How the Greek Right screwed the scrum

Written By: - Date published: 8:21 am, June 18th, 2012 - 89 comments
Categories: elections, Europe - Tags:

You know how the Greek’s have this weird ‘winner’s bonus’ – 250 seats are proportionally allocated but the largest, and even by one vote gets another 50 seats. The rightwing got the bonus by a couple of percent over SYRIZA by screwing the scrum. How? By merging New Democracy and a small rightwing party – the Democratic Alliance. Only this allowed ND/DISY to beat SYRIZA. That trick, and PASOK going over to the right will allow a 40% coalition to govern with a majority.

89 comments on “How the Greek Right screwed the scrum ”

  1. Kotahi Tane Huna 1

    Doesn’t sound like the cradle of democracy trusts democracy very much – ignoring the strength gained from diversity.

    • Bunji 1.1

      I think an argument about how the Right screwed the Greek election can be made, but I don’t think this is it.

      DISY was a group that split off ND before the previous election, and just failed to make the 3% threshold in May. Seeing their vote likely to collapse at this one, they folded back in. Simple.
      Between the 3% threshold and the winners bonus, along with a second election that was clearly about austerity & bailout (ND) or non-austerity and renegotiation (Syriza), this was always going to be a 2 party race.

      The Communist Party (KKE)’s vote halved, as those voters moved to Syriza; PASOK collapsed further as its voters went to try to get a bonus for their preference (largely to ND, the Syriza contingent having already left at the previous election). Everybody else was down, even Golden Dawn.

      How the Right screwed the election was having international Right governments making warnings about how voting for Syriza meant leaving the Euro – which Syriza wasn’t proposing. Particularly Merkel, but also Cameron and others. Generally foreign governments aren’t meant to through their oar in about domestic elections – it is after all about the people of that country deciding.

      Here was a major preach of international convention and diplomacy with some serious scaremongering. And there’s been very little comment on that.

      • Bunji 1.1.1

        The 50 seat winners bonus is of course stupid and distortionary and I imagine there will be more discussion about it in Greece now (they did always have 2 strong parties, ND / PASOK, so it wasn’t so obviously a problem previously, with vote more splintered, it becomes a bit ridiculous if the bonus is almost as big as the first seat allocation). But that’s the rules everyone operates under…

        • Kotahi Tane Huna 1.1.1.1

          It’s obviously distortionary: anything over 40% delivers a majority. They might as well go with FPP and be done with it.

      • Gosman 1.1.2

        So advising the electorate that they can’t expect your taxpayers to bail them out and reminding them if they want to be part of a club they have to abide by the rules is interfering is it? I wonder if you agree that the UN reminding members to abide by their charter commitments is also interfering in the domestic affairs of other countries.

        • Bunji 1.1.2.1

          There’s a difference between reminding nationas of their international commitments in general and seeking to interfere at election time.

          Prince William didn’t come to teh RWC last year as it was too close to the election, despite his non-political stance on anything (just his presence was seen as too much of a help to whomever happens to be incumbent).

          Scaremongering that your country’s economy will definitely collapse when economics and international diplomacy don’t work like that are best left to the local parties during election time.

          • Gosman 1.1.2.1.1

            I disagree. Too often parties of the left promise that electorates can have their cake and eat it too. Considering that SYRIZA was campaigning on the policy of both staying in the Euro AND renegotiating the terms of their bail out, people reminding them that was fanstasy land stuff is not interfering. It is called confirming reality.

            • Kotahi Tane Huna 1.1.2.1.1.1

              “…parties of the left promise that electorates can have their cake and eat it too…”

              Really, is that what they do in NZ? Nine years of surplus budgets followed by right wing promises of unaffordable tax cuts (cake) and lying about “back room” austerity (eating it too) says you’re talking out your arse.

              • Gosman

                Four words for you – Interest free student loans.

                • Kotahi Tane Huna

                  Student loans? The ultimate privatisation of higher learning, the fencing off of knowledge itself.

                  Labour erred in not abolishing them.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 1.1.3

        The EU would tell Syriza that you cant stay in the Euro and not have austerity. They are way beyond having to make the choices that they would like to have.
        Under whatever government is formed any bailout offered will be foreign banks mostly and not the greek population.

