Germany Votes: Where To Now

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, September 26th, 2021 - 22 comments
Categories: Deep stuff, Europe, leadership - Tags:

Germany is up for Federal election tomorrow and it’s pretty important for the stability of the European Union.

In a more clear-cut version of the New Zealand system, if your party doesn’t get 5% of the vote you just don’t get in. Zero seats.

It will take a few months of argument before they form a new government, in part because there are several stable variations this time that could be formed. There’s a “Jamaica”, a “Traffic Light” and a few more colour-of-your-party variants in play.

It marks the end of Angela Merkel’s remarkable 15-year run as German Chancellor, and bets are hard to pick on who might replace her. There’s still an outside chance that one of the minor party leaders like the Green’s Annalene Baerbock, though unlikely. In fact which coalition the Greens go with is itself one to watch.

Germany’s election is of crucial importance to sustain stability within the German government, which in turn is important to keep the strength of European Union momentum. Germany was one of the leading forces in last years’ decision to issue common European debt to support the bloc during the corona-induced virus. What became known as the Next Generation EU plan was achieved with real speed. This was unusual in the otherwise often sclerotic bureaucracy. The plan is designed to raise up to EU800 billion, and has already been deployed across the 27 nations. Debt is of course the key to forming deep and multi-generational common interest between all nations in the EU. It’s been used really badly before in the aftermath of the GFC, but much more effectively this time around and with much greater support. If the SPD social democrats and the Greens form the basis of government in Germany, that EU debt instrument is likely to continue and to grow.

Angela Merkel’s long and gradualist leadership has generated high trust in many EU nations over time, and that makes her pretty good contender for EU President at some point. Beyond the personalities, Germany’s contribution to the strengthening policy evolution of the EU can only get stronger. Merkel’s gradualist approach has succeeded whereas the bold proposals of France’s Macron haven’t taken root.

Key policy questions for a new German government include:

  1. Sustaining Cosmopolitanism.
    Whether a new government can resist and then overcome the growing sentiment in Germany’s eastern states against immigrants and the stubborn growth of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) Party. I would hope Germany sends much stronger signals of condemnation against Victor Orban of Hungary, for example. But it also needs to show that fine balance between bringing in the right people at the right time to do the right things, and also targeting high social redistribution and very low unemployment in states where resentment remains stubbornly high.
  2. Social Cohesion Under COVID
    The Querdinker (“lateral thinker”) movement has opposed COVID-19 measures and pushed far-right conspiracy theories. The growth of climate change and environmental damage impacts continue to generate tensions with key power nodes in Germany such as coal producers, car producers, labour unions, and different kinds of environmental activist. The new government will need to respect how hard and how important it was for Angela Merkel to sustain political and social cohesion under such a sustained and unplanned crisis.
  3. Germany’s Fresh Role
    I remember being in Paris at midnight 1998 when they changed to the Euro, and there was the biggest fireworks display I’d ever seen and all the bridges were lit up in EU colours, and everyone was running around with gay abandon yelling Bon Annee Bon Annee! Immediately a candle at Notre Dame went from a couple of Francs to a full Euro. But to step back for a bit, from that point where Germany and France felt like co-EU leaders to now, and then Germany shifting its capital from Bonn to Berlin and revolutionising Berlin from the inside out, the strengthening of the EU through successive crises right through to the end of the Merkel era … well that kind of feels like the end of one chapter.

Germany must surely articulate a clear shape to the next chapter. It can’t rely on any other EU country to make the running on that.

What will a bold new government dare to achieve for Germany? Might there be a time to strengthen and unify foreign policy resolve with Germany’s leadership?

Can it rise to meet the challenges of Big Data throughout the economy and clearly regulate social media?

Can a bolder Federal German government show greater skill in supporting Ukraine and other close-by countries facing tyranny?

Can it reassert a stronger role for decarbonised energy production and energy use throughout society? Indeed can it save its forests and river valleys from disease and destruction?

