February breaks all records

Written By: - Date published: 9:36 am, March 15th, 2016 - 93 comments
Categories: climate change, global warming, leadership - Tags: , , , ,

Scientists are running out of superlatives:

February breaks global temperature records by ‘shocking’ amount

Global temperatures in February smashed previous monthly records by an unprecedented amount, according to Nasa data, sparking warnings of a climate emergency.
…

The global surface temperatures across land and ocean in February were 1.35C warmer than the average temperature for the month, from the baseline period of 1951-1980. The global record was set just one month earlier, with January already beating the average for that month by 1.15C above the average for the baseline period.
…
“We are in a kind of climate emergency now,” Stefan Rahmstorf, from Germany’s Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research and a visiting professorial fellow at the University of New South Wales, told Fairfax Media. “This is really quite stunning … it’s completely unprecedented,” he said.

gloabal-warming-temperature-graph-feb-2016

 

The evidence that we have significantly underestimated the speed of climate change is mounting steadily.

93 comments on “February breaks all records ”

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  1. esoteric pineapples 1
    15 March 2016 at 10:32 am

    Now all we have to do is wait for a bunch of white males over 40 to tell us either a) scientists don’t know what they are talking about or b) its a hoax driven by the illuminati or some other conspiratorial group.

  2. johnm 2
    15 March 2016 at 10:49 am

    Current CO2 level is 404 and climbing. Methane is also increasing giving a further CO2 equivalent of 200ppm. I’ve just had a number of small trees removed which have died from yet another Summer drought.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1cMnM-UJ5U&feature=youtu.be

    • johnm 2.1
      15 March 2016 at 11:12 am

      kevin moore Says:
      March 13th, 2016 at 9:15 pm

      405ppm. And from around this time of the year to the end of May the atmospheric CO2 concentration normally surges by 3 or 4ppm.

      https://scripps.ucsd.edu/programs/keelingcurve/wp-content/plugins/sio-bluemoon/graphs/mlo_two_years.png

      The situation with regard to Arctic ice is less clear; another couple of weeks will probably clarify it.

      http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/charctic-interactive-sea-ice-graph/

    • johnm 2.2
      15 March 2016 at 11:32 am

      February Smashes Earth’s All-Time Global Heat Record by a Jaw-Dropping Margin

      By Jeff Masters and Bob Henson

      ‘ March 14, 2016 “Information Clearing House” – “WunderBlog” – On Saturday, NASA dropped a bombshell of a climate report. February 2016 has soared past all rivals as the warmest seasonally adjusted month in more than a century of global recordkeeping. NASA’s analysis showed that February ran 1.35°C (2.43°F) above the 1951-1980 global average for the month, as can be seen in the list of monthly anomalies going back to 1880. The previous record was set just last month, as January 2016 came in 1.14°C above the 1951-1980 average for the month. In other words, February has dispensed with this one-month-old record by a full 0.21°C (0.38°F)–an extraordinary margin to beat a monthly world temperature record by. Perhaps even more remarkable is that February 2015 crushed the previous February record–set in 1998 during the peak atmospheric influence of the 1997-98 “super” El Niño that’s comparable in strength to the current one–by a massive 0.47°C (0.85°F). ‘

      http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44427.htm

    • TC 2.3
      15 March 2016 at 11:47 am

      Yes and our part of nz had a perfect 2016 with rain over 150mm each month so far making the local farmers very happy.

      Its all over the place now

    • johnm 2.4
      15 March 2016 at 12:50 pm

      Antarctica on the Brink: NASA Emeritus Scientist Warns of Dramatic Loss of Glaciers
      Monday, 14 March 2016 00:00 By Dahr Jamail, Truthout | Interview

      Scientific reports about the increasing pace of melting ice — in all its forms around the planet — are being published on a nearly daily basis.

      A study published in January revealed a dramatic increase in melt rates on Antarctica’s most stable ice shelf, when it showed that melting rates were 25 times higher than expected.

      This disconcerting news comes a year after another study, which showed that the largest glacier in eastern Antarctica (Totten Glacier), which by itself contains the ice equivalent of a 20-foot rise in global sea levels, is melting due to warming ocean waters.

