If you have a spare 25 minutes this evening, watch this interview with John PIlger and you’ll learn what is really happening behind the corporate lame stream media headlines on Syria, Salisbury, Yemen and the Korean peninsula.
Watched it yesterday. Compelling and ominous. If what Pilger says is true then everything coming from the “Great ” Powers is suspect. What sort of world are we living in? Who would we trust? Glum!
Excellent observations from Pilger…i wonder if our journalists blush when they watch these interviews? Or do they just consider anything on RT to be “Russian Propaganda”
Tomorrow President Trump will announce whether he is going to continue with the nuclear non-proliferation agreement with Iran. If he cuts it loose, and Iran is then completely unconstrained in the region, quite a few cards fall Iran’s way.
Through the control that Iran-backed Hizbollah now have in Lebanon following the elections on the weekend, Iran’s influence consolidates right on Israel’s border.
Iran has already consolidated power next door with its sustained support for the Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad in Damascus.
The last part of that is the Iraqi parliamentary elections coming up this weekend on May 12th. If they get sufficient influence in the Iraqi Parliament, they will be able to form a continuous land bridge from Iran to Iraq to Syria to Lebanon, right to the border of Israel.
The United States releasing them from major international constraint through the cutting of the non-proliferation treaty truly smoothes that pathway.
The Iranians will continue to play for time until they are no longer convinced that any strike on Israel will lead to a war they will lose.
When the Iranians have finally consolidated power in Syria, Lebanon and in Iraq, when they have a strong presence on the border with Israel, and when they have precision-guided missiles in place — then they will be ready to defeat Israel.
If you want to dispute Iranian influence for a fair old while into Lebanon’s Hizbollah, into Assad’s Syria, and into Iraq, go right ahead.
The speculation bit is for the next 10 hours, when Trump announces which way he is going. Then all you have to do is wait five days for the Iraqi election.
The writing is on the wall for fossil fuels, and the think about nukes is that if you use them, you lose. So having them is actually more dangerous than people thinking that you might have them.
Meanwhile, Iran gets to sell its oil as long as some of the world wants it, and is domestically energy-diversified for when that market dries up in the next few decades. Giving them a massive advantage over Saudi Arabia. And they don’t even need to spend billions developing nukes.
I think you would find that Trump may have a get out of jail card to use as the news was saying tonight by banning any US companies from dealing with Iran and therefore he can still keep the treaty intact. But with Trump anything can happen atm and my guess he will ditch it.
I agree with your assumptions and that of old mop top Boris which could lead to an all out Arms Race within the MER which see a few nations attempt to get some nukes. If the worst case happens then the MER could get very untidy very fast and especially after the Israeli parliament approved that the PM and his or her MoD can go to war with cabinets approval.
There is already a enough hot air and hot heads in the MER without these two dills adding their two shekels worth.
It’s about bloody time we start focus on our backyard aka Sth Pacific and our front yard aka Antarctic followed by SEA and finally the Commonwealth Nations outside of the 3 rings mention.
I didn’t know our embassy in Sweden had closed! And who were the muppets that closed it? Apart from the Uk, Ireland, France, Germany and Dutch embassies. I consider Sweden an important embassy to have in Europe.
Yes, we do import a lot of from Sweden and both from Norway and Finland. All of it is good quality stuff to boot.
I think memory that Sweden even had put an offer in for it Gippen Multi- Role Combat Jet when the F-16 deal went south and it was almost better than what Yanks has offered.
I don’t think we are late, but have just arrived in time unlike the Aussies who have frozen their aid again until 2022 bloody dickheads. I notice that the inshore Patrol Boats (note these Boats were meant to be sold off by the No Mates Party under the last DWP) will spending more time up in the Islands now and hopefully one of the OPV’s as well if the third one gets the go head by the current Government. The MoD, MFAT and NZAid should look at basing them on a permanent basis at the Pacific Boat Dockyard near Nadi Airport? As there is a Pacific Fishies and SAR centre at Nadi as well.
