Daily Review 25/01/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 pm, January 25th, 2016 - 80 comments
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Ted Cruz

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 …

80 comments on “Daily Review 25/01/2016 ”

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  1. Ad 1
    25 January 2016 at 6:16 pm

    Difficult question:
    can policy ever again overcome charisma?

    • BM 1.1
      25 January 2016 at 6:20 pm

      No, the media won’t allow it.

      • mickysavage 1.1.1
        25 January 2016 at 7:02 pm

        Probably not because the right concentrate on focus group results and the media focus on personalities and not solutions to problems.

        • BM 1.1.1.1
          25 January 2016 at 7:10 pm

          The media concentrates on what sells copy or gets website hits

          Therefore, personality trumps policy every day of the week.

          if Labour ever wants to win, they need to get some one personable up front and for me that person is Stuart Nash.

          • weka 1.1.1.1.1
            25 January 2016 at 7:14 pm

            You don’t actually vote Labour though do you.

            • BM 1.1.1.1.1.1
              25 January 2016 at 7:17 pm

              No, but I might with some one like Stuart Nash in charge.

              Strikes me as sort of guy, you’d enjoy having a beer with.

              • weka …
                25 January 2016 at 7:30 pm

                I’m not sure if that’s an argument for Nash and the Pagani party or an argument against it.

                Definitely not the Labour party though.

                • BM …
                  25 January 2016 at 7:37 pm

                  It means he’d appeal to the middle.
                  Very important if you ever want to be in charge.

                  Andrew Little, nice guy, probably very intelligent, but a leader, 40 years ago yep, modern day not a chance.

                  • weka …
                    25 January 2016 at 7:55 pm

                    Yes, I know what it means. It means that if he were leader of Labour it’d be fucked and if he were leader of the Pagani party he’d just replace Dunne and Peters as holding the country to ransom.

                    • BM …
                      25 January 2016 at 8:23 pm

                      No, it means Labour may actually have a chance of winning.
                      He wouldn’t be Peters or Dunne, he’d be Key.

                      With Nash in charge I’d bet my balls Labour would be late 30% , maybe even 40% poll wise within a year of him becoming leader.

                    • weka …
                      25 January 2016 at 8:44 pm

                      Labour under Nash might win the election but it would be the end of Labour.

                  • mickysavage …
                    25 January 2016 at 8:03 pm

                    You are not the middle though BM. And I cannot think of a more damning indictment of Nash than the one that you just presented.

                    Sure he could not solve the world’s problems but he was good to have a beer with.

                    I have a former Australian brother in law I could say the same thing about. I would not trust him with the keys to the nation.

                    • alwyn …
                      25 January 2016 at 8:30 pm

                      I can’t stand the suspense.
                      Is he a former Australian or is he a former brother-in law?

                    • mickysavage []
                      25 January 2016 at 8:41 pm

                      Feck the latter …

                    • BM …
                      25 January 2016 at 8:32 pm

                      It’s not his job to solve world problems.
                      It’s his job to make NZ better for New Zealander not intellectually wank all over the world stage.

                    • weka …
                      25 January 2016 at 8:46 pm

                      “And I cannot think of a more damning indictment of Nash than the one that you just presented.”

                      Precisely. BM, you’re basically proposing that Labour become a right wing party and while I’m sure that would suit you it’s not actually what Labour voters want. Or members. Remember the last couple of leadership votes?

                    • BM …
                      25 January 2016 at 8:57 pm

                      I’m saying Labour needs to be initially a center party.

                      You can’t start right and then end up left straight away, you need to start from the middle first.

                    • weka …
                      25 January 2016 at 9:35 pm

                      Labour is already a centre party. You are suggesting that it moves right so that it can be Nact Lite. Do you really expect anyone here to take that suggestion seriously?

              • Muttonbird …
                25 January 2016 at 8:05 pm

                Strikes me as sort of guy, you’d enjoy having a beer with.

                – BM

                And that folks is the start and finish of the way a John Key voter thinks.

          • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1.1.2
            25 January 2016 at 7:32 pm

            Thank you for explaining, in clear and concise terms, why journalism shouldn’t be done by for profit corporations.

    • Thinking Right 1.2
      25 January 2016 at 7:35 pm

      I’m presuming you are referring to the conundrum the left appear to be in in how to defeat Key/Nats.

      Personally I don’t think the left will gain the government benches until they achieve the following:

      1 Crave competence in their MP’s above all else. Forget filling quotas etc. elect people who have a proven track record of achieving in their particular field of expertise. i would add to this – divest MP’s who’s only achievement in life has been to work the political system in order to attain the Parliamentary Gravy Train.

      2 Competent Leadership. No one would accuse of Helen Clark of overflowing with charisma however she got elected 3 times on the back of a perceived ability to get things done. She had the ability (as does Key) that she could answer questions about most Government portfolios even if she wasn’t the relevant Minister.
      ( I cringe when I think of Goff and Cunliffe struggling to answer questions about various portfolios during election campaigns)
      I believe the Parliamentary Leader needs to be a Jack of All Trades and have the ability to herd a Caucus of Egos in a somewhat unified direction.

      3 Dead wood clearing. I know the right has harped on about this since 2008. Labour has never been able to tell the likes of Goff, Mallard, and King to take a hike. It is like they hang on to their Parliamentary jobs with a death grip – this is suffocating Labour.

      4 Policy. Obviously I am not the one to tell Labour what policies to put up but I suggest that they need to be relevant to 2016 NZ not harking back to a yesteryear which is gone forever. I suggest that the voting public have a 5 second attention span towards a policy point – in that 5 seconds they decide if they like it or not. Once they make up their minds – tis very hard to change them.

      • Ad 1.2.1
        25 January 2016 at 8:53 pm

        Key – Little

        Corbyn – Cameron

        Trudeau – other guy

        Trump – Hillary

        Blair – Corgi guy

        Etc

      • One Anonymous Bloke 1.2.2
        25 January 2016 at 9:03 pm

        1. work the political system in order to attain the Parliamentary Gravy Train. Sounds like good advice until you consider the rank hypocrisy – cf: Blabbermouth Lusk’s insights into the National Party’s “lucrative business careers”.

        As for the “merit” argument it’s flawed: whatever your opinion of the Greens you can’t fault their talent pool: clearly quota are not the problem.

        3. An inevitable artifact of FPP. Who can tell whether it is a bad thing or a good thing?

        4. a yesteryear which is gone forever. This isn’t the first time financial and labour markets have been liberalised munted by faith-based incompetence and greed. Who’s trying to turn the clock back again? I can see few reasons why the solution this time won’t borrow some ideas from the past.

        • Colonial Viper 1.2.2.1
          25 January 2016 at 11:30 pm

          As for the “merit” argument it’s flawed: whatever your opinion of the Greens you can’t fault their talent pool: clearly quota are not the problem.

          You are right, competence isn’t the issue for the Greens.

          The Greens have softed out in order to gain the comfortable middle class Prius/Volt aspiring voter.

