Can This Government Be Saved?

Written By: - Date published: 5:43 pm, March 25th, 2022 - 118 comments
Categories: act, covid-19, economy, elections, grant robertson, greens, jacinda ardern, labour, maori party, national - Tags:

Politics, in the phrase of ex-US Attorney General William Barr, is just one damn thing after another.

It is especially the case with this Labour government.

Can Labour win a third term? I will leave the question of ought they to your own voting pen.

Let’s look at some pathways up, and pathways down.

Top 5 Things That Will Get Them There

1. Coalition Potential

The Green Party are bobbing comfortably around 8-11%. They have done nothing of note, offered no support other than key legislation and budget, and kept their hands so clean to get that result. This is the 10% coalition partner Labour needs for another shot.
The Maori Party are the coalition hinge, since likely to retain two. But they are so incoherent that they may as well stitch the For Sale signs on their backs. Time for Labour’s Maori caucus to work as a caucus.

2. Leadership of Prime Minister Ardern

So much depends on the last two months of campaign of head-to-heads, and Labour remain strong here. Her support among her Labour base remains very strong among women, even if corroded within the general public. Her message discipline extends to her entire Cabinet and caucus. No major reshuffles, all scandals and investigations squashed, not a hair out of place. Her to-camera coherence and intelligence still remain an electoral asset. I had thought that Clark would waste Key in debate back in 2008, so I wouldn’t write off Luxon v Ardern. But Ardern is still in her prime and is still an electoral asset – if she can revive in 2022.

3. Minister of Finance Robertson

As Cullen had to in 2005, to win a third term Roberston will have to pull something out of the bag big enough to shift a clear wavering mass back into the Probable Labour vote box. National are now really weak in finance. Robertson has proven to be the power behind the throne in both terms, and he’s an asset Labour need to sell harder to the electorate.

4. Economy

Ours remains one of the strongest economies in the OECD. Headline unemployment and under-utilisation is going to stay at record low levels while international labour movement remains constrained. Economic confidence is sliding down as it gets harder to figure where to invest for those who have such means, and harder to make ends meet for the rest. Over-heating, production limits, and inflation are signals of continuing success. Labour will be rightly trumpeting its successes and its increased support for so many.

5. Delivery

Surprisingly, the second half of this term is where the big openings are. Transmission Gully opens in weeks. Waikato Bypass opens late this year. Cycleways in Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland late this year and early next. Te Ara Tuhono to Wellsford opens end of this year. Dunedin Hospital will start to see big steel girders come out of the ground this year. Invercargill Central opens. Labour have also delivered deeper and deeper subsidies for families, workers, old people, beneficiaries, companies, and more. The massive Woman’s World Football Cup 2023 will link Australia and New Zealand into our biggest sporting stage. The electoral question is: will this delivery be sold well enough to turn into votes?

Top 5 Things That Will Stop Labour

1. Luxon Romance

He’s as mild and small-c conservative as Ardern. He’s at least as fresh to power as she was in 2017. In the evangelical core he can bring double the votes that there are in Labour Party members. Many media are turning against Ardern towards Luxon as the inoffensive alternative. His caucus is united if dull, but then TBH so is Labour’s. Men over 40 want a man for PM again. Labour’s top team are as haggard as their public servants. The big end of town appreciate an ex-Chief Executive and their proxy advertising dollar will follow. Luxon cancels out most of Ardern’s advantages and has none of her growing drag of baggage weight.

2. A Further Major COVID Variant Outbreak

Nothing Labour could do about it now: their support would wither either way if they had to reimpose social controls, or bail out the economy again, or just let it burn through the population with higher deaths in order to stay competitive with our neighbours. This would tank what is sinking them already.

3. A Good Speech, and Proxies

I’m not sure if Luxon has an Orewa Speech in him. I’m not sure if he wants to do a full-throated support of Howl of a Protest farmers. I am more sure that John Key could organise proxy speakers to point the way with some electrifying electoral sizzle to steal 4% in a bump. Would National actually gain rural votes by opposing the 3-Waters policy? If National take the Auckland mayoralty and a majority on Council, they gain a more active proxy than Labour did from their putative 2-term dominance

4. Housing

Every year there are doomsayers who say our private debt exposure through mortgages is too high, and there are more of them now. It would take quite a confluence of events, but this doesn’t smell like 1988 quite yet. Let’s see in 12 months. It’s hard to forecast how much of an electoral impact a house price fall would have since National housing policies would be difficult to defend electorally.

5. Tax

If there’s a Labour Kryptonite, it’s tax. This is the Pavlovian Dog of voting. It’s not fair, not fun, not economically effective, and constrains future governments. But it shifts the mood to “what’s in it for me” and coldly alters public discourse towards National. If Labour can’t answer this question in dollars and cents they will lose.

118 comments on “Can This Government Be Saved? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Hongi Ika 1
    25 March 2022 at 5:53 pm

    If Winston NZF can win the Tauranga BY Election it could throw the spanner in thee works ?

  2. McFlock 2
    25 March 2022 at 6:08 pm

    A lot of it comes down to the budget.

    Masks are still popular, and vaccinations are widespread. some workplaces will ease off their vaccination requirements, but I know that some will also keep it as a basic part of the application process where applicable, like checking drivers' licenses.

    If we get a few months breathing room before the next variant, folks will really focus on other things. 3Waters pisses off some sectors, but housing and inflation will be big issues (especially with the fuel costs making groceries more expensive). The budget will be a big clue here, whether Labour chooses to advance out of the challenges or merely hunker down and wait to be squashed.

