Andrew Little: The Kaikoura Earthquakes

Written By: - Date published: 10:45 am, November 15th, 2016 - 193 comments
Categories: Andrew Little, disaster, Environment, labour - Tags:

kaikoura-earthquakes

Reprinted from the Labour Party website.

I had the opportunity to join the PM’s flight today over the parts of the South Island hardest hit by last night’s earthquake.

It was a sobering journey. This massive force of nature has seen huge land slips and blocked our main national highway in many places. Seeing hundreds of metres of rail tracks ripped off their sleepers and pushed across the neighbouring road was jarring. This is going to be a long and expensive repair job.

andrew_in_heli

I had the chance to talk to locals in Kaikoura, a town heavily dependent on tourist traffic and now totally cut off by road. They were in good spirits notwithstanding. Although some knew of locals whose homes were damaged, everyone I spoke to was relieved to have got through the big shake physically unscathed. In true kiwi spirit, they were looking out for each other. Clean water is needed along with a safe waste water system. Much effort is going into helping tourists stuck there right now to continue their journeys.

But then the question is ‘what happens next?’ A huge effort is required to get roads into and out of Kaikoura open to keep the travellers coming, not to mention keeping basic supplies moving.

slip

I saw the best of the kiwi ethos in Kaikoura today, the ‘no nonsense, roll-your-sleeves-up, help-your-neighbours, get-on-with-it’ style. When I asked one chap and his wife how their family was bearing up, he told me how he had checked on all the neighbours in his street straight after the first quake, then later in the morning when it was light went round again to see everyone was okay. This is what gets communities through disasters like this.

If you’d like to help out with the recovery effort, you can donate to the Red Cross’ appeal here.

193 comments on “Andrew Little: The Kaikoura Earthquakes ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. billmurray 1
    15 November 2016 at 2:16 pm

    No matter your political bent, I don’t think any rationale person could criticise John Key for his leadership on this matter.
    I would have thought a thank you from Andrew would have been in order.

    • weka 1.1
      15 November 2016 at 2:41 pm

      I wouldn’t thank him, purely on the basis of Chch and Pike River, not to mention everything else. There comes a time when someone is beyond pats on the back until they make amends.

      Mind you, I haven’t followed what he’s been doing in the past few days. Has he said something like “we fucked up in Chch, but we’ve learned how to be decent human beings now and are going to do a much better job with this disaster”?

      • billmurray 1.1.1
        15 November 2016 at 5:34 pm

        weka,
        so you are politician and you were invited by the PM to visit a stricken earthquake community to show your support to them.
        You would not say ‘thank you’.

        Come on weka, I thought you were better than that but obviously I am wrong.

        • weka 1.1.1.1
          15 November 2016 at 5:43 pm

          Oh, he can say thank-you to Key for the ride, sure (although I’m sure it’s a given that the opposition goes on those trips too). I meant he is under no obligation to say anything to or about Key when he reports back about the trip. It wasn’t about Key.

          • billmurray 1.1.1.1.1
            15 November 2016 at 5:55 pm

            weka,
            he got to Kaikoura because John Key invited him, there is nothing pro-forma about these invitations.
            It was ungracious of Andrew not to publicly say ‘thank you’.
            This lack of appreciation destroyed Andrews report and made it about John Keys largesse.
            There is no ‘obligation’ but a common courtesy of ‘thank you’ was missing.

            • weka 1.1.1.1.1.1
              15 November 2016 at 6:15 pm

              Are you saying that in such a situation that the PM of NZ wouldn’t normally offer to take the Leader of the Opposition?

              “This lack of appreciation destroyed Andrews report and made it about John Keys largesse.”

              As I said, the report isn’t anything about Key.

            • Scott 1.1.1.1.1.2
              15 November 2016 at 6:41 pm

              I get you now. I thought you meant a thank you for the way Key was handling the matter, and that seemed a bit much to expect. Yes, but I’m sure (hope) he thanked Key for the invite at the time and I don’t mind him leaving that as between them.

              • billmurray …
                15 November 2016 at 7:06 pm

                Scott,
                if Andrew did thank John Key for the invite to go on the trip then I believe he should said that in his article, it would have shown public leadership and we could applaud that leadership.

                • BM …
                  15 November 2016 at 7:12 pm

                  The fact that these sort of basic gestures passes Andrew Little by, shows to me he doesn’t have what it takes to be PM.

                  He’s such a putz.

                  • Matthew Whitehead …
                    16 November 2016 at 6:12 am

                    LOL no.

                    This was not a lack of manners. Thanking someone for this sort of thing only needs to be done in private. If Key wants to be thanked in public by the opposition he needs to do such a good job on addressing the damage that the opposition can’t realistically do anything else.

                • mickysavage …
                  15 November 2016 at 7:21 pm

                  As soon as John Key thanks the fifth Labour Government for the surplus that meant New Zealand could handle the GFC and both Christchurch earthquakes and this disaster I am sure Andrew would be happy to do so.

            • Anne 1.1.1.1.1.3
              15 November 2016 at 6:52 pm

              @ billmurray

              What a load of ignorant crap. How do you know he didn’t say thank-you for the ride? If every time a politician invites another politician on a trip somewhere they’ve got to express profuse thanks in front of TV cameras… that would be absurd.

              And weka is correct anyway. It’s not a case of ‘invitation’. It is protocol. You may be so unobservant (or stupid) as not to have noticed… but whenever a major event occurs that transcends politics such as funerals, memorial services or major disasters then it is incumbent upon the PM of the day to invite the official opposition leader (at the least) to be part of the official response.

              • billmurray …
                15 November 2016 at 7:12 pm

                Anne,
                It was not a case of protocol, it was a gracious gesture from John Key to the leader of Labour, who should have had the grace to publicly thank the PM.

