Daily review 25/07/2019

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, July 25th, 2019 - 71 comments
Categories: Daily review - Tags:

 

Daily review is also your post.

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

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Don’t forget to be kind to each other …

71 comments on “Daily review 25/07/2019 ”

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  1. adam 1
    25 July 2019 at 5:57 pm

    Oh look another swing and a miss- Muller back peddled even more.

    The problem with believing in conspiracy theories, when there is no evidence – you look like a loony.



    • Andre 1.1
      25 July 2019 at 6:01 pm

      Wow, that vid is really making the rounds of convergence moonbats, second-option bias fantasists, and Repugs. Already been inflicted on today’s Open Mike.

      • adam 1.1.1
        25 July 2019 at 6:16 pm

        Your conspiracy theory devotion keeps rolling on I see Andre.

        You really are in wingnut terrority.

    • Anne 1.2
      25 July 2019 at 6:06 pm

      That's your interpretation Adam.

      The big deal for me is: Meuller said it loud and clear:

      He did not exonerate Donald Trump in his report.

      Another nail in the coffin, which will inevitably lead to his ultimate impeachment or prosecution. In the second case it has to wait until he is no longer president.

      Mind you, when the crunch does come, we can expect the madman to start a major war by way of a side-show.

      • adam 1.2.1
        25 July 2019 at 6:23 pm

        What impeachment, where is that coming from? There is nothing solid to impeach him on.

        Bloody hell, Anne.

        trump is a nightmare, and clinging to fantasies and conspiracy theories helps no one. This is a guy totally out of control and these fantasies and conspiracy theories just help him and his base.

        If we talked about the concentration camps he has expanded, the stealing of children, the corruption and the kiddy f*&^%$s that are his friends. Then we take down the scum bag.

        • McFlock 1.2.1.1
          25 July 2019 at 6:33 pm

          If we talked about the concentration camps he has expanded, the stealing of children, the corruption and the kiddy f*&^%$s that are his friends. Then we take down the scum bag.

          How? How, specifically, do the people "take down" POTUS?

          Because I only know of impeachment, him losing the election/term limits, or the constitutional amendment relating to incapacity.

          The trouble is that the actual impeachment trial will be in the repug-majority senate, so those fuckers won't convict. But the impeachment investigation by Congress will bring a lot of details into the sunlight. Which might help with the state and federal investigations after dolt45 is out of office. Because not even the camps will shock or embarrass his legion of deplorables into voting for anyone else.

          • adam 1.2.1.1.1
            25 July 2019 at 6:39 pm

            What trial? FFS there will be no trial – stop the fantasies, it's no different from the whole FEMA camp crap that came from the right.

            Fight him in a election which is next year, with a candidate that can win. Fight him in the real world over real issue, rather than this fantasy B.S.

            • McFlock 1.2.1.1.1.1
              25 July 2019 at 6:50 pm

              Focus, Adam. I went through the three ways a US president can be legally removed from office.

              So apparently your method to "take down" dolt45 is to win the next election.

              OK, let's look at that: no impeachment investigation in congress, dolt45 claims exoneration and there's the end of it. If there is an impeachment investigation, the public sees everything from his tax returns to yes, even Russia. Which helps his opponent in 2020.

              Yes, the Dems should elect their best candidate. But everything matters, not just whatever you're interested in.

              • Sam …
                25 July 2019 at 7:00 pm

                I do not believe that would work because Trump is utizing zero percent or even negative percent interest rates. Exposing the American public to Trumps mastery over filling out paper work would likely improve his electoral position.

                • McFlock …
                  25 July 2019 at 7:02 pm

                  So you want him to release his tax returns, too, then?

                  • Sam …
                    25 July 2019 at 7:09 pm

                    I don't think Trump will release his taxes. There's nothing that could possibly compel him to do so. And even if he did it wouldn't be damaging to his reelection campaign for the reason I believe above. Trump could slaughter some kittens, burry them while they're still breathing, live streamed on Twitter and he still may very well get reelected. And I still don't think he was the most evil candidate.

                    • McFlock …
                      25 July 2019 at 7:12 pm

                      If it would likely improve his electoral position, why wouldn't he release them?

                    • Sam …
                      25 July 2019 at 7:23 pm

                      For the theatre of course. You're talking about Trump. Lmao. If he had of followed the morally virtuoso and acceptable way other presidents got elected we'd have a different president right now. LMFAO. Say what you will about Trump but the macro indicators say the U.S economy is doing good. My only concern was how serious Trump was around lifting wages and now there's a $15p/h minimum wage bill on the federal docket. Y'know the dems got beat.

