Daily review 17/09/2020

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, September 17th, 2020 - 65 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 …

65 comments on “Daily review 17/09/2020 ”

  1. Ad 1

    Surely if little old Barbados can remove the Queen as Head of State, we can too?

    • Cinny 1.1

      And they are still able to remain a member of the Commonwealth.

      I'm sold, where do we vote please?

      • greywarshark 1.1.1

        I think that is a little Precipi-state. Knee-jerk responses following Pavlovian stimulation.

  2. Cinny 2

    Was speaking to a lady today whose life has changed dramatically. She has suffered from seizures her whole life, which has limited her ability to do many things. Just going to the supermarket was a nightmare for her, as she would worry about having a seizure.

    Four weeks ago she got some CBD oil via the black market. She looked at getting CBD oil on prescription but could not afford it. She has not had a seizure for four weeks and it's changed her life beyond compare. She is so happy, a huge comparison to the depressed individual she was when I last saw her around three months ago. Am over the moon for her. She really has become a different person who now has the confidence to join community groups, which she has. Such a good buzz, she was near on suicidal before. Life changing for the better.

    It's because of people like her that I will be voting YES in the referendum.

    • Barfly 2.1

      yes Thank you I will be voting yes as well

    • weka 2.2

      same, I know someone whose severe epilepsy went into remission.

      there are lessons here for people who believe that RCTs are the only way to do medicine. So many more people could be helped.

    • Shanreagh 2.3

      I had thought this referedum did not affect access to medical cannabis

      'The proposed Bill does not cover medicinal cannabis, hemp, driving while impaired, or workplace health and safety issues. These are covered by existing laws.

      Medicinal cannabis is already legal under the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme.'

      from

      https://www.referendums.govt.nz/cannabis/index.html

      So if people are voting yes so that others can get access to cannabis health products then I suggest a little more thought may be in order. If you are voting 'yes' so you or others can get access to cannabis because it makes you/them feel good ie recreational cannabis and they don't have to hassle to get it then that is what this referendum covers.

      So a Majority yes vote

      Yes I support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill.

      The Bill legalises restricted access to cannabis

      The Bill's purpose is to reduce harm to people and communities

      The Bill controls the production and supply of cannabis

      Medicinal cannabis and hemp will not be affected by the outcome of the referendum. Medicinal use of cannabis will still be allowed if prescribed by a doctor, and hemp will still be legal.

      There are still many people who are not taking the option of seeing their Dr to get a prescription for medicinal cannabis. One family I know has had access to medicinal cannabis for their epileptic son and it has made a difference.

      I worry about people venturing into what is the criminal world accessing unregulated oil ie the methods and ingredients are not controlled oil etc

      So the referendum is about social or recreational use not medical use.

      https://www.referendums.govt.nz/cannabis/index.html

    • Ad 2.4

      The referendum doesn't cover medicines which you describe.

      I'm over the moon for her as well.

      But it's not a reason to vote yes in the referendum.

      • Shanreagh 2.4.1

        Agree Ad. Make sure we are voting for the reasons in the referendum ie for use as a recreational drug. if you are happy about this then vote 'yes' and if not vote 'no'…..

        Affordability of medical cannabis is whole other ball-game & not connected with the referendum.

      • weka 2.4.2

        it's one reason that a lot of people will vote yes. We don't have equitable or full access to medicinal cannabis, this Bill will go a long way to redressing that. Atm people make their medicine themselves, after the Bill is passed they and others will continue to do so only they won't have to be afraid of being arrested, or having their supply confiscated.

  3. Wayne 3

    Yes we could. However, it should be by referendum, not just by parliament.

  4. Stuart Munro 4

    The more I look at the senior NZ politicians most likely to take her place, the better Lizzy & Charlie look.

    • weka 4.1

      fair point. Not that impressed with the electorate either.

    • JanM 4.2

      And just look at the USA! Would they be in quite this mess if they had a further brake on their shenanigins?

    • RedBaronCV 4.3

      What I like about Liz & Charlie is they don't cost us a bean unless we ask them to visit and the next one in the queue is always known. Very low maintenance.

      And we don't then have to fight over who gets the top ceremonial job. I mean could you imagine a 70 year old Judith Collins swanning around in a tiara. I rest my case.

      • Draco T Bastard 4.3.1

        What I like about Liz & Charlie is they don't cost us a bean unless we ask them to visit and the next one in the queue is always known. Very low maintenance.

        And also a load of bollocks.

        Our governor General, does, as a matter of fact, cost us. It's unlikely that a president would cost us any more.

        And we don't then have to fight over who gets the top ceremonial job.

        But we should. We should be the ones that set the direction of the country should also be the ones who sets the face and voice.

        I mean could you imagine a 70 year old Judith Collins swanning around in a tiara.

