Jacinda Arden’s request of New Zealanders

Written By: - Date published: 10:51 am, March 16th, 2020 - 49 comments
Categories: labour - Tags: , ,

New Zealand now has its seventh case of covid (Queenstown). The government is set to announce an economic package in response to corona virus on Tuesday. Labour released this video yesterday:

Transcript:

  1. Wash your hands
  2. If you don’t need to travel overseas, then don’t. Enjoy your own backyard for a time
  3. Wash your hands
  4. If you’re sick, stay home
  5. If you sneeze, do it into your elbow
  6. Wash your hands
  7. Stop handshakes, hugs and hongi. I know this is counter to who we are as a nation but the best thing we can do right now to show love and affection to one another is to switch to the East Coast wave. If you don’t know what that is, find an East Coaster
  8. Please be mindful of the older citizens in your life. Check in on them, but if you are sick, keep your distance.
  9. Finally, we are a tough, resilient people. We have been here before. But our journey will depend on how we work together. We are taking every measure we need as a government and every step we can as a government and we’re taking them early. We ask that you do that too. We all have a role to play, look out for your neighbour, look out for your family, look out for your friends… look after your family, look after your older ones, we are all in this together.

For those that are still learning what is happening, this is a serious pandemic.  The main push in New Zealand is to prevent spread of the virus and to slow down the impact on the health system.

Microbiologist Souxsie Wiles’ series of explainers at The Spinoff.

 

49 comments on “Jacinda Arden’s request of New Zealanders ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. bill 1
    16 March 2020 at 12:10 pm

    When China shut down cities, NZ should have shut its borders. But no. Cruise ships continued to cruise and planes continued to land. I guess the priority was "the economy"?

    So NZ didn't isolate, and probably like others, I now have people in my life who I'd pick as being in the "fatality" camp should they get infected.

    So what now?

    Well. How about adopting the proposal of America's most maligned politician? How about a $1000 per month payment to every single person so that (for example) people living on NZ's inadequate entitlements can stock up with food and other essentials in preparation for periods of self imposed isolation?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpoPIAmDF8o

    And how about putting a moratorium on any and all evictions and/or foreclosures and so on (as proposed by Sanders)?

    Or is that too much of a focus being given to the human economy when we all know everything stands or falls on the health of the financial economy?

    edit. Washing hands doesn’t do much to prevent airborne infections. Just saying. But sure – people want to feel as though they are doing something useful and I guess that has a psychological impact.

    • Sacha 1.1
      16 March 2020 at 12:37 pm

      Washing hands doesn’t do much to prevent airborne infections. Just saying. But sure – people want to feel as though they are doing something useful and I guess that has a psychological impact.

      This is a droplet infection so washing hands is very important to prevent spread.

      Please do not spread falsehoods about a topic you clearly do not know much about. It can be dangerous, not merely annoying.

      • Tony Veitch (not etc.) 1.1.1
        16 March 2020 at 12:42 pm

        On the contrary, it is both droplet and airborne. Bill is right, washing hands is only so effective, but not totally.

        Most effective is everyone, especially sick people, wearing masks (and washing hands!)

        • Sacha 1.1.1.1
          16 March 2020 at 12:47 pm

          Sheesh. The range of transmission in air is strictly limited – hence the success of ‘social distancing’ measures. The only effective masks are not the ones available to the public.

        • weka 1.1.1.2
          16 March 2020 at 1:28 pm

          the point of public health measures isn't to control the virus absolutely but to slow down transmission so that the health system can help people that get seriously ill.

          The protocols that are being published by health authorities are science and researched based ie they studied coronavirus transmission in China and now other countries and figured out the best ways to slow transmission collectively as well as protect some individuals.

          Masks are useful for people who are sick, to limit outward movement of the virus. They not so useful for protecting oneself.

          Airborne CV has a limited lifespan and distance. It's not like it's going to be freely floating around in the air all the time over distances.

          https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-can-spread-as-an-aerosol.html

          As Sacha says, it's dangerous to get the protocols wrong and spread falsehoods.

          • Rosemary McDonald 1.1.1.2.1
            16 March 2020 at 1:58 pm

            Perhaps we wash the hands and wear the mask if going into situations where there could conceivably be a concentration of virus in the air?

            Mask wearing whilst away from home is practically mandatory in some Asian countries at the moment because of population density and prevalence of disease. Here, at the very least, masks should be donned while visiting hospitals and clinics, schools and the like…just in case?

            The hand hygiene thing can't be overemphasized though.

            I am amazed at how much crap Peter picks up on his hands while getting around places like the supermarket….now I'm having to wash them more often.

