Failure after failure

Written By: - Date published: 7:56 pm, June 17th, 2013 - 90 comments
Categories: Media - Tags: ,

Truth has had a long and proud (and often not so proud but bloody fun) history. But now it’s over. Killed off by one of the biggest failures in the blogosphere.

He’s already trying to blame it on everyone else but the truth is, like Simon Lusk’s political career, like the “freedom of speech coalition”, like the Port of Auckland’s campaign against its own workers, like the reputation of anyone that goes near him, like every other thing that wretched man-child touches,  the Truth died on Slater’s watch.

It’s an ignominious way for a 125 year old publication to finish up.

90 comments on “Failure after failure ”

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  1. Jimmie 1
    17 June 2013 at 8:21 pm

    The Truth failed as in the internet age week old news isn’t and it had a limited clientele and couldn’t escape its falling porno ad income base.

    I bought 3 copies after WO took over as editor and enjoyed the news section but gave up as I don’t like having the soft porn pages lying around our house.

    I’m sure it was good experience for WO and may help him find other work.

    As for your comment about WO being the blogosphere’s biggest failure you really are dreaming.
    (And if WO is a failure then this blog must be a wretched mess)

    He receives more hits than anyone else (several times more monthly than The Standard) and also receives regular media exposure as a commentator so I would say that he has done quite well actually.

    I know that WO and the left are mortal enemies but calling him a failure shows that you are no better than him.

    • quartz 1.1
      17 June 2013 at 8:25 pm

      I took a look at Slater’s blog after reading this and all it seems to be is a bunch of meme posts designed to suck in random overseas traffic. I also noticed this from Steve Crow:

      Steve Crow • 33 minutes ago−

      I should be annoyed for being blamed for the demise – but I am amused, so typical Cameron, blame everyone else but yourself.

      I have NEVER managed Truth and have not even consulted to the place since mid last year so I am flattered that you credit me with so much power that I can destroy a newspaper in 6 months – wow.

      Nice, I suggest you for the job and promoted your merits to the shareholders and you blame me for your failure. You had the grand idea to replace the evil adult advertising with main steam – how did that work out lol.

      I will issue you one caution, don’t defame me again. You might be the country’s biggest blogger for what that is worth but… be very careful.

      One day I might tell the real story of your and Russel Beaumont’s staggering ineptitude and dishonesty.

      Let’s see if this gets published.

      Oh yeah, and why don’t you tell your loyal followers just how little of this blog you actually do yourself and how much is done by anonymous third parties.

      • karol 1.1.1
        17 June 2013 at 8:32 pm

        Whoa! Thanks for capturing in case it disappears.

        This bit gave me pause, though:

        You had the grand idea to replace the evil adult advertising with main steam – how did that work out lol.

        Typo or a version of sly mainstream soft porn?

        Gee, some allegations in there:

        One day I might tell the real story of your and Russel Beaumont’s staggering ineptitude and dishonesty….
        Oh yeah, and why don’t you tell your loyal followers just how little of this blog you actually do yourself and how much is done by anonymous third parties.

        In the collapse, much garbage falls out.

      • Rogue Trooper 1.1.2
        17 June 2013 at 8:40 pm

        oooh. Boobs on Likes.

      • the pigman 1.1.3
        17 June 2013 at 11:25 pm

        And that’s all coming from failed Act candidate Stephen Crowe… it really shows what a disparate bunch of dangerous extremists that party was (what’s that you say – that party still exists?)

        Well they say the Left is good at devouring its own, but let’s see what these clowns can do..

    • Colonial Viper 1.2
      17 June 2013 at 8:28 pm

      but calling him a failure shows that you are no better than him.

      It’s simply a factual label mate. You get a Tui.

    • rosy 1.3
      17 June 2013 at 8:29 pm

      “Truth has had a long and proud (and often not so proud but bloody fun) history.”

      Yep, back in the day the whole neighbourhood knew the divorce details of our parents thanks to the pages of ‘court reports’ they used to run. Fun times for kids that was. Glad to see the back of that rag.

      • Macro 1.3.1
        17 June 2013 at 9:23 pm

        Never had your experience rosy – but it was always a tactless, crass publication, and I agree, I’m pleased to see the back of it.

