Greens: Urgent action needed to soften inflation blow for low income NZers

Written By: - Date published: 1:32 pm, April 21st, 2022 - 68 comments
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Press release from Julie Anne Genter April 21, 2022 11:02 AM

The Green Party says urgent action is needed to soften the blow of inflation for New Zealanders on the lowest incomes.

“High inflation is not experienced equally, and for people on the lowest incomes this means struggling to pay the rent and put food on the table,” says Julie Anne Genter, Finance spokesperson for the Green Party.

“Those with the least experience inflation at a much higher rate than those with the most. The latest benefit stats, also out today, show the value of hardship assistance is rising, especially the value of special needs grants and benefit advance payments.”

The Green Party says that if the Government is concerned about fiscal stimulus, the best approach would be to broaden the tax base to cover untaxed capital gains or wealth of the richest New Zealanders.

“Not only would broadening our tax base help to dampen down aggregate demand and inflation in the short-term, it is essential to having a fairer, stronger tax system,” says Julie Anne Genter.

Alongside broadening our tax base, the Green Party proposes a suite of policies.

“The Green Party solution to cost-of-living pressures on low income households is to ensure everyone has a liveable income by lifting benefits and Working for Families, make rent increases reasonable by introducing rent controls, make public transport fares free, and breakup the supermarket duopoly to stop huge corporate profiteering from people buying the essentials to live,” Julie Anne Genter says.

The Green Party urges the Government not to buckle to pressure from National and ACT parties to cut taxes and reduce essential government spending.

“It would be a huge mistake to turn the short-run problem of global inflation into a long-term problem in New Zealand. The Government can, and must, continue to invest to tackle long-term challenges: taking effective climate action, reducing inequality, and making sure our health system can respond to the current and next pandemic. The austerity of the last National and ACT Government created an infrastructure deficit, and a social and environmental deficit.

“National and ACT’s promise to give tax cuts focussed on high income New Zealanders is a predictable appeal to their base, and would be entirely economically counterproductive because it would put more inflationary pressures in our system and create a less progressive, less fair tax system.”

ENDS

68 comments on “Greens: Urgent action needed to soften inflation blow for low income NZers ”

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  1. Corey Humm 1
    21 April 2022 at 2:28 pm

    I agree my only concern with fiscal stimulus at the moment is with a supply shortage stimulating the economy with more cash injections may rise the prices of the short supply of goods even more.

    Things like public transport subsidy are really helping people, instead of spending $40-50 on transport people are spending $20-25 at the bottom and maybe should just be free.

    I think a gst drop to pre key levels would help those at the bottom too

    Perhaps doubling the winter energy payment.

    The best thing the govt could do is bring more competition into the supermarket sector and get new overseas players . Itd be wildly popular for the govt to pick a fight with them and potentially turn the tide.

    Every lever available to govt and rbnz needs to be pulled on inflation.

    Also the govt really often answers questions about inflation and the economy in academic wonk, they need to get back to simple plain language responses that people actually understand otherwise you lose the audience especially when the opposition is using short sharp attacks long winded intellectual responses are zzzzz and damnit just answer questions don't run around in circles.

    The inflation and cost of living crisis scares me. I hope it scares me and I hope they understand the ground level experiences not just data points.

    Good to see the greens pushing

  2. tsmithfield 2
    21 April 2022 at 2:39 pm

    I would actually agree with the Greens, and the article above in terms of the desired outcome. I would describe myself as a right winger with a social conscience, and so am concerned about the issues raised in the article.

    Where I disagree is the proposed methods because these tend to lead to unintended consequences worse than the problem itself.

    So far as a capital gains tax goes, we effectively have that now with the extension to the bright line test, which effectively imposes a capital gains tax on substantial assets that are easy to quantify in terms of capital value increase at sale.

    The problems with a capital gains tax are:

    1. Now would be a terrible time to introduce one. That is because asset values are likely to decline in the near future. The effect of that would to create tax losses on assets that could be applied against future capital gains. The best time to introduce one is at the bottom of the market.
    2. The other problem I see with capital gains taxes over more general assets is that it becomes God's gift to valuers. The amount of extra non-productive time and effort in quantifying asset values would be huge.

    So far as price controls go, I have already commented several times that price controls cause shortages..

    So far as the housing crisis goes, I think it would be much more effective to find quick ways to increase the supply side of the equation. Because, the reason prices rise is due to shortages.