          The 1970s Values Party were far harder core on their principles despite the world being in a far more disastrous shape today.

          • weka 1.2.2.1.1
            25 January 2016 at 11:35 pm

            If the GP had stuck to the expression of the values of the Values Party, they probably wouldn’t even be in parliament. NZ had it’s chance to vote for the GP when it was more radical and it didn’t. Or are you suggesting that it would be better if the GP were still on 5%?

            I’ve said this to you before – much of the Values Party ethics and principles are still there in the GP charter etc. When NZ is ready for those things, they ready and waiting. I’m guessing you’ve never voted for them.

            • Colonial Viper 1.2.2.1.1.1
              25 January 2016 at 11:59 pm

              Much of the original Labour Party ethics and founding principles are still in their constitution and other documents.

              Need I say more.

              If the GP had stuck to the expression of the values of the Values Party, they probably wouldn’t even be in parliament. NZ had it’s chance to vote for the GP when it was more radical and it didn’t.

              Sadly, the Green Party wasn’t willing to wait for the times to catch up to where they were at 15 years ago. All around the world today, voters are voting in droves for the “radical” option (sometimes left wing, sometimes right wing).

              The Greens made the wrong strategic decision, in other words, by heading straight towards the safe middle of the road mainstream.

              • McFlock …
                26 January 2016 at 12:03 am

                Hmmm.

                It sounds like you’re really getting keen on joining the Greens, CV.

                lol just saw below – snap 🙂

              • weka …
                26 January 2016 at 12:41 am

                “Need I say more.”

                I think so. The two very obvious differences between the LP and the GP are that the GP don’t have an entrenched stand off between the neoliberals and lefties (nor the history that Labour has with the electorate). The other is that the GP has a different set of structures that mean that it can still work according to those principles. As far as I can tell that’s not true for Labour eg Labour MPs can do what they like so there really isn’t a lot that the party can do until the neoliberal MPs are gone and replaced with ones that want to work with the values.

                There is no evidence that the GP made a mistake to become more mainstream. I also don’t think they are ever going to be the left wing saviours that some say they want them to be. if you look at their kaupapa they are positioning themselves outside the traditional left/right divide. Not because they’re actually right wing, but because they’ve long recognised that that dichotomy is not workable within their values. As for making good choices, how interesting that they now are on 11% at a time when so many voters also don’t relate to the left/right divide.

                “The Greens made the wrong strategic decision, in other words, by heading straight towards the safe middle of the road mainstream.”

                Except they’ve not really done that. Here’s the other difference from Labour. The GP are still largely working from within their values and principles. So while they have gone mainstream on things like presentation and marketing, their policies and ways of working as still not that conventional. You can soundbite the criticism to being about Prius drivers, but in fact the GP members and voters are reasonably broad. I know you want a party that will represent the working classes, but that’s not the GP and never was going to be, despite them having the best policies on offer currently. And the criticism of them for not being a working class party falls flat in an age of MMP.

                “btw I believe I am like the vast majority of NZers, who will probably never ever vote Green other than as a one off only protest vote, etc.”

                Perhaps, but a far more interesting dynamic to me is why people like yourself won’t vote for them despite you apparently approving of their principles and much of their policy. Like I said, until NZ decides that it wants what the GP has on offer and is willing to put it’s money where it’s mouth is, the GP have pretty narrow options and they all involve becoming more mainstream. Time is running out.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  26 January 2016 at 12:57 am

                  the Greens are a bad cultural fit for me, plus their policies neither give me the benefits of a burn it all and enjoy it now approach, nor a more radical alternative approach which is going to actually deal with the problems we are facing. it’s watered down pretence in other words, just like Labour does, but in a different direction.

                  • weka …
                    26 January 2016 at 11:09 am

                    Interesting CV. It’s easier for me because while the GP aren’t radical enough for me they’re a pretty easy cultural fit. However that’s not why I vote for them (or anyone) and I think one of the things we have to get past is this idea that political parties are there to serve our personal needs (culturally, via direct benefits etc). I vote pragmatically. At this stage of the game that’s down to Labour or the GP and I’ve made the case elsewhere for why voting Green in 2017 is the better strategic move. It’s not about where I feel comfortable or what suits or matches my politics. It’s about what’s going to do the best good.

                    Even if the GP do peak at 13%, NZ is still far better off having another Green MP in parliament than another Labour one (or god forbid another National one from people not voting). For all sorts of reasons. That might not match your personal values or agenda or politics (or indeed even mine), but it’s a pretty hard one to argue against (by all means have a go).

                • Colonial Viper …
                  26 January 2016 at 12:59 am

                  btw i reckon the Greens will hit a max of 13% next election, and probably not even get that. Totally plateau’d out.

            • Colonial Viper 1.2.2.1.1.2
              26 January 2016 at 12:03 am

              btw I believe I am like the vast majority of NZers, who will probably never ever vote Green other than as a one off only protest vote, etc.

              • Poission …
                26 January 2016 at 12:25 am

                it is often the case that the third party vote,or the rejection of incumbents inso far is not on policys but on the electorates having enough of the persistent platitudes.

                Woodrow Wilson for example on the New Freedom (1913)

                Now this has come about naturally; as we go on we shall see how very naturally. It is no use denouncing anybody, or anything, except human nature. Nevertheless, it is an intolerable thing that the government of the republic should have got so far out of the hands of the people; should have been captured by interests which are special and not general. In the train of this capture follow the troops of scandals, wrongs, indecencies, with which our politics swarm.

                There are cities in America of whose government we are ashamed. There are cities everywhere, in every part of the land, in which we feel that, not the interests of the public, but the interests of special privileges, of selfish men, are served; where contracts take precedence over public interest. Not only in big cities is this the case. Have you not noticed the growth of socialistic sentiment in the smaller towns? Not many months ago I stopped at a little town in Nebraska, and while my train lingered I met on the platform a very engaging young fellow dressed in overalls who introduced himself to me as the mayor of the town, and added that he was a Socialist. I said, “What does that mean? Does that mean that this town is socialistic?” “No, sir,” he said; “I have not deceived myself; the vote by which I was elected was about 20 per cent. socialistic and 80 per cent. protest.” It was protest against the treachery to the people of those who led both the other parties of that town.

                http://www.gutenberg.org/files/14811/14811-h/14811-h.htm

    • Pascals bookie 1.3
      25 January 2016 at 7:39 pm

      It’s not binary eh, but yeah it can.

      cf, George W Bush, charismatic as fuck, destroyed by catalcsymic policy failures to the point that his base is spitting on his brothe and he is having to sit on his hands because he can’t, even as a very recent former president who once had record approvak ratings, do anything to help.

      Charisma is agreat thing for them to have, but it’s capital. Key doesn’t really spend his, he husbands it. Right wingers like him right now because he is beating the left, not because he is doing any great rw things.

