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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  • Deadly floods and streams of non-solutions

    Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:Central Europe is reeling from the devastating effects of Storm Boris, which has so far caused 21 deaths and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 20-September-2024

    Welcome to the end of the week, as we head towards the spring equinox. Let us brighten your week with links to stories about how to make our city a little greater. This roundup is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew. If you’d like to support our work ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • Three years of recession deeper than GFC

    Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, September 20:New Zealand’s total GDP contracted less than expected in the June quarter, but per-capita GDP extended its three-year-long slump at a rate that is faster than ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • That’s Gangsta!

    The gang patch legislation finally passed in the House after a long period of fanfare from National. Gangs won’t be allowed to publicly display gang insignia on the body or in vehicles, and if they’re very naughty i.e. caught thrice, police will be able to enter private homes to search.How ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 20

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-host talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate news, including media coverage of extreme events and how big tech is gobbling up so much renewable power growth; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • A very healthy distrust of how this Government is handling health across the board is needed…

    And alongside that, is the ultimate question for the public, and indeed Opposition Parties trying to appeal for enough of the public to support a change from this heinous direction of travel being imposed on us: how much of the damage here can even be stopped in time? Let us ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago
  • Hang up on him David, just stop

    There is a story I want to tell, but I'm not going to begin with it because it would be too abrupt. I'll start by telling you that I'm a big fan of the way Nicola Toki conveys her message. And Nicola Toki is a big fan of the way Jane ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Tax the rich!

    We already know that the rich people aren't paying their fair share. But it turns out its worse than that: we're a tax-haven! Our rich people pay lower taxes here than in any comparable country: Well-off New Zealanders are paying less tax than their peers in nine similar OECD ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Worse and worse

    Cancer Minister Casey Costello is in trouble again over her secret, magically appearing tobacco policy document. The Ombudsman has already found that she acted contrary to law in refusing requests for it; now she has been referred to the Chief Archivist over a possible breach of the Public Records Act ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • NZ’s lack of a capital gains tax means the richest here pay vastly less than elsewhere

    The lack of a capital gains tax means the richest Kiwis are sitting pretty compared to taxpayers overseas. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 19:New Zealand’s richest ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Verrall to Levy: “Health NZ NDAs are North Korean – Get rid of it.”

    Open article. Note the video of the Health Select Committee excerpts starts at 1:22 In watching the Health Select Committee yesterday, it became clear to me why Margie Apa remains Health NZ CEO.During Levy’s testimony, Apa sat like a rock next to her boss. She nodded supportively, scribbled notes to ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • The Show Must Go On

    Empty spaces, what are we living for?Abandoned places, I guess we know the score, on and onDoes anybody know what we are looking for?Another hero, another mindless crimeBehind the curtain, in the pantomimeHold the lineDoes anybody want to take it anymore?The show must go onSongwriters: Brian May / Freddie Mercury ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Managing on-street parking for local benefit

    This guest post by Malcolm McCracken originally appeared on his blog Better Things Are Possible, and is republished here by kind permission. The case for Parking Benefit Districts: managing on-street parking for local benefit Parking is often the centre of debate in our cities; particularly on-street car parks, who gets ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • Doubling down?

    This is a re-post from And Then There's Physics I wrote a post a little while ago commenting on a Sabine Hossenfelder video suggesting that she was now worried about climate change because the Equilibrium Climate Sensitivity (ECS) could be much higher than most estimates have suggested. I wasn’t too taken with Sabine’s arguments, and there were others ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Too much haste & waste in Simeon Brown’s need for speed

    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong story short, the Government’s myopia of only choosing transport policies that reduce travel times means we’re missing out on the health benefits of more cycling and walking, along with the health cost savings from fewer accidents, less pollution and mentally healthier ways of getting ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • What seemed so simple is now so complex

    The Health NZ rescue that seemed so simple back in July was presented to a Select Committee yesterday as a complex challenge that could take some years to sort out. In July, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Health NZ was on track to record a deficit of $1.4 billion for ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • The utterances of Shane Jones