        • David H 1.3.1.1
          18 June 2013 at 12:33 am

          Well it was also one of my employers back in the 1970’s and 80’s when I was young and stoopid lol got Lead Poisoning there too from all the lead dust that is produced when you melt lead ingots and old type. But they did pay well and it was a break from painting in the cold miserable winters days and it was warm too.

      • Malcolm 1.3.2
        21 June 2013 at 3:51 pm

        The Truth has an interesting history though. It started in 1905. Don’t know where the 125 years claim comes from. I think it is spurious.

        When it started it was sympathetic to the radical labour movement.

        People interested should check out Redmer Yska’s book, Truth : the rise and fall of the people’s paper.

    • karol 1.4
      17 June 2013 at 8:35 pm

      Actually, I think there’s still a place for weekly papers to do more backgrounded and detailed stories looking deeper into the current news stories.

      • chris73 1.4.1
        17 June 2013 at 8:59 pm

        Its a nice thought but digital would be a better option

        • karol 1.4.1.1
          17 June 2013 at 9:03 pm

          Well, i think a mix of he two works well for some Sunday papers – at least for those who can access Press Display.

      • felix 1.4.2
        17 June 2013 at 11:04 pm

        “Actually, I think there’s still a place for weekly papers to do more backgrounded and detailed stories looking deeper into the current news stories.”

        Has that ever been the role of The Truth though?

    • Rogue Trooper 1.5
      17 June 2013 at 8:41 pm

      an anachronism now. “No More Tears”, back to Purex.

  2. chris73 2
    17 June 2013 at 8:57 pm

    Please explain to me how hes “one of the biggest failures in the blogosphere”

    I mean he gets more visits and page views then this site (by a comfortable margin), he gets national exposure through print and radio (again more then anyone from here, by a comfortable margin)

    So I’d just like to know how you define failure?

    • Chris 2.1
      17 June 2013 at 9:23 pm

      I would give him first prize in tawdry, spiteful, venomous etcetera ….oh and creepy

      • chris73 2.1.1
        17 June 2013 at 9:45 pm

        Yes very good but still doesn’t answer the question

        • Chris 2.1.1.1
          17 June 2013 at 9:55 pm

          Which question was that… oh define failure. The condition or fact of not achieving the desired end or ends. My intent was to point out his achievements, his failures are irrelevant

    • Blue 2.2
      17 June 2013 at 9:28 pm

      You’re perfectly correct. It’s not Cameron Slater who is the failure. It’s our failure as a country that his blog is so popular and that he is taken seriously by our media.

      • rob 2.2.1
        18 June 2013 at 12:30 am

        No he is taken seriously by the MSM because of his high ranking
        National Party associations
        His father was their president previously and he has close ties to Collins.

    • Arfamo 2.3
      17 June 2013 at 9:38 pm

      Notoriety sells better than fame. He knows it & proves it. But only on his blog. Truth was probably stuffed the minute he took over as editor.

    • Cemetery Jones 2.4
      18 June 2013 at 11:44 am

      chris73 2
      17 June 2013 at 8:57 pm

      Please explain to me how hes “one of the biggest failures in the blogosphere”

      I mean he gets more visits and page views then this site (by a comfortable margin), he gets national exposure through print and radio (again more then anyone from here, by a comfortable margin)

      So I’d just like to know how you define failure?

      ***

      I’m not sure what the OP meant by it, but I would provide you a very fitting definition of failure which applies to the situation thus far.

      We could start with the example of WO’s ardent support for the Ports of Auckland campaign against the Maritime Union and its workers. Despite all the advantages you mention above, all the publicity and connections they can boast of, the use of those connections in conjunction with underhand tactics like the leaking of a union member’s personal details, even WO’s triumphalist running score during their campaign (I think he had the titles of his posts up to something like ‘POA 24 – Maritime Union 0’ at one point), his campaign on behalf of the POA board and its supporters failed. Now that the dust has settled, the union is still where it was, and the board had to compromise instead of getting its own way hands down.

