down the line, well…the world’s full of thems that does stupid.

  4. joe90 4
    16 September 2016 at 7:19 am

    Keith Olbermann – Hillary was Wrong. All of Trump’s Supporters Are “Deplorable”

    https://youtu.be/lctYermoe-o

  5. gsays 5
    16 September 2016 at 8:20 am

    i have just listened to an apologist for human trafficking responding to allegations from a labour department investigation.
    foreign fruit picker being paid $10 an hour and ‘housed’ in an unsuitable caravan.
    he suggested id cards for workers amongst other things.
    how about a card for the exploitative employer?

    i see a direct link from this, to dear leaders pontifications on kiwi workers being lazy, stoned and lacking ambition.

    • vto 5.1
      16 September 2016 at 9:29 am

      Beneficiaries were drug-tested some time last year… of the 8,000 tested, 22 failed.

      Let’s test 8,000 employers and see what the result is …. addled like they are by ‘p’ and coke and speed and pot ….

      • gsays 5.1.1
        16 September 2016 at 11:05 am

        spot on, vto.
        not that you will read that in too many papers.

        some of these emplyers appear to be addled by $ and the need to accumulate more $.

  6. Draco T Bastard 6
    16 September 2016 at 8:49 am

    Joseph Stiglitz Says Standard Economics Is Wrong. Inequality and Unearned Income Kills the Economy

    The trickle-down notion— along with its theoretical justification, marginal productivity theory— needs urgent rethinking. That theory attempts both to explain inequality— why it occurs— and to justify it— why it would be beneficial for the economy as a whole. This essay looks critically at both claims. It argues in favour of alternative explanations of inequality, with particular reference to the theory of rent-seeking and to the influence of institutional and political factors, which have shaped labour markets and patterns of remuneration. And it shows that, far from being either necessary or good for economic growth, excessive inequality tends to lead to weaker economic performance. In light of this, it argues for a range of policies that would increase both equity and economic well-being.

    It always surprises me that so many people are fooled into thinking that making the rich richer will help them. We have the evidence, it’s been around for centuries and even millennia, that having rich people actually destroys entire societies.

    Of course, Stiglitz is still stuck in the delusion that we need growth. Development yes, growth no.

  7. joe90 7
    16 September 2016 at 9:12 am

    Buyer’s remorse, with bells.

    More and more people are now admitting that they regret voting to leave the European Union in last week’s referendum, with many claiming that they never intended to leave but simply wanted to “protest”.

    Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Barbara Ansdale, from the Black Country, said she had voted leave but “wasn’t really voting to get out of the union

    http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/brexit-eu-referendum-people-regretting-leave-vote_uk_5770e6b3e4b08d2c56397a46

  8. Puckish Rogue 8
    16 September 2016 at 9:26 am

    http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2016/09/bottom_decile_better_off_now_than_under_labour.html

    “with the top 10 per cent of households forecast to pay 37.2 per cent of income tax in 2016/17, compared with 35.5 per cent in 2007/08.”

    “the 30 per cent of households with the lowest incomes are forecast to pay just 5.4 per cent of income tax, compared with 6.3 per cent in 2007/08.”

    So if you want a fairer NZ where the richer households pay more tax and the poorer households pay less tax then the answer is obvious: vote National 🙂

    • Draco T Bastard 8.1
      16 September 2016 at 9:54 am

      The top 10% own 60% of all wealth and should, therefore, be paying 60% of all taxes.

      • Bearded Git 8.1.1
        16 September 2016 at 10:01 am

        @ Draco agreed, except possibly it is more than 60% that the top 10% now own??

        The survey completely ignores GST paid and any other taxes such as rates.

        The survey should look at the change in disposable income: top 10% versus bottom 30% and disposable income after housing costs (especially rent) top 10% versus bottom 30%, since the Gnats came to power. That will tell a completely different story.

        We are being softened up for tax cuts before the election by the childish simplistic Seymour.

      • Puckish Rogue 8.1.2
        16 September 2016 at 10:06 am

        Hey Draco the richer are paying more tax under National then they did under Labour which means the trend is going in the right direction

        Give your vote john Key so the trend continues 🙂

      • save nz 8.1.3
        16 September 2016 at 10:36 am

        Well there is plenty of corporate welfare for Hollywood in NZ. Millions on the legal case on Dotcom…. the irony of the money laundering charges against Dotcom from Hollywood when Hollywood and actors are one of the biggest users of tax havens shown up in the Panama papers (after politicians).

        Oh well, we all know that once you become super rich, you are not only exempt from paying normal taxes, but you can also buy politicians and use tax payer funds to hunt out any rivals and make them pick up your legal bill.