    Let us consider the utterances of Shane Jones.Let us consider the derogatory terms of abuseNow is not the time for Green Wombles, it's black and white decision making.We will stand with the energy industry and ensure they are not monstered by Green Termites nibbling away at our economic capital.The Green ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Ukrainian militia receives defective shipment of pagers that just send and receive messages

    There’s been a major setback for one Ukrainian-backed militia on the Russian border, after the group ordered a large shipment of pagers to use as improvised explosive devices. The plan was to litter the pagers throughout abandoned homes and buildings in hopes of wounding Russian soldiers. But upon arrival of ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    3 days ago
  • A constitutional shitshow

    Last month, we learned that the government was half-arsing its anti-gang legislation, adding a significant, pre-planned, BORA-abusing amendment at the committee stage, avoiding all the usual scrutiny processes. But it gets worse. Because having done it once, they're now planning to recall the bill in order to add another such ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Political Round Up

    Note: An earlier version of this article noted Levy was a “party time Health NZ commissioner” - this has been updated - forgive my Freudian slip.Dr Lester Levy is charging $320,000 a year to be a part time Health NZ commissioner. Rachel Thomas reports that Levy is still teaching 2 ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Postcard from Sydney: Southwest and City Metro extension

    This is a guest post from Sydney reader Nik Clement After 2 years in Auckland I moved back to Sydney just over a year ago. While in Auckland, I went to the opening of Puhinui station and used it a fair bit, living in Manukau Central and being able ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago
  • Tolling revolt brewing in National heartland

    Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, September 18:Locals gathered in Woodville last night to protest at the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s decision to toll the new road linking the Manawatu and Hawkes Bay, saying ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • The doom spiral

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In his last post, Zeke discussed incredible warmth of 2023 and 2024 and its implications for future warming. A few readers looked at it and freaked out: This is terrifying and This update really put me in a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Government directs Te Puni Kōkiri to conduct Māori Language Week in English

    The coalition government has issued a directive to Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Māori Development, instructing them that – in the interests of clear communication – they are to conduct this year’s Māori Language Week primarily or exclusively in English. The directive is in line with the Government’s policy ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Government celebrates fact that New Zealand’s healthcare is so good people are queuing up for it a...

    At yesterday’s post-cabinet press conference, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, flanked by his Health Minister Shane Reti and someone we can’t independently verify was a real sign language interpreter, announced that he had some positive news for the country. “Alright team, I’m just going to hand over to uh, Dr. Shane, ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Heartwarming: Thoughtful driver uses indicator to tell you what they’ve just done

    It’s 4:10pm in the morning, and you’re in the middle lane heading north on the great southern motorway of our nation’s capital, Auckland. There are no cars directly in front of you, but quite a few in the lane to your left. Suddenly, without warning, a black ute enters your ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • NPC teams will now be allowed to actually use the Ranfurly Shield in play

    Following decades of controversy, the governing body of New Zealand rugby, New Zealand Rugby, has ruled that the team currently holding the Ranfurly Shield may once again use it in play during the National Provincial Championship (NPC). The ruling restores the utility of a prize that for many years was ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Climbing out of the hamster wheel

    I arrived home with a head full of fresh ideas about mindfulness and curbing impulsive aspects in my character.On the second night home I grabbed a piece of ginger and began swiftly slicing it on our industrial strength mandolin, the one I have learned through painful experience to treat with ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • More Notes From Stinky Town

    Good morning, folks. Another wee note from a chilly Rotorua morning that looks much clearer than yesterday. As I write, the pink glow in the east is slowly growing, and soon, the palest of blue skies should become a bit more royal.A couple of people mentioned yesterday that I should ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Make it make sense: why axe valuable local projects?

