If only smiles were dollars

Written By: - Date published: 10:26 am, May 15th, 2011 - 38 comments
Categories: budget 2011, debt / deficit, tax - Tags: ,

The minor party debate on Q+A was very interesting. Rahui Katene was self-contradictory and vague, like the Maori Party always is. Peter Dunne was pathetic. Roger Douglas slammed the government’s borrowing as did Russel Norman, who pointed out the other three had all voted for National’s debt-increasing tax cuts for the rich.

I might put up some of the transcript once it comes through, but the important points on National’s economic failure were also hit by Bernard Hickey and the Herald editorial today.

Hickey says that National will try to take focus off the record deficit by pointing to strong growth projections:

New Zealand will probably avoid a downgrade in our credit rating because the Budget’s economic growth figures for the next three to four years will look extraordinarily strong.

They will argue the Christchurch earthquake rebuild and a historic boom in commodity prices will power GDP growth to more than 4 per cent over the next two years.

This seems sensible until you look at the track record of these forecasts in the past three years since the global financial crisis.

Every economic forecast by the Treasury underestimated the impact of an epic change in the way New Zealanders think about debt and spending.

In May 2008, Treasury forecast growth rates for the next three years of 1.5 per cent, 2.3 per cent and 3.2 per cent. Instead, we got -1.1 per cent, -0.4 per cent and -0.1 per cent.

That’s why we should all take Thursday’s growth forecasts – and Key’s smiling confidence – with a grain of salt.

Granny’s patience with Key’s bland smiles and big promises is wearing thin too:

In an interview John Key gave to the BBC when he was in London for the royal wedding, Key smiled a lot and insisted that the expert independent commentary about the crises we face was “just people’s opinions”.

That’s a politician’s job – to put a brave face on it. Deep down, Key knows the shape we’re in. But he seems to lack the political will to do anything about it.

Act leader Don Brash, whose public pronouncements have so far been conspicuously devoid of specific policy, got one thing right in his open letter to Key this week: the PM, he said, is frittering away “the greatest reserves of prime ministerial popularity in New Zealand history”.

It’s not too late for Key to prove him wrong. But time is certainly running out.

Borrowed from a comment by Blighty

38 comments on “If only smiles were dollars ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. ZeeBop 1
    15 May 2011 at 10:42 am

    The GST hike won’t pay for itself, the tax take dropped!
    Petrol and food spikes worsen kiwis spending positions.
    But what’s shocking is the worse their price of petrol, or
    cost of food, milk, etc, the longer the tax changes will
    pay for themselves. But this still did not stop National
    putting the boot in, instead of lowing the cost of
    living, the National party build more roads.

    But its worse. Kiwisaver is getting another renovation!
    Saving for the future has never been more uncertain
    as the government again alter the kiwisaver scheme.

  2. ianmac 2
    15 May 2011 at 10:45 am

    From my lowly understanding about how it all works, isn’t the GDP boosted by expenditure such as in the Christchurch rebuild? If so build more prisons and catch and process more crims and this will also boost GDP – er wouldn’t it?

    • Eddie 2.1
      15 May 2011 at 10:50 am

      yup. So does paying someone to dig a ditch and fill it in again.

      One of the big problems with GDP is the G – gross. It doesn’t account for destruction of wealth, only its creation. And it measures value by what we pay for stuff.

      • Jim Nald 2.1.1
        15 May 2011 at 11:18 am

        Ah, hence the logic with donkey digging a big economic hole for us and then their ‘mum and dad’ cronies and their mates filling in.

        • terryg 2.1.1.1
          15 May 2011 at 4:23 pm

          I read an article a while back (alas forget where) in which this was pointed out (paraphrasing):

          Economists only consider “Goods” and “Services”.

          to an economist, the ChCh earthwuake is a GOOD thing – look at all the goods and services required afterwards. yay earthquakes (OK I added that bit).

          But they completely fail to even consider the existence of “Bads” and “Disservices”. failure of nuclear powerplants, earthquakes, mass human tragedies are BAD things that do a DISSERVICE to economies. Yes they require a lot of expenditure to fix, but that IS NOT a good thing.

  3. Robert Atack 3
    15 May 2011 at 10:58 am

    Russel Norman, who pointed out the other three had all voted for National’s debt-increasing tax cuts for the rich.

    Alas Norman doesn’t understand that for the ponzi savings scam HE voted for, the government must maintain growth be it by increasing NZs productivity (failing) or by propping up this totally fucked system to the tune of $380 million a week. If the clown didn’t borrow to fill the gap, we would be living in an entirely different world, picture Greece 😉
    I said 2.5 years ago John Key will be the most hated prim minister NZ has ever had, god I hope they win the next election, just watching them all with egg on their faces will be so funny, including all the fools that think voting will change things lol
    Welcome to my world

  4. joe90 4
    15 May 2011 at 11:03 am

    I thought Douglas made sense when he talked about the need to settle on a super scheme and to somehow prevent future governments tampering with it.

