Images of our time: ‘shock’ capitalism

Written By: - Date published: 11:03 am, May 30th, 2013 - 87 comments
Categories: accountability, activism, child welfare, class war, democracy under attack, hone harawira, housing, human rights, john key, mana-party, Metiria Turei, privatisation, same old national, slippery, welfare, workers' rights - Tags:

In the documentary based on Naomi Klein’s Shock Doctrine, Klein stated:

We are witnessing a transfer of wealth of unfathomable size.  It is a transfer of wealth from the public hands, from the hands of government collected from regular people in the form of taxes, into the hands of the wealthiest corporations and individuals in the world.  Needless to say the very individuals and corporations that created this crisis.

Yesterday, in my post, Shocking the people into submission, I explained how the powerful elites opportunistically use the disorienting impact of disasters and economic shocks to further their “neoliberal” agenda.  This contributes to the massive shifting of wealth to the already rich and powerful, continually increasing the gap between rich and poor.  The poor become marginalised, increasingly powerless and demonised by John Key’s NAct government.

The following are some images of what this means in NZ in the second decade of the 21st century:

A jet like the one Peter Jackson owns

A jet like the one Peter Jackson owns

 

Image from NZ child poverty documentary 2011

Image from NZ child poverty documentary 2011

 

Jackson's older jet

Jackson’s older jet

 

Jackson's jet 2011

Jackson’s jet 2011

Peter Jackson's New York penthouse for sale

Peter Jackson’s New York penthouse for sale

 

Glen Innes housing protest

Glen Innes housing protest

Jackson's new York penthouses for sale May 2013

Jackson’s New York penthouses for sale May 2013

State Houses demolished in Hastings, as reported October 2012

State Houses demolished in Hastings, as reported October 2012

child poverty a national disgrace

Some recent links on poverty and inequalities in NZ, and National’s disgrace:

Press release yesterday from Green co-leader MetIria Turei:

The National Government has trivialised child poverty, and the needs of a quarter of kiwi kids, by ignoring most recommendations from the Children’s Commissioner’s Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty, the Green Party said today.

“The National Government is in denial, both about the extent of child poverty in New Zealand and about the power it has to do something about it,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said.

“The Government’s official response to the Commissioner’s report yesterday is an insult to children and to the team of experts who delivered a comprehensive and doable plan to tackle child poverty

Opinion piece from a couple of days ago by Nikki Turner, associate professor at Auckland University’s faculty of medical and health sciences, and the health spokeswoman for the Child Poverty Action Group, BEGINS:

New Zealand continues to grapple with a poor track record for child poverty and particularly the rising inequality affecting our poorest children.

Press release yesterday from UN Human Rights Commissioner:

“Participation is a fundamental human right, not a simple policy option that policymakers can choose not to implement,” United Nations Special Rapporteur Magdalena Sepúlveda said today, presenting her annual report* to the Human Rights Council.

The independent expert on extreme poverty and human rights urged world governments to enable persons living in poverty to participate in decisions that affect their lives. “States must make sustained and proactive efforts to ensure that the voices of people living in poverty can be heard in public debate and policy making,” she stressed.

Tuesday’s press release from Hone Harawira:

Government had the opportunity to do something today about seriously reducing poverty” said Hone Harawira, Leader of MANA and MP for Te Tai Tokerau “and they choked.”

In 2012 the Children’s Commissioner’s Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty released a report showing that 270,000 children in New Zealand were living below the poverty line and recommended a comprehensive government-funded food in schools programme for low-decile schools.

“And the Prime Minister’s solution?” asked Harawira “A 5 year commitment of less than $2 million a year.”

Knowledge, the sharing of it, and collective action is power.

87 comments on “Images of our time: ‘shock’ capitalism ”

  1. Ennui 1

    Karol, how dare you single out the Sainted Sir Peter for opprobrium? Don’t you realise just how much he has done for you and me? Where is your gratitude, your respect, your fawning adoration of the schlockmeister of special effects and second hand story lines? We owe him!!!!!!! Don’t you get it?

