Hate Speech Is an Evitable Evil

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, May 19th, 2019 - 72 comments
Categories: censorship, Deep stuff, education, identity, internet, Media, schools, Social issues - Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Every day, millions of people flock online and to Social Media. In fact, some seem to be almost permanently connected. People go online because they want to be entertained, not informed, and to be excited, not educated. Because there is so much visual stimulation in your face, they tend to become desensitised; shock, horror, and awe have become the new norms. Content and material are becoming more extreme to cut through the increasing noise to ensure that revenue streams stay up.

With extreme content comes extreme behaviour. In this day and age, it is all about my personal values and me. Social and moral values play a secondary role and are neglected or ignored. Values are the basis of opinions. From this, it follows that disagreement of opinion can easily be perceived as an attack on one’s values, i.e. a personal attack. Values need to be defended, of course.

Self-defence is a legitimate excuse but only if one is under attack. Here is the catch, when one feels under attack it justifies a counter-attack. People often seek and/or receive support from others who might share the same personal values (but not necessarily social and moral values – they largely stay out of view). This can quickly escalate into an angry ‘lynch mob’ demanding that ‘justice’ is done. Ironically, tribal and pack mentality form quickly among seemingly like-minded people who in reality do not know each other at all nor will they ever meet in real life.

Without any regulation, this kind of behaviour is unavoidable and goes largely unpunished in the sense that there are no consequences for the mob – the mob rules because mob are good for (advertising) revenue. What is the answer to this serious and growing social problem? As always, education is one answer or, better, part of the answer. However, this is not necessarily school education only. Social and moral values can be learned at home, at sports (unless the über-competitive win-at-all-cost attitude dominates over fun and relaxation), or at work (same provisos as for sports), for example.

In the absence of education to raise self-awareness, empathy, and consideration for the effect one’s online actions have on others and themselves (i.e. reinforcing feedback), it is almost impossible to expect people to self-regulate and self-moderate their online behaviour – it is like an unsupervised kid in an unattended candy shop. Thus, it requires an authority to guide behaviours away from personal attacks and other harmful communication. If not an authority perhaps an advisory role is needed – instead of heavy-handed (…) regulators or biased (…) moderators a few level-headed mature people could step us as online ‘mentors’ on a particular site. Ultimately, if a person continues to demonstrate asocial or unacceptable behaviour they show that they are not fit to participate in that online community. This must result in direct consequences and corrective or mitigating actions for or behalf of the community and the social good.

Our whole society and social life is guided by rules, many of which are unwritten. Risky or dangerous behaviour is actively discouraged. Acts of violence are punished. Et cetera. Not only is this to keep others safe but also to make sure channels and networks remain open and unencumbered for all. It is inconsistent in the extreme that somehow social and moral values have little to no meaning and can be largely ignored when joining an online community – anonymity makes this a lot easier and people can act out their dreams, fantasies and frustrations seemingly without repercussions.

A useful guide for regulation and moderation of online communications is, in my view, to ensure participants respond to points, be it fact or opinion, without personal attacks – play the ball, not the man and don’t shoot the messenger. As soon as it becomes personal, a line is crossed. Differences of opinion, no matter how extreme, are just that. They are not direct attacks on one’s personal values or identity. In fact, what is ‘in view’ is only a tiny aspect of the vast number of values that underlie a person’s identity – the tip of the iceberg. Even in the case of public personae or celebrities we know much less about them than we think we do and often this embellished or fabricated.

As we do with bad behaviour in traffic the community needs to take more responsibility and ‘dob in’ those who violate the rules of good behaviour. This is neither banning nor curbing free speech but setting rules of conduct rather than rules of content.

72 comments on “Hate Speech Is an Evitable Evil ”

  1. Andre 1

    That behaviour vs content thing is a lot tougher than it looks in this post-truth and post-facts era. There's plenty of topics where there's clearly established factual truths, and the scientific debate is purely around uncertainties and nuances around the fringes of the established central body of fact.

    Yet there are always those that try to spread doubt and false fears about that established body of knowledge, using a variety of techniques. Such as spreading known lies made by proven liars, by misrepresenting debate about uncertainties and nuance at the fringes as debate about the core body of established fact (teach the uncertainty) and many many more.

    Consider climate change. It's established fact that human activities are releasing vast amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that are measurably altering atmospheric composition. This alters the balance of incoming and outgoing heat by different amounts in different parts of the world. Causing changes of long-established climate patterns and increasing average global temperatures.

    To be sure, there is plenty of ground for legitimate debate over how to respond to climate change. There's a range all the way from ignoring it completely, to trying to crash our entire civilisation and the survivors go back to a hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

    But when someone posts a JAQ-off asking for evidence of clearly established facts, is that "picking a pointless fight that's going to waste a lot of time and space" behaviour, and the appropriate response is to just tell him to fuck right off? Should it be considered legitimate content that one should attempt to politely respond to? Or just ignored? Or mocked?

