All that glitters

Written By: - Date published: 11:38 am, March 22nd, 2013 - 89 comments
Categories: Economy - Tags:

2.5% GDP growth last year. The Right’s jumping out of their skin at finally achieving the long-run average growth rate (btw, from 1999 to 2008, the average was 3.4%). But even on their good days, they’re doing it wrong: “The “consumer-centric” mix of growth was understandable, with low interest rates stimulating the housing market while a high dollar throttled exports, but it was the exact opposite of what was required”

89 comments on “All that glitters ”

  1. TightyRighty 1

    Don’t recall there being a global recession between 1998-2008, so your stat is rather pointless.

    • Jackal 1.1

      It’s commonly believed that 3% or less growth is equivalent to a global recession, meaning that technically you’re wrong TightyRighty… There were global recessions in 2001 and 2008. Meanwhile New Zealand posted an average of 3.4% growth in that time frame. In fact the latest global recession ended in 2009… National can no longer use it as an excuse for their economic failures.

      • Rob 1.1.1

        What , you are disputing that there was a recession past 2009, have you been living in hole.

        • Jackal 1.1.1.1

          TightyRighty was referring to the GLOBAL recession Rob, which officially ended in September 2009. However New Zealand had a double dip recession, mainly because of National’s ‘tax-switch’, that raised GST and slowed economic growth.

          • Rob 1.1.1.1.1

            Look Ill pass on your comments and official insight into the recession officially ending in 2009 to the people of Cyprus. I am sure they will take great comfort in your analysis. As for the rest of us , thank god we are staring to see some light in the tunnel.

            • Jackal 1.1.1.1.1.1

              In true RWNJ style, you’re unable to differentiate between a recession in Cyprus and the global recession that ended in 2009. 1.5% growth isn’t a light at the end of the neoliberal tunnel, it’s just more hype to try and make the government look good. We’re likely to see more overblown claims leading up to the next election.

              • UpandComer

                Who said the recession ended in 2009?

              • Rob

                Your link is to a vacuous column by some guy in Europe stating that it is all starting to go well for them in 2009. You should be ashamed. So I suppose the whole Europe GFC crises and Eu implosiosn is all a red herring to you. Again have you been living in hole. Where is your awareness of whats going here. I can understand that you might not like the current Govt in NZ, but there is a bigger game afoot here.

                • Jackal

                  I should be ashamed of a link to an article that reports the OECD stating the global recession ended in 2009… Are you insane Rob? It’s not just the OECD that has said the last global recession ended in 2009, with every other organisation that monitors such things also coming to the same conclusion.

                  The International Monetary Fund is declaring the worst global recession since the Second World War over – CBC Business News – August 19, 2009

                  The issue here is how well New Zealand has done while there hasn’t been a global recession. In my opinion, it’s not doing as well as it should, and a lot of that underperformance is because of Nationals neoliberal agenda that is ensuring a low waged economy.

                  In comparison to most other developed countries, New Zealand hasn’t recovered as well as it should have.

    • Saarbo 1.2

      ok TR, then what happened to the record dairy payouts 2009/10/11, combined with good beef and lamb prices. These record export receipts should have driven good growth, surely…disappeared.

      • Rob 1.2.1

        Farmers like most other people in the community have been very cautious with spending. There is a lot of debt in the farming community due to diary conversions and the like and similar to people I know , most have been head down reducing debt.

        This non-spend focus has affected many local manufacturers pretty hard, especially those in consumer durables.

      • TighyRighty 1.2.2

        Sorry, forgot the whole New Zealand and global economy is only dairy. I’m sitting here writing this on my fonterra ipad connected to the Internet on my anchor broadband “bull” plan.

        • felix 1.2.2.1

          Really? I could’ve sworn you were smearing it on the wall of your cave in faeces.

          • TightyRighty 1.2.2.1.1

            Another awesome comment from the uber contributor felix. Havin offered nothing of value since 2011, he now white knights poor socialists using scatological humour as his standard renowned rapier wit and cynicism have been replaced by feelings of being inadequate.

    • Lanthanide 1.3

      I recall that Australia didn’t go into recession at all. Yet we did, under National.

      • Chris 1.3.1

        We also did under the last Labour government – the recession began in March 08

      • infused 1.3.2

        Your really going there? Most of the world did, apart from aussie. Doesn’t matter what govt was in power in aussie.

    • TR – there was a recession in the late 1990s. If you’ll recall, it also affected property prices, as valuations took a nosedive.

      • Rob 1.4.1

        yes that was the asian crises.