    I will have you know His Holiness Peter has always fed his children, and not just because we gave him a pile of tax funding. He would have done it anyway because it fits in with his value set. Children must be fed, well his anyway. When he reads this no doubt his hands will dip into his pockets and dollars will spew forth from Weta to subsidise the feeding of tomorrows cut price special effects techos, whose wages will reflect their gratitude. Dont hold your breath.

    PS I did call to pose the question, I was told he had gone out to get a packet of Weetbix from his favourite store in Acapulco. Brings a whole new meaning to “fast food” and “air mail”.

  2. vto 2

    It’s a tricky one isn’t it, poking the borax at somebody who has done nothing except work by the rules that have been foisted upon us.

    One can hardly expect Jackson to not do what he did because the rules are unbalanced and unfair. Most would be fools not to operate within the parameters set. Like John Key – money-trader, ticket-clipper, creator of nothing, yet earns a fortune.

    I think the issue comes in what people such as this think and do about the rules and settings… do they think they are just and what do they do about them? That is the question. So, what do people like Jackson think and do about the rules and settings we are all operating under?

    20c

    • Colonial Viper 2.1

      Problem here is you have accepted a frame where people can do anything they like within the realm of written down or formalised rules. But a sense of duty to your fellow citizens is not written down or enforced anywhere.

      Nevertheless you are correct in the context – a fucked up environment encourages fucked up behaviour. Happens to any caged animal, and it happens to humans.

      • Tim 2.1.1

        Especially those that opt out of society in favour of living in gated communities, or castles, and even those whose philanthropic endeavours only ever seem to extend to their immediate (self) interests.
        Sure Sir PJ can probably be commended for restoring a Bat or two and ensuring they have a future. In doing so however, there’ll be quite a number who won’t be allowed the luxury to participate. Similarly there’s an entire penninsula where long term residents witness the gauche behaviour of Jackson’s elite feifdom when going about their daily business. The guy is areal *star* of Wellywood.
        I’m happy to acknowledge Sir PJ’s contributions – that doesn’t mean they’re in ANY way superior to those that run soup kitchens, or house the indigent, or assist refugees, or provide budgetary advice, or man CAB’s, or provide care for children and the elderly on minimum wage, or staff our hospitals, or teach our children for slave wages.
        All things considered, the guy is actually a bit of a pillock.

        I can hear his suppotas now: Awe! but he donates to Amnesty International! Whatchoo gotta gens the guy?
        His attitude for one thing.

        • Tim 2.1.1.1

          Actually, now I think about it – those that have chosen to live in these gated communities and castles:
          What say we get them to provide their own Police Force, their own Ambulance Service, their own Fire Brigade, their own Schools, their own systems of welfare and community support, their own airports, their own water supply, their own gas and sewage supply, their own dairies and supermarkets (their own abbatoirs staffed by people happy to work for a pittance, their own crop farms and the road or rail infrastructure between them – I’m sure they could strike a deal with Fulton Hogan).
          Cast them adrift – let them pay no taxes and bend the rules to their hearts desire, but the minute they emerge from their various jurisdictions, let them pay the necessary taxes including all those historical contributions that enabled the infrastructure to get where it is today.

    • karol 2.2

      Jackson and Key work within the “neoliberal” values that currently dominate. However, with the Hobbit issue and law, they bent the rules in their favour, using diversions and misinformation.

      Jackson has become an over-inflated myth, that aids the whole “neoliberal” discourse – needs deflating.

      • woodpecker 2.2.1

        I agree Karol. The rules didn’t exactly suit, so he got his mate to tweek them a little more in his favor.

    • Tim 2.3

      It seems however that we’re still not allowed to critique our Hallowed Ones in any way without tall poppy tall poppy you’re just jealous taunts whether they be Sir PJ or opera singers that are past it.

      • Colonial Viper 2.3.1

        It’s interested to be hated in your own homeland. I hope his couches of gold and platinum are warm and comfortable.

        • Murray Olsen 2.3.1.1

          I’d put money on more Kiwis admiring and/or worshipping him than hating him. That’s how far we’ve fallen, to a rotten state where unionists fighting for their fast disappearing rights are condemned, while a smelly self-indulgent film director is seen as some sort of hero. The sad thing is that he could have made his films without cuddling up to Key or shitting on the workers, but he chose not to.

