Ardern’s announcement about the new 4 level alert system for coronavirus

Written By: - Date published: 12:31 pm, March 21st, 2020 - 97 comments
Categories: health, jacinda ardern - Tags: ,

Like most of us I’m pretty stressed, and struggling to keep up with the rapidly evolving situation. I’m going to ask here that we be extra kind to each other, or at least respectful.

RNZ’s livestream

(Ardern’s announcement at midday, commentary via RNZ, a second announcement and Q and A from Ardern around 12.30pm).

New government website http://covid19.govt.nz/ (currently overloaded)

Key messages:

Most people who get covid will have a mild illness. We need to protect the  smaller number of those that are at high risk.

We’ve now moved from Level 1 to Level 2 (see below). This means limiting movement, locally and including non-essential domestic travel.

At risk people, the elderly, people with lung or immune issues, need to stay home now as much as possible.

Please check in with neighbours and others in our community to make sure people are ok.

Everyone try to limit distance between people to 1 – 2m. Keep on with the hand washing.

Please shop normally, so that supermarkets can keep up with supplies (we don’t have food or medicine shortages, just excessive demand in places).

The Four Level Alert System

The four levels give everyone clear guidance on what we can do at each stage.

We can move back and forth between levels, depending on how well we adhere to requirements. See Newsroom link below.

NZ is now at alert level 2.

Some countries went from level 1 to 4, we’ve had more time to prepare and slow that down.

NZ’s four levels (from the Spinoff)

1. Where Covid-19 is here but contained.
A preparation phase. Measures include border measures, contact tracing, limits on mass gatherings.

2. Where the disease is contained but risks are going.
Move to reduce contact. Measures include further border measures. Cancel events. Ask people to work remotely where possible and cancel travel.

3. Where the disease is increasingly difficult to contain.
Step things up again. Close public venues. Ask non-essential businesses to close.

4. Where we have sustained transmission.
Eliminate contact altogether. Maintain essential services but ask everyone to stay at home until Covid-19 is under control.

High definition PDF of the four level chart.

https://twitter.com/grantrobertson1/status/1241148360116948993

Newsroom piece NZ’s new Covid-19 strategy explained, from the 19th (Thurs), with graphs and explanation that I think address how we might move up and down the levels.

My personal view at the moment is that we need to bring everyone into the discussion if possible, because this will enable communities being able to work together. We’re a diverse bunch here and often tend to knock opposing ideas down. But we know from the past that TS can be a place of deeper and more considered discussion and debate even across disagreement. Let’s aim for that again.

97 comments on “Ardern’s announcement about the new 4 level alert system for coronavirus ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. weka 1
    21 March 2020 at 12:40 pm

    There's a lot of really good information in there, including critique of the govt approach. Interviews about school closure processes and what employers can and are doing.

  3. bwaghorn 3
    21 March 2020 at 12:42 pm

    Is level 3 where they shut the schools

  4. observer 4
    21 March 2020 at 12:43 pm

    The alert system is sensible. It clarifies the more general advice, and will become part of everyday language.

    Some towns/regions will be at Level 3 soon, and everyone will know what it means. Or at least, have no excuse not to know.

  5. Poission 5
    21 March 2020 at 12:52 pm

    No mention of an enhanced testing regime.Random community sampling should be undertaken to fulfill the null supposition.

    Where full community testing has been undertaken (with quarantine measures) we see better outcomes.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-21/one-italian-town-is-bucking-the-countrys-coronavirus-curve/12075048

    • weka 5.1
      21 March 2020 at 12:55 pm

      Twitter said this morning that testing has now jumped up to our 1500/day test limit.

      • veutoviper 5.1.1
        21 March 2020 at 2:24 pm

        Did Twitter actually say that 1500 per day was the limit of our testing capability?

        Dr Bloomfield, D-G of Health, confirmed that 1500 tests were completed yesterday and overnight at his press conference at 11am when he advised that:

        • a further 13 cases had been confirmed in the last 24 hours bringing the total to 43, and
        • as yet, they cannot rule out community transmission in two of the new cases.

        https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/412278/coronavirus-ministry-of-health-announces-13-new-covid-19-cases-in-nz

        As well as the new NZ Govt https://covid19.govt.nz/ website, I find the RNZ dedicated COVID-19 page on their website which is updated regularly a good main site for news etc.

        https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/covid-19

        RNZ Checkpoint with Lisa Owen had an hour special from midday to 1pm with a further session scheduled for 5pm today.

        Earlier today Kim Hill on her Saturday Morning show on RNZ National had a couple of indepth interviews on Covid-19.

        I found the first of these with consultant clinical virologist (and Naked Scientist) Dr Chris Smith of particular interest. It covered a lot of questions that people have been raising, including the questions that arose on Open Mike this morning vis a vis the relationship to the COVID19 situation of encouraging early and widespread uptake of flu vaccinations here in NZ.

        This link to the overall episode this morning has links to the various relevant interviews and audio of these – and also some that were interesting and NOT about Covid 19!

        https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday

        • weka 5.1.1.1
          21 March 2020 at 2:35 pm

          'Twitter said' is twitter speak for 'someone on twitter said that I consider to be reasonably reliable'. Always good to fact check.

