Aotearoa New Zealand is a hell hole paradise dystopian democracy

Written By: - Date published: 8:09 am, October 29th, 2020 - 55 comments
Categories: covid-19, election 2020, health, jacinda ardern, making shit up, spin, uncategorized, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

It has been interesting seeing overseas attempts to present Aotearoa in the last couple of days.  I mean did someone turn up the international stupid dial to maximum?

First there was UK former Conservative Party then UKIP Party journalist Suzanne Evans accusing New Zealand of having a fascist Government.  Her evidence?  Our lockdown policies.

Then things got really weird when the TV channel that celebrated the locking up of kids and their forceful separation from their parents thought that our policies were too extreme.

The problem was that the post was completely lacking in that characteristic that all media should aspire to achieve and that was it was a complete misrepresentation of reality.

https://twitter.com/MoaVideos/status/1321342534266753026

They also had this text on their website:

Hoover Institution senior fellow Victor Davis Hanson condemned New Zealand‘s institution of coronavirus quarantine “camps” on “The Ingraham Angle” Tuesday.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, of the center-left New Zealand Labour Party, announced in a video that if people sent to the camp refuse to be tested, they will be required to remain another two weeks after their initial two-week stay.

Ardern called the warning a “pretty good incentive” to get tested for COVID-19.

“You either get your test done and make sure you are cleared, or we will keep you in a facility longer,” she said. “So I think most people look at that and say, ‘I will take the test.'”

Hanson told host Laura Ingraham that such draconian measures that Ardern’s orders make no sense given how little the pandemic has affected the island nation.

“They have a nation of 5 million people,” Hanson explained. “They’ve only lost, tragically, but they lost 25 people. That’s an astoundingly low number to throw away personal freedom.”

Feel your brain clench as you read this?  Wonder if Hanson may have contemplated the possibility that having more “personal freedom” US style may have resulted in many more deaths?   I guess we should expect such stupidity because the Hoover Institute is a right wing think tank based in the States.

The Ardern film relied on by Fox was from June 29, 2020, which by my calculations was 4 months ago.  Suggesting that it was a “terrifying new response” is rather overbaked and brings an entirely new meaning to the phrase.  Or ignores its meaning completely.

I accept there are constraints on our freedoms.  Currently there are about 5,000 returning kiwis or visitors who are in managed isolation.  They are subject to two tests over 14 days.  Recently I am aware of one person whose stay was extended by a further 14 days because she did not want to do the test because of the threat of nose bleeds.  The health professionals made a call.  Myself, I preferred they exercise caution.

The places they have to stay in are pretty good.  Four and five star hotels.  They get fed and they can purchase alcohol.

For those currently with symptoms they go into quarantine.  There are currently 66 active cases in the country.  Quarantine places are also hotels but with stricter health measures.

Is this a limitation on our freedoms.  Of course it is.

Our Bill of Rights Act which protects freedoms states that “the rights and freedoms contained in this Bill of Rights may be subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society”.

Unlike America we have an independent and robust judiciary.  Our judges are selected on merit, not which side of the culture war they occupy.

Our courts had a look at the lock down orders and concluded that they were initially technically in breach of the law for a short period of time but that this was subsequently remedied and that they were justified.  From the judgment:

Although we have concluded that there was for nine days an unlawful limitation of certain rights and freedoms, that must be seen in the context of the rapidly developing public health emergency the nation was facing. We agree with Mr Borrowdale that – although not prescribed by law – the limits were nevertheless reasonable, necessary and proportionate. Moreover, they were limits that could have been imposed lawfully by the Director-General at the time, simply by issuing an order. And the unlawfulness has long since been remedied.

New Zealand has made the call.  Rather than face the prospect of tens of thousands of loved ones dying and long term health effects that we are still discovering we decided instead to socially distance and wash our hands regularly.  And make sure that people returning from disease hotbeds like the United States were quarantined, so that our elders and those with compromised health systems did not have to go through what their counterparts in the States are going through.

The handling of the pandemic is popular with the people of Aotearoa and saw Labour reelected to power with an unprecedented level of support in an MMP election.

And while we are on the subject of democracy Trump America is not in a position to criticise us about anything.  We recently held an election where over 80% of eligible voters exercised their democratic right to vote.  Voting was a breeze.  It did not matter if you lived in a wealthy or a poor area queues were short and people were encouraged to vote early.  People did not have to line up in queues for 8 hours to vote.  Rolls were not purged so that mainly poor people and people of colour were disenfranchised for no valid reason.  And the whole election was run by an entity that was independent of the parties.

