Garner on Nats’ brighter future fail

Written By: - Date published: 10:11 am, August 26th, 2017 - 70 comments
Categories: national, uncategorized, useless - Tags: , , ,

After some initial nonsense blaming Labour for the global financial crisis (and repeating the “decade of deficits” attack spin), Duncan Garner gets down to business on National’s record:

Duncan Garner: After nine years in power, why is National’s report card so full of fails?

If this is success then our standards have slipped.

We have families living in cars. I saw one woman and her two kids the other night at the top of my street. It’s not how we do thing in New Zealand. Except now it is.

We have a Government that is too hands off. Let the market sort it. But markets fail. Markets don’t build emergency, social, state and affordable houses.

Governments, in partnership, lead and build. National utterly failed this group of struggling and increasingly bewildered and powerless New Zealanders.

The Government now buys entire motels to house the homeless and English says that’s a good thing, it’s unprecedented. Sure is. It’s National’s emblem of failure. The gap between the haves and have-nots appears starker than ever.

National also packed the immigrants in to the rafters in record numbers. Wages as a result have been suppressed.

They also forgot to plan where everyone will live. More than 140 people arrive in Auckland every day, sadly housing is provided for just 80 of them.

The poorest Kiwis have been squeezed to the sidelines. Auckland needs 14,000 homes built a year to meet demand.

After nine years of National the past year has seen just 7000 homes finished. Our infrastructure is creaking. The average price of a house in Auckland is more than $1m.

Good luck. First home buyers should be marching in the streets. They face renting for life. Or buying in Huntly or Levin.

National is also ambivalent on climate change, dirty rivers and our waterways. Action is needed now, not another kick for touch.

Polluters should pay. Get this into law. They do in Britain. Emissions have reduced. Why the free pass for our polluters? …

Take home message:

Over the next 28 days ask yourself this question: Am I living that promised Brighter Future?

And if you’re not, what are your options – and are they credible?

70 comments on “Garner on Nats’ brighter future fail ”

  1. Vaughn 1

    When reading this article earlier, I couldn’t help but notice Garner start his comments with the usual ‘balance’ about how bad Labour was and what a poor set of books they left the incoming National-led government in 2008. That was not my recollection of what happened. Sure the GFC was underway (through no fault of Labour) and things were not as they had been two years earlier. But had Labour not been responsible while in government, the position inherited by National would have been a lot worse than it was.
    While I accept much of what Garner is saying about the performance of this current government, his attempts at balance with the criticism of Labour, do not reflect on him or history well. But then Garner is just one of many media personalities who rather than deliver meaningful criticism of this current government, they instead dwell on the failings of the other team as being far worse!

    • Nic the NZer 1.1

      All this debate about the ‘State of the government books’ amounts to a lot of hot air about nothing. The NZ government is a currency issuer and not a currency user and as such its spending capacity is at all times that ‘it can afford to buy everything for sale in NZ dollers’. The only question is what effects the spending will have on the country.

      • mikes 1.1.1

        “The NZ government is a currency issuer and not a currency user”

        Currency creation has probably been dealt with thousands of times on TS.

        The NZ government is not a currency issuer, other than notes and coins. The government borrows money into existence rather than issuing it. (otherwise there would be no need for government to borrow money)

        Currency (fiat money or credit) is issued or created as bank credit by private banks for profit.

        All ‘money’ other than notes and coins is created as a debt owed to a bank. This is the only way new money can be created, by someone or something borrowing it into existence.

        No debt = No money.

        • Nic the NZer 1.1.1.1

          Taken from here,
          https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do
          “Currency Issue”
          “The Reserve Bank is the only organisation authorised to issue currency for New Zealand. ”

          This is not to say that commercial banks don’t create money when they lend, they do, however the money created is commercial bank deposits and not of the form of the currency which is created by the reserve bank and spent and collected in tax by the government.

          There are reasons that the NZ government borrows but it is not because the reserve bank is unable create currency and add it to the electronic accounts which it overseas and operates (e.g the interbank payments system).

          • mikes 1.1.1.1.1

            When the reserve bank is talking about currency issue they are talking about notes and coins, only around 3% of the overall money supply. The other 97% is created by private banks for profit.

