In defence of Ashley Bloomfield

Written By: - Date published: 8:27 am, June 22nd, 2020 - 155 comments
Categories: australian politics, China, health, national, same old national, us politics - Tags: , ,

Well the last week has been a real roller coaster.

Aotearoa New Zealand has gone from the ecstasy of we have no Covid to the agony that we, at the time of writing, have eight cases of Covid and the first two went on a road trip from Auckland to Wellington, hugged someone who went to a gym and who the f*ck knows where we are now.  So far there is no evidence of community transmission.  Long may it stay that way.

As I previously noted National went to town on the issue.  Michael Woodhouse chose to hold back releasing information about the road trip until the time that it would be of the most political damage.  Sure elements of the Ministry of Health may have also known it but letting the Minister know it immediately would have meant that Wellington could have put its foot down, insisted that the quarantine regime improves its performance, and hopefully reduced the risk of the virus spreading.  Delaying meant he had a great Gotcha moment but the risk of the spread of the virus has now been increased.

But Labour would have done the same I hear you wail.  They also seek to maximise political advantage over contributing to the public good.

I doubt it.

There is this example from 2015 when Andrew Little chose to go to John Key’s office to tell him that there was something remiss with National MP Mike Sabin.  No publicity, no point scoring, just a suggestion he sorts things out.  From my post at the time:

If you ever needed to see the difference between Labour and National then Labour’s handling of the issues surrounding Mike Sabin provides a perfect example.

One of the issues of significance is when did John Key learn about Mike Sabin’s difficulties.  If he knew before the election the question will be why was Sabin reselected and why he was offered the chair of the Law and Order select committee.  After all the media knew about an allegation of assault before the election and had asked questions of Key’s office.

Initially Key declined to say when he first knew of Sabin’s difficulties.  When asked on Friday January 30 he declined to answer this question.  Then on Monday he said that he knew Sabin was “facing personal and family issues” in mid December.  Then he said it was “early December“.  Then on February 3 he said he found out about the “issues” on December 1.

Andrew Little said yesterday morning that he had heard about the issues in late  November, shortly after he became leader.  He was confirmed leader on November 18.  When interviewed he was at a Labour Caucus retreat and did not have the details  with him.  He said that he was received from two sources information that a National MP was under Police investigation and made the decision to alert the Prime Minister’s office.  Little was confident that it was at the end of November, within 10 days of his taking up the role as leader.  By contrast Key had maintained that his office had been informed on December 3, and he made aware of the issue on December 1.  He also maintained that his office already knew about the issue before the time Labour had informed it.

This all turned to shyte for National after Labour supplied a phone log showing that a conversation between McCarten and Eagleson happened on November 26, 8 days after Little became leader and well before the dates Key initially maintained National knew about the issue.

Little also said that Labour did not intend to take the matter further, and they would not be telling anyone else.

Last week Labour chose to go on the counter offensive and said in Parliament that Chris Bishop had advocated for the two women to be released early.

Can I respectfully suggest this was a mistake.  Electorate MPs should be free to advocate on behalf of constituents or their families.  Political links should not be drawn.  I have spent a career advocating for drunk drivers, robbers, burglars, wife beaters and drug addicts.  This does not mean that I approve of their behaviour.

It does however add in a further time point.  It appears that these two women were on National’s radar for quite a few days.  I almost get the impression National wants the quarantine system to fail.

Woodhouse’s source of information appears to be from within the Ministry of Health.  It is a shame they have not put as much effort into doing their job as they have into the leaking of information.

Is Bloomfield to blame?  He feels like part of my extended family.  He has been at the centre of a public service attempt to do what no other nation in the Western World has done and that is give us an insulated but normal life.  In the near future it appears there will be no foreign travel except possibly to the Pacific but at least our communities will be normal and our hospitals and morgues not overrun by people dying from the virus.

Did Bloomfield personally stuff up last week?  Well no.  Auckland’s Health management of the detention areas has been appalling.  But unlike Superman Bloomfield cannot be expected to be everywhere at all times.

Further infections have appeared over the past few days.  But they are all infections from overseas and, apart from the two road trippers, detected while in quarantine.  Last week there were 3,567 people in quarantine or managed isolation so new cases are almost inevitable.

The usual cheerleaders in the media are complaining that things are too strict AND not strict enough.  Please make up your mind.

And hotel guests have expressed frustration.  With the greatest of respect, the world is facing a pandemic and we want to as far as possible keep it out.  Your personal discomfort is the price of maintaining this as best as we can.

Meanwhile we continue to have no detected cases of community spread.  Long may it last.

And to be frank the chances of New Zealand staying disease free are very low.  The virus is a bastard, easily spread and hard to detect.

When you compare what is happening in New Zealand to overseas you still have to marvel at what we have achieved.  The number of cases in the world continues to increase. (graph from Johns Hopkins).

And the US, China, Germany and Australia, the country National was previously cheer leading, have all had increases in their daily infection rates.

Paul Goldsmith’s claim this morning that it is the Government’s fault that because of problems at the border trade cannot resume is a joke.  Just look at the rates for China and India in particular.  Do we really want to resume trade with those countries.  And even Germany, who up to now have handled the outbreak with typical determination is facing a second wave of infections.

There is a legitimate expectation that New Zealand is as close to perfection in terms of its response to the Covid pandemic.  So far we are going pretty well.  Ashley Bloomfield deserves much of the praise.  And yes we as a country need to do even better.  There are a lot of kiwis returning home and some of them have the virus.

Can we do better?  Certainly.  Road trips by Covid infected recent arrivals should not happen.  But so far we can still be very grateful that we are doing as well as we are.

I for one continue to be very grateful of the efforts of Ashley Bloomfield.

155 comments on “In defence of Ashley Bloomfield ”

  1. Dennis Frank 1

    I agree. The behaviour of the Nats on this issue has been despicable (morally) and abysmal (politically). Bloomfield can't be responsible for the (non)performance of other operational staff – unless his employment contract actually says so.

    • Wayne Mapp 1.1

      Actually both the DG and the Minister are both responsible for the failure of the staff of MOH. It is part of the role of the DG as CE to be responsible. That is why he gets such a high salary.

      Now that is not to say that the DG would have direct knowledge of the failures. But he is responsible for fixing the failures. I personally think the DG has been quick to get on top of this. No human system is perfect, but the DG has done as well as anyone could have possibly done.

      In this case Air Commodore Webb has been appointed to do the actual fix, no doubt with the agreement of the DG, perhaps he was even proposed by the DG.

      In fact the DG has been in the military as an RMO. A very good one at that. He was the RMO in my old unit of 3 Auck North. So the DG would have a very good sense of the capability of the military.

      I suspect that DG concluded that the senior MH staff were not up to managing quarantine. Which is not surprising. I can’t imagine MH staff would have the skill set to manage something like mandatory quarantine. That is more likely within the domain of those used to disciplined organisation.

      • Sacha 1.1.1

        Many of the workers at quarantine sites would be from regional public health services, not part of the MoH workforce.

        Health sector managers and workers mostly lack the right mindset to be ruthless about quarantine – which is a good thing, the rest of the time. Good to hear that further detail about Ashley's background.

      • Dennis Frank 1.1.2

        Thanks for that helpful clarification. Doing a fix ain't quite the same as enforcing accountability, of course, so his acting responsibly seems merely in accord with the PM's limited view. I'd prefer to see the omission rectified as well.