I get it that the States is in the middle of an election and that the right wing candidate, who has made a complete mess of handling the disease, is under intense pressure in an election campaign that if run properly should see him lose.  But making up stories and criticising us because we took the hard decisions to hold the disease at bay?

55 comments on “Aotearoa New Zealand is a hell hole paradise dystopian democracy ”

  1. Ad 1

    When you have 230,000 dead inside 8 months from a preventable disease, well…

    …freedom's just another word for 'nothin' left to lose'

    Sing along, kids.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTHRg_iSWzM

  2. AB 2

    Successful responses to the virus are based on:

    • solidarity and collective action
    • believing the lives of all citizens are of equal value and equally worthy of protection
    • viewing economic activity as something that goes on inside (not outside or prior to) a framework of human needs/wellbeing, and that can be adjusted to meet those needs.

    In other words, successful responses to the virus are a dagger to the heart of right-wing ideology and will be discredited by the vehicles and mouthpieces of that ideology. Even if it takes grotesque lies to do so.

    • Unicus 2.1

      This is certainly happening

      Murdoch media in the UK US and Aus has been slandering Jacinda for months – neo libs. are terrified her perceived persona will influence their body politic the way it has here

  3. weka 3

    What's the story with getting in and out of the US at the moment? Can citizens come and go freely?

    • Andre 3.1

      Varies by state for arrivals. New York and some other northeastern states have a two week quarantine for anyone from out-of-state (which includes overseas). But getting through the bureaucracy to even get that far for out-of-country people is very difficult. Hawaii has had a two week quarantine, but recently relaxed that for those that have a negative test (good luck with that!). I'd imagine most other states are less restrictive.

      Americans are free to leave to go anywhere at any time AFAIK, but there aren't many other countries willing to accept them. For instance, Canada and Mexico limit entry for Americans to "essential purposes" which doesn't include tourism.

      • weka 3.1.1

        So incoming, it's up to individual states? And some states have pretty much the same restrictions as NZ? (or harder for US citizens to return home than for NZers to return home).

        • Andre 3.1.1.1

          Yes, one of the consequences of the Barbecued Bloviator abdicating any attempt to deal with it is the states have had to do it themselves. Sometimes the rules vary even down to county and state level.

          I don’t the exact details of any isolation/quarantine restrictions, but yes, they can be broadly similar to NZ. For my cousin and her husband, they have family in New York that desperately want to visit them in Salt Lake City and help with their new little one, but because they also have family that might need care at short notice in New York, the two week quarantine on return is too big an obstacle. It’s a real mess, and in some ways it’s surprising there hasn’t been even more civil unrest there.

          • weka 3.1.1.1.1

            letting the states sort it out is just for covid? Other overseas visitor controls are handled nationally?

            • Andre 3.1.1.1.1.1

              Yep. Covid quarantine (or not) is being handled at state level.

              National border controls are decided in DC at the federal level. Because that's an immigration issue. Citizens and permanent residents have right of return, like here.

              If you're from Chyyyy-nuh, then it's nuh-uh, coz covid, even though there's hardly any there at the moment. Iranians are on the shit-list too. Surprisingly, white folks from Europe aren't allowed in either, not even the smokin' hot young women (but maybe if they blag themselves Einstein visas they can come). Central and South Americans aren't on the shit list yet, even though they've got massive covid problems. Maybe that's because electoral considerations.

              https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html

              • weka

                what I was getting at was whether US citizens are being treated differently on entering the US. If stupid Americans are calling NZ govt fascist/communist for having mandatory managed isolation (and Q for positive tests) for returning Kiwis, then isn't the US doing the same with its citizens? (so hypocrites as well as stupid).

                But from what I can tell, it depends on where the US citizen flies in. If the state has quarantine then US citizens will have similar treatment to Kiwis returning to NZ. But some states just let US citizens in with no restrictions. Is that right?

    • Matiri 3.2

      An American friend who is also a New Zealand citizen has just come back from a mercy dash to the US to visit a dying relative, she flew to LA/Atlanta/Wyoming and back home to New Zealand two weeks later. The only drama for her was the limited availability of internal flights in the US. Once back here, she spent 14 days in Managed Isolation which she will have to pay for as this is her second trip since our borders were closed. She has both US and NZ passports.

