Human rights and MIQ

Written By: - Date published: 8:42 am, January 10th, 2022 - 155 comments
Categories: covid-19, health, human rights, Media, uncategorized - Tags:

Well known socialite, fashion blogger and apparent Constitutional Law expert Jamie Ridge recently had her views prominently placed in the august pages of the largest paper in the country the New Zealand Herald.  Her clear conclusion was that the MIQ arrangements were completely unconstitutional.

I am no socialite and I do not blog about fashion but I have a law degree and I have spent 37 years practising law.

And with the greatest of respect to Ms Ridge I get the impression that  she does not know what she is talking about and apart from the clicks I do not understand why the Herald would have converted her Instagram rant into an actual story.

A review of cases relating to the Government’s handling of Covid gives a clear impression of the balancing act the courts have applied to each case.

There have already been a number of legal challenges to the Government’s various Covid policies.  The vaccine mandate has had three attempts to rule it out, each unsuccessful.  Aviation security employees, and midwives and customs officers have each failed.

There was also an attempt to have the Health Orders underpinning the closure of businesses, physical distancing and the requirement for people to stay at home ruled illegal.  This case made its way to the Court of Appeal who ruled that the limitations on these rights were justified.

In its decision the Court provided this description provided by Ashley Blomfield about the early days of Covid and how the Government response was formulated.  The passage provides a fascinating background to what was happening at the time.

The timeline of what happened was almost like a wave coming in: we could see it emerging in the distance during January and started watching carefully. In February the wave grew bigger and came closer: we started putting in place border protections and preparing the health system to deal with outbreaks. By March we were realising that this threat was unprecedented, and if the virus got established in New Zealand it would be catastrophic – there would be many cases and deaths, the health system would be overwhelmed and the impact on society and the economy would be appalling. We made the call that we did not have the option of “coping” with the virus as envisaged in the “manage it” phase of our pandemic plan:11 our only option was a prolonged effort to keep it out and stamp it out. Furthermore it was clear that decisions needed to be made quickly and pre-emptively, hence the “go hard, go early” approach.

Then came a tipping point around the weekend of 21 – 22 March: modelling coming in from experts, both in New Zealand and around the world, was showing that once community transmission took hold, we would lose our window to stamp out the virus, that there would only be one shot at this. At the same time, we were getting our first confirmed community transmission cases. We realised that “go early” had changed to “go right now”, and there was no time left. What we thought could be done in two weeks or two days had to happen now: it was quite literally now or never. Hard decisions were required, and we made them, as it was now clear that this was the best – in fact the only – way to protect the health and well-being of New Zealanders, prevent our health system being overwhelmed, and avoid prolonged damage to our economy.

In this case the applicant claimed breaches of six distinct rights, freedom of expression, manifestation of religion and belief. freedom of peaceful assembly. freedom of association. freedom of movement. and liberty of the person.

The Court agreed that the measures were prima facie restrictions on the freedoms of peaceful assembly, association and movement but considered that these restrictions “are clearly justified in a free and democratic society in order to protect the health and wellbeing of members of society by preventing and limiting the impact of contagious diseases, such as COVID-19.”

The judges did not spend too much time on the subject.  But clearly their view was that being in the midst of a pandemic means that rights are going to be justifiably curtailed.

With regards to MIQ there are as far as I am aware two cases questioning the policy’s validity.

One involved a rich lister Murray Bolton who threw his considerable resources at an application for judicial review seeking that he be allowed to isolate at home rather than in MIQ.  He was double vaccinated.  The essence of his case was that the notice creating the MIQ system had been misinterpreted. MBIE had interpreted the phrase “other needs” in clause 12 of the Isolation and Quarantine order as medical needs and the Court said this particular phrase had to be interpreted more widely.

Of note is that the system itself was not under attack, just some of the finer details associated with the system.

Mr Bolton succeeded and the Judge ordered that his application be reconsidered.  I am not aware what happened finally but the Government had already introduced a trial project allowing some to isolate at home.

The other case is pending and is due to be heard in a couple of weeks’ time.

Ms Ridge may think that MIQ is completely unconstitutional but I don’t know what else the Government can do.  It is doubtful that more resources can be applied to increase the numbers of beds and in any case increasing numbers only increases the risk of Omicron escaping.  All the Government can do is adjust priorities and perhaps shorten the time that people are required to stay in MIQ or increase the numbers who can isolate at home although after the recent experience with DJ Dimension and with Omicron cases surging you wonder why any Government in its right mind would loosen current restrictions.  Isolating at home may be easier to achieve but this could potentially be a recipe for disaster.  It would only take one person to go walk about for the variant to escape and as shown overseas once that particular genie is out of the bottle it is impossible to put it back in.

It is not as if the Government wants to keep these measures in place permanently.  It previously planned for a gradual reopening of the borders after the introduction of the traffic light system.  In November it announced that returning kiwis from Australia who were double vaccinated would be allowed to quarantine from home from next week.  The emergence of Omicron changed all that and has forced a reversal of that policy.

Anyone currently in Australia or the United States who thinks that we should just open up given what is currently happening in those countries should seriously review their priorities.

And the trouble with Omicron is that every time you increase the numbers going through MIQ you increase the risk of the variant escaping.  Even with existing requirements to have a clear test 72 hours before departure cases keep popping up and they are currently on the increase.

All of the decided cases show a consistent approach.  The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 is relevant but section 5 shows the rights are not omnipotent and are subject to such limitations that can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.

In the middle of a pandemic the Government can take action for the common good even though this may infringe individual rights or at least people’s expectations of what those rights are.

Anyone thinking that the MIQ system is completely unconstitutional needs to recalibrate their thinking.  In the middle of a global pandemic individual rights have to be modified for the common good.

155 comments on “Human rights and MIQ ”

  1. Dennis Frank 1

    Heh. Herald supports kiwi diy ethos! Aotearoa being a country without a constitution, any political activist claiming the govt is unconstitutional is obviously using the sense of humour as a political weapon. Good on her!