            • weka 1.1.1.2.1.1
              16 March 2020 at 2:22 pm

              My understanding is that outside of hospitals etc, wearing a mask is useful if you are the one who has covid, to lessen droplets going out into the environment that other people share with you. The other people wearing the mask is way less effective in terms of self-protection. There are some nuances there, depending on the mask tech, but most of the public can't buy the high tech masks now.

              I think the distance/time thing is crucial. 2 metres and for less then 15 mins. I'd be more stringent about that for people that have pre-existing conditions and the elderly. I'm thinking about this in terms of things like ride sharing and sitting in a car with someone. Or waiting in line in the bank.

              Being on a bus/train, I don't know that wearing a mask does much to protect oneself from infection.

              • Herodotus …
                16 March 2020 at 5:15 pm

                Next time you are out in public, see what happens when a "mask" wearer sneezers, they remove the mask, so that they can deal with the consequence of sneezing i.e tissue over face, use of "elbow". Point is no one (knowing they are going to sneeze) sneezes wearing a mask !!!

        • woodart 1.1.1.3
          16 March 2020 at 5:08 pm

          so I can go into my bank wearing a mask..cool!

      • mauī 1.1.2
        16 March 2020 at 1:46 pm

        "This is a droplet infection so.."

        Can you please not spread falsehoods about this virus? There is evidence that the virus can/could be transmitted through the air. (https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/487110-tests-indicate-coronavirus-can-survive-in-the-air)

        Since this virus ceased to exist just a couple of months ago and we've barely got much of an understanding of how it goes about its business, wouldn't the wise move be to exercise extreme caution.

    • Molly 1.2
      16 March 2020 at 12:42 pm

      Hi Bill,

      Just read your comment after reading the 36th Covid update on MedCram. (- can't remember who posted it here, but thanks for that.)

      In it, they refer to a study awaiting peer review on the transmission of the virus, (starts at 4.14. )

      While airborne rates are high, and the virus stays active for hours, the virus can remain active for days on stainless steel surfaces and polypropelene. Making the requirement for those supporting those in isolation to consider the cleanliness of surfaces when dropping off supplies or providing services.

      Washing hands is very important in terms of protecting yourself, and decreasing the likelihood of contamination, when touching communal surfaces. The handles of shopping trolleys, ATM or EFTPOS machines petrol pumps etc.

      (I do agree that some thought needs to be focused on people, as people. Rather than business units. It would be good to see some clear decisions made in this regard.)

      • bill 1.2.1
        16 March 2020 at 5:16 pm

        In other words, if I walk through a space a few hours after it's been dosed with coronavirus aerosol (someone coughed, breathed, sneezed) and I'm wearing rubber gloves and I don't touch a damned thing, and I wash my hands anyway…it's just my breathing in and out that may lead to me becoming infected – which is in line with what I said about hand washing not doing much in relation to airborne infection.

        Infection from contact with surfaces is another matter.

        • Incognito 1.2.1.1
          16 March 2020 at 5:25 pm

          “Based on what we know about other respiratory viruses, we don’t think that SARS-CoV-2 [COVID-19] gets aerosolized in everyday settings,” Morris said. “Rather, aerosolization, if it happens at all for SARS-CoV-2, is likely to happen in health care settings,” according to recent studies, Morris said.

          https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-can-spread-as-an-aerosol.html

          • Sacha 1.2.1.1.1
            16 March 2020 at 5:32 pm

            Thank you again.

            Unless you are working in a clinic, infection comes from being close to people directly breathing or coughing on you, or from touching surfaces they have done that on.

            Interact at a safe distance. Wash your hands. Ignore fearmongers.

          • bill 1.2.1.1.2
            16 March 2020 at 7:13 pm

            "Based on what we know about other respiratory viruses" versus "a study awaiting peer review on the transmission of the virus".

            And from your link "Morris versus Gordon".

            She and other experts already assumed that aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 "may be a concern, because we had seen that with SARS," Gordon said. While the new study supports their speculations, she said that scientists should be "cautious" about how they interpret the results.

            dingding. (Bikini clad lass in respiratory mask steps through the ropes and does yesteryear's obligatory circuit of the ring)

        • McFlock 1.2.1.2
          16 March 2020 at 5:39 pm

          well, no, it's about probabilities.

          Sure, you might get covid-19 walking through a space hours later. But for that to happen on anything other than a statistically infintesimal likelihood, entire flights should be testing positive just because one passenger had it when they got on board.

          But getting it from the hand rails or doorknobs in that space hours later and touching unwashed hands to your mucous membranes? That's a non-trivial probability.

