Convoy protest 18/2/22

Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, February 18th, 2022 - 78 comments
Categories: covid-19 - Tags: , , ,

How the 10th day of protest outside parliament unfolded (RNZ)

  • Police have pulled back on plans to tow vehicles, in favour of negotiating with the protestors
  • Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard said that no parties would meet with the protestors until protest was lawful, vehicles were removed, tents etc were remove, and harassment of locals stopped
  • Wellington iwi leaders have said the protest should end
  •  The government’s Officials’ Committee for Domestic and External Security Coordination (ODESC, a group mad up of chief executives of government agencies which provide co-ordination on national security) met to discuss the protests.
  • Protest groups occupying in Christchurch and Picton are refusing to leave.

Trevor Mallard’s statement (Henry Cooke twitter)

What does the right to protest actually mean? (micky savage, The Standard)

@Te_Taipo (Te Ranigikaiwhiria Kemara twitter)

Tame Iti/Freedom Protest (Waatea News audio)

Parliament protests: Tragedy or farce? (Nick Bollinger on NZ counter culture, RNZ)

The occupation of NZ’s parliament grounds is a tactical challenge for police, but mass arrests are not an option ( Lecturer in Criminology, Monash University, The Conversation)

 

List of reasons for Convoy 2022 NZ (NZ Truckies FB)

Letter of Demand (from protest organisers)

Newsroom: ‘Splintered realities’: How NZ convoy lost its way

Stuff: Inside the disorienting, contradictory swirl of the convoy, as seen through its media mouthpiece,

 

78 comments on “Convoy protest 18/2/22 ”

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  1. Tony Veitch (not etc.) 1
    18 February 2022 at 6:10 am

    I’m over it!

    I’m so over this stupid fucking self-indulgent farcical illegal gathering in Wellington (and elsewhere). No dialogue is possible – Picton protest agreed to move on by Wednesday, broke their promise.

    We have a police force – let them act for the good of NZ.

    As this twitter post puts it so succinctly:

    https://twitter.com/LofotenAurora/status/1494189350262767618

    And I’ve sent a tweet to the police commissioner saying so. Perhaps if many more people follow suit, he might get the message! @NZPCommissioner

    • Blade 1.1
      18 February 2022 at 6:28 am

      Latest Horizon Research poll shows you may be in for a wait. I personally would put those supporting protesters into the early 40s.

      9 per cent don’t knowno

      You should have saved your tweet. Cuddles Costa, along with the PM, are now working on their exit strategy away from this issue.

      They don't have time for people with ''real world concerns.''

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/127808790/parliament-protest-new-poll-shows-30-per-cent-of-kiwis-support-antimandate-protest

      • Bearded Git 1.1.1
        18 February 2022 at 6:43 am

        The survey shows that the vast majority of the 28% who don't support mandates come from the 18-44 year old group who aren't likely to get very sick from Covid and so don't care.

        Many of these people will also be self-interested business people who have always been against Covid health measures that save lives and whose cafe businesses and bars etc have been adversely affected by mandates, either by losing staff or customers.

        Then add the people who are simply misinformed through the mass of false info circulating and really that 28% are a rabble.

      • Tony Veitch (not etc.) 1.1.2
        18 February 2022 at 7:41 am

        Your disparaging adjective for the police commissioner shows your real opinion. Well, perhaps on this I might agree with you.

        These protestors are going to keep on pushing, pushing until they provoke the sort of reaction that will allow them to scream 'police brutality.' For some, this anti-mandate thing is only an excuse.

        So give to them. Clear the site, of cars, of tents, of people. Arrest them all and remand the ringleaders in custody.

        This will offend some, but I'll bet a bigger number would breathe a sigh of relief.

      • McFlock 1.1.3
        18 February 2022 at 12:31 pm

        60% oppose.

        Probably more in wellington.

    • georgecom 1.2
      18 February 2022 at 9:10 pm

      I am not interested in hearing much more about the daily goings on with the sit in. I am waiting to hear about either (1) them doing the decent thing and clearing away the obstructions and allowing wellingtonians to go about their daily business reasonably well or (2) an outbreak of omicron clearing a large chunk of the protestors. at that point maybe its optimal for the authorities to remove some of the cars, tents etc and confine it to parliament grounds.

  2. PsyclingLeft.Always 2
    18 February 2022 at 7:08 am

    ONE of the "intermediaries" recently interacting with Act leader David Seymour is a Glenn Inwood .

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018830968/ex-whaling-lobbyist-one-of-those-seymour-spoke-to-on-protest

    Not only involved with this but also a "Cetacean Researcher" ! (ie works for the Japanese whaling industry)..and Imperial Tobacco…..promoting , well, we know.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Inwood

  3. observer 3
    18 February 2022 at 8:02 am

    On the poll: it's more useful to go to the original source rather than media commentary on a poll:

    https://www.horizonpoll.co.nz/page/635/68-support-covi

    64-28 for the mandates.

    Usual caveats about Horizon polls and online methodology apply (cannabis isn't legal, alas).

  4. observer 4
    18 February 2022 at 8:17 am

    Andrew Geddis has a good piece on Pundit (see the links on the right of this thread). Lots of issues discussed there, so I'll highlight just one, which is really where any possible progress has to start:

    The issue of the cars and vans blocking downtown Wellington streets is relatively straightforward, from a legal perspective at least. They are unlawfully parked under the Summary Offences Act and Wellington City Council by-laws. The Police possess the power under the Land Transport Act to order the removal of the vehicles if drivers will not shift them willingly. Any asserted right to keep them where they are as part of wider protest activity is pretty weak; there’s minimal extra expressive value added to your protest by simply putting your car where it stops others from using the road.

    If we can't even get to step one, calls for "dialogue" are pretty meaningless. Mandate removal before car removal? Not going to happen, everyone knows that, so let's stop playing silly buggers.

    https://www.pundit.co.nz/content/i-too-am-not-a-bit-tamed

    • Sabine 4.1
      18 February 2022 at 8:45 am

      Well it seems that they don't care much about the cars or having the cars moved.

      Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose

      I can't wait for the Labour led majority government to start moving on these protesters. National/Act could not have done the damage by themselves, but they can sit by idly and wait for Labour to self destruct into a woke puddle of post modernism and neo liberal bullshit while it desperately tries to appear in control, tough, and well, sprinklers on all night Nek Minit He Tangata rigging up a drainage system because after all they are not an empty overweight well fed, well watered, well past their use by date politician, but workers who can improvise, innovate and get shit done.

      But this is the left of our brave new times. Full of education, yet they have learned so little and understood even less.

      “Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.” Rosa Luxemburg.

      • Robert Guyton 4.1.1
        18 February 2022 at 9:24 am

        "I can't wait for the Labour led majority government to start moving on these protesters. "

        You're not a supporters of the protesters then, Sabine?

        Surely such a move would end in harm to many concerned.

      • weka 4.1.2
        18 February 2022 at 9:57 am

        and the abuse of people on the street and in shops?

        • Sabine 4.1.2.1
          18 February 2022 at 5:01 pm

          Honestly, they could have done something in the beginning, but then could not be bothered, and now they are running out of options. And for what its worth, this is the Labour Party run majority government, it is their Mandate this is their idiocy from beginning to the end.

          And until they grow some brain and gain some common sense, this will end badly and it will be on Labour. In the same sense as i would say exactly the same if it were National.

          So yeah, i am looking forward to this useless government in making this mess even messier. Because they will.

          But continue as you were.

        • Sabine 4.1.2.2
          18 February 2022 at 5:14 pm

          yes, that, won't no one think of the workers that try to work during Red setting. Lol. Lol. Lol.

          In the parlance of the left, if these business can not get through a little protest are they even valid and should they not just be left to die? Oh, not these businesses? They can petition the government for a hand out, like a resurgence pay or a wage subsidy, surely dear Grant has some petty cash for the inconvenienced dears.

          Frankly Weka, no one gives a shit.

          NO more then these clowns gave when they occupied the lawns under John Keys reign

          like from the start in October https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/5817450/Welcome-to-Occupy-Wellington

          (Kimberley Rothwell09:45, Oct 20 2011)

          to will stay on

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6163944/Occupy-Wellington-will-stay-on

          (Lane Nichols05:00, Dec 20 2011)

          to the 'eviction' in 2012

          https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/evictions-occupy-site-capital

          (Tuesday, 31 January 2012)

          seriously someone need to pass the smelling salts because the dears of the left come across as something that is falling apart at the seems.

          but then, its Labour so it can't be wrong, either morally or ethically, even so it is. And even worse, N and A are relishing the though of labour doing their bidding. Never mind.

      • DS 4.1.3
        18 February 2022 at 2:22 pm

        Workers, my arse. Let's call fascists what they are, please.

        • Rosemary McDonald 4.1.3.1
          18 February 2022 at 5:24 pm

          How do you define fascist?

          1 often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.

          (Wikipedia)

          Go on…take the test.

          https://www.idrlabs.com/fascism/test.php

    • Barfly 4.2
      18 February 2022 at 8:50 am

      It's been decades since I thought the NZ military should have the big shiny stuff – but daydreams of some of the Leopard 2's the German have stored (1000s x cold war) for sale at US$1million each great umm road "clearing" vehicles /cough

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_2

      No I am not inciting or suggesting violence it's just an amusing mental picture of a 60 tank going on jaunt over a pile of parked cars.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX-Ix02dKw0

      • McFlock 4.2.1
        18 February 2022 at 12:36 pm

        Gotta be careful with tanks on wellington streets – they weigh like 40-60 tonnes, and the sewer lines under the streets won't take it…

  5. Peter 5
    18 February 2022 at 8:59 am

    I think the Parliamentary lawn is a bit wet and needs drying out. Sometimes when a quick-fix drying operation is needed on a cricket field, a helicopter is brought in to hover low over the area. The noise might disturb the many workers in the environs of Parliament so waiting until most have gone home, say 1:00 am, to starting a drying operation would be considerate.

  6. Clive Macann 6
    18 February 2022 at 9:21 am

    The real ringleaders are not even there.

    They are controlling (funny word) things from a distance.

    • Peter 7.1
      18 February 2022 at 9:53 am

      Maybe SC2159 has a disability and just forgot to display their permit. Actually it's clear, they do have a disability.

      • mpledger 7.1.1
        18 February 2022 at 1:34 pm

        Out of interest, how can you tell?

        • Peter 7.1.1.1
          18 February 2022 at 2:00 pm

          How can I tell what? That they have a disability? That they don't?

          The car next door has a permit displayed in the accepted, suggested place. The van doesn't have one that's obvious. That the person by their presence has a disability?

          Is it fair for me to get into that level of conjecture and rhetoric as it is for those who have Ardern 'killing our children' and suggesting harm to politicians and media?

  8. Robert Guyton 8
    18 February 2022 at 9:40 am

    If you really want to feel the frustration, listen to the interview with the political panel, featuring Neale Jones, that Chris Trotter has posted (after reading Chris' lead-in).

    Indicative.

    https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2022/02/jones-won-ryan-morten-nil.html

    • Anker 8.1
      18 February 2022 at 2:12 pm

      Funny Robert Bomber Bradbury posted this interview which I listened too saying Neale Jones was burned.

      Nothing like a range of opinions

  9. Rosemary McDonald 9
    18 February 2022 at 11:45 am

    The usual 5 am dump update on Stuff this morning delivered a couple of shocks.

    Chief Whole Truther Keith Lynch asks a bombshell question…

    Are NZ's vaccine mandates justified in the age of Omicron? ….and goes on to opine that…the vaccines now offer limited protection against symptomatic illness. So we do need to ask, are vaccine mandates still justified?

    Oh my, my my…was that clunkety-clunk a wheel coming loose on the Whole Truth trolley?

    Lynch of course reassures his fans that he has not turned to the dark side and proceeds to do a bit of pachyderm wrangling…

    Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way first. The Wellington protests are a mess. As many have now written, they are riddled with incoherent messaging and bizarre contradictions (‘this is a peaceful protest, but we want to execute people’).