Probably should look at basing some Aid stores and develop some sort of training school at Nadi as well. Covering Engineering, Policing, HADR, Health, Education and training up the Civil/ Public Service etc.
I think you are on the money there, but I would like to see a slightly bigger NZDF/ NZAid and MFAT presence in the South Pacific in the longer term. Typical that No Mates National Party is playing a short term game where this is going to have longer term effects to regional by this new governments decision.
I notice that the inshore Patrol Boats (note these Boats were meant to be sold off by the No Mates Party under the last DWP) will spending more time up in the Islands now and hopefully one of the OPV’s as well if the third one gets the go head by the current Government.
Following long-running Navy retention problems in the wake of NZDF “civilianisation”, two of the four vessels have been tied up, inactive, in a ‘Reduced Activity Period’ for long periods since 2013. It was announced on 14 April 2016 that some of the vessels might be sold.
National: Doing everything they can to fuck things up.
Yeah, I don’t think civilians should be in the operation/administration of our defence forces and that those who are in them should be bloody well paid. It is the latter that had National upset as it meant that they had difficulty getting a surplus while cutting taxes for the rich.
To carry out Green Party policy in regards to the Pacific we actually need, IMO, quite a few more Navy ships with longer cruising ranges. In other words, probably more OPVs but I’d prefer to see more frigates or even destroyers.
The Green Defence Policy to me is a wee bit airy fairy for my liking and doesn’t reflect what can happen on ground real time. In other words a bit too much one dimensional which leaves the NZDF without much “Utility of Force” when and if it goes pear shaped which lead to dead Kiwi Service personal with either destroyed equipment that wasn’t fit for purpose.
The NZDF must have “Utility of Force” across all 3 Services and its why I believe that the RNZN should be structured around the Royal Danish Navy in particular the Absalon Class Ships and it’s up Gun bigger brother which is built using the same hull as the Absalon Class. For this to work perfectly all the StanFlex modules will have to brought as well to get any true value out of the ships.
The Green Defence Policy to me is a wee bit airy fairy for my liking and doesn’t reflect what can happen on ground real time.
True and I’m a Greep Party member. Seems to be more based upon ignorance and ideology than practical realities.
Still, this push out into the pacific may actually be because of that push from the Greens. Hopefully, the Greens will learn something from it either way.
…the Absalon Class Ships and it’s up Gun bigger brother which is built using the same hull as the Absalon Class. For this to work perfectly all the StanFlex modules will have to brought as well to get any true value out of the ships.
I tend to the opinion that we should be building our own ships (we do have the capability) but we could certainly learn lessons from the Danish design.
Thank god, I’m not the only one thinks the Greens Defence is base on ignorance ideology rather practical realities.
I always thought the that NZDF’s deployment to East Timor in 99 would’ve woken the Greens up, but somehow it didn’t as that was a Chapter 6 1/2 Mission and probably seen the true cost at maintaining Defence Force for Peacekeeping/ PeaceEnforcement missions
The Danish Navy does provide a useful case study to look at as they roughly operate at the same latitude (plus 50deg Nth to the Med and the Indian Ocean) as the RNZN but in reverse plus 50deg Sth half to Chile, Nth Asia out to the Indian Ocean.
Even the Irish Navy is starting to sail to the Med and across to the States in their new Corvettes and are looking at purchasing a landing type Ship to support its Army on Peacekeeping operations and HADR under the EU Flag.
Both nations are a seen by left as what NZDF should be structure like.
I know what your views are about building RNZN ships in NZ and I do agree with your views , but my big concern is always after building them what happens to 50 to 60% of the work force as dockyard won’t that many to maintain the ships and is there value for money at building them in NZ as in Australia building the ships in Oz adds something from about 25 to 50% of the total cost compared if they were built overseas. Those figures are base on what we payed for the 2 ANZAC’s and we had to Germany we would’ve got 3 possibly 4 ANZAC’s for the two we got from Oz?
but my big concern is always after building them what happens to 50 to 60% of the work force
We have a viable ship building industry in NZ already. The government should be able to plan with that industry so as to prevent any undue hardship. And then there’s the fact that many would be able to change industries. Somebody who can weld hulls can also weld pretty much anything else.
