Human face of public service cuts

Written By: - Date published: 3:00 pm, August 30th, 2011 - 41 comments
Categories: articles, john key, public services - Tags: , ,

Good human interest story in the DomPost today about the human costs of public service jobs cuts. A Wellington woman has written a letter to Prime Minister John after her
63-year-old mother learned last week that her position at the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry is to be axed.

Staffing cuts after a merger with the Fisheries Ministry will leave 144  people jobless, mostly in the capital. They will join more than 1500 civil servants laid off this year so far and a total of over 5000 general public sector jobs cut since the government took office in 2008 promising to ‘cap not cut’ public service jobs.

Read the full article here

41 comments on “Human face of public service cuts ”

  1. ianmac 1

    Funny how during the 90s National separated those Ministries out to increase efficiency and save money. Now we combine said Ministries to “increase efficiency and save money.” Suckers aren’t we.

  2. bigbruv 2

    Tough luck, plenty of people in the private sector have lost their jobs as well, where is it written that public servants (who create no wealth at all) should enjoy a job for life.

    • Draco T Bastard 2.1

      Without the public service no one else would be able to “create wealth” as the infrastructure needed to do so simply wouldn’t exist. It is far, far more important for NZ to keep those people employed in their positions than anything in the private sector.

      • Vicky32 2.1.1

        It is far, far more important for NZ to keep those people employed in their positions than anything in the private sector.

        Seconded!

        • Gosman 2.1.1.1

          Why don’t you people just outlaw the private sector? I mean the public sector is so much more productive and useful after all according to your logic.

          • mickysavage 2.1.1.1.1

            The problem Gosman is that you see it in terms of either or.  Us lefties see it in a more complex way and realise that both have their part.
             
            Any fool can lop off jobs to make the short term financials look better.  It takes real intelligence to make the system work properly.  And this requires a vibrant properly resourced public sector as well as a vibrant properly resourced private sector.

            • Gosman 2.1.1.1.1.1

              I love it. One of you lot makes a completely irrational statement such as “. It is far, far more important for NZ to keep those people employed in their positions than anything in the private sector.” yet somehow it is I who sees things as either or.

              • Colonial Viper

                If you are a capitalist, you will advocate for the process of creative destruction in the private sector. The firms who provide the best services and products at the best prices should succeed, and the weakest firms allowed to fail, lessons learnt and new growth generated.

                The public sector on the other hand helps provide a continuity of infrastructure and societal systems that everyone relies on, employed or unemployed, private sector or public sector, boom or bust, wartime or peace time.

                So there is reason behind the statement, should you care to spend time looking for it.

          • mik e 2.1.1.1.2

            Singapore does much better than Gooseman. 65% Govt ownership.14.6% per annum growth , Mighty River power50% increase in profit.Just about all the major SOE’s that US taxpayers have invested in are paying well above market returns any investor would be extremely dumb to sell those high performing assets . AirNew ZEALAND on the other hand would be a good company to sell down. National are just plain stupid if they are selling out of these companies that are returning up to 50% percent increases in return while we are only paying 6% in interest on borrowing. These sort of returns will help us pay off our debt much faster in the long run than a quick firesale [quick buck mentality] DUMB DUMB andDUMBER .Gooseman tell me a good reason to sell these highly profitable businesses.No party political claptrap I want you to prove it makes economic sense .I have your answer already it would be stupid!

          • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.1.3

            Why would we do that Gos? The private sector does have some small use – it’s just not the driver of the economy that the RWNJs, such as yourself, want to believe it is.

          • AAMC 2.1.1.1.4

            I’m with you Gossy, lets all stop paying our tax, sack the public service in favor of a “Big Society”, justy to see how Mainfreight go, or Fonterra, once the roads and bridges are decrepit. How will any business fare without educated citizens?
            The private sector is dependent on the public sector, as for your Market taking care of it. Show me the railways, show me the fast internet, the market failed to deliver buddy!

      • Gosman 2.1.2

        LOL!

        Im sorry but what ‘infrastructure’ does the Ministry of Culture create that then goes on to generate wealth?