          The 1,500 limit was from wider this week. I'm sure it will increase as they scale up labs and gear. I also assume they're making priority decisions about who to test and when based on that. It's not like they could have tested tens of thousands of people in Feb.

          • veutoviper 5.1.1.1.1
            21 March 2020 at 3:02 pm

            I spoke briefly on the testing capacity to a neighbour in the know in this area – high up in the pathology area (practical and medical school) – who did not say what it was but indicated that it has been and is being ramped up as a top priority. She will be directly involved from now on, along with many of her colleagues in this area as the med school moves to online teaching.

            All part of the overall NZ Pandemic Plan which was revised in 2017

            https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/new-zealand-influenza-pandemic-plan-framework-action

            This in turn is part of the overall emergency management planning for the health sector as per this

            https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/emergency-management

            The above are just the tip of the iceberg in relation to overall NZ government planning for national, regional and local emergencies, which underwent a major overhaul just three plus months ago in Dec 2019 as a result of a 2017 Ministerial review into better responses to natural disasters and other emergencies, commissioned after the November 2016 earthquake and tsunami and the 2017 Port Hills fire.

            I will try to throw a short comment together on this overall change to NZ emergency management and post it on OM tomorrow. I have one or two other very interesting – and very busy – neighbours involved in this side as well!

            • weka 5.1.1.1.1.1
              21 March 2020 at 3:10 pm

              From 4 days ago,

              "On March 12 laboratories across the country could handle 550 tests a day, Ardern said the daily capacity would soon reach 1500."

              https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120331916/coronavirus-increased-testing-capacity-is-there-its-now-up-to-the-doctors-pm-says

              Yes, I am assuming it will be increasing over time. But the idea that is going around that we could be testing tens of thousands of people doesn’t seem real to me.

              • Incognito …
                21 March 2020 at 11:10 pm

                There should be more than enough primary and auxiliary equipment around in various labs around the country and these need to be checked for performance criteria. It will take time to train extra staff to handle the samples, which is fairly critical, and the instruments. The kits and reagents could become a limiting factor as the whole world is using these and AFAIK there’s a limited supply chain. Another factor is the whole logistics chain and managing (centralising) the data flow.

                • weka …
                  22 March 2020 at 10:23 am

                  Yes, multiple factors all having their own constraints, some more easily resolvable than others. I'm seeing lots of people basing their ideas on not understanding the physical limits of our society and global economy. I guess we are so socialised into if you want something and have the money you just buy it.

    • Incognito 5.2
      21 March 2020 at 1:15 pm

      This was a small village that went into complete isolation and lockdown and everyone (3,300) was tested and tested again. It was a drastic action and in a way a large experiment on a small scale. The problem is that it cannot be linearly scaled to a nation-wide scale. It would mean completely isolating the country and immobilising all of its inhabitants. At national level, the practical limitations become almost physical limitations.

      • weka 5.2.1
        21 March 2020 at 1:19 pm

        I doubt we would have enough test kits or lab space either.

        • Incognito 5.2.1.1
          21 March 2020 at 1:26 pm

          It is ramping up but you simply cannot test and monitor (i.e. repeat testing) the whole population of NZ like they did in Vo whilst having everybody in complete lockdown.

    • patricia 5.3
      21 March 2020 at 2:43 pm

      Testing stations have been set up in many communities.

    • mauī 5.4
      21 March 2020 at 2:48 pm

      The good news is that I think the Chief Doc said we did 1,500 tests yesterday and on a population basis that is equivalent to what South Korea has been doing, and they seem to have a handle on it.

  6. Corey Humm 6
    21 March 2020 at 1:19 pm

    "bring everyone into the discussion" do you mean on a government level? If so no, absolutely not, the only people who should have any voice in the decision making process are health experts and cabinet and perhaps civil defense I don't see what diverse voices in decision process will do when we are simply acting on medical experts advice, noone cares or wants to know what rwnj talkshow hosts or woke Twitter thinks about a pandemic.

    If it's a conversation of how do we cope with those decisions or how do we cope with losing our jobs or loneliness and isolation without social contact then sure!

    But the "they should be doing this , lock the country down , close the borders, we're all gonna die" "it's 5g" "give everyone a thousand dollars right now" "jacinda needs to grow a spine" from dramatic unqualified people is getting draining.

    • bill 6.1
      21 March 2020 at 1:39 pm

      I'm just going to throw in what I believe to be indicative of a bureaucratic/political mind set.

      When Ed Miliband was the UKs Minister for Climate Change (or whatever the exact title was), Kevin Anderson (eminent climate scientist), approached him with the news that 2 degrees was slipping out of reach. Miliband's response was that "they" couldn't let on because they'd already invested too much in the narrative.

      Right now, politicians (insofar as they are "managers" of society) should be taking direction from virologists (or whatever the proper title might be) and not allowing any economists or others into the room.

      And when their directions impact on another field of expertise, then people from that field should then be elevated for those decision processes.

      Don't expect anything so sensible though.

      Expect bureaucratic clusterfuck just as in the aftermath of Chernobyl, Christchurch, Fukashima – and just as is happening in the face of AGW.

    • weka 6.2
      21 March 2020 at 1:53 pm

      "bring everyone into the discussion" do you mean on a government level?"