      To stay popular he’s been compromising rw policy all to hell: raising benefits, the ridic half arse and economically pretty silly ‘MOM model’, U-turning on mining and RMA;

      he isn’t actually getting a lot done structurally, (and yes, I know about the welfare stuff English has been working on, but mush of that can be co-opted by a progressive govt fairly easily by removing the more punitive aspects that are not actually core to the ‘investment’ philosophy of the reforms).

      Once he stops beating the left, or gets bored, that’s when the rw will start to assess his record based on policy

      • Lanthanide 1.3.1
        25 January 2016 at 9:42 pm

        I hope you’re right.

      • Colonial Viper 1.3.2
        25 January 2016 at 11:32 pm

        I think your analysis is a bit out.

        The truly right wing/neoliberal set don’t really like the John Key/Bill English combination; they are simply tolerated.

  3. joe90 3
    25 January 2016 at 7:29 pm

    ‘Y’all Qaeda’ and the Mormon connection.

    For nearly seven hours last week, we were granted a rare level of access. The militant leaders allowed us past the media staging area to roam, without escorts, through the compound—including in buildings the Bundys had kept off-limits to most other press.

    But a spot in the prayer circle with Bundy? No dice.

    As the mother and kids entered the headquarters, this observer could see Bundy form a circle with five children and two adults and bow his head to pray.

    Snatches of conversation could be heard: Bundy explaining his political system, called the five circles of authority, which laid out the power of local and federal governments under the authority of God.

    http://www.wweek.com/2016/01/13/bundyland/

  4. Draco T Bastard 4
    25 January 2016 at 7:35 pm

    Education is for everyone. We all benefit from having a well-educated population. Even the mega-wealthy, who think that because they can afford to pay for their children’s education everyone else should be able to do the same, need the services of an educated workforce. It is thanks to our public education system that there are people out there who know how to make a trim latte just right, to prune the roses, create the perfect water feature, fly planes and helicopters. Not to mention teachers, nurses, plumbers, electricians, doctors, rubbish collectors, cleaners, care workers.

    A world where only the wealthy can access a decent education is not a good place for anyone. Education should have a big sign across it CAPITALISTS KEEP OUT. There is no place for market forces ideology in the education system. Education is purely and simply for the common good. No money needs to change hands.

    Free education. No fees, no loans, no debt. Enjoy!

    Simple truth.

  5. b waghorn 5
    25 January 2016 at 8:30 pm

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/294915/maori-veteran's-pension-cut-off
    national the party that screws war vets , heartless fuckers.

    • Anne 5.1
      25 January 2016 at 9:29 pm

      I’m speechless – almost. But also, what does it say about the “Ministry of Social Development”?

      • weka 5.1.1
        25 January 2016 at 9:41 pm

        The issue is whether the cutting of a benefit under those circumstances (and the reinstatement) is discretionary via policy rather than mandated in law. If it’s the latter then WINZ have their hands tied (probably). If it’s the former, then they’re just nasty fucks.

        • Anne 5.1.1.1
          25 January 2016 at 10:25 pm

          If it’s the former, then they’re just nasty fucks.

          And racist too.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1.1.2
          25 January 2016 at 10:27 pm

          If the government employs nasty fucks that’s on the government. The Minister’s personal responsibility.

          I expect Labour did it too. /sarc

          • weka 5.1.1.2.1
            25 January 2016 at 11:15 pm

            My experience of WINZ is that they’ve always had a proportion of staff who are just plain nasty and punitive irrespective of who was in government. But under Labour the percentage dropped either due to different hiring practices, or more likely, due to those staff needing to hide their nastier inclinations due to a change in culture. Ultimately it shouldn’t matter what the personal feelings of staff are about beneficiaries, the policy directions from management should make it clear what can and should be done.

            Given how appalling the Bennett remoulding of WINZ is I’d guess that the pressure on staff is horrible too, so even the good people might be finding it difficult to do the right thing.

            • Colonial Viper 5.1.1.2.1.1
              25 January 2016 at 11:33 pm

              Go to a UBI and get rid of 95% of “WINZ”

              • weka …
                25 January 2016 at 11:37 pm

                May as well use WINZ to administer a UBI. They will also be necessary to manage the supplementary benefits, so the culture and management issues still need to be addressed.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  25 January 2016 at 11:49 pm

                  Indeed, but you can jettison most of WINZ, including the problem managers/supervisors.

                  • weka …
                    26 January 2016 at 12:43 am

                    The problem managers exist because of the governments and how they manage the culture. It’s not as straight forward as you suggest. In a UBI system there might be less staff overall, but I’m not sure the % of nasty people would necessarily decrease. Plenty of bigotry of sick people and solo parents still left to go around.

              • maui …
                25 January 2016 at 11:45 pm

                The UBI is very appealing, but what say NZ hit the economic doldrums, would a Government still be able to fund it?

                • Colonial Viper …
                  25 January 2016 at 11:54 pm

                  Hi maui,

                  There are a few different ways to answer this question.

                  If NZ communities found themselves in an economic downturn (as many areas outside the big cities are right now) why not use a UBI to help get money moving through those local economies where it can actually do some good for struggling Kiwis?

                  Also, a Government spending NZ dollars into the NZ economy doesn’t destroy them or somehow make those NZ dollars disappear. The government will collect up those same dollars very quickly via various taxes.

                  • maui …
                    26 January 2016 at 8:00 am

                    Thanks CV, makes sense, although it does sound a bit too good to be true for me. It would be good if there was a case study of an economy being bought out of depression in this way and how it faired in the long run.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  26 January 2016 at 12:05 am

                  A government can always fund that which is produced by the countries resources.

                • gsays …
                  26 January 2016 at 7:00 am

                  hi maui
                  re affording a ubi two things:
                  the scf bailout, money was found in quick smart time.

                  a financial transaction tax, .1% on every $ that changes hands.
                  gets rid of gst and income tax and brings in all that speculation activity.

                  • maui …
                    26 January 2016 at 8:09 am

                    Good points gsays, I wonder about the FTT as a source of funding though, if things got really bad people wouldn’t be making eftpos transactions – they wouldnt have the money and they’d be much more likely to use the black market and cash.

                    • Molly …
                      26 January 2016 at 8:38 am

                      I thought gsays was talking about a financial transactions tax on trading and financial products. He can correct me if I am wrong, but I always think of Bill Nighy’s explanation when I think of this type of tax:

                    • Molly …
                      26 January 2016 at 8:44 am

                      I let the Youtube run in the background and a follow-up item came up which I had not seen before:

                    • gsays …
                      26 January 2016 at 6:48 pm

                      hi maui and molly,
                      i was thinking of trading and financial products, as well as wages, purchases etc.

                      if things are ‘that’ bad then the ‘black’ market will grow.
                      rather than seen as a bad thing i see it as a positive as we are doing things for each other and being more helpful as opposed to ‘selling our labour’ to an employer who then handles tax on behalf of the state.

                      good clips molly.

                      or as either cv or draco often point out, let the state print and issue funds.

