ACC privatisation plans announced

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, June 2nd, 2011 - 41 comments
Categories: ACC, privatisation - Tags:

National has announced plans to privatise ACC’s work account. Currently, they don’t have the numbers to get it through the House. ACT won’t vote for it because its not completely rabid and the Maori Party won’t vote for privatisation. So, this becomes another election issue: another bloody good reason to vote National out.

Now, National has been forced to make some concessions designed to blunt criticism of privatisation. One is that all ACC levies will, if National is re-elected, include a levy on the levy, which will be used to create a pool to cover claimants in the (likely) event that an ACC provider collapses. As you’ll remember, HIH, the largest private provider the last time National privatised ACC, collapsed six months after ACC was re-nationalised. The Aussie government ended up paying half a billion to cover its claimants.

So, sensible to have this insurance on insurance fund, eh? But right now we don’t need it, because ACC can’t collapse. It has huge reserves and can’t face a situation where its policyholders desert it leaving a liability book but no income because it’s a monopoly. And ACC’s levies are raised through the Crown’s sovereign power, not by a company desperately trying to make a profit and cutting corners to keep levies down. This extra cost is solely a result of privatisation.

And you know what the real kicker is? Even if you stay with ACC, the government will make you pay the levy on a levy. ACC is still basically uncollapsable but your levies will rise to subsidise the risk of others who are with private insurers.

Then there’s the boundaries issue. Only the work account is to be opened to competition. Injuries that occur outside the definition of that account will still be funded by ACC. Now, if you’re a private insurer, there’s going to be good money in getting injuries defined as falling in one of the other categories and make ACC rather than paying out yourself.

This already happens with the Approved Employer Programme (a legacy of the last privatisation, where large employers insure themselves). Most famously, an AFFCO worker was shot while on a work break. ACC said the rules said this was a workplace injury. AFFCO didn’t want to have to pay a million dollars for the injured man’s costs. The dispute dragged on for six years, with untold thousands spent on lawyers’ fess, until the parties finally split the cost.

Privatisation will mean more dragged out disputes like this and higher levies because of all the lawyers they’ll need to pay for. In the US

On top of the extra levy and all the extra legal costs, we’re also paying for marketing and private owners’ profits. All of that means a smaller percent of the money we pay in levies ends up paying for injuries. Currently, over 90% of the money raised in levies is paid out by ACC. In the US, health insurers spend less than 85% of their levies on payouts.

Pricewaterhouse Coopers calculated that insurance companies stood to make $200 a year in profit from privatisation of the ACC work account. Those profits won’t appear out of thin air. They’ve got to come either from raising less money or paying out less …

… unless you think that private insurers can magically reduce actual injury costs because people only care about stopping injuries if they can save a few cents on premiums – which is the voodoo economics that National is trying to convince us is real.

But will private insurers be dumb enough to enter the market anyway given that Labour and the Greens have pledged to reverse National’s privatisation of ACC, in the awful event that National gets a second term and the numbers to pass these reforms.

41 comments on “ACC privatisation plans announced ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. tsmithfield 1
    2 June 2011 at 10:11 am

    So, exposing TVNZ to private competition has been a bad thing, right?

    • Blighty 1.1
      2 June 2011 at 11:03 am

      Apart from the fact that the two situations are completely different (no boundary issues, no serious problem around a provider collapses, with TV), if the quality of TV in this country is something you think we should try to emulate in ACC, you’re bonkers.

      • Bored 1.1.1
        2 June 2011 at 12:15 pm

        Correct first time, TS is completely bonkers. He is not alone however, his views are commonly held amongst corporate theoretical economists (aka entrail readers and tea leaf diviners). They are the ones whose models and pet theories are exempt from any empirical evidence and analysis. The normal cause of this cognative dissonance is the existence of a salary link to those parties their particular theory favours…in TS case however I think we have an honest idiot. He should charge for it, there is a career opening TS.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 1.2
      2 June 2011 at 1:13 pm

      TVNZ gave the advertisers a “choice’ , the equivalent version with employers liability insurance would be that TV3 and others had the SAME shows, just at different times.

