Daily review 07/10/2021

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, October 7th, 2021 - 82 comments
Categories: Daily review - 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 …

82 comments on “Daily review 07/10/2021 ”

  1. Anker 1

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyzOL2BXTMQ

    A 17 year old school boy makes a submission to the Select Committee on the Conversion Practices Bill. Watch Ginny Andersons response. Its really disgusting she talked to a young man like that who took the trouble to exercise his deomocratic right to voice his opionion.

    BTW I think this young lads intepretation of the legislation is correct and so do the majoirty of submitters.

    • solkta 1.1

      That website is so dodgy it doesn't even have an "about" page but if you go to the Family First site it is clear it is theirs. Not surprised at you reading and spreading propaganda for the religeous right though.

      • Nic the NZer 1.1.1

        You seem to be implying only some faction of a polity have a right to voice an opinion.

        • McFlock 1.1.1.1

          I didn't get that.

          I took the meaning that often the sources we turn to in order to find support for our positions indicate just as much about us as they do the quality of our position.

          • Anker 1.1.1.1.1

            I saw this clip on the parliament website. Once viewed it is often hard to get the clip back. So I just googled it. I wasn't even aware that it was Family First, cause I am not assoicated with them.

            But I do belive that everyone has a deomcratic right to express their views, even ones I don't agree with. There was an elderly Christian gent presenting and I didn't agree with his views, but again one of the Labour women was incredibly rude.

            • McFlock 1.1.1.1.1.1

              You don't need to be associated with someone to see the name of their youtube channel.

              So now youtube is going to suggest more FF videos at anyone who clicks the link. Thanks for that.

      • Anker 1.1.2

        It is a recording of a zoom submission from Parliament. But I agree it is dodgy from the point of view of how disgracefully citizens are being treated when exercising their democratic right.

        Ginny Anderson's reponse is patronizig and unacceptable. They are there to hear all views, listen respectfully and ask questions, even challenging ones.

        This was one of the rudest responses to a young man who is still. technically a child exercising his democratic right.

        • solkta 1.1.2.1

          So are you happy to promote Family First?

          Yes the response was patronising, but not incorrect.

          • Anker 1.1.2.1.1

            I saw this clip on the parliament website. Once viewed it is often hard to get the clip back. So I just googled it. I wasn't even aware that it was Family First, cause I am not assoicated with them.

            But I do belive that everyone has a deomcratic right to express their views, even ones I don't agree with. There was an elderly Christian gent presenting and I didn't agree with his views, but again one of the Labour women was incredibly rude.

            • solkta 1.1.2.1.1.1

              You were not aware who the site was because you didn't bother to find out, i guess because you don't care.

              • Anker

                I care about how that young man was treated, but an elected representative.

                I care about the young women who are obtaining and using breast binders which cause harm.

                I care about the kids put on puberty blockers, then cross sex hormones befor they are old enough to truly understand what their decision means . Recent article with two top surgeons in trans gender care, both transgender women. Now having doubts about all this. I care that kids on these drugs can and very often do end up infertile and unable to experience sexual pleasure. I care about all the kids who are detransitioners who have irreversible damage to their young bodies.

                Do I care that you have associated me with Family First and think I should have researched that that was their clip. Not so much

        • solkta 1.1.2.2

          Did you check out Leah the "ex-lesbian" on that site? Are you happy to promote the idea that people's sexuality can be "corrected" with "therapy"?

          • Anker 1.1.2.2.1

            See my answer to McFlock Solkta. I saw the clip on the Parliament weibsite and googled it. It came up with the Family First thing.

            I have my own views. I think they are clear to most here. I am a gender critical feminist. I disagree with a lot of the gender ideology. That's it.

          • Anker 1.1.2.2.2

            If I thought that Solkta I would have said it, ie people sexuallity can be changed with therapy., I am big on a good evidence base for therapy and there is no evidence at all the sexual orientation can be changed.

            for the record I don't know what's on family firsts website

          • left for dead 1.1.2.2.3

            Solkta ,,,why are you attacking the person and not addressing the message.

        • Nordy 1.1.2.3

          What nonsense. She simply disagreed with his assertions and pointed out quite correctly that he misunderstood the bill.

        • Anne 1.1.2.4

          Ginny Anderson's reponse is patronizig and unacceptable.

