Daily Review 15/11/2017

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, November 15th, 2017 - 72 comments
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Daily review is also your post.

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

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Don’t forget to be kind to each other …

72 comments on “Daily Review 15/11/2017 ”

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  1. Andre 1
    15 November 2017 at 6:06 pm

    McConnell is now talking about expelling Moore if he wins. Last count-up I saw had 13 Repug senators saying expel him if he wins, so they would still need 6 more. Unless Dems decide to “respect the will of Alabama voters” and vote to keep Moore in the Senate to keep tainting Repugs with his stench.

    https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/14/moore-senate-republicans-expulsion-244907

    Expulsion wouldn’t actually be that bad an option for Repugs. Presumably the Repug Alabama governor just appoints a new temporary Repug senator, then there might be another special election next year which another Repug will win. Or maybe the appointed replacement just serves out the remainder of Sessions’ term until 2020.

    That would still be better for the Repugs than a Democrat winning the seat and holding it until 2020

  2. Draco T Bastard 2
    15 November 2017 at 6:40 pm

    Zimbabwe army seizes state TV but denies coup ongoing

    Zimbabwe’s military has seized state TV and blocked off access to government offices.

    In a televised address early on Wednesday morning a military spokesperson said the army was seeking to “pacify a degenerating, social, and economic situation” in the country.

    The spokesperson denied that the army was carrying out a coup against President Robert Mugabe’s government and said the leader was safe..

    More soon…

    So, if a coup is going on how is Western MSM and leaders going present it?

    They all got rather upset when the Fijian coup happened (although they seem to have got over that now).

  3. James 3
    15 November 2017 at 7:01 pm

    A labour minister says they will absolutely do something – just wait for the afternoon and another will backpedal on it.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11944434

    • BM 3.1
      15 November 2017 at 7:09 pm

      Parliment will be clown college for the next three years, fuck these people are idiots, I’m suspecting there’s some serious buyers remorse at the moment.

      Be interesting to see the next political poll, I reckon the veneer has come off the golden girl and the cheap MDF is starting to show, the voters are feeling a bit duped.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1.1
        15 November 2017 at 7:11 pm

        The main thing for you to remember is to keep being bitter and angry. Voters respond to that.

      • marty mars 3.1.2
        15 November 2017 at 7:16 pm

        Yes loser bm opposition is hell lol

      • patricia bremner 3.1.3
        15 November 2017 at 7:28 pm

        Oh yes BM, all these people having buyer remorse!!! Who is celebrating??
        people looking for a pay rise, parents looking for time with their baby, buyers looking for affordable homes, those wanting light rail, those wanting climate change action, those wanting a say in protecting DOC areas from mining, those wanting fairer welfare rules, those wanting trade agreements, and jobs, those looking for reparations after calamities, and those seeking warnings of danger……… I know I have missed a few…… Oh those wanting decent Public broadcasting.
        A prime minister telling us what is happening “in her own words”.

        • chris73 3.1.3.1
          15 November 2017 at 7:33 pm

          How about those that protested the TPPA, are they celebrating? How about the Kermadec sanctuary, any people celebrating that?

          • patricia bremner 3.1.3.1.1
            15 November 2017 at 8:24 pm

            No Chris, but neither is finalised yet, or in the 100 days.

          • mickysavage 3.1.3.1.2
            15 November 2017 at 8:27 pm

            Kermadec is complex. I am really relaxed. TPPA? It is a lot better. And at least Jacinda is doing something about Manus. When you are in power every day is a series of decisions and potential compromises …

            How do you feel about National’s compromises? There is a whole lot of stuff there to digest …

    • Draco T Bastard 3.2
      15 November 2017 at 7:17 pm

      Pretty sure that wasn’t even Labour policy but National’s. Which just makes me think, again, that Nash is in the wrong bloody party.

    • Muttonbird 3.3
      15 November 2017 at 7:17 pm

      Collins needs to explain just what these tariffs are on goods under $400.00 and how that makes an impact on Customs’ ability to do their job. She seems to be suggesting that Customs can only operate because of tariff protection?

      Nash is right. The Nats did nothing on this and the law is the same as it was before internet shopping became a thing.

      Every purchase in NZ should have a GST or equivalent levy if the goods come from overseas. Easy to administer – the courier collects the money at the time of delivery or in the case of Netflix and co it’s added to their fee and they must remunerate the NZ government.