    Do-it-yourself constitutional law ought to become more of a thing in this country. It's a century now since surrealism featured in the avante garde so clearly time for a revival!

    That this charge is being led by a woman is even more noteworthy. Herald as bastion of conservatism in defence of the patriarchy has decided to bet both ways. Such innovation is to be commended. devil

  2. Pete 2

    It’s 2022. Who to believe in a matter of constitutional rights?

    In one corner a well known socialite and fashion blogger, in the other someone with a law degree who’s spent 37 years practising law.

    Oops, missed the other bits about the first corner. Someone who is used to getting their own way and expects to get their own way right when they want it. And is followed by many online with the same ‘all about them’ mind set.

    "I have hundreds of messages from you all, and I'm so sorry you're going through what we are. It's horrible, isolating and completely unconstitutional. And made worse by people weighing in who absolutely cannot relate to what we are going through. But know you're not alone and you're in my thoughts!

    Oh dear. My heart weeps.

    "Who is running this show. A complete lack of competence. Just a bunch of muppets.

    "@jacindaardern your lack of compassion for those people abroad is mind boggling. You need to learn to practice what you preach.”

    Well Jaime Ridge, those running the show have been working their arses off for two years. They’ve been doing to it help everyone, rich and poor, large and small, those doing real work and those doing other things, those who were caught out overseas and those who jaunted off and wanted to come back.

    Organising MIQ has posed a few challenges. It works out that every single month since March 2020 9,500 have been through MIQ, a total of almost 210,000.

    The main problem with the MIQ system is that those involved at any of the many levels have apparently been nowhere near as competent as they should have been. The wrong people have been in the jobs. 22 months of relentless media have suggested that.

    The people who could have done the jobs, should have done them, instead of bringing their genius to the task of helping individuals and the whole country ended up talking to media people. And doing things like the vital, crucial work of ‘fashion blogging.’

  3. Sanctuary 3

    "… I do not understand why the Herald would have converted her Instagram rant into an actual story…"

    In a general sense MIQ is a useful stick for the right to beat the government with – the Herald can run an endless stream of hard luck stories about MIQ sourced from the middle class and elites social media feeds without having to do any actual journalism and they are not obliged to try and offer any sort of reasonable alternative – they can just run an endless whine fest.

    A wealthy Pakeha couple from Mt. Eden who have been stuck in Aussie for six months in no great privation after travelling there in the Trans Tasman bubble can get on the 6pm news to wail at the terrible injustice that "strangers are packing up their house". Grounded Kiwis is a parade of white people called Emma and Timothy all clearly raised in the countries better suburbs. Jamie Ridge is a good for nothing parasite famous for being born wealthy to a "celebrity" couple. And yes – race is important. It is impossible to understand the narrative except in terms of a wealthy settler class vs. the rest. Our MSM has pretty much been supremely uninterested in the fate of Indians or anyone else poor and dark skinned, except to cry the odd crocodile tears before moving back to some pretty young thing from St. Heliers who can't get back from her ski holiday in Austria.

    What we are seeing is the power of class privilege, of that pampered class of New Zealanders who are outraged they are not able to buy their way to the front of any queue as they are accustomed, who are friends with and/or have privileged access to MSM journalists. They are the class and who are, by and large, the administers, winners and beneficiaries of the current economic order.

    In other words, the team of five million with all it's saccarine and insincere thanks to lowly service and retail workers is well over. It was over the day the well off got vaccinated and decided it was "safe" from COVID. It's back to a one sided class war of wealth and privilege railing against restrictions designed to protect those people who they actually don't give a shit about. The bottom line is they want their pampered life back, and they don't care if lesser sorts pay for that with their lives.

    • Anne 3.1

      Sanctuary @ 3

      yesyesyes

    • tc 3.2

      +1000 what we are also seeing is MZME applying zero fact checking to a social media post i.e. effectively publishing bs.

    • woodart 3.3

      great post sanctuary

    • Great post Sanc. I think you are being too gentle on the privileged wankers. smiley

      • Sanctuary 3.4.1

        Well, you know, it is bloody annoying to be stuck off shore. But just once I'd like to see one of these moaners acknowledge their privilege or better, have the government get cut a bit of slack from them and our MSM and a bit of understanding that trying to run a complex economy with a managed border after forty years of neoliberal laissez-faire and a culture of worshipping at the altar of narcissistic hyper-individualism and trying to to do it with a gutted and colonised civil service is actually really, really hard.

    • mickysavage 3.5

      Yep. I dream of being stuck in a foreign country for six months with nothing much to do …

    • B Russell 3.6

      I agree with everything in your comment that's rational, but take exception where you o refer to a persons skin colour or bringing in colonialism without considering we are all colonists of this land a good few hundred years ago, i.e. we were all born here…as kiwis, connected to the land.

      So pointing out some people's lives may not be as hard as others, or their community spirit is questionable may be valid, but please, don't use hurtful language to fellow kiwi's instead of a solid argument.

    • Marion 3.7

      Your comment is extremely vile, racist, sexist and dehumanizing. Racist because you are completely invalidating the stories of Indian, Malaysian, Middle Eastern, Islander, African and Maori families who are also apart of our Grounded Kiwis group by claiming that we only have white people and that only white NZ expats are suffering. It is absolutely not our fault that the MSM is uninterested in the stories of the 'poor and dark skinned' (and that is vile and racist too), but we look out for the 'poor and dark skinned' in OUR group. There are plenty of poor people and plenty of dark skinned people in our group, don't you worry. Disgusting way to talk about people of colour.

      And saying that the only reason we are upset is because 'some pretty young thing from St. Heliers can't get back from her ski holiday in Austria.' How sexist can you get, what a dehumanising and degrading way to talk about young women! I used to be a ski instructor! This will be my THIRD season where I cannot practise, because our city in China is locked down again, three months of the year so far! I have savings to cover it – what about the locals who don't? Or who are barely getting by when before they were doing ok? What about those with terminally ill relatives at home who they CAN'T GET TO?

  4. But, but, but I am an important person as I am the daughter of two self proclaimed important people.

    I always wonder why these people are overseas. Did she go while the pandemic has been with us? Got very little sympathy bordering on none for those who left then and now want to return as they knew when they left that the future was uncertain.

