Daily Review 04/04/2018
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5:30 pm, April 4th, 2018 - 53 comments
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Daily review is also your post.
This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day.
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- Cameron Slater’s Creepy Fixation On Jacinda Ardern
Has anybody else noticed Cameron Slater still obsessing over Jacinda Ardern? The disgraced Whale Oil blogger seems to have made it his life’s mission to shadow the former Prime Minister of New Zealand like some unhinged stalker lurking in the digital bushes.The man’s obsession with Ardern isn't just unhealthy...it’s downright ...4 hours ago - Fact brief – Is climate change a net benefit for society?
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is climate change a net benefit for society? Human-caused climate change has been a net detriment to society as measured by loss of ...13 hours ago - National’s Water Done Well Will Cost Ratepayers More
When the National Party hastily announced its “Local Water Done Well” policy, they touted it as the great saviour of New Zealand’s crumbling water infrastructure. But as time goes by it's looking more and more like a planning and fiscal lame duck...and one that’s going to cost ratepayers far more ...17 hours ago
- Trump’s Tariff Tantrum Is Causing Economic Chaos
Donald Trump, the orange-hued oligarch, is back at it again, wielding tariffs like a mob boss swinging a lead pipe. His latest economic edict; slapping hefty tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada, has the stench of a protectionist shakedown, cooked up in the fevered minds of his sycophantic ...24 hours ago
- The ‘China’ challenge: now a multi-generational test for Australian strategy
In the week of Australia’s 3 May election, ASPI will release Agenda for Change 2025: preparedness and resilience in an uncertain world, a report promoting public debate and understanding on issues of strategic importance to ...1 day ago - White Rabbit
One pill makes you largerAnd one pill makes you smallAnd the ones that mother gives youDon't do anything at allGo ask AliceWhen she's ten feet tallSongwriter: Grace Wing Slick.Morena, all, and a happy Bicycle Day to you.Today is an unofficial celebration of the dawning of the psychedelic era, commemorating the ...1 day ago - Why Has The World Forgotten About Hollywood?
It’s only been a few months since the Hollywood fires tore through Los Angeles, leaving a trail of devastation, numerous deaths, over 10,000 homes reduced to rubble, and a once glorious film industry on its knees. The Palisades and Eaton fires, fueled by climate-driven dry winds, didn’t just burn houses; ...1 day ago
- Viennese Refugees Who Changed the Way We Think
Four eighty-year-old books which are still vitally relevant today. Between 1942 and 1945, four refugees from Vienna each published a ground-breaking – seminal – book.* They left their country after Austria was taken over by fascists in 1934 and by Nazi Germany in 1938. Previously they had lived in ‘Red ...2 days ago - Disputationes adversus astrologiam divinatricem, by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (1496): A Complete...
Good Friday, 18th April, 2025: I can at last unveil the Secret Non-Fiction Project. The first complete Latin-to-English translation of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola’s twelve-book Disputationes adversus astrologiam divinatricem (Disputations Against Divinatory Astrology). Amounting to some 174,000 words, total. Some context is probably in order. Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494) ...2 days ago - Hamish Campbell Lied About His Links With Two By Twos Cult
National MP Hamish Campbell's pathetic attempt to downplay his deep ties to and involvement in the Two by Twos...a secretive religious sect under FBI and NZ Police investigation for child sexual abuse...isn’t just a misstep; it’s a calculated lie that insults the intelligence of every Kiwi voter.Campbell’s claim of being ...2 days ago
- Is Shane Jones The Most Corrupt Politician in New Zealand?
New Zealand First’s Shane Jones has long styled himself as the “Prince of the Provinces,” a champion of regional development and economic growth. But beneath the bluster lies a troubling pattern of behaviour that reeks of cronyism and corruption, undermining the very democracy he claims to serve. Recent revelations and ...2 days ago
- Good Friday
Give me one reason to stay hereAnd I'll turn right back aroundGive me one reason to stay hereAnd I'll turn right back aroundSaid I don't want to leave you lonelyYou got to make me change my mindSongwriters: Tracy Chapman.Morena, and Happy Easter, whether that means to you. Hot cross buns, ...2 days ago - Luxon Turns A Blind Eye to Homelessness
New Zealand’s housing crisis is a sad indictment on the failures of right wing neoliberalism, and the National Party, under Chris Luxon’s shaky leadership, is trying to simply ignore it. The numbers don’t lie: Census data from 2023 revealed 112,496 Kiwis were severely housing deprived...couch-surfing, car-sleeping, or roughing it on ...2 days ago
- The Hoon around the week to April 18
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: on a global survey of over 3,000 economists and scientists showing a significant divide in views on green growth; and ...2 days ago - Simeon Brown Has Caused The Doctor’s Strike
Simeon Brown, the National Party’s poster child for hubris, consistently over-promises and under-delivers. His track record...marked by policy flip-flops and a dismissive attitude toward expert advice, reveals a politician driven by personal ambition rather than evidence. From transport to health, Brown’s focus seems fixed on protecting National's image, not addressing ...2 days ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2025
Open access notables Recent intensified riverine CO2 emission across the Northern Hemisphere permafrost region, Mu et al., Nature Communications: Global warming causes permafrost thawing, transferring large amounts of soil carbon into rivers, which inevitably accelerates riverine CO2 release. However, temporally and spatially explicit variations of riverine CO2 emissions remain unclear, limiting the ...3 days ago
- Whatever Happened to Cactus Kate?
