English on the economic turmoil

Written By: - Date published: 9:20 am, September 23rd, 2011 - 53 comments
Categories: bill english, capitalism, economy, International, tax - Tags: ,

As most of the headlines this morning focus on the crumbling world economy, it was interesting to hear Bill English on RNZ (audio link).

The world economy is slowing down a bit …

Quite a talent for understatement.

We haven’t been able to dig the big economies out of their low growth … there’s no more clever solutions

There haven’t been any “clever solutions” at all yet because: (1) all the “stimulus” has been directed to the wrong place, Wall St bankers not Main St productive economy; and (2) governments have been addressing the wrong problem, trying to reduce debt through austerity and thus further damaging the economy.

There are now obviously now no easy answers coming form lower interest rates . There’s no more talk about the magic of stimulus coming from some big government spending because people realise the dangers of the debt that goes with it.

There never were any easy answers.  And when English dismisses the “magic of stimulus” recall that almost all the “stimulus” so far has been in the form of bailouts to failed banks and financial institutions (where it turned in to more recorded “bonuses” for executives of course).

So they [governments] do have to start deciding to spend a bit less, tax a bit more, and get their debt down …

Goodness me – did I just hear (around 3:10 in the audio) Bill English call for higher taxes as a sensible response to debt?  Don’t panic “wealth creators”, he wasn’t talking about NZ of course! Sensible solutions are only for other countries.

53 comments on “English on the economic turmoil ”

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  1. Craig Glen Eden 1
    23 September 2011 at 9:41 am

    Yeah so when are National announcing the increase in Tax’s for he rich? Oh thats the right thats the solution for every one else but not here in New Zuland. No the solution here is to sell the Tax payers assets so your mates can get ownership of some thing they could never have fronted the cash for from the start. The poor old working class always do the heavy lifting aye.

  2. ghostwhowalksnz 2
    23 September 2011 at 9:48 am

    Oh yes he is talking about more taxes…… after the election.

    Not income taxes of course, but likely a whole raft of government charges, with EQC leading the way

  3. joe90 3
    23 September 2011 at 9:51 am

    The Non-Scenic Route to the Place We’re Going Anyway.

    That number includes the surprising and alarming German 0.1 per cent, the desperately poor French 0 per cent and then, wait for it, the agreeably frisky Belgian 0.7 per cent. Why is that, if you’ve been following the story, laugh-aloud funny? Because Belgium doesn’t have a government. Thanks to political stalemate in Brussels, it hasn’t had one for 15 months. No government means none of the stuff all the other governments are doing: no cuts and no ‘austerity’ packages. In the absence of anyone with a mandate to slash and burn, Belgian public sector spending is puttering along much as it always was; hence the continuing growth of their economy. It turns out that from the economic point of view, in the current crisis, no government is better than any government – any existing government.

  4. Countersinker 4
    23 September 2011 at 9:59 am

    Cut spending as well. No frills prisons, tell Maoris to get stuffed, freeze benefits and withdraw UN contributions for a start. Local body rates to freeze, no Loopy Len spending in Auckland’s case.
    Increased taxes need to be implimented as well as spending cuts.
    BTW, I am mortgage free and earn $6K PM, I would not mind paying more tax if wasteful spending is also cut.
    Also, need to put tariffs on Chinese shit and look at manufacturing increase in NZ, start with tyres, something simple, more complicated things can follow when we get a better base of services and skills in place.

    • Zorr 4.1
      23 September 2011 at 10:06 am

      wow… hatefilled much?

      • Countersinker 4.1.1
        23 September 2011 at 10:10 am

        No hate, tough love. The era of open cheque books for vocal groups is closing.
        Too many bludgers built up over the years and expect an easy life at the workers expense.
        Labout & Greens want to look after this lot but others do not.

        • Akldnut 4.1.1.1
          23 September 2011 at 11:49 am

          “put tariffs on Chinese shit”

          Wow you were sounding like a radical RWNJ without a gun until you said that – it goes completely against the FTA with China thats being negotiated by your tory idols.

          Now you just sound sound like radical NJ without a gun.

          • Ianupnorth 4.1.1.1.1
            23 September 2011 at 3:21 pm

            it goes completely against the FTA with China thats being negotiated by your tory idols.

            That scared him off!
             