    Therefore, applying that principle, ways to solve the actual problem of shortages could involve incentives for people to rent out unused housing, more supply of modular type housing that can be erected quickly, and reducing compliance costs and delays in consenting for new builds which seem to be a huge handbrake on houses being built at the moment.

    So far as food goes, global agriculture is on the verge of collapse. Therefore world food prices are going to keep increasing, and as an exporting nation, we will have to pay the going rate internally otherwise exporters will simply send their products to where they can get the best price, thus again, causing shortages within NZ.

    This is a really thorny problem from any perspective. But one thing going for New Zealand is that our ground is great for growing food. One option could be to develop a lot more community gardens. I am on the board of several trusts doing just that. And in Christchurch we have huge amounts of red zone land that is perfect for growing food. I understand some of that is being developed for community garden purposes at the moment.

    One thing that would need to work hand in hand with that is lessons on how to cook utilising fresh ingredients. This is a skill that seems to have been lost in many areas these days.

    Another option could be to establish more trusts that produce producers are able to donate produce to, as a social service.

    I don't think any of this is the total answer. But I think it is the type of thinking we need in order to find creative solutions to some of the enourmous problems facing us today.

    • Foreign waka 2.1
      22 April 2022 at 4:45 pm

      And yet, NZ is building houses on their best land for agriculture and artificially watering the dry plains of Otago. The mind bogles by so much stupidity.

  3. pat 3
    21 April 2022 at 3:46 pm

    The single biggest reduction to living costs can be implemented by reducing the largest single cost….housing.

    Remove (gradually) the supports for the housing sector…i.e Accomodation supplement, tax advantage, offshore ownership, and provide expanded state housing in major centres, loosen regulation on owner occupied accomodation while the RBNZ. implements a sinking DTI to no more than 5.

    Unfortunately none of this will help in the immediate term but then nothing will….as an Australian politician once remarked, this is the recession we have to have, hopefully it will only be a recession.

    • tsmithfield 3.1
      21 April 2022 at 3:54 pm

      So far as housing goes, I am all for anything that increases the supply quickly. Because, that is really the only longterm answer to the housing problem.

      I think there will likely be a world recession. But I think the effects will be uneven.

      Our food producers are going to do really well for the reasons mentioned in my post above.

      Also, local manufacturing may pick up due to manufacturers returning their manufacturing bases to New Zealand due to China becoming so unreliable (due to endless Covid lockdowns), and being a potential geopolitical risk in the future.

      On this point, my wife's sister, who is over from Australia atm, mentioned that a lot of manufacturing is returning to Australia a the moment for these reasons. We may start to see similar happening here.

      A recession is something our tourism sector needs like a hole in the head though. Especially after all the damage due to Covid.

      • pat 3.1.1
        21 April 2022 at 5:44 pm

        Supply is not the issue…there is adequate housing in NZ…affordable availability however IS an issue.

        Our food producers may not do as well as you think, especially if their input costs continue to rise and their debt levels remain high (over valued real estate is not only a housing problem)….and we are as susceptible to 'weather' as everyone else.

        As stated earlier I view tourism as a net zero game….we lose as much from outward tourism as we gain from inward, as covid more or less proved….meanwhile we waste needed investment and labour to a low productivity sector.

        • Poission 3.1.1.1
          21 April 2022 at 6:28 pm

          primary producers debt levels are well down on their tops,Dairy has reduced around 4b$ in the last 2 years on high export prices.Feed will be an issue in some locations in livestock farming.Most farming debt increases are in horticulture.

          Weather is always an issue.Tourism is over rated in the data,over covid a significant proportion of the compulsary household saving was in NZ's not travelling o/s.

        • tsmithfield 3.1.1.2
          21 April 2022 at 7:05 pm

          “Supply is not the issue…there is adequate housing in NZ…affordable availability however IS an issue.”

          You are making a bit of a contradictory statement there.

          There might be enough housing for everyone. I am not sure about that. But what I am sure of is that rising rent prices is a symptom of insufficient rental housing.

          If rental housing supply equals demand, the prices will be stable. If the amount of available rental housing exceeds demand, then rental prices will drop.

          This is basic supply and demand economics. We also saw this play out quite rapidly in Christchurch after the earthquake. There was huge demand for rental housing straight after the earthquake when a lot of houses were damaged or destroyed. There was huge competition for available houses and rental prices rose rapidly.

          As the city was rebuilt, housing supply swung the other way to the extent that the housing market was over supplied. The pressure on both house and rent prices fell right away after that, and it stayed that way for probably 8 years or so.