        • b waghorn 5.1.1.3
          26 January 2016 at 6:42 am

          Your riight the winz workers hands are tied ,but what a commentary that story is on how nz is becoming a cold heartless place to live.

          • weka 5.1.1.3.1
            26 January 2016 at 12:31 pm

            As it turns out, WINZ workers’ hands aren’t tied in this case, they had discretion they just used to wrongly. Part of the cold heartlessness 🙁

    • Rosemary McDonald 5.2
      25 January 2016 at 10:16 pm

      Add my voice to this…the man is eighty nine fucking years old….jesus bloody wept…

      Eighty nine….

      And look…Kaitaia cops not issuing tickets to drivers failing to stop for 3 seconds at a stop sign, or prosecuting some unfortunate bus driver who got stuck in a hole on Ninety Mile…

        • Jenny Kirk 5.2.1.1
          25 January 2016 at 10:44 pm

          I am really puzzled by this matter as well, Rosemary Anne and others.
          Is NZ Super a benefit, or is it a “right”?
          You don’t have to go thru beaurocratic hoops to get it, you just have to be aged 65 and be a NZer, or sufficient years as a resident.

          What is more, WINZ has separate office spaces for those on NZ Super, separate from all those on benefits. So NZ Super recipients are treated differently from people on benefits.

          If it is a “right” to which all NZers are entitled – presumably WINZ do not need to regard it in the same way as a benefit which does have a penalty if a person on a benefit is arrested.

          Has WINZ overstepped the mark on this case? Certainly sounds like it.

          • Rosemary McDonald 5.2.1.1.1
            25 January 2016 at 11:17 pm

            Just what I was thinking. I understood that there were sanctions on Jobseeker Allowance recipients and perhaps eve SLP recipients…”if you can do the crime you can bloody well work”…but an eighty nine year old Nat Super recipient?

            Selwyn Clarke is an activist from way back…Bastion Point, no less. He was the guy that tossed the table at the Statoil meeting.

            And Sam Kuha http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11078184
            remember?

            They have some staunch kaumatua in the Far North.

            Quite often they step outside the ‘accepted’ Maori representation.

            I don’t know…and it kinda concerns me as some of us older folk feel we can be a bit more involved now that the kids are grown and at least the super was safe….is there a message being sent, you think?

          • weka 5.2.1.1.2
            25 January 2016 at 11:23 pm

            That’s a bloody good point Jenny. Are we about to find out that Super is not an entitlement but is instead discretionary?

    • weka 5.3
      25 January 2016 at 11:27 pm

      ok, according to this, whether a benefit is stopped or not on the basis of a warrant is discretionary,


      If a person receiving a benefit has an arrest warrant, Work and Income will tell them that their benefit may be reduced or stopped unless it’s cleared or they’ve taken all reasonable steps to clear it.

      http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/documents/brochures/welfare-reform-changes-overview-july-2013.pdf

      and this,

      http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/brochures/warrants-to-arrest.html

      • Jenny Kirk 5.3.1
        26 January 2016 at 8:32 am

        Yes, Weka – the brochure is clear “a beneficiary” is likely to get their benefit stopped if they are arrested.
        BUT – is a NZ superannuitant a “beneficiary” or a “pensioner”?
        I would have thought there is a distinct difference between the two, and the 89 year old superannuitant should not have had his super stopped.

        This sort of nonsense needs sorting out promptly because like Rosemary says many older people are appalled at what is going on in this country and doing what they can to protest about it ….. and should not lose their super if they transgress the law.

        • weka 5.3.1.1
          26 January 2016 at 9:57 am

          I had a quick look on the WINZ website last night. Superannuation eligibility is dependent on two things: age and residency/citizenship. WINZ have Super listed under main benefits, so yes it looks like it is considered just another benefit.

          http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/income-support/main-benefits/new-zealand-superannuation/qualifications.html

          My previous links are important because they show that this is a policy issue not a legislative one, which means that individual staff can use discretion i.e. they’re not legally obligated to cut a benefit for someone who has an outstanding warrant. Which begs the question of why they chose to in this case.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.4
      26 January 2016 at 12:03 am

      It’s basically National making sure that anyone who stands up to them can have everything taken away from them.

  6. weka 6
    25 January 2016 at 9:36 pm

    Bloody good description of the mire that is water in NZ.

    Blame is complicated, I wonder if stopping this shameful environmental abuse will be as complicated? Accountants and banks encouraged farmers to convert sheep farms to dairying, local governments have allowed resource consent and water rights, central government allowed and encouraged unsustainable growth. Land is being farmed intensively that never should have been. As a result rows of trees planted by New Zealand’s first farmers have been removed to make way for centre pivots that deliver precious water to the parched soils. Soil erosion results with sedimentation build up making a perfect environment for algae to flourish and river flows are compromised. Some dairy farmers wanted to make a living, and some were driven by greed. Some are doing a fantastic job planting riparian strips, showing best practice animal care and management, and 100% compliance with regional council rules. Others I believe are not, and don’t care.

    More at https://www.facebook.com/choosecleanwaternz/posts/1690903644528249

  7. fisiani 7
    26 January 2016 at 4:14 pm

    Is Andrew Little for or against the TPPA? serious question. He waffled this morning on National Radio for six minutes but was unable to answer the question.

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    I liked what Kieran McAnulty had to say about the Treaty Principles bill this morning so much I've written it down and copied it out for you. He was saying that rather than let this piece of ordure spend six months in Select Committee, the Prime Minister could stop making such ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    17 hours ago
  • A government-funded hate campaign

    Cabinet discussed National's constitutionally and historically illiterate "Treaty Principles Bill" this week, and decided to push on with it. The bill will apparently receive a full six month select committee process - unlike practically every other policy this government has pushed, and despite the fact that if the government is ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    19 hours ago
  • How Substack works to take (some) craziness out of America’s elections

    I spoke with Substack co-founder yesterday, just before the Trump-Harris debate, about how Substack is doing its thing during the US elections. He talks in particular about how Substack’s focus on paid subscriptions rather than ads has made political debate on the platform calmer, simpler, deeper and more satisfying ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    21 hours ago
  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    21 hours ago
  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    21 hours ago
  • Kamala Harris Did Something Unthinkable

    Hi,Yesterday me and a bunch of friends gathered in front of the TV, ate tortillas, drank wine, and watched the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Some of you may have joined in on the live Webworm chat where we shared thoughts, jokes and memes — and a basic glee ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    21 hours ago
  • David Seymour is such a loser

    For paid subscribersNot content with siphoning off $230,000,000 of taxpayers money for his hobby projects - and telling everyone his passion is education and early childcare - an intersection painfully coincidental to the interests of wealthy private families like Sean Plunkett’s1 backers, the Wright Family, Seymour is back in the ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    21 hours ago
  • Cross-party consensus: there’s no pipeline without good faith

    There’s been a lot of talk recently about a cross-party agreement to develop a pipeline for infrastructure, including transport. Last month, outgoing CRL boss Sean Sweeney talked about the importance of securing an enduring infrastructure programme. He outlined the high costs of the relentless political flip-flopping of priorities, which drives ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    1 day ago
  • Voters love this climate policy they’ve never heard of