      • chris73 3.3.1
        15 November 2017 at 7:25 pm

        Judith Collins needs to do no such thing, shes in the opposition, its her job to oppose. Labour need to make it difficult for National to oppose by doing what they said they’d do.

        • BM 3.3.1.1
          15 November 2017 at 7:29 pm

          So true, poor old lefties haven’t worked that one out yet, they’re all standing around holding their willies and looking completely lost.

          • Muttonbird 3.3.1.1.1
            15 November 2017 at 7:39 pm

            One thing I’ve noticed about RWNJs is their hatred of Kiwi workers. Being cheapskates by definition they want everything for cheap regardless of the conditions it places NZ workers under. A loss-making Uber they’ll take. Tax-free shopping they’ll take.

            A courier left a package at the door for me today. It was a USD55 item not manufactured in NZ which I’d ordered from the States. Couriers should have eft-pos like the local curry place does and I’d quite happily have paid the GST amount at the point of delivery.

            It’s not hard but the Nats, and their media, and their cat-kicking hangers on seem to think it is.

            • BM 3.3.1.1.1.1
              15 November 2017 at 7:44 pm

              You’re mention cat kicking a lot, dude we all know you’ve got anger issues, don’t take your weakness out on the family pet, get help.

        • Muttonbird 3.3.1.2
          15 November 2017 at 7:30 pm

          She’s irrelevant and won’t see government again. Her past will catch up with her.

      • DoublePlusGood 3.3.2
        16 November 2017 at 1:05 am

        No purchases in NZ should have GST whatsoever, because we should get rid of GST.

  4. Draco T Bastard 4
    15 November 2017 at 7:40 pm

    Technology invading nearly all U.S. jobs, even lower skilled: study

    The report underscores the growing need for workers of all types to gain digital skills and explains why many employers say they struggle to fill jobs, including many that in the past required few digital skills. There is anxiety about automation displacing workers and in many cases, new digital tools allow one worker to do work previously done by several.

    Those 545 occupations reflect 90 percent of all jobs in the economy. The report found that jobs with greater digital content tend to pay more and are increasingly concentrated in traditional high-tech centers like Silicon Valley, Seattle and Austin, Texas.

    This highlights two points:

    1. That we need the training available so that people can be retrained and/or upskilled. Considering how NZ businesses are responding to ‘lack of skills’ in NZ we can be assured they’re not going to do anything about it.
    2. Productivity is already so high that there isn’t enough work for everyone and that this trend will continue.

    At the other extreme are jobs like those done by Steve Engle, a 53-year-old factory worker at Cummins Inc’s (CMI.N) engine plant in Seymour, Indiana.

    One of his tasks is to insert 56 bolts on the flywheel housing of each engine as it moves down the line and tighten the bolts in a certain sequence. He now uses a tool that is connected to a computer screen, which guides him to the right bolt and will not allow him to tighten the wrong one. It also knows exactly when the bolt is tight enough and then stops.

    “This tool won’t let me do it wrong,” he said.

    I’m actually amazed that they’ve still got him there.

    • AB 4.1
      15 November 2017 at 8:52 pm

      “I’m actually amazed that they’ve still got him there.”
      Ditto – and they probably won’t for much longer. They’re just making sure it all hangs together before waving him goodbye and thanking him for his 20+ years of ‘passion’ and ‘commitment’.

  5. Draco T Bastard 5
    15 November 2017 at 8:55 pm

    ‘Mum’s the word’: The online influencers secretly paid to go on 1News

    TVNZ has pulled a story about Kmart from its site after The Spinoff obtained emails showing two online ‘influencers’ received undisclosed payments to appear. The revelations raise fresh questions about the murky and unregulated world of the influencer economy.

    The headline is bad as it implies that 1Newz paid but they didn’t. 1News didn’t actually know that they’d been paid.

    This article shows that regulation and transparency is needed. Further, it shows again that before any product that goes on sale it needs to be regulated first. The market cannot operate as a free-for-all.

    • marty mars 5.1
      15 November 2017 at 11:17 pm

      Interesting and both those bloggers lied about being paid when directly asked – what nice people not. This is the legacy of keyster and billshitter – they are directly responsible for liars like this who think they can get away with it.. Sad.

    • Exkiwiforces 6.1
      15 November 2017 at 10:50 pm

      As I said over at the open mike thread, If Mugabe still has support of the his infamous North Korean trained 5th Brigade and his Presidential Guard then things will get very interesting and if he hasn’t then it’s all over red rover unless he can talk his way out of it so he can in exile.