                That’s called political leadership.

                I am observant, not stupid, that is why this matter has been raised.

                [lprent: To my experienced eye, it looks more to me like you are simply being determined to astroturf a meme. That is something that I’d suggest you should be grateful that I didn’t just ban you out of hand. It violates our site policy.

                But I am intrigued – you can now demonstrate that you follow your own advice. Thank me profusely for this minor courtesy. Abject grovelling is preferred. ]

                • Muttonbird …
                  15 November 2016 at 7:20 pm

                  Err…you probably are stupid, and definitely not observant, because you’re commenting while not having the correct facts.

                • billmurray …
                  15 November 2016 at 8:11 pm

                  Lprent,
                  I accept your comment.
                  I have not seen the rules.
                  “intrigued” wow.
                  Please understand I am sincere in my comments.
                  Good evening.

              • alwyn …
                16 November 2016 at 5:33 pm

                ” but whenever a major event occurs that transcends politics such as funerals, memorial services or major disasters then it is incumbent upon the PM of the day to invite the official opposition leader (at the least) to be part of the official response.”

                Of course they do Anne.
                Look at when the only New Zealand Victoria Cross ever awarded was given our then leader invited the Leader of the Opposition to attend.

                Like hell she did!

            • Psycho Milt 1.1.1.1.1.4
              15 November 2016 at 6:55 pm

              Did Key thank Little for coming with him? No, because why the fuck would he? Same applies to Little.

              This isn’t about someone being generous. Enough with the bullshit concern trolling – it’s not John Key’s personal helicopter and it would only be worthy of comment if Key hadn’t invited his oppo along on the trip.

              • billmurray …
                15 November 2016 at 7:19 pm

                Psycho Milt,
                nothing bullshit about good manners, in the circumstances I sincerely believe that if Andrew had said a ‘thank you’ to John Key in his report it would have enhanced the report.
                The report is bereft because of that omission.

            • Muttonbird 1.1.1.1.1.5
              15 November 2016 at 7:05 pm

              That is wrong anyway. There was no offer from Key – he had to be asked. Andrew Little requested to join the flight. Key could hardly say no.

              Key said the office of Labour leader Andrew Little asked to join him on the tour which he readily agreed to.

              http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11747731

              • billmurray …
                15 November 2016 at 7:35 pm

                Muttonbird,
                I have read your link to the Herald, which destroys the pro-forma invitational statements of weka and Anne.
                Obviously from the Herald report Andrew wanted to be part of the action.
                I see nothing wrong with that except to say that Andrew should have told us of how he got on the trip, in my opinion another basic leadership lapse.
                A basic fact “true political leaders always express gratitude publicly, it works with the voters”.

                • Muttonbird …
                  15 November 2016 at 7:42 pm

                  Sorry pal. You got it wrong by intimating John Key invited Andrew Little on the flight. This was false but you didn’t bother to read any facts and the entirety of your concern trolling is based upon your ignorance.

                  Time you stopped blaming others and apologised to the forum.

                • Anne …
                  15 November 2016 at 8:13 pm

                  …which destroys the pro-forma invitational statements of weka and Anne.

                  Piffle.
                  It IS protocol in normal circumstances, but in light of the extent and suddenness of this event I’m sure Andrew’s office made contact to ensure he would be included in the trip. Of course Key was happy for him to come along because a) the situation transcends politics and b) it would have looked churlish and lacking in protocol to have said no.

                  As lprent has already pointed out – you are an astroturfing troll.

                • Gabby …
                  15 November 2016 at 8:27 pm

                  It’s worse than that, you know. I have reason to suspect (ie invent) that Little didn’t even say ‘pwetty pwease wif sugar on top.’ Such arrogance.

              • Chris …
                15 November 2016 at 8:05 pm

                So glad to know Key’s a structural engineer as well. We’d be fucked without his everyman skills.

                • Muttonbird …
                  15 November 2016 at 8:09 pm

                  Isn’t it odd that he’d be saying ill-informed stuff so the breathless reporter could jot it down in his/her notebook?

                  Why even have a reporter on that flight if not for the PR exercise it was.

                • Thinkerr …
                  16 November 2016 at 7:40 pm

                  Yeah. A chopper flight over the city and the structural engineer’s pronouncement is that Kaikoura is stuffed. I’d already worked that out, and I’ve never been in a helicopter…

                  Then Brownlee says it will take a long time and billions of dollars to fix – guess he would know after the drawn-out recovery in Christchurch.

                  Meanwhile, those of the bottom 90% are working around the clock to provide some meaningful help, to get the road open by Saturday.

            • locus 1.1.1.1.1.6
              16 November 2016 at 7:21 am

              good grief! it is absolutely the job of a prime minister and leading politicians to get out to a stricken region after a disaster and if the helicopter was supplied by the RNZAF or paid out of the public purse then there’s no personal let alone public thanks of JK required…. in fact I would regard it as common courtesy for a PM to invite the leader of the opposition without expecting a big public display of thanks

              “the best of the kiwi ethos” that Andrew Little describes includes the leaders of two opposing parties putting the posturing aside… as they evidently did – and as is evident in this post

        • Jenny Kirk 1.1.1.2
          15 November 2016 at 8:58 pm

          You are just nit-picking billmurray. There’s no need for Andrew Little to say a public thankyou – that’s a given.

          What is more important is that he went and saw for himself all the damage done, and talked to people to show moral support, and then described what he had seen. And he talked about everyone needing to work together to fix things.

          That’s more important than the PM prancing about in front of the cameras big-noting for himself and trying to front-guess what might be needed in future.

          Andrew Little asked sensible, realistic questions – which need answering by a team of experts not the PM floating off the top of his head.

