Daily review 08/12/2022

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, December 8th, 2022 - 46 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 …

46 comments on “Daily review 08/12/2022 ”

  • Comments are now closed

    • Mac1 1.1
      8 December 2022 at 8:29 pm

      You mean, instead of learning to play slide guitar and the blues, DADGAD and teaching hundreds of kids to play, I could have been a billionaire?

      Well, billionaires might journey to experience weightlessness, but a poor blind black bluesman is on the way to the stars.

      I know who I'd rather be……..

  2. dvT 2
    8 December 2022 at 6:25 pm

    GEEZ boot camps

    The basic assumption is that the kid will think

    Oh I don't want to do that ram raid so I won't.

    These kids just don't think that far ahead

    AND mayor Brown wants to save money on child care centers
    GEEZ
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300760303/call-for-time-out-as-auckland-mayor-proposes-scrapping-childcare-centres

  3. Sacha 3
    8 December 2022 at 7:09 pm

    A great 7-minute routine about how mass and social media manufacture outrage every day. Really well conveyed, including animation.

    • ianmac 3.1
      8 December 2022 at 7:21 pm

      Yeah Sacha. So typical here too. Sickening.

    • Anker 3.2
      8 December 2022 at 9:37 pm

      Oh yes this has already been discussed on Open Mike earlier today. But nice try Sacha and Ianmac . Lol

      • Sacha 3.2.1
        9 December 2022 at 9:41 am

        Nice try at what? And I have nothing to do with Ian’s reply.

        • Anker 3.2.1.1
          9 December 2022 at 1:21 pm

          My apologies Sacha, probably a little unfair on my behalf. It might make some sense to you if you read the thread with DB Brown Open Mike the 08/12.

          But hope you accept my apologies anyway

  4. Belladonna 4
    8 December 2022 at 7:11 pm

    This just makes me really uncomfortable.

    Gardner-Hopkins fought his suspension right the way through the Tribunal process – and IIRC only admitted his offending when he was forced to (in an attempt to bargain down the sentence with a show of remorse) [NB: that's my opinion]

    He's still within the suspension period (3 years) – and I just think it's really tone-deaf for the Ngāti Paoa Trust Board to nominate him (as the sole choice) to sit on a resource consent hearing panel.

    When his offending came from a position of power – as a senior figure in the law firm abusing young interns – I really don't think it's appropriate for him to be placed in a position of authority again, at this time.

    The response from the Iwi representative, doesn't fill me with confidence that they perceive him as having done anything wrong, or that they are prepared to adequately supervise him in this role.

    Asked why Gardner-Hopkins was chosen, Roebuck replied, “why not?”

    “If you have done your time … it has nothing to do with this thing.”

    Gardner-Hopkins was the only and best possible nominee for the iwi to put forward and had represented it before. His appointment was not as a lawyer, Roebuck said.

    “I don’t have any opinion on his past indiscretion.”

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/130664232/metoo-lawyers-fight-to-represent-iwi-heads-to-high-court

  6. Incognito 6
    8 December 2022 at 9:14 pm

    Don’t read the following if you’re anti-statin and/or believe in Big Pharma conspiracies.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/lifestyle/2022/12/statins-lower-the-risk-of-one-of-the-deadliest-types-of-strokes-study-finds.html

    • weka 6.1
      8 December 2022 at 10:50 pm

      the conversation wasn't that statins don't work, it was about them being overprescribed.

      • RedLogix 6.1.1
        8 December 2022 at 10:59 pm

        The problem I have is that the medical industry seems to have a commercial interest in telling us that statins are the only thing that works.

        • Shanreagh 6.1.1.1
          9 December 2022 at 12:46 am

          Unless you have high cholesterol/CVD that is not able to be treated by other means why is publicity about statins of concern?

          Surely it is something you would discuss with your Dr.

          • Andy 6.1.1.1.1
            9 December 2022 at 9:32 am

            The doctors I know are usually pretty happy to put you on statins, hypertension medicine etc without looking at the underlying causes.

            For me, after giving up alcohol, refined sugar (mostly) and losing over 10kg weight and watching my diet and sleep, I have managed to wean myself off all meds after 10 years on them

            • Incognito 6.1.1.1.1.1
              9 December 2022 at 10:03 am

              I’d suggest that your assumptions about doctors prescribing statins is somewhat inaccurate or that you need better doctors.