    That said, hopefully it’s still possible to have a grown-up discussion about whether vaccine mandates are justified,

    What has brought about this sudden change of tack Keith???

    …while at the same time accepting that the vaccines are safe and excellent at protecting against the most severe Covid outcomes, the public should not be abused for going about their business, and that politicians and journalists should not be hanged.

    Oh dear…back to his old ways. He provides zero actual evidence to support the "vaccines are safe" and he's contradicted himself from his earlier assertion that the vaccines do little to protect from symptomatic illness…(the embedded link he provides above is a UK Govt publication…one we should have been taking note of before we ramped up the latest Pfizer product push and dug our toes in over unjustified vaccine mandates.)

    No matter. Methinks the mainstream media here and worldwide might just be having a moment of reflection. Perhaps they should have done a little less of the unquestioning government fear porn amplification and done a little more actual investigative journalism…you know, asking respectful questions of a variety of scientists and academics instead of deriding anyone with a different opinion.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/explained/127791413/covid19-are-nzs-vaccine-mandates-justified-in-the-age-of-omicron

    And briefly…the other incendiary hurled by a Stuff staffer this am was this

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300519328/covid19-is-it-dangerous-to-exercise-after-your-vaccine-booster

    Seems like some vaccinators have slid down the Precautionary Principle rabbit hole and have been advising young men to avoid strenuous exercise after having their booster. Shame on them I say! This is not official MOH NZ advice and off course they are the experts….

    Official advice to limit post-jab exercise has only so far been given in Singapore, with the city state’s health ministry advising “young adolescents and younger persons” to avoid exercise for two weeks after vaccination in September 2021.

    • Nic the NZer 9.1
      18 February 2022 at 1:04 pm

      Well this started off promisingly, but then failed to discuss the self assigned, if mandates are justified or not, question. In future I suggest you assign yourself the question, should medsafe have approved the vaccine?

    • Psycho Milt 9.2
      18 February 2022 at 6:21 pm

      All vaccines offer "limited" protection against "symptomatic illness." They're not magic spells.

    • georgecom 9.3
      18 February 2022 at 9:22 pm

      the short answer Rosemary, the vaccines have been effective and safe, they have been useful and made a difference globally, even the least effective ones like Sinovac have been useful and helpful. As for mandates once we have cleared the Omicron wave then yes it can be re-evaluated. by then the unvaccinated will have recovered or died so they will get some degree of immunity should they survive

    • satty 10.1
      18 February 2022 at 1:40 pm

      If you're anti-science, you eventually want to close down all those heretic institutions like universities.

        • Anker 10.1.1.1
          18 February 2022 at 2:10 pm

          Poisson, this is embarrasing for NZ.

          Along time ago I had the good fortune to study at a university with a recently returned ex pat. I remember him telling me that he thought NZders don't like science. A generalization of course, but I think he was onto something.

          And somewhat ironic that the crowd at Parliament are being shot down by the anti science beliefs…………….

          Strange world we live in people

        • Molly 10.1.1.2
          18 February 2022 at 6:04 pm

          As mentioned a few days ago, I think this is an overreach of a well intentioned but badly implemented mātauranga Māori curriculum inclusivity movement.

          Julie Rowland in the original article rightly describes the conflict – and then dismisses it:

          Science is a rational pursuit of knowledge, but it does not exist in splendid isolation. If this is painted as the ‘ideal’ science, then it is incomplete. People do science, and people and their culture/s are inseparable.

          In Aotearoa/New Zealand our nation’s origins lie with the Treaty of Waitangi. The Treaty is a formal agreement with the third article guaranteeing Māori equal rights and privileges. That means access to education within a system that seeks to fulfil the potential of every individual.

          I suspect the heart of the issue is the notion that education should be secular and devoid of any form of spirituality. Proponents of this view would say a karakia (sometimes interpreted as a prayer) to open or close an event, or before guests eat afternoon tea, has no place in education. But in the context of Māori practices and values, and bringing Treaty articles to life, this makes perfect sense. And is absolutely integral.

          (The conflation of karakias (which are often secular acknowledgements of purpose, attendees and spoken hopes of successful outcomes) with required spirituality is a logic error.)

          Jerry Croynes critique is justified.

  11. swordfish 11
    18 February 2022 at 1:48 pm

    .

    What this protest desperately needs is some profoundly self-indulgent, middle-class Street Theatre. Would've entirely transformed the Establishment Woke's view of things:

    • Ad 11.1
      18 February 2022 at 3:56 pm

      We don't have enough street theatre you old grump.

    • Psycho Milt 11.2
      18 February 2022 at 6:28 pm

      For me, this is one of the few upsides of a protest driven by rural conservatives – guaranteed no street theatre.

      • McFlock 11.2.1
        18 February 2022 at 6:34 pm

        on the flipside, the worry is that this means they're serious.

        But yes, two things I generally disliked about student protests – the noise, and the street theatre. Protesting with a hangover was indeed the ultimate sacrifice 🙂

  12. Anker 12
    18 February 2022 at 2:10 pm

    Where is this Swordfish?

    • swordfish 12.1
      18 February 2022 at 4:23 pm

      I think it was probably Extinction Rebellion in London a year or two back.

      Absolutely brutal stuff. A cadre of activists with little if any discernable acting talent & what appear to be relatively severe personality disorders suddenly started fiercely competing with each other to be the centre of attention. They had a captive audience & they were determined to make them suffer.

      Street Theatre really needs to be outlawed for the wider good. The ostentatious performative narcissism of the self-indulgent children of the Establishment can have profound implications for the emotional wellbeing of ordinary members of the public.

      PSTSD = Post-Street Theatre Stress Disorder.

      Marcel Marceau has so much to answer for.

      • Anker 12.1.1
        18 February 2022 at 8:37 pm

        I have to fess up Swordfish in my long lost youth I had a passing involvement in this sort of stuff!

        I am still struggling to come to terms with this abomination of my youth. And I only hope that anyone who had this misfortunate to have our "art" inflicted on them has got some serious help.