      No I meant on TS. I'll edit to make that clearer. It's mostly me saying that everyone will have thoughts on what is going on and we can foster good conversation rather than fractious conversion that shuts some people out.

    • woodart 6.3
      21 March 2020 at 6:16 pm

      totally agree corey . to many sideline experts wont improve anything. just drags out any decisions while talkfests happen.

  7. bill 7
    21 March 2020 at 1:27 pm

    To protect supermarket workers – open the places to the public only between stints of shelf stocking and no more "checkout chicks".

    To protect older and more vulnerable people – as in some UK supermarkets, have times set aside when they can shop in a less busy and possibly less contaminated environment.

    To protect yourself – shop at the local dairy (or equivalent) where fewer people will have passed through.

    To protect the homeless – government needs to requisition motels and such like now (as already done in California)

    To protect the poor – that fucking $1000 recurring payment needs to be made to everyone yesterday (tax it back off the richer later)

    To protect small retail food outlet workers – treat the retail space as a kind of warehouse space. Take orders 'at the door', collect them and pass them over at the door or out through the door.

    To protect yourself – be cautious around public transport.

    If those $1000 recurring payments ever eventuate (unlikely), think on whether the function of your job is meaningful in a wider context, and if it isn't, long finger the fucker.

    Like others, there are people in my life, some closer than others who, should they get infected, I likely won't be seeing this time next year. Fuck all the bureaucratic monkeys and MPs who prioritised spinning the plates of commerce over people and their well being – fuck them all. -end-

    • Rosemary McDonald 7.1
      21 March 2020 at 1:37 pm

      "…prioritised spinning the plates of commerce…"

      Yes. Folks with short memories and a desperate need for a Benevolent Leader to follow blindly will forget that pause…

      Time to dig out Colleen McCulloch 's "A Creed for the Third Millenium" out of storage.

      All the best bill.

      Don't let the bastards etc etc…

    • Sabine 7.2
      21 March 2020 at 1:52 pm

      seconded. all of it.

  8. RedLogix 8
    21 March 2020 at 1:47 pm

    Some good news from Italy:

    Around 3,300 people were tested, even if they had no symptoms.

    "We tested everybody," Andrea Crisanti, professor of microbiology at the University of Padua, told the ABC's The World Today.

    • Incognito 8.1
      21 March 2020 at 1:51 pm

      And now what?

      • RedLogix 8.1.1
        21 March 2020 at 1:55 pm

        Checkout the link embedded in my first sentence.

        Essentially they tested everyone and found all the silent cases as well as the active ones. Then treated and/or isolated all the cases.

        Vo, in the region of Veneto, is right in the middle of what Italy is calling its coronavirus red zone.

        But local officials say there hasn't been a new case of COVID-19 there since March 13.

        • Incognito 8.1.1.1
          21 March 2020 at 1:59 pm

          I’d already read it before your comment appeared (see https://thestandard.org.nz/arderns-announcement-about-the-new-4-level-alert-system-for-coronavirus/#comment-1693339 and my reply). You haven’t answered my Q 😉

          • RedLogix 8.1.1.1.1
            21 March 2020 at 2:05 pm

            Well yes it's an obvious question, can this village maintain their isolation until the pandemic ends globally? Can whole countries do this? NZ and Aus could, but a much tougher ask in places like Africa.

            Testing is one of the four legs on which our strategy will stand on; testing, contact tracing, isolation and mitigation. This article demonstrates just how vital extensive testing is, although logically it cannot stand on it’s own.

            In my career in process automation, there is a very common maxim "you can't control what you haven't measured". And the more you measure the more accurately and rapidly you can control.

            The exact same applies here.

            • Incognito 8.1.1.1.1.1
              21 March 2020 at 2:15 pm

              You can achieve reasonable control of a stand-alone closed system if you know and measure the key parameters. The current pandemic is not equivalent.

  9. A 9
    21 March 2020 at 4:55 pm

    We need to level up and lock this shit down for 3-4 weeks and at the end we can get on with living having cleared the most significant time gap. NZ is already at a higher rate of infection per capita than Taiwan ffs.

  10. adam 10
    21 March 2020 at 5:48 pm

    1. We have been here before, but many of y'all don't want to recognise that. AIDS – yeap that old epidemic. And one thing we learned from that is you can pretty trace transmission through inequality.

    2. The last 40 odd years have been an exercise in growing inequality via economic terrorism.

    3. Coupled with the purity of liberalism that has been rammed down our throat – we have had decades of underinvestment in public health, wealth, wellness and mutual understanding. Do you know your neighbours?

    4 The poor are going to suffer in this – the poor are going to suffer more than anyone other group in society. And what makes me mad – our politicians know this. They know how epidemics work – they know the science, and they know how vectors of transmission work in society. They also know that most people can not cope with financial burden that is coming. That poor people in particular can not and will not be able to cope.

    • Climaction 10.1
      21 March 2020 at 6:11 pm

      Despite the madness, I’ve seen more acts of kindness in the last week than I’ve seen since the Christchurch earthquake.

      everyone reaching out to neighbours, friends, family, making sure they’re ok and understand they can reach out.

      trying to implicate politicians and rich people in some Anti-poverty conspiracy is as bad as the anti-climate change movement conspiracy that is running through the white upper class suburbs

      • woodart 10.1.1
        21 March 2020 at 6:20 pm

        +100 climaction. too many people needing someone to have a grudge against.