          I agree with you about farming input prices. But I am expecting that the inflation of food prices is going to more than make up for that.

    • weka 3.2
      21 April 2022 at 5:39 pm

      I haven't seen a plan for how beneficiares would be ok with the removal of AS. Any ideas?

      • pat 3.2.1
        21 April 2022 at 6:10 pm

        If rents decrease where is the need for AS?….subsidies distort the market, the reason for AS is not to assist low income earners into housing but to support inflated values that CANNOT be supported by wages.

        • weka 3.2.1.1
          21 April 2022 at 6:18 pm

          well yes, but I can't see rents dropping enough to make up the difference. Or at least, the full range of tools are used and then they look at lowering AS over time, just hard to see this given how much people are living below the poverty line already.

          • pat 3.2.1.1.1
            21 April 2022 at 6:25 pm

            You may note the use of the word 'gradually'

            • weka 3.2.1.1.1.1
              21 April 2022 at 6:49 pm

              I did. Do you think that rents can drop far enough to be affordable for beneficiaries without AS, and without the economy dipping majorly? If rents are to drop that far, how will that work for the property market and mortgages?

              • pat …
                21 April 2022 at 7:06 pm

                The funny thing about economics is that only the possible occurs….yes, if the subsidies were removed then the rents will drop. however as always it is the transition that is the problem, hence the 'gradual'

                The ‘property market’ will suffer a devaluation…as it should….mortgages will be problematic, as they already are.

    • Blazer 3.3
      21 April 2022 at 7:50 pm

      Dead right Pat.

      End landbanking an empty house debacle…quicksmart.

  4. Patricia Bremner 4
    21 April 2022 at 4:59 pm

    Remove GST off food.

    That would help the poor the most as such a large proportion of their money goes on food.

    It would not be inflationary.

    Discussing "cutting spending" we need to tax high earners more. It will lower the inflation and allow neutral fiscal application to areas of need.

    But hey!! Let’s discuss cutting holidays “cause they cost” Hidden inference, “Have they earned that holiday?” ( But don’t ask whether I earned the rental income from my seven properties.)

    • Grafton Gully 4.1
      21 April 2022 at 5:37 pm

      Turn parks, reserves and berms into food forests and community gardens.

    • Graeme 4.2
      21 April 2022 at 8:50 pm

      Would be better to reduce GST to 10%. For people who's living costs exceed their income that would cover most of the next years inflation, provided it's all passed on to the consumer.

      The problem with exempting some items from GST is that the compliance costs often exceed the GST. Food gets tricky as there will be a lot of argument about what is, and isn't food for tax purposes. Our GST regime is very cheap as it's comprehensive with no exemptions at the retail level, the only ones being financial services and exported goods. Ask retailers who were trading before GST about the costs of accounting for the old sales tax regime, most retailers had 4 or more different tax rates across their stock, which became a nightmare at tax time. Retail offerings became a lot broader and more interesting once it was the same tax rate on everything.

      • pat 4.2.1
        21 April 2022 at 8:57 pm

        An across the board reduction in GST is itself inflationary…..if you increase the available income to support higher prices then you will retain higher prices….the trick is to support those that need the support while either maintaining or decreasing the aggregate demand.

        Hence interest rate increases.

        The RBNZ has (again) stated that monetary policy needs to be supported by fiscal policy…..that means we need to transfer, not increase.

        • Graeme 4.2.1.1
          21 April 2022 at 9:41 pm

          So that's implying going back to something like the old Sales Tax regime with pretty steep taxes on 'luxury' items and little or no tax on 'essentials' That would certainly decrease aggregate demand, at least in dollar terms, not so much units, and construction costs would plummet, at the expense of quality.

          But the 60's and 70's weren't free of inflation either, what we're seeing now was typical then.

          • pat 4.2.1.1.1
            21 April 2022 at 10:01 pm

            It implies nothing other than the need for using taxation as it should be….how it is applied can take many forms.

            No modern period has been 'free of inflation' however some have been more problematic than others….the seventies was one such period when the contemporary settings had run their course just as the current settings had run theirs by around 2008.

            Michal Kalecki predicted it well.

            https://delong.typepad.com/kalecki43.pdf

            • arkie 4.2.1.1.1.1
              21 April 2022 at 11:46 pm

              'Full employment capitalism' will, of course, have to develop new social and political institutions which will reflect the increased power of the working class. If capitalism can adjust itself to full employment, a fundamental reform will have been incorporated in it. If not, it will show itself an outmoded system which must be scrapped.