My own idea would be to have a government shipyard that builds ship at rate of replacement. As a new one is produced an old one is retired. This would also have a large R&D section. Anything more than that would be contracted out to the private sector as needed.
Wouldn’t be able to eliminate all disruptions to the workforce but could minimise it. That said, actual number of employees should be dropping as automation takes over such as automated welding.
and is there value for money at building them in NZ as in Australia building the ships in Oz adds something from about 25 to 50% of the total cost compared if they were built overseas.
To me there is as building them here develops skills, pushes R&D and increases national security as building them here from our own resources means that we’re not completely dependent upon imports for our defence. All of those would be worth any added monetary cost. Physically, having them built elsewhere costs the same amount and then has added costs of transporting them here.
Interesting to read Peter Dutton really playing up the story of illegal migrants attempting to head to Australia & NZ, stopped by Malaysian authorities and emphasising it was a bigger boat & more complex operation than previously. The implication was that if the Malaysians had not stopped it, the illegal migrants would have reached NZ and then Australia through the back door.
He squarely laid the blame on the shoulders of Jacinda. Our media have played along, with the usual suspects making a big deal out of it.
I heard this one questioning viewpoint on RNZ news, broadcast once only. http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/356765/tanker-smuggling-migrants-never-would-have-made-it-to-nz
So this is the second time the Aussies have seen fit to overplay the likelihood of boats heading to NZ. Clearly Jacindas offer to resettle those on Manus still rattles some in the Turnbull cabinet, although they still want the offer to remain on the table as a backup.
It’s looks like the real deal to me and from of heard from the grapevine. As the boat was disguised to look like one of the many small tramp tankers that you see moving around SEA every day and most of the SIEV’s that head to Nth Australia are the usual wooden fishing boats not a full on steel built tramp tanker like this one.
They are going to have crack at reaching NZ and there is a number of ways at doing it, but crossing the ditch is not for faint hearted in a small tramp ship such is this one in any season regardless of the sea state.
The Endeavour sailed around the world. I suspect modern (ha) tramp tankers could do so as well.
So, yeah, there’s going to be more attempts at reaching NZ and I don’t think that what the PM said has changed that in any way. Once Australia became closed other places would be looked at and NZ is a desirable place in its own right.
Many people won’t like this but NZ will have to close its borders as Australia have done sooner or later.
Especially as some of that rust looks load-bearing, lol
Sooner or later someone will manage to get here and the tories and aussies will lose their collective shit in “I told you so”s, but the fact is that to get here they need to not just sail here, but sail here undetected through Australia’s surveillance net and the waters of some extremely tense nations.
If they make it to our SAR zone, good on them, I say, and fast track their immigration requests. We could do with those go-getters here.
I think they will have a crack coming around the top PNG (as it’s easily to pay off the locals) as coming through the Top End of Oz they stick out like a third nut on a Greyhound especially around the Thursday Island Group as every man and his dog uses a 4-5m tinny to travel to PNG etc and it’s heavily watch Borderforce/ Coastwatch Aircraft and by ADF assets in the area.
Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka KotahiThe fact that a ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st CenturyThe SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims StuffSteve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
David Farrar writes – We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how labour went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promiseThe result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
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 ...
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. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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; ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
“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 ...
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, ...
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, ...
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, ...
.“$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 ...
“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. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 HeraldThomas CoughlanSimeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 → ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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, ...
Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
The pressure is mounting on the Government as it finalises its Budget Policy Statement, but yet more predicted revenue ‘goes missing’. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Climate Commission has delivered another funding blow to the National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government’s tax-cutting plans, potentially carving $1.4 billion off the ‘climate ...
The Government now faces the prospect of having to watch another tax raise the price of petrol when, only six days ago, it abolished the Auckland Regional Fuel tax. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued that the regional fuel tax imposed costs on lower-income people with less fuel-efficient vehicles and that ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track 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 publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
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 publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
Today marks a tragic milestone for New Zealanders as the Coalition Government side with big tobacco to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins and Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
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 ...