      If the campaign against the Maritime Union and its workers was supposed to be a test run for their ability to use the blog as the pivot point in an astroturf attack strategy, then it was a failure, and a bruising one given the amount of personal attacks on Gary Parsloe and the union that were delivered and encouraged. Subsequent events have addded to this. Lusk’s cover is now MSM blown rather than beltway blown; their campaign to elevate Judith Collins and her faction is now well and truly out in the open; the bitterness of their campaign against Len Brown intensifies constantly, but there is no sign of it diminishing Brown’s standing. If they make their campaign against Brown the next test of their capabilities, I think they will once again be disappointed in the results.

      If the greater aim or strategy for WO is to provide an astroturf campaign base on the far right of National’s voter base (for the benefit of its bigger donors) by shifting the debate in their favour through the momentum they create on the blog, then so far their only fleece they can proclaim is that of Aaron Gilmore, and, welp, that’s like going after a tortoise with a tommy gun. Their coursing has so far failed to net them greater quarry in the form of the sort of trophy kills which would indicate real success for a long-term, multiple target astroturfing operation.

      Until then, guest starring with paid-advertising shill ‘presenters’ on talkback radio who seek to have their prejudices confirmed by a third party and getting yourself retweeted by Judith Collins would seem to be WO’s apogee, and in that context the fall of The Truth may be simply the latest in a series of failures which signify the limits of the astroturf strategy in a small country like NZ.

      Cem.

  3. xtasy 3
    17 June 2013 at 9:39 pm

    Good bye and rest in peace “The Truth”, long live the real truth!

    Thank you Cameron “Whaleoil”, you have done a thorough job, sinking the paper you were going to make such a great success, thoroughly down into the grave.

    A few months back Slater was sitting next to Brian Edwards and Bill Ralston on the media panel of The Nation (TV3) and boasting how he would turn “The Truth” around and bring great, hot, top stories, leading to increased circulation and an ensured survival of that paper. He was going to hold politicians to account and reveal lots of stuff he “knew”.

    He ridiculed Edwards and he was on such a “high”, they (the rest of the panel and Rachel Smalley) even started to think he was serious about his ambitions and aspirations.

    Now the real truth, at last.

    I am waiting for the demise and close down of his blog next, which would certainly be a great relief and much needed improvement of the New Zealand blogosphere.

    A “cleansing” exercise, kind of, once that happens.

    Reality check for a stranded whale, I suppose.

    • chris73 3.1
      17 June 2013 at 9:47 pm

      “I am waiting for the demise and close down of his blog next, which would certainly be a great relief and much needed improvement of the New Zealand blogosphere.”

      – I wouldn’t hold your breath

      • xtasy 3.1.1
        17 June 2013 at 11:03 pm

        No need to hold my breath. I breathe easy on this one, and time will bring his blog down, for sure. All he needs to do is seriously upset someone who could perhaps take him on and do some real harm to his “entrepreneurship” of questionable quality and “skill”.

        For instance just look at what “quartz” quoted under 1.1!

      • Arfamo 3.1.2
        18 June 2013 at 3:01 pm

        – I wouldn’t hold your breath

        That’s fair enough. I’ll bet no one here would want to hold your breath either.

  4. Frank 4
    17 June 2013 at 9:51 pm

    Fat boy is under his blankey blubbering, HA. No response yet! Come out you piece of shit! Ha Ha.

    Sorry Wrong Blog.

    HaJaHA

  5. Ed 5
    17 June 2013 at 10:36 pm

    Skin-deep was just not enough – Private Eye it wasn’t. The whole paper was however high risk, and employing Slater must have been another high risk; it is not as though there weren’t writers / journalists / aspiring editors looking for work. There is however a market for salacious gossip, extravagant unsupported claims and extremist attacks on others – the audience numbers for Whaleoil illustrate the passion of the far right for such soft porn affirmation of irrational prejudices – while also serving to make Farrar’s blog appear moderate to the uncritical. Truth however had no such attraction – a paper requires some real content to justify purchase, even at a circus side-show level. It seems the newspaper required skills that Slater does not have.

  6. felix 6
    17 June 2013 at 11:08 pm

    Pity really.

    I think “Truth Editor” is the most appropriate job description he’s ever likely to find.

  7. millsy 7
    17 June 2013 at 11:30 pm

    I noticed that Josie got the boot as the token left columnist a few months ago.

