For God’s sake, its the same name

Written By: - Date published: 9:11 am, December 18th, 2009 - 54 comments
Categories: uncategorized - Tags: ,

In what has got to be the ultimate manifestation of this government’s inability to take a simple decision for fear of losing someones vote, Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson is set to announce that the city the rest of the country knows as Redneckville will now be known as Wanganui and Whanganui.

It’s the same frigging name. It’s not akin to Aorangi/Mt Cook, co-names from different cultural roots. It’s the same word – the correct spelling and the old misspelling.

Government agencies will use ‘h’ but ‘no h’ will also be official and, no doubt, Michael Lhaws’ council will use the old spelling. Instead of ending it, this ‘decision’ is likely to further the argument over the spelling as individual organisations choose which of the spelling they prefer. If nothing else it will make googling the place a pain in the arse.

This has been the dumbest national political debate ever. Rather than just finally put it to bed one way or the other, the government has opted to punt for touch, leaving the issue to rear its annoying head in the future. Weak.

54 comments on “For God’s sake, its the same name ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. fizzleplug 1
    18 December 2009 at 9:15 am

    Although it does save all the small businesses re-branding costs. Which is a good thing.

    • Rob Carr 1.1
      18 December 2009 at 9:25 am

      Would that really cost so much? Its not like they would have to do it on the day the name changed. Could be phased out.

    • felix 1.2
      18 December 2009 at 10:28 am

      Zero cost.

      No-one would need to go out and reprint anything until they were going to print it anyway. No-one.

      No-one would need to throw away a single scrap of stationery. No-one.

      Did Michael Laws tell you there’d be a fine for using the wrong name or something?

      • fizzleplug 1.2.1
        18 December 2009 at 10:35 am

        Except that it’s not a great look to have the name of your city spelled wrong in your business name.

        • felix 1.2.1.1
          18 December 2009 at 10:45 am

          Usually not a good look, no.

          Of course if name of your city has just been officially changed after a long, boring, and very public debate I expect people will tend to make allowances for the first couple of years, eh?

          And by “people will tend to make allowances” I mean “nobody will give a shit”.

          • lukas 1.2.1.1.1
            18 December 2009 at 10:49 am

            other than Laws and Turia, I suspect they are the kind of people who would not do business with someone if the business used the “wrong” version of the name.

        • Daveosaurus 1.2.1.2
          18 December 2009 at 8:31 pm

          Well, a lot of them have been spelling it wrong for the last century and a half; from now until they run out of letterhead and business cards shouldn’t be too much of an issue…

  2. Peter Johns 2
    18 December 2009 at 9:20 am

    With Fizzleplug on this one. There will be some disappointed ISPs, sign writers & printers out there with this decision. What’s in a name anyway?
    There are more pressing issues to worry about than wheather we have native spelling correct or not.

  4. corkscrew 4
    18 December 2009 at 9:34 am

    To me it has and always will be called ‘Petre’.

    • Deus ex Machina 4.1
      18 December 2009 at 9:43 am

      It’s easy. Let’s spell it the way Maori did in pre-European times.

      • Lanthanide 4.1.1
        18 December 2009 at 10:29 am

        I can’t tell if you’re being serious or not.

        Maori didn’t have a written language until European colonisation.

        • Deus ex Machina 4.1.1.1
          18 December 2009 at 11:18 am

          I knew that, and I am being serious. If Maori didn’t spell it with an ‘h’, or without an ‘h’ come to that, what authority do ‘they’ now have to demand it have an ‘h’ against the wishes of 80% of the people who actually live there and define their homes with it.

          Language is a living, changing thing. If you want to be ‘correct’ the plural of forum, like this one, is fora not forums, but ‘forums’ is now accepted usage while ‘fora’ is archaic and event pretentious. Similarly whether ‘Whanganui is correct or not, Wanganui had become accepted usage and insisting on an undemocratic change for the most facile of historical reasons is more about power and political correctness than accuracy.

          • Bored 4.1.1.1.1
            18 December 2009 at 2:58 pm

            Sound logic and in principle agree. Then comes the real issue, the expression of “indigenous” rights (what ever that means to who ever) with all its connotations of political ownership, sovereignty, race etc etc.

            My personal take on it is that if it is important to Maori that they spell “Maori” names, words etc in a way that suits them I as a pakeha will defer to their preference and judgment and not intervene. If conversely a Maori tells me how I should spell my European names words etc I will take a non placatory stance.

            Had Laws not made this a political circus I think the whole issue would be long forgotten on the above principle. He does not deserve any credit for cheap politicking when far more important issues are at hand.

            • Rex Widerstrom 4.1.1.1.1.1
              18 December 2009 at 3:51 pm

              Had Laws not made this a political circus I think the whole issue would be long forgotten, as would he. He therefore deserves credit for successfully hoodwinking the dopey media by utilising cheap politicking and divisive racism as a last gasp method of maintaining his national “profile”, because there is no more important issue than Micael’s right to see himself written about in the newspaper.

              There, fixed it.

