Afghanistan for the Afghanistanians

Written By: - Date published: 10:53 pm, August 11th, 2009 - 65 comments
Categories: afghanistan, International, john key - Tags:

It was a bit strange listening to Key’s interview on RNZ yesterday morning about deploying the SAS to Afghanistan. He kept on awkwardly saying ‘the people of Afghanistan’ rather than just ‘the Afghans’ or ‘the Afghanis’*. The reason soon became clear: “[if they take any prisoners] they’ll be handed over to the Afghanistanian government…. I am confident the Afghanistanian government will honour their commitment [to the Geneva Conventions]”

It would be easy to make cracks about Bushisms and textses but this is actually serious. Call me old-fashioned but I like important decisions to be made by people who have familiarised themselves with the facts. Listen to Key’s interview and it’s clear that he hasn’t. If he had put his mind to the situation in Afghanistan he would know the name of the people living there.

Listen to the interview and it’s clear he actually has bugger all idea what is going on in that country – he thinks it’s an achievement that Bamiyan has a governor (… um, all the provinces do) and can’t describe the military situation in any detail: “the Taliban is, you know, creeping in it’s involvement around the country “. His argument for downgrading and eventually withdrawing the PRT rather than maintaining it or copying the model elsewhere is that it is successful and “ultimately, there are other things that we would like to redeploy this people to do”(umm… in which countries?). He trusts the Karzai Government to obey the Geneva Conventions in regard to any prisoner the SAS captures and hands over to them – which is either hopelessly naive or willful blindness. Not a person in a position to be making a decision on which lives rest.

OK. Enough about Key. Should we be sending the SAS back? I think on balance no. The way to prevent extremists winning is not to go around killing them, that just leads to more extremists and a lot of dead people. The PRT model is the way to go. As Mao (unarguably a very successful guerrilla leader) said, “the guerrilla is the fish and the people are the sea”.  Going around killing people’s relatives because they are Taliban (or in the way) just makes the environment for the Taliban more hospitable; reconstruction and peace-building poisons the water for them.

*(which is technically not correct but common enough to appear in dictionaries)

65 comments on “Afghanistan for the Afghanistanians ”

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  1. T-Rex 1
    11 August 2009 at 11:14 pm

    I think your portrayal of the SAS role is a bit narrow here – I think during their last deployment they spent most of their time sneaking around spying rather than killing. You will no doubt reasonably enough point out that some of the results of that spying will lead to some drone firing a bunch of missiles… which is likely true. But it might also lead to those missiles not being fired in some cases… or alternately fired at the right house. And yes, I do believe their is such a thing as a “right” house to fire missiles at – if it’s full of die hard extremists puppetmasters who get their kicks out of brainwashing children into further destabilising an already broken country then it needs a missile.

    • travellerev 1.1
      12 August 2009 at 7:36 am

      Hi T-rex,

      Good to see you back although it’s a shame that for all you intelligence you still buy the old Muslim=Terrorist garbage. (I’ve lived my whole live surrounded by Muslims from all over the world, employed them and had to live around Ramadan’s and other religious celebrations. I have never met a fundamentalist Muslim until years after 9/11, was always greatly respected by the males and found the Mulima’s working for me to be strong, independent and capable people, hair covered or not.)

      All they want is us out of their country and not to be subjected to robot planes shelling them and their families or snipers taking pot shots at them. So do the Pakistanis we seem to be at war with now as well.Not to much to ask I feel.

      • T-Rex 1.1.1
        13 August 2009 at 9:54 pm

        Can’t wait to see you point out where in my post I referred to Muslims Trav.

        Actually I can wait – no rush.

        Out of interest, did you see what happened last time we “just got out of their country”? Didn’t work out so well. The people who’d most like to see ‘us’ out are the ones who want a return to the status quo of the 90’s, and (by a crazy coincidence) the ones who are targeted by the robot planes (even though not always the ones who are hit, sadly).

        • travellerev 1.1.1.1
          14 August 2009 at 7:42 am

          Very childish T-rex,

          Afghanistan was invaded because it was full with Muslim extremists and of course because we had to capture the evil mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden. It was never about oil, gas and other resources. UH, uh the US would never stoop that low.