      You keep forgetting or are just ignorant in that the payouts are the same as ACC- by law.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 1.2.1
        2 June 2011 at 1:40 pm

        Just to clarify, using TVNZ as an analogy, the advertisers got a choice while the viewers had exactly the same as before , ie the same shows just different times

  2. Thrash Cardiom 2
    2 June 2011 at 10:41 am

    “So, exposing TVNZ to private competition has been a bad thing, right?”

    Judging by the absolute crap that appears on TVNZ and total lack of any decent analysis or journalism (apart from on the soon to be defunct TVN7), Yes, it has been a bad thing.

  3. tc 3
    2 June 2011 at 10:49 am

    Hilarious TS, Comparing broadcasting of cheap game shows, inadequate news services and personality centric entertainment with a service that delivers and impacts on peoples physical/mental health and wellbeing is like comparing food with fluff…..try again.

    • tsmithfield 3.1
      2 June 2011 at 12:00 pm

      At least I can choose to watch shit if I want to. Or I can watch a good doco on Prime. But at least I have some choice, and am not dictated to by the whim of a program director on a monopoly channel.

      • toad 3.1.1
        2 June 2011 at 12:11 pm

        TS, under privatised workplace accident insurance the injured person doesn’t have any choice who their insurer is.

        That choice is made by the employer, whom in many cases will choose the insurer which charges the lowest levies, and is able to do so by minimising compensation to injured employees. The easiest way for insurers to do that is to deny entitlements that should be granted, in the knowledge that most people won’t have either the fortitude or the resources to contest the decision.

        Employer wins, insurer wins, but the injured person loses.

        • queenstfarmer 3.1.1.1
          2 June 2011 at 4:38 pm

          TS, under privatised workplace accident insurance the injured person doesn’t have any choice who their insurer is.

          So, like it is now…

          But I agree there could be a problem as you describe, IF the system is set up in such a way. Insurers are not in the business of declining valid claims, despite some unsupported assertions to the contrary (I have first hand knowledge of the industry). For a good example of improper declinations, see the current ACC systems (which has no compeition, and hence no reputation to protect).

          What they are in the business of doing is ensuring that only valid claims are paid. And if they are allowed to load up their coverage with exclusions and sub-limits, etc, then yes the system will be very flawed.

          • wtl 3.1.1.1.1
            2 June 2011 at 4:52 pm

            But why should those who choose to stay with ACC have to by the extra levy, given that ACC cannot default on payment, as outlined above. Surely this is just subsidising the private companies?

      • Blighty 3.1.2
        2 June 2011 at 12:16 pm

        TS’s argument on ACC boils down to a tortured metaphor with TV and ‘at least I can watch some shit if I want to’.

        Weak.

      • Draco T Bastard 3.1.3
        2 June 2011 at 2:18 pm

        If you break your arm what choice do you have for treatment? No matter where you’re going to go it will be exactly the same. Someone will give you a local anaesthetic, most likely adrenaline, straiten your arm so that the bones set straight, and splint it.

        You’re claiming you want choice where choice doesn’t exist.

        • tsmithfield 3.1.3.1
          2 June 2011 at 3:44 pm

          An employee can actually insure themselves if they want to. Now.

          • The Voice of Reason 3.1.3.1.1
            2 June 2011 at 3:52 pm

            Great. Your solution is to pay twice for accident cover?

            • wtl 3.1.3.1.1.1
              2 June 2011 at 4:50 pm

              And won’t this create a big issue about which insurance company is actually liable to pay?

            • tsmithfield 3.1.3.1.1.2
              2 June 2011 at 4:52 pm

              If you want to pin your income in the case of injury on what ACC will pay and the sickness benefit, then don’t insure your income. Your choice.

