Daily Review 03/04/2018

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, April 3rd, 2018 - 73 comments
Categories: Daily review, David Farrar - Tags:

Daily review is also your post.

This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Don’t forget to be kind to each other …

73 comments on “Daily Review 03/04/2018 ”

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  1. Pete 1
    3 April 2018 at 5:42 pm

    Tim Keating: It’s got nothing to do with Afghanistan. We know Tim.

    Just like we know you are always truthful with us.

  2. mary_a 2
    3 April 2018 at 6:05 pm

    And the first head to roll is Tim Keating, NZDF chief. An obscure way of admitting he lied to the country no doubt.

    Now we wait for Key, English and the rest of the National ministers involved to face accountability for sanctioning Operation Burnham, leading to war crimes against civilians.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12025303

  3. Carolyn_Nth 3
    3 April 2018 at 6:18 pm

    Oh – we have 2 daily reviews tonight.

    Mods?

  4. joe90 4
    3 April 2018 at 6:33 pm

    But no spies this time…right?.
    /

    State Department confirms that Russia can replace the diplomats, alleged to be intel officers, expelled last week. US "is not requiring the Russian bilateral mission to reduce its total number of personnel" a spox says. New accreditation to be reviewed on a "case-by-case basis.”— Julian Borger (@julianborger) April 2, 2018

    The Kremlin was boasting and laughing about this on Russian TV two days ago. Putin enjoys showing there’s no limit to the humiliation Trump will accept from him. Helps him rally his gang facing sanctions. https://t.co/iAdIg2b3i5— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) April 2, 2018

  5. Carolyn_Nth 5
    3 April 2018 at 6:36 pm

    timeforacupotea wrote:

    Goodbye Labour / Green parties next election from angry South Island and Southern North Island voters due to your crazy self-seeking Popularity Auckland fuel TAX.

    For Gods sake can you not be fair ! 22cents from us for your lousy busses and useless trains.

    I hope they get kicked out of office and back to the bottom of the world at least they are used to being in opposition.

    That’s not how I read it. Aucklanders will have an extra petrol tax on top of the national one, I think?

    And the money will partly go to regional and local roads.

    RNZ report.

    Stuff reports:

    The Government is proposing a fuel tax increase of between nine and 12 cents a litre to fund a raft of new land transport plans that focus on investing in road safety and rapid rail.

    The tax would be a double whammy for Aucklanders who can also expect Auckland Council to introduce about ten cents a litre in regional fuel taxes to pay for major transport projects.
    …
    The focus is well and truly on regional roads and rail but Twyford denied that meant urban areas like Wellington and Christchurch would miss out.
    …
    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”.

    The other big investment areas in the GPS are regional roading improvements, public transport – which is receiving a 46 per cent hike in funding – and new investment in rapid transit and rail.

    So Aucklanders are going to be paying a lot more fuel tax than the rest of the country.

    • monty 5.1
      3 April 2018 at 6:56 pm

      Is this a reccomendation from the tax working group or out of scope.

      It doesn’t seem fair that Auckland fuel costs would be that high. However on the other hand fairness doesnt really come into it when you need to fund infrastructure.

      I personally beleive that the revenue earned from a fuel tax should be used in that region to fund transport infastructure.

      Also a strong hike like that in Auckland and a better public transport would get more cars off the road and that is a good thing. The key is a reliable and effiecent mass transit system in major population centres.

    • timeforacupoftea 5.2
      3 April 2018 at 7:59 pm

      Carolyn_Nth
      I did jump off the deep end a tad.

      I was listening to radiolive and being ambushed by the telephone.

      $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.

      • alwyn 5.2.1
        3 April 2018 at 8:15 pm

        You should consider yourself honoured that you get to pay for that fine example of 19th century technology. Trams.
        That type of transport is completely obsolete with the advent, within the next decade, of autonomous electric cars. Who on earth wants to travel on a train when door to door transport will be available, much more cheaply, by AVs travelling on the road? Or I suppose you can spend a few billion dollars for bicycles. I was in Island Bay this afternoon. A couple of million to build about a kilometre and then about 6 million to try and fix it. Were there any cyclists? Not a single one in the twenty or so minutes I was there.