How can Federal government assist an ageing and more diverse German society find common purpose in the next decade?

Will it seek to increase the influence of Germany on the post-BREXIT world stage by encouraging EU membership by Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey? Even Ukraine, again?

The decline of so many democracies world wide means we must take every open election as a great opportunity to celebrate the vote as an exercise in distributing power, momentarily and decisively, into the hands of the millions. But that’s especially the case in Germany, a country that after Brexit takes on a far greater global role than Britain can.

This time it is also by proxy a vote on post-Prexit Europe and its future leadership and scale and ambition. That makes it doubly important in a world where federal and multilateral agreement across states and across nations is, like democracy itself, under sustained attack from all who would strip such powers of resistance away. Even small states like ourselves need Germany to assist with our trade agreements and trade opportunities. As a politics and as a land, New Zealand now has more in common with Germany than it does with England.

Germany, for those reasons, is holding the world’s most important election of 2021.

22 comments on “Germany Votes: Where To Now ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Ghostwhowalksnz 1
    26 September 2021 at 8:23 am

    Germany still can have MPs who gain an electorate seat only

    This current Bundestag has very small partys with 3 electorates and 6 list seats. (They used to be for non german speaking area. Danish or Dutch but dont seem to be in current parliament)

    https://www.bundestag.de/en/parliament/plenary/distributionofseats

    As well the way list seats are distributed by each Federal state means the overhang seats is massive giving 100 or so extra which favours the CDU/CSU ( which in a few states wins all the electorate seats, ie Baden Wurtemberg CDU has 34% of vote but 40% of seats.)

    Also they do exclude some partys from running , DKP the German Communist party amoung them

    https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-officials-exclude-communists-anarchists-from-september-vote/a-58211621

  2. Ghostwhowalksnz 2
    26 September 2021 at 10:18 am

    I think you are right about the 5% rule. I looked back over previous elections . Last election there was no independents elected , so the 9 they have now must be renegades from existing parties.

    Even though the electorate and lists are done by state a party has to get 5% nationally to take up its possible list seats.

    Back in 2002 the PDS ( predeccesor of Die Linke) won 2 electorate seats but wasnt over 5% nationally so thats all they had. They would have had more than 5% in some states.

  3. SPC 3
    26 September 2021 at 2:07 pm

    The big issues in Europe at the moment that Germany has a big say on

    1. high gas prices with less supply from Russia (an irony given the new pipeline to Germany) – and this long before they reach winter.
    2. Macron wanting to establish a European defence force and and enable capability independent of NATO
    3. Germany having committed (as with other NATO members) in 2014 to spending 2% GDP on defence by 2024 and yet still being at 1% levels in 2021.
    4. What to do about Biden not cleaning up the mess Trump made of the WTO (when this is how they trade with the UK and others the EU has no FTA with).
    5. Has German dominance of the determination of the ECB role served Germany well but not the EU so much?
    • Ghostwhowalksnz 3.1
      26 September 2021 at 4:01 pm

      Nordstream 2 is complete but its still in its testing phase – the plant at either end of the connection.

      It consists of twin pipelines from Russia , just outside St Petersburg to Griefswald.

      The earlier Nordstream 1 is twin pipeline roughly in same area of Baltic. They reduce the substantial transit fees paid to Ukraine and Poland especially

  4. Gezza 4
    26 September 2021 at 2:41 pm

    There’ll be lots of coverage – analysis & commentary, & some panel discussions among pundit – on Al Jazeera tv.

    I’ll be taking an interest.

    “Mutti” Merkel has been Deutschland’s mum for so damn long…

  5. Ad 5
    27 September 2021 at 7:41 am

    CDU/CSU (kind-of like National) 24.5%

    SPD (kind-of like Labour) 25.5%

    Greens 13.8%

    FDP (kind of like ACT) 11.7%

    AfD (anti-immigrant party) 10.9%

    Left 5%

    https://www.dw.com/en/top-stories/s-9097

    My bet would be a Grand Coalition of CDU/CSU and SPD.

