Diplomacy with China hasn’t failed – it hasn’t been tried

Written By: - Date published: 8:45 pm, June 5th, 2023 - 34 comments
Categories: China, defence, Diplomacy, Hong Kong, Iran, Peace, Peace, Propaganda, uncategorized, war, Xi Jinping - Tags:

Gerald Hensley was David Lange’s chief of staff when New Zealand’s nuclear free policy was adopted. He opposed what happened then and opposes it still. He now argues we should prepare for war with China.

Writing in the Post’s full-page opinion piece titled: ‘How will a self-absorbed NZ face A RISING CHINA?’ Hensley states:

In the 1980s a long period of peace led to some resentment at what was seen as a dependence on our traditional friends. We abandoned our security arrangement with the United States and declared that henceforth we would pursue an independent foreign policy.

This is a misrepresentation of the facts. Hensley manages to fill a full page article urging New Zealand to prepare for war with China now, without once mentioning our determination then to become and remain proudly nuclear free. New Zealand did not abandon the ANZUS security alliance – it was forced out by the United States, as we did not allow access of nuclear-armed or propelled ship to our harbours.

Hensley’s basic thesis is that Xi Jinping wants to rule the world. He talks of China’s aggressive nationalism, speaking of:

”China’s aim to become paramount power in the Asia Pacific and perhaps beyond is repeatedly proclaimed by its leader and by its actions over a decade. As the differences deepen we have to keep in mind the risk that the urge to rest our hopes on diplomacy will confuse and distract us from the core of the difficulty.”

The reveal words there are “paramount” and “perhaps beyond.” China has never aimed to become a power beyond its borders, but because of its history does take its internal security very seriously. This is shown in it’s determination to counter terrorism in Xinjiang and violent protest in Hong Kong.

Hensley is like many outside commentators on China, mind-readers who presume to tell us how their leader thinks. In my opinion it is much more useful to pay attention to what China’s leader actually does. Peace and stability are important values for China, as is evidenced by Xi Jinping’s recent bringing together of Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shi’ite Iran into a durable peace agreement. This is an extraordinary, stunning  diplomatic achievement which will have important repercussions, shaping the development of that violence-ridden region for a long time to come.

Regarding Hong Kong some fact checking is in order. Hensley states that China ‘tore up the treaty guaranteeing Hong Kong’s freedoms” What China did in fact was to enact the clause 23 of the treaty guaranteeing peace and stability that the interim Government had failed to introduce. The uprising stopped and peace returned to Hong Kong.

Hensley’s solution is to abandon diplomacy and go for militarisation, on the Alice in Wonderland theory that more military expenditure will bring about peace. It never has before and it is unlikely to do so in the future. He says:

(Xi Jinping’s) policy is not to make or keep foreign friends, it is to place China at the top of the foreign policy ladder. Trying to do so imposes costs and he is willing to accept them up to a point. The point at which the costs may become too high is not when China is cold-shouldered abroad or when it is not invited to conferences but when an alliance begins to emerge that is capable of checking his dominant ambition, taking Taiwan.

He continues:

So to borrow a phrase from Lenin, what is to be done? The threat of war would galvanise the diplomats – that is what they are for – but a diplomatic solution does not seem possible unless China is willing to abandon its aim to annex Taiwan.

This is nothing short of lunacy. To treat the trivial first, it is not China that is being cold-shouldered at conferences. Chinese General Li’s speech at the Shangri-La conference this weekend was greeted with applause from around the room at its conclusion. The shift to a multi-polar world is proceeding apace at conference after conference where China is welcomed.

But calling on China to abandon its claim to Taiwan is something else  altogether. Another remarkable elision from Hensley’s article is any mention of the one-China policy, that New Zealand along with nearly every other country around the world adheres to. Hensley is arguing that we should be ready to join a Civil War inside China!

Hensley compares China to Germany and Japan as nationalist powers that were expansionist, but the comparison is absurd. A better parallel for us would be to compare the 1840 treaty of Waitangi with the 1842 treaty of Nanjing, both transacted with Great Britain. In the 1842 treaty, Britain forced China to accept opium instead of silver to pay for coveted Chinese silks and ceramics, and also forced China to secede Hong Kong to Britain as a colony.

