Doofus of the Week – April 20, 2018

Written By: - Date published: 9:07 am, April 21st, 2018 - 73 comments
Categories: doofus of the week, Media, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, tv, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

This week we have a clear winner.

It is someone whose claim to fame was that they were a cricketer.  His nickname was Rigor, as in rigor mortis, such was the electrifying effect he had on the game.

He somehow made it into television and then onto talk shows where he gets to exercise his skills as a very slow batsman to talk about politics.

He reached the pinnacle of his career when he was torn to shreds by Jacinda Ardern before the last election after he asked her about her pregnancy plans.  He clearly thinks that employers should have complete access to all employees’ biological plans and impulses.

Jacinda crushed him.  Here is the video with her finger wagging skills on show.

Clearly he has not forgotten this and he has this deep seated resentment at how he was publicly humiliated.

Yesterday morning he had this outrageous meltdown on live TV. Newshub records what happened.

Mark Richardson has launched a blistering attack at the “sanctimony” over Jacinda Ardern, saying she’s “not a pioneer when it comes to women holding successful roles”.

It comes as Ms Ardern was chosen as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine during what has largely been seen as a successful European tour.

“Can we all just settle down a little bit?” The AM Show sport host asked on Friday morning.

“Yes, she’s a pioneer when it comes to maybe being the Prime Minister of a country and having a pregnancy. She’s going to have a baby. That’s great.

“But I don’t think she’s a pioneer when it comes to women holding successful roles, having babies and still doing a fine job of it. That’s been going on in this country for some time now.”

“I’m sick the sanctimony that’s coming out of our disgraceful written media at the moment. They’re the ones that are leading this charge and they should be ashamed of themselves.”

Yep we have had lots of Prime Ministers having babies while they are in office.  And Richardson clearly yearns for days gone past when the previous Prime Minister made sports jocks proud to be men.

Then the real reasons for Richardson’s response came out.

“Perhaps I’m still annoyed by the way my words in the first place were so badly twisted out of shape. Words were put in my mouth that did not exist at the time and I’m still pissed.”

He was referring to his infamous clash with Ms Ardern prior to the election last year, when he said people deserved to know whether or not she was planning to have a baby.

Mark let it go.  Either you thought that we all should know what Jacinda’s breeding plans were or even worse you thought that employers should have the right to know what their employees’ breeding plans are.

And why do the media think that their feelings are more important than what is happening in the world?  Give me red radio any day.

But Mark Richardson for belittling the Prime Minister because your feelings were hurt by her you are this week’s doofus of the week.

73 comments on “Doofus of the Week – April 20, 2018 ”

  1. dukeofurl 1

    Hilarious take down of Richardson by Spinoff

    https://thespinoff.co.nz/media/20-04-2018/in-tv-outburst-mark-richardson-announces-he-is-sick-of-mark-richardson/

    “The Oxford Dictionary defines sanctimony as “The action or practice of acting as if one were morally superior to other people.”

    Richardson does sanctimony like none other in the media

    “Or his recent sanctimony in dismissing those who suggest being a mother is tantamount to a job. “It is hard work being a mum, but you can’t call it a job, it is a fact of life. We raise children on this planet. Don’t call it a job,” he said, sanctimoniously.”

    he should try it!

  2. Anne 2

    Actually I’m going to be a little contrary here. I accept Mark Richardson is a bore and some of his comments are racist and sexist (not a lot different to many male NZers including a few of my own relatives) but it is the media he has in his sights, and, imo, much of what he says is true.

    I think anyone who has been through the wringer because of something stupid they have said or done knows what it can be like. Their detractors won’t leave it alone and it can follow them around for months even years. He’s probably not being allowed to “let it go”.

    • Tracey 2.1

      I agree with his statement about the media but his lack of self awareness that he only has the roles he does because media has gone to hell in a handbasket overrides any point he has… because it was clearly accidental 😉

      As a cricket and sport commentator he has besmirched people regularly who have no right of reply. TV3 foubd themselves a Hosking.

      A stopped clock and all that

      Mark Richardson is representing the white male group that considers equality oppression.

      • Anne 2.1.1

        …his lack of self awareness that he only has the roles he does because media has gone to hell in a handbasket overrides any point he has… because it was clearly accidental.

        Never thought of it that way and you’re probably correct. Needless to say he got it right even if it is for the wrong reason. 🙁

  3. Ed 3

    Richardson could be doofus of the week every week.
    He and his co presenter Garner.

    Proof that you don’t have to be intelligent or informed to front news and media organisations.

