BluffGeld

Written By: - Date published: 3:41 pm, January 14th, 2021 - 46 comments
Categories: Economy, Politics - Tags: , , ,

No Right Turn has an apt way of putting things some times. The way that the smelter operates is the exact equivalent of some thuggish barbarians with big swords extracting tribute for not burning, raping and pillaging. In other words Danegeld or any other form of protection racket. I’ll repeat his succinct post here and then follow up with a few of my comments.

Paying the BluffGeld

So, Rio Tinto has supposedly reached a deal with Meridian and Contact to give them cheaper electricity prices and keep the Tiwai Point smelter open. Down south, they’re celebrating. But the rest of us shouldn’t be. I’ve argued before that the best thing this foreign polluter can do is close. It uses 12% of our total electricity generation, effectively making it responsible for that entire sector’s carbon emissions, while receiving huge carbon subsidies (latest figures: 1.7 million tons in 2019, worth $65 million at today’s prices if they’re getting an equivalent amount this year, a huge whack of their annual “profit”, and enough for us to pay every worker there $65,000 a year for the rest of their lives to find something else to do). Added to that, their constant threats of closure to extort ever-more-favourable terms from governments who want it to close, but not on their watch, plays havoc with our electricity market, deterring renewables investment as no-one can be sure whether there will be a glut in three or four years time. The smelter seems to exist solely as a machine for extorting subsidies from the New Zealand government – subsidies paid by you and me, in the form of higher taxes and electricity prices. And our chickenshit politicians keep falling for it, and paying the BluffGeld, to avoid the horrific situation of us not having to pay them anymore.

Rio Tinto says this deal “mak[es] the smelter economically viable and competitive over the next four years.” Naturally it expires in 2024, just after the next election, so next election time we can expect them to be claiming that the smelter is economically unviable and uncompetititve and asking for another subsidy. And I expect our chickenshit politicians to roll over and pay them off again, dooming us to higher emissions and more expensive electricity. Because once you pay the DaneGeld, you never get rid of the Dane.

No Right Turn: “Paying the BluffGeld“

The point about the level of risk is especially valid. Markets are horrible at dealing with longer term uncertainty. This on again, off again extortion damages the current electricity markets. As NRT says “…their constant threats of closure to extort ever-more-favourable terms from governments who want it to close, but not on their watch, plays havoc with our electricity market…”.

It isn’t hard to find statements by renewable companies and analysis on the electricity market (which looks about as free and fair as any other semi-monopolistic cartel) to support the havoc argument. I don’t have the time to do it right now. But I’m sure that some will come up in comments.

The generating capacity at Manapouri isn’t going away. At some point this extortion and blackmail by the Tiwai Point operators will have an unhappy ending – the Electricity Authority needs to perform its basic mission, providing an efficient market.

They need to continue to fund Transpower to fund a line direct from Manapouri towards the alternate use sites around Christchurch. In other words the “Net Zero Grid Pathways: Accessing Lower South Island Renewables“. The first part of that is underway…

Clutha Upper-Waitaki Lines Project

In the immediate-term, Transpower has committed to deliver the Clutha Upper Waitaki Lines Project (CUWLP) by May 2022. The project is set to deliver benefits in the order of $100m per year by enabling low-cost renewable electricity generated in the lower South Island to be transported north.  For more information visit the CUWLP project page here

Transpower: “Net Zero Grid Pathways“

But I’m sure that the usual short-sighted responses from National’s shareholder community will want to divert the costs of that and the follow up projects to get rid of the structural into immediate rewards like short term lower prices and larger dividends to shareholders (including the government itself). After all National prefers tax cuts over long term planning – you only have to look at the disaster of their immigration without building housing ‘policy’ of their last terms in office to see that.

But I also suspect that there needs to me more of a user pays incentive for Meridian and Contact as well. To speed the grid reconstruction in the lower South Island up, the infrastructure levies on them should increased. After all, the reason for putting the infrastructure into the lower South Island si to provide some choices when inevitable the government or Rio Tinto decides to give up on playing chicken. The shareholders of Meridian and Contact should carry the can for that.

In the meantime, I think that I need to send a consumer message to gutless short-sighted wonders at Meridian and terminate our power account. I’m interested in a long-term sustainable power supply to run this site and this country with. Clearly Meridian isn’t being sustainable over the long term. They are wasting their asset of generated power into an unsustainable industry and effectively charging me higher prices to support that.

