American midterms – revenge of young people and the decline of the NRA

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, November 12th, 2018 - 51 comments
Categories: International, us politics - Tags: ,

Remember the Parkland massacre earlier this year when 17 students and teachers were killed in yet another senseless episode that highlights how wrong the American second amendment is?

Remember the passionate speeches and how a whole group of young people started organising themselves and started to get political? And give speeches like this one?

And how they organised and urged all young people to get out and vote?

Well I can’t help but wonder what effect they had on the midterm election results. Because it appears that youth voting went through the roof.

And NRA endorsed candidates did not do very well.

From the article:

Democrats say they will pass the most aggressive gun-control legislation in decades when they become the House majority in January, plans they renewed this week in the aftermath of a mass killing in a California bar.

Their efforts will be spurred by an incoming class of pro-gun-control lawmakers who scored big in Tuesday’s midterm elections, although any measure would likely meet stiff resistance in the GOP-controlled Senate.

Democrats ousted at least 15 House Republicans with “A” National Rifle Association ratings, while the candidates elected to replace them all scored an “F” NRA rating.

“This new majority is not going to be afraid of our shadow,” said Mike Thompson, a California Democrat who is chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. “We know that we’ve been elected to do a job, and we’re going to do it.”

For at least one of the candidates this was personal. Again from the WSJ:

The highest-profile gun-control advocate on the ballot Tuesday was Democrat Lucy McBath, who defeated GOP Rep. Karen Handel in a suburban Atlanta House contest. Ms. McBath, a former Delta Air Lines flight attendant, became a gun-control advocate after her teenage son, Jordan Davis, was shot and killed in 2012 by a man who said the boy was playing music too loud. The assailant was later convicted of murder.

Of course it is simplistic to attribute all credit for this result to March for our lives and associated movements.  Campaign finance played a significant part:

The gun-rights advocacy group [NRA] spent about $20 million in the 2018 election cycle—much of it on advertising backing the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, NRA spokeswoman Jennifer Baker said.

Everytown for Gun Safety, the gun-control organization backed by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and a group founded by former Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was critically wounded in a 2011 shooting, spent a combined $37 million in 2018.

But Gonzales and co should take a bow for turning the dominant American ethos around and for helping to make people with strong anti gun beliefs electable.

51 comments on “American midterms – revenge of young people and the decline of the NRA ”

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  1. One Two 1
    12 November 2018 at 8:53 am

    So, these ‘young people’…

    Will disarm the military industrial complex and turn it into a benevolent entity?

    Halt the development and proliferation of the ‘all weapons’…

    Financial weapons kill and maim far more people, and so does the US healthcare system and pharmaceutical companies…

    Where are the ‘young people’ on these issue?

    The second amendment is not wrong, MS..

    You are, and so are the ‘young people’!

    • Ad 1.1
      12 November 2018 at 8:57 am

      Plenty of useful gun control can occur without overturning that Constitutional amendment.

      Engage with the proposed US reforms proposed before you start sounding like a gun nut.

      Go the young activists.

      • One Two 1.1.1
        12 November 2018 at 10:25 am

        Gun nut …Sounds like …

        There you go again, Ad…yesterday it was a lack of capability…going off half cocked…are you ok?

        I’m not interested in reforms of any type in the US…but simple minds fixate on subjects which are, in the bigger picture…irrelevant…

        MS has a simple minded fixation on this issue, the numerous articles signal as much…as does his position regarding red v blue…

        The young activists are promoted where the establishment want the attention of simple minds to be…

    • mickysavage 1.2
      12 November 2018 at 9:56 am

      The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.

      • Adrian Thornton 1.2.1
        12 November 2018 at 12:04 pm

        “The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.”

        The big problem with that analogy is that the establishment Democratic party will take at LEAST two backward steps for every one that they are dragged unwillingly forward.

        ‘The Democratic party is now publicly attacking progressive candidates’

        “What is unusual about these attacks is that they issue not from her Republican rival but from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), the campaign arm of Democrats in the US House of Representatives. Concerned that Moser is too liberal to unseat a Trump patsy, the DCCC has embarked in the kind of smear campaign pioneered and popularized by its political opponents.”

        https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/26/democratic-party-laura-moser-texas

        • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1.1
          12 November 2018 at 2:02 pm

          Can’t say that I’m surprised to hear that. Large problem with hierarchies is that the the people at the top actually do think that they’re better than everyone else and thus can make better decisions.

          History shows otherwise and research is also starting to show that decisions made with more people are better decisions.

          Do we really want that car/cellphone/PC designed by committee? Yes, yes we do.

          Then there’s the right-wing BS of only requiring one person to fund an idea. How many bad ideas has that funded? How much damage has it done? How many good ideas aren’t funded because they won’t make some rich idiot richer?

          Reality is almost always the exact opposite of right-wing philosophy. And the US Democrats are right-wing.

        • SPC 1.2.1.2
          12 November 2018 at 2:58 pm

          Fletcher the Democrat candidate won 52.5 to 47.5. The Republican incumbent had held it since 2000.

    • Bill 1.3
      12 November 2018 at 12:34 pm

      The only thing that’s “wrong” is Reid J Epstein’s spin at the Wall Street Journal.

      None of the progressives coalescing and organising around the midterms gave any kind of high profile to gun control. (links to policies in comment number 7 below). Nether did the more “establishment” orientated Democrats who (some anyway) campaigned on how they really weren’t so different from Trump, and that being the case, deserved to be the recipients of swing voter’s support.

      61% of Americans want tighter gun regulation – so it’s neither partisan nor age related.

      But picking on gun control and running with it, is very nice cover for not picking up on policies and demands of progressives.

      I wonder what the results would have been for “likes to drive Jeep” in terms of those voted out and voted in? As far as I know, no-one ran on policies around Jeep, just as no-one ran on policies around gun control.

    • mpledger 1.4
      12 November 2018 at 1:36 pm

      These young people, who have turned to activism, have been directly affected by gun violence. They haven’t the life experience to know about better health care or drug care systems. Understanding the health care system is a university course in itself because it’s a big and complex system.

      In contrast, although it’s not going to be easy to get the law passed, the actual cognitive ability necessary to make good gun control law is held by pretty much anyone .