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The Inflation Reduction Act is the Biden administration’s signature climate law and the largest U.S. government investment in reducing climate pollution to date. Among climate advocates, the policy is well-known and celebrated, but beyond that, only a minority of Americans ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago
  • ACC wants to administer inflation at more than double the RBNZ’s target rate

    ACC levies are set to rise at more than double the inflation rate targeted by the RBNZ. Photo: Lynn GrievesonKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 12:The state-owned monopoly for accident insurance wants ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Harris vs Trump

    We’ve been selected to rock your asses 'til midnightThis is my term, I've shaved off my perm, but it's alrightI solemnly swear to uphold the ConstitutionGot a rock 'n' roll problem? Well we got a solutionLet us be who we am, and let us kick out the jams, yeahKick out ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Treaty Bill “a political stunt”

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon appears to have given ACT Leader David Seymour more than he has been admitting in the proposals to go forward with a Treaty Principles Bill.All along, Luxon has maintained that the Government is proceeding with the Bill to honour the coalition agreement.But that is quite specific.It ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • An average 219 NZers migrated each day in July

    Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, September 11:Annual migration of New Zealanders rose to a record-high 80,963 in the year to the end of July, which is more than double its pre-Covid levels.Two ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • What you’re wanting to win more than anything is The Narrative

    Hubris is sitting down on election day 2016 to watch that pig Trump get his ass handed to him, and watching the New York Times needle hover for a while over Hillary and then move across to Trump where it remains all night to your gathering horror and dismay. You're ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • National’s automated lie machine

    The government has a problem: lots of people want information from it all the time. Information about benefits, about superannuation, ACC coverage and healthcare, taxes, jury service, immigration - and that's just the routine stuff. Responding to all of those queries takes a lot of time and costs a lot ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Christopher Luxon: A Man of “Faith” and “Compassion” Speaks on the Treaty Pr...

    Synopsis: Today - we explore two different realities. One where National lost. And another - which is the one we are living with here. Note: the footnote on increased fees/taxes may be of interest to some readers.Article open.Subscribe nowIt’s an alternate timeline.Yesterday as news broke that the central North Island ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Member’s Day

    Today is a Member's Day. First up is the third reading of Dan Bidois' Fair Trading (Gift Card Expiry) Amendment Bill, which will be followed by the committee stage of Deborah Russell's Family Proceedings (Dissolution for Family Violence) Amendment Bill. This will be followed by the second readings of Katie ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Northern Expressway Boondoggle

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has been soaring high with his hubris of getting on and building motorways but some uncomfortable realities are starting to creep in. Back in July he announced that the government was pushing on with a Northland Expressway using an “accelerated delivery strategy” The Coalition Government is ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    2 days ago
  • Never Enough

    However much I'm falling downNever enoughHowever much I'm falling outNever, never enough!Whatever smile I smile the mostNever enoughHowever I smile I smile the mostSongwriters: Robert James Smith / Simon Gallup / Boris Williams / Porl ThompsonToday in Nick’s Kōrero:A death in the Emergency Department at Rotorua Hospital.A sad homecoming and ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Question Two of The Kākā Project of 2026 for 2050 (TKP 26/50)

    Kia ora.Last month I proposed restarting The Kākā Project work done before the 2023 election as The Kākā Project of 2026 for 2050 (TKP 26/50), aiming to be up and running before the 2025 Local Government elections, and then in a finalised form by the 2026 General Elections.A couple of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Why is God Obsessed with Spanking?

    Hi,If you’ve read Webworm for a while, you’ll be aware that I’ve spent a lot of time writing about horrific, corrupt megachurches and the shitty men who lead them.And in all of this writing, I think some people have this idea that I hate Christians or Christianity. As I explain ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Inside the public service

    In 2023, there were 63,117 full-time public servants earning, on average, $97,200 a year each. All up, that is a cost to the Government of $6.1 billion a year. It’s little wonder, then, that the public service has become a political whipping boy castigated by the Prime Minister and members ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • New Models Show Stronger Atlantic Hurricanes, and More of Them

    This is a re-post from This is Not Cool Here’s an example of some of the best kind of climate reporting, especially in that it relates to impacts that will directly affect the audience. WFLA in Tampa conducted a study in collaboration with the Department of Energy, analyzing trends in ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Where ever do they find these people?

    A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, is how Winston Churchill described the Soviet Union in 1939.  How might the great man have described the 2024 government of New Zealand, do we think? I can't imagine he would have thought them all that mysterious or enigmatic. I think ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Motorway madness

    How mad is National's obsession with roads? One of their pet projects - a truck highway to Whangārei - is going to eat 10% of our total infrastructure budget for the next 25 years: Official advice from the Infrastructure Commission shows the government could be set to spend 10 ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Our transport planning system is fundamentally broken

    Ever since Wayne Brown became mayor (nearly two years ago now) he’s been wanting to progress an “integrated transport plan” with the government – which sounded a lot like the previous Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) with just a different name. It seems like a fair bit of work progressed ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago
  • Thou Shalt Not Steal

    And they taught usWhoa-oh, black woman, thou shalt not stealI said, hey, yeah, black man, thou shalt not stealWe're gonna civilise your black barbaric livesAnd we teach you how to kneelBut your history couldn't hide the genocideThe hypocrisy to us was realFor your Jesus said you're supposed to giveThe oppressed ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • How mismanagement, not wind and solar energy, causes blackouts

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections In February 2021, several severe storms swept across the United States, culminating with one that the Weather Channel unofficially named Winter Storm Uri. In Texas, Uri knocked out power to over 4.5 million homes and 10 million people. Hundreds of Texans died as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • The ‘Infra Boys’ Highway to Budget Hell

    Chris Bishop has enthusiastically dubbed himself and Simeon Brown “the Infra Boys”, but they need to take note of the sums around their roading dreams. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Media Link: “AVFA” on the politics of desperation.

    In this podcast Selwyn Manning and I talk about what appears to be a particular type of end-game in the long transition to systemic realignment in international affairs, in which the move to a new multipolar order with different characteristics … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • The cost of flying blind

    Just over two years ago, when worries about immediate mass-death from covid had waned, and people started to talk about covid becoming "endemic", I asked various government agencies what work they'd done on the costs of that - and particularly, on the cost of Long Covid. The answer was that ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Seymour vs The Clergy

    For paid subscribers“Aotearoa is not as malleable as they think,” Lynette wrote last week on Homage to Simeon Brown:In my heart/mind, that phrase ricocheted over the next days, translating out to “We are not so malleable.”It gave me comfort. I always felt that we were given an advantage in New ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Unstoppable Minister McKee

    All smiles, I know what it takes to fool this townI'll do it 'til the sun goes downAnd all through the nighttimeOh, yeahOh, yeah, I'll tell you what you wanna hearLeave my sunglasses on while I shed a tearIt's never the right timeYeah, yeahSong by SiaLast night there was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Could outdoor dining revitalise Queen Street?