For the country as a whole we need to increase our available power generation and distribution to target non-fossil fuel systems. Like electric vehicles. Having Meridian and Contact need to focus on the longer term infrastructural issues instead of the shorter term in the way that they appear to have been doing. Clearly the dumb arse market solution that National foisted on us in electricity isn’t achieving that.

46 comments on “BluffGeld ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Cricklewood 1
    14 January 2021 at 4:20 pm

    You just know, that out there somewhere in the political abyss Winston is taking credit for this…

  2. Bearded Git 2
    14 January 2021 at 5:07 pm

    Labour pushing this issue out till after the next election by abjectly caving-in to a wealthy multinational. Shoddy politics.

  3. peter sim 3
    14 January 2021 at 7:51 pm

    Pure Rio Tinto MUSCLE. COVID- 19 will come back and bite RT where it hurts.

    We were never in a position to confront RT in the current pandemic and the climate change already happening.

    Meridian and Contact have been raped. We the tax payers subsidise this?

  4. Tricledrown 4
    14 January 2021 at 9:21 pm

    Demand for Aluminium is well down with the airline industry in hibernation c19.

    To keep tiwae going until alternative uses for the power are ready makes a lot of sense.

  5. Jimmy 5
    15 January 2021 at 8:18 am

    As stated in the article, you can pretty much guarantee that in 2024 they will again decide it is uneconomical to continue and will use the same black mailing tactics.

  6. Steve Bradley 6
    15 January 2021 at 1:09 pm

    Rio Tinto probably the number one resource extraction stand-over merchant worldwide.

    Our Labour government has four years to get our country into a position where we can tell them to get lost, and don't come back.

    • Phillip ure 6.1
      15 January 2021 at 1:28 pm

      I don't get this..

      the smelter is there..

      for the gummint ..the energy used to power it is essentially free…

      wave bye-bye to Rio tinto..

      and hire industry experts to run it..

      for the end benefit of the new zealand people..

      • Andre 6.1.1
        15 January 2021 at 1:39 pm

        That would only make sense if we had a vast surplus of electricity we were desperately trying to get some value from rather than wasting it.

        We're not in that situation.

        The power used by Tiwai Point is roughly the same as the amount generated at Huntly. Shut down Tiwai Point and use the freed up power to shut down Huntly, and our electricity supply goes very nearly emissions-free. That's a much bigger benefit to NZ than a few jobs and receiving a pittance in return for about 1/7 of our total electricity supply.

        • alwyn 6.1.1.1
          15 January 2021 at 1:58 pm

          I assume you will take this up with the Prime Minister and our Minister of Finance.

          It seems to be a bit too hard for them to understand. Sigh.

          • Andre 6.1.1.1.1
            15 January 2021 at 2:12 pm

            In a feeble possible defense of those in government and Meridian that have cravenly capitulated, the grid upgrade to get the Manapouri power to Benmore (southern end of the HVDC link) wasn't scheduled to be complete until 2023 IIRC. So had Tiwai shut down this year, there would have been significant wasted power in late 2021, 2022, and some of 2023.

          • Incognito 6.1.1.1.2
            15 January 2021 at 4:00 pm

            It’s a tad presumptuous of you to pretend to know more and better than the PM and the Minister of Finance, that they are incompetent, and that they could be ‘enlightened’ by TS commenters such as yourself.

            Does it irk you that it’s only mid-January 2021 and Labour has already delivered on one of its Election Campaign Policies?

            In any case, the deal is a commercial deal between the smelter and Meridian. Maybe that’s a bit too hard for you to understand?

            https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/434490/tiwai-point-aluminium-smelter-to-keep-operating-until-end-of-2024

            • alwyn 6.1.1.1.2.1
              15 January 2021 at 7:18 pm

              I presume you were replying to Andre.

              He is the one who was pointing out that in his view the new deal doesn't make any sense if we really want to reduce out carbon emissions.

              As far as being a commercial deal between the smelter and Meridian, of course it is.

              However when you, Meridian, are negotiating with a private company it makes it a little difficult when your majority shareholder, the New Zealand Government has already told the refinery that you are going to give them what they want. Before the election Meridian had given the smelter their lowest price offer. The refinery said it was too much and the Government stepped in and promised that the price would drop.

              A commercial deal? Where did you ever go to school?

              If you were referring to me I would have to tell you that there are many things about which my knowledge is a great deal better than our PM and our Minister of Finance. Not everything but certainly some things.