          If walking through a space hours after a sneeze was a problem, NZ hospitals would already be swamped.

          • bill 1.2.1.2.1
            16 March 2020 at 6:59 pm

            ffs. I said "may", and you wrote "no, it's about probabilities". I'm missing something here, right?

            Because apart from that piece of b/s (and something that would seem to assume 100% infection rates or zero infection rate with nothing inbetween), you head off into the weeds of solid surfaces as the source of infection – which I already wrote is where handwashing and whatever in the way of physical barriers come into play 🙄

            You want to talk probabilities? Okay.

            On that there train carriage, you sat on seat number F3. The guy on seat A2 got off at the stop before you got on. They were infectious and you breathed in some portion of their expelled breath on your way to seat F3…

            Or, in the supermarket, you wiped the trolley handles and even walked around with a spray can of Oust – offloading a squirt on each purchase going into your trolley. Guy in isle 4 had a snuffle and a sneeze right before you circled round from isle 5…

            That big modern building where you work that's so modern the air you breathe is recycled and the windows don't open…

            Basically zero chance of getting infected from physical contact in those imagined scenarios. Definitely more than zero chance of getting infected from inhalation though.

            • Sacha 1.2.1.2.1.1
              16 March 2020 at 7:01 pm

              Bill, you seem upset about this situation and this line of conversation is going nowhere. Is there anything we can discuss that would be more helpful for you?

              • bill …
                16 March 2020 at 7:16 pm

                Dearest Sacha. I'm experiencing close on zero tolerance for McFlock's tired old routine of dragging discussion into weeds of irrelevance. I hope that clears things up for you somewhat.

                Hmm. The bullshit of concern trolling might also be hitting my radar, aye? 😉

                • Sacha …
                  16 March 2020 at 9:31 pm

                  I'd like to hear more about what you originally said above at #1:

                  How about a $1000 per month payment to every single person so that (for example) people living on NZ's inadequate entitlements can stock up with food and other essentials in preparation for periods of self imposed isolation?

                  It's a very real fear for many people I've known too, not having the slightest chance to 'get prepared' because there simply is not enough in the kitty. Barely scraping by week after week after week.

                  Others of us may lose jobs without a way to keep up expenses like rent or mortgages or food or bills including the internet or phone that keep us connected.

                  It's scary and confusing and frustrating. Hope this comes to pass:

                  https://twitter.com/kylemacd/status/1239444099947585538

            • McFlock 1.2.1.2.1.2
              16 March 2020 at 7:15 pm

              You also said hand washing not doing much in relation to airborne infection.

              Which is patently false in the case of the pandemic facing us at the moment: covid-19.

              Because if your scenario was something to rationally worry about in the real world (walking through the same space hours later), then the person on the bus would infect everyone on the bus, you'd have a better than 0.75 chance of getting it in aisle 4, many people in the building would be infected in a single day, everyone on the flight that aussie took over and in the cafe he ate in and many people in the hotel he slept in would become infected. And that's been happening for at least 3 months. Covid-19 would already seriously infect millions of people and have an R0 in the hundreds.

              You know why we don't have that many serious infections? Because your scenarios are hyperbolic scaremongering. Wash your goddamned hands and keep a physical gap. It works.

              • bill …
                16 March 2020 at 7:53 pm

                That doesn't make much sense McFlock. (And I was merely pointing to the efficacy of handwashing when transmission can occur by inhalation – didn't say anything about "worry" or hit anyone up with any "we're all going to die" b/s)

                You appear to be repeating the suggestion of 100% infection rate on the one hand for a given source/vector, and on the other hand, an infection rate of 0 for the same source/vector. (Whatever happened to that notion of probability from your initial foray into this sub-thread?)

                There's a doubling rate of about 6 days, aye? (Some publications say 4).

                Anyway and whatever – high time for the US to lift all sanctions on the likes of Iran and Venezuela, yes? Oh. I forgot. Nicaragua has just been added to the list. So there goes that notion of Congress discovering some humanity and expressing it to any degree.

                • McFlock …
                  16 March 2020 at 8:16 pm

                  Not every microbe you encounter will be able to make you its host and infect you. Not every microbe released by someone else will even reach you. If someone coughs in your face, you have a much higher chance of being infected than if they coughed across the room and a diluted air sample wafted a few micro-droplets in your direction.

                  But in this particular thread, a disease that for any realistic measure "may" infect you if you walked through the same space hours later will almost certainly infect you if that person coughed right into your face. A massively greater number of germs right into your eyes, nose, and mouth, and possibly even breathed into your lungs.

