Chris Penk has been thinking

Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, June 12th, 2020 - 59 comments
Categories: Economy, health, national, same old national, uncategorized - Tags: , , ,

This may mean that Chris Penk is thinking about a tilt at National’s leadership.

He has been thinking.  And writing.  And publishing his thoughts on the Government’s response to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Thoughts like these:

But he then destroys the thesis of his book with this paragraph.

He says our response was muddling by an analysis of a single piece of data, deaths per capita.  Not infection rates.  Not hospitalisations, not speed in squashing the curve.  Nothing else seems to be relevant, not even the fact we have at this stage apparently eradicated the disease.

He looks elsewhere and suggests that other nations have handled the pandemic better.  He includes Taiwan and Vietnam, who have performed very well, but also mentions Australia.

The statistics would suggest Australia has done pretty well.  But not as well as New Zealand.

Note New Zealand’s performance can be favourably compared to Vietnam’s and Taiwan’s.

And the claims that Australia’s more relaxed approach was better than New Zealand’s more stringent approach really needs to be contested.  Because Australia’s current restrictions are much tougher than New Zealand’s.  Our go early and go hard approach has allowed the Government to ease off rather quickly.

He criticises the Government for allowing the virus to be imported into New Zealand.  Yep.  All those returning kiwis should have been stopped at the border and told they were no longer welcome.  As if.

Time and pressing real work prevent me from performing a full review of the book but my initial response is that the book reads like a compilation of Hamish Price tweets.

What really astounds me is that National’s leadership has permitted this to be released.  It contradicts so much of what National has been saying.

For better or worse I was heavily involved when another westie MP talked in general terms about what he was thinking.  I still bear the scars from how he was treated.  He was disciplined, demoted and attacked for the temerity of going public and talking about issues nominally outside of his areas of responsibility.  It is weird that Chris should be allowed to do the same without consequence.

As a strategy I can very confidently predict these attacks will not work.  The country is too grateful to Jacinda for her leadership and getting us to where we are.  We do not expect absolute perfection in the handling of a global pandemic that has hit the world like an avalanche.  Quibbling about if this policy or that policy was perfectly calibrated seems far too petty and totally tone deaf to the relief that the overwhelming majority are feeling.

59 comments on “Chris Penk has been thinking ”

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  1. Adrian 1
    12 June 2020 at 9:06 am

    Taiwan only "beat "us because they have had plenty of practice at containing these real and potential shit-fights over the years.

    A comment halfway through from some a departmental staffer in Wellington who commented that his unnamed group had been working long hours from early January on preparation.

    Can't remember where I read or heard it, it may well have been on this site.

    So that gives the lie to Penk et al.

    • observer 1.1
      12 June 2020 at 9:20 am

      One of the many staggeringly stupid takes by Penk and the Ardern-haters is to complain that countries like Vietnam and Singapore did a better job while also complaining that the NZ lockdown was the action of an authoritarian government … (like, say, Vietnam or Singapore).

      • woodart 1.1.1
        12 June 2020 at 10:33 am

        good point observer. nearly as stupid as the stuff column by libertarian damien grant moaning about the failing of america, because they didnt have good leadership, and didnt want to follow health rules. yet another version of the …privatize profits, socialise loses..

  2. Robert Guyton 2
    12 June 2020 at 9:14 am

    Peewee Herman, here, in NZ???

  3. mpledger 3
    12 June 2020 at 9:20 am

    The Australian state governments had much stricter restrictions than their national government but that gets overlooked. So, it looks like Australia was less strict than they actually were.

    • tc 3.1
      12 June 2020 at 9:58 am

      Which is why Victoria kept turning up new cases, don't think they've had any for a couple of days now.

      SFA social distancing went on across most of our lockdown period over there. Like us they're not a major international airline crossroads being downunder which helped.

    • Hooch 3.2
      12 June 2020 at 12:19 pm

      Absolutely, some states restrictions were on par with NZ and were lifted after NZ despite longer runs of no active cases. Australia’s tail is carrying on now as well, jeopardising trans Tasman travel. A protester at the Melbourne BLM rally tested positive which could result in a massive cluster. Some states are looking at a collective bubble excluding the eastern seaboard. NZ should be looking at joining that bubble rather than the BAU everything must go through Auckland/Sydney/Melbourne.