    • Unicus 3.1

      Cricket bitch is a name which rests easily on Richardson’s shoulders.

      And oh yes the print media is indeed despicable – for refusing to even acknowledge the Prime Ministers presence in Europe – let alone her huge achievements there

      • Ed 3.1.1

        Yes – despicable.
        A good word to describe them.
        Tools.

      • Stunned mullet 3.1.2

        “And oh yes the print media is indeed despicable – for refusing to even acknowledge the Prime Ministers presence in Europe – let alone her huge achievements there”

        That’s a fine alternate reality your living in unicus – what print media are you reading these days ?

        • Ed 3.1.2.1

          Yesterday you barely find a word online from Stuff and New Zealand Herald about the PM’s visit to London.

        • Unicus 3.1.2.2

          I get most of my Adern news from overseas publication because of the refusal of. NZME and Fairfax to offer anything but critiques of. Adern and her government

          Example : two papers here in the north today the Saturday Herald and the Northern advocate . Both offered only grudging reference to Aderns stunning London debut
          A corny cartoon in the Herald and a page five rant about her scandals back home in the Advocate .

          Twinned with this in the Advocate was a pic of Obama and Key when they were both somebody’s – on the opposite page glowing story and pic of Simon and Sweaty .

          It’s real alright – these companies are subverting democracy in New Zealand .

  4. Chuck 4

    “Mark let it go. Either you thought that we all should know what Jacinda’s breeding plans were or even worse you thought that employers should have the right to know what their employees’ breeding plans are.”

    MS, Jacinda opened that line of questioning up all by herself…

    “And if they don’t, the next leader won’t be her. She doesn’t want to work the ridiculous hours, she doesn’t want the acute spotlight of media scrutiny and having recently moved in with her partner, Auckland media personality Clarke Gayford, she wants to have kids.”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701114

    Jacinta Ardern = I want to have kids

    Jacinda Ardern then a short while latter = how dare you ask me if I want to have kids.

    Australian Women’s Weekly NZ – 2018-02-01- “Jacinda has always been open about wanting a family”

    • You_Fool 4.1

      Jacinda (actual comment): it is ok to ask me because I opened up about it, but you can’t say it is an employer’s right to know…

      Good try at rewriting history though..

    • Tracey 4.2

      And he said employers have a right to know if a woman is going to get pregnant… not a right to know if a man has or intends to impregnate a woman.

      Nice editting as noted below by the aptly named

      You Fool

      • Chuck 4.2.1

        “And he said employers have a right to know if a woman is going to get pregnant”

        I agree in general terms that an employer has no place in asking that question.

        However, does a prospective employee have an obligation to inform a prospective employer that they are pregnant?

        • tracey 4.2.1.1

          Er… you agree an employer cannot ask but think an employer should have an obligation to tell the employer?

          Do you know why men arent asked this? They can take parental leave? I know Mark would probably NEVER consider giving up his well paying job to talk out of his arse but men do. Bridges wasnt asked if he is having another? He wasnt asked how he would handle being a Leader with a 4 month old and 2 others under 5. Be under no illusion chuck, this isnt really about employers having a right to know an employee might go on leave

          • chris73 4.2.1.1.1

            Interestingly one of the things that was always thrown in Sir John Keys face was his education, or lack of

            “Hes only got a commerce degree” as if to suggest hes not smart enough to be PM yet Cindy has an even less impressive education yet no ones suggesting shes not smart enough to be PM, double standards maybe?

            • Incognito 4.2.1.1.1.1

              Since when do we measure education solely by degree? Having a degree does not make one smart and lack of a degree does not make one stupid. At the same time, there are a lot of degree snobs around, e.g. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/84691054/Nigel-Latta-Time-to-end-education-snobbery

              • chris73

                As I said: “one of the things that was always thrown in Sir John Keys face was his education, or lack of”

                • Incognito

                  Yes, same with Brownlee and Joyce’s Zoology degree (and his marks for an economics paper), for example; it’s pathetic. Politicians should be judged on their political merit & achievements; everything else is a sideshow or distraction (that includes comments about looks & appearance).

              • Unfknblvble

                A pointless tangent. Ones education has no similarity to ones choice to raise a family.

            • solkta 4.2.1.1.1.2

              Is there a less impressive degree than a Commerce degree? I wouldn’t think so.

              • tracey

                A law degree when only 25% can find jobs in a law firm?