          Oh oops, Osma bin Laden was never captured, the country is still full of Muslim extremists “brainwashing” children, killing women and actually controlling the country and now we have to send more troops and mercenaries into the quagmire that is Afghanistan to protect the new oil pipes the poor Afghanis against themselves.

          • travellerev 1.1.1.1.1
            14 August 2009 at 7:43 am

            Help purgatory

          • T-Rex 1.1.1.1.2
            14 August 2009 at 5:39 pm

            Ahhhh, some things change, some stay the same.

            ’til next time.

            • travellerev 1.1.1.1.2.1
              15 August 2009 at 4:29 am

              No sex? no food. That’s a law president Karzai, our friendly Western puppet, has signed recently.
              Man are allowed to deny their wife’s food until she will comply with their need for sex. Is that what you want to support?

              Wasn’t women’s suppression one of the (many crap) reasons we had to start killing Afghanis for?

              But judging from your previous crap about “extremists” I have to conclude that mindlessly and ignorantly following the US for “free” trade in their need for hegemony is the preferred choice.

  2. Robert Winter 2
    11 August 2009 at 11:54 pm

    I’m not so sure that those who accompanied Mao on the Long March and in subsquent campaigns would necessarily see him as ‘unarguably,,very successful’.
    Anyway, no SAS to Afghanistan must be the call on this,

  3. Lew 3
    11 August 2009 at 11:54 pm

    Muphry’s Law, or something resembling it, strikes again. They’re not Afghanis. An Afghani is a unit of currency. A person native to Afghanistan is an Afghan.

    People who live in Afghanistan are not “Afghanis,” but Afghans. “Afghani” is an apparent conflation of “Afghan” with “Pakistani” and reflects the general tendency to confuse Afghanistan with Pakistan. It’s conceivable that people who say “Afghani” are trying to steer clear of the term “Afghan” because it makes them think of a wool coverlet or a large dog, associations that they fear may give offense. Nonetheless, “Afghan” is the correct term.
    “Afghani” is a real word, but it refers not to the people of Afghanistan, but rather to its principal unit of currency. Hence, referring to the people of Afghanistan as “Afghanis” is roughly equivalent to referring to the people of the United States as “dollars.” (According to this currency converter, $1 will presently buy you 4,750 afghani.) More recently, the word “Afghani,” when coupled with the word “Arab,” has acquired a different meaning: An “Afghani Arab” is an Arab who is not from Afghanistan, but who fought in the last two decades of Afghan wars and has now moved on to another trouble spot.

    Not that this in any way excuses Key, who of all people ought to know better, of using a totally made-up term to refer to people our government claims to want to help. Epic fail.

    L

    [damn it :). Of course, mine is an actual word in common useage to mean the people of Afghanistan. I’m going to correct the post. Eddie]

  4. Rich 4
    12 August 2009 at 1:21 am

    I was recently told by an insider that NATO thought the Afghan campaign winnable, but in 20 years. A few weeks later, the UK’s most senior general said publicly that it could take 40 years. Of course, there is no guarantee that in 40 years, we won’t be told that it will take another 40 – or what the defined endpoint is?

    Eventually the US public will probably take the lead in losing patience and the Americans will probably declare victory and withdraw, whatever the actual situation at the time. The Afghans are unlikely to change their way of thinking, so will probably carry on with Islamic fundamentalism and opium cultivation.

    Being part of this has no possible benefit to New Zealand. We should withdraw all troops and state that they will not be replaced. I wouldn’t expect National to do this, of course, but Labour should have done so when they had the chance.

  5. Roger Randall 5
    12 August 2009 at 4:37 am

    Winner of the Bushism of the day is……..EDDIE!

    LOL, what a plonker Rodney.

    “It was a bit strange listening to Key’s interview on RNZ yesterday morning about deploying the SAS to Afghanistan. He kept on awkwardly saying ‘the people of Afghanistan’ rather than just ‘the Afghans’ or ‘the Afghanis‘*

    *(which is technically not correct but common enough to appear in dictionaries)”
    Yeah, yeah, sure.

    🙂

  6. Rex Widerstrom 6
    12 August 2009 at 4:57 am

    He called them Afghans?

    Well that takes the biscuit.