    • Drowsy M. Kram 1.1

      If a commenter apparently genuinely believes what they are writing, and is not posting simply to stir, then of the possible responses you've listed, I would prefer (in order):

      1. Respond politely (ideally a brief exchange to establish a (counter) position).

      2. Ignore.

      3. Mock (again, preferably only once in any post, and only for repeat offenders).

      4. F**k off.

      This is a "Do as I say, not as I do." preference. smiley Mocking can be 'fun', but is not admirable behaviour (IMHO), and I hope I've never used the "fuck off" response on this blog. ‘Mocking’ and ‘f**k off’ are more problematic when employed in ‘pack mode‘, again IMO.

      [Queue responses from anyone who thinks I’m getting at them…]

    • Incognito 1.2

      The post was about hate speech and behaviour in this context. Picking a pointless fight is not hate speech IMO and as long as people stick to facts/factoids or even just opinions it won’t be hate speech. Not even when telling somebody to F-off. It is neither nice nor helpful and it would be better to ‘explain’ why somebody should F-off. In the end, we can agree to disagree and treat each other with (some) respect and common decency.

      In a public forum such as social media nobody ‘owns’ the space or platform and nobody has the ‘right’ to refuse somebody else ‘access’ or the right to express their opinion. When it becomes personal, it becomes a problem. This is where I see a role for appropriate regulation, moderation, and/or education in which the online community could play a positive role rather than piling on.

      We will never be able to debate controversial topics or issues if we cannot adhere to a few basic behavioural rules. These issues are not academic and won’t go away; they must be debated in public.

      • Andre 1.2.1

        The post was about hate speech…

        Good thing my response didn't get much attention and turn into a major derail.

        Personally, I see hate speech as a subset of harmful "shit speech", for want of a better term. So ideas and methods to manage other kinds of shit speech have a good chance of being applicable to hate speech.

        My ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, nationality and just about any other marker conceivable gives me the privilege of being very unlikely to cop any hate speech. Nor have I any expertise on hate speech. To my mind, that makes my reckons on hate speech worthless. Shutting up and listening to people that actually receive hate speech is a much more useful activity for me. But there are other areas of shit speech I can push back against.

        Whether public forums in online media should be treated as public space or private space is certainly a useful area for discussion. At the moment, places like The Standard or Stuff comments or Trademe message boards or Facebook certainly look to me like private spaces. They have owners that can arbitrarily choose to withhold use of the space however they choose, subject to some legal restrictions, or even arbitrarily shut it down completely. Those owners are also legally accountable for ensuring what happens in those spaces remains legal.Those laws are quite different to what applies if you want to go to a public park with a loudhailer and a bunch of placards.

        But when it comes to online piling-on, is it really that different to when, say, a few neo-nazis want to do a jack-booted march down a main street and are met with a counter-demonstration of hundreds expressing their contempt for neo-nazis? It also strikes me as an awfully big ask to separate out views about a person and views about the ideas that person holds and expresses when it comes to the likes of Phil Arps (owner of that neo-nazi Chch insulation business).

        • Incognito 1.2.1.1

          Very good comment, thank you.

          Yes, ‘shit speech’ and ‘hate speech’ have a lot in common and often intersect.

          At the moment, places like The Standard or Stuff comments or Trademe message boards or Facebook certainly look to me like private spaces. They have owners that can arbitrarily choose to withhold use of the space however they choose, subject to some legal restrictions, or even arbitrarily shut it down completely. Those owners are also legally accountable for ensuring what happens in those spaces remains legal.

          To me, they look like public spaces; anybody can join (in). I love the impartiality of TS and as a Moderator I do my best to uphold the spirit of inclusivity and the principle of to agree to disagree in a respectful manner. The TS Policy allows much flexibility for all but no pointless personal attacks, for example.

          Of course it is hard to separate the views from the person especially when those views fill you with utter disgust. But if cannot handle this, for whatever reason, it might be better to take a wee breather to avoid getting dragged down into a hole from which you can no longer escape. The trick is to not get too emotionally attached to it because your emotions will overwhelm and control you. When that happens you can be easily manipulated by others. Now, who would want that to happen?

          Today, there was another opinion piece on David Seymour calling Golriz Ghahraman “a real menace to freedom in this country”.

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/112868323/why-not-rebut-ghahramans-arguments-rather-than-label-her-a-menace

          Anger, contempt, disgust, hate are not effective arguments and leave violence as the only option. Think about it.