        Has this wealth generation been quantified in any studies or do we just take your word for it that us Private sector workers owe it all to to Civil servants?

        • Blue 2.1.2.1

          “what ‘infrastructure’ does the Ministry of Culture create that then goes on to generate wealth?” Answer – none. It certainly sucks up a great deal of tax payer money from families that would sorely need it and spend it more wisely than any Government right of left. There are may others in that category that could do with a trim, having grown to overblown and unsustainable proportions under the last Labour Government. We all pay when tax payer funds are wasted.

          • uke 2.1.2.1.1

            – Te Papa (and other MCH-funded musems) attracts a fair swag of tourist business.
            – Radio NZ is the only decent media organisation in NZ.
            – The NZ Film Commission nutures our movie creatives – in case you’ve forgotten it helped one P Jackson get started.
             
            On these three alone, I’d say taxpayers get a pretty good return from MCH.

        • framu 2.1.2.2

          ministry of culture?

          how does Agriculture and Forestry Ministry become the ministry of culture?

          or is this just some cute little meme you using?

        • mickysavage 2.1.2.3

          Im sorry but what ‘infrastructure’ does the Ministry of Culture create that then goes on to generate wealth?

          It helps with the creation of art.  Need I say more? 

        • mik e 2.1.2.4

          New Zealands uniqueness ,A lot of tourists come to this country to look at our culture.probably as many who come to the rugby. and we have a minister for Rugby. leisure activities are a growth area .But asking a philistine to understand is a waste of time.

        • KJT 2.1.2.5

          What do Phillip Morris, Lion Nathan, Brierly, SCF, Hanover, ANZ etc etc do to create wealth?

          Don’t even let me get into overpaid managers who only know how to cost cut, asset strip and destroy, politicians paid to work for New Zealanders who are doing their best for overseas banks, financiers and speculators, SOE managers whose agenda is getting them privatised to up their pay, and, the endless supply of RWNJ’s, who keep popping up with the same counter-factual crap, from the same song sheet, we have debunked many times here..

      • Credo 2.1.3

        What bullshit. Most Public jobs outside of police,defence and courts are not needed and indeed impede the efficient operation of the NZ economy.Long before tax paid time servers were growing their arse’s on the tit the private sector was creating the wealth these leech’s gorge upon. Lets see the private sector stop wok for a while and we will see who really needs who to survive.

        • lprent 2.1.3.1

          You mean like the last few remaining mining inspectors who didn’t inspect Pike River allowing it to be the great success we see today ? Or the missing building inspectors a decade ago – I can just see how having thousands of leaky buildings helped the private sector and grew our economy – not.

          Face it, you’re a pathetic wanker without an ability to think things through.

        • KJT 2.1.3.2

          Show me a private sector company in NZ which started without some form of State assistance.

          • Blue 2.1.3.2.1

            ” Show me a private sector company in NZ which started without some form of State assistance: My business actually. My capital started it up and is the only capital at risk, my capital keeps it running and my employees are employed at 20% higher rates than any union award that applies as a base rate. Subsequently most have left the union of their own volition and negotiate with me direct, which has been and will continue to be for their benefit. Poor workers get paid less than good workers, for reasons they are all aware of, and for blindingly logical reasons, even to lefties, of ‘fairness’ (love that word). Low and virtually no turnover of staff in the last five years, bonuses paid for performance above expected and agreed achievable measures. Pretty easy really. They also understand that there are no bonuses if they are just ‘adequate’ at their jobs. The hand of government took no part in the startup and has no part in the operation. You people live in a dream land where all bosses are evil, and even fundamentally lazy and stupid people should get paid the same as those who are hard working and intellectually robust.

            • KJT 2.1.3.2.1.1

              Really.

              The State did not educate you and/or your workers, help pay for the knowledge that you use, look after their/your health, you and they do not use roads to get to work, you do not use electricity, you don’t rely on the State enforcement of the rule of law for your contracts and your customers also have no State support?

              I have always said that those who work harder or more effectively, take time and extra effort to gain qualifications and genuine entrepreneurs should earn more.

              There is no reason for a banker who destroys 7 times more wealth than they make or a manager whose only skills are cost cutting and asset stripping to earn many times the pay of a skilled worker.