We can therefore possibly understand how this history has played out in China’s consciousness today. The Treaty of Waitangi was not forced upon the indigenous people of New Zealand, but it was followed with a Civil War fought over ownership of land. Just as as the history of grievance has remained over time in New Zealand’s consciousness following the Treaty of Waitangi, we may begin to understand how the Treaty of Nanjing is perceived inside China. That is why saying that New Zealand should join an alliance to force China to exclude Taiwan as part of its internal political structure is offensive in the extreme to all Chinese. Taiwan is already part of China – there is no question of annexation.

Hensley makes much of the failure of diplomacy in relation to China’s role in the Pacific hence his preference for reversion to force. He does acknowledge that the consequences of such of use of force with China would be horrendous but he has no faith in diplomacy. He does however pay it lip-service:

Of course we must “keep the channels open” and keep talking with China. Of course we must lose no opportunity to try to understand its outlook and show our goodwill and desire to meet it’s reasonable needs, but talking rarely eases nationalist resentments.

As the differences deepen we have to keep in mind the risk that the urge to rest our hopes on diplomacy will confuse and distract us from the core of the difficulty.

The core of the difficulty of course is that it is the United States not China that is the expansionist aggressor. That subject is for another time.

But the starting point with anyone for our diplomacy has to be putting ourselves in the other persons shoes and attempting to understand their point of view. And my opinion our diplomats do not make much effort to understand China’s point of view.

Hensley’s article could be dismissed as that of an old Cold War warrior crying in the beer for the days of the United States alliance under ANZUS. However I hear from multiple credible sources that revisionist laments are also found in some of our current professional diplomats.

We urgently need a wide-ranging debate about our .relations with China and our supposedly independent foreign policy. In my opinion, we also need to listen carefully to what Chinese voices actually. Wemay find much to our advantage. My Fabian Society interview with Chinese ambassador Wang Xiaolong on China’s values was one attempt to hear their point of view in their own words.

Now is not the time to be picking sides, we should be looking for every avenue that promotes peace and dialogue. There is too much at stake to get it wrong.

34 comments on “Diplomacy with China hasn’t failed – it hasn’t been tried ”

  1. Stuart Munro 2

    I'm going to side with Clausewitz on this one – that military force forms a continuum with diplomatic efforts.

    China has been part of a diplomatic discourse about Taiwan for quite some time. Under Xi – the improperly appointed President for life – the discourse has taken a more aggressive turn. But that's in abeyance for the moment.

    The world is waiting on the outcome of Putin's Ukrainian adventure. It is not clear that China is deterred by the spectacle of Nato armaments, but the sanctions levelled against Russia have no doubt given Xi pause. Absent a military masterstroke, Russia is poised to collapse, at least in terms of its campaign in Ukraine. Historically, Moscow governments do not long survive military defeats.

    This being so, Xi will likely prove more temperate in his diplomacy than he might have been had Nato aid proven as ineffectual as Russian regular forces.

    In the meantime, I would like to see NZ governments putting more effort into understanding the drivers of wealth or inequality among our own people. The immediate threats NZ faces from China are more how their low wage and low trust society impacts on a high cost of living Westminster descended state, than proximate landing forces either here or in Taiwan.

  2. barry 3

    Xi has been incredibly bad for China, and life in China is a lot less free than it was 10 years ago but…

    China's ambitions do not extend beyond territory that it has claimed in the past. It is looking for influence outside the region for access to raw materials, and trade. It is much less pernicious than several other powers.

    Confrontations with US and other militaries in the region can be put into context by asking what would happen if Chinese warships and planes were conducting "freedom of navigation" exercises in the Gulf of Mexico.

    As the saying goes: "If China didn't want war they wouldn't have put their country so close to the ring of American bases".

    Hensley wants us to suck up to the Americans for safety. However we need to maintain an independent foreign policy. Joining the Americans in trying to contain China is like joining the bully gang to pick on the awkward, annoying kid in the schoolyard.