        Its a modern version of the Irish potato famine without the deaths of millions

      • xtasy 1.1.4

        Yes, you got it right! It was only due to an intensive scaremongering campaign by Samaris and Neo Demokratika that they increased their vote to nearly 30 per cent. It was more or less a two camp race, and Syriza was the only alternative to a continuation of Greece being governed by the same types of corrupt, opportunistic, populist and failing pollies and parties, who are to a fair degree responsible for where Greece has ended up.

        More Greeks voted against the continuation of austerity as it has been implemented, than who supported it. Indeed very, very few Greeks support the way their country is treated and run into the ground. Tsipras and Syriza will keep the pressure on and in the long run throw any new government coalition into disarray.

        It tells you something, when in a leading German economic newspaper the very conservative son (and businessman) of a late right wing German political leader, Max Josef Strauss, states, that Syriza was the only last hope to sort things out in Greece. He came to that assessment, because of the anti corruption, fair taxation and actually quite reasonable agenda that Tsipras presented in an article in the Financial Times Germany edition to get Greece back on its feet. Pasoc, Neo Demokratika and their leaders are exactly the wrong choice, given their corrupt, incompetent and irresponsible management of past decades.

        But the Euro Crisis will continue, no matter what happens in Greece now. The speculating market players and rating agencies working to their interests are now focussing on Spain and Italy, to break up the Eurozone.

  2. Gosman 2

    Of course they could always go into coalition with the Golden Dawn party. I’m not sure that would be terribly good. However it would be democratic.

    • Lightly 2.1

      but they wouldn’t have got the winners’ bonus if they hadn’t done the merger.

      • Gosman 2.1.1

        Any politcal party is entitled to merge. SYRIZA could have done a deal with the Democratic left for example.

        • Lightly 2.1.1.1

          well, yeah. And it’s kind of strange that Greece has so many political parties when the winners’ bonus is such an incentive to have only 2.

          But what is clear is that ND and DISY merged only after the first election. The 2.5% DISY got in the May election is the same as the gap between ND and SYRIZA today.

          • Gosman 2.1.1.1.1

            You are not dealing with the fact that they are entitled to merge and that SYRIZA could have attempted to do this with the Democratic left party. The Democratic left party originally split from SYRIZA not so long ago so you would expect them to have a lot in common.

  3. Gosman 3

    This is ridiculous asertion as if either PASOK or SYRIZA got the most votes they too would get the 50 seat bonus. Given the closeness between New Democracy and SYRIZA it is not the right ‘screwing the scrum’ at all.

    • Bill 3.1

      I believe the argument Gosman is that the ND/DISY is in fact two parties masquerading as one party. Coalitions do not attract a the ‘bonus’ by winning more of the vote…only single parties do. So yup, it’s a con to present your coalition as one entity in order to attract an electoral bonus.

      • Gosman 3.1.1

        As stated any political parties could have merged in Greece. The fact that non of the leftist ones did is really their own fault.

      • Te Reo Putake 3.1.2

        Two parties masquerading as one … so the complete opposite of NACT, then?

  4. vto 4

    If it means that the austerity dealings now set and that the people pay for the failed shenanagins of the money printers then don’t worry, it will be temporary. The tide has receded too far now.

    • Gosman 4.1

      People will reject the democratic outcome will they? Interesting theory. Can’t see it happening myself.

      • vto 4.1.1

        of course you can’t see it gosman, that will surprise nobody.

        • Gosman 4.1.1.1

          Yeah, just like I didn’t see the Occupy movement fundamentally reorientate Western politics. How’s that sea change gong by the way?

          • vto 4.1.1.1.1

            And you think things like the Occupy movement for example among many many more organisations and events etc have not started to realign western politics? The political pendulum is not changing? There aren’t riots in the streets? There aren’t runs on banks going on right now?

            Best you stick your head back in the sand gosman, you’ll feel much better.

            • Gosman 4.1.1.1.1.1

              Riots and runs on banks aren’t unsual. More like politics as normal. I’d suggest there were more riots in the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s than there are today.

              • Jackal

                So now we have to have riots before the right will listen?

                • Gosman

                  Where did I state that? I personally think it is highly improbable that rioters achieve much of their goals. I was in the UK when they had massive May Day riots in the early 2000’s in London. Did they achieve much?

