90 axed at TVNZ

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 pm, March 16th, 2009 - 56 comments
Categories: Media, national, privatisation, same old national - Tags: ,

tvnz-logo-brokenIn what’s turning out to be the gift that just keeps on giving for National, the Recession Bogeyman is now being blamed for a need to axe 90 staff from TVNZ.

The Minister for Broadcasting reckons the cuts are necessary to make sure TVNZ keeps returing a fat dividend, even in these extraordinary times, even when media are chasing ever receding advertising revenue. Of course National don’t actually have to insist on TVNZ continuing to make the huge dividends it’s returned to Government as an SOE over the years.

So why insist on job losses to ensure better profits for the State (presumably to be spent of the effects of job losses)? It’s an entirely political decision, part of completing the unfinished business of selling TVNZ. What happens to a news organization when you cut out all the fat then keep cutting into its muscle is precisely what’s happened to our commercial print media – the quality drops and drops, and the audiences start moving elsewhere. From there advertising revenues drop, more cuts are made to revive profits, the quality drops even further, more audiences is shed, and so it goes…

Leaving TVNZ in a position where National can then say ‘well this asset just isn’t performing any more, better we sell it’.

One good thing that may come of all this is that we might finally start to see some tougher questioning of this Government if those who remain in front of the cameras at TVNZ have any respect for their departing colleagues.

A particularly brave leap backwards from National.

56 comments on “90 axed at TVNZ ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. John Dalley 1
    16 March 2009 at 6:12 pm

    No No sprout, it’s all to do with the previous post. JK & National want less people around so that they cannot dig into what Nationals “Secret Agenda” really is.

  2. Schwule 2
    16 March 2009 at 6:23 pm

    900 could be axed from TVNZ and you wouldn’t notice any difference.The idiot box is a sick joke.

    • Travellerev 2.1
      17 March 2009 at 7:58 am

      Schwule,

      Equals queer in German slang when it concerns the male gender or horny when it concerns the female gender. That together with the comment makes me wonder if we’ve got another d4j personae surfacing.

  3. IrishBill 3
    16 March 2009 at 6:51 pm

    TV journalists like Fran, Sprout? I must say most of the TVNZ journos I know, in fact most journos full stop, are pretty good at what they do in the face of deadlines and resource shortages. I have different feelings about some in the gallery but I think that’s got to do with capture.

    I want to say right now that I’m not at all comfortable with you slagging off people who are facing losing their jobs.

    sprout: thanks for pointing out the obvious need to clarify the post IB, I’ve edited the bits that may have created the confusion.

    I’m certainly not intending to slag those who may be fired, quite the contrary I think they shouldn’t be fired and doing so is bad for TVNZ’s long-term interests.

    I also like most of the journalists I know and recognize the quality deficits popularly attributed to them are really the product of media owners’ decisions to woefully under-resource their staff in the name of maintaining dividends. I also think however that the slagee (now removed) should take some responsibility for cheerleading National to victory, but I doubt the cheerleaders will be the ones fired.

  4. bobo 4
    16 March 2009 at 8:29 pm

    National is becoming groundhog day and I pity any who lose their jobs, its more likely to be the actual news gatherer’s and production crew who get the chop than the “presenter” “personalities” at tvnz.

    They started the cuts with John Rowles I see 🙂

  5. Johnty Rhodes 5
    16 March 2009 at 8:35 pm

    Probaby good idea to get rid of deadwood, thats’ what happens in recession. Under Labour TVNZ probably became too bloated, after all it is still a public service company paid by my taxes.

  6. justthefacts 6
    16 March 2009 at 9:00 pm

    Just 90 to get the sack?, I am sure they could find a few more than that if they really looked into it.

    Slim it down and sell it off, we do not need to own a TV station.

    Overall this is good news though, long may the purge of the public service continue.

    • BLiP 6.1
      17 March 2009 at 9:05 am

      Another National Party promise down the gurgler – so much for “capping” the public service. Do you like being lied to?

      Hahahaha – captcha, I never ceased to be amused: “10-cent savings”

  7. bobo 7
    16 March 2009 at 9:05 pm

    TVNZ new slogan “No News is Good News”

  8. Pat 8
    16 March 2009 at 10:04 pm

    I hope Mark Ellis and Lana Cocroft are included in the 90.