        • KJT 5.2.1.1
          3 April 2018 at 8:24 pm

          Heard of anthropogenic global warming have you Alwyn?
          And the fact we need to start somewhere with doing something about it?

          Or. You going to join the rest of the right wing in sticking your heads in the sand?

          • Draco T Bastard 5.2.1.1.1
            3 April 2018 at 11:53 pm

            You going to join the rest of the right wing in sticking your heads in the sand?

            As per all RWNJs about cars he’s got his head stuck up his arse. It’s why they’re always talking shit.

        • halfcrown 5.2.1.2
          3 April 2018 at 8:43 pm

          Got to agree with that alwyn

        • Pat 5.2.1.3
          3 April 2018 at 8:52 pm

          ‘De Boer says he doesn’t see completely autonomous driving networks in widespread use for another 50 years.’

          https://www.motoring.com.au/autonomous-cars-decades-away-says-nissan-110983/

        • Carolyn_Nth 5.2.1.4
          3 April 2018 at 8:58 pm

          Nah. Guys (and it usually is guys) who get excited about autonomous cars being the future are dreaming.

          They are expensive to produce, and need sophisticated mechanisms to ensure that their sensors will work.

          There’s still the problem that a car can only carry a small amount of people compared with the ground space taken up with mass transit.

          Trackless trains are likely to be developed in the longer term, but they still require the ground to be dug up and fortified because of the weight being carried along the road continuously. The cost and labour for that are not much less than that required for digging up ground to lay tracks for light and heavy rail.

          Autonomous cars will likely be used for short journeys.

          Cars are 20th century transport devices that are on the way out. Every developed country that can afford it has an extensive rail network.

        • timeforacupoftea 5.2.1.5
          3 April 2018 at 9:02 pm

          alwyn
          Here in Dunedin in 1958 we had cycle lanes on Andersons Bay Rd.
          We got rid of the trolley busses, poles always coming off on the corners.
          The poles holding up all the wires were removed and we could see the sky again.
          The sun came out.
          Cycle lanes were removed at the same time.

          2015 the big push for cycle lanes all over the city.
          Not often used, in wrong places, busses could not get around corners or fire engines. Seemed a great waste of money to us rate payers.
          Within the year 80% were removed.

          The remainder not used often, but have seen motorised wheels chairs hooning along. I know one person who does this, the person lost his licence for drunken driving, very useful for a personal passage to the bottle store though.

        • Sabine 5.2.1.6
          3 April 2018 at 9:34 pm

          good grief, seriously good grief.

          Trams are awesome if well planned and executed. I put to you the town of Nice, South of France.
          Lovely place, wedged in between the ‘alpes maritimes’ and the mediteranee. A bit like AKL actually, water on one side, hills on the other, and in the middle a city growing fast and furious, running out of space to accomodate all the people and the cars.
          So at some stage a decision had to be made, roads for cars and carparks and garages or houses for people. Hmmmm…….really what to choose.
          Now Mr. Estrosi is what in NZ would be a National Party member and a rather successful politician at that.
          He decreed that people spend more money on stuff then cars and thus insisted that the region of ’06 Alpes Maritimes’ and above all Nice or Nissa la bella needed more public transport and less cars, to be more appealing to tourists and inhabitants alike, to get rid of some of the smog – did i mention tourism – and get the car traffic that must flow flowing.

          Within a few years, the city was ripped open, the tracks were laid, buses can use the same space, and voila public transport fit for the twenty first century.

          Mr. Estrosi then, ever the smart politician, by degree set the price for public transport within the Department 06 – Alpes Maritimes – at 1 Euro per trip. It was a resounding success. Bus tickets that would have cost some 15 euros to Auron, St. Etienee de Tinnee, Isola 2000 etc, now at 1 Euro. Nice – Marseille en bus? 1 Euro. etc etc etc. People let their cars be at home, some even sold them, and used the bus, tram, train. Why? Because it was cheap, they had their own tracks, did not get stuck in grid lock and it was good for the environement. After all le smog et gris, a la Cote d’Azur is supposedly to be blue skies and all that.