          • marty mars 1.2.1.1.1

            "the trick is to not get too emotionally attached to it because your emotions will overwhelm and control you."

            and the same applies to the rational part of the mind – too much rational thinking leads to dry debates devoid of life – just an academic exercise divorced from the real.

            A mixture of emotion and rational is great – in the work I do we call that Wise Mind.

          • Andre 1.2.1.1.2

            If any of this is about you feeling your way into your moderator role here, well, your interventions I've seen have all been spot on. Back yourself, your instincts are sound. And when you do something that on more reflection you think you should have handled differently, don't beat yourself up. After all, this is just an obscure discussion forum.

            I agree a comment primarily motivated by anger, hate, disgust is unlikely to be productive. But that's not the same as expressions of anger or disgust being totally out of place in rational discussion (hate deliberately omitted). Obama's White House Correspondent's Dinner Anger Translator skit strikes me as a particularly good example of angrily expressing genuine anger to make a serious rational point effectively.

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6NfRMv-4OY

            • Incognito 1.2.1.1.2.1

              I needed that after today’s efforts here on TS especially in OM! Thanks for the support, Andre, you are very perceptive indeed. Moderating is not nearly as easy as it looks. Mind you, MickySavage keeps pumping out good posts and I have no idea how he does it!

  2. marty mars 2

    " As soon as it becomes personal, a line is crossed. "

    It's always personal. This dry, debate the facts, play the ball, stuff is playground rules. The people destroying the world don't play by those rules. The righties enacting anti abortion laws in the US aren't just hitting the guts. The malicious postings of some directly infect people with doubt and worse. Quite frankly trying to 'hear both sides' is right rubbish – does anyone not know the other side of these debates? So then it's the forum. We want civilised debate here with fairness for everyone including and especially for those who we don't like or disagree with. I'm cool with that – it will self filter as people go or get gone. For me I cannot stand or stand by when I see injustice – I'll try to use wit laced with scathing points and edges but I can't guarantee nobody will get hurt.

    • Sabine 2.1

      +1

    • McFlock 2.2

      I tend to agree.

      In the past few years these have become very interesting times indeed, and we can't always assume that the other parties to the discussion are discussing in good faith.

    • Incognito 2.3

      Yes, of course it is personal when having a heated discussion about a controversial issue with somebody you completely and utterly disagree with. That’s the whole point of the post: people engaging with other people online and having a robust debate such as here on TS. You may not be able to guarantee that somebody (else, I assume) does not get hurt but you could modify your behaviour to minimise that risk if you wanted to and still get your point(s) across or try and deal with the injustice that you want to fight. Going out of one’s way to inflict hurt or damage on somebody else is violence, plain and simple. Willingly and knowingly not mitigating against this is a means to an end? Because they do it too?

      • marty mars 2.3.1

        My behaviour is fine and I won't be modifying it so some right winger or racist doesn't feel hurt. I don't get why some are so worried about being nice to the perpetrators of hate.

        Going out of one's way to be nice to the perpetrators of hate speech (for instance) is the same as approving of it imo and adding a boot into the victims. It is not enough to not like these things – we must ACTIVELY FIGHT against them. Or we can bend and finally break to their will.

        • Drowsy M. Kram 2.3.1.1

          https://www.nytimes.com/1971/07/25/archives/we-become-what-we-hate.html

          What these paradoxes of opposites are all about is a phenomenology in which it is part of the very nature of passionate conflict to turn one into his own enemy. “We become what we hate” is an old yoga maxim. And in watching the conflict of the Irish Troubles, the Dublin yogi, George William Russell, developed the maxim into a principle of political science: “By intensity of hatred nations create in themselves the characters they imagine in their enemies. Hence it is that all passionate conflicts result in the interchange of characteristics.”

          If one stops to consider the implications of this principle for the conflicts of the Second World War, he will come to some disquieting conclusions. Japan is now Los Angeles and Detroit, and Big Sur, California, is a Zen Mountain Center. Germany is now a consumer society, and we are the largest militarist state in the history of the world. We have become our enemy.

          • Incognito 2.3.1.1.1

            smiley

          • marty mars 2.3.1.1.2

            That article is nice and there is no evidence within that article that we become what we hate. Mind you a lot has changed since 1971 when the article was written.

        • Incognito 2.3.1.2

          Let me say this then, one doesn’t go of his way to be nice nor does one go out of his way to be nasty. I don’t think I argued for being “nice” (or kind …) to people I disagree with and if I gave that impression I’d like to correct it, for the record. I’m very much in favour of standing my ground with everything at my disposal, within certain boundaries …

          Hate speech must not be tolerated but the post was about ways to prevent and avoid it online. When there are proper regulations in place (e.g. effective moderation) we should not have to fight against perpetrators of hate speech because they would be stopped in their tracks.