  5. Innocent bystander 5
    18 December 2009 at 9:46 am

    What re-branding costs? Official names are only binding on government agencies.
    The NZ Geographic board will not be employing a squad of walk short clad goons armed with clipboards to burst into every corner dairy and hair salon town to enforce their decision. Private businesses can call Whanganui whatever they want.

  6. Ed 6
    18 December 2009 at 9:59 am

    There are already a number of organisations that have used the name Whanganui for years with no problems. This is a lame decision by the government – perhaps they were intimidated by the mayor . . .

  7. satty 7
    18 December 2009 at 10:11 am

    We can only hope and pray that people don’t get lost with different names on the roadsigns 🙂

  8. cocamc 8
    18 December 2009 at 10:13 am

    Actually – who gives a shit. It’s just a name – don’t we have more important things to worry about.

    • Deus ex Machina 8.1
      18 December 2009 at 11:44 am

      Why I give a shit – tho’ I wouldn’t give any more than that – and why I’m surprised there aren’t more folk on this site giving a shit – is that this pisses on democracy.

      I couldn’t care less how Wanganui spells itself, but the fact is that in a popular referendum 80% of the people who live there said they wanted it to remain Wanganui yet their views are being pissed on by a Government more concerned with buying the support of the Maori Party in Parliament in order to preserve its power than it is in representing the wishes of the people of this country.

      • Lew 8.1.1
        18 December 2009 at 11:53 am

        Matters of historical, geographic and historical fact aren’t up for the popular vote, though. Or do you think they should be?

        L

        • Lew 8.1.1.1
          18 December 2009 at 12:17 pm

          Hrm, one of those ‘historicals’ should be a ‘linguistic’.

          Sorry.

          L

          • Lew 8.1.1.1.1
            18 December 2009 at 12:49 pm

            No, it’s not. You either accept that the word was ‘Whanganui’ (whether spelt or not) or you dispute that fact. If The former, there is only one correct spelling; if the latter: make your case.

            How it’s pronounced isn’t relevant to the spelling — or, to be more precise, is only relevant if those whose word it is (the local people whose iwi bears the same name) choose to make it relevant. In this case they manifestly haven’t.

            As to your example: perhaps they should. This being a free society, you’re welcome to bring such a case to the NZGB and have them deliberate on the matter.

            L

        • Deus ex Machina 8.1.1.2
          18 December 2009 at 12:40 pm

          It’s an historical fact that the settlement of “Wanganui” has been “Wanganui” for a a whole lot longer than it ever was “Whanganui”, and linguistically I hear it pronounced “Wongangui” almost exclusively, with no fricative.

          In any case you’re not voting on what the historical etc. facts are. You asking people what effect they want to give those historical etc. in their lives today. After all, perhaps the Geographic Board ought to rule upon whether the correct name for New Zealand isn’t Nieu Zeeland.

      • Swampy 8.1.2
        19 December 2009 at 2:08 am

        Whanganui belongs to all of New Zealand, not Michael Laws. His campaign is obviously for political ends, because he can only get elected in Whanganui and wouldn’t survive five minutes in Parliament as he proved.

  9. randal 9
    18 December 2009 at 11:29 am

    hey eddie we live in a modern secular schizophrenic state.
    we dont believe in God but nodobody wants to give up christmas!
    there is no God and even worse there is no tolerance for any one or any thing.
    the aitchers are like queer sects or the numbskulls who say that the constitution of the U.S. is the most perfect document if only an extra clause that they have devised themselves was included as an amendment.
    I am afraid that never in my wildest dreams would I ever agree with you know who but while the minions are exerciseing themselves over an abstract nothing the concrete causes of dissatisfaction and social distress are being completely ignored while the idiologues fight over a stupid frigging h.

  10. prism 10
    18 December 2009 at 11:42 am

    I disagree that having the option of spelling it differently is dumb. There need be no confusion about understanding – It is quite obvious what place is being referred to. And the superglue forces of reaction do not have to have their little worlds shifted even slightly. Eventually the spelling that Maori want will be the accepted one and the changeover will be achieved seamlessly.

  11. Tigger 11
    18 December 2009 at 12:10 pm

    This is a fence-sitting position that could have easily been solved with common sense. The place is called Whanganui. Require all official bodies to use official name. Let private business change names over time. At some point all the Wanganui signs will simply become quaint relics. And as already pointed out – it’s not example Egmont/Taranaki here – no one is going to be confused because they saw a sign that still said Wanganui.

    Typical National move, a ‘fix’ that isn’t actually a fix.

  12. gobsmacked 12
    18 December 2009 at 12:19 pm

    The essential point here is that this non-decision makes both spellings official. It is not phasing out “Wanganui”, over time. It is not just a matter of waiting for new letterhead. There is no reason to change Wanganui, now the government has said it’s correct.

    So a decision will still have to be made, eventually. In the meantime, the arguing will go on. What a farce.

  13. BLiP 13
    18 December 2009 at 12:49 pm

    At least the decision is consistent with Shonkey’s overall strategy for New Zealand: do nothing.

  14. randal 14
    18 December 2009 at 1:10 pm

    I dont care how they spell it.
    what I object to is toeing somebody elses line.
    and most of all I object to some crumb smirking away about thow they made the pakeha change.
    hahahahahaha frigging ha.
    why dont they just re name it completely.
    left right black or white they are all trying to force us to behave in exactly the way they want it.
    you know.
    like children who want their own way.