        • swordfish 12.1.1.1
          18 February 2022 at 10:40 pm

          LOL … now I feel thoroughly ashamed of myself, Anker.

          To the extent that I may even be forced to revise my inclination to see unrepentant Street Theatre recidivists end up in this sort of scenario:

  13. DS 13
    18 February 2022 at 2:27 pm

    There needs to be a full inquiry into the Police's handling of this protest. It is abundantly clear that they have breached their responsibilities to the public.

    • Black Cat Strikes 13.1
      18 February 2022 at 10:32 pm

      I'd say the police leadership has even failed frontline police. I wonder what rumblings are going on in police stations at the moment?

  14. Anker 14
    18 February 2022 at 2:28 pm

    The situation is deadly serious. No easy options.

    Even the highly paid upper eschions of the security committee haven't got a plan that we know of at this stage. Oh except Trevor backtracking and in a somewhat condescending way say they would talk to the protesters if they behave themselves.

    But I think I should self censor myself on my negative comments about Trevor because negative comments about the all the folks involved , protesters, politicians, police in this aren't going to help.

    The protesters aren't going to go anywhere anytime soon. I saw a picture of yoga classes and apparently they have planted a herb garden……………They have more than settled into their new homes.

    It is deadly serious though. I keep reminding myself of this. And I stick to my original thoughts that the Govt should respectfully engage with these people. Perhaps even apologise for turning the sprinklers on them. That would be building of some good will that is sadly lacking on both sides.

    I don't doubt that there are people in the protest who support some very bad ideologies. Who say hateful things. Painting all the people in this demo as having these abhorant views won't help.

    A possible outcome and a likely outcome is that covid starts to spread amongst the protesers. And some get very sick and go to hospital and don't survive it. It may be at this point some of these people change their minds about the vaccines as we have heard happening overseas.

    And meanwhile I keep thinking why not offer the police, the nurses, the teachers who didn't want the vaccines re deployment………………

  15. Cricklewood 15
    18 February 2022 at 4:03 pm

    Wow Coster's just folded faster than an origami expert. It's the right call imo
    but an embarrassing back down.

    Balls firmly in the Politicians court now.

  16. Adrian 16
    18 February 2022 at 4:12 pm

    Things dont make sense, there are too many people at the protest who claim they are Farm Managers, long distance truck drivers, vaccinated nurses or teachers, the list goes on. Bullshit I say. Most appear to be unemployed or unemployable, some with personality and mental issues that very few businesses would have anywhere near other workers.

    I voted for the legalisation of cannabis mainly to get it out of the hands of the gangs and to prevent younger people having criminal convictions for a bit of possesion. My main problem with cannabis is what happened to 3 good friends of mine who were or went on to be long term users, all uni graduates when not a lot of us got to Uni, they all developed quite severe paranoid psychosis , losing all friends and expressing similar ideas on chem trails, razor blades in milk etc etc to those of the current lot.

    This current cohort are not the most robust of the species either, 4 or is it five cardiac events in a week? Amongst at best 500 people, thats 55,000 in the NZ population a year. Fuck me, they are sick. It must be Costers tactic, just wait a few months until they all die!

  17. McFlock 17
    18 February 2022 at 4:12 pm

    One news reporter says "the protest leadership" are apologising for the >week of abuse and threats so far – apparently they were completely unaware such things were going on. 🙄

    Reminds me of my pub days – drunk guys trying to get in would, nine times out of ten, call me a c*** for a few minutes and only then move to "c'mon, mate, do me a favour". The tenth time they'd usually just call me a c***. Almost never started off matey then went to verbal abuse. Usually made me laugh.

  18. Robert Guyton 18
    18 February 2022 at 4:27 pm

    The Jackalman (quite rightly) says:

    "What the numerous groups listed in Toby Manhire’s excellent article fail to comprehend is that New Zealand simply wouldn’t accept the overthrow of the Labour Government in this way. Disinformation campaigns might work to encourage the deluded, but using unjustified causes to try and get the people to storm Parliament en masse and install a regime of ragtag idiots simply won’t work. In fact it will likely illicit sympathy for Jacinda Ardern, who's been the main target for what is obviously misguided anger."

    https://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2022/02/parliament-protest-has-dubious-backers.html

  19. McFlock 19
    18 February 2022 at 4:57 pm

    Sort of belongs in the "100 things we've lost" post, but more applicable here:

    I've lost my ability to make some comments.

    I know some folks will be going "seriously? Doesn't look like it". But no, it's true. The problem is that I read some comments that are basically separated from today's reality, and the only words I have to express my response would get me banned.

    I fully support Adrian's sentiments here, but honestly it doesn't nearly go far enough to express my contempt for the selfish, ignorant, protestors and their apparent supporters online.

    The protest the worst cocktail of US2020 bullshit, and it will kill people. It's empowering the worst dregs of society while encouraging the spread of disease when we need to flatten the fucking curve. It's the essence of "fuck you, I don't care if my actions kill you" coupled with a healthy dose of murderous shitheels. It's the privilege of people with horse floats and campervans assaulting people just trying to get to work without catching anything off these fuckwits.

    None of this comes close to my contempt for people who think street theatre from students protesting fees is anywhere close to this lot – the difference is that people know this lot have elements that really want to lynch people.

    Then there are the ********* who seem to think "pre-existing condition" somehow means we shouldn't try so hard to stop folks dying. That's the only relevance I can think of for someone to bring it up, and nobody's provided a different relevance. Yes, I've asked.

    I do actually have the words to describe the protestors and their apologists. But even if they didn't get an immediate ban from the mods, the censor's office might have an issue with it. Fair enough, too. Any comment that comes close to my sentiment would probably constitute many paragraphs, and having an ending something along the lines of "with a large turnip". But not in a funny way.

  20. barry 20
    18 February 2022 at 5:03 pm

    Paying for parking has become a political act.