    MS 'Ashley' (Blomfield)

    [Thanks I was typing this in the car. Will correct – MS]

  5. Gosman 5

    The Omicron variant should not change the governments previous strategy at all. Indeed it should have confirmed it. Covid-19 has become endemic Worldwide and also likely less deadly.

    The government finally acknowledged prior to Omicron being identified that NZ can not stay isolated long term and the plan was to open up once we have reached a certain level of vaccination and had time to put in place measures for dealing with outbreaks. We now have over 92 percent second dose coverage and have had plenty of time to get things ready.

    While many here may attack Ms Ridge for her views they do in fact represent a valid position in that continuing to keep NZers from freely travelling without the restrictions of mandatory MIQ is something that is unsustainable.

    • Nic the NZer 5.1

      We are thinking the pandemic is unsustainable as well. Maybe we just keep MIQ till its over?

      • Gosman 5.1.1

        Do you know what "Endemic" means?

        • Johnny on the Spot 5.1.1.1

          Smallpox?

          • Gosman 5.1.1.1.1

            Smallpox was eliminated Worldwide. Covid-19 is unlikely to. Hence we either keep ourselves isolated via a permanent MIQ system or we open up to allowing the various variants in.

        • Nic the NZer 5.1.1.2

          Maybe MIQ should stay until the virus is in a mild endemic stage of its evolution. Is that the correct usage?

          • Gosman 5.1.1.2.1

            What is a mild endemic stage? Can you please expand upon this? I very much doubt this is a medical term in common usage and I suspect you made it up.

            • Nic the NZer 5.1.1.2.1.1

              Mild is an adverb, it modifies (qualifies) the acceptance of endemic covid to only those infections which are not going to cause a public health emergency.

              • Gosman

                Which is at what level? How do you determine that?

                • Nic the NZer

                  The MoH seem to have a reasonable handle on this, all things considered.

                  • Gosman

                    The MoH has made ZERO comment about whether the virus being endemic in the rest of the World is mild or not. I think it is unlikely to do so.

                    • Nic the NZer

                      Clearly your employer didn't need you to worry about what the MoH advice has been (for internet trolling purposes) but there has quite clearly been thought put into the capacity of the health system here to deal with covid community spread. Most importantly the advice to the government has been realistic.

                    • weka

                      The MoH has made ZERO comment about whether the virus being endemic in the rest of the World is mild or not.

                      I would guess they have made no comment because it's not mild. Seems like the only people who think its mild are libertarians who want a justification for opening the borders. Mostly people are just guessing. Which is why you qualified your first statement with the word 'likely'.

                      Covid-19 has become endemic Worldwide and also likely less deadly.

                    • weka

                      Mild is still deadly and problematically morbid. I see medical and health system people saying that omicron is potentially less deadly, but they're also saying that less deadly individuals is more deadly at the population (and health system) level if more people get the virus. Hardly rocked science.

                    • Gosman

                      I'm not the one using terms like "mild" to decide whether or not the virus being endemic elsewhere should be a determining factor in opening our borders.

                    • Nic the NZer []

                      If bubonic plague was endemic across the rest of the world I would think even David Seymour would be calling for immediate quaratine facilities. I'm starting to question if you know what endemic means, because it doesn't mean giving up on public health measures.

    • McFlock 5.2

      Why is it unsustainable?

      • Gosman 5.2.1

        Because the NZ economy relies on interaction between here and overseas which is heavily reduced when international travel is restricted by the MIQ system. On top of that NZers generally like to travel overseas for personal reasons and many of us have family offshore. While we can understand travel like this might be restricted for a couple of years there is little chance in my view that the majority of us will put up with an effective national home detention system on a permanent basis. This last point will become even more prominent when we see the rest of the World learning to live with Covid-19 and international travel becomes freer in places like Australia.

        • Dennis Frank 5.2.1.1

          Inevitable that we'll have to learn to live with the thing but too early to establish a basis for a new normality. I'm waiting to judge the pattern of efficacy of the booster as omicron invades us.

        • McFlock 5.2.1.2

          Oh, "sustainable" as in "will eventually be undermined by white-anters and merchants of doom".

          Fair call. The covid borgs who insist we will be assimilated will eventually be correct, because human stupidity knows no bounds. But there's no actual reason why they are correct, other than their constant whinging will eventually break the public will.

          In the meantime, the rest of us will work together to keep each other alive.

          • Gosman 5.2.1.2.1

            Do you want to enforce a permanent MIQ system on NZ? The government certainly has not indicated that is it's plan. If that is what is on offer then we need a debate about it and not one that dissolves in to puerile accusations of totalitarianism or death merchants from either side.

            • McFlock 5.2.1.2.1.1

              Want to? Nah.

              For me, it's still in the range of "even after covid, if that's ever a thing, maybe a week or so for all travellers might save quite a few lives, there's an interesting thought".

              After all, reputedly it used to take six months in a leaky boat to get here. A week in a nice hotel is tolerable compared to that.

              • Gosman

                I think it will be almost impossible to implement a permanent MIQ arrangement along the lines you suggest once the rest of the World moves on from Covid-19. I'd love to see the left leaning political parties propose such a thing though as it would offer ample ammunition to the right.

                • McFlock

                  Yes, it's been obvious for years that you are a moral vacuum who judges policy only by whether it will put your team in power.

                  Still, it's an interesting thought – after all, how much of our flu or RSV is imported, I wonder?

            • weka 5.2.1.2.1.2

              Do you want to enforce a permanent MIQ system on NZ? The government certainly has not indicated that is it's plan. If that is what is on offer then we need a debate about it and not one that dissolves in to puerile accusations of totalitarianism or death merchants from either side.

              No-one is offering that. What we might end up with is a modified version of what we have now.

              Here's my question, if we had a pandemic with a higher death rate, what rate would in your mind justify leaving teh borders as they are now? 10% death rate from any infection of a new virus? 25%? 50%

              Am curious if your libertarian values here are absolute or relative.

