Colmar Brunton poll – Labour can still form majority Government

Written By: - Date published: 6:36 pm, June 25th, 2020 - 117 comments
Categories: greens, labour, national, nz first, polls, uncategorized - Tags:

The latest Colmar Brunton poll results have been released and Labour is still remarkably in a position to rule on its own.

Results are above.  National will breathe a sigh of relief that its support has rebounded.

The Greens are on the right side of 5%.  New Zealand First looks like it is gone.

The next three months will be very interesting …

117 comments on “Colmar Brunton poll – Labour can still form majority Government ”

  1. Won't be sad to see the handbrake NZfist go.

  2. xanthe 2

    NZ first gave us the Jacinda government saving tens of thousands of New Zealand lives!

    • Halfcrown 2.1

      That is a very valid point also.

    • Sabine 2.2

      +1

    • common sense 2.3

      Thats purely speculation.. Theres no reference point but ill play your game

      If jacindas decisions saved lives then if community transmission starts again under her watch then all deaths are on her hands.. All future deaths are because of the blunders of jacindas leadership.. she makes the calls , she wears the glory or carries the condemnation

      Death merchants dont poll well , perhaps some celebrating should be with held until the finish line is at the least in site. comments like the above could otherwise be used as the ammunition that derails …….

      tens of thousands of deaths could still be easily plausible or hopefully none at all

      My point is if people stay humble and dont scream their achievements others cant throw pie in their face

  3. Anne 3

    From DR at 6:38 pm:

    As was predicted by TS commenters, the media are over-egging the gains made by National in the latest poll:

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/300042555/national-makes-enormous-recovery-in-new-poll

    "Massive" is the word some are using.

    It should be remembered that relative to Reid Research and UMR , CB polls have historically favoured the Right. That is, National and ACT.

  4. Byd0nz 4

    Even with the News media hype,
    The Nats are not doing well,
    Their lies and aggression,
    Will send them down to hell.
    The Polls show their party split,
    With infighting and distrust,
    Their ruddy worried faces,
    Are swollen with poison puss.
    So good to put the boot in,
    And cut their twitching nerve,
    Give them a taste of austerity,
    Thats the pay-back they deserve

    • Unicus 4.1

      Don’t hold back Perhaps also haggard faces bloated with bile

      Jacinda like many in the LP will be forever grateful to Winston

      He and our stunning leader have led New Zealand away from the darkness of National Party mis – rule – now to push the bastards over the cliff

  5. observer 5

    The government has just had by far the worst week since the virus took over our lives in March, and the opposition has (since the last poll) got rid of the most unpopular leader in modern (MMP) history. The polls were only going to go one way. I don't really mind the wake-up call here, Labour needed it.

    TV1 release the details in stages (annoyingly) so it'll be a day or two before we know the underlying numbers.

    • ScottGN 5.1

      And the wake up call is not as bad as it might have been given how terrible the week was. There is still a good quarter of a million National voters who have switched to Ardern and Labour.

      • Maurice 5.1.1

        Perhaps National Party persons polled have been instructed to lie when polled?

        Are we being led up the [G]Arden Path?

    • lprent 5.2

      …so it'll be a day or two before we know the underlying numbers.

      In particular the ever important "I won't tell you" or "I don't know".

  6. ScottGN 6

    Normal service has resumed at the Herald. Their original headline on Derek Chang’s piece “Labour could govern alone” has been replaced with “9% swing to National with Muller as leader”. Haha.

  7. Brian Tregaskin 7

    Had the poll been taken today I reckon National would be in the 40's. Health Minister David Clark may ultimately be the circuit breaker that will lose Labour the election which is theirs to lose.But what do I know!

    • Infused 7.1

      and Jacinda not fronting to media. She can't make hard calls

      • Sabine 7.1.1

        and Todd Who can?

        • UncookedSelachimorpha 7.1.1.1

          That's Doctor Todd Who-ller thank you.

        • Kiwijoker 7.1.1.2

          As the Small business spokewhatever for the decline party Hot toddy will be advocating for govt moving account payments out to three months as Fonterra practised when he was in some tier of management.

      • observer 7.1.2

        She is fronting to the media all the time. But you know that already, she has to be either "photo op" or "hiding", the tiresome attack lines with an each way bet.

      • Incognito 7.1.3

        I bet she can’t even crack a safe.

      • ScottGN 7.1.4

        Jesus Christ mate what planet do currently reside on? The woman has been on the telly practically every night for months.