              IMHO, people ought to take more responsibility for their health and wellbeing rather than ignorantly criticising trained professional health workers and blaming or their ills on others and/or inadequate drugs & treatments.

              • Andy …
                9 December 2022 at 10:21 am

                Can we get this clear? I have just stated that I am taking control of my own health. Are you referring to me as ignorant? It's hard to read the room here,

                I would have expected a little gratitude for me taking some pressure off public resources

                I do need better doctors, yes, but many of them were sacked during you know what, so I am left with the "consensus" who just follow the pharma narrative.

                I've had doctors personally speak to me about this

                • Incognito …
                  9 December 2022 at 12:18 pm

                  Look, first you insinuated that those doctors are careless and bordering on professionally negligent by prescribing statins without looking at underlying causes. Next, you claim special hero status for looking after yourself and taking responsibility for your health and wellbeing – you deserve a medal for that!

                  If your doctors were sacked then I’d repeat my earlier suggestion that you need to see better doctors.

                  It is lovely to hear that doctors spoke to you about that (??) but not about the underlying causes of your condition that justified prescribing statins to you.

              • RedLogix …
                9 December 2022 at 10:45 am

                As with almost anything medical you can find studies and papers both supporting and challenging almost any treatment. Statins are no exception.

                The real problem for GPs is their business model. A 10 – 15 minute appointment, a short conversation, maybe a BP check, and maybe some blood tests or a referral to a specialist. Nowhere near time enough to understand, much less work with the whole patient.

                And unlike Andy, most people are not going to stop the alcohol, sugar, refined carbs, and manage their sleep and stress better. So a prescription for some pills becomes the default expectation and setting.

                I have no problem with my GP, he is a good guy and has been helpful to the degree he can be. But for results I work with a Functional Medicine specialist. A better doctor if you will.

                Incidentally if weka reads this – I realised the other day that the first place I saw the term 'Functional Medicine' was in a comment you made maybe a year or so ago. That planted the seed in my mind and I followed it from there. Credit where it is due.

                • Shanreagh …
                  9 December 2022 at 11:05 am

                  So are functional medicine specialists medical specialists (MBChB) with an extra specialty added? The link you had seemed to ally them with people who look at diet, exercise etc rather than the GP specialty.

                  My GP has two subspecialties – sports medicine and obstetrics – or are they alternate medicine practitioners like osteopaths? My GP refers on to people such as dieticians etc as well as to the hospital specialists and to specialists privately.

                  People are helped by many different people for their health and I am glad that you have found a person that helps you.

                  • Shanreagh …
                    9 December 2022 at 11:43 am

                    Just to add some more, as it has pelting down with rain just as I want to leave to do outside messages.

                    In my health conditions I have come across several health professionals (GPs) who say 'yep exercise and diet change and you won't need pharmaceutical input' Both good exercise and good food/diet/fodmapping are key parts of managing the risk of getting CVD and dealing with high cholesterol they are not the whole picture. The whole picture needs all of these plus pharma support and perhaps particular Vit B supplements. Perhaps counselling to deal with stress if that is part of the equation.

                    So having them all working with me and with each other has been ideal for me. They all feedback to my GP.

                    Hope your health journey is successful.

                  • weka …
                    9 December 2022 at 11:44 am

                    Functional medicine sits between alternative health and mainstream medicine. FM practitioners aren't medical doctors (although medical doctors can be FM practitioners). They are more science based than alt health, but they also extrapolate a fair bit rather than waiting for more definitive evidence.

                    They can be cutting edge, ahead of mainstream medicine, and they can also be dodgy. They're heavy on nutritional status (and thus supplementation).

                    I was thinking about the cutting edge stuff when I listened to this excellent interview on Saturday Morning recently.

                    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018868695/dr-matthew-phillips-could-fasting-and-keto-heal-brains

                    Matthew Phillips is a neurologist and researcher whose focus is on ketogenic diets. He's doing mainstream research in an area that is not mainstream. The interview is worth listening to because he's socially intelligent as well as knowledgeable on the issues involved, but the point I want to make here is that alternative health (including functional medicine) has been experimenting with ketogenic and low carb diets for a long time. This includes people who have reversed their Type 2 diabetes for instance. many people use it for managing heart disease and other syndrome X conditions.