    They've had long enough to figure out why kiwibuild fucked up. Housing needs a new idea.

  3. pat 3
    25 March 2022 at 6:15 pm

    Too early for this….the outcome will ultimately be predicated on the economy, which isnt looking to be too flash in a years time

  4. Binders full of women 4
    25 March 2022 at 6:30 pm

    They only need to do two things..

    1) Bin 3 Waters

    2) Avoid dumb-spend eg $195m for 28 people a day (none of them Labour MPs) to catch a Hamilton-Auckland train (1800s tech), and $70k for anti vax art FFS.

    Am I allowed a 3rd one— do something about Robbo & Orr –10+% inflation is a bad look.

    • DB Brown 4.1
      26 March 2022 at 8:29 am

      What's your critique of 3 waters – or are you too busy looking through your binders?

      What's your problem with artists being paid?

      What's your problem with trains? Te Huia line got hit by covid and shut down, but numbers were climbing making your statement nonsense.

      https://www.tehuiatrain.co.nz/assets/Te-Huia/Patronage-reports/Te-Huia-patronage-data-to-February-2022.pdf

      Do you have something original to contribute or do you only operate on repeat mode?

      • Binders full of women 4.1.1
        26 March 2022 at 8:39 am

        No problem with trains. I love trains and was a regular train user in Japan and UK- high density cities where car travel would have been literally impossible. My problem is with ill thought out big spends (bike bridge= yes, no, Dominion Rd= prob never gonna happen). What I hate is seeing $195m Ham-Auck train for 28 people and how many state houses (or even better Greens progressive ownership model)- like about 600- that couil have been built for that money. I'm sick of seeing families with children living in cars in this country.

      • Gypsy 4.1.2
        26 March 2022 at 3:16 pm

        "but numbers were climbing making your statement nonsense."

        From your own source:

        In the 5 weeks after the line reopened, the daily averages have been 96, 88, 76, 61, 85. That looks like a steady downward trend, apart from the final week.

        It's even worse when you look at the 4 weeks before the covid shut down (to 17th August), when the daily average were 139, 121, 115, 113.

        Rather than climbing, the patronage or that period was a downward spiral.

        In December 2021, a report for HCC found that Te Huia had earned $300,000 and cost $3m, and "the weekday service is tracking 49 per cent below business case projections, and 28 per cent below Covid-adjusted projections".

        It's a dog. Shoot it.

        • Incognito 4.1.2.1
          26 March 2022 at 3:51 pm

          That looks like a steady downward trend, apart from the final week.

          LOL! You obviously have very little or no experience with statistics and probabilities. Beginners often want to exclude the points that they don’t like calling them ‘outliers’. Beginners also believe because a data set appears to trend down it is a real effect. In your case, it seems you’re looking for something that suits your narrative, as you did with your ridiculous and self-invented “total Global Population Mortality Rate”. Even so, I wouldn’t shoot ‘the dog’ because you can teach even an old dog new tricks.

          • Gypsy 4.1.2.1.1
            26 March 2022 at 4:50 pm

            "self-invented “total Global Population Mortality Rate”. "

            It seems strange you hadn't previously encountered this. It is one of the headline measurements used at worldometers, a site you yourself linked to. You can also see it used at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/mortality, https://ourworldindata.org/mortality-risk-covid, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104709/coronavirus-deaths-worldwide-per-million-inhabitants/ etc.

            "You obviously have very little or no experience with statistics and probabilities. "

            You seem confused. A 'trend' is a general direction in which something is developing or changing.

            The last seven weeks of the dataset DB used to claim patronage was increasing shows it was actually declining. That is the ‘trend’ over that 7 weeks.

            But just for you, I went back even further. As per above, the average daily patronage for 16/8/21 was 113, the fourth week in succession when the daily patronage had declined. The 6 weeks between 14/6 and 19/7 averaged 133, a decline from an average of 122 for the four weeks to 16/8.

            So go back all you like, the trend is down. $3m spent and $300k earned. It's a dog.

            • DB Brown 4.1.2.1.1.1
              26 March 2022 at 4:53 pm

              You just make shit up. Not worth engaging. Enjoy your delusions and your petty peeves.

            • Incognito 4.1.2.1.1.2
              26 March 2022 at 5:43 pm

              I thought and still think it is futile to counter misguided individuals who make up their own artificial statistics and give it an air of authority to help construct their own personal narrative. In other words, it was and still is BS – there’s no such metric as “total Global Population Mortality Rate” and using Google I could only find one hit and “Global Population Mortality Rate” [without punctuation within] resulted in only ten (10) hits, which should tell you enough.

              You seem confused about trends and trend lines and you appear to base your a priori conclusions on an extrapolation of the data beyond the measured interval or time period. It’s a classical rookie mistake. Until you have more data points within the measured interval and/or more data beyond the measured interval all bets are off, literally, i.e. you’re gambling with the odds stacked against you.

              Nice try, must do better.

              • Gypsy …
                26 March 2022 at 6:19 pm

                Why did you only google "total Global Population Mortality Rate"? Some kind of confirmation bias, perhaps?

                Google 'global population mortality rate' and you get 1,530,000 results.

                Google 'covid population mortality rate' and you get 1,430,000,000 results, including the site you have quoted – worldometers.

                When you go to https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/, the data includes a column titled 'Deaths per 1M pop". That is the population mortality rate for covid.