          Map of Alpes Maritimes https://www.google.co.nz/maps/place/Alpes-Maritimes,+France/@43.919359,6.6167766,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x12cdb42708284d8f:0x30819a5fd8f25d0!8m2!3d43.9466791!4d7.179026

          About the Trams http://www.bestofniceblog.com/transport-in-nice/tramway/

          more trams are a coming
          https://www.thelocal.fr/20170131/in-figures-all-you-need-to-know-about-nices-new-tramline

          seriously you can be a conservative and still go with the time.

          edit, the price for the single journey has now increased to a 1.50 Euro. which is still bugger all.

          • Sam C 5.2.1.6.1
            3 April 2018 at 10:23 pm

            So, what’s the business case for that?

            Presumably similar to all the amazing roads and viaducts in Southern Italy ie non-existent.

            If you want the govt to fund public transport in its entirety, then just say so. But $1 a ride, even around Auckland, ain’t going to get you very far.

            • Draco T Bastard 5.2.1.6.1.1
              3 April 2018 at 11:50 pm

              So, what’s the business case for that?

              It costs less than cars while also making the city more liveable.

              Which is much better than National’s cars which cost more, don’t even stack up on a BCR and make the city far less liveable while also increasing premature death due to pollution.

        • Draco T Bastard 5.2.1.7
          3 April 2018 at 11:25 pm

          You should consider yourself honoured that you get to pay for that fine example of 19th century technology. Trams.

          Better than that other 19th century tech – cars.

          That type of transport is completely obsolete with the advent, within the next decade, of autonomous electric cars.

          No it’s not. No amount of autonomous electric cars are going a) get rid of the grid lock of too many cars on the road and b) using too much bloody resources.

          Who on earth wants to travel on a train when door to door transport will be available, much more cheaply, by AVs travelling on the road?

          Cars are always more expensive because they always use more resources. The fact that this isn’t showing up in the pricing system just shows that the pricing system is way out of whack.

          Or I suppose you can spend a few billion dollars for bicycles. I was in Island Bay this afternoon. A couple of million to build about a kilometre and then about 6 million to try and fix it. Were there any cyclists? Not a single one in the twenty or so minutes I was there.

          And here’s some actual research rather than your factless opinion:

          For the nine sites scattered around the region for which AT now have almost six years of data they say April had a combined increase of 19.3% compared to April-2015 and May was even better seeing a 22.6% increase compared to May-2015. The numbers passing in the morning peak saw an even stronger increase at 24.2% for April and 25.8% for May.

          More and more people are switching to using bicycles because they’re a hell of a lot better, cheaper and more fun.

          • alwyn 5.2.1.7.1
            4 April 2018 at 9:03 am

            “Actual Research”?
            You really are a crazy mixed up kid aren’t you?
            Island Bay is in Wellington not in Auckland. They are, for your information about 650 km apart.
            You consider my observing the actual site as being “fact-less opinion”.
            Then you quote something about Auckland as if it is facts about Wellington. I realise that to a Jafa Auckland is all that matters but if you are talking about Wellington you really should quote information about Wellington.

            I suppose I could demonstrate by “actual research” that 98% of the people in Auckland speak French. After all I have “actual research” that 98% of the people In Paris can do so and according to you something said about one city is “actual research” about another.

            • veutoviper 5.2.1.7.1.1
              4 April 2018 at 9:32 am

              LOL. Thanks, alwyn.

              As a “I Bay” girl for many decades (with some absences from time to time), the cycleway has been a disaster IMO – both in safety and looks. It weaves in and out of the car lanes and on and off the pavement, and unless you know it well, it is easy to miss this. The narrower car lanes mean lots more near misses or hits; and the parking between the car lanes and cycle lane is madness, with car doors having to be opened and people/children stepping out straight onto the cycle lane.

              The Island Bay is nothing like the excellent dedicated cycleways that I have seen pictures of in Auckland. I am not anti-cycling, far from it as I am envious of those who can, but for the rest of us locals, it has been a case of the minority getting preference over the majority at massive ongoing cost. And as you say, alwyn, you are lucky if you see more than 2 or 3 cyclists the whole length of the Parade at any one time – often none.

            • Draco T Bastard 5.2.1.7.1.2
              4 April 2018 at 10:15 am

              Around the world building bike lanes has increased use of bicycles and resulted in fitter people with better health.