        Meanwhile on the Dotcom case apparently illegal US behaviour is not relevant to the case????

        “Mr Van der Kolk and Mr Ortmann’s lawyer, Grant Illingworth, told the High Court that, crucially, the court had not let the men present evidence of unlawful US behaviour.

        “[That includes] a massive search and seizure, manufacturing a situation of urgency in order to get procedural shortcuts … covering up the unlawful activities that preceded the [arrests], downstream attempts to cover that up including a police officer giving incorrect information to this court, [and] unlawfully sending clones of hard drives overseas.”

        They had also been prevented from presenting evidence from US extradition law experts that would have shown the charges were not extraditable crimes, defence lawyers said.”

        http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/313289/extra-evidence-would-not-have-helped-dotcom-crown

        And the US is keeping that money they raided illegally.

        http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/310864/us-courts-refuse-to-release-dotcom's-assets

        Maybe Dotcom should have gone with Joyce’s defence of ‘pretty legal’…

        • Puckish Rogue 8.1.3.1
          16 September 2016 at 10:45 am

          Not sure what you’re talking about has any relevance but that’s ok, send this into Grant Robertson and you’ll probably get a job on his media team 🙂

    • framu 8.2
      16 September 2016 at 12:19 pm

      why are you trying to talk taxes while not including all forms of taxation and share of income/wealth?

      its completely dishonest –

      • McFlock 8.2.1
        16 September 2016 at 12:21 pm

        questioned and answered 🙂

        • framu 8.2.1.1
          16 September 2016 at 12:27 pm

          yes, quite – questioned and answered multiple times over several years even

          i just cant believe that the net tax lie keeps coming back to life. – Either people are very gullible or very deceitful for it to keep being used time and again

          kind of staggered that people wont see the giant hole in the argument and just go back to the start – rinse and repeat

    • s y d 8.3
      16 September 2016 at 12:20 pm

      PR, thats just farkin abart wiv pissentichers.
      Maybe the bottom 30% have had a reduction in their share of overall income commensurate with the reduction in share of direct income taxes paid…… and conversely the top 10% have had a much larger increase in their income which has led to an increase in their overall share of direct tax paid.

      So if you want to make out that the rich are getting hit, give them shitloads more and they end up paying more tax.

      • Puckish Rogue 8.3.1
        16 September 2016 at 1:11 pm

        Just saying that in comparison to Labour National are doing a better job of taxing the rich and the poor 🙂

        • framu 8.3.1.1
          16 September 2016 at 2:14 pm

          but you’re using nonsense to say it – that doesnt actually work

          DPF is only talking income tax – which isnt all tax.

          He’s engaging in a deliberate lie

  9. rhinocrates 9
    16 September 2016 at 10:20 am

    Will he “stick it to Wall Street”? Probably by crashing it again.

    Meanwhile, the racism and misogyny he’s sponsoring continues to take its toll:

    http://www.salon.com/2016/03/30/trump_supporters_first_pepper_spray_then_yell_nr_lover_to_15_year_old_protester_in_paul_ryans_hometown/

    If you’re supporting Trump, these are the people standing at your side. Did you ever think that you’d make common cause with them?

  10. Puckish Rogue 10
    16 September 2016 at 10:48 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11710932

    Men, your country needs you! Time to stand up (or sit or lie, however your prefer) and take this issue in both hands and do it for NZ! 🙂

    I hear Shane Jones is already getting warmed up and Len Browns bursting at the seems 😉

    • Stunned mullet 10.1
      16 September 2016 at 11:27 am

      Should Len Brown’s DNA be spread about in such a way ?

      It would only serve to fill the population with (more) numpties, retard dancers and face self-slappers.

  11. Robert Guyton 11
    16 September 2016 at 12:13 pm

    Hey, Pucky. Could you take a peek into your crystal ball and or navel and tell me what you see ahead for Chester Burrows?

  12. The Chairman 12
    16 September 2016 at 1:40 pm

    With a high number of Maori in the lower social economic group and with a large number continuing to smoke, is the Māori Party advocating for the Government to double the tobacco tax increases putting their support at risk?

    Moreover, are they risking putting their people into further fiscal hardship, exacerbating all the problems that come along with that?

    I believe so. What say you?