      • weka 3.2.1

        so she didn't have to go into managed isolation going into California?

        • Andre 3.2.1.1

          California doesn't appear to have travel restrictions, and even if they did they may not apply them to transit passengers.

          There are currently no restrictions for entering California if you are coming from another state in the U.S. The federal government has placed restrictions on certain international travelers. With specific exceptions, foreign nationals who visited certain countries during the past 14 days are prohibited from entry to the United States. All travelers should take safety precautions when considering traveling.

          https://covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs/

          However, California does appear to have stay-at-home orders in place that vary in strictness on a county-by-county basis, as explained in the link above. Georgia (Atlanta) and Wyoming (Wild West, baby!) are very unlikely to have imposed any restrictions, or really even asked their citizens to take even minimal precautions.

          edit: in case you’re interested, New York’s rules are in the link below.

          https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory

    • Jen 3.3

      They never could come freely. And at the moment nobody is leaving either, because no country let's them in.

      • weka 3.3.1

        I was asking about US citizens getting back into the US. That was easy before covid, right?

  4. Anker 4
    • Their stupidity or deliberate distortion (lying), disgusts me. Same with the UK women.
    • i have never felt more grateful to live in this country in my life.

    god helpAmerica. It’s in a huge. Amount of trouble

    • greywarshark 4.1

      Anker Please specify which UK women and give a link please. So we know what this is about. I think I know but others won't. Ta.

      • Anne 4.1.1

        I think anker meant "woman" – the right wing female woman blasted Jacinda Ardern and NZ a day or two ago.

        • greywarshark 4.1.1.1

          Right now we need the link even to the former reporting on TS. If this is intended to be a useful public forum for information it has to do more and be more than allusions and in-group comments that a small percentage know about.

        • Tricledrown 4.1.1.2

          Laura Inghram a Disgrace .

          But I bet she gets paid millions for her sycophantic rants.

          Just shows how desperate the Trump campaign is.

      • anker 4.1.2

        Sorry Gray, Suzanne Evans. Link is in the above article.

        Some times I post when I am about to go to work and I am not as careful as I should be!

        • greywarshark 4.1.2.1

          Yes sory to be a moaner but I feel that TS is the one strong staunch people's voice and information sheet, so to speak. And I think that people in authority will look at it FTTT for clues on what is going on in left-leaning people's heads. And they may get some good ideas. So the combination of good thinkers with good mods following good procedures has led to a good informed spot that also is interesting, not boring! Lots of goods may multiply – crosses fingers!

  5. greywarshark 5

    This is the song for Trump's supporters and the Republican Party in USA.

    Take Me Higher (like the Covid-19 measurement) by D-Stroyer.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwMU3QAI4DM

    And this is the reality today for people who have no certainty of good things happening in their locale, their country. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ2DylAPBpg

  6. Anne 6

    Jealousy mickysavage – plain, unadulterated jealousy. That a tin-pot country at the bottom of the world (who has a leader infinitely more admired and respected throughout the world than their leader) can do so much better than them in every way. That is anathema to the current US administration bully boys and girls and their broad posse of thugs in the media and elsewhere.

  7. America's reaction illustrates the self-centred nature of neoliberalism and ultimately its destructive effect on the human species.

    If we are going to get through the pandemic, and the much more ominous climate change, we are going to have to work collectively, and inevitably give up some individual freedoms.

    If we don't then we are doomed, I tells ya, doomed!

    • Draco T Bastard 7.1

      If we don't then we are doomed, I tells ya, doomed!

      Pretty much.

      Unless we do start acting collectively and not at the whims of the rich and greedy.

  8. RedLogix 8

    I'm less inclined to join in a smug pile on here; the USA was always a different place to NZ. It's a far more diverse and and polarised nation. Extremes of virtually every human condition can be found flourishing within it's borders in substantial numbers.

    Trump's utterly deficient leadership aside, the US nation's weak and divided public health systems were never going to cope, their deeply fractious state system was never going to be unified, and the people themselves were never going to submit uniformly to mass lockdowns, much less basic shit like mask wearing.