        • Right is right 7.1.4.1

          Yeah she was on the telly, lapping up all the accolades. When things turned bad, she was missing in action.

          [you’ve used a few different names here in the past. Please choose a permanent one for your next comment and stick to it going forward. Thanks. – weka]

      • This is the woman who fronted Micoplasma bovis Myrtle rust, The terrorist shooting, An erruption……and a pandemic…& you think she is running scared? Get bloody real!! Tell us why?

        • Ben 7.1.5.1

          Is it hard to hug people, appear sympathetic and read off a teleprompter?

          • mac1 7.1.5.1.1

            Yes, Ben, it is hard to do if you don't mean it and not get found out for being an insincere, unsympathetic, narcissistic bully in it only for the personal gain of yourself and your cronies.

            Sooner or later the mask slips.

        • anker 7.1.5.2

          actually Patricia lets not invite Ben to tell us more. He is facile

        • Siobhan 7.1.5.3

          Maybe people want her to front on things other than reacting to extraordinary events…which she does awesomely well, but still…everyday life continues for most people…they want to get to work be it by rail or whatever, they want affordable housing, they want jobs that are secure and well paid, they sure as eggs don't like Corporate welfare for bungy jumping and rich listers, they don't want more rearranging of the deck chair's on the Titanic Health system, they want the Government to actually fund a broad base of University education , ambulances, the fire service, they want real preparedness for climate change, not just 'shovel ready' quick fixes…the list goes on…and who knows what Labour will do if they get in without NZ First..who then can the transfer the blame to for their austerity mentality?

          • Patricia Bremner 7.1.5.3.1

            Siobhan, 50 billion to help us through a pandemic is austerity mentality.???

            Are you saying never mind the big stuff.. deal with the little stuff Oh right. That worked in UK and USA . Not!! Were you affected by the rail problem??

            Our Titanic Health System and Leadership has seen us in a better place than most.

            But you are right that people always want more.

      • Ben 7.1.6

        Jacinda who? The one that hugs and calls for kindness but has delivered nothing (think Kiwibuild for middle class NZers, light rail down dominion Rd to the airport (think who would benefit) free tertiary fees (for all and sundry regardless of need), etc. The woman and her cabinet are useless at best, Parker aside. Most transparent government – yeah right! Time for a change.

        • Kiwijoker 7.1.6.1

          Yeah she was to blame for the Saudi Sheep farm, Todd Barclay and the 400 missing texts, authorising the Gsb to spy on us ( you have nothing to fear Ben) slashing the health and education salaries,still haven’t fixed Christchurch after 10 years ( we so need Gerry back) there’s so much to blame her for!

      • Ben 7.1.7

        Jacinda who? The one that hugs and calls for kindness but has delivered nothing (think Kiwibuild for middle class NZers, light rail down dominion Rd to the airport (think who would benefit) free tertiary fees (for all and sundry regardless of need), etc. The woman and her cabinet are useless at best, Parker aside. Most transparent government – yeah right! The need for change is urgent

        Career politician with f all experience outside of communications studies classrooms, a fish and chip shop, and being groomed by old washed up socialists who are now profiteering at the trough. Makes me sick.

        • Drowsy M. Kram 7.1.7.1

          "The woman" – think you mean PM Ardern. Why precisely, in your opinion, is "the need for change" urgent?

          Once again, there is no community transmission in New Zealand.” – Dr Ashley Bloomfield (during today’s RNZ 1 pm news bulletin)

          Ben, if you’re feeling sick then you should get tested – take one for the team.
          https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-general-public/assessment-and-testing-covid-19

          • Ben 7.1.7.1.1

            She is a woman, right? And yes the prime minister. Did I leave any identities out?

            I also did not allude to COVID-19. A tad confused.

            Ps. Drowsy, stop projecting your own potential symptoms. Tiredness is a COVID-19 symptom.

        • observer 7.1.7.2

          Ben, we don't need an echo chamber, debate is welcome, but you'll need to do much better than this.

          Everyone knows the "Cindy Hate Bingo card", it's spewed out every day in lieu of coherent criticism. You've just ticked off half a dozen of the cliches … Fish and chips! What wit! Nobody ever thought of that one before, well done.

          If Ardern makes you sick, perhaps you should examine the real cause of your sickness.