      The other two questions are:
      What’s China’s position on the coup as they have been propping up the regime so have a lot to lose and the other is,
      What the position of the Commonwealth whatever way this goes?

      I’ve a few other comments over at the open mike and a few links to further reading from Ian Smith’s UDI to the current events atm.

        • Exkiwiforces 6.1.1.1
          15 November 2017 at 11:46 pm

          What I found strange is the Zimbabwe Army are using the same camouflage pattern uniform of the old Rhodesian Military Forces.

      • Graeme 6.1.2
        16 November 2017 at 7:04 am

        Looks like China knew all about it before hand.

        ” The transition came just days after Zimbabwean military chief General Constantino Chiwenga visited Beijing.”

        http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2120091/bloodless-takeover-wont-dampen-chinese-investment

        • Exkiwiforces 6.1.2.1
          16 November 2017 at 10:15 am

          Now’s that very interesting indeed, doesn’t like other countries sticking it noses into China’s internal affairs, but is more than happy to stick it nose into Zimbabwe’s internal affairs and into other countries affairs. The Red Dragon is learning fast from the Western powers.

          • Draco T Bastard 6.1.2.1.1
            16 November 2017 at 10:50 am

            China’s been taking lessons from the US. Get powerful both militarily and economically and then you can do whatever the fuck you want.

            We should be taking lessons from that as well and building up our own military and economy. That’s going to mean developing and producing our own weapons of war and diversifying our economy so that we’re no longer dependent upon imports.

            It is not viable for us to maintain the belief that the world is all nice and that no one would attack us:

            But we must continue our efforts to develop understanding and compassion in the world. Hopefully, this article will assist in doing that by addressing the question “How many September 11ths has the United States caused in other nations since WWII?” This theme is developed in this report which contains an estimated numbers of such deaths in 37 nations as well as brief explanations of why the U.S. is considered culpable.

            But the victims are not just from big nations or one part of the world. The remaining deaths were in smaller ones which constitute over half the total number of nations. Virtually all parts of the world have been the target of U.S. intervention.

            The overall conclusion reached is that the United States most likely has been responsible since WWII for the deaths of between 20 and 30 million people in wars and conflicts scattered over the world.

    • millsy 6.2
      15 November 2017 at 11:02 pm

      Seems like this is more of a struggle between factions in the ruling party than an attempt to overthrow Mugabe.

      It also seems like that Mugabe is closer to death than we think.

      We shall see anyway.

      • Exkiwiforces 6.2.1
        15 November 2017 at 11:53 pm

        Yes Millsy, it appears that way for the time being atm, but how long before it last and spills over into some sort of civil war? And there is no doubt that will be some old scores to settle if goes the way of civil war.

  7. Nic the NZer 7
    15 November 2017 at 10:28 pm

    The robots are coming to take all the jobs, the robots are coming to take all the jobs!

    Turns out this narrative started already more than 50 years ago in 1960.
    http://bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/?p=37361

    I see I might have replied this to comment #4.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.1
      16 November 2017 at 11:02 am

      Yep. It’s a concern as to how we handle ever increasing automation but the automation itself should be seen as a positive. Automating a job out of existence or just increasing productivity so that fewer people are required to do the same job should be seen as a success as it allows the economy to develop in other ways if the support is there for it to do so. like that article says:

      The Commission noted that unemployment was largely the result of inadequate total spending and that the Government had the tools at its disposal to eliminate it. They considered that there would be workers (low-skill etc) who would suffer more displacement from technology than those with more skill etc, but that ultimately even those workers would be able to get jobs if the public deficit was large enough. Instead, they recommended (among other things) the introduction of a Job Guarantee (Public Service Employment) financed by the Federal government but administered at all levels of government. It would pay the Federal minimum wage and be available on demand.

      Doing that, though, does require removing the ability of the private banks to create money. It also needs the acceptance that it is government spending that is the driver of the economy.

      • Nic the NZer 7.1.1
        16 November 2017 at 11:28 am

        “Doing that, though, does require removing the ability of the private banks to create money”

        Not at all, it didn’t require this in the 60’s when this issue was largely sensibly addressed and it doesn’t today (in fact its even easier since the end of the Bretton Woods agreement). All that is needed is for the government to get a grip on its economic ideology and stop believing unemployment is unavoidable and necessary.