      • observer 1.1.3

        Wayne, thank you for that perspective, including the military experience of the DG. New information to me, and probably others too.

        I don't think any reasonable person can dispute that Dr Bloomfield deserves our respect and appreciation. He certainly has mine.

      • RedLogix 1.1.4

        Same from me Wayne. And what the others above have said.

    • tania 1.2

      I agree. Dr Bloomfield has been dignified and humble throughout. Yes mistakes have been made but we must remember that our generation and the generation before us has never experienced a pandemic like this. None of us were here when the Spanish flu killed 8000 New Zealanders in 1918 except our great parents. Michael Woodhouse is a disappointment. Twice he has used the famous English tabloid phrase "I was told by a reliable scource", which may be construed by many as "I made this all up" We are facing a terrible virus which is killing millions worldwide. Now is not the time for the National Party to make political gain out of every word uttered from the mouth of Dr Bloomfield. He deserves our praise for his outstanding work and so too does Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

    • tania 1.3

      I agree. Dr Bloomfield has been dignified and humble throughout. Yes mistakes have been made but we must remember that our generation and the generation before us has never experienced a pandemic like this. None of us were here when the Spanish flu killed 8000 New Zealanders in 1918 except our great grandparents. Michael Woodhouse is a disappointment. Twice he has used the famous English tabloid phrase "I am informed by a reliable source", which could be construed by many as "I am making this all up" We are facing a terrible virus which is killing millions worldwide. Now is not the time for the National Party to make political gain out of every word uttered from the mouth of Dr Bloomfield. He deserves our praise for his outstanding work and so too does Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

  2. Ad 2

    Look I'm really grateful to him and to the entire clinical staff who kept us going. I'm grateful to the Prime Minister as well.

    But as the comprehensive report from Heather Simpson showed last week, the rest of the health system is a dysfunctional disaster and needs to be ripped apart and rebuilt.

    This is not only on the watch of our fucking useless Minister of Health Dr Clark, but also on the watch of the Director General of Health Dr Blomfield.

    If I get the time I'll do a post on the report and what it's recommending.

    To give just a little glimpse of how crap the system is, we've been waiting for a plan for the Dunedin Hospital to come out of the system and start to get through Consents for the whole of this term.

    They're still dicking around, and there's near-zero chance it will be announced before the election now. They haven't even finished the detailed business case so that it can go to Cabinet.

    As Bill noted in a post a year ago, there is major flooding risk in that site, and ground stabilisation and massive piles are going to be needed.

    Dr Blomfield and Dr Clark are in charge of a system, not just one event.

    The fact that it was held together for a few month by overworked heroes is no reason to let their performance of the health system go un-scrutinised.

    • Sacha 2.1

      Bloomfield has little power to reshape the health system without the cooperation of the minister. I look forward to seeing what he can do with a competent minister to work with. Sooner would be good.

    • Anker 2.2

      People criticise David Clark. I certainly did over his lockdown breach.. But if you look at what has been achieved in health under his watch, it’s a lot.

      the Dunedin hospital approved, site chosen, when I was there in December noticed a project office.

      billons of dollars for mental health some new services up and running, incredible given workforce shortages.

      problems at middlemore identified not sure what progress on fixing.

      nurses wage round successfully completed

      reporton health, (Simpson’s). Completed

      new cancer drugs funded and new funding for pharmac

      a cancer agency set up, more money for radiography

      since lockdown many announcements about increasing services

      I think you are buying into the media narrative that he is hopeless without any real evidence.

      he has also be the minister during the pandemic and other than his own personal slip up, there is no evidence his hasn’t performed. If he was bumbling with nothing to offer, then Jacinda would have sacked him

      • Kay 2.2.1

        Refuses to order an enquiry in Pharmac's behaviour or engage with citizens adversely affected by said behaviour. He hears the word Pharmac and goes AWOL.

        • Sacha 2.2.1.1

          Of course he has little to say on the subject. Pharmac was deliberately designed to be free from Ministerial interference in its decisions.

          • Kay 2.2.1.1.1

            Except when certain PMs are happy to over ride Pharmac's decisions and fund a certain cancer drug as an election bribe.

            • Sacha 2.2.1.1.1.1

              And look how well that has been working for us all. Hopefully the new cancer agency will bring some rigour about which spending produces the biggest increases in wellbeing. Clue: it’s not medicines.

      • Ad 2.2.2

        Minister Clark was firstly almost fired by the Prime Minister, and was according to the Prime Minister only not sacked in May because he was needed on the job. Incompetent.

        Then last week he was removed by the Prime Minister and replaced by Wood on the Covid-19 border response. Incompetent.

        On the Dunedin hospital there is no Cabinet approval, no design, no procurement pathway, and not even a signal that it will be completed by the end of 2026 which is two terms away. Incompetent.

        In terms of mental health services funding, no DHB has been able to fund their own mental health teams out of it. Just ask them.

        The audit over old hospital buildings has been completed, and it is catastrophic.

        Not only should Clark be fired according to the Prime Minister, he should be sacked for making things worse, and not spending what has been allocated.

        Go ahead and defend him , but you're on the wrong side of the PM for evidence to keep him at all.

        • Wow Ad, this Minister inherited a poisoned chalice of the Health Ministry which was full of austerity outcomes.

          Has tried to come to grips with all the holes while trying to improve the system.

          Was struck with all the problems of a pandemic, lock down, unrelated IT systems and low paid part time workers employed by DHBs, to pull together a world admired outcome.

          He and Bloomfield have made mistakes, as they are men not Gods.

          A coalition of disparate views has been pulled together and presented calmly clearly with great success yet you say he has failed… how?

          He has called for a report which you say damns him. How? He has already said areas for improvement replacement and change have been identified and work has begun.

          When did retraining support and acknowledgement of growth get thrown out?

          That would be baby and bathwater. We are still in a World Pandemic, so thank goodness Jacinda Ardern is more prescient.

      • marious 2.2.3

        Thank you for your reply backed by facts. It is going to take some time to address the neglect of the past government. As you point out the PM supports Dr Clark's contribution to the process of improvement in health services going forward.

    • AB 2.3

      Having bad-faith actors like the National Party on the scene makes it very difficult to have that discussion without giving them an opening, and therefore risking a regression to something worse than what we already have. i.e. a classic lesser of two evils scenario and the same thinking as lies behind the exhortations from many here to support Biden and say nothing to undermine his candidacy, despite his manifold deficiencies

    • left_forward 2.4

      You clearly haven't read the Health System Review document Ad. It says nothing of the sort – it acknowledges an overall high performing, world leading health system, and then outlines why and how it needs to change.

      I do think however that the health inequities for Maori, rurally isolated, and disability communities are indeed disastrous. However, this has been a failure of all Governments and relates to white colonialism and neo-liberal ideologues. It will be a significant test of the Government's well-being aspirations to tackle systemic racism and move forward on these, in my view brilliant recommendations, and not just focus on the big structural parts, such as DHB reform.

  3. That_guy 3

    Michael Woodhouse chose to hold back releasing information about the road trip until the time that it would be of the most political damage.

    Michael Woodhouse chose to hold back releasing information about the road trip until the time that it would be of the most political damage.

    Michael Woodhouse chose to hold back releasing information about the road trip until the time that it would be of the most political damage.

    And one more time for luck.

