Israel commits war crime in Gaza

Written By: - Date published: 12:20 pm, May 16th, 2021 - 50 comments
Categories: crime, International, israel, Palestine, war - Tags:

The past couple of weeks in Israel has seen a descent into chaos in the Middle East.

What started as shooting of Palestinians on the west bank and an attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam’s third holiest site has blown out into a full on attack on the Gaza Strip and Hammas responding by firing missiles into Israel.

I wrote this in 2014 after a previous one sided battle:

The body count is brutally one sided.  On the Palestinian side more than 160 Palestinians had been killed including many children.  More than 1,000 injuries had been caused.  To date not one Israeli has lost their life because of these latest battles.

The technology being applied shows the stark difference in resources.  One one side are tanks, missiles, air fighters and drones.  On the other side are home made rockets that are crude and ineffective.

The comparative death rates show how one sided the battle has become.  In 2002 the Palestinian Israeli death ratio was 1:2.5, in 2007 1:25, and a couple of years ago it was 1:68.  Can anyone see a trend?

The trend has continued:

This morning revealed the most pristine clear evidence of a war crime imaginable.  From Aljazeera:

An Israeli air raid flattened a building housing residential apartments and the offices of news organisations, including Al Jazeera and AP, in Gaza.

Youmna al-Sayed had less than an hour to get to safety.

But with just one elevator working in al-Jalaa tower, an 11-storey building in Gaza City housing some 60 residential apartments and a number of offices, including those of Al Jazeera Media Network and The Associated Press, al-Sayed made a dash for the stairs.

“We left the elevator for the elderly and for the children to evacuate,” the Palestinian freelance journalist said. “And we were all running down the stairs and whoever could help children took them down,” she added. “I myself helped two children of the residents there and I took them downstairs – everyone was just running quickly.”

Moments earlier, the Israeli army, which has been bombarding Gaza for six straight days, had given a telephone warning that residents had just an hour to evacuate the building before its fighter jets attacked it.

Al Jazeera’s Safwat al-Kahlout also had to move quickly. He and his colleagues “started to collect as much as they could, from the personal and equipment of the office – especially the cameras”, al-Kahlout said.

But more time was needed.

Just give me 15 minutes,” an AP journalist pleaded over the phone with an Israeli intelligence officer. “We have a lot of equipment, including the cameras, other things,” he added from outside the building. “I can bring all of it out.”

Jawad Mahdi, the building’s owner, also tried to buy more time.

“All I’m asking is to let four people … to go inside and get their cameras,” he told the officer. “We respect your wishes, we will not do it if you don’t allow it, but give us 10 minutes.”

“There will be no 10 minutes,” the officer replied. “No one is allowed to enter the building, we already gave you an hour to evacuate.”

When the request was rejected, Mahdi said: “You have destroyed our life’s work, memories, life. I will hang up, do what you want. There is a God.”

Customary International law requires the response of a state nominally acting in self defence to be proportionate to the threat.  The deliberate targeting of a tower containing civilians and two media organizations cannot be considered proportionate to any threat.

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court states that a war crime includes “intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects, that is, objects which are not military objectives”.  Directing an attack on news media would appear to fall squarely within that definition.

50 comments on “Israel commits war crime in Gaza ”

  1. Tiger Mountain 1

    Well put Micky. Mr Trump did not help at all with his ‘Abraham Accord’, which shamefully put more wedge politics between Arab States and justice for Palestinians.

    What the Israeli Military and State deploy in Gaza is increasingly unadorned butchery. The descendants of the vaunted “survivors of the Holocaust” seem in major denial of what that experience should mean.

    Well done to those New Zealanders that have weighed in with solidarity efforts by marching and rallying yesterday. Support BDS–even trashing that Sodastream and buying the alternative is a start. Roger Fowler and Mike Treen from Kia Ora Gaza have led by example, Mike being personally assaulted and his life threatened by Israeli security forces on his Flotilla trip. Green MP Marama Davidson went on a Gaza Flotilla also, and of course the legend John Minto has now concentrated his efforts on Palestinian Justice.

  2. Morrissey 3

    Thanks Micky, an excellent article. Only one quibble: the headline should read:

    Israel commits ANOTHER war crime in Gaza.

    • The headline should read:

      US/Israel commits ANOTHER war crime in Gaza.

      There are 15 members of the powerful UN Security Council.