              And, yes, you opinion is still factless. You don’t like the bike lanes – fine. There’s people in Auckland who also don’t like bike lanes and say the same thing about the Auckland bike lanes despite all the evidence to the contrary.

              Just saying that the bike lanes aren’t used because you haven’t seen any one on them is just bollocks.

              I will admit I was unclear on that point, sorry.

              • veutoviper …
                4 April 2018 at 11:02 am

                There have been many counts of people using the Island Bay cycleway – both by the Council itself, and by the pro and con groups. I don’t have the figures at hand and am not going looking for them. As a resident, I am interacting with the cycleway usually several times a day and have a pretty good idea of usage from seeing it.

                There are some who are totally anti any cycling but I fall in the middle and do appreciate the health benefits – where cycleways can be accommodated in a safe and appropriate manner. Many parts of Wellington with its hills, narrow and winding streets are not ideal or even possible for this.

                The original cycleway in Island Bay was far better than what we have currently. We keep getting asked to vote on various proposals, do so and then they change the proposals yet again. All of which is eating up millions of rate payer monies.

    • The Chairman 5.3
      3 April 2018 at 8:54 pm

      Labour sticking it to the poor once again.

      Seems Labour’s unwillingness to tax high income earners has resulted in them taxing us all with this regressive tax.

      Not only will people pay more to fill their cars, they’ll pay more for goods and services as businesses pass the cost on.

      • Keepcalmcarryon 5.3.1
        3 April 2018 at 9:20 pm

        And if we are rural and have no public transport and are already rorted on petrol prices by the cartel more than the city, we travel and stand to pay more. If they lower speed limits, rural people face longer journeys for doctors, food, essentials. It’s even safer to lower the limit to 10kph everywhere by the way.
        I’m going to want to see something big in the plus column to be on board with this.
        I “ somewhat doubt” this is a smart political play.
        Points to the government for ( I think?) showing leadership at least.

          • Keepcalmcarryon 5.3.1.1.1
            3 April 2018 at 9:43 pm

            Global warming eh, that’s why people won’t be able to afford to live in the country? Wow. Who the fuck is going to grow the food? Chardonnay socialists in Auckland are somewhat pressed for space on their quarter acres.

            • Pat 5.3.1.1.1.1
              3 April 2018 at 9:54 pm

              Fuel prices have varied by more than this over the past year and I havnt noticed my neighbours shutting up their homes and businesses and moving to the big smoke….climate change is going to require/force radical change to the way we live our lives and a small tax increase on fuel is likely to be the least of them.

              • Keepcalmcarryon …
                3 April 2018 at 10:01 pm

                i Can understand labour not getting the rural vote or particularly caring, it’s worth nothing to them politically. But Auckland also gets stung with 2 petrol hikes effectively. This will be… unpopular, considering as chairman states, labour could have chased the wealthy or off shore corporates to pay their share and increased their popularity.
                I shake my head a bit, labour dropped the water tax so as not to spook the horses and we badly need dairy de intensification in some areas, yet we get another petrol tax and possible speed limit changes with which rural voters and no one will be happy.

                • Pat …
                  3 April 2018 at 10:09 pm

                  Didnt say it would be popular and agree its inflationary and regressive but to suggest its not necessary within the current paradigm is to continue the short termism of the past 40 years (another Middlemore anyone?)

                  If you have a better suggestion for funding urgently needed public transport that has been grossly neglected in this country and will be needed even more desperately in the near future then kindly make it.

                  • Keepcalmcarryon …
                    3 April 2018 at 10:18 pm

                    Perhaps re reading my last post will answer that

                    • Pat …
                      3 April 2018 at 10:22 pm

                      cant see any alternatives offered there….unless youre referring to a different thread.

                    • Keepcalmcarryon …
                      3 April 2018 at 10:27 pm

                      “could have chased the wealthy or off shore corporates to pay their share and increased their popularity.”
                      Tax the corporates, tax the wealthy.
                      Joe Bloggs kiwi is struggling.

                    • Pat …
                      3 April 2018 at 10:38 pm

                      tax the corporates and the wealthy…agree though history shows difficult to achieve in practice…even more so now though I would expect (hope) that that will also be on the agenda..(and also has a time lag element that a fuel tax will not).