    • The Chairman 3.1

      China's ambitions do not extend beyond territory that it has claimed in the past.

      Yet

      The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) surpassed the US Navy in fleet size sometime around 2020 and now has around 340 warships, according to the Pentagon's 2022 China Military Power Report, released in November.

      https://tinyurl.com/5h3x8kxm

      And its navy is expected to grow to 400 ships in the next year or so.

      • SPC 3.1.1

        Both NATO/EU and now our region are facing pressures for greater defence spending (purchases off the USA) to resolve failed American policy.

        In a CC GW world

        post Iraq, Libya Syria Islamic State consequence of the failed war against terrorism (Afghanistan today), GFC and now pandemic debt,

        it speaks to a planet with risibly poor governance since the chads of Florida and the SCOTUS decision not to have a recount.

        PS The USA debt ceiling deal limits capability in domestic, defence, GW and foreign aid spending for years.

        • The Chairman 3.1.1.1

          A number of nations are building up in preparation for potential war with China.

          If the US fail to, it could very well be at their peril.

          It seems to me China are getting ready to make a move sooner rather than later.

          They're not building up all that military power for nothing.

          • SPC 3.1.1.1.1

            No they are not, they are demonstrating a capacity to build capability that the USA cannot match, to force a change in American policy on Taiwan – and the USA is seeking security partners (Trump policy to offload cost).

            The question is whether policy is to fight for Taiwan's independence from China (an act of aggression on "our" part) or to prevent their hegemony over ASEAN and our region – defend a rules based international order.

            We cannot achieve the first without risk of war.

            • The Chairman 3.1.1.1.1.1

              Taiwan will fight for its own independence from China.

              If the US fail to join them, they risk even more potential aggressiveness from China. So to do we.

              No they are not, they are demonstrating a capacity to build capability that the USA cannot match, to force a change in American policy on Taiwan.

              I don't believe it will end with the taking of Taiwan. And nor, does it seem, do a number of other countries.

              China is starting to show a more aggressive stance.

              China is going to become a big problem IMO.

              • SPC

                But it also true that the willingness to signal a collective defence of Taiwan is of a design to use that (fight on that island) to contain a feared rise of China to hegemony.

                That makes war more likely and motivates China to develop the capability to prevail despite such regional opposition – as the only way to restore Taiwan into China.

                And so also increases the risk of China having the feared military dominance afterwards.

                Cold War defence spending costs 1945-1990 in a benevolent economic environment (for the West) are not the same as in the 21st C (GFC/pandemic debt and GW impost).

  3. SPC 4

    It's been over 30 years and GH has yet to appreciate the connection between a nuclear free South Pacific and a nuclear free Europe – and the end of the Cold War (including the dismantling of the Warsaw Pact and subsequent inclusion within the EU and also unfortunately NATO).

    So I guess he failed to appreciate the wisdom of George Kennan on how to prevent Russia returning to an anti-NATO animus. And he probably supported the self defeat strategy in the war against terrorism by invading Iraq (and then turning Libya and Syria into failed states – ah the Arab spring, where for art thou). Leading to the human rights betrayal of the women of Afghanistan.

    Fortunately our governments have been somewhat blameless in this post Cold War snatching of defeat from the jaws of victory for civilisation in our time (was the PNAC the worst group of government advisors ever assembled by any imperial power not later conquered and occupied)?

    Since then those of their ilk on Capitol Hill have managed to assert some right for Hong Kong to be a democracy (something not in the 1997 agreement), which unsurprisingly resulted in activation of the above mentioned clause 23. And subsequent bellicosity over the future of Taiwan.

    Our position should be a simple one, support for the inclusion of Taiwan within China from 2049 and for the two parties to organise/negotiate (a transition) a way for the self-government on the island to continue on this basis (as per Hong Kong till 2047) after 2049.

    That said, we have an obligation to work with ASEAN and Pacific nations to ensure the rule of international law – such as respecting decisions made on matters of territorial sovereignty. That should be our firm multi-lateral posture – it is not one based on any direct confrontation of China, but one firm on historic principle and current world polity (by all but aggressor nations).