  5. Bill 5
    15 May 2011 at 11:04 am

    Anyone else hear Key (on Radio NZ yesterday) claim he didn’t know what he’d said during the ‘Hard Talk’ interview because he hadn’t seen it yet?

    • Pascal's bookie 5.1
      15 May 2011 at 11:08 am

      Classic.

      • Jim Nald 5.1.1
        15 May 2011 at 11:21 am

        It is difficult to keep track of what you say to who when you’re bullshitting all over the show.

    • ianmac 5.2
      15 May 2011 at 11:15 am

      Really Bill? That would be very funny. 🙂
      I mean sometimes I say to my wife,”What’s wrong?”
      “Nothing,” sniff.
      “Is it something I said?”
      “You should know,” she yells.
      ” What did I say?”
      “Ah-ha!” she says. “So you don’t know what you say. You’re just as bad as John Key!”
      ” Yeah maybe, but I’m just an ordinary bloke and not a Prime Minister,” I whine.
      “Very true.” She forgives me. (But what the hell did I say that was so wrong?)

    • Bill 5.3
      15 May 2011 at 11:46 am

      From memory, it was on the ‘Week in Politics’ slot and in response to a question (by Russel Norman?) in Parliament about the state of NZ rivers.

      • todd 5.3.1
        15 May 2011 at 12:09 pm

        Key claimed he could not recall what he said in the BBC Hardtalk interview, the day after it had occurred. FFS! Surely New Zealand deserves better.

    • felix 5.4
      15 May 2011 at 1:36 pm

      Yeah I heard that.

      I can’t help wondering if he really doesn’t know what Hard Talk is, and doesn’t realise that they don’t edit out all the stupid bits.

      • Irascible 5.4.1
        15 May 2011 at 2:10 pm

        I’ve seen the interview three times on BBC news. I can attest that John Key was present in each screening of the programme. The lips moved and the speech slurred in mispronounced and mangled English so it can’t have been a card board cut out.

    • happynz 5.5
      15 May 2011 at 6:06 pm

      Funny as can be…

  6. Zaphod Beeblebrox 6
    15 May 2011 at 12:32 pm

    Hickey seems like the only economist so wound up in the ra-ra optimism of ‘just wait for the 4% growth/a recovery is inevitable/all we need to do is BS S&P until things turn in our favour’ line that Key is running at the moment.

    Question for Key- What happens to the budget deficit if we don’t get 4% growth? What does he do then? He could start slash and burn but that will probably just make things worse. Or he could just put taxes back up to where they were- with very little pain to 95% of the population (come to think of it- he could do that now!)

    • ianmac 6.1
      15 May 2011 at 2:14 pm

      ZB. Wasn’t that the sort of thing promised at the last budget but now it has slid off the debate? The promise then, was that because the economy was going to improve hugely due to the English magic that all good things would flow on over the current year. But the reverse happened.

      • Zaphod Beeblebrox 6.1.1
        15 May 2011 at 2:39 pm

        Supposedly what didn’t happen this year is going to happen next. This despite record high oil prices and a $800 mill reduction in government spending. Hickey seems to be the only journalist willing to ask the question.

        • Colonial Viper 6.1.1.1
          15 May 2011 at 2:59 pm

          No net growth in the NZ economy if petrol remains over $2/L.

          What is it today? Around $2.20/L. So the answer is: there will no net growth. Easy 🙂

    • Carol 7.1
      15 May 2011 at 2:54 pm

      Is this today’s one where Nornman towered over the three Nat flunkies?… literally. I somehow kept noticing that Norman is taller than I had previously realised.

      • felix 7.1.1
        15 May 2011 at 3:13 pm

        Yeah he towered over them in more ways than one.

        And it’s four Nat flunkies counting Smeagol Holmes.

      • Jum 7.1.2
        15 May 2011 at 3:45 pm

        Yes, me ‘two’. He won that debate on presentation alone. His comments just added to it.

  8. Rich 8
    15 May 2011 at 3:36 pm

    Waving scary debt levels and using them to cut spending is a big con.

    Simple Keynesian economics – you borrow in a recession and pay it back in a boom (the last government did a good job on the latter). Our public debt levels are middling for the OECD, and we’ve had a big earthquake, which not all other developed countries have. (besides Japan and Spain, of course). So we should expect to borrow.

    If the government does this, the recession will be shallower and the next boom will be less pronounced, so more people will keep their jobs. The downside of this is that the rich won’t make as much money, because they won’t do as well in the boom and use the recession to sack workers.

    So I understand why National would want to avoid borrowing at the moment (to help their rich mates). But Russell Norman?