                      Although I doubt this will have any noticeable impact on fuel use taxation should be behaviour altering and as stated this is likely to be one of the easiest challenges we will face.

                    • Keepcalmcarryon …
                      3 April 2018 at 10:42 pm

                      “Behaviour changing”
                      When you live remotely and don’t have public transport I’ll let you think about how that sounds.

                    • Pat …
                      3 April 2018 at 10:44 pm

                      I do…you have no need to tell me

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      3 April 2018 at 11:58 pm

                      You last was bollocks as well.

            • Draco T Bastard 5.3.1.1.1.2
              3 April 2018 at 11:56 pm

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

              Has the added benefit of not polluting our waterways.

              • Keepcalmcarryon …
                4 April 2018 at 12:12 am

                DTB says we should be vertical farming if regressive taxation means everyone has to live in the city.
                Where do the cows stand?
                Idealism, meet reality.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  4 April 2018 at 10:29 am

                  We can build buildings strong enough for the cows as well and they’d have the benefit of having shade.

                  And we don’t need the anywhere near the number of cows that we have.

                  Or we simply print the meat instead – no need for cows at all.

                  • Keepcalmcarryon …
                    4 April 2018 at 11:20 am

                    I’m sweet with that, you are just a few hundred years ahead of yourself.
                    We kind of have to get there first.

        • Sam C 5.3.1.2
          3 April 2018 at 10:20 pm

          Labour doesn’t care about rural NZ – didn’t you realise that?

        • Draco T Bastard 5.3.1.3
          3 April 2018 at 11:55 pm

          And if we are rural and have no public transport and are already rorted on petrol prices by the cartel more than the city, we travel and stand to pay more.

          Get real – the city has been subsiding the rural areas since forever.

          • Keepcalmcarryon 5.3.1.3.1
            4 April 2018 at 12:09 am

            See how it plays out DTB. Drive some South Island roads “it’s different here” because fuck all money gets spent on roads outside natural disasters. But yeah Auckland.
            If the rural urban divide was a National construct for the election, watch what happens and where this goes.
            What’s the petrol price where you are? How far is it to your nearest supermarket or hospital or specialist?

            • Draco T Bastard 5.3.1.3.1.1
              4 April 2018 at 10:26 am

              Drive some South Island roads “it’s different here” because fuck all money gets spent on roads outside natural disasters.

              I have – they’re in better condition than Auckland roads.

              What’s the petrol price where you are?

              Dunno – don’t drive.

              How far is it to your nearest supermarket or hospital or specialist?

              Walking distance.

              None of that takes away from the fact that Auckland subsidises you to live the lifestyle you choose.

              And then there’s the fact that I think the supermarket should do free delivery as it’s actually much more efficient. It’s a little harder to justify for the doctor and specialist to come to you but, then, how often do you need to see the doctor?

              • Keepcalmcarryon …
                4 April 2018 at 11:14 am

                Bullshit on the roads, you should leave the house more often.
                Nicely stilted article there, no breakdown rural vs urban.there are other cities in NZ outside Auckland, who knew?
                Also from your article:
                “They found that Auckland received around 35% of central government’s overall capital expenditures – only a wee bit more than the city’s share of the population. So it’s not like the government’s investing wildly in Auckland and leaving no money for other regions.

                That being said, data on transport expenditures alone paints a slightly different picture. When I looked at NZTA’s regional expenditure analysis, I found that Auckland received almost half of the agency’s spending on new and improved roads over the last decade. ”
                Actually for roads Auckland is “being subsidised by everyone else”

                Sort of the opposite to what you were saying.

      • Bill 5.3.2
        3 April 2018 at 9:34 pm

        James Shaw recently, and pointedly, stated at a public meeting that he favoured user pays when it comes to carbon. So I wouldn’t go reserving the comments about sticking to the poor to NZ Labour.

        • The Chairman 5.3.2.1
          3 April 2018 at 9:47 pm

          Yes, so I’ve heard. However, in his defence, the Greens did plan to help the poor offset that to some extent (with tax cuts, higher core benefits).