  8. Michael 8
    18 June 2013 at 12:01 am

    I’m glad Slater ran Truth into the ground. IMHO, he was put in the editor’s chair to publish vile nonsense that would turn working men against Labour. Just look at the articles in the rag since he took it over. Again IMHO, Slater was put there by NACT donors, in much the same way that they run NBR to appeal to the prejudices of the “business community”. Anyway, Labour doesn’t need Slater, Lusk, or any of the others to drive workers away from it – its current leadership is doing a brilliant job all by itself.

  9. tc 9
    18 June 2013 at 12:35 am

    I always thought appointing him wasnt about turning it around, as he lacks the experience and brains, but more to give him another outlet for his minders material before it closed.

  10. infused 10
    18 June 2013 at 12:36 am

    Never read it.

  11. weizguy 11
    18 June 2013 at 2:03 am

    Sorry – purely out of curiosity, how is it possible that Whaleoil is so far in front of other blogs that clearly have a more active readership?

    I sincerely doubt it’s read by more people than either Kiwiblog or the Standard… So what is it?

    • Arfamo 11.1
      18 June 2013 at 2:05 am

      Read the comments in his blog. Then read the comments on topics in this one.

      Lowest common denominator is the attraction, I reckon. I used to read it more often than now, but the comments put me off as much as his style. I learn stuff here that interests me. I learn stuff there that doesn’t.

      • quartz 11.1.1
        18 June 2013 at 6:16 am

        He reposts a lot of content from popular US sites as it’s trending so he can leech views. It means most of his site views are people looking for content that has nothing to do with him, and who have no interest in, or effect on, New Zealand politics.

        They could do the same here but three out of four posts would be quirky videos of cats falling out of trees or celebrity gossip, and most of the regulars would probably leave.

        • Pasupial 11.1.1.1
          18 June 2013 at 9:20 am

          The last time I was over there was Queen’s birthday weekend. I was quite irritated to find an old Vsauce clip (a sciencey youtube channel I adore), posted there amongst the; cute cat clips, and vile rants.

          I’ve got the heater warming up the bathroom, so I might have another glance today; after I put the Basupial into his cot, and before I have a shower (which I’m going to need).

      • Sanctuary 11.1.2
        18 June 2013 at 8:33 am

        Arfamo, I had a look at the comments thread on Whaleoil based on your post. All I can say is wow. Talk about a descent into a surreal world of insanity. Much of it appears to be from the staff and assorted absolutely foaming nutters of regular readers, arguing with a provincial pornographer. All presided over by Slater, a whining piece of low life shit any decent man would regard with the same respect as something disgusting you are trying to scrape off your shoe. All in all, you couldn’t wish for a nastier, more deranged bunch of bottom dwellers getting some richly deserved come-uppance if you tried.

        • GarethGee 11.1.2.1
          19 June 2013 at 10:46 pm

          The Whale Oil blog is terrible. But, frankly, so is The Standard. You people are to the Left what he is to the Right – a cringe-inducing embarrassment.

  12. bad12 12
    18 June 2013 at 8:37 am

    Oh dear poor poor Blubber Boy, two large F’s on the resume for the slobbering fool, Failed as an editor, and, Failed at the business of running a newspaper,

    Never mind the tragic fat tub of lard can fall back on the Socialism He so hates to keep Him munching them big Mac’s,

    Looks like it’s back on the sickness bene for Blubber Boy, a deserved comeuppance for such a gross waste of space…

  13. One Anonymous Knucklehead 13
    18 June 2013 at 8:40 am

    Hmm, schadenfreude.

    Mr. Oil generates considerable animus. I’m sure the Right will still find a use for him.

  14. Wayne (a different one) 14
    18 June 2013 at 9:16 am

    The nasty bitterness, hatred and envy of the left – it’s all here on this page for everyone to see.

    You really do your party proud – and you carry on that trait learned from politicians, such as Helen Clark, Michael Cullen, Clayton Cosgrove, Steve Maharey and Trevor Mallard – all a buch of spiteful, nasty people.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 14.1
      18 June 2013 at 9:19 am

      Paging Dr. Hypocrite.

    • Sanctuary 14.2
      18 June 2013 at 9:31 am

      Suck it up, cry baby.

    • Pasupial 14.3
      18 June 2013 at 9:39 am

      @ Wayne (ado)

      Bitterness and Hatred; perhaps, I doubt you’ll find much envy of Slater here though (except from Jimmie & chris73). However, it is confined to this one page, where it is on the topic of his; running a 125 year old paper into the ground in the space of 6 months.