                    • McFlock …
                      25 July 2019 at 7:36 pm

                      Well, we could argue about the macro indicators but you will neither present nor accept actual evidence, so whatevs. He's not improving his electoral position because "theatre".

                    • Sam …
                      25 July 2019 at 7:40 pm

                      So are you assuming Trumps defeat is eminent? Any minute now? Secound? Milli secound? Micro secound?

                    • McFlock …
                      25 July 2019 at 8:34 pm

                      Dolt45 has a number of opportunities for defeat, as do the dems.

                      Initially, the courts can determine that he has to release his NY tax returns to congress, in accordance to congressional will and New York state legislation. That would defeat his "theatre".

                      Disclosures about dolt45 could occur in the current Epstein case. We know they partied together. what else did they get up to?

                      Congress could launch an impeachment investigation that goes through his entire financial history, starting with the Stormy Daniels payment and what he might or might not have known about it.

                      Any number of things could happen.

                      And on the dem side, they might nominate a grey nothing who runs a solid campaign but has no depth of character or popular connection with the people.

                    • Sam …
                      25 July 2019 at 8:41 pm

                      IDK. Epstien hurts Clinton way more. Y'know the economy is going good and the radical leftists keep trying to tell people how they should feel about the economy and Trump. Sorry my dude, the democratics are just not going to fire with these poor excuses for neoliberalism, austerity and globalization. Y'know if the American public are going to get fucked up the ass then they're going to take the elites down with them. It's just that simple. #Trump #Brexit

                    • McFlock …
                      25 July 2019 at 9:30 pm

                      Last I heard Clinton ain't running. lol

          • Sam 1.2.1.1.2
            25 July 2019 at 6:41 pm

            When the DNC stole Sanders Presidential nomination all notions of beating Trump in a fair straight up electoral victory vanished. Believe it or not Trump was not the most evil Presedintial Candidate.

      • Sam 1.2.2
        25 July 2019 at 6:36 pm

        Its amazing Anne, you don't have to be woke all the time because there is absolutely no reason to impeach a president for some low level business deal to have a hotel built. Y'know you're meant to impeach of the democratic process is subverted and everyone comes out to protest. The report was to investigate collusion with Russia, that was a total lie made up by Clinton herself. Literally Trumo is innocent of a smear campaign. The FBI CIA and DoJ have all been committing treason against the president of the United States with total impunity which just shows how powerful the deepstae really is.

        • Gabby 1.2.2.1
          25 July 2019 at 6:41 pm

          Wakey wokey Samby womby, Chumpie's been takin all the help he can get from wherever, he's about as innocent as you. Where the fuck's JasonEvil these days?

          • Sam 1.2.2.1.1
            25 July 2019 at 6:44 pm

            Youre really laying it on thick for the woke today aren't you my lovely. LMFAO

        • adam 1.2.2.2
          25 July 2019 at 6:43 pm

          Sheesh Sam your conspiracy theory claptrap, is not much different than the whole russia gate conspiracy theory claptrap.

        • Anne 1.2.2.3
          25 July 2019 at 6:50 pm

          What the hell is this dammed "woke" you love to use. Get off whatever planet you currently inhabit and come back to Earth. The flowers have a nice smell. Other than that, all I can say is:

          Anyone who thinks Trump is innocent and Clinton dreamed up the saga (all on her little lonesome) re-Trump's connection to the Russian interference is stark raving bonkers.

          And btw, the deep state garbage is a figment of the impaired imagination of all you stark raving bonkers types.

          • Sam 1.2.2.3.1
            25 July 2019 at 6:56 pm

            Why are you bullying me? What did I do to deserve such scorn. You broke my heart.

          • McFlock 1.2.2.3.2
            25 July 2019 at 7:00 pm

            He's dick-signalling to his fellow trumpeters. "Woke" is a darn pc-liberal term for people who are aware that their actions and words can unintentionally alienate or upset other people.

            As used in this police documentary.

            • Sam 1.2.2.3.2.1
              25 July 2019 at 7:04 pm

              Being "woke" is some one with a concern for themselves, their family and the community they live in. It's just an awareness. But being woke de woke de or people who falsey claim skills and talent have the opposite of self awareness.

