Frack off

Written By: - Date published: 8:19 am, July 3rd, 2011 - 41 comments
Categories: climate change, energy, International, Mining - Tags: , , ,

Bravo France, the first country in the world to ban fracking:

The French parliament voted on June 30 to ban the controversial technique for extracting natural gas from shale rock deposits known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, the web sites of Le Monde and other French media reported. …

Fracking requires the injection of vast quantities of water and potentially hazardous chemicals into the ground to force the release of natural gas. The U.S. government is investigating the environmental impact of the technique, which critics say produces toxic waste and pollutes water wells.

From another account:

Fracking, widely used in North America, uses a mixture of water, sand and chemicals injected under high pressure to break dense rock to release trapped oil and gas. Green groups and politicians led protests across France, saying the method could cause environmental damage. Government ministers and industry representatives say it is the only method currently available to extract hydrocarbons from the rock. …

Oil companies operating in France “deplore” the French ban, according to the Union Francaise des Industries Petrolieres, or UFIP, which represents Total SA (FP) and other explorers and refiners. UFIP, it said in a statement, “considers that the law will prevent an evaluation of shale hydrocarbon resources and their impact on the French economy.”

Nice to see one country stand up to the power of the oil companies, and take environmental concerns seriously for a change. But for every step forward in this world, we seem to take two steps backwards:

In the northern reaches of Alberta lies a vast reserve of oil that the United States views as a pillar of its future energy needs. China, with a growing appetite for oil that may one day surpass that of the US, is ready to spend the dollars for a big piece of it. The oil sands of this Canadian province are so big that they will be able to serve both of the world’s largest economies as production expands in the coming years. …

Critics dislike the whole concept of oil sands, because extracting the oil requires huge amounts of energy and water, increases greenhouse gas emissions and threatens rivers and forests. Keystone XL, the pipeline that would bring Alberta oil to Texas Gulf Coast refineries to serve the US market, compounds the issue.

There is a vast reserve of oil in these oil sands, but we have to leave it there. We are supposed to be reducing greenhouse gas emissions, not increasing them. We are supposed to be finding new, sustainable, green sources of energy, not turning to ever more expensive and polluting methods of extracting ever more climate destroying hydrocarbons from the earth. New Zealand is as bad as Canada, thanks to the “sexy coal” Nats and John “mine the lignite” Key. The world needs to follow France, and say when enough is enough, not follow Canada and New Zealand on the road to madness.

41 comments on “Frack off ”

  1. The skit from End CIV shows the tar sands in Alberta …………. it looks like something from the Lord of the Rings, Mordor was it?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H15Wol8ArhQ
    This is the biggest industrial operation on the planet, and it is only getting bigger, and will continue to do so until it can’t ……… voting will help lol 😉
    Oh and Kiwi Saver is dependent on it.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.1

      Culture-less, plastic civilisation

      I think that’s an apt description of our civilisation.

  2. Slightly out of context, but possibly the best place to share this
    http://www.pundit.co.nz/content/mike-joy-answers-the-pm-with-hard-facts

    Fresh water ecologist Dr Mike Joy responds to the Prime Minister’s ‘hardtalk’, debunking his bland assertions, and calling his advice “rubbish science”, that would fail a first-year student

    and

    On fresh water biodiversity: more than 60% of NZ native fresh water species are threatened. The global average is 37%. We are similar to South Africa (63% threatened), worse than both Europe (42% threatened), and the USA (37% threatened). On a series of lake quality measures (chlorophyll, total nitrogen, total phosphorus), New Zealand rates quite a lot worse than Canada on each measure, better than the United States on all three, worse than Europe on two.
    Turning to causes, he challenges the sustainability of intensive dairy farming in New Zealand, and the myth that the Resource Management Act protects the environment.
    Nitrogen fertiliser use has risen 700% in a decade; nitrogen levels at 77 fresh water sites are up. Lake pollution levels rise in correlation with more pastoral land — without factoring in land use intensity — and decline where there is a higher proportion of native land cover. And whereas the major impact on rivers is diffuse pollution, the RMA controls point source pollution. “What cows do in the shed [for which discharge consents are issued] is only a tiny proportion of what cows do.”

    So whether it is oil, coal, gas or cows, we are basically allowing the country to be screwed. Oh, and DOC, who are overseeing conservation have just culled 100 jobs.

