Brazil turns right

Written By: - Date published: 1:39 pm, October 29th, 2018 - 90 comments
Categories: Donald Trump, Europe, International, Politics, us politics - Tags:

In further bad news for the world Brazil has turned to the right with the election of a leader that makes Donald Trump look like a moderate.  From the Guardian:

Jair Bolsonaro, a 63-year-old former paratrooper who built his campaign around pledges to crush corruption, crime and a supposed communist threat, secured 55.7% of the votes after 88% were counted and was therefore elected Brazil’s next president, electoral authorities said on Sunday.

Bolsonaro’s exact lead over his rival, Fernando Haddad, will be clear when the full official election results are announced shortly.

News of the exit poll result sent Bolsonaro devotees outside his beachfront home in western Rio de Janeiro into ecstasy and drew huge crowds out onto Avenida Paulista, one of São Paulo’s most important boulevards, where they sang Brazil’s national anthem and set off fireworks.

But Bolsonaro’s triumph will leave many millions of progressive Brazilians profoundly disturbed and fearful of the intolerant, right-wing tack their country is now likely to take.

Over nearly three decades in politics, he has become notorious for his hostility to black, gay and indigenous Brazilians and to women as well as for his admiration of dictatorial regimes, including the one that ruled Brazil from 1964 until 1985.

“The extreme right has conquered Brazil,” Celso Rocha de Barros, a Brazilian political columnist, told the election night webcast of Piauí magazine. “Brazil now has a more extremist president than any democratic country in the world … we don’t know what is going to happen.”

The Brazil result matches what has been happening recently in Europe with many governments turning right over the past few years.  Although there was good news in Ireland with Michael Huggins being re-elected as President.

The continuing success of the right throughout the world is of concern. All that it does is embolden conservative parties and their more extremist elements.

And what is the left wing antidote to this? If I can sum it up in far too few words it is provide an alternative. Talk about hope and kindness as Jacinda does. Have politicians, like Jeremy Corbyn, who have always stuck to their principles and have based their political career on ideals not game playing.

It will be interesting to see if the right wing in National take this as a reason to push the hard line.  Although I think they would be better to see what happens with the US mid term elections.  The prospects look intriguing with Nate Silver thinking there is a high chance that the House of Representatives will flip to Democrat control.

But time will tell.

90 comments on “Brazil turns right ”

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  1. marty mars 1
    29 October 2018 at 1:50 pm

    This is bad. Expect record amounts of rainforests to go down. All vulnerable people in that country will be frightened by this election. I wish them well but tough, tough times ahead.

  2. Bill 2
    29 October 2018 at 2:02 pm

    I’m just going to cut and paste the shorter quotes from this piece published at The Intercept. This guy’s a scary deal if he in any way lives up to his rhetoric.

    “I’ll give carte blanche for the police to kill.”
    – Event in Deerfield Beach, FL, October 8, 2017

    “You will not have any more NGOs to quench your leftist hunger. It will be a cleansing never before seen in the history of Brazil.”
    – Live video address to a rally in São Paulo, October 21, 2018

    “The big problem in Brazil is that the government is at the jugular of businessmen. […] The worker will have to decide: less rights and employment or all the rights and unemployment.”
    – Event in Deerfield Beach, FL , October 8, 2017

    “I would not employ [a woman] with the same salary [of a man]. But there are many women who are competent.”
    – SuperPop, RedeTV!, February 15, 2016

    “[Homosexuals] will not find peace. And I have [congressional] immunity to say that I’m homophobic, yes, and very proud of it if it is to defend children in schools.”
    – TWTV, June 5, 2013

    “I’m a rapist now. I would never rape you, because you do not deserve it… slut!”
    – Rede TV, speaking to Congresswoman Maria do Rosário, November 11, 2003

    Yeah, there’s more, but fuck…. 🙁

  3. Draco T Bastard 3
    29 October 2018 at 2:06 pm

    The continuing success of the right throughout the world is of concern. All that it does is embolden conservative parties and their more extremist elements.