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. ...
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 ...
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, ...
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. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti. Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
Reacting to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s refusal to rule out introducing new taxes at the budget, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “Today’s refusal to rule out new taxes suggests the Government is nothing more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Aila Images/Shutterstock Aged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission ruled they ...
He’s bringing ‘Sophie’ back, yeah. Goodshirt’s ‘Sophie’ music video is one of the most instantly recognisable New Zealand music videos of all time. Featuring a woman listening to the song on headphones while her entire house is burgled behind her, the video won the New Zealand music award for Best ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University A year ago, the AUKUS agreement was formally announced between Australian and UK Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden. The agreement mapped out the “optimal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andreas Helwig, Associate Professor, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern Queensland SmartS/Shutterstock Steam locomotives clattering along railway tracks. Paddle steamers churning down the Murray. Dreadnought battleships powered by steam engines. Many of us think the age of steam has ended. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carrie Leonetti, Associate Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Victims who experience family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand are treated differently, depending on which part of the justice system they turn to for help. But a new member’s bill ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Tesch, Visiting Fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies, Australian National University In perhaps the least surprising news of the year, Vladimir Putin has triumphed at the Russian ballot box and been enthroned for the fifth time as president. He ...
The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court has stopped a byelection for the Madang Open seat being held until an appeal filed by former MP Bryan Kramer is concluded. Kramer had appealed to the Supreme Court over a National Court decision not to review his application of the Leadership Tribunal decision ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Despite a “historic” ceasefire agreement in Papua New Guinea between Enga authorities and tribal leaders after months of bitter warfare, a young woman has been found brutally killed near Kaekin village, Wapenamanda. Despite the peace agreement and signing concluded in Port Moresby last Thursday ...
The second season of Ryan Murphy’s Feud is a sadder and slower entry into his canon of true story-telling, leaning heavily on a verdict about the cost of a single work of art. Hollywood heavyweight Ryan Murphy has had a bit of “ick” about him in the last few years. ...
Are you deeply passionate about sharing Māori stories? We’re on the hunt for an experienced writer/editor to lead coverage in our Ātea section.Ātea is a deeply valued section of The Spinoff site, offering Māori perspectives and insights across politics, current affairs and culture. We are thrilled to be looking ...
By Aisha Azeemah in Suva With the lights on one of his sneakers blinking as he ran through the gallery, a little boy looked up at several works of art. One of them was a sculpture of his grandfather: the man who changed how we see the Pacific — Epeli ...
WHAT: Uber drivers are holding a rally outside the Court of Appeal in Wellington tomorrow, as the company begins its appeal against 2022’s Employment Court verdict (in a case taken jointly by FIRST Union and E tū) that four drivers were permanent ...
RNZ Pacific The Fiji Meteorological Service has a heavy rain warning still in place for the whole of the country after a weekend of flooding, although some floodwaters have receded. Flood and flash flood warnings and alerts are also in place, including a warning for all flash flood-prone areas, small ...
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Is Ryan Bridges the next Mike Hosking?
Bigoted
Entitled
Ignorant
Bullying
Ticks the boxes.
Is he related to Slick?
If you have a spare 25 minutes this evening, watch this interview with John PIlger and you’ll learn what is really happening behind the corporate lame stream media headlines on Syria, Salisbury, Yemen and the Korean peninsula.
John Pilger is a great journalist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIok3VKp17k
Watched it yesterday. Compelling and ominous. If what Pilger says is true then everything coming from the “Great ” Powers is suspect. What sort of world are we living in? Who would we trust? Glum!
Excellent observations from Pilger…i wonder if our journalists blush when they watch these interviews? Or do they just consider anything on RT to be “Russian Propaganda”
Tomorrow President Trump will announce whether he is going to continue with the nuclear non-proliferation agreement with Iran. If he cuts it loose, and Iran is then completely unconstrained in the region, quite a few cards fall Iran’s way.