          Unless you meant Key, of course. He’s hated by an ever increasing number.

          • Draco T Bastard 2.3.1.1.1

            The sad thing is that he could have made his films without cuddling up to Key or shitting on the workers, but he chose not to.

            QFT

            And that decision to go to government to get the laws changed to benefit himself and WB shows the sociopathy that lies within him.

          • muzza 2.3.1.1.2

            PJ, is owned, and answerable to the studio, and the studio owners, so the requested changes may/may not have been his, and I would suggest that its more likely, that it was not!

            While not a supporter of PJ, in any way, people need to start understanding, that you are not *allowed* to become as big as PJ, without giving something up, and the bigger you get, the more you have to give up, its how the game operates!

            Peter Jackon is not, in any meaningful way, in control of his own decisions, or his life, most likely, the machine ensures that!

            Jackson is property of the machine, and it comes with strings attached!

    • Ennui 2.4

      VTO, you might recall that Saint Peter and his messiah Time Warner looked at the scriptures of the NZ legislature with regard to servants, and were not pleased with what they beheld….after a great gnashing of teeth, renting of hair and lamentations the tomes of law were rewritten, and happiness fell upon the face of St Peter.

      Meanwhile there was much lamentation from those who had to pay unto St Peter Caesar for graven moving images of little hairy footed blasphemies. Even his servants received lesser dues from St Peter. But all is not well, association with Judas who took the form of a prime minister bodes badly, debts to Lucifer must be paid in full.

  3. woodpecker 3

    I have a question. Why in the doco, did Maggot Thatcher thank Pinochet and say “we owe you so much”?

  4. Winston Smith 4

    Wow you can almost feel the vitriol dripping like a malignant slime from these posts…

    Don’t hold back, tell us how you really feel…

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 4.1

      That’s you projecting.

      Karol even summons the patience to respond politely to idiot trolls.

    • karol 4.2

      Poverty is not something to be complacent about.

      • Tigger 4.2.1

        There is no vitriol there, not in the ‘envy’ way you mean, Winston. Only anger and we should be angry. The world doesn’t need another private jet. It does need more people refusing to allow children to go hungry because of a system.

        • karol 4.2.1.1

          I have anger about the way John Key & Jackson undermined workers’ rights and unions, in order to secure tax payer funding for Jackson’s films. This is part of the way workers rights and wages have been diminished, while Jackson and his US corporate overlords have benefited.

          • kiwicommie 4.2.1.1.1

            Forcing beneficiaries to work is nothing more than wage slavery*, and the jobs available are not a living wage, in most cases you earn less than you do on a benefit, and they are only contract or part time. In order to live you would have to have three or four part time jobs, and that is barely enough to live on, let alone feed children.

            *Meaning the working conditions and wages are so poor that you are on the point of malnutrition, can’t afford to see the doctor or dentist, and can barely pay the bills, let alone save any money for the future.

            • dumrse 4.2.1.1.1.1

              It would be interesting to see your copy of the Weta Workshops salary schedule. If its as accurate as you state it is them get it published and you may just garner support for your cause.

              • karol

                The impact of Jackson and Key’s manipulations over the Hobbit funding & filming, go beyond what ever is happening at Weta workshops.

                Team Jackson manipulatively spread misinformation smearing unions, at a time when Key was happy to play into that smearing – many of us had just been on a day of union action that seemed like a resurgence of union activity, opposing some of the devastating law changes and policies of Key’s government. That helped to undermine our actions.

                Jackson also used such manipulations to get a law change, that ultimately adds to the weakening of workers’ power to get decent wages and working conditions.

    • Murray Olsen 4.3

      Aw Winnie, if you can almost feel anything, you’re making progress. Keep it up.

  5. How many jobs have you created karol, compared to peter jackson?

    • fatty 5.1

      lol…’job creators’

      Your comment has done nothing but add more weight to Karol’s point. From what I can see, Karol’s use of imagery shows the hegemony of neoliberalism within NZ, and your response has only strengthened this.
      Neoliberal buzzwords/memes resonate with the simpletons.
      What next? – ‘Jackson is a self-made person’?