Once a venomous thorn in New Zealand’s blogosphere, Cathy Odgers, aka Cactus Kate, has slunk into the shadows, her once-sharp quills dulled by the fallout of Dirty Politics.The dishonest attack-blogger, alongside her vile accomplices such as Cameron Slater, were key players in the National Party’s sordid smear campaigns, exposed by Nicky ...3 days ago
- Sovereign capability can benefit Australia—up to a point
Once upon a time, not so long ago, those who talked of Australian sovereign capability, especially in the technology sector, were generally considered an amusing group of eccentrics. After all, technology ecosystems are global and ...3 days ago
- David Seymour’s Charter School Rort
The ACT Party leader’s latest pet project is bleeding taxpayers dry, with $10 million funneled into seven charter schools for just 215 students. That’s a jaw-dropping $46,500 per student, compared to roughly $9,000 per head in state schools.You’d think Seymour would’ve learned from the last charter school fiasco, but apparently, ...3 days ago
- Flexibility and awareness will help India deal with Trump (again)
India navigated relations with the United States quite skilfully during the first Trump administration, better than many other US allies did. Doing so a second time will be more difficult, but India’s strategic awareness and ...3 days ago
- Inflation data confirms real terms minimum wage cut
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is concerned for low-income workers given new data released by Stats NZ that shows inflation was 2.5% for the year to March 2025, rising from 2.2% in December last year. “The prices of things that people can’t avoid are rising – meaning inflation is rising ...3 days ago - Climate Change: Kicking the can down the road again
Last week, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment recommended that forestry be removed from the Emissions Trading Scheme. Its an unfortunate but necessary move, required to prevent the ETS's total collapse in a decade or so. So naturally, National has told him to fuck off, and that they won't be ...3 days ago - The Spirit for Australia: why Canberra should pursue the B-2 bomber
China’s recent naval circumnavigation of Australia has highlighted a pressing need to defend Australia’s air and sea approaches more effectively. Potent as nuclear submarines are, the first Australian boats under AUKUS are at least seven ...3 days ago
- A bit more unpicking of RB spending and the Funding Agreement
In yesterday’s post I tried to present the Reserve Bank Funding Agreement for 2025-30, as approved by the Minister of Finance and the Bank’s Board, in the context of the previous agreement, and the variation to that agreement signed up to by Grant Robertson a few weeks before the last ...3 days ago - A successful COP31 needs Pacific countries at the table
Australia’s bid to co-host the 31st international climate negotiations (COP31) with Pacific island countries in late 2026 is directly in our national interest. But success will require consultation with the Pacific. For that reason, no ...3 days ago
- Brown unveils unfunded health plan for small NZ
Old and outdated buildings being demolished at Wellington Hospital in 2018. The new infrastructure being funded today will not be sufficient for future population size and some will not be built by 2035. File photo: Lynn GrievesonLong stories short from our political economy on Thursday, April 17:Simeon Brown has unveiled ...3 days ago - Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace
The introduction of AI in workplaces can create significant health and safety risks for workers (such as intensification of work, and extreme surveillance) which can significantly impact workers’ mental and physical wellbeing. It is critical that unions and workers are involved in any decision to introduce AI so that ...3 days ago
- NZ Must Undertake a Peacekeeping Role in Trump’s Wars
Donald Trump’s return to the White House and aggressive posturing is undermining global diplomacy, and New Zealand must stand firm in rejecting his reckless, fascist-driven policies that are dragging the world toward chaos.As a nation with a proud history of peacekeeping and principled foreign policy, we should limit our role ...3 days ago
- Donald Trump’s first three months: rude, raucous and rogue
Sunday marks three months since Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president. What a ride: the style rude, language raucous, and the results rogue. Beyond manners, rudeness matters because tone signals intent as well as personality. ...3 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On The Left’s Electability Crisis, And The Abundance Ecotopia
There are any number of reasons why anyone thinking of heading to the United States for a holiday should think twice. They would be giving their money to a totalitarian state where political dissenters are being rounded up and imprisoned here and here, where universities are having their funds for ...3 days ago - Taiwan: the sponge that soaks up Chinese power
Taiwan has an inadvertent, rarely acknowledged role in global affairs: it’s a kind of sponge, soaking up much of China’s political, military and diplomatic efforts. Taiwan soaks up Chinese power of persuasion and coercion that ...4 days ago
- Women in combat roles strengthen our defence force
The Ukraine war has been called the bloodiest conflict since World War II. As of July 2024, 10,000 women were serving in frontline combat roles. Try telling them—from the safety of an Australian lounge room—they ...4 days ago
- China targets Canada’s election—and may be targeting Australia’s
Following Canadian authorities’ discovery of a Chinese information operation targeting their country’s election, Australians, too, should beware such risks. In fact, there are already signs that Beijing is interfering in campaigning for the Australian election ...4 days ago
- Climate Adam: Climate Scientist Reacts to Elon Musk
This video includes personal musings and 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). From "founder" of Tesla and the OG rocket man with SpaceX, and rebranding twitter as X, Musk has ...4 days ago
- Rattus Interneticus: Otago’s Internet Saga
Back in February 2024, a rat infestation attracted a fair few headlines in the South Dunedin Countdown supermarket. Today, the rats struck again. They took out the Otago-Southland region’s internet connection. https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360656230/internet-outage-hits-otago-and-southland Strictly, it was just a coincidence – rats decided to gnaw through one fibre cable, while some hapless ...4 days ago - Spin (and obfuscation)
I came in this morning after doing some chores and looked quickly at Twitter before unpacking the groceries. Someone was retweeting a Radio NZ story with the headline “Reserve Bank’s budget to be slashed by 25%”. Wow, I thought, the Minister of Finance has really delivered this time. And then ...4 days ago
- Little’s pitch
So, having teased it last week, Andrew Little has announced he will run for mayor of Wellington. On RNZ, he's saying its all about services - "fixing the pipes, making public transport cheaper, investing in parks, swimming pools and libraries, and developing more housing". Meanwhile, to the readers of the ...4 days ago
- Our Rough Beast.