              Didn't Labour drop their commitment to pursuing 'full employment capitalism' in the 80s? So much for the increased power of the working class, they're the precariat now, suffering through a K-shaped 'recovery'.

              • pat …
                22 April 2022 at 5:20 am

                Yes Labour did drop that commitment then…..and fractured because of it.

                As said the model had run its course, just as the pendulum has now swung too far in the opposite direction….it is a never ending power struggle and the role of government is to ensure a balance….sadly under neoliberalism governments have abandoned that role.

          • Foreign waka 4.2.1.1.2
            22 April 2022 at 4:50 pm

            Interest rates in double digits anyone?

        • Patricia Bremner 4.2.1.2
          22 April 2022 at 1:24 am

          Pat, their income is the same. so how is removing GST from food inflationary?

          It means they would have 15% off their bill, which would counter food inflation.

          The Government has limited rent rises to once a year.

          Those who run airnibs should have to pay a licence to offset public housing/rental losses. Airnibs should be treated as a commercial enterprise.

          I believe all rentals shorter than 6 months are treated as commercial rentals in Queensland.

          That money going to an infrastructure fund for future developments.

          • pat 4.2.1.2.1
            22 April 2022 at 5:48 am

            It is inflationary in the same way as Nationals proposed tax cuts are inflationary….if the government leaves more money in the economy and dosnt extract from somewhere else (increased income tax or corporate taxes) then you have more money chasing the same goods….meanwhile if the government is to reduce its revenue it must either cut services (already inadequate) or borrow to make up the shortfall….if they borrow then there is an increase in the money available for the same goods….inflationary.

            GST is around 40% of gov revenue, and it is neutral in the supply chain (only the end consumer pays it)…..and you are also assuming that in an environment of rising input costs to business that the full reduction will be passed on.

            We have an output of a certain size, the problem is how that output is distributed….we allow too much of it to accumulate in certain pockets (and worse, many of those pockets are offshore).

            • Patricia Bremner 4.2.1.2.1.1
              22 April 2022 at 11:08 am

              Thank you for your economic lesson.

              I still believe that it could be passed on as it is in Australia. All unprocessed food there has no GST. added. The till is set to read the bar code for that type of food.

              If you buy a cooked chicken you pay GST. If you buy an uncooked chicken you pay none. All fruit and vegetables and all whole foods are GST free.

              To alter it is stealing from the state. So mechanisms are in place. I am not advocating removal of all GST. It is the poor who are most impacted by inflation.

              I was advocating licence fees on the excess wealth of airnibs, which would be the extraction aimed at one of the contributing factors.

              What do you suggest?

              • pat …
                22 April 2022 at 11:45 am

                The suggestion was a reduction in GST across the board….not just food.

                "The problem with exempting some items from GST is that the compliance costs often exceed the GST. Food gets tricky as there will be a lot of argument about what is, and isn't food for tax purposes. Our GST regime is very cheap as it's comprehensive with no exemptions at the retail level, the only ones being financial services and exported goods. Ask retailers who were trading before GST about the costs of accounting for the old sales tax regime, most retailers had 4 or more different tax rates across their stock, which became a nightmare at tax time. Retail offerings became a lot broader and more interesting once it was the same tax rate on everything."

                The reasons Graeme has given for not exempting some items are valid but the wholesale reduction is problematic for the reasons i have already given….you are feeding an inflationary spiral.

                The painful but effective method is the one the RBNZ is embarking upon….it forces both capital and labour into the most productive activity.

                It is undermined however if the government persists in supporting non productive sectors through the likes of importing low cost labour while placing our core assets on the international market….all while ignoring the needed redistribution through progressive taxation.

                The disconnect between the output of the NZ economy and its presumed value needs to be bought back to reality, our assets are grossly overvalued and the main beneficiaries are the offshore owned banks…..we as a country are (attempting) living a champagne lifestyle on a beer income.

  5. Christopher Randal 5
    21 April 2022 at 5:09 pm

    A CGT would be great, if only it disadvantaged the multi dwelling owners like the Opposition members

    • AB 5.1
      21 April 2022 at 7:11 pm

      Brightline test to 30 years and excluding the family home. The positive effects would be very slow though, unless you backdate the start point, which would cause apoplexy.