              • Incognito …
                16 January 2021 at 8:17 pm

                Well, now I’m not so sure if I was replying to you or to my parsnip.

                Just for you, yes you, Alwyn:

                http://www.sharechat.co.nz/article/ed74ab08/meridian-energy-limited-nzx-mel-rio-tinto-confirms-tiwai-exit-in-december-2024.html

                http://nzx-prod-s7fsd7f98s.s3-website-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/attachments/MEL/366175/338755.pdf

                If you were referring to me I would have to tell you that there are many things about which my knowledge is a great deal better than our PM and our Minister of Finance. Not everything but certainly some things.

                😀

                “many things”, “some things”, “[n]ot everything” 😀

                This is pure comedy gold!

                laugh

                • alwyn …
                  17 January 2021 at 2:14 pm

                  From your first link we have

                  "Meridian Chief Executive, Neal Barclay says, “We have worked hard to provide solutions that we believe were of lasting value to the Smelter and acceptable to our shareholders."

                  Well I'm a shareholder and I wasn't consulted. I think that we should just tell the smelter to take a hike.

                  On the other hand, when you look at page 114 of the Companies Annual Report we see the list of the largest shareholders. Number 1 is

                  "Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of New Zealand Acting by and Through Her Minister of Finance And Minister for SOEs"

                  Share holding 1,307,586,374

                  Percentage of outstanding shares 51.018

                  The Ministers are of course Grant Robertson and David Clark. I'll bet they were pleased.

                  • Incognito …
                    17 January 2021 at 10:51 pm

                    Well, thank you for making your point so succinctly.

                    Are you suggesting that shareholders ought to be at the negotiating table when drafting an agreement?

                    Unless it is confidential, you can let us know how the other shareholders voted when the proposal is ratified – I am assuming it will be ratified. Has a date been set yet?

                    For the record, I am not a shareholder of any of the companies involved nor do I live in Southland. However, as a voter I was consulted in the General Election. I’ll bet they were pleased with the stunning result.

            • KJT 6.1.1.1.2.2
              16 January 2021 at 7:57 am

              A "commercial deal" that continues the general practice of power companies since privatisation.

              Ripping off domestic users to subsidise their "competitive" discounts to big users of power.

              • alwyn …
                16 January 2021 at 8:35 am

                You are really going to have to decide who you believe. Is it the incognito who says that it was a purely commercial decision made by the Power Company management, and that the Government had nothing to do with it. Alternatively was it the Government fulfilling one of their election promises and that it was the Government who made the deal and the company simply did what the Government ordered them to do?

                I think the deal was done because the Government Ministers ordered it to be done and that the Government is responsible. It is only my belief of course and I could, as I sometimes am, be wrong. The last time that happened was when I believed that Rob Muldoon only had the good of the country at heart in all his actions

                [When you engage in debate in good faith, you don’t apply false dichotomies, you don’t appeal to ‘believe”, and you don’t put words in mouths of others, as you did here; I did not say these things.

                I did say this:

                In any case, the deal is a commercial deal between the smelter and Meridian.

                This is absolutely correct! It is not even my opinion but taken directly from the link that I provided. In fact, I’ve stated that it was an Election Policy of Labour and I provided a link as well for that. If you cannot comprehend and reconcile these things as consistent and compatible with each other and feel the urge to change them into false dichotomies to suit your narrative I can come to only one conclusion …

                You’re entitled to your orifice plucks thinking they’ll pass the sniff test but you’re not welcome to mischievous comments and false allegations. You know where this will end you – Incognito]

                • Incognito …
                  16 January 2021 at 9:03 pm

                  See my Moderation note @ 8:35 AM.

                • alwyn …
                  17 January 2021 at 2:18 pm

                  I really thought that " Is it the incognito who says that it was a purely commercial decision made by the Power Company management" was an accurate paraphrase of " the deal is a commercial deal between the smelter and Meridian".

                  • Incognito …
                    17 January 2021 at 8:14 pm

                    Paraphrasing doesn’t mean twisting the meaning of words and/or extending their meaning way beyond the original meaning and context based on assumptions and reckons to suit your narrative.

                    Expect to be moderated for it as well as well as for the other two faux pas.

                    Please lift your game, thanks.