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?W.B. Yeats, The Second Coming, 1921ALL OVER THE WORLD, devout Christians will be reaching for their bibles, reading and re-reading Revelation 13:16-17. For the benefit of all you non-Christians out there, these are the verses describing ...4 days ago - What does India Want? What is New Zealand willing to give?
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- President Trump is redefining America’s international role, and Australia has influence
In the week of Australia’s 3 May election, ASPI will release Agenda for Change 2025: preparedness and resilience in an uncertain world, a report promoting public debate and understanding on issues of strategic importance to ...4 days ago
- Simeon Brown Gaslights Doctors
Yesterday, 5,500 senior doctors across Aotearoa New Zealand voted overwhelmingly to strike for a day.This is the first time in New Zealand ASMS members have taken strike action for 24 hours.They are asking the government to fund them and account for resource shortfalls.Vacancies are critical - 45-50% in some regions.The ...4 days ago - ACT’s “Tough on Crime” Facade Crumbles with Jago’s Appeal
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- Judith Collins’ Hypocrisy: War Drums Over Welfare
Judith Collins is a seasoned master at political hypocrisy. As New Zealand’s Defence Minister, she's recently been banging the war drum, announcing a jaw-dropping $12 billion boost to the defence budget over the next four years, all while the coalition of chaos cries poor over housing, health, and education.Apparently, there’s ...4 days ago
- Making the most of it
I’m on the London Overground watching what the phones people are holding are doing to their faces: The man-bun guy who could not be less impressed by what he's seeing but cannot stop reading; the woman who's impatient for a response; the one who’s frowning; the one who’s puzzled; the ...4 days ago - Maranga Ake
You don't have no prescriptionYou don't have to take no pillsYou don't have no prescriptionAnd baby don't have to take no pillsIf you come to see meDoctor Brown will cure your ills.Songwriters: Waymon Glasco.Dr Luxon. Image: David and Grok.First, they came for the Bottom FeedersAnd I did not speak outBecause ...4 days ago - Bernard’s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Wednesday, April 16
The Health Minister says the striking doctors already “well remunerated,” and are “walking away from” and “hurting” their patients. File photo: Lynn GrievesonLong stories short from our political economy on Wednesday, April 16:Simeon Brown has attacked1 doctors striking for more than a 1.5% pay rise as already “well remunerated,” even ...4 days ago - Strengthening Australia’s space cooperation with South Korea
The time is ripe for Australia and South Korea to strengthen cooperation in space, through embarking on joint projects and initiatives that offer practical outcomes for both countries. This is the finding of a new ...4 days ago
- They Can Only Talk About One Thing
Hi,When Trump raised tariffs against China to 145%, he destined many small businesses to annihilation. The Daily podcast captured the mass chaos by zooming in and talking to one person, Beth Benike, a small-business owner who will likely lose her home very soon.She pointed out that no, she wasn’t surprised ...4 days ago - National’s Inflation Shame: Kiwis Pay the Price
National’s handling of inflation and the cost-of-living crisis is an utter shambles and a gutless betrayal of every Kiwi scraping by. The Coalition of Chaos Ministers strut around preaching about how effective their policies are, but really all they're doing is perpetuating a cruel and sick joke of undelivered promises, ...4 days ago
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Most people wouldn't have heard of a little worm like Rhys Williams, a so-called businessman and former NZ First member, who has recently been unmasked as the venomous troll behind a relentless online campaign targeting Green Party MP Benjamin Doyle.According to reports, Williams has been slinging mud at Doyle under ...5 days ago
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Illustration credit: Jonathan McHugh (New Statesman)The other day, a subscriber said they were unsubscribing because they needed “some good news”.I empathised. Don’t we all.I skimmed a NZME article about the impacts of tariffs this morning with analysis from Kiwibank’s Jarrod Kerr. Kerr, their Chief Economist, suggested another recession is the ...5 days ago - US allies must band together in weapons development
Let’s assume, as prudence demands we assume, that the United States will not at any predictable time go back to being its old, reliable self. This means its allies must be prepared indefinitely to lean ...5 days ago
- I’ve been reading
Over the last three rather tumultuous US trade policy weeks, I’ve read these four books. I started with Irwin (whose book had sat on my pile for years, consulted from time to time but not read) in a week of lots of flights and hanging around airports/hotels, and then one ...5 days ago
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Indonesia could do without an increase in military spending that the Ministry of Defence is proposing. The country has more pressing issues, including public welfare and human rights. Moreover, the transparency and accountability to justify ...5 days ago
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- Winston is inciting terrorism
That's the conclusion of a report into security risks against Green MP Benjamin Doyle, in the wake of Winston Peters' waging a homophobic hate-campaign against them: GRC’s report said a “hostility network” of politicians, commentators, conspiracy theorists, alternative media outlets and those opposed to the rainbow community had produced ...5 days ago
- Winston is inciting terrorism
That's the conclusion of a report into security risks against Green MP Benjamin Doyle, in the wake of Winston Peters' waging a homophobic hate-campaign against them: GRC’s report said a “hostility network” of politicians, commentators, conspiracy theorists, alternative media outlets and those opposed to the rainbow community had produced ...5 days ago
- Why has Hamish Campbell Gone Into Hiding?