              • McFlock …
                25 July 2019 at 7:08 pm

                people who falsey claim skills and talent have the opposite of self awareness.

                You have clearly demonstrated the concept of the Dunning–Kruger effect, thankyou.

                • Sam …
                  25 July 2019 at 7:47 pm

                  Nope. It's either virtue signalling or a behavioural disorder. Which is it?

                  • Rapunzel …
                    25 July 2019 at 8:18 pm

                    It's immature and a mistaken way to divert an argument or debate, "woke" will have short shelf-life – run it by someone experienced with words and they will say its a fad. It is an embarrassment hearing supposedly experienced broadcasters use it so frequently now, anyone who does shows little imagination.

                    • Sam …
                      25 July 2019 at 8:35 pm

                      Broadcasters!!! LMFAO!!!

                      In find it absolutely hilarious that broadcasters would be saying what I was saying years ago. I mean who was that down graded Mainstream Media into Commercial Media with the rest of the scummy middle managers anyway? It's a fucking mystery not even the Scooby Doo squad could crack 😂😜😹😁😋🖕🏾😌

                    • marty mars …
                      25 July 2019 at 8:47 pm

                      lol sam yeah and you invented toasted muffins too eh sam

                    • Sam …
                      25 July 2019 at 9:00 pm

                      On a more serious note I think the Scooby Doo squad could crack the secrets of the Craby Patty.

                  • Psycho Milt …
                    25 July 2019 at 8:45 pm

                    McFlock: "You have clearly demonstrated the concept of the Dunning–Kruger effect…"

                    Sam: "Nope. It's either virtue signalling or a behavioural disorder. Which is it?"

                    Oh, it's very, very clearly a behavioural disorder. Seriously.

          • xanthe 1.2.2.3.3
            25 July 2019 at 9:06 pm

            "Anyone who thinks Trump is innocent and Clinton dreamed up the saga (all on her little lonesome) re-Trump's connection to the Russian interference is stark raving bonkers. "

            actually Anne thats what i do think re russian interference , but clinton probably didnt think it all up by herself

            and I am not bonkers, for all his faults Sam is right here ! !!, russiagate will hand the 2020 election to Trump if the dems cant let it go.

            • Macro 1.2.2.3.3.1
              26 July 2019 at 4:19 pm

              russiagate will hand the 2020 election to Trump if the dems cant let it go.

              Russia will hand the 2020 election to Trump again because the Repugs continue to make it so.

              Following Robert Mueller's testimony and warnings about Russia's continued attempts to interfere in U.S. elections, Senate Republicans blocked two election security bills and a cybersecurity measure. Democrats attempted to pass two bills by unanimous consent on Wednesday that would require campaigns to notify the FBI and the FEC if they receive offers of assistance from foreign governments. The other bill would let the Senate Sergeant at Arms offer voluntary cyber assistance for the personal devices and accounts of lawmakers and their staff. Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith blocked all three of the bills without giving any reason for her objections or indicating whether she blocked the bills on behalf of herself or the GOP caucus. Mueller testified yesterday that "The Russian government's effort to interfere in our election is among the most serious" and that "it wasn't a single attempt. They're doing it as we sit here. And they expect to do it during the next campaign."

              https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/454635-gop-blocks-election-security-bills-after-mueller-testimony

              • xanthe …
                27 July 2019 at 8:15 am

                What a shameless piece of point scoring headline seeking political theater . and a pointless bit of ill thought out legislation that would have been .

                watch the video! see what the democratic congressman was actually asking congress to do!

                Do you have no consideration for process or transparency?

                it’s just sad!

                • Macro …
                  27 July 2019 at 7:13 pm

                  So I gather you are a closet repugnant then. Quite happy for foreign governments and individuals to mess in other countries elections, if it is to your advantage. Figures.

                  • xanthe …
                    27 July 2019 at 10:33 pm

                    you dont "gather" anything you just spew crap, YOU HELPED PUT TRUMP IN AS POTUS .. and YOU will keep him there in 2020. and YOU will continue to blame everyone but YOURSELF.

                    the rest of us care about the truth .

                    The truth is both the US and USSR interfere in other countries elections this is just business as usual.

                    The most alarming thing is that for that piece of political grandstanding to work requires a complicit media. The congressman would not have pulled that stunt unless he was confident that it would be misrepresented. He needs dickheads like yourself to make that work… and you do.. and we all lose

                    I assume you did not witch the video to see what this was actually about!

                    • joe90 …
                      28 July 2019 at 12:17 am

                      this is just business as usual.