          Edit – this was in answer to billmurray’s criticism of Andrew Little at top of this discussion.
          ]

      • Well Fed Weta 1.1.2
        15 November 2016 at 8:05 pm

        Christchurch?

        $40bn spent, $15bn of that direct government funding, to rebuild a city of 360,000 people.

        As of January 2016, 85 percent of the total work programme has been completed, including 97 percent of repairs in the central city (http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/insight/audio/201787320/insight-for-31-january-2016-christchurch-5-years-on).

        Further infrastructure progress is charted here http://strongerchristchurch.govt.nz/more-progress

        Given the scale of the damage, the rebuild of Christchurch has been a success, with the credit due to a huge number of people, not just politicians. Frankly to try to make out the government has “fucked up in Chch” is just silly.

        • Muttonbird 1.1.2.1
          15 November 2016 at 8:26 pm

          Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce chief executive Peter Townsend says 2016 will be the year Christchurch exceeds 50 percent of the reconstruction of the city.

          Not sure your pro-government rhetoric is on the mark there. The City still looks like a car park with no public facilities and “the anchor project are wastelands.”

          Also you quote 85% and 97% of work programmes complete but neglect to say these are for infrastructure only, not for facilities.

          That article was an exercise in modifying the expectations of stupid people like yourself and guess what? You bought it.

          • Well Fed Weta 1.1.2.1.1
            15 November 2016 at 8:57 pm

            My ‘rhetoric’ wasn’t ‘pro government’. It was pro everyone involved the very difficult job that has been the rebuild.

            “That article was an exercise in modifying the expectations of stupid people like yourself …”

            …or, it was presenting the facts that contradict a ludicrously politicised and ill informed opinion, one you ‘bought’.

            • Muttonbird 1.1.2.1.1.1
              15 November 2016 at 9:05 pm

              Yawn. Take a walk around Christchurch central and tell me it’s 97% rebuilt.

              • Well Fed Weta …
                16 November 2016 at 3:31 pm

                You seem to be contradicting Weka (below) who says “So they rebuilt most of the CBD. Whoop de shit,…”

                BTW…I have walked around the Chch CBD. It is very impressive, so soon after the damage was done.

        • weka 1.1.2.2
          15 November 2016 at 9:01 pm

          Housing crisis

          Mental health and stress illnesses

          EQC.

          Inform yourself about those things and come back and try that one again. So they rebuilt most of the CBD. Whoop de shit, if the people aren’t ok, but then that is National, all about the business and the people be damned. Chch isn’t the buildings, not matter what you and Brownlee assert.

          • Well Fed Weta 1.1.2.2.1
            16 November 2016 at 3:34 pm

            Thanks for the list, but I’ll take notice the official responses and my own observations thanks. I’m not interested in your anti everything bs.

          • Peter Smith 1.1.2.2.2
            19 November 2016 at 6:53 pm

            Weka, how much research is done in to the level of illness you speak of and how many of the people were affected or susceptible prior to the earthquakes.

            You may have a close group who project being affected, but I suggest the majority have dealt with and moved on.
            Finding someone to blame has become the norm.

            • weka 1.1.2.2.2.1
              19 November 2016 at 7:11 pm

              Blaming the victim has become the norm.

              There’s been plenty of work done on mental health issues in Chch post-quakes that have nothing to do with who I know there (although it is true that the people I know there work in fields with client bases where mental health issues show up easily, including amongst staff). I’m going to take it from your comment that you haven’t bothered to look at the evidence, which is kind of odd given it’s been reported relatively well in the MSM. Maybe you look away from those reports.

              btw, it doesn’t really matter who was or wasn’t susceptible before the quakes. What matters is whether people’s lives are demonstrably worse five years out.

        • Venezia 1.1.2.3
          15 November 2016 at 11:11 pm

          This is repeating government spin. Come and live in Christchurch and find out the truth.

          • Well Fed Weta 1.1.2.3.1
            16 November 2016 at 3:35 pm

            I visit often. I love Christchurch. The people (all the people) have done a terrific job of the rebuild in a relatively sort period of time.

      • Peter Smith 1.1.3
        19 November 2016 at 3:42 pm

        The Government has been correct and strong on both the CHCH earthquakes and Pike River. They have removed the emotion and done what was needed for the people. You seem a long way from the facts and knowledge of the events if you can think any differently.
        You do not speak for the community.

    • halfcrown 1.2
      15 November 2016 at 3:23 pm

      “I would have thought a thank you from Andrew would have been in order.”

      Why?

      • AmaKiwi 1.2.1
        15 November 2016 at 3:50 pm

        +1

      • billmurray 1.2.2
        15 November 2016 at 5:14 pm

        halfcrown, Why?.
        Its a simple common courtesy to express your appreciation for having the opportunity (as leader of the opposition) to visit a distraught community and showing your support to them.

        I stand by my comment.

        • ropata 1.2.2.1
          15 November 2016 at 6:04 pm

          Stupid trollish diversion. If you want fawning over FJK you’re in the wrong place

          • billmurray 1.2.2.1.1
            15 November 2016 at 6:16 pm

            ropata,
            there is nothing trollish about my opinions, you are trying a pivot,
            ‘manners maketh the man’ is an old but very true statement which defines a person.
            I am not fawning over John Key, I am pointing out a case of bad manners.
            Saying FJK is rude and thuggish.
            I am not in the wrong place, if you support Andrew on this “you” are in the wrong place and do nothing in support of Labour, which is my party.

            • ropata 1.2.2.1.1.1
              15 November 2016 at 6:45 pm

              The spirit of Pete George has returned to haunt us with moronic and boring trivia

              • billmurray …
                15 November 2016 at 7:48 pm

                ropata,
                I do not know Pete George.
                It is not my problem that you do not understand the political critical philosophy of leadership being expressed.
                To help you, you should read Andrews article again and then also read all the comments again.
                If that exercise does not enlighten you, then I cannot help any further.
                Goodnight and best wishes for the future.