    This is a guest post by Ben van Bruggen of The Urban Room,.An earlier version of this post appeared on LinkedIn. All images are by Ben. Have you noticed that there’s almost nowhere on Queen Street that invites you to stop, sit outside and enjoy a coffee, let alone ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    4 days ago
  • Hipkins challenges long-held Labour view Government must stay below 30% of GDP

    Hipkins says when considering tax settings and the size of government, the big question mark is over what happens with the balance between the size of the working-age population and the growing number of Kiwis over the age of 65. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Your invite to Webworm Chat (a bit like Reddit)

    Hi,One of the things I love the most about Webworm is, well, you. The community that’s gathered around this lil’ newsletter isn’t something I ever expected when I started writing it four years ago — now the comments section is one of my favourite places on the internet. The comments ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Seymour’s Treaty bill making Nats nervous

    A delay in reappointing a top civil servant may indicate a growing nervousness within the National Party about the potential consequences of David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill. Dave Samuels is waiting for reappointment as the Chief Executive of Te Puni Kokiri, but POLITIK understands that what should have been a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #36

    A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 1, 2024 thru Sat, September 7, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is about how peopele are not born stupid but can be fooled ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago
  • Time for a Change

    You act as thoughYou are a blind manWho's crying, crying 'boutAll the virgins that are dyingIn your habitual dreams, you knowSeems you need more sleepBut like a parrot in a flaming treeI know it's pretty hard to seeI'm beginning to wonderIf it's time for a changeSong: Phil JuddThe next line ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Six.

    The “double shocks” in post Cold War international affairs. The end of the Cold War fundamentally altered the global geostrategic context. In particular, the end of the nuclear “balance of terror” between the USA and USSR, coupled with the relaxation … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Buried deep

    Here's a bike on Manchester St, Feilding. I took this photo on Friday night after a very nice dinner at the very nice Vietnamese restaurant, Saigon, on Manchester Street.I thought to myself, Manchester Street? Bicycle? This could be the very spot.To recap from an earlier edition: on a February night ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies, Excerpt Five.

    Military politics as a distinct “partial regime.” Notwithstanding their peripheral status, national defense offers the raison d’être of the combat function, which their relative vulnerability makes apparent, so military forces in small peripheral democracies must be very conscious of events … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago
  • Leadership for Dummies

    If you’re going somewhere, do you maybe take a bit of an interest in the place? Read up a bit on the history, current events, places to see - that sort of thing? Presumably, if you’re taking a trip somewhere, it’s for a reason. But what if you’re going somewhere ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Home again

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Dead even tie for hottest August ever

    Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:The month of August was 1.49˚C warmer than pre-industrial levels, tying with 2023 for the warmest August ever, according ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 7

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the debate about how to responde to climate disinformation; and special guest ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Have We an Infrastructure Deficit?

    An Infrastructure New Zealand report says we are keeping up with infrastructure better than we might have thought from the grumbling. But the challenge of providing for the future remains.I was astonished to learn that the quantity of our infrastructure has been keeping up with economic growth. Your paper almost ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    7 days ago
  • Councils reject racism

    Last month, National passed a racist law requiring local councils to remove their Māori wards, or hold a referendum on them at the 2025 local body election. The final councils voted today, and the verdict is in: an overwhelming rejection. Only two councils out of 45 supported National's racist agenda ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago
  • Homage to Simeon Brown

    Open to all - happy weekend ahead, friends.Today I just want to be petty. It’s the way I imagine this chap is -Not only as a political persona. But his real-deal inner personality, in all its glory - appears to be pure pettiness & populist driven.Sometimes I wonder if Simeon ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    7 days ago
  • Government of deceit

    When National cut health spending and imposed a commissioner on Te Whatu Ora, they claimed that it was necessary because the organisation was bloated and inefficient, with "14 layers of management between the CEO and the patient". But it turns out they were simply lying: Health Minister Shane Reti’s ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago
  • The professionals actually think and act like our Government has no fiscal crisis at all

    Treasury staff at work: The demand for a new 12-year Government bond was so strong, Treasury decided to double the amount of bonds it sold. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 6-September-2024

    Welcome to another Friday and another roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. As always, this and every post is brought to you by the Greater Auckland crew. If you like our work and you’d like to see more of it, we invite you to join our regular ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies; Excerpt Four.

    Internal versus external security. Regardless of who rules, large countries can afford to separate external and internal security functions (even if internal control functions predominate under authoritarian regimes). In fact, given the logic of power concentration and institutional centralization of … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • A Hole In The River

    There's a hole in the river where her memory liesFrom the land of the living to the air and skyShe was coming to see him, but something changed her mindDrove her down to the riverThere is no returnSongwriters: Neil Finn/Eddie RaynerThe king is dead; long live the queen!Yesterday was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bright Blue His Jacket Ain’t But I Love This Fellow: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power E...

    My conclusion last week was that The Rings of Power season two represented a major improvement in the series. The writing’s just so much better, and honestly, its major problems are less the result of the current episodes and more creatures arising from season one plot-holes. I found episode three ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • Who should we thank for the defeat of the Nazis

    As a child in the 1950s, I thought the British had won the Second World War because that’s what all our comics said. Later on, the films and comics told me that the Americans won the war. In my late teens, I found out that the Soviet Union ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #36 2024

    Open access notables Diurnal Temperature Range Trends Differ Below and Above the Melting Point, Pithan & Schatt, Geophysical Research Letters: The globally averaged diurnal temperature range (DTR) has shrunk since the mid-20th century, and climate models project further shrinking. Observations indicate a slowdown or reversal of this trend in recent decades. ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live at 5pm

    Photo by Jenny Bess on UnsplashCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with special guests:5.00 pm - 5.10 pm - Bernard and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Media Link: Discussing the NZSIS Security Threat Report.

    I was interviewed by Mike Hosking at NewstalkZB and a few other media outlets about the NZSIS Security Threat Report released recently. I have long advocated for more transparency, accountability and oversight of the NZ Intelligence Community, and although the … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • How do I make this better for people who drive Ford Rangers?

    Home, home again to a long warm embrace. Plenty of reasons to be glad to be back.But also, reasons for dejection.You, yes you, Simeon Brown, you odious little oik, you bible thumping petrol-pandering ratfucker weasel. You would be Reason Number One. Well, maybe first among equals with Seymour and Of-Seymour ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • A missed opportunity

    The government introduced a pretty big piece of constitutional legislation today: the Parliament Bill. But rather than the contentious constitutional change (four year terms) pushed by Labour, this merely consolidates the existing legislation covering Parliament - currently scattered across four different Acts - into one piece of legislation. While I ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Nicola Willis Seeks New Sidekick To Help Fix NZ’s Economy

    Synopsis:Nicola Willis is seeking a new Treasury Boss after Dr Caralee McLiesh’s tenure ends this month. She didn’t listen to McLiesh. Will she listen to the new one?And why is Atlas Network’s Taxpayers Union chiming in?Please consider subscribing or supporting my work. Thanks, Tui.About CaraleeAt the beginning of July, Newsroom ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Inflation alive and kicking in our land of the long white monopolies

    The golden days of profit continue for the the Foodstuffs (Pak’n’Save and New World) and Woolworths supermarket duopoly. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 5:The Groceries Commissioner has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The thermodynamics of electric vs. internal combustion cars

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler I love thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is like your mom: it may not tell you what you can do, but it damn well tells you what you can’t do. I’ve written a few previous posts that include thermodynamics, like one on air capture of ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Three.