                You may not have heard of it, but PMR is simply the number of deaths from a specific or all causes, and it is a statistic used by the CIA, the world bank, the WHO, and on and on.

                I'd recommend you google "what is population mortality rate."

                EDIT: You also might want to have a chat to Drowsy – he’s just used the same measure https://thestandard.org.nz/government-announces-significant-changes-to-traffic-light-settings-and-mandates/#comment-1878922.

                • Drowsy M. Kram …
                  26 March 2022 at 6:40 pm

                  EDIT: You also might want to have a chat to Drowsy – he’s just used the same measure

                  Indeed I have, if only to highlight the farcical nature of Gypsy's PMR comparisons. I don’t share Gypsy’s pandemic priorities.

                  Consider that if NZ had a population mortality rate for COVID-19 (from 1 January 2021 until now) corresponding to that of the USA (0.19%), then ~9500 Kiwis would have died, rather than the ~187 (217 – 30) that have (tragically) died.

                  A stunning achievement well worth celebrating, imho.

                  Two years since NZ first locked down – Expert Reaction
                  [21 March 2022]

                  “New Zealand needs to continue investing in public health and pandemic control infrastructure: Colleagues and I have summarised some of the key lessons from the first two years of the pandemic in a Conversation article to mark the two-year anniversary of the first confirmed Covid-19 case in New Zealand. Our major conclusion is that taking a highly proactive public health response to the pandemic has given New Zealand some of the best health, wellbeing, and economic outcomes seen globally.

                  “New Zealand was the first country to publish an elimination strategy for responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. This response minimised harms to the population and economy during the first 18 months of the pandemic until effective vaccines became widely available. Since then, New Zealand has shifted its response in a highly strategic way to suppression and now mitigation. This strategic approach has given the country the lowest Covid-19 mortality in the OECD and increased life expectancy.

                  “As the Omicron pandemic wave will soon start to recede, it is appropriate to lessen many pandemic control measures, such as border entry restrictions and the ‘Traffic Light’ system. At the same time, New Zealand needs to maintain a set of key control measures that can be turned up or down depending on the future evolution of the pandemic.

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 6:48 pm

                    Thanks for confirming I didn't make the PMR up.smiley
                    Good ‘cherry pick’ with the US too.

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 7:20 pm

                    "I believe that your point was:"

                    Yep. that was my point. You've conveniently chosen the US (with a population density twice that of NZ, and Canada, which has land borders with 13 states of the US.

                    And why 'english speaking'? Taiwan has a population density 38 times higher than NZ, but has a lower PMR.

                    • Muttonbird …
                      26 March 2022 at 8:07 pm

                      What's all this about cherry picking? :roll:

                    • Incognito …
                      26 March 2022 at 8:49 pm

                      Knock yourself out with Ireland: 4,427 notified deaths from 1 Jan 2021 (because that’s your starting point, for whatever reason; the grand total is 6,710 deaths) with a population size that’s very similar to New Zealand.

                    • Drowsy M. Kram …
                      26 March 2022 at 8:50 pm

                      What's all this about cherry picking? laugh

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 9:20 pm

                    "Imho your bias has blinded you to the comparative successes Kiwis have enjoyed during the pandemic. "

                    Of course we've enjoyed success. Some of that is due to the governments response in 2020, some due to an accident of geography. But there have been slips, and significant ones. And that applies to most countries in the world.

                • Incognito …
                  26 March 2022 at 8:22 pm

                  Why did you only google "total Global Population Mortality Rate"? [my italics]

                  Well, I did not do that. I did exactly what I said I did and found 1 and 10 proper hits, respectively. I used the terms that you yourself invented. So, the bias is all yours, I’m afraid.

                  It appears that you don’t know how to do a proper search with Google, which explains a lot of your misguided nonsense.

                  As I said before, it’s futile to try counter your BS, as it is obvious it only exists in your imagination and even Google supports this conclusion.

                  BTW, Drowsy did not use the exact same terms; can you spot the difference?

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 8:44 pm

                    You seem to think there is a difference when you add the words 'total' or 'global'. I'm not sure why you really can't see this. It' snot rocket science.

                    • Incognito …
                      26 March 2022 at 8:59 pm

                      The difference is that you merged them and made up a new ‘hybrid statistic’ that nobody else uses, in any given context. This should tell you that you are the only one in the Google universe who uses them and gives them that special meaning that you think they have. You even called it a ‘neat statistical fact’. It is ‘neat’ because it fits neatly into your narrative.

                    • Drowsy M. Kram …
                      26 March 2022 at 9:12 pm

                      Imho your bias has blinded you to the comparative successes Kiwis have enjoyed during the pandemic. Not only "in 2020" – the whole shebang. Our response has not been perfect, obviously, but is clearly better than most – you'd have to be blind not to see it.

                      I'll not be wasting any more time trying to unravel your COVID 'analyses', which should suit us both very well indeed.

                      New Zealand's Covid-19 response still one of the best worldwide – Michael Baker [28 Feb. 2022]
                      Baker said he is still optimistic about the future, highlighting that life expectancy in New Zealand has risen by about eight months over the course of the pandemic…

                      What do the data show for the 2019-2021 country rankings?