                      But elected Russian representatives don't aid and abet the opposition.by blocking election security legislation.

                      Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell squashed two bills intended to ensure voting security on Thursday, just one day after former special counsel Robert Mueller warned that Russians were attempting to sabotage the 2020 presidential elections "as we sit here."

                      McConnell said he wouldn't allow a vote on the bills because they were "so partisan," but, as previously reported, earlier this year McConnell received a slew of donations from four of the top voting machine lobbyists in the country.

                      "Clearly this request is not a serious effort to make a law. Clearly something so partisan that it only received one single solitary Republican vote in the House is not going to travel through the Senate by unanimous consent," said McConnell on the Senate floor.'

                      https://www.newsweek.com/mitch-mcconnell-robert-mueller-election-security-russia-1451361

  2. A 2
    25 July 2019 at 6:10 pm

    We have bigger problems to worry about than the US freakshow #ihumatao

  3. joe90 3
    25 July 2019 at 7:04 pm

    The UK's newly minted Foreign Secretary is an idiot.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ynpIUTRftM&feature=youtu.be

    James O'Brien Takes Apart Dominic Raab's Comments One-By-One.

  5. CHCoff 5
    25 July 2019 at 9:41 pm

    The media does not have it, but hopefully there are enough NZ entrepreneurial business operators who do, in the ‘added value’ collective approach for the strongest prosperity, dynanism and sustainability for their NZ place in the world.

    https://www.worldfinance.com/strategy/why-gdp-is-no-longer-the-most-effective-measure-of-economic-success

  6. alwyn 6
    25 July 2019 at 9:41 pm

    Well, so much for the claims that Labour, and their idiot Health Minister "Dr" Clark were going to improve the system.

    At least with National if you were promised an operation it happened. Now look at how it works. Cancelled no less than 5 times for an operation that had her on the waiting list a year ago.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/114502426/invercargill-womans-hip-replacement-surgery-cancelled-for-fifth-time

    Well, I suppose we can only ask what we should expect? We have a PM whose main interest seems to be to coerce Businesses who sponsor netball into coughing up more money so that the PM can get her photo shown on TV next to the Silver Ferns. How much of her own money did the PM toss in?

    • Incognito 6.1
      25 July 2019 at 10:22 pm

      At least with National if you were promised an operation it happened.

      Why are you spreading misinformation? The stats for operations under National were abysmal.

      • alwyn 6.1.1
        26 July 2019 at 12:38 am

        Do you have any evidence for your claim of "abysmal"?

        What were the stat"s for 2017, under National, as compared to 2019, under the CoL?

        • Incognito 6.1.1.1
          26 July 2019 at 7:49 am

          Moving the goal posts?

          You said:

          At least with National if you were promised an operation it happened.

          This is absolutely incorrect and you know it. But to show that you are willingly and knowingly spreading misinformation, here’s one quick example:

          The number of patients getting elective surgery has steadily increased over the past decade – especially after it was made a national health target in 2007. Since National came to power in 2008, the number of operations has lifted from 118,000 to 162,000 a year.

          However, data released under the Official Information Act shows the proportion of patients on waiting lists who were leaving hospital untreated was also rising over the same period. As many as 30 per cent on waiting lists in some regions had their operation delayed or cancelled.

          At Auckland District Health Board, there was a waiting list of 27,200 people for elective surgery last year. Of that number, 4558 patients – nearly 20 per cent – were admitted but left hospital without treatment. Last year up to November, 3822 patients out of 22,346 left untreated.

          https://www.insurenz.co.nz/elective-surgery-patients-miss-out-on-treatment/

          • alwyn 6.1.1.1.1
            26 July 2019 at 9:58 am

            Did you see this bit of that article you linked to?

            "The Ministry of Health said the figures did not necessarily reflect a health system under pressure. Many patients had their operations postponed because they were unfit for surgery.

            “All it means is that the patient is not clinically appropriate for surgery or personally ready for surgery at that particular time,” a ministry spokesperson said."

            They aren't going to go ahead with an operation if you are likely to die on the operating table. Unfortunately, with so many of these operations being required by the elderly there is quite a good chance that you may be in that situation.

            They won't go ahead if you aren't going to get any benefit from the Op, or are going to die during it. Is that unreasonable?