              • Gosman

                I'm not getting into hypotheticals. What I would like to deal with is the reality of the situation we face now.

                NZ has a vaccine programme AND is improving it’s health capacity to deal with outbreaks of Covid (regardless of the variety). The MIQ system was meant to give NZ the time to ensure both were up to scratch. It was NEVER designed to keep the entire country safe from Covid-19 forever.

                Ultimately we have always been trying to lower to an acceptable level rather than eliminate the risks associated with this pandemic. That level has to be a political decision not one made by "experts" as it involves a multitude of areas of society.

                • weka

                  and yet you are unwilling to express an opinion on what that acceptable level should be.

                  Instead, you want NZ to drop its major protections and accept deaths and disability as well as health system overload.

                  As far as I know the country is still run by the Labour Party in government, their cabinet makes the decisions, so don’t know what you mean by it not being political.

        • I wonder if Gossy has heard of a phenomena called climate change (he may be a denier for all I know)?

          Travel as normal (TAN) cannot continue if we are to have any chance of staving off a climate catastrophe. Whether we like it or not, NZ will/must become more of a remote place at the end of the world where few visit.

          So really we can and must keep the borders closed or at best, only opened a crack.

          There are some hard realities the self entitled elites will be forced to face, and no TAN is one of them.

        • DS 5.2.1.4

          The rest of the world is currently seeing their health systems destroyed by this thing.

          If you could guarantee that Covid would kill no more than 300-500 a year, and that the health system wouldn't collapse every six months, then that's one thing. But you can't. And until then, MIQ must stay.

          (As incomprehensible as it may sound to those who've drunk the neoliberal kool-aid, I actually have no problems with indefinite closed borders. The borders aren't closed to goods, of course).

    • Gosman: My understanding, from reading many things including the link below is that two Pfizer doses do not give very good protection against catching Omicron, though it will probably keep most people out of hospital.

      Given that this is the case, and given the current lack of knowledge about Omicron and given its hugely infectious nature, I think we should not be opening up the border until 90% of over 12's have had a booster shot.

      This would mean the border being opened in June or July all things being equal. So Grounded Kiwis will have to just keep on whinging about the MIQ system until July.

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/explained/127451238/covid19-will-the-vaccine-protect-me-from-omicron

      • Gosman 5.3.1

        Why are we trying to stop people catching the Omicron variant though? I can understand why we don't want people hospitalised in large numbers but if our current vaccination rate achieved that then what is the issue?

        • weka 5.3.1.1

          Long covid, covid deaths, health system overrun.

          Omicron may be milder but if more people get it in a short space of time then that's a different kind of overload on health care systems. Think not just hospitals but aged care facilities as staff are shifted to hospitals. Or ambulances taking a hour to get called out to a regular heart attack.

          How far do you live from a hospital that can manage servere covid? I live a number of hours. A large omicron outbreak here would put severe stress on local services as well as centralised ones. You think they're going to transport server covid cases from here to a big hospital if the big hospital is already full?

          To put that in perspective, and I may be wrong about this but in the Southern DHB afaik Dunedin Public is the only hospital that can manage severe covid in Otago and Southland. What do you think will happen to people living in Western Southland? Have you thought about these kinds of details?

          • Bearded Git 5.3.1.1.1

            The World Health Organisation has yet to accept that Omicron is milder. (can't reference where I read this at the weekend because I'm on my phone and just leaving a cafe)

          • Gosman 5.3.1.1.2

            The evidence so far does not suggest health systems are being overrun by people with the Omicron variant. Even in countries where the people catching Covid-19 are many times greater than they have previously experienced the rates of hospitalisations are much lower.

            • weka 5.3.1.1.2.1

              It's not just covid hospitalisations, it's the impact on the whole system. Look at NSW right now and what their concerns are for the next weeks.

          • Gosman 5.3.1.1.3

            Also what is your solution to the location issue of medical centers equipped to deal with severe Covid cases in Southland/Otago area and why isn't the government looking to fix this issue? Surely that is one of the major reasons why we are trying to buy time at the moment yet I see no proposed solution for it.

            • weka 5.3.1.1.3.1

              You can't just build a big new hospital in a low population area. It's not logistically feasible, and it's not appropriate use of limited funding.

              Afaik, the DHBs have done what they can but are up against decades of under funding and monkey wrenching by neoliberal governments.

              • Gosman

                What you are essentially stating is that there will be no solution to the problem with accessing severe Covid care locally in much of the lower South Island regardless of funding. In which case why bring it up?

        • DS 5.3.1.2

          Why are we trying to stop people catching the Omicron variant though?

          *Looks at New South Wales.*

          Maybe you could move to the Covid-ridden paradise that is the rest of the world, since you clearly find their handling of the virus so much better than ours.

          • weka 5.3.1.2.1

            I'm not really a fan of the 'if you don't like NZ, then leave' stuff. But I completely agree that if someone thinks covid running free is a good idea, they really should hop on a plane to Sydney right now. And hang out for the next 6 months, report back.

  6. Puckish Rogue 6

    I don't disagree with your description of Jaime Ridge however one of the issues that we face today, and I'm not entirely sure of how to describe it, is that we have more knowledge and the ability to access that knowledge than at any time in human history and yet we're, collectively, willing to just go along with anything any sort of proclaimed 'expert' says and that we dare not question them because they have the 'knowledge' and if we do dare question them we get publicly humiliated and, possibly, jailed depending on what is said.

    Using Joe Rogan as an example, he was prescribed Ivermectin as part of his treatment for covid and all the msm outlets said was he was on horse de-wormer, they desaturated his picture to make him look more unhealthy, they did everything they could to discredit him

    We've seen what happens with religious institutions, government institutions, any institution that you do not question and that is when a 'we know best' mindset takes over and any number of bad things happen

    So if it takes a 'non expert' with a public profile to bring up ideas that the establishment doesn't like then good, more ideas not less are what we need

    • Drowsy M. Kram 6.1

      So if it takes a 'non expert' with a public profile to bring up ideas that the establishment doesn't like then good, more ideas not less are what we need

      Absolutely, as long as they are good ideas – whinges and moans are a dime a dozen.