      As for doing our “party proud”; that’s nonsensical, given that we are a mix of: Labour, Greens, Mana, and other party; members, voters, and non-voters. Do you define “nasty” as; someone you disagree with?

  15. Winston Smith 15
    18 June 2013 at 9:57 am

    His blog is more popular because:

    He doesn’t hide behind a pen name, he posts more then just political stuff, the stuff he reposts is generally interesting and he slams anyone (not just the left) so its more balanced then the usual partisan blogs

    and spare a thought for those that are out of a job

    • pollywog 15.1
      18 June 2013 at 10:28 am

      His blog is popular for the same reason we liked The Muppets.

      • Arfamo 15.1.1
        18 June 2013 at 11:25 am

        +1 lol

      • Winston Smith 15.1.2
        18 June 2013 at 1:03 pm

        Which means more people get his message

        • McFlock 15.1.2.1
          18 June 2013 at 1:13 pm

          That would be why nact support is on the increase, and everyone supported PoAL. /sarc

          • Winston Smith 15.1.2.1.1
            18 June 2013 at 2:06 pm

            I’m sorry but you’ll have to remind whos running the country…

            • McFlock 15.1.2.1.1.1
              18 June 2013 at 2:30 pm

              but then I’d probably also have to remind you of their declining vote and retreating poll results. Good work by slater, that. Lots of people must be getting his message…

            • Pascal's bookie 15.1.2.1.1.2
              18 June 2013 at 2:38 pm

              Not Judith Collins.

              • chris73 …
                18 June 2013 at 4:55 pm

                She should be…

                • Pascal's bookie …
                  18 June 2013 at 4:59 pm

                  A fan of fake toughness are you? Good for you.

                  • Arfamo …
                    18 June 2013 at 5:06 pm

                    I’m sure she’s really all soft and mushy inside. All it will take is her falling under a bus to bring out that side of her.

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      18 June 2013 at 5:12 pm

                      Don’t get me wrong, if L+G win next year, there’s a good chance she’ll end up leader of the oppo; and she’ll be pretty bloody good at it. I’d give her even odds to take down a Shearer govt after one term.

                      But she will suck as a leader of National, and fail miserably as a PM. Before the first term was out she’d be a figure of mockery of Palinesque proportions.

                  • chris73 …
                    18 June 2013 at 5:08 pm

                    I don’t think theres anything fake about her, shes all woman

                    • Arfamo …
                      18 June 2013 at 5:09 pm

                      What about the eyebrows?

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      18 June 2013 at 5:18 pm

                      oh god. having flashbacks to that WO thread where the resident mouth breathers were literally talking about how she gets them hard.

                      You’re an idiot Chris. Collins is a paper tiger who talks tough but has no follow through when people actually stand up to her. She thinks a big talk will scare people off, and often ends up looking stupid when they aren’t. She gets away with at the moment, but as leader she would have no where to hide.

                    • Arfamo …
                      18 June 2013 at 5:20 pm

                      She certainly couldn’t hide behind those eyebrows. Her smirk always reminds me of Muldoon’s, but perhaps you’re right & she’s more posturing than substance.

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      18 June 2013 at 5:32 pm

                      Try and think of an example of actual toughness. Plenty of show stuff for the cameras.

                      But the classic is the Collins/Little/mallard defamation stuff.

                      Hilarious. From go to woah flail fail.

                      Starts out with a hiss and a roar, releasing, on ministerial letterhead, that as minister she took what they said as a slur on the office and would be suing if they didn’t retract within hours, which turned into weeks.

                      Mallard and Little basically laughed at her and said they’d be paying for their own costs, and she went to ground, not saying anything until after the next cabinet meeting (whose permission she would need for the govt to foot her bills). All of a sudden the defamation was against her personally and not as minister and she would pay her bills. Why not say that before cabinet met then? hahaha.

                      then bluster bluster bluster settle.

                      Fake it till you flake it.

                    • Arfamo …
                      18 June 2013 at 5:40 pm

                      They said go ahead and sue but ended up publicly apologising though, didn’t they? Hardly counts as a win for them either. Dunno much about Little but I think Mallard’s a dick well into his 2nd adolescence & well past his useful date.