              Good to see you are a socialist who pays your workers fairly.

              • Blue

                Not a socialist pal, far from it. If you work harder and are more productive you get more money and benefits, don’t and you’ll get less. Its that simple. The reason my employees are paid that much, is because they understand thats the way it is and they buy into it without wanting something for nothing. Their salaries have risen directly in correlation with the reduction in union membership and interference. If I solely paid the union demanded rates, they would be worse off, because good workers would get the same as the bad ones. I pay for performance, not just turning up and being mediocre.

                Your analogy using roads and state health is ridiculous. Using this infantile argument you lose sight of the fact that company taxes ( and my personal) pay for those “State provided” items so very little help has been received in nett terms, in fact as usual my tax contribution not only covers my use and my company’s use of these items , but plenty of bludgers shares as well (probably yours too). Unless you mean a handout for doing nothing? If so you must be confusing a beneficiary with a worker.

    • Jenny Michie 2.2

      Big Bruv –
      Tough luck, plenty of people in the private sector have lost their jobs as well, where is it written that public servants (who create no wealth at all) should enjoy a job for life.

      With all the love in the world Big Bruv you don’t know what you’re talking about. Below are some snippets from the PSA’s keepNZworking.co.nz site. It’s got lots of actual facts about public spending. You should go and have a look.

      Some countries with small governments do achieve high economic growth. But countries with large public sectors tend to have high growth and work smarter – that is, they do it without having to work such long hours. One economist has estimated that when it comes to GDP growth per hour worked, six of the eight most productive countries internationally are those with “Continental welfare states” like Sweden and France. (The US ranks ninth.) Public spending enables the same or better economic growth while placing a lower burden on workers – as well as achieving the social outcomes listed above. [Peter H Lindert, Growing Public, Cambridge University Press]

      Public spending supports employment in a variety of ways, for example by providing work for local businesses, and in general promotes economic growth;

      ● Investment in infrastructure boosts the economy by providing roads, railways and electricity and water that business needs to function;
      ● Public spending can be more efficient than private spending, thanks to economies of scale and enhanced coordination;
      ● Public services such as schools and hospitals make workers healthier and better educated, and therefore more productive;
      ● Public spending on benefits operates as a security net that enables people to make a quicker return to work;
      ● Redistributing income increases consumer demand, because poorer people spend a higher proportion of their income.

    • deservingpoor 2.3

      “Tough luck, plenty of people in the private sector have lost their jobs as well, where is it written that public servants (who create no wealth at all) should enjoy a job for life.”

      So I guess you completely missed the entire point of the post then.
      This is about a real 63 year old woman with a real family and real emotions who has lost her job and may lose her house.
      No one said that a public service job should be a job for life, any more than any other job.
      But, the good old kiwi attitude of “I’m getting screwed over, so you should get screwed over too” guarantees that we will remain a nation of nasty, self centered suckers.
      Here’s an idea, how about neither of us should get screwed over.

      Public servants are real people and losing your job, regardless of whether some right winger regards it as a real job, is a devastating experience.

      Would you say this to that woman’s face?
      If not, you shouldn’t say it on the web either.
      If you would, you clearly lack any sense of human decency.

    • KJT 2.4

      So Doctors, Teachers, Council Staff, building inspectors, Police etc etc have no part in helping create the countries wealth. Or do they only magically become productive if they are privatised.

      The privatised health system in the USA is such a help to their productive economy, compared with ours. yeah right.

      Or are you trying to tell me that Contact is productive but Northpower is not??

      One is private and removing billions a year in profit from New Zealand while the second is a public trust and is returning profits to Northland. Both supply an essential infrastructure service.

    • Zaphod Beeblebrox 2.5

      Ok maybe you could convince your buddy JK to rid us of MAF altogether- who needs taht middle class welfare for farmers. And while at it he can privatise all road building so that NZTA stops wasting $bills on stupid bitumen monuments to themselves.

    • Peter 2.6

      Public Servants work in the Education sector which earns at least 2 billion dollars in export earnings a year. I thought the private sector was the sector that was going to save us all, as a result of National policy, not lay people off?