      OK, so Covid's no joke, but we've got to find a way to keep laughing
      When can Barry Soper dine al fresco again?

      On the stroke of the latest lockdown lifting – there is no more meaningful measure of time in modern life than 11.59pm – long queues of the hungry and righteous were able to place their orders in fast food drive-throughs all across Auckland,
      – Steve Braunias


      https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/94869389/sharon-murdoch-cartoons

      • Puckish Rogue 6.1.1

        Sure but the problem is, these days anyway, if an idea comes from a non-expert then its deemed not worthy without anyone bothering to see if its a good idea or not

        • McFlock 6.1.1.1

          Mostly because they're usually bloody stupid ideas.

          • Puckish Rogue 6.1.1.1.1

            Experts don't make bloody stupid ideas?

            • Drowsy M. Kram 6.1.1.1.1.1

              I'd suggest that “experts” tend to come up with fewer "bloody stupid ideas" in their field(s) of expertise than do non-experts – but then I'm no expert.

              The broader questions are – ‘What are experts really good for anyway?’, and ‘Why do we even need them?’ Sure, maybe for brain or heart surgery, or for designing rockets, but apart from surgery, rockets, public health policies, telecommunications, education, etc… what have these so-called ‘experts’ ever done for anyone – what earthly good are they, eh?

              • Puckish Rogue

                Yes, yes bow down to your betters, do not question them for they are exulted and you (all of us non experts) are a worm and thall shalt not question your superiors for are they not superior in thought and word and deed?

                • McFlock

                  I don't tell mechanics how to do their job, they don't tell me how to do mine.

                  Because both of us would look stupid if we tried.

                  • Puckish Rogue

                    I agree. Questioning is bad. Accept what people tell you always.

                    • McFlock

                      Well, there's "what's this, why do you do it like that" questioning. That's usually cool if it's not just a ploy to waste time (eg gosman).

                      But the post concerns someone with little subject area knowledge making claims about constitutional law. That's a waste of everyone else's time.

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      Its also a good way to get the word out that no one can question it unless you're a member of the club

                    • McFlock

                      Is that any more of an obstacle to good health policy than, say, taking their views and then giving equal weight to the clinical prognostications of folk who literally don't know one end of an airway from the other?

                      Much of the medical and public health "questioning" over the last couple of years has just been fucking embarrassing. And that has mostly distracted from the actual areas that should have been foreseen and could have been reasonably improved.

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      So what if the 'questioning' has been embarrassing, who here doesn't get asked pointless, silly questions on a daily basis

                      Questioning is a right we should never take for granted

                    • McFlock

                      Unfortunately, it's also a time-wasting conceit every ass takes for granted.

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      That is true. Its also true that the alternative would be much, much worse.

                    • McFlock

                      I'm not so sure, given some of the shit takes lately. "We should live with the virus" being an especially lethal example.

                • Drowsy M. Kram

                  What an odd response [bow down to your (exulted) betters/superiors, you worm] – did an expert hurt you when you were young? I was certainly upset by the brief discomfort that followed a tonsillectomy at a tender age (6 was it?) Even the icecream was difficult to swallow – thank goodness (and the hospital kitchen) for the lime jelly. 13 years later it was an appendectomy, and still I failed to question my ‘superiors’ – how naive.

                  The fact that there are some who are more knowledgeable than me about almost every matter under the sun (barring some personal details) doesn't upset me in the slightest – rather I take great comfort in it.

                  Fwiw, my own inner expert is quite talkative, but a little humility and a healthy dose of realism usually quiets him down.

                  • McFlock

                    Was it Erasmus who was reputedly the last person to know the sum of human knowledge, and therefore the last expert in everything?

                • Rucklands

                  Best comment I saw today re expertise was in TDB – maybe we should listen to Ms Ridge – she was raised by Sally and Matthew so she is probably an expert on muppets.

              • "What have the Romans ever done for us?"

            • McFlock 6.1.1.1.1.2

              Usually at a lower frequency in their area of expertise than some rando.

              They also tend to avoid the "really good ideas" that skip a basic principle or first-year lesson. The shit that's innate from working in the field for ten or twenty years, but takes time to actually go through and argue why convention X is used.

              edit: lol snap drowsy

        • woodart 6.1.1.2

          how do you define an expert?and how do you get hold of them? there seems to be huge numbers of them on media , but I cant find any in the phone book .are they self -defined or is it a title bestowed on them.?

          • Puckish Rogue 6.1.1.2.1

            'are they self -defined or is it a title bestowed on them.?'

            Thats probably as accurate a description as you're ever going to get

          • McFlock 6.1.1.2.2

            For many of them, there are literal "capping" and "induction" ceremonies at various levels of "expertise". Complete with titles or letters after their name.

            The sillier the hat, the more expertise they have, as a general rule.

            • Patricia Bremner 6.1.1.2.2.1

              What is expertise? Someone with specialist skills.

              Norm's ENT Surgeon who removes cancers from the face and repairs the disfigurement using plastic surgery and 25 years of training and practice.

              Not your local GP. That is General Skills.

              Jaimie is “self made” Her skill is communication on the internet.

              • McFlock

                True, it's likely almost everyone is an expert at something.

                But all I know about engines is that if my ride starts making funny noises, or stops making noises altogether, it needs to be seen by an expert. Who doesn't need my two cents on what they should do to fix it.

                • woodart

                  your expert who either fixes your bike or removes cancers has a certification as such. same as any QUALIFIED expert. they have an actual qualification from a qualified source. it seems that many "experts" thrown at us in the media are self bestowed with that title. perhaps the media should put actual qualifications up with their "experts" so we can judge whether they are experts, or bullshit merchants . bullshit merchants are a dime a dozen , and there are any number to be found on zbshoutback radio.

                  • McFlock

                    Half of them are experts at self-promotion and little else.