      In a rare show of unity, 14 of the 15 members of the UN Security Council voted for a joint statement calling for a ceasefire, only one opposed.

      The US used its veto power to block the resolution.

      https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/us-for-3rd-time-blocking-security-council-joint-statement-calling-for-ceasefire-diplomats-tell-toi/

      • Incognito 3.1.1

        Are you seriously equating the legitimate right of veto to block a resolution in/by a legitimate Council with committing a war crime? Seriously??

        • The state of Israel is for the most party an American colonial project, to counter the British and French control of the region after the WWII.

          America have aided and abetted this colonial settler state in its oppression and murder of the original population ever since.

          In total, the answer is yes.

          Yes the US is guilty of helping the Zionist state commit war crimes.

          In this particular case, in voting against the whole UN Security Council, in effect voting to let the slaughter continue, the US is guilty.

          In this particular case, the Biden administation could stop the slaughter right now, by suspending all US military and financial aid to America's colonial settler project.

          https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2010/07/05/israel-a-failing-colonial-project/

          • Incognito 3.1.1.1.1

            By your way of thinking, there are a number of war criminals on the UN Security Council.

            https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/current-members

            It kinda loses its meaning if it gets peppered around like confetti. Same with other heavy labels such as genocide, racism, et cetera. Maybe this is to ‘normalise’ the people, i.e. to desensitise them to a point at which they hardly blink an eye when the label is aimed at a suspect. Paradoxically, when a word or concept becomes politically weaponised, it starts to lose its devastating impact, after a while. It says little about the morals of the time.

        • In my opinion, War Crime denial, like Holocaust Denial shares complicity between the denier and the perpetrator.

          That is apart from all the military material and financial support the US gives Israel to commit these war crimes.

          So was a war crime committed or not?

          I don't usually post whole blocks of text. But sometines it is necessary to provide context. I could have cut some of the obvious evasions and repetitive verbiage and word salad out from the Press Secretary's answers. But this risks being accused of slanted editiong. So I have had to leave it in full. I have left the Press Secretary's final answers out for you to read for yourself, and to shorten the block quote.

          Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, May 17, 2021

          [May 18, New Zealand, today]

          Q …….What would be the value in making a case for a ceasefire from — from your standpoint? And would you do that?

          MS. PSAKI: Well, let me first say that what’s most important is that we all share — the United States shares with a range of countries around the world — those who have been outspoken at the U.N., our partners and friends in Europe — a commitment and a desire to bring an end to the violence.

          And how we are approaching this is through the prism, again, of what steps can we take; what actions can we take behind the scenes — we’ve had over 60 calls in the past week, from the President on down, with senior leaders in Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and across the region; and how can we bring an end to the violence

          So that is how we are approaching it from the United States.

          Go ahead.

          Q Thanks, Jen. I want to ask that in the inverse: Why not? What is the value in not calling for a ceasefire right now, given many of those countries that you just listed — our close allies France, UK, Egypt, Jordan — have done so, are doing so?

          MS. PSAKI: That is true. But what we — the role we are playing, the action — the prism we are making all of our decisions through is: How can we help bring an end to the violence and bring an end to — deescalate the situation on the ground?

          And our calculation, at this point, is that having those conversations behind the scenes, weighing in with our important strategic partnership we have with Israel, also with other countries in the region, is the most constructive approach we can take.

          So our approach is through quiet, intensive diplomacy, and that’s where we feel we can be most effective.

          Q And does the President’s assessment from last Thursday still stand: that he does not see Israel’s strikes as a significant overreaction?

          MS. PSAKI: Again, I think — I noted that the President also had two calls over the weekend, since Thursday, where he conveyed his concerns about the current period of conflict; the — the lives of Israeli and Palestinian civilians that have been lost; and certainly raised his concern about the safety and security of journalists and others who have been impacted on the ground.

          So we’re not going to give a day-by-day evaluation. I will say that our objective is to — just like it is with other countries and our partners around the world — is to play the role we can play in the most constructive way possible to bring — to reduce the violence, to deescalate the situation on the ground. And a great deal of that is going to be through intensive, quiet diplomacy behind the scenes.

          Q And just one last question, if I may. You mentioned the journalists on the ground on that Gaza tower strike. The Prime Minister Netanyahu called this a “perfectly legitimate target.” Does this White House agree with that?…….