  4. roblogic 4
    12 June 2020 at 9:28 am

    Well I guess we can see what Penk has been up to during the lockdown, nursing grudges and collecting tweets from all the usual RWNJs, and assembling this pile of garbage.

    Looking through the first few pages (issuu is a horrible way to read things), it reads a lot like a Whaleoil rant. Penk says the lockdown crushed the economy but was also "shockingly slack". He moans that "migrant misery is multiplying" but also the govt "refused to contemplate basic border protections"… Penk's "book" is an extended blog post, and a pile of self serving half truths and hypocrisy.

    Sure there were things about the lockdown that were too harsh (tangi & hospital visits) but that's the sort of thing that happens in a state of emergency when thousands of lives are at stake. NZ is now in a position for recovery ahead of the rest of the world. Our remoteness is our economic curse (tyranny of distance) but also a blessing. Australia's economy has always had natural advantages over NZ so comparisons are just a typical Nat election campaign tactic.

    Just yesterday, a few professors and doctors from Otago Uni published "Five Key Reasons why NZ Should have an Official Inquiry into the Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic". Something intelligent, balanced and constructive — but I guess that's beyond the current Gnat rabble.

    • roblogic 4.1
      12 June 2020 at 9:46 am

      P.S. Penk fails to capture the mood of NZ when we all went voluntarily into lockdown – there was real fear and we were all taking personal measures for safety. Most Kiwis *wanted* to go into lockdown when COVID was in the community and the country was at risk of uncontrolled spread. That would have been an economic and health crisis far worse than what we actually experienced. Thanks to a timely and evidence based government response we avoided the nightmares seen in Italy and elsewhere.

      Portraying it as a harsh authoritarian government vs plucky business owners is a disservice to the sacrifices we all made, and the billions the government is spending to keep the economy alive.

      Feels like Penk is shitting on NZers with his petty and lopsided rewriting of history.

    • Sanctuary 4.2
      12 June 2020 at 9:46 am

      Wasn't Penk endorsed by Slater and promoted via Luck and co? I seem to recall reading that somewhere. Talk about National's stinking legacy from dirty politics…

  5. Infused 5
    12 June 2020 at 9:28 am

    regardless, we haven't won anything. Wait till after the election and closer to end of year.

    This is going to be a bad chirstmas for thousands. Possibly millions of people

    • observer 5.1
      12 June 2020 at 9:32 am

      Especially the dead ones.

      For many more of those, see Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, Simon Thornley … Penk's people.

      • infused 5.1.2
        12 June 2020 at 2:35 pm

        And if the suicide/mental health issues are higher? Which I expect they will be despite what the government has said so far. We are not going to have these stats for a long time.

        • Drowsy M. Kram 5.1.2.1
          12 June 2020 at 2:41 pm

          "Which I expect they will be despite what the government has said so far."

          Why do you expect they will be? What has the government said (about that) so far?

        • Craig GlenEden 5.1.2.2
          12 June 2020 at 3:13 pm

          Oh the old just wait its not over things are going to get bad you just wait and see mental health issues, unemployment, declining economy, domestic violence, suicides and increasing homicide lines. Followed by yeah yeah we will see how Cindy deals with that, aye?

          My response yeah yeah you forgot grief though, the grief of loved ones left behind who's lives have been devastated through losing a loved one from covid19. The grief of losing a loved one is never easy to get over. These other issues they might be very real issues for the living to contend with, but they always were which ever part of the world they were living in before or post the covid19 world wide pandemic. Thankfully they are problems the living get to battle and resolve. The dead don't have a choice do they? Thankfully here in NZ they are problems we can all be a part of solving.

        • observer 5.1.2.3
          12 June 2020 at 4:30 pm

          So far all we know about suicide stats is that a National staffer lied about it, spread the lies in social media and had to be corrected by the, um, facts:

          Details here. This is what they are resorting to now.

    • left_forward 5.2
      12 June 2020 at 10:18 am

      what utter twaddle!