      Other reports showing how increasingly warm ocean waters are contributing to an accelerating melting of large portions of Antarctica continue to be published on a regular basis.

      http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/35202-antarctica-on-the-brink-nasa-emeritus-scientist-warns-of-dramatic-loss-of-glaciers

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plkkfEY9cGs

      • johnm 2.4.1
        17 March 2016 at 10:27 am

        Tourists banned from hiking on stunning New Zealand glaciers that have been popular attractions for more than a century because the ice is melting too quickly

        New Zealand’s most renowned glaciers are too dangerous for tourist to trek to from the bottom of the mountain
        Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have been melting too quickly ending a traditional hike that dates back a century
        The two glaciers usually snake down from the mountain to a temperate rainforest but are now melting rapidly
        With no signs of a turnaround from warm conditions, scientists say global warming is impacting the environment
        See more of the latest New Zealand news and updates as climate change affects its stunning glaciers

        Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3494892/Tourists-banned-hiking-New-Zealand-s-glaciers-Fox-Franz-Josef-ice-melting-quickly-global-warming.html#ixzz436UA8Hn6
        Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

  3. weka 3
    15 March 2016 at 10:50 am

    Not to worry, looks like Paul Henry has interviewed an expert on how to survive the Apocalypse. Apparently we need a bow and arrows, and we when the shtf we should “go to rural places, small communities, the bush or head to the coastline”.

    I can tell you this, if Paul Henry turns up in my small rural community we’ll be putting an apple on his head.

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/tvshows/paulhenry/tips-for-surviving-an-apocalypse-2016031506

    (apparently Henry got trounced by a climate scientist this morning but the video isn’t up yet).

    • johnm 3.1
      15 March 2016 at 11:45 am

      Climate Denier Paul Henry shocked at climate change – laughs it off anyway

      By Martyn Bradbury / March 15, 2016

      ‘ Our total denial of the realities we face if we do not make significant changes now is as bewildering as our blind ignorance. We deserve political leaders who will lead, not make excuses. The very existence of us as a species demands it. – ‘

      http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/03/15/climate-denier-paul-henry-shocked-at-climate-change-laughs-it-off-anyway/

      ‘ The simple, brutal truth is that man made pollution has passed a tipping point where the feedback loops built into the biosphere are now beyond our ability to control. We are facing catastrophic climate change now – which makes the Green Parties and NGOs celebrations at Paris so galling… ‘

      • johnm 3.1.1
        15 March 2016 at 12:07 pm

        Comment on Daily Blog:

        Good stuff, Martyn.

        The crux of the problem is that the Ponzi western-style financial-economic system cannot function without destroying the habitability of the Earth. And politicians and media commentators are more interested in maintaining their own short-term vested interests than the futures of their children/grandchildren. The phony mainstream narrative will be maintained, whatever the cost.

        Until recently the oceans were able to absorb much of the excess heat trapped by CO2 and other greenhouse gases. And a lot of trapped heat was used in melting ice. But now the oceans have become so overheated and the quantity of ice so small we are -as you correctly point out- in the early stages of catastrophic (and accelerating) meltdown.

        I think we can expect the bought-and-paid-for liars and money-grubbers who control the political system and the media (Could Paul Henry be one?) to maintain their level of denial of reality until sea water starts flooding the low-lying parts of Auckland, Napier, Christchurch and Dunedin etc. Then they will say: “We could never have known this would happen.”

        Meanwhile the CO2 level continues its inexorable rise. Currently 405ppm and expected to reach an average of 408ppm, with outlier results as high as 410ppm, in a couple of months.

        The situation in the Arctic is less clear; more than 2 standard deviations below ‘normal’ ice cover, and entering the melt season with the highest CO2 level in history and the warmest waters in the North Atlantic ever, we should not be surprised if all the ice melts this year. Then the ‘fireworks’ will really begin.

        On the other hand, unlike industrial humans, nature does try hard to preserve life on Earth.

        The degree of direness should be much clearer in a couple of weeks.

    • McFlock 3.2
      15 March 2016 at 11:47 am

      waste of good protein. Put it in his mouth for flavour 😉

    • greywarshark 3.3
      15 March 2016 at 2:20 pm

      An apple for the snitcher eh weka.
      I didn’t know what it meant, but I wanted the opposite to teacher, but i give you a choice provided by Merriam Webster. From this plethora you must find one that just suits your image of the fink Henry.

      Synonyms. (for snitcher)
      betrayer, canary [slang], deep throat, fink, informant, nark [British], rat, rat fink, informer, snitcher, squealer, stoolie, stool pigeon, talebearer, tattler, tattletale, telltale…
      Snitch | Definition of Snitch by Merriam-Webster

      • In Vino 3.3.1
        17 March 2016 at 9:37 pm

        Opposite to teacher… a challenge!