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/politics/maori-party-mp-marama-fox-wants-cigarettes-banned-2016091420

  13. Pasupial 13
    16 September 2016 at 2:05 pm

    This hardly feels like news given my utter lack of surprise:

    The “crumbling” state of Dunedin Hospital poses clinical, financial and organisational risk, and the facility could be forced to close if a “significant defect” was found, the strategic assessment for the Dunedin Hospital redevelopment says… signed off by Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Finance Minister Bill English…

    The document warns not to expect more money to run services, and the board is encouraged to look at more privatisation.

    “The DHB will need to be innovative in the way it finds capital to make things happen.

    “As the DHB’s population is not projected to grow as much as other DHBs, the share of funding under the population-based funding formula is likely to reduce.”

    The budget is anticipated to break even in 2019-20 but “the steps to break-even are not completely clear at the moment”…

    The document was written by consulting firm Sapere Research Group for the politically appointed Southern Partnership Group.

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/health/hospital%E2%80%99s-facilities-crumbling

    I take this to mean that there will be increasing outsourcing to “Dunedin’s only private surgical hospital” (which, perhaps coincidentally, had the now National Party cabinet minister Woodhouse as CEO immediately preceding his entry to parliament). They certainly have not had any problems coming up with the money for building work, and just two months ago opened an expansion to their facilities (on the understanding that work would soon be coming their way?):

    the new Manaaki by Mercy day-stay facility would provide 1400 endoscopy and opthalmology procedures in the next year.

    The facility included two theatres, recovery areas, patient consult rooms and cancer treatment facilities, Mr Whitney said…
    The facility would also offer contingency capacity beds in support of Mercy Hospital and Dunedin Hospital in the event of a natural disaster

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/hospital-day-stay-facility-opened

    Mercy Hospital is performing cardiac surgery for Dunedin Hospital.

    While it is not unusual for work to be outsourced to Mercy, the private hospital has not performed public cardiac surgery before….

    A statement from Southern District Health Board patient services medical director Richard Bunton, who is also one of the surgeons performing cardiac surgery at Mercy, said the hospital was ”partnering” with Mercy over the next year while the ICU was upgraded.

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/health/public-heart-surgery-mercy-hospital

    That “next year while the ICU was upgraded” may somewhat protracted by the fact that when it comes to construction the Southern Partnership Group chairman says (from first link):

    “We have to keep disappointing people who are wanting to know where it’s going to be and what size it’s going to be.

    “Next year we will have a better idea of the options, but even then it’s going to be the following year before we narrow it down,” Mr Blair said.

  14. James 14
    16 September 2016 at 2:29 pm

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/84243686/poor-polls-sensitive-issue-as-labour-mps-brace-for-genderbalanced-list

    Will Labour keep its pledge to gender balance its caucus by 2017 ? This will be interesting.

  15. alwyn 15
    16 September 2016 at 2:38 pm

    I see that Phil Goff and James Shaw are demonstrating yet again why The New Zealand Super Fund should be wound up and the money spent or returned to the taxpayer, and why politicians shouldn’t have anything to do with people’s investment decisions.
    Goff, if I heard this morning’s Morning Report correctly thinks that the Super Fund should invest in Auckland’s more useless, unprofitable, investments.
    The aim of the Super fund was to invest in profitable ventures in order, in 20-30 years time it will be able to afford National Super. Phil seems to think it is a great grey green greasy lump of cash to throw at things that will never pay off. Light rail to the airport seems to be one of his favourites.
    Shaw seems to believe that the state should decide where people are allowed to invest their own super savings. Ban any Kiwsaver fund from investing, no matter how indirectly, in anyone involved in supplying goods or services to a company in the nuclear industry. No doubt he will expand the rules to any company that makes sugar which is, to a Green, evil, Evil, EVIL. To hell with the fact that people are trying to provide for their retirement. James knows best.
    Politicians should never be allowed to get involved in business. They don’t give a damn about benefit to the population they dominate. They just want to give themselves a warm fuzzy feeling.

    • The Chairman 15.1
      16 September 2016 at 3:42 pm

      Shaw is advocating to clear the grey area in our current law.

      Apparently, trading shares between shareholders (in unethical investments) isn’t seen as investing in unethical investments, even though the end result is the same. One ends up owning shares in an unethical investment.

    • Garibaldi 15.2
      16 September 2016 at 4:46 pm

      Keep pumping that sugar Alwyn. It’s good for shortening your life.

    • reason 15.3
      16 September 2016 at 5:19 pm

      Much better to have fraudulent business models like merrill lynch and tax dodge artists like john key to rip off tax payers and investors in the ‘free market’ ????…

      It appears most likely american tax payers paid for keys bank of american shares …… it’s a fascinating story and involves merrill lynch being among the worst of the worst and almost bringing down the u.s.a financial system at the start of the GFC ….