    • felix 5.2

      No no no Brett, you’re mistaken.

      Sir Peter Jackson went to great lengths and even fought in the courts to ensure that no-one is allowed to call him an “employer” or refer to his contracts as “jobs”.

  6. Peter Jackson is successful because he had the vision to create something people love, he’s not a grotesque spitter, like Hone, who relies on communists hate of capitalism.

    • Draco T Bastard 6.1

      Actually, from what I’ve seen he’s simply gamed the system.

    • Paul 6.2

      One senses from your regular comments that there are lots of things you hate….
      Hardly a poster who spreads the love….
      Those in glasshouses should not throw stones.

  7. I have to go as far as to say this is the most pathetic, Jealous, hateful post anyone on this site has done.

    Keep posting like this, everytime you do, someone who might think of voting Labour, gets turned away.

    • RedLogix 7.1

      Brett,

      You may want to contemplate this:

      An explosion in extreme wealth and income is exacerbating inequality and hindering the world’s ability to tackle poverty, Oxfam warned today in a briefing published ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos next week.

      The $240 billion net income in 2012 of the richest 100 billionaires would be enough to make extreme poverty history four times over, according Oxfam’s report ‘The cost of inequality: how wealth and income extremes hurt us all.’ It is calling on world leaders to curb today’s income extremes and commit to reducing inequality to at least 1990 levels.

      The richest one per cent has increased its income by 60 per cent in the last 20 years with the financial crisis accelerating rather than slowing the process.

      Oxfam warned that extreme wealth and income is not only unethical it is also economically inefficient, politically corrosive, socially divisive and environmentally destructive.

      http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressrelease/2013-01-19/annual-income-richest-100-people-enough-end-global-poverty-four-times

      We are now seeing Dickensian levels of inequality developing across many societies, with the process remorselessly showing no signs whatsoever of slowing. It is a process with one logical outcome. The left is going to speak against this, and it has nothing to do with envy. Whenever you trot out that tired, vacuous argument it is nothing more than a projection of your own inner motivations.

      • weka 7.1.1

        Thanks RL, that’s a great example of a thoughtful, non-inflammatory response to a loaded commenter.

        • karol 7.1.1.1

          to a loaded commenter.

          LOL. I think you are referring to the comment… no?

          And also my thanks, RL, for some very helpful comments.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 7.2

      No, Brett: you are projecting.

      No-one is begrudging Sir Peter Jackson’s wealth. Some begrudge his behaviour. The post is making a point about inequality.

      Oh, and what does Karol’s opinion have to do with the Labour Party? She’s an avowed Greenie.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.3

      I’ve told you before Brett, it’s not envy – it’s disgust.

    • karol 7.4

      And yet, you are not disgusted by the Marlborough cartoon, demonising people in poverty.

      • Brett Dale 7.4.1

        Karol:

        Your right Im not disgusted by a cartoon, Im disgusted by politicians who spit and say vile racist comments, Im disgusted by leaders of parties who would have people in their party who when hearing three thousand people died, they come out and say “I broke open the Champagne.” Im disgusted by politicians who shut up and say nothing when they see people committing violence against children, but Im not disgusted by a cartoon.

        • karol 7.4.1.1

          And you are not worried about the impact of a cartoon, that reinforces the way low income people are repeatedly demonised, and smeared? It’s not just a cartoon – it has real life impacts.

          • Brett Dale 7.4.1.1.1

            No its just a cartoon, Im more worried about the behavior of real life people.

            • karol 7.4.1.1.1.1

              Real people like John Key and those in team Jackson? Although, both are at least partly a media construction, a myth. I have no idea what they are like as individuals, but the ways they are mythologised have quite a bit in common with cartoons.

            • felix 7.4.1.1.1.2

              What’s the difference between a politician saying offensive racist things and a cartoon saying offensive racist things?

              Surely it’s the offensive racist things that bother you, not the person saying them.

              Or is it?