        Dissembler? Spinner? Politician? Marketer (presents persuasion as information and dissuades viewer from perceptive thought…) Hard to find an exact opposite to Teacher. Promoter of ignorance… Talkback host? CEO of TVNZ? Sport Role Model?

        Hmmm – a few teachers probably indulge in some of these crimes from time to time anyway.

  4. Jones 4
    15 March 2016 at 10:57 am

    This isn’t shocking… it is expected. We crossed the Rubicon of meaningful action decades ago.

    • TC 4.1
      15 March 2016 at 11:50 am

      Checkout gwynne dyers ‘climate wars’.

      US govt knows and is planning for the contingency measures mass population migration will require.

      • Colonial Viper 4.1.1
        15 March 2016 at 3:46 pm

        exactly. including the building of militarised detention camps ready to securely house huge numbers of troublemakers.

  5. Bill 5
    15 March 2016 at 11:44 am

    Just dropping in quickly on my way through….

    From Dec 2014.

    …the proposed EU trajectory would emit approximately 2.5 times more carbon dioxide between now and 2050 than the ‘required’ trajectory.

    (where ‘required’ is for a “likely”, ie 66% chance, of avoiding average surface planetary warming of +2 degrees C or more)

    Since 2014, the 10% annual cuts mentioned in the link have been revised upwards to something like 15%.

    Here’s a question. Why is no party in NZ promoting a law that would dictate zero energy emissions being achieved in line with the science? Something along those lines has just been announced in the UK. Sadly, the UK proposal is messy since it includes agriculture which presents leeway for fudging. (ie, playing energy non-reductions off against agricultural reductions)

    • AmaKiwi 5.1
      15 March 2016 at 11:51 am

      “Why is no party in NZ promoting a law that would dictate zero energy emissions being achieved in line with the science?”

      Because it would cut into my business’s profits.

      • weka 5.1.1
        15 March 2016 at 12:12 pm

        No, it’s because no-one would vote for them. FFS people, you think the Greens, who’ve been talking about the seriousness of climate change for far longer than most people here have even known what it was don’t get this shit? Where do you want them, inside parliament or outside?

        When the people want change it will happen. It’s kind of weird seeing the anti-authoritarian folk arguing that our leaders should be leading on this. They’re following us, as always. My question isn’t what are the mainstream parties going to do, but what are we going to do?

        • Sabine 5.1.1.1
          15 March 2016 at 12:23 pm

          nothing, comfort n shit and also it;s hard work, and she’ll be right and why would i do something of he / she / it does nothing.

          • weka 5.1.1.1.1
            15 March 2016 at 12:29 pm

            Are you willing to do something?

            • Sabine 5.1.1.1.1.1
              15 March 2016 at 2:53 pm

              i am already and have been for the longest of time, while still functioning in a modern society.
              I was riding a bycicle in Auckland some 20 years ago, to name just one of the little things. Or living within walking distance of work, and always making sure that work and living go hand in hand, instead of insisting in either buying an overpriced property in town, or and overpriced property out of town while still maintaining a fucking truck to carry my groceries home. Buying vegetables and cooking them instead of buying rubbish processed food. Growing my own where possible, guerrilla gardening is a hobby, not using pesticides, not shopping for a new pair, recycle etc etc etc. I am fairly old school. Heck i dont even have a smart or a dumb phone. No tv, and a box for a labtop, cause i don’t believe in upscaling.
              Need to know anything more?

              Just for your information, I was a member of the german green party in 1986. But i have never come across a less interested populace (in general terms) than Kiwis. The next bbq has more importance than polluted riverways.

              Fuck i remember my first visit to Piha in 1998 and ending up picking up rubbish to take home cause people could not be arsed and there was no public rubbish collection point.

              So what are you doing Weka?

              • weka …
                15 March 2016 at 3:28 pm

                Similarish kinds of things Sabine. I think those individual changes are important, and it’s not what I meant. What I meant was, are we willing to take to the streets*? Because all the lifestyle changes we make are still within our reach, not the really hard ones that require us to give up a lot. And they’re not enough.

                *that’s a metaphor, but I don’t rule it out as an action either.

        • Bill 5.1.1.2
          15 March 2016 at 12:46 pm

          The Tory government in the UK have just said they will enshrine reductions in law. From the link in my comment from above…”energy minister Andrea Leadsom told parliament on Monday: “The government believes that we will need to take the step of enshrining the Paris goal for net zero emissions in UK law. The question is not whether but how we do it.”