                  And yeah, in reference to this outbreak, talking about infection hours after the sick person walked through a space is scaremongering.

                  • bill …
                    16 March 2020 at 8:26 pm

                    Try reading what I wrote McFlock.

                    I was obviously drawing the distinction between the fact of airborne infection and washing hands/wearing gloves as a preventative measure in the face of possible infection.

                    And I made the distinction off the back of info provided in the vid link put up by Molly, and because people seemed a tad upset at my original (and I'd say) bog standard and somewhat obvious statement about hand washing as a preventative measure against airborne infection.

                    You seriously think it’s scaremongering to point to handwashing not being much cop against airborne infection? k. Whatever gets you off.

                    • McFlock …
                      16 March 2020 at 8:32 pm

                      Did you intend your comment to be relevant to the current pandemic that is the topic of the post?

                    • bill …
                      16 March 2020 at 9:10 pm

                      Good grief, but you're being a prick. Read my initial comment and highlight the irrelevance. Then read my reply to Molly, and likewise, highlight the irrelevance.

                      As per usual, the only irrelevant comments I make in regards to a post occur, as this one, in response to your interjections that drag towards the weeds.

                    • McFlock …
                      16 March 2020 at 9:22 pm

                      I'm "being a prick" because when people start introducing hollywood disease scenarios into discussions about a real-life pandemic, that just encourages panic which in turn accelerates systemic failures that would otherwise be mitigated or even avoided.

                      And once again, if your scenario were relevant to the current pandemic, the current pandemic would be several orders of magnitude worse than it actually is.

                    • bill …
                      16 March 2020 at 9:30 pm

                      Coronavirus can be caught by simply sharing the same breathed air as another. That's not "Hollywood".

                      I have no idea why that simple fact should induce panic in you. (Flu spreads in much the same way). Neither can I grasp how me stating the fact of its airborne character could in any way “accelerate systemic failures”.

                      Actually. If everyone was to go about their social business blissfully unaware there was a chance of infection via airborne particles, then their ideas of “social distancing” wouldn’t cut the mustard in terms of slowing the spread of the disease.

                      That it is airborne simply means the pandemic is exactly as bad as it is. (Obviously)

                    • McFlock …
                      16 March 2020 at 10:10 pm

                      At which timecode of that youtube vid did it say that the bounds of lab detectability as reported in a single unreviewed study translated into anything close to "if I walk through a space a few hours after it's been dosed with coronavirus aerosol (someone coughed, breathed, sneezed) […] it's just my breathing in and out that may lead to me becoming infected" as something a normal person should worry about?

                      edit: from incognito’s link in comment 1.2.1.1:

                      “We still don’t know how high a concentration of viable SARS-CoV-2 is needed in practice to infect a human being, though this is something we are looking to model in the future,”

                      That’s the point, right there. I suggest you read the entire link.

                    • bill …
                      17 March 2020 at 9:36 am

                      You're such a fear riddled monkey there McFlock. It's kinda disgusting. I never said anything along the lines of "people should be worried".

                      This entire sub-thread was based on the simple and obvious premise that hand washing has limitations when considering airborne infection. -end-

                    • McFlock …
                      17 March 2020 at 1:49 pm

                      If subthread including the "hours later" scenario was an abstraction with no relevance to the current covid-19, why include the sentence:

                      "There's a doubling rate of about 6 days, aye? (Some publications say 4). "

                      Because that clearly implies a specific disease in mind, specifically covid-19, no? So the subthread includes real comments about c19, and abstractions that aren't relevant to covid-19, which is begging for casual readers to confuse your omagerds about "airborne" viruses and actual descriptions of the current conditions as have been reliably demonstrated.

                    • bill …
                      17 March 2020 at 8:21 pm

                      List the abstractions that aren't relevant? As an aerosol, the virus remains viable for hours. Therefor it's conceivable to pick it up in an empty room/space. If you think two hours (which is in line with the study Molly linked) is much too long a time, then why not just say so and maybe suggest a more appropriate lapse of time you believe to be more conceivable in terms of picking up infection – instead of wanking on in black and white terms (of seeming denial) for comment after hour after day?

                    • McFlock …
                      17 March 2020 at 8:49 pm

                      All the abstractions.

                      Until “We still don’t know how high a concentration of viable SARS-CoV-2 is needed in practice to infect a human being” is resolved, "conceivable" is pointless bullshit. It's "conceivable" that the detectable viral viability is a massive undercount because it maybe blows off polished surfaces with a light breeze and maybe a static discharge. If even one single viable virus does that it's "conceivable" that you could catch the disease days after a single cough in that same space. O. Ma. Gerd. We're all gonna die. I conceived it, so let me tweet that out, put it on FB, make a fucking youtube video. It's conceivable.