          I will let you read the White House Press Secretary's answer to that question for yourself. But basically the Press Secretary makes hints to some secret intelligence information on this building she has not yet had "confirmation" of.

          Micky Savage at the top of this post has identified the bombing of the press building as a war crime as defined by the Rome Statute.

          Read the press secretary's reply and judge for yourself if the Biden administration agrees or disagrees with Micky Savage's assessment.

          https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/05/17/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-may-17-2021/

          The deliberate targeting of a tower containing civilians and two media organizations cannot be considered proportionate to any threat.

          The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Courtstatesthat a war crime includes “intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects, that is, objects which are not military objectives”. Directing an attack on news media would appear to fall squarely within that definition.
          MICKYSAVAGE

          US complicity is not at issue.

          What is at issue is whether the press building was a legitimate target or not?

          Was a war crime committed?

          Will the Biden Administration release the secret intelligence that the White House Press Secretary says the US intelligence services have, that would confirm or refute that the press building was a legitimate target?

          Or will the Biden Administration continue with the evasions and word salad, cover for giving military and financial support for Israel to commit these crimes?

          • Incognito 3.1.1.2.1

            Your first sentence, and possibly the second, was getting close-ish to addressing my question but you’re beating around the bush. Complicity is not the same as being the perpetrator, as you more or less admit by your choice of words. A legitimate veto cannot be equated to committing a war crime. I reject your premise.

            • Jenny How to get there 3.1.1.2.1.1

              I suppose that we will just have to agree, to disagree.

              You reject my premise,

              Whereas, I think it is a reasonable premise to make.

              The US supplied the weapons that Israel used to destroy the press tower and that MickySavage, (and others), say is a war crime as defined by the Rome Convention.

              IG Farben supplied the Cyclon B gas that the nazis used to kill millions of Jews and other undesireables and were found guilty of committing war crimes.

              IG Farben Trial – Wikipedia

              [Content deleted because it contained too many links that triggered Auto-Moderation]

              "You fasten the triggers for others to use", as Bob Dylan wrote, and as the court found, then you are just as guilty.

            • Is the US complicite in Israeli war crimes?

              ….one reason there has been so little justice for the Palestinians is the foreign policy of the United States.

              "I don't think that there's any way this occupation and creeping annexation process could have gotten where it is today if the United States had said no," said Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of the liberal Zionist group J-Street.

              …..To be fair, this is not something that began with Trump:
              America has been enabling Israel's occupation and settlement project for decades.

              …..All this mayhem is overdetermined; nearly every iniquity in the region has an impossibly complicated prehistory. But the United States has underwritten both Palestian subjugation and the growing power of Jewish ethnonationalism. It's not enough for Joe Biden to be a little bit better than Trump or to try and restart a spectral "peace process". If Israel can no longer afford to ignore the demands of the Palestinians, neither can we.

              https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/the-new-zealand-herald/20210519/281702617608709

  3. RedLogix 4

    Another excellent Caspian Report – reasonably even handed:

    • Ad 4.1

      I enjoy these reports.

      Looking forward to the social media war, and how their ethical Boards will react to different versions of the truth.

    • Caspian Report is a fantastic Channel and this is a good summary video for the situation.

  4. Stuart Munro 5

    It's a difficult matter, this kind of atrocity, and it has far-reaching implications. The assault on the worshippers at the Al-Aqsa mosque must generate a desire to respond among the large and diverse Islamic community. There is traditionally a competition for influence in the region between Saudi and Iran, and failure to react by the guardians of the holy mosques would likely be perceived as a kind of lese majeste. Mohammed bin Salman has proven jealous of his honours before.

    Traditionally, the US would protest the targeting of journalists, but the Bush government having murdered Al Jazeera journalists during the invasion of Iraq, a guilty silence on that subject seems likely.

    For my part, I'd cheerfully see the Israeli embassy invited to leave NZ, but I doubt that will be the government's response. An artwork commemorating the civilians killed in this conflict emplaced in front of the embassy might suffice to convey our disappointment at the barbarism on display.

  5. Bazza64 6

    To be even handed, Hamas shooting rockets direct into Israeli cities & residents would also be a war crime ?

    • Noel 6.1

      Bazza Depends..

      "Simply put, “War” is defined as a long standing armed conflict between two or more groups over resources, land, cultural differences, or other matters of contention"

      A War Crime is a breach of international laws of War.