      • Bill 1.4.1
        12 November 2018 at 2:30 pm

        You what?!

        So when you write – They haven’t the life experience to know about better health care or drug care systems. – you’re arguing that a supposed major impact on the election was exerted by people too young and stupid to understand stuff?

        That’s quite some line of argument.

    • Nik 1.5
      12 November 2018 at 2:07 pm

      Disingenuous nonsense. Because the movement’s focus is on gun control, you suggest they must have no other views or ideas to deal with any other societal issue. There is zero logic to that assumption, so obviously one must question the purpose of your purposeful misdirection..?

      • Bill 1.5.1
        12 November 2018 at 2:26 pm

        …you suggest they…

        Nope. I’m suggesting that the elevation of gun concern, as though it was a major issue determining how people voted in the midterms is political game playing.

        Look at the links I provided to four progressive multi-issue progressive platforms at comment 7, and show me where gun control features.

        Alternatively, show where an “establishment” Democrat ran gun control as a major part of their election campaign.

        And if/when you come up with gun control being less than a major policy on election platforms, provide the reason as to why it’s being touted as something of a touchstone issue now. (I’ve provided my reasoning for that being the case)

        I don’t do “misdirection”.

    • Gabby 1.6
      12 November 2018 at 7:59 pm

      They just won’t subscribe to the nra onesntwos.

  2. Ad 2
    12 November 2018 at 8:55 am

    This is way the most hopeful post I’ve seen in a while.

    They won’t do everything, but they are engaged and involved.

  3. Tiger Mountain 3
    12 November 2018 at 8:58 am

    Americans seem not only allowed, but encouraged, to maintain mini arsenals of automatic weapons and hundreds of rounds, and even “open carry” their military grade hardware in some states

    easy gun access combined with alienation and depression, sees the sick and disgruntled’s “right to bear arms” in reality equate to blasting away at their fellow citizens on a daily basis as a first resort to what ails them

    307 mass shootings in 311 days had to be a typo? no unfortunately…
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/11/08/thousand-oaks-california-bar-shooting-307th-mass-shooting/1928574002/

    all power to the younger echelon of voters–the “coots in suits” have had their chance and failed horrendously

  4. Gosman 4
    12 November 2018 at 9:51 am

    If you want to get gun control reform in the US along the lines of what happened in Australia after the Port Arthur massacre it would require a constitutional amendment. That would be almost impossible to achieve. The best bet for those advocating tighter gun control laws is to have some restrictions on the worst types of firearms but an acceptance that US gun laws will be more liberal than other nations.

    • Wayne 4.1
      12 November 2018 at 10:54 am

      Not sure I would agree with that. Has the Supreme Court said a ban on Military Style Weapons is unconstitutional? I am pretty sure they haven’t.
      It seems likely that Australian or NZ style gun regulation is permissible within the context of the second amendment, if that is the will of Congress. Both Houses have to agree, but I think you will see some greater level of gun control, perhaps not Aus or NZ regulation, but much better than what currently exists.

      • Gosman 4.1.1
        12 November 2018 at 11:41 am

        SCOTUS has recently ruled against Gun control rules. This coupled with a more conservative bench means any additional measures banning an entire class of weapons currently allowed may well run in to issues. Personally I think the best that can be expected is that restrictions on who can and cannot purchase them rather than an outright ban.

      • McFlock 4.1.2
        12 November 2018 at 12:15 pm

        I suppose they could expand the NFA definitions to include rate of fire and magazine size and expand registration that way, but with the SCOTUS line-up it might prove counter-productive.

    • Richard@Downsouth 4.2
      12 November 2018 at 6:58 pm

      The USA already has restrictions on certain weapons that the public cant buy… to say that its impossible to have is a fallacy

    • Gabby 4.3
      12 November 2018 at 8:05 pm

      You just have to well-regulate the owners gozzer. Parade drill and square bashing twice a week, subject to military discipline, weapon checks up the wazoo, knock the gungho clean out of their fat arses.

    • Tricledrown 4.4
      16 November 2018 at 5:17 am

      Gosman once again you are making things up.
      The states with the tuffest st gun laws have the least gun related homicides the NRA are in decline gun manufacturers are going bankrupt.
      The constitution doesn’t need to be amended.
      The selling of guns to people with out a license and mentally ill could be stopled
      Australia had a massive buy back and made serial numbers compulsory.
      The republican party is the problem they get funding from the gun lobby the NRA and gun manufacturers.
      The public Backlash is slowly changing there ability to get corporate funding.

  5. Siobhan 5
    12 November 2018 at 10:05 am

    That Medicare-for-all policy is a real winner though..

    https://freebeacon.com/politics/pelosi-cheers-for-more-pre-existing-medical-conditions/

    oh, yeah, well, maybe not…

    I wonder how many votes were simply a vote against Trump? After all a 2017 Washington Post-ABC News poll found a majority of Americans (52%) said the Democratic party “just stands against Trump”, while only 37% believed the party actually “stands for something”.

    It remains to be seen how far Pelosi et al. will go to stymie the Bernie Sanders led , insurgent progressive wave.

    • Ad 5.1
      12 November 2018 at 10:21 am

      The post discusses electoral performance not Committee performance. Wait for them to get sworn.

      With the biggest surge since Watergate and tonnes of fresh candidates there’s plenty to support the progressives side of the Dems.

      • Siobhan 5.1.1
        12 November 2018 at 11:30 am

        “there’s plenty to support the progressives side of the Dems.”

        Exactly. In fact given Bernies popularity I look forward to the DNC begging him to run for Presidency.

        Or if he’s considered too old they could start priming Ocasio-Cortez for a future run.

        https://news.gallup.com/poll/243539/americans-maintain-positive-view-bernie-sanders.aspx

        And I could wait for them to get sworn in and be absolutely proven wrong, or I could judge them on the policies they are running on and past performance around those very same policies.

        I’m happy to take that bet.