      And it’s Information I came about thanks to you Alwyn ………..

      Key should have his own little pirate flag …………… you’d kiss it 😉

  16. Tautoko Mangō Mata 16
    16 September 2016 at 3:11 pm

    Announced today in Australia: TPP Senate Inquiry welcomed by community group

    A Senate inquiry has been called into the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, in response to a letter sent to parliamentarians from 60 community organisations representing over 2 million Australians.

    The inquiry was moved jointly by the Greens and the Nick Xenophon Team, supported by the ALP and approved in the Senate on Thursday, September 15.

    The TPP is currently being examined by the Joint Standing Committee On Treaties, on which the government has a majority. The assessment of the TPP being considered by the committee has been done by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which negotiated the Treaty.

    “We are delighted that majority in the Senate has answered the call from community organisations representing over 2 million Australians and decided to conduct a Senate inquiry into the TPP,” Dr Patricia Ranald, Convener of the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network said today

    “The TPP expands corporate rights at the expense of people’s rights and deserves far more critical scrutiny than is possible by the government-dominated Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, which has not conducted independent assessments of the TPP’s economic health and environmental impacts. A Senate inquiry will enable the full critical scrutiny which the TPP deserves.

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1609/S00034/tpp-senate-inquiry-welcomed-by-community-groups.htm

    No such luck here in NZ.

  17. James 17
    16 September 2016 at 4:24 pm

    Mr Trotter on the Polls and the UMR release…

    http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2016/09/a-better-poll.html

    Love the opening …

    Bogus? So devastating was the latest One News/Colmar Brunton poll result for Labour that the Opposition leader, Andrew Little, declared it “bogus”. In desperation, Labour released its own – vastly more encouraging – internal poll data from UMR Research. Unfortunately, in political terms, this is a bit like presenting an affidavit testifying to your beauty and intelligence, signed by your Mum.

  18. Nick 18
    16 September 2016 at 4:30 pm

    Clinton will lose the election, either by resigning due to Parkinsons disease (rumour) or simply trumped……maybe Bernie will replace her?

  19. The Chairman 19
    16 September 2016 at 4:54 pm

    Brownlee’s being accused by New Zealand First of “spending like a drunken sailor” over the purchase of a new Naval tanker.

    Deputy leader Ron Mark claims the new ship is costing the taxpayer twice as much as it should, citing the costs of similar vessels purchased by the Royal Navy and the Norwegian Navy.

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/politics/new-navy-ship-a-rip-off-nz-first-claims-2016091216

    • Draco T Bastard 19.1
      16 September 2016 at 5:10 pm

      National’s economic (mis)management coming to the fore again.

      • The Chairman 19.1.1
        16 September 2016 at 8:02 pm

        To be fair, NZ has a somewhat questionable history when it comes to defence procurements.

        • Draco T Bastard 19.1.1.1
          17 September 2016 at 12:24 am

          True but I don’t think that there’s been a case where they’ve paid twice as much for the same item.

          • The Chairman 19.1.1.1.1
            17 September 2016 at 10:48 am

            I can neither confirm nor deny offhand.

            However, I’ve yet to hear Brownlee’s side of it.

            He may have a legitimate excuse. Then again, he may not.

  20. The Chairman 20
    16 September 2016 at 8:03 pm

    It’s been estimated Japan’s population could fall by half in just 24 years.

    On average, a country needs a birth rate of 2.2 children per woman just to hold the population steady – what’s known as “replacement fertility”.

    Japan’s at 1.4
    New Zealand is also below that line, at 2.04
    Australia’s got it worse – just 1.77
    The world’s worst is Singapore – 0.81.

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/nz-among-countries-with-a-sex-problem-2016091420?ref=ves-nextauto

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • The conflicted Covid Chair
    David Farrar writes –  Kata MacNamara reports:    Details of Tony Blakely’s involvement in the New Zealand Government’s response to the pandemic raise serious questions about the work of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry over which he presides. It has long been clear that Blakely, a ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    54 mins ago

  • Attacking the smartest and most resilient people in the room is never a good idea
    Chris Trotter writes – Are you a Brahmin or a Merchant? Or, are you merely one of those whose lives are profoundly influenced by the decisions of Brahmins and Merchants? Those are the questions that are currently shaping the politics of New Zealand and the entire West. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 hour ago

  • A fortune-telling failure, surely, if the tarot cards can’t see a bulldozer coming
    RNZ reports –  It’s supposed to be a haven of healing and spiritual awakening but residents of the Kawai Purapura community say they’ve been hurt and deceived. It’s the successor to the former Centrepoint commune, and has been on the bush block opposite Albany shopping centre since 2008. It ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 hour ago