  9. the bean 9
    16 March 2009 at 10:29 pm

    well why don’t we start talking about why we do need to own a TV station? and actually why don’t we start talking about the fact that NZ forks out far less per head on public service broadcasting than pretty much ALL developed countries in the world?

    how can a country as small as new zealand ever assert an identity in a globalised world if we never see our own reflection? Core aspects of public broadcasting include reflecting a society- all aspects of a society, even those minority perspectives that might not appeal to mass audiences and hence advertisers. The aim is to educate others in society about difference, provide a Darwinian contest of ideas and help to strengthen identities.

    Also pbs is about informing citizen rather than treating people as consumers. We need a certain amount and quality of information to make informed decisions as citizens. the provision of this information is not often compatible with profit.

    also job creation is another benefit of pbs. Having content that has to be made locally creates a demand for all the writers, talent, designers, labourers, caterers, camera people etc involved in making television.

    i am sure there are many people on here much smarter than me who can think of all the other reasons but perhaps that will get things started…

    • BLiP 9.1
      17 March 2009 at 9:04 am

      You’re assuming the National government gives a single flying fuck about New Zealand’s identity. Sorry mate, too late and too erudite for this government. They’d rather use the concept of national identity to flummox the indolent MSM and get the talkback rabble boiled up about archaic titles.

  10. Redbaiter 10
    17 March 2009 at 1:19 am

    FOX is booming in the US because it provides a product the people want. TVNZ is dying in NZ because rather than meet the market, they choose to promote socialist ideology.

    Endlessly shove it down people’s throat, if not by politically correct programming, than by endless “public good’ commercials.

    So committed to collectivism, they’d rather go down flying the Red Flag than emulate FOX.

    I don’t like to see people lose their jobs either, but if anyone was ever begging for it, it has to be these socialist dupes at TVNZ.

    • Killinginthenameof 10.1
      17 March 2009 at 1:50 am

      Ah every ones favourite Fox news, in the interests of being fair and balanced Mr Baiter, could you please answer the following:

      What time of day can I catch the Con-ser-vat-ive translation?

      What the hell is a homicide bomber?

      And how on earth am I supposed to take a station seriously that refers to Obama as “the anointed one”, or are they just smarting from having a president who’s actually popular?

      • Redbaiter 10.1.1
        17 March 2009 at 2:45 am

        Stick to the subject you patronizing moron. Or is it causing you too much pain?

      • BLiP 10.1.2
        17 March 2009 at 9:15 am

        Ahh – FOX news – that bastion truth! Have a look at their record in terms of that: http://www.mediamatters.com – Please get back to me and llet me know if this is really the sort of example the rest of the media should follow.

  11. Redbaiter 11
    17 March 2009 at 1:21 am

    Jonty is right. TVNZ only shows a “profit” due to government financial support in program making and advertising.

    Its “dividend” is a shallow hoax.

  12. Redbaiter 12
    17 March 2009 at 2:39 am

    “are they just smarting from having a president who’s actually popular?”

    Jeez, your smugness is exceeded only by your mainstream media fed ignorance. Obama is less popular right now than Bush was at this stage of his presidency.

  13. Santi 13
    17 March 2009 at 8:29 am

    The whole of TVNZ should be sold to the highest bidder. We don’t need it.

  14. justthefacts 14
    17 March 2009 at 8:53 am

    “well why don’t we start talking about why we do need to own a TV station? and actually why don’t we start talking about the fact that NZ forks out far less per head on public service broadcasting than pretty much ALL developed countries in the world?”

    And???, that is hardly a justification for continuing the public funding of broadcasting.

    “how can a country as small as new zealand ever assert an identity in a globalised world if we never see our own reflection? Core aspects of public broadcasting include reflecting a society- all aspects of a society, even those minority perspectives that might not appeal to mass audiences and hence advertisers. The aim is to educate others in society about difference, provide a Darwinian contest of ideas and help to strengthen identities.”

    What a lot of socialist crap, the problem with public broadcasting is that it is often hijacked by the government of the time (as witnessed by the last Labour government) to push its biased message.
    There are NO “core aspects” when it comes to broadcasting, it is a business and should reflect what the viewers want to see.

    “Also pbs is about informing citizen rather than treating people as consumers. We need a certain amount and quality of information to make informed decisions as citizens. the provision of this information is not often compatible with profit.”

    Informing them of what?, informing them of the governments view or spin on things?, I think not, we already have enough sheep who make their voting choice based on sound bites and carefully controlled press releases, I want to see a robust analysis of government policy rather than have the public broadcaster trot our the Labour party line as we have had for the last nine years.

    “also job creation is another benefit of pbs. Having content that has to be made locally creates a demand for all the writers, talent, designers, labourers, caterers, camera people etc involved in making television.”