      Everyone always has a choice about whether life is good or bad, no matter what happens to them – don't play the victim, 'woe is me', BS.

  6. stuff the politicians 6
    12 June 2020 at 9:41 am

    Why is it, that all these little men seem to have over sized mouths and over blown opinions of themselves ?

    The likes of Hosking, Lynch, Penk and the ACT leader as well as others.

    I am sure their mouths are so large that they eat their meals with a garden fork.

  7. observer 7
    12 June 2020 at 9:50 am

    Quick quiz.

    1) Who said … "I'm the first to admit and acknowledge that the Government's handling of COVID-19 was overall impressive… and I think most New Zealanders would feel the same".

    2) And who said he'd back the party's current leadership team "in pretty clear terms" and didn't think the time was right for a leadership challenge.

  8. RedBaronCV 8
    12 June 2020 at 12:25 pm

    Conservative christian possibly? Anyone know where he owes his allegiance? Mainstream or some unusual church? Also does anybody know how many of these conservative christians are in nationals ranks with a chance of taking an electorate seat next election?

  9. Siobhan 9
    12 June 2020 at 12:44 pm

    We had to go into full lock down, covid-19 total elimination mode..because our Hospital services have been run into the ground by successive Governments…now, rather than a controlled movement towards herd immunity..with tracked and monitored spread of infection…we are trapped..for all intents and purposes cut off from the world indefinitely.

    We have a hospital system that is wholly inadequate to deal with the winter flu and your bog standard knee replacement surgery..let alone a new winer Virus…and there is no chance of this being remedied in our life times. "If not now..when?". is a question that Labour should be made to answer in regards to not just Health spending, but also Housing and future proof infrastructure.

    Meantime, quite strangely, we are chomping at the bit to have a bubble with Australia..a place with the virus, and a country that didn't feel the need to go full lock down.

    And ofcourse this proposed bubble means we are unable to establish a bubble with our Cook Island etc neighbours who are entirely Virus free, and hugely reliant on both our tourist dollar and failing that, foreign aid.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icIfbmqvt0g&t=616s

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl-sZdfLcEk

    • barry 9.1
      12 June 2020 at 3:10 pm

      Levitt is wrong, but not completely wrong. He used bad assumptions and data in the Diamond princess. 20% of the ship's complement caught the virus and he assumed that nobody else would have, and he says that 7 people died. Actually the number of infections was climbing continuously and the best estimate is that they would all have caught it eventually. Also the number of deaths among those 20% is now 13. So his population fatality rate is out by a factor of up to 10. that also assume the best possible care from an unextended health system.

      He also discovered the distinction between the rates in China in and out of Hubei. Hubei's fatality rate was 4-5 times that of the rest of China. That is due to the difficulty of getting treatment in the worst few weeks in January/February.

      His thesis has never been tested, because nobody has let the epidemic run without lockdown. Sweden & Germany have locked down enough to keep the reproduction rate near 1 which has avoided exponential growth which means that their hospital systems have not been overwhelmed. He has stated that this will top out at around 500 deaths per million. However Sweden is already 477 and there is no sign of its growth stopping. I am guessing it will reach 1000 per million before the end of the year unless they change their approach. They are getting better at isolating the most vulnerable.

      Some of what he says about the deaths being amongst the oldest victims is true. Influenza also kills the elderly. We cant keep people alive for ever. Still the toll of the disease is more than we can accept in a place like NZ. As elimination was possible then it becomes irresponsible not to do it. Now we can reap the benefits.

      • Incognito 9.1.1
        13 June 2020 at 1:19 pm

        His thesis has never been tested, because nobody has let the epidemic run without lockdown.

        It is impossible to look at the effects of imposed lockdown rules upon a population because you really need to look at the actual behaviour. For example, Australia experienced an effective lockdown because people stayed home and away from shops. Different rules, but more or less the same behaviour and thus more or less the same result.

        As analogy, take a road that has become an obvious risk for whatever reason (e.g. rock fall, fallen trees). To lower the risk and avoid accidents you could lower the speed limit from 100 to 70 km/h while in actual fact drivers will adjust their speed even further down to 30 km/h or avoid the road altogether. The imposed speed limit is meaningless and what matters is actual speed and driver behaviour.