          • anker 7.1.7.2.1

            Keep your comments coming Observer. Loving them

          • Ben 7.1.7.2.2

            Oh, I see daylight. I’m going to stumble out of this unbalanced echo chamber. Vertigo was setting in. That said, it was a strange experience but interesting. Hitherto, I thought the extreme left was all about kindness. I was badly mistaken. Good bye

            • SPC 7.1.7.2.2.1

              Extreme left, you have lived a sheltered gated community bubble life.

              Vertigo, is based on a perception – someone who has lived a sheltered life may need to return to such surroundings to feel secure in their own world view at Kiwiblog or 4 chan.

              A bit like those folk whose jobs or personal safety feel at risk so they return to New Zealand where a competent government would keep them safe. Not so sure that would have happened if National was in office and had chosen continuing to do business over public health imperatives (to the harm of business in the end).

        • Kiwijoker 7.1.7.3

          Ben. You are living proof of the theory of the dumbing down of the population. Pray tell us of Bill English’s qualifications on entering parliament. Obviously, small businesses as fish and chip shops are an object of derision to you and possibly hot toddy as well given his claimed working in management of a company that pushed out its account payments for small suppliers to three months. Possibly if toddy had any real experience of business he or you could explain why NZ businesses, or the 5th column are crying plagues and pestilence after 6or so weeks of diminished trading when it was quite ok not to pay Fonterras small suppliers for three months.

        • anker 7.1.7.4

          Ben your contribution here is pathetic

      • anker 7.1.8

        Infused next time before you post a comment, I suggest you pause and run it passed an intelligent person.

        Jacinda can't make hard calls………what planet are you on????? Over the last three months she closed our borders and locked the country done. It doesn't get any harder than that.

        I want to say what I have said here before. If people think David Clark is responsible for the border. issue, then he is also responsible for our amazing Covid response.

        • Ben 7.1.8.1

          Thanks Professor Anker, can you provide me with your contact details so that I can ensure I get wise and intelligent advise from you before making any comment?

          • SPC 7.1.8.1.1

            Advice, use spell check more and or learn about grammarly.

            • Ben 7.1.8.1.1.1

              Sorry, my poor public funded education precluded me from being an elite grammarian. Not my fault. It is someone else’s fault

              • SPC

                Just using spell check and grammarly while wearing a suit is sufficient to pass for an intelligent person whose opine on something is to be taken seriously. Son, clothes maketh men while women remain women. This has been the truth since Adam was a cowboy at Ponderosa.

    • observer 7.2

      The "circuit breaker" is the virus – first, second, and last. Right now the focus is on government vs opposition. In an election campaign, the focus is on Labour vs National, and the candidates for PM.

      Since National's position is a) there is community transfer now, and b) we should open up the borders now, then we can all look forward to Muller's gymnastics on the campaign trail.

      Ardern could dump Clark tomorrow, or whenever she wants. National can't dump Muller, at all.

      • ScottGN 7.2.1

        Assuming the current situation doesn’t change dramatically I reckon the community transmission situation could become a real millstone around Muller’s neck. I think National assumed we’d have renewed community transmission by now (almost everywhere else has right?) But it hasn’t eventuated so far. A week or so from now (2 infection cycles from the border debacle) he could really be facing heavy fire for wishing that scenario on NZ for political opportunism.

        • Brian Tregaskin 7.2.1.1

          ScottGN "Assuming the current situation doesn’t change dramatically I reckon the community transmission situation could become a real millstone around Muller’s neck. I think National assumed we’d have renewed community transmission by now (almost everywhere else has right?) But it hasn’t eventuated so far. A week or so from now (2 infection cycles from the border debacle) he could really be facing heavy fire for wishing that scenario on NZ for political opportunism. "

          Good point Scott in an ideal world yes -but one of the big problems for a Labour 2020 Election Win is NZ is basically a liberal country and punters are looking for any excuse to switch back to National.

          • Just Is 7.2.1.1.1

            And the evidence to support that claim?

            There isint any, National wanted Bridges out, for obvious reasons, consistent low polling cemented that, now they have a new leader who in reality, is just temporary till they can find a more suitable leader.

          • SPC 7.2.1.1.2

            It's not so much that we are a liberal country – but that there are 50% or so who are on the property ladder and are securely employed (and or or super) and thus comfortable and unchallenged in their gated commnity bubble while National is in government.

            But from time to time, some appreciate that limited government funding and or the society decay around them (inadeaquate pay to essential workers) becomes objectionable enough for them to adopt their centrist balance. And if they will not Peters and NZF will.