National Party MP Hamish Campbell’s ties to the secretive Two By Twos "church" raises serious questions that are not being answered. This shadowy group, currently being investigated by the FBI for numerous cases of child abuse, hides behind a facade of faith while Campbell dodges scrutiny, claiming it’s a “private ...5 days ago
- Why has Hamish Campbell Gone Into Hiding?
National Party MP Hamish Campbell’s ties to the secretive Two By Twos "church" raises serious questions that are not being answered. This shadowy group, currently being investigated by the FBI for numerous cases of child abuse, hides behind a facade of faith while Campbell dodges scrutiny, claiming it’s a “private ...5 days ago
- The Government is cutting, just as the economic recovery is stalling
The economy is not doing what it was supposed to when PM Christopher Luxon said in January it was ‘going for growth.’ Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short from our political economy on Tuesday, April 15:New Zealand’s economic recovery is stalling, according to business surveys, retail spending and ...5 days ago - For a safer Symonds Street
This is a guest post by Lewis Creed, managing editor of the University of Auckland student publication Craccum, which is currently running a campaign for a safer Symonds Street in the wake of a horrific recent crash. The post has two parts: 1) Craccum’s original call for safety (6 ...5 days ago - Tuesday 15 April
NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff has published an opinion piece which makes the case for a different approach to economic development, as proposed in the CTU’s Aotearoa Reimagined programme. The number of people studying to become teachers has jumped after several years of low enrolment. The coalition has directed Health New ...5 days ago
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The growth of China’s AI industry gives it great influence over emerging technologies. That creates security risks for countries using those technologies. So, Australia must foster its own domestic AI industry to protect its interests. ...5 days ago
- Luxon’s Economic Mismanagement
Unfortunately we have another National Party government in power at the moment, and as a consequence, another economic dumpster fire taking hold. Inflation’s hurting Kiwis, and instead of providing relief, National is fiddling while wallets burn.Prime Minister Chris Luxon's response is a tired remix of tax cuts for the rich ...5 days ago
- Girls and Boys
Girls who are boys who like boys to be girlsWho do boys like they're girls, who do girls like they're boysAlways should be someone you really loveSongwriters: Damon Albarn / Graham Leslie Coxon / Alexander Rowntree David / Alexander James Steven.Last month, I wrote about the Birds and Bees being ...5 days ago - Australia can learn from Britain on cyber governance
Australia needs to reevaluate its security priorities and establish a more dynamic regulatory framework for cybersecurity. To advance in this area, it can learn from Britain’s Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which presents a compelling ...5 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On Why The US Stands To Lose The Tariff Wars
Deputy PM Winston Peters likes nothing more than to portray himself as the only wise old head while everyone else is losing theirs. Yet this time, his “old master” routine isn’t working. What global trade is experiencing is more than the usual swings and roundabouts of market sentiment. President Donald ...5 days ago
- Why is there no progress in Ukrainian war peace talks?
President Trump’s hopes of ending the war in Ukraine seemed more driven by ego than realistic analysis. Professor Vladimir Brovkin’s latest video above highlights the internal conflicts within the USA, Russia, Europe, and Ukraine, which are currently hindering peace talks and clarity. Brovkin pointed out major contradictions within ...6 days ago - Ani O’Brien has Zero Credibility
In the cesspool that is often New Zealand’s online political discourse, few figures wield their influence as destructively as Ani O’Brien. Masquerading as a champion of free speech and women’s rights, O’Brien’s campaigns are a masterclass in bad faith, built on a foundation of lies, selective outrage, and a knack ...6 days ago
- Australian policy does need more Asia—more Southeast Asia
The international challenge confronting Australia today is unparalleled, at least since the 1940s. It requires what the late Brendan Sargeant, a defence analyst, called strategic imagination. We need more than shrewd economic manoeuvring and a ...6 days ago
- EGU2025 – Picking and chosing sessions to attend on site in Vienna
This year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) will take place as a fully hybrid conference in both Vienna and online from April 27 to May 2. This year, I'll join the event on site in Vienna for the full week and I've already picked several sessions I plan ...6 days ago
- Bookshelf: How China sees things
Here’s a book that looks not in at China but out from China. David Daokui Li’s China’s World View: Demystifying China to Prevent Global Conflict is a refreshing offering in that Li is very much ...6 days ago
- The Mirage of Chris Luxon’s Pre-Election Promises
The New Zealand National Party has long mastered the art of crafting messaging that resonates with a large number of desperate, often white middle-class, voters. From their 2023 campaign mantra of “getting our country back on track” to promises of economic revival, safer streets, and better education, their rhetoric paints ...6 days ago
- To counter anti-democratic propaganda, step up funding for ABC International
A global contest of ideas is underway, and democracy as an ideal is at stake. Democracies must respond by lifting support for public service media with an international footprint. With the recent decision by the ...6 days ago
- What was the story re Orr’s resignation?