          • McFlock 2.3.1.2.1

            The thing about hate speech is that it becomes fuzzy – dog whistles, 8chan memes, and "ironic" trolling (e.g. pepe the frog) are the language of fascists in public. They only get explicit when they think they've won.

            And ignoring it just lets it fester – racism breeds in anoxic environments, because silence is acceptance.

            So it can't be prevented as such. It needs to be called out, illuminated, and scrubbed manually.

    • maggieinnz 2.4

      I'For me I cannot stand or stand by when I see injustice – ll try to use wit laced with scathing points and edges but I can't guarantee nobody will get hurt.

      And that is why I love your comments.

  3. Adrian Thornton 3

    I agree with Andre's first sentence, in this post truth era, where does one look for guidance in their online 'Social and moral values', in the US take a look at Iraq as an example, nearly every high profile media and political figure who got that wrong and endorsed that illegal war didn't only face absolutely no negative fallout, in fact most were rewarded, one is now leading the polls in the Democratic primary race.

    In contrast all high profile media voices that spoke actively against war ALL faced negative consequences both socially and professionally (most of them are on RT now)

    Lately with the Russiagate conspiracy that has now been debunked, are there consequences for the purveyors of this ridiculous hoax? of course not, no just a doubling down on a untenable position, further entrenching divide.

    So my point is, it is hard to see any future of a civil online discourse existing, when the people, politicians and institutions who (rightly or wrongly) should be setting an example of maintaining at least some semblance of truth, holding at least some sort of moral high ground are themselves mired in untruths, falsehoods and outright lies, when caught, double down on their lies, and worse are even rewarded handsomely for doing it.

    • Incognito 3.1

      I agree that without role models and moral leadership it is almost a mission impossible. So, we continue to lament this and do nothing? We wait for the rest of the world to change first and then follow suit?

      Maybe online discourse will stay ‘uncivil’ for quite some time but we must take action to curb the growing hate speech on- and off-line. Surely, that’s a starting point we can agree on?

  4. greywarshark 4

    This morning a wise and experienced woman speaking about groups on both sides – white supremacist and jihadist and who has made a film about it all.

    It is so interesting – try to find time to listen to it. I think it is very relevant to this post.

    10.04 Deeyah Khan: Up close and personal with extremists

    Deeyah Khan

    Islamic Director Deeyah Khan's spent the last part of her career looking at extremism in both white supremacist movements as well as Islamic groups. She's the daughter of an Afghani mother and Pakistani father born in Norway.

    She's also been involved with human rights activism through her debut film about an honour killing of a British Kurdish woman. Her last television documentary, White Right: Meeting the Enemy involved her interviewing committed white supremacists in the U.S who then invited her to attend, the now infamous, Charlottesville Rally.

    She speaks to Paul about the dangers of dealing with extremists and what she's learnt from them. She also offers her thoughts on the mosque shooting in Christchurch.

    Audio will go up later. I'll try to put it up, but if you go to Radionz and it's on Sunday Morning program.

  5. OnceWasTim 5

    Interesting posts @ Incognito and Andre

    The rise of the bubble!

    10 or 15 years ago, I started to worrydurry about people only ever exposing themselves to the things they solicit – or at least in most part. When that happens, it seems they become more insular and their interests are reinforced by their peers who share those interests.

    The "yea/nah not interested in politics" (for example) results in disengagement and a 'nothing ever changes or can be changed' and they're 'all the bloody same' mentality. I'll just stick to sport, or concentrate on my career and getting richer – whatever it takes.

    It's resulted in tribalism, fundamentalism and insularity – whether it's in things like sport, politics, communal life, whatever.

    And coupled with what Andre refers to – that uber-competitive spirit, where people compete because they try to be better than the other, rather than simply trying to be the best that they can be themselves. (As we often see on here, it seems to completely take over some people: deliberately provocative bullshit, the smart arse, arguing for the sake of it and to prove how wonderful they are – very Trumpian).

    In some ways, it's a shame there's no longer a lot more comedic ridicule that can be disseminated in a way that reaches people unsolicited rather than just through the medium they solicit; AND/OR exposure across class, racial, religious, etc. differences; AND/OR ………..

    It's possibly too late – who knows

    • Incognito 5.1

      Thank you for your comment.

      Yes, we need more satire.

      No, it is not too late. The time to act is now, as it has always been.

      Social and moral values have not been lost. They are buried under ego-centric personal values. We must remember them and re-calibrate for the present time. Otherwise we will continue to be “the best we can be” in the neo-liberal context instead of a social/socialist one. It all comes down to values IMHO.

      • OnceWasTim 5.1.1

        Well just so you know, there's no way I've given up. And after the past 24 hours, whether it's Soimon's effits on MR this morning, Sepuloni's 'patheticisms' with regard to a WINZ and a Rickard, and much else.