    • prism 14.1
      18 December 2009 at 6:08 pm

      Rave on, you crazy feeling,
      You know its got me reeling,
      Rave on, rave on oh oh oh
      Hey Randal, this was an old pop song. Sounds like you might have heard it.

  15. Deus ex Machina 15
    18 December 2009 at 2:26 pm

    The Maori language version of the Treaty of Waitangi is known as “Te Tiriti o Waitangi”. Clearly the Maori had no word of their own for ‘treaty’ so they adopted the European concept and word and spelled it as it sounded phonetically in Maori.

    However if Wanganui without an ‘h’ is wrong, being presumably one way the early settlers spelled the Maori word as it sounded phonetically, ‘tiriti’ is equally wrong (being one race’s attempt to spell a word from another’s language) and should be corrected to “Te Treaty o Waitangi”.

    No? Ah, then it is as I thought. All races in New Zealand are equal, but some are more equal than others.

    Now where have I heard that before?

    • Lew 15.1
      18 December 2009 at 2:45 pm

      DEM,

      The Maori language version of the Treaty of Waitangi is known as “Te Tiriti o Waitangi’. Clearly the Maori had no word of their own for ‘treaty’ so they adopted the European concept and word and spelled it as it sounded phonetically in Maori.

      WTF? How the hell does this follow? The document was written in English and partly translated, partly transliterated by speakers whose fluency and understanding of the two languages was highly imperfect.

      All you’re doing here is illustrating how little you know about how languages work and develop, and about NZ’s constitutional history. If you want to keep at it, I’ll not prevent you; but I should say you’re not really helping your cause.

      L

    • QoT 15.2
      18 December 2009 at 10:48 pm

      You really don’t know how different languages and the sounds they employ work, do you?

  16. prism 16
    18 December 2009 at 6:18 pm

    Michael Laws on tv! Strutting like a fine-feathered rooster warning people not to say Wanganui with a f. How can he maintain his confident superiority based on – what? Looking at him is a terrible warning against falling for an outspoken personality when voting for an official something. Ronald Reagan could tell good jokes but being a public figure is no joke, though the public might like to joke about them. That’s no great consolation during the years they’re in office.

    • Daveosaurus 16.1
      18 December 2009 at 8:32 pm

      I actually say “Michael Laws” with an “f”. Also a “u”, a “c”, a “k”, a “w”, an “i” and a “t”.

    • Ed 16.2
      18 December 2009 at 10:48 pm

      Lhaws may well be correct that it should not be pronounced with an initial ‘f’ sound. It was almost certainly originally pronounced with a ‘wh’ sound as in ‘when’ or ‘whence’, and wrongly written down by some early Europeans as has been pointed out above. That the pronunciation of many ‘wh’ words in English has changed to ‘w’ (eg wen or wence) is no excuse to further change to ‘f’ (fen or fence?) – that is not Taranaki maori pronunciation.

    • Swampy 16.3
      19 December 2009 at 2:11 am

      Hate to say it but Laws is correct, the h is silent in the local dialect.

      • The Voice of Reason 16.3.1
        19 December 2009 at 9:01 am

        Not so, Swampy. It is not the hard ‘f’ sound we are more familiar with (whakatane, whanau), but pronounced as if the h came before the w. More like whisper or whisk.

        And I wouldn’t rely the linguistic accuracy of batshit mad racist Michael Laws any more than I’d ask his advice on the wisdom of eyeliner for men.

        • prism 16.3.1.1
          19 December 2009 at 10:09 am

          I’ve wondered about Laws and eyeliner and his eyelashes. You can’t help the way you look so that’s just mean. I dislike what he says and thinks – how can Whanganui embrace this guy – or are they so eager for publicity that any is welcome?

          • The Voice of Reason 16.3.1.1.1
            19 December 2009 at 5:46 pm

            I’m told the eyeliner is tattooed in, which is creepy in itself. Don’t know about the eyelashes. Can you get extensions for eyelashes?

            As it happened, I was in Whangaz yesterday and most folk seemed to be shrugging their shoulders about the decision. In fact, people seemed miffed that no decision really seemed to have been made, though TVNZ changing the weather forecast and news headlines to the ‘new’ spelling seems to suggest the change is going to come whether the rednecks like it or not.

            Be interesting when the highway signposts get changed. It’s only going to happen when they need replacing. It’s not like I’d encourage people to nick the current ones to bring that about earlier than necessary, but if it were to happen, sweet.

        • prism 16.3.1.2
          19 December 2009 at 10:09 am

          I’ve wondered about Laws and eyeliner and his eyelashes. You can’t help the way you look so that’s just a mean thought on my part. I dislike what he says and thinks – how can Whanganui embrace this guy – or are they so eager for publicity that any is welcome?

          • prism 16.3.1.2.1
            19 December 2009 at 4:00 pm

            The above two of my comments – the first I chose to amend so went to edit and did so. But still the first remains, it wasn’t discarded and replaced with new edited version.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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