            Under the Clark Government they were quite happy to put everyone on the waiting list. Unfortunately it didn't mean anything. In order to keep up the lie that no-one was on the waiting list for more than 6 months they would simply remove you from the waiting list and send you back to your GP at the end of the 6 months. Then you started over again.

            Under National, in general, if you got on the waiting list you got the Op. If you weren't going to get it they didn't put you on the list. At least you knew the truth and you could consider going private. Sure, not every Op goes ahead. Would you really want to be one of those of whom it was said "The operation was successful but the patient died"?

            • Incognito 6.1.1.1.1.1
              26 July 2019 at 5:48 pm

              You said:

              At least with National if you were promised an operation it happened.

              This is evidently inaccurate and incorrect, which is disappointing from somebody who prides himself on the accuracy of his comments notwithstanding his tendency for unsubstantiated and biased rants.

              Now you are backtracking with:

              Under National, in general, if you got on the waiting list you got the Op. [my bold]

              Of course, patients were not operated on for medical reasons. The Ministry’s response was that many (not all) patients were unfit for surgery at the time. This happens all the time. Please do not insult my intelligence by appealing to being ‘reasonable’; you willingly and knowingly spread a falsehood.

              Did you read the last three sentences of the piece I linked to? Remember, this applied to when National was in charge with Dr Coleman the Minister of Health. As I said, that link came from a very quick search but I can’t be bothered to do anymore to show that you are demonstrably wrong and frankly I shouldn’t have to. However, you have the temerity to ask others for evidence to back up their claims; the best defense is good offense.

              A New Zealand Medical Journal article published in November showed 36 per cent of people in two DHBs who were considered good candidates for hip or knee operations did not receive surgery.

              These patients at Whangarei Base Hospital and Hawkes Bay Regional Hospital met the clinical threshold for treatment but not the financial threshold.

              Dr Coleman said patients who did not make waiting lists continued to be monitored by their GPs.

              • alwyn …
                26 July 2019 at 6:20 pm

                I won't repeat your final quote but it does not say that they were promised operations. An operation may have been considered to be desirable but that is a different matter. Indeed, when I read the last sentence, I would say that they did not get on the waiting list. It was getting on the waiting list that was the promise of an operation under National.

                With the previous Labour Government being on the waiting list meant absolutely nothing as at the end of 6 months they would simply drop you if no operation had taken place.

                The piece I linked to has two parts on the reason why operations did not take place. The second sentence explains what they were "All it means is that the patient is not clinically appropriate for surgery or personally ready for surgery at that particular time". That the patient was not clinically appropriate for surgery is the first part. They were the ones, the "many" in your wording who were unfit for surgery. The others who did not get operated on were covered by the second part of that sentence. They were the group who were "not ….. personally ready for surgery at that particular time". In other words they chose not to have the surgery at the time it was offered.

                I know of people who were in the position. Indeed I visited one today. She has a grandson getting married and she does not want to have the operation in the immediate future, which has been planned, because she would rather go to his wedding with a walking stick before the operation than on crutches immediately after it.

                I'm afraid that if that is your evidence against National it fails the test. I hardly think that you would insist that the operation schedule should proceed by operating on people who wish to delay it for some reason. You seem to be complaining that it was a failure on the part of the then Government and evidence of their lying to people if they allowed a delay at the behest of a prospective patient. Now really…

                • McFlock …
                  26 July 2019 at 6:33 pm

                  "The Ministry of Health said the figures did not necessarily reflect a health system under pressure. Many patients had their operations postponed because they were unfit for surgery.

                  “All it means is that the patient is not clinically appropriate for surgery or personally ready for surgery at that particular time,” a ministry spokesperson said."

                  cf:

                  The piece I linked to has two parts on the reason why operations did not take place. The second sentence explains what they were "All it means is that the patient is not clinically appropriate for surgery or personally ready for surgery at that particular time". That the patient was not clinically appropriate for surgery is the first part. They were the ones, the "many" in your wording who were unfit for surgery. The others who did not get operated on were covered by the second part of that sentence.

                  "Unfit for surgery" means "not clinically appropriate for surgery or personally ready for surgery". "Unfit" does not just mean "not clinically appropriate".

                  So that's the most prominent bit of dissembling in your comment after a cursory read of the entire thing (just to see if you were arguing in good faith for once in your existence).