              • A cartoon is normally satire, a person being racist is a person being racist.

                • felix

                  In this case the cartoon wasn’t satire at all. It was just a cartoonist being racist.

                  A cartoonist is a person. How come it’s ok for this person to be racist and it doesn’t bother you?

                  • karol

                    Excellent response, felix. I had difficulty finding some logic in Brett’s above comment.

                  • There were people of diofferent races in the cartoon , when Hone the spitter said “white mother fucker” he only mentioned one race. Which no one here had a problem with , I might add.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Did you have a problem with it, Brett?

                    • felix

                      Ah, so your argument is that the cartoon isn’t racist.

                      You know it’d be a lot quicker if you ever just said what you mean instead of making people prise your head open.

                • karol

                  That’s your argument? Racism is an individual thing. No understanding of institutional racism, or they way individuals get to have racist attitudes?

        • felix 7.4.1.2

          Im disgusted by politicians who shut up and say nothing when they see people committing violence against children

          Very curious to know who you’re referring to here Brett.

          • Brett Dale 7.4.1.2.1

            Your a sharp fella, figure it out.

            • felix 7.4.1.2.1.1

              Or you could just tell me.

              I haven’t heard of a politician seeing people committing violence against children and doing nothing about it.

              Who is it?

              • Not personally seeing someone hit someone, but knowing that it happens and
                saying nothing or blaming the wrong people.

                • felix

                  Well you clearly know something. So who is it?

                  • Every extreme left wing political, who blames society and not personal responsibility.

                    Understand now?

                    • Colonial Viper

                      They both have a strong role Brett.

                    • felix

                      No Brett, I don’t understand that at all.

                      But thanks for sharing a little more of your disease.

                    • Murray Olsen

                      You should try other sources than WhaleSpew for your information. He loves carrying on about Maori marching for land etc, but doing nothing about violence to children. It seems you’re just repeating that lazy thinking, or lack of it.

                      If I’d ever come across a left winger saying that violence against children was acceptable because of society, you might have some point. In real life, the guys who screamed when they were told they couldn’t bash their kids any more were, to my knowledge, right wingers and Christians.

                      What left wingers do realise is that domestic problems will be accentuated by the stress caused by poor social conditions, and put some effort into changing those conditions. This has nothing to do with abrogation of personal responsibility. In fact, I see it as part of the personal responsibility we have towards building a more just society.

                      I know it’s easier to just complain about “inverse racism” though, and perpetuate myths. That’s why so many of you do it.

                    • Clockie

                      Brett: Not that you’re ideological of course…

                      Ever going to reply to my query?

                      http://thestandard.org.nz/the-meaning-of-utu/#comment-633138

                    • Paul

                      The new meme put forward by Farrar, Slater and the paid puppets.Anyone with a moderately progressive argument is ‘extreme left.’
                      How much are they paying you to embed that, Brett?

  8. Private Baldric 8

    He’s rich and some people aren’t so we should take all his money and give it to those who aren’t.

    [RL: Putting words into the mouth of the author is a fast way to earn a ban.]

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 8.1

      Is that what you think, because no-one else said any such thing.

      I note that New Zealand’s per capita GDP under Labour is greater than under National. Perhaps getting your “facts” from a turnip is a mistake.

    • Clockie 8.2

      Hey Baldric your persona is slipping. You do know that the original Baldric is more or less a good humoured, wide eyed babe in the woods? You’re sounding a bit more like an embittered old cynic. Trouble in the turnip patch?

  9. No one is begrudging his wealth?? This post has a picture of hungry kids and a pic of
    Jackson’s jet.

    What inequality? hetook a path, and become very successful with it, if he didnt become famous, those hungry kids will still be hungry.

    • RedLogix 9.1

      What inequality?

      What … Jackson goes to bed hungry?

      No-one begrudges the fact that Jackson took a specific path, or has worked hard at it and was fortunate to be successful at it … but there is no rational economic or ethical reason why this particular choice of career should be so vastly better rewarded than dozens of others I could name.

      Ask yourself; why does directing movies pay so very, very well? Why does making a successful movie pay hundreds of millions of dollars? What is the reason for this do you imagine?