  3. bigbruv 3

    Well the good news is that the government seems to be keen to get rid of a lot more public servants over the course of the next six years.

    Less strain on the tax payer, less government (which is always a good thing) and less funding for the Labour party.

    Seems like a good deal for the tax payer.

    • Craig Glen Eden 3.1

      bigbruv is still upset the All Blacks lost it appears,lashing out at anyone he thinks deserves his hate.

      get some counseling bro before its to late.

    • KJT 3.2

      Such a good deal having to pay more for private services which used to be supplied more efficiently by the State.

  4. handle 4

    “a total of over 5000 general public sector jobs cut since the government took office in 2008 promising to ‘cap not cut’ public service jobs”

    Yet some claim the government has been ‘doing nothing’. Expose the lies.

  5. Ed 5

    “A spokeswoman for Mr Key said he had not received the letter. He would respond to the author, but “not through the media”. ”

    It is fair enough for him to respond to the author personally, but the wider issue of the support that is being given to people losing their jobs, is one that the government should be covering. The newspaper felt that the story was worthwhile publishing; here’s hoping that they or someone follows up and calls the government to account ,

    Grant Robertson says “It is very easy for the current Government to lump everybody into a statistic and say this is what has to be done in the public service … to depersonalise it. “But these are real people, with real lives and families.

    “One of the insidious things about cuts to the public sector is these are people who can’t openly fight back because their job is to work for the government of the day. This woman just wanted to make her voice heard.”

    This is a departmental merger that it appears will not make any significant savings in costs, and results in higher costs for unemployment benefits. The government should come clean on the real net result for New Zealand.

  6. Jim Nald 6

    “Human face”? With National? You mean “Smiling mask”?