                    • woodart

                      yes, when I see somebody described as an "influencer" I think influenza, which is probably closer to the truth. its interesting to see how language changes and how certain terms, or titles go into and out of favour. consultant now has bad p.r. and being an accountant doesnt have the same ring of respectability it once had. car salesmen are nearly respectable ,and being a lawyer isnt. the media are aware of this and have lumped everybody together as "experts" but we are nearing peak "expert" overload . I wonder what new term will be used to impress us peasants .

                  • Puckish Rogue

                    That's a good point

                    • Anne

                      @ woodart

                      When I see somebody described as an "influencer" I think nut-bar or narcissist depending on what and how they are influencing.

                      And:

                      It has been my experience that the real peasants (when used in the derogatory sense) are the ones who regard us as the peasants.

  7. Patricia Bremner 7

    Thank you all those who work in MIQ. You have done and are doing an amazing job.

    We have not forgotten Woodhouse "stories and time wasting" with his supposed homeless man getting a "free stay".

    There are always spoiled people who "want it now" and Jaimie Ridge appears to be in that group.

    There were 39 000 wanting rooms in MIQ, last count 10 900* so many have navigated the system and are now home.

    The comments about poor systems and leadership, and digs at Jacinda Ardern's kindness, with no kindness displayed by the fortunate is just sad.

    We are so fortunate, and the small number of disaffected protesters get great air and news time making their views top news.

    Where is the balance in the news of families reunited, lives saved, assistance offered by so many good people in the community and government?

    We now have 241 omicron cases at the border.

    Yesterday Australia had a million people isolating, and the impact on supply chains of medicine tests and food have been stretched to breaking point. They do not get calls to check on their progress or oxygen monitors, they are just overwhelmed. Health workers are exhausted. We do not want that.

    Hang in there folks, our efforts are astounding in the eyes of the world, and the critics do not understand that the hobbits helped win against great odds fighting for the greater good. Arohanui Kia kaha.

    • Gypsy 7.1

      "The comments about poor systems and leadership, and digs at Jacinda Ardern's kindness, with no kindness displayed by the fortunate is just sad. "
      Patricia the 'system' is a dogs breakfast. It has been riddled with problems for months, some technical, some just plain meanness. Here's just three from the past few days:

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/459236/it-issues-at-govt-departments-lock-out-visa-holders-from-miq

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/459156/covid-19-uncertainty-over-trans-tasman-travel-dismay-about-miq-rooms

      https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2022/01/miq-apologises-u-turns-after-families-wrongly-separated-due-to-it-error-were-told-no-fix-was-coming.html

      This nonsense is having a devastating impact on individuals and families. If you want a recent example outside of a whiny socialite, try this guy.

      • Patricia Bremner 7.1.1

        There is no way we can accommodate everyone at this time, and granted errors have been made, but who would you put in charge? Do you want what Australia now has?

        Our family over there are battling Delta with no help at all. Life is a lottery and some decisions made by people earlier in this pandemic are now biting as it has gone on so long and shows no sign of abating.

        Business will always cry "Open up", but in Australia restrictions are being introduced again, and businesses are failing as staff and customers fall ill, and the financial gain from opening up has proven to be a mirage.

        This Government has been as kind as they can be making some painful decisions to keep people safe. They tried to let more people back into the country, but 43 omicron infections at the border in one day forced a rethink.

        I don't know all the answers, I don't think anyone does, but I do know our mistakes have erred on the side of safety. I have family I have not seen for 3 years. As in the past ages, our goodbyes will be from a distance. That is covid. Even if they or I could travel we might be separated by the disease.

        This is a war footing, but spoiled people who have not experienced hardship do not apparently understand "Community good" or "Community health" and still want "Individualism".

        This situation could last five or ten more years. Those crying for "herd immunity" and "opening up" are in the same camp as Tony Abbott, who believes it is too expensive to keep some people alive. The false idea that systems will cope is severely tested world wide, and moaning about small errors at our border is a luxury we have because our systems are by and large working.

        I firmly believe we are fortunate to be here.

        • Gypsy 7.1.1.1

          "There is no way we can accommodate everyone at this time, and granted errors have been made, but who would you put in charge? Do you want what Australia now has?"
          I'm not asking for anyone else to be in charge. I asking for those in charge display some foresight and operational competence.

    • Anne 7.2

      Patricia Bremner @ 3

      Between mickysavage, Sanctuary and yourself Patricia its a fait accompli.

  8. Reality 8

    Must admit I am fed up with complaints of people like Jaime Ridge. She is brimming with unearned self-importance and belief in her right to do what she wants, when she wants, even in the middle of a pandemic.

    Just how many more hotels should the government take over to put these people into for their quarantine, let alone find the staff to run them. Sorry, but just as in wartime, lives are being affected greatly, but the government has done a pretty good job really. People have been able to enjoy Christmas and New Year and holiday time with minimal restrictions.

    I too have not seen family for over two years but would not dream of whining to the media as some do. Just have to "suck it up" as the saying goes.

    • Gosman 8.1

      Do you acknowledge that NZ will have to eventually open up to the rest of the World and that means we have to accept we will have outbreaks of Covid-19 variants like Omicron as they are now endemic in other nations?

      • Patricia Bremner 8.1.1

        Do you realise we are not boosted in sufficient numbers to allow Omicron to become endemic. We are trying to achieve this with the use of MIQ and tighter borders.

        Your premise appears to be that this is a permanent state and should be questioned.

        We do have three opposition parties, plus pretty generous news dissemination of alternate views, so fear not Gosman, your concerns are well aired.devil

        • Gosman 8.1.1.1

          "Not boosted in sufficent numbers" – What does that mean? We are at 92% second doses of the vaccine among over 12's. That is more that most places where the Omicron variant is present.

          • Patricia Bremner 8.1.1.1.1

            Those places have concerning numbers of surging cases of covid disrupting their systems.

            The third dose booster is needed to gee up the long term memory of the T cells.

            That will mean those who then get Omicron will be unlikely to need a hospital.

            Each new iteration of this virus will present new and differing challenges. This Omicron variant is so infectious it is the numbers which create havoc. The next might be more deadly.. who knows…? the reverse might be true.