    Failure has been evident at every level and institution and the outcomes have been appalling, despite dedicated and sacrificial efforts by thousands of medical people. In the aftermath of this crisis and humiliation the US will respond and adapt. Indeed once the Americans think something's worth doing, they also believe it's worth over-doing. Exactly how this plays out is something to watch in this next decade. It will likely be worth watching.

    • Gabby 8.1

      Yankistan must be the best, regardless of what the facts indicate. Anyone bester must be disappeared.

      • RedLogix 8.1.1

        Yankistan must be the best,

        Yes the idea of American exceptionalism totters on some very bad presumptions. Mostly what is unique about the USA relates to their remarkably benign geography; they're a nation who almost cannot help but be prosperous no matter how hard they try to fuck it up.

        One of the fuck up factors we really don't appreciate is just how unequal their education system is. Well educated Americans are remarkably capable, but the vast majority come through a crippled hobgoblin of a system that serves them very poorly indeed.

        The US dominates so much of our discourse for the simple reason that there are so many moving parts to it, so much complexity and nuance. Characterising it with one derogatory term 'Yankistan' is either lazy or sadly ignorant.

        • Gabby 8.1.1.1

          We have them to thank for the spattering of 'nuance' over every surface when excusing arseholery too.

    • Anne 8.2

      Nicely summed up Redlogix. Thank-you.

      It's hard sometimes not to be scathing of them and attack as though they're all the same. They're not. My heart goes out to all the decent Americans – a majority if the truth were known – who don't deserve a regime like the current one.

      For their sakes, I hope there is a leadership change next week.

      • RedLogix 8.2.1

        My heart goes out to all the decent Americans

        As I've related elsewhere over the years, I've had the exceptional good fortune to work alongside people from many countries. It's left me with an enduring respect and appreciation of just how decent most people really are.

        And underneath all the political shennanigans, we should remember to cling tightly to this common humanity we all share.

        • greywarshark 8.2.1.1

          Everything is up for grabs when it comes to humans and our protean intelligence. Decency can be a moving thing. In The Handmaids Tale it is one thing to one lot of people, and others have different standards and viewpoint about 'decency'. We construct our society with words, thoughts and actions, and need to question ourselves and our values. At present the appearance of niceness and tidiness and being well-dressed and furnished etc can convey the 'decent' classification on us.

          Even common humanity isn't common. We should love those who have it and hold them in esteem and support and encourage them as much as possible. But to be really decent requires thoughtful action and acceptance of the human condition not just cant.

          I have just been reading Jane Tolerton's book on Ettie Rout who was determined to help the soldiers in WW1 to keep themselves free from sexual disease especially syphilus. Of course it was just not 'decent' for anybody, especially a woman, to talk about it. She did, she followed with thoughtful action, and there are many people alive in NZ today whose grand-fathers would have been too diseased to pass their genes successfully, if Ettie and her small band hadn't acted so faithfully in their caring humanity.

          The call for a fair society comes with thoughts about 'decency'. Fair societies depend on all showing common humanity to each other, not just demanding rights, but accepting reasonable responsibilites on ourselves too. This Radionz item may mention that or just be a sort of shopping list of wants and homilies. I haven't heard it yet.

          https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/429355/plea-for-reform-human-rights-create-fair-societies

        • Ad 8.2.1.2

          All the Americans I know here of elsewhere are awesome, hardworking, generous, Democrat-leaning, and fun. The ones I work with right now are pretty embarrassed.

  9. Draco T Bastard 10

    Recently I am aware of one person whose stay was extended by a further 14 days because she did not want to do the test because of the threat of nose bleeds.

    She was quite willing to do the test – just through another means than having something pushed up her nose that could cause her to bleed to death.

    Myself, I preferred they exercise caution.

    I prefer that they stick to the processes outlined that allowed her to have the prescribed alternate test rather than making up rules on their whim.

    • Andre 11.1

      I've learned to be wary of leaping to judgement over stuff like that.

      Pretty much the same thing happened while I was visiting a friend in Philly, and I was well on my way to putting my foot in it with a righteous rant, when I got told the background picture. It turned out the old guy was the founder and patriarch of the family pizza joint, and liked to feel he was still contributing to the family business and liked to keep connected to his long-term customers. Seems he was also pretty good at turning new customers into repeat customers.

  10. Roy Cartland 12

    I like it. Everyone who thinks our policies suck can stay away. Win win.

  11. McFlock 13

    If we're totalitarian, they're less incompetent.