    Last week, Matt looked at how the government wants to pour a huge chunk of civic infrastructure funding for a generation  into one mega-road up North, at huge cost and huge opportunity cost. A smaller but no less important feature of the National Land Transport Plan devised by Minister of Transport ...
    Greater AucklandBy Jolisa
    4 days ago
  • Driving blind at higher speeds

    An open letter by experts about plans to raise speed limits warns the “tragic consequence will be more New Zealanders losing their lives or suffering severe injury, along with a substantial burden on the nation's healthcare and rehabilitation services”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • 2024’s unusually persistent warmth

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink My inaugural post on The Climate Brink 18 months ago looked at the year 2024, and found that it was likely to be the warmest year on record on the back of a (than forecast) El Nino event. I suggested “there is a real chance ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • National plan for 2000 more Kiwis a year in prison

    Open for allYesterday, Luxon congratulated his government on a job well done with emergency housing numbers, but advocates have been saying it‘s likely many are on the streets and sleeping in cars.Q&A featured some of the folks this weekend - homeless and in cars. Yes.The government’s also confirmed they stopped ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • I Found a Note in a Tree

    Hi,On most days I try to go on a walk through nature to clear my head from the horrors of life. Because as much as I like people, I also think it’s incredibly important to get very far away from them. To be reminded that there are also birds, lizards, ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Politicians need to lift their game

    Declining trust in New Zealand politicians should be a warning to them to lift their game. Results from the New Zealand Election Study for the 2023 election show that the level of trust in politicians has once again declined. Perhaps it is not surprising that the results, shared as part ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago
  • Police say they won’t respond to bomb threats anymore as ‘it’s never anything’

    Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says that New Zealand’s police force will no longer respond to bomb threats, in an attempt to cut costs and redirect police resources to less boring activities. Coster said that threat response and bomb disposal was a “fairly obvious” area for downsizing, as bomb threats are ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    5 days ago
  • A dysfunctional watchdog

    The reality of any right depends on how well it is enforced. But as The Post points out this morning, our right to official information isn't being enforced very well at all: More than a quarter of complaints about access to official information languish for more than a year, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: The threat of a good example

    Since taking office, the climate-denier National government has gutted agricultural emissions pricing, ended the clean car discount, repealed water quality standards which would have reduced agricultural emissions, gutted the clean car standard, killed the GIDI scheme, and reversed efforts to reduce pollution subsidies in the ETS - basically every significant ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vegas Baby

    Good morning, lovely people. Don’t worry. This isn’t really a newsletter, just a quick note. I’m sitting in our lounge, looking out over a gloomy sky. Although being Rotorua, the view is periodically interrupted by steam bursting from pipes and dispersing—like an Eastern European industrial hellscape during the Cold War.Drinking ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Why Entrust Needs New Leadership

    I am part of a new team running in the Entrust election in October. Entrust is a community electricity trust representing a significant part of Auckland, set up to serve the community. It is governed by five trustees are elected every three years in an election the trust itself oversees. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • London Bridge is falling down

    In the UK, London is the latest of council groups to signal potential bankruptcy.That’s after Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city, went bankrupt in June, resulting in reduced sanitation services, libraries cut, and dimmed streetlights.Some in the city described things as “Dickens” like.Please, Sir, Can I have some more?For families with ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Govt may kick elderly out of hospitals

    The Government is considering how to shunt elderly people out of hospitals, and also how to cut their access to other support. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Getting the nephs off the couch

    The so-called “Prince of the Provinces”, Shane Jones, went home last Friday. Perhaps not quite literally home, more like 20 kilometres down the road from his house on the outskirts of Kerikeri. With its airport, its rapidly growing (mostly retired) population, and a commercial centre with all the big retail ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • De moralibus orcorum: Sargon of Akkad, Rings of Power, Evil, and George R.R. Martin

    I have noted before that The Rings of Power has attracted its unfortunate share of culture war obsessives. Essentially, for a certain type of individual, railing on about the Wokery of Modern Media is a means of making themselves a online livelihood. Clicks and views and advertising revenue, and all ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #37

    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 8, 2024 thru Sat, September 14, 2024. Story of the week From time to time we like to make our Story of the Week all about us— and ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • Salvation For Us All

    Yesterday, I ruminated about the effects of being a political follower.And, within politics, David Seymour was smart enough on Friday to divert attention from “race blind” policies [what about gender blind I thought - thinking of maternity wards] and cutting school lunches by throwing meat to the media. Teachers were ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A warm embrace

    Far, far away from here lives our King. Some of his subjects can be quite the forelock tuggers, but plenty of us are not like that, and why don't I wheel out my favourite old story once more about Kiwi soldiers in the North African desert?Field Marshal Montgomery takes offence ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Literal clowns are running the place, we must put a timeout on this stupidity… right Aotearoa?