              • chris73

                A commerce degree from Canterbury is probably considered more impressive than a communications degree from Waikato

            • tracey 4.2.1.1.1.3

              I dont recall people saying that about Key. About Brownlee and about Joyce’s triple economics failure when made Finance Minister but I dont recall criticisms of Key around his Comnerce Degree

              I recall I said that he was a curreny trader which is not of itself useful for overseeing the multiple areas a PM must cover including the extensive environment and social “contracts”. The notion that being a currency trader meant he could run a country economy well is slightly off base. Financial literacy is useful of course but a country is NOT a business, despite how many times some say it is.

              A MP in my view must be adept at listening, at understanding information from all sides, at knowing when to seek expertise and communicating well with others. These skills can be gained from a variety of life experiences.

  5. Chuck 5

    “Mark let it go. Either you thought that we all should know what Jacinda’s breeding plans were or even worse you thought that employers should have the right to know what their employees’ breeding plans are.”

    MS, Jacinda opened that line of questioning up all by herself…

    “And if they don’t, the next leader won’t be her. She doesn’t want to work the ridiculous hours, she doesn’t want the acute spotlight of media scrutiny and having recently moved in with her partner, Auckland media personality Clarke Gayford, she wants to have kids.”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11701114

    Jacinta Ardern = I want to have kids

    Jacinda Ardern then a short while latter = how dare you ask me if I want to have kids.

    Then back to this: Australian Women’s Weekly NZ – 2018-02-01- “Jacinda has always been open about wanting a family”

    Jacinda has had no problem talking about her baby plans since at least 2016, but it depends on who asks her it seems.

    EDIT: I seem to have posted twice…

    • Tracey 5.1

      And even when posting twice you still left out the most important part. Now, try for a 3rd post and give us the entire transcript

  6. Incognito 6

    Seems to me that Mr Mark Richardson is suffering from Fragile Ego & Androgyne Regression (AKA FEAR) because he knows the male sex chromosome (X) is shrinking and disappearing. This puts into question his identity as talk show cricket and reason for being. Or maybe he’s just a Doofus.

    • Koff 6.1

      FYI The male sex chromosome is Y! Males have 1 X and 1 Y while females have 2 X’s!

      • dukeofurl 6.1.1

        The other issue with (young) males is testosterone

        Males 19+ level is 240- 950

        females 19+ level is 20-75

        • Incognito 6.1.1.1

          The other issue with Doofi (M/F) 19+ is that their flatulence levels cause acute and lasting brain fog that impairs normal brain function (AKA thinking and speech control).

      • Incognito 6.1.2

        I never was any good at karyotyping nor at algebra and I always got those X’s and Y’s mixed up – I wonder whether I’m dyslexic and how I got as far as I did 😉

        My whole comment was a poor attempt at trying to be funny, as is this one. Maybe I need to do some exercise outside …

  7. gsays 7

    I would have thought someone like Richardson would have to display meteoric doofusery to win this award.
    These outbursts are par for the course for this mouthpiece.

    Unfortunately, like folau, these opinions have a constituency, they are shared by a significant number of people.
    After all the National party got approx 40+% of the vote last election.

  8. Bewildered 8

    As with every thing there is some truth in what Richardson says and many would agree with him, so to a degree perception is reality In defense of Ardern it’s not her fault, she can only be who she is, In this regard I don’t think Richardson was attacking her but more so the the media infatuation with Ardern celebrity than rather is she a good pm and critiquing her so called goals for nz and the policies, plans or lack of to achieve such beyond grand slogans In this regard you could argue the media not Richardson should be accused of belittling Arden and her office with their mush and carry on

  9. Chris T 10

    Seems to be a lot of dragging up his past questions about Jacindas baby plans, which she actually said he could ask her.

    And very little criticism of his latest comments.

    I’m guessing because there is little to argue against.

    She isn’t the first woman have a baby while keeping a career going. And there does seem to be a massive amount of media hype over it.

    • Descendant Of Sssmith 10.1

      Can’t wait for the shots of Jacinda planking with her new born, having a secret cup of tea in a cafe with loads of press outside, wearing a butchers apron by the royal barbie, run-walk modelling the next rugby world cup uniform, hanging out with the All Blacks in the dressing room, three way hand-shake photo-op …….

      Ah the opportunity to replicate and parody all those classic John Key photo moments – it should be done!

      • joe90 10.1.1

        Ponyboy couldn’t buy Ardern’s class.