    Fox propagandising, especially their "opinion" folk like Inghram, has the objective of trying to make dolt45 look less bad. Tory apologists do the same thing for the same objective.

    Be clear: they know people are dying because their countries' leaderships are wilfully negligent. They know the deaths are preventable. The are deliberately misleading people into the framing that they believe in freedom over safety, when really they want neither. Because if they believed in freedom, they would tell the truth.

    • woodart 13.1

      define freedom. freedom to do to others as you please? freedom from having to share? freedom to say "im all right, phuck you"? freedom is a good two syllable word that looks good on a T shirt , but like waving a flag, is very open to interpretation. when it comes to attention grabbing freedom comes a poor second to free sex. put that on a T shirt ,and everybody looks! interesting to see that the biggest pushers of freedom want to buy and sell sex…..

      • McFlock 13.1.1

        Esepecially in the case of the USA, it's a fuzzy thing that's part of their national myth – oft cited, never defined.

        But you see their purpose in your imperative for a definition. Such a heady, abstract discussion. That's their purpose:

        "Thousands of my neighbours are sick"

        It's sad, but nothing could be done

        "Yes it could have. Look at New Zealand"

        But NZ has covid gulags, we are a nation that believes in freedom

        "What sort of freedom? Freedom to die?"

        Those who would sacrifice freedom for safety deserve neither. We are a special nation, and will withstand great hardship for freedom. Our citizens will not cower just because of a virus.

        Just to justify why they didn't tell people to wear a fucking mask.

  12. Ad 14

    As Statistics New Zealand reports this week, the Covid-19 crisis has actually been great for our terms of trade:

    https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/annual-imports-continue-to-fall

    "Imports, especially of fuel and cars, fell sharply in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, while exports held up, leading to a $1.7 billion annual goods trade surplus in the year ended September 2020, Stats NZ said yesterday. Imports fell $5.9 billion in the September 2020 year. A similar large fall in trade occurred during the global financial crisis more than a decade ago when both imports and exports dropped.

    This year, exports have held up well despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Imports have fallen since February 2020, as the COVID-19 outbreak started spreading around the world and international travel restrictions were imposed.

    The fall in imports was led by crude oil (down $1.7 billion) and cars (down $1.1 billion). These falls were partly offset by rises in warships (up $395 million, largely driven by the arrival of Navy ship HMNZS Aotearoa in June 2020), face masks (up $216 million), and laptops (up $133 million).

    “New Zealand imported more face masks in the wake of the global pandemic,” senior insights analyst Nicholas Cox said.
    “Imports of laptops also rose, as more people worked from home during the lockdowns earlier in the year.”

    The total value of goods exports for the September 2020 year rose $1.2 billion from 2019. The rise in annual exports was led by milk powder, butter, and cheese (up $1.4 billion), beef (up $433 million), and gold kiwifruit (up $377 million).

    “New Zealand also exported more breathing equipment, which is in high demand worldwide because of COVID-19,” Mr Cox said. Exports of respiration apparatus rose $348 million in the September 2020 year.

    The goods trade surplus for the September 2020 year was $1.7 billion, the largest surplus since 2014 when dairy prices were at very high levels. “For most of the past 20 years, New Zealand had a goods trade shortfall, importing much more than it exports,” Mr Cox said. “The goods trade surplus in September 2020 is unusually high because of the rapid drop in imports since February.”

    Christmas will probably see us reverting to our bad old importing ways, but hey, it's a pretty good upside. Thanks to all those who worked in sheep, beef, dairy, horticulture, and medical technology for pushing our export-led recovery along.

    I wouldn't mind hearing some commentary on how we are spending within the domestic economy as well.

  13. tc 15

    Fox does as it's allowed to, thanks largely to Reagan abolishing the 'fairness' tests, even vetoed it's attempted reintroduction.

    What's our excuse for allowing MSM here to mislead, not declare conflicts of interest, apologise properly etc etc i.e. be held genuinely accountable in any way.

  14. Herodotus 16

    Are not all confirmed cases in NZ now ALL cases in NZ ?

    In places like the US this data is only a subset. This subset comprising of only those that have been tested with Covid19 ? So those that are not tested and either recover "naturally" or display no symptoms but are invected are not counted.

    • Andre 17.1

      If policies vary at the subnational level, the index is shown as the response level of the strictest sub-region.