      • adam 10.1.2
        21 March 2020 at 10:13 pm

        Fuck off with trying to make what I said a conspiracy theory Climaction. Just the usual dumb assedness technocrats who are really quite fucking stupid. I'm a firm believer in cock up theory. My guess you just don't want know how bad things stand within the health infrastructure because of cuts, efficiency drives and general shit fuckery of ideological hacks.

        I'm pointing what happens with epidemics – go have a read of how AIDS hit those in unequal places of power. The link I gave you has a good collection of historical pieces to get you head around how it works.

        As for the false equivalence with anti-climate movement – how much of a dumb c*&k can you be?

        • Incognito 10.1.2.1
          21 March 2020 at 11:25 pm

          Climaction’s comment was fair enough and neutral. Please tone down your language and keep your angry outburst under control, thanks.

        • Climaction 10.1.2.2
          22 March 2020 at 8:54 am

          Brother works at middlemore and sister at shorecare. Brothers view on middlemore is that it’s so fucked up with entrenched factions it’s it’s own worst enemy. Can’t blame 9 years of national for everything

          its not fake equivalence. It’s very real equivalence

          • adam 10.1.2.2.1
            22 March 2020 at 4:36 pm

            9 years have you got you head in the clouds, the rot has been longer than that (at least 40 years of madcap far right economic ideology) with ample evidence to back up my statement.

            My wife works in a hospital, my family have worked in healthcare for the last 60 years – and the decline in the last 40 is going to be put on display very soon.

            Don't know about where you live, but they have been telling people to not go to hospital with a fever up here because they can't cope already.

            So poor people dying is nothing to worry about, because climate change is the only issue for you Climaction?

            • Incognito 10.1.2.2.1.1
              22 March 2020 at 8:34 pm

              So poor people dying is nothing to worry about, because climate change is the only issue for you Climaction?

              That’s not at all what Climaction said or implied and you seem to be twisting words for the sake of having an argument (AKA flaming). Can you please cut it out, thanks?

              This is the second time I’ve asked nicely and said “please”.

              • adam …
                23 March 2020 at 12:44 am

                Twisting words – his whole comment was twisting what I said.

                FFS get some balance.

                Please and nicely.

    • Incognito 10.2
      21 March 2020 at 11:20 pm

      They [the politicians] know how epidemics work – they know the science, and they know how vectors of transmission work in society.

      It is ok to be angry right now but please don’t base your anger on nonsense. Most politicians don’t know shit about these things.

      • adam 10.2.1
        22 March 2020 at 4:44 pm

        Hasn't this crisis been been building for over a month?

        Are you saying that the minister of health, the PM and Cabinet are not getting the best possible advise, and present?

        That they are not being told how epidemics work by scientists?

        Are you saying the degrees that the politicians have, mean nothing in their ability to comprehend scientific and historical data?

        So why are they there? Why do we have them if they "don’t know shit about these things"?

        • Instauration 10.2.1.1
          22 March 2020 at 8:45 pm

          We need behave and do exactly as the PM, Cabinet and MOH have requested. This is imperative.

          However

          The PM and Cabinet are issuing guidance and directives as if they are law.

          "should" is guidance not law. Cabinet minute is not law (thankfully)

          "must" without targeted legislation or declared "State of Emergency" is not law.

          "Will face legal consequences" is bravado.

          The Government is relying on puny interpretations of powers under Public Health and Health and Safety legislation to convey Cabinet advice as "directives" punishable by law.

          Why bother Parliament to decide abortion legislation if it is simply up to the Cabinet to arbiter abortions as a public health issue ?

          That is scary.

          Have some courage Jacinda – pass legislation that reflects Cabinet intentions – or declare a State of Emergency

        • Incognito 10.2.1.2
          22 March 2020 at 8:46 pm

          Relying on experts and getting a crash-course doesn’t make them experts, not even close (AKA they don’t know shit with the possible exception of the Minister in charge of a specific portfolio). They act on expert advice (or reports and recommendations from working groups and review committees), which requires trust. You’ll be aware that there are still many unknowns about this virus and pandemic and that even the experts disagree. This time, it is mainly medical science and research. Other times, it is about the economy, for example.

          https://www.pmcsa.ac.nz/

  11. Climaction 11
    21 March 2020 at 6:08 pm

    It’s great to have a measurable scale of how bad the government thinks things are.

    this might finally remove the media “experts” from the opinion scene and allow the real experts in the professional health community the airtime we need to understand what is actually happening.

  12. A 12
    21 March 2020 at 7:36 pm

    It's not like we would have as much difficulty with nationwide quarantine as the US where this is happening now…

    https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/breaking-trump-eyes-2-week-quarantine-only-drug-grocery-stores-open

    The federal government has been reluctant to order a “stay in place” order. But officials have said that the administration has been briefing Congress, states, and industry leaders about a potential shutdown that could start next week and after the president taps the Stafford Act that some say allows a national quarantine.

    The goal, said officials, is to stop the spread of the virus and potential deaths.