                      Two features carry over from previous editions of the World Happiness Report. First, there is still a lot of year-to-year consistency in the way people rate their lives in different countries. Since we do our ranking on a three-year average, information is carried forward from one year to the next (See Figure 1 of Statistical Appendix 1 for individual country trajectories). For the fifth year in a row, Finland continues to occupy the top spot, with a score significantly ahead of other countries in the top ten. Denmark continues to occupy second place, with Iceland up from 4th place last year to 3rd this year. Switzerland is 4th, followed by the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The top ten are rounded out by Sweden, Norway, Israel and New Zealand. The following five are Austria, Australia, Ireland, Germany, and Canada. This marks a substantial fall for Canada, which was 5th in the first World Happiness Report. The rest of the top 20 include the United States at 16th (up from 19th last year), the United Kingdom, and Czechia still in 17th and 18th, followed by Belgium at 19th, and France at 20th, its highest ranking yet.
                      https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2022/happiness-benevolence-and-trust-during-covid-19-and-beyond/

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 9:03 pm

                    "The difference is that you merged them and made up a new ‘hybrid statistic’ that nobody else uses, in any given context."

                    Rubbish. The words total and global don't change the meaning in the context at all. And the are the same words I included in a post you twice responded to before pretending not to understand it.

                    • Incognito …
                      26 March 2022 at 9:14 pm

                      You’re calling me a liar and you pretend that context does not matter. Point is nobody uses these words in the same combination as you do. You’re alone and on your own. Accept it.

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 9:22 pm

                    "Point is nobody uses these words in the same combination as you do. "

                    And yet it is obvious you knew what I meant.

                    • Incognito …
                      26 March 2022 at 9:29 pm

                      Nope, it was not. For example, I still don’t know the presumed difference, in your mind, between “total Global PMR” and “Global PMR”, if there’s any, which I now sincerely doubt. It all looked like BS to me, which is why I did not pursue it. Today, you have confirmed my worst suspicions. Moreover, you have repeatedly accused me of lying.

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 9:37 pm

                    "“total Global PMR” and “Global PMR”, "

                    Why is the word 'total' so important to you? I think you're just getting desperate. You knew what i meant, you’re responses show that.

                    [You used them and made them up, you explain them and show evidence that they are bone fide stats as used by others. Good luck – Incognito]

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 10:06 pm

                    "You used them and made them up, you explain them and show evidence that they are bone fide stats as used by others. G"

                    I have. And you demonstrated you knew exactly what they meant. And, other posters have used them (plural).

                    [You need to provide external links in which others have used those exact terms as used by you. Stop beating around the bush and back up your artificial constructs. Other commenters may have gone along with you, to a point, and that’s both disappointing and frustrating because there’s no basis for it other than that you made them up. My BS detector is set more sensitive than most here, particularly when it relates to stats and self-invented metrics (or definitions) associated with Covid – Incognito]

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 10:38 pm

                    "You need to provide external links in which others have used those exact terms as used by you. "

                    Are you serious? You know what the words mean. You read them and went straight to the conclusion. I can only assume you are dancing around trying to justify yourself because I pointed that out.

                    [Yup, now I am deadly serious, thanks to you – Incognito]

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 11:03 pm

                    "Well done! "

                    Thanks. Let's call it a night.

                    • Incognito …
                      26 March 2022 at 11:05 pm

                      My work here is not done yet, but I’m going to take a break and a drink – I have deserved both!

                    • weka …
                      27 March 2022 at 10:32 am

                      If you use the last reply button in a thread, rather than going back an indent, conversations will be easier to follow. Just find the comment you want to reply to, and scroll back up to the first Reply button in line with that comment.

                      Also, sometimes comments get held back because there are too many links, or a moderator has set the commenter to premod (meaning comments need to be released manually).

              • Gypsy …
                26 March 2022 at 6:21 pm

                "You seem confused about trends and trend lines "

                Nope. I gave you a common definition of trend, and my comments have been specific to DB's false claim that the "numbers were climbing ".

                • Incognito …
                  26 March 2022 at 8:29 pm

                  You seem to think a trend means an actual and real change over time in a certain direction. Based on those daily average numbers over 5 and 4 weeks, respectively, you cannot draw this conclusion, as these trends could easily have been caused by chance alone. You see, before you draw any conclusions, you should run a test of sorts and your confirmation bias is not an appropriate test by any means. It’s all in your head, again.

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 8:45 pm

                    I gave you a definition of trend, which was fairly common. A trend can be demonstrated over 5 weeks. It can also be demonstrated over a longer period of time, as I did.

                    • Incognito …
                      26 March 2022 at 8:52 pm

                      Don’t be thick. A trend means nothing until you know it is not caused by random chance. From the data provided you cannot draw this conclusion (yet). Stop talking out of your arse.

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 9:05 pm

                    "A trend means nothing until you know it is not caused by random chance. "

                    Now you are being silly. A trend is a trend. You can see trends in randomly generated data.

                    • Incognito …
                      26 March 2022 at 9:11 pm

                      You can see trends in randomly generated data.

                      Yes, you can, and that’s exactly the point: it may or may not be real. Why can’t you get this through your thick skull? When you do this in daily life it is a form of delusion (aka apophenia or patternicity).

              • Gypsy …
                26 March 2022 at 9:01 pm

                "You made up these two terms"

                I didn't make up any terms. But what I do find interesting is that after I used the term "total Global Population Mortality Rate" here, you replied here and here without questioning it. And in the first post you wrote "Rank Countries by Deaths/1M pop" so you knew exactly what it meant.