      • Belladonna 5.1.1
        21 April 2022 at 8:51 pm

        If excluding the family home, you have a loophole you can drive a truck through.
        The typical path for the 'flippers' gaining capital gains at each step is to 'do up' the family home; sell, 'do up' the family home again. Rinse and repeat. Pocketing the capital gain each time.

        • pat 5.1.1.1
          21 April 2022 at 9:04 pm

          The 'family home' is a marginal issue….the wilful blindness to offshore ownership through trusts and companies is a much bigger issue…..these outside market investors have a detrimental impact due to the fact they are outside the local economy….a major distortion that needs to be removed completely.

          • Belladonna 5.1.1.1.1
            22 April 2022 at 5:02 pm

            Not when it comes to the Bright Line test (effectively the only CGT on property).

            Offshore owners (by definition not-resident) pay. NZ 'flippers' (a much bigger problem – if you're looking at house price inflation) don't.

            You can't regard the family home as a 'marginal issue' in this context. It's the majority of sales.

            • pat 5.1.1.1.1.1
              22 April 2022 at 5:22 pm

              Those who buy dungers and do them up for a profit are not the cause of inflated house prices AND they provide improvement to the stock and are taxed if it is a regular occurence….and the property has to be their residence.

              Offshore ownership is not even identified if in the form of a company or trust.

              • Belladonna …
                22 April 2022 at 8:04 pm

                Since the law change in 2018 – you have to be a NZ or Australian permanent resident (or Singaporean – for some strange reason) to buy property in NZ. If a trust situation, the principal trustee has to qualify.

                https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Investment_Amendment_Act_2018

                Of course, existing ownership is 'grandfathered' in. But I really don't think this is as big an issue as you're making out.

                Yes – new builds were specifically exempt from this – because a lot of the new build apartments and townhouses are built with overseas money – and they need a guaranteed buyer before they go ahead. However, all of these *add to* the existing housing stock in NZ (i.e. rentals). The vast majority of the 'profit' from renting these out goes to the banks in mortgage repayments. And, if sold within 10 years, they are subject to the Bright Line capital gains tax. I don't see a flood of money leaving the country over them.

                Unless you want to only have the government as landlord (which you may, some here on TS certainly do) – I don't really see a huge difference between resident and non-resident landlords (in the financial sense)

                Remembering the dogwhistle politics over people with 'Chinese sounding names' ….

                • pat …
                  22 April 2022 at 8:26 pm

                  "The ban on foreign home buyers was imposed by the Labour Government in 2018, but due to the continued opaqueness of trusts and companies, the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) relies on the honesty of lawyers setting up such entities and those facilitating transactions to detect rule breakers."

                  https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/128165009/new-rules-will-combat-companies-used-to-skirt-foreign-house-buyers-ban-minister-says

                  • Belladonna …
                    22 April 2022 at 9:32 pm

                    So — given all this 'opaqueness' – you actually have no evidence at all that there are significant numbers of people using trusts to break the law. You're just speculating.

                    Based on my friends/acquaintances living in Auckland – and renting from overseas owners, all of the landlords (i.e. the name on the bank account where rent is paid is for an individual) – indicating that they are NZ citizens or PR – and therefore entitled to own NZ property. The only one I know of who deals with a trust (i.e. rent payments go into the Trust bank account) – it's a Kiwi Mum and Dad trust (and they are actually resident in NZ)

              • Belladonna …
                22 April 2022 at 8:08 pm

                Everyone who buys and sells on a rising market is contributing to property inflation.
                And I know of one set of acquaintances who've bought, done-up (while living there) and sold 4 houses in 7 years. None of the renovations have been very substantial (painting, putting in a new kitchen, bathroom, landscaping, etc.). Making a very healthy capital gain each time (even after the costs of renovation)

                Completely exempt from the Bright Line test – as each of them have been their 'residence'.

                • pat …
                  22 April 2022 at 8:31 pm

                  "Your history of buying and selling counts

                  If you have a regular pattern of buying and selling property, then you may be considered a property dealer and may have to pay tax when you sell property.

                  This may apply even to your main home, if you have a pattern of buying and selling the home you live in.

                  There is no set number of properties you can buy and sell before you may need to pay tax on profit from sales."

                  https://www.ird.govt.nz/property/buying-and-selling-residential-property/when-you-buy-and-sell

                  • Belladonna …
                    22 April 2022 at 9:26 pm

                    IRD aren't applying this at all. The wording of 'may' in the policy – leaves a lovely large loophole that upwardly-mobile renovators are merrily driving trucks through on a regular basis.