  4. ianmac 4
    2 June 2011 at 10:55 am

    Eddie “stood to make $200 a year in profit” ? $200million?
    It does seem likely that the softer introduction now is the thin end of the wedge for later expansion once they gain an electoral MANDATE!

    • Lanthanide 4.1
      2 June 2011 at 12:36 pm

      I’m really uncomfortable with the conflation that winning the election means they have a mandate to do whatever the hell they want. There are many many reasons people vote for a particular party (including voting for them because they aren’t someone else) and to claim that winning the election means you have a ‘mandate’ to implement all of your policies holus bolus is simply hubris.
       
      If they actually set up some sort of referendum system where once elected they asked for people’s opinions on specific policy, then sure, they’d have a mandate for that policy then.

      • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1
        2 June 2011 at 2:20 pm

        …to claim that winning the election means you have a ‘mandate’ to implement all of your policies holus bolus is simply hubris.

        Yes, it is but NAct do it every time.

        If they actually set up some sort of referendum system where once elected they asked for people’s opinions on specific policy, then sure, they’d have a mandate for that policy then.

        I would like to see this implemented but it would need serious controls such as:

        1.) Policy must be announced and sent to the ministries/universities for evaluation with reasonable time limits
        2.) The evaluations must be openly reported back to the electorate
        3.) Referendum cannot be within six months of the reports release to give everyone time to read them.

        • Lanthanide 4.1.1.1
          2 June 2011 at 3:30 pm

          My idea was simply referendum questions like this:
          1. Should the government sell state assets? Yes/No.
          2. Should the government implement national standards? Yes/No.
          3. Should the government create the supercity? Yes/No.
           
          The sorts of things they’ve claimed they had, or will have, mandates for, just based on getting elected. You can’t say with a straight face that people voted for National because of their National Standards policy when what they primarily campaigned on was tax cuts, sinking lid on public servants and ultra fast broadband.

          • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1.1.1
            2 June 2011 at 4:21 pm

            Simple referendum questions look good but it leaves people making uninformed decisions which will always make us worse off. My idea is to make the referendums actually a) binding and b) informed.

            One other clause I’d put in would be
            4.) Once the policy is announced the government or others cannot promote that policy.

            This would help encourage people to read the actual reports.

            • queenstfarmer 4.1.1.1.1.1
              2 June 2011 at 4:43 pm

              My idea is to make the referendums actually a) binding and b) informed.

              Love (a), but how would you achieve (b)?

              • Draco T Bastard …
                2 June 2011 at 5:56 pm

                Well, we can’t guarantee it (there are, after all, idiots who actually think that they already know everything) but we can make it so that their only information available to them is the reports which are publicly available and give them time to read them.

  5. felix 5
    2 June 2011 at 12:19 pm

    Everything is directly comparable to everything else.

    Every principle can be applied to every situation.

    So let’s talk about TVNZ instead.

    • Lanthanide 5.1
      2 June 2011 at 12:33 pm

      Tsk tsk, felix. Everything is only comparable to everything else, if and only if, it somehow makes Labour look bad or makes National look good.

  6. Rijab 6
    2 June 2011 at 1:01 pm

    Great Post!

    What is going on!!!! Where is the public outcry!?

    ACC is a social contract between EMPLOYEEs and Government: When it was introduced, employees’ lost their right to sue in common law for personal injury, and in return for losing this right the Government would provide a 24/7 no fault scheme.

    Why is Dr. Smith talking about giving employers choice? ACC is nothing to do with employers, they play the cards they’re dealt, and so far none of them are eager to leave simply because ACC is costing them an arm and a leg (which it CLEARLY isn’t)! Do employers realise the implications of this move…it won’t save them money, the Govt is committed at this stage to certain minimum standards, so it will inevitably cost them more!!! Who is this move in the interests of if not New Zealand workers NOR New Zealand companies?