    The unknown: The administration hopes that the number of cases of the coronavirus does not surge too much.

    A knowledgeable source said that Department of Homeland Security officials are telling states that it is ready to mobilize the National Guard and dispatch them with U.S. military and first responders.

    The goal is to have them dispatched before any call for a national quarantine. The reason: Stop looters and other violence.

    They will announce this as soon as they have troops in place to help prevent looters and rioters and will announce before the end of the weekend.

    NZ is a small fraction of the population and land size. No need for our nation to ever get to the point the US is at now, however we should be preparing our low income earners + welfare recipient without further delays (Bill styles above) so it can be called by end of next week with minimal suffering.

  13. barry 13
    21 March 2020 at 7:48 pm

    The plan for community transmission should be to ensure that the average transmission rate is less than 1. Then it dies away like in China. Then we can go to work, play sport and socialise again.

    If it gets much more than 1 we have exponential growth and end up like Italy.

    It means testing (even when we have no cases), tracing contacts (keep on going to 3 or 4 degrees of separation), and following up on isolation.

    Once we get good at it, we gradually open our borders (with isolation for entrants starting with long term arrivals.

    It will probably be years before the rest of the world gets their numbers low enough to allow tourism on the scale that we had before. Maybe we don't want it like that again. That means that there is no point in supporting all the workers to stay in the industry. Some operations will have to be allowed to close, and the sooner the better for everyone.

    • weka 13.1
      21 March 2020 at 9:05 pm

      This is what I suspect too. And when we get to talking about climate change again and how we dropped out GHGs globally so fast, I think there's going to be much more capacity to build a post-carbon economy. I doubt that many people are ready for that conversation yet but I don't think we can leave it too long. I too think sooner we face that the better, but while some of us have been thinking about these things for a long time for others it's very new and takes time to adjust to.

      I also want us to build a resilient society because covid is unlikely to be the last challenge to the global economy.

    • SHG 13.2
      22 March 2020 at 4:28 pm

      Then it dies away like in China

      We don’t know anything about what’s happening in China, because the Chinese government is our source of information about what’s happening in China.

    • McFlock 13.3
      22 March 2020 at 4:38 pm

      The plan is to get the transmission rate to zero.

      The reality is "as low as possible".

      There are two factors at play regarding longer term effects on global travel.

      The first is whether the virus evolves to be less lethal, which can happen over time: the patients who have more mild symptoms for longer infect more people than the patients who get obvious serious symptoms or.. whatevs very quickly.

      The second factor is whether we get a decent vaccine in a year or so. In which case it becomes like the flu: annual shots to lower the effect of each infection season.

      The issue this year was that we have no vaccine and doctors were essentially treating in the dark, with no knowledge of which drugs were more effective than others. Our treatment knowledge is improving, but vaccines are often silver bullets if we can find them.

      • SHG 13.3.1
        22 March 2020 at 9:32 pm

        The issue this year was that we have no vaccine and doctors were essentially treating in the dark, with no knowledge of which drugs were more effective than others.

        Not entirely true. We (the human race) have been testing vaccine candidates for lots of things for a long time. Some of the reasons that vaccine candidates were labelled failures were things like “we thought this vaccine would prevent Ebola but it only seems to prevent coronaviruses, dammit”. We’ve got to go back through all those failures, but it’s not treating in the dark.

  14. CarolynS (@Carolyn_nth) 14
    21 March 2020 at 8:03 pm

    People in the media are saying the alert levels have made things clear – well they mainly seem to be talking about workers and businesses, which is no small thing, and to be welcomed for the running of the country & workers.

    For this 70 yr old, things are far from clear and is just creating anxiety. On the one hand the PM says people over 70 should stay at home. She also said people should shop at supermarkets as normal. So which is it for 70 yr olds? Go to the supermarket or not? If not, there should have been a clear system for us to get home deliveries.

    Tried Countdown's home delivery or order online & PickUp from my local store. You can book up to a week in advance, with warnings slots are filling up. All the day-time slots for PickUp say "closed". There's slots for home delivery during the week, but when I click on them, it doesn't register and I get a message to select a slot. Tried it with 3 different browsers. Nothing works. Won't let me go to checkout without selecting a slot.

    Bloody useless. And the costs for home delivery will make it impossible for some pensioners on low incomes. I'm fortunate as I can last a week without getting anymore groceries in – not an option for . It's cheaper for orders over $200.00 (so benefits the wealthy). I figure I can bare the cost of about a 2 weekly order over $200.00.

    Of course the supermarket situation has been made worse by those not in much need, health or age wise, bulk buying & clearing the shelves. They now have restricted hours, meaning physical distancing has been made harder.

    End of rant

    • weka 14.1
      21 March 2020 at 9:09 pm

      I think it's going to be hard for many. At this point it's all advisory, so more at risk people who have no choice will have to go to the supermarket. I'm hoping that over the next few weeks/month we will see new systems being set up. Lots of places communities will pick up the slack, but lots of other places that won't be possible.

      There's going to be lots of people needing work soon, a shopping service could be one new operation we see, with state funding for low income people in the same way that we do for homehelp.

      Good to see you Carolyn.

      • CarolynS (@Carolyn_nth) 14.1.1
        21 March 2020 at 9:30 pm

        Thanks, weka. Hi to you, also.