Through the control that Iran-backed Hizbollah now have in Lebanon following the elections on the weekend, Iran’s influence consolidates right on Israel’s border.
Iran has already consolidated power next door with its sustained support for the Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad in Damascus.
The last part of that is the Iraqi parliamentary elections coming up this weekend on May 12th. If they get sufficient influence in the Iraqi Parliament, they will be able to form a continuous land bridge from Iran to Iraq to Syria to Lebanon, right to the border of Israel.
The United States releasing them from major international constraint through the cutting of the non-proliferation treaty truly smoothes that pathway.
The Iranians will continue to play for time until they are no longer convinced that any strike on Israel will lead to a war they will lose.
When the Iranians have finally consolidated power in Syria, Lebanon and in Iraq, when they have a strong presence on the border with Israel, and when they have precision-guided missiles in place — then they will be ready to defeat Israel.
Sounds like a whole lot of speculation on your part.
If you want to dispute Iranian influence for a fair old while into Lebanon’s Hizbollah, into Assad’s Syria, and into Iraq, go right ahead.
The speculation bit is for the next 10 hours, when Trump announces which way he is going. Then all you have to do is wait five days for the Iraqi election.
Won’t take us long.
The only reason Trump wants to abandon the non proliferation agreement is because Obama set it up. Whatever Obama did, Trump tears down.
Beyond pitiful.
“The Iranians will continue to play for time until they are no longer convinced that any strike on Israel will lead to a war they will lose.”
The iranians are not daft enough to launch an assault on israel, they know what the consequences would be .
When the Iranians get their nuclear weapon, they will not give a damn.
When they get their missile systems from Russia – just as Turkey has done in the last week – they will be setting them up right in israel’s border.
Let’s see how this falls tomorrow morning.
Ad, you understand that there is a nuclear armed state in ME already?…
Two is double the fun. Or is that quadruple?
They don’t actually need a nuke.
And they’re not pulling out of the NPT.
The writing is on the wall for fossil fuels, and the think about nukes is that if you use them, you lose. So having them is actually more dangerous than people thinking that you might have them.
Meanwhile, Iran gets to sell its oil as long as some of the world wants it, and is domestically energy-diversified for when that market dries up in the next few decades. Giving them a massive advantage over Saudi Arabia. And they don’t even need to spend billions developing nukes.
saudi needs >$85 oil to balance the books and buy expensive munitions from the US.
Reinstated sanctions will send the oil price to around that.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-arabia-imf/saudi-arabia-needs-oil-at-85-87-a-barrel-to-balance-budget-imf-official-idUSKBN1I30H7
6am our time, at a guess, Al Jazeera will do a live stream, they usually do.
thats a lawful lot of whens…and of course Israel will simply sit back and await when.
I think you would find that Trump may have a get out of jail card to use as the news was saying tonight by banning any US companies from dealing with Iran and therefore he can still keep the treaty intact. But with Trump anything can happen atm and my guess he will ditch it.
I agree with your assumptions and that of old mop top Boris which could lead to an all out Arms Race within the MER which see a few nations attempt to get some nukes. If the worst case happens then the MER could get very untidy very fast and especially after the Israeli parliament approved that the PM and his or her MoD can go to war with cabinets approval.
There is already a enough hot air and hot heads in the MER without these two dills adding their two shekels worth.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-08/donald-trump-iran-deal-or-no-deal-what-will-happen/9737394
The US will not be cutting a non-proliferation treaty.
$700 million buys back the Pacific…(hopefully,says Winston)
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/103738729/budget-2018-1b-for-foreign-affairs-massive-boost-to-pacific-aid-and-a-new-embassy
Real estate in Stockholm must be doing well with $40 million for capital expenditure for reopening our embassy in Sweden.
It’s about bloody time we start focus on our backyard aka Sth Pacific and our front yard aka Antarctic followed by SEA and finally the Commonwealth Nations outside of the 3 rings mention.
I didn’t know our embassy in Sweden had closed! And who were the muppets that closed it? Apart from the Uk, Ireland, France, Germany and Dutch embassies. I consider Sweden an important embassy to have in Europe.