          It’s no big deal. More a signal of serious intent than anything actually serious (they’ll ensure the law gives them leeway to do jack-shit). But it does send the signal to the electorate and/or to the citizenry that CC is serious and real…ie, not some flaky theoretical nonsense being batted back and forth between governments and the science community. And that translates as ‘permission’ (to think and act on CC) for those, and it would appear to be many, who need such affirmation before they will think or act along certain lines.

          As for the Greens on CC…nah. Their literature is just plain depressing in its level of underplay or avoidance. The last glossy that dropped through my door was all about furry animals dying and chocolate/coffee shortages.

          As for change being hitched to peoples’ desires or wants – fuck that. As a society we need to change and we need to do it immediately and radically. If folks would rather stay in their comfort zone wrapped up in denial, then those who have any capacity to do so have a duty to crash what we can of the framework their comfort hangs from – you don’t wait for the toddler crossing the road to the ice-cream shop to realise there’s a car coming and to then want to stop walking – you yank their hood and pull them flying off their feet if need be.

          • weka 5.1.1.2.1
            15 March 2016 at 1:08 pm

            It’s great that the UK have taken that step, and as you say it’s a nudge rather than the all out law change I thought you were talking about in your original comment. A law change that would dictate zero according to the science (which isn’t what the UK is doing in practice, right?). So if you are talking about the Greens (because let’s face it, it’s not going to be another party) having a policy around the light version of the law, then sure, I think it’s something they could do.

            If you mean a serious law, then my point still stands. When all the people decrying politicians lack of movement on CC start voting for the party that’s actually had climate change as a priority for decades and now considers it the most important issue of all time, then we might see some faster change in NZ.

            As for the Greens on CC…nah. Their literature is just plain depressing in its level of underplay or avoidance. The last glossy that dropped through my door was all about furry animals dying and chocolate/coffee shortages.

            Try going to their website and working with their actual policy. If you think what they put out to the middle classes is a reflection of their policy, you’re really not paying attention.

            “As for change being hitched to peoples’ desires or wants – fuck that.”

            Sure. Good luck with making that work.

            As a society we need to change and we need to do it immediately and radically.

            Patently we don’t or we would be You and I need society to change, pretty bloody drastically, but most of society isn’t there yet.

            If folks would rather stay in their comfort zone wrapped up in denial, then those who have any capacity to do so have a duty to crash what we can of the framework their comfort hangs from – you don’t wait for the toddler crossing the road to the ice-cream shop to realise there’s a car coming and to then want to stop walking – you yank their hood and pull them flying off their feet if need be.

            I’m up for that. I don’t think we can expect the Greens to do that unless we want them back on 5%. But there is nothing stopping the rest of us organising is there? Or perhaps we don’t need to change yet, perhaps we too are still too comfortable and not wiling to give up what is required.

            (and I think the Greens will follow).

            • Bill 5.1.1.2.1.1
              15 March 2016 at 1:48 pm

              I’m no more inclined to wade through the Green web-site than the Labour web site, when what they intend for public consumption – an exposition or reflection of their policies presumably – is plastered all over the glossy leaflets they drop in letter boxes. That, far more than any web site stuff, is what people form opinions and voting intentions from and is the more prominent tool that parties use to shape or influence opinion.

              Anyway.

              We, as a society, do need to change radically and immediately. Just because the mortgage and bills are being paid, and California grapes are dropping off the isles all makes for a sense of comfort and security, doesn’t take away from the reality of the situation any more than it does in the case of the soon to be mashed toddler in the middle of the road anticipating the ice-cream…world seems groovy; world most assuredly ain’t groovy.

              • weka …
                15 March 2016 at 1:52 pm

                aka let’s sit on the internet and pontificate about what other people should do.

                By all means judge the GP on their leaflets, and I’ll judge you as ill-informed on GP policy (which is ironic given you want them to have a policy around legislation that mandates zero).

                Yes everyone, I’m in a pretty bad mood today and it’s not likely to get better.

                • Bill …
                  15 March 2016 at 2:28 pm

                  If their leaflets (ie, their propaganda) isn’t an honest reflection of their policy….

                  Anyway.

                  I don’t really care about the Greens or any other specific political party. My original comment was intended to be a broader and more rhetorical one alluding to an inability on the part of our current institutional frameworks to respond to climate change.

                  • weka …
                    15 March 2016 at 3:10 pm

                    I haven’t read the pamphlet, you haven’t read the policy, so who would know?

                    Ok, I thought you were asking why parties won’t promote such a law change in NZ.