    😛

  7. Roger Randall 7
    12 August 2009 at 5:00 am

    Spose we could always send Winnie over there with a case of Johnny Walker, that worked in Fiji after all.

  8. outofbed 8
    12 August 2009 at 6:04 am

    Iwas listening to RNZ yesterday think is was Mora
    Someone actually asked an NZ Afghani refugee what his position was
    He was a refugee from the Taliban btw.
    He thought the SAS should definitely not be sent. He was given some short shrift by the panel What would he know?

  9. ConorJoe 9
    12 August 2009 at 6:58 am

    He has a rich opportunity as Minister Of Tourism and War.
    You got yr Canadians from Canadia
    Yr English from Englandon
    Oh, and our mates across the ditch – the diggers or Australasians
    What are we? New Zealandinistans?

    Who advises this man to seem so homely, doofus and non-threatening to the dipshits who vote for these crocks? Crosby and Texas?

  10. travellerev 10
    12 August 2009 at 7:24 am

    I’m glad to see that with regards to 911 John Key at least knows what he talks about. LOL.

    With remarks such as we mustn’t forget that the people who put the explosive devises together for the 9/11 attacks did so based in camps in Afghanistan he clearly shows that he knows how to spin his motivation when sending SAS troops into Afghanistan.

    He’s so hell bent on being the US’s little friend he doesn’t even bother to follow the official story. Explosives sounds so much more credible.

    According to the official story of course a Saudi rich prick on a kidney dialysis machine in a cave in Afghanistan told 19 Saudis to hijack four planes and fly them into four buildings.

    Out of those 19 Saudi hijackers it is alleged that only two had ever trained in Afghanistan as far back as the conveniently vague 90ties.

    Osama bin Laden is not on the FBI most wanted list for the 9/11 attacks.

    The alleged suicide bombers of the London attacks were all England based and have never trained in Afghanistan.

    So for all intends and purposes following John Key’s logic we should be bombing the shit out of the headquarters of the bin Laden family, Saudi Arabia (the only country tolerating the Wahabi ultra fundamentalist Muslim movement purported to have given birth to the Muslim suicide bombers and Osama bin Laden) , every Muslim enclave in England and while we’re at it since the Bush family is great friends with the bin Laden family let’s bomb the shit out of them as well.

    • Tim Ellis 10.1
      12 August 2009 at 7:30 am

      You asked for it, Eddie.

      • Roger Randall 10.1.2
        12 August 2009 at 7:38 am

        The difference is Key worked in NY BEFORE he entered politics whereas Clark retired to NY AFTER working in politics.

        Guess who knows more about US politics, Clark or Key.

        Irrespective whats really funny here is the epic fail from Eddie at dissing Key for calling the Afghans, ‘people of Afghanistan’.

        Classic comedy.

      • travellerev 10.1.3
        12 August 2009 at 7:40 am

        Yep, he sure did, and you are too. Here’s another nice link just in case you find you balls back to actually inform yourself with an open mind.

    • lukas 10.2
      12 August 2009 at 8:46 am

      Trav, you forgot to mention that it was Bush who ordered the planes into the towers. Fail.

    • lukas 10.3
      12 August 2009 at 8:55 am

      Also Trav, instead of reading the rubbish that you link to about who is on the FBI’s most wanted- why not go direct to the FBI.

      Here you go, I will even get the link for you

      http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten/fugitives/fugitives.htm

      And in case you can’t find Mr Bin Laden, (second on the list, most wanted outstanding fugitive) here is the link for him-
      http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten/fugitives/laden.htm

      And in case you don’t click on that link, here is an excerpt from it…

      USAMA BIN LADEN IS WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE AUGUST 7, 1998, BOMBINGS OF THE UNITED STATES EMBASSIES IN DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA, AND NAIROBI, KENYA. THESE ATTACKS KILLED OVER 200 PEOPLE. IN ADDITION, BIN LADEN IS A SUSPECT IN OTHER TERRORIST ATTACKS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

      Last time I checked, New York is still under the general subset of “the world”.

      • travellerev 10.3.1
        12 August 2009 at 9:04 am

        Not the same as say; We have definite proof (show proof) he was the mastermind behind the attacks on 9/11 and we have definite proof (show more proof) that he is in Afghanistan and therefore we have every reason to bomb Afghanistan back to the stone age is it?