    And it is long past time when the Korean matter was resolved by the USA and China working together – US forces leave, and Beijing guarantees South Korean security (with forces at the Yalu River).

    • Belladonna 4.1

      Our position should be a simple one, support for the inclusion of Taiwan within China from 2049 and for the two parties to organise/negotiate (a transition) a way for the self-government on the island to continue on this basis (as per Hong Kong till 2047) after 2049.

      So we should ignore, completely, the right of the people of Taiwan for self-determination (newsflash, they do not want to be folded into China)?

      Do you also hold that opinion over the independence of Kosovo, or Ukraine?

      Or does it simply mean that might is right in your opinion. Small powers should hold no rights if the bully boy neighbour wants to exert their authority to take their land.

      • SPC 4.1.1

        Tell it to the states of the south in the USA back in 1860's.

        And read up a little about the history of the world around you.

        If you have no respect for international law – and in international law Taiwan is part of China, then might is right.

        It was the US fleet that enabled the partition of China in 1949 and portrayed Taipei as the capital of China and installed them in the UNSC.

        I suppose you regret our lack of participation in the illegal invasion of Iraq.

        It's in your might is right world view that China turns atolls into islands and "steals" territory and resources off ASEAN nations.

        And it's in your world where no nation has come to the support of Ukraine (for fear of the might is right Russia) – so it fights on alone. In that it is like Israel in 1948 when attacked by 5 Arab armies and the UK (on the UNSC) just moved its forces out of the way.

        We either stand for international law, or we do not.

        It's when we do not, that might becomes right.

        So you are, in fact, totally wrong on all points.

        • Belladonna 4.1.1.1

          So, in your opinion, the fact that the Taiwanese do not want to be part of China is utterly immaterial.

          You haven't exactly come out and said where you stand on Ukraine or Kosovo. Do they have the right to exist as independent territories? And if they do, why does Taiwan not have the same right?

          And, having raised Israel – do you believe that it has the right to exist as a state? After all, it was only created due to international post-war diplomacy, with a heavy admixture of post-Holocaust war guilt.

          International 'law' is a rapidly moving feast – changing with the strength of the various international powers.

          It's cute that you think you are absolutely right on all points. But makes it effectively impossible to debate with you.

          • SPC 4.1.1.1.1

            Have you heard of the collective security of (recognised) nation states?

            Ukraine is one. Israel is one. Taiwan is not.

            After all, it was only created due to international post-war diplomacy, with a heavy admixture of post-Holocaust war guilt.

            No. The League of Nations mandate transferred to the UN. Have you heard of Basel, the Balfour Declaration?

            International 'law' is a rapidly moving feast – changing with the strength of the various international powers.

            So you totally reject our historic bi-partisan foreign policy/diplomatic position and regard, might as the right.

            It's cute that you think you are absolutely right on all points. But makes it effectively impossible to debate with you.

            Do some reading before discussing/debating these topics. Way out of your depth on this.

            • Belladonna 4.1.1.1.1.1

              Kosovo?

              I have indeed heard of the Balfour Declaration – a unilateral declaration by Great Britain – without consultation with any other state – let alone an International agreement.

              I don't think this is supporting your argument for the 'rule of International law'

              Do you mean the Basel program? A zionist manifesto – written without a shred of consultation or international agreement.

              Yes, the League of Nations established the state of Israel in Palestine – on the land of a defeated participant in WW1 – and without any consideration of the wishes or rights of the people actually living there at the time.[And, effectively set up the conditions which have resulted in the running-sore of conflict there, ever since]

              That's a beaut of a 'might is right' argument.

              And, what would be the reason that Taiwan is not recognized as a state? Could it be the threat of China which prevents it? After all, it's been in existence as a de facto state for more than 70 years. Isn't it about time that China (and the rest of the world) recognized reality?

              You're the one supporting 'might is right' – at least when it comes to China.