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Look who’s stepped up to champion Winston
    There’s no news to be gleaned from the government’s official website today  – it contains nothing more than the message about the site being under maintenance. The time this maintenance job is taking and the costs being incurred have us musing on the government’s commitment to an assault on inflation. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 hours ago
  • What's The Story?
    Don’t you sometimes wish they’d just tell the truth? No matter how abhorrent or ugly, just straight up tell us the truth?C’mon guys, what you’re doing is bad enough anyway, pretending you’re not is only adding insult to injury.Instead of all this bollocks about the Smokefree changes being to do ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    10 hours ago
  • The longest of weeks
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    11 hours ago
  • Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts to
    Like earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...
    20 hours ago
  • Under New Management
    1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • While we wait patiently, our new Minister of Education is up and going with a 100-day action plan
    Sorry to say, the government’s official website is still out of action. When Point of Order paid its daily visit, the message was the same as it has been for the past week: Site under maintenance Beehive.govt.nz is currently under maintenance. We will be back shortly. Thank you for your ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • DAVID FARRAR: Hysterical bullshit
    Radio NZ reports: Te Pāti Māori’s co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has accused the new government of “deliberate .. systemic genocide” over its policies to roll back the smokefree policy and the Māori Health Authority. The left love hysterical language. If you oppose racial quotas in laws, you are a racist. And now if you sack ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • ELE LUDEMANN: It wasn’t just $55 million
    Ele Ludemann writes –  Winston Peters reckons media outlets were bribed by the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund. He is not the first to make such an accusation. Last year, the Platform outlined conditions media signed up to in return for funds from the PJIF: . . . ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 1-December-2023
    Wow, it’s December already, and it’s a Friday. So here are few things that caught our attention recently. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt covered the new government’s coalition agreements and what they mean for transport. On Tuesday Matt looked at AT’s plans for fare increases ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • Shane MacGowan Is Gone.
    Late 1996, The Dogs Bollix, Tamaki Makaurau.I’m at the front of the bar yelling my order to the bartender, jostling with other thirsty punters on a Friday night, keen to piss their wages up against a wall letting loose. The black stuff, long luscious pints of creamy goodness. Back down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 1
    Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop and other National, ACT and NZ First MPs applaud the signing of the coalition agreements, which included the reversal of anti-smoking measures while accelerating tax cuts for landlords. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • 2023 More Reading: November (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for November: A Modern Utopia, by H.G. Wells The Vampire (poem), by Heinrich August Ossenfelder The Corpus Hermeticum The Corpus Hermeticum is Mead’s translation. Now, this is indeed a very quiet month for reading. But there is a reason for that… You see, ...
    2 days ago
  • Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies.The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. They also describe the processes of the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    2 days ago
  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Finally
    Henry Kissinger is finally dead. Good fucking riddance. While Americans loved him, he was a war criminal, responsible for most of the atrocities of the final quarter of the twentieth century. Cambodia. Bangladesh. Chile. East Timor. All Kissinger. Because of these crimes, Americans revere him as a "statesman" (which says ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Government in a hurry – Luxon lists 49 priorities in 100-day plan while Peters pledges to strength...
    Buzz from the Beehive Yes, ministers in the new government are delivering speeches and releasing press statements. But the message on the government’s official website was the same as it has been for the past several days, when Point of Order went looking for news from the Beehive that had ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • DAVID FARRAR: Luxon is absolutely right
    David Farrar writes  –  1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    2 days ago
  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    2 days ago
  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago
  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • National’s giveaway politics
    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • GRAHAM ADAMS:  Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
    The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    3 days ago
  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    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 ...
    4 days ago
  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    4 days ago
  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • National’s murderous smoking policy
    One of the big underlying problems in our political system is the prevalence of short-term thinking, most usually seen in the periodic massive infrastructure failures at a local government level caused by them skimping on maintenance to Keep Rates Low. But the new government has given us a new example, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • NZ has a chance to rise again as our new government gets spending under control
    New Zealand has  a chance  to  rise  again. Under the  previous  government, the  number of New Zealanders below the poverty line was increasing  year by year. The Luxon-led government  must reverse that trend – and set about stabilising  the  pillars  of the economy. After the  mismanagement  of the outgoing government created   huge ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago
  • KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new government
    Two articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations.  He writes –    Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • PHILIP CRUMP:  Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadership
    The work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Black Friday
    As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    4 days ago
  • In Defense of the Media.
    Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
    Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • PT use up but fare increases coming
    Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
    4 days ago
  • The very opposite of social investment
    Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Giving Tuesday
    For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
    5 days ago
  • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
    Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: Stopping oil
    National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...
    Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise  “informed by” head ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The stupidest of stupid reasons
    One of the threats in the National - ACT - NZ First coalition agreements was to extend the term of Parliament to four years, reducing our opportunities to throw a bad government out. The justification? Apparently, the government thinks "elections are expensive". This is the stupidest of stupid reasons for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • A website bereft of buzz