    • Chris 2.1

      Awesome comment Ian! That’s a mint article. Isn’t it incredible how blinded we are to the realities of our times, we apparently want change and then put our faith in the hands of a banker after the financial crisis!
      I really think there needs to be some kind of massive shift in the education of people, as a society now not enough people give a stuff to pay attention to the things that will drastically affect them in the future. I almost think that more young people are once again awakening to the importance of being involved in the matters which will affect us all, but I think the real hope lies in the kids. Education has to be changed accordingly and kids should be taught the importance of critical thinking, the big problem with this is that there has to be a massive change in the people running the education system in order for this to work. We need something to bring about a change in consciousness I think, hah if only it were that simple…

      • Afewknowthetruth 2.1.1

        ‘Education has to be changed accordingly and kids should be taught the importance of critical thinking’

        The main purpose of formal education is to provide the slaves of the financial-industrial-military empire with enough information and skill to make them useful to the empire, while witholding information that would make them question the agendas of the empire.

        Over the past few decades we have witnessed a dumbing down of the content and a ramping up of political correctness in educational establishments.

        Change will come after collapse of the present system. Collapse is underway throughout much of the world and will come to NZ some time fairly soon.

        • ZeeBop 2.1.1.1

          Windmills kill eagles, so fracking is okay? But fracking kills ecosystems which eagles are the top off. Yet, on Kim a few weeks back that’s what the guest said, that fracking was better than windmills as windmills killed eagles.

          Sorry, but critical thinking can only work in a principled environment.

          But we don’t live in such a culture, our media is all about lying and we pay for it via adverts, adverts designed to get us to buy excesses, nicer packaging.

          We forgot our basic humanity, and are routinely told to by the MSM because profits matters more. The argument being if we don’t make profits we won’t be able to afford to live, house, heat our houses. Wait up, lots of people are going hungry, lining up at the food bank, living in damp homes, heating or food but not both.

          Sorry but all profits are not ‘good’ profits, and that’s the truth. We select our profit makers poorly, we choose shitsters over substance. So turn off your damn TVs already until the MSM get a backbone, principles and critical thinking too.

          We live in an age of lying and ignorance, we reward the best liars and dumbnuts!

        • KJT 2.1.1.2

          Nz’s new curriculum was designed to encourage critical thinking, research and interest in learning according to best practice after many years of research.

          This must have thrown the heebie jeebies up our Masters because in the middle of its implementation they have thrown in a spoiler in the form of NACT standards. An ideologically driven emphasise on a narrow range of skills.

          Not only has Teachers focus been taken away from the new curriculum, but all the information we could have gained on its effectiveness (or otherwise) as it is implemented will be muddied by the introduction of NACT standards. An ideological initiative which has actually been a proven failure overseas.
          BUT. As both were introduced at the same time we will never know for sure what the effects of either are.

          Oil companies will not have to worry about a population opposing fracking because they will not have sufficient critical skills to assess and understand the impact.

    • Draco T Bastard 2.2

      “The response from central government has been denial and misinformation.” The government, instead, is “emaciating DOC”, and “subsidising cows”.

      That pretty much sums up our government for the last 100+ years. 100 years ago it was kinda acceptable as we just didn’t know any better, now that we do know better continuing with those same policies is unacceptable and we need to wise up to that fact and stop doing it.

  3. Afewknowthetruth 3

    The government of France my not be quite as much under the thumb of the oil companies as the governments of the US, Britain, Canada, Australia, NZ etc.

    In Anglo-American countries the oil companies own the government, and what the oil companies want gets written into law…. higher speed limits, more roads, more drilling onshore, more drilling offshore, fracking, turning the landscape into a moonscape, turning the oceans into dead zones…. whatever the oil companies want they get.

    France is not standing on any moral high ground, of course. It’s just that France would rather buy natural gas from Algeria, or bomb Libya into submission and steal its natural gas, than have local environmental catastrophes.

    You’re right Robert, the corporations will keep doing it until they can’t. And it very much seems that people will keep voting for destruction of the planet they live on until they can’t.

