Child abuse and poverty – still with us

Written By: - Date published: 11:32 am, November 28th, 2016 - 33 comments
Categories: child abuse, child welfare, national, paula bennett, poverty - Tags: , , ,

As topics like Trump and the quakes take the limelight, the slow tragedies unfolding in NZ carry on in the background. In the Herald this morning:

Our kids at risk: Lost security puts children at risk in Flaxmere

NZ has the fourth-highest rate of child deaths from assault in the OECD. Simon Collins visited three communities to look for the root causes of that bad child abuse record.
…
Treasury data shows that 570 (39 per cent) of Flaxmere’s 1473 preschoolers are “at risk” of poor outcomes later in life based on four risk indicators: mothers with no qualifications, parents on benefits, parents with criminal records, and official findings of abuse or neglect. The NZ average for preschoolers at risk is 15 per cent.

New Zealand children overall face higher risks of dying from assault before age 15 than children in any other OECD country except Estonia, the United States and Mexico. Latest World Health Organisation data shows eight Kiwi children killed by assault in 2011, a death rate seven times Australia’s for every 100,000 children. …

It’s a long and interesting read, lots of real stories. Stay tuned for the two follow up pieces on other communities.

Last week on One News:

‘It’s an embarrassment’ there are so many vulnerable children in NZ, says Sir Graham Henry as Plunket gala aims to raise $500k

Former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry says it’s an embarrassment that a great country like New Zealand has 300,000 young people who are vulnerable.
…
The 2015 Child Poverty Monitor found that around 300,000 under-18-year-olds are living in poverty and Sir Graham told Seven Sharp he’s a proud New Zealander but that statistic is an embarrassment.

“I think the Government’s refocusing in this area, as you probably know. They need to. It’s our embarrassment. This country is a great country,” he said. …

Rather difficult for them to “refocus” on this area without even an official measure of poverty I would have thought.

33 comments on “Child abuse and poverty – still with us ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Rosemary McDonald 1
    28 November 2016 at 12:27 pm

    Gosh!

    Paula Bennett’s an embarrassment.

  2. Sorrwerdna 2
    28 November 2016 at 12:34 pm

    rather than abuse and criticism from the left how about some suggestions and answers what the great left would do if they ever get into power

    • Rosemary McDonald 2.2
      28 November 2016 at 12:58 pm

      Oh, I don’t know….perhaps increase the tax on alcohol and impose some kind of harm mitigation levy on the massive booze industry? This would piss off the booze barons…but what the heck.

      Fund extensive anti getting pissed messaging…perhaps even stating that using any mind altering recreational chemical when responsible for children is socially unacceptable….similar to the anti smoking message.

      Fund addiction services….REAL addiction services. Funding can be sourced from the Harm Mitigation Levy that will be imposed on the booze barons…

      Give real support to the initiatives from communities such as those in the article by Simon Collins. Grassroots, interventional programs.

      Hopefully, a left leaning government would refuse to have it’s duty to the less well heeled compromised by it’s commitment to it’s supporters.

      • Psycho Milt 2.2.1
        28 November 2016 at 4:14 pm

        The government already imposes taxes on the liquor industry and funds extensive wowser messaging. The kind of people who file producing children under “shit happens” and unsurprisingly go on to neglect and abuse them are impervious to such messaging.

        • Rosemary McDonald 2.2.1.1
          28 November 2016 at 4:22 pm

          “The government already imposes taxes on the liquor industry and funds extensive wowser messaging.”

          More taxes, levy to mitigate harm, funding for messaging that actually does encourage the reduction of substance abuse…not those stupid, facile, infantile…

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHe6hJlCNlI

    • One Anonymous Bloke 2.3
      28 November 2016 at 1:19 pm

      Run the economy better, as usual.

    • ropata 2.4
      28 November 2016 at 7:34 pm

      I dunno, how about actually address the problems outlined in this post rather than laugh them off like Pullya Benefit

    • Cinny 2.5
      29 November 2016 at 7:20 am

      A cross party group to investigate and find solutions, but the government said no, they were doing their own investigation. That really pissed me off, kids come first, our stat’s and abuse rates are shocking, but still the national party said no to a cross party group on child poverty.

      What’s changed? Nadda.

      Education is so important and support. Often when one has a baby they are shipped out of the hospital asap, with their newborn. Educate parents on how to cope with a baby, that would be a great start. How about Plunket? How much support do groups like plunket get from the government?