  10. Cinny 10
    12 June 2020 at 1:00 pm

    My tory boss was praising the PM for her handling and leadership during Covid again today.

    penk's thesis won't be winning back his vote, that's for real.

  11. mac1 11
    12 June 2020 at 1:29 pm

    Went to a Chamber of Commerce meeting with Grant Robertson, and all speakers/questioners were basically happy with how they had been dealt with during Covid-19. The women especially were enthusiastic.

    Contrast that now with the reception on FaceBook to the invitation from Todd Muller to have a conversation with him.

    Not the same audience, obviously, but oh dear, what a shellacking from the public who got the unsolicited invitation paid for by Parliamentary Services.

    • Cinny 11.1
      13 June 2020 at 9:16 am

      Bring on the regulated period, six days to go and national can pay for it instead of us.

      • mac1 11.1.1
        13 June 2020 at 9:48 am

        Thanks, Cinny. Does that also apply to the name recognition style adverting, à la " Fred Blah MP Let's Talk I'm Listening"

        • Cinny 11.1.1.1
          13 June 2020 at 10:27 am

          Yes, I'm pretty certain that an ad saying 'let's talk I'm listening' would not be paid for by PS during the regulated period.

          As far as I know, during the regulated period, an advert that only contains contact details can be paid for by parliamentary services.

          An advert that contains other words such as words talking up an MP etc needs to be paid for by the party.

          During the regulated period it’s advised that all advertisements seek the approval of the electoral commission to ensure there is no politicking or electioneering before parliamentary services will pay for it.

          If an ad contains the parliamentary crest, parliamentary services has paid for it.

          If it doesn't contain the crest, the party has paid for it.

          During the regulated period, I'd encourage people to keep an eye out for any adverts that talk up an MP with the parliamentary crest attached. It's my understanding that such ads would be seen as politiking, and the electoral commission should be made aware of such.

          Least that's my understanding of how it works.

          Crikey went on the electoral commissions website to double check and when one clicks on the relevant page it was a ‘page not found’. DANG!

  12. tc 12
    12 June 2020 at 3:14 pm

    Promote that mp ! the national party rule at all costs ethos coming through in another white male eade/lusk protege.

  13. Shanreagh 13
    12 June 2020 at 3:19 pm

    Oh dear. I used to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of NZ MPs, of great use when I worked there but I must admit this one passed me by. I had to Google search to find out who he was. I had thought he was some sort of US commentator.

    20:20 hindsight is wonderful. Truly wonderful.

    We learn from our mistakes and most responsible organisations will be sitting down to a no holds barred review of the response. So we can learn from them. All the way through the active management of Covid-19 MOH/Govt were initiating reviews.

    Firing lots of could haves, should haves, might haves, did haves into the ether is not likely to have much of an effect.

    But then that is not what he wants. He wants to retain his seat and doesn't seem to matter who he tramples on to do it…own party, fellow MPs, NZ govt …pffft out of my way before I kick your feet and fingers off the ladder.

  14. Sanctuary 14
    12 June 2020 at 4:16 pm

    From what I hear the main point of the book is to write an alternative history where Bridges was the real hero. Penk, Bridges, Bidois, King, O'Connor – all in safe electorate seats and all God botherers. What chance they'll split from National after the election?

  15. ianmac 15
    12 June 2020 at 4:18 pm

    What a kind write up for Mr Penk in the Herald.

    "National deputy Nikki Kaye told reporters she was "very relaxed" about Penk's publication.

    "We live in a world where we have freedom of speech, and there are National MPs that feel very strongly around what has happened," she said.

    "Chris is entitled as a local MP … to take a view around the government's response in terms of Covid."

    Nice to know that the whips have no need to control.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12339461

    • observer 15.1
      12 June 2020 at 4:39 pm

      It's an RNZ story originally, but never mind, the point remains. There is no discipline in National now. MPs are deliberately undermining their party leader.

      I'd cut Muller some slack because he's currently recovering from an operation. But his deputy and whips have no such excuse.

      • UncookedSelachimorpha 15.1.1
        12 June 2020 at 8:18 pm

        This might not be an accident.