      Dunno whether that means the index simply reflects the strictest composite measure for one specific region, possibly New York City, or whether it reflects a composite of the strictest subregion measures such as California's stay-at-home order combined with New York's two-week quarantine for travellers etc.

      Certainly there's large parts of the US where free-dumb overrules taking any sensible precautions at all and the local stringency index would be lower than even the minimal measures we have here right now.

  15. kester macfarlane 18

    Last August we took a three-week cruise around the Baltic and Scotland on the “Seabourn Ovation”.

    The guy in the suite next to ours was a gay maths teacher from San Francisco called Curtis Ingraham. Curtis is the older brother of that crazy Fox News host Laura Ingraham who is currently in the news about her take on our Prime Minister, our country and our Covid quarantine camps. Curtis and I would have 6 am-ish morning coffee up in the observation bar on deck eleven and then meet up again in the same bar for pre-dinner slurps. He told me about his sister. I had never heard of her, mainly because I never watch Fox. He talked about their raving alcoholic father who had pictures of Hitler and the Nazi flag in his den when they were growing up in Connecticut. “He was an American Nazi,” Curtis said. His sister hates gays calling them sodomites although she has softened her views after Curtis’s partner, Richard Smith died of AIDS in 1997. Curtis is a really nice polite and charming person but he just can’t stand his sister's extreme views. Last year he was quoted in the Washington Post attacking her after she compared Greta Thunberg to the 'Children of the Corn’ and in an interview with the Daily Beast he said: “I think she’s a monster, she’s very smart, she’s well-spoken, but her emotional heart is just kind of dead.”

    It's pretty obvious that most of Laura Ingraham’s DNA came from her Nazi father whilst Curtis seems to have been spared.

    Kester Macfarlane

    Ruby Bay

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    The Kākā’s climate correspondent and had a chat with environmental historian and author Catherine Knight about why ‘feel good' actions like recycling and owning an electric car are unlikely to be enough to create a transition to zero emissions, let alone a just one. Knight says comments like ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    18 hours ago
  • Chippy misses a chance
    National leader Christopher Luxon has pulled out of any rescheduling of tonight’s Press debate, which has had to be cancelled because Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has Covid. The cancellation has given National an excuse to avoid a debate, which was always going to be a risk for Luxon. But ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    19 hours ago
  • The Angry Majority.
    The People's Champion vs The People's Prosecutor: It is the news media’s job to elicit information from politicians – not to prosecute them. Peters’ promise to sort out TVNZ should be believed. If he finds himself in a position to carry out his threat, then it will only be because ...
    1 day ago
  • Verrall is chuffed by govt’s latest push into pay equity while Woods enthuses about an $11m spend ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The headline on a ministerial press statement curiously expresses the government’s position when it declares:   Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers. Is it not enough to declare just one commitment? Or is the government’s commitment to pay equity being declared sector by ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • A very worthy coalition partner for Seymour and Luxon
    There have been 53 New Zealand Parliaments so far. The 39th of them was elected in 1978. It was a parliament of 92 MPs, most of them men. The New Zealand Music Awards that year named John Rowles Male Vocalist of the Year and — after a short twelve months ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Labour still protecting the status quo
    Aotearoa has a cost of living crisis. And one of the major drivers of this crisis is the supermarket duopoly, who gouge every dollar they can out of us. Last year, the Commerce Commission found that the duopoly was in fact anti-competititve, giving the government social licence to fix the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s myths about the desolated state of the economy
    Familiarity breeds consent. If you repeat the line “six years of economic mis-management” about 10,000 times, it sounds like the received wisdom, whatever the evidence to the contrary. Yes, the global pandemic and the global surge in inflation that came in its wake occurred here as well – but if ...
    1 day ago
  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
    Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: The ‘recession’ has been called off, but some households are still struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    2 days ago
  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    3 days ago
  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    3 days ago
  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    3 days ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    5 days ago
  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago
  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    6 days ago
  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    6 days ago
  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    7 days ago
  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago
  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago
  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    7 days ago
  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    1 week ago
  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    1 week ago
  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Youth justice programme expands to break cycle of offending
    The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Major milestone with 20,000 employers using Apprenticeship Boost
    The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Government supporting wood processing jobs and more diverse industry
    The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said.   “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Government backing Canterbury’s future in aerospace industry
    The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Updated forestry regulations increase council controls and require large slash removal
    Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
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