      How about taking the booze out of the supermarket? Can’t tell me that some of the abuse is not alcohol related. Pick up some wine with the nappies and formula…

      How about some ads on tv to educate parents, dang how about a parenting tv programme? Do we even have one of those?

      Are teachers in schools and preschools taught to identify signs of abuse? So they can do something if they see it?

      Is mental health funded properly? Is post natal depression even talked about?

      Are the social pressures of life causing so much stress that parents can’t cope?

      A cross party group would be a good start.

    • Chris 2.6
      29 November 2016 at 11:07 am

      Labour promises to reverse its war-on-the-poor policies of 1999 to 2008, says it got it wrong and promises not to do it again, instead of merely repeating the line “we’re a different party now”, like it said in 1999. There’s a start.

  3. save nz 3
    28 November 2016 at 12:57 pm

    Put simply, a UBI is a pump-priming minimum income that is unconditionally granted to all on an individual basis, without any means test or work requirement. It eliminates the poverty traps that the poor fall into when welfare payments have many conditions and are administered by large and inflexible bureaucracies….

    “We tend to think that simply giving people money makes them lazy. Yet a wealth of scientific research proves the contrary: free money helps. It is time for a radical reform of the welfare state.”

    https://thecorrespondent.com/541/why-we-should-give-free-money-to-everyone/31639050894-e44e2c00

    • Mr Nobody 3.1
      28 November 2016 at 3:05 pm

      Save NZ as you seem to have a better understand on UB, can you explain this to me (or point me towards a resource that can)…

      As a country we’re already supporting a those who need it via the welfare system (No issue). From my understanding a UB would eliminate the welfare system and those people would still be getting supported (though I believe at a greater amount than today?), but what about the person $50k/annum or $100K/annum?

      Do their tax rates increase?

      What happens when we pay UBI and people still “need” more because they can’t survive?

      thanks in advance.

    • AB 3.2
      28 November 2016 at 3:55 pm

      @save nz
      “We tend to think that simply giving people money makes them lazy”.
      Actually we only tend to think that giving poor people money makes them lazy. Secretly, and without any justification, we believe they are really lazy anyway and that’s why they are poor.

      But we have no problem at all with well-off people getting money for nothing – unearned capital gains from rental property speculation anyone? A nice portfolio of shares that goes up in value? All good – a fair and just monetary reward for umm, err, for already having money. And getting it doesn’t make them lazy – no it drives them to ever greater and more heroic investments. Truly they are our salvation.

      Next time some authoritarian fool says they don’t like a UBI because people would get money without working for it – ask if they would prohibit all income from capital.

      • Jono 3.2.1
        28 November 2016 at 8:24 pm

        The rich are a different breed but you will never hear from the media they are lazy. But actually they are much lazier than the average poor person. They usually make there money throught the least labour intensive method posible ie the share market or a takeover. I know i might get a bit of flack for saying this…

        • save nz 3.2.1.1
          29 November 2016 at 10:30 am

          Jono, the rich and actually even the middle class don’t even have to pay taxes as they were previously because of all the legal tax avoidance. Nowadays the big money is made on paper and there seems to little taxes on it, and talk of them seems to be shut down.

          That is why I would advocate a robin hood tax on banks for each transaction and maybe some sort of transaction tax to pay for the UBI.

          That would tax those that are whizzing their money around the world and avoiding local taxation. As soon as tax avoiders try to take it away, they would have to pay some tax.

          In addition some sort of electronic tax, maybe .01% on every transaction in the country. That way they can tax consumption, something which is not being taxed properly.

          Therefore no legal hassles or accountancy battles either. Sell a house, then .01% automatically goes to the government, sell a business .01% automatically goes to the government, pay some wages or get some money out .01% automatically goes to the government.

          I can see the howls from the super rich. But the opposition need to find some way to tax them. Remember we have apparently the forth richest country in the world per capita!! We can afford to eliminate poverty and increase equality.

          At the same time other taxes could come down like PAYE or Corporation taxes.

          At present the super rich don’t earn much taxable income so the rich can get more welfare than those that actually need it!

          Those that need welfare can’t access it because of the amount of bureaucracy it requires and those giving it seem to be trying to stop people getting what they are entitled to.

          In terms of income, the UBI should be at the same levels as super is set today. Aprox $300 p/w per person net. Maybe $150 per child with a upper limit of 2 children?

          https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/deskfile/nz-superannuation-and-veterans-pension-tables/new-zealand-superannuation-and-veterans-pension-ra.html

          Not only that it would encourage parents to stay together as they are not being penalised under the current system that seems to try to break up families by paying more for single parents than those in a relationship.