            “In practice, by far the largest share
            of money – 80 percent or more, depending on the measure
            (discussed below) – is created by private sector institutions.”

            from – https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/-/media/ReserveBank/Files/Publications/Bulletins/2008/2008mar71-1lawrence.pdf

            You can’t ‘borrow’ cash from a bank. I’ve tried it. I took out a small loan some years back and on the last form i had to sign it said something along the lines off = “I, the undersigned declare i have received the sum of ….. etc” I said to the guy that I couldn’t sign something saying I have received the money when I hadn’t yet and perhaps if he gave me the cash then I could sign it.

            Of course he couldn’t give me the money because until I signed that document the money I was borrowing didn’t exist. Once I had signed to say I had received it, even though I hadn’t, he was then able to go ahead and create the bank credit in my account.

            That’s because new ‘money’ is created as bank credit when someone takes out a ‘loan’.

  2. TheBlackKitten 2

    I agree, it’s a terrible record but the reality is, after 9 years in power and with such a bad record, the opposition parties should be soaring in the polls and yet they are not. They should be guaranteed a landslide win at this election. Yet they are not. Why is that?
    Middle nz are the ones that decide elections and labour or the greens don’t speak or care about the interests of these people. They seem to think anyone who aspires to own their own home, who is marrried and has children is a rich prick and want to tax the backsides out of them. Is Jacinta going to raise the Paye tax on these people as the last labour government did to a staggering 40cents in the dollar on income over 60k. Now I bet many standidites think that these people should be paying this rate of tax but reality is, these people don’t and therefore won’t vote labour or the greens.
    Our infrastructure and immigration levels are dreadful and yes, I agree, this government has done a shocking job at managing this. But let’s not forget, house prices were soaring and immigrants from third world countries coming into NZ was going on under the last labour government also.
    I feel, that no political party in NZ has the competence or the ability to address our issues.

    • popexplosion 2.1

      Simple reason why. Media is now so ubiquitous and salvaging its about showing a bit of leg, I.e get attention but nothing substantial. As we can see in Media support of governing parties in not doing detail, is causing rabid uprisings of alternatives.

      It’s should be pretty obvious. Nothing ventured nothing gained, National failure to invest in housing, tourism, while throttling forward dairy while reversing apprentices despite obvious rebuild needs… …why? big corps don’t want progress they want high priced assets and rortable governance. That’s what n eolib means shifting power to a private politburo of corps where socialism is for the few.

      Seymour is a socialist for his rich masters. Everyone else must be stopped from organizing against his hero’s (mostly older men).

  3. Wayne 3

    A lot of things have also worked. Over 70% participation in the workforce. Unemployment 4.8%. 80% of new jobs being full time. The numbers on benefits falling. Over the last 6 years a significant increase in real wages. Government books in good shape.
    While obviously not all problems have been solved, a lot is going well for NZ and that is internationally recognised. It is why more NZers are returning than leaving.
    The electorate is going to put it all both the good and bad in the balance and decide.
    I note one of Jacinda’s approaches is to try and reassure the electorate there is going to be change, but not a revolution. Her income tax announcement was intended to convey.
    In my view things, for the voters who actually decide elections, will turn on whether they think the gains of the the last few years can be banked and relied on, but that they want more social and environmental things than National is willing to deliver. In short keep what has been achieved and then get more on top.

    • popexplosion 3.1

      Increasing demand for homes, by letting dotcom move here, letting China, India send students, while cutting state homes and no replacing them. Supersizing Auckland land leaving it financial strapped and incapable of growing. Ideologically locked to bad governance paradigms. Yeah sure National control the economy so well they are not to blame for the declining productivity costs of their ideology.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2

      You actually believe the propaganda?

      Unemployment only double what it was under Labour, because the definition of unemployed changed.

      Wages have risen so far that working families are living in cars.

      When all the economic indicators improve under a Labour led government, you’ll still be talking shit.

      PS: not that Labour are that great, they’re just superior to you corrupt liars in every respect.

      • eco Maori/kiwi 3.2.1

        + 100 one A B Looks like these Muppet’s have had there hours increased so they can post this shit 7 days a week instead of 5 days

        • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2.1.1

          FYI ‘Wayne’ is Wayne Mapp, law commissioner and one-time National Party cabinet minister. The man who once told us that the increase in inequality since 1984 was deliberate.

          If he had any integrity, he’d be crawling around the country on his knees begging forgiveness from the families of suicide victims.

          • eco Maori/kiwi 3.2.1.1.1

            I did not no whom Wayne Mapp is. But I did read that our Governments have been coned to believe in privatization the need for unemployment.
            And were did all this advice come from Bankers and Foreign advisers with vested interest how much they could fleece from New Zealand.