              • SPC

                You schooling continues

                1. Before 1949 territory was/could be won in war. Not afterward.
                2. The UK did deals with allies over post war arrangements – in those days those were the rules. The Balfour Declaration was made at that time, because of advocacy to them. Promises were also made to Arabs/Arab Palestinians.
                3. The League of Nations established a Palestine mandate, run by the BE.
                4. The United Nations replaced that organisation and determined on a partition of Palestine so there could be a Jewish majority and Arab majority areas – that had self-detemination self government nation states.
                5. Only one of the two took up that right. It was attacked by 5 Arab armies – attacks on nation states were supposed to trigger collective security actions by the UN, or other members nation states. Yet Israel like Ukraine had to fight on their own.
                6. As a result of the failure of the Arabs right by might strategy Israel's borders were larger afterwards (see that international rule – 1949 – after which even nations which won wars could no longer acquire territory off others).
                7. This is why no one recognises Russia's annexation of Crimea. Might is not right.

                And, what would be the reason that Taiwan is not recognized as a state? Could it be the threat of China which prevents it?

                1. Even the USA, which in 1949 placed its fleet between Taiwan and China after the Nationalists fled there, and the Nationalists themselves claimed Taiwan was part of China.
                2. Taiwan was not recognised as an independent nation state in 1949 – in fact it was run by the Nationalist government in exile until the 1990's with no elections (a dictatorship by military occupation).
                3. Taiwan re-invented itself as a self governing area in the 1990's, but still did not claim independence from China.
                4. Taiwan still does not claim to be outside China.
                5. The USA regards Taiwan as part of China, but opposes an invasion of it by China to assert governance over it.

                it's been in existence as a de facto state for more than 70 years.

                Why did East Germany and West Germany become one state?

                Taiwan has been (democratically) self governing for about 30 years.

                Hong Kong was run by the British since 1840 and by a Treaty 1897-1997. Currently with a transition agreement 1897-2047.

                Isn't it about time that China (and the rest of the world) recognized reality?

                The UN regards Taiwan as part of China, and so does every nation of NATO and AUKUS. Taiwan cannot in international law ask for help to defend it as a nation state from an aggressor. Because it is not recognised as one.

                • Belladonna

                  Ah, yes the Society for the Promotion of China continues their propaganda.

                  • SPC

                    When someone wants the last word and have no argument to make… they reveal themselves … their petty tribalism and the arguments of their ilk.

                    The same portrayal used by the Bush regime when illegally acting in Iraq – that those not on their side were on the side of terrorists (those who use violence to get their way).

                    It's obvious you lack respect for international law and a rules based order, despite it being the basis of our foreign and diplomatic policy.

                    Apparently these are values held by some, only when convenient and tossed aside when that is no longer the case.

                    A simple question have you voted Labour since 1990?

                    I ask because a former servility to empire, or of more recent times to the American security regime is associated with a party that saw the working class and its interests as inimical to their own.

                    • Belladonna

                      It's obvious to me, that it is only in relation to China that you have your rather … limited … opinions about international law.

                      And, it's *never* OK to ask how someone votes.

                      You might want to have a think about why that might be.

                      Your comment about "servility to empire" is highly ironic in relation to your obvious partisanship for a regime which is repressive internally and territorially aggressive externally.

  4. Bruce 5

    I see there are more terrorists in Yunnan now.

    https://youtu.be/tR9IqiqidmQ

    No doubt soon to be pacified by the benevolent Xi.

  5. Gosman 6

    "China has never aimed to become a power beyond its borders"

    I believe the Tibetans and Vietnamese would beg to differ.

    • In Vino 6.1

      Gosman, who are you to speak for the Tibetans? In 1943, for the US Ministry of War, Frank Capra directed an Oscar-winning Documentary series of films called: "Why We Fight" Largely anti-Japanese propaganda, but in the 5th film "War in China" it is clearly shown (DVD reading 1.7.80) that Tibet is the 5th province of China. Clearly recognised as such by the USA.

      But in 1949 the vast majority of Chinese peasants reviled the USA-favoured option of Chiang Kai Shek, and he had to run away to Taiwan.

      At this point George Orwell's 1984 Big Brother stuff came into play. I remember the stories in the newspapers at the time: because China had had the cheek to turn communist, China was no longer our noble ally!