                • Incognito …
                  26 July 2019 at 11:16 pm

                  You seem to be complaining that it was a failure on the part of the then Government and evidence of their lying to people if they allowed a delay at the behest of a prospective patient. Now really…

                  You are disingenuous and you fail McFlock’s test for arguing in good faith. I wasn’t complaining about the National Government of the day lying. I was pointing out that you were lying. Similarly, I didn’t fail any test, as I didn’t have to pass any. On the other hand, you didn’t even take the test, which is an automatic fail.

                  It wasn’t about the previous National Government, the Clark Government before that, or the current one and you know that. It was about you spreading falsehoods here all along.

                  Under National, the waiting lists were long, DHBs were under-resourced, and they still are today, and this led to all sorts of problems ranging from the issues in Middlemore Hospital, for example, to shortages of beds and critical staffing numbers. These were among reasons why people’s surgeries didn’t proceed even after they were admitted to hospital and when there were no medical reasons for cancellation. To say that people could consider private insurance under National shows that you either have been living on a different planet or you have no idea what you’re talking about and you’re spinning a narrative that suits you; this would fit well with your biased anti-Coalition Government rants. The people who relied on the public health system couldn’t afford private insurance so that was never an option.

                  Anyway, just to humour you, here’s another link about critical life-saving surgery: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/335839/surgery-delays-i-was-prepped-three-times-and-bumped

                  A man whose open heart surgery at Dunedin Hospital was delayed three times says he waited a month, and others six weeks, because of the number of traffic accidents the intensive care unit had to deal with.

                  At least three other patients have missed out on life-saving surgery, family members have said, because of a shortage of intensive care beds at the hospital.

                  …

                  Merv Telfer's heart bypass surgery had been postponed seven times, his family said, after it was first scheduled in May.

                  DHB chief executive Chris Fleming said the number of intensive care beds had increased from six to eight, and the hospital was set to have two more by August 2018.

                  He said plans to redevelop the hospital were under way but admitted there were still not enough beds.

                  There’s a lot more in that article and another one linked in it, but you’ll get the gist of it or, in your case, maybe not.

    • Stuart Munro. 6.2
      25 July 2019 at 11:09 pm

      Urology ops in Dunedin were down to one day a month. Not enough acute beds. A car accident sometimes stopped even that. But the wretched, venal, incompetent, Gnats proclaimed that it wasn't a problem. They have no friends, and no credibility in Dunedin.

      • alwyn 6.2.1
        26 July 2019 at 12:46 am

        Evidence please? It is easy to claim things but some proof would be nice. After all, aren't the residents of Dunedin happy that National were providing them with a new Hospital, even if the CoL seem to be stuffing up the planned development?

    • marty mars 6.3
      25 July 2019 at 11:15 pm

      engage rant mode – "Well, I suppose we can only ask what we should expect? We have a PM whose main interest seems to be to coerce Businesses who sponsor netball into coughing up more money so that the PM can get her photo shown on TV next to the Silver Ferns. How much of her own money did the PM toss in?" – disengage rant mode. disengage. Disengage damn you. Help, DISENGAGE!!! Arrrgggggwwwwhhhhhhhoooooooooooooo…

      • alwyn 6.3.1
        26 July 2019 at 12:43 am

        Oh dear.

        Will someone please get this poor fellow some help. He has been trying for the last 18 months to try and persuade himself that the current lot in the CoL are actually capable of doing something useful and now the obvious difference between reality and what he has been claiming has caused his poor little brain to explode.

        • Stuart Munro. 6.3.1.1
          26 July 2019 at 1:22 pm

          The Coalition are doing something useful – keeping the thieving Gnats out. Even Twyford's relatively meagre result on housing represents a massive improvement on those thieving bastards, who were selling off housing corp stock as fast as they could manage.

  7. tc 7
    26 July 2019 at 7:27 am

    The level of gnat and trump apologists is bringing it down to knuckle dragging territory.

    job done tr@lls.

    • Incognito 7.1
      26 July 2019 at 7:57 am

      Have you read the policy https://thestandard.org.nz/policy/?

      Similarly if you act like a machine (ie a troll) you will be treated as one – a form of spambot. A troll is generally defined on this site as someone who clearly isn’t bothering to engage their brain when commenting. The standard is that the troll could be replaced with a dictionary of lines and phrases, and no-one would know the difference. Typically trolls do not interact with other commentators as they either ignore what others say in reply or write a reply that ignores what they said. In either case it is ignorant, anti-social, annoying to read, and will often result in a banning so that others don’t have to read the comments of someone living with their sense organs turned off.

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    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • 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
    18 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
    21 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
    21 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
    23 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
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