            • Nic the NZer 3.2.1.1.1.1

              From the PREFU update. It appears we are in ‘luck’

              http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/forecasts/prefu2017/004.htm

              From the section, Key economic forecast judgements and assumptions.
              “The non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment (NAIRU) is 4.25% in June 2021”

              So Treasury believes that only a minimum 4.25% unemployment is needed by 2021 to prevent inflation accelerating. Last I heard its considered we need about 5% unemployment to prevent inflation accelerating today. The NAIRU is often referred to as the ‘full-employment’ rate of the economy in economics. Though in my opinion there is no evidence, a fixed relationship exists between unemployment and inflation, which would pass a scientific examination.

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                So when unemployment was ~3% in 2007, inflation “blipped” up in 2008-9 (according to trading economics), and also in 2011-12 when unemployment was ~6.5%. Too much noise at such a small time-scale?

                Should be easy to plot the two data sets on a timeline…test your hypothesis.

                • Nic the NZer

                  No, the NAIRU hypothesis is *not* that there is a relationship between unemployment and inflation (which there probably is, though its far from the only factor). Its actually that the unemployment rate is consistent and returned to by the economy, with inflation accelerating consistently while you ‘artificially’ hold the economy below it.

                  Another thing the NAIRU rate hypothesis says is that you can’t reduce or change the ‘NAIRU’ by running a lower unemployment rate.

                  The discussion by Farmer here is drawing the conclusion you are asking for and as is also pointed out here the NAIRU ‘estimates’ are little more than an average of the recent unemployment rates.

                  https://larspsyll.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/nairu-more-religion-than-science/

                  • One Anonymous Bloke

                    Ah, my bad. Thanks.

                  • No, the NAIRU hypothesis is *not* that there is a relationship between unemployment and inflation

                    WTF?

                    NAIRU is an acronym for non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment,[1] and refers to a level of unemployment below which inflation rises.

                    • Nic the NZer

                      I put that poorly. The link above explains it better, but the hypothesis is that there is a rate of unemployment to which the economy naturally returns, rather than a stable trade off between inflation and unemployment.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      there is a rate of unemployment to which the economy naturally returns

                      This is for a model economy, right? One in which government policy, corruption and eg: Mr. Peter Talley have no influence…?

                    • Nic the NZer

                      If this theory was only applied to a model of the economy then nobody would have any problem with it. But since the model is, it would seem, supposed to imply policy decisions for the real economy I guess the question is how it incorporates, government policy, corruption and Mr Peter Talley into the model.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      Some sort of organic computer? An abacus made of Talley’s bones? That’s in poor taste, sorry 🙂

            • tracey 3.2.1.1.1.2

              Wayne has been head cheerleader for John Key and trumpeteer of all trade is good trade. He is a feverish believer in the market shoukd prevail except when it doesnt and then all taxpayers shoukd prop it up

          • WILD KATIPO 3.2.1.1.2

            … ” If he had any integrity, he’d be crawling around the country on his knees begging forgiveness from the families of suicide victims ” …

            Fucking right on , OAB , – its about time all these neo liberal apologists and the neo liberals themselves face the full wrath of decades of bloody bullshit , lies and theft of the Commons wealth .

            Screw em.

            Had it up to the back teeth with them still trying to justify their crap when we know and they know its just a worn out bullshit facade.

            And I don’t give a shit who Wayne is – he shits and farts like the rest of us .

            Operation Burnham to him and all.

            Oh , and btw-

            New Right Fight – Who are the New Right?
            http://www.newrightfight.co.nz/pageA.html

          • Wayne 3.2.1.1.3

            Not been on the Law Commission since 30 June this year.

            Naturally I expect Standardnistas to think that New Zealand is going to hell in a handcart.

            But that is not the only reality. There is good as well as bad.

            That is why Jacinda Ardern has not looked to Chris Trotter for her solutions. Instead her closest mentor seems to be Helen Clark, which is hardly surprising since she won 3 elections in a row. Jacinda is promising change, not a revolution. The combination of the Budget Responsibility Rules and her ruling out income tax increases shows that. Effectively she has a nuanced version of neo-liberaliam, not its reversal as many Standardnistas or Chris Trotter would hope.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2.1.1.3.1

              Certainly that’s what you’d hope. At least you’d have some more company on the long crawl for forgiveness.

              Don’t be afraid of it: look at the goodwill Jim Bolger’s received since his confession.