                    When I say experimenting, I mean they go and try it out and see if it works. For some people it really doesn't, others it does. The research in mainstream medicine follows the counter culture.

                    The problem here is that it's such a waste of time because mainstream medicine is just bad at picking up and exploring the cutting edge, emerging modalities. We could instead have a society that takes the best of both mainstream medicine and alt health and delivers holistic care.

                    The belief system of many science is god people is the main barrier. It's a major block to developing intregrated systems that are safer than what we have now and that offer a broader range of options. By safer I mean not only that we get the research much sooner and less people experimenting, but safe in that less people have to use interventions that are well studied but have serious side effects.

                    eg less people on statins, less side effects,, less cascading medical interventions, more people on diets that give better health across the board.

                    • Shanreagh …
                      9 December 2022 at 12:01 pm

                      Sounds like I have got there through working with my open minded GP, listening/trying to all those I come into contact with for good ideas. My GP asks my beauty therapist to look for specific skin things and get back to him…..on the basis that I see her more often than I see him.

                      My condition cannot be managed without pharma support (50 years of many people, GPs included, saying oh we can do this with diet and exercise only') have proved this for me.

                      Always new things to learn.

                      I have had no side effects from statins in over 50 years. worked hard to get mine down to a medium high normal (over 5 less than 7)

                      My allergies are to pesky things like medical tape and the standard wash they use in operating theatres. I did have one years ago to dental sedation but they don't use this anymore! As an indication questions about skin type/hair colour are now routinely used by surgeons etc doing workups to trigger an enquiry about tape, washes and anaesthetics.

                    • weka []
                      9 December 2022 at 12:08 pm

                      what do you think about the people who do get side effects from statins? Especially the people who are being overmedicalised?

                      No-one is challenging individual right or preference around health care here. The political point being made is that some people’s health is harmed by overmedicalisation. Citing person positive experiences in response to that doesn’t make sense to me, it comes across as dismissive even if that’s not what you intend.

                    • Shanreagh …
                      9 December 2022 at 2:43 pm

                      @ Weka 9 December 2022 at 12:08 pm

                      Thanks for your comment.

                      So personal comments about bad things to do with statins are ok but personal comments are about good experiences are possibly 'dismissive' on my part and not part of the political point about over medicalisation.

                      Bearing in mind that the anti statins issue came about from a flip unreferenced comment from a poster that had no backing and that both Incognito and I have both put more balanced articles about the uses of statins, this approach is odd.

                      The political point I am making is that both sides of the statins case have valid points.

                      My personal views are:

                      a) for a brief moment in time Covid vaccinations replaced statins as the big 'medical' bogey du jour. Of course now that concerns about the vaccines have faded somewhat we now can let statins resume their place.

                      b) on over medicalisation is that for humans and for the future of easy and effective remedies the bigger concern above statins is the over use of antibiotics.

                      We now face a future where common illnesses are becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics. On a personal note again a family member is very allergic to penicillin. Managing illnesses, surgery both planned and unplanned without access to penicillin and penicillin based derivatives is very difficult as the substitutes are less effective. This is the future that we may all face.

                      Going to a Dr with a need for antibiotics & in the future finding that the infection is resistant to most antibiotics is much more likely to happen than possibly needing statins.

                      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4378521/

                      https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/02813432.2010.487652

                      to quote from this link

                      https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/03009734.2014.902879

                      'Examples of services that could no longer be delivered safely without effective antibiotics are major surgery, cancer treatment, and prophylaxis in caesarean sections, not to mention the treatment of pneumonia. Through such mechanisms, antibiotic resistance has the potential to fundamentally change the functioning of health systems as we know them.'

                      On symptoms of statins the best case is to talk to the prescriber.

                      My point is that rather than possibly needing yet another specialist some GPs are melding in functional medicine into their practices even if their shingle does not say so…..

                    • weka []
                      9 December 2022 at 7:21 pm

                      So personal comments about bad things to do with statins are ok but personal comments are about good experiences are possibly ‘dismissive’ on my part and not part of the political point about over medicalisation.

                      I wasn’t talking about people expressing personal opinions about statins (which seems to be what you are talking about there). I was referring to the difference between someone making a political point about statins, and someone else responding to that with an anecdote about personal use as if that was somehow a counter to the first point.

