Farrar fluffs food figures

Written By: - Date published: 11:28 am, March 7th, 2011 - 51 comments
Categories: dpf, Economy, food, spin, wages - Tags:

I thought that with a devastating earthquake, a record oil/food price spike, an unemployment tsunami, and a double-dip recession that the Nats’ apologists might have realised it was time for honest discussion of the issues and solutions. Instead, they’re still trying to bury our heads in the sand.

National pollster David Farrar takes umbrage with a Herald on Sunday article on rising food prices. You’ll remember that National made a big song and dance about food prices before the last election during the last oil/food price spike, so it’s a sensitive matter to National that the same thing is happening under their watch.

First he tries to minimise the food price spike, which, remember, has driven world food prices to the highest level in history:

Food prices did increase a lot in January 2011 [but] prices have been fairly stable for 11 months and have only increased since Christmas.

From January 2010 to January 2011 (Feb food prices are due out Friday), the price for 1 kg of apples has gone up 3% only. For carrots it is 26%, mushrooms 4% and potatoes 35%.

There’s some nice statistical trickery here. Farrar could have compared prices now to, say, two years ago or six months ago, but comparing to last January just so happens to give the smallest increase. The truth is food prices have never been higher and the Food Price Index is now 10% here than when National was campaigning on lowering food prices back in 2008.

Then Farrar tries to say our incomes have gone up more than the rise.

After tax wages have increased for someone on the average wage either 12% or 16% (off memory. You buy food from your after tax income not your before tax gross wage)

In fact, the Nats’ claim is that the average after-tax wage has gone up 10% after-inflation since they came to power. In calculating those figures, they count Labour’s tax cuts and exclude their GST increase. More importantly, Farrar is wrong to use the average ordinary-time full-time wage as a measure of how much incomes have changed. That figure has actually risen rapidly as low-income workers have lost their jobs in the last three years. Families buy stuff with their incomes not the average fulltime wage, and Stats NZ says the median household income had fallen 5% after inflation from June 2008 to June 2010.

In other words, food prices are up 10% since National came to power and incomes are down 5%. No wonder we’re felling the pinch.

That’s before the tax changes but NZIER said in January that GST and price rises had already eaten up the tax cuts for 60% of families, and that will be even worse now.

But you don’t need these numbers to prove that food prices are rising faster than incomes. You know it is true every time you go shopping. 80% of people in the Herald’s online poll say their income is not keeping up with price increases.

I don’t understand why Farrar, and the Nat research unit who clearly supplied his numbers, think some cheap statistical tricks will make us blind to the realities we’re experiencing every time we go to the supermarket and the petrol station.

I’ve said before that I’m well-off, but I know I’m feeling the effects of these prices, and it’s much harder on other families I know who aren’t as privileged. Maybe Farrar and his mates in the rich elite are simply too rich to notice.

Or maybe they’re so desperate they’ll try to spin even when it just reduces their already shot credibility.

51 comments on “Farrar fluffs food figures ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Draco T Bastard 1
    7 March 2011 at 11:39 am

    National will lie, cheat, misdirect and misrepresent anything and everything to get and maintain power over everyone else and the reason why they want power is so that they can reallocate our wealth to themselves and their rich mates/owners. They’re psychopathic after all.

  2. Sanctuary 2
    7 March 2011 at 11:40 am

    I hope National keeps sticking to this incredible line of wishful thinking and denial. Voters will make up their own mind about it’s veracity or otherwise.

    • Lanthanide 2.1
      7 March 2011 at 12:51 pm

      There’s a finite amount of time that you can keep spinning stats against what people on the ground are actually seeing. The longer and stronger the spin, the quicker it’ll wear thin and the longer the drop to reality will be.

      It’s like all fraud-based bubbles really.

  3. M 3
    7 March 2011 at 11:48 am

    Though these prices are hurting many including me with any luck the focus with voters will become increasingly acute.

    Just how much more crap are people willing to swallow before they wake up to the fact that Smiley is really Hannibal Lecter.

    Could TS perhaps make a video montage of Key’s sarky comments re the poor and workers so the populace can see how they’re really viewed by Key.

  4. Deadly_NZ 4
    7 March 2011 at 12:09 pm

    And there’s still Smiling Bill’s budget to look forward too as well, oh joy, what little delights will we find in that I wonder.