    • Richard@Downsouth 5.2
      12 November 2018 at 6:59 pm

      The key issue I see with Medicare for all in the USA is most of the hospitals are privately run…

  6. Puckish Rogue 6
    12 November 2018 at 10:57 am

    Win the battle but lose the war

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/if-the-midterms-were-a-referendum-trump-won/2018/11/09/a39cc5fe-e44f-11e8-ab2c-b31dcd53ca6b_story.html?utm_term=.0fc98b4bb40b

    https://www.businessinsider.com.au/trump-actually-did-way-better-than-obama-in-his-first-midterm-2018-11?r=US&IR=T

    Presidents almost always lose a few dozen House seats in the midterms.Barack Obama lost 63 in 2010 and Bill Clinton lost 52 in 1994.

    The elections haven’t all been called yet, but Trump likely lost around 30 House seats, making it a pretty strong showing.

  7. Bill 7
    12 November 2018 at 11:02 am

    About 13% of Democrats and 8% of all voters said gun control was the most important issue affecting their vote. according to a poll quoted in that Wall Street Journal piece.

    And the Democratic Party is going to introduce tougher gun control measures when 61% of voters in the mid-terms (according to the same wsj article) thought gun control measures should be stricter.

    Meanwhile, Our Revolution, Justice Democrats, Brand New Congress and Democratic Socialists of America all have policies around medicare for all, living wage, cross sectional rights, voter reform, money in politics….

    None elevated gun control in their policy platforms.

    So, given where the focus of organising lay, and given that entrenched interests in the Democratic Party are not on board, why do you think some “safe” (in political terms) issue like gun control might be pushed up the agenda?

    It wouldn’t be case of seeking to avoid tackling those “harder” (some might say systemic and structural) or more substantive demands by any chance?

    • RedLogix 7.1
      12 November 2018 at 11:19 am

      Good observations there Bill. On reflection I don’t think the Americans will ever give up what they believe is their right to self-defense with guns. It’s fundamental and embedded into their culture. The current level of massacres are not going to change this; even if 10% of the population slaughtered themselves, gun sales would continue to soar.

      It would only stop at around 20% of the population. At that point most societies start falling apart and change happens.

      Foreward:

      I stopped updating this for every mass shooting.

      Because I was updating it every day.

      So now I update it only when the mass killing breaks some kind of record or is otherwise notable. Last time that happened was October 3, 2017. We’ve had dozens of mass shootings between then and now, and thousands of other incidents of gun violence.

      Congratulations on the slaughter, America. Heck of a job.

      It’s now been two three four five six years since I first wrote this on the day after a madman stepped into a darkened movie theater in Aurora, Colorado and started killing people. Since then more than ten twenty sixty ninety one-hundred-and-eight-thousand Americans have died from gun violence, three seven ten twenty sixty times more than died on September 11th, 2001, more than twenty-five times all the US military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001, slightly more than the number of Americans killed in Vietnam. There have been so many mass shootings between the day I wrote this and now that I’ve lost track, and the agencies that are tasked with keeping track have to limit their definition of “mass-shooting” and “gun-violence” because they like me can’t keep up with it.

      One killing blurs into another and the bloody rampages seem to be our new national pastime.

      I got a lot of email regarding this post over the years.

      A lot of people told me I was wrong, some in less than flattering terms. Some threatened to beat me bloody or kill me to make their point.

      Those people are not only fools, they are damned fools.

      Jim Wright

      https://www.stonekettle.com/2012/07/the-seven-stages-of-gun-violence.html

      • Bill 7.1.1
        12 November 2018 at 11:47 am

        US citizens not giving up their penchant for “bearing arms” is much less important to my mind than “the establishment” not giving up on it’s habit of forcing a myriad of things on those same citizens from a position of (some would argue) total disconnect and denying those same citizens a myriad of things because of that same disconnect..

        • McFlock 7.1.1.1
          12 November 2018 at 1:06 pm

          ISTR from some surveys of attitudes to gun vontrol in the US that gun control is one of those things being denied to citizens because of that disconnect.

          If I recall the story correctly, NRA started receiving funding as a lobby group for the industry more than the membership from about the 1970s. Before then it had actually been in favour of gun control and responsible gun ownership. But as a lobby group, it still retained a particularly active membership who voted on the gun issue – they could be relied on to call the representatives and vote based on the NRA rating.

          Now that the gun control vote seems just as mobilised as the NRA, if it keeps its legs then legislative change might be achievable over the next few years.

          In other words, the disconnect got so great that people affected negatively by that disconnect mobilised enough to vote.

          That makes me optimistic.

          • Bill 7.1.1.1.1
            12 November 2018 at 2:38 pm

            Now that the gun control vote seems just as mobilised as the NRA,…

            But, is it?

            60% of American voters want stricter gun control (according to the article the post’s based on). So, politically it’s a fairly easy barrow to push. And it does not in any way affect the structural stuff that non-establishment Democrats have been pushing hard on.

            Which candidates campaigned with gun control as a major part of their platform? Any? Because if it wasn’t a major part of a number of platforms, then where does the “just as mobilised” come from?

            edit – Apparently The highest-profile gun-control advocate on the ballot Tuesday was Democrat Lucy McBath, who defeated GOP Rep. Karen Handel in a suburban Atlanta House contest.

            • McFlock 7.1.1.1.1.1
              12 November 2018 at 2:42 pm

              An indication is the electorates switching from a candidate with an NRA “A” rating to a candidate with an NRA “F” rating, as mentioned in the post.

              • Bill …
                12 November 2018 at 3:11 pm

                What’s that an indication of? That thousands upon thousands of people voted with gun control uppermost in their mind?

                Even the linked article belies that notion with the poll it quotes.

                • McFlock …
                  12 November 2018 at 3:35 pm

                  Uppermost? For thousands, probably. Tens or hundreds of thousands, maybe not.

                  But gun control is definitely one of those issues where many “representatives” are representing their funders rather than the people in their electorate.

                  To reject candidates A-graded by one of those funders to candidates with F-grades indicates a rejection of the principles supported by those funders, no? Especially if the funder is a single-issue lobbyist?

                  It’s not really important whether that issue was uppermost in either the voters’ minds or even the candidates’ manifestos – that’s a hell of a reversal, so there’s some relationship to changing attitudes in the electorate that did not favour the “establishment”.