                    Tbh today I’m not interested in yet another rhetorical conversation about society’s failings, because we’ve been talking about that here for years and it doesn’t appear to be moving things forward. Or at least, we need to do something else as well.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      15 March 2016 at 3:48 pm

                      The Left remains fascinated with legislation as a way of enacting change. But how on earth is such a law going to be enforced? How are the courts going to deal with tens of thousands of offending individuals and companies?

                    • weka …
                      15 March 2016 at 5:30 pm

                      Why are you fascinated with using legislation to effect change?

                  • Matthew Whitehead …
                    15 March 2016 at 9:05 pm

                    The leaflets emphasise what people want to hear about. That’s politics 101.

                    The Greens’ policies on this are pretty much exactly what you want, so I’m not sure why you’re so hung up on how they campaign, given that they have an excellent record of pushing their policy priorities, and were principled enough to seriously consider voting against the Labour ETS, (which was stronger than the giveaway money-go-round National turned it into) because it might push away the possibility of a climate change solution that would actually do the job.

        • greywarshark 5.1.1.3
          15 March 2016 at 2:23 pm

          You ask bloody hard questions weka. Go away.

          • greywarshark 5.1.1.3.1
            15 March 2016 at 2:46 pm

            Of course I don’t mean weka go away. Weka keeps reminding us that action and commitment are needed. This is what happens when we are unwary about the ongoing attack on our countryside and environment.
            https://blog.greens.org.nz/2016/03/15/water-were-giving-it-away/
            From Frogblog and Catherine Delahunty.
            When Nick Smith was questioned about the fact that overseas-owned companies can export freshwater they have bottled for free here in NZ, he answered that there is plenty of water, and at the moment there are only a few companies involved.

            Our most precious resource and indeed necessity is being bottled and sold offshore for 100% pure profit. Companies pay only minimal resource consent fees, but no royalties on the resource they are taking. But I guess that’s what the Government means by “no one owns water”; let’s just give it to the corporates.

            The first problem with this is the breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. But what about the proprietorial and kaitiakitanga rights of tangata whenua?
            The second problem is that with advancing climate change and risks from regional drought we will need all our water.
            The third problem is that in some regions food producers are already struggling to get a fair allocation of water without it being sucked up and offshore.
            Then there is the state of our rivers and aquifers, they need cleaning up rather than further exploitation.
            The new export bottling company in Hawkes Bay has had two shiploads of bottled water returned from China because the water was too

            • weka 5.1.1.3.1.1
              15 March 2016 at 3:21 pm

              Thanks grey. I am frustrated by the continual response to CC here being let’s talk about it some more and let’s post some more information that’s scarey. I think we are scared enough. I’d like to see us do other things as well as that, to figure out what we can actually do.

              I see many people in real life, on social media and here on ts who appear to be feeling powerless. We don’t like to talk about that much here, but I think it’s a critical part of the problem.

              • Colonial Viper …
                15 March 2016 at 3:49 pm

                For starters, let’s stop rationalising support for the two big parties, both of which are entrenched in the status quo continuing as long as possible via various games of pretend and extend.

                • greywarshark …
                  15 March 2016 at 10:24 pm

                  Colonial V
                  That is an inadequate and shallow response from you to weka’s heartfelt plea for action as well as ideas to help limit CC and particularly where the pressure points are for individuals to exert some effect. What can you think of yourself? You read a lot = what are people doing overseas?

                  You have started writing posts – I have suggested that Helen Kelly’s post a while back be made a point of meeting of minds and ideas about the environment and CC. It seemed she was very concerned, and would get a lift from us carrying on with her theme. You could be the moderator. The emphasis would be on our climatactic troubles, of which you have always impressed me with your knowledge.

                  Many of us have seen the truth of your assessments about the two major parties, though giving acknowledgement to what Little is currently doing. But the greater concern is climate change, you have said it yourself. So lead the dialogue on that why don’t you. It’s a worthy topic for your abilities.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    15 March 2016 at 10:33 pm

                    Cheers greywarshark. Hope all is going well with you.

                    • RedLogix …
                      15 March 2016 at 10:37 pm

                      Well someone has to CV.

                      Us privileged white males over the age of 40 aren’t allowed 🙂

                    • greywarshark …
                      16 March 2016 at 2:12 pm

                      What are you on about Red Logix? Are you still in Oz? It’s good to see you regularly in the mosh pit. As for white males I have just done a recap on Open Mike of Louis Crimp as an example of the detritus which can be funding parties which are agin everything except for what white males want. Not a decent man that Louis Crimp, now dead however.