                  • Kotahi Tane Huna

                    “Goals”? Do you honestly belief people riot with clear purpose?

                  • Kotahi Tane Huna

                    I made no comment about “standards” one way or another, just that the majority of rioters have no clear purpose.

                    • Gosman

                      You’ve taken a sample of their opinion to ascertain this then, or is this just merely speculation on your part?

                    • Kotahi Tane Huna

                      Binary thinking much Gossamer? Either I’ve sampled their opinion, or I’m speculating, or perhaps it’s some third thing you hadn’t considered…

                      “The main thing to understand about this group psychology is that individual psychology probably explains a small percentage of these behaviors.”

                    • Gosman

                      Where in that article does it support your statement that most rioters have no clear purpose?

                    • Kotahi Tane Huna

                      The statement that much rioting is conducted due to peer involvement – the loosening of personal ethics that accompany such circumstances.

                      Affected by “crowd psychology” (which certainly exists whether or not it is well understood) individuals yield their individual choices to the crowd. When the crowd disperses, who can tell their purpose?

          • Jackal 4.1.1.1.2

            The Occupy Movement is still happening Gosman. Just yesterday there was a march in New York. Who are you to say it hasn’t achieved anything?

            Thanks for the explanation Zetetic re How the Greek Right screwed the scrum. I was wondering why the seat allocation was so disproportionate to the percentages.

  5. Bored 5

    So far in Greece we have seen riots, massed rejection of austerity leading to another election and extreme parties emerge on both ends of the spectrum. Meanwhile the authorities and bankers (German in particular) seem obsessed with enforcing more austerity.

    Gos contends that the Greeks will take their pills and comply: for the sake of the world financial system he so supports he must hope he is right. My judgement here is that we will see a 1930s style rejection of the democratic process that has demonstrably failed a huge section of the Greek community. More trouble ahead as Greece will now tear itself apart and the default will fall outside of the hands of technocrats and politicians to control.

    • Gosman 5.1

      I doubt that very much. The trouble is the Greek people are probably too exhausted to start a revolution, (which is essentially what you are stating will happen). Any moves in that direction will be easily suppressed and also the suppression will be supported by the rest of the EU.

      • Bored 5.1.1

        Gos, that’s a strange concept that you could be too exhausted to start a revolution….surely that is when they happen (in fact that’s why they happen, there are so many examples). Personally I don’t think revolution is in the air (as in the overthrow and topple a government manner) for the Greeks.

        What I do see coming however is an erosion of democracy from BOTH those in power and the electorate. Those in power will find the resistance (such as civil disobedience etc) makes austerity too hard to impose, tax revenues collapse and the economy constantly stagnant. Their power will suffer a crisis of legitimacy, and any repression will fail when they cant rely upon the rank and file police etc. In every successful revolution the organs of repression have failed and gone over to the other side.

        The Greek electorate themselves are going to see no clear mandate and question the whole democratic process a la Germany 1930s, the extremes will be the only beneficiaries. Revolution may be a wrong term for this, its more like “anarchy” with the progressive loss of legitimacy as the people vote with their feet away from the institutions of state. This is the more likely outcome of today’s vote.

        • Gosman 5.1.1.1

          Suits me fine. The Greeks need to lose their faith in their Government so that they don’t rely on it solving all their problems for them. A good dose of personal responsibility wouldn’t go amiss in that country given how much they have abused and been abused by their State..

          • Pascal's bookie 5.1.1.1.1

            Gosh. That’s not arrogant at all.

            This personal responsibility the Greeks need to show for their government. Germans too, I assume?

            They did quite nicely indeed out the EU/Euro project. Now it’s all turned to custard of course.

            I’m seeing a lot of the same arguments that were flying around when the banks needed bailing out after they foolishly lent metric fuckloads of money to people who couldn’t pay it back.

            The fecklessness of the greeks is vastly overstated IMO.

            Related snippets here:

            http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/18/opinion/krugman-greece-as-victim.html?_r=1&smid=tw-NytimesKrugman&seid=auto

  6. prism 6

    H…er and his brownsh..t thugs emerged from financial collapse. Greece has had a repressive military regime, with even song writers who didn’t please being forced into exile. Germany should be aware of this.

  7. prism 7

    Gosman – Annoying comment No.2. Why should you?