    Michael Woodhouse chose to hold back releasing information about the road trip until the time that it would be of the most political damage.

    This is the story. A National party minister played politics with the health and economy of an entire nation.

    • newview 3.1

      That-guy. Does that make the original mistake any less. So fuckin typical. Deflection and blame to lessen the incompetence. Who gives a fuck what Woodhouse said, the Governments auditing of the quarantine conditions was pathetic. Woodhouse isn’t even in the Government for fucks sake.

      • Jum 3.1.1

        newview

        Woodhouse should be forced to resign. He sat on information about possible COVID 19 positive women who had lied about their travel activities and had put people in North Island at risk.

        What is also unforgivable is the media that didn't spend any time digging into the shabby, dangerous political manipulation Woodhouse, and his boss Muller were indulging in and will continue to do so having been given the green light to behave unconscionably.

        So, I do give a fuck about their getting away with their disgusting factioneering to sway public opinion. So fuck off with your fucking engineering to whitewash them.

      • Unicus 3.1.2

        A National Party MP interfered in the quarantine system causing these two women to be released

        Own it Woodhouse

  4. I Feel Love 4

    I too am grateful to Blomfield too, an unenviable job, done well. And I too thought it was pretty low for Bishops role to be unveiled like that. Nice post Mickey.

  5. Craig H 5

    Shows how fast things turn in politics…

    Also, it's Dr. Bloomfield, not Blomfield.

    [Bugger. I knew that. Now fixed … MS]

  6. Tricledrown 6

    Ad you are trying to blame this govt for years of under spending especially by National who left the funding at 2008 levels while the population expanded by 20% over 9 yrs.National didn't even cover the inflation increase let alone the massive population increase.

    Then the several billion dollars required for fixing leaky new hospitals caused by Nationals destruction of the building code and the disasterous corruption of privatising of building inspections.

    Canterbury earthquake funding of Mental health was cut in a time of desperate need.

    Nationals tax cuts are paid for by slashing health care,education,housing,policing,safety,etc

    [lprent: This appears to be related to comment #2 ]

    • lprent 6.1

      The reply button appears to be working – why aren't you using it?

    • Ad 6.2

      This govt claims, every budget, to have put hundreds of billions into health.

      Not a single stat is improved.

      Buildings are rotting.

      National are preparing to put a Kenworth truck over this government's delivery.

      So they should.

      • Anker 6.2.1

        What stats aren’t improving Ad?
        do you think the minister can snap his fingers and make it all better? Really?

        huge amount of money for mental health stats aren’t going to look better for a while as we now have the significant effects of the pandemic on mental health.
        i am not defending David c as such, but he has got quite a bit done, including approving funding for hospital units and increasing funding for pharmac for a range of drugs.

      • Draco T Bastard 6.2.2

        Unlike in Civilization, spending money doesn't auto-magically make things. In real life we still need to supply the resources to make those things, still need to plan on how to do it and have the knowledge to do it.

        Increasing spending on health will slowly redirect the health system into doing more. But we also need to put the knowledge that we do have to better use and plan a better health system. Find out where and why things aren't working and then fix them which will take time. Considering that the health system has been destroyed over the last thirty plus years as governments have tried to privatise it more means that it is going to take a lot of fixing.

  7. Imodium 7

    I find it unbelievable that this government does not know (or does not want us to know) how many of those in quarantine since lockdown have not been tested. Surely there must be a database of all those who have entered quarantine and a database of anyone in NZ who has been tested –should be a simple match to get the result –couple of hours work at the most –not days and days –me thinks they is hiding something……

    • SPC 7.1

      The reqirement for testing those leaving managed siolation did not occur until June 10.

    • Sacha 7.2

      Surely there must be a database of all those who have entered quarantine and a database of anyone in NZ who has been tested

      You would not believe how backwards most of the health system's IT infrastructure is. Ancient hardware and software because money was 'saved' by not keeping it up to date. Twenty versions of basic stuff because of the DHB model, not joined up.

      • Draco T Bastard 7.2.1

        Ancient hardware and software because money was 'saved' by not keeping it up to date.

        We have a cheap health system – not a cost effective one. This is something that many haven't worked out yet.

        • Sacha 7.2.1.1

          Too many neoliberal managers miss that for something to be 'cost-effective' (a phrase the MoH ones love) it actually has to be effective first.

    • All past returnees were on 14 day self isolation until Level 2, on June 9, when testing was introduced. 55 people were given early part release for a variety of reasons ..about 1% of the 20 000 returnees. The response? no more early releases why? because hysteria on the part of some in the press was causing public anxiety. Headings like "Hero to Zero." What hyperbole.

  8. Sabine 8

    Maybe its time to anounce the number of people in isolation/quarantine every day just like it was done with the cases of infection/probable infection.

    At least would put some sort of context to the number of cases that test positive and maybe reduce the fear that is percolating up again.

    Secondly, maybe in stead of exemption on grounds of compassion we need better rules – and these rules then are binding – funerals, weddings, babtism, etc are part of what makes us humans. so unless we want to give these traditions up cause Covid -19 we need to find rules on how to go about this safely.

    Maybe we need to make returning kiwis aware of what awaits them in NZ, i.e. quarantine – no you don't get to choose where, no leaving the premises until the two weeks are over, you get so many tests, no matter how much you complain. Rejoice tho, you are at home and no longer in the UK, US, India etc. and thus much safer.

    At the moment, – my experience speaking with customers – no one seems to know how this works, who takes care of these people once they get of the plane and so on and so forth,

    And if we have an issue with the managing these quarantine centres by Civilians in Hotels, use the Defense Forces, they have admin staff that can do the job of booking in, managing the stay and releasing of quarantine, have medical staff – nurses and doctors – should someone fall ill and need help, and in my opinion would be the best to sternly state : No Ma'am Sir you may not leave the premises, you may not do this or that and …..:) .

    This is the challenge of this government – not the lockdown – but the management of this crisis without loosing our humanity. As this illness, this virus in some form or another is going to be with us for a long time and we have not got the slightest incling when we will have understood it enough to manage the illness. Maybe it pays to look at HIV/AIDs – it is still with us, and we still have cases as people still refuse to use condoms for their protection – this should give us an idea just how hard it is to get people to do the right thing.

    As for National, they will exploit the tiniest error, mis-step, complication because this is all they got. They have no ideas, no talent, no leader/s, heck they are washed up and of no use. But if they lose their jobs, they too will be most likely unemployed in this Covid 19 depression. And at 6 figures anual pay, they will throw dirt and fling shit as much as they can.

    • SPC 8.1

      The simplest measures are easier to apply.

      Question – how to keep week one and week two people separate during quarantine?

      Answer – week one kept in their rooms, week two allowed out.

      • Sabine 8.1.1

        Well if it were that easy then we would have not hte issues we have.

        Fact is nothing is easy about this virus, and the resulting health issues that will plague this world for a long time.

        So maybe we need clear measures, clear rules, and then have these applied without 'exemption' becuase we won't need exemptions anymore, cause …rules and regulations.

        • SPC 8.1.1.1

          Well if it were that easy then we would have not hte issues we have.

          It probably is, so at some point they will get around to something like this.

          You have to have been in a bureaucracy to know it takes time for common sense to become practice. Someone in the system has to make an effort to effect change.

  9. SPC 9

    First there is policy.

    In retrospect there should have been testing before leaving managed siolation when we went to Level 2.