                      We know that statins work, in some cases very well. So it’s not a counter, it’s just a statement of the obvious. But it also diverts from the political point being made.

                      Bearing in mind that the anti statins issue came about from a flip unreferenced comment from a poster that had no backing and that both Incognito and I have both put more balanced articles about the uses of statins, this approach is odd.

                      Andy was asked to provide some evidence for his claims, which he did. I also referred to overprescribing and overmedicalisation, so if you thought his argument was too superficial you could have responded to my point. 

You didn’t put up more balanced arguments about the overprescribing/overmedicalisation issue. You’ve run lines that are basically implying that either it’s not really happening and/or it’s an issue for a patient and their doctor. This equates to saying it’s not a political issue.


                      The political point I am making is that both sides of the statins case have valid points.

                      What two sides? Either statins are being overprescribed and people are being overmedicalised, or that’s not happening.

                      a) for a brief moment in time Covid vaccinations replaced statins as the big ‘medical’ bogey du jour. Of course now that concerns about the vaccines have faded somewhat we now can let statins resume their place.

                      Again, denial that statin overuse is an issue. Statins aren’t a bogeyman, criticism of overuse is a normal response to overuse in the context of big pharma. You can’t solve that problem by leaving it to individuals to have conversations with their GP.

                      b) on over medicalisation is that for humans and for the future of easy and effective remedies the bigger concern above statins is the over use of antibiotics.

                      And? We should be concerned about antibiotic use and not statin use?

                      On symptoms of statins the best case is to talk to the prescriber.

                      In addition to that, where society allows commerce to push overmedicalisation, there is a political issue that needs wide discussion and debate.

                      My point is that rather than possibly needing yet another specialist some GPs are melding in functional medicine into their practices even if their shingle does not say so…..

                      That’s eliding two different conversations. From a political point of view, it’s problematic because while it’s true that some people can get good integrated medicine from their GPs, most can’t, and the reasons for that are political problems.

                  • RedLogix …
                    9 December 2022 at 12:42 pm

                    @Sahnreagh

                    There seems to be a wider variety of medical practices here in Australia. Here is another example that I got in touch with, but they were too booked up to take new patients.

                    But the short answer to you question is the person I am working with is a fully qualified GP who has chosen Functional Medicine for a number of reasons; some personal, some professional.

                    • Shanreagh …
                      9 December 2022 at 2:49 pm

                      Sounds good. I will see if we have a GP/Functional medicine cross over.

                      NB Shanreagh – like shantung the fabric.

                      https://www.townlands.ie/londonderry/keenaght/tamlaght-finlagan/fruithill/shanreagh/

                    • RedLogix …
                      9 December 2022 at 2:56 pm

                      Apols for the typo – spotted it too late to fix.

                    • Shanreagh …
                      10 December 2022 at 1:39 am

                      Andy was asked to provide some evidence for his claims, which he did. I also referred to overprescribing and overmedicalisation, so if you thought his argument was too superficial you could have responded to my point

                      Andy has yet to provide anything about the so-called Reagan conflict of interest issue.

                      Thanks for your points.

                      The simple point is whether statins are being over prescribed or not and if so what to do.

                      The idea that this is a 'political' point is moot. I would have classed it as a medical issue myself with more traction being exerted by raising it as a public medical issue, encouraging complaints, education. There is already being work done, and this has been done at least since the 1990s into prescribing patterns as a clinical audit issue.

                      I have found a ref to a a study done using a programme attached to the Medtech programme used by Drs. It is from 2014. It shows that 16% of the population had been prescribed a statin. There is no indication whether this is too high or not high enough.

                      https://bpac.org.nz/Report/2014/October/statins.aspx

                      A point related to this and which is definitely political is that with the new health set-up that will work on populations, it will be much easier to work out if in fact there is an over prescription issue relating to statins.

                      This is because breaking down patients by populations/sample populations can mean that Drs are able to find if their patterns are too high based on the makeup of their patient population. So patient populations of largely older/sedentary people will be expected to have higher instances of high cholesterol & possible prescribing than a younger population.

                      Part of the reason that statins are prescribed and again this is political is that lifestyle changes are hard for patients. There is resistance and this is not always the fault of the patient. The healthy food needed to maintain a good diet for minimising cholesterol is expensive. Fresh vegetables are expensive, a modicum of good quality meat is expensive, some vegetarian options are expensive.