            • adam 3.2.1.1.3.2

              Some of us don’t want a reversal, we want a fundamental shift towards socialism. It’s conservatives who are natural backward looking, so I think your projecting a wee bit there Wayne.

              Some of us understand that socialism will only come about if we give the elects no option but to bring it about.

              As for the Tory’s – they look a mess, and in complete disarray. That said, the people who are doing well – will hold onto their little bit as desperately as possible, there is a long history of that in this country. A long history.

            • rhinocrates 3.2.1.1.3.3

              There is good as well as bad.

              Indeed there is you solipsistic moron. Inequality happens to divide their effects. There’s good for people like you who can’t see beyond their G&Ts and bad for everyone else. Everything you say here is a variation on “Things are good for me, so there’s no problem.” Dirty water? Oh the river near my home’s clean! Housing crisis? Oh I have a nice house! Junior doctors tending the critically injured when they’re so sleep deprived they’re hallucinating? I’m fine, I can afford private treatment! Me, me, me, me all the way. Marie Antoinette in a suit.

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                Oh well said.

                I guess we won’t see Wayne again for a while.

                • The buggers got a cheek to even show his face around here tbh, – Socialism my merry arse !

                  And this coming from a git who used to serve in our parliament and was well aware of the social democracy / Keynesian economics we once had under HIS very own party , – the National party under Rob Muldoon.

                  Pre 1984!

                  What a way to twist history to suit ones own narrative. Hes starting to sound like all the other wanky extremist far right wing neo cons who come on here trying to push their Americana bullshit in New Zealand.

                  Bloody hypocrite.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke

                    I have a grudging admiration for his (admittedly sporadic) willingness to front up here, even though all he reveals is that his political philosophy is as deep as a puddle.

                    • tracey

                      He fronts to peddle. Like those folk overseas who roll out their mats to sell to tourist. Then the police appear and they dash away. Onlyvto return sometime later.

              • tracey

                Except Marie Antoinette genuinely knew no better. And never said “let them eat cake”.

            • rhinocrates 3.2.1.1.3.4

              But that is not the only reality.

              Oh, alternative facts is it, Dr Blimp?

            • tracey 3.2.1.1.3.5

              “Not been on the Law Commission since 30 June this year.”
              That has made my day

      • rhinocrates 3.2.2

        Wayne Blimp thinks that sleeping in cars means having a snooze in the back seat of a Phantom after too many gins.

    • Bob (Northland) 3.3

      Other things that have “worked.”
      More than 120,000 of 19 to 23 year age bracket unemployed.
      Zero hour contracts.
      People “removed’ from benefits living in cars.
      Wages virtually static, “average” wage increased by large increases at top end of income earners.
      Government books “in good shape” at expense of social services with future outlook declining and looking grim.
      NZ’ers returning from Australia because of mining downturn, tanking economy and ineligibility for unemployment assistance.
      Also add to things that have “worked” static and falling productivity, virtually zero economic growth without record immigration, increased living costs including 2.5% GST increase, housing unaffordability with increase from 3x annual average income to 10x average annual income. Sale of state-owned assets to “Mum & Dad” Investors to fund irrigation Schemes for private enterprises.
      The list goes on and on.
      Do we really have to keep “what has been achieved.”

    • Stuart Munro 3.4

      Amazing what you can do by fiddling the books. Cheap, and it avoids conspicuous policy failures. It’s like the Gnats are running the playbook from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

    • Macro 3.5

      There are 23,000 more unemployed since National took office Wayne. That is a fact. Yes the total number in the workforce has expanded, but the nasty redefinition to include those who work just 1 hour a week as being “employed” says it all! Your boasting of reducing unemployment rates is just nonsense. There is a huge number of underemployed in this country and it doesn’t take long to find them.
      But that is just one social demographic upon which National has failed miserably.
      I am involved in our local food bank. I can tell you that under National’s “administration” the number of food parcels issued weekly has continued to climb year on year to the state that our capacity to help is almost at its limits. The numbers are 6% up on what they were last year, and that was a record, and we have just had the loss of over a 100 jobs in the town with the closure of A&G Price. The roll out of fibre cable in the town is hardly going to replace all of those any time soon! And Christmas is yet to come.
      As for the state of our rivers and coastlines ……
      Can I say that the current Bill which has just had its first reading to remove Mangroves in the Coromandel is one of the most short-sighted pieces of legislation one can possibly imagine. How any government in it’s right mind could possibly countenance this idiocy is beyond comprehension.
      Those mangroves are there as natures response to the constant pollution pour into our Firth for the past 150 years of human exploitation from Deforestation, Gold mining, and now excessive agriculture. Their roots remove some of the nitrates and phosphates pouring down some of the most polluted rivers in NZ into the breeding grounds for one of our most prized fish species – Snapper. Furthermore they trap the silt and build up the area within which they grow to form a natural barrier – a barrier which will be most needed in the years ahead with sea level rise and increasing storm surges.
      They also provide protection for some of our most rare species of bird – just 100 m from the town Supermarket I was privileged to see a Banded Rail.
      https://www.nature.com/news/2005/050905/full/news050905-11.html
      “Delivering to New Zealand”
      Pffffft