  • The climate battleground heats up
    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. Usually we have a video chat to go with this wrap, but were unable to do one this week. We’ll be back next week.Several reports ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 hours ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Tuesday, May 14
    The Transport Minister has set a hard 'fiscal envelope' of $6.54 billion for transport capital spending. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy is settling into a state of suspended animation as the Government’s funding freezes and job cuts chill confidence and combine with stubbornly high interest rates to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 hours ago

  • Gordon Campbell on why anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitic
    To be precise, the term “anti- Zionism” refers to (a) criticism of the political movement that created a modern Jewish state on the historical land of Israel, and to (b)the subjugation of Palestinians by the Israeli state. By contrast, the term “anti-Semitism” means bigotry and racism directed at Jewish people, ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    7 hours ago

  • Wayne Brown’s PT Plan
    Yesterday the Mayor released what he calls his “plan to save public transport” which is part of his final proposal for the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). This comes following consultation on the draft version that occurred in March which showed, once again, that people want more done on transport, especially ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    7 hours ago

  • Potaka's Private Universe.
    And it's a pleasure that I have knownAnd it's a treasure that I have gainedAotearoa’s coalition government is fragile. It’s held together by the obsequious sycophancy of Christopher Luxon, who willingly contorts his party into the fringe positions of his junior coalition partners and is unwilling to contradict them. The ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    8 hours ago

  • Our slow regional councils
    The Select Committee hearing submissions on the fast-track consenting legislation is starting to become a beat-up of regional councils. The inflexibility and slow workings of the Councils were prominent in two submissions yesterday. One, from the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association, simply said that the Waikato Regional Council’s planning decisions were ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    10 hours ago

  • Ministers are not above the law after all
    Back in April, the High Court surprised everyone by ruling that Ministers are above the law, at least as far as the Waitangi Tribunal is concerned. The reason for this ruling was "comity" - the idea that the different branches of government shouldn't interfere with each other's functions. Which makes ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    22 hours ago

  • NZTA takes the wheel after govt gives it the road map for regional roads (and puts a speed governor ...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Tolling was mentioned when Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the government was re-introducing the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme, with 15 “crucial” projects to support economic growth and regional development across New Zealand. All RoNS would be four-laned, grade-separated highways, and all funding, financing, and ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    24 hours ago

  • Change in Catalonia?
    or the past 14 years, ever since the Spanish government cheated on an autonomy deal, Catalonia has reliably given pro-independence parties a majority of seats in their regional parliament. But now that seems to be over. Catalans went to the polls yesterday, and stripped the Catalan parties of their majority. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    24 hours ago

  • Having an enrolment date is not depriving anyone of a vote
    David Farrar writes –  Radio NZ report: Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said the Electoral Commission should make sure the system ran smoothly and “taking away the right of thousands of people to vote” was not the answer. “Thousands of people enroled and voted on the day. If ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Perhaps house prices don’t always go up
    Don Brash writes –  There was a rather revealing headline in the Herald on Sunday today (12 May). It read “One in 8 Auckland homes on market were bought during boom, may now sell for loss”. The first line of text noted that “New data shows one in ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Can’t read, can’t write, can’t comprehend – and won’t think…?
    Mike Grimshaw writes –  At a time when universities are understandably nervous regarding the establishment of the University Advisory Group (UAG) and the Science System Advisory Group (SSAG) it may seem strange – or even fool-hardy – to state that there are long-standing issues in the tertiary sector ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Time for some perspective
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  A lack of perspective can make something quite large or important seem small or irrelevant. Against a backdrop of high-profile, negative statistics it is easy to overlook the positive. For instance, the fact that 64 percent of Maori are employed is rarely reported. For ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Will NZ Herald’s ‘poor journalism’ cost lives?
    Earlier this year, the Herald ran a series of articles amounting to a sustained campaign against raised pedestrian crossings, by reporter Bernard Orsman. A key part of that campaign concerned the raised crossings being installed as part of the Pt Chevalier to Westmere project, with at least 10 articles over ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 day ago