    • deservingpoor 8.1
      15 May 2011 at 4:47 pm

      “Simple Keynesian economics – you borrow in a recession and pay it back in a boom”

      That’s what I find so desperately frustrating about the entire recession debate. There really shouldn’t need to be any debate about that. We know it works, its been done before, its what got the world out of the great depression and kept it out of depression until it became trendy to reject Keynsian economics.

      Instead now we have smile & wave and Don Brash arguing the same slash and burn solutions that Herbert Hoover tried and failed miserably with in the 30’s. We know those policies failed, they’re what made the great depression great and they’re what pushed unemployment up to 15% here in the 90s.

      It will be a happy day when the NZ public finally wake up and cry bullshit.
      I’m not holding my breath.

      • Colonial Viper 8.1.1
        15 May 2011 at 5:13 pm

        This is worth viewing

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRE-IDYfi8Y

        Governments used to take from the wealthy + go into debt during slow downs to spend it on public works and direct public employment. This would boost the whole economy.

        These days governments have been co-opted by corporations and banks.

        When governments go into debt now to rescue the economy they firstly take from the poor and the middle class, then spend the resources gained on banks, corporations, and the wealthy, not on the public.

        That’s the reality of our modern capitalist world today.

    • rosy 8.2
      15 May 2011 at 6:28 pm

      The same effect on the other side of the world – Germany and France are surging ahead while the UK is in the doldrums

      Germany has enjoyed a rapid recovery from its worst recession since the second world war and has clawed back lost ground, with GDP now at the level it was at before the financial crisis.

      In contrast, the UK economy remains smaller than before the downturn began, and the latest Bank of England forecasts suggest that Britain’s economy will not reach its pre-recession size until the second quarter of 2012.

      …contrary to widespread perceptions, “the German story is not one of export-led growth. Ever since the start of the Lehman crisis, German domestic demand has performed much better than net exports”.

      • Jum 8.2.1
        15 May 2011 at 6:53 pm

        All this proves, Rosy, is that those government’s, including ours, planned it that way – Germany and France to go ahead, Ashcroft’s UK and NZ to be ground down ready for the plucking.

        • Colonial Viper 8.2.1.1
          15 May 2011 at 7:17 pm

          is that those government’s, including ours, planned it that way – Germany and France to go ahead

          French socialist movements and union movements, and German workers unions are far more powerful than anything similar we have here or they have in the UK.

          I believe that explains why those countries have come out of this better. Bear in mind that unions and corporations working together in Germany have been one of the roots of ongoing German economic strength, even after the very hard years of reunification.

          That and the fact that Germany has engineers and scientists throughout the upper echelons of their government. In fact Angela Merkel is a PhD qualified nuclear researcher.

          • Zaphod Beeblebrox 8.2.1.1.1
            15 May 2011 at 7:46 pm

            Don’t have to look that far. have a look accross the ditch! Never went into recession and will not have any federal deficit in 2013 (not that they need to pay it down that quick).

            NZ has really missed the boat on this and now has the worst of all worlds. Increasing deficits, negative real growth, a de-skilling workforce, increasing inflation, crumbling infrastructure. Just dumb.

            • rosy 8.2.1.1.1.1
              15 May 2011 at 8:02 pm

              Yes. The short-sighted will only look at the current conditions in Australia and say ‘mine more’. But Australia never bought into the neo-liberal agenda in the same way as the US, UK and NZ. And they voted out the PM that tried to tamper with their union rights. I don’t understand why we’re so madly believing in policies that have no record of success when alternatives are staring at us.

              • Jum …
                15 May 2011 at 11:04 pm

                Greed, my dear Rosy, greed, but I’m sure that

                ‘we’re so madly’

                does not include you and me.

                • rosy …
                  16 May 2011 at 12:15 am

                  You’re right, of course Jum. A collective ‘we’ for the prevailing national mood.

  9. seeker 9
    16 May 2011 at 1:43 am

    @ Rosy and Jum 8 02pm and 11 04pm (well said)

    “I don’t understand why we’re so madly believing in policies that have no record of success…”
    “Greed, my dear Rosy, greed, ”

    “That nice Mr Key is rich and National, he must surely understand money and will make us rich too,” said the short sighted, ‘inividualistic,’ shallow thinking voter with extrinsic aspirations.
    Unfortunately that voter might have to wise up to the fact that “John Key couldn’t organise a piss up in a brewery- but he sure can promise one.”

    So glad Blighty’s pertinent comment has hit the widescreen (brilliant Eddie)- I think it should go global throughout NZ.

  10. deemac 10
    16 May 2011 at 12:25 pm

    but Rosy, those policies worked very well – if you are rich! to hell with the rest of us…

  11. randal 11
    17 May 2011 at 12:30 pm

    Thomas Carlyle in the 19thc said England had become a nation of fools but we seem to have become a nation of imbeciles.

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  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    1 day ago

  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 day ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

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

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

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

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

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

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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