  21. Adrian 21
    18 February 2022 at 6:43 pm

    You are right McFlock, but I've thought about Costers Dilemma, he almost certainly has everybody’s CV that’s in the Pigpen, the violent extremists, the ones with the long criminal violence records, the serial liars, the mentally unstable and the ones with long term drug and alcohol problems, and the ones thrusting their babies in cops faces! WTF. What a mix, and everyone about to react to a clearance in the most unpredictable way. Until a few hours ago I thought he was not up to the job but now I sympathise with the poor bugger. But surely, a bit of arsekicking and sending on their way for anyone looking to join the melee, they are not protesters, if they were they would be in there already, they are going for shits and giggles, of which the former is most certainly guaranteed, that is what is called for, then a full shut down and lock-in, you want out, you don’t get back in.

    • McFlock 21.1
      18 February 2022 at 6:48 pm

      Frankly, the longer it goes on the more bold the nutters will get, and the worse the most likely resolution will be.

      Unless the cops pull some magic out of a hat.

      • Shanreagh 21.1.1
        18 February 2022 at 11:17 pm

        I'm glad you used the word 'nutters' McFlock. I rarely call anyone anything derogatory and always bend over backwards to see and consider other viewpoints.

        The one time recently that I used the word 'nutters' in connection with the protestors it seemed to shock my friend that I would use it. But that is what I think they are.

  22. Adrian 22
    18 February 2022 at 6:50 pm

    I got something wrong in a previous post. I calculated that given the 4 or 5 cardiac events in the last week or so among the Pigpen cohort it equates to about 55,000 NZ cases a year. I was very wrong , it should have read 55k a WEEK! In 2014 around 14,200 unfortunates were hospitalised with IHD.

    My word they are a sickly lot.

  23. Anker 23
    18 February 2022 at 8:38 pm

    I have to fess up Swordfish in my long lost youth I had a passing involvement in this sort of stuff!

    I am still struggling to come to terms with this abomination of my youth. And I only hope that anyone who had this misfortunate to have our "art" inflicted on them has got some serious help.

  24. Black Cat Strikes 24
    18 February 2022 at 10:30 pm

    I'm tired of the protest apologists we've been hearing in the media. Striking a balance isn't giving the protesters the mic, it's telling them to stay home until they get vaccinated – like the rest of us have done.

  25. Shanreagh 25
    18 February 2022 at 11:23 pm

    Some of the protesters say they have lost jobs because private firms have imposed requirements for vaccinations. Many firms already have security checks, police checks and some have random drug testing. For a front facing job, even when the current pandemic is over, I think employers may think it is still desirable to have their employees vaccinated. So when advertising for vacancies they may have it as a prerequisite.

    I think society has moved on this.

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  • Watts going on about climate change – minister’s speech sets out govt’s position to COP28
    Buzz from the Beehive  Just one bit of governmental news has been recorded on the Beehive website since Point of Order last checked on what our new bunch of ministers are up to. It is a copy of the COP28 National Statement for New Zealand which has given Climate Change Minister Simon ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 hour ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction again
    In 2019, Aotearoa legislated a methane reduction target of 10% (from 2017 levels) by 2030. Dirty farmers think it is unfair that they should be expected to cut their pollution by a fraction of what the rest of us are doing, and want to do less. Meanwhile, the Food and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 hours ago

  • Top 10 for Monday, December 11
    Luxon does not see the point in Treasury analysing the impact of some of his government’s ‘first 100-day’ reforms. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Monday, December 11, including:Scoop of the day: A Treasury ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 hours ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: How should we organise a modern economy?
     Alan Bollard, formerly Treasury Secretary, Reserve Bank Governor and Chairman of APEC, has written an insightful book exploring command vs demand approaches to the economy. Brian Easton writes – The Cold War included a conflict about ideas; many were economic. Alan Bollard’s latest book Economists in the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 hours ago

  • Coalition Circus of Chaos – Verbal gymnasts; an inept Ringmaster, and a helluva lot of clowns
    ..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.The Curtain Closes…You have to hand it to Aotearoa - voters don’t do things by halves. People wanted change, and by golly, change they got. Baby, bathwater; rubber ducky - all out.There is something ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    8 hours ago

  • “Brown-town”: the Wayne & Simeon show
    Last week Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown kicked off what is always the most important thing a Council does every three years – update its ‘Long term plan’. This is the budgeting process for the Council and – unlike central government – the budget has to balance in terms of income ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    9 hours ago

  • Not To Cast Stones…
    Yeah I changed my wine into waterHad a miracle or four since I saw youSome came on time, some took a whileLocal Water Done Well.One of our new government’s first actions, number 20 on their list of 49 priorities, is the repeal of the previous government’s Water Services Entities Act 2022. Three Waters, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    9 hours ago

  • So much noise and so little signal
    Parliament opened with pomp and ceremony, then it was back to politicians shouting at and past each other into the void. Photo: Office of the Clerk, NZ ParliamentTL;DR: It started with pomp, pageantry and a speech from the throne laying out the new National-ACT-NZ First Government’s plan to turn back ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago

  • Lost in the Desert: Accepted
    As noted, November was an exceptionally good writing month for me. Well, in an additional bit of good news for December, one of those November stories, Lost in the Desert, has been accepted by Eternal Haunted Summer (https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/) for their Winter Solstice 2023 issue. At 3,500 words, ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    18 hours ago

  • This Government and their Rightwing culture-war flanks picked a fight with the country… not the ot...
    ACT and the culture-war warriors of the Right have picked this fight with Te Ao Māori. Ideologically-speaking, as a Party they’ve actually done this since inception, let’s be clear about that. So there is no real need to delve at length into their duplicitous, malignant, hypocritical manipulations. Yes, yes, ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    19 hours ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #49
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Dec 3, 2023 thru Sat, Dec 9, 2023. Story of the Week Interactive: The pathways to meeting the Paris Agreement’s 1.5C limit The Paris Agreement’s long-term goal of keeping warming “well below” ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • LOGAN SAVORY: The planned blessing that has irked councillors
    “I’m struggling to understand why we are having a blessing to bless this site considering it is a scrap metal yard… It just doesn’t make sense to me.” Logan Savory writes- When’s a blessing appropriate and when isn’t it? Some Invercargill City Councillors have questioned whether blessings might ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • Surely it won't happen
    I have prepared a bad news sandwich. That is to say, I'm going to try and make this more agreeable by placing on the top and underneath some cheering things.So let's start with a daughter update, the one who is now half a world away but also never farther out ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Let Them Eat Sausage Rolls: Hipkins Tries to Kill Labour Again
    Sometimes you despair. You really do. Fresh off leading Labour to its ugliest election result since 1990,* Chris Hipkins has decided to misdiagnose matters, because the Government he led cannot possibly have been wrong about anything. *In 2011 and 2014, people were willing to save Labour’s electorate ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    2 days ago