                  • Bill …
                    12 November 2018 at 4:16 pm

                    You read the WSJ piece, yes?

                    So you’re aware it pivots on levels of monies raised by pro and anti gun lobbyists.

                    And that 60% of Americans want tighter gun control.

                    And that 8% of all voters said guns (either pro or anti) was the most important issue affecting their vote.

                    And since going from previous comments on other posts you work around stats (and like wiki), I’ll throw in the fancy version of the fallacy – cum hoc ergo propter hoc.

                    I’m not going to bother asking how you got from lobbyists and funders on one side of an issue, to funders and lobbyists on the other side of an issue, and on to the conclusion “not establishment”.

                    • McFlock …
                      12 November 2018 at 4:46 pm

                      Assuming you mean “with this therefore because of this”, not quite what I’m saying. “then maybe because of, or with some common cause as, ” rather than “therefore because of” would be more accurate.

                      All interpretations are just navel-gazing. There is no proof of anything. Maybe 52% of voters wanted more gun control but didn’t let it affect their vote. Maybe the pro-control lobby had massive support from some industry that would be benefitted by more gun control.

                      But I doubt it.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.2
      12 November 2018 at 3:01 pm

      I suspect the problem is what happens in an FFP environment where it’s truly only viable to vote for one major party or the other. Voting for any other party is nothing more than a wasted vote.

    • Macro 7.3
      12 November 2018 at 5:10 pm

      I think you are overlooking the history of Democratics actions wrt to legislation on gun control Bill. Bear in mind that the Repugnants have had control of the House since 2012.
      Pressure for legislative change for more gun control has been building for some time – particularly following the Sandy Hook massacre – but NRA funded politicians have consistently voted down any attempts at introducing any legislation. That is not to say that there have not been some serious attempts in the past to introduce more federal regulations wrt to gun control. Indeed, in June 2016 the Democrats staged a 2 day “sit in” in the House in an attempt to get some agreement from the Republican controlled House to consider some form of limited legislation wrt firearms. (A so called “no fly- no buy” rule).
      https://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/democrats-stage-sit-in-on-house-floor-to-force-gun-vote-224656

      • Bill 7.3.1
        12 November 2018 at 6:15 pm

        I’ve e no doubt that pressure for gun control has been building. Hell, 61% of the population want stricter gun controls according to the poll cited by the wsj piece.

        But is it that that explains the spike in younger people voting? Or is it down to a progressive movement that organised?

        This is from the post –

        Well I can’t help but wonder what effect they had on the midterm election results. Because it appears that youth voting went through the roof.

        Stab in the dark. But seeing as not one platform I can find put gun control front and centre stage, I’m picking it wasn’t gun control that led to a spike in younger voters.

        N’fact, I’ll go out on a limb and suggest it was talk of higher wages (that won in some ballots), getting money out of politics (electoral reforms also won in ballots), medicare (80%? in favour), climate change, free education…and those other major issues that were shared across a number of progressive platforms and that talked to young people’s concerns that led to a spike in younger voters.

        Put that against the fact that the Democratic Party establishment has fought against those advocating for a progressive platform, and you can begin to see why there might be some casting around for alternative explanations going on.

        There are a lot of corporate fuckers across Congress looking to dismiss the present and bury the future.

  8. Draco T Bastard 8
    12 November 2018 at 11:18 am

    All I can say is that I hope those young Americans get organised enough to change their bloody constitution.

    • Bewildered 8.1
      12 November 2018 at 3:53 pm

      Nope eventually they grow up,if you looked at the 60s generation we should all be peace, love and a socialist utopia by now

      • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1
        12 November 2018 at 4:21 pm

        They didn’t grow up – they just became greedy and selfish along with the rest of their society.

  9. mac1 9
    12 November 2018 at 1:20 pm

    Has there been no research undertaken as to the issues which motivate young voters in the US? I know it’s a bit early for research-based questioning and the consequent reporting of such findings, but surely there were surveys with age-related voter issues canvassed?

    A six per cent increase up to 31% is an increase above the norm but ‘through the roof’?

    Surveys which proffer reasons for why 70-75% of young voters choose not to vote would be very revealing, and useful. it’s not the behaviour of people who believe in their democracy.

    It on the contrary would argue a reason why significant change does not happen in the US, simply because of the disengagement which the power-brokers realise is a reality to be fostered.

    Who profits from this situation?

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    2 days ago
  • 2024’s unusually persistent warmth

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink My inaugural post on The Climate Brink 18 months ago looked at the year 2024, and found that it was likely to be the warmest year on record on the back of a (than forecast) El Nino event. I suggested “there is a real chance ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • National plan for 2000 more Kiwis a year in prison

    Open for allYesterday, Luxon congratulated his government on a job well done with emergency housing numbers, but advocates have been saying it‘s likely many are on the streets and sleeping in cars.Q&A featured some of the folks this weekend - homeless and in cars. Yes.The government’s also confirmed they stopped ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • I Found a Note in a Tree

    Hi,On most days I try to go on a walk through nature to clear my head from the horrors of life. Because as much as I like people, I also think it’s incredibly important to get very far away from them. To be reminded that there are also birds, lizards, ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Politicians need to lift their game

    Declining trust in New Zealand politicians should be a warning to them to lift their game. Results from the New Zealand Election Study for the 2023 election show that the level of trust in politicians has once again declined. Perhaps it is not surprising that the results, shared as part ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago
  • Police say they won’t respond to bomb threats anymore as ‘it’s never anything’

    Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says that New Zealand’s police force will no longer respond to bomb threats, in an attempt to cut costs and redirect police resources to less boring activities. Coster said that threat response and bomb disposal was a “fairly obvious” area for downsizing, as bomb threats are ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    2 days ago
  • A dysfunctional watchdog

    The reality of any right depends on how well it is enforced. But as The Post points out this morning, our right to official information isn't being enforced very well at all: More than a quarter of complaints about access to official information languish for more than a year, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Climate Change: The threat of a good example

    Since taking office, the climate-denier National government has gutted agricultural emissions pricing, ended the clean car discount, repealed water quality standards which would have reduced agricultural emissions, gutted the clean car standard, killed the GIDI scheme, and reversed efforts to reduce pollution subsidies in the ETS - basically every significant ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Vegas Baby