        At Buckingham Palace, where I guess she would’ve had a choice of designer coats, she chooses a Korowai 😍 @jacindaardern can’t buy that in Milan or Rodeo Drive pic.twitter.com/6vjPbof1GY— Mat-Nat McMat (@EssDotBlack) April 20, 2018

      • Bewildered 10.1.2

        Agree and Key got a lot of flak for It so no one should really complain Ardern getting flak for simply aping key But again Richardson was not having a go at Ardern but media, much of flak against key however was highly personal and just plain hate,I have not seen such hatred scorned on Ardern beyond odd nut job on kiwi blog

        • tracey 10.1.2.1

          Then you need to look around a bit more. Facebook comments on tvnz newshub etc are full of posters calling her a horse, ugly etc etc. Some suggest Clarke is on a salary to be with her and so on.

      • Chris T 10.1.3

        None of which addresses my point

  10. Fred H 11

    Mark Richardson, subject matter expert in the field of: being good at hitting a ball with a stick across a field….and lately being shot down by the PM with a wave of her finger. He just needs to left under the bridge and ignored.

    • Bewildered 11.1

      To be fair Jacinda cv ain’t all that flash either, as Chris t indicated pretty unreasonable if every Richardson comment is judged on one comment of his a long time ago He wasn’t even commenting on Ardern this time but media trivalisation of her and her office It’s all a bit sad that people will only hear a arguement if they think the person making a point is worthy in thier eyes not the merit of the arguenent itself Unfortunatly that’s where we are at as a Society and we are poorer for it

      • tracey 11.1.1

        The man is a walking imitation of Hosking. That he berates the media for focusing on trivial things while failing to see he is paid hundreds of thousands to create trivial media is worse than ironic.

        He is filling a gap though. For all those white men who are finding the equality of others oppressive.

        To be fair, to compare Ardern’s CV and job to Richardson’s suggests being fair is not on your mind at all.

        • Bewildered 11.1.1.1

          Yep he provides light entertainment that you can choose to watch or not, this does not preclude him from having an opinion as such what ever you do does not preclude you, Irrespective of your opinion of the richardson the point he highlighted yesterday has some merit, this is not saying you have to like him. Also my point on Ardern cv is not contrasting hers with Richardson but simply Fred binging experience into debate is a red herring and has nothing to do with the merit or lack of merit re the point Richardson made You seem to be falling into the same trap, playing the person rather than discussing the merit of Richardson point To a degee you take it even further adding a straw man arguement of old white guys

          • patricia bremner 11.1.1.1.1

            Bewildered, Jacinda Ardern does not require our permission to have a family.

            Her appearances in the news and elsewhere is part of our appetite to know what she is doing.

            Richardson is still sour at being corrected about employers asking women their family plans. His outburst on TV3 showed that.

            AS to “Old white men” we “girls” get a bit tired of throw away statements as well.

            I have met her. She is genuine clever and really cares. She is doing well and making it look easy.

            Mark gets his opinions mixed with facts. He spends his time rationalising what he previously meant.

            • Bewildered 11.1.1.1.1.1

              I am not questioning Jacinda although I have my doubts, Richardson point was about the media trivialising Ardern and her office with celerity mush, not an attabk on Ardern contrary most posts here are sttack in him not the point he made. As I siad in my first post Jacinda is who she is that’s all she can be, I have no problem with that, not do I dislike her, wether I think she is a good on that’s another question I dislike trump but I can’t argue as potus he has done some good stuff , North Korea, Syria , isil etc Been good pm Or potus is not about been nice Jacinda has not done anything yet, the hush from the media is similar to Obama’s Nobel peace prize earned after 5 minutes, again this was not Obama’s fault but the Nobel fawning committee as are some of our press acting as they should be writing for women’s weekly or Hello

              • tracey

                How did you feel about Richardsons silence on the devaluation of Keys office with all the celebrity mush? Let me guess, you didnt like that attitude toward Key either… just hadnt noticed Richardson never questioned it?

            • Bewildered 11.1.1.1.1.2

              You don’t get it I am not questioning Jacinda although I have my doubts, Richardson point was about the media and trivialising Ardern and her office with celerity mush, As I siad in my first post Jacinda is who she is that’s all she can be, I have no problem with that, not do I dislike her, wether I think she is a good pm that’s another question I dislike trump but I can’t argue as potus he has done some good stuff , North Korea, Syria , isil etc Being good pm Or potus is not about being nice Jacinda has not done anything yet to warrant legacy status Thec rubbish from the media is similar to Obama’s Nobel peace prize earned after 5 minutes, again this was not Obama’s fault but the nobel committee fawning over obama as are some of our press acting as they should be writing for women’s weekly or Hello

            • tracey 11.1.1.1.1.3

              And “old white men” was actually “some old white men” and has barely been in existence… the fact that word was left out in media and other retelling speaks volumes.