      • Ben 7.2.2

        Perhaps Dear Observer, you could discuss/hypothesise the real cause with Professor Drowsy. I’m just a ship passing slowly through the Standard tonight. I’m sure our dear leader can look after herself without “observers” rushing to protect against social media keyboard warriors.

    • ScottGN 7.3

      Indeed what do you know? The poll was in the field until yesterday. One more day might just have captured more people’s reaction to Woodhouse’s dumb excuse for getting sucked into the myth of the Homeless Man.

    • Halfcrown 7.4

      Brian Tregaskin @ # 7 7.01pm

      Very valid point Brian, but if we had a decent media they could also be screaming for that bit of Tory low life to resign from the National party after he put the lives of every New Zealander at risk by withholding information about potential carriers and wasting time and money that this administration had to spend investigating his false allegations .

  8. aj 8

    NZ1st may still sneak in via Northland. Winston's far from finished.

    • ScottGN 8.1

      Perhaps but if they do it will only be about 3 MPs.

    • Brian Tregaskin 8.2

      "NZ1st may still sneak in via Northland. Winston's far from finished."

      Winston can never be underestimated:)

      • In Vino 8.2.1

        Pedantry again, but..

        It annoys me when people say the opposite of what they mean.

        'Can' = it is possible. Cannot = it is not possible.

        "Winston can never be underestimated:)" therefore means that Winstone is so tiny and insignificant that it is not possible to underestimate him.

        Sentence should have been either:

        "Winstone must never be underestimated," or

        "Winstone can never be overestimated."

        Cannot never means must not, and confusing the two is foolish, as this example shows.

        And I am also tired of the number of people with little respect for language who say, "Oh, it's not all that important… We can tell what they mean… Near enough is good enough."

        That is how Orwell's Newspeak gets accepted.

        • Roy cartland 8.2.1.1

          Fellow pedant (it's always nice to meet another one): it's "Winston", not "Winstone". You're welcome smileykisssmiley.

    • observer 8.3

      I think the key point here is that Ardern and Muller will keep being asked the obvious question: rule Winston in/out? (it gets annoying but reporters love to ask it and frame it, so it has to be answered).

      An easy Q for Ardern (in) and Bridges (out), but Todd wants to shake it all about. He will be toast if he keeps equivocating, as he has.

  9. Corey Humm 9

    This is terrific.

    63 or 64 seats labour

    Greens remaining in.

    If Labour is able to secure a full majority, it's a dream I know but it's never been more of a possibility. I hope they govern alone, they then have noone to blame for not being a reforming govt and also because the greens are more popular out of govt and will increase in support making a third term easier.

    As for Winston it's looking grim but never count him out, I'm 28 and people have said he's over since I was 7 and I genuinely believe his voters don't say they'll vote for him and there will be plenty of Nat voters saying they'll vote national but voting NZ f in secret to put the breaks on Labour it's also a vote for a potential Nat govt. Plus labour should do a wink and a nod in Northland. I personally like Winston as a character and think parliament would be so dull without him, noone on the left hates national as much as Winston does and Winston does speak for a demographic that the left can't speak win over and they'd just go to national a lot of them so, good luck in bleed Nat votes Winnie.

    Anyway can we have an early election. Just say we can't afford to have a caretaker govt for three months in the middle of an international crisis. July election like 2002. Dooo it Jacinda!

    • Ed1 9.1

      Labour needs slightly over 50% to be sure of a majority. ACT delivers on average an extra seat for National – the party vote in that electorate delivers an MP for National, and ACT delivers an electorate MP. I don't see it as an election issue, but it is a shame the threshold was not reduced, and the coat-tailing rule should go.

  10. ianmac 10

    Poll better than feared but we sort of knew that loyal NAT supporters would return to the fold regardless. It was always going to be Labour down in the poll – history.

    Anyway I am going to what little I am able to do to help Labour stay high.

    • Same ianmac Doing my bit for Labour. So pleased for the Greens too.

    • Chris T 10.2

      Why better than you feared?

      • anker 10.2.1

        Because we heard about the issues with social isolation and compassionate leave and people were understandable upset as Ardern and Clark (who acted quickly on the issues). Then National played politics, and lied "hugs and kisses anyone" and the homeless man (dead cat)……and all Muller can do is say its a disgrace, its a disgrace, which would be bewildering to almost every other country in the world.

        Todd got very, very lucky this time. Nothing to do with his personal charm and charisma. 37 % aint anything to feel pleased about.

    • maggieinnz 10.3

      Any ideas how? I'm really pissed with all the bias in media and have real concerns that the sensationalism with headlines is going to negatively impact Labour's chances.