            • Anne 1.2.2.1.1.2
              15 November 2016 at 7:00 pm

              @billmurray
              I politely request that you take your boring, twattish behaviour elsewhere. In other words….

        • halfcrown 1.2.2.2
          15 November 2016 at 7:56 pm

          What an utter load of crap. As PM Key should have taken Little along as the senior member of the opposition anyway.
          Next, you will be telling us Little should really thank Key for letting the opposition attend parliament.
          Why has Little to got to show “appreciation” for something he should have been included in?
          Key as the premier of NZ is the one who should extend these so called courtesies to the leader of her majesty’s opposition irrespective whoever that may be, instead of using people’s misfortune as an electioneering opportunity.

          • Muttonbird 1.2.2.2.1
            15 November 2016 at 7:59 pm

            Perhaps billmurray would like Andrew Little to thank John Key for his salary, paid for by the people of New Zealand?

        • rsbandit 1.2.2.3
          16 November 2016 at 8:24 am

          The fact they’re even arguing that a simple “thank you” is “not needed” shows you how out of touch these people are, billmurray

          Diplomacy, and the goodwill that comes from it, was a missed opportunity. It’s yet another reason the public are unlikely to ever warm to Little as he often seems to miss the most basic of self-marketing opportunities.

    • Scott 1.3
      15 November 2016 at 3:41 pm

      Maybe not a thank you, but perhaps a “At times like this we put differences aside, and I’ll be helping John and his team where I can.”

      • billmurray 1.3.1
        15 November 2016 at 5:20 pm

        Scott,
        what you say and a simple thank you would have made Andrew Little’s piece a winners comment.

      • Anne 1.3.2
        15 November 2016 at 7:04 pm

        @ scott
        In for a penny in for pound NAct troll? You’ve done it here before.

        I would like to see this kind of petty, childish, point-scoring attempts to inflame automatically dropped into moderation mode. That would keep them in line.

    • esoteric pineapples 1.4
      15 November 2016 at 4:56 pm

      The difference between Andrew Little and John Key is that Little wouldn’t see this is an opportunity for a bit of disaster capitalism and use it to try to push through its agenda.

      • billmurray 1.4.1
        15 November 2016 at 5:25 pm

        esoteric pineapples.
        Common courtesies go a long way.
        I know that you believe that, who doesn’t.

    • Jay 1.5
      15 November 2016 at 5:24 pm

      I think you’re right. Even if it was through gritted teeth it would have come off very well. As it stands Mr Key looks very fair and inclusive, whereas some may view Mr Little as ungrateful.

      • billmurray 1.5.1
        15 November 2016 at 6:05 pm

        Jay.
        you have nailed it.

        • mike 1.5.1.1
          15 November 2016 at 6:21 pm

          God, bill, you’ve proved that in the midst of disaster there can still be banality.

          • billmurray 1.5.1.1.1
            15 November 2016 at 6:34 pm

            mike,
            I do not see a banality in my Labour leader being invited to Kaikoura, to show his support to the stricken community, and not saying thank you for the opportunity.
            Its a basic of leadership.

            • corokia 1.5.1.1.1.1
              15 November 2016 at 6:41 pm

              What makes you think that Andrew Little didn’t say thank you to John Key?

              And “my Labour leader”? huh? why the possessive there Bill? Are you a paid up Labour member?

              • mike …
                15 November 2016 at 7:05 pm

                You’ve got me thinking bill. I’ve now realised I’m incensed and insulted that Key did not even bother to say thank you to Andrew Little for coming along.
                Rude bugger

        • Jenny Kirk 1.5.1.2
          15 November 2016 at 9:07 pm

          Nope – Jay hasn’t nailed it billmurray.

          What Key was doing was prancing in front of the cameras all the time and looking a prat – instead of doing what a Leader should be doing – inspecting things, talking to the people affected, and asking realistic questions about what might happen in the future.

          That’s real leadership. And that’s what Andrew Little did on his trip to Kaikoura.

        • Gabby 1.5.1.3
          16 November 2016 at 1:36 pm

          I think you should have thanked jay for nailing it billmurray. Ingratitude ill becomes you.

      • Leftie 1.5.2
        15 November 2016 at 6:21 pm

        Ungrateful for what Jay?

    • Leftie 1.6
      15 November 2016 at 6:35 pm

      Why are you trying desperately to make this about John Key?

    • Leftie 1.7
      15 November 2016 at 6:36 pm

      Billmurray. Trolling much? Why are you trying desperately to make this about John key?

    • Red Hand 1.8
      15 November 2016 at 7:14 pm

      The Leader of the Opposition and PM jointly face a national disaster and get a taxpayer funded damage assessment trip. No need for gratitude on either side. Part of their duty to the people.

      • Whispering Kate 1.8.1
        15 November 2016 at 8:41 pm

        Personally I think Nat trolls must be very nervous about their position in the greater scheme of things in the fact they are pushing negatives all the time, of the slightest nature pertaining to the Opposition namely Labour – clutching at straws I think its called. Give it a rest trolls, Anne is correct, in situations of a national concern its protocol to have the opposition on board (pun there) and it goes without saying Andrew would have made his appreciation known to the PM. How much I wonder are these trolls paid to be “on point” all the time for the slightest hint of an excuse to criticise the Opposition. Tedious and immature to say the least.

    • Well Fed Weta 1.9
      15 November 2016 at 7:49 pm

      This is all just a bit silly. Andrew Little accompanied John Key on a trip to view the damage from a catastrophic natural event. The PM and LotO together showing solidarity and concern for the victims. Jolly good show. Who cares who invited who or who thanked who.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 1.10
      19 November 2016 at 7:50 pm

      Did the lying Prime Minister pay for the helicopter? Get off your knees, groveller.