    Utter crap!, tax payer money should never be used for job creation, those of an artistic bent who seem to be of the opinion that I should fund their “art” or creative “talents” need to get real, if they are are good at what they do they will make a living, if not then the tax payer should not be asked to pay for their existence.

  15. the bean 15
    17 March 2009 at 9:54 am

    what I love about all the frothing from redbaiter et al about TVNZ is that they presume it is psb just because it is “state owned”. TVNZ has a commercial imperative, it is literally a croc.

    It doesn’t show quality NZ content in prime time and it has very loose restrictions on what counts as nz content. when we have true pbs (like aspects of the BBC) then you can froth on about a socialist TVNZ.

    otherwise your championing of FOX as a product worth emulating is very amusing…don’t let me stop you

  16. Redbaiter 16
    17 March 2009 at 10:22 am

    Hey left wing dummies- get the main message-

    A) FOX is commercially succesful.

    B) TVNZ is a commercial dud.

    Q. Why is FOX successful?

    A. It meets the market

    Q Why is TVNZ a dud?

    A. It chooses not to meet the market but to try and thrust socialist propaganda down people’s throats.

    Q. Why is TVNZ eventually going to go broke?

    A. Because it is controlled by socialists who put ideology before commercial success.

  17. Redbaiter 17
    17 March 2009 at 10:27 am

    “Please get back to me and llet me know if this is really the sort of example the rest of the media should follow.”

    Only a blinkered moron would produce stuff from the notoriously left wing Media Matters here and imagine that is proof of anything. What a laff you sneering ignorant leftists are. Ensconced in your narrow little worlds, feeding off each other’s partisan ignorance, shutting out any reality that intrudes upon your collectivist dream worlds,

    Media matters…???

    Pffft..

    Hopeless.

    You don’t have a fucken clue.

    • BLiP 17.1
      17 March 2009 at 10:38 am

      Can’t handle it when you’re jabberings are confronted with facts proving the opposite is true. Instead, you resort to scholyard insults rather than provide an alternative source or argue the point. Pathetic. You are obviously the sort of person who makes up for what they lack in charm and intelligence with a bottle of rohypnol.

  18. Killinginthenameof 18
    17 March 2009 at 10:44 am

    Redbaiter, public service broadcasting, why does the truth need to be commercially viable for it to be considered the truth. Entertainment channels aught to be commercially viable, but have you ever heard of the 4th estate?

  19. Redbaiter 19
    17 March 2009 at 10:53 am

    “rather than provide an alternative source”

    Why do you not seek out the alternative yourself???

    Are you not the least curious?

    Do you not feel the slightest need to check for yourself whether Media Matters is objective or biased??

    That’s what I’m talking about.

    You’re a sneering narrow minded brainwashed fool. You prove it every time you post.

    How am I to change that fact???? How am I to change the outcome of years of brainwashing?

    I cannot, so I do not try.

    I post here for readers and lurkers who may possess the ability to process fresh information.

    I do not think you will ever be capable of doing that.

    No matter what I write.

  20. Redbaiter 20
    17 March 2009 at 10:58 am

    “Redbaiter, public service broadcasting,”

    We don’t need it.

    All over the globe, “public service broadcasting” is a euphemism for leftists producing left wing propaganda.

    You want it, you pay for it.

    You want it, you organize a station and run it by subscription.

    Can’t you see the immorality of forcing myself and other citizens to contribute to an entity they despise??

  21. Killinginthenameof 21
    17 March 2009 at 11:04 am

    Really what I’m asking here is can you please explain why commercial viability is a good measure of how true something is.

  22. Redbaiter 22
    17 March 2009 at 11:09 am

    “Really what I’m asking here is can you please explain why commercial viability is a good measure of how true something is.”

    Here’s a couple of questions for you?

    Why should I need to answer a question that is based upon a premise I completely disagree with??

    Why should I need to answer a question that implies I said something I never said and claims something I do not agree with?

    I have never maintained that commercial viability is a measure of truth.

    Conversely, it is you that is claiming a monopoly on truth, even when the outlets you support are unaccountable entities funded by government and staffed almost entirely by leftists.

    Can’t you see your own incongruity??

    • the sprout 22.1
      17 March 2009 at 11:18 am

      You really are wasting our time and keystrokes here Redbaited.

      Maybe you should go play some place where the audience is a bit more naive,
      some place people believe Fox really is “Fair and Balanced” 🙂

  23. Killinginthenameof 23
    17 March 2009 at 11:16 am

    1. Your most welcome to decline to answer.

    2. It is certainly the implication that myself and many others got from reading your comments.

    Another question then, (which again your welcome to decline, but I would like a straight spoken answer.)