             

        • Ari 4.1.1.2
          23 September 2011 at 1:13 pm

          Spending cuts are the last thing you want in an over-cooled economy. What we need are better targeted taxes and other revenue streams. This isn’t an economic bubble- that’s when you can talk about cutting spending and so on. (although if you think that the number of “bludgers” is significant compared to overall benefit payments, you’re simply wrong. If anything, we should be paying out a little more so that we’re not actually paying starvation-level benefits)

          • aerobubble 4.1.1.2.1
            23 September 2011 at 1:54 pm

            People get by despite government. Spending cuts hurt middle class voters and
            National is sowing a backlash for itself in Nov. The short-term problem is
            too much cash chasing too few opportunities, that’s why National want to
            sell assets, to put more stuff into the wolrd economy and so ‘save it’.
            It won’t work because just as mobs of young and old are rising up
            for a better share of the shrinking pie, but the pie will continue shrinking
            as population increases, as energy runs out, as resource either are
            thrown away or have to be recycled (a more costly prospect).
            NZ needs better, Key comes out during the turd biggest sporting event
            and declares that not only will his government ignore Magna Carta
            but that the law can be rushed under urgency. sorry, it beggers
            belief that Key is our PM when even the ACT party (Sensible Sentencing
            Trust fan club) says the law changes have some scrunity!!!!
            While every rugby loving lawyer and judge globally find out our
            great leader is a total prick undermining the rule of law.

        • Irascible 4.1.1.3
          23 September 2011 at 3:36 pm

          Talking of vocal groups that should be cut off from the public purse why not include the Feidlander Road Transport Lobby, the Business Roundtable poverty criers group, the Finance Company speculators lobby, the IRFU, Warner bros and other speculator groups much fancied by Key?

        • mik e 4.1.1.4
          23 September 2011 at 4:51 pm

          what BS Your living up to your name their are more people on benefits now incl 24,00 more on the DPB .You obvoiusly can’t count so your propaganda is is sinking like our economy under bill english who still has’nt managed to get 1% growth in five years as finance minister.

        • Penny Bright 4.1.1.5
          23 September 2011 at 7:12 pm

          High time for ‘tough love’ against ‘corporate welfare’?

          High time to cut out the contractors and consultants to free up billion$ across central and local government for the public needy – instead of the private GREEDY?

          Penny Bright. ‘Independent Public Watchdog’. Candidate for Epsom.

        • John 4.1.1.6
          24 September 2011 at 8:10 am

          Ok then Countersunk lets ask for the bail out money back from the banks and scf plus the top earners who got the big tax cuts and if anyone own’s more than two homes take one off them and sell it

    • dave brown 4.2
      23 September 2011 at 11:30 am

      Rob, you are dead, stop haunting us. Hell has frozen over. The Rocky Horror Show lives.

    • mik e 4.3
      23 September 2011 at 4:57 pm

      Just get rid of Stephen Joyce And Borrowing Bill English Empty promise Key.Counterskunk look at the dedt under Nact up from $19 billion to $76 billion courtesy of borrowing bill double dipping dipstick from dipton.

    • MrSmith 4.4
      23 September 2011 at 7:04 pm

      Countersinker: you sound like a racist, sometime nationalist.

      I have been a little disappointed with the anti chinese sentiment in a few comments on the Standard lately, blaming all your problems and shortcomings on others as history shows us, is a very dangerous road to start traveling down.

  5. JS 5
    23 September 2011 at 10:15 am

    It is the begnning of the end for the era of the bankers. The new people’s movement which is currently occupying Wall Street is spreading to other cities and countries.
    It is not being mentioned in the paper based media yet but in the spirit of the age it has already has a wikipedia entry and a facebook page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupy_Wall_Street

  6. ak 6
    23 September 2011 at 10:18 am

    Ha ha – good spotting r0b, yes it’s ever-so tasty, innit, watching the architects and cheerleaders of greed and selfishness now presiding and dithering over the rapidly-rotting fruits of their own life’s work.

    Poor old Bill and Grinny peeping sheepishly askance at new taxes for the rich and “communism by stealth” measures that they dare not touch; the party of finacial prudence borrowing $300mill a week and waving bye-bye to increasing hordes of our “best and brightest” who vote for the NACTZies ludicrous “brighter future” with their feet and a two-finger salute.