    ““The ACC employer contribution rate as a proportion of wages is substantially lower (0.78% at June 2007) than in comparable Australian workers compensation schemes (NSW 1.86%, Victoria 1.38%, Australian average 2%). The overall cost of ACC is quite low even after adjustment for coverage (eg common law access) and other known differences, and is also low relative to other international systems (Canada average 2%).”” (PWH Review 2008)

    Insurance companies are even uncertain they can compete, where is the outcry? Where are the hard questions from our journalists? Or do we have to send John Key to the other side of the world for an interview on HardTalk every time we need some decent questions to be asked?

    Sure ACC isn’t perfect but it is revered around the world, it is our ONLY social asset envied by most other developed countries….why do we have to join the rest, why not keep a step ahead of the crowd on the one thing we know we already are!

    PURE IDEOLOGY: In 3 years after competition is introduced National will attack ACC saying it is inefficient and all bets are off, public support goes behind full privatization, and then not only do our employees’ get screwed on their half of the social contract, but off goes hundreds of millions in profit every year…The inevitable result? Employees get less, employers pay more, our society strains under the pressure: Insurance companies profit.

    🙁

    • johnm 6.1
      2 June 2011 at 4:40 pm

      !00% right RIJAB this Nact so called government are ideological basketcases!

    • MrSmith 6.2
      2 June 2011 at 6:13 pm

      Couldn’t agree more, and the silence you here from the Media Rijab, we don’t have a media really and I sometimes wonder if the internet isn’t to blame for that. (no offense the standard)
      National are all about killing the generals publics golden gooses, Acc, selling accepts, striping the RMA etc they don’t work for us.

    • lefty 6.3
      2 June 2011 at 7:04 pm

      AAC was meant to be a compensation scheme for workers, not an insurance scheme for either workers or employers.
      It is always going to be vulnerable while politicians (as both National and Labour do) treat it like an insurance company that needs to be fully funded and tough on the workers who gave up the right to sue to give birth to it.
      The original idea was great but the way ACC treats injured workers, even before National started making it even meaner, is dreadful.
      Even strong supporters of the principlea behind it like myself, find it hard to get passionate about an organisation that treats the people it was formed to serve like shit.

  7. the pink postman 7
    2 June 2011 at 3:11 pm

    I hope you are correct in your comments Eddie .However I am not sure that Act and the Maori Party will vote against it. Act want’s it privatized and this will be enough for now , they will be hoping that they will add to it after the election. As for the Maori Party voting against well we thought that with a number of other anti-worker acts this bloody lot have done.
    The fact is the Maori Party is a Right- Wing branch of the Brown-Table

  8. Ed 8
    2 June 2011 at 4:36 pm

    I haven’t yet seen the terms under which Labour and the Green Party will reverse the privatisation, but I hope they think it through carefully, and ensure that any private companies be required to pay the full amount required to cover the full liabilities under the policies including required reserves, assessed on a basis that leaves no initial losses or capital requirements for ACC – there is no reason why ACC levies should be affected by set up costs for the companies, sales costs, or the costs of dismantling their systems and making staff redundant etc. If that means that the shareholders of those companies need to provide additional capital for that liability they should not be able to claim that this was unexpected.

    I thank the poster that gave a url for the paper on ACC that pointed out the reasons, summarised above, why this is a stupid idea of National’s. Anyone that thinks they can get a ‘win’ from such poor political decisions should be disabused – shareholders of private companies should know it is an almost certain loser for them.

    This announcement represents a government determined to ensure money is spent on administrative expenses that would cost our country millions of dollars without any improvement in ACC cover for anyone – this idea shows National acting totally contrary to their promise to find and eliminate waste.

  9. sean maitland 9
    2 June 2011 at 4:51 pm

    So why is giving the employer a choice between ACC and private firms such a bad thing? For SME businesses where everyone sits at a desk all day, this is surely a good thing? For large companies, this probably is a non-event as its better to stick with ACC, but IMO it is a good thing to allow this choice to small companies.