                      Many people on low incomes use food quality and lack, to balance budgets. Lifestyle exercise changes are often easier in a group or at public facilities. These cost money.

    • Andy 6.2
      9 December 2022 at 9:26 am

      I don't believe in "big pharma conspiracies" but when corporate interests have control over testing their own products, and also have a large influence on the scientific literature, then regulatory capture and vested interests are of real concern.

      Given that this is a side effect of neo-liberalism (and of deregulation of Pharma by Reagan, as I mentioned elsewhere), I'm surprised that more on the left don't raise concerns here. It appears to me to be a failure of the neo-liberal agenda

      • Incognito 6.2.1
        9 December 2022 at 10:25 am

        You could fool me with your comments when you now claim that you don’t believe (?) in “big pharma conspiracies”. Your history of comments in this area (incl. Covid-19) suggest differently. I’d suggest that you lift your game and avoid any ambiguities as to what you’re asserting in this space. I’m sure that everything is the fault of Reagan, Thatcher, and Roger Douglas and can be traced to their decisions but this hardly helps with present day issues such as using blood from NZBS to save the life of a NZ infant.

        Stop being defensive and lift your game and I will release you from Pre-Mod, which is taking up my time.

        • Andy 6.2.1.1
          9 December 2022 at 10:36 am

          Well conspiracies do exist. "Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice" is a criminal offense.

          I can't comment on whether there was any collusion or otherwise by pharmaceutical companies in the recent times. There is ample evidence of corruption, as seen by the billions of dollars of fines against Pfizer and other companies over decades

          I used to have a reasonable trust in the medical profession and pharma. For the latter at least, that has gone, without needing to lean on fruitbat theories about 5G or nanotech.

          If seems "lifting my game" means unquestioning accepting the CV-19 response in NZ, then I'm unlikely to go there.

          I will, however, try to reference my quotes and justify my position in a rational way, and ignore the usual commenters that taunt me

          • Incognito 6.2.1.1.1
            9 December 2022 at 10:59 am

            Well conspiracies do exist.

            So does the Moon but this doesn’t mean you should bring it into the discussion unless it is pertinent. Unless you have a strong personal belief and/or an agenda. I judge your comments based on your past behaviour and record here.

            If seems “lifting my game” means unquestioning accepting the CV-19 response in NZ, then I’m unlikely to go there.

            Nope. You really do come across as absolutist and binary (i.e. B & W).

            I will, however, try to reference my quotes and justify my position in a rational way …

            Good, and I look forward to you showing this from now on.

            Get on with it!

            • Andy 6.2.1.1.1.1
              9 December 2022 at 11:21 am

              I didn't bring any conspiracies into the discussion did I ?

              I'm the one who keeps getting told that I am (a) defensive (b) a conspiracy theorist and (c) have a track record, with no evidence to back up, or any assistance on how to improve

              I guess I'm wasting my time here.

              Have a nice day

              • Incognito …
                9 December 2022 at 11:34 am

                Your resolve is weak, it appears.

                I seem to recall that you mentioned all sorts of ‘conspiracy theories’ yesterday without making it clear where you draw the line and where your own personal beliefs start & stop. This is one reason why I put you in Pre-Mod; another Mod also had an issue with your commenting here.

                TTFN

                • Andy …
                  9 December 2022 at 11:46 am

                  Oh dear the reference to "conspiracy theory" was a joking reference to a poorly written Stuff piece about "cellphones emitting radiation" which the Stuff writer claimed was a "conspiracy theory" (It's a fact the last time I checked)

                  So my general comment was a somewhat flippant remark about how terms like this are weakened by misuse, like the ill-defined term "far right"

                  I did back up my comment by later quoting the piece.

                  Anyway it seems nuance is lost. Obviously my white and non-white binary way of thinking

                  • Incognito …
                    9 December 2022 at 12:19 pm

                    Your flippant comment about cell phone emission conspiracy theories came in the middle of a discussion thread about donor blood. That triggered a Mod note but you keep digging in, litigating, and wasting my time.

                    You’re approaching the cliff’s edge where the ban hammer is waiting for you because we’re over it.

                    Start contributing to other comment threads or leave, voluntarily or otherwise.

                • Andy …
                  9 December 2022 at 11:59 am

                  " and where your own personal beliefs start & stop."