  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to May 19 and beyond
    TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 19 include:PM Christopher Luxon is expected to hold his weekly post-cabinet news conference at 4:00pm on Monday.Parliament is not sitting this week. It resumes next week for a two-week sitting session up to and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Webworm Popup Photos!
    Hi,Thanks to all the beautiful Worms who came to the LA Webworm popup on Saturday.It was a way to celebrate the online store we launched last week — and it was super special.As I talk about a lot, I really value our community here — and it was a BLAST ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #19
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 5, 2024 thru Sat, May 11, 2024. (Unfortunate) Story of the week "Grief that stops at despair is an ending that I and many others, most notably ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • The Gods Must Be Woke.
    Last night the largest solar storm in decades resulted in Aurorae being seen across Aotearoa, causing many to ask why?Why was the sky pink? What was all this stuff about the power grid? Have we, as so many have wondered since the election, reached the end of days?I had a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • More road
    We have been on the road in England, squeezing down narrow lanes, flying up the M6, loving hedgerows and villages and cathedrals, liking the 21st century less.There have been moments when it’s felt like a movie trope. The pub in Exford, lovely seventeenth century bar, almost more dogs than people, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Seeing the Aurora Australis
    There’s a solar-storm on at the moment, and since the South Island is having a day and night with clear skies, that means Aurorae. I have just got back from a midnight visit to Tunnel Beach – southwards-looking over the Sea, and without the light pollution. Quite a few others ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • Welcome to the current welfare mess
    Michael Bassett writes – I’m not sure that it’s much comfort to anyone to know that the post-Covid surge in violent crimes, gang activity, ram raids, random shootings, thuggery and stabbings is occurring in other countries as well as New Zealand. These days, wagging school, out-of-control welfare and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A shovel-ready autopsy
    Oliver Hartwich writes –  Cast your mind back to mid-December. A new Prime Minister had just been sworn in, the new Government started its 100-day programme, and Christmas was only days away.Amid all the haste, a report landed that would have deserved our attention.I am talking about the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Why we almost blacked out and how to fix it
    TL;DR: An unseasonally early icy blast at the same time as some long-overdue maintenance almost caused Aotearoa-NZ’s electricity system to black out this week. That’s because a quadropoly of gentailers1 have prioritised paying dividends from their rising profits and adding debt over investing in 1.5 GigaWatts of new wind farms ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • What Is Instagram Trying To Sell Us?
    Hi,Before we crack into today’s Webworm, I wanted to acknowledge the fact that Israel is pushing into Rafah. Over 100,000 Palestinians are now attempting to flee the one place that was deemed “safe”.Trouble is, the place they’re fleeing to is already destroyed. Total annihilation is the end goal here.“Israel is ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago

  • Precious Little Excitement: Warner Brothers, Peter Jackson, and Gollum
    Back in February 2023, I made the cardinal mistake of getting my hopes up. Warner Brothers declared that fresh Middle-earth movies were in the works: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/02/24/it-never-rains-but-it-pours-warner-brothers-and-impending-tolkien-adaptations/ My assumption, based on which rights were available, and what had already been done, was that this was a stab at either the Angmar ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    4 days ago

  • Do We Need a Population Census?
    ‘It has been said that figures rule the world. Maybe. I am quite sure that it is figures which show us whether it is being ruled well or badly.’ GoetheI was struck at a recent conference on equity for the elderly, how many presenters implicitly relied upon Statistics New Zealand. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago

  • No, the govt will not be cutting back on every budget – and the Defence vote is among those to be ...
    Buzz from the Beehive Reporting on defence spending late last year, RNZ said the coalition government will have to make some tough calls this term to help the force address staff shortages and ageing infrastructure. “These are huge, huge amounts of government spending. It’s a significant proportion of the government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The Treasury and productivity
    Late last week The Treasury released a new 40 page report on “The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections” (productivity forecasts and projections that is, rather than any possible fiscal implications – the latter will, I guess, be articulated in the Budget documents). In short, if (as it has) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • The Controller and Auditor-General’s role
    Peter Dunne writes –  I am always wary when I hear that the Controller and Auditor-General has commented on or made recommendations to the government about an issue of public policy that does not relate strictly to public expenditure. According to the legislation, the role of the Controller ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • More harm than good
    How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought NZ to the brink of economic and cultural chaos   Chris Trotter writes –  TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Real reason Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Chhour
    And why did the Crown not challenge the Tribunal’s jurisdiction?   Gary Judd writes –  Retired District Court Judge, David Harvey, has posted on his A Halflings View Substack an excellent summary of Justice Isacs’ judgment declining to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Losing confidence in the integrity of NZ elections
    Bryce Edwards writes – Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result?As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Macklemore's Pro-Palestinian Protest.
    Macklemore isn’t someone I’d usually think about. Sure I liked his big hit from a few years back, everybody did it was catchy and cool with some memorable lines. But if I was going to think of artists who might speak out on political matters or world events, he wouldn’t ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on miserly school lunches, and the banning of TikTok’s Gaza coverage
    Another week goes by in the Luxon government’s efforts to roll back the past 70 years of social progress. The school lunches programme is to be downgraded by $107 million, and women need bother their heads no longer about pay equity, let alone expect ACC to provide adequate sexual violence ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 10-May-2024
    Brrr, the first cold snap of the year. Hope you’re rugged up nice and warm. Here are some stories that caught our eye this week… This Week on Greater Auckland On Monday, we had a post from a new contributor, Connor Sharp, who dug into the public feedback ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to May 10
    Almost all of the Wellington City Council’s recommended zoning changes to allow many more apartments and townhouses in its inner-suburbs have been approved.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guest on geopolitics, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #19 2024
    Open access notables A Global Increase in Nearshore Tropical Cyclone Intensification, Balaguru et al., Earth's Future: Tropical Cyclones (TCs) inflict substantial coastal damages, making it pertinent to understand changing storm characteristics in the important nearshore region. Past work examined several aspects of TCs relevant for impacts in coastal regions. However, ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Losing confidence in the integrity of NZ elections
    Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result? As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and always answered “yes”, with very few ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • The Song of Saqua: Volume VIII
    Thus far May has followed on from a quiet April in the blogging department, but in fairness, it has been another case of doing what I am supposed to be doing, namely writing original fiction. Plus reading. So don’t worry – I have been productive. But in order to reassure ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago

  • Pretending to talk other people’s languages
    Fakes can come in many forms.A Rolex, for instance.A tan can be fake. Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • What’s new? A social agency with an emphasis on “investment” instead of “wellbeing” – b...
    Buzz from the Beehive A new government agency will open for business on July 1 – the Social Investment Agency. As a new standalone central agency effective from 1 July, it will lead the development of social investment across Government, helping ministers understand who they need to invest in, what ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Following the political money
    Bryce Edwards writes –    “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Hipkins would rather no one remember that he was Minister of Education
    Alwyn Poole writes –  After being elected to Parliament in 2008 the maiden speech of Hipkins was substantially around education policy. He was Labour’s spokesperson for education 2011 – 2017. He was Minister for Education from 2017 until February 2023. This is approximately 88% of the time Labour ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Fashionable follies
    Eric Crampton writes –  A fashion industry group is lobbying for protections. They make the usual arguments and a newer one. None of it makes sense. An industry group says it pumped $7.8 billion into the economy last year – that’s 1.9 percent of New Zealand’s GDP. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Justice for Bainimarama!
    In December 2006, Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama overthrew the elected government in a coup. He ruled Fiji for the next 16 years, first as dictator, then as "elected" Prime Minister. But now, he's finally been sent to jail where he belongs. Sadly, this isn't for his real crime of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • March for Nature in June
    Don't like National's corrupt Muldoonist "fast-track" law? Aotearoa's environmental NGO's - Greenpeace, Forest & Bird, WWF, Coromandel Watchdog, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and others - have announced a joint march against it in Auckland in June: When: 13:00, 8 June, 2024 Where: Aotea Square, Auckland You ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Thursday May 9
    Seymour describes sushi as too woke for school meals. There are no fish sushi meals recommended by the School Lunches programme. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Government will swap out hot meals for packaged sandwiches to save $107 million on school lunches for poor kids. MSD has pulled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • The non-woke $3 Lunch.
    I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadenceBut I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeahBut it's on the table, the fire's cookin'And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'But I'm goin' hungry, yeahSome ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Labour’s chickens come home to roost
    The Ardern Government’s chickens came home to roost yesterday with the news that the country is short of natural gas. In 2018, Labour banned offshore petroleum exploration, and industry executives say that the attendant loss of confidence by the industry impacted overall investment in onshore gas fields. Energy Resources Minister ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Calvin Reviews Lord of The Rings
    Hi,If you’ve been digging through the newly launched Webworm store (orders are being dispatched worldwide as I type!) you’ll have noticed the best model we had was Calvin.This is Calvin.Calvin.Calvin is 7, and is the son of my producer over on Flightless Bird, Rob — aka “Wobby Wob”. Rob also ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • Climate Adam: How to visualise Climate Change (ft. Katharine Hayhoe)
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Climate change is everywhere. And when something's everywhere it can feel like it's nowhere. So how do we get our heads ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • The wrong direction
    Some good news on climate change today: the energy transition away from fossil fuels is picking up speed, and renewables now make up 30% of global electricity supply. Meanwhile, in Aotearoa, we're moving in the opposite direction, with Genesis Energy announcing that it will resume importing Indonesian coal. Their official ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • National hates democracy
    Its a law like gravity: whenever a right-wing government is elected, they start attacking democracy. And now, after talking to their Republican and Tory and Fidesz chums at the International Democracy Union forum in Wellington, National is doing it here, announcing plans to remove election-day enrolment. Or, to put it ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • No Tikanga Please, We're Lawyers.
    Yesterday Winston Peters focussed his attention on the important matter at hand. Tweeting. Like the former, and quite possibly next, orange POTUS, from whom he takes much of his political strategy, Winston is an avid X’er.His message didn’t resemble an historic address this time. In fact it was more reminiscent ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Member’s Day
    Today is a Member's Day, and it seems we've entered the slowdown as things emerge from select committee. First up is the committee stage of Greg O'Connor's Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) (Overseas Travel Reporting) Amendment Bill, which will be followed by the second readings of Stuart ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Hurrah for coal – Shane Jones welcomes Genesis Energy’s import plans as natural gas production s...
    Buzz from the Beehive A significant decline in natural gas production has given Resources Minister Shane Jones an opportunity to reiterate his enthusiasm for the mining and burning of coal. For good measure, he has praised an announcement from Genesis Energy that it will resume importing coal. He and Energy ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Following the political money
    “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The political parties are legally obliged to make ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • A Left-Right ranking of universities in NZ: a practical guide for students and parents
    Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim. Extreme Left   Auckland University of Technology Evidence The ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  •  Inflation and GST thresholds
    Eric Crampton writes –  I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Green Party grapples with persistent scandals
    Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes –  Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • A law school to be avoided – Auckland University of Technology
    Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • 17 people in Malaita stand in way of China’s takeover of the Solomons
    Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the Hamas Ceasefire Offer, and Mark Mitchell’s Incompetence
    With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Wednesday May 8
    Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • A few PT announcements
    There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Green Party grapples with persistent scandals
    Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • At a glance – Tree ring proxies and the divergence problem
    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
    7 days ago