        And no he is definitely not on the FBI list for 9/11 because as Rex Tom, FBI Director of Investigative Publicity stated: we have no evidence linking him to the attacks.

        Horses mouth and all that.

        • Tim Ellis 10.3.1.1
          12 August 2009 at 9:14 am

          Sigh. No, Travellerev. The reason why Bin Laden is not listed for the 9/11 attacks is that in order to be on the most wanted list, the person has to be formally indicted. Bin Laden hasn’t been indicted (and for good security reasons) for those attacks. That doesn’t mean there is no evidence.

          There is plenty of evidence in the public domain linking Bin Laden to the attacks. Some of the most useful evidence is Bin Laden’s repeated claims that he was responsible for them.

          • travellerev 10.3.1.1.1
            12 August 2009 at 9:16 am

            You don’t have an argument with me but with the guy from the FBI.

            The fact is that Western troops have been in Afghanistan for neigh on eight years with ever changing motivation killing innocent Afghan civilians and Pakistanis and all John Key can come up with ; we mustn’t forget that the guys who put together the explosives for 9/11 did so in camps in Afghanistan.

            • Tim Ellis 10.3.1.1.1.1
              12 August 2009 at 9:23 am

              No, that isn’t quite the argument for remaining in Afghanistan Travellerev. The argument is that the Taleban will rise again and provide a training ground for international terrorism in Afghanistan if democracy and civilian government isn’t enforced in Afghanistan.

          • travellerev 10.3.1.1.2
            12 August 2009 at 9:22 am

            Actually bin Laden has denied several times he was involved in them. Actually stating that as a Muslim he does not condone killing innocents, women and children. There is only one grainy video of a guy who doesn’t even look like bin Laden stating that he didn’t realise the effect would be so severe.

            Not exactly the bragging of a mad, manic, master mind

            • Tim Ellis 10.3.1.1.2.1
              12 August 2009 at 9:24 am

              Travellerev, have you got credible links that have Osama denying any involvement in the 911 attacks?

            • lukas 10.3.1.1.2.2
              12 August 2009 at 9:30 am

              TE, she will probably provide you with a link to her website 😀

            • travellerev 10.3.1.1.2.3
              12 August 2009 at 10:36 am

              How about CNN September 17, 2001
              Daily Mail

              Also the Taliban said they would hand over Osama bin Laden if the US provided proof of his involvement.

              That was not to the US liking, they wanted to Attack Afghanistan. A war planned well before 9/11

            • Tim Ellis 10.3.1.1.2.4
              12 August 2009 at 12:21 pm

              Good on you, Travellerev. You’re quite right. There were initial denials from Bin Laden denying responsibility for the attacks. Over the years however the consensus of analysts has been that Bin Laden has claimed responsibility and given indications of his involvement in the 911 attacks. An example of this is at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3966741.stm

            • BLiP 10.3.1.1.2.5
              12 August 2009 at 12:27 pm

              There once was a voter named Ellis
              Who’s head was shaped like a phallus
              He worshiped John Key
              Because he just couldn’t see
              The man’s hollow heart and malice

              His first name was Tim
              And, boy, was he dim
              Like any old coot
              When the facts didn’t suit
              His comments were bollocks to the brim.

            • travellerev 10.3.1.1.2.6
              12 August 2009 at 12:29 pm

              That is if he’s still alive by than.

              Consensus is not really scientific though isn’t it. It’s just a bunch of people (specialists my ass) saying yeah alright he claimed responsibility.

              For a non 9/11 conspiracy theorist you have all the debunking crap right at your fingertips you know. You’re a real pro.

            • travellerev 10.3.1.1.2.7
              12 August 2009 at 12:29 pm

              BLiP,

              LOL. Funny how he keeps moving the goal posts too eh?

            • Lew 10.3.1.1.2.8
              12 August 2009 at 1:23 pm

              BLiP, while I don’t approve of the unjustified personal attack on Tim, that is very clever.