    Good morning, lovely people. Don’t worry. This isn’t really a newsletter, just a quick note. I’m sitting in our lounge, looking out over a gloomy sky. Although being Rotorua, the view is periodically interrupted by steam bursting from pipes and dispersing—like an Eastern European industrial hellscape during the Cold War.Drinking ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Why Entrust Needs New Leadership

    I am part of a new team running in the Entrust election in October. Entrust is a community electricity trust representing a significant part of Auckland, set up to serve the community. It is governed by five trustees are elected every three years in an election the trust itself oversees. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • London Bridge is falling down

    In the UK, London is the latest of council groups to signal potential bankruptcy.That’s after Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city, went bankrupt in June, resulting in reduced sanitation services, libraries cut, and dimmed streetlights.Some in the city described things as “Dickens” like.Please, Sir, Can I have some more?For families with ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Govt may kick elderly out of hospitals

    The Government is considering how to shunt elderly people out of hospitals, and also how to cut their access to other support. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Getting the nephs off the couch

    The so-called “Prince of the Provinces”, Shane Jones, went home last Friday. Perhaps not quite literally home, more like 20 kilometres down the road from his house on the outskirts of Kerikeri. With its airport, its rapidly growing (mostly retired) population, and a commercial centre with all the big retail ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • De moralibus orcorum: Sargon of Akkad, Rings of Power, Evil, and George R.R. Martin

    I have noted before that The Rings of Power has attracted its unfortunate share of culture war obsessives. Essentially, for a certain type of individual, railing on about the Wokery of Modern Media is a means of making themselves a online livelihood. Clicks and views and advertising revenue, and all ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #37

    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 8, 2024 thru Sat, September 14, 2024. Story of the week From time to time we like to make our Story of the Week all about us— and ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Salvation For Us All

    Yesterday, I ruminated about the effects of being a political follower.And, within politics, David Seymour was smart enough on Friday to divert attention from “race blind” policies [what about gender blind I thought - thinking of maternity wards] and cutting school lunches by throwing meat to the media. Teachers were ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • A warm embrace

    Far, far away from here lives our King. Some of his subjects can be quite the forelock tuggers, but plenty of us are not like that, and why don't I wheel out my favourite old story once more about Kiwi soldiers in the North African desert?Field Marshal Montgomery takes offence ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Literal clowns are running the place, we must put a timeout on this stupidity… right Aotearoa?

    These people are inept on every level. They’re inept to the detriment of our internal politics, cohesion and increasingly our international reputation. And they are reveling in the fact they are getting away with it. We cannot even have “respectful debate” with a government that clearly rejects the very ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    4 days ago
  • Fact brief – Does manmade CO2 have any detectable fingerprint?

    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with John Mason. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Does manmade CO2 have any ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • Judge Not.

    Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:1-2FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY men and women professing the Christian faith would appear to have imperilled their immortal souls. ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago
  • Managed Democracy: Letting The People Decide, But Only When They Can Be Relied Upon To Give the Righ...

    Uh-uh! Not So Fast, Citizens! The power to initiate systemic change remains where it has always been in New Zealand’s representative democracy – in Parliament. To order a binding referendum, the House of Representatives must first to be persuaded that, on the question proposed, sharing its decision-making power with the people ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago
  • Looking For Labour’s Vital Signs.

    Flatlining: With no evidence of a genuine policy disruptor at work in Labour’s ranks, New Zealand’s wealthiest citizens can sleep easy.PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN has walked a picket-line. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris has threatened “price-gauging” grocery retailers with price control. The Democratic Party’s 2024 platform situates it well to the left of Sir ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago
  • Forty Years Of Remembering To Forget.

    The Beginning of the End: Rogernomics became the short-hand descriptor for all the radical changes that swept away New Zealand’s social-democratic economy and society between 1984 and 1990. In the bitterest of ironies, those changes were introduced by the very same party which had entrenched New Zealand social-democracy 50 years earlier. ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago
  • Kōrero Mai – Speak to Me.

    Good morning all you lovely people. 🙂I woke up this morning, and it felt a bit like the last day of school. You might recall from earlier in the week that I’m heading home to Rotorua to see an old friend who doesn’t have much time. A sad journey, but ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Winning ways

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Street architecture adjustment, KolkataShare Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • 48 seconds on a plan that would reverberate for a million years

    Despite fears that Trump presidency would be disastrous for progress on climate change, the topic barely rated a mention in the Presidential debate. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Using blunt instruments and magical thinking to ignore evidence of harm

    The abrupt cancellations and suspensions of Government spending also caused private sector hiring, spending, and investment to freeze up for the first six months of the year. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāThis week we learned:The new National/ACT/NZ First Coalition Government ignored advice from Treasury that it didn’t have to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Is This A Dagger Which I See Before Me: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power Episode 5 (Seaso...

    Another week of The Rings of Power, season two, and another confirmation that things are definitely coming together for the show. The fifth Episode of season one represented the nadir of the series. Now? Amid the firmer footing of 2024, Episode Five represents further a further step towards excellent Tolkien ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • In Open Seas; A Book

    The background to In Open Seas: How the New Zealand Labour Government Went Wrong:2017-2023Not in Narrow Seas: The Economic History of Aotearoa New Zealand, published in 2020, proved more successful than either I or the publisher (VUP, now Te Herenga Waka University Press) expected. I had expected that it would ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 13

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the climate implications of the US Presidential elections; and special guests Janet ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Do or do not. There is no try

    1. Upon receiving evidence that school lunches were doing a marvellous job of improving outcomes for students, David Seymour did what?a. Declared we need much more of this sort of good news and poured extra resources and funding into them b. Emailed Atlas network to ask what to do next c. Cut ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Dangerous ground

    The Waitangi Tribunal has reported back on National's proposed changes to gut the Marine and Coastal Area Act and steal the foreshore and seabed for its greedy fishing-industry donors, and declared it to be another huge violation of ti Tiriti: The Waitangi Tribunal has found government changes to the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: National wants to cheat on Paris

    In 2016, the then-National government signed the Paris Agreement, committing Aotearoa to a 30 (later 50) percent reduction in emissions by 2030. When questioned about how they intended to meet that target with their complete absence of effective climate policy, they made a lot of noise about how it was ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Treasury warned Govt lower debt limits meant less ‘productivity-enhancing investment’

    Treasury’s advice to Cabinet was that the new Government could actually prudently carry net core Crown debt of up to 50% of GDP. But Luxon and Willis instead chose to portray the Government’s finances as in such a mess they had no choice but to carve 6.5% to 7.5% off ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Is the Media Complicit?