  4. John D 4

    Shame really. Shale gas is a low carbon fuel (compared to coal)

    Of course, it is an easy decision for France to make, since it is ramping up its nuclear programme (presumably to provide power for those countries such as the UK that have decided to opt out of domestic production)

    • Reality Bytes 4.1

      I think the problem is not simply the carbon quotient of the end result fuel, but the means and costs of extracting it (toxic chemical leech-ates, energy costs etc).

      Some forms of energy actually require a very large amount of energy to extract them in the first place, obviously it’s not 100%+ or there would be no point, but it could easily exceed 50%+. And all this has a cumulative effect on the ultimate waste products of that production and consumption of fuel unit. i.e. if it takes half a litre to extract a litre of oil (or gas or whatever), then that litre of fuel in you car (or bbq etc), then it’s really doing the damage of 1.5 litres of fuel use. Lets not forget there is shipping, energy required for refining etc… Reality is a litre of car fuel is a lot more carbon getting dumped into the ecosystem than the immediate amount of carbon that litre of fuel produces.

  5. Viv 5

    L & M mining want to exploit shale gas here in NZ. France banning the process is big news. NZer’s should know that a country that does permit nuclear, won’t allow fracking.

    John D- you have to look at all the huge energy and resource inputs that are required to extract shale gas and not just claim that it is low carbon because the end product releases less carbon dioxide than coal. And what about the release of methane from fracking? Sure methane is a shorter lived greenhouse gas (10-15 years compared to CO2 100years), but the next 10 years are critical in trying to slow global warming.

    Fracking is just further evidence of the desperation of energy companies, going down even more extreme paths like an alcoholic turning to meths when what they really need to do is stop & change direction.

    • ZeeBop 5.1

      Its both supply and demand, if we put a true cost on the prices of goods and services, as reflected in the future price of oil in 10 or 20 years, then we’d all be buying a large chunk of meat and cutting it up at home not having the super markets butcher it, put chemicals in it, etc and then package it with plastic. Our whole economy is rigged to create churn jobs, jobs that we all could do more cheaply and efficiently at home if we had one bread winner per family, and we had contiguous low cost public transport and free broadband to everyone. There’s huge savings to be had on the energy front by people who heat their homes only to go out all day and work in a heated office, who drive to work when they could cycle (and save healthcare costs), who have to supermarket dive to find the lowest prices of basic commodities because we do not have a free market in retail in NZ. The whole way we run our economy is to provide the luxury of profits to a landlord global class, and its not worth it, really not worth it on so many levels, social, economic, cultural, environmental.

      Our proto fascist government is desperate to loss the next election by any means because they know victory will hurt them, their families and their nation, if only middle NZ would also wake up to the fact that stupid people who argue against climate change, CGT, welfare, are not in any shape or form good for their wallet, their society or their economy, in the present or future. The past is littered with debt and lost opportunities.

      Anyone who votes National in November is a cruel inhumane being without a smidgeon of conscience. Taxs cuts fair and balanced, won’t touch kiwisaver until next term, oh, please the list is growing by the week, how can anyone think National can be trusted.

      • Colonial Viper 5.1.1

        jobs that we all could do more cheaply and efficiently at home if we had one bread winner per family, and we had contiguous low cost public transport and free broadband to everyone.

        In order to suck labour back out of the workforce and back into the home we need sufficient wage levels and working conditions where

        – One full time bread winner (or 2 half time ones) can support the whole family.
        – It is quite possible for a single adult to support themselves with just 3-4 days work a week.

        • ZeeBop 5.1.1.1

          Profits aren’t made by mollycoddling businesses and banks. That’s the mistake we’ve made.

          Because we wanted more profits we went soft on capitalists and they pocketed the common wealth had we gone the other way, stress over performing areas more, and supported under performing – manufacturing, broadband. Hey even roading back in the 50s, why exactly didn’t we have a dual carriageway from Auckland to Wellington back in the 50s????

          Sorry, but when you heard enough people who say trains are inefficient, even as you point out Buffet is investing in rail. And rail contours the land by the most direct route meaning the low energy route, and trucks just cost more, they just don’t want a bar of it. That’s growth right there being flushed away by ignorance.

    • grumpy 5.2

      So, are you saying that Nuclear is preferable….????

      • joe90 5.2.1

        Bio-fuels aren’t looking too flash either with corporate land grabs in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa.

        • ZeeBop 5.2.1.1

          Council pump shit into lagoons, all we need is to brow algae and make it into fuel.