        Why the insult?

        • RedBaronCV 4.3.1.1

          Yeah except NZ is a small horribly cliquey little country on a bad day – and if you are not part of the in crowd tough. I could see a president costing more frankly but who knows.

          I've always regretted the demise of the privy council legal appeals. , I would far rather it had been replaced by a "commonwealth council" with top judges from Aust Canada etc. It would have been a bit further removed from the small legal cohort here.

          As to Judith – I can see her in a tiara but I really wouldn't want her as a president. Not sure where you get the insult in that.

          • Stuart Munro 4.3.1.1.1

            Even a Corgi would do – active, intelligent, charismatic, and not corrupt beyond a decent enthusiasm for treats.

            There are times I'd like to replace most of parliament with them.

          • Draco T Bastard 4.3.1.1.2

            I've always regretted the demise of the privy council legal appeals.

            Why?

            Our High Court is more responsive and costs less.

            I would far rather it had been replaced by a "commonwealth council" with top judges from Aust Canada etc.

            Last time I looked, we call on them as well even with out High Court.

            As to Judith – I can see her in a tiara but I really wouldn't want her as a president.

            I wouldn't want her as president either but you most definitely phrased what you you said as an insult. Hence the swanning around.

            • RedBaronCV 4.3.1.1.2.1

              Oh for heavens sake DTB pretty much anyone wearing a tiara except for actual royalty is swanning around in one. It's a figure of speech I guess not necessarily to be interpreted as an insult.

              • Draco T Bastard

                pretty much anyone wearing a tiara except for actual royalty is swanning around in one.

                No, they'd just be wearing one.

                And why do you think that tiaras are only for royalty? They're just another piece of jewellery.

                Do you think that only royals should be wearing purple as well?

        • woodart 4.3.1.2

          president would need mirrored sunnys and gold braid. as with anything the costs would blow out. better to stick with what works.

  5. ScottGN 5

    @Ad 1

    Canada, Australia and Aotearoa will be the last to go.

    @Cinny 1.1

    Of the 54 countries in the Commonwealth only 16 are Commonwealth Realms who have QEII as Head of State.

  6. greywarshark 6

    Pie in the sky? Millions to be spent. Not from the regions growth fund I hope. Would Maori like the land back and they could choose what they do with it? The government to take this out of the hands of chancers and big-talkers.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-detail/story/2018764224/finally-a-plan-for-abandoned-waiwera-hot-pools

    But there’s a potentially happy ending to the tale: the present owners have just this month made preliminary decisions on a $250m masterplan which could see the pools and the slides return to Waiwera, along with a day spa, a hotel spa complex, a micro-brewery and apartments. Evan Vertue, Waiwera project director for property company Urban Partners talks about the plans.

  7. ScottGN 7

    On a brighter note. Had the first asparagus of the season tonight. It’s Spring people!

  8. ScottGN 8

    Just saw a tweet from one of the party insiders.

    Labour still 50%+

    Nats below 30%

    Greens in trouble.

    • mauī 8.1

      and most importantly what was Advance NZ on??

      • Graeme 8.1.1

        what was Advance NZ on??

        Well, whatever it was I don't want any….

        • mauī 8.1.1.1

          Third biggest party in New Zealand according to some sources… Billy TK was ranked 34th preferred Prime Minister in the latest COlmar Brunton, which he himself says is "unheard of". They've had over 2 million social medias interactions which is mind boggling too.

          • Drowsy M. Kram 8.1.1.1.1

            "Billy TK was ranked 34th preferred Prime Minister" – “unheard of” in his own words.

            Maui, please can you provide a link to these "latest COlmar Brunton" poll results.

            • mauī 8.1.1.1.1.1

              It's all in the latest July Colmar:
              https://static.colmarbrunton.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/25-29-July-2020_1-NEWS-Colmar-Brunton-Poll-report-.pdf

              Sorry 34th ranked was wrong…. Billy TK is ranked 5th equal with Christopher Luxon for Preferred PM at 0.7% and more than twice as popular as John Key on 0.3%.

              Remarkable. Of course if you want to look outside yourself and hear the Colmar results first hand you can seek out the latest video between Billy TK and Dr Buttar.

              • Drowsy M. Kram

                A 0.7% share of the preferred PM choice is indeed "remarkable" – one in every 143 people polled said they actually preferred Billy TK for PM – that's six out of the 843 people who responded to the ‘Preferred PM‘ question.

                Unfortunately for Billy TK, apparently no-one polled chose to support the political party he and Jami-Lee Ross lead. An optimist might say that Advance NZ's party vote poll results can only get better. Best of luck ANZ.