  • Nothing to sneer at
    Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • Still on their bullshit
    When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Drawn
    A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • A nod and a wink that will unnecessarily cost Aucklanders tens of millions per year
    Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Correcting the Corrections announcement – a fiscal farce that should bother the OECD
     Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement of Christopher Luxon and Emmanuel Macron: Launch of the Christchurch Call Foundation
    New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.   This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago

  • Panel announced for review into disability services
    Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago

  • New Zealand expresses regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners.  “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago

  • New Chief of Defence Force appointed
    Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago

  • Government puts children first by repealing 7AA
    Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago

  • Defence Minister to meet counterparts in UK, Italy
    Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago

  • Charter schools to lift educational outcomes
    The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago

  • COVID-19 Inquiry terms of reference consultation results received
    “The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • The Pacific family of nations – the changing security outlook
    Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests  Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues  Ladies and Gentlemen,  Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru    It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • NZ and Papua New Guinea to work more closely together
    Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Driving ahead with Roads of Regional Significance
    The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New Zealand congratulates new Solomon Islands government
    A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office.    “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand supports UN Palestine resolution
    New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Speech to the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium
    Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • $571 million for Defence pay and projects
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Climate change – mitigating the risks and costs
    New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Getting new job seekers on the pathway to work
    Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Accelerating Social Investment
    A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Getting Back on Track
    Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with  your Board and team, for hosting me.   I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • NZ – European Union ties more critical than ever
    Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith,   Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States,   Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us.   Ladies and gentlemen -    In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Therapeutic Products Act to be repealed
    The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Decisions on Wellington City Council’s District Plan
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Rape Awareness Week: Government committed to action on sexual violence
    Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston.  “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Smarter lunch programme feeds more, costs less
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Report provides insights into marine recovery
    New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • NZ to send political delegation to the Pacific
    Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region.   The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu.    “New Zealand has deep and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Low gas production threatens energy security
    There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co.  Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Defence industry talent, commitment recognised
    Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Speech to the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry
    Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Speech to the Sixth Annual New Zealand Government Data Summit
    It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government.  I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Ceasefire agreement needed now: Peters
    New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Daily school attendance data now available
    A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour.  The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Ambassador to United States appointed
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America.    “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says.    “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New permit proposed for recreational gold mining
    The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and the UAE launch FTA negotiations
    Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand Sign Language Week an opportunity for anyone to sign
    New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Next stop NASA for New Zealand students
    Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • $1.9 billion investment to keep NZ safe from crime
    New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • OECD reinforces need to control spending
    The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Agreement delivers Local Water Done Well for Auckland
    The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-05-14T03:17:26+00:00