It is almost six weeks since the shock announcement early on the afternoon of Wednesday 5 March that the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Adrian Orr, was resigning effective 31 March, and that in fact he had already left and an acting Governor was already in place. Orr had been ...6 days ago
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- Release: Boot camps blog post fails to provide clarity
After stonewalling requests for information on boot camps, the Government has now offered up a blog post right before Easter weekend rather than provide clarity on the pilot. ...3 days ago - Release: Inflation rises and families feel the squeeze
Inflation is rising again and it’s landing hardest on families already stretched thin. ...3 days ago
- Release: Govt doesn’t know how to fund new hospitals
The Government’s health infrastructure plan is big on promises but coy on where the money is coming from. ...4 days ago
- Release: $10 million for only 215 students in charter schools
David Seymour is pouring $10 million into charter schools that only have 215 students enrolled. ...4 days ago
- Release: Food prices further stretching the family budget
Families already stretched by rising costs will struggle with the news food prices are going up again. ...5 days ago
- Release: Mental health staff and patients at risk without plan
More people could be harmed if Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey does not guarantee to protect patients and workers as the Police withdraw from supporting mental health call outs. ...6 days ago
- Release: Driver licensing proposal doesn’t put safety first
The Government’s proposal to change driver licensing rules is a mixed bag of sensible and careless. ...6 days ago
- Release: Students struggling as Govt sits on hands
The Government is continuing to sit on its hands as students struggle to pay rent due to delays with StudyLink. ...1 week ago
- Release: More must be done to stop children going hungry
More children are going hungry and statistics showing children in material hardship continue to get worse. ...1 week ago
- Greens continue to call for Pacific Visa Waiver
The Green Party recognises the extension of visa allowances for our Pacific whānau as a step in the right direction but continues to call for a Pacific Visa Waiver. ...1 week ago - More children going hungry under Coalition govt
The Government yesterday released its annual child poverty statistics, and by its own admission, more tamariki across Aotearoa are now living in material hardship. ...1 week ago
- Release: Longer wait for treatment under National
New Zealanders have waited longer to get an appointment with a specialist and to get elective surgery under the National Government. ...1 week ago
- Ka mate te Pire- Ka ora te mana o Te Tiriti o Waitangi me te iwi Māori
Today, Te Pāti Māori join the motu in celebration as the Treaty Principles Bill is voted down at its second reading. “From the beginning, this Bill was never welcome in this House,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi. “Our response to the first reading was one of protest: protesting ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins speech: Treaty Principles Bill second reading
Normally, when I rise in this House to speak on a bill, I say it's a great privilege to speak on the bill. That is not the case today. ...1 week ago
- Release: End to the Treaty Principles Bill, but challenges remain ahead for Aotearoa
Ka mate te pire I te rā neiThe bill dies today ...1 week ago
- Ka mate te Pire, ka ora Te Tiriti o Waitangi – Treaty Principles Bill dead, Te Tiriti o Waitangi m...
The Green Party is proud to have voted down the Coalition Government’s Treaty Principles Bill, an archaic piece of legislation that sought to attack the nation’s founding agreement. ...1 week ago
- Member’s Bill an opportunity for climate action
A Member’s Bill in the name of Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter which aims to stop coal mining, the Crown Minerals (Prohibition of Mining) Amendment Bill, has been pulled from Parliament’s ‘biscuit tin’ today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Bill to make trading laws fairer passes first hurdle
Labour MP Kieran McAnulty’s Members Bill to make the law simpler and fairer for businesses operating on Easter, Anzac and Christmas Days has passed its first reading after a conscience vote in Parliament. ...1 week ago
- Release: Reserve Bank acts while Govt shrugs
Nicola Willis continues to sit on her hands amid a global economic crisis, leaving the Reserve Bank to act for New Zealanders who are worried about their jobs, mortgages, and KiwiSaver. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Property Law Amendment Bill pulled from ballot
A Bill to protect first home buyers and others from bad faith property vendors has been drawn from the Member’s Ballot. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: More children at risk of losing family connections
Karen Chhour is proposing to scrap Oranga Tamariki targets which aim to connect more children under state care with family and their culture. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: David Parker made a difference – Hipkins
The Labour Leader today acknowledged and celebrated David Parker’s 23-year contribution to the Labour Party and to Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: David Parker to step down from Parliament
Long-serving Labour MP and former Minister David Parker has today announced his intention to leave Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Flaws in Govt’s climate strategy will cost us money
The Government’s plan to achieve our climate goals falls short, and will cost New Zealanders money and jobs. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party differing view on the Treaty Principles Bill
Read the Green Party's differing view on the Treaty Principles Bill, prepared by Tamatha Paul. ...2 weeks ago
- Te Pāti Māori Urges Governor-General to Block Repeal of 7AA
Today, the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill has passed its third and final reading, but there is one more stage before it becomes law. The Governor-General must give their ‘Royal assent’ for any bill to become legally enforceable. This means that, even if a bill gets voted ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Abortion care quietly shelved amid staff shortage