                    • pat …
                      23 April 2022 at 7:58 am

                      You miss the point….whether they pay tax or not (the risk is retrospective) is not an issue impacting supply.

                      The doer uppers are using the property while working on it and then make it available to the market for purchase, whereas property purchased for capital gain (in a rising artificially low interest rate market), or money laundering purposes is not necessarily available for use adding to increased demand for the remaining property.

        • Craig H 5.1.1.2
          22 April 2022 at 9:39 pm

          The current rule allows the bright line exemption for the primary residence to only be used once every two years – perhaps tweak that rule e.g. to 3 or 5 years.

  6. tsmithfield 6
    21 April 2022 at 7:35 pm

    I think the long term, but most difficult solution to the problem is to inspire youth in some of the very poorest demographics that they can aspire to something much better than what they have now, and can achieve far higher than what they believe of themselves.

    One of the trusts I am on the board of is Cross Roads Youth with a Future.

    Crossroads operates on Hampshire Street in Aranui, which is one of the poorest areas in Christchurch, and a street that is infamous for gang activity and crime.

    Crossroads is very well respected and supported in the area which is great. We run a youth drop in centre that a lot of youth in the area come to.

    But the main thing we do is to work with some of the most difficult youth in the city in small groups (Our "Stay Real" programme). Youth who come to us are normally on the verge of being expelled and have a lot of behavioural issues.

    We run small groups based around total acceptance, and being totally non-judgemental. They tend to feel very safe in confiding with our team around the various issues they have in their lives which are at a level I never have had to personally experience.

    We have had some great success. Several youth workers with us have actually come through the program, and have attained tertiary qualifications. I have nothing but absolute respect for them knowing the issues in their backgrounds they have had to overcome.

    So, I think this sort of approach is part of the answer. The big problem is that it takes a lot of time and developing long term relationships for things to change for people. It isn't a quick fix.

    I think that is probably one of the big problems with a lot of "solutions" that get put out there, in that they are very short term interventions that don't do much in the long term.

    • Patricia Bremner 6.1
      22 April 2022 at 1:34 am

      That is great, and yes getting a funding base and continuity is key. If these teens can form a good trust relationship with at least one adult in their lives, they often blossom.

      A safe zone in their lives, things to do and share, learning to help others and developing goals. Crossroads and Get real sound great. Good on you tsmithfield.

      • tsmithfield 6.1.1
        22 April 2022 at 8:41 am

        Thanks for that Patricia. I think my experience with Crossroads and the other trust I am on the board for has softened a lot of my attitudes over recent years.

        A lot of us who are relatively well off have no idea of the circumstances and history that shape the lives of many. So, that tends to lead to knee-jerk and simplistic reactions from many of us unfortunately.

        • Craig H 6.1.1.1
          22 April 2022 at 9:54 pm

          I grew up around there – the Hampshire Street shops were our local shops (Peter's Fish and Chips is still going strong I see!), we were (and Mum still is) enrolled at the GP (the doctor is an absolute champion committed to affordable medical care), and kudos to the Council and Kainga Ora for improving the area dramatically – rebuilding a lot of the state housing and building a new library and community centre have gone a long way.

          All that said, still a tough neighbourhood with a lot of poverty and deprivation, so it's good to see people still doing good work in the area.

          Edit for mods – could you please fix my name to Craig H. Apologies and many thanks.

  7. DukeEll 7
    22 April 2022 at 8:40 am

    They had me until rent controls. Even then, an overall good platform that acknowledges the problems low income and middle income New Zealanders now face as a result of a combination of poor fiscal and monetary policy and overseas supply chain pressures.

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    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    11 hours ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    12 hours ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    13 hours ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    14 hours ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    16 hours ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    17 hours ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    19 hours ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 day ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • 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

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
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  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
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  • 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 ...
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    24 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 ...
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  • 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 ...
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  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
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  • Government backing mussel spat project
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  • Government focused on getting people into work
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  • 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 ...
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  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
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  • 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 ...
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  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
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  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
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  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
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  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
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    3 days ago

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  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
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  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
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  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
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  • 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 ...
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  • 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 ...
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  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
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  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
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    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
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    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
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    5 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
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  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
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  • 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 ...
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  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
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  • Navigating an unstable global environment
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  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
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  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
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  • 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 ...
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    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 ...
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  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
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