    As for Implementation

    We went from no testing in the managed isolation to requiring two tests on specific days – day 3 and day 12 – this FROM JUNE 10.

    Bureaucrats could consider this meant only those who arrived from June 10 would be subject to Level 1 rules not those in quarantine before June 10.

    To prevent such things – you say those who arrived into managed isolation pre June 10 – have to be tested before they leave (their day 12).

    The sisters were here under the pre June 10 rules which did not require testing before leaving or early exemption – so it is easy to see what happened if there was no instruction to require a test for those here before June 10.

    Why no one in the MSM bothered to think this through is telling – as to lack of investigative journalism or even sign of thought – its either advocacy for someone or a herd gotcha lynch mob mentality.

    Advocating for early release when there was no testing, then complaining someone was let out without a test while staff in the hotels were working out new procedure is somehow a service of media to our safety is risible. It seems they are really venting their frustration at being unpopular during the lockdown- while Jacinda and Ashley were popular. So they want to pose as public champions and go get them back when there is a sign of increased risk because of a failure in implementation – a failure their earlier campaign contributed to (as in forcing the availability of early release).

    It's frankly like immature behaviour at a girls school.

    • Sabine 9.1

      What do you mean by that?

      while staff in the hotels were working out application procedure

      surely anything to do with quarantine in Hotels is handled by some government critter and not by some minimum wage paid front office clerk who generally is trained to handles guests booking and the breakfast buffet?

      • SPC 9.1.1

        Bureaucrats in the hotel follow rules

        1. if it says from June 10, they do not apply them to those who arrived before June 10. 2. they did not do testing in the hotels pre June 10, the HB did the testing, so they had to develop this function using staff not working for them (at that time).

        In some cases, we now know of, people were not tested on their third day – presumably they did testing of people on their 4th/5th and 6th days later to catch up – once their regimes were finally set up.

    • Rosemary McDonald 9.2

      It's frankly like immature behaviour at a girls school.

      Misogyny much?

      • SPC 9.2.1

        And that is my point, there are serious issues and that is what you respond with.

        Apparently you have an issue with me over something and use that to as they say, de-platform by some sort of labelling. A bit like media still sulking over relative popularity during the lockdown.

        • solkta 9.2.1.1

          Many would consider misogyny a serious issue also.

          • SPC 9.2.1.1.1

            Is it misogyny to use such a reference?

            I would have thought that it is well known that some activity on social media is teenage female on female bullying – so much so it is regarded as a mental health issue of some concern.

            • RedLogix 9.2.1.1.1.1

              Don't worry SPC, if you are a white, liberal male you will always be guilty regardless of what you do. It's part of their religion.

              • SPC

                It reminds me of Taika W posting a link to a video comment of a black American on the recent US events, he was then attacked for the impudence of daring to think, that he a non black, would know what was a good or bad comment on the issue.

                PS I am not sure you are liberal like me, so [Please, peace to everyone, comment deleted – MS] (your support for a government not National is still appreciated).

                • RedLogix

                  lol … there you go, that should cancel the momentary misogyny lapse. At least for a while yes. Happy to help out.

                  • SPC

                    Now you accuse me of a momentary misogyny lapse, as if you (or any conservative) would know the difference between a momentary misogyny lapse and a lifestyle choice …

                    Maybe I should take offence, after all the offended seem to be occupying the higher ground these days. So much so that a certain curmudgeon type refer to criticism af aging white men as, sexist, racist and ageist.

                    • RedLogix

                      I'm not the one who started off down the misogyny path this morning. Still I think you will find the original white male sin doctrine of the far left doesn't allow for any nuanced distinctions between, 'momentary lapses' and 'lifestyle choice'.

                      You can be as offended as you like, but it confers no lasting immunity. As Dennis is finding out on OM where the outrage goons are queuing up to have a go.

                    • SPC

                      It was intended, the term had relevant meaning, so it was appropriate. Truth is not a lapse.

                      Yup it is lack of nuance that leads a retreat into tribalism/identity groups – a bit like the portrayal of teenage life at high school (Twilight wolf pack or vampire coven spoof of the choice a girl has to make).

                      It's the herd belonging instinct of the emerging adult, a state some remain in as adults, collectively all those isms (race, religion political creed included), and of course, then nationalism.

                  • swordfish

                    Red

                    Year Zero's so close they can almost taste it.

                    Cultural Revolution, Baby. Maoist Struggle Sessions … Ritualised Public Humiliations … Permanent Moral Panics … Things are looking swell.

                    Woke Millennials reaching a state of euphoric frenzy as they wait expectantly for the Intersectional Rapture … the sweet acrid smell of Book-Burning heralding the End Times for all Heteronormative Heretics.

                    Finally,,with the guidance of Archbishop Crenshaw & Bishop DiAngelo, their Righteousness will be rewarded — and the hitherto Marginalised, Oppressed & Downtrodden Ex-Boarding School Girls & Boys that dominate Intersectional Activism will emerge triumphant.

                    What could be more "Left-Wing" than the highly Privileged off-spring of the Establishment weilding total power & control and having society cater to their every momentary whim ?

                    • RedLogix

                      Yes. I think Dennis nailed it this morning "culture wars as mass entertainment".

                      Yet I remain hopeful; the intent behind eliminating racism, sexism and all the other 'isms is not a bad one. The argument is really over the direction to take in which to get there. It's solvable problem.

                • I Feel Love

                  No, regarding Taikas tweet, it was his use of the "eloquent black man" phrase that ppl went shit over, because it's offensive to black ppl, now not being black, I wouldn't have known that, which is why sometimes, it's better to keep ones mouth shut and listen, before giving a group of ppl (that you're not part of) advice on how you think they should move forward.

                  • SPC

                    So it was this from an eloquent black man, rather than this is an eloquent comment from name, that offended people.

                    it's better to keep ones mouth shut and listen, before giving a group of ppl (that you're not part of) advice on how you think they should move forward.

                    He did not do that, just the link to the video.

                  • SPC

                    Watch the whole thing. Eloquent. Clear. Everyone is angry but there is a way to direct that anger

                    Looking at the tweet, he did not say eloquent black man at all either.

                    https://twitter.com/TaikaWaititi/status/1266963946168135680

          • Rosemary McDonald 9.2.1.1.2

            And one that just won't go away.

        • Sabine 9.2.1.2

          well you could have just called it a Kindergarten, which would make your point in a nice non gender bashing way.

          • SPC 9.2.1.2.1

            Say it is not so, it begins as early as that today? I am only informed of the metaphor from American film/TV and comment of the harm to girls from social media attacks by other girls.

            The existence of the problem behind the metaphor is the problem,

            • Sabine 9.2.1.2.1.1

              look, you said what you said.

              you could have said immature boys grammar school, but you did not. You took a loaded term, with intend or not – who cares and you have been called out by it.

              I stand by what i said, use Kindergarten in the future, same meaning, but gender neutral.

        • SPC, Wiser to say school children devil

          • SPC 9.2.1.3.1

            The more childish of high school factions, who use social media to bully their victim. And so no one would think girls.

    • mauī 9.3

      Calling it a diverse, average decile, co-ed school would have been better. Otherwise it looks plain odious to me.

      • SPC 9.3.1

        In the end the Archie Bunker reactionary and the modern social media reactionary join together in conformist authoritarianism. Something George Orwell observed while in Spain.