    The bewildering world of Do-nothing and Plod: the good catholic lad and the son of a solo mother who rode a wave of benny-bashing hatred, racism and a blatant $50/wk election bribe to glory – only to preside over Labour policy, to welcome the Maori Party into government, and to enjoy unprecedented popularity for doing so!

    The economic wizards of NACT: grinning intellectual ants now piloting a cork about to be engulfed by the very storm they themselves created. Their media-owning puppeteers enjoying the last cream bun as the fey, rich white vultures circle for scraps from the dragon’s table. Galloping inequality and international ridicule on the rise, third-world status just another NACT term away.

    To paraphrase that notable philosopher, Simpson, B: The ironing is delicious, but it’s our kids getting flattened.

    • joe90 6.1
      23 September 2011 at 10:41 am

      ^, ak, has put a smile on me dial that’s gonna last me right through till the Warriors kick off.

    • Ari 6.2
      23 September 2011 at 1:16 pm

      Actually, it’s even worse than waving goodbye to our best and brightest- NACT’s education shake-ups have stopped many smart students on self-paced courses (you know, the ones that people who don’t function well in universities tend to favour) from being able to extend their end dates, so many people who would otherwise be headed for success won’t even be qualified to ship themselves overseas, and will instead either be stuck on benefits or in McJobs. What a waste.

      • Shona 6.2.1
        23 September 2011 at 3:01 pm

        Describes one of my offspring’s situation perfectly. There’es no way he can earn enough to live on and can’t complete his training due to the earthquake affecting his education institution’s abilty to function and the armed forces are not taking anyone. Just advertising. Drowning in student debt stuck living with the parents and no effing prospects.

  7. Afewknowthetruth 7
    23 September 2011 at 10:33 am

    Nothing within the paradigms of mainstream economics or mainstream politics can ‘fix’ what is happening because a meltdown is inhenerent in the system. The only question has been ‘when?’

    Bill English is either an ignorant twat or a saboteur.

    Everything that really matters has been getting worse for decades, and will continue to get worse as long as such people are in power. And from here on, most of the things that don’t matter are also very likely to get worse.

    As I said on the other thread, Nature does not negotiat. Attempts to defy the laws of physics, chemistry and mathematics etc. are bound to result in failure.

  8. johnm 8
    23 September 2011 at 11:58 am

    The Peak Oil Crisis: The German Army Report

    The Global Economy is being beaten down by the Free Market Force of No More Oil Supply Increase and Oil supply poised to go into terminal supply decline. As a result we have not only reached the end of growth we have reached the beginning of permanent contraction. Refer http://www.postcarbon.org and Richard Heinberg

    As to Old Bill English. We need a unified society with the minimum of inequality: that means taxing the Rich a lot more and NOT selling off the Public’s wealth producing assets. The era of Wealth Worship is now at an end.

    Last year two military planning organizations went public with studies predicting that serious consequences from oil depletion will befall us shortly. In the U.S. the Joint Forces Command concluded, without saying how they arrived at their dates, that by 2012 surplus oil production capacity could entirely disappear and that by 2015 the global shortfall in oil production could be as much as 10 million b/d.
    “For the immediate future, however, the German Army study foresees: 1. increasing oil prices that will reduce consumption and economic output (i.e. a recession or worse); 2. increasing transportation costs that will lead to lower trade volumes – less income for many and unaffordable food for some; and 3. pressure on government budgets as they must keep populations fed, deal with the social consequences of mass unemployment, and attempt to invest in sustainable sources of energy. Governmental revenues are bound to fall as unemployment increases along with resistance to further taxation.”

    Refer link: http://www.postcarbon.org/blog-post/508186-the-peak-oil-crisis-the-german

    • Puddleglum 8.1
      23 September 2011 at 2:12 pm

      Not that I disagree with the general thrust, but military institutions do have a stake in talking up a deteriorating world (‘who’ya gonna call?’).

      • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1
        23 September 2011 at 4:33 pm

        Ya know, I really hate it when people accuse others of doing their job because the have a “stake in it”.

  9. vto 9
    23 September 2011 at 12:06 pm

    Quite why we continue to listen to politicians like English I do not know. They have proved on countless previous occasions that they distort, deflect, deceive and double-dip. They cannot be trusted. Yet we listen to them (though more these days out of amusement than aything with cred)

    And when you combine this lack of trustworthiness with simple foolishness you just get further deeper piles of doo-doo ….. listening to some economic commentator on nat radio this a.m. waffling on about how we in NZ should be fine because, get this, the forecasts show high commodity prices ahead. For fucks sake, don’t they understand that those commodity prices are predicated on many many many many other things, such as a stable world financial market, stable and rising stock exchanges, and especially good times in China and their empty new cities, etc etc. So if those necessary pre-conditions are slaughtered then surely the economic commentator would realise that the forecasts now need turfing into the bin? But noooooo …. keep calm and carry on.