                  Do you ask all your commenters here to divulge their personal beliefs?

              • weka …
                9 December 2022 at 12:00 pm

                It's actually quite simple. I'll use this comment as an example

                I was watching a presentation yesterday about Statins and how pharma pushes them. Some were even advocating for putting Statins in the public water supply at one point.

                Some day the public might actually thank these so-called "anti-vaxxers" for standing up to corporate tyranny.

                Apparently, according to this presenter I refer to, this dates back to Reagan liberalising the pharma industry and letting them conduct their own clinical trials.

                .https://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-07-12-2022/#comment-1924905

                What you've done there is this,

                1. made several statements that on TS would be considered controversial
                2. referred to a video without giving a reference

                What that does is create bad debate culture. People react to #1 but have nothing to reference. They either try and argue against your point without knowing what it really means, or they have to spend time trying to get you to provide a reference.

                From now on, you, Andy, will have to provide references everytime. and at the the time you make the comment. If you don't, you will get a short ban. Subsequent bans will increase exponentially until one of the mods gets sick of it and gives you a longer ban.

                The reason for this is that the Mod notes in the back end are littered with mods having to get you inline with the debate culture here.

                I'm also going to strongly suggest you stop making comments like this,

                Take it or leave it. It's someone's presentation.

                .https://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-07-12-2022/#comment-1925040

                You don't get to decide where the boundaries are here, the mods do. You don't get to decide what is acceptable referencing, the mods to. Your referencing was fine in that comment, but the attitudinal stuff is grating. It won't take long to just ban you because I'm sick of the bullshit. Take moderation seriously and there won't be a problem.

  7. Incognito 7
    8 December 2022 at 9:31 pm

    "Agreement was reached that each councillor will have the opportunity on a rotating basis immediately prior to the opening of the ordinary Council Meeting to recite karakia, make statements of choice and forms of reflection.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300760449/kaipara-mayor-to-allow-karakia-a-week-after-banning-the-practice-from-council-meetings

    It is good to see what can be achieved when people are prepared to listen with an open mind. Respect!

    • RedLogix 7.1
      8 December 2022 at 11:02 pm

      Which was my core argument as well – that whatever they do in a spiritual or religious nature in the political context – it has to be a matter of choice.

      So yes a good outcome.

      • Shanreagh 7.1.1
        9 December 2022 at 12:50 am

        Good outcome.

        Your view though RL was that by its very name, language and positioning at the start of a meeting that the karakia was an expression of a Maori religion.

        This was despite the example provided by Sacha having no religious aspect to it. It had a reference to discussions being as smooth as a greenstone sea.

        • Molly 7.1.1.1
          9 December 2022 at 8:48 am

          Posted for original discussion but TS was offline, so saved:

          "I have no problem with the kariaka (as shown) becoming as familiar as a greeting such as:

          "I want to welcome everyone who has come here today for…, I hope by the end of the session everyone will have had an opportunity to speak, and we will have achieved….".

          Brief, appropriate and to the point.

          This is not an unforeseen backlash though, in regards to the mayor's electoral campaign.

          I'm just surprised it is not part of local government policy, and able to be removed so arbitrarily.

          The issue should be addressed there if the karakia is considered to be an essential recognition of tangata whenua in local council meetings, as this one mayor is fundamentally an incident that has highlighted a procedural loophole.

          In practice, there are some who don't provide such concise karakias. The list of karakias is a reference list, not a proscribed usage. Also, there are some with religious beliefs who insert references to their God/s in the karakia.

          I want to say – on record – that if this was the case in terms of the English greeting, I would want the long-windedness and religious references to be addressed as well.

          So, keep it short, relevant and secular. (The same criteria that applies to any English greetings.)

          Address the procedural guidelines – by having a discussion on whether it is a requirement or a choice, and then making the guidelines reflect that decision."

          From incognito's link:

          "Jepson backed down on his controversial decision to ban karakia at council meetings following an "open and frank" meeting yesterday that resulted in a compromise where each councillor will take turns in opening and closing meetings with a karakia, affirmation, prayer or reflection of the day."

          The inclusion of a prayer makes it non-secular, which is a problem.

          Affirmation, or reflection of the day is so vague as to be meaningless.

          Better off to: keep it short (under 1 min) – keep it secular.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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