      • save nz 3.2.2
        29 November 2016 at 10:01 am

        (AB did you read the article, it showed that the ‘poor’ when given the UBI got off drugs, did courses and turned their lives around!!)

        As well as being good for society UBI can also save money from all the other support services that don’t seem to be working. It costs $90,000 to put someone in jail for a year in NZ, maybe $500,000 to prosecute them -etc etc All these costs could be eliminated and more jobs created in the recreational areas

        Think about it, who in their right mind would think Pokemon would exist 10 years ago?? Nobody. It seems crazy to me, but I’m not the target market but it’s some world wide phenomena and I guess getting people out socialising and doing something is better than them drinking, committing suicide or committing crimes. (Something that seems to be increasing in NZ).

        We don’t know what the jobs of the future are yet or what is going to motivate people. But if unemployed people are too busy filling in forms at WINZ, committing crimes to survive because WINZ arbitrarily cut off their benefit or doing busywork to punish them, then they are not happy productive members of society.

        It’s not just young, unemployed people that will benefit. This is a way for a country like NZ to stop relying on other people and trade for everything and to increase our productivity and innovation. Use our people power. Not things, services or ideas.

        NZ desperately needs to find some way to improve productivity – because our low wage, banana republic economy is not working.

        What is going to happen when we have sold our last farm, our last section and our last asset (sooner than you think with Natz at the cashier in the fire sale!!)?

        • AB 3.2.2.1
          29 November 2016 at 10:15 am

          save nz
          Agree – I’m a UBI proponent.
          Apologies if my sarcasm in the post above not clearly flagged as such.

          • save nz 3.2.2.1.1
            29 November 2016 at 10:42 am

            Thanks AB (sorry sometimes hard to tell sarc from trolls) –

            The reality is that neoliberalism is not working.

            Neoliberalism is increasing the cost of living by encouraging growth by increased profits on food, housing, power and the other essentials.

            At the same time Neoliberalism is stopping people’s wages from rising (because that takes away company profits) so people have less income and more expenses.

            Clearly something has got to give with that and that is why all around the world people are suddenly voting to disrupt neoliberalism.

            Neoliberalism is not sustainable unless people get more money to live off!

            I’m not keen for some sort of bloody revolution, civil war OR One word Army surveillance approach, so how about some old fashioned fairness and let everyone have a living wage with zero conditions with a UBI.

            Rather than have supper, accommodation supplement, unemployment benefit, working for families, sickness benefit, DPB, ACC etc – just have a UBI

            Neoliberalism is leading to massive loss of taxes through global tax avoidance and at the same time there is little effort on climate change .

            Government need to tax consumption and they can do that with Robin hood and transaction taxes.

            Let’s start taxing consumption not encouraging it for a sustainable approach.

  4. ropata 4
    29 November 2016 at 11:04 am

    I wish this post was permanently pinned to the top of TS. A society should be judged by how it treats its youngest and most vulnerable. On that score, we suck. Good on Alexander Gillespie for reporting this.

    NZ’s end of year report – Could try harder
    While we score high in the indices for peace and transparency, our poverty and inequality gaps have grown.

    The anchor that stops us progressing, for which we deserve a fail mark of D is that although we are close to the OECD average for poverty (as in, 50% of the median income), our poverty rates have increased since the mid 1990s when it was closer to 8% to about 11% today.

    Also, our income inequality and the gap between the rich and the poor, has grown since the mid 1980s, with a trajectory that put us in the top end of the OECD for the growing gap (but the USA and UK are still above us, but Aus is not).

    Where we are lagging is with our youth. The Global Youth Development Index of the Commonwealth Secretariat, has us at 11th out of 49 countries in this group (Aus 3rd and UK 4th).

    According to the OECD, our child poverty figure, at 14%, is slightly above the OECD average but we are in the lowest third of the OECD members, meriting a clear failure of an E grade with regards to children, in terms of adolescent suicide rate, teenage birth rate, educational deprivation and sense of belonging at school. In terms of child deaths from assault we are the fourth worst country in the OECD.

    • save nz 4.1
      29 November 2016 at 11:38 am

      It’s pretty clear to me as a parent, that the National government hates and ignores children.

      Not being economic units yet, or voters, they just don’t count.