      A few years later China reoccupied its province, but over here China was now suddenly portrayed as the evil invader of (even more suddenly) the innocent, always-independent nation of Tibet!

      Gosman, how stupid do you think we all are?

      I remember reading on the inside of the newspaper (outside pages still had Classified ads back then) about atrocities inflicted by cruel Chinese troops. Apparentlty they put parents into ditches an made their children urinate upon them.

      I became a cynic, and I am still especially cynical about your spinnings, Gosman.

    • roblogic 6.2

      As would several other nations around the South China Sea, the Pacific, and the Belt and Road debt trap.

  6. Ed 7

    Mike, you are a rare voice of reason on this matter and on the Ukraine.

    Once upon a time, the left fought on the side of anti-imperialism and for peace, but since the time of Tony Blair, the liberal elite has become the prowar party.

  7. Ad 8

    Pretty hard to argue with China's concern about all those US military bases in the western Pacific, as well as Australia and Japan and Korea.

    For moment of imaginative bliss, we could be done a favour if the US took its military and just packed up.

    In that moment of imaginative bliss, would China simply fill the void of power?

    • aj 8.1

      History tells us that such voids are always filled. Voids are created by wars. It's a no-win situation.

  8. Sanctuary 9

    Mike Smith dismisses this Gerald Hensley article as written by "…mind-readers who presume to tell us how their (China's) leader thinks…" Before favouring us with his own clairvoyant moment, reassuring us that "…China has never aimed to become a power beyond its borders…" One would be rather more certain of Mike Smith's foreign policy clairvoyance if it were not for events to consistently reveal themselves in ways wholly unexpected by his prognistications.

    And, we are smoothly reassured, "What China did in fact was to enact the clause 23 of the treaty guaranteeing peace and stability that the interim Government had failed to introduce. The uprising stopped and peace returned to Hong Kong…" Ah yes, the violence of those pesky democracy protesters was halted in Hong Kong by the application of brutal repression, revealing a previously unsuspected predilection for utilitarianism in Mr Smith – a predilection which he fails to extend to United States policy in the region.

    Mr. Smith falls prey to a common failing that the campist left in New Zealand is rather prone to doing – to puff Chinese authoritarianism and state capitalism. This just doesn't do. The Beijing regime is a ghastly survelliance police state. It persecutes the Uyghurs and it has watched the ecocide of China's environment. The excitement that China produces in the campist left has to do with the idea that, by rupturing the Washington-led order, it creates possible alternatives. There's a hope that despite it's wickedness there is something to learn from its current dynamism. And perhaps even that, as brutal as it is, it is more rational and forward-thinking than Washington's imperialism. To me, Mr. Smith discerns in China a romantic (and presumably Maoist) third worldism, with a kind of joint dictatorship of the proleteriat of the oppressed peoples that over-throws the existing world order and one, we can shrewdly surmise, where he imagines he and his Maori sovereignty chums just happen to end up on top as the regional attack dogs for the new Napoleon in the farm house.

    And you see, this is the rub. You don't have to agree with the shrill cold war rhetoric of Gerald Hensley to realise it isn't good enough to just imagine the smashing by force of the US led world order. We have to also postulate what might replace it. If you consider that replacing the benign imperialism (for us) of the United States would be the dystopian repression and authoritarianism of Xi in cahoots with the neo-fascist irridentism of Putin, then suddenly all those US bases around China look at lot more reassuring…

    • SPC 9.1

      with a kind of joint dictatorship of the proleteriat of the oppressed peoples that over-throws the existing world order and one, we can shrewdly surmise, where he imagines he and his Maori sovereignty chums just happen to end up on top as the regional attack dogs for the new Napoleon in the farm house.

      You were not involved with the police raids in the Urewera's were you?

      The idea that overthrow/end of a monarchy is the end of an ancien regime we should regret, could end up sounding up like the white race nation dream of William Massey and so easily be portrayed as an imperial colonial order security alliance for the over-rule of indigenous peoples. Even the Papacy has apologised for what happened in Latin America.

      Presumably otherwise you would expect Maori to provide a battalion for the liberation of their “motherland” in Taiwan to prove they are not rebellious against the current Crown regime.