    You do think that a good news service with accurate reporting is important for the functioning of democracy?

  24. Redbaiter 24
    17 March 2009 at 11:18 am

    “Redbaiter pull out, you’ve slipped into an alternate reality”

    Check it moron. Obama has a lesser popularity rating then Bush did at this stage of his presidency. Its a fact.

    [lprent: calm down. ]

  25. Redbaiter 25
    17 March 2009 at 11:20 am

    “You really are wasting our time and keystrokes here Redbaited.”

    Not really. Seeing reality denying fascists like you get so agitated always makes it more than worthwhile.

  26. Redbaiter 26
    17 March 2009 at 11:21 am

    “You really are wasting our time and keystrokes here Redbaited.’

    Not really. Seeing reality denying f*sc*sts like you get so agitated always makes it more than worthwhile.

  27. Redbaiter 27
    17 March 2009 at 11:25 am

    “You do think that a good news service with accurate reporting is important for the functioning of democracy?”

    Such things will always be entirely subjective.

    Government needs to stay out of it for reasons that are obvious to anyone who looks objectively at public broadcasting all over the world. (Venezuela)

    It is constantly used to push a partisan political view, and therefore has thoroughly discredited itself. Once a good idea, it is now a criminal misuse of taxpayer money.

  28. justthefacts 28
    17 March 2009 at 11:25 am

    “You mean the truth hurts?”

    The truth as pre determined by left wing governments you mean?

  29. justthefacts 29
    17 March 2009 at 11:49 am

    “Or do I mean the truth as predetermined by the ideological position of the media company owners, and the advertisers on those channels?!”

    You have a problem with the left wing bias of TV3?

    Private companies have a right to do as they wish, I do not watch TV3 as I find their left wing bias offensive however I will fight to allow them to be as biased as they like.

    You are only defending TVNZ because they are a friend of the left, I can just imagine how quickly you would change your tune if they Key and the Nat’s began to exert the same influence and bias onto TVNZ that Clark and Labour managed to do over the last nine years.

    It is the job of the media to be fearless pursuers of the truth, you will not get that if they have to operate within guidelines set by the Government.

    Why are you so afraid of free speech?

    • Tane 29.1
      17 March 2009 at 11:57 am

      TVNZ’s is operationally independent of the government. All you’re doing is showing your ignorance if you think the government or the ‘Left’ tell them what to do.

      If anything, I think TVNZ’s political coverage tends to be more right-leaning than TV3’s but that could just be down to the political editors or my own prejudices.

      The reason the Left supports TVNZ not being cut down or privatised is that, apart from saving jobs, we want to see a proper public service broadcaster at some stage in the future. Labour failed us in that regard, but selling it is not the answer.

  30. justthefacts 30
    17 March 2009 at 11:50 am

    test

  31. the bean 31
    17 March 2009 at 12:06 pm

    and really, why are people so narrow minded they think pbs is just about political news? it is not about left or right bias in news reporting it is about quality nz drama, comedy, documentary…even sport arrrg. information comes in all forms (not in a post modern kinda way though..)

    and one good example of this was the documentary series that examined various ethnic groups that NZers claim ancestry from. so there were Dalmatians, Scottish, Chinese etc. it featured well known Nzers and not so well known, bit of history, bit of trivia and even some nz landmarks.

  32. Redbaiter 32
    17 March 2009 at 12:06 pm

    Tane- you’re submerged in it. That’s why you don’t see it. Visitors to NZ remark on it to me all the time.

  33. noleftie 33
    17 March 2009 at 12:23 pm

    From Wikipaedia April 2007….at the time I think we had a Labour government.

    “New Zealand’s state-owned broadcaster, TVNZ (Television New Zealand) announced yesterday its proposed redundancy cuts that will see jobs go from various sectors, the most going from their news and current affairs sector.

    At least 140 people will be told that they will be set to lose their job in the next six months, at least 50 of those are from the news sector.”

    So that’s 50 more than are being laid off at a time when we have a National Government. Maybe Labour was preparing TVNZ for sale by gutting it as well.

    • the sprout 33.1
      17 March 2009 at 1:19 pm

      it’s certainly true that like National, Labour also had a pretty short-sighted view of how to make the best use of TVNZ

  34. uroskin 34
    17 March 2009 at 5:28 pm

    I’m quite happy to be able to watch PBS and Aljazeera on Triangle TV and Stratos. Not much need for TVNZ really when you can make your own shows now.

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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

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