      Is an on and off conflict war?

    • McFlock 6.2

      yup.

      Heck of a kill ratio, though. Almost like one response is disproportionate.

      • mickysavage 6.2.1

        Yep and only one nation gets billions of dollars of military aid from the western world.

  6. Infused 7

    The building was empty. Just like the others they warned hours before taking them out.

    • Incognito 7.1

      How many hours? Feel free to back your assertion with specific info and a link.

        • Incognito 7.1.1.1

          Well, Infused will be mighty pleased that you provided a link, but I also asked for specific info. The onus is on the one who makes (the) assertion(s) to back them up, especially when asked. This doesn’t necessarily mean dumping a link to an article or video clip and leave it to the other to go and find the answer, if it is even in the link provided. It means answering the question with the requested info as per assertion.

          • Infused 7.1.1.1.1

            The info is everywhere. A link has been provided for the latest. The previous ones had 3 hour warnings with drones dropping a warning signal beforehand

            [If you read my reply to Noel here (https://thestandard.org.nz/israel-commits-war-crime-in-gaza/#comment-1793205) you’ll see that a link alone is not sufficient and that I don’t want to have to dig around in that link to find that you were quite liberal with the truth when you claimed that they were warned “hours before taking them out” when in fact it was “just one hour” and not even 10 min extra despite the desperate pleading (cf. link). The question was specific about a specific event involving a specific building. You know how it works here. This is your warning – Incognito]

            • Incognito 7.1.1.1.1.1

              See my Moderation note @ 6:13 pm.

              • Infused

                Jesus Christ. No wonder this place is dead, taken a fucking chill pill. I'm not googling shit for you because your authors and mods are incompetent.

                [Take a month off to chill out. You have been banned before for the exact same shit and I did warn you. You make an assertion, you back it up. You spread BS, you correct and apologise. You don’t blow your lid and start accusing others – what do Authors have to do with this anyway? – of being incompetent when you are the lazy one who doesn’t want to provide simple basic answers that you should know since you made the assertion; it is a form of common courtesy to others here. Not that you’d care, it seems – Incognito]

                • Incognito

                  See my Moderation note @ 10:03 pm.

                • Drowsy M. Kram

                  The building was empty. Just like the others they warned hours before taking them out.

                  Good point – some terrorist organisations issue warnings.

                  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents_in_London#Republican_attacks_during_the_Troubles

                  Both distinctly asymmetric conflicts.

                  The end of Israel’s illusion
                  While Jews are entitled to reclaim property they owned before Israel’s founding, Palestinians may not. Those facing eviction in Sheikh Jarrah cannot recover the homes in Jaffa and Haifa that they once owned.

                  Israel certainly cannot claim victory. The fragile coexistence between Jews and Arabs within its borders has been shaken. The prevailing consensus among Israelis that Palestinian nationalism had been defeated—and thus that a political solution to the conflict was no longer necessary—lies in tatters. And even as the violence escalates, it has become clear to both sides that the era of glorious wars and victories is over.

                  https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-end-of-israels-illusion/

    • mickysavage 7.2

      That makes it ok? People were living there and two media companies had bases there.

  7. Noel 8

    One and building was empty of people.

  8. Kerry 9

    And as per usual the morals of the worlds population with mysteriously disappear while a genocide continues in Palestine. Israel has never, nor will they ever agree, or do any movement toward a 2 state solution…..to believe otherwise puts you in the category of being on crack!

    [you previously commented here under your (i.e. this) approved user name and I have removed your surname; some commenters sometimes accidentally add their surname, i.e. by mistake – Incognito]

  9. Byd0nz 10

    The Illegal State that is Israel has taken on the mantle of Hitler and surely has used up any sympathy that they have hidden behind.

    Talk about the so called genocide leveled against China, this continued terrorism by Israel using WMD supplied by the US tops that.

    Time to dismantle Israel and hand it back to the rightful owners.

  10. Bazza64 11

    So the headline of this article should be Israel & Hamas commit war crimes in the Middle East.

    • In Vino 11.1

      Don't be pathetic, Bazza64. Hammas are barely managing to wage war. If the deaths were equal on each side, I would accept your simplistic, lame attempt to portray both as equally bad.

      The number of deaths on the other side damns the Israelis only.

      Hammas – trying to wage war.

      Israelis – war-criminally overbearing savagery of response.