                • Incognito …
                  26 March 2022 at 9:06 pm

                  Nope. Which is why I picked a term that I do understand and straight from an existing table in which the rank order can be changed interactively online. I wasn’t about to counter an artificial construct made up by you. However, when you again showed your ignorance about stats today, I decided to dig a little deeper. I was shocked that even with Google I could only find less than a dozen proper hits.

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 9:09 pm

                    Bullshit. You specifically responded to my comment with a reference to ""Rank Countries by Deaths/1M pop"". You knew exactly what I meant.

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 9:13 pm

                    Oh dear. And here, in response to me using the term "total Global Population Mortality Rate" you wrote "You have not provided a link, but it seems to me that you’re out by a large factor."

                    You said I was out about a statistic you don't think is a thing?

                    • Incognito …
                      26 March 2022 at 9:24 pm

                      Whatever you did and however you came to result of 2,500 deaths in NZ, it made no sense. It also made no sense when I looked at the table online, without any mental acrobatics, and could easily produce the projected number of 5,000 Covid-related deaths in NZ, which you labelled as “pure fantasy”.

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 9:17 pm

                    "Are you calling me a liar?"

                    I hate that word. I think you knew what the term means, I think you know the term describes something entirely valid, but for some reason you've dug yourself a hole.

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 9:34 pm

                    "Whatever you did and however you came to result of 2,500 deaths in NZ, it made no sense. It also made no sense when I looked at the table online, without any mental acrobatics, and could easily produce the projected number of 5,000 Covid-related deaths in NZ, which you labelled as “pure fantasy”."

                    That's one of the reasons I have used the post 2020 data, to eliminate a period before vaxxes were in play because if we're serious about the numbers, it's more accurate to use data that is relevant to the current situation.

                    I had explained here that the global PMR for 2021/22 is 0.053%.

                    If we apply that to NZ population of 4,917,000, we get 2,600 deaths.

                    The total global PMR (is since covid began) is 0.078%. Applying that to NZ population gives 3,826 deaths, still well short of 5,000. But I dispute that methodology because it includes almost a year of exposure without any vaccination.

                    • Incognito …
                      26 March 2022 at 9:52 pm

                      You’re just repeating yourself and the higher the number becomes the more desperately you dispute it and the ‘methodology’. The only person who operates in “pure fantasy” is you.

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 10:04 pm

                    "You’re just repeating yourself…"

                    I was answering your post.

                    "…and the higher the number becomes the more desperately you dispute it and the ‘methodology’.""

                    No, the number we have been discussing is the claim of 5,000 deaths in NZ. My view is that was never a reasonable assumption, and to demonstrate that i have used global averages for both the CMR and PMR.

                    • Incognito …
                      26 March 2022 at 10:48 pm

                      Yes, by now we know your view all too well, thanks. And that you have laboured to dispel the number of 5,000 as “pure fantasy”. Instead, you could have used all the info and data provided to you on a platter in a plethora of comments to adjust and correct (or moderate) your views. You stubborn denial and obfuscation have become irksome, to say the least. I remember that you used to behave in the exact same way here on TS a while ago. It didn’t end well then either.

              • Gypsy …
                26 March 2022 at 9:07 pm

                "(because that’s your starting point, for whatever reason;"

                Because you obviously havn't been following, I explained that I use post 2020 data in some cases to look at a period when vaccinations were in play.

                • Incognito …
                  26 March 2022 at 9:17 pm

                  Vaccination rates are very different in different countries. It was a weak and arbitrary cut-off.

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 9:26 pm

                    Arbitrary, yes. Weak, no. I started using it to give credit to NZ for our high vaccination rate.

                    • Incognito …
                      26 March 2022 at 9:33 pm

                      Everything you’ve done is weak and piss-poor. You have no statistical knowledge and skills to allow you to have a go at other commenters about their perceived shortcomings and incorrect conclusions. Please stop now before I stop you from wasting more of our time.

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 9:36 pm

                    You have no statistical knowledge and skills to allow you to have a go at other commenters "

                    It's funny you say that because you've not been able to show what's actually wrong in what I’ve posted.

                    [I have told you many times, but you refuse to listen. For example, the trends in those daily averages are not statistically significant, i.e. you cannot exclude the possibility that they were caused by chance alone. I’m giving you a warning now to stop wasting time here. You can re-join the convo when you demonstrate you actually have some basic statistics knowledge and skills – Incognito]

                  • Gypsy …
                    26 March 2022 at 10:09 pm

                    "For example, the trends in those daily averages are not statistically significant, i.e. you cannot exclude the possibility that they were caused by chance alone."

                    Of course I can't, but you're missing the point. DB claimed the trend was up. Even if the trends are not statistically significant, even if they were caused by chance, the trend is not up. You're just not thinking straight tonight.

                    [You claimed the following here (https://thestandard.org.nz/can-this-government-be-saved/#comment-1878884):

                    That looks like a steady downward trend, apart from the final week.

                    …

                    … the patronage or [sic] that period was a downward spiral.

                    By your own admission you cannot draw these conclusions just as DB could not support his claim with those data. I’ll put you in Pre-Moderation until I have caught up with your other denials and until I have decided how long you take time off here – Incognito]

                    • Incognito …
                      26 March 2022 at 10:23 pm

                      Mod note

                    • Gypsy …
                      26 March 2022 at 10:32 pm

                      "That looks like a steady downward trend, apart from the final week."

                      Because that's what what it does look like. I didn't try to explain the trend or justify it. I simply showed DB was wrong. Get over yourself.