  • Clued Up: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    “But, that’s the thing, mate, isn’t it? We showed ourselves to be nothing more useful than a bunch of angry old men, shaking our fists at the sky. Were we really that angry at Labour and the Greens? Or was it just the inescapable fact of our own growing irrelevancy ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • JERRY COYNE: A powerful University dean in New Zealand touts merging higher education with indigeno...
    Jerry Coyne writes –  This article from New Zealand’s Newsroom site was written by Julie Rowland,  the deputy dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Auckland as well as a geologist and the Director of the Ngā Ara Whetū | Centre for Climate, Biodiversity & Society. In other ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Ain't nobody gonna steal this heart away.
    Ain't nobody gonna steal this heart away.For the last couple of weeks its felt as though all the good things in our beautiful land are under attack.These isles in the southern Pacific. The home of the Māori people. A land of easy going friendliness, openness, and she’ll be right. A ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Speaking for the future
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.MondayYou cannot be seriousOne might think, god, people who are seeing all this must be regretting their vote.But one might be mistaken.There are people whose chief priority is not wanting to be ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • How Should We Organise a Modern Economy?
    Alan Bollard, formerly Treasury Secretary, Reserve Bank Governor and Chairman of APEC, has written an insightful book exploring command vs demand approaches to the economy. The Cold War included a conflict about ideas; many were economic. Alan Bollard’s latest book Economists in the Cold War focuses on the contribution of ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago

  • Willis fails a taxing app-titude test but govt supporters will cheer moves on Te Pukenga and the Hum...
    Buzz from the Beehive The Minister of Defence has returned from Noumea to announce New Zealand will host next year’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting and (wearing another ministerial hat) to condemn malicious cyber activity conducted by the Russian Government. A bigger cheer from people who voted for the Luxon ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • ELIZABETH RATA: In defence of the liberal university and against indigenisation
    The suppression of individual thought in our universities spills over into society, threatening free speech everywhere. Elizabeth Rata writes –  Indigenising New Zealand’s universities is well underway, presumably with the agreement of University Councils and despite the absence of public discussion. Indigenising, under the broader umbrella of decolonisation, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the skewed media coverage of Gaza
    Now that he’s back as Foreign Minister, maybe Winston Peters should start reading the MFAT website. If he did, Peters would find MFAT celebrating the 25th anniversary of how New Zealand alerted the rest of the world to the genocide developing in Rwanda. Quote: New Zealand played an important role ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • “Your Circus, Your Clowns.”
    It must have been a hard first couple of weeks for National voters, since the coalition was announced. Seeing their party make so many concessions to New Zealand First and ACT that there seems little remains of their own policies, other than the dwindling dream of tax cuts and the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 8-December-2023
    It’s Friday again and Christmas is fast approaching. Here’s some of the stories that caught our attention. This week in Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered some of the recent talk around the costs, benefits and challenges with the City Rail Link. On Thursday Matt looked at how ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    3 days ago

  • End-of-week escapism
    Amsterdam to Hong Kong William McCartney16,000 kilometres41 days18 trains13 countries11 currencies6 long-distance taxis4 taxi apps4 buses3 sim cards2 ferries1 tram0 medical events (surprisingly)Episode 4Whether the Sofia-Istanbul Express really qualifies to be called an express is debatable, but it’s another one of those likeably old and slow trains tha… ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 8
    Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro arrives for the State Opening of Parliament (Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)TL;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:New Finance Minister Nicola Willis set herself a ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • New Zealand’s Witchcraft Laws: 1840/1858-1961/1962
    Sometimes one gets morbidly curious about the oddities of one’s own legal system. Sometimes one writes entire essays on New Zealand’s experience with Blasphemous Libel: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/blasphemous-libel-new-zealand-politics/ And sometimes one follows up the exact historical status of witchcraft law in New Zealand. As one does, of course. ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    4 days ago