      I repeat: The $240 billion net income in 2012 of the richest 100 billionaires would be enough to make extreme poverty history four times over, according Oxfam’s report. The income concentrated into the hands of these mere 100 people could fix the extreme poverty 1,000,000,000 live in (that 22,000 children die of every day) over, and over, and over … and over again.

      • Wayne 9.1.1

        Because the films are seen by billions of people, and a proportion of the revenue goes to the director.

        Interestingly this was (and I guess still is) the complaint of commercial lawyers. They are stuck on an hourly rate (well, a pretty high one), but the merchant bankers they were advisng got a percentage of the transaction. So a billion dollar aquisition might yield $20 million (2%) for the bankers, but $2 million for the lawyers (2,000 hours @ $1000 per hour).

        So long as there is a capitalit system, this is how it is.

        Govts can’t stop it, but they can tax it. In France as high as 75%, and in many western nation around 40 to 45%.

        But I don’t think we will ever see Matt McCartens proposal of people owning no more than two houses, unless he intends that NZ should become the new Cuba – impossible in a democratic country. People just won’t vote for it.

        For instance a tax rate of 75% would still mean the most wealthy NZers would still have multi million dollar incomes (assuming they did not all decamp to Australia!). If people have money, they will spend it somewhere. And are you going to police everything people spend?

        • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1.1

          Because the films are seen by billions of people, and a proportion of the revenue goes to the director.

          Yep, and that’s the problem with capitalism. A few people are over rewarded for their minuscule role.

          Govts can’t stop it,

          Actually, they can – if they have the courage to do so.

          People just won’t vote for it.

          I think you’d be amazed at what people will vote for once they know the truth. As Ford said:
          If the people knew how the banking system worked there’d be a revolution before morning.
          Not an exact quote but close enough.

          For instance a tax rate of 75% would still mean the most wealthy NZers would still have multi million dollar incomes (assuming they did not all decamp to Australia!).

          Yep, so they can afford it though, personally, I’d prefer it if they did decamp to Australia.

          If people have money, they will spend it somewhere. And are you going to police everything people spend?

          Nope, how they get the money in the first place.

        • RedLogix 9.1.1.2

          Because the films are seen by billions of people, and a proportion of the revenue goes to the director.

          But so are many other things consumed by billions of people. By that logic alone because billions of people eat food, then farmers should be billionaires.

          There has to be more to it.

          • farmboy 9.1.1.2.1

            get a big enough farm or farms and you can,jesus is that not obvious

            • Colonial Viper 9.1.1.2.1.1

              break em all up into small farms 250 ha and smaller. Apart from ones on low productivity land.

            • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1.2.1.2

              Ah, so I should just become a monopoly farmer? 7 billion people who must come to me for food. Yeah, I can see the sense in that.

              /sarc

              BTW, you failed to see the problem with people being paid excessively for doing SFA.

      • Paul 9.1.2

        Brett does not care about kids in poverty…that’s why he spends so much time arguing against anything that might just help them out.
        Wonder if someone pays him to come out with this stuff?

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 9.2

      That’s a comparison, Brett.

      The inequality the OECD and The Lancet have noticed, Brett.

  10. karol 10

    And more law changes made to order for the corporates, while the democratic rights of less powerful citizens are eroded further.

    Newly released documents show Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce made a “backroom deal” with oil company Shell over the ban on protesting in the exclusive economic zone, the Labour Party says.

  11. Wayne 11

    I appreciate this is a late post on this thread, but Sir Peter does raise an important aspect of capitalism.

    The reason he does so well is because his films have worldwide appeal, and he gets a percentage return. That is capitalism in the global space in action. Not many of us can do anything that has worldwide appeal. Now I don’t think any govt can do anything about that, and indeed why would it it. In fact successive govts have encouraged him – more jobs, more skills in NZ etc.

    And his G650 is really a business tool to get him and his team to LA on a regular basis, but a very exclusive one!