                      [And I showed that they are just random fluctuations in patronage until one can conclude otherwise with more data and/or longer periods – Incognito]

                    • Incognito []
                      26 March 2022 at 10:39 pm

                      Mod note

  5. Patricia Bremner 5
    25 March 2022 at 6:45 pm

    Can this Government be saved?

    A loaded question. "Have you stopped beating Jacinda Ardern because we have a Pandemic."

    Is the glass half full or half empty? I guess for some it is always half empty, it will be…

    Those who feel this Government has questioned their God given right to be superior.

    Those who are not used to considering community.

    Those who feel money gives them power.

    Those who feel "What's in it for me?"

    Those of us who know that every strategy will be brought to bear to bring this PM and Government down, should call it out when we see it.

    Life is not perfect….But…

    Show me a perfect Pandemic response.

    Show me strategies to meet needs.

    Show me Policies with people and planet at their heart.

    Show me pride in who we are and our wonderful indigenous culture.

    Show examples of Leadership and delivery to stop naysayers.

    Remind New Zealanders of their influence world wide.

    Labour members should begin donating to assist in countering the big money influence.

    The main reason to help keep this Government in place is no "Hollow Men" thanks.

  6. KJT 6
    25 March 2022 at 6:59 pm

    lost your last bit of remaining credibility when you mentioned the Greens.

    As so much of Labours progressive policies were originated by them.

    Labours re-election, and the chance of real progress for NZ, depend on a Labour/Green co-alition.

    You are as blinded as the Anti Jacinda mob.

  7. Stuart Munro 7
    25 March 2022 at 8:28 pm

    Ours remains one of the strongest economies in the OECD. Headline unemployment and under-utilisation is going to stay at record low levels

    Yes, we are aware that that is what Treasury is telling you – but it bears little resemblance to the picture for working people on the ground. Caught in a squeeze between decades of real estate inflation, the unregulated greed of a duopoly, together with fuel price rises and mortgage interest rates poised to surge, it doesn't feel like a strong economy at all.

    Our productivity remains stubbornly low – which means lots of shitty jobs, and little in the way of prospects. Pretty soon we'll have a new tranche of cheap migrant workers (NZ employers would die before they brought in actually skilled ones) to lock in the generational low real wages. Labour supporters have no reason to vote, and Luxton, with sufficient media life support (and the government failed to support a real news option that could interrogate that bullshit) will probably slip through on a wave of disenchantment.

    • pat 7.1
      25 March 2022 at 10:01 pm

      That hoped for wave of immigrant labour is anticipated to be the critical factor in restraining wage grow and heading off an inflationary spiral….unfortunately for all concerned the debt levels are going to constrain spending regardless and the contraction will still occur.

      • Stuart Munro 7.1.1
        25 March 2022 at 10:07 pm

        Well cost of living growth hasn't been restrained – how poor do we have to get before Labour wake up to the fact that you can't pull that crap indefinitely? Are they all asleep?

        • pat 7.1.1.1
          25 March 2022 at 10:18 pm

          Are they asleep?…probably not, but they are out of options….hope is about all they have.

          Systemic change takes time…and they have run out.

  8. Just Saying 8
    25 March 2022 at 9:46 pm

    No.

    (Women are also general public. The days of imagining a large divide between the political interests of females (the majority btw) versus males is pretty much over now IMHO.)

    Adern's own-goal of first deliberately setting up vehement nation-wide scapegoating with dangerously divisive mandates in the context of many people who were wound up with fear and anger, then insisting on keeping them going when the rationale had become irrelevant, followed up with showing her true face as she refused to meet working-class scum, filth excrement etc., protesters: That was end game.

    Labour has always relied on a solid, if small, long-struggling, non-gentile poor vote and Adern ended it in that arrogance. Saying ''any death is one death too many'' already stuck in the throats of those of us who have lost loved ones because of reliance on grossly inadequate and underfunded public services. But in the beginning, I know I gave her the benefit of the doubt and hoped that ''kind''-ness and caring might actually extend to my people. As time wore on those painful words grew larger and were (metaphorically) choking us, as trillions went to the rich and the poor struggled even more and those health services were not improved one jot within the billions that magically appeared because anything that might threaten the comfortable actually matters. Just as those who have always struggled don't and never will to the likes of the Aderns in this world. I don't think many at TS got that. There is just too much class division, in just who we talk to, let alone listen to or even notice.

    There were also greater numbers of mandate opposers in the wider electorate than the government and the comfortably-off were aware of. Not granny-killers who are selfish and rich, but who were aware from reading overseas data that such measures were killing more people without covid than they were saving from covid. Tradies, the underemployed precariat etc….. The bullshit slurs really didn't go down.

    The beltway keeps misreading the electorate. (Also, for far too long, the evidence apparently.) That doesn't matter to parties who are not reliant on a marginalised vote. It does matter for Labour.

    This every-election voter will never vote Labour or Green again. I think there might be some off-beat independents that might make a good protest vote if I just can't bring myself to put a mark against National on the day. Maybe getting drunk will do the trick.

    • SPC 8.1
      25 March 2022 at 10:44 pm

      And what exactly did the Greens do to have you consider National and not them …

      • Just Saying 8.1.1
        25 March 2022 at 10:52 pm

        The Greens are part of this government and supported this anti-poor viciousness every step along the way.

        There may be no way to establish a parliamentary left, but if it is necessary to actively oppose the pretenders, that's just a bullet that has to be bitten.