  10. Where's the Open Mike post for this morning?

  11. xanthe 11

    Eeeeck my biggest question now having observed the actions of media and National is …. What steps are being taken to forestall outright sabotage of our border controls by disaffected spin doctors.

  12. ianmac 12

    Our family is grateful for our continued safety and heartfelt thanks go to Ashley Bloomfield and team. We despise the carping petty point-scoring of some journalists and rats like Woodhouse.

  13. Treetop 13

    The pressure that Bloomfield and the PM are under is immense due to Covid-19 being unprecedented and how sneaky the virus is. It does not matter to the virus which political party is in government or who the Director General of Health is. What matters is that isolation and quarantine is done properly to avoid a community outbreak.

    There is always the uncertainty that a cluster is forming in the community and the impact of this.

    Were Woodhouse in charge I do not know how he would have managed the exemption. How he delivered the message was not how he needed to act. Woodhouse needed to promptly contact Bloomfield because of having information which could cause a community outbreak. This would have been the best way to prevent a potential community outbreak and I would have been impressed by Woodhouse being sensible and not playing politics over a serious issue.

  14. Agree entirely re Bloomfield-he is Mr. Steady-the-ship No.2. (Kane being No.1 of course)

    But I disagree on Bishop. It was in the public's interest to know about this because it is a bit murky.

    Bishop clearly lobbied vigorously for the 2 UK women to be given compassionate exemption because they were friends of a friend of his in the UK. The two women/sisters were NOT constituents of Bishop-Bishop lied here and the media let him get away with this. (Hey Tova-why should we ever believe a word Bishop says in the future?)

    Bishop has not released any of the text of his contacts between him and his friend in the UK, between him and the 2 women and between him and the quarantine centre managers. Why is this?

    There is also a question as to why one of the women hid her Covid-19 symptoms. One wonders if Bishop knew she had symptoms-didn't he ask? If not why not?

    • satty 14.1

      Completely agree.

      Why isn't there a journalist checking the whole story around the UK women?

      I'm not well "connected" here in Wellington and know a lot more about this than the media is providing – or shall we say hiding – so far. Surely if there's an article about the Mob funeral "runaways", there can be an article about the "every changing story" of C. Bishop's closely connected people.

      It must be imperative for the public safety to know if the latest version of their story is accurate to ensure we captured all potential contacts. Also to ensure that in the future "distressed" people, unable to remember the "highlight of their trip" meeting some friends, are not allowed to drive for over 8 hours non-stop, on roads they don't know, in a car they don't know.

      • Sacha 14.1.1

        I'm not well "connected" here in Wellington and know a lot more about this than the media is providing

        Do tell, please..

    • gsays 14.2

      Perhaps Bishop was advocating for the parent.

  15. Tricledrown 15

    Ashley Bloomfields leadership has saved us from a massive disaster as 30 years of under spending and large cuts to health spending in the last 9 years a 20% cut in health spending have left our health system unable to cope with even a moderate outbreak of any pandemic.

    If NZ hadn't followed the leadership we would be still in lock down and the death toll would have been in the 1,000's many Doctors and Nurses as has happened in other countries where 25% of healthcare workers infected because of overwhelming .

    NZ was found to be at the bottom of the OECD 30 the along with the US the lowest number of ICU beds and ventilators only a 150 across the whole country.

    Nationals sinking lid policy is designed to force people into the American model of private health insurance which cost 3 times as much to provide only available to those who can afford it.That is Nationals policy to run down the public health system .Woodhouse a private hospital manager is National privitising henchman out to destroy the public health system at all costs tax cuts to help its demise.

    • Tiger Mountain 15.1

      Good points Tricledown. The lockdown seems to have saved exposing the true state of the public system so far. A previous Nat Minister of health–Mr Coleman–promptly buggered off back to the private health sector, and the distorting effect of the dual system has gone largely unreported in relation to Covid.

      I see private facilities may soon be able to be sequestered, by proposed legislation if required in a wider outbreak. Excellent for this sector to be of wider public health use if it happens. There are too many specialists straddling the public/private sector, a few DHB consultations in the morning, then hop in the Porsche Cayenne and off to get a nice earner in the afternoon at their other office.

    • SPC 15.2

      National was in power in 2016 when the WHO made its Pandemic Alert.

      There was no move to prepare us for it. No increase in ICU capability, ventilator stock (and we were very low in these areas), no check of PPE in stock around the HB's. No improvement to the reporting system. No consulation with the East Asian nations to gain from their expertise.
      If Bloomfield's advice was heeded, rather than MBIE we would have managed isolation of returning Kiwis earlier and possibly not have had to go to a level 4 lockdown.

      We now have the chance to do what he wanted us to achieve then.

      Yet we still have the neo-MBIE's – Zombie economics of National asking us to accept higher risk as part of the global zombie herd.

      • Enough is Enough 15.2.1

        This is why petty party politics annoys me. The two major parties have different branding but are both responsible for a generation of neglect. The continual blame game is frustrating.

        Labour was in power in 2017, one year after the WHO made its Pandemic Alert.

        There was no move to prepare us for it. No increase in ICU capability, ventilator stock (and we were very low in these areas), no check of PPE in stock around the HB's. No improvement to the reporting system. No consulation with the East Asian nations to gain from their expertise.
        If Bloomfield's advice was heeded, rather than MBIE we would have managed isolation of returning Kiwis earlier and possibly not have had to go to a level 4 lockdown.

  16. greywarshark 16

    edit
    I suggest that National Party and the business sector are going through withdrawal symptoms. They cannot proceed through their day in the usual straightforward way with the goal of making profit. They are being denied their fix, and people are moralising to them about thinking of others safety etc. It is insupportable, and a restraint to trade.

    It would be of assistance if large, soft but strong models of the coronavirus were set up in every town centre and people engulfed in rage and despair could go and kick it, and punch it, and have pictures of it that they could jump up and down on, and grind their boots into it, and rip the tentacles off it and…let those feelings of anger out. And then I won't feel sad at watching the vicious and self-centred trying to bring down our good government doing its best to navigate this unknown territory, and this means praise for Mr Bloomfield’s good work, which he needs to continue with at the same high level, (I hope he is receiving good pay and any help he and his family need, may his flowers blossom and his vegetables multiply).

    We don't want the economy to bottom out, but understand this you complainers, before Covid-19 you were on a hiding to nothing with your pushing to your own advantage and destroying the country's enterprise system, and asset stripping beyond business to everything we value. You have damaged our country, our society, our living conditions in the process and also our green and clean dairying business and tourism brand and product in the process.

    Climate change was approaching then and you were making hay while the sun shone, but that sun will kill your business in the future. Now after Covid-19 you are forced to think ahead, make changes yourselves just as you have forced on us, and that is so hard isn't it; shouldn't be allowed.

    Don't be like Trump and the Republicans et al and tell falsies all the time, particularly to yourself. We need to rebuild business in NZ in a new form, so get informed, think of the people here not just the scenery and new ways to drop people from a great height, or place people at supposedly manageable risk, so exciting. Think along the lines of the song, 'People who need people, are the luckiest people in the world'. Soppy isn't it, but in a world of machines, computers, people will crave meeting people who still have functioning brains, knowledgeable, interesting, amusing, charismatic. Think on that.

  17. Reality 17

    It’s all credit to Dr Bloomfield that he has never snapped back at the hysterical media/opposition. It’s fair enough to question him but the way they have behaved is disgraceful.