          Wrong. It was polite and respectful. If the young man was "coming at it from the wrong angle" then she had a duty to point it out to him as nicely as possible which she did. Anyway he spoke for too long so there was no time to ask questions and expand on his submission.

          Can't Daily Review at the least be exempted from this gender-wars topic? It is getting very boring. I thought DR was more for topical, in the news items that have arisen during the day.

          • Anker 1.1.2.4.1

            I think we must have watched different clips then Anne. I thought it was very rude.

            If this young man has the wrong end of the stick, then so do most of the other submitters. I think the Bill is very unclear. Have you read the RIS?

            I think its intention is that any parent, religious person or professinal counsellor (because they are not accredited under the Health Practitioners Act) potelnitally can have a complaint to the police man about them, which could result in a criminal charge, even prison. I think that people supporting this bill and the possible purpose of this Bill is that unless young people are offered affirmative care, they see it as an attempt to suppress or changed their gender identity. The Counting Ourselves survey reported that around 17% of trans people had experienced a conversion practice from a professional counsellor, Dr Psychologist. I think their definitiion of conversion is not being affirmed. I think I will post a blog piece by a gay male therapist which says in his opinion Rainbow Youth are failing their young people. Its very well writtien and for the record he is not Christian or connected with Family First.

            • Cricklewood 1.1.2.4.1.1

              Tend to agree with the patronizing part… we need more young people that are engaged enough in our political system to appear like that. I feel Ginny could have made a far better fist of disagreeing with his interpretation of the bill.

              Came across as Im the grown up and you're wrong silly boy.

              Bit like the response to Rex posted the other day in that it was disrespectful. You can disagree and at least maintain some decorum and treat submitters with respect.

            • mac1 1.1.2.4.1.2

              I have to say that I watched the video looking for disrespect. I saw none. I saw a young man reading from a prepared script, at times poorly which made me wonder whether he had written it. When he finished he was told that MP Anderson disagreed with his interpretation, saying he had misunderstood the bill and therefore needed to read the bill again.

              What the actual argument is over I truly have no opinion on, apart from a desire to see fair play for all.

              I have been following the debate in a fashion, but have not gone outside what I have read on The Standard.

              I am still none the wiser. But I have read a lot of mixed feelings from commenters.

              Again I say I have no position on this issue, yet. I would appreciate a dispassionate direction as to the issue here. Can a Standard author write such a post, or direct me to something that explains the issues to a 72 year old, usually tolerant and liberal in opinions?

              But I need more than a direction to a video accusing an MP of behaviour that I could not discover…….

              • Anne

                I saw none. I saw a young man reading from a prepared script, at times poorly which made me wonder whether he had written it.

                They were my thoughts too. And if we are correct mac1 then it would explain his inability to reply to the MP's response because he hadn't written it in the first place. 🙂

              • ianmac

                Agreed Mac1, Anne and others.I thought Ginny was OK. I wouldn't mind being spoken to as Blake was. Time limitations and pleased that Blake was willing to have a go.

          • Brigid 1.1.2.4.2

            So scroll right on by

      • SPC 1.1.3

        It's a link to a video of a presentation to a SC. Nothing to doubt about it's veracity, so the source is not "fair game" or reason to impugn the poster.

        • solkta 1.1.3.1

          She is still sharing a link to a religeous right website and not caring about any fallout. A strange action for a feminist.

          • weka 1.1.3.1.1

            and you're running a derail rather than addressing the issues raised /shrug.

          • SPC 1.1.3.1.2

            Religious right wing sites are now probably linking to sites of feminists despite their patriarchy promise keeper bent …

            It's not the first time, moral conservatives and feminists – prohibition and pornography.

            • Anker 1.1.3.1.2.1

              Oh FFS I think I explained I saw the clip on Parliament website. Its hard to back track and watch a whole lot of presentations to find the one you want to review. I remember the boys name so I googled it. Thats what came up. End of.

              As I said Solkta I don't care to much about that. I care about the other things I listed

              • SPC

                FFS indeed … I hope you considered context better than you did reading my post when looking at the proposed legislation.

            • Anker 1.1.3.1.2.2

              spc. where is your evidence/?

      • Sabine 1.1.4

        so the clip with a stamp of House of Representative dodgy, or just the host of the video clip?