    • Gossie still has not addressed the primary issue, why should the largest party get 50 extra seats?

      • Gosman 7.1.1

        Because it it their version of democracy and most of the parties participating in it seem happy. It is like asking why should an electoral college get to choose the President of the United States. The answer is because the people are currently happy with the system.

        • mickysavage 7.1.1.1

          But it cements the tyranny of minority rule, the sort of thing that FPP used to do to New Zealand election results. 

          • Enough is Enough 7.1.1.1.1

            But you can’t balme one side over the other for this system, which I think is the theme of this thread.

            Lets pick our fights here. The right has won playing the rules of the game.

            • TheContrarian 7.1.1.1.1.1

              “The right has won playing the rules of the game.”

              Exactly. Hate the game not the players.  

              • freedom

                “The right has won playing the rules of the game.”

                yup, they seemed to . . , or did they just move the goal posts to a different park then not tell the ticket holders till after kick off

                • Gosman

                  I’m pretty sure the left wing parties in Greece were well aware of this rule prior to the election wouldn’t you agree?

          • Gosman 7.1.1.1.2

            That is your take on it. New Zealand decided to change their electoral system via a democratic decision. However that is not to state that the previous system was not democratic. It would be the height of arrogance, (something I expect from leftists), to argue that only countries following a particular system are truly democratic. If people are generally happy with the way they elect their representatives and have a choice then that is a democracy in my mind.

            • Pascal's bookie 7.1.1.1.2.1

              I’m not surprised to find a righty confused about the idea that “more democratic” is better than “less democratic”; which is much closer to what people are actually saying than your “not a democracy” nonsense.

          • TighyRighty 7.1.1.1.3

            And yet you saw nothing wrong with illegal election spending by labour to screw the scrum? Tyranny of minority rule indeed

        • freedom 7.1.1.2

          Many Americans i have spoken with over the years, and this includes educated professionals and business people, are completely oblivious as to how their electoral system actually functions. They are understandably quite shocked when it is explained that the Electoral College is not required to vote in line with the citizen votes of their District. Indirect voting must be the most devious hair-brained scheme ever sold to a Democracy. Then again in a country where defending the constitution is now a crime that gets you on a terrorist watchlist I don’t hold out much hope for any democratic reform in their future.

          • Gosman 7.1.1.2.1

            The US has made a number of changes to the way their Democracy works over the years (e.g. Direct election of Senators). It is not inconceivable that they will if they want to in the future.

            Nice to see the arrogance of the left coming through in your comments though.

            • felix 7.1.1.2.1.1

              Settle down Gos, you’re having a moment.

              Where’s the arrogance in pointing out how the U.S. system works? And where is there any reference to left/right issues in freedom’s comment?

              Breathe in. Breathe out. Close your eyes. Stretch. And continue.

            • ghostwhowalksnz 7.1.1.2.1.2

              That was about a century ago…1912 or so. Sort of defeats your point

              • freedom

                co-incidentally just after that nice Mr J.P.Morgan and his pals bunkered down at Jekyll Island to write the Federal Reserve Act

              • Gosman

                They have had constitutional amendments that affect their elections since that date. The point is if people want to change the system they can.

                • ghostwhowalksnz

                  Amendments that affect the voting ?
                  The last change was
                  “Prevents laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until the beginning of the next session of Congress”

                  Proposed in 1789 , passed in 1992……… mmmmm

                  • Gosman

                    I didn’t state it would affect voting, (although possible can). They have affected elections though, such as who is entitled to stand for President.

  8. gorj 8

    Not happy with the result, but isn’t SYRIZA is a merger of 4+ left wing parties in the first place? With the explicit purpose of getting the 50 seat bonus?

    • Bunji 8.1

      Actually it was more to make sure that each of the parties stayed over the 3% threshold – it’s just been a lot more successful since then…

    • ghostwhowalksnz 8.2

      But did they do it in the last 2 months so as to benefit from a system that ND has played with continuously over the last dozen elections. Moving the tipping point downwards so they make the cut.

      Reminds me of the German system which is of course very close to ours.

      Except CDU have a regional ‘sister party’ the CSU who only contest seats and lists in Bavaria where the CDU dont stand. They win all electorate seats in that state. Thus they go into parliament with a big swag of seats in their name but only a small share of the party list votes ( over 5%). The result means they can keep their ‘overhang’ electorate seats and thus in close elections have a built in advantage for the CDU/CSU government that results.