Abortion care at Whakatāne Hospital has been quietly shelved, with patients told they will likely have to travel more than an hour to Tauranga to get the treatment they need. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt guts Kāinga Ora, third of workforce under axe
The gutting of Kāinga Ora shows public housing is not a priority for this Government as it removes a third of the roles at the housing agency. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Thousands of submissions excluded from Treaty Principles Bill report
Thousands of New Zealanders’ submissions are missing from the official parliamentary record because the National-dominated Justice Select Committee has rushed work on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Uncertainty remains over the impact of tariffs
Today’s announcement of 10 percent tariffs for New Zealand goods entering the United States is disappointing for exporters and consumers alike, with the long-lasting impact on prices and inflation still unknown. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Worst February for building consents in over a decade
The National Government’s choices have contributed to a slow-down in the building sector, as thousands of people have lost their jobs in construction. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Labour supports Willie Apiata’s selfless act
Willie Apiata’s decision to hand over his Victoria Cross to the Minister for Veterans is a powerful and selfless act, made on behalf of all those who have served our country. ...3 weeks ago
- Te Pāti Māori MPs Denied Fundamental Rights in Privileges Committee Hearing
The Privileges Committee has denied fundamental rights to Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Rawiri Waititi and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, breaching their own standing orders, breaching principles of natural justice, and highlighting systemic prejudice and discrimination within our parliamentary processes. The three MPs were summoned to the privileges committee following their performance of a haka ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Govt health and safety changes put workers at risk
Changes to New Zealand’s health and safety laws will strip back key protections for small businesses and put working Kiwis at greater risk. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Kiwis worse off this April thanks to Govt choices
April 1 used to be a day when workers could count on a pay rise with stronger support for those doing it tough, but that’s not the case under this Government. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Three more years for Interislander ferries
Winston Peters is shopping for smaller ferries after Nicola Willis torpedoed the original deal, which would have delivered new rail enabled ferries next year. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Myanmar junta must stop the airstrikes
The Government should work with other countries to press the Myanmar military regime to stop its bombing campaign especially while the country recovers from the devastating earthquake. ...3 weeks ago
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I think you read it wrong.
There was a nationwide tax suggested AS WELL as an Regional tax in Auckland.
Dont live in Auckland – you ‘only’ pay the nationwide one (assuming it goes thru).
Im sure a lot of low income workers will love the 10% additional cost of fuel.
I think I have.
I was listening to radiolive and being ambushed by the telephone.
I see what you are saying james RE: low income workers will love the 10% additional cost of fuel.
$10 to $15 extra per fill.
Transport Minister Phil Twyford has released the Government’s plans for land transport, which includes a nationwide fuel tax.
He said Aucklanders could face an extra $10 to $15 at the fuel pump every time they fill up – “and in less than three years the rest of New Zealand could be paying that fuel tax too”.
Ahhhgg just another TAX increases inflation increases wages all come out in the end for 90% of us doesn’t it.
New Zealand’s private household debt at 167% of gross income.
China in a trade war with the US.
The Titanic steams on.
The band keeps playing.
The ship is unsinkable.
The icebergs lurk.
What could possibly go wrong?
Bad analogy Ed.
If the Titanic had plowed straight into the berg, it wouldn’t have sunk. It was the attempt to avoid hitting the thing that was fatal.
Fair call!
Do you know if that is per household, or per income earner, or per population.
If it’s per population that is catastrophic for a lot of people, given that a lot of us oldies are debt free and children up to school leaving age also won’t have debt.
Household Income.
And, yes, it’s catastrophic. It’s actually high enough to possibly collapse our economy.
EQC have revealed that in spite of Brownlie’s claims of maybe 60-70 million spent on repairing the failed repairs ex Earthquake, the figure so far is $160 million not counting the cash payouts.
Shocking
After repeated requests over days Brownlie refused any response so tonight John phoned Brownlie. Short conversation then Brownlie hung up
This big but so far apart from JC, silence. Tomorrow? Huh.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018639043
Too many of those interested in politics are too involved in orgasmic experiences about issues to do with Clare Curran to focus on important stuff.
You don’t approve of what some people find interesting?
I believe she stated that there were no documents passed in the meeting – which was an interesting question asked (since they normally know the answer before asking).
Will be interesting (not to Pete) if this has more legs.
Of course I understand people not finding Brownlee being a bit loose about $100 million interesting.
It’s only one hundred million dollars (and counting apparently.) I reckon Curran was probably handing Hirschfeld $200 million. That’s way more interesting.
The media is an enemy of democracy and the citizens in the western world.
In the UK…….
they get bombarded with lies about Russian spies.
they get assaulted by smears about Jeremy Corbyn.
They know nothing about the war in Yemen.