            Our Government has indicated this is a time strategy to allow for boosters and children’s first doses, not a permanent position.

            • Gosman 8.1.1.1.1.1

              I'm comfortable with a tiome strategy IF we then start to open up AFTER we have reached a certain level of preparedness. Otherwise there is really no point in having any preparedness beyond added protection in the event of an outbreak. It is like wearing a raincoat inside on the off chance your roof will spring a leak.

  9. Reality 9

    Gosman, are you content to have 10,000 cases a day in NZ just so we can be open to the world. I am getting it first hand re Sydney where in December there were no restrictions on anything until a week or so ago. Now grocery supplies are severely affected, people wait hours to get a test. It is, to quote a favourite saying of National /Act, a "shambles". Do you want that here?

    • Gosman 9.1

      I don't care how many cases per day we have so long as it is able to be handled in terms of the health system and we have offered our most vulnerable the protection of the population of getting vaccinated.

      • tc 9.1.1

        Go on stick a value on it gossie….how many cases/day do you think we could handle ?

        Bear in mind a systemically underfunded system, non vaxer staff losses, next variants ability to infect/kill etc.

        So many unknowns gossie

        • Gosman 9.1.1.1

          That is the government's job to determine how many cases we can handle per day and they should be working on plans to ensure we can meet the expected numbers based on a number of variables. They also should be communicating the various approaches to the rest of us so we are prepared. They have failed to do that effectively.

    • Ross 9.2

      are you content to have 10,000 cases a day in NZ

      Oh dear, I thought the scare-mongering was over. I have told you millions of times, don’t exaggerate!

      Let’s talk about deaths. We accept hundreds of road deaths, flu deaths and suicide deaths each year. Then there are the thousands of people who die each year from cancer and heart disease. How many more of each type of death can we accept?

      • Oh dear, Victoria, with a population about the same as NZ, had 50,000 cases yesterday. How's that for scare-mongering?

        • Ross 9.2.1.1

          Victoria has a number of quality AFL teams. How many quality AFL teams does NZ have? The answer is none which is surprising given we are both identical.

            • Gypsy 9.2.1.1.1.1

              I think the point Ross is trying to make is that the number of cases are less relevant in a highly vaccinated population than deaths.

              One statistic that is informative is excess mortality. In the whole of Australia, the excess mortality for the year to October 2021 was somewhere around 4% more than 2020, and 4.6% above the average from 2015-2019.

              (Of course this only tells part of the story. An analysis of years of life lost would be beneficial, due to the significant bias towards older sufferers in the Covid death data).

              In 2019, there were 34,489 deaths in NZ. A 4% increase in that number would represent around 1,379 additional deaths, however that doesn't take into account NZ's lower city population density, amongst other factors.

              There is some excellent academic work being done in a number of countries on whether lock-downs were worth the cost, and of course the jury is still out.

      • Gabby 9.2.2

        Who'all says we accept them? I don't.

  10. Tricledrown 10

    We have so far saved so many lives and prevented a meltdown of our run-down health system,seriously damaging our economy

    All because of sacrifices made by everyone mainly Aucklanders and health workers testing,vaccinating .contact tracing,and MIQ staff the defence force,Security staff,hotel workers etc.

    To ditch our safety first approach would be the dumbest idea .

    The right want to open up and let the bodies pile up.

    This pandemic is not over no doubt more twists and turns to come.

    New vaccines and antiviral drugs are becoming available having MIQ in place gives us time for production and distribution of these life saving medicines to be rolled out to all hospitals and practices .

    Until we have that our strategy of suppression should continue.

    Allowing our already stretched health system to be over run burning out highly educated doctors nurses and other health professionals would damage our health system for decades to come.

    The cost of training and educating replacements would be horrific not to mention the long lead in time before these highly educated professionals are able to practice.

    Short term thinking a neo Liberal quick buck mentality is how covid 19 has spread sow widely.

    You could call it just in time delivery.

    Just in time to beat any right wing lack of health measures.

    Just in time to let the far right to create disunity in the communal fight against Covid.

    Just in time for the far right anti vaxxers to spread misinformation.

    • Gosman 10.1

      Do you want to enforce a permanent MIQ system even AFTER sufficient percentage of the population is vaccinated AND we have the health system readied for an outbreak of Omicron?

      • Patricia Bremner 10.1.1

        Until the WHO says the Pandemic is over..Yes!! We do not know how this will roll, so having a filter seems sensible.

        • Gosman 10.1.1.1

          Ummm… the WHO won't be stating that as the virus is now endemic. You don't seem to realise what that means. The rest of the World is learning to live with it. You seemingly are waiting for something that will never happen.

          • Poission 10.1.1.1.1

            That mutation is inevitable is a neat evolutionary fact,mutational change will happen ( with an astronomical number of possibilities) which is why the precautionary principle holds.

            https://twitter.com/yaneerbaryam/status/1477737575578320896

          • Tricledrown 10.1.1.1.2

            Gosman National were saying exactly what you are saying back in November 2021 claiming families and businesses were suffering why not just close MIQ as it was no longer needed with in a few days Omricon came along.

            National have stopped that line of attacking the govt.PR you should keep up with Nationals new strategy as their go to minion.

      • Sanctuary 10.1.2

        The voices that are stridently and frantically raised in our establishment friendly MSM for a return to "normal" are the voices of the privileged – each and every one of them a paradigm of the class and type of people for whom the axioms of the status quo ante pandemus made them winners in the economic and social pecking order. The media – whose pro-wealth, pro-establishment but normally hidden entrails have been brutally eviscerated for leisurely public inspection by covid – will platform that wealth and privilege all day long.

        So no one in the MSM is going to ask the question – what if there is no going back to "normal?" What if it turns out the great age of international mobility (for the gilded middle classes of the west at least – 80% of humans have never been on a flight and only a tiny fraction of the worlds population makes most of the flights) is over? Who would be the new winners if isolation becomes the new normal?

        The MSM dare not even pose the question, lest the peasants get to thinking.