      • alwyn 5.1.2
        15 March 2016 at 2:30 pm

        I assume you mean zero CO2 rather than zero “energy”?
        Wouldn’t matter for very long though.
        Zero CO2 emissions? Do you plan to stop breathing?

        I guess if you really mean zero energy I should applaud. They would have to shut down Radio New Zealand and we could have relief from John Campbell’s rubbish.
        After all a radio signal is the emission of electromagnetic radiation.

    • Colonial Viper 5.2
      15 March 2016 at 12:00 pm

      I have a bad feeling about this.

  6. AmaKiwi 6
    15 March 2016 at 11:47 am

    The Nats climate change deniers have done nothing except build more roads and suck up more water for dairying.

    Great political/economic system that allows a fuck whit dictatorship to destroy our country and our earth.

    Excuse me. I have to drive to the mall to buy more plastic crap I don’t need.

    • Colonial Viper 6.1
      15 March 2016 at 11:58 am

      While Labour accepts that climate change is a real problem, but drags its feet on moving away from the status quo because it is so invested in the status quo. Free trade corporate rights agreements and all.

  8. alwyn 8
    15 March 2016 at 2:21 pm

    It’s been a great summer here in Wellington though.
    Haven’t had to pull out the winter woollies or be bothered by chilblains once.
    I live a couple of hundred meters up. Sea level rise isn’t going to hit that is it?

    • Colonial Viper 8.1
      15 March 2016 at 3:45 pm

      Check where your water comes in from and where your sewage is pumped out by.

      If those pumping stations or the pipe network get flooded, your home will be high and dry yes – but without services.

      • alwyn 8.1.1
        15 March 2016 at 3:54 pm

        As far as water goes I am much more interested in why the Wellington City Council doesn’t go ahead and provide emergency water storage for the Wellington Hospital if the supply lines get broken in the event of an earthquake.
        The hospital would be left unable to operate as they need a lot of water.
        The council seems far happier wasting the money on a disastrous cycleway that on less sexy, but much more useful things like an emergency reservoir.

        And yes I am quite aware that my original comment is flippant.
        It has been a great summer though.

        • joe90 8.1.1.1
          15 March 2016 at 4:01 pm

          why the Wellington City Council doesn’t go ahead and provide emergency water storage for the Wellington Hospital

          Health funding is a central government function?.
          /

          • alwyn 8.1.1.1.1
            15 March 2016 at 4:10 pm

            Yes, but the water supply is a local body one.
            ie The Wellington City Council. Every other DHB hospital has had provision made by their local water supply provider.

            • joe90 8.1.1.1.1.1
              15 March 2016 at 5:00 pm

              AFAIK during the major upgrade of a few years ago Whanganui base had emergency supply cisterns installed.

              • alwyn …
                15 March 2016 at 5:16 pm

                The hospital uses 750,000 litres/day.
                It has 5 days supply in its own reservoir.
                It would take much longer than that to restore full supply from the Hutt where the water is sourced.
                Since 2003 there have been plans for a 35 million litre reservoir nearby.
                http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/75872095/dispute-over-wellington-hospitals-emergency-water-leads-to-fingerpointing
                It really pisses me off that the council can find money for stupid things but not for their baseline functions.
                However it is rather off topic for this post.

                • joe90 …
                  15 March 2016 at 5:27 pm

                  Nactional book cooking.

                  But the plan has moved sluggishly since 2011 when the cash-strapped Capital & Coast District Health Board pulled out of a joint agreement with Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council to fund the $20 million reservoir, leaving a funding shortfall.

                  • alwyn …
                    15 March 2016 at 5:34 pm

                    You saw the bits that followed I hope?

                    “Nowhere else in the country has a local authority held such an essential project hostage,” Leggett said.
                    DHB chief executive Debbie Chin said on Monday that no other DHB in the country was expected to pay for water infrastructure, such as a reservoir.”

                    and

                    “But fellow health board member and Wellington regional councillor Sue Kedgley agreed with Leggett and Eagle that it was “completely inappropriate” for taxpayers to be subsidising the reservoir.
                    “Why should [the health board] be expected to pay for this essential service when no other DHB in New Zealand does so,” she said.”

                    One of the two occasions when I totally agree with Sue. However it really is off topic and I’m not going to continue here.

          • greywarshark 8.1.1.1.2
            15 March 2016 at 10:29 pm

            The trouble with some local government councils is that they see a function as being where you get together with others and talk loudly, have a number of alcoholic drinks and nice food, and be entertained.