          Council debt will be wiped out.

          Put people to work rebuilding the housing stock properly, double glazing, insulated, and the economy would be buzzing.

          If the project to get algae to fuel works, and massive dumping of the private motor vehicle, then there is no reason to worry excessively.

          But worry we do because National are incompetent.

          • joe90 5.2.1.1.1

            Energy: the new thirty years’ war.

            Why 30 years? Because that’s how long it will take for experimental energy systems like hydrogen power, cellulosic ethanol, wave power, algae fuel, and advanced nuclear reactors to make it from the laboratory to fullscale industrial development. Some of these systems (as well, undoubtedly, as others not yet on our radar screens) will survive the winnowing process. Some will not. And there is little way to predict how it will go at this stage in the game. At the same time the use of existing fuels like oil and coal, which spew carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, is likely to plummet, thanks both to diminished supplies and rising concerns over the growing dangers of carbon emissions.

            • Colonial Viper 5.2.1.1.1.1

              Yeah no sorry, the author is well intentioned and right about many things but he’s missed a small little detail.

              It takes a massive amount of power to develop and test new energy sources like hydrogen, thorium and fusion.

              And there’s the rub. If we had expended materials and energy on this while they were extremely plentiful and cheap, we might possibly just get there. In fact the Club of Rome suggested that the 1970’s or the 1980’s was the time to really get stuck in to it.

              Its a bit late now. Trying to develop these energy programmes to full scale commercialistion while suffering ever increasing energy costs and shortages as you do it won’t just blow budgets and slow development. Its likely to torpedo the chances of final success.

              Similar to trying to learn to swim on the Titanic as the water reaches your neck, in other words.

              Imagine trying to deploy a new generation of electric or hydrogen cars when you don’t have the coal left to refine steel or oil left to ship the finished product.

              Most energy analysts expect conventional oil output – that is, liquid oil derived from fields on land and in shallow coastal waters – to reach a production peak in the next few years and then begin an irreversible decline.

              Wow. Peak conventional oil production happened. Five. Maybe six. Years ago.

            • Kiwiiano 5.2.1.1.1.2

              30 years? The Manhattan Project took maybe 5 years from the first meetings to Trinity. I would have thought that the opportunity to save civilization would demand similar enthusiasm. Wind power really only took off as a serious contributor to grids in the last decade and we’re already seeing problems arising with too much wind power being generated. The others you cite could be just as productive if the huge sums being devoted to persisting with fossil carbon could be redirected to more useful ends.

              • Colonial Viper

                30 years? The Manhattan Project took maybe 5 years from the first meetings to Trinity. I would have thought that the opportunity to save civilization would demand similar enthusiasm.

                – But how long after Trinity before the first 1GW civilian reactor was commissioned? It’s one thing to have an uncontrolled reaction or a pilot reactor in a lab. It’s another thing to have a viable energy source of scale. Put another way: hydrogen bombs have been around since the 1950’s. 6 decades later and we still do not have a working fusion reactor.

                – No ones interested in saving civilisation if there ain’t money in it. If we were really interested in saving civilisation we would phase private road transport out at 4%-5% per year and replace it with trains and other public transport. Something so easy – few have the stomach for it.

                – Notice how the private sector didn’t build CERN? Only governments do this kind of work because the private sector won’t outlay on million to one risks with no hope of improving this or next financial years’ results for their shareholders. And currently, governments around the world have no fiscal appetite for putting tens of billions more into fusion and similar.

  6. Alice 6

    I will write later.

  7. Alice 7

    Your days as a multi media star (cringe) are over; congratulations you have killed yourself off. The best move of your life. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to see the light.

    Rebirth-

    Who wants to be a multi media star when you can be a REAL Investigative journalist?

    Life is looking better already don’t you think?

  8. Alice 8

    Your days as a multi media star (cringe) are over; congratulations you have killed yourself off. The best move of your life. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to see the light.

    Rebirth-

    Who wants to be a multi media star when you can be a REAL Investigative journalist?

    Life is looking better already, don’t you think?

  9. Alice 9

    Stop worrying, stop worrying, stop worrying.

    Everything is going to be alright!

    If you wonder why I get a bit sad, I just am upset about minor issues, every now and again girls (and boys) cry, no big deal. But I am not worried about either you or I dying, as I know it isn’t going to happen.