    That’s what it is but it’s what you get when the ‘Left’ political parties refuse to listen to the people and continue to enact policies that the majority don’t want and that makes them worse off. This leads to the rise of the right-wing populist strong man who tells everyone that he’s going to fix all the problems by coming down on corruption, boosting jobs and alienating the other. They will, of course, continue the same policies while instituting harsher penalties upon the poor foe being poor and possibly starting trade wars.

    • Gosman 3.1
      29 October 2018 at 2:21 pm

      Except the Workers party in Brazil did attempt to enact quite radical leftist reforms when they were in power and they fell to the same sort of vices that all hard left parties are prone to – Corruption and bloated government expenditure.

      • Draco T Bastard 3.1.1
        29 October 2018 at 3:29 pm

        ‘Corruption and bloated government expenditure’ are traits of RWNJ governments as seen in our last government and the present RWNJ government in the US and UK.

        • RedLogix 3.1.1.1
          29 October 2018 at 3:34 pm

          are traits of RWNJ governments

          Traits of incompetent governments of any and all stripes.

          • Draco T Bastard 3.1.1.1.1
            29 October 2018 at 3:44 pm

            True.

            My point is that such are traits of right-wing governments all the time. That they’re inherent in them. Basically, the leaders of right-wing parties are corrupt.

            • RedLogix 3.1.1.1.1.1
              29 October 2018 at 4:15 pm

              No, that’s no more true than saying all right wing parties are Nazis, or all left wing parties are Stalinist’s. It conflates all the categories down to one extreme caricature.

              • JohnSelway …
                29 October 2018 at 4:28 pm

                exactly right. RedL. It is possible to be Rigbt-Wing and not corrupt. Though Draco seems to think corrupt and right-wing are synonyms

                • KJT …
                  29 October 2018 at 5:12 pm

                  It is possible for a right wing party not to be corrupt.
                  Very rare, however.

                  • Gosman …
                    29 October 2018 at 5:15 pm

                    Much more common for a left wing party to be corrupt though in my opinion. Any political party that promotes the power of the State as the main means to solving the problems in society opens itself up for people to try and abuse the system that is put in place.

                    • Stuart Munro …
                      29 October 2018 at 5:25 pm

                      Whereas any party that works to dismantle the state so they can do whatever they like is not corrupt? Nope Gosman – try again.

                    • KJT …
                      29 October 2018 at 5:35 pm

                      You have just described Nazi’s Gossie. Left wingers on the whole, want a democratic state.

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      29 October 2018 at 6:34 pm

                      Much more common for a left wing party to be corrupt though in my opinion.

                      And your opinion isn’t worth squat as you show all the signs of being an ignorant authoritarian follower as you continually defend the corrupt actions of the National Party.

                      Any political party that promotes the power of the State as the main means to solving the problems in society opens itself up for people to try and abuse the system that is put in place.

                      The left generally supports community while it’s the right-wing that seeks authoritarian control through government and ownership.

                  • Muttonbird …
                    29 October 2018 at 5:16 pm

                    The clue is in the terminology. Socialists are there for society. Capitalists are there for capital.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  29 October 2018 at 6:26 pm

                  It is possible to be Rigbt-Wing and not corrupt.

                  I actually said that.

                  • In Vino …
                    29 October 2018 at 9:25 pm

                    Hmmm.. I would have loved to hear your pronunciation of ‘Rigbt’, but I guess this is getting silly.

                    • Booker …
                      29 October 2018 at 10:40 pm

                      Looking over this sun-thread it seems one point to keep in mind is that the Left/Right division is encumbered with slightly different weight in Latin America than here or in “the West”. During the military dictatorships there left-Wing groups were killed, disappeared and suppressed. You would think afterwards the right would have a bad name and the left seen as a force for good. But there’s deeper baggage where being left was demonised, associated with being lazy, lawless, drug-takers and propaganda along those lines for year after year during the dictatorship. My former partner was Latin American and I’ve spent plenty of time over there or talking with ex-pats and that negative view hasn’t been entirely shaken off.