    • mickysavage 11.2

      Check out the kill ratio. It is like kids armed with a slingshot taking on a tank.

    • Noel 11.3

      Bazza 64. Perhaps no.

      The Hamas would say their rockets are not targeting civilians, a breach of Law.

      Israel says it was not targeting journalists because it gave safe passage from the building in accordance with the Law.

      Blogs are full of people who will make claim's of War Crimes but rarely do they back it up..

  11. Bazza64 12

    Clearly war crimes have been committed on both sides, but it seems the side suffering less deaths gets excused for this ? I agree the kill ratio is apalling, but hamas have fired hundreds of rockets into Israel which I don’t think is barely managing to wage war, but due to the Iron dome system used by Israel the damage is much less.

    I am not portraying both as equally bad but are both sides not committing war crimes?

    • McFlock 12.1

      Yes, they are.

      Thing is, one is firing unguided rockets because it's all they can produce.

      The other is dropping precision-guided munitions fifty times the size onto residential apartments and media offices.

      Imagine a fight where one little guy is blindfolded and flailing about – mostly hitting nothing, sometimes hitting the opponent in the chest, sometimes hitting the opponent in the nuts.

      The opponent is much larger, can see clearly, and chooses to repeatedly hit the little guy in the nuts.

      • Gabby 12.1.1

        Morals aside, you'd think the little guy would be a bit quicker on the uptake. Possibly the little guy isn't altogether displeased by the disproportion.

        • McFlock 12.1.1.1

          Every WP cloud has a silver lining for someone.

          Geopolitics, and ME in particular, is fun like that.

        • Sacha 12.1.1.2

          Possibly the little guy isn't altogether displeased…

          Spoken like somebody who has never been kicked in the nuts. 🙂

  12. Liberal Realist 13

    Israel commits war crime in Gaza

    Israel was founded on the basis of a war crime (forced displacement of civilian population) and has been committing war crimes against Palestine and Palestinians since 1948.

    Current events are simply a continuation of Israel's slow deliberate planned genocide of the Palestinian peoples.

    Methinks that the recent inception of violence is in part another ploy by Netanyahu to stave off his prosecution for corruption. The psychopath is prepared to murder civilians enmasse in order to maintain power, thus immunity from prosecution.

    It is extremely saddening to know that nothing will change, Palestinians will continue to be murdered by Israel without consequence as the USA will block any attempt by the UN to halt the violence. Even if a resolution does eventuate and pass, Israel will simply ignore it. Billions of US$$ will continue to flow in the form of cash, warmachines, and bombs from the US to Israel unimpeded. The Zionist cabal in Biden's cabinet + Zionist power brokers in the American establishment will ensure it so and the US will do as it is told.

  13. Ad 14

    So. Weird question. Does the removal of the entire local msm capacity and default to social media news make accurate and true reporting in Gaza less likely, or more?

  14. Noel 15

    “Deliberately targeting media outlets constitutes a war crime,” RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire said.

    https://rsf.org/en/news/rsf-asks-icc-prosecutor-say-whether-israeli-airstrikes-media-gaza-constitute-war-crimes

    Presumably these will be the focus from Article 8.

    (ii) Intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects, that is, objects which are not military objectives;

    v) Attacking or bombarding, by whatever means, towns, villages, dwellings or buildings which are undefended and which are not military objectives;

    Result will be interesting.

  15. pukahu road 16

    Electricity substations ,sewerage facilities, water pumping stations have been bombed and now the only access for the delivery of the necessities of life has been closed.

    Whether the occupants of apartments have been warned or not it is still considered an "exceptionally serious war crime" under Protocol 1 (amended in 1977) Article 51 of the original 1949 Geneva convention.

    Those who have been forced from their homes especially the women and children are sheltering in schools and mosques but as we have seen in the past Israel has bombed these areas with impunity.

    The support of Israel by especially the US makes them culpable and confirms the commitment to Israel and Zionism under a Joe Biden administration.

    The need for adherence of International humanitarian laws has never been more urgent.

    Unfortunately under the current world order and its slavish connection to the military industrial complex, peace around the globe is not an option.

    Their is simply too much money to be made and too many people willing to take it no matter what the cost.

    Somehow a new world order needs to be established to counter the greed and corruption that seems to drive our society currently,

    Optimism defeats pessimism.

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    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

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