      • weka 1.1.5

        it's a NZ government SC video on youtube. As Anker points out, it's hard to find the SC videos later, but often other people have put them up independently.

        Is there a connection other than that between FF and the submitter?

      • Sabine 1.1.6

        maybe you like this host better? It is still the same clip, same content, all the stuff you don't want to discuss.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3eInI8r0mw

        and that is the host of the clip from the submission, maybe this person will satisify your purity level?
        https://au.linkedin.com/in/ckarena

    • SPC 1.2

      Majority of submitters does not speak to credibility, just to the effectiveness of organised campaigns.

      • Sabine 1.2.1

        We must have already forgotten that SUFW actually had to go to court to hold some speeches. OH, but that was un-speak, un-desirable speak, un-consented speak, un-censored speak, and we can't have that.

        It can't be that people really do have some issues with this bill, right? They must be of the far right, mis-informed, phobic of this and that, and just super extremist religious, and coached to the hilt. Right?

        Oh my, the future is going to be so entertaining.

        • SPC 1.2.1.1

          What did any of that have to do with my post?

          • Sabine 1.2.1.1.1

            Majority of submitters does not speak to credibility, just to the effectiveness of organised campaigns.

            Maybe the majority of submitters do speak very credibly about the overall shittyness of said bill and its potential pitfalls, and that very little of that had anything to do with any organised campaigns, considering that the only group that organised anything had to go to court to be allowed to do tho and was labeled a 'hate group'.

            But then, what was you sayin?

            • SPC 1.2.1.1.1.1

              You think only one group organised against the legislation? Look up the DR to see another group mentioned. There will have been others.

              My comments referred to two fallacies occurring in the debate

              1. one that having a majority of submissions makes a position more credible
              2. and the relevance of the source of a link to the issue being discussed (one can note the irony of disparate groups on the same side of an issue but this does not speak to merit).
        • SPC 1.2.1.2

          Do you have any idea if SUFW has any position/submission on this issue (after the earlier one on BDMRR)?

      • Craig H 1.2.2

        The Public Service Act was a prime example of that – so many anti-Maori submissions…

    • Pete 1.3

      She thought he had the wrong end of the stick and she told him that. I guess the best thing would have been for her to have said nothing.

      • Anker 1.3.1

        I agree Pete. I think it would have been more appropriate just to thank this lad for taking the time to submit.

        BTW most submitters have similar concerns to Blake

  2. Delia 2

    This is the Labour Party today, if not rude to women's rights women, now dismissing young people who do not toe the Labour line. As to your comment about FF they published the video, the young man is not a Christian. Labour has treated submitters rudely for days now. Even if Blake were, a god forbid, Christian, he still has the right to. be heard fairly.

    • Nordy 2.1

      Again what nonsense. If submitters turn up and argue incorrectly or mistakenly on what a bill is about and why, they need to expect that those people who actually understand the bill will point that out to them.

      • Anker 2.1.1

        Well Nordy have you read the Bill? The RIS? because I think you are incorrect. Most of the submitters against the Bill have some very real concerns.

        Someone I know is a counsellor and he realizes he could be criminalized under this bill for offering explortary therapy rather than the affirmative model.

        • McFlock 2.1.1.1

          Well, no:

          (2) However, conversion practice does not include—

          • (a) a health service provided by a health practitioner in accordance with the practitioner’s scope of practice; or

          […]

          • (d) providing acceptance, support, or understanding of an individual; or
          • (e) facilitating an individual’s coping skills, development, or identity exploration, or facilitating social support for the individual; or

          […]

          Your friend has several outs for genuine therapy or even just non-healthcare-based listening.

          • Anker 2.1.1.1.1

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyzOL2BXTMQ

            Nordy and McFlock/. I invite you both to read this blog piece by a gay male counsellor about how we are failing our Rainbow Youth. In the blog piece Paul mentions affirmative therapy. This is when a persons gender identity is automatically affirmed.

            As I wrote before a significant number of young people in counting ourselves believed they had received a conversion practice from health professionals.

            Why my friend may have several outs I can assure you that no counsellor wants to face the threat of criminal proceedings. I think it is unfair that counsellors would be covered by this act at all. They have professional bodies who people can make complaints to if they are unhappy with their treatment.

          • Anker 2.1.1.1.2

            McFlock counsellors are not counted as health practitioners because they are not accredited under the act.