    These people are inept on every level. They’re inept to the detriment of our internal politics, cohesion and increasingly our international reputation. And they are reveling in the fact they are getting away with it. We cannot even have “respectful debate” with a government that clearly rejects the very ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    7 days ago
  • Fact brief – Does manmade CO2 have any detectable fingerprint?

    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with John Mason. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Does manmade CO2 have any ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago
  • Judge Not.

    Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:1-2FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY men and women professing the Christian faith would appear to have imperilled their immortal souls. ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Managed Democracy: Letting The People Decide, But Only When They Can Be Relied Upon To Give the Righ...

    Uh-uh! Not So Fast, Citizens! The power to initiate systemic change remains where it has always been in New Zealand’s representative democracy – in Parliament. To order a binding referendum, the House of Representatives must first to be persuaded that, on the question proposed, sharing its decision-making power with the people ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Looking For Labour’s Vital Signs.

    Flatlining: With no evidence of a genuine policy disruptor at work in Labour’s ranks, New Zealand’s wealthiest citizens can sleep easy.PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN has walked a picket-line. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris has threatened “price-gauging” grocery retailers with price control. The Democratic Party’s 2024 platform situates it well to the left of Sir ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Forty Years Of Remembering To Forget.

    The Beginning of the End: Rogernomics became the short-hand descriptor for all the radical changes that swept away New Zealand’s social-democratic economy and society between 1984 and 1990. In the bitterest of ironies, those changes were introduced by the very same party which had entrenched New Zealand social-democracy 50 years earlier. ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Kōrero Mai – Speak to Me.

    Good morning all you lovely people. 🙂I woke up this morning, and it felt a bit like the last day of school. You might recall from earlier in the week that I’m heading home to Rotorua to see an old friend who doesn’t have much time. A sad journey, but ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Winning ways

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Street architecture adjustment, KolkataShare Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • 48 seconds on a plan that would reverberate for a million years

    Despite fears that Trump presidency would be disastrous for progress on climate change, the topic barely rated a mention in the Presidential debate. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Using blunt instruments and magical thinking to ignore evidence of harm

    The abrupt cancellations and suspensions of Government spending also caused private sector hiring, spending, and investment to freeze up for the first six months of the year. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāThis week we learned:The new National/ACT/NZ First Coalition Government ignored advice from Treasury that it didn’t have to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Is This A Dagger Which I See Before Me: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power Episode 5 (Seaso...

    Another week of The Rings of Power, season two, and another confirmation that things are definitely coming together for the show. The fifth Episode of season one represented the nadir of the series. Now? Amid the firmer footing of 2024, Episode Five represents further a further step towards excellent Tolkien ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • In Open Seas; A Book

    The background to In Open Seas: How the New Zealand Labour Government Went Wrong:2017-2023Not in Narrow Seas: The Economic History of Aotearoa New Zealand, published in 2020, proved more successful than either I or the publisher (VUP, now Te Herenga Waka University Press) expected. I had expected that it would ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 13

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the climate implications of the US Presidential elections; and special guests Janet ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Do or do not. There is no try

    1. Upon receiving evidence that school lunches were doing a marvellous job of improving outcomes for students, David Seymour did what?a. Declared we need much more of this sort of good news and poured extra resources and funding into them b. Emailed Atlas network to ask what to do next c. Cut ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Dangerous ground

    The Waitangi Tribunal has reported back on National's proposed changes to gut the Marine and Coastal Area Act and steal the foreshore and seabed for its greedy fishing-industry donors, and declared it to be another huge violation of ti Tiriti: The Waitangi Tribunal has found government changes to the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: National wants to cheat on Paris

    In 2016, the then-National government signed the Paris Agreement, committing Aotearoa to a 30 (later 50) percent reduction in emissions by 2030. When questioned about how they intended to meet that target with their complete absence of effective climate policy, they made a lot of noise about how it was ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Treasury warned Govt lower debt limits meant less ‘productivity-enhancing investment’