            • joe90 8.1.1.1.2.1
              15 March 2016 at 11:30 pm

              I reckon the problem is local authorities putting their ratepayers on the hook for almost everything nobody else wants to pay for.

        • Colonial Viper 8.1.1.2
          15 March 2016 at 5:04 pm

          The hospital would be left unable to operate as they need a lot of water.

          But do you really need a functioning hospital after a serious earthquake?

          OK facetiousness aside, I agree with you: we have left some of these key facilities in a far too fragile state. When things go wrong and we really need them is exactly when we are going to rue this bean counter oriented cost cutting approach to life.

        • RedLogix 8.1.1.3
          15 March 2016 at 6:26 pm

          @alwyn

          IIRC this project here to replace the very old Melrose Res will go a long way towards providing an emergency supply for the Hospital.

          http://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/news/2015/01/article-about-construction-starting-on-a-new-reservoir-for-melrose

          There was discussion about a large 5 ML reservoir just for the hospital, but it didn’t make a lot of engineering or cost sense on it’s own.

          • alwyn 8.1.1.3.1
            15 March 2016 at 7:15 pm

            That is 2.2 million litres right?
            That is about 3 days for the hospital. The one being planned was 35 million I believe, with the great majority for the hospital. I don’t think we can assume the hospital demand would be less after an earthquake than it is today. No elective surgery, sure. An awful lot of casualties though.

    • reason 8.2
      15 March 2016 at 3:58 pm

      What a typically stupid and selfish comment from you alwyn …..

      If the worlds major citys like New York and London are under water …… If whole countries like the Netherlands and Bangladesh are gone……. If huge areas of fertile low lands are taken by the sea on a global scale ………. and the climate is more extreme and damaging

      Then your ‘fuck you jack I’m alright’ smugness at living a couple of hundred meters above the sea will offer you all the protection that such stupidity warrants …….

      Global warming seems to have lead to the extinction of your thought process …..

      Btw ……Whats your address if I get wet 😉 ?

      • alwyn 8.2.1
        15 March 2016 at 4:01 pm

        Have a look at my reply to CV. My comment wasn’t really serious you know.

        • reason 8.2.1.1
          15 March 2016 at 6:23 pm

          Well slap me on the head with a big pink dildo ………. It seemed so real from you.

          Sorry for the mistake ……………… as long as you understand it’s you not me.

          • alwyn 8.2.1.1.1
            15 March 2016 at 7:17 pm

            Anything to make you happy. It’s been such a lovely summer I wish only happiness to everyone.

      • Lloyd 8.2.2
        17 March 2016 at 10:41 pm

        Wellington has consistently risen in earthquakes for a long time. In the 1855 earthquake the rise in the city area was about 2m and in the great earthquake around 1460 the island at Miramar was joined to the mainland, forming the Kilbirnie area.
        It will be a race but in a few thousand years Wellington may be the only coastal capital in the world with much the same coastline as it has today.
        Auckland on the other hand will become an archipelago. Maybe a series of bridges to join North Auckland to the rest of the North Island would be a road of national significance.

  9. maui 9
    15 March 2016 at 2:39 pm

    The middle class are more interested in the great summer weather we’ve had rather than changing their lifestyle to lessen the likelihood of more cyclones like the one that hit Fiji.

    At this point its best to pray for economic collapse for some serious emission reduction. That creates a whole new set of problems though.

    • weka 9.1
      15 March 2016 at 3:12 pm

      I’m middle class. Everyone is talking about how there is something wrong with the weather this year.

      I agree that praying for economic collapse is called for.

      • greywarshark 9.1.1
        15 March 2016 at 10:42 pm

        I’m reading Oliver James book on Affluenza. He talks about Erich Fromm’s idea of the Marketing Society – in it

        “the consumer must be permanently dissatisfied, or gratified only for the shortest possible ime. Satisfaction would stop consumption, which would stall economic growth. This society needs people with an exaggerated sense of the importance of work, a false need for things and an endless desire to consume, no deep feelings or convictions, standardised tastes, suggestibility and uncritical minds.

        Nothing but economic collapse is likely to bring about the necessary disruption to that pervasive obssession, similar to the ECT applied to suicidal people to break the pattern of their thoughts.

    • Colonial Viper 9.2
      15 March 2016 at 3:52 pm

      Although Australian coal miners are not liking it, China is buying very little coal at the moment. China’s exports and imports are also way down at the moment.

      Economic stagnation is slowing GHG emissions, for sure.

      But the Left want to get the economy up and revving and people consuming again?