    • Ghostwhowalksnz 5.1
      27 September 2021 at 10:04 am

      FDP could be described as being like ACT, but its role has sometimes been like NZ First as they have in the past been partner to Union or SPD. I dont know the current leadership but it could be more amenable to the SPD ( remember the german system has union reps on company boards)

      Some other things to consider is Greens are more centrist than here as Die Linke is the furtherest left party-

      The SPD is more centrist than Labour as their left wing faction split off some years ago to merge with then PDS to form Die Linke

      My bet will be SPD-FDP -Green if they can get to 51%

      • Ad 5.1.1
        27 September 2021 at 10:24 am

        They were approximations as I said.

        And the current leader of the SPD is Olaf Scholtz, who has since 2018 been Deputy Chancellor under Merkel and also the Minister of Finance. That makes their arrangements a lot more fluid than ours.

        I'm not sure about your comment on the German Greens. They just lost over 20 points in two months and would have made for a very interesting Federal German government for the first time in a very long time. They want to get rid of all nuclear power, and rely solely on renewables. At 13% they are simply back to their longer-term average. I don't find them that easy to pick ideologically.

        • SPC 5.1.1.1
          27 September 2021 at 11:07 am

          The Greens oppose the gas pipeline arrangement that the current coalition supported, which may incline the SDP to choose continuity.

          • Ghostwhowalksnz 5.1.1.1.1
            27 September 2021 at 11:26 am

            The pipeline is finished and is in commisioning stages.. It doesnt really change anything except avoid the gas coming through Poland and Ukraine instead.

            I doubt that Greens would push to get the valves turned off as the gas prices have spiked this last month as it is and winter has yet to come.

            Purists would not want to be in government and maintain the 'full agenda'. Their experience in one state where they lead the government shows they are more practical.

  6. Sabine 6
    27 September 2021 at 12:07 pm

    three options

    Grand Coalition SPD/CDU/CSU – traditionally they don't work well – have not worked well. But would prop be best outcome as least for a while.

    Traffic light coalition SPD/The Greens/FDP could be doomed to fail as generally the Greens and the FDP tend to clash and the SPD well is the SPD.

    Anything goes Coaltion CDU/CSU/FDP/Die Linke also doomed to fail but would be interesting to watch as this would then really be a coaltion that 'wants' to be in government, rather then just get elected. Could also work quite well

    Wildcard the AFG – despite all parties having said that they will not work with them, they have won as expected a good amount of votes and well, will have to be worked with.

    Interesting to see that the Greens however went from a high of almost 25% to now 14% odd in the last six month since March, when a Coaltion between the CDU/CSU and the Greens would have been the winning coalition with the SPD at the time being at barely 15%. One would think that the recent flashfloods that took out a few villages and killed nigh on 200 people would have compelled the numbers of the greens higher but did not. And the very credible accusations of plagiarism against the 'female' co-leader of the green should also not account for a 10% drop. But then that 10% drop might just be Green voters propping up the SPD. lol.

    As my cuzzy said: egal wie, es ist alles voll beschissen und gut fuer keinen.

    We truly live in interesting times.

    • Ghostwhowalksnz 6.1
      27 September 2021 at 1:46 pm

      "Grand Coalition SPD/CDU/CSU – traditionally they don't work well – have not worked well."

      Thats what they have had for last 8 years after 2 elections. No one would say 'hasnt worked well'. The previous one was from 2005.

      So for Merkel it was 1st, 3rd and 4th terms

      The hard part is getting the SPD on board. In 2017 the President disregarded the constitution for a new election after they ran out time to form a new government. The initial Union/FDP/Green proposal, while a majority, didnt finalise.