                    • Gosman …
                      29 October 2018 at 10:54 pm

                      Perhaps because some of what they claim is true.

    • tc 3.2
      29 October 2018 at 2:22 pm

      In the UK MI5 have taken oversight from the police of the far right groups.

      The ‘terrorist’ (their words not mine) incidents have become significant enough to now go under the same eyes in MI5 as other terrorist groups are.

      Your points about the majority being ignored are pertinent. Sweden’s govt been told since the 90’s about managing the immigration by its voters. They didn’t which set the scene for the far right to make a play in recent elections by turning the anger into votes.

      Bolsarno said ‘I’m not like the others’ and here we are.

  4. JohnSelway 4
    29 October 2018 at 2:12 pm

    Glad I got to see the Amazon Rain forest when I did. Not going to last long under this fucko

  5. McFlock 5
    29 October 2018 at 2:15 pm

    Another god-toting family values guy married to his third wife.

    Brazil’s and interesting place – I’m wondering (but can probably predict) if there’s a certain ethnic bias in his support, as well as an economic bias.

    I guess the world will find out how strong the Brazilian constitution is…

  6. Tiger Mountain 6
    29 October 2018 at 2:20 pm

    Brazilians have short memories is all I can say…this reprehensible would be dictator will reinstitute torture, and violently repress organised opposition just like ’64–’85

    authoritarians never solve anything, they oppress by evermore brutal means, whilst enabling the corporates and elites–women, leftists, gays, indigenous people, and trees are in for it!

    • Gosman 6.1
      29 October 2018 at 2:23 pm

      They have short memories because of the appalling legacy left by the PT government under Lula and his successor.

      https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45168837

      • Tiger Mountain 6.1.1
        29 October 2018 at 2:42 pm

        grow up Gosman, the major mistake Lula made was getting entangled with the IMF, and instituting certain austerity measures

        • Gosman 6.1.1.1
          29 October 2018 at 3:02 pm

          Why did he get entangled with the IMF? Even Venezuela has not done that despite the economy imploding.

          • Dukeofurl 6.1.1.1.1
            29 October 2018 at 3:26 pm

            So a right winger in Brazil will ‘just like English/Robertson’ in his economic policy, and not just another corrupt Brazilian ?

            • Bill 6.1.1.1.1.1
              29 October 2018 at 3:34 pm

              Gosman has been taken ‘out of the loop’ for dropping smash and trash around the show (again) . Some of his comments might come through – it’ll be down to who-ever’s around and their discretion.

              Bearing that in mind, you might not want to bother responding to his existing comments.

              • Gosman …
                29 October 2018 at 10:43 pm

                Care to explain why you decided to do that specifically not just generally?

                As far as I can see I am keeping within the T and C’s of the Blog.

  7. Gosman 7
    29 October 2018 at 2:30 pm

    Why do you think Bolsonaro was able to make hay from attacking his opponent as Communist and a supporter of Venezuela? Surely Brazilians would warm to leftist political thinking?

    • RedLogix 7.1
      29 October 2018 at 3:03 pm

      The Trump of the Tropics. Another right wing leader exploiting social and economic fault lines for their own political advantage. Increasing fear and uncertainty generates reactionary pushback, the barriers are erected, the outsiders are shunned. New ideas are rejected and people retreat into bunker mode.

      And yes the spectre of Venezuela bolstered Bolsonaro’s hand no doubt. As with the election of Trump, the left will likely have hard lessons on the table it may or may not choose to learn.

      If the rhetoric is anything to go by Bolsonaro is more extreme than Trump, and given his personal background, possibly more competent. In which case Brazil is in for a wild ride that will end badly, as it always does for all totalitarian governments sooner or later.

      • Gosman 7.1.1
        29 October 2018 at 3:06 pm

        The problem here is that moderate liberal political parties have failed to sell their vision adequately and leftist political parties have reverted to type as soon as they get in to power and screw the country they run up. This tends to leave the electorate not much choice but to vote for the hard right version of the leftist party that has disappointed them so much. The solution would be for the moderate liberal parties to get their act together.