  • No surprises
    Don’t expect any fiscal shocks or surprises when the books are opened on December 20 with the unveiling of the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU). That was the message yesterday from Westpac in an economic commentary. But the bank’s analysis did not include any changes to capital ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #49 2023
    113 articles in 48 journals by 674 contributing authors Physical science of climate change, effects Diversity of Lagged Relationships in Global Means of Surface Temperatures and Radiative Budgets for CMIP6 piControl Simulations, Tsuchida et al., Journal of Climate 10.1175/jcli-d-23-0045.1 Do abrupt cryosphere events in High Mountain Asia indicate earlier tipping ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Phone calls at Kia Kaha primary
    It is quiet reading time in Room 13! It is so quiet you can hear the Tui outside. It is so quiet you can hear the Fulton Hogan crew.It is so quiet you can hear old Mr Grant and old Mr Bradbury standing by the roadworks and counting the conesand going on ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • A question of confidence is raised by the Minister of Police, but he had to be questioned by RNZ to ...
    It looks like the new ministerial press secretaries have quickly learned the art of camouflaging exactly what their ministers are saying – or, at least, of keeping the hard news  out of the headlines and/or the opening sentences of the statements they post on the home page of the governments ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Xmas  good  cheer  for the dairy industry  as Fonterra lifts its forecast
    The big dairy co-op Fonterra  had  some Christmas  cheer to offer  its farmers this week, increasing its forecast farmgate milk price and earnings guidance for  the year after what it calls a strong start to the year. The forecast  midpoint for the 2023/24 season is up 25cs to $7.50 per ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Modern Maori myths
    Michael Bassett writes – Many of the comments about the Coalition’s determination to wind back the dramatic Maorification of New Zealand of the last three years would have you believe the new government is engaged in a full-scale attack on Maori. In reality, all that is happening ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Dreams of eternal sunshine at a spotless COP28
    Mary Robinson asked Al Jaber a series of very simple, direct and highly pertinent questions and he responded with a high-octane public meltdown. Photos: Getty Images / montage: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR The hygiene effects of direct sunshine are making some inroads, perhaps for the very first time, on the normalised ‘deficit ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Oh, the irony
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Appointed by new Labour PM Jacinda Ardern in 2018, Cindy Kiro headed the Welfare Expert Advisory Group (WEAG) tasked with reviewing and recommending reforms to the welfare system. Kiro had been Children’s Commissioner during Helen Clark’s Labour government but returned to academia subsequently. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Transport Agencies don’t want Harbour Tunnels
    It seems even our transport agencies don’t want Labour’s harbour crossing plans. In August the previous government and Waka Kotahi announced their absurd preferred option the new harbour crossing that at the time was estimated to cost $35-45 billion. It included both road tunnels and a wiggly light rail tunnel ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Webworm Presents: Jurassic Park on 35mm
    Hi,Paying Webworm members such as yourself keep this thing running, so as 2023 draws to close, I wanted to do two things to say a giant, loud “THANKS”. Firstly — I’m giving away 10 Mister Organ blu-rays in New Zealand, and another 10 in America. More details down below.Secondly — ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • The Prime Minister's Dream.
    Yesterday saw the State Opening of Parliament, the Speech from the Throne, and then Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s dream for Aotearoa in his first address. But first the pomp and ceremony, the arrival of the Governor General.Dame Cindy Kiro arrived on the forecourt outside of parliament to a Māori welcome. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • National’s new MP; the proud part-Maori boy raised in a state house
    Probably not since 1975 have we seen a government take office up against such a wall of protest and complaint. That was highlighted yesterday, the day that the new Parliament was sworn in, with news that King Tuheitia has called a national hui for late January to develop a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Climate Adam: Battlefield Earth – How War Fuels Climate Catastrophe
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). War, conflict and climate change are tearing apart lives across the world. But these aren't separate harms - they're intricately connected. ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • They do not speak for us, and they do not speak for the future
    These dire woeful and intolerant people have been so determinedly going about their small and petulant business, it’s hard to keep up. At the end of the new government’s first woeful week, Audrey Young took the time to count off its various acts of denigration of Te Ao Māori:Review the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Another attack on te reo
    The new white supremacist government made attacking te reo a key part of its platform, promising to rename government agencies and force them to "communicate primarily in English" (which they already do). But today they've gone further, by trying to cut the pay of public servants who speak te reo: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • For the record, the Beehive buzz can now be regarded as “official”
    Buzz from the Beehive The biggest buzz we bring you from the Beehive today is that the government’s official website is up and going after being out of action for more than a week. The latest press statement came  from  Education Minister  Eric Stanford, who seized on the 2022 PISA ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Climate Change: Failed again
    There was another ETS auction this morning. and like all the other ones this year, it failed to clear - meaning that 23 million tons of carbon (15 million ordinary units plus 8 million in the cost containment reserve) went up in smoke. Or rather, they didn't. Being unsold at ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On The Government’s Assault On Maori
    This isn’t news, but the National-led coalition is mounting a sustained assault on Treaty rights and obligations. Even so, Christopher Luxon has described yesterday’s nationwide protests by Maori as “pretty unfair.” Poor thing. In the NZ Herald, Audrey Young has compiled a useful list of the many, many ways that ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Rising costs hit farmers hard, but  there’s more  positive news  for  them this  week 
    New Zealand’s dairy industry, the mainstay of the country’s export trade, has  been under  pressure  from rising  costs. Down on the  farm, this  has  been  hitting  hard. But there  was more positive news this week,  first   from the latest Fonterra GDT auction where  prices  rose,  and  then from  a  report ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago

  • ROB MacCULLOCH:  Newshub and NZ Herald report misleading garbage about ACT’s van Veldon not follo...
    Rob MacCulloch writes –  In their rush to discredit the new government (which our MainStream Media regard as illegitimate and having no right to enact the democratic will of voters) the NZ Herald and Newshub are arguing ACT’s Deputy Leader Brooke van Veldon is not following Treasury advice ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Top 10 for Wednesday, December 6
    Even many young people who smoke support smokefree policies, fitting in with previous research showing the large majority of people who smoke regret starting and most want to quit. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Wednesday, December ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Eleven years of work.
    Well it didn’t take six months, but the leaks have begun. Yes the good ship Coalition has inadvertently released a confidential cabinet paper into the public domain, discussing their axing of Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs).Oops.Just when you were admiring how smoothly things were going for the new government, they’ve had ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Why we're missing out on sharply lower inflation
    A wave of new and higher fees, rates and charges will ripple out over the economy in the next 18 months as mayors, councillors, heads of department and price-setters for utilities such as gas, electricity, water and parking ramp up charges. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Just when most ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • How Did We Get Here?
    Hi,Kiwis — keep the evening of December 22nd free. I have a meetup planned, and will send out an invite over the next day or so. This sounds sort of crazy to write, but today will be Tony Stamp’s final Totally Normal column of 2023. Somehow we’ve made it to ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • At a glance – Has the greenhouse effect been falsified?
    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
    6 days ago