              • Incognito …
                16 January 2021 at 7:05 pm

                There are no subsidies involved, it was a commercial deal.

                https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/434490/tiwai-point-aluminium-smelter-to-keep-operating-until-end-of-2024 [same link as above]

              • Incognito …
                16 January 2021 at 8:28 pm

                In an ideal case, closure of the smelter would lead to lower electricity prices for customers.

                https://www.newsroom.co.nz/tiwai-point-closure-benefits-and-fishhooks

                • Sacha …
                  16 January 2021 at 11:12 pm

                  Huge wasted opportunity just reducing existing power bills (even if the privatised energy companies do not just intercept the savings for their shareholders rather than customers).

                  Also does nothing much for employment in that part of the country, which has long been the main negotiating hostage.

                  • Incognito …
                    16 January 2021 at 11:42 pm

                    What was a viable alternative, in your opinion? Flick the switch off now or do it in an orderly well-planned manner in four years’ time?

                    • Sacha …
                      17 January 2021 at 12:13 am

                      Have said before that I'd like to see the freed-up electricity directed to decarbonising all our public transit – and small commercial vehicles like courier vans, farm utes, and small service vehicles used by local and central govt agencies. Transport is our biggest non-farming sector needing climate action.

                      Add a focused engineering cluster in Dunedin and maybe Christchurch to install, maintain and even build those types of drivetrains in Aotearoa. Farm vehicles might be a good export niche too.

                      Will take longer than 4 years but needs to start with a clear vision and political comms process.

                      Looks like hydrogen is stealing some of the limelight right now but it's not the most efficient use of the energy, nor the best sustainable job creation.

                    • Incognito []
                      17 January 2021 at 3:02 pm

                      Yes, that all makes good sense, but only realistic in the medium term, don’t you think?

                      I think that a transition period is well-placed in which the many invested parties can work together, despite any differences of opinion and (economic and/or socio-political) interests, to devise a good plan that serves people locally, regionally, and nationally.

                    • Incognito []
                      17 January 2021 at 3:25 pm

                      When Government signalled a halt to oil & gas exploration, they did this in similar way, to give people and itself enough time to adapt to the inevitable changes. In this way, they flattened the curve of political and socio-economic pain and gave people some certainty in the short-term and interim. While we’re in the midst of a global pandemic, the worst of which doesn’t seem to be over yet, I think it makes more sense to play it safe, at least from a political and economic perspective. Now might not be the time for grand experiments or grandiose promises that always fall way short of expectation.

                    • Sacha …
                      17 January 2021 at 5:05 pm

                      I do not want to see a repeat of the wasted opportunities in the 2020 'shovel-ready' projects that swallowed so much money that could have been used for transformation without scaring the horses.

                    • Incognito []
                      17 January 2021 at 6:19 pm

                      I 100% agree with that, and I’d like to think that is true too for this Government; it was more or less what I tried to convey in my last sentence.

        • Phillip ure 6.1.1.2
          16 January 2021 at 7:45 am

          I see it as an asset that could benefit the country…

          we are told the smelter produces some of the highest quality aluminium on the planet…

          and the plan is to just let it all rust away??

          the infrastructure is all there…the power is all there..

          I find it difficult to believe this cannot be used/re-purposed..

          has that option even been looked at..?

          • Andre 6.1.1.2.1
            16 January 2021 at 8:14 am

            Your mention of the "highest quality aluminium" just shows your susceptibility to psychological manipulation by corporate spin-meisters. There is nothing special about the equipment or energy supplied to Tiwai Point that causes the high purity outcome. It's how they choose to operate the smelter, in particular the choice of consumable electrodes, that results in the high purity.

            As far as the actual equipment in place, its lack of value is clearly shown by the way none of the other players in the global industry is interested in buying it.

            As far as the electricity goes, you seem to be wilfully ignoring the key point. That is, New Zealand has much more valuable uses for the electricity consumed at Tiwai Point than smelting aluminium to be sold overseas at give-away prices.

            That you find something difficult to believe reflects your ignorance and lack of awareness of that ignorance much more than reflecting any kind of factual reality.

            • Phillip ure 6.1.1.2.1.1
              16 January 2021 at 8:34 am

              doesn't really matter how…but yes it makes high quality aluminium..

              to argue that closing tiwai means we are able to then close huntley .seems somewhat shortsighted/short-term..ill thought out..as the/a reason to abandon tiwai..

              that other aluminium manufacturers don't want tiwai could be for a raft of their reasons/dynamics .

              it is not automatic that it could not be made to work for us. .for that aluminium to be used also here in nz…

              and the aircraft industry is in a state of dissaray..

              this will not last…and I find it hard to believe the next generations of aircraft…likely to be as lite-weight as possible..will not need aluminium…and lots of it..

              so to make that judgement only on the current situation..also seems somewhat shortsighted..