          • tracey 11.1.1.1.2

            Not a straw man argument an opinion on what lies beneath some of his bizarre utterings. I did agree he had a point, which you ignored for reasons only you know.

            You can take Richardsons comments in isolation or you can observe a pattern. You choose the former, I the latter. He recently said being a “mother” is not a job. He has history.

            Opinions are like arseholes, everyone has them but those who get paid for them need to expect theirs to be analysed.

  11. AsleepWhileWalking 12

    A little disappointed to see this week’s Doofus is the beige shirt of presenters.

    The vaguely controversial commentary is probably what I will remember him most by. This of course assumes he doesn’t Tony Veitch all over my Suzuki Swift.

  12. chris73 13

    Really MS, this is what you add:

    “His nickname was Rigor, as in rigor mortis, such was the electrifying effect he had on the game”

    I’m going to assume that you know he was a test specialist (and with good reason, only four one day matchs) but since you’ve opened the door on his sporting ability lets see what his stats actually are:

    http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/38251.html

    Test average of 44.77 sounds pretty decent to me, lets see how that compares to every other NZ cricketer:

    http://stats.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/engine/records/batting/highest_career_batting_average.html?class=1;id=5;type=team (Minimum of 20 innings)

    Gosh he has the fifth highest test average of all NZ cricketers and the highest test average of all NZ openers

    You couldn’t just stick to the comments he made, you just had to try and belittle his sporting career as well?

    • joe90 13.1

      Yeah, he’s a cricketer and he’s done little to disabuse me of the notion that all cricketers are wankers.

      • chris73 13.1.1

        Thats fine (and also a bit dumb really when you consider how many cricketers there are) but why try to make out something he was good at and noted for to be a bad thing

        “Ohhh Grant Fox he was only good at kicking” as an example when the reality is hes one of our finest first fives ever, easily top three of all time

        • joe90 13.1.1.1

          I’ve attended more than enough senior grade after-match piss ups with the top end of the town to know that, indeed, all cricketers are wankers.

          • chris73 13.1.1.1.1

            “all cricketers are wankers”

            Well I’ve met some NZ rep cricketers and some are pretty decent guys (Chris Cairns on the other hand…), some are aloof but if you’ve ever read any of Martin Crowes writings on cricket it might also have been them wearing masks due to insecurities and we could go back on forth on this but unless you’ve met every cricketer you can’t just say all cricketers are wankers

            Well I mean obviously you can say it but you’d be wrong

          • Bewildered 13.1.1.1.2

            Going by your statement I assume you are an outstanding cricketer 😉

            Does your statement cover women and child cricketers as well

            • joe90 13.1.1.1.2.1

              I was only ever there for the pavilion’s cheap after-match piss, my mother in-law was a rather odd woman who happened to be an Otago rep in her youth and age group rep cricket is probably why my one of brother’s boys turned out to be the petulant little shit that he is.

          • Hillary 13.1.1.1.3

            Thanks for calling me a wanker….

            What an insecure person you must be for labeling everyone that plays a particular sport as a wanker. I have played and coached cricket and there are plenty of outstanding players with great morals. Cricketers like any people are just a subset of our community with their good points and their bad points.

            • joe90 13.1.1.1.3.1

              Aww, you’ve taken my Saturday night piss take to heart and now your fee fees are all hurt.

              So soz, lotsa and lotsa of so soz’s.

              /

              • Gabby

                Passive Aggressive Boygenius Lends Credence to Cricketers’ Offspring Wankerism Theory.

    • KJT 13.2

      Pity his brain never developed beyond sport. Unlike some other sports people who have used their fame to do a lot of good.

  13. Cinny 14

    He’s not dealing with it very well, having tantrums on the telly, his ego has been displaying a public melt down since the nats lost.

    Makes him come across as an absolute arsehole on morning tv, funny thing is the lack of public sympathy, now that says it all really.

    PS never heard of him when he was a cricketer.

    • tracey 14.1

      He had a very interesting career. Was a bowler who batted 10 or 11 for St Kentigern College ( with Adam Parore whose real story beggars belief). Mark reinvented himself as an opening batsmen and in my viewed served a good purpose in that role for NZ.

      His I Reckons on the other hand are Hosking V2 and represent a world view that in my view is a blinkered self serving one that presupposes the world is for others as it is for a privately educated professional sportsman.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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