  2. b waghorn 2
    15 November 2016 at 2:25 pm

    What’s the odds of a new mega highway being put in and the rail being forgotten about?
    key on the am news alluded to the fact more than once how the highway may not go back where it was , and how bad the rail is.

    • weka 2.1
      15 November 2016 at 2:43 pm

      I was wondering that too about the rail.

      Imagine if we had a government that looked at the repairs in the context of CC.

      • b waghorn 2.1.1
        15 November 2016 at 2:49 pm

        That and Imagine if we had a government that swung into action getting as many young kiwis as possible geared up for the big fix instead of bringing in more temporary labour.

        • weka 2.1.1.1
          15 November 2016 at 2:57 pm

          True! We could be training up a whole new generation of infrastructure crews who specialise in climate and natural disasters, god knows we will need them in the coming decades.

        • BM 2.1.1.2
          15 November 2016 at 2:59 pm

          Millennials are a bit soft for that sort of work, they’d miss their mummies too much and wouldn’t cope.

          This article sums it up rather well
          http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/millennial-men-have-gone-soft–but-its-not-our-fault/

          • McFlock 2.1.1.2.1
            15 November 2016 at 3:03 pm

            “Student army” called bullshit on that one in chch.

            edit: I did hear some issues about it, but fear of hard work wasn’t one

          • b waghorn 2.1.1.2.2
            15 November 2016 at 3:08 pm

            I just finished docking and i had to young and in one case well padded fullas turn up and work like troopers doing a shitty job no problem at all.
            And you do realise they don’t use shovels and picks to build roads now days.

            Still cumudgeons like yourself that love to put the boot into the the youff of today, hmmm maybe that’s part of the problem , old fuckers telling them they are no good, what do you reakon?

            • BM 2.1.1.2.2.1
              15 November 2016 at 3:17 pm

              You live way out in the boonies, you can’t compare young country men to young city men, They’re a completely different breed.

              Fact are a lot of these young guys are utter soft cocks with absolutely no stickabilty, tell them to do a job and they don’t like it, they’ll sulk and do a go slow or won’t do it at all.

              Far too much “Your’e such a star!!!! and lets only do what you want to do” growing up and not enough punts up the slats, that’s the problem.

              old fuckers telling them they are no good, what do you reakon?

              If they’re that fucking delicate that they fall apart from a bit of criticism, than what I say stands.

              • McFlock …
                15 November 2016 at 3:33 pm

                Sounds like you get the work out of them that you deserve.

              • b waghorn …
                15 November 2016 at 3:38 pm

                We have to lift our young up not put them down , and any government worth having would be working to pick up where parents have failed .

                • BM …
                  15 November 2016 at 4:17 pm

                  That’s going to take a serious amount of retraining.

                  This is an issue for all western societies, schooling and growing up is now all about fun and excitement and only doing what you want to do, if it’s boring you don’t have to do it, you go find something more exciting to do.

                  This has rather killed off any enthusiasm or interest in any physical, repetitive job market. so it’s nearly nigh on impossible to find a young kiwi willing to do these jobs.

                  Who wants to be outside on a spade, pushing a barrow exposed to the elements or doing a boring menial job, no young guy/woman wants a bar of that, they just don’t have the mindset or mental toughness for it.

                  Which is why we have guys from the Philippines working on farms and Pacific Islanders working in packing sheds and factories.

                  • weka …
                    15 November 2016 at 4:23 pm

                    And the neoliberal agenda comes full circle 🙄

                  • McFlock …
                    15 November 2016 at 4:28 pm

                    A poor hr worker blames their employment pool…

                  • Tophat …
                    15 November 2016 at 4:46 pm

                    “Who wants to be outside on a spade, pushing a barrow exposed to the elements or doing a boring menial job, ” @ minimum wages? Bugger off, get someone from the Philippines to do that!

                    “Which is why we have guys from the Philippines working on farms and Pacific Islanders working in packing sheds and factories.”
                    No, the reason these people do these jobs is that, for a myriad of reasons they are easier to exploit. They are also used as a tool to erode our wage expectation and shape public opinion against local workers holding out for better conditions.
                    They are the modern day Scab laborers.

                  • Psycho Milt …
                    15 November 2016 at 7:00 pm

                    Which is why we have guys from the Philippines working on farms and Pacific Islanders working in packing sheds and factories.

                    The fuck it is. The reason we have employers exploiting immigrant labourers from the Third World is because they can – the government is allowing them to, so they are, because there’s good money in it. There’s nothing more to it than that.

                  • ropata …
                    15 November 2016 at 8:41 pm

                    The young people of today have been sold a lemon by the media and spruikers of higher education. We can’t all be rock stars or web designers.

                    Mike Rowe of “Dirty Jobs” advises young people

                  • JanM …
                    15 November 2016 at 9:40 pm

                    How ironic – we appear to have a major supporter of neo-liberalism wailing about the results of educating children in self-entitlement mode. We reap what we sow !!

              • joe90 …
                15 November 2016 at 4:24 pm

                tell them to do a job and they don’t like it

                See, there’s your problem – you don’t lead by telling, you lead by example.

              • Red Hand …
                15 November 2016 at 7:26 pm

                “lets only do what you want to do” Like the killer-foreman who annoyed my mate and me for getting back to the depot a day early on a round that was supposed to take a full week. Never forget the dulling effect. Helped me understand NZ’s relatively poor productivity.

            • kazz 2.1.1.2.2.2
              15 November 2016 at 7:37 pm

              +1 agree wholeheartedly about todays youth being put down more often than they’re praised, the student army did a great job in Christchurch, especially considering they were suffering themselves.