        • RedLogix 7.1.1.1
          29 October 2018 at 3:28 pm

          Not just failed to sell it adequately, but failed to frame competently. Brazil has had several decades with a left wing Workers Party dominating the scene, but their repeated corruption scandals and economic failure, predictably set the scene for this reaction.

          And if Bolsonaro’s victory was predictable, so too will be the left’s propensity to blame something else, someone, anyone, but themselves for their defeat.

          Mickey’s OP never quite gets to the point here; this is the outcome of a democratic election, people voted for this in their millions. Why?

          • Draco T Bastard 7.1.1.1.1
            29 October 2018 at 3:47 pm

            And if Bolsonaro’s victory was predictable, so too will be the left’s propensity to blame something else, someone, anyone, but themselves for their defeat.

            Yep.

          • Dukeofurl 7.1.1.1.2
            29 October 2018 at 4:30 pm

            “Brazil has had several decades with a left wing Workers Party dominating the scene”

            Rubbish
            The Workers party has only held the Presidency under Da Silva and Rousseff ( 2003 -2016)
            Not decades but 13 years, before that from the end of the juntas was centrist partys

            There was a president from The Labour Party( PTB) for short periods in early 60s and early 50s.

            A junta ruled for ‘decades’ ( 64-85)

            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_Brazil

        • KJT 7.1.1.2
          29 October 2018 at 5:25 pm

          Funny how all these failing countries had decades of corrupt right wing Government. But according to Gosman, it was the brief periods of left wing Government, which caused the unsolvable level of corruption and mis Government. Instead of the reality. The mess left by the kleptocrats is to great to solve. Meaning even if allowed to do so, it would take a real left wing Government decades to sort. The same problem Labour/Greens have here. The expectation, that three decades of right wing vandalism, can be sorted in a term, is an impossible standard to meet.

          • RedLogix 7.1.1.2.1
            29 October 2018 at 5:42 pm

            Sorry but blaming the other team never, ever works.

            I’m not saying you’re necessarily wrong; maybe the other guys do cheat, maybe the ref is bought. I get that. But whining about the result invites nothing but contempt.

            If we want to win this, we have to find a way to be competent at it. Something that reaches past the corruption and kleptocrats. Something that wins the confidence of the broad mass of people, something we can unite around. A narrative that people want to believe in. Something that doesn’t divide the world into tribal power games, but engages our diversity under a unifying story.

            • KJT 7.1.1.2.1.1
              29 October 2018 at 5:53 pm

              Even when the other lot. Not team. Is at fault. Though Labour is also at fault for confusing the end with their goal posts.

              But yes. Claiming to be “left” then I’m losing right wing policies, such as the totally irresponsible, “Budget responsibility rules” does not inspire confidence.

            • Stuart Munro 7.1.1.2.1.2
              29 October 2018 at 11:06 pm

              “blaming the other team never, ever works”

              The assumes there is some kind of equivalence between the teams – and that assumption leads to a blurring of the electoral distinction that needs to be highlighted.

              The Key kleptocrats’ pursuit of self enrichment was corrupt, on a large scale, and compromised their quality of governance. This is provable. And the coalition is now situated to legislate against those behaviours.

              Criticising and not regulating makes you look pretty silly, as if your MPs also mean to indulge in similar behaviours. But not criticizing things like list place buying fails to meet a public expectation that a better standard can be established. That will cost support too, because Joe or Tracy Average isn’t too keen on that stuff happening, much less continuing.

              It’s a point of difference, and not one that requires a massive spend. No, the Gnats are not intrinsically evil – but while they lie with great frequency and routinely indulge in large scale corruption they might as well be. If you won’t call them on those things, you won’t attract much of the support you ought to deserve.

        • KJT 7.1.1.3
          29 October 2018 at 5:28 pm

          Funny how Gosman always mentions Venezuela. Forgetting about the right wing nirvana, Honduras. Eh!