        A few things stand out for me. Comedic ridicule is long lost and in desperately in need of some widespread airing, (IF some of them could just see themselves FFS! in a way others see them – not looking at anyone in particular but Soimon is a standout, and at least Pulla has decided the best policy at the moment is to take gardening leave from the media – even if the real reason is she's undertaking a bit more plastic re-imiaging. By the way, as it happens, my neighbour is a Vein Doctor and I think a Caci Clunuk speshlust, and he doesn't use Nechrul Glow oiva).

        But unfortunately the bullshit extends far beyond the gNats.

        Labour has its adherents to it all as well – and it's probably going to be there downfall (eventually)

        • Incognito 5.1.1.1

          Well just so you know, there's no way I've given up.

          Good on you!

          Yes, the world is littered with BS but we can personally try to not heap more on it and even become pooper-scooper and do a bit of ‘beach and waterway cleaning’ from time to time. It may seem futile but it isn’t, I reckon.

  6. Sam 7

    Could have said the same things about the invention of the typewriter. In fact I remember a time on the Internet when no one knew what to call the humble "@" instead referring to it as the a with a circle around it. We have no right nor does anyone have the power to control speech transmitted via the Internet. We can control concentric circles with in concentric circles but no one has the power to control the whole internet. Controlling the Internet is just a fairy tale loony security advisors whisper into the ears of their superiors.

    Okay so it's legalish to smoke marijuana in California but illegal in New Zealand yet a bunch of woke lefties feel because their minority image may induce self harm or some shit marijuana users in California will have to self sesnsor themselves. And Stalin will be jumping out of his grave with joy.

    We can not allow the woke left to hit the imagination buttons of the Internet. All that will appear is those white lines and static.

    • greywarshark 7.1

      Too scared Sam to take on the authoritarian internet? We are too small so must roll over and accept just about everything; have a few cosmetic changes to placate the peeps. No worries mate!

      • Sam 7.1.1

        It is you who are far to brave and eggar to demonstrate how weak and inadequate New Zealand's cyber security is to international headwinds. Both Labour and National seek a strategic guarantor which means our economy will be open for business.

        If you are not engaging in guerrilla warfare then you are not disrupting the system. All that will be achieved is acts of foolishness, breaking formation and falling back like how Great Britian lost the Americas.

        • greywarshark 7.1.1.1

          I need to think about that last one Sam. As for Great Britain losing the Americas – there may be lessons to be learned from that which we can apply now but I don't see immediate relevance.

          Great Britain losing the Americas was inevitable. Everyone going there was looking for a new deal where they could get on without the upper class weighing them down and keeping them poor, and the religious didn't want to be involved in constant fights and changes as Church and State moved together sometimes, and apart in others, and the cost of war mounted.

          So people moved to the USA and found new ways of creating schisms and are busily fighting their own civic battles and imperialistic ones in other countries.

          The internet is a technological invention that offers much to everyone and comes with an apparent large cost beyond money. It can help to spread contagion very effectively, which seems to be debasing much of the good it provides, and like all inventions seems to be becoming utilised for purposes that aren't positive for ordinary citizens.

          • Sam 7.1.1.1.1

            The west was tamed by technological change. Y'know, the telegraph, railroad. Sitting Bull called it the apocalyptic train of doom. Now that infrastructure projects regularly unicorn above a billion dollars it's getting more and more difficult to police the graffiti and mischief. It's not just a million dollars at stake it's a billion that needs to be policed. Only the most gifted people can design and implement a precinct development that doesn't include homeless people living under the latest bridge technology.

            Hatespeech on the other hand needs to be put into perspective and that is we have no time for this bullshit. We've got infrastructure to be made efficient.

    • Incognito 7.2

      We cannot control the whole internet but we can control our behaviour when we go online (and off-line). We can speak out about bad behaviour and if it doesn’t change, we can ignore it by not giving it oxygen. Quite simple, really.

  7. greywarshark 8

    Just heard a lovely song on Radionz – The Immigrant by Neil Sedaka.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1yQ2f1KtKc

    • OnceWasTim 8.1

      There ya go @ greywarshark Exposing yourself to the unsolicited. You've come across Neil Sedaka and Deeya Khan (in relation to 5 above – just one example rather than listening to the formulaic playlists on rotate).

      • greywarshark 8.1.1

        OwT I take it that you think I done right! I do feel happier delving into the fertile soil of people trying to grow a green and wellbeing society. So I choose to go there and not harm my brain cells listening to an overdose of mean and predatory thinking and too much soppy sentimentality or at the other side totally pragmatic thinking. So I do limit myself from taking my mind to strange places – there be dragons.