      • alwyn 9.2.1
        15 March 2016 at 3:59 pm

        And subsidise all the Dairy farmers, no matter how ridiculous some of their business models may be.
        I wonder if Little having gone to New Plymouth Boy’s High may have something to do with it? If he had friends off Taranaki dairy farms they may have persuaded him that they are worthy of the taxpayer’s largesse.
        Probably unlikely. Someone who is such a sourpuss as Andrew is unlikely to have friends. Reminds me of Piggy somehow.

        • Colonial Viper 9.2.1.1
          15 March 2016 at 5:05 pm

          Cows are massive GHG emitters and Little wants government money to keep that industry going.

          It’s all over the freakin map without any coherant rhyme or reason.

      • reason 9.2.2
        15 March 2016 at 6:28 pm

        CV I’ve liked and admired your posts here at the standard for a long while now and you have increased my knowledge and understanding of many things.

        But your anger and dislike of Labor is dragging your quality down…….

        You are 100% correct that growth and consumption as presently practiced are incompatible with having a world Humans can survive on ………..

        Our artificial contrived capitalistic system places no value on the natural resources and ecosystems that sustain life ………. keeping air and water clean is seen as an obstacle to creating “wealth” ………… ugly things like greed and exploitation are seen as good.

        But that s a message everyone needs to hear and understand………… tacking lefties on diminishes and distracts from it.

        Labour may well be bad and rotten as often observed …………. but National are just plain evil……… Distill it down to that ….accept it as a simple truth that many others share and don’t vote for either.

        I just feel your holding yourself back from your own good efforts and purpose ……

        I already know that labour are bad and rotten ………….

  10. johnm 10
    15 March 2016 at 5:50 pm

    Just my humble opinion. I find it depressing and sad that almost 100% NZ commentators banalise it down to a local pathetic situation. It really makes me feel this country is brain dead: it’s hopeless, I give up!

    • Arthur 10.1
      15 March 2016 at 5:54 pm

      Well I don’t think that is the case, you are being silly.

      Guinevere was a nutjob for leaving Arthur, for a maggot?

      Whoever wrote this story must have been in two minds.

      Because if it were up to the Lady Herself, She would pick Arthur.

  11. Robert Atack 11
    15 March 2016 at 5:51 pm

    So where does Kiwi Saver and continued growth fit into all of this?
    Is there a political party ready to admit KS is a fuck up at best, or out and out lie if the truth was known?
    I will get out of bed on election day, if just one politician starts telling the truth.

  12. Chooky 12
    15 March 2016 at 10:40 pm

    has anyone noticed there seems to be far less honey bees around ( bumble bees are still working hard) and the bird numbers seem to be right down eg thrushes , blackbirds , sparrows, silvereyes ( magpies are still around and hawks in the usual numbers)

    i suppose global warming will affect bird feed…shades of ‘Silent Spring’ due to global warming?…heat stroke?…or is it due to other causes?…viruses, insecticides

    …and yes mature trees are dying too…water lack? …or heat stoke? …or UV?

    scary

  13. johnm 13
    16 March 2016 at 11:56 am

    I think Weka was interested in seeing this latest Paul Henry interview on Climate Change with a NIWA rep.

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/tvshows/paulhenry/el-nino-keeps-bringing-warm-weather-for-autumn-2016031513#axzz42xWzFxSG

  14. Expat 14
    16 March 2016 at 4:43 pm

    I find it interesting no one ever mentions the fact that NZ, like Australia, are the worst polluters on a per capita or per GDP basis compared to rest of the world, so much for the “clean green” image NZ used to portray.

    IMO, no real action on CC will occur until it is too late, guys like Neil Young were writing about it in the 70’s, “Look at mother nature on the run in the 1970’s” (Helpless), and what has changed?

    Change can only occur with a Govt that whole heartedly subscribes to the concept of CC, and starts to encourage positive change in behavior towards CC, incentivising is a tool that can used in that encouragement, regulation should only be used to persuade non conformers, the old meme that NZ is small country and can’t make any difference to Global warming anyway is just a poor excuse used by those who don’t subscribe and /or sight the economic constraints, but if somethings not done there may no economy to constrain.

    It is really disappointing to hear that the South Is waterways have become so polluted that swimming is not recommended, what has happened at the Govt level to allow this occur and deteriorate, there simply seems to be no accountability.

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  • 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
    3 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
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 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
    9 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
    11 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
    12 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
    13 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
    13 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
    13 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
    16 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 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
    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    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 Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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