    Stop worrying.

  10. Colonial Viper 10

    Well, human beings who think that they will be able to carry on the next 10 years like the 10 just gone have another think coming.

    A long lasting rollercoaster of financial crises and economic instabilities is nigh.

    • U 4 United 10.1

      Well the French certainly knew how to frack the hell out of Mururoa. (Slight pun intended.)
      I predict a long lasting rollercoaster of ignorant doomsayers predicting economic calamity is nigh! Nothing new and original in negativity is there?

      • Colonial Viper 10.1.1

        Hmmmm. If you are one of the millions of Greek and Irish citizens facing long term unemployment and the destruction of your retirement savings, then economic calamity is not merely nigh, its already happened.

        The US has several million long term unemployed (>12 months out of work) , also its suffered millions of home foreclosures. For them economic calamity is not merely nigh, it's already happened.

        • Kiwiiano 10.1.1.1

          Welcome to New Zealand. My retirement savings are almost all road-kill, in spite of being in several different baskets and while the OAP is still enough to get by on, I’m waiting for the other boot to drop, when the US economy tanks and takes NZ with it. Meanwhile I’m faced with working until I drop. I’ll concede that it’s great that I am still able to work, that I do have a job, but there is a sinking lid policy in place.
          It’s a pity the powers-that-be aren’t pursuing a few more fraudsters with the same vigour they’re hounding Hubbard, not that it would get any of the magical mysterious missing money back.

  11. Alice 11

    I don’t believe you ‘want’ to rape me, because I don’t believe you want to hurt me- I believe you have hit rock bottom and you have thoughts of rape- as well as- suicide, murder, and having a nervous breakdown.

    I believe that you are sexually attracted to me and I believe you fantasize about rape but in actually ‘reality’ I think you admire me too much to hurt me plus you are too enchanted by me, I doubt you would be able to actually come into my physical space.

    You feel you have reached a point in your life where you are dissatisfied with yourself, your career, your marriage and your fraudulent existence and to make it even worse- you know you have brought it all on yourself.

    But you now have a person, on your side- who believes in you, and you are finding it all too overwhelming and like usual you want to take the easy way out.

    But you won’t take the easy way out because the rewards are too great and everlasting- if you do the right thing.

    You will what is right, because you now have a reason to live, and for once in your life- you are truly needed.

  12. Alice 12

    I don’t believe you ‘want’ to rape me, because I don’t believe you want to hurt me- I believe you have hit rock bottom and you have thoughts of rape- as well as- suicide, murder, and having a nervous breakdown.

    I believe that you are sexually attracted to me and I believe you fantasize about rape but in actually ‘reality’ I think you admire me too much to hurt me plus you are too enchanted by me, I doubt you would be able to actually come into my physical space.

    You feel you have reached a point in your life where you are dissatisfied with yourself, your career, your marriage and your fraudulent existence and to make it even worse- you know you have brought it all on yourself.

    But you now have a person, on your side- who believes in you, and you are finding it all too overwhelming and like usual you want to take the easy way out.

    But you won’t take the easy way out because the rewards are too great and everlasting- if you do the right thing.

    You will do what is right, because you now have a reason to live, and for once in your life- you are truly needed.

  13. Alice 13

    Reality bites-

    For fucks sake you are so negative no wonder your life is a load of shit.

    Look on the bright side, is it really so bad, you’re a little scared but is it really so bad?

    Chin up. You will never get anyway facing the ground.

    Positive attitude is important!.

    Stop feeling sorry for yourself and get to work!

  14. Alice 14

    Reality bites-

    For fucks sake you are so negative no wonder your life is a load of shit.

    Look on the bright side, is it really so bad, you’re a little scared but is it really so bad?

    Chin up. You will never get anyway facing the ground.

    Positive attitude is important!.

    Stop feeling sorry for yourself and get to work.

  15. Alice 15

    Looking at life from a different angle is new.
    You like exploring and I’m sure you will be interested to see where this direction takes you.

    So each time you feel down, don’t give in, if you fall down- get up, on your feet again!!

    Never give in, never give up and never stop believing in yourself.

    Stay positive, always, and once again NEVER stop believing in yourself.

  16. Alice 16

    Looking at life from a different angle is new.

    You like exploring and I’m sure you will be interested to see where this direction takes you.