        It ain't easy finding balance as I no longer look for uplift from organised religion alone, or from middle class mores etc. So keep up your comments OwT even when you have a rant I find something of value in your furious bouncing up and down (just don't use a trampoline, it might take you into the stratosphere.)

  8. Dennis Frank 9

    Excellent essay in political psychology, Incognito. Hones in on the motivations that transform social media commentary in political behaviour. Reminds us of how politics operates when rulers, governments, and democratic structures don't set the terms!

    Social darwinism is the historical arena, being illuminated in recent times by genetic theory, to discover what drives pack mentality, herding, and tribes. Best usage of mimetic theory on this stuff is McFadyen's Mind Wars (2000).

    Hate & evil are produced by fear, and have deep evolutionary roots. You're right to suggest that they are an inevitable part of human experience. WWII proved they have to be encountered and dealt with appropriately. The potential for them to take geopolitical form is ever present. That was the primary flaw of postmodernism: the pretence that they are disposable.

    • greywarshark 9.1

      I have found the meaning of postmodernism to be nebulous.

      Google: postmodernism

      noun: postmodernism;

      1. a late 20th-century style and concept in the arts, architecture, and criticism, which represents a departure from modernism and is characterized by the self-conscious use of earlier styles and conventions, a mixing of different artistic styles and media, and a general distrust of theories.

      modernism

      noun: modernism

      1. modern character or quality of thought, expression, or technique.

        "a strange mix of nostalgia and modernism"

        • a style or movement in the arts that aims to depart significantly from classical and traditional forms.

          "by the post-war period, modernism had become part of art history"

        • a movement towards modifying traditional beliefs in accordance with modern ideas, especially in the Roman Catholic Church in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

      So it sounds as if post modernism wants to go back to modernism which itself 'modified traditional beliefs' and post modernism wants to take bits from this or that time, and apparently doesn't approve of theories, so doesn't want to try and explain its direction.

      Sounds loony and irresponsible to me. What happens as a person rubs up against the sandpaper of real life and the effects on him/her trying to find the niche in society that enables their growing in to adult being, doing and belonging, acknowledged and respected? Anomic is the word for people without a niche, souls drifting around like spawn in the ocean looking for a rock to anchor themselves to. Like these gangs of white supremacists and vulnerable youngsters being gathered into jihadist groups.

      • Dennis Frank 9.1.1

        Yeah, all valid. I was commenting on how it manifested as a cultural trend here in the nineties, which that analysis on Wikipedia doesn't include. Nebulous is part of the essence due to academic origin: the insularity of acadaemia was by original design. Real life couldn't be allowed to get in the way. Downside of that is the ivory tower syndrome, and focus on theories at the expense of application…

        • greywarshark 9.1.1.1

          Df You mean that economics comes under this academic isolation, and ivory-towerism which used to be put downs on university-sourced ideas by the likes of Muldoon, who was more make it up as we go. How do we find practical paths between these opposites?

          • Dennis Frank 9.1.1.1.1

            Indeed. I see it as a dialectic writ large: theory & application. Science uses a methodology for testing truth-claims via experiments. So the practical path employs a similar empiricist stance, learning from experience. Theories model reality, and utility derives from how good the match is. Consensus of opinion then provides an outcome in the group mind.

            • greywarshark 9.1.1.1.1.1

              Should government have a branch where it announces to citizens that theories of… are being tried here and here, for at least six months, and will be analysed for … to see if they have been efficacious? And if so they will be carried through for another 18 months so two years in all. All in an effort to find a better way without having the Oppo jump on you joyously 'It didn't work. Money wasted. Bad management …etc.

              If would be beneficial if trying new things that appear after study, to offer better outcomes could become an accepted part of our NZ society striving to achieve betterment. They would usually be carried out appropriately within societal expectations, or perhaps at times experimenting to see if these should widen what have become societal limitations, Studying political history shows that we have often been 20 years behind introducing what are perfectly good and viable policies adopted by other similar polities.

              • Dennis Frank

                Dunno about a branch, but I agree with your general direction of thought. Trial & error is traditional, eh? Correcting application of techniques after each trial is part of human ingenuity. We just don't get enough of that in governance due to the inertial effect of bureaucracy.

                • greywarshark

                  To ne frank. The setup down't allow for trial and error that most bureaucrats work under. They have targets expected of them and which have to be ticked off, or they get ticked off.

                  The opportunity to run a trial needs clear steps, and checks, and sufficient funding for it to flourish, but not so that there are accusations of slush funds.

                  In other words well designed policy, with sensible reporting and updating and analysis of pros and cons, successes, partial failures but with unexpected achievement and so on. And not be considered by a profit-driven mind-machine with an expensive business or management award to pay for, but needs a practical wellbeing approach I think.