      • TightyRighty 1.4.2

        And? How dad that equate to a global recession? Jesus, you lot. Just admit you aRe wrong for once. The paroxysms you wind yourself into just to be right.

    • Lightly 1.5

      the recession ended (apart from the two auarter double dip) in June 2009. You can’t keep using it as an excuse 3.5 years later.

      Indeed, we usually expect to see stronger than average growth coming out of a recession. Why hasn’t that happened?

      • Rob 1.5.1

        Reallly , how many recessions of this nature have you been through to have that strength of knowledge about the speed of the recovery. I call bullsh*t on that call.

      • TighyRighty 1.5.2

        Export reliant economies rely on the global growth. We’ve done exceptionally well despite the global economy.

        • Colonial Viper 1.5.2.1

          Diary farmers work hard to earn the export dollars

          Then give it to foreign banks

          And that boys and girls is called “doing well”.

          • TightyRighty 1.5.2.1.1

            Says the guy who married wealthy and hates those that support his lifestyle.

            Get rid of social welfare. Less taxes, more money for government investment, maybe funding proper business banking through kiwi bank. Boom, problem solved.

            • Colonial Viper 1.5.2.1.1.1

              Schools and hospitals are an integral part of our social security system. You getting rid of those too?

              Less taxes, more money for government investment,

              Less tax revenues mean the government will have to go cap in hand to overseas bondholders even more frequently.

              Remember, if the Government can issue a dollar bond, it can also issue a dollar bill.

              • TightyRighty

                Confusing social security and social welfare? With do much time on your hands CV I thought you would know the difference. Even if you only use private hospitals and schools

                • Colonial Viper

                  Even Peter Jackson uses our public hospital system, my friend.

                  The social welfare system is integral to the nation’s social security system.

                  • TightyRighty

                    Does he? Got some evidence of that?

                    Social welfare and social security are two vastly different concepts. Stop deflectin and acknowledge the truth

                    1) Cutting the social welfare bill will enable the government to fund investment

                    2) You demand that there are hospitals and education for the people, but only for other people right? Not you and yours. You are the modern labourite.

                    Sneaking in late on a Saturday night to have the last word. So sad. Get a life, stop bludging off you wealthy family. I wonder if they know what you crank on about on the standard. That would be interesting.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Social welfare and social security are exactly the same concept.

                      Cutting corporate welfare and raising taxes on profits will enable the Government to focus on social investments.

                      So sad. Get a life, stop bludging off you wealthy family.

                      They like to spend their money on me. Who are you to tell other people how to spend THEIR money?

                      Does he? Got some evidence of that?

                      Google works.

                    • TightyRighty

                      Wow throwing my own argument back at me. I’m not telling anyone. I think it’s humorous that you tell the wealthy they are too wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their labour.

                      Why should I google it. If its such an easy claim to make, it really should be easy to provide at least one source. I think you are lying, or at least living in a false reality.

                      Social security and social welfare work together but social security does not need social welfare to work. If they were exactly the same concept, they wouldn’t have different names and definitions. Fuck you are retarded. No wonder Clare curran told you to STFU.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Social security and social welfare work together but social security does not need social welfare to work.

                      It absolutely does need social welfare to work. Without social welfare, the people will be socially insecure and broad poverty will result.

                    • TightyRighty

                      So you can’t provide any evidence for your outlandish claim. You are such a clown.

                      Social security works better when social welfare isn’t present. You confuse the two issues, I could go down the path of explaining them, but you are too ideologically wedded to the idea that social welfare is the cure to societies ills to actually register the thought process behind it.

                      Clare curran was right.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      A social security system without social welfare would leave people highly insecure, and poverty rates will sky rocket.

                      Further, a transition to a Universal Basic Income will greatly strengthen and simplify both the social security and social welfare system.

                      The next step after that: ensure that everyone who wants a full time, fair paying job is given one. And then expected to prove themselves in performing it to a good standard.

                    • TightyRighty

                      All of which has nothing to do with what you were saying before A) about sir Peter Jackson and B) about go ernment funds being spent on investment. Clare Curran, you hit te nail on te head in regards to CV.

                      Keep mouthing ideas without being able to prove the ones you previously espoused. I can’t wait till some country tries the fallacy that is the UBI, fails as it of course will and you then deny A) your support and B) that it is the basic fundamental flaw with any welfare system that caused it fail.

                      You are a class traitor to the rich an one of the lefts useful idiots CV. I actually feel a little sorry for you.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Keep mouthing ideas without being able to prove the ones you previously espoused.

                      Sure. Mind you, that’s exactly what the monarchy used to say about democracy and giving people the vote.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      You are a class traitor to the rich an one of the lefts useful idiots CV. I actually feel a little sorry for you.