        • Muttonbird 8.1.1.1
          25 March 2022 at 10:57 pm

          Most poor people got vaccinated like everyone else. Antivaxers aren't defined by their income, just their idiocy.

          • Just Saying 8.1.1.1.1
            25 March 2022 at 11:19 pm

            Ffs It was about the mandate. Guess what? I'm vaccinated.

            You really need to get with your government's belated changing narrative. Even they are now anti-mandate.

            And just as an aside, it looks like the protest was the most successful in decades. Time for for protestors to ditch the twinsets and ham-up the slurs. If the nay-sayers are accusing you of being anti-vaccers who believe earth is being bombarded by some kind of dangerous rays, its time to really take the piss and don the tinfoil hats.

            • Muttonbird 8.1.1.1.1.1
              25 March 2022 at 11:23 pm

              Guess what? I'm vaccinated.

              Guess what? I don't give a shit.

              Anti-mandate, anti-vax, anti-establishment, anti-social. It’s all the same thing.

              • Just Saying …
                25 March 2022 at 11:48 pm

                Ta Muttonbird, but its not the same thing.

                No point in saying scum like me don't deserve democratic rights like protest. Don't really deserve to live. There's nothing you can do that could express contempt better than your Prime Minister has already done.

                • SPC …
                  26 March 2022 at 12:12 am

                  The Greens are part of this government and supported this anti-poor viciousness every step along the way.

                  This is not an evidence based statement.

                • Patricia Bremner …
                  26 March 2022 at 12:27 pm

                  Just Saying, nothing we can say will likely alter your view. You have accused tried and convicted the target of your anger.

                  You ignore the death threats made, the blatant cruel lies about her partner, the very real threats made against the Health Minister, and rail against the failure to "front and talk".

                  When the behaviour is so deliberately provoking, leaderless by design, who would have talked? There was a list of plainly unreasonable demands put forward. Not many had anything to do with mandates. That came later, as one reason for gathering such differing groups.

                  Now I wrote here I did not agree with the Speaker's actions. They were childish and mean turning on the sprinklers. That just hardened attitudes.imo.

                  The whole pandemic declared by the WHO has been hard for many, and yes harder for those who had less to begin with. Everyone is "over it", and the Government you accuse of not listening, has changed the mandates, something the PM is on record as not favouring. So as the pandemic has changed responses have changed. “Anti poor viciousness”
                  Please explain that statement.

                  I wonder if your pain and anger is loss related. I am sorry if this is the case. We are currently dealing with a case of long covid, and the loss of a friend who missed cancer treatments just one time to many.

        • SPC 8.1.1.2
          25 March 2022 at 11:09 pm

          It is not a coalition government. The Greens are not part of the government – they have no members in Cabinet.

          They had no part in determining government policy, except as per their agreement – and related limited portfolio areas (outside Cabinet) to implement.

    • DB Brown 8.2
      26 March 2022 at 8:40 am

      Perpetual victims.

      Go do something useful for society rather than just yourself you might actually feel better.

      • Just Saying 8.2.1
        26 March 2022 at 10:20 am

        Thanks for telling us who we are. Again. I can promise you I'll be doing something a lot more useful than supporting the so-called-left.

        The irony is, you all were being warned because that's what comrades do. But nah you'd rather lose the election. That's some powerful hatred you got going there.

        • DB Brown 8.2.1.1
          26 March 2022 at 10:37 am

          "Powerful hatred"

          "You all were being warned"

          Hilarious. But you're not suffering from victimhood, right?

          Assuming you'll not be supporting the powerful hatred and blindness of the left… you'll be embracing the open arms of right wings ‘anything goes so long as we own the libs’ philosophy?

          Gosh.

          • Just Saying 8.2.1.1.1
            26 March 2022 at 11:28 am

            No DB, I won't be embracing the right wing. This isn't a team sport. It is not jerseys and brands, or a marketing 'phenomenon'. I'm trying to talk, not to score points.

            • DB Brown 8.2.1.1.1.1
              26 March 2022 at 12:18 pm

              It's all a bit mixed messaging, again, isn't it. You just want to talk?

              You've not understood how untenable, irresponsible and downright anti-social it is to be anti-vax or anti-vax adjacent in a pandemic. Why would talking any more make any difference to your warped perceptions of self above it all.

              • Just Saying …
                26 March 2022 at 12:41 pm

                Back to this again.

                It was already a fait accompli. There was no logical rationale to continue with the scapegoating because covid could not be held back. Not even China's unique control is working. The arguments about the possible consequences and why we had to carry on directing the national fear at the undocumented – it was just magical thinking and it was all unravelling.

                Even the change of policy and rhetoric and beginning to live the reality doesn't make any difference to you? When is reality going to kick in?

                Whose self above all DB? All the bollocks about working as a team and who was being harmed in reality? Who was never in the fucking team? Whose lives never have and apparently never will matter? And who was actually being selfish and self-indulgent?

            • Patricia Bremner 8.2.1.1.1.2
              26 March 2022 at 12:47 pm

              What is the warning? Who is being warned? What needs to be done? Who do you see as having powerful hatred towards those who have little.? Keep talking, as even though people take a stance, talking is important as you pointed out. Anger can cause withdrawal as well of course.

              • Just Saying …
                26 March 2022 at 1:17 pm

                During this I was falling over myself to be reasonable in the face of the most intense hate speech I've ever experienced. I, and others who left early in the piece, were trying to ''warn'' the left on this site that this was out of control.