  8. Dukeofurl 8
    29 October 2018 at 3:02 pm

    With the two regional elections in Germany its seems that the left partys have held their own, but a re-arrangement with the 3 main left groups
    The SPD, Greens and Die Linke ( DL- which combined a split off from SPD and the East german leftists/communists)

    Yesterday in Hesse. Combined SPD-Greens-DL vote was 46%. Back in 2013 it was 47%

    https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landtagswahl_in_Hessen_2018
    with all 3 parties in the Landtag

    A few weeks back in Bavaria , very similar result.
    https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landtagswahl_in_Bayern_2018

    2018 SPD + Greeens +DL = 30.4%

    2013 it was 31.3%
    with the DL missing out on have MPs both times.

    Clearly the growth of the far right AFD in these elections is from the conservative side.

  9. Gosman 9
    29 October 2018 at 3:41 pm

    Which one of my comments breached the code of conduct here? As far as I can tell i am on topic.

    [A moderator has put you into pending comments -TS]

  10. SPC 10
    29 October 2018 at 3:56 pm

    It’s part of a resurgence in base populist nationalism.

    I blame the Zionists for idolising love of ones own kind as an order of rule under God.

  11. xanthe 11
    29 October 2018 at 4:43 pm

    Until the left turns its back on all forms of discrimination including “positive discrimination” and discourages those who promote such in their ranks the decay and corruption will continue.

    What you do must be ethical or you will become corrupt. the end will never justify the means.

    • RedLogix 11.1
      29 October 2018 at 4:53 pm

      Absolutely. Your last sentence is a tough lesson.

    • Ad 11.2
      29 October 2018 at 6:16 pm

      What you call corrupt is really just political business. It’s not a purity contest. It’s just a contest.

      You win when you strike the balance between inspiration, credibility, and capacity. You have to appear as good as you can, while your machine does everything it needs to win.

      But that balance or imbalance isn’t where the left globally is losing.

      The right are just better at nationalism, and the left usually don’t have an equivalent answer.

      • RedLogix 11.2.1
        29 October 2018 at 6:28 pm

        The left lose the contest when we project the message “because we care more about the poor and marginalised, this makes us better people.” And then inevitably when it turns out we are not better people (just the usual mix of good and bad like everyone) … the voters turn on our hypocrisy.

        Plus of course all to often our ideas are untested and often don’t work as well as we’d like, and the voters turn on our incompetence.

        And then because we like to think we’re smarter than the other guys we refuse to learn the lessons and point the finger elsewhere; and the voters turn away in disgust.

        • Ad 11.2.1.1
          29 October 2018 at 8:36 pm

          Hypocrisy doesn’t account for either the decline of the left getting elected across Europe, or the rise of the hard right anywhere in the last two decades.

          Really interesting variants of nationalism exploited well by the hard right does.

          • Gosman 11.2.1.1.1
            29 October 2018 at 10:51 pm

            The left can do economic nationalism just as well as the right. Indeed it is one reason Corbyn is a reluctant supporter of UK memership of the EU.

      • xanthe 11.2.2
        29 October 2018 at 7:23 pm

        Ad….. it all looks like “just business” when you have no morals

  12. Ad 12
    29 October 2018 at 4:49 pm

    “And what is the left wing antidote to this? If I can sum it up in far too few words it is provide an alternative. Talk about hope and kindness as Jacinda does. Have politicians, like Jeremy Corbyn, who have always stuck to their principles and have based their political career on ideals not game playing.”

    I like that idea more in theory than in reality.

    Principled losers are a pain in the ass.

    • Gabby 12.1
      29 October 2018 at 5:18 pm

      Particularly to corrupt end-justifies-the-meanies addy. Big arsepain. They do not like it up them addy.

      • Ad 12.1.1
        29 October 2018 at 6:10 pm

        As the great philosopher Janice Joplin said:

        Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.

    • mickysavage 12.2
      29 October 2018 at 7:33 pm

      Principled losers are a pain in the ass.

      So are unprincipled winners …

      • xanthe 12.2.1
        29 October 2018 at 7:44 pm

        and of course unprincipled losers

      • Ad 12.2.2
        29 October 2018 at 8:41 pm

        The closest to principles we get in Parliament are agreements.