      • Craig H 3.5.1

        The definition of unemployment has referred to 1 hour work in the last 4 weeks since the 1980s. The recent change was that looking on Seek and Trademe was no longer sufficient by itself to meet the threshold to be considered ‘unemployed’ .

      • Exkiwiforces 3.5.2

        WTF Macro, these muppets want to get rid the Mangroves and may I say WTF for? Hell we are trying to save ours Mangroves around the greater Darwin foreshore and beyond greater Darwin because of the benefits that Mangroves bring.

        And the closure of A & G Price is disgusting in itself and probably ripping up the Thames railway line didn’t help either which happened under a National government in the 90’s as did the closure of Hillside workshops under this current bunch of muppets.

        • Macro 3.5.2.1

          We have a new mayor – Sandra Goudie – you may recall her as a Nat MP. I have to say that in some things she has done well. But this “Rip out the Mangroves” Bill she has promoted to Parliament and introduced by her successor Scott Simpson, is simply pandering to the idiots of Whangamata. It was never up for public debate, and pushed through Council under cover.

    • TheBlackKitten 3.6

      “An increase in wages”. Really!!!?? I don’t see it. When I look on the Seek jobsite all I see is low wages that do not support the basic costs of living ie: rent or mortgage for a home in a city where all the jobs are. And before you tell me this is the fault of council, how about we ask the question as to why so many immigrants have been allowed to flood into this country from third world countries who think the pathetic low wages on offer by NZ employers are a good deal due to the poor state of their home countries.
      Simple fact is Auckland is not up to coping with all of these extra people. Infrastructure is crumbling due to 40 years of mis mangemeant and lack of funding by previous governments and council. National knew that but they still let them all come flooding in. Why? Because their rich business mates loves the high profits they make with cheap labour.
      It’s about time that a political party did somethIng for the average working kiwi and none have since the 1972 Kirk labour government.

    • mikes 3.7

      “Over the last 6 years a significant increase in real wages”

      Am gonna have to call it as i see it Wayne. Fucking Bullshit !

      • tracey 3.7.1

        Just yesterday businesses were admitting increased profits but not wages. They are actually saying forget increased wages cos you have a secure job. Wayne has come too far defending the post 1984 ideology to step back. Even Bolger had the balls to say sorry.

    • tracey 3.8

      I note the drift to Australia has begun again…

    • Ad 3.9

      Now you know what an ungrateful electorate feels like.

      We had it in 2008.

      Bad luck Wayne the tide’s just running out.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 3.9.1

        “Ungrateful” presupposes there’s something to be grateful for.

        There isn’t. Wayne et al should be grateful there isn’t a political/governmental corollary to corporate manslaughter charges. They were warned repeatedly about the effects their impersonal sadism would have.

        • Wayne 3.9.1.1

          OAB

          Ah yes, the Stalinist solution again. Let’s imprison/shoot all our political opponents.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 3.9.1.1.1

            Oh get real. Retroactive legislation is obscene. Remind me who passed some recently…

            The fact is governmental human rights abuses are already legislated at the Hague. I just want to broaden the definition a bit so that when say, the Treasury Department tells you that “this is the minimum required for subsistence” you risk criminal charges for setting a rate lower than that.

            Or physicians tell you that underfunding mental health services and selling state houses is making a lot of people die and you keep on doing it anyway.

            That sort of thing.

            Edit: Don’t you agree with lying to a court being perjury? Parliament being a court and everything…

          • adam 3.9.1.1.2

            Both the Stalinist nightmare solution, and the current system of rewarding cupidity – are vulgar and immoral.

            But what about corporations who have lied for 40 odd years Wayne?

            Do we arrest them, and get the profits back?

            Or do we carry on we with —- steal an apple and go to jail for life, but steal millions and your get a knighthood?