                You accuse me of hatred. I've met, really liked some of the people on here. Before, we could talk and were comrades of a kind. How quickly I could become scum, filth, shit, worthless trash…. One beyond the pale who could not be listened to. Because of what exactly? Covid could not be stopped. That's a fact. It was a fact long before it was officially decreed in NZ.

                I was trying to suggest we really needed a plan to protect and nurture our most vulnerable. We needed to stop targeting and blaming and start working together. It couldn't be heard. The ''correct'' people weren't saying it. Not then. The scapegoating was doing real harm. Not feared in the future harm. And Covid Could Not Be Stopped.

                • DB Brown …
                  26 March 2022 at 1:25 pm

                  Still a victim.

                  Covid could not be stopped, but it could be slowed. You are wrong. It is an idiot statement to think nothing could be done.

                  You were subject to people facing an existential threat and you were adding to that threat. They called you names.

                  FFS. Get over yourself.

    • Anne 8.3
      26 March 2022 at 6:37 pm

      .. showing her true face as she refused to meet working-class scum, filth excrement etc., protesters

      Jesus you're twisted. Something is seriously wrong with your attitude. Do something about it.

      Btw, anyone who still can't spell the prime minister's surname correctly is not going to find many people who will bother reading their reckons.

  9. Muttonbird 9
    25 March 2022 at 10:37 pm

    I think they're doing fine. Don't forget this is a government which is making a massive effort to make things right for existing Kiwis before shipping in a whole lot of cheap labour and dirty money to create the illusion of a rock star economy.

    It's easy to turn the tap on and not care about the consequences, it's another to think carefully about managing a sustainable society. The majority of Kiwis now get this having seen both approaches. The left does the hard stuff. The right does the easy stuff.

    This goes for Three Waters too. The furious wank the white right wing of NZ seems to be enjoying over this perfectly sensible amalgamation and efficiency of resources shows they don’t do complicated. Cycleways, yes, fibre broadband using the cheap labour mentioned above, yes, but they refuse to fix decades of underspend.

    JA could do with a long break to recharge, spend time with her family, and get married. Once that is done she will be back, all smiles.

  10. Muttonbird 10
    25 March 2022 at 10:55 pm

    Oh, and Chris Luxton is no John Keys. Can't see him turning that around in 18 months. Besides which he has Bishop so high up and no-one trusts him at all.

    Mitchell and Brown sitting there with nothing to do since Simon inexplicably decided to quit…

    Watch out for further implosion from the National Party before the next election.

    • Tony Veitch (not etc.) 10.1
      26 March 2022 at 7:00 am

      Watch out for further implosion from the National Party before the next election.

      Here's hoping!

    • Blade 10.2
      26 March 2022 at 8:24 am

      Hope is an important thing…or maybe not. When they did a study of American soldiers captured during the Korean war they found those who were holding out hope of rescue didn't last long. Those soldiers who just concentrated on what was before them and surviving – neither holding false hope or despair, survived capture.

      Labour is believing they will be rescued by something…anything.

      Mitchell, for example, is up against Poto Williams. One down. Reality v Disneyland.

      You can bet if National win the election, there’s going to be trouble between Mitchell and Costa. Hopefully with the latter moving on.

      I think the voters now see through Labour and will vote accordingly.

      • Patricia Bremner 10.2.1
        26 March 2022 at 12:52 pm

        Arming the Police? Making money from Prison's Right Gotcha!! Mitchell!! Jeez!!

        • Blade 10.2.1.1
          26 March 2022 at 2:09 pm

          Arming the police would be a good and rational start. I notice you are great on rhetoric; short on solutions…as usual.

          Other POSSIBLE solutions.

          • A police trained public posse to assist police with controlling large crowds. Cameras to be worn at all times by posse members to make sure things don't turn into vigilantism.
          • Compulsory reading and writing lessons for all uneducated prisoners before they can access privileges. Educated prisoners would help out. No compliance means solitary confinement.

          *Reintroduce borstal boot camps. Same applies as in jails. Stern corporal punishment for young ferals who have never been told NO!

          • Reintroduction of three strikes for serious offences.
          • Bringing fear back into the law. Zero tolerance for disrespecting police, ambulance staff, nurses and other authority figures. Three months ad campaign warning of this new approach so ignorance of the law won't be an excuse.
          • General population for all corrupt police officers.
          • Introduction of corporate manslaughter legislation.
          • All school bullying becomes a police matter with short sharp borstal stays for chronic offenders.

          I could go on. Over to you. Let's hear your suggestions. Poto Williams…Jeez!

          • ozaki 10.2.1.1.1
            26 March 2022 at 2:56 pm

            "Zero tolerance for disrespecting police, ambulance staff, nurses and other authority figures." – yet met the parliament ground protestors?

          • DB Brown 10.2.1.1.2
            26 March 2022 at 5:22 pm

            Just a massive troll is what that was. I've grown passable flowers out of material such as yours. Not as rich as some I've heard but you had a good go.

            "Corporate manslaughter legislation"

            Ah, a man of the people I see. cheeky

            • Blade 10.2.1.1.2.1
              27 March 2022 at 10:45 am

              Highly strung I see. And short on a reply or counter suggestions. Take it easy. Maybe look around for another blog to infest?

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    52 mins ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 hours ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 hours ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five 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 ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 hours ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 hours ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 hours ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    7 hours ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    8 hours ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    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 in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
    New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.  “While there are no set timeframes for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
    The New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Tenancy rules changes to improve rental market
    The coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with China
    Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-19T01:05:56+00:00