      • Sabine 6.1.1
        27 September 2021 at 1:57 pm

        I did not say they don't work, i said they do not work 'well'.

        • Ghostwhowalksnz 6.1.1.1
          27 September 2021 at 2:48 pm

          Merkel had 3 and they worked well. Any coalition has its strains , ones that fall apart are the ones that 'dont work out.'

          The Federal coalitions that have fallen apart werent 'Grand'

          Readers might assume 'dont work' means they collapse early.

  7. coreyjhumm 7
    27 September 2021 at 2:43 pm

    Based on the results either another grand coalition just with the parties switching size and nothing changing. Hard right AFD continues to be the opposition abs continues to grow

    Or an SPD/fpp/ g coalition which would be identical in policy to a labour/act/green coalition here. Nothing changing, dysfunction. Cdu/CSU becomes opposition the one good thing about this scenario.

    Sad. I was hoping an SPD/g or SPD/g/DL coalition where nothing much changes. That was the best scenario. A smidgen of change.

    Oh well. I'm happy nz got the nothing much changes scenario last year…

  8. roblogic 8
    27 September 2021 at 2:51 pm

    This was an interesting article. Ich bin ein Berliner.

    The rule [introduced by a left-wing coalition City Council] froze rents for some 90% of Berlin apartments at June 2019 rates for five years. In many cases, existing rents needed to be reduced to conform to the new threshold. …

    A new city government will be elected on Sept. 26, when Germans also will vote for a new national parliament.

    Also that day, Berliners will vote in a non-binding referendum on a call for the local government to expropriate the properties of large corporate landlords. !!!!!!! laughyesheart

    https://twitter.com/labourcartel/status/1442298663569559554?s=20

    • Ghostwhowalksnz 8.1
      27 September 2021 at 3:39 pm

      Apartments are a different value proposition to 'houses'. Eg in inner city Grafton where its mostly apartments and terrace house has median value of $550,000 ( according to Ray White group)

      A house on its own land in Berlin would make Auckland look cheap.

  9. Ghostwhowalksnz 9
    27 September 2021 at 3:02 pm

    The right partner to CDU, the CSU who only stand in Bavaria ( they have their own ministers in a 'Union' government) have had a big loss. This is likely to cement the SPD as largest party /faction

    'The Christian Democrats' Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), saw its worst election performance since 1949, winning 31.7% in Bavaria, which is more than seven percentage points down from its 2017 performance.'

    Die Linke is hovering just under the 5% level but may be saved by the provision that winning 3 electorates allows you to keep your under 5% list seats. Last time they were over 5% but had 5 electorates in their strongholds in the east.

    • Sabine 9.1
      27 September 2021 at 4:50 pm

      yep they bled to the AFD.

      One day, everyone in Germany will have to come to understand that this party is there to stay. They can try to 'include it' in their coalitions and thus 'moderate' them, or they can pretend it does not happen.

  10. Ghostwhowalksnz 10
    28 September 2021 at 9:35 am

    Preliminary list seat results are out. The overhang is even bigger than before with 137 extra seats to give Bundestag of 735 .

    Also is 1 list seat for SSW a group representing the Danish and Friesian speaking minority who dont have to get 5%.

    Die Linke fall just short of 5% nationally but they got the minimum of 3 seats to also be eligible for list seats for 4.9%

    A majority is when 368 seats are reached.

    SPD gets 206 seats, Greens 151 and The Left 39 gives 363 , just short of majority

    Swapping out Left for FDP 92 gives 416 for a majority

    Another Grand Coalition with CDU/CSU 196 would 402 seats

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    1 day 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
    1 day ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    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 ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 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 ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 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 ...
    Bowalley Road
    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

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

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 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
    19 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
    21 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
    22 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
    23 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
    New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.  “While there are no set timeframes for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
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  • Tenancy rules changes to improve rental market
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  • Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with China
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  • Freshwater farm plan systems to be improved
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