    Dr Bloomfield has been in his role for about two years. The previous DG, appointed under National, was a disaster who left behind a dysfunctional ministry, thanks to his incompetence. The coalition has not been in office for three years and it will take a long time to turn things around. Just look at Fonterra’s problems – still a work in progress after a year or more.

    Then out of the blue along comes Covid. What a massive undertaking to organise and implement testing, quarantine, and every aspect of our lives. Rational people will understand the difficulties and trust progress will be made in improving shortcomings.

    Thank you Dr Bloomfield. People responded to you so favourably because they rightly sensed he was the right man at the right time. He obviously has to have competent people at the coal face as well.

  18. Treetop 18

    Preventing community transmission is the goal. It is impossible to stop cases coming across the border.

    Everything has to be done during isolation and quarantine to avoid community transmission.

  19. Reality 19

    Woodhouse has been going on about incompetence. Anyone remember his level of competence in classifying worm farming as a dangerous occupation?

    Thank you Wayne Mapp for being quite fair and balanced!

  20. mary_a 20

    Job well done Dr Ashley Bloomfield.&nbsp

  21. Sacha 21

    Dealing with people who believe the rules are optional requires a firm hand (my bold). https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12341432

    Mother of boys who 'absconded' after Mongrel Mob tangi says they weren't given enough time

    She said her 16-year-old was best friends with [dead man] Grant's son. They hadn't seen each other since leaving for Perth in March and he was anxious to get back to him.

    He decided to stay with his sister and his cousin in Hamilton. Her 8-year-old also stayed with whanau and was brought back to Auckland three days later.

    "Ok yes, I knew where the boys were the time they weren't with me. My 8-year-old was with his whanau he hadn't seen for 12 months or longer, and yes, he wanted to stay there."

  22. greywarshark 22

    Confused that Dr Bloomfield wasn't able to guarantee that we wouldn't get through the pandemic effects with no pain? He has been honest, which is better than the 'pretty honest' crowd, and even better than Roger Douglas and his crowd with their 'no pain, no gain'.

    But for those of us still confused by it all, I throw in Philomena Cunk who has also been wondering, to give us a definite explanation about vaccines, or not – it's your choice.

    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-y_SXHhf7Y

  23. RedBaronCV 23

    Yep I too think Bloomfield did a wonderful job with what I suspect were stuff all resources. Barely enough to set the rules with.

    Also like to thank all those who returned pre the formal quarantine who very much must have gone home and stayed there otherwise there would have been a longer tail of community transfer.

    I'd feel more comfortable if

    -the 2400 or so who left quarantine without a test were now given one to just check none of them are asymtomatic carriers.

    – that there was some provision for publicly naming people that are contacts that they can't get hold of after a couple days so they know to turn up for a test. I'd like to think they are texting cell phone numbers as well as calling them. Because of the overseas scams and using like numbers a lot of people don't answer unknown callers to their cell phones.

    -as this is here for the long term we start to create a permanent quarantine force and permanent locations- defence or police auxillary? That way they can be properly resourced without the cost cutting of private sector contracts. Also a good job for older people and those who really want the rules followed? Just quietly supervising with the ability to call up the young and the fit if needed.

    – publishing the names of the quarantine locations. The public will help supervise these or give them a wide berth.

    – use the same catering contract that the hospitals use ( that should mean the moaning is focused one aspect only.) or the hospitals will get a new one.

    – an extra 14 days for any breaches

  24. RedBaronCV 24

    And one last thing. Diplomatic staff are apparently exempted from quarantine – although obviously not exempt from getting covid. Before we accredit anyone they should be required to agree to quarantine or they don't get the accreditation.

  25. Poission 25

    The public anger,following the exemptions from quarantine last week was large.That the subsequent granting of exemptions since the 9 June needs a very big explanation.

    Bloomfield also gave an update about compassionate leave exemptions. Since June 9, there have been 55 people who were granted leave from managed isolation on compassionate grounds.

    Of these, 54 have been followed up by the ministry and the last person was expected to be followed up with on Monday. Of those granted exemptions, 50 tested negative and the other four weren't tested because they were young children.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/121904029/coronavirus-two-new-cases-of-covid19-ministry-of-health-confirms

    • Sacha 25.1

      What date was the lawsuit that determined discretion for exemptions was actually compulsory under the relevant laws?

  26. Sacha 26

    Nat MPs amplifying ignorant fear may cost hotel jobs. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12341855

    Auckland's Stamford Plaza was to have taken in isolating guests at the weekend but after residents in a tower at the top of the hotel objected, busloads were instead diverted at the last minute to hotels in Rotorua.

    "One of the largest consequences of the hotel not being able to be appointed as an isolated managed facility would include it having no alternative but to retrench its staff. This is something that the hotel had been trying to avoid since the Covid-19 situation arose," said general manager Tarun Abraham.

    Abraham said at the weekend that concerns about those in residential parts of the complex mixing with quarantiners were based on false information.

  27. Chris T 27

    So when exactly, or what exactly has to happen before Bloomfield and Clark actually become accountable?

    Thanks

    • McFlock 27.1

      They are accountable already.

      They become bad at their jobs when their screw-ups or oversights become more elementary, serious, and damaging than the pandemic they averted.

      • Chris T 27.1.1

        "become more elementary, serious, and damaging than the pandemic they averted."

        What is more elementary than letting potentially infected people travel around the north island pre 14 days without being tested?

        And I think averted might be a bit premature, given the mess.

        • Sacha 27.1.1.1

          The word 'letting' might be your clue. What is the scope of their power?

        • McFlock 27.1.1.2

          "and damaging". No harm no foul.

          You hope premature. More dead NZers is the only way you'll be able to attack the competence of the PM or DG (and the DG is simply collateral damage of your campaign against the PM).

          • Chris T 27.1.1.2.1

            ??

            You think I want more dead kiwis.

            That will be me not bothering with you, now.

            • McFlock 27.1.1.2.1.1

              Well, try to suppress your glee if it happens, there's a chap.

              • Chris T

                No worries.

                It will be a very easy thing to do.

                And try to suppress your instant defense the 100 and 1st or so time Clark cocks up again.

                • McFlock

                  I didn't defend him the first or second time he cocked up.

                  But nor will I demand his resignation for every slight error or tory beat-up.

    • observer 27.2

      Clark and Bloomfield are obviously very different cases.

      The PM could sack Clark tomorrow, but if she tries to sack the DG of Health there would be a constitutional crisis.

      She might do the first, she will never do the second, and maybe we should just breathe in and breathe out and put the head back on the chook.

      • Chris T 27.2.1

        Fair point re the DG, but Clark should have been gone burger a while ago.

        • Sacha 27.2.1.1

          No argument on Clark.

          • McFlock 27.2.1.1.1

            I'm moderately surprised that he's still in charge (although his scope seems to have been more limited e.g. Woods getting the covid border role).

            He might have some less obvious qualities that keep him in a big seat at the cabinet table, and his plate is only big enough to fit those.

            • In Vino 27.2.1.1.1.1

              Chris T – could you please desist from using childish radio talk-back language, like 'gone burger'? It might make you feel confident, but it makes me suspect you are not a very careful thinker.

              And if you want to cling to that cacklemush, remember – burgers were out until we moved down to Level 3

              • solkta

                In Vino – could you please desist being such a dork and criticising others choice of words. "Goneburger" is well established New Zealand slang. Established enough for Oxford even:

                https://www.lexico.com/definition/goneburger

                Oh, and how about learning how to use the site and replying to the right person.