                      Look at the world briefly TR.

                      You know how they are preparing to take money straight out of the bank accounts of rich depositors in Cyprus i.e. steal peoples and business savings?

                      Do you know who is forcing that move? The international banktocracy. The Goldman Sachs, JP Morgans and ECBs of the world.

                      The top 0.01% are currently in the process of draining the top 10% dry.

                    • Pascal's bookie

                      Why should I google it. If its such an easy claim to make, it really should be easy to provide at least one source. I think you are lying, or at least living in a false reality.

                      Laugh. About that false reality claim.

                      Would that be like being so convinced of your beliefs that you;

                      a) couldn’t be arsed googling a trivial data point because you are so sure you are right,

                      b) basing what you believe to be right on some weird ideological thought about how the world must be without regard to the way it actually is,

                      and c) assuming that anyone who says otherwise is probably lying?

                      coz, ahem:

                      http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/4589305/Peter-Jackson-stomach-ulcer-scare

                      and let’s not even go into the fact that everyone in NZ relies on the public health system because there are all sorts of things that the private system just can’t help you with. Or that employers use the public health system to provide them with a healthy workforce, or any number of other actual things about the way our society works.

                    • TightyRighty

                      Yes, this is all te bankers fault and the pro- euro zone bunnies should take no responsibility. Muppet.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Bankers are the lending experts.

                      If they lent to countries which weren’t credit worthy or good payers – then it’s time they take responsibility for their bad judgement, don’t you think?

                      Added – gee dude don’t you think that the bankers were the most pro-Eurozone of the lot???

        • Pascal's bookie 1.5.2.2

          Reallly , how many recessions of this nature have you been through to have that strength of knowledge about the speed of the recovery. I call bullsh*t on that call.

          Be interesting to see a chart like this for NZ. But it’s pretty clear that this recovery is an outlier in the US in terms of jobs.

          http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/02/15/172116698/the-scariest-job-chart-ever-isnt-scary-enough?ft=1&f=1017

  2. ghostrider888 2

    Chasing Growth; a flawed model, anyway
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/education/news/article.cfm?c_id=35&objectid=10872671
    Schumacher (another one) 🙂

    • SpaceMonkey 2.1

      I struggle to understand how the Christchurch rebuild really contributes to GDP. I can see how it fits into the formula but following its perverse logic, if any state wanted to lift its GDP why not just arrange to periodically have infrastructure deliberately trashed so you have to rebuild it again and again? It would have all the illusion of progress and growth while going nowhere.

      • Poission 2.1.1

        The CHCH rebuild is funded ( mostly) through an increase of cash(read money) that has flowed from reinsurance etc.The 10-12b that has flowed from overseas is not entered an external flow onto the books (RBNZ excluded it as a singularity) however it appears in the internal books as a increase in deposits etc which does influence gdp.

      • Colonial Viper 2.1.2

        why not just arrange to periodically have infrastructure deliberately trashed so you have to rebuild it again and again?

        Yep. GDP is really that useless a measure of economic activity.

        Another one is to put unemployed people into prison, requiring the building of more prisons and growing the size of Corrections. That’ll also significantly boost GDP.

        • Lanthanide 2.1.2.1

          That’s the American approach.

        • Hami Shearlie 2.1.2.2

          Well CV, the public already scorn people on benefits and treat bennies like social pariahs/criminals ,egged on by the Natz of course, so it may not make much difference to them. And at least they’ll have food and warmth through winter!!!

    • muzza 2.2

      Might as well call that article

      Destroying life supporting systems, a flawed model!

  3. ghostrider888 3

    on “growth spurt”
    James Weir in todays Dominion;
    -“chance of interest rate “hikes rising by the day”
    -“farm and export sectors under pressure; domestic sector under pressure in the other direction” “somebody is going to get clobbered”
    “the economic picture (is) “and absolute nightmare” for the Reserve Bank.” -Stephen Toplis, BNZ Head Of Research.
    EXCELLENT work Bill and Steven, keep it up.

  4. 2.5% “growth” is going to be a two-edged sword as other aspects of the economy are affected;

    * rising external debt (now at $10.5 billion)

    * property bubble in Auckland, which in turn results in,

    * Reserve Bank increasing the OCR which, in turn,

    * Hurts manufacturers even more as speculators buy the Kiwi $, which hurts exporters, which in turn,

    * Means exports drop, sending our Balance of Payments further into the red, which in turn,

    * increases our external dent, which in turn,

    * attracts the attention of Standard & Moors, Moodies, and Fitch, resulting in a credit downgrade, which in turn,

    * make external botrrowing more expensive… and so it goes.