    • Draco T Bastard 5.4
      3 April 2018 at 11:16 pm

      And those ignoramuses still don’t understand that Auckland has been subsidising them for years.

  6. Tony Veitch (not etc) 6
    3 April 2018 at 7:01 pm

    Every time Soimon comes on television trying to defend the complete mess left by National in the Health system, the more of a complete prat he looks!

  7. Pete 7
    3 April 2018 at 7:48 pm

    You mean the more he comes on looking like a retarded Simple Simon the more simple retards accept him and his simpering and lionise him as The Answer.

    • James 7.1
      3 April 2018 at 8:38 pm

      Retards ???

      Classy.

    • monty 7.2
      3 April 2018 at 8:49 pm

      Referring to someone as having a mental illness is not cool and says more about yourself than does about Mr Bridges.

      Debate and disagree what the person is saying and not the actual person, when you resort to name calling and abuse it demeans the content of your argument.

    • mary_a 7.3
      4 April 2018 at 4:32 pm

      @ Pete (7) … Calling people a retard is not acceptable, just as it is to mock someone with a speech impediment!

      I am surprised this post passed moderation!

  8. Pat 8
    3 April 2018 at 7:50 pm

    Another good piece from Gordon Campbell (which includes an offshore link re Dot Com)…

    “Since National changed leaders, the same illusion has been perpetuated by Simon Bridges, who cited National’s claim to be “good economic managers” in his first statements as leader. If there is any justice, the decrepit state of Middlemore Hospital should return to haunt Bridges during his tenure, and throughout the election campaign of 2020. As CTU economist Bill Rosenberg recently pointed out in a detailed demolition of National’s claims to economic competence, fiscal management ( which entails managing the government’s finances) is not the same thing as managing the wider economy for the benefit of the general public :”

    Good economic managers?…my arse!

  9. monty 9
    3 April 2018 at 8:09 pm

    What a great draw and series win for the Black Caps.

    Cant get coverage here so listened to it the old fashion way on the radio, it was riverting stuff. Amazing how doing nothing, not scoring can be so tense and exciting.

    Have to admit it test cricket is the best. In what game can a draw mean so much and be so important and played hard and in the right spirit of a good tight contest.

    Good stuff.

    • ScottGN 9.1
      3 April 2018 at 8:22 pm

      Totally agree.

    • patricia bremner 9.2
      3 April 2018 at 8:42 pm

      Our household is proud. Ish Sodi was great. Remember 84 Hadlee and c/o.

      • monty 9.2.1
        3 April 2018 at 8:56 pm

        Ish Sohdi and Neil Wagner what a fight.

        I grew up watching the late great Martin Crowe and Hadlee. At School and after school or when you caught up with your mates you either wanted to be Hadlee or Crowe in the backyard.

        After school and the weekends wasn’t about TV/playstation or computers for me it was about Saturday morning sport rain, snow or sunshine, riding my bike or playing Rugby or Cricket in the backyard with neighbourhood kids or being forced to play tennis by my mum or caddie for my dad (thankful for that now as quite enjoy it both tennis and golf now).

        The sound of Cricket was always on in the background on the radio so you could pretend to be your heroes and keep up with the game.

        • patricia bremner 9.2.1.1
          3 April 2018 at 9:12 pm

          So True Monty. I was teaching in 1984 and our Principal burst in to say “There is a meeting in the staffroom. The classes are on a break”

          Everyone did just that. He had a tv in the staffroom. and one in the hall. It was a great day. Fans everyone.

  10. halfcrown 10
    3 April 2018 at 8:15 pm

    I see that another parasitical beneficiary is now spending up large on his wedding.

    One can see why the French and Russian revolutions happened.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12024506

    • patricia bremner 10.1
      3 April 2018 at 9:01 pm

      They both do good in the world. His income comes from his great grandmother and mother. Did you see the Invictus Games he started for the injured service staff?
      After the poisoning security will be huge I imagine.
      I agree that is a ridiculous amount of money. That is their world, but they try.

      • Draco T Bastard 10.1.1
        4 April 2018 at 12:02 am

        They both do good in the world. His income comes from his great grandmother and mother.

        Not enough to offset the damage of the bludging that they do.

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    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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