  5. aj 5
    7 March 2011 at 12:10 pm

    The public need to be reminded how generous National’s tax cuts have been. To the top 5%. No problem with groceries if you are getting $50, $100, $150 more a week as a consequence.
    Big problem if you got $10 or less and a large number of people.

    anti-spam – plastic ! yes, thats what people will have to resort too.

    I wonder what happened to wages catching up with Australia.

    The tide’s out and the Nats spin going into last election has been totally exposed for all to see.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.1
      7 March 2011 at 12:49 pm

      I wonder what happened to wages catching up with Australia.

      JK was either joking, talking about Australian wages or never said it.

      • todd 5.1.1
        7 March 2011 at 1:48 pm

        Shonkey will deny saying it, when the video is produced he will say he didn’t remember saying it, then they will say it’s Labours fault, then he will say it was handled sloppily, then everything will go quiet to let people forget about it.

        Perhaps the wages catching up with Australia thing is similar to the war on welfare thing, whereby we all took the statements at face value, which was obviously not what the Natz meant. Shonkey should have said “I’m going to get paid as much as Gillard.” He was obviously unaware that he already gets $44,500 more than her each year.

  6. kriswgtn 6
    7 March 2011 at 12:26 pm

    They lied to get in and are lying about everything to stay in.
    I would say that by the Nov Elections come ,people will really be hurting more considering the price of electricity will be increasing by $200 a year
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/4736553/Power-to-cost-200-more-a-year-after-7pc-price-hike

    and will vote accordingly

    One consolation though for me has been Electra Limited refund of $110 which arrived on Saturday.I can afford to buy some meat for the first time in months

    Now debate is over a couple of sausages or chops
    bam- there goes my refund

  7. KINTO 7
    7 March 2011 at 12:31 pm

    No so much making a big deal over food prices, mainly just cheese prices.

  8. Lanthanide 8
    7 March 2011 at 12:54 pm

    Surprised you didn’t directly comment on it, Marty.

    Farrar has cherry-picked his time interval as Jan 2010 to Jan 2011 for the food prices, yet the “after tax income” increase is comparing September 2008 (eg, taking credit for Labour’s Oct 08 cuts) to sometime late last year.

    If he actually compared after-tax income from Jan to 2010 to Jan 2011, and factored in GST, the picture would look a lot worse.

  9. robertguyton 9
    7 March 2011 at 1:06 pm

    Farrar and food – it’s like Billy Bunter and buns.

  10. todd 10
    7 March 2011 at 1:30 pm

    200,000 more unemployed under National + Exorbitant food prices = pain.

    It’s an interesting thing that the media spin is so far out of whack to what everybody knows.

  11. Treetop 11
    7 March 2011 at 1:51 pm

    I can remember inflation being nearly 20 % in the mid 1980s. The economy is now as bad as it was then.
    1) Can someone please explain what causes inflation?
    2) Were the government to stop borrowing off shore would inflation go up?
    3) If imports weren’t so cheap would this cause inflation?
    4) Is inflation tied to unemployment?

    Thanks

    • Janice 11.1
      7 March 2011 at 2:14 pm

      Like you I can’t remember what causes inflation (too much money chasing too few goods, or vice versa), but I have two credit cards from different banks and they have both written to me recently wanting to put my credit limits up from $3,000 to $6,000. If I was stupid enough to go out and spend this extra $6,000 gift I think this would cause inflation as it just the banks printing money. How many other customers have they done this to? If it just went to 10,000 customers that would put $30 million into the economy – is this the NACT plan?

      • Treetop 11.1.1
        7 March 2011 at 2:36 pm

        LOL, I can remember during the 1980s that if you had cash in the bank you got a lot of interest for your money.

    • KINTO 11.2
      7 March 2011 at 3:22 pm

      Inflation can be caused by many things, essentially it is money loosing its value (ie, you dont get as much stuff for your $20 note). Low interest rates (easy credit) can be inflationary, because it is easy to borrow more money. Rising costs of production (like petrol and raw supplies such as wheat and corn) can also be inflationary, because again you end up being able to buy less bread with your $20 dollar note.

  12. Armchair Critic 12
    7 March 2011 at 1:59 pm

    With the level of skill displayed on the food prices issue, perhaps Mr Farrar can use statistics to explain how building consents aren’t at near record lows.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10710684
    National – fucking up the country since, well, at least 1965.

    • bbfloyd 12.1
      7 March 2011 at 2:11 pm

      try from when they first got power, way back in the forties A.C. the shit had started to hit the fan as early as 1950.