    But arguably it does require some response from govt, and I think that is best in the tax area. For instance NZ has one of the lower top tax rates in the OECD. For instance in the US the top rate is 39.6% for incomes over $400,000, in the UK 45% for incomes over 150,000 pounds and in Aus 45% for income over $180,000. In all cases their top rate cuts in at a reasonably high level. One of the problems with the Clark govt was that fact the top rate cut in $60,000, say $100,000 at todays value. And she did not adjust it.

    Now I happen to think that Hollandes rate of 75% is ridiculous, and if applied in NZ would see many high income earners decamp for Aus. Basically not a good thing.

    So what would a credible top tax rate for a left govt look like in my opinion. Well, a progressive tax rate structure might have 39% for incomes above $150,000 and 45% for incomes above $300,000. Arguably the top rate is more important than the mid rate in this kind of discussion, and there may be no need for a 39% rate.

    • karol 11.1

      I think progressive taxation is part of the solution.

      However, int he case of the Warners’ movies made in NZ, there is also the profiteering of Hollywood corporates. They make huge profits, so why should they get tax/subsidies from the NZ tax payers? And why should that get NZ employment laws changed at their request?

      I would rather tax payer money went to funding local NZ stories. And I would rather we didn’t open the door to profiteering Hollywood corporates – they make millions off such movies. I rarely go to the cinema these days. They cost too much.

      Something’s wrong when that US industry is making millions, but hard working Kiwis doing jobs that contribute to NZ’s common good, barely earn a living wage.

    • Mike S 11.2

      The tax rates you’ve mentioned don’t do anything to address those who declare low or no income yet are extremely wealthy.

      Closing all loopholes and making the tax system fairer would do more to address inequality.

  12. Wayne 12

    Karol, I was not really trying to get into this particular debate as such, which we have kind of done to death before. But successive NZ Govts do try to foster high skill business here, especially if there is a risk that it could go elsewhere.

    I appreciate that there are debatable aspects of what has actually been done, but the motivation of keeping this kind of industry in NZ seems unarguable to me. I know Sir Peter benefits, but so does the NZ tax base and the 1000 + high paying jobs in Wellington. I suspect the taxpayer might spend a dollar, but get six back.

  13. The article was making a point about inequality, which is an escalating problem in New Zealand. There is pretty good evidence that just about every social and environmental ill in the social scientists’ sights, including teen pregnancy, abortion, prison population, violent crime, obesity, mental illness, environmental destruction etc. is linked to inequality. My own research has also shown a tenuous link between better equality and better animal welfare. More equal countries of the same average income eat fewer animal products and have better protection for farmed animals.

    Though I do take the point that it may have been better not to have picked on one particular person to emphasise the nature of inequality in New Zealand. There are plenty of generic pictures of posh real estate and private jets, and I am sure Jackson is nowhere near the richest person in New Zealand.

    • xtasy 13.1

      I ended up on welfare due to a social and associated disaster, and I tell you, WINZ and health authorities, have delivered FUCK ALL, to get me recover and well enough to perhaps even consider part time work. Yet ALL their focus is on detecting failure, on blaming, and penalising, on tightening up benefit component payments (reviews every 3 motnhs) and to suspect me and others to “fake” my illness and incapacity.

      They now are planning to harden up on work capacity testing, to even outsource this, and to also tell their own doctors and advisors, that people must be “assisted” into work, where there are NO jobs, where there is NO actual support of substance, and where people are so afraid, they are rather thinking of migration or suicide, to end their shit lot in a lost country, that still dares to count itself to the first world and developed countries.

      Shame is all over NZ now, and this government is the most disgusting government in this country one could think of. Sad, really

    • Colonial Viper 13.2

      Jackson is top 10 by NBR. That’s top 0.001% material

  14. xtasy 14

    Fiscal, finance and the details, see the last crowd that ran our place:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=fQTNDr7A_N8

    Clark and Cullen cornered and asked!!!

    So how innocent, how right or wrong was it all, and what is right now, then?

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    41 mins ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 hour ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    1 hour ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 hour ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    2 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    7 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    9 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    9 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    12 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    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
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    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
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    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

  • 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
    5 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
    7 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
    8 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
    21 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T04:29:45+00:00