        • greywarshark 2.1.1.3
          15 November 2016 at 4:59 pm

          Imagine…. John Lennon singing Imagine
          here it is
          (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_YXSHkAahE

        • greywarshark 2.1.1.4
          15 November 2016 at 5:08 pm

          When imagination is wiped out: we have to hold onto what we have left.
          (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjU7VMj94ss

    • greywarshark 2.2
      15 November 2016 at 2:54 pm

      Let’s railroad him out of town pardner!

      • b waghorn 2.2.1
        15 November 2016 at 3:02 pm

        Telling the truth about him hasn’t stopped people electing the bugger so foul means it is , if only i knew some that would work

    • halfcrown 2.3
      15 November 2016 at 3:27 pm

      “What’s the odds of a new mega highway being put in and the rail being forgotten about?”

      My thinking also. Close it for the trucking lobby like they have the Gisborne line.

    • Bearded Git 2.4
      15 November 2016 at 5:09 pm

      @b wag agreed National will use this to can the railway.

      RNZ just reported that NZTA have already rejected Key’s daft idea of relocating the road to Kaikoura-where on earth did he get this idea from?

  3. Red 3
    15 November 2016 at 2:55 pm

    Unfortunately for labour jk and his steady hand and leadership over this most recent natural disaster will only strengthen nationals reelection in 2017

  4. Ad 4
    15 November 2016 at 2:56 pm

    That is a huge stretch of rail and State highway to fix.
    Several years worth of work, given that they will probably have to take a few of the hills out and ‘daylight’ sections of track.

    This earthquake should be a political gift to this government – doing only what governments can do, and having learned a whole bunch of lessons from Christchurch. Key will have the perfect reason to delete any talk of tax cuts, and be shown getting to actual work with actual people.

    • adam 4.1
      15 November 2016 at 3:03 pm

      But there are real questions not being asked about systemic failures occurring. I’ll just mention one, one, one.

      • Ad 4.1.1
        15 November 2016 at 3:20 pm

        Merely gives Key more platform for reforming.

        He will own this earthquake recovery story – it could easily propel him into a fourth term all by itself.

        • McFlock 4.1.1.1
          15 November 2016 at 3:38 pm

          [headdesk]
          [sob]

          On the flipside, prime opportunity to get more oomph into coastal shipping, what with a couple of major edges in the land transport network out of action.

          • Ad 4.1.1.1.1
            15 November 2016 at 3:48 pm

            The navy is covering it for now.

            Who will be the first on this site to say that Prime Minister John Key is doing a really good job?

            Get ready, because his ratings are about to go through the roof.

            • Muttonbird 4.1.1.1.1.1
              15 November 2016 at 3:53 pm

              Crisis management should be meat and drink for a leader. Very difficult to not do a good job despite the John Key government making a meal of the Christchurch rebuild.

              • Bearded Git …
                15 November 2016 at 5:14 pm

                Sending the navy in was dumb given that the inland road to Kaikoura was this morning forecast to be open in 2 days.

                • Ad …
                  15 November 2016 at 6:01 pm

                  Unless Kaikoura runs out of water, food and medical supplies.
                  A good Prime Minister would send the fastest and most effective form of security it can to its people.

                  The navy is there to provide precisely this kind of security.
                  Best use for them.

                  • Muttonbird …
                    15 November 2016 at 8:47 pm

                    A good Prime Minister would fly it in. A good Prime Minister wouldn’t gut the RNZAF.

                  • Muttonbird …
                    15 November 2016 at 9:12 pm

                    I’m also mindful of you placing Peter Fraser at the head of a list of post WW2 prime ministers, for his WW2 effort. I’m sure the Navy was relevant for emergency relief missions back then but not so much now. Perhaps your memory stretches back that far.

                    Meanwhile, in the 21st century, where is the national airlift capability under John Key, particularly as it was impressed upon him that events like these were to continue after the Christchurch events?

                    This is the guy you think is doing such a great job. The reality is that John Key’s government is a penny-pinching ambulance at the bottom of a wrecked cliff.

                    • Ad …
                      15 November 2016 at 9:27 pm

                      The navy are almost there, most of the tourists have been evacuated already, this situation is already under control.
                      You are simply looking for fault when there is none. The reality is on TV news tonight, and will be for months on end: Key is King through to 2017, and this earthquake crowned him.

                    • Muttonbird …
                      15 November 2016 at 9:32 pm

                      ^

                      That reply seems way over the top.

                      Are you, an author and (I assume) moderator, trolling the punters at the standard?

                      I’m not privy to the back-end conversations…but good luck.

                    • Muttonbird …
                      15 November 2016 at 10:36 pm

                      Oh, and if the response from tourists is anything to go by, John Key’s rescue effort leaves a lot to be desired.

                      There are estimated to be about 600 to 700 tourists wanting to leave the town.

                      RNZ reporter Phil Pennington said those with flights to catch were frustrated with the time it would take to get out.

                      “I talked to a Belgian man, he said that the army should be there, he said that poiltically it’s been a failure but that the marae and the local volunteeers had been very good. But he wants faster action – and that was echoed by a few people that we talked to.

                      http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/318078/stranded-tourists-choppered-out-of-kaikoura

                      Ad, do you think anyone told the Belgian tourist that the current government had brought the New Zealand armed forces to their knees and there is no longer an army capable of being deployed in a national emergency?

                    • weka …
                      15 November 2016 at 10:44 pm

                      Hmm, except getting tourists out of an area so they can catch their flight on time isn’t a national emergency priority needing the armed forces to drop what they are doing. If people were in danger, or were suffering due to not having shelter or food, sure. But catching a flight while on holiday? Nope. Tourists need to understand that when they travel there are risks. Coming to NZ, there are quakes. It’s not a secret. Climate change too, expect adverse weather events.