      • Armchair Critic 12.1.1
        7 March 2011 at 2:21 pm

        Yeah, I debated whether to put 1949 (when they formed their first government) or 1965 (when the building consent data series starts), and decided 1965 was more generous to National.
        I figured whatever I chose there was room for criticism – if I’d selected 1949 I was expecting a comment that said “but the consent data only goes back to 1965…”

        • Bright Red 12.1.1.1
          7 March 2011 at 2:33 pm

          Within two years of coming to power for the first time, National was instituting war-time emergency regulations after they turned a simple waterfront dispute over whether wharvies should get a 15% raise like every other worker or the 9% offered by the shippers into a near-revolution.

        • todd 12.1.1.2
          7 March 2011 at 2:39 pm

          National, Fucking up New Zealand since I can remember.

      • Draco T Bastard 12.1.2
        7 March 2011 at 2:48 pm

        You could go back further than that to the time when they were still individual parties. You know, the ones that drove us into the Great Depression.

        • Armchair Critic 12.1.2.1
          7 March 2011 at 2:50 pm

          Or I could run with what todd said.
          Any thoughts on the building consent data?

          • Rob 12.1.2.1.1
            7 March 2011 at 4:47 pm

            Actually Arm Chair if you do the full year on year comparison for Jan Y/E 2011 vs Jan Y/E 2010 , the Jan 2011 year end is actually up on the year before in both residential consent value (about $300 mil) and consent numbers. The issue is the poor Jan result vs Jan the year previous that was commented upon.

            • Armchair Critic 12.1.2.1.1.1
              7 March 2011 at 4:52 pm

              Yeah, it’s not the worst result ever, it’s only very bad. Let’s all celebrate.

              • Rob …
                7 March 2011 at 5:15 pm

                No one is celebrating, especially not us in the industry who are nervously looking even more restructuring, however you are not understanding the point. It is a poor result for Jan versus Jan the year previous year, and it is actually not uncomon to get a rogue 1 month result. I would say that the next Jan will look fantastic next year against this low result. But that is what happens when you choose to focus upon one point of data.

                If you are measuring and understanding the overall trends you would see that the last 12 months construction activity has actually been greater than the 12 months previously.

                • Armchair Critic …
                  7 March 2011 at 10:02 pm

                  No one is celebrating…
                  Sorry Rob, that was a glib response on my part. I appreciate that you have engaged on the topic, rather than pick at comments about when the National party was formed.
                  …you are not understanding the point.
                  I understand the statistics fine, thanks. They show that any recovery is frail, at best.

  13. Blondie 13
    7 March 2011 at 2:04 pm

    From the look of the man, Farrar has never found food to be at all unaffordable.

    And why would he be concerned if anyone else has? After all, selfishness is a virtue. Apparently.

  14. Policy Parrot 14
    7 March 2011 at 2:46 pm

    Farrar also neglects the fact that more than 60% of working New Zealander’s receive less than the average net wage. Of course the average wage will be boosted by the obscene tax cuts lavished upon the already wealthy, even if there has been a drop in real purchasing power for at least 60% of all employees.

    • Uncle Helen 14.1
      7 March 2011 at 8:34 pm

      The top 10% of taxpayers pay an exorbitant 76% of total income tax, an obscene over-taxation of a staggering 66%.

      Pay your fair share, parasite.

      Next.

      How often are you going to repeat the same lie over and over here UH? It does get tiresome. — r0b

  15. Bill 15
    7 March 2011 at 5:10 pm

    Unemployed. No tax cut. Got a reduction in the level of my core benefit because of the tax cuts. Then got my reduced core benefit adjusted so that my benefit stayed in line with inflation from the previous 12 months (just over 2%). And in case anybody mistakes that I’m having a go at the National government, I’m not. Labour’s policy around benefit levels and tax cuts is exactly the same.

    Which means that even with figures skewed to show lower increases, those of us on a benefit who spend a far larger proportion of our income on food than others might, are genuinely struggling. It’s not a case of foregoing that luxury item in the weekly shop. There are no luxury items. None.

    It’s a case of no longer being able to afford basic and unexciting weekly groceries.

    • Treetop 15.1
      7 March 2011 at 5:37 pm

      How are your culinary skills? I have been looking in second hand shops for cheap ingredient cooking recipes. Google is also good for this. I to need a treat/luxury and unless I make my own I would not have one.