“Who were the muppets that closed it?” Who do you think???
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand%E2%80%93Sweden_relations
I had no idea we imported so much from Sweden…a pity we failed to import some of their more progressive social policies.
You are right about the Pacific…small wonder so many Pacific nations sought support elsewhere.
I fear it may be a little late to turn the tide though.
Yeah I might’ve guessed it was them, lol
Yes, we do import a lot of from Sweden and both from Norway and Finland. All of it is good quality stuff to boot.
I think memory that Sweden even had put an offer in for it Gippen Multi- Role Combat Jet when the F-16 deal went south and it was almost better than what Yanks has offered.
I don’t think we are late, but have just arrived in time unlike the Aussies who have frozen their aid again until 2022 bloody dickheads. I notice that the inshore Patrol Boats (note these Boats were meant to be sold off by the No Mates Party under the last DWP) will spending more time up in the Islands now and hopefully one of the OPV’s as well if the third one gets the go head by the current Government. The MoD, MFAT and NZAid should look at basing them on a permanent basis at the Pacific Boat Dockyard near Nadi Airport? As there is a Pacific Fishies and SAR centre at Nadi as well.
Probably should look at basing some Aid stores and develop some sort of training school at Nadi as well. Covering Engineering, Policing, HADR, Health, Education and training up the Civil/ Public Service etc.
I think thats how the Navy will get the funding for sending patrol boats for tours around pacific islands- from the Aid/ foreign affairs budget
I think you are on the money there, but I would like to see a slightly bigger NZDF/ NZAid and MFAT presence in the South Pacific in the longer term. Typical that No Mates National Party is playing a short term game where this is going to have longer term effects to regional by this new governments decision.
Inshore Patrol Vessel
National: Doing everything they can to fuck things up.
Yeah, I don’t think civilians should be in the operation/administration of our defence forces and that those who are in them should be bloody well paid. It is the latter that had National upset as it meant that they had difficulty getting a surplus while cutting taxes for the rich.
To carry out Green Party policy in regards to the Pacific we actually need, IMO, quite a few more Navy ships with longer cruising ranges. In other words, probably more OPVs but I’d prefer to see more frigates or even destroyers.
The Green Defence Policy to me is a wee bit airy fairy for my liking and doesn’t reflect what can happen on ground real time. In other words a bit too much one dimensional which leaves the NZDF without much “Utility of Force” when and if it goes pear shaped which lead to dead Kiwi Service personal with either destroyed equipment that wasn’t fit for purpose.
The NZDF must have “Utility of Force” across all 3 Services and its why I believe that the RNZN should be structured around the Royal Danish Navy in particular the Absalon Class Ships and it’s up Gun bigger brother which is built using the same hull as the Absalon Class. For this to work perfectly all the StanFlex modules will have to brought as well to get any true value out of the ships.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absalon-class_support_ship
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iver_Huitfeldt-class_frigate
True and I’m a Greep Party member. Seems to be more based upon ignorance and ideology than practical realities.
Still, this push out into the pacific may actually be because of that push from the Greens. Hopefully, the Greens will learn something from it either way.
I tend to the opinion that we should be building our own ships (we do have the capability) but we could certainly learn lessons from the Danish design.
Thank god, I’m not the only one thinks the Greens Defence is base on ignorance ideology rather practical realities.
I always thought the that NZDF’s deployment to East Timor in 99 would’ve woken the Greens up, but somehow it didn’t as that was a Chapter 6 1/2 Mission and probably seen the true cost at maintaining Defence Force for Peacekeeping/ PeaceEnforcement missions
The Danish Navy does provide a useful case study to look at as they roughly operate at the same latitude (plus 50deg Nth to the Med and the Indian Ocean) as the RNZN but in reverse plus 50deg Sth half to Chile, Nth Asia out to the Indian Ocean.
Even the Irish Navy is starting to sail to the Med and across to the States in their new Corvettes and are looking at purchasing a landing type Ship to support its Army on Peacekeeping operations and HADR under the EU Flag.