            • rhinocrates 3.9.1.1.2.1

              Withhold information from to WINZ when you’re a young Maori woman, you’re a criminal for life. Steal from the taxpayer when you’re a rich white male Minister of the Crown, you get to be PM.

              That’s the morality of Wayne’s World, a satellite orbiting Planet Key.

              • Eco maori

                Yes Hippocrates a upper class tax avoidance expert gets 10 months home detection at 2500 a day to stay home no retribution benefit fraud 244-768 over 12 years gets 2 years 5 months jail and has to pay back 10.000 at 40 a week what about the children

          • Stuart Munro 3.9.1.1.3

            Only the corrupt ones Wayne – you’d be perfectly safe if only you’d kept your paws off public assets.

          • Draco T Bastard 3.9.1.1.4

            Didn’t see anybody suggesting that.

            Only that people be held accountable for their actions.

            If a government suggests a policy, is told that that policy will cause deaths, but implements it anyway and then that policy is later proved to have caused a couple of hundred deaths do you think that that government should be held accountable for the mass murder that they committed?

    • Unemployment 4.8%.

      Underemployment 11.8%

      The numbers on benefits falling.

      A lot of them because they’ve failed to meet National’s rather psychopathic testing and punitive welfare.

      While obviously not all problems have been solved, a lot is going well for NZ and that is internationally recognised.

      housing bubble
      increasing poverty
      underfunding health
      underfunding police
      underfunding welfare

      But hey, the rich got tax cuts.

      It is why more NZers are returning than leaving.

      No, that would be because they’re being kicked out of Australia.

      will turn on whether they think the gains of the the last few years can be banked and relied on

      For the majority of the population there were no gains. A significant proportion of them went backwards and then National kicked them in the goolies at WINZ.

    • gnomic 3.11

      Still trying for DorkLord of the Universe I see. If you are spinning for the Nats shame on you! Or perhaps you really are that thick? In any case, why share here? Set up your own blog where you can languish in obscurity. Your pathetic efforts to seem portentous are tiresome.

  4. tc 4

    Typical DP framing again though from gooner.

    Cant look too owned or stupid so states the obvious areas of wilful negligence by prefacing it with the BS attack lines on the party who always ends up fixing what national have broken.

    The media is such a huge part of the problem in nz with voluntary voting and no public broadcaster to act as a reference point.

  5. Eco maori 5

    What I have observed is on the weekend’s the amount of post drop significantly.

    Our Society needs to change in every way that we are doing things.We won’t get a second chance to change things once it is stuffed

  6. Every time I see that numbnut Wayne and others of his ilk comment on justifying his neo liberal crap I hear this in the back of my mind.

    This ones for you , Wayne.

    Enjoy.

    Strawbs – Part of the union 1973 – YouTube

    • rhinocrates 6.1

      Ode to our ‘Wealth Creators’

      Look who it isn’t: it’s the It Man, baby… His motto is ‘Receive.’ Too much is not enough for It Man

  7. Keepcalmcarryon 7

    I read garners spiel and was immediately off-put by his horseshit about labour leaving the books in bad shape yadayada national did great yadayada then he cuts to his selected issues.
    It’s crap and all over the place, basically because:
    A: labour left the economy and the books in very good shape, and
    B: nationals “great management” policies are the very things that created all the problems in the list quoted .
    Homelessness, child poverty and low incomes didn’t just happen, they are snowballing because of National, not in spite of it.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 7.1

      Well he helped tell the lie back in ’08. Anyone seriously expect this dullard to take personal responsibility?

  8. Siobhan 8

    Any politicians or political parties talking about let alone addressing the problem of record levels of household debt??
    I guess national wouldn’t, they could spin it as a positive, people spending beyond their means as a sign of faith in the ‘growing’ economy…but any thoughts from Labour on this little problem

    https://tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/households-debt-to-income

    “The bulk of that was in housing, which was up 9 percent at $232.07 billion. However, a 4.6 percent increase in consumer credit to $16.1 billion continued a trend of accelerating growth”
    http://business.scoop.co.nz/2017/03/03/rising-household-debt-a-worry/

  9. Meh …. time for a wee song with spirit…

    The Wolfe Tones- Go On Home British soldiers – YouTube

  10. Tricledrown 10

    Poverty inequality pollution corruption lack of productivity.
    Nationals legacy.
    After 9 years of tight fisted economic management on the back of huge borrowing National are emptying the lolly jar with unprecedented spending promises highlighting their spending cuts in every major govt service health education policing etc.

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    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    23 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
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    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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