      • Jim MacDonald 15.1.1
        7 March 2011 at 5:58 pm

        Buy cheap Pam’s lentils (Indian = dal), soak them overnight (or longer in the fridge), boil them (with turmeric and ginger to reduce flatulence) and add to onions/garlic that you sautee, together with cheap curry powder/spices (mustard seeds, cumin, coriander, turmeric, etc). Can google for such recipes. Serve with potatoes, rice or bread. You have your protein, carbs and fibre there. Easy also in the toilet in the morning.

        I was a relatively well-off tourist in India a few years ago, sitting in the bus and looking out of the window at what the truck and bus drivers were making for themselves for lunch during a stopover in the middle of somewhere/nowhere. They were strong enough or actually stronger than the tourists when climbing up steep hills.

        To think I am now resorting to such a diet. Where’s the fish, rack of lamb, and steak, I ask myself these days.

        • Bill 15.1.1.1
          7 March 2011 at 6:15 pm

          Jim and Treetop.

          I’m (allegedly) not a bad cook. (Depends who you talk to!) And I live (mostly) on what might be termed an Indian inspired vegetarian diet. And that’s tending more towards a vegan diet as dairy gets ever more beyond my means. Butter is my one remaining dairy constant. Small cuts of better quality cheese are occaisonal ( I punt for smaller amounts of quality, cost equivalent to quantities of relative shit). And milk is ‘gone burger’.

          So the basis of my diet revolves around relatively cheap ingredients. I never buy pre-prepared or packet food. No biscuits, frozen foods or tinned food other than tomatoes.And I grow veggies. And I often bake my own bread.

          And yet….often reduced to two meals a day and can’t afford the fucking shopping!

          • Treetop 15.1.1.1.1
            8 March 2011 at 2:31 pm

            I hope you like pumpkin as the cheapest pumpkin soup recipe can be foung here under budget meals. I found a 4 kg pumpkin at Pak ‘ n Save for 98 cents (available all week). If you have some parsley in the garden use as a garnish, also kumara can be added to the soup. Bag up and freeze for another day.
            http://www.foodworld.co.nz/

            • Treetop 15.1.1.1.1.1
              9 March 2011 at 12:21 pm

              Only use 2 cups of water in the pumpkin soup recipe instead of 4 cups as was too watery.

              Yes I know this has little to do with politics.

        • Vicky32 15.1.1.2
          7 March 2011 at 8:12 pm

          Actually sounds delicious, thanks Jim!
          Chickpeas in broth, a great Italian recipe that I can’t translate sorry – my friend in Italy who is diet obsessed sent it to me…it’s a specialty of his region, he says.
          Deb

          • Jim MacDonald 15.1.1.2.1
            7 March 2011 at 8:32 pm

            Chickpeas work as well as lentils. Probably more ‘filling’, ie can get your teeth into.

            Chickpeas in broth? How about amuri e brodu di ciciri ?

            Literally: love and chickpea broth

            amuri = love
            brodu = broth
            ciciri – chickpeas

            Hope your finances will improve, Bill.

            • Bill 15.1.1.2.1.1
              7 March 2011 at 9:45 pm

              It’s not ‘my’ finances that need to improve Jim. It’s the levels of benefit that thousands of people in NZ are trying to get by on that need to increase.

            • Vicky32 15.1.1.2.1.2
              8 March 2011 at 12:01 am

              Ceci con broda, is the regional version Gianluca likes…
              Deb

    • Vicky32 15.2
      7 March 2011 at 8:08 pm

      Exactly… Good thing I am pretty much anorexic, hey?
      Deb

  16. BLiP 16
    7 March 2011 at 6:05 pm

    Farrar can flounder away in his sewer as much as he likes. Meanwhile, down at Sylvia Park Pak’N’Save cabbages are $4 each, a loaf of bread is $5, and milk is more expensive than petrol. And the prices are still going up.

  17. Jones 17
    8 March 2011 at 10:32 am

    I agree that Farrar has badly fudged the statistics. I find his constant use of after tax income really irritating. However, I feel that there is a legitimate point about the New Zealand Herald using dubious statistics that they’ve collected when they could easily use the much more robust CPI data. It takes away from their credibility if they’re not going to use the most reliable source of statistics. It makes you wonder if journalists know how to analyse these things.

  18. Maggie 18
    11 March 2011 at 2:42 pm

    Not only are wages higher in Australia but many food items are far cheaper than in NZ.

    Coles supermarket chain has milk permanently priced at $A1 per litre and you can get a loaf of bread for 99c if you shop around.

    The Queensland floods have hit some fruit prices, though, I saw bananas selling for $A8.99 a kilo yesterday!

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    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    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
    4 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
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