    Growth by itself is not the ‘silver bullet’, if other aspects of the economy are not balanced properly. Something that this visionless, narrow-eyed “government” fails to address.

    • ghostrider888 4.1

      😉

    • Draco T Bastard 4.2

      It’s not just this government failing to address these issues but every government over the last 30 years.

      • DR 4.2.1

        And that’s your excuse. The reason why the Nats wanted to take over was to undo the wrongs the previous governments have done. And they failed big time!

        • Chris 4.2.1.1

          Are you saying Draco is making excuses for National – that would be a first

        • Enough is Enough 4.2.1.2

          You are new around here aren’t you DR. Draco is not really one to excuse the nAtional Government.

          But Drac is right. And unfortunatley nothing will change if we have a Shearer led Labour government. He will continue the failed policies of Lange, Palmer, Moore, Bolger, Shipley, Clark and now Key.

        • Draco T Bastard 4.2.1.3

          The reason why the Nats wanted to take over was to undo the wrongs the previous governments have done. And they failed big time!

          That’s what they said they wanted to do but then they went and followed the same policies that they did in the 1990s which was a follow on of what the 4th Labour government did. This, of course, made things worse as they following a delusional economic paradigm.

          The 5th Labour government may have actually started to make things better but they were still following that failed and delusional paradigm.

    • DR 4.3

      It’s a cycle. I know don’t what economics school of thought John Key and cabinet and the Nats subscribe to. They seem to be lacking in knowledge concerning economic theory and also not knowing that the answers to our economic problems are not in black and white.

      Two terms of this government is too much and a third term will put NZ into catch-up mode, if ever it can do that, to the rest of the world.

      • Colonial Viper 4.3.1

        Two terms of this government is too much and a third term will put NZ into catch-up mode, if ever it can do that, to the rest of the world.

        That train has already left the platform.

      • Draco T Bastard 4.3.2

        We’ve been in catch-up mode for a long time due to going full free-market and falling back into primary producer mode rather than reaching for the stars through R&D.

        • UpandComer 4.3.2.1

          I’ll never ever understand the paradigms of people who think that NZ’s late 70’s, 80’s, 90’s market reforms weren’t a necessary response to a an absolutely critical, awful, abominable economic situation and culture. It boggles the mind. Certainly there were some excesses, but what on earth do you think allowed NZ the growth it experienced from 1999 to 2008? We’d be even better off now, if Helen Clark had let Cullen continue to do a decent job of coasting on a good thing, and not imposed herself on the economy in 2005, from where the surpluses and growth dropped.

          Also, please understand that R & D is not a proxy for growth. There is no evidence that provides a causative link between GNP and R & D so as to make it a natural policy prescription. It depends both on the type of economy, and the type or research, and even when the research is the correct, applied research, there is still no causative link. The relationships are spurious, correlated to either the perfection/age of the concerned industry, or the breadth of the existing technology base, or simply redefining of existing business activities. That’s why the government doesn’t borrow, sorry, or print, a trillion dollars and put it into R & D. The best way to allow companies to invest in R & D is give them ways to lower their costs, through tax incentives, reducing regulations etcetera. If you just throw money at companies, like labour belatedly did, they’ll redefine what they’re already doing to take it, and spend it on whatever the hell they like, not R & D.

          • Draco T Bastard 4.3.2.1.1

            I’ll never ever understand the paradigms of people who think that NZ’s late 70′s, 80′s, 90′s market reforms weren’t a necessary response to a an absolutely critical, awful, abominable economic situation and culture.

            The collapse of capitalism in the 1960s and 70s certainly indicated a need for reform but not a need for more capitalism. It was capitalism that was causing the problem just it is today.

            Also, please understand that R & D is not a proxy for growth.

            I don’t, I am, after all, in favour of a steady state economy. But with the decrease in jobs through increasing demand we need something for people to do and R&D, arts and culture seems to be about it.

            See, the problem with growth is that it uses up more and more resources – resources that happen to be finite with hard limits on them. Opening up to a free-market economy resulted in an even greater increase in demand on those scarce resources which has resulted in our streams no longer being swimmable, our fish stocks taking a dive (even despite our quota system) and our workers having even less time for themselves or their families.

            After the reforms of the 1980s a few people got richer and a lot of people got poorer to the point where, over all, we’re worse off. IMO, there’s a lot of people who recognise that but they’re the underclass that both Labour and National have been ignoring for the last thirty years (in Nationals case, they’ve been ignoring them forever) as they catered to the greed of the rich.