        It would help to achieve this if commentary frequently pointed out that the unemployment rate is always able to be reduced by the government, as long as it wants that outcome.

        • Draco T Bastard 7.1.1.1
          16 November 2017 at 12:12 pm

          Not at all, it didn’t require this in the 60’s when this issue was largely sensibly addressed

          And which came to an end in the 1970s because of massive amounts of stagflation seemingly caused by too much money being created but then put only into shares rather than productive use. Same as today’s housing bubble in fact.

          in fact its even easier since the end of the Bretton Woods agreement

          It would be nice if the governments of the world realised that the Bretton Woods Agreement had come to an end when the US unilaterally dropped the Gold Standard in 1971. And that with them doing so the world no longer had a Reserve Currency.

          • Nic the NZer 7.1.1.1.1
            16 November 2017 at 12:34 pm

            The inflation in the 1970’s came about because of OPEC’s politically motivated Oil price hikes. Your explanation is basically an extension of monetarism, but this theory was entirely bankrupt at its inception. Inflation is simply not correlated with the money supply in the way implied there.

            • Draco T Bastard 7.1.1.1.1.1
              16 November 2017 at 12:53 pm

              The inflation in the 1970’s came about because of OPEC’s politically motivated Oil price hikes.

              That was certainly part of it but the problems started back in the 1960s.

              Your explanation is basically an extension of monetarism, but this theory was entirely bankrupt at its inception. Inflation is simply not correlated with the money supply in the way implied there.

              There’s some logic behind it. If we paid everyone a million per week we wouldn’t all suddenly be able to afford new yachts and houses – the prices would adjust for the new normal.

              We don’t see the printing of money having a correlation in general prices. But what we do see is price bubbles in sharemarkets and housing as those who can, and do, grab all the new money for themselves. Those people are few and don’t spend any more per week on their groceries as everyone else and so we see general price stability while the poor are priced out of housing and become poorer and poorer as the house owners put the rental up to get higher returns from people who aren’t getting any of that new money.

              • Nic the NZer …
                16 November 2017 at 3:35 pm

                “There’s some logic behind it.”
                No matter how much logic is behind it you still need to demonstrate this is how the world actually functions for any scientific theory to be acceptable. That is totally missing from this example, though you did provide a little contrary evidence “We don’t see the printing of money having a correlation in general prices”.

                There is also a significant problem with the direction of causation which you could get out, because if (for whatever reason) prices are raised on purchased goods then we know for certain that the money supply will have adjusted already to make those purchases.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  16 November 2017 at 4:42 pm

                  No matter how much logic is behind it you still need to demonstrate this is how the world actually functions for any scientific theory to be acceptable.

                  There is strong evidence that excessive money printing has inflationary effects but it’s mostly in house and share prices. The reason why we’re not seeing general price increases from all the massive creation of money is because the money isn’t going to the majority of people.

                  But that massive increase in small areas of the market (market bubbles) is most definitely increasing poverty for those that don’t have access to that massive money increase.

                  There is also a significant problem with the direction of causation which you could get out, because if (for whatever reason) prices are raised on purchased goods then we know for certain that the money supply will have adjusted already to make those purchases.

                  If all else remains the same then the amount of money would make no difference as the price would be relative.

                  The problem is that the way the system is only a few people have access to the massive printing machines. And only a few more have direct access to the money created. These few can push high inflation in a couple of small areas and say that things are going well while the majority of people, glad that general inflation is low, become poorer as housing is pushed out of their reach and the ability to innovate is removed from them as they no longer have access to the resources necessary because a few people are very very rich from controlling the money supply.

                  • Nic the NZer …
                    16 November 2017 at 5:22 pm

                    “If all else remains the same then the amount of money would make no difference as the price would be relative.”

                    Clearly when I said that for some reason there was an increase in prices we are no longer discussing a situation where all else remains the same. and relative to what?

                    There is a much better correlation between inflation and capacity utilization rates rather than looking at the money supply changes.

                    http://neweconomicperspectives.org/2016/04/money-banking-part-11-inflation.html

                    “One may doubt that the causality goes from M to P given the strong assumptions required for that to be the case.”

                    e.g Do you actually believe in these rational economic units ?

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      17 November 2017 at 1:29 pm

                      Most ‘Wealth’ Isn’t the Result of Hard Work. It Has Been Accumulated by Being Idle and Unproductive.