                  • pat …
                    15 November 2016 at 10:31 pm

                    “Problems identified with the Canterbury included ballast and propulsion issues that led to poor handling in rough conditions, badly designed landing craft and radar deficiencies.”

                    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6394463/Remedial-work-for-navys-problem-ship

            • KJT 4.1.1.1.1.2
              19 November 2016 at 8:05 pm

              Coastal shipping. The one ship that is left. Is already stepping up to the plate.
              Unfortunately it has already been decimated by Government policy.

        • Rosemary McDonald 4.1.1.2
          15 November 2016 at 4:05 pm

          “Merely gives Key more platform for reforming.”

          Didn’t you mean ‘performing’? 😉

    • Muttonbird 4.3
      15 November 2016 at 3:48 pm

      Double Dipper will be tearing his hair out. He may never post a surplus despite that being what he hangs his hat on.

    • Leftie 4.4
      15 November 2016 at 6:32 pm

      Has John key sorted Christchurch yet? Has John key restored democracy to the people yet ? What lessons do you think John key has learnt? When has John key ever done “actual work with actual people?

    • Leftie 4.5
      16 November 2016 at 2:36 am

      Ad, this is not a particularly good look for the National government.

      <a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11748088

  5. esoteric pineapples 5
    15 November 2016 at 4:49 pm

    Still can’t understand how natural disasters are good for the economy. I understand they lead to more spending which stimulates the economy but someone has to pay the cost at the other end.

    • weka 5.1
      15 November 2016 at 4:56 pm

      Growth is Good, doesn’t matter that some people get hurt, they’re expendable.

    • Bearded Git 5.2
      15 November 2016 at 5:21 pm

      @ e.p. Any increase in financial activity, even that related to disasters, is calculated to increase GDP.

      Having said that,I have a feeling that when the dust settles this will only cost $200-300m to fix at most.

      • Rolfcopter 5.2.1
        15 November 2016 at 6:57 pm

        There’s at least that in rail repairs alone.

        • Bearded Git 5.2.1.1
          16 November 2016 at 9:59 am

          I might be a bit light with that $200-300m, but my understanding is that damage to buildings hasn’t been massive, and while stretches of road and railway have been badly damaged these don’t amount to many kilometers damaged in total.

          In any event my point is Key’s estimate of “billions” is probably wrong IMO and has been made for political reasons; firstly, they can blame the quake should the books not look rosy and secondly, look at us we have managed this massive crisis effectively.

          Meanwhile 3 warships are on the way to Kaikoura when the inland road is expected to be open either tomorrow or Friday; talk about overkill.

    • Ad 5.3
      15 November 2016 at 5:44 pm

      Insurers. That is what they are for. That’s new cash into the economy.

      And taxpayers. That is what tax is for.

      And GST. Because people have to buy stuff to fix things.

      And builders. Lots and lots and lots of them.

      And utility and transport companies, who have budgets for replacement in the AMPs that are brought forward.

      And all the social services. Public and private, doing what they should do.

    • Chris 5.4
      15 November 2016 at 5:58 pm

      Gives Key an opportunity to show people he’s a leader in an environment where he otherwise needs to be constantly sending the less government, hands-off message. No doubt very Crosby-Textor. Very important to always be on the lookout for those opportunities.

      • ropata 5.4.1
        15 November 2016 at 6:53 pm

        True indeed, a good war would also be a welcome distraction from the scandals currently dragging National thru the mud. Key will be gleeful over the chance to polish his PR

  6. Tory 6
    15 November 2016 at 5:07 pm

    Can’t see the railway being repaired, should be used as an opportunity to revise plans for new RORO ferry terminal (perhaps ChCh) and improved SH1

    • adam 6.1
      15 November 2016 at 5:16 pm

      Here comes

      the short sighted view….

    • Ad 6.2
      15 November 2016 at 5:57 pm

      Treasury and Kiwirail looked at getting out of Picton and shifting the port down the road. But the idea never passed muster despite valiant efforts.

      Just as well, because the new port was planned right close to the epicentre of the current quakes.

      They will need both road and rail rebuilt precisely because of the quakes. They will also need to throw enough cash at the rebuild so that if one fails, the other mode can potentially still operate.

      Same for Transmission Gully today. Having both motorways out of town shut due to flooding, on top of an earthquake, underscores the need for a degree of redundancy in the network so they are never isolated again. Transmission Gully needs to be operating.

      • weka 6.2.1
        15 November 2016 at 6:58 pm

        They will need both road and rail rebuilt precisely because of the quakes. They will also need to throw enough cash at the rebuild so that if one fails, the other mode can potentially still operate.

        How is that possible along that piece of coast? Or are you suggesting a different route for one of them?

        • Ad 6.2.1.1
          15 November 2016 at 7:56 pm

          Unlikely.
          But Kiwirail and NZTA will have to open up a pretty fast tender that includes the design component, since the routes are largely parallel.

          • weka 6.2.1.1.1
            15 November 2016 at 9:04 pm

            Ok, I was just thinking about the failure thing. Another quake/landslide/flood is likely to take out both at the same time.

            • Ad 6.2.1.1.1.1
              15 November 2016 at 9:23 pm

              Both Minister Bridges and NZTA were at pains this afternoon to point out the alternative route that is still functioning. Both are aware that Christmas freight peak is fast approaching. Bridges was clear that a simple cleanup job is not an option.

              • Muttonbird …
                15 November 2016 at 9:29 pm

                Bridges had no idea what was going on with respect to the future of SH1 and the main trunk line. He talked the talk about doing things better, but that’s just cheap words really.

    • JanM 6.3
      15 November 2016 at 9:48 pm

      Have you forgotten it’s part of the tourist experience?