    So each time you feel down, don’t give in, if you fall down- get up, on your feet again!!

    Never give in, never give up and never stop believing in yourself.

    Stay positive, always, and once again NEVER stop believing in yourself.

  17. Alice 17

    Don’t give me this Anthony crap.

    Look your merging into ARES now, and one thing ARES does (this I know) he respects his Mother, honours Her and loves Her wholeheartedly.

    ARES is a Man, not a ditzy twisted little child.

    Rule Number One- You don’t diss your Mother!

  18. Alice 18

    Your so disgusting and you are a fucking pervert.

    I have natural bran and oat bran in my porridge every morning. I eat certain foods ‘purposely’ to clean out my system. After being on the Methadone where you are always constipated- I found it felt much better if I ate foods that cleaned out the system daily.

    I don’t like storing shit in my system; I prefer to get it out, as it is healthier and much more refreshing and I never feel bloated or stodgy or sick.

    I live ‘by myself’ as a single girl and I want to remain ‘feeling’ healthy and having a system that ‘works’ properly.

    If I fart that is of my concern and it is none of your business. If you had been on the Methadone yourself you would know that it fucking sucks and living life with a clean bowel daily is a much better option.

    I may have a slight irritable bowel, but at least I have a fucking clean healthy bowel.

    And no I have never had anal sex, somehow I never felt the need, I was satisfied by my previous lovers and I didn’t need to go there and my greatest lover Matthew always desired me as a female, and was satisfied loving me as a female. Unlike you I don’t desire to have my arse fucked or to fuck a sheep ass!

    You are so disgusting.

  19. Alice 19

    Some people are attached to the land, my homeland, I feel, is everywhere.

  20. Alice 20

    If there is one team that works, that really truly works, it will be- you and me!

  21. Go ask Alice !!!

    Alice, Alice ???…who the fuck is Alice ???

    [lprent: Don’t ask me. But the anti-spam doesn’t like it. There were about 40 comments in the spam this morning. But they did appear to be written by a human.. ]

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    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    12 hours ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    12 hours ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    12 hours ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    12 hours ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    14 hours ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    15 hours ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    15 hours ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    15 hours ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    15 hours ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    15 hours ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    16 hours ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    19 hours ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    19 hours ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    19 hours ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    20 hours ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    21 hours ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    21 hours ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    23 hours ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    1 day ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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 ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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 ...
    3 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
    3 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 ...
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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 ...
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    4 days ago
  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    5 days ago
  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    5 days ago
  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago
  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    6 days ago
  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago
  • Sad tales from the left
    Michael Bassett writes –  Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • In Whose Best Interests?
    On The Spot: The question Q+A host, Jack Tame, put to the Workplace & Safety Minister, Act’s Brooke van Velden, was disarmingly simple: “Are income tax cuts right now in the best interests of lowering inflation?”JACK TAME has tested another MP on his Sunday morning current affairs show, Q+A. Minister for Workplace ...
    6 days ago
  • Don’t Question, Don’t Complain.
    It has to start somewhereIt has to start sometimeWhat better place than here?What better time than now?So it turns out that I owe you all an apology.It seems that all of the terrible things this government is doing, impacting the lives of many, aren’t necessarily ‘bad’ per se. Those things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Auckland faces 25% water inflation shock
    Three Waters became a focus of anti-Government protests under Labour, but its dumping by the new Government hasn’t solved councils’ funding problems and will eventually hit the back pockets of everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 8:06 am today are:The Government ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Small accomplishments and large ironies
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Song of Saqua: Volume VII
    In order to catch up to the actual progress of the D&D campaign, I present you with another couple of sessions. These were actually held back to back, on a Monday and Tuesday evening. Session XV Alas, Goatslayer had another lycanthropic transformation… though this time, he ran off into the ...
    6 days ago
  • Accelerating the Growth Rate?
    There is a constant theme from the economic commentariat that New Zealand needs to lift its economic growth rate, coupled with policies which they are certain will attain that objective. Their prescriptions are usually characterised by two features. First, they tend to be in their advocate’s self-interest. Second, they are ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    7 days 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
    9 hours 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
    15 hours 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
    16 hours 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
    18 hours 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
    18 hours 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
    21 hours 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
    22 hours 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
    1 day 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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 ...
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