    I know you will say that the private insurers will game the system to maximise profits – but if they don’t provide an adequate service, they will simply lose clients. Remember, its in the employers best interest to have their staff injury free also – so no employer will choose to stay with a piss poor private insurer.

    Personally, as self-employed IT contractor, the current system is a joke requiring me to pay $2600 a year in ACC levies when in 14 years I haven’t even had a paper cut.

    • Draco T Bastard 9.1
      2 June 2011 at 6:00 pm

      So why is giving the employer a choice between ACC and private firms such a bad thing?

      Because it pushes up costs for no benefit.

      …they will simply lose clients.

      No they won’t as you won’t hear about them gaming the system. Same thing happens now.

      Personally, as self-employed IT contractor, the current system is a joke requiring me to pay $2600 a year in ACC levies when in 14 years I haven’t even had a paper cut.

      And this makes it a joke how? Oh, that’s right, it doesn’t – it just proves that you have NFI how insurance works.

      • sean maitland 9.1.1
        2 June 2011 at 6:24 pm

        You’re wrong on the losing clients part by the way – if they turn down reasonable claims, what idiot would keep their company with that provider? Who cares about not hearing about it? That is completely irrelevant showing you have NFI……

        So can you please explain what accident is going to happen sitting at a desk that I will need cover for? RSI and OOS are not accidents and are not relevant as I don’t get them.

        • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1.1
          2 June 2011 at 10:14 pm

          …what idiot would keep their company with that provider?

          How are they going to hear?

          1.) ACC covers you for more than going to work.
          2.) If you weren’t in ACC it would cost you far more.

          Basically, you’re fucken idiot who refuses to believe the truth – that privatisation is not in the national interest and nor is it in an individuals interest.

          • sean maitland 9.1.1.1.1
            2 June 2011 at 11:52 pm

            Ok – let me explain it simply: Employer A has employees who get injured at their workplace. Private insurer then turns down the resulting claims or mucks them around, causing the employer lost income, lost productivity etc, etc. Employer A then changes to a different provider, most likely after researching other providers and feedback on them. The original insurer then loses that client and all their premiums. If they screw over all their clients as some people on this site claim they will, soon they have no clients left and no revenue. I.E. it is not a longterm business model, and the employers have the power of choosing the private insurer they want (if they choose not to stick with ACC). Shooting yourself in the foot by screwing over your customers is not going to work, yet you claim that is what is going to happen.

            I still don’t need to be paying ACC fees as high as they are for my workplace cover. Swearing at me does not prove the point. My income protection and private medical insurance cover me for a lot of stuff, and obviously road accidents are covered by vehicle registration fees.

            • weizguy 9.1.1.1.1.1
              4 June 2011 at 12:13 am

              “Ok – let me explain it simply: Employer A has employees who get injured at their workplace. Private insurer then turns down the resulting claims or mucks them around, causing the employer lost income, lost productivity etc, etc. Employer A then changes to a different provider, most likely after researching other providers and feedback on them. The original insurer then loses that client and all their premiums. If they screw over all their clients as some people on this site claim they will, soon they have no clients left and no revenue.”

              Why do you think the employers care? They don’t want claims to be accepted, because it pushes up their premiums. The reality (as happened the last time let rip with this particular ideological vomit) is that employers start challenging claims on the basis that they didn’t happen at work, pushing the costs onto ACC, and unless we’re talking about gradual process or industrial disease, ACC will pay.

              Basically, you don’t know what you’re talking about, and I suspect you never will, unless you have some sort of serious accident. It’s interesting to see how people go from complaining about how high their levies are, to how they aren’t getting enough in compensation. Particularly farmers.

  10. DS 10
    2 June 2011 at 8:12 pm

    Wait… so we’re introducing the biggest change to the insurance market since 1999 when the insurance market is struggling to deal with the biggest insurable event in New Zealand’s history?

    Tell me the start of this joke involves three men walking into an Irish bar.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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