        If you are running a dirty politics style campaign, you could assign someone to do the rabid attack (appealing to one target audience) while the rest are safely distanced but "relaxed" about it all. This way you get to say your crazy or nasty stuff that appeals to some, while dodging the blow back from everyone else.

        • observer 15.1.1.1
          13 June 2020 at 6:21 am

          Yes, we all know how it works – or is supposed to. But as I pointed out on another thread, it doesn't apply in this case.

          Look at who is supporting Penk on social media (the far right fringe). Then look at every (valid) survey of public opinion overall, There is no rationale for appealing to the 5-10% who hate Ardern when a party has just installed a leader to win back the swing voters they have lost. A majority of National voters approve of both the PM, and the lockdown.

          I know it's always tempting to attribute some dark and devious skills to National, as if they were One Borg – but sometimes the simplest explanation really is the most likely. They are deeply divided now.

          Penk's hymn of praise is only to Bridges, not Muller. He hated the change of leadership. He is not doing their bidding, at all.

  16. NZJester 16
    12 June 2020 at 4:24 pm

    There is a major problem with your title so I came up with some alternatives.

    “Chris Penk has been thinking Feckless”

    “Chris Penk has been thinking Vacuous”

  17. dv 17
    12 June 2020 at 4:39 pm

    AND he says no taxpayer funds were used to write the book.

    WHO the HELL does he think pays him.

    • Barfly 17.1
      12 June 2020 at 4:53 pm

      LOL crying

        • Mista Smokey 17.1.1.1
          13 June 2020 at 12:57 pm

          Agent Cutty Sark reports:

          * Lifestyle? Chris Penk earns handy funds from busking. See photo up top.

          * His thrifty colleagues are generous to a fault. He gets by.

          * Sadly, Chris' band, The Termites, were taken out by a still-lethal borer-bomb.

          * Chris remains one mean solo-tunneller. He bravely gnaws on. A truly dedicated white-anting environmentalist, he'll consume his book last.

  18. Peter 18
    12 June 2020 at 5:31 pm

    I don't know Penk's age, he doesn't look that old.

    That's good. It means he's more than likely going to be alive for many years to share his wisdom with us and choose which experts to consult and believe. And tell us and make sure we're on the right track.

    Seldom could someone in a search for relevance prove so definitely their total irrelevance.

  19. Leighton 19
    12 June 2020 at 5:48 pm

    Even using his one cherry-picked piece of data of "deaths per million" I dont know how he arrives at the conclusion that NZ's performance was mediocre. The current worldwide average is almost 55 deaths per million, NZ's is 4.4 deaths per million. The pandemic is currently accelerating worldwide and currently eliminated in NZ. So…..

    https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

    • dv 19.1
      13 June 2020 at 8:25 am

      Leighton That reference has a VERY complicated table for Penk to read and interpret.

  20. SPC 20
    13 June 2020 at 12:24 am

    The politics of opposition from Penk, but note the coincidence of the article published by the Herald from Barry Colman.

    Throughout the pandemic National took a duplitious approach, attacking the governent
    – either too tough, or not tough enough.

    Then the politicians polemic and the writers approach the send up, the great …

  21. Wensleydale 21
    13 June 2020 at 12:05 pm

    So Chris Penk's book could be roughly summarised as "Labour saved us from a global pandemic… but they did it in a way I didn't really like because it made everyone who wasn't Labour look like carping shit-wizards with nothing remotely resembling a workable alternative plan."

    Bargain bins in a week.

  22. Billfish 22
    14 June 2020 at 6:31 pm

    I think, due to the time frame of publishing a book, that this is a remnant of Simon Bridges leadership. Penk is one of his and would likely, at the time, have seen this as a key role in Simon's response , backing up the "I Reckons" with "must be true, it's in a book". Sadly, for Penk, the change of leadership has left him flapping in the wind. The choice would have been ditch the book (and that would have been found out) or "publish and be damned"

    It's just a thought.

  23. Ken 23
    14 June 2020 at 6:47 pm

    Penk is nothing more than a hangover from the Si-moan years

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    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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 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
    4 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 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
    4 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    45 mins ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
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