  9. Olwyn 9

    The ultimate result of this election is not yet 100% clear since the ND party still has to prove able to form a coalition with PASOK. Syriza’s big achievement, in my opinion, is that it has punched a big hole in the right wing/crypto-left wing managerialism that has come to dominate Western politics. PASOK can no longer pretend it is the moderate voice of the left, without making radical alterations to its thinking. This is no mean achievement, even if Syriza did not win the election.

    • alex 9.1

      Olwyn – An interesting and very sensible comment. Bit of a shock on this thread so far.

      • grumpy 9.1.1

        This saga is not yet over. The Greeks have been given a lesson in not to mess with the European power brokers. The armageddon like predictions were nothing more than a con, nothing like the chaos that was predicted would have happenned.

        The Greeks certainly are the turkeys who voted early for Christmas.

        • Colonial Viper 9.1.1.1

          +1

          Indeed, not over by a long, long shot.

          • Grumpy 9.1.1.1.1

            Agree, this will be lesson for Spain, Portugal, Ireland etc.

            They wanted to hack it with the big boys like Germany and did it on credit, time for payback.

            • RedLogix 9.1.1.1.1.1

              The Germans in particular loved the Euro because it was worth less than the Deutsmark, effectively giving the Germans a huge competitive advantage over the rest of Europe. Their export industries boomed, but of course the trade imbalance this created meant billions of Euro’s piling up in German and French banks.

              Who then lent them to the rest of Europe in order to keep them buying German and French goods.

              This kind of ‘beggar thy neighbour’ devaluation is exactly the kind of problem Maynard Keynes attempted to address with his Bancor proposal that he put forward at the Bretton Woods Conference.

              http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/nov/18/lord-keynes-international-monetary-fund

              As with most right-wingers you reflexively play the ‘blame the victim’ game while demonstrating little awareness of reality.

              • Pascal's bookie

                Indeed.

                And if anyone was “trying to play with the big boys” it was Germany and France, dreaming of a european superpower.

              • Grumpy

                ….and how he had a go at wrecking the Spanish economy prior to WWII…….

  10. Kevin 10

    New Democracy leader Antonis Samaris has been declared the winner of Greece’s General Election with 29.7% of the vote. His rival and closest challenger Alexis Tsipras of the SYRIZA Party won 26.9% of the vote but has conceeded to Antonis Samaris.
    Samaris has wasted no time in claiming the result is a “Victory for Europe” which may help to ease tensions in Europe regarding Greece’s debt position and has promised to act quickly to reform Greece’s economy.
    Mr Samaris was generous in acknowledging the sacrifices of the Greek people in the face of the crippling debt burden of his country and has promised a quick road to recovery and prosperity.

    • Colonial Viper 10.1

      and has promised a quick road to recovery and prosperity.

      Its this comment which marks him as either a bald faced banker serving liar, or totally incompetent and ignorant.

  11. Fortran 11

    The largest single number of tourists to Greece are the Germans.
    Already this has collapsed – the German tourists have gone elsewhere this year.
    Greece only has tourism as an export earner.

    • Te Reo Putake 11.1

      Er, surely they still sell a bit of olive oil, Fortran? And Feta cheese? Not to mention all those massive oil tankers and other Greek flagged ships which are actually their major source of foreign income. Righties, eh? You’d think they’d know a bit about how economies work, but nooooo ….

      • Fortran 11.1.1

        Te Reo Putake

        Do you really believe that the earnings from what is left of the Greek flagged vessels actually goes back to Greece ?
        As a shipowner would you send this back to a bankrupt country ?
        No – neither do they which is why the owners are very rich – profits got to tax havens.

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    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats why they introduced the Recently Deleted folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Heres how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on Edit. Select Show Recently Deleted. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose Recover to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    20 hours ago
  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    1 day ago
  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    1 day ago
  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    1 day ago
  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    1 day ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    1 day ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    1 day ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    1 day ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    1 day ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    1 day ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    1 day ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    1 day ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    2 days ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    2 days ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    2 days ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    3 days ago
  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    4 days ago
  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    4 days ago
  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    5 days ago
  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
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