  • New Zealaders  have  high expectations of  new  government:  now let’s see if it can deliver?
    The electorate has high expectations of the  new  government.  The question is: can  it  deliver?    Some  might  say  the  signs are not  promising. Protestors   are  already marching in the streets. The  new  Prime Minister has had  little experience of managing  very diverse politicians  in coalition. The economy he  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • You won't believe some of the numbers you have to pull when you're a Finance Minister
    Nicola of Marsden:Yo, normies! We will fix your cost of living worries by giving you a tax cut of 150 dollars. 150! Cash money! Vote National.Various people who can read and count:Actually that's 150 over a fortnight. Not a week, which is how you usually express these things.And actually, it looks ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Pushback
    When this government came to power, it did so on an explicitly white supremacist platform. Undermining the Waitangi Tribunal, removing Māori representation in local government, over-riding the courts which had tried to make their foreshore and seabed legislation work, eradicating te reo from public life, and ultimately trying to repudiate ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Defence ministerial meeting meant Collins missed the Maori Party’s mischief-making capers in Parli...
    Buzz from the Beehive Maybe this is not the best time for our Minister of Defence to have gone overseas. Not when the Maori Party is inviting (or should that be inciting?) its followers to join a revolution in a post which promoted its protest plans with a picture of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Threats of war have been followed by an invitation to join the revolution – now let’s see how th...
     A Maori Party post on Instagram invited party followers to ….  Tangata Whenua, Tangata Tiriti, Join the REVOLUTION! & make a stand!  Nationwide Action Day, All details in tiles swipe to see locations.  • This is our 1st hit out and tomorrow Tuesday the 5th is the opening ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Top 10 for Tuesday, December 4
    The RBNZ governor is citing high net migration and profit-led inflation as factors in the bank’s hawkish stance. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Tuesday, December 5, including:Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr says high net migration and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Nicola Willis' 'show me the money' moment
    Willis has accused labour of “economic vandalism’, while Robertson described her comments as a “desperate diversion from somebody who can't make their tax package add up”. There will now be an intense focus on December 20 to see whether her hyperbole is backed up by true surprises. Photo montage: Lynn ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • CRL costs money but also provides huge benefits
    The City Rail Link has been in the headlines a bit recently so I thought I’d look at some of them. First up, yesterday the NZ Herald ran this piece about the ongoing costs of the CRL. Auckland ratepayers will be saddled with an estimated bill of $220 million each ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • And I don't want the world to see us.
    Is this the most shambolic government in the history of New Zealand? Given that parliament hasn’t even opened they’ve managed quite a list of achievements to date.The Smokefree debacle trading lives for tax cuts, the Trumpian claims of bribery in the Media, an International award for indifference, and today the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Cooking the books
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis late yesterday stopped only slightly short of accusing her predecessor Grant Robertson of cooking the books. She complained that the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU), due to be made public on December 20, would show “fiscal cliffs” that would amount to “billions of ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Most people don’t realize how much progress we’ve made on climate change
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The year was 2015. ‘Uptown Funk’ with Bruno Mars was at the top of the music charts. Jurassic World was the most popular new movie in theaters. And decades of futility in international climate negotiations was about to come to an end in ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Of Parliamentary Oaths and Clive Boonham
    As a heads-up, I am not one of those people who stay awake at night thinking about weird Culture War nonsense. At least so far as the current Maori/Constitutional arrangements go. In fact, I actually consider it the least important issue facing the day to day lives of New ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    7 days ago

  • Bearing True Allegiance?
    Strong Words: “We do not consent, we do not surrender, we do not cede, we do not submit; we, the indigenous, are rising. We do not buy into the colonial fictions this House is built upon. Te Pāti Māori pledges allegiance to our mokopuna, our whenua, and Te Tiriti o ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • You cannot be serious
    Some days it feels like the only thing to say is: Seriously? No, really. Seriously?OneSomeone has used their health department access to share data about vaccinations and patients, and inform the world that New Zealanders have been dying in their hundreds of thousands from the evil vaccine. This of course is pure ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • A promise kept: govt pulls the plug on Lake Onslow scheme – but this saving of $16bn is denounced...
    Buzz from the Beehive After $21.8 million was spent on investigations, the plug has been pulled on the Lake Onslow pumped-hydro electricity scheme, The scheme –  that technically could have solved New Zealand’s looming energy shortage, according to its champions – was a key part of the defeated Labour government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: The Maori Party and Oath of Allegiance
    If those elected to the Māori Seats refuse to take them, then what possible reason could the country have for retaining them?   Chris Trotter writes – Christmas is fast approaching, which, as it does every year, means gearing up for an abstruse general knowledge question. “Who was ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • BRIAN EASTON:  Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies. Brian Easton writes – The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • Climate Change: Fossils
    When the new government promised to allow new offshore oil and gas exploration, they were warned that there would be international criticism and reputational damage. Naturally, they arrogantly denied any possibility that that would happen. And then they finally turned up at COP, to criticism from Palau, and a "fossil ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • GEOFFREY MILLER:  NZ’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    Geoffrey Miller writes – New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the government’s smokefree laws debacle
    The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out – for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 week ago

  • Top 10 links at 10 am for Monday, December 4
    As Deb Te Kawa writes in an op-ed, the new Government seems to have immediately bought itself fights with just about everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Monday December 4, including:Palau’s President ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Be Honest.
    Let’s begin today by thinking about job interviews.During my career in Software Development I must have interviewed hundreds of people, hired at least a hundred, but few stick in the memory.I remember one guy who was so laid back he was practically horizontal, leaning back in his chair until his ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he left off. Peters sought to align ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 week ago

  • First step to flexible labour market
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to repeal the Fair Pay Agreement legislation by Christmas 2023. “We are moving quickly to remove this legislation before any fair pay agreements are finalised and the negative impacts are felt by the labour market,” says Minister van Velden.  “Fair pay agreements undermine ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    49 mins ago

  • Extending 90-day trial periods to all employers
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to extend the availability of 90-day trial periods to all employers.  “Extending 90-day trial periods to all employers gives businesses the confidence to hire new people and increases workplace flexibility,” says Minister van Velden.  “Whether a business has 2 or 200 employees, bringing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    49 mins ago

  • COP28 National Statement for New Zealand
    Tēnā koutou katoa Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. An island nation at the bottom of the Pacific, New Zealand is unique.          Our geography, our mountains, lakes, winds and rainfall helps set us up for the future, allowing for nearly 90 per cent of our electricity to come from renewable sources. I’m ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Ministers visit Hawke’s Bay to grasp recovery needs
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