            • Gabby 9.1.1.1.1.2

              Praxis franko, praxis.

              • Dennis Frank

                Sorry, I forgot. Must try harder. The cruisy life of an oldster tempts one into easing off on self discipline… frown

      • Stuart Munro. 9.1.2

        Postmodernism represents the nadir of the academic enterprise.

        Where once operating theories could expect to be examined and interrogated, under post modernism the theories are not explicitly stated and thus immune to critique. A proliferation of privileged discourses is one result, which, being insular, go rather further than reasonable observers will accept. It is these discourses that generate the heat around identity politics for example.

        Part of this relates back to Kuhn's thesis – that all theories are socially constructed, so that nothing is truly objective. The debased theorists are those who embrace that observation, which licenses any kind of intellectual excess. Pragmatic theorists instead note that one gets a lot closer to objectivity by striving for it than not.

        • greywarshark 9.1.2.1

          Interesting SM. I can understand that, so you show an ability to explain in not a too high falutin' fashion. Ta for that.

        • Dennis Frank 9.1.2.2

          Yes Stuart, you've got a good sociological analysis of the postmodern movement happening there. 👍

        • RedLogix 9.1.2.3

          That's a remarkably concise and intelligent explanation Stuart.

          • Stuart Munro. 9.1.2.3.1

            My students never let me away with bullshit – nor should they.

        • Incognito 9.1.2.4

          Thanks for that, Stuart!

          Post-modernists might argue that there are no absolute truths and thus no clear lines that can or must not be crossed in a ‘anything goes’ kind of way. This is ok as an academic or intellectual exercise of the mind but does not serve society well at all.

          For us to move forward in a pluralistic or even global society we must draw up a few lines on which we all agree to comply with. This is necessary for cohesion or we will tear apart to become a collection of scattered egos all competing with each other. The answer is clear but the Devil will be in the detail.

        • OnceWasTim 9.1.2.5

          Ah shit – I knew there was somewhere I'd come across your name (if not the name, then the smarts and intellect). It was during that brief period in academia and its aftermath

  9. Stuart Munro. 10

    Aristotle considered that becoming angry appropriately was part of the moral landscape.

    When we consider the degradation of NZ democracy performed by the likes of the Key Kleptocracy, or the Fourth Labour Government for that matter, a dispassionate or coldly rational response seems to have fallen well short of what was requisite to produce meaningful ethical change.

    In the absence of robust sanctions to visit upon administrations that exceed their mandate or sell out to corporate or foreign interests, it is unsurprising if a lynch mob mentality prevails – the lynch mob being the prototype and foundation on which more refined models of justice are build.

    • Incognito 10.1

      I get the feeling that some people seem to think that I advocate dispassionate, coldly rational, dry (@ 2) academic/intellectual debates. Far from it! I think anger is a very useful state of mind (emotion) but it depends on how it is used or channelled. Anger can be self-destructive. In addition, I don’t believe such debates are even possible because we humans are incapable of completely suppressing our emotions. Before anybody gets the wrong end of the stick, I believe we should work with our emotions rather than trying to suppress them in favour of the supposedly superior rational mind – the biggest myth of mankind. When the body and mind (and spirit) are in harmony, we are truly human. When I offload my anger and aim it at another person there is only disharmony, with the other person, but also within me. Hate and harmony are contradictory …

      • Stuart Munro. 10.1.1

        I've read my share of Thich Nhat Hanh, and he's a good bloke as far as it goes.

        But if you try for harmony with insincere people, you will simply be exploited. The last thing the Left needs to do is humour the corruption or the dishonesty of the Key Kleptocracy. That's just pissing away the outcomes we're fighting for before we even start. If we want a better democracy, we need to draw a few lines in the sand, and say: this behaviour is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

        The problem is the Alt Right are way ahead in such plays. The astroturfed activism and faux outrage didn't come out of nowhere or happen by accident. They will move heaven and earth to create false equivalences to try to impugn those who condemn them. But we must stick to our standards – truth, public interest, openness, justice. Wayne Mapp for example is one of the best the Gnats had. But civilians were shot on his watch and the inquiry did not progress until his party left government – it's not good enough, to be delaying justice for electoral purposes in that fashion. We must not compromise with such iniquity.

  10. Incognito 11

    Here is a nice illustration of some of the points I tried to make in the post:

    … and with our culture of sport that's so focussed on winning, of course from time to time, it's going to blow. Saturday sports are supposed to be fun and for the majority they are, but we are also the country where domestic violence rates increase when our favourite rugby teams lose.

    Looking at some of those comments I'd suggest it's no surprise we live in such a violent society. Where's the personal responsibility in all of this? Where's the reminder that when the final whistle goes, win or lose, it's just a game?