        • Absolutely right, Sanctuary. Furthermore, we cannot, simply cannot go back to travel as normal for the 1% if we are to have any chance to stave off climate catastrophe, regardless of any pandemic.

  11. weka 11

    Out of curiosity, if the government had gone loose and late, and we'd had many deaths, disability, and health care chaos, would there have been grounds to taking them to court on the basis that they didn't take due care of the NZ peoples?

    late edit to change hadn’t to had.

    • Ross 11.1

      I trust the question is rhetorical. Is anyone being taken to court here?

      “When asked about the number of breast screens postponed due to level 3 and 4 lockdown this year, Verrall said: “The latest coverage figures to September 2021 for the previous two year period shows approximately 45,000 less screens performed than the two-year period ending September 2019,” documents seen by the Herald show.

      The figures come after the Breast Cancer Foundation warned more than 133 New Zealand women could die of a breast cancer they didn’t know they had unless the Government took urgent action.“

      The Government accepts that women will die from breast cancer. How many such deaths do you think is acceptable?

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/exclusive-cancer-delays-45000-fewer-breast-screens-due-to-covid-prostate-backlog-also-terrifying/YIVEIFNFEUIVTYDSU3ENIWJZCU/

      • weka 11.1.1

        sorry, bad original edit on my part, was meant to say if they had gone loose and late.

      • weka 11.1.2

        could die (late screening) vs will die (rampant covid).

        could die can be prevented, might want to put your energies there.

        • Ross 11.1.2.1

          Your definition of could is different to mine lol. What does the Breast Cancer Foundation say?

          Justine Smyth, Chair of Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, said: “While we’re doing everything we can to raise awareness about the importance of screening and early detection, it’s been heart-breaking to hear from distressed women who want to protect themselves, but can’t.

          “They’re telling us they can’t get rebooked for months, or aren’t being sent reminder letters after realising they’re well overdue. We’ve even heard from women who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer by pure fluke after missing the mammogram that would have found their cancer earlier. There is no doubt that when you’re finding breast cancer later, more lives will be lost.

          “Women who have regular mammograms are nearly 40 percent less likely to die of breast cancer than women who don’t screen, so it’s absolutely vital Government makes it a priority to clear the backlog and get screening participation back up to pre-Covid levels.

          https://www.breastcancerfoundation.org.nz/news-articles/article/10-600-new-zealanders-call-for-urgent-action-on-breast-screening/477?category=blog

          • weka 11.1.2.1.1

            again, certain high death rates from covid in the community vs longer term projected possible deaths that could be prevented. Get on with lobbying for that if it concerns you do much.

            And, health system overrun from covid rampant in the community will also disrupt screening services, so it would be both sets of deaths.

            • Ross 11.1.2.1.1.1

              certain high death rates from covid

              Incorrect.

              Our official case fatality rate is 0.35% (3.5 deaths per 1000 cases) but that's likely to overstate the true figure. That's because some of those who have died had comorbities and died with Covid, not because of it. In addition, some people will have had Covid without knowing it and without being tested. That has the effect of lowering the case fatality rate.

  12. DukeEll 12

    It really is sad when so many people think that because someone is rich and privileged, we should maintain an unjust and unfair system that individuals can skirt as they are the right sort of people as deemed by mbie and the government. The unjust and unfair system that keeps grieving families, young families and loved ones apart but can find space for an all black to play one forgettable game on the other side of the world, or a covid positive DJ to flout the rules. Because you know, summer festies.

    • Sanctuary 12.1

      Decisions can't be made based on peoples feelings. I know we live in the great age of self-indulgent emotional response rather than reason but here is something about Jamie Ridge that might cause a melt down if it was brutally spelt out to her – economically, she ain't worth shit. A DJ or an All Black help events that generate cash, raise morale and keep people in a job. Everyone would wish her well and hope she can return soon, but when you are rationing places other things come into consideration other than just "Don't you know who I am?"

      Look at it this way. The earth is about to be destroyed by an giant comet and the government is picking the 100,000 people who are going to get the nob to get away on the Colony Star Ship Aotearoa. Would they pick Jamie Ridge, socialite and influencer, or Fetu Atamai a lowly fellow from Otahuhu who just happens to be a dab hand at the easily transferable skill of waste management? My guess is Jamie will be left to post Instagram shots of the approaching comet.

      When you have limited spots, you have to make tough choices.

      • DukeEll 12.1.1

        basically what you are saying is we live in a hypothetical situation where you get to pick the 100k, or a government you support does.

        I’d rather die than be on that space ship.

        we’ve got the capacity to take everyone home. Yet All those lovely New Zealand citizens who want to be with family in New Zealand are not allowed home. And because one influencer (who you have little regard for and that’s ok, I don’t rate her either) comments, the whole awfulness of MiQ and the misery it brings is justified. And throw in a good bit of ridicule to make yourself feel better along the way.

        I feel sorry for you. Who hurt you?

        • mpledger 12.1.1.1

          Where is this capacity to take everyone home? Tells us where all these extra health care workers are for a start?

          Do you really think the govt is going – "oh, well, lets make all these people miserable for no good reason." That's a vote winner. It's a hard choice to keep people in NZ healthy and the infrastructure and economy up and running.

  13. Patricia Bremner 13

    devil Sanctuary.

  14. Two factoids I noticed in the NZH not long ago: in England vaccination of all children against smallpox has been compulsory for 150 years; in the 50 US states vaccination against MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) is compulsory for all school children.

    Anti-vaxers, for want of a better term, espouse the same values as anti-unionists: they want a free ride to benefit from collective solidarity, while contributing nothing to that safety. They, themselves would not frame the issue this way but delusion is no defense. Don't get me wrong I'll defend our civil liberties as much as the next guy, but in the end, as at the beginning. our individual rights to enjoy universal civil liberties are built on a mountain of bleeding bodies of those who fought and died for them.

    I respect the antis' rights to disagree and go to Court to check on the exercise of Parliamentary power. They are doing us a favor while challenging sovereign authority; but basically their rights and liberties only exist due to our collective choices long asserted repeatedly at much cost.

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  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
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  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
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