      How the hell, they can get away with turfing out parents with newborns after 4 hours of giving birth, I don’t know. (wonder why we have enormous rates of child abuse, who knows, sarc), having plunket as a charity rather then a government run service, making single parents go out looking for work when their child is 1 or whatever the new rules are, only 17% breastfeeding at 6 months, Ministry for vulnerable children being chosen as a name against official advice, etc etc

      You can’t ignore kids for 18 years and then suddenly look at them and say, you’re hopeless, lets import in someone better than you, (oh that’s right, that’s the neoliberal solution to not looking after your own kids as a society is importing in ready to go adults…)

      Remember there is not such thing as society…

      • Incognito 4.1.1
        29 November 2016 at 12:19 pm

        I hear what you’re saying but it is daft to say that National “hates children” because they are not economic units yet.

        The raising & upbringing of children, even conceiving, is a billion-dollar market, literally. Children are a sure way of tapping into people’s pockets through pulling heart strings if a little ‘encouragement’ is desired. People mortgage themselves silly to live in zone so that little Jasper or little Jennifer can attend the right school; parents choose up, socially, for their children first and foremost.

        As to vulnerable children, child poverty, etc., it is important to realise that National is waging a class war and is extremely well-camouflaged.

    • lprent 4.2
      29 November 2016 at 1:59 pm

      It’d be nice if that was what people wanted to debate. However it seldom is unless it is a slow news day.

      Generally editors will prefer to pin ‘hot’ topics to the top because it encourages people to read into the comments and join the debate. They also then carry on to spill over into the other posts. With google analytics we can track that behaviour happening in almost real time. Some of those hot topics relate to comments, sometimes to pageviews, sometimes to unique views, and sometimes to numbers of new readers.

      That fits the general thrust of the site. It concentrates less on the authors posting than it focuses on the commenters getting involved in writing cogent arguments. Since we also don’t want to become a stodgy echo chamber, we also allow a reasonable amount of (often boring for non-participants) cut and thrust provided it doesn’t start to overwhelm the post topics – after all we provide Open Mike and Daily Review for the personal jousting for a reason.

      However some times an editor will decide to pin a topic up for a while because they consider that it is important topic. Mostly that will happen on weekends or weekday mornings and evenings. But you have to remember that we’re not here for pontificating broadcasts, we’re here for debate.

      We do however provide a mechanism if you want to promote something. The social media buttons at the base of posts is a very powerful mechanism to push attention to a post. As importantly it allows you to editorialize ‘above’ the post rather than below the posts as a comment.

      • ropata 4.2.1
        29 November 2016 at 4:39 pm

        Understood, wasn’t really complaining about site policies, more wishful thinking really. Poverty is hardly ever a leading news item but it impacts more people and causes just as much trauma as any natural disaster.

        • lprent 4.2.1.1
          29 November 2016 at 9:18 pm

          Figured that. Personally I prefer thoughtful and informative posts on things I know too little about. That is despite my own behaviour of only being to able to write when I want to rant with facts.

          But hey.. we mix and match..

  5. save nz 5
    29 November 2016 at 12:28 pm

    incognito – the Natz are after easy short term returns, kids don’t cut it. It’s the parents that spend the money not the kids.

    So if anything, it is about manipulating what the parents want for their kids than any real statistics or policies on improving kids lives.

    • save nz 5.1
      29 November 2016 at 12:33 pm

      For example National standards. Have been showed everywhere not to work.

      But parents want their kids to ‘succeed’ and be better than their peers so Natz put forward National standards which make the parents feel good and something is being done, they get some bogus report rating on their kid.

      Sadly it is harming the kids and the teachers and our country eventually when these robot neoliberal babes grow up and think that is the only system out there.

    • Incognito 5.2
      29 November 2016 at 12:38 pm

      I hear you but you’re not hearing me, it seems.

      Let me try this then: parents spend money on children, this is true, but a lot of the “manipulation” actually occurs through the children (not just advertising, but also peer pressure, social networks, etc.). Many children, especially privileged ones, have their own bank accounts and do have spending power. We live in a neo-liberal Nirvana (AKA social nightmare) – children are brought up to make their own choices in life …

      PS if you do engage with others here on TS it helps a lot (!) if you use the reply button appropriately 😉

      • save nz 5.2.1
        29 November 2016 at 1:11 pm

        I’m more talking about children 0 – 12 rather than teenagers. Even then, I’m not sure how many kids have their own bank accounts with enough money to be influencing the politicians. The post is about kids in poverty.

        I think the parents are being manipulated.

        We actually agree on the main points – I agree National is waging a class war,but class is different now than it used to be.

        Class used to be about breeding, now wealth is more important to the political system.

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  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

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