      On Reddit the mood is one where people look at Jacinda's integrity as spineless for not launching full bitch mode. They seem to miss the point that integrity = spine

  11. newsense 11

    Lol- imagine the scorn and speculation if two Labour grandees went at each other the way Collins and Bennett did in the corridors of parliament.

    Labour is over 50%. It couldn't break 30 for donkeys years. No mates Nats on 38. Compare it to the election

    • ianmac 11.1

      Did Collins and Bennett go at each other in the corridors of parliament? Huh?

  12. georgecom 12

    Is Paora Goldsmith back in Parliament via list seat on this poll?

    Hoping not, dream result would be him scrapping with the rent boy party for Epsom

  13. Chris T 13

    All those great ministers like Twyford, Clark and Galloway will have a chance to shine so bright again.

    • Clark has done well, his Ministry is the envy of the world in spite of a few slips.

      Galloway is doing fine in difficult times.

      Twyford found the convoluted rules stymied him along with hugely expensive supply lines, not to mention his frienemy Winston.

      I prefer them to Woodhouse and Goldsmith, such bitter spiteful faces, and time wasters!! Muller with his deer in the headlights expression when asked for policy.

      Amy needs to get busy. Oh and those wordy hoardings that don't say sqat lol lol

  14. AB 14

    Let's hope it's a dead cat bounce and Lab support holding at 50 despite two weeks of hyperbolic derangement in the media signifies some sort of permanent shift in public consciousness. Unlikely maybe – but we can hope.

    More likely it's just that Ardern incarnates the mood of the times in a way that Muller can't. He is too like the domineering boss many of us have left our jobs at one time or another to get away from – too insistent that he is always right, over-fond of tired regurgitations of conventional wisdom, not half as knowledgeable or talented as he imagines.

    • maggieinnz 14.1

      Let's hope it's a dead cat bounce

      Don't hear that saying much.

    • LexRegina 14.2

      Very true. There is very little to like about the Nat MPs. They have read the Nation wrong. I also think that their lack of policies is a huge Achilles Heel. Attack politics is not being a good opposition: you need to challenge with logic and provide alternatives. MPs must represent the people of NZ not their own personal agendas.

  15. swordfish 15

    .
    Preferred PM

    No surprise … expected Muller to debut around early to mid teens.

    Given the ever-increasing importance of leadership attributes in determining voting behaviour … a new Opposition Leader really needs to be debuting in the 20s or 30s in the Preferred PM stakes and to appear at least reasonably competitive with the PM if they're to have any chance of victory.

    Here are new Oppo Leader debuts in the Colmar Brunton Preferred PMs this century:

    Initial Preferred PM rating for each new Oppo Leader:

    (with ratings of rival – ie the PM at the time – in parentheses … eg Key debuts on 27% as new Oppo Leader with PM Clark on 32% in same Poll)

    .
    First, the 2 successful new Oppo Leaders:

    Key 27% (vs Clark 32%) … Clark 5 point lead

    Ardern 30% (vs English 30%) … Equal

    .
    Second, the unsuccessful in chronological order:

    English 21% (vs Clark 41%) … Clark 20 point lead

    Brash 15% (vs Clark 36%) … Clark 21 point lead

    Goff 6% (vs Key 51%) … Key 45 point lead

    Shearer 11% (vs Key 48%) … Key 37 point lead

    Cunliffe 12% (vs Key 42%) … Key 30 point lead

    Little 12% (vs Key 41%) … Key 29 point lead

    Bridges 10% (vs Ardern 37%) … Ardern 27 point lead

    Muller 13% (vs Ardern 54%) … Ardern 41 point lead

  16. Foreign waka 16

    Everything has its time, and so will any party in power to mitigate extremes – at least we hope so. Reality check: pendulum swinging wildly left to right.

    Its time to actually reinvent the political scene to make room for a different approach that is inclusive and has input from the generation that has to be content with all the systemic failures that no one wants to touch: low income, housing, land degradation, water pollution (and syphoning drinking water out of the ground for the mighty $!). What is work and how do we cope with an ever increasing robotics environment that will leave millions behind?

    Ideas from anybody? No of cause not. Just focus on mud slinging, works every time.

    • greywarshark 16.1

      Reinvent the political scene! The sooner the better. Things, people are unravelling. Nick Smith going loopy, loony tunes.