        And I have more time at home now, so will be online more.

        Yes, apparently it is only an advisory. But some MSM headlines give the wrong impression eg I think it was Stuff with an earlier link saying over 70s to self isolate.

        Anyway, it's clarified on this RNZ article:

        https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/412294/concerns-elderly-people-not-getting-covid-19-messages

        Tuffnell wanted people to know that the government's latest advice on staying home was not mandatory, but a suggestion.

        Also he's recommending an hour in the mornings for us oldies to use the supermarket. The supermarkets dismissed this idea last week because Grey Power told them seniors wanted to be able to shop at any time. But that was before the restriction of opening hours.

        I have emailed Countdown with my concerns.

        I have had a couple of people offer to shop for me, but the people who live closest are not people I know so much. Also I prefer to be independent. I wouldn't mind ordering home delivery more often, if it were easier and cheaper, or store pickup if it wasn't so quickly booked in advance.

        I've been socially/physically distancing myself where possible, but many people in public don't seem to practice it, especially young people. Had to go to the bank earlier this week, the guy who queued behind me was closer than 1 meter. Shops and banks should promote physical distancing, in queues, etc.

        • weka 14.1.1.1
          21 March 2020 at 9:59 pm

          "Also he's recommending an hour in the mornings for us oldies to use the supermarket."

          That's a great idea. Could be extended for other higher risk people too.

          Emailing Countdown was a good idea. Fingers crossed they'll get a bit more responsive and creative.

          I reckon things will get clearer next week as people start getting over their shock. I really wish some of the MSM would stop amping up everyone's fear.

          • veutoviper 14.1.1.1.1
            21 March 2020 at 10:44 pm

            Woolworths introduced this from 7am to 8am in their Australian supermarkets last week for elderly and people with disabilities etc. Countdown here is part of the Woolworths group but did not intend to introduce it here according to their management a few days ago.

            Maui posted on this here on TS http://mauī Comment:Open mike 16/03/2020

            Sacha was nor impressed at the time of day for this initiative, but I can understand that trying to close off these large stores to general customers at any other time of day would be difficult.

            However, are you aware of Countdown's Quiet Hour shopping for people with autism and other conditions where the bright lights, noise etc can be upsetting?.

            After trials in a few stores first, this was introduced across all but two of their stores in Oct 2019 from 2.30 -3.30pm on Wednesdays (with a few exceptions to these hours).

            Australia Woolworths stores have done this for a couple of years.

            https://www.countdown.co.nz/news-and-media-releases/2019/october/countdown-s-low-sensory-quiet-hour-to-be-offered-nationwide

            Countdown are also progressively introducing pharmacies into their stores throughout NZ, with about 30 stores now having them. They are open seven days 9am – 8pm (although presumably hours may change in current circumstances) AND a few months ago they dropped all prescription charges except for scripts issued by specialists. Previously they had dropped the per item charge to $2.50, but the new nil charge means a lot of people who could not afford the $5 or $2.50 per item are now able to fill their prescriptions for nothing.

          • CarolynS (@Carolyn_nth) 14.1.1.1.2
            22 March 2020 at 11:24 am

            Yes. I think things will get clearer over time. I think the people bulk buying and clearing shelves has put unexpected pressure on supermarkets. All systems are under strain.

            I logged into Countdown fairly early this morning. They had opened up a new day (next Sunday) for home deliveries. There were a couple of slots saying "available". There weren't any like that yesterday, just some blank slots. I was able to put in a pretty big order for next Sunday.

            I can do that fortnightly if necessary.

            The hardest thing is keeping a supply of fresh fruit and veges in my little flat and fridge. I'll take up an offer from a nephew on the other side of town, and ask for a mid weekly delivery of fruit and veges.

            But it's still going to be very tough for the vulnerable, age and health wise, to keep up regular grocery shopping, especially if they are on low incomes. Countdown's delivery charges are $14.00 for an order up to $199.00 and $9.00 for an order over $200.00 – this privileges the well off, and families over singles.

    • peterh 14.2
      22 March 2020 at 8:32 am

      Don't talk rot, she is telling the young to look after the old, PICK up their shopping and deliver it

      • CarolynS (@Carolyn_nth) 14.2.1
        22 March 2020 at 11:13 am

        A call to be kind and helpful, is not a comprehensive system. And according to Grey Power Nelson, many seniors do not have internet connections, so are not well informed of the current alert.

        It's easier to follow in small towns eg I understand somewhere in the Wairarapa, people are going door to door and checking on people over 70 yrs. That's much harder in a city like Auckland.

        Not all of us have relatives or friends nearby, and I am one of those who doesn't have children.

        Thanks for your kindness and understanding in these anxiety-making times.

  15. Rosemary McDonald 15
    21 March 2020 at 8:32 pm

    "Surely not", said I when told that the SOP at a certain hospital in the North Island is not only not providing face masks for frontline doctors and nurses but also actively discouraging these vital personnel from wearing masks they have purchased themselves.

    Something about 'creating panic'.

    Hmm. Funny, really, when you think about it.

    I'd be positively orgasmic if the medicos treating me were wearing the full PPE…panic has a face in this wee drama…those Chinese doctors and nurses collapsing on the job.