    Buzz from the Beehive The new government was being  sworn in, at time of writing , and when Point of Order checked the Beehive website for the latest ministerial statements and re-visit some of the old ones we drew a blank. We found ….  Nowt. Nothing. Zilch. Not a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • MICHAEL BASSETT: A new Ministry – at last
    Michael Bassett writes – Like most people, I was getting heartily sick of all the time being wasted over the coalition negotiations. During the first three weeks Winston grinned like a Cheshire cat, certain he’d be needed; Chris Luxon wasted time in lifting the phone to Winston ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Luxon's Breakfast.
    The Prime Minister elect had his silver fern badge on. He wore it to remind viewers he was supporting New Zealand, that was his team. Despite the fact it made him look like a concierge, or a welcomer in a Koru lounge. Anna Burns-Francis, the Breakfast presenter, asked if he ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL:  Oranga Tamariki faces major upheaval under coalition agreement
     Lindsay Mitchell writes – A hugely significant gain for ACT is somewhat camouflaged by legislative jargon. Under the heading ‘Oranga Tamariki’ ACT’s coalition agreement contains the following item:   Remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 According to Oranga Tamariki:     “Section ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON:  Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record. Brian Easton writes – 1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Cathrine Dyer's guide to watching COP 28 from the bottom of a warming planet
    Is COP28 largely smoke and mirrors and a plan so cunning, you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel? Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: COP28 kicks off on November 30 and up for negotiation are issues like the role of fossil fuels in the energy transition, contributions to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Monday, Nov 27
    PM Elect Christopher Luxon was challenged this morning on whether he would sack Adrian Orr and Andrew Coster.TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am on Monday November 27, including:Signs councils are putting planning and capital spending on hold, given a lack of clear guidance ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the new government’s policies of yesteryear
    This column expands on a Werewolf column published by Scoop on Friday Routinely, Winston Peters is described as the kingmaker who gets to decide when the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded but equally important role as the ...
    5 days ago
  • The New Government’s Agreements
    Last Friday, almost six weeks after election day, National finally came to an agreement with ACT and NZ First to form a government. They also released the agreements between each party and looking through them, here are the things I thought were the most interesting (and often concerning) from the. ...
    5 days ago
  • How many smokers will die to fund the tax cuts?
    Maori and Pasifika smoking rates are already over twice the ‘all adult’ rate. Now the revenue that generates will be used to fund National’s tax cuts. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The devil is always in the detail and it emerged over the weekend from the guts of the policy agreements National ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • How the culture will change in the Beehive
    Perhaps the biggest change that will come to the Beehive as the new government settles in will be a fundamental culture change. The era of endless consultation will be over. This looks like a government that knows what it wants to do, and that means it knows what outcomes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • No More Winnie Blues.
    So what do you think of the coalition’s decision to cancel Smokefree measures intended to stop young people, including an over representation of Māori, from taking up smoking? Enabling them to use the tax revenue to give other people a tax cut?David Cormack summed it up well:It seems not only ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #47
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 19, 2023 thru Sat, Nov 25, 2023.  Story of the Week World stands on frontline of disaster at Cop28, says UN climate chief  Exclusive: Simon Stiell says leaders must ‘stop ...
    6 days ago
  • Some of it is mad, some of it is bad and some of it is clearly the work of people who are dangerous ...
    On announcement morning my mate texted:Typical of this cut-price, fake-deal government to announce itself on Black Friday.What a deal. We lose Kim Hill, we gain an empty, jargonising prime minister, a belligerent conspiracist, and a heartless Ayn Rand fanboy. One door closes, another gets slammed repeatedly in your face.It seems pretty ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • “Revolution” is the threat as the Māori Party smarts at coalition government’s Treaty directi...
    Buzz from the Beehive Having found no fresh announcements on the government’s official website, Point of Order turned today to Scoop’s Latest Parliament Headlines  for its buzz. This provided us with evidence that the Māori Party has been soured by the the coalition agreement announced yesterday by the new PM. “Soured” ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago
  • The Good, the Bad, and the even Worse.
    Yesterday the trio that will lead our country unveiled their vision for New Zealand.Seymour looking surprisingly statesmanlike, refusing to rise to barbs about his previous comments on Winston Peters. Almost as if they had just been slapstick for the crowd.Winston was mostly focussed on settling scores with the media, making ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • When it Comes to Palestine – Free Speech is Under Threat
    Hi,Thanks for getting amongst Mister Organ on digital — thanks to you, we hit the #1 doc spot on iTunes this week. This response goes a long way to helping us break even.I feel good about that. Other things — not so much.New Zealand finally has a new government, and ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • Thank you Captain Luxon. Was that a landing, or were we shot down?
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Also in More Than A FeildingFriday The unboxing And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Cans of Worms.
    “And there’ll be no shortage of ‘events’ to test Luxon’s political skills. David Seymour wants a referendum on the Treaty. Winston wants a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Labour’s handling of the Covid crisis. Talk about cans of worms!”LAURIE AND LES were very fond of their local. It was nothing ...
    1 week ago
  • Disinformation campaigns are undermining democracy. Here’s how we can fight back
    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Misinformation is debated everywhere and has justifiably sparked concerns. It can polarise the public, reduce health-protective behaviours such as mask wearing and vaccination, and erode trust in science. Much of misinformation is spread not ...
    1 week ago
  • Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record.1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is not even an entry in Wikipedia. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • The New Government: 2023 Edition
    So New Zealand has a brand-spanking new right-wing government. Not just any new government either. A formal majority coalition, of the sort last seen in 1996-1998 (our governmental arrangements for the past quarter of a century have been varying flavours of minority coalition or single-party minority, with great emphasis ...
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-12-02T04:51:54+00:00