    Indeed, it’s just a game or it’s just an opinion.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/112771401/sports-violence-a-mirror-on-society

    This is the complete opposite of what I have in mind, for example:

    Mass shootings predated social media. Columbine, Aramoana and Port Arthur all happened in a pre-Facebook world. It is possible that some features of social media have exacerbated the problem but if this is the case then a genuine think-tank should produce some data to demonstrate this.

    Taking one event and extrapolating from that a need to regulate is a recipe for unintended consequences, even if those intentions are noble.

    The rhetoric is strong in this one and it is the most facetious opinion piece I have read in a while. It is almost completely devoid of robust arguments and relies on innuendo and fear-mongering.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/112701737/mass-shootings-predate-social-media-so-lets-focus-on-the-real-problems

    Asking for scientific data is not wrong per se but to isolate one shooting and demand data before taking action is a cop out. Obviously, this is intentional. One has to wonder why our PM went to Paris if it was indeed about just (!) one single event in little old New Zealand.

    For Mr Grant’s education: Mass Shootings and Media Contagion Theory: Social Media’s Influence on Frequency of Incidents. Mr Grant could have used Google and done some legwork himself instead of waiting for “a genuine think-tank” to “produce some data”. Perhaps Mr Grant’s intentions were not so genuine or noble.

    • One Two 11.1

      Asking for scientific data is not wrong per se but to isolate one shooting and demand data before taking action is a cop out. Obviously, this is intentional. One has to wonder why our PM went to Paris if it was indeed about just (!) one single event in little old New Zealand.

      Very astute , Incognito.

    • Muttonbird 11.2

      A think tank sounds a lot like a working group without an objective.

      Is Grant for or against working groups, and why can't he make up his mind?

      • Incognito 11.2.1

        He’s stirring. Think-tanks don’t get paid with Taxpayers’ money nor should they.

  11. greywarshark 12

    Anti-abortion laws are I consider hate speech against women.
    This Is a Wave: Inside the Network of Anti-Abortion Activists Winning Across the Country

  12. adam 13

    The best bit about this debate, is how all the authoritarian types think they are being reasonable. Sure it the same feeling Lenin had just before he ordered the artillery to cut down those filthy Kronstadt communists.

    • Incognito 13.1

      I consider myself reasonable but I can easily lose my rag too. I would have hoped that you’d got more than some light and fleeting amusement from this debate but you can’t win them all, can you now?

  13. SHG 14

    I missed this thread so apologies for checking in late.

    People go online because they want to be entertained, not informed, and to be excited, not educated. Because there is so much visual stimulation in your face, they tend to become desensitised; shock, horror, and awe have become the new norms. Content and material are becoming more extreme to cut through the increasing noise to ensure that revenue streams stay up.

    This seems sensible to a layman but as someone who works close to if not completely in this space I can attest that this is not actually the way it works.

    The content you see on Facebook (also Twitter, Youtube, Instagram) is chosen for you by an artificial-intelligence-driven algorithm that learns as it goes what sort of content it should show you. The criterion by which it chooses what content to show you is simple: the content that will make more revenue for the host network.

    The network makes its money by getting you to click on ads. "Aha!" you say, "that means the AI is learning how to show me ads I am more likely to click on!"

    Nope. The AI's have worked out that the best way to achieve their simple goal (more money for the host network) isn't changing the ads, it's changing the audience. Predictable people are more valuable to the host network than unpredictable people. So to achieve their goal the AIs need to make the users more predictable.

    You know who's predictable? Extremists. They know what they know, they feel strongly about it, they will not change their opinions no matter what evidence is presented to them, and they will click on things that support their extreme views.

    So given a simple clearly-stated goal of "make more money out of the human users of this network" the AIs have logically concluded that the best course of action is to literally change the brains of the users to be more extreme in their beliefs about everything. Because extremists are predictable and predictable people are worth more money.

    If you start a blank Facebook profile or a blank Youtube profile and search for nutrition you'll get shown food advice. Click on a few links and before you know it you're looking at militant vegan lifestyle channels. Search for fitness and you'll get shown exercise videos. Click on a few links and before you know it you're looking at hardcore crossfit nutters.

    More extreme. In everything. Social media is literally turning normal people into extremists all day every day because that's a totally predictable consequence of the AIs following their instructions. But we're idiots so we didn't predict it.

    • Incognito 14.1

      That comment was edifying to this layperson, thanks.

      You don’t think desensitisation comes into it at all? There appear to be plenty of studies on emotional desensitisation by (violent) video games and online porn, for example. The latter can even cause erectile dysfunction …

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 hour ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    3 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    4 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    8 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    9 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    9 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    9 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    10 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    11 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    13 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T06:12:10+00:00