      A simple question, if there is a choice for Taiwan between co-existence autonomy within China or invasion – should they chose to be like Ukraine or not?

      And why is the USA committing to fight to defend Taiwan from China and not Ukraine from Russia?

  9. Corey 10

    All NZ does is diplomacy with China.

    We have bent over backwards to accommodate China, to the point we look like Keanu Reeves in the Matrix.

    We regularly sell our dignity and our history of being a nation that stands up to superpowers, for milk powder access

    We are afraid to criticize China least our economy be obliterated by a petulant China, Xi has been horrific for China's foreign relations.

    We do diplomacy with China everyday.

    I've noticed a tactic of pro China advocates in NZ to say they want NZ to have an "independent foreign policy" but what they really mean is they want NZ to further align itself with China because when we do anything that can be seen as the slightest whisper of criticism of china they rip their hair out.

    If NZ is to develop an independent foreign policy, it will still side more often than not with Australia, USA , Canada, UK and the EU because we have vastly more in common with those nations which are democracies, with free speech, workers rights, freedom of religion, right to assemble and common rule of law

    where as China, above all else is a one party authoritarian state with no protections on speech, workers rights, assembly, freedom of religion etc.

    We should absolutely develop a more independent foreign policy, which requires us to massively move beyond being a dairy farm for China, we cannot be an independent nation while being so reliant on one nation that could obliterate our economy.

    We should be friendly with everyone, willing to criticize everyone and willing to work with everyone

    But we should also be an outspoken advocate internationally for democracy, workers rights, human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and right of assembly, it's who we are, it's what we believe in , pretending otherwise would not make us independent it would make us a dependent.

  10. Gray Southon 11

    To make any sense of this very challenging situation we need to recognise that there are many more countries around than the US and China, and many of them have the same challenge that we have, of balancing off the competing powers, and together we could make quite a influential impact.

    Also, we need to appreciate that war is no longer like a schoolyard bashup – with current technologies, becoming evermore powerful, the survival of civilisation is at stake. Many nations have the sense to realise that war is not in their interests, so developing ways of resolving conflict with war is paramount. Why were so many countries interested in the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons?

    Further, we need to realise that peace can be engineered in the most difficult circumstance. Consider Western Europe after WWII, where a long history of brutal warfare was turned around in a few years to form a reign of peace and cooperation which still largely holds. Strangely, this apparent miracle has received very little analytical attention, either by the international relations or the peace communities.

    So we must move beyond the incredibly dangerous and fatalistic assumption about the inevitability of war to develop other ways of resolving our conflicts.

  11. The Chairman 12

    It seems to me that war is coming.

    Therefore, we must start preparing the nation (oil supplies, medicines, etc) so it will enable us to see it through.

    • SPC 12.1

      It comes under a wider need for resilience (coastal shipping, sorting out the Cook Strait movement of goods and talks with ASEAN about distribution hubs/networks to the Tasman-Pacific).

      • The Chairman 12.1.1

        If war breaks out with China, covid supply chain issues will pale in comparison.

        Yes, building resilience is imperative.

  12. Baw 13

    Nat voter. (who is pro nuke ships)

    Agree Agree Agree.

    I listened to Kissinger recently who called for quiet back channel work with China to sort out their issues with the USA, along with some meetings between the two Presidents. Love him or hate him – his idea has merit.

    But of course there are those who will simply discount what you have written because it conflicts with their world view. Commie China bad – Democratic USA good.

    The big thing is that we must remember the lessons of 1950, when the USA got to close for comfort to China – and so they entered the Korean war and forced the USA back to the start line. China has some red lines, we must make sure they are not crossed.

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    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    7 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    21 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Funding hole for tax cuts growing by the day
    The pressure is mounting on the Government as it finalises its Budget Policy Statement, but yet more predicted revenue ‘goes missing’. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Climate Commission has delivered another funding blow to the National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government’s tax-cutting plans, potentially carving $1.4 billion off the ‘climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
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    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
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    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
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    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
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    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
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    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
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    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
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    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
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    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
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    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
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    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
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    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
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    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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