            • McFlock 2.1.1.1.2.1

              "Or" is a wonderful word in any legislation.

              As long as they can tick one of the boxes, there isn't a problem.

              If they genuinely haven't kept up with proposed regulatory changes relating to their profession, they're possibly not very good. Or do we expect more of pub bouncers than we do of people entrusted to treat children who have complex emotional or psychological needs?

              • Anker

                McFlock just to clarify, The New Zealand Counsellors Association is an organisation (NZAC) chose not to become acredited under the Health Practitioners Act. They still have rigourous registration process, high ethical standards and on-going professional development requirements to the highest standards. So the organisation choosing not to go through the acreditation process is nothing to do with the quality of their practitioners. You comment about expecting more of pub bouncers, shows a lack of understanding of what acreditation means. It is a little bit of a slur on cournsellors a very valuable and scarce resource with the mental health issues we have. If you want to see the quality read the link that Molly posted by a gay counsellor who works in the Rainbow space and believes we are failing our Rainbow youth. It makes sobering reading.

                Many psychotherapists regret becoming accredited because it is a costly process and adds very little to what they do.

                • McFlock

                  I made no comment about them as "health practitioners".

                  As an individual, if someone is working with serious and life-altering issues of any type, they need to know the extent of their legal obligations and responsibilities. I was expected to know that on the door.

                  Even as a non-HP, there may be a variety of mandatory reporting and confidentiality issues that make the fairly concise and plain-language aspects of the proposed ban on conversion therapy quite trivial.

                  And beyond any individual awareness of their legal obligations and liabilities, this is the exact sort of thing their professional bodies should be submitting on and providing information to their members about.

                  The fact that your counsellor friend is worried possibly means they haven't bothered reading the bill (and reflecting upon how that might affect their actual practise) or asking their professional body for guidance.

                  Or they have matched the bill against their practise, and discovered that their practise can be reasonably interpreted as "performed with the intention of changing or suppressing the individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression", and that they cannot reasonably argue that their practise is

                  • (c) assisting an individual to express their gender identity; or
                  • (d) providing acceptance, support, or understanding of an individual; or
                  • (e) facilitating an individual’s coping skills, development, or identity exploration, or facilitating social support for the individual;

                  Are they intending to change anyone's sexual orientation? No? No problem then.

          • weka 2.1.1.1.3

            thanks for being the first person to link to the Bill, so that we don't have to go round and round in people's reckons and we can reference what the law is actually intended to say.

          • SPC 2.1.1.1.4

            I am not sure about the reference to Section 5(1) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003

            as to the definition of medical practitioner.

            Section 5(1) was repealed, on 12 April 2019, by section 4 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 11).

            https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2019/0011/latest/whole.html#LMS57880

            • SPC 2.1.1.1.4.1

              Section 4 of the proposed legislation before the SC.

              In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

              conversion practice has the meaning given to it in section 5

              health practitioner has the same meaning as in section 5(1) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003

              health service has the same meaning as in section 5(1) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003

              scope of practice has the same meaning as in section 5(1) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003

              serious harm, in relation to an individual, means any physical, psychological, or emotional harm that seriously and detrimentally affects the health, safety, or welfare of the individual.

              https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2021/0056/latest/LMS487211.html

            • McFlock 2.1.1.1.4.2

              "health practitioner" is still in, "medical practitioner" is out.

        • Nordy 2.1.1.2

          Yes, I have.

          Having concerns is not the same as actually knowing or understanding the Bill.

          Finally, if the counsellor you know is actually at risk of being criminalised under the provisions under the bill, then they need to take a long hard look at what they doing, as their actions are clearly not acceptable.

          • Anker 2.1.1.2.1

            Do you not realize that some people will think anything other than automatic affirmation is a form of conversion practice?

            Ask yourself this. If you were a counsellor and it was possible you could face the threat of a criminal prosecution when working with a group of people would you still work with them? I wouldn't. I would work with other clients where if Ithere is a complaint made, then it goes to my professional body. Not the police.

            Sometimes people make false complaints.

            • Nordy 2.1.1.2.1.1

              Sometimes people make false assertions about proposed legislation. That doesn't change reality.

              • Anker

                Nordy do you mean I have made false assertions about proposed legislation.