    Treasury’s advice to Cabinet was that the new Government could actually prudently carry net core Crown debt of up to 50% of GDP. But Luxon and Willis instead chose to portray the Government’s finances as in such a mess they had no choice but to carve 6.5% to 7.5% off ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Tourism on the table for Pacific Ministers’ meet-up

    Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey will meet with Trade and Tourism Minister of Australia Don Farrell and Fiji Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica in Rotorua this weekend for a trilateral tourism discussion. “Like in New Zealand, tourism plays a significant role in Australia and Fiji’s economy, contributing massively to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Young people report on family and sexual violence

    The Te Puna Aonui Expert Advisory Group for Children and Young People has presented its report today on improving family and sexual violence outcomes for young people, to the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour.  The presentation at the Auckland event was an opportunity for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • $18 million being invested in the victims of crime

    The Government is putting more than $18 million towards improving the experience of the criminal justice system for victims, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Minister for Children Karen Chhour say. “No one should experience crime, but for those who through no fault of their own become victims, they need to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Landmark phonics check in te reo Māori

    For the first time, schools can use a purpose-built tool to check how a child is progressing in reading through te reo Māori. “Around 45 schools are trialling a New Zealand first te reo Māori phonics check, known as Hihira Weteoro. It will help kaiako (teachers) focus on what ākonga ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • New sea walls safeguard Ōpōtiki’s transformation

    Two new breakwater walls at Pākihikura (Ōpōtiki) Harbour will provide boats with safe harbour access to support the continued growth of aquaculture in Bay of Plenty, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones say. The Ministers and leaders from Tē Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea and other ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kitmap to improve access to science infrastructure

    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced an online platform to optimise the use of New Zealand’s science and technology research infrastructure and to link the public and private sector. “This country is home to world-class science, technology, and engineering expertise. Kitmap is set to empower Kiwi innovators, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Driving the uptake of low emission heavy vehicles

    The Government has launched the Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle Fund (LEHVF) to promote innovation and offset the cost of hundreds of heavy vehicles powered by clean technologies, Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts say. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech on replacing the Resource Management Act

    Replacing the RMA Hon Chris Bishop: Good morning, it is great to be with you. Can I first acknowledge the Resource Management Law Association for hosting us here today. Can I also acknowledge my Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Simon Court, who is on stage with me. He has assisted me in establishing the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Replacement for the Resource Management Act takes shape

    Two new laws will be developed to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA), with the enjoyment of property rights as their guiding principle, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court say. “The RMA was passed with good intentions in 1991 but has proved a failure in practice. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tough laws pass to make gang life uncomfortable

    Legislation passed through Parliament today will provide police and the courts with additional tools to crack down on gangs that peddle misery and intimidation throughout New Zealand, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “From November 21, gang insignia will be banned in all public places, courts will be able to issue non-consorting orders, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New levy rates set to ensure continued funding of FENZ

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the rates for the redesigned levy that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) from July 2026.  “Earlier this year FENZ consulted publicly on a 5.2 percent increase to the levy. I was not convinced that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Police allocate Officers to Beat and Gang Units

    The Coalition Government welcomes Police’s announcement today to deploy more police on the beat and staff to Gang Disruption Units.  An additional 70 officers will be allocated to Community Beat Teams across towns and regional centres.  This builds on the deployment of beat officers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch CBDs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Consultation begins on significant updates to the biosecurity system

    Proposals to strengthen the country’s vital biosecurity system, including higher fines for passengers bringing in undeclared high-risk goods, greater flexibility around importing requirements, and fairer cost sharing for biosecurity responses have been released today for public consultation. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says “The future is about resilience and the 30-year-old ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Wānaka community to benefit from new overnight health service

    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says an Overnight Acute Care Service opening in October will provide people in Wānaka and the surrounding area with the assurance of quality overnight care closer to home.  “When I was in Wānaka earlier this year, I announced funding for an overnight health service – ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Preventing potholes with data-driven technology

    The Government is rolling out data collection vans across the country to better understand the condition of our road network to prevent potholes from forming in the first place, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is a key priority for the Government and increasing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • GDP data shows effect of high interest rates

    Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for the quarter to June 2024 reinforces how an extended period of high interest rates has meant tough times for families, businesses, and communities, but recent indications show the economy is starting to bounce back, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ data released today ...
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