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      18 June 2013 at 5:48 pm

                      Nah. On the morning of the last day she was saying she wanted an unreserved apology and a withdrawal of what they said on the radio etc. They ended up with some mealy mouthed stuff about what was said in parliament. The statement didn’t even identify what particular thing they were sort of apologising for.

                      That’s what I mean about stuff she wouldn’t get away with as party leader. If she was leader the statements would have gotten more attention and analysis. She folded.

                    • felix …
                      18 June 2013 at 6:53 pm

                      I liked it when she was being all tough and that on the telly, and Paddy Gower was asking her some questions, and she was all tough and that, and then he asked her the same question a few times, and then she nearly cried.

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      18 June 2013 at 7:14 pm

                      hahaha I’d forgotten about that.

                    • Arfamo …
                      18 June 2013 at 7:39 pm

                      Lol. First time I’ve seen it. See what I mean though. She couldn’t hide from Gower behind those eyebrows. They were saying more than she was.

                    • GarethGee …
                      19 June 2013 at 10:51 pm

                      Oh look, Standard contributors denigrating the looks of a woman. Classy stuff guys. Can we make fun of John Key’s nose next? Or Shearer’s ever thinning hair? No? Gee I wonder why.

                    • Arfamo …
                      19 June 2013 at 11:00 pm

                      Fair point. I will try not to do it again.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      19 June 2013 at 11:07 pm

                      Yeah she can’t hide the lies even behind those eyebrows.

                      Can we make fun of John Key’s nose next? Or Shearer’s ever thinning hair? No? Gee I wonder why.

                      Oh lighten up. Think about John Key’s hairpiece for a second. And the last person who drew John Key’s nose in a cartoon was accused of being antisemitic. Bloody PC brigade.

                    • Alanz …
                      19 June 2013 at 11:55 pm

                      Collins has such a loverley sense of entitlement.
                      Born to trough and rort.
                      Collins rules!

        • Arfamo 15.1.2.2
          18 June 2013 at 1:25 pm

          No it means people still like watching muppets for entertainment.

    • bad12 15.2
      18 June 2013 at 1:45 pm

      But at least i, and probably more, HAVE thought about those out of a job because of that smutty rags demise at the hands of it’s ugly smutty editor,

      Result= as far as Blubber boy goes really really f**king good job, the waste of oxygen can go back on the sickness bene from whence He came for psyche reasons with the less kind among us,(me at the front of the queue), believing in that one’s case psyche reasons is a misnomer which needs correction to psycho…

  16. Me 16
    18 June 2013 at 10:29 am

    I’m just lost about how a blog that just seems to post endless mind numbing youtube videos and copy and pastes from the Herald can put itself out as the universes most popular web thingy

  17. busman 17
    18 June 2013 at 12:03 pm

    Good while it was going , a bit of fun and some sunlight mixed in there for all political partys, good on Cameron for giving it a go , judging by the comments there must be quite a few regulars to whaleoil site here , good on you and keep it up .

    • felix 17.1
      18 June 2013 at 8:09 pm

      Good while it was going?

      Bahaha it was feckin rubbish while it was going, hence the not going any more.

      • Arfamo 17.1.1
        18 June 2013 at 8:15 pm

        Yeah but I must admit I liked the way Cam ran it and where he ran it to 🙂

  18. ropata 18
    19 June 2013 at 4:42 pm

    Slater (slayer) has never quite come to terms with reality nor attempted to be truthful in his paid political broadcasts. Truth and integrity are not words one usually associates with WO, unless they are bent and abused.
    The first casualty of Whaleoil is the Truth. I wish he would use his obvious talent for rolling in muck to expose the seedy side of the Nats

  19. ropata 19
    19 June 2013 at 4:45 pm

    Slater (slayer) has never quite come to terms with reality nor attempted to be truthful in his paid political broadcasts. Truth and integrity are not words one usually associates with WO, unless they are bent and abused.
    The first casualty of Whaleoil is the Truth. I wish he would use his obvious talent for rolling in muck to expose the seedy side of the Nats. The failure is his wasted life devoted to a stupid cause

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  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    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
    17 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
    20 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
    20 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
    22 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

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