              L

      • travellerev 10.3.2
        12 August 2009 at 9:15 am

        Also Sibel Edmunds a Farci translator and Whistleblower and the most gagged women on the planet (ordered not to seek about what she knows) in a recent hearing in which the gag orders were put aside due to the fact that she ahd been summonsed told the world that Osama bin Laden had worked for the CIA up until 9/11.

  11. the sprout 11
    12 August 2009 at 7:55 am

    afghanistanians?
    what a total fucking cringe-worthy plonker.
    it really is very embarrassing having him as our international emissary.

    • Roger Randall 11.1
      12 August 2009 at 8:44 am

      Two words, Winston Peters.

      HA HA HA.

      Make that three.

      Winston “fucking” Peters

    • bobbity 11.2
      12 August 2009 at 8:46 am

      Key is barely coherent at times.

      Eve is …Eve …..engage at your own risk..and don’t expect her to shift from her rather particular view of the world.

      The SAS are clearly very good at their job and there’s few places better for them to do that job than in Afghanistan, it does appear that this is being balanced with NZ sending engineers and similar reconstruction forces as well – sounds fairly sensible to me.

  12. sk 12
    12 August 2009 at 8:52 am

    Eddie, we flatter ourselves in calling John Key’s verbal mangling “Bushisms”. At least Bush had been Governor of Texas beforehand. No, we have elected the NZ equivalent of Sarah Palin . .. . Afghanstania = seeing Russia from her frontdoor. The reality is that John Key does not have the background/ experience / intellect to be in the job he is. The closest analogue in a Western democracy is Sarah Palin.

    And Roger, being a MD of Merrill Lynch – which would have gone bust (with JK still a shareholder) without the US gov’t forcing Bank of America to buy it prepares you for nothing – certainly not making life and death decisions over the fate of young New Zealand soldiers. Keith Holyoake anguished over Vietnam. No anguish is on display here.

    But that is what you get when you elect a Sarah Palin

    • Tim Ellis 12.1
      12 August 2009 at 9:20 am

      Good point, sk. The New Zealand public were obviously very stupid to elect John Key’s national party when it is led by such a corrupt, stupid, ignorant and lazy person. The public got it wrong when they didn’t reelect the clever, talented and honest Helen Clark.

      There is only one thing left to do to restore democracy. Revolution, and overthrow the government!

      • ak 12.1.1
        12 August 2009 at 10:03 am

        Dear oh dear. Right-wing humour attempt alert. Cringe-ons all round.
        Stick to your simple “they did it toos” and “we wons”, Timmy old boy, there’s a good chap. No need to gild the lily – “Afghanistinian textes” alone should keep us safely out of serious international consideration for quite some time….in fact the Keypalinisation of our reputation could be of huge anti-terrorist benefit – who’s threatened by a nerdy clown?

        • Tim Ellis 12.1.1.1
          12 August 2009 at 12:27 pm

          ak, if you have any influence in labour party strategy, and you think that New Zealand will lose credibility on the international stage just because the Prime Minister occasionally makes inadvertant malapropisms, then labour has a long way to go to become government again.

          I really don’t think New Zealand’s major trading or international partners are so snobby as to scoff and think ill of John Key just because of occasional slips of the tongue. Much more damaging in my opinion are things like prospective leader David Cunliffe mocking Pansy Wong’s Chinese accent in Parliament, trying to develop good relations with China, or the impact on trade and foreign investment if the Finance Minister rushes through rules changing foreign investment regulations to block a bidder in an airport.

      • Murray 12.1.2
        12 August 2009 at 2:55 pm

        clever, talented and honest Helen Clark. Now that is sick

  13. Tom Semmens 13
    12 August 2009 at 9:10 am

    I heard John Bishop on Jim Mora”s panel yesterday as well. As he was ranting on about confronting the on some foreign shore BEFORE you find him raping your sister in the drawing room of your Cashmere home I was struck by how timeless a passtime old men indulging in angry sabre rattling actually is.

    • aj 13.1
      12 August 2009 at 9:50 am

      If you don’t mind me altering the position of one word, I was struck by how timeless a passtime angry old men indulging in sabre rattling actually is.

  14. Andrei 14
    12 August 2009 at 9:30 am

    If he had put his mind to the situation in Afghanistan he would know the name of the people living there.