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/419892/national-mp-nick-smith-booted-from-the-house-calls-govt-nazi-establishment

      Parliament's longest-serving MP Nick Smith accused the government of being a "Nazi establishment'' in the House last night as he was removed from the chamber by the Serjeant-at-Arms.

      Earlier in the day during Question Time, Smith – who has been an MP since 1990 and is known as the father of the House – was made to leave the chamber by Speaker Trevor Mallard after claims he was bias towards the government.

      Once ejected an MP isn't allowed to return until the Speaker says, but it's understood Smith came back into the House on at least two other occasions during the evening, and it was on his third return that Deputy Speaker of the House and Labour MP Adrian Rurawhe asked him to leave.

      This was after Labour's senior whip, Michael Wood, raised a point of order with Rurawhe that Smith was in the chamber when he shouldn't be.

      I draw the attention of commenters to the book about patterns of human behaviour written in the 1960s, and which has been sadly neglected from ordinary education which should include more on human psychology and culture than the weeny bit now. The Games that People Play written by Eric Berne would be very instructive for all of us and would help children as well, and cut bullying right down.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Games_People_Play_(book)

      It would be interesting for people to read it and identify which one that N Smith is playing. Of course he may have incipient alzheimers – he is getting on, being the father of the house. I think National are playing – 'Why Don't You.. Yes But' now.

      They criticise actions, they note faults – Why Don't You?. Labour say okay we must fix that and do so. But National then responds with 'Yes But' – it's not enough, it should have been done earlier, it shows how incompetent you are, etc. The object is to win and put Labour in the wrong, which we know about already and this game shows how it is done.

      Example from a teaching session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPaClwd0W5w

      One Review of book. 'Should b taught in every school. Society as a whole would benefit (as long as everyone who reads it understands the language) Times change, but people don't. Over 5 decades, everything I learned from this book has held true'

      Another is Debtor which brings up an interesting question about the way materialism establishes our life purpose:

      (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPaClwd0W5

  17. We have resisted mud slinging, as that is not PM Ardern's way.

    We hope a working majority will see a new more transformative phase of government with even more emphasis on kindness and community.

    A pandemic affects everyone worldwide. The way forward is as a team helping each other, respecting each other. The way the National Leader gained the Leadership matters, as do his beliefs.

    So far we have learned that he considers smaller businesses are able to survive 3 months with unpaid accounts, (Fonterra) while larger businesses are not able to do this without open borders. (Bubble with Australia and return of overseas students.)

    He believes rumours and does not expect his ministers to prove their stories before he backs them. (Woodhose Homeless person)

    He thinks the Minister of Health should have been popping into Hospitals through the covid Lock Down, and visiting quarantine facilities. What???? How dangerous is that??

    He thinks that although we have no community transmission evident for two cycles of infection, we do have community transmission, because the fellow who wanted Ashley's job said we have.

    He thinks Hooten will give him valuable advice.

    He thinks our reponse to covid-19 is a "National Disgrace". Yet our position is the envy of many countries who can only dream of no community transmission.

    Granted we became too comfortable and should have tested returnees more. This is now being done with strict protocols. Now no one should leave their 14 day stay without a test.

    Those calling this a failure are trying to destroy public confidence in PM Ardern with myths and exaggeration. To qote the late great John Clarke, "We don't know how lucky we are"

    • ianmac 17.1

      And I think NZ is the only country using tests before leaving containment. A bit hard to be criticised by some for "failed" test therefore. Most are still using 14 days containment as the gold standard.

  18. Foreign waka 18

    Patricia:

    My comment was not towards the pandemic as this is indeed a worldwide issue and in that sense we all sitting in the same boot.

    What I have alluded to is : where to from here? If large corps see this as the "perfect" opportunity to lay off staff en mass surely our elected government can react and rethink strategic planning.

    I don't see any plan or any idea even in infancy. Debate possibilities, let Kiwis participate, get involved in their future.

    • Those who operate like John Key, "Never waste a crisis" and shed staff will not do so well on the rebound. The Government plan is to keep workers attached to their work where possible. Most businesses are trying to do that. World wide entities are suffering in other jurisdictions so they are cutting out their distant branches. That may affect us, but equally this is the place where life is closer to normal, everyone will want a piece of that, including ex-pats.
      The plan is tto keep the virus out of the general community, so we can redirect workers from failing areas to needed infrastructure. Communities working together to keep people fed and sheltered and if possible earning is our best chance to become a sustainable digital caring society. It is going to be hard mahi for at least 2 years…

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    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    1 hour ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    8 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    9 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    11 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
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