    These people talk shit and really are not that smart.

    • mik e 9.1
      23 September 2011 at 5:01 pm

      China will fill those houses sooner than later In th US they are bulldozing brand new houses to force prices up when nearly fifty million people have lost their homes to foreclosure

  10. One Anonymous Bloke 10
    23 September 2011 at 12:21 pm

    Bill English could crash a parked car.

  11. randal 11
    23 September 2011 at 4:43 pm

    so do you think he is going to rush a higher taxes bill through under urgency. No. He will just do that for a snoops bill but not ofr saomething useful.

  12. prism 12
    23 September 2011 at 6:17 pm

    Hi lprent. This seems to be the best place to note that Open Mike seems haywire. The right panel shifts over to the left side, the comment box disappears etc. Has happened a few times as I have been trying to use the site. Here though, all seems well.

  13. UpandComer 13
    23 September 2011 at 6:41 pm

    Bill English is a minister who costs the taxpayer the least amount of money in the history of New Zealand. Funny isn’t it when facts make you look like shit. ‘Double dip’? go dip your head in some round-up and clean away the stupidity and immaturity.

    It’s funny but the era that is over is actually the free spending buy now pay later era of Greece/Labour economics, worldwide. In the US, in Europe, in South America, in the Middle-east, it is done.

    Cullen was a good fair-weather finance minister who reaped the rewards of earlier National fiscal policy efforts, and those of that stalwart Labour voting group, dairy-farmers. Cullen, actually, was a reasonable finance minister – credit where credit is due.

    It went bad in 04 when Helen Clark decided to put in practice some of her ideas. NZ would have been far better off if Cullen had been the dominant part of that duo. He only went bad at the end when he got bitter and macabre and did cynical things like buy kiwi-rail. Did you know Cullen only paid a whole of NZ debt off at the very end, when Bill English showed he hadn’t been paying debt off like he said he had?

    Both Cullen and Clark had no idea what to do when the money started to run out.

    We were looking at a decade of deficits. You know that line, that little line, that goes on graphs, it was pointing up and up and up for debt, and down and down and down for growth. Bill English has reversed those two lines. Bill has done it, miraculously, while being able to keep policies that help people thru tough times intact, and through all the natural disasters and off-shore turmoil.

    The borrowing to keep these policies has been high to make use of contemporary interest rates, but it has a limit and will draw down. Labour borrowing has no limits. If raw stimulus is the answer to every economic problem then why not simply borrow a trillion dollars and pump it in? raise the minimum wage to $50 an hour?

    Right now due to a historically high dollar, unprecedented low interest rates and relatively low inflation, an individual’s purchasing power is actually the greatest it’s ever been, ever. That’s why cost of living politics won’t work except for the certain percentage of people for whom it’s always and inevitably an issue.

    National is doing so much in housing, education, welfare, health, tax policy. We are taking in far more tax revenue, having lowered taxes across the board for NZer’s.

    Come on, credit where credit is due people, less tunnel vision.

    • Draco T Bastard 13.1
      23 September 2011 at 6:45 pm

      More lies and delusion from a RWNJ.

    • MrSmith 13.2
      23 September 2011 at 7:41 pm

      “Bill English is a minister who costs the taxpayer the least amount of money in the history of New Zealand. Funny isn’t it when facts make you look like shit.”

      No UpandCumer what’s funny is you have been studying Billy Goats definition on the word Fact! while polishing his shoes.

    • Tangled up in blue 13.3
      23 September 2011 at 8:07 pm

      Care to back up ANY of your outrageous rhetoric?

      No? Didn’t think so.

    • prism 13.4
      23 September 2011 at 8:32 pm

      @ UpandComer I think you should try that Wizard of Oz plan Dorothy used. You keep repeating all the things you wish for and then click your heels three times. It always works in the film, and when it’s fantasy you can make anything happen.