    Which would be Afghanistani as opposed to Afghanistanian, either that or a long list of the various warring tribes that actually live there

  15. Roger Randall 15
    12 August 2009 at 9:32 am

    It’s like this guys and girls, other world leaders like mixing with winners, alpha people, Key is an alpha person, he has cred, other leaders relate to him because he has won other battles.

    Labour doesnt have any winners these days.

    • sk 15.1
      12 August 2009 at 9:56 am

      Roger, that is so lame as to be pathetic.

      Foreign policy is about defining your country’s interests, and coming up with policy that furthers those interests. That is how ‘cred’ is accumulated. And all this government is doing, from restoring knighthoods and sending combat troops to a colonial battlefield is taking us back in time. And all commentators from the right such as you respond with are platitudes about alpha males.

      Get real.

      • Roger Randall 15.1.1
        12 August 2009 at 10:02 am

        your comments show a complete lack of understanding of how human relationships and nation state politics work.

        People buy people – period.

        Thats why uncle helen worked, people respected her, they didnt like her but they respected her.

  16. Ianmac 16
    12 August 2009 at 9:57 am

    An important reason for the USA to not withdraw is the oil pipeline that they established across Afghanistan, surprisingly enough soon after the post 9/11 invasion. The pipe-line was wanted years before 9/11. And I believe that the USA army bases just happen to be clustered around that pipeline.
    Is the war in Afghanistan really because of the terrorist threat?

  17. lukas 17
    12 August 2009 at 10:05 am

    Fair cop on the criticism of JK on the pronunciation. Now, going to do the same for Goff on Al Qaeda?

    Here is the link to the video http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/labour-s-phil-goff-breakfast-12-08-09-5-35-2906411/video

  18. So Bored 18
    12 August 2009 at 10:09 am

    Something Jonkey and any politician should know here: the acid test for deploying troops is the simple question. WOULD YOU SEND YOUR OWN CHILDREN TO FIGHT THIS WAR OR GO IN THEIR STEAD?

    My family can ask that question, we currently have (and have had) military service members. We trust our leaders to make the right decision, and we go. Our question is does Jonkey know in his heart of hearts that this is the right move?

    Prior to deployment I would challenge Jonkey to get in front of our troops and their families, look them in the eye and tell them with conviction and honesty that this is the right thing to do. If he is genuine it will show.

  19. deWithiel 19
    12 August 2009 at 10:10 am

    Just a point of pedantry here: Key wasn’t MD of Merrill Lynch. He was head of Global Foreign Exchange, basically a mid-upper management level position which has been talked up by the National party into something it patently wasn’t. If he was an alpha anything personality it would have to be alpha minus minus. So the ‘Afghanistanian’ thing sits pretty comfortably with the general ignorance levels of this mid level NY banker with a (very) funny accent.

  20. willy w 20
    12 August 2009 at 10:16 am

    Head of Global Foreign Exchange is one of the cash cows of an investment bank. Maybe that was why he was on the board of the NY Federal Reserve.

  21. ghostwhowalks 21
    12 August 2009 at 10:20 am

    Its Gallipoli all over again

  22. Zaphod Beeblebrox 22
    12 August 2009 at 10:23 am

    I defy anyone to make any sense from the Key interview yesterday morning. The worst part for him was that it followed Phil Goff’s interview. Phil put together a very good argument for non-military intervention and sounded well informed on the current situation.

    BTW can’t radio NZ get interviewers who can do proper research on the topics so they flesh out the non-sensical statements of polticians?

    If you go to Australia listen to an ABC interviewer- they are ferocious!!

    Kim Hill where are you?

  23. rave 23
    12 August 2009 at 2:56 pm

    Read some imperialist history.
    Afghanistan invaded, besieged, liberated, invaded, besieged, liberated, invaded, besieged, liberated, invaded, besieged . . .

    9/11 is every day in Afghanistan.

    http://redrave.blogspot.com/2009/05/no-new-viet-nam-war-in-afghanistan-and.html

  24. travellerev 24
    12 August 2009 at 6:24 pm

    Always one for real arguments aren’t you eh Lucas.

  25. pie man 25
    16 August 2009 at 11:54 am

    do any of you like pie

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    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    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 Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    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
    21 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
    22 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
    24 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

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