                • In Vino

                  If you reply to the right person, your reply often comes in ten places further down. Haven't you noticed that? That is why I specified Chris T.

                  Slang is always open to criticism, whether you like it or not. Chris T's style does irk me, and that example was only the most glaring.

                  Sorry if you don't like what you so eloquently call 'dork'.

                  • solkta

                    If you reply to the right person then they know from the sidebar that you have replied to them.

                    You just come across as up yourself. Why would you think people care what you think of their choice of words?

                    • In Vino

                      If I say who I am replying to, the sidebar becomes irrelevant. Sorry, but I don't think many people consult the sidebar when your message comes in 15 spaces down, and doesn't obviously link to the 2 or 3 messages above it.

                      Maybe I am up myself. Or maybe you don't see how people use language styles to bluff and divert.

                    • McFlock

                      In Vino:

                      I mean, I just hit "replies" in the sidebar and was wondering why you were replying to me when it was still a couple of comments away from the person you were apparently trying to address. It's not like you were anywhere the limit of nested comments (unlike this comment)/

                      Chris possibly hasn't even seen your comment yet, given that it's a reply to me and he's boycotting me because I said a mean thing about his constant invention of outrage at "cockups" in a highly successful disease control, elimination, and prevention program.

                    • In Vino

                      McFlock: (just in case of confusion..) Fair enough.

                    • solkta

                      @In Vino

                      Oh, so now it is because "bluff and divert" rather than "does irk me". Yeh, whatever.

                      And by the way, "cacklemush", it not even in Oxford.

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      Why do some people come across as up themselves to some others?

                      And by the way, "cacklemush", it [sic] not even in Oxford.

                      A fun compound word, IMO: Cacklemush, CACKLEMUSH – give it time.

                      WHERE do new words come from? Few are purely invented, in the sense of being coined from a string of sounds chosen more or less at random. Most tend to be existing words given new meaning (“to tweet”). In other cases, a word changes its parts of speech (“to Photoshop”, “to Facebook”). And in some of the most creative instances, people chop words and recombine them to make new ones (as in “sexting”).

                      Science in 1 minute: How new words are created
                      (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioS1HUU5hB4

                    • In Vino

                      Solkta – Both, actually.

                      I often come in late, and do not like my reply coming in 20 messages below the one I am replying to.

                      But now that I see I am annoying people, I shall desist.

                      It is true that the word 'cacklemush' has yet to be given the status I think it deserves.

                    • Incognito []

                      😀

                    • solkta

                      @Drowsy

                      I'm all good with it. The point was that Vino was criticising the use of a well establish new word, and a real fun one at that, while using a much newer new word. Both are compound words. Did you read the full exchange? I'm not sure why you offered your link to me and not him?

                    • Sacha

                      My reply should always be first. Don't you know who I am!

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      To solkta @11:57 pm

                      My comment @11:00 pm was for you, In Vino, and anyone else who read(s) it. It was intended to express mild delight in a (new) word, and to inform, although (obviously) not everyone reading my comment will need or want the infomation. But it's out there now!

    • mac1 27.3

      What does 'accountable' mean in the sense that you are using? Google says "1. required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible. "ministers are accountable to Parliament"".

      Why do we assume sackings are the only sanctions? Why do we use that very Elizabethan term 'heads will roll', said with vindictive and almost salivating, sanctimonious righteousness? (Not you, Chris T; but I heard that tone yesterday from an acquaintance.)

      To continue Observer’s analogy above at 27.2, once you’ve lopped of the chook’s head you get no more eggs.

      • Chris T 27.3.1

        No idea. I never said heads should roll in a vindictive and almost salivating way.

        Was just saying Clark has proven to be shit at his job continuously during the biggest global pandemic in modern history and should be replaced by someone who knows what they are doing.

        Edit: Sorry. Missed the bit in brackets!

        • mac1 27.3.1.1

          Sorry, Chris T, but I edited my statement to exclude you from that accusation probably as you were drafting your reply to the original.

          As for "shit at his job" I don't want to see the evidence of his shitty job, but some instances of regular underperformance rather than one instance would be preferable, or if one instance only that it be so serious it would warrant sacking.

          New Zealand is still in a situation of no remaining community transmission of Covid-19. If it reoccurs, we will track it down and extirpate it so long as public and officials do their job. If not, then more than the Minister are at risk.

          A different Minister and a Defence officer are now in charge of the isolation programme.

          I am also sure there will be an enquiry after the events have settled so that we can develop even stronger systems for handling pandemics 'cos this one ain't the last.

          Then we would need to ask who we would prefer to have in charge? A Minister like Clark whose department/underlings/contractors get it wrong in one or two instances; or, a man like Woodhouse who sits on information so that he can practise a vindictive and salivating 'gotcha' hit on the Minister, and here's the issue……… 'at the risk of people here contracting a possibly lethal virus'?

          • Stunned Mullet 27.3.1.1.1

            The current Minister of Health has been a poor performer since well before COVID 19 came along.

            There have been two fair to middling Minister's of Health in the last couple of decades one from Labour one from National.

            I would prefer either of them to David Clark.

          • Sacha 27.3.1.1.2

            that it be so serious it would warrant sacking

            The PM was clear about that. His goose is pre-cooked.

            • mac1 27.3.1.1.2.1

              Against which, he has done this.

              Nurses in schools numbers increased, smoking in cars banned, greater responses to family and sexual violence, GP clinics having mental health services, suicide prevention services, free and cheaper doctor's services, funding for ambulances increased, free youth mental health services, funding for Pharmac, for cancer treatment, upping bowel cancer screening. more gender reassignment surgery, repairing and rebuilding services and buildings after the last government and after covid-19, more support for disability services.

              Lest we forget…. https://www.labour.org.nz/100reasons

    • Halfcrown 27.4

      "So when exactly, or what exactly has to happen before Bloomfield and Clark actually become accountable?"

      Possibly soon after Woodward and the Tories are made accountable for endangering the lives of New Zealanders.

    • nzlemming 27.5

      Being accountable is not the same as "being fired".

  28. observer 28

    I know Stuff Comments is an easy target, but some of today's highlights really are beamed in from Planet Fruit Loop:

    Must be time for the nap, they're getting cranky

  29. georgecom 29

    Todd McLay is looking a bit desperate isn't he. A bit of foaming at the mouth over arrivals being taken to Rotorua for quarantine because the Auckland Hotel was unavailable as residents raised some concerns. Aside from the over dramatics from McLay, the Auckland hotel stuff has the look of political stage management from National. Sure some of the residents might have had general concerns and fair enough actual risks would need to be managed or eliminated, I don't have an issue with that. Funny though how Nikki Kaye just happened to be there stirring the pot. Maybe no one told Todd that his leader had already decided the arrivals shouldn't be in her patch. They have to go somewhere Todd. Wonder what the nat party plan would have been had they been in power. Thankfully they are not in power but given their track record it would have been a shambles.