    FFS, ?DHB take better care of your greatest assets.

    Sigh.

    Still they're obsessed with the messaging.

    • CarolynS (@Carolyn_nth) 15.1
      21 March 2020 at 8:54 pm

      Do they have masks available for doctors and nurses, or is that statement a cover for lack of them? Getting the right kind of masks seems to be pretty difficult/impossible for the general public. Also there are warnings about using them "correctly" if using them.

      • Rosemary McDonald 15.1.1
        21 March 2020 at 9:25 pm

        Very good to see you here again Carolyn_nth. 👍

        My friend told me that the nurses are not allowed to wear even masks they have purchased themselves…purchased because they are not supplied as routine issue…like, say, the packets of latex gloves that adorn the walls of practically each clinical space at the hospital.

        Gloves practically mandatory during patient contact but definitely not masks?

        It was definitely about scaring the patients, which to me is nonsensical.

        Atishoo, atishoo we all fall down…we learned this at our mother's knee.

        Mind you, my friend is Asian…and what would they know about infection control? (/sarc in case it isn't obvious)

        In another few weeks the face mask thing will be de rigueur here…for those who can get them.

        (Lots of folk are making their own. Some patterns are of suspect quality, but others not too bad. Hopefully there will be a reliable supply of top quality kit for hospital staff…and the rest of us can DIY and add to the endless youtube content.)

        Interesting times.

        • CarolynS (@Carolyn_nth) 15.1.1.1
          21 March 2020 at 9:33 pm

          Gosh. Sounds awful of the health board. I have masks allegedly to filter paint fumes – didn't work so well. Can they be converted to anti-Covid-19 masks?

          • I Feel Love 15.1.1.1.1
            21 March 2020 at 9:56 pm

            Health care workers know what they're doing, if anyone does, they do. There is no conspiracy.

            • Incognito 15.1.1.1.1.1
              21 March 2020 at 11:37 pm

              Agreed. You don’t need to wear a face mask when dealing with a broken collar bone.

              • Rosemary McDonald …
                22 March 2020 at 10:11 am

                Sigh.

                Because of course we all know you can't have a broken clavicle and coronavirus. At the same time. And be infectious and not symptomatic.

                Sighs again and wonders when people will learn that hospitals are cesspits of infection.

                Trust the frontline staff to take the precautions they feel necessary.

                They'll all be wearing as much PPE as possible soon enough.

                • weka …
                  22 March 2020 at 10:20 am

                  They may not have enough masks, and be saving them for once CV is in the community/hospital.

                  I'm guessing the masks are made overseas, probably in Asia, and there is a worldwide demand. Someone correct me if I am wrong please.

                  • CarolynS (@Carolyn_nth) …
                    22 March 2020 at 11:39 am

                    Some news reports from January and early March report shortages of protective gear, including masks, for the general public and for nurses.

                    This from 31 January. Reports of shortages and profiteering

                    Pharmacies have reported that people are buying boxes of N95 masks to ship back to Asia, where there is an "acute shortage" as it is mandatory to wear them in Wuhan, the centre of the deadly virus and home to 11 million people.

                    And this from March 6: Reports of nurses concerned about lack of protective gear in NZ health services.

                    Nurses are raising concerns about the availability and adequacy of protective equipment in hospitals, as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases grows.

                    The nurses' union, New Zealand Nurses Organisation, said staff were becoming increasingly anxious about their safety and how well prepared district health boards were to handle the illness.

                  • Rosemary McDonald …
                    22 March 2020 at 11:43 am

                    Absolutely no reason we can't make masks here. I bet you'd be able to round up hundreds of geriatrics happy as to run a manual production line.

                    Eye protection…came across a brilliant clear plastic full face shield clip on YouTube the other day…

                    Gloves…humm.. just got Peter's supply of medical type stuff from the local dhb. Surgeon's latex gloves(super sterile) and pre packaged and sterile catheterization packs cut by 2/3.

                    We anticipated this, so are not panicking.

                    Usual order of vynil gloves and other stuff.

                    Weka, my friend was wearing her own mask at work at the hospital, for her protection and that of her patients. She thought it strange that she was told by her superior not to wear a mask…because of 'scaring the patients'.

                    She sees it as a human rights issue.

                    • weka …
                      22 March 2020 at 12:23 pm

                      Patients should be able to ask to have a masked medical person too.

                      I'm sure there's an ironing out process all round at the moment. My sense is that even though we knew this was coming, last week was a big wake up call for NZ, and there's been a fair amount of stress in all systems. I definitely noticed it at the GP level, they weren't as well prepared as I had assumed.

                      I've seen homemade mask instructions online. Am waiting for ones that have some level of authority with them. I don't think we are at the stage of hospitals needing them (and they have good reasons for not), but definitely need to be preparing for that.

                      What Incog said about autoclaving too. No idea to what extent that tech/process still exists in hospitals.

                    • Incognito []
                      22 March 2020 at 12:32 pm

                      Plenty of autoclaves around in NZ, small and large, but not all gear/equipment can be autoclaved and remain functional. The convenience of disposable materials has been pushed along with the argument that it is more economical in the long run. Of course, it works as long as supply chains can keep up with demand.