                I don't think it is possible to be clear about this legislation because we don't know how it is going to look in the end.

      • miravox 2.1.2

        "they need to expect that those people who actually understand the bill will point that out to them"

        Do they? I thought this was an information gathering process. I thought presenting submissions was to be heard, not to be debated or dismissed in the hearing. I imagined that debate about a submission would occur in committee discussions. I would have thought the MPs job (no matter how infuriating or boring) in this process was to listen and take note.

        That's what I would expect, if I was ever courageous enough to make an in-person submission. What a way to put people off oral submissions, to be belittled in public. I've never thought that is how democracy works.

        If submitters don't understand the bill, surely that's something to be noted in terms of wording and content. It's valuable information in terms of getting a bill right.

        Note: I'm not commenting on the content or quality of that submission here, just the process.

        • left for dead 2.1.2.1

          Good points miravox,sad too see the fragmented left at it again,this is Daily review isn't it as Open mike we can cover what ever,if some are not interested 'just go past it',simple as that.Their are plenty on the right of politics that will slap down the left,lets stop doing it to ourselfs,please.

  3. Gezza 3

    The thoughts of Chairman Bob…

    “TERRIBLE LYING BY PFIZER
    Sir Bob Jones October 6, 2021

    Pfizer claim they waited six weeks despite their urging, for New Zealand Government officials to actually meet with them and discuss vaccine supplies last year.

    That is a disgraceful slur. Surely they know we were actually at the head of the queue for vaccines, as then Health Minister Hipkins, not once but twice told the nation last year.

    Hipkins should sue the buggers.”

    • Patricia Bremner 3.1

      Hipkins explained that they were then at that juncture, looking over 40 different suppliers/vaccines and I think from memory a 56 page proposal from Pfizer…. that would not be an instant decision.

      • Cricklewood 3.1.1

        True, given it did take a couple days to clarify as to whether or not you could use a toilet, can understand how it would take a while…

    • Cricklewood 3.2

      Not going to lie, I quite enjoy Sir Bobs commentary from time to time…

    • AB 3.3

      Pfizer claim they waited six weeks despite their urging, for New Zealand Government officials to actually meet with them and discuss vaccine supplies last year.

      Notice what Sir Bob did there? He indicated that the discussion in around May 2020 was about 'supplies'. It can't have been about supplies because the Pfizer vaccine wasn't in commercial production at that time, probably wasn't approved for use anywhere, and I'd assume was still fairly early in its clinical trials. Any discussion would have been in the realm of technical pre-sales – Pfizer making sure that they stayed on any vaccine candidate shortlist the NZ government might be developing.

      There is only one person being dishonest here – and I think it's the property speculator. Which would not be unexpected.

      • Gezza 3.3.1

        I enjoy the occasional read of Sir Bob's blog. Mainly for the sycophantic commenters.

        Sir Bob's not one to worry about letting the facts get in the way of a good satire – or a good story.

        On one of his frequent anti-"Māori wonderfulness" rants he dashed off a bit of Māori history, including that Kupe fished up the North Island. It was Maui who fished up the North Island, not Kupe – hence the Māori name Te-Ika-a-Maui.

        It's hard to tell where he's taking the piss & where he's possibly being serious sometimes.

        • Cricklewood 3.3.1.1

          Yeah tbh I think some of thats a deliberate troll… he's alot of things but stupid isnt one of them.

    • weka 3.4

      I was going to say to link, always, for context. But turns out there is no context. Jones is being a dick, again.

      https://nopunchespulled.com/2021/10/06/terrible-lying-by-pfizer/

      (but yeah, always link if you are cut and pasting)

  4. weka 4

    Is anyone interested in a film club? The Social Dilemma is free to view for October. We could set up a timeframe eg a week, for people to watch, and then on the weekend I put up a post and we get to talk about the film.

  5. Cricklewood 5

    Interesting study… if correct we've got a very long way to go.

    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/

    • weka 5.1

      yes. I think there are quite a number of people who are going to be disappointed next year. We really should be teaching people how to manage chronic stress at this point, including fear and uncertainty.

    • Cricklewood 5.2

      The summary I think has an important message for everyone… " even as efforts should be made to encourage populations to get vaccinated it should be done so with humilty and respect… Stigmatzing populations can do more harm than good…" those aee messages some commenters here would do well to take onboard.

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

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
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