In New Zealand…….
we get bombarded with lies about Christchurch and Pike River .
we get assaulted by smears about Nicky Hager, Mike Joy, Metiria Turei and David Cunliffe.
We know nothing about the war in Afghanistan and Ukraine.
In New Zealand…….
they get bombarded with lies about Libya,Syria and Iraq.
they get assaulted by smears about Nicolás Maduro and Fidel Castro.
They know nothing about the war against the Palestinians.
They fight for the plutocrats.
The billionaires own the media.
And they lie to us.
Over on Stuffall Jones is getting hammered…..again.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/102829290/shane-jones-cant-recall-official-misgivings-about-west-coast-project-he-funded
Like the Daily Review photo…….. 🙂
Is that UK?
Looks like UK rooftops….
I can only add that the Duplicity woman is now a complete idiot in my mind and this absolute garbage is going to come back and bite her: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12026155
Hi Kat be keen to hear why you think this garbage. The only thing I see that is wrong is the claim it has lost them 2020 election.
Is the information about the increase in fuel excise/tax (whatever you want to call it) incorrect
I may be wrong but this is a new excise/tax and will hurt the poor more than the welathy.
It is not a “new” tax it is an increase in the existing excise levy to fund roading and transport a process that all govts have been operating under for fifty years or more.To continually beat this up as “new” tax is basic politicking and should remain the preserve of politicians not supposed non partisan members of the fourth estate.
My suggestion to this Duplicity woman would be to become fully aware of govt policy and procedure and a lot wiser to keep her fingers off the keyboard and only appear stupid than to write that sort of nonsense and remove all doubt.
An excise or excise tax is any duty on manufactured goods which is levied at the moment of manufacture, rather than at sale. This will get passed into the consumer and recovered and paid by the manufacturer. It’s just a different form of taxation but the end result is the same as a GST increase. You end up paying more.
So would you call a increase in GST a new tax or a increase.
I see it as a new tax on the poor who ultimately be the ones who suffer first and find harder to cover.
I would have thought this should have been in the tax working group as it is a significant increase to household take home pay.
Labour’s tax policy prior to the last election stated that alcohol, petrol, and tobacco levies will be adjusted as per normal Government practice.
An increase in GST is an increase in an existing tax not a new tax.
The govt has already announced getting rid of letting fees, putting $5.5 billion into low- and middle-income earners’ pockets, bringing in the winter energy payment for those who are on low fixed incomes and increased the minimum wage.
I don’t know the answer to this but when was the last time there was a increase in this size.
Plus you do realise the flow in effect to other goods and services that require transportation of products.
Those businesses will pass on the increase to the consumer. So it has a domino effect across pricing I can’t imagine progressive and foodstuffs absorbing a fuel increase on their delivery cost and not pass them on.
The last National govt increased excise by 17cents and were considering a 10 to 20% increase in road user charges and excise before they were exited from the treasury bench. Think yourself lucky they are in opposition.
Hi
Over what period was the increase.
A one off 17 cents or over the nine year period. Just so there is some context.
Was the 10 to 20 percent in the annual road user charges or petrol. If road user then you can’t compare apples and oranges when petrol that has a every day component.
The new regional fuel tax IS a new tax. Remember then needed to change legislation to all it (all over New Zealand and not just Auckland as they indicated)
*sigh* One that they campaigned on…
Unlike National who campaigned on no new taxes and tax cuts in 2008 and then raised GST so they could transfer money from those who couldn’t afford it to those who didn’t need it.
Perhaps you need to raise your hypocrisy glasses and use your brain for something other than being a idiot parrot.
She has a point – it is a new tax
Is a new tax the same as an increase to an existing tax?
I would argue there is a difference, though others may find the difference too subtle for whatever reason.
Yes an interesting question.
Each individual will view it differently and also differently based on the product.
For example an increase on alcohol or tobacco would not cause too much unrest with the general population as not everyone smokes or drinks.
But petrol and its cost affects everyone and will will everyone.
Heck the cost of transiting goods to the supermarket will increase due to fuel cost and those once again will be passed on to the end consumer. You can’t escape it as companies will want to recover the fuel costs for goods.
I agree that the end result is the same, and this is a very visible tax for most people.
I was more pointing out the ‘new tax’ gotcha that some were trying to run with is a bit lame.
Proving, once again, that the capitalists don’t pay for anything.
Unless you change reality then it’s going to happen.
So with your vast IQ and superiority over the rest of us (humour not a dig), what needs to happen when this increase in excise will hurt the most vulnerable.
Because through all the rethoric and call change that in reality won’t happen overnight how do you protect those people that will be affected now.
The size of the effect depends entirely on the proportion of goods prices that regional fuel taxes make up. Additionally there will be a lag between the fuel tax increase and the expiry of regular carriage contracts.
Short version: if the per unit increase is a sub-1c rounding error, there’s basically no practical increase flowing on to the domestic consumer even if the total increase is made up in high transaction numbers.
Hi are you in the industry as I would be interested in your knowledge of the contracts. As I have seen from the freight industry most contracts contain a fuel clause or surcharge component to the pricing that makes it immediate.
The surcharge is added on top of the freight costs and will be recovered.
Nah not my field. Haulage might well be in the economically-envious position of being able to immediately pass on to their customers the full cost of and changes in their own running costs. Good for them.