    The notion of geopolitical  “periphery.” The concept of periphery used here refers strictly to what can be called the geopolitical periphery. Being on the geopolitical periphery is an analytic virtue because it makes for more visible policy reform in response … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Venus Hum

    Fill me up with soundThe world sings with me a million smiles an hourI can see me dancing on my radioI can hear you singing in the blades of grassYellow dandelions on my way to schoolBig Beautiful Sky!Song: Venus Hum.Good morning, all you lovely people, and welcome to the 700th ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • I Went to a Creed Concert

    Note: The audio attached to this Webworm compliments today’s newsletter. I collected it as I met people attending a Creed concert. Their opinions may differ to mine. Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • Government migration policy backfires; thousands of unemployed nurses

    The country has imported literally thousands of nurses over the past few months yet whether they are being employed as nurses is another matter. Just what is going on with HealthNZ and it nurses is, at best, opaque, in that it will not release anything but broad general statistics and ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago
  • A Time For Unity.

    Emotional Response: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses mourners at the tangi of King Tuheitia on Turangawaewae Marae on Saturday, 31 August 2024.THE DEATH OF KING TUHEITIA could hardly have come at a worse time for Maoridom. The power of the Kingitanga to unify te iwi Māori was demonstrated powerfully at January’s ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: Failed again

    National's tax cut policies relied on stealing revenue from the ETS (previously used to fund emissions reduction) to fund tax cuts to landlords. So how's that going? Badly. Today's auction failed again, with zero units (of a possible 7.6 million) sold. Which means they have a $456 million hole in ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Two.

    A question of size. Small size generally means large vulnerability. The perception of threat is broader and often more immediate for small countries. The feeling of comparative weakness, of exposure to risk, and of potential intimidation by larger powers often … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Nicola Willis’s Very Unserious Bungling of the Kiwirail Interislander Cancellation

    Open to all with kind thanks to all subscribers and supporters.Today, RNZ revealed that despite MFAT advice to Nicola Willis to be very “careful and deliberate” in her communications with the South Korean government, prior to any public announcement on cancelling Kiwirail’s i-Rex, Willis instead told South Korea 26 minutes ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Satisfying the Minister’s Speed Obsession

    The Minister of Transport’s speed obsession has this week resulted in two new consultations for 110km/h speed limits, one in Auckland and one in Christchurch. There has also been final approval of the Kapiti Expressway to move to 110km/h following an earlier consultation. While the changes will almost certainly see ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 week ago

  • New Bill to crack down on youth vaping

    The coalition Government has introduced legislation to tackle youth vaping, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2) is aimed at preventing youth vaping.  “While vaping has contributed to a significant fall in our smoking rates, the rise in youth vaping ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Interest in agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review welcomed

    Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have welcomed interest in the agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review. The review by the Ministry for Regulation is looking at how to speed up the process to get farmers and growers access to the safe, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Bill to allow online charity lotteries passes first reading

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government is moving at pace to ensure lotteries for charitable purposes are allowed to operate online permanently. Charities fundraising online, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust and local hospices will continue to do ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Tax exempt threshold changes to benefit startups

    Technology companies are among the startups which will benefit from increases to current thresholds of exempt employee share schemes, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Revenue Minister Simon Watts say. Tax exempt thresholds for the schemes are increasing as part of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024-25, Emergency ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Getting the healthcare you need, when you need it

    The path to faster cancer treatment, an increase in immunisation rates, shorter stays in emergency departments and quick assessment and treatments when you are sick has been laid out today. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has revealed details of how the ambitious health targets the Government has set will be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Targeted supports to accelerate reading

    The coalition Government is delivering targeted and structured literacy supports to accelerate learning for struggling readers. From Term 1 2025, $33 million of funding for Reading Recovery and Early Literacy Support will be reprioritised to interventions which align with structured approaches to teaching. “Structured literacy will change the way children ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Survivors invited to Abuse in Care national apology

    With two months until the national apology to survivors of abuse in care, expressions of interest have opened for survivors wanting to attend. “The Prime Minister will deliver a national apology on Tuesday 12 November in Parliament. It will be a very significant day for survivors, their families, whānau and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Rangatahi inspire at Ngā Manu Kōrero final

    Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini kē - My success is not mine alone but is the from the strength of the many. Aotearoa New Zealand’s top young speakers are an inspiration for all New Zealanders to learn more about the depth and beauty conveyed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Driving structured literacy in schools

    The coalition Government is driving confidence in reading and writing in the first years of schooling. “From the first time children step into the classroom, we’re equipping them and teachers with the tools they need to be brilliant in literacy. “From 1 October, schools and kura with Years 0-3 will receive ...
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    2 days ago
  • Labour’s misleading information is disappointing

    Labour’s misinformation about firearms law is dangerous and disappointing, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says.   “Labour and Ginny Andersen have repeatedly said over the past few days that the previous Labour Government completely banned semi-automatic firearms in 2019 and that the Coalition Government is planning to ‘reintroduce’ them.   ...
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    2 days ago
  • Govt takes action on mpox response, widens access to vaccine

    The Government is taking immediate action on a number of steps around New Zealand’s response to mpox, including improving access to vaccine availability so people who need it can do so more easily, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. “Mpox is obviously a ...
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    2 days ago
  • Next steps agreed for Treaty Principles Bill

    Associate Justice Minister David Seymour says Cabinet has agreed to the next steps for the Treaty Principles Bill. “The Treaty Principles Bill provides an opportunity for Parliament, rather than the courts, to define the principles of the Treaty, including establishing that every person is equal before the law,” says Mr Seymour. “Parliament ...
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    2 days ago
  • Government unlocking potential of AI

    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced a programme to drive Artificial Intelligence (AI) uptake among New Zealand businesses. “The AI Activator will unlock the potential of AI for New Zealand businesses through a range of support, including access to AI research experts, technical assistance, AI tools and resources, ...
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    2 days ago
  • Government releases Wairoa flood review findings

    The independent rapid review into the Wairoa flooding event on 26 June 2024 has been released, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced today. “We welcome the review’s findings and recommendations to strengthen Wairoa's resilience against future events,” Ms ...
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    2 days ago
  • Promoting faster payment times for government

    The Government is sending a clear message to central government agencies that they must prioritise paying invoices in a timely manner, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly says. Data released today promotes transparency by publishing the payment times of each central government agency. This data will be published quarterly ...
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    2 days ago
  • Acknowledgement to Kīngi Tuheitia speech