    • McFlock 8.2

      Don't the polls usually start coming thick and fast about a month out from the election?

      might be worth beginning to pay attention to the trends lol

  9. bwaghorn 9

    This turned up on my fb feed by some dude called David Clark, me and numbers dont get on so I have know idea if hes right or not.

    ""Over the weekend I had a phone call from a mate who lives in urban Auckland and he wanted to have a yarn about the new Green Party Agricultural Policy, that to his mind seemed logical, fair and reasonable, almost an exciting step forward, but he wanted to see the policy through the lens of a farmer as well,

    I have been reflecting on his question regarding the launching of the Green Party Agricultural "Policy" trying to quantify the feeling of hopeless that I and many farmers feel.

    So let's unpack this a bit.

    How our business works is we have a farm income, that is the culmination of all the stock we sell and the grain and seed crops that we grow and sell to processors as it's eventually makes it way to your local Supermarket.

    Out of that income, we pay our farm expenses, seed, fertiliser, fuel and electricity, farm supplies, and various other goods and services. Most of this expenditure benefits businesses in our local town Ashburton and across the wider Canterbury economy.

    Once we have sold our produce and paid for our expenses, there is hopefully a wee bit left over, which is what most business owners refer to as their return on investment.

    Last year our arable and stock farming business made a pre-tax return on total assets of 3.6%.

    The Greens intend to impose a "Wealth Tax" of 2%.

    That leaves us with 1.6% return on assets before we pay any Income Tax.

    The Greens then plan to "charge a fair price" for the Methane burped by our sheep. I have previously heard prices of $50-$250/t of Carbon Equivalent suggested by the Greens, but let's say at the low end of that range, our Climate Change cost just for Methane will be 1.5% of total assets.

    That leaves us with 0.1%.

    The Greens intend to develop a Water Charge in consultation with Iwi.

    Previously the Greens have stated that charge should be 10 cents per cubic metre. David Parker publicly stated an intention for a water charge of 2 cents per cubic metre.

    Here a Valetta, even at the lower charge of 2 cents per cube, the cost of watering our arable crops would be another 0.4% of total assets annually.

    That leaves us making a 0.3% loss.

    The Greens then want to impose a levy of fertiliser, want us to run a zero-till or minimum-till system, not sure how that works in a long term seed production system and adopt Regenerative principles.

    But here's the clanger, they intend to impose a Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) level of 1mg/litre for all waterways in NZ. Currently water flows out of DoC land at western side of Mid Canterbury at 3.2mg/l.

    To meet a DIN of 1mg/l, Environment Canterbury's own report from 2017 found that land use in the neighbouring Selwyn Te Waihora Catchment would have to revert to dryland sheep grazing.

    We have budgeted that impact on this farm and it looks like this-

    Crop Income, down 92%
    Sheep Gross, down 62%
    Expenditure, down 70%
    Wages, down 91%
    EBIT, down 68%
    Capital Re-investment, down 74%
    Net Profit, down 105%
    Tax Paid, down 75%

    The actual numbers are irrelevant, because the percentage drops will be seen across many or most farm businesses, regardless of size.

    Of course, that is before any of the other new taxes and levies they wish for detailed above.

    This conversation hasn't even begun to touch on the significant investment in technology and infrastructure we have made in the last 15 years to reduce our environmental impact, all of which would be both unaffordable, and irrelevant because none of it will get us even close to meeting the limits the Greens wish for.

    The end result of all this is we would now own a totally unviable, un-bankable business that is not much more than a glorified life style block and has no economic future in food production. The knock on impact is that land values will collapse.

    My suggestion to my mate, or anyone else in urban New Zealand reading this is to enjoy and savour the standard of living that you currently enjoy, make diary notes, take photographs so that you can look back on the "good ole days" as we embark on our journey to becoming a Zimbabwe or Venezuela of the South Pacific.

    It was not sensible policy announced this last weekend, it was the framework for economic destruction.

    Given the catastrophic economic news released in the PERFU today, I'm not sure we can afford to take a wrecking ball to the agricultural and horticultural sectors right now.

    (Feel free to share)""

    • McFlock 9.1

      I can't argue accounting very well, and I've no idea if all those numbers claimed are broadly accurate.

      But even without the wealth tax, if everything there is true, essentially that person is arguing that they can't operate their business without polluting what little water they leave behind.

      • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1

        Yeah, looks like he's demanding that an uneconomical business be subsidised.

        • woodart 9.1.1.1

          yes looking at it, may as well throw in the towel and walk off the land right now. if they are only making 3.6% before tax, their rate of return is nearly as bad as hollywood moviemaking, and we know how much they need to be propped up.

      • millsy 9.1.2

        Sounds like something that was planted by the National campaign. This is too contrived to be real and I'm surprised everyone is falling for it.