    • George 29.1

      From gleaning the national radio interview….Kaye and some other nat met with the Stamford Plaza residents on the Friday BEFORE they decided to call foul over the quarantine load arriving on Saturday night. The health authorities subsequently then had them diverted to Rotorua as the folks at the Stamford were deemed to be too vulnerable by their own accounts and were not happy about the arrangements for isolation made. Todd mclay then complained about them going to Rotorua. Meanwhile in Auckland Stamford Plaza decided that due to the massive loss of revenue it's now incurred due to the residents complaints..it's going them for compensation..I estimate a few million. Niki Kaye isn't sure if they had an actual contract with health authorities..but a bunch of staff are probably going to be losing their jobs anyway. Awesome work on national part.. a good indicator of where priorities lay for them in terms of jobs, economic stability for businesses, and border control considering they were only a few weeks ago moaning about how NZ government was too rigid with it. Political point scoring with a serious public health threat is disgusting and dangerous. I hope someone does some good journalism around this and sort it.

      [Removed the last two characters from the user name, which caused your comment to be held up in Pre-Moderation]

  30. Unicus 30

    It's business as usual really

    Bloomfield delivers quality information and calm

    While the National Party through its network of media puppets disseminates fear and panic throughout the land

    Todd seems convinced that since the strategy worked so well for Simon he should stick to a winning formula particularly since he has that rabid 26% of the electorate behind him

  31. marious 31

    The policy for testing was in place but was not carried out by staff.

    This problem is being addressed hopefully without any out brake of the virus in the community.

    The most disappointing thing here is the the National party appears to want to make a political gain form this situation. The shadow minister of health Mr Woodhouse chose not to advise the health authorities. He instead contacted his colleges, Muller and his team didn't contact the health authorities either but decided to brake the issue in Parliament some 20 hours later.

    Mr Muller appears now to be playing a blame game instead of directing the supply of information requested from Mr Woodhouse about his alleged homeless fellow in the fight against the virus.

    Mr Woodhouse has made an error of judgement he had a duty to all New Zealanders to call the ministry of health and report the virus situation and make an attempt to stop any spread. Bringing up matters in parliament seems to be a secondary concern, saying any different just really isn't credible.

    The government moves to fix the situation as best it can, the ministry is learning to do better.

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    Good old WD40. Is there nothing it can't do?Door squeaking? No problem, WD-40.Chewing gum stuck to the carpet? No worries, WD-40. Crayon marks? Spanner rusted up? Zipper won't undo? WD-40. WD-40. WD-40. It can even waterproof your shoes, I hear.(More Than A Feilding makes no warranty as to the efficacy of WD40 ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    8 hours ago
  • Taxpayers might be piste off, as govt lending to ski field is lifted to $50m – but more corporate ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The distributions of two dollops of corporate welfare have been proudly announced in government press statements today, but neither mentions or relates to the further taxpayer funding for ski fields on the skids. The government’s official website tells of $7 million being provided to boost aerospace ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    9 hours ago
  • The police know they suck at the OIA
    In recent years I've done a long series of posts poking into police OIA data and how it hides how badly the police suck at carrying out their obligations under the Act. And in a response to a recent request, it seems the police have been doing the same. A ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    9 hours ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s disdain for the Press debate
    Christopher Luxon evidently thinks this election is SO in the bag that he can afford to spurn the still-undecideds, the entire South Island, and the old Christchurch money that still reads the Press and shops at Ballantynes. We should all shed a tear for the National Party candidates across the ...
    11 hours ago
  • ELIZABETH RATA: Two Treaties of Waitangi – the Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Elizabeth Rate writes – There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly, the parliamentary ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    14 hours ago
  • Tuesday’s Chorus: When it's ok to borrow to invest
    Mayor Wayne Brown, a Northland land-banker himself, appears relaxed about borrowing to invest in land but not in, for example, transport infrastructure and services. File photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: You couldn’t make this stuff up. A mayor determined to cut council debt by selling shares in a monopoly business because ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    15 hours ago
  • How well do our Rapid Transit Stations perform
    As we invest in our public transport network, it’s critical that we not only invest in transformative projects like the City Rail Link, but that we also get as much use as we can out of the network we already have – which will also maximise the outcomes of those ...
    17 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Ten reasons Labour’s support has halved
    The Labour Government was elected with 50 per cent of the vote three years ago, but current opinion polls show their vote could halve in this year’s election, which would be one of the biggest plunges in political history. Most polls have Labour on about 26 per cent. And the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    17 hours ago
  • Elizabeth Rata: Two Treaties of Waitangi: The Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Commentary There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly the parliamentary representatives who inserted the word ‘principles’ ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    17 hours ago
  • Climate Emergency!
    It’s hard not to become a bit blasé towards climate change headlines. Flooding kills hundreds - blah. Catastrophic droughts - blah blah. One-in-a-hundred year events happening every year - blah blah blah.The earth had its highest temperature on record - again. Think we’ve read that one.So many articles telling us ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    18 hours ago
  • The Kākā Project: The economics of sufficiency
    The Kākā’s climate correspondent and had a chat with environmental historian and author Catherine Knight about why ‘feel good' actions like recycling and owning an electric car are unlikely to be enough to create a transition to zero emissions, let alone a just one. Knight says comments like ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    19 hours ago
  • Chippy misses a chance
    National leader Christopher Luxon has pulled out of any rescheduling of tonight’s Press debate, which has had to be cancelled because Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has Covid. The cancellation has given National an excuse to avoid a debate, which was always going to be a risk for Luxon. But ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    20 hours ago
  • The Angry Majority.
    The People's Champion vs The People's Prosecutor: It is the news media’s job to elicit information from politicians – not to prosecute them. Peters’ promise to sort out TVNZ should be believed. If he finds himself in a position to carry out his threat, then it will only be because ...
    1 day ago
  • Verrall is chuffed by govt’s latest push into pay equity while Woods enthuses about an $11m spend ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The headline on a ministerial press statement curiously expresses the government’s position when it declares:   Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers. Is it not enough to declare just one commitment? Or is the government’s commitment to pay equity being declared sector by ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • A very worthy coalition partner for Seymour and Luxon
    There have been 53 New Zealand Parliaments so far. The 39th of them was elected in 1978. It was a parliament of 92 MPs, most of them men. The New Zealand Music Awards that year named John Rowles Male Vocalist of the Year and — after a short twelve months ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Labour still protecting the status quo
    Aotearoa has a cost of living crisis. And one of the major drivers of this crisis is the supermarket duopoly, who gouge every dollar they can out of us. Last year, the Commerce Commission found that the duopoly was in fact anti-competititve, giving the government social licence to fix the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s myths about the desolated state of the economy
    Familiarity breeds consent. If you repeat the line “six years of economic mis-management” about 10,000 times, it sounds like the received wisdom, whatever the evidence to the contrary. Yes, the global pandemic and the global surge in inflation that came in its wake occurred here as well – but if ...
    1 day ago
  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
    Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: The ‘recession’ has been called off, but some households are still struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    3 days ago
  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    3 days ago
  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    3 days ago
  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    3 days ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    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:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    5 days ago
  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago
  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    6 days ago
  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    6 days ago
  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    7 days ago
  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago
  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago
  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    7 days ago
  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    1 week ago
  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    1 week ago
  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Youth justice programme expands to break cycle of offending
    The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Major milestone with 20,000 employers using Apprenticeship Boost
    The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Government supporting wood processing jobs and more diverse industry
    The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said.   “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Government backing Canterbury’s future in aerospace industry
    The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Updated forestry regulations increase council controls and require large slash removal
    Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
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    2 weeks ago
  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
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    2 weeks ago
  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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