  14. Jum 14
    23 September 2011 at 7:25 pm

    I’m sure this must have been posted; I just missed seeing it. The Standard is famous.

    http://transtasman.co.nz/home/free-articles/economic-debate-are-we-better-off-under-national.html

  15. Jum 15
    23 September 2011 at 7:28 pm

    These NActs are cunning; we know that. Therefore, they are deliberately bashing people down with these scare messages,having massaged these scares to happen, and make workers cheap and desperate labour.

    We have seen just this sort of behaviour before. Doesn’t anyone ever learn?

  16. Muzza 16
    23 September 2011 at 7:35 pm

    What amazes me is that people still believe it matters who the govt is, it makes no difference morons, te failure is not party specific or related. Political systems are as easily controlled as the markets some people believe are free. Time to grow up !
    Oh and higher taxes for the rich , dude on 6k pm , you’re not rich pal , sorry to tell ya, so taxing the likes of you more & raising what, a projected 7-10bn in asset sales will offset what exactly? we owe too much , and where is the audit to show where it all came from ? The private debt will sink us as quick as the public debt. So let’s show some maturity Nz and see through the BS!

  17. Jum 17
    23 September 2011 at 9:03 pm

    Muzza, you are the moron if you don’t see the finer points of a party. Having seen them all first hand recently, I know the ones I would trust to at least try to attain an egalitarian society and it aint NAct.

    Selling off 7-13 billion $ (it is now) is not NAct’s right. They are not in government to make us poorer; they are in government to give us all a chance to make the best of our lives, but the first rule of NAct is to have the poor that they can bash around and the rich that the poor serve. Get that or get out Muzza.

  18. Jenny 18
    23 September 2011 at 10:32 pm

    Meet Bill English, New Zealand’s next Premier after the election.

  19. Afewknowthetruth 19
    24 September 2011 at 9:53 am

    Upandcomer

    ‘Come on, credit where credit is due people, less tunnel vision.’

    What a good idea!

    Let’s give credit to all the peasant workers in Asia who work for a few cents an hour making goods. so that people in NZ can buy them cheaply.

    Perhaps we could give a bit of credit to the little boys in places like the Congo, where they work for a few cents a day extracting minerals needed to produce electronics goods.

    Shall we give credit to the semi-slave workers in places like West Africa who grow and collact the raw materials nedded to produce chocolate, coffee etc?

    How about some credit to the people in Nigeria who are not putting up enough resistance to having their oil stolen by western corporations?

    I think we should also goive credit to people in places like Nauru and Christmas Island, who allowed their islands to be turned into moonscapes so that NZ could get rich on the back of agriculture predicated on superphosphate.

    I suppose we could give credit to people in the past who slaved away to make NZ a good place to live and have seen their efforts sabotaged by corporate raiders, aided and abetted by the likes of Bill English.

    ‘We were looking at a decade of deficits. You know that line, that little line, that goes on graphs, it was pointing up and up and up for debt, and down and down and down for growth. Bill English has reversed those two lines.’

    I’m not sure which planet you are living on but it is obviosuly not the planet I am living on.

    We are headed straight into the mayhen that will be generated by Peak Oil with a scientifically illiterate maniac in charge.

  20. Tombstone 20
    24 September 2011 at 10:06 am

    With National in govt cheap Chinese shit that ends up as landfill in good old Nu Zuland will just keep on pouring into the country because National fail to understand that if we produce our own products to serve our own market then people will be required to make that stuff which means jobs – all this free market bollocks has done is see jobs head off shore and benefits Keys mates but no one else. It has to stop. Start producing stuff again and people will naturally migrate from benefits into work. It’s a no brainer but that doesn’t work for Key and his mates because it bites into their ability to grow their own personal wealth at the expense of everyone else. The whole trickle down, free market bollocks is a big fat lie designed to make sure the wealth continues to flow up – simple.

  21. Rob 21
    24 September 2011 at 3:48 pm

    “The world economy is slowing down a bit”
    I guess you might say that if you live in Dipton!

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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: The ‘recession’ has been called off, but some households are still struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    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:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    6 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    7 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 week ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Youth justice programme expands to break cycle of offending
    The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Major milestone with 20,000 employers using Apprenticeship Boost
    The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • Government supporting wood processing jobs and more diverse industry
    The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said.   “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Government backing Canterbury’s future in aerospace industry
    The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Updated forestry regulations increase council controls and require large slash removal
    Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
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