And lag or no lag from the logistics companies, the point remains that if regional fuel costs are a relatively small fraction of the price of the good, and the fuel companies don’t initially wear a little bit of the increase to keep their market share, then the increase on a weekly shop would still end up being a fraction of that fraction.
The bigger cost to people would be the direct observation at the pump, even if fuel companies wear a bit initially.
Im pretty sure that a Regional Fuel Tax is new.
That is not what today’s announcement was about.
The Auckland Regional Fuel tax also replaced a rate payer transport levy. A neutral tax switch?
He cares not a jotalot. Fiddlededee.
The Living Wage has increased to $20.55/h. Well done to all employers paying the living wage or better – and shame on all those who are paying less! Great words from the Living Wage employer quoted in the RNZ story:
Mr Waldren said it made economic and social sense to pay that extra amount.
“You just have to get on board and pay the living wage … they’ve got a concept of if staff are not earning the living wage … basically they’re subsidising your business with their standard of living,” he said.
“Once you get that concept you can’t continue to pay under the living wage.”
The government should be 100% on board with this one.
I like that Stuff is giving a voice to heaps of homeless/renters.
Comments are still discordant often with low or non existant empathy for the *choices* people have made and suggestions like move Taumaranui and get a job there. I’m not saying that this isn’t possible just considerably harder to do than the comment suggests.
I view the comments section as a reasonable barometer of how much the public understands an issue even though it can be manipulated.
Palantir Technologies: A “CIA-backed startup”
The WSWS has reported on the real pedigree of Cambridge Analytica’s parent company, the behavioural research and strategic communication company, SCL.
Asked by the parliamentary select committee if there were other data companies operating similarly to Cambridge Analytica, Wylie specifically cited the data analysis giant Palantir Technologies.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/04/03/pala-a03.html
The lie is slowly being shown for what it is.
Click here to see the whole Independent article.
Craig Murray talks about Skripal case to George Galloway.
David Kelly also worked in Porton Down.
He was murdered for resisting the lies about Iraqi wmd
The Strange Death of David Kelly – Norman Baker MP
An interesting perspective.
The Moon of Alabama, as recommended by Mike Smith.
“Operation Hades – A Model For The ‘Novichok’ Case?”
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2018/04/operation-hades-a-model-for-the-novichok-case-.html#more
George Galloway.
If you want to learn about what is going on in Britain, listen to him.
Here is a flavour of the great orator.
I think in this case something like fuel is emotive and possibly not rational given we one of most expensive places for at pump price.
This is something that effects everyone in the pocket and we don’t know what the effect to overall prices and inflation.
When are the nurses getting a 20% wage increase, cause by God they will need it after paying fuel tax soon plus inflation on clothing, food and electricity will be up next.
Ahhhh ! The Living Wage has increased to $20.55/h good sign Property Rates will rise for sure.
Man oh man I love inflation.
The new Reserve Bank Manager Adrian Orr will be pulling his hair out, bald by Xmas.
Had a good night last night. The consulate launch of the sevens have to admit I thought I would be in the dog box coming home at 4am out with some AB and sevens legends.
My wonderful and semi perfect wife had paid her debt for a lost bet re the coalition lasting past Easter and their would be a by election and her national party would be back in.
After a month of eating vegetarian which was delicious and changed our way eating moving forward she cooked one of my favourite meals.
Came home to a slow cooked NZ lamb shoulder, roast tattys, asparagus, kumara and with Apple pie and custard.
Ahh the taste of victory was perfect.
ha ha good bet and win.
Exactly.
We have have robust and open political discussions I also love that she is strong and respect her views.
She supports national and I know why and I respect that and she respect my different voting views.
She’s a keeper that one.
Monty, I’m glad your marriage is better James K Baxter’s couple who live On Calvary Street “Where two old souls go slowly mad,/National Mum and Labour Dad.”
Also a far better kitchen than this one where “Her polished oven spits with rage”.
http://www.lead.org.au/lanv1n2/lanv1n2-11.html
Best wishes that your marriage blooms and prospers, the “full monty”!
“Where two old souls go slowly mad./National Mum and Labour Dad”. I do so love that line. It reminds me of Christmas time long ago in the 1950’s. My Grandparents on my Mother’s side were strictly Labour – rotten bosses and all the rest of it – and my Grandparents on my Dad’s side were strictly National – had a business and that meant something in those days or so they thought.
On Christmas Day they had to be separated at the Christmas table and politics was strictly off the menu. Us kids would have a giggle as Mum’s Gran loved a tipple and Dad’s father was strictly tea total. So the two old girls would get up in the front room and partake of the sherry while we were at carols by candlelight in the park.
When we got home the two grannies would in the kitchen tidying up or having a good go of it – giggly and half cut. Oh those were the days.
My old Grandad said “there wouldn’t have ever been unions if it weren’t for rotten bosses” – it resonates today all these gone by.
Of course, no one talks about National’s desire to price the poor off Auckland’s motoways by putting up toll Gates and congestion charges.
Meanwhile…..
https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2018/apr/04/china-us-trade-war-tariffs-wpp-markets-eurozone-jobs-business-live?page=with:block-5ac48f2be4b0968bfc01b558#block-5ac48f2be4b0968bfc01b558