              I'll let yr personal abuse lie where it fell..

              • alwyn …
                16 January 2021 at 8:54 am

                " I find it hard to believe the next generations of aircraft…likely to be as lite-weight as possible..will not need aluminium"

                That is a very debatable statement Phillip. The fuselage of a 747, the long haul workhorse of the 80's and 90's was primarily aluminum, about 81% in fact. It had 1% composites. The next generation, the 777 reduced this to around 70% aluminum and 11% composites. This was the standard long haul plane of the first part of this century.

                The latest generation of long haul aircraft is the 787. That is only about 20% aluminum and 50% composites.

                These 3 types of aircraft first flew in 1969, 1994 and 2009 respectively.

                There may not really be as much demand to aluminum as we might think.

                https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/12958/what-materials-make-up-most-of-the-weight-of-an-aircraft

                • Phillip ure …
                  16 January 2021 at 9:02 am

                  thanks for clarifying that ..

                  but of course that is not the only use for aluminium..

                  it is strong..it is lite-weight..

                  it lasts forever…

                  how can this not be an asset to be realised ..?

                  • gsays …
                    16 January 2021 at 9:13 am

                    Building framing is something I keep thinking of for aluminium, studs, lintels, flashings and claddings.

                    None of the above means we shouldn't get rid of the parasite that is Rio Tinto.

                    Edit, well done on not rising to the regular, constant flow of the personal stuff.

                  • Stuart Munro …
                    16 January 2021 at 8:58 pm

                    The Saudi smelters were producing aluminium car bodies, among other things – stronger per unit weight than steel, and resistant to some kinds of corrosion.

                    But the profitability of smelters, as with most metals, is a function of the production costs of the second most efficient operator. Depressed demand and shipping volumes will have flooded the market also – the only way Tiwai can be profitable is as a state pensioner, or by developing a downstream manufacturing capacity they have not pursued to date.

              • Incognito …
                16 January 2021 at 8:24 pm

                I'll let yr personal abuse lie where it fell..

                There was no “personal abuse”. Your comment @ 6.1.1.2 was bathing in ignorance and you don’t even realise it. Please inform yourself before you comment here and don’t give us that BS again about ‘common sense’.

      • Gabby 6.1.2
        15 January 2021 at 5:12 pm

        And where would the bauxite come from?

      • mikesh 6.1.3
        17 January 2021 at 9:01 am

        I assume NZ does not have a built in supply of bauxite.

  7. Forget now 7
    15 January 2021 at 11:58 pm

    The toxic waste was supposed to be gone by Christmas, but then it was never supposed to be there in the first place. Six years is a long time for Mataura to rest under that sword of Premixacles. Nearly the anniversary of the February floods that threatened to asphyxiate the town. Guess we're just hoping the fine weather will continue?

    So long as NZAS is a going concern, then there's someone to sue. If the smelter closes, then I imagine that; corporate mask for Rio Tinto, will be discarded alongside any remaining obligations; as fast as Taha-AP folded when the costs outweighed the benefits.

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/123676064/matauras-toxic-substance-to-be-shifted-overseas

  8. Ad 8
    17 January 2021 at 10:09 am

    In August 2020 the MacDiarmid Institute set out five good alternatives to Tiwai Point's current use. It would have been better for us all if the best of them had been given a year to develop further, with assistance from Southland development agencies, Ngai Tahu, and central government.

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/five-possible-replacements-for-aluminium-at-tiwai

    But it didn't happen. And actually right now that's good.

    In our currently exceedingly perilous economic state it would be the wrong thing to change the operation that exists there. So the deal is a good move for New Zealand, which also happens to be the right commercial decision for them both.

    Instead the pressure should be on Transpower to accelerate development of the Clutha-Waitaki Lines Project which is now underway. Incidentally that also employs several hundred people during the Covid19 employment crisis, so Transpower are doing their bit there.

    There are also two consented wind farms with a total capacity of 400 MW in the Otago / Southland regions that would benefit from the transmission upgrade.

    James Shaw's climate Change Commission has just dodged the largest bullet they are likely to face in this government, and can now focus on smaller items.

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    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
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