    This is a long read. Open to all.SYNOPSIS: Traditional media is at a cross roads. There is a need for those in the media landscape, as it stands, to earn enough to stay afloat, but also come across as balanced and neutral to keep its audiences.In America, NYT’s liberal leaning ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • Black Friday

    It's Black Friday, the end of the weekYou take my hand and hold it gently up against your cheekIt's all in my head, it's all in my mindI see the darkness where you see the lightSong by Tom OdellFriday the 13th, don’t be afraid.No, really, don’t. Everything has felt a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 13-September-2024

    Ooh, Friday the thirteenth. Spooky! Is that why certain zombie ideas have been stalking the landscape this week, like the Mayor’s brainwave for a motorway bridge from Kauri Point to Point Chev? Read on and find out. This roundup, like all our coverage, is brought to you by the Greater ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    6 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #37 2024

    Open access notables Early knowledge but delays in climate actions: An ecocide case against both transnational oil corporations and national governments, Hauser et al., Environmental Science & Policy: Cast within the wide context of investigating the collusion at play between powerful political-economic actors and decision-makers as monopolists and debates about ‘the modern ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • What it is

    I liked what Kieran McAnulty had to say about the Treaty Principles bill this morning so much I've written it down and copied it out for you. He was saying that rather than let this piece of ordure spend six months in Select Committee, the Prime Minister could stop making such ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • A government-funded hate campaign

    Cabinet discussed National's constitutionally and historically illiterate "Treaty Principles Bill" this week, and decided to push on with it. The bill will apparently receive a full six month select committee process - unlike practically every other policy this government has pushed, and despite the fact that if the government is ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago
  • How Substack works to take (some) craziness out of America’s elections

    I spoke with Substack co-founder yesterday, just before the Trump-Harris debate, about how Substack is doing its thing during the US elections. He talks in particular about how Substack’s focus on paid subscriptions rather than ads has made political debate on the platform calmer, simpler, deeper and more satisfying ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago
  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    7 days ago
  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    7 days ago
  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    7 days ago
  • David Seymour is such a loser

    For paid subscribersNot content with siphoning off $230,000,000 of taxpayers money for his hobby projects - and telling everyone his passion is education and early childcare - an intersection painfully coincidental to the interests of wealthy private families like Sean Plunkett’s1 backers, the Wright Family, Seymour is back in the ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    7 days ago
  • Cross-party consensus: there’s no pipeline without good faith

    There’s been a lot of talk recently about a cross-party agreement to develop a pipeline for infrastructure, including transport. Last month, outgoing CRL boss Sean Sweeney talked about the importance of securing an enduring infrastructure programme. He outlined the high costs of the relentless political flip-flopping of priorities, which drives ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    7 days ago
  • Voters love this climate policy they’ve never heard of

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The Inflation Reduction Act is the Biden administration’s signature climate law and the largest U.S. government investment in reducing climate pollution to date. Among climate advocates, the policy is well-known and celebrated, but beyond that, only a minority of Americans ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago
  • ACC wants to administer inflation at more than double the RBNZ’s target rate

    ACC levies are set to rise at more than double the inflation rate targeted by the RBNZ. Photo: Lynn GrievesonKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 12:The state-owned monopoly for accident insurance wants ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago
  • Harris vs Trump

    We’ve been selected to rock your asses 'til midnightThis is my term, I've shaved off my perm, but it's alrightI solemnly swear to uphold the ConstitutionGot a rock 'n' roll problem? Well we got a solutionLet us be who we am, and let us kick out the jams, yeahKick out ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • Treaty Bill “a political stunt”

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon appears to have given ACT Leader David Seymour more than he has been admitting in the proposals to go forward with a Treaty Principles Bill.All along, Luxon has maintained that the Government is proceeding with the Bill to honour the coalition agreement.But that is quite specific.It ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago
  • An average 219 NZers migrated each day in July

    Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, September 11:Annual migration of New Zealanders rose to a record-high 80,963 in the year to the end of July, which is more than double its pre-Covid levels.Two ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • What you’re wanting to win more than anything is The Narrative

    Hubris is sitting down on election day 2016 to watch that pig Trump get his ass handed to him, and watching the New York Times needle hover for a while over Hillary and then move across to Trump where it remains all night to your gathering horror and dismay. You're ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • National’s automated lie machine

    The government has a problem: lots of people want information from it all the time. Information about benefits, about superannuation, ACC coverage and healthcare, taxes, jury service, immigration - and that's just the routine stuff. Responding to all of those queries takes a lot of time and costs a lot ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Christopher Luxon: A Man of “Faith” and “Compassion” Speaks on the Treaty Pr...

    Synopsis: Today - we explore two different realities. One where National lost. And another - which is the one we are living with here. Note: the footnote on increased fees/taxes may be of interest to some readers.Article open.Subscribe nowIt’s an alternate timeline.Yesterday as news broke that the central North Island ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Member’s Day

    Today is a Member's Day. First up is the third reading of Dan Bidois' Fair Trading (Gift Card Expiry) Amendment Bill, which will be followed by the committee stage of Deborah Russell's Family Proceedings (Dissolution for Family Violence) Amendment Bill. This will be followed by the second readings of Katie ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Northern Expressway Boondoggle

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has been soaring high with his hubris of getting on and building motorways but some uncomfortable realities are starting to creep in. Back in July he announced that the government was pushing on with a Northland Expressway using an “accelerated delivery strategy” The Coalition Government is ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 week ago
  • Never Enough

    However much I'm falling downNever enoughHowever much I'm falling outNever, never enough!Whatever smile I smile the mostNever enoughHowever I smile I smile the mostSongwriters: Robert James Smith / Simon Gallup / Boris Williams / Porl ThompsonToday in Nick’s Kōrero:A death in the Emergency Department at Rotorua Hospital.A sad homecoming and ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Question Two of The Kākā Project of 2026 for 2050 (TKP 26/50)

    Kia ora.Last month I proposed restarting The Kākā Project work done before the 2023 election as The Kākā Project of 2026 for 2050 (TKP 26/50), aiming to be up and running before the 2025 Local Government elections, and then in a finalised form by the 2026 General Elections.A couple of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Why is God Obsessed with Spanking?