  7. Tory 7
    15 November 2016 at 5:29 pm

    The railway simply carries freight between Picton and ChCh (along with a few tourists), a decent ferry between ChCh and Wellington is a far more efficient and economic option. The damage to the line between ChCh and Blenheim is huge, potentially spending hundreds of millions on that stretch of line does not make economic sense, shipping and road would be better options.

    • Ad 7.1
      15 November 2016 at 5:59 pm

      No, they will rebuild both.
      Stuffs the potential for tax cuts, but is another major economic boost to the economy.

    • Infused 7.2
      15 November 2016 at 6:35 pm

      Shipping is too slow.

      • ropata 7.2.1
        15 November 2016 at 6:41 pm

        Shipping from Lyttelton will reduce double handling at Picton, and will reduce pressure on roads and rail. NZ was settled and constructed by, and all international trade is based on, shipping.

        But yeah Tory governments have a shameful record when dealing with stevedores unions and trying to flog off publicly owned ports

      • corokia 7.2.2
        15 November 2016 at 6:47 pm

        The road and rail freight gets shipped across Cook strait.
        I find myself in the wierd position of agreeing with someone called Tory. A new ferry service from Christchurch to Wellington would make sense with sea level rise too.

      • joe90 7.2.3
        15 November 2016 at 7:11 pm

        Shipping is too slow

        Auckland to Christchurch by sea – three days, by rail – two days.

        http://www.pacship.co.nz/uploads/PacSchedDownload.pdf

        http://www.kiwirailfreight.co.nz/freight-schedule.aspx

        • KJT 7.2.3.1
          15 November 2016 at 8:38 pm

          That is rubbish.
          Three days is only because there is only one coastal cargo ship left, Spirit of Canterbury, the ports prioritize oversea ships. Which have to have space booked weeks in advance, to fit with their overseas loadings.

          Two days was normal when we had more coastal ships. Wellington/Christchurch was overnight.

          Even trucks take two days, Auckland/Christchurch. A bit more now SH1 is closed.

          • joe90 7.2.3.1.1
            15 November 2016 at 8:57 pm

            Yeah, I trot off to see whether or not Shipping is too slow and post schedules showing there seems to be only a day in it between coastal and rail but apparently, That is rubbish.

            So if you have a moment, would you please go fuck yourself.

            Ta muchly,

            • corokia 7.2.3.1.1.1
              15 November 2016 at 9:34 pm

              With the Chch- Picton line out of action and trucks having to go via the Lewis pass, until who knows when, South Island freight is going to be slower than it was.
              Perhaps the current road & rail corridor from Chch- Picton will be repaired, but it will continue to be vunerable to storm surges and sea level rise. It’s not a long term solution to North/South Island transport.

            • Muttonbird 7.2.3.1.1.2
              15 November 2016 at 9:39 pm

              I reckon Simon Bridges is so desperate right about now he’s considering airships as a long term solution.

              • McFlock …
                15 November 2016 at 10:06 pm

                bloody good idea, fwiw.

                They’re due a resurgence soon, but are too left field and pricey for private sector development.

    • Psycho Milt 7.3
      15 November 2016 at 7:05 pm

      …a decent ferry between ChCh and Wellington is a far more efficient and economic option.

      Yeah, my dad took me on that ferry back in 1968. It was very decent, but it ceased operation not that long after, exactly because it was not a more efficient and economic option.

      • joe90 7.3.1
        15 November 2016 at 7:16 pm

        Lyttelton to Wellington ceased in 1976 but the over-nighter was pretty damn cool.

      • ropata 7.3.2
        15 November 2016 at 7:18 pm

        On the Wahine? My Dad was on that one too, but he had to go for a swim in Wellington Harbour in ’68 🙁

        • Psycho Milt 7.3.2.1
          15 November 2016 at 7:24 pm

          Not a good day for a swim, that wasn’t. I hope he came through it alright. I was on the Maori, which fortunately stayed afloat for the whole trip. Lovely trip it was too, very exciting to go to sleep in a ship’s cabin when you’re in primary school. I was sad when that service ended.

      • corokia 7.3.3
        15 November 2016 at 9:36 pm

        I went on it in 1969. It might not have been more efficient and economic then, but that was before the Chch-Picton road rail link was munted by these quakes.

  8. Muttonbird 8
    15 November 2016 at 7:28 pm

    I think the Labour comms team have done a good job getting Andrew Little on that flight despite no invitation from Key, who clearly wanted all the press coverage to himself.

    Perhaps they are starting to get some good people in there.

  9. Venezia 9
    15 November 2016 at 11:25 pm

    The Wellington to Lyttelton shippping option makes great sense. That overnight ferry was a great experience. And farewelling people going by ship from Lyttelton was a memorable ritual. My kids (all now in their 40s) have fond memories of every detail travelling overnight in a ships cabin from Wellington to see family in Christchurch for holidays (eg being woken in the morning by a steward with a cup of tea and biscuits was part of the deal). It was very popular with kiwis and tourists alike.

  10. Smilin 10
    16 November 2016 at 10:57 am

    As has been the experience for most Kiwis, , NZ and its earthquakes are as bad or worse than anywhere in the world
    Begs the question what the fuck are we really doing about in our down time now from these quakes
    Accentuating the likely hood of these quakes by seismic data collection for oil ? Carrying out undisclosed activities under the five eyes treaty that could be destabilising our islands
    Or just the fact that we have one of the most dangerous plate systems in the world that we are on and volcanic calderas like Iceland and the fact that Taupo is one of the largest volcanic vents on the planet and we dont have an exit plan apart from sending our money to Australia .How about the people if Godzown becomes Dante’s inferno

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    18 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    23 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

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

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

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

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-27T00:09:44+00:00