                      Last week The Times reported that during the past three months alone, baby boomers converted £850 million of housing wealth into cash using equity release products – the highest number since records began. A third used the money to buy cars, while more than a quarter used it to fund holidays. Others are choosing to buy more property: the Chartered Institute of Housing has describedhow the buy-to-let market is being fuelled by older households using their housing wealth to buy more property, renting it out to those who are unable to get a foot on the property ladder. And it is here that we find the dark side of the housing boom.

                      That money was created by the private banks. Do you think that such a huge increase in prices would have been viable without that?

                      There’s two points:
                      1. An increase in the amount of money available will prices up
                      2. Because the distribution of the new money is constrained to only a few you see specific inflation (i.e, house price increases) rather than general inflation (an increase in the CPI).

                      We are seeing inflation from an excess of money creation and that money creation is from the private banks, ergo, we need to stop the private banks from creating money.

                      And I’ve been saying for a long time that the assumptions that underlie modern economics are bunk.

      • Nic the NZer 7.1.2
        17 November 2017 at 3:45 pm

        “An increase in the amount of money available will prices up”

        Of course when prices go up there is (typically) an increase in the amount of money available. The same goes for incomes when they go up too. Unless you have a good argument for the causality going both directions this doesn’t explain anything causally.

        On the other hand I think if some banks had been failing to make various payments that would be called a financial crisis. Probably won’t see the RBNZ causing any of those.

        • Draco T Bastard 7.1.2.1
          17 November 2017 at 7:14 pm

          Of course when prices go up there is (typically) an increase in the amount of money available.

          So which is it?

          Does an increase in money result in higher prices or not? I’m saying it does and seem to be saying both.

          • Nic the NZer 7.1.2.1.1
            17 November 2017 at 7:20 pm

            Its the one you just quoted, definitely. Thats what banks create money on demand means.

            I’m not saying both I’m saying an increase in money can’t be demonstrated to *cause* an increase in prices. But causality definitely happens in the other direction.

            • Draco T Bastard 7.1.2.1.1.1
              18 November 2017 at 2:28 pm

              I’m not saying both I’m saying an increase in money can’t be demonstrated to *cause* an increase in prices.

              Except that I’ve linked to a couple of pieces that shows that it does cause increases in house and share prices. This limited range of those price increases seems to be because of the limited number of people the new money is going to.

              • Nic the NZer …
                18 November 2017 at 3:46 pm

                Your links make no arguments about the *cause* of the house price increases.

                You also said,
                “And I’ve been saying for a long time that the assumptions that underlie modern economics are bunk.”
                but you continue to defend one of the most central assumptions of mainstream economics. You need to produce evidence (or at least an argument) that changes in M are causing changes in P for this to be anything more than an assumption.

                On the other hand we can see every time somebody makes purchases on their credit card (or based on other forms of lending) how changes in P are causing changes in M.

                The key distinction between your claim and mine being if P will increase as M increases *even in the absence of changes in demand*, which would be consistent with changes in M causing changes in P. I don’t think that can be demonstrated. On the other hand some of the more recent changes in the economy have seen higher demand for houses and shares and that appears to have driven those prices up.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  18 November 2017 at 4:13 pm

                  The key distinction between your claim and mine being if P will increase as M increases *even in the absence of changes in demand*, which would be consistent with changes in M causing changes in P. I don’t think that can be demonstrated.
                  I think what can be demonstrated is that some special prices are rising greater than the rise in demand and that those special prices are rising because of the banks ability to create money. The rise in prices also allows the banks to create more money as speculators bank on the unearned income available from house and price shares increasing.

                  Effectively, we have an inflationary spiral fuelled by the banks ability to create money.

                  The key distinction between your claim and mine being if P will increase as M increases *even in the absence of changes in demand*, which would be consistent with changes in M causing changes in P. I don’t think that can be demonstrated.

                  Will the rent increases that come about because of National’s increase in Accommodation Supplement be because of increased demand or because of the expectation of more money being available?

                  • Nic the NZer …
                    18 November 2017 at 4:49 pm

                    “Will the rent increases that come about because of National’s increase in Accommodation Supplement be because of increased demand or because of the expectation of more money being available?”

                    If the government buys accomodation supplement that is an anticipated increase in demand, obviously.

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    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

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

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Half a million people use tax calculator

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