        The better term for them is …… deals.

        Dirty or otherwise, the ability to do deals that people like is a far better indicator of electability than hope, kindness, or principles. Holy mackerel National nearly got in again and manages to get by with none of that sticky stuff.

        I tell you what, I’ll generate a post for you on the kind of nationalism that might, just might, start to battle the super-successful nationalism that the right has deployed over the last two decades to nearly wipe the democratic left out.

        • Incognito 12.2.2.1
          29 October 2018 at 10:40 pm

          Great comment that cries out for a response!

          Dirty or otherwise, the ability to do deals [agreements] that people like is a far better indicator of electability than hope, kindness, or principles. Holy mackerel National nearly got in again and manages to get by with none of that sticky stuff.

          Let’s start with the first deal [agreement], which is the Coalition Agreement. I would like to think that Ardern’s personal values played a role in getting this over the line. These values haven’t just come out of the blue; they were there from the beginning and they’re genuine as far as we can tell. Sure, there may been a bit of media coaching and advice from Labour’s spin doctors but you can’t fake the real deal, so to speak.

          Now, if you haven’t thrown your hands up in the air in abject disagreement you may also want to consider that these values underpin every deal [agreement] that Ardern is directly involved in. What’s more, she may have (built) a team that shares at least some of those values; she can’t do it all by herself. Having the right team is vital and I think Winston Peters is a key player in that team.

          Thus, we have the Coalition Government that does political deals [agreements] underpinned by personal values such as hope, kindness, and principles (e.g. personal integrity and mutual respect), you know, the “sticky stuff”. Without the sticky stuff things can easily fall apart (cue: National Party).

          The beauty of these values is that they’re neither Left nor Right, they don’t define one’s political leaning at all; they are universal values.

          This is where it gets really interesting because it opens up the possibility to do deals with your opponents, to do non-partisan deals [agreements].

          It could work …

          • Gosman 12.2.2.1.1
            29 October 2018 at 10:57 pm

            The Nationl party had 9 years of remarkably stable rule in NZ. It did not fall apart during that time. Care to explain?

            • Incognito 12.2.2.1.1.1
              29 October 2018 at 11:17 pm

              There are many forms of “sticky stuff”; if one goes, you’ll have to replace it with another. And we don’t know what happened behind National’s façade of unity & discipline; they always kept the curtains tightly shut.

              Anyway, are you trying to call me out on a presumed ‘technicality’ or are you here to play ball? You did end up in moderation today for a reason …

    • Carolyn_Nth 12.3
      29 October 2018 at 8:13 pm

      Short term thinking.

      As another great philosopher said

      For the loser now will be later to win

      Principles are always important

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 12.4
      29 October 2018 at 8:45 pm

      Principled losers are better than unprincipled winners. IMO.

  13. halfcrown 13
    29 October 2018 at 5:25 pm

    “crush a supposed communist threat”

    That is all he will do, the rest is bullshit.

  14. xanthe 14
    29 October 2018 at 7:49 pm

    here is something to ponder
    what is worse
    a self serving despot
    or
    a divinely inspired despot

    I think that perhaps voters in America and Brazil have (rightly or wrongly) seen that as their choice. If that is how they see it then their choice was the best one they could make IMHO.

  15. joe90 15
    29 October 2018 at 10:11 pm

    Surprise surprise……

    Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon has been meddling in Brazil's elections in support of far-right Jair Bolsonaro #BrasilDecide #Eleições2018 Live Updates: https://t.co/VhNhvl5u90 pic.twitter.com/VYr4yCRvff— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) October 28, 2018

    It was a pleasure to meet STEVE BANNON,strategist in Donald Trump's presidential campaign.We had a great conversation and we share the same worldview.He said be an enthusiast of Bolsonaro's campaign and we are certainly in touch to join forces,especially against cultural marxism. pic.twitter.com/ceHoui6FH5— Eduardo Bolsonaro 17 (@BolsonaroSP) August 4, 2018

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    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

  • 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
    18 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
    21 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
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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