    E te māngai o te Whare Pāremata, kua riro māku te whakaputa i te waka ki waho moana. E te Pirimia tēnā koe.Mr Speaker, it is my privilege to take this adjournment kōrero forward.  Prime Minister – thank you for your leadership. Taupiri te maunga Waikato te awa Te Wherowhero ...
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    3 days ago
  • Interim fix to GST adjustment rules to support businesses

    Inland Revenue can begin processing GST returns for businesses affected by a historic legislative drafting error, Revenue Minister Simon Watts says. “Inland Revenue has become aware of a legislative drafting error in the GST adjustment rules after changes were made in 2023 which were meant to simplify the process. This ...
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    3 days ago
  • Strong uptake for cervical screening self-test

    More than 80 per cent of New Zealand women being tested have opted for a world-leading self-test for cervical screening since it became available a year ago. Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti and Associate Minister Casey Costello, in her responsibility for Women’s Health, say it’s fantastic to have such ...
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    3 days ago
  • Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document sets ambitious direction

    Regulation Minister David Seymour welcomes the Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document, which sets out how the Ministry will carry out its work and deliver on its purpose. “I have set up the Ministry for Regulation with three tasks. One, to cut existing red tape with sector reviews. Two, ...
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    3 days ago
  • Māori Education Advisory Group established

    The Education Minister has established a Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group made up of experienced practitioners to help improve outcomes for Māori learners. “This group will provide independent advice on all matters related to Māori education in both English medium and Māori medium settings. It will focus on the most impactful ways we can lift ...
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    3 days ago
  • Government welcomes findings of NZ Superannuation Fund review

    The Government has welcomed the findings of the recent statutory review into the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, Minister of Finance Nicola Willis says. The 5-yearly review, conducted on behalf of Treasury and tabled in Parliament today, found the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation ...
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    3 days ago
  • First of five new Hercules aircraft takes flight

    Defence Minister Judith Collins today welcomed the first of five new C-130J-30 Hercules to arrive in New Zealand at a ceremony at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base Auckland, Whenuapai. “This is an historic day for our New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and our nation. The new Hercules fleet ...
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    3 days ago
  • Have your say on suicide prevention

    Today, September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, a time to reflect on New Zealand’s confronting suicide statistics, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “Every death by suicide is a tragedy – a tragedy that affects far too many of our families and communities in New Zealand. We must do ...
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    3 days ago
  • Action to grow the rural health workforce

    Scholarships awarded to 27 health care students is another positive step forward to boost the future rural health workforce, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “All New Zealanders deserve timely access to quality health care and this Government is committed to improving health outcomes, particularly for the one in five ...
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    4 days ago
  • Pharmac delivering more for Kiwis following major funding boost

    Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our Government assumed office, New ...
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    4 days ago
  • Sport Minister congratulates NZ’s Paralympians

    Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has congratulated New Zealand's Paralympic Team at the conclusion of the Paralympic Games in Paris.  “The NZ Paralympic Team's success in Paris included fantastic performances, personal best times, New Zealand records and Oceania records all being smashed - and of course, many Kiwis on ...
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    4 days ago
  • Government progresses response to Abuse in Care recommendations

    A Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care. “The creation of an Office within a central Government agency was a key recommendation by the Royal Commission’s final report.  “It will have the mandate ...
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    7 days ago
  • Passport wait times back on-track

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says passport processing has returned to normal, and the Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is now advising customers to allow up to two weeks to receive their passport. “I am pleased that passport processing is back at target service levels and the Department ...
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    7 days ago
  • New appointments to the FMA board

    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister has today announced three new appointments and one reappointment to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) board. Tracey Berry, Nicholas Hegan and Mariette van Ryn have been appointed for a five-year term ending in August 2029, while Chris Swasbrook, who has served as a board member ...
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    7 days ago
  • District Court judges appointed

    Attorney-General Hon Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new District Court judges. The appointees, who will take up their roles at the Manukau Court and the Auckland Court in the Accident Compensation Appeal Jurisdiction, are: Jacqui Clark Judge Clark was admitted to the bar in 1988 after graduating ...
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    7 days ago
  • Government makes it faster and easier to invest in New Zealand

    Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour is encouraged by significant improvements to overseas investment decision timeframes, and the enhanced interest from investors as the Government continues to reform overseas investment. “There were about as many foreign direct investment applications in July and August as there was across the six months ...
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    1 week ago
  • New Zealand to join Operation Olympic Defender

    New Zealand has accepted an invitation to join US-led multi-national space initiative Operation Olympic Defender, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. Operation Olympic Defender is designed to coordinate the space capabilities of member nations, enhance the resilience of space-based systems, deter hostile actions in space and reduce the spread of ...
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    1 week ago
  • Government commits to ‘stamping out’ foot and mouth disease

    Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says that a new economic impact analysis report reinforces this government’s commitment to ‘stamp out’ any New Zealand foot and mouth disease incursion. “The new analysis, produced by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, shows an incursion of the disease in New Zealand would have ...
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    1 week ago
  • Improving access to finance for Kiwis

    5 September 2024  The Government is progressing further reforms to financial services to make it easier for Kiwis to access finance when they need it, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.  “Financial services are foundational for economic success and are woven throughout our lives. Without access to finance our ...
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    1 week ago
  • Prime Minister pays tribute to Kiingi Tuheitia

    As Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII is laid to rest today, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has paid tribute to a leader whose commitment to Kotahitanga will have a lasting impact on our country. “Kiingi Tuheitia was a humble leader who served his people with wisdom, mana and an unwavering ...
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    1 week ago
  • Resource Management reform to make forestry rules clearer

    Forestry Minister Todd McClay today announced proposals to reform the resource management system that will provide greater certainty for the forestry sector and help them meet environmental obligations.   “The Government has committed to restoring confidence and certainty across the sector by removing unworkable regulatory burden created by the previous ...
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    1 week ago
  • More choice and competition in building products

    A major shake-up of building products which will make it easier and more affordable to build is on the way, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Today we have introduced legislation that will improve access to a wider variety of quality building products from overseas, giving Kiwis more choice and ...
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    1 week ago
  • Joint Statement between the Republic of Korea and New Zealand 4 September 2024, Seoul

    On the occasion of the official visit by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand to the Republic of Korea from 4 to 5 September 2024, a summit meeting was held between His Excellency President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea (hereinafter referred to as ...
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    1 week ago
  • Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the goal for New Zealand and Korea

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol. “Korea and New Zealand are likeminded democracies and natural partners in the Indo Pacific. As such, we have decided to advance discussions on elevating the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive ...
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    1 week ago
  • International tourism continuing to bounce back

    Results released today from the International Visitor Survey (IVS) confirm international tourism is continuing to bounce back, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey says. The IVS results show that in the June quarter, international tourism contributed $2.6 billion to New Zealand’s economy, an increase of 17 per cent on last ...
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    1 week ago

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