                  • Incognito …
                    22 March 2020 at 12:16 pm

                    The problem is that much gear used in hospitals, and not just in hospitals, is disposable. The amount of medical waste (as in disposed stuff) is phenomenal. If they can switch to masks that can be autoclaved and sterilised, that might help.

                    • RedBaroncv …
                      22 March 2020 at 8:36 pm

                      i think i saw somewhere in the USA was using UV light to sterilise a type of mask so it could be reused not dumped

                    • Incognito []
                      22 March 2020 at 9:13 pm

                      Interesting, but I doubt how effective it would be as UV light works well with smooth flat surfaces or air and, less so, water flows as it doesn’t penetrate into tissues and materials.

                      Ok, it seems the brainy people have already engaged their brains 😉

                      Conserving Supply of Personal Protective Equipment—A Call for Ideas

                      https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2763590

                      I hope NZ health practitioners, DHBs, and MoH take note.

  16. Sabine 16
    21 March 2020 at 9:51 pm

    we need to stay the fuck at home.

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-boris-johnson-uk-doctor-victims-intensive-care-ventilator-italy-a9415356.html

    and the government needs to assure that people who stay at home don't lose their lively hood.

  17. Muttonbird 17
    21 March 2020 at 11:50 pm

    Driving around Auckland today getting gas supplies and taking the boy for a 1v1 football session I did see a lot over over 70s flouting the Prime Minister's directive.

    I can only assume these are old people who think they are invincible and these concerns don't apply to them. Or they are right wing nut jobs who hate anything Jacinda Ardern does.

    Probably both.

    • Incognito 17.1
      22 March 2020 at 12:22 am

      They are not in lockdown and it is meant to keep them safe.

      The announcement was at noon and do you think the ‘house arrest’ commenced immediately? Give the oldies a chance to arrange their affairs, please.

      How can you tell if someone is over 70?

      • Muttonbird 17.1.1
        22 March 2020 at 1:07 am

        I know what it's meant to do. The Prime Minister explained that.

        While the rest of us have had our livelihoods removed to protect older people they might want to do as they are told…

        • Sabine 17.1.1.1
          22 March 2020 at 8:36 am

          well, you might want to watch the link i posted and then you might want to re-adjust your thinking of 'protecting the older'.

          this lung disease kills young and old, it just kills the older first and faster.

          We should all be at home, all of us. For at lest three weeks. And here we are and we are pretending as if this is just a flu. It ain't. Its a deadly lung disease. So why would the oldies pay any more attention then the very young ones? because we have are at level two on the scale of 4? lol.
          when we reach level 4 this virus will run rampant and hurt and kill indiscriminate.

        • Rosemary McDonald 17.1.1.2
          22 March 2020 at 9:18 am

          Seriously Muttonbird???

          Take a deep one and think about it.

          Those over 70s most likely know the risks and that the risk is to themselves.

          They probably know that a la Italy, extreme medical intervention will be rationed and they will not make the cut. Perhaps being out and about helps with the whole accepting your mortality…bearing in mind that unlike the Younger Folk…being out of doors is their happy place, rather than indoors glued to a screen.

          You and your ilk will inherit the earth soon enough…practise a little empathy before the burden lands on your shoulders.

        • Incognito 17.1.1.3
          22 March 2020 at 12:03 pm

          People fear for their lives and for their livelihoods.

          Don’t pick on a single group, or a few individuals of such a group as they are not representative, because these measures are to protect all of us but most of all the most vulnerable. It is focussed/targeted and judicious use of rules & regulations and resources. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

          Your comment comes across as ‘sour grapes’ – understandably so, may I add – because you feel helpless and have no choice and control over your own situation while they ‘flout the rules’ (they don’t).

  18. Andre 18
    22 March 2020 at 9:38 am

    Here's the view from a front-line doctor dealing with COVID-19.

    If you still think it's just like the flu and we're all over-reacting, you need to read it.

    If you're already freaked and panicking, don't read it. Seriously, don't.

    https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/03/lung-fluids-coronavirus/

    • weka 18.1
      22 March 2020 at 8:53 pm

      I won't. Are you seeing many people not taking it seriously now? I'm not seeing that online, but I'm guessing there will be people who aren't online who haven't been paying attention.

  19. greywarshark 19
    22 March 2020 at 1:52 pm

    How things are going over there, over there, the virus is coming…. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/19/coronavirus-deaths-rising-faster-uk-italy/

    One stark stat: In the last week active cases in Italy have risen by 171 per cent. That compares to almost 300 per cent in France, 500 per cent in Spain, 550 per cent in Germany and 480 per cent in the UK. From 21 March at 2pm, Dominic Gilbert at The Telegraph – Data Journalist.

    Major Covid-19

  20. Macro 20
    22 March 2020 at 9:40 pm

    US is in deep trouble. tRump was warned on the 3rd January that things were going to get rough but fobbed it off until far too late.
    https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/3/21/21189179/coronavirus-trump-intelligence-reports-warned-pandemic

    Here is a running total of Covid_19 cases by country.

    No other country has been as far into the pandemic and still had the number of cases growing at the rates the U.S. is seeing.

    20

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
    17 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
    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    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 2024-07-26T23:58:36+00:00