    Hi,If you’ve read Webworm for a while, you’ll be aware that I’ve spent a lot of time writing about horrific, corrupt megachurches and the shitty men who lead them.And in all of this writing, I think some people have this idea that I hate Christians or Christianity. As I explain ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • Inside the public service

    In 2023, there were 63,117 full-time public servants earning, on average, $97,200 a year each. All up, that is a cost to the Government of $6.1 billion a year. It’s little wonder, then, that the public service has become a political whipping boy castigated by the Prime Minister and members ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago
  • New Models Show Stronger Atlantic Hurricanes, and More of Them

    This is a re-post from This is Not Cool Here’s an example of some of the best kind of climate reporting, especially in that it relates to impacts that will directly affect the audience. WFLA in Tampa conducted a study in collaboration with the Department of Energy, analyzing trends in ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • Where ever do they find these people?

    A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, is how Winston Churchill described the Soviet Union in 1939.  How might the great man have described the 2024 government of New Zealand, do we think? I can't imagine he would have thought them all that mysterious or enigmatic. I think ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Foreign Minister to travel to New York, French Polynesia

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is travelling to New York next week to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, followed by a visit to French Polynesia. “In the context of the myriad regional and global crises, our engagements in New York will demonstrate New Zealand’s strong support for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Thanking social workers on their national day

    “Today, on Aotearoa New Zealand Social Workers’ Day, I would like to recognise the tremendous effort social workers make not just today, but every day,” Children’s Minister and Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour says. “I thank all those working on the front line for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Minister of State for Trade heads to Laos for ASEAN meetings

    Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg will travel to Laos this week to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers’ Meetings in Vientiane.   “The Government is committed to strengthening our relationship with ASEAN,” Ms Grigg says. “With next year marking 50 years since New Zealand became ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Members appointed to retail crime MAG

    The Government has appointed four members to the Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. “I am delighted to appoint Michael Hill’s national retail manager Michael Bell to the group, as well as Waikato community advocate and business ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation AGM and Conference 2024

    It’s my pleasure to be here to join the opening of the NZNO AGM and Conference for 2024.  First, I’d like to thank NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku, NZNO President, Anne Daniels, and Chief Execuitve Paul Gaulter for inviting me to speak today.  Thank you also to all the NZNO members ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Improvements for New Zealand authors

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says changes to the Public Lending Right [PLR] scheme will help benefit both the National Library and authors who have books available in New Zealand libraries. “I am amending the regulations so that eligible authors will no longer have to reapply every year ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Minister commends Police for gang operation

    Police Minister Mark Mitchell congratulates Police for the outstanding result of their most recent operation, targeting the Comancheros. “That Police have been able to round up the majority of the Comancheros leadership, and many of their patched members and prospects, shows not only the capability of Police, but also shows ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New appointments to the EPA board

    Environment Minister Penny Simmonds has announced a major refresh of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board with four new appointments and one reappointment.   The new board members are Barry O’Neil, Jennifer Scoular, Alison Stewart and Nancy Tuaine, who have been appointed for a three-year term ending in August 2027.  “I would ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Enabling rural recovery works in Hawke’s Bay

    Cabinet has approved an Order in Council to enable severe weather recovery works to continue in the Hawke’s Bay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Mark Mitchell say. “Cyclone Gabrielle and the other severe weather events in early 2023 caused significant loss and damage to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • FamilyBoost childcare payment registrations open

    From today, low-to-middle-income families with young children can register for the new FamilyBoost payment, to help them meet early childhood education (ECE) costs. The scheme was introduced as part of the Government’s tax relief plan to help Kiwis who are doing it tough. “FamilyBoost is one of the ways we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Prioritising victims with tougher sentences

    The Government has today agreed to introduce sentencing reforms to Parliament this week that will ensure criminals face real consequences for crime and victims are prioritised, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. "In recent years, there has been a concerning trend where the courts have imposed fewer and shorter prison sentences ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Targets data confirms rise in violent crime

    The first quarterly report on progress against the nine public service targets show promising results in some areas and the scale of the challenge in others, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “Our Government reinstated targets to focus our public sector on driving better results for New Zealanders in health, education, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Asia Foundation Board appointments announced

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the appointments of Hone McGregor, Professor David Capie, and John Boswell to the Board of the Asia New Zealand Foundation.  Bede Corry, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has also been appointed as an ex-officio member. The new trustees join Dame Fran Wilde (Chair), ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Endeavour Fund projects for economic growth

    New Zealand’s largest contestable science fund is investing in 72 new projects to address challenges, develop new technology and support communities, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. “This Endeavour Fund round being funded is focused on economic growth and commercial outputs,” Ms Collins says. “It involves funding of more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Social Services Providers Whakamanawa National Conference 16 September 2024

    Thank you for the introduction and the invitation to speak to you here today. I am honoured to be here in my capacity as Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, and Minister for Children. Thank you for creating a space where we can all listen and learn, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parihaka infrastructure upgrades funded

    The Government will provide a $5.8 million grant to improve water infrastructure at Parihaka in Taranaki, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka say. “This grant from the Regional Infrastructure Fund will have a multitude of benefits for this hugely significant cultural site, including keeping local ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Serious assaults down 22% in Auckland CBD

    Cross-government action to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in Auckland is getting traction, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Our central cities should be great places to live and work, but in recent years they have become hot spots for crime and anti-social behaviour. In Auckland, businesses and residents suffered as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Increased certainty for contractors coming

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says upcoming changes to the Employment Relations Act will provide greater certainty for contractors and businesses. “These changes to legislation are necessary to ensure businesses and workers have more clarity from the start of their contracting arrangement. It is an ACT-National coalition ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Draft critical minerals list released for consultation