Both nations are a seen by left as what NZDF should be structure like.
I know what your views are about building RNZN ships in NZ and I do agree with your views , but my big concern is always after building them what happens to 50 to 60% of the work force as dockyard won’t that many to maintain the ships and is there value for money at building them in NZ as in Australia building the ships in Oz adds something from about 25 to 50% of the total cost compared if they were built overseas. Those figures are base on what we payed for the 2 ANZAC’s and we had to Germany we would’ve got 3 possibly 4 ANZAC’s for the two we got from Oz?
We have a viable ship building industry in NZ already. The government should be able to plan with that industry so as to prevent any undue hardship. And then there’s the fact that many would be able to change industries. Somebody who can weld hulls can also weld pretty much anything else.
My own idea would be to have a government shipyard that builds ship at rate of replacement. As a new one is produced an old one is retired. This would also have a large R&D section. Anything more than that would be contracted out to the private sector as needed.
Wouldn’t be able to eliminate all disruptions to the workforce but could minimise it. That said, actual number of employees should be dropping as automation takes over such as automated welding.
To me there is as building them here develops skills, pushes R&D and increases national security as building them here from our own resources means that we’re not completely dependent upon imports for our defence. All of those would be worth any added monetary cost. Physically, having them built elsewhere costs the same amount and then has added costs of transporting them here.
Interesting to read Peter Dutton really playing up the story of illegal migrants attempting to head to Australia & NZ, stopped by Malaysian authorities and emphasising it was a bigger boat & more complex operation than previously. The implication was that if the Malaysians had not stopped it, the illegal migrants would have reached NZ and then Australia through the back door.
He squarely laid the blame on the shoulders of Jacinda. Our media have played along, with the usual suspects making a big deal out of it.
Jacinda has obviously been advised to change her tune when talking about asylum seekers, and yesterday was pushed to state that if they turned up she would destroy the boats.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12046767
I heard this one questioning viewpoint on RNZ news, broadcast once only.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/356765/tanker-smuggling-migrants-never-would-have-made-it-to-nz
So this is the second time the Aussies have seen fit to overplay the likelihood of boats heading to NZ. Clearly Jacindas offer to resettle those on Manus still rattles some in the Turnbull cabinet, although they still want the offer to remain on the table as a backup.
How much of this is for internal Australian consumption, fear of ‘the other’ being a potent force in politics especially for the unscrupulous Right.
It’s looks like the real deal to me and from of heard from the grapevine. As the boat was disguised to look like one of the many small tramp tankers that you see moving around SEA every day and most of the SIEV’s that head to Nth Australia are the usual wooden fishing boats not a full on steel built tramp tanker like this one.
They are going to have crack at reaching NZ and there is a number of ways at doing it, but crossing the ditch is not for faint hearted in a small tramp ship such is this one in any season regardless of the sea state.
The Endeavour sailed around the world. I suspect modern (ha) tramp tankers could do so as well.
So, yeah, there’s going to be more attempts at reaching NZ and I don’t think that what the PM said has changed that in any way. Once Australia became closed other places would be looked at and NZ is a desirable place in its own right.
Many people won’t like this but NZ will have to close its borders as Australia have done sooner or later.
Especially as some of that rust looks load-bearing, lol
Sooner or later someone will manage to get here and the tories and aussies will lose their collective shit in “I told you so”s, but the fact is that to get here they need to not just sail here, but sail here undetected through Australia’s surveillance net and the waters of some extremely tense nations.
If they make it to our SAR zone, good on them, I say, and fast track their immigration requests. We could do with those go-getters here.
I think they will have a crack coming around the top PNG (as it’s easily to pay off the locals) as coming through the Top End of Oz they stick out like a third nut on a Greyhound especially around the Thursday Island Group as every man and his dog uses a 4-5m tinny to travel to PNG etc and it’s heavily watch Borderforce/ Coastwatch Aircraft and by ADF assets in the area.
yeah, and a decent spread of islands to put into if their leaks become unmanagable.
Still risky AF in a thing like that, though.