            • Draco T Bastard 4.3.2.1.1.1

              But with the decrease in jobs through increasing demand productivity we need something for people to do and R&D, arts and culture seems to be about it.

              Slight correction.

          • Colonial Viper 4.3.2.1.2

            Certainly there were some excesses, but what on earth do you think allowed NZ the growth it experienced from 1999 to 2008?

            A massive ratcheting upwards of private debt levels flooding the economy with borrowed interest owing money.

            In other words, the money supply does not work how you think it works.

      • Murray Olsen 4.3.3

        They come from the Ayn Rand school of economic thought, but temper things a little to get votes. Anything that transfers wealth to them and their mates is good by definition and anyone who is poor has made bad life choices for which they must be punished. The only difference that I can see is that Ayn Rand depended on welfare at the end or her life, while creatures like Bennett and Key depended on it at the beginning.
        In other words, they don’t have a clue, but are sure that they are superior to the rest of us. That seems to be sufficient for now, but Kiwis will hopefully wake up soon.

  5. All about the growth, all about the numbers, just like the markets in GBR and the states recently reached pre crisis levels while people pay with austerity and cuts to services.

    Bet the 1 – 2.5k Telecom workers getting fucked over will be so enthused by the claimed economic growth.

    • Colonial Viper 5.1

      It’s economic growth for the rich and for the major shareholders

      Uneconomic growth for the rest of us suckers

    • ghostrider888 5.2

      “the highest number of losses, at a single time, from a single company, in NZ history.”
      yet according to Joyce, “unlike the Left, who believe things should stay as they were (sometime in the past) we believe in moving forward” (to paraphrase). Ahhh, the Myth of Progress…

  6. xtasy 6

    Hah, while the Nats under English and Key go on about Russel Norman wanting to create “growth” by “printing money”, the fact is, the NZ economy is exactly benefiting from the quantitative easing in the US, parts of Europe and East Asia.

    That has kept the world economy afloat, and cash to be around, and which has also led to the (in part) artificial boom on stock exchanges. The cash available keeps things ticking along, but the debt issues have not been addressed sufficiently yet. The thick end of things is yet to come.

    Again, like so often, NZ governments are decorating themselves with supposed “achievements” that have nothing to do with the policies they follow and implement. If it had not been for QE in major trading partners, we would be in a deep recession.

    So then leisurely Steven Joyless and Blinglish and Keypone can go around and in smoke and mirror fashion tell the ill informed NZ public about how well they are doing, while indeed they are doing NOTHING of substance AT ALL!

  7. Draco T Bastard 7

    Why Student Debt? What Can We Do about It?

    As famous inventor and monetary reform enthusiast Thomas Edison once put it:

    “If our nation can issue a dollar bond, it can issue a dollar bill. … Both are promises to pay; but one promise fattens the usurer, and the other helps the people.”

    Consider this too: if you don’t want the government creating as much money as they think is good for their short term re-electability (and to hell with the economy), why on Earth would you want private banks creating as much money as they think is good for their short term profitability (and to hell with the economy)?

    There’s never any reason for the government to go into debt. All it does is reward a few people for being rich.

    Once we get the bankster off of our backs by having the government create money rather than leaving it to the banks then our economy can actually serve the people rather than forcing them to serve the banks. We’d be better off and we wouldn’t have to work as hard or destroy our environment.

    • Colonial Viper 7.1

      Pretty much. But what to do about it.

      • Draco T Bastard 7.1.1

        Inform people how the present monetary system works, how it rewards only the banks while making them poorer and then suggest a positive money alternative.

  8. Pascal's bookie 8

    Anyone remember way back when this government was fresh and they were doing job summits that were ‘do fests’ not ‘talk fests’. Sure you do.

    About that time they were also talking about step changing the economy, saying that it was stupid that we invested so much in residential property and that their tax changes were going to fix that right up, re-balancing the economy towards the productive sector by slashing the top marginal income tax rates.

    Now, about that last quarters growth spurt, and the property market. Ahem.

    Remember when English used to go on about how the growth under the last government was a mirage, and the the low unemployment was therefore based on jobs that weren’t real? Ahem, ahem a-hemmity hem hem hem.

    At least there were fucking jobs, Bill.

    • ghostrider888 8.1

      see above. (hope you are having a great day ‘bookie) Sunny here and young people out and about enjoying themselves; had a wonderful brief exchange with a complete stranger from Tonga (seasonal worker) that one would find rare among the majority. Oh what a tangled web we weave…when the wealthy begin to deceive…

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    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    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
    16 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
    19 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
    20 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
    22 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
    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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