        • Draco T Bastard 9.1.2.1

          Yeah, smells like a load of lies to me.

          Two accountants in my family tell me that farmers don't pay tax.

    • Stuart Munro 9.2

      The best hope in respect of nitrogen, in my humble opinion, is for the Greens to encourage bioremediation of some kind – a gross feeding crop like hemp, or pollarded white poplars, which are used for waste treatment in parts of Europe. Of course you'd need the space for such a thing, but as a mitigation measure it wouldn't send you broke out of the box – it might even be able to be made to pay.

    • arkie 9.3

      The Greens intend to impose a "Wealth Tax" of 2%.

      Except:

      • A 1% wealth tax for those with a net-worth over $1 million.

      https://www.greens.org.nz/poverty_action_plan

    • Incognito 9.4

      The net wealth tax will be set at 1% on net wealth over $1 million and 2% on net wealth over $2 million. … No one whose individual net wealth is less than $1 million would pay this tax.

      We have designed the tax to apply at an individual level, which means that couples who own their assets jointly will only start paying tax if they jointly have over $2 million in net wealth, such as a $2 million house.

      What’s there not to like?

      • Pingao 9.4.1

        I don't like the whole couples thing. A house that was bought years ago can now be "worth" close to or over 1 million dollars so if that house is owned by a person who is now single, they will have to pay the wealth tax (or pay it later) even if they have bugger all other assets or income whereas if a couple live in that same house, they will not.

        Ordinary people do not set house prices, so I think there needs to be some kind offset on the home such as, say, the first $500,000 Is disregarded or a different starting rate for singles.

        • Incognito 9.4.1.1

          The threshold for individual net wealth is the same for single individuals as for individuals in a long-term relationship: $1 million. Why should it be $1.5 million because an individual is single? People who are asset-rich but cash-poor can defer payments until sale of assets, usually a house. You do realise that an individual with net wealth of $999,999 will not pay a cent in wealth tax under the scheme, yes?

          • Pingao 9.4.1.1.1

            Yes maybe 500k is too much but my point is why should a couple get an advantage over a single person what with house prices being so mental in Auckland etc. I knew a young couple who bought an old house for 27,000 or thereabouts in the late 70s in Grey Lynn – now I would assume it's worth over a million so if one partner died or whatever, that remaining person would be asset rich which is great if the person has enough income to pay the rates and insurance and whatnot.

            Deferred payments still mean the single person pays when they downsize or go into care. It costs more per capita to live as a single person and that is reflected in pensions and other benefits as far as I understand it so I think something similar should be applied here. It is likely that this would likely hit older single cash-poor women harder. Sure you are still better off than many but still if the tax hits one group harder than another, it is unfair.

            I don't know what the mechanism would be or what amount of $$ is right but there should be some kind of offset in my opinion. Why should couples only get to live in a high priced house? It would be great if there were decent smaller houses in the more "desirable" places rather than the choice of a either a massive house or a rabbit hutch (shitboxes my boss calls them) or apartment but that just doesn't happen.

            Hope that makes sense …

    • Graeme 9.5

      There's not enough substance, or actual figures in it make any judgement about it's accuracy. But there's some misrepresentation of the Green's wealth tax, 1%, not 2%, and net, and going by the supposed development that would be financed by debt rather than cashflow, so probably not enough net wealth to be paying it, which would put the whole thing under a bit of a cloud.

      Whole thing looks like someone who's over capitalised their farm and the whole thing is falling apart financially and environmentally. But that's a pretty common picture all around the country.

      Bottom line though, it's political spin designed to make people fearful.

    • Cinny 9.6

      Wait, he doesn't run his farm under a company or trust business model? Crikey.

      Doesn't the wealth tax only apply to individual wealth, so a company etc would be exempt?

    • weka 9.7

      There's a David Clark who is president of mid Canterbury Fed Farmers. So colour me skeptical of that post.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 9.8

      This propaganda piece lacks crucial bits of information that would allow you to work out if it is true. Either his property is incredibly valuable so the wealth-tax threshold is diluted to nothing, or he has incorrectly applied the tax to the entire property….

      DIN of 3.2mg/L is incredibly high for an unmodified catchment in NZ. So there is almost certainly something very unusual about "Currently water flows out of DoC land at western side of Mid Canterbury at 3.2mg/l ". Is the entire catchment DOC land, or is there a DIN-creating activity further upstream perhaps??

      I smell misleading bullshit!!

  10. ScottGN 10

    @maui 8.1

    No info on Advance NZ but safe to say they’re sub 5%.

    @McFlock 8.2

    IMO there will be less public polls this election. The media outlets are all too skint and the change of election date has caught them on the hop. And, yes, the trend line has been really strong for 6 months now.

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    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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
    17 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
    20 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
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

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

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

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    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
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

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