    A draft list of minerals deemed essential to New Zealand’s economy and strengthening its mineral resilience has been released for consultation, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The draft Critical Minerals List identifies 35 minerals essential to economic functions, are in demand internationally, and face high risk of supply disruption domestically ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government eliminates $190 million in trade barriers to boost the economy

    The Government has successfully removed trade barriers affecting nearly $190 million worth of exports to help grow the economy, Minister for Trade and Agriculture Todd McClay today announced.  “In the past year, we have resolved 14 Non Tariff Barriers (NTBs), returning significant value to kiwi exporters. These efforts directly boost our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Reo Māori the ‘beating heart’ of Aotearoa New Zealand

    From private business to the Paris Olympics, reo Māori is growing with the success of New Zealanders, says Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka. “I’m joining New Zealanders across the country in celebrating this year’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week, which has a big range ...
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    5 days ago
  • Need and value at forefront of public service delivery

    New Cabinet policy directives will ensure public agencies prioritise public services on the basis of need and award Government contracts on the basis of public value, Minister for the Public Service Nicola Willis says. “Cabinet Office has today issued a circular to central government organisations setting out the Government’s expectations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Minister to attend Police Ministers Council Meeting

    Police Minister Mark Mitchell will join with Australian Police Ministers and Commissioners at the Police Ministers Council meeting (PMC) today in Melbourne. “The council is an opportunity to come together to discuss a range of issues, gain valuable insights on areas of common interest, and different approaches towards law enforcement ...
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    6 days ago
  • New Bill to crack down on youth vaping

    The coalition Government has introduced legislation to tackle youth vaping, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2) is aimed at preventing youth vaping.  “While vaping has contributed to a significant fall in our smoking rates, the rise in youth vaping ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Interest in agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review welcomed

    Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have welcomed interest in the agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review. The review by the Ministry for Regulation is looking at how to speed up the process to get farmers and growers access to the safe, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Bill to allow online charity lotteries passes first reading

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government is moving at pace to ensure lotteries for charitable purposes are allowed to operate online permanently. Charities fundraising online, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust and local hospices will continue to do ...
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    6 days ago
  • Tax exempt threshold changes to benefit startups

    Technology companies are among the startups which will benefit from increases to current thresholds of exempt employee share schemes, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Revenue Minister Simon Watts say. Tax exempt thresholds for the schemes are increasing as part of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024-25, Emergency ...
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    6 days ago
  • Getting the healthcare you need, when you need it

    The path to faster cancer treatment, an increase in immunisation rates, shorter stays in emergency departments and quick assessment and treatments when you are sick has been laid out today. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has revealed details of how the ambitious health targets the Government has set will be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Targeted supports to accelerate reading

    The coalition Government is delivering targeted and structured literacy supports to accelerate learning for struggling readers. From Term 1 2025, $33 million of funding for Reading Recovery and Early Literacy Support will be reprioritised to interventions which align with structured approaches to teaching. “Structured literacy will change the way children ...
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    7 days ago
  • Survivors invited to Abuse in Care national apology

    With two months until the national apology to survivors of abuse in care, expressions of interest have opened for survivors wanting to attend. “The Prime Minister will deliver a national apology on Tuesday 12 November in Parliament. It will be a very significant day for survivors, their families, whānau and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Rangatahi inspire at Ngā Manu Kōrero final

    Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini kē - My success is not mine alone but is the from the strength of the many. Aotearoa New Zealand’s top young speakers are an inspiration for all New Zealanders to learn more about the depth and beauty conveyed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Driving structured literacy in schools

    The coalition Government is driving confidence in reading and writing in the first years of schooling. “From the first time children step into the classroom, we’re equipping them and teachers with the tools they need to be brilliant in literacy. “From 1 October, schools and kura with Years 0-3 will receive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Labour’s misleading information is disappointing

    Labour’s misinformation about firearms law is dangerous and disappointing, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says.   “Labour and Ginny Andersen have repeatedly said over the past few days that the previous Labour Government completely banned semi-automatic firearms in 2019 and that the Coalition Government is planning to ‘reintroduce’ them.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Govt takes action on mpox response, widens access to vaccine

    The Government is taking immediate action on a number of steps around New Zealand’s response to mpox, including improving access to vaccine availability so people who need it can do so more easily, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. “Mpox is obviously a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Next steps agreed for Treaty Principles Bill

    Associate Justice Minister David Seymour says Cabinet has agreed to the next steps for the Treaty Principles Bill. “The Treaty Principles Bill provides an opportunity for Parliament, rather than the courts, to define the principles of the Treaty, including establishing that every person is equal before the law,” says Mr Seymour. “Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government unlocking potential of AI

    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced a programme to drive Artificial Intelligence (AI) uptake among New Zealand businesses. “The AI Activator will unlock the potential of AI for New Zealand businesses through a range of support, including access to AI research experts, technical assistance, AI tools and resources, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government releases Wairoa flood review findings

    The independent rapid review into the Wairoa flooding event on 26 June 2024 has been released, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced today. “We welcome the review’s findings and recommendations to strengthen Wairoa's resilience against future events,” Ms ...
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    1 week ago
  • Promoting faster payment times for government

    The Government is sending a clear message to central government agencies that they must prioritise paying invoices in a timely manner, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly says. Data released today promotes transparency by publishing the payment times of each central government agency. This data will be published quarterly ...
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    1 week ago
  • Acknowledgement to Kīngi Tuheitia speech

    E te māngai o te Whare Pāremata, kua riro māku te whakaputa i te waka ki waho moana. E te Pirimia tēnā koe.Mr Speaker, it is my privilege to take this adjournment kōrero forward.  Prime Minister – thank you for your leadership. Taupiri te maunga Waikato te awa Te Wherowhero ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Interim fix to GST adjustment rules to support businesses

    Inland Revenue can begin processing GST returns for businesses affected by a historic legislative drafting error, Revenue Minister Simon Watts says. “Inland Revenue has become aware of a legislative drafting error in the GST adjustment rules after changes were made in 2023 which were meant to simplify the process. This ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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