                      But then everyone who walked through Wellington airport or Dunedin airport in the last week will get the disease, and that would have happened with the first imported cases, too. Given we only have 12 cases rather than 1,200+, I suspect spending several hours within a few feet of the person at the time of their coughing is a more likely scenario. Because right now we aren't having to treat 20% of every planeload that delivered a sick passenger, and the other passengers on that plane did exactly that.

                      So it's reasonably conceivable that the viral load required to give a probability of transmission that is more in the ballpark of "did you just cough on me? You dickhead" than "if I walk through a space a few hours after it's been dosed with coronavirus aerosol (someone coughed, breathed, sneezed) […] it's just my breathing in and out that may lead to me becoming infected"

                      And insisting that last abstraction is relevant to the current pandemic will just make people buy more bogroll they don't need, because all the extra handwashing will probably really cut our bacterial gastro rates, as well.

                • Descendant Of Smith …
                  17 March 2020 at 7:47 pm

                  The point about handwashing is that the virus, while it can be inhaled, is more likely to land on you, your hands or some surface that you then touch. Hand-in-hand with the handwashing is the don't touch your face message – surprisingly harder than it seems for most people. From one medical website.

                  "Respiratory viruses like coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread when mucus or droplets containing the virus get into your body through your eyes, nose or throat. Most often, this happens through your hands. Hands are also one of the most common ways that the virus spreads from one person to the next.

                  During a global pandemic, one of the cheapest, easiest, and most important ways to prevent the spread of a virus is to wash your hands frequently with soap and water.

                  And soap is the better option.

                  https://twitter.com/PalliThordarson/status/1236549305189597189?s=20

                  • bill …
                    17 March 2020 at 8:13 pm

                    You think I don't get the whole contaminated surfaces angle? You read anything I've written suggesting people shouldn't wash hands?

                    More and less likely (surface and airborne infection) is going to come down to the specifics of a situation and (I guess) the total number of people infected.

                    But whatever, I agree that a cheap and effective way of preventing contamination from surfaces is hand and surface washing.

                    I'm still a bit aghast that people took such umbrage over the mention of the obvious limitations around hand washing. I could almost suspect some people thought handwashing and not touching ones own face was tantamount, or close, to complete protection.

                    Anyways…

                    • McFlock …
                      17 March 2020 at 9:03 pm

                      It's because a genuinely "airborne" method of transmission (micro-droplets that hand in the air, not larger droplets that fall to surfaces pretty quickly) with air infectiousness "hours" after a single cough, no vaccine (or confirmed treatment), a ten day asymptomatic infectious incubation period, reinfection likelihoods, and a ~3% case mortality rate is the sort of thing that makes anybody even close to knowing what that means shit their pants.

                      This pandemic is bad, but manageable. The above scenario is Mad Max shit.

                    • bill …
                      18 March 2020 at 12:10 am

                      lol And who was that wanking on about a simple observation on the limitations of handwashing being scare mongering who's now throwing talk of 3% mortality rates and reinfections about the show?

                      Seems you really are a riddled fear monkey. 😉

                    • McFlock …
                      18 March 2020 at 12:15 am

                      You see the bit where I made it clear that the scenario wasn't relevant to the current pandemic?

                      That's the bit you didn't include.

        • Stunned Mullet 1.2.1.3
          16 March 2020 at 5:40 pm

          🙄

  2. Sacha 2
    16 March 2020 at 5:49 pm

    The importance of adjusting the language used: https://sciblogs.co.nz/psychology-report/2020/03/16/if-your-comms-message-is-suboptimal-change-it/

    1. The Ministry of Health has changed its messaging around self-isolation to Stay at Home.

    …

    2. Physical distancing vs social distancing.

    …

    Let me elaborate a little: We know that social contact is the biggest protective factor in a crisis, and we know how corrosive loneliness and anxiety can be. Physical distancing is appropriate and likely to be helpful in managing risks – 2m apart and contact for no longer than 15 minutes. However, what we need is social cohesion, not distance.

  3. adam 3
    17 March 2020 at 12:39 am

    But whatever you do, don't mention the sanctions that the USA has keep in place in the face of this.

    And don't mention the fact that power companies, telecommunications companies and the rest are going to do the same thing to the poor in this country.

  4. Observer Tokoroa 4
    17 March 2020 at 9:02 am

    Just to say …

    It is good of Bill to let us know that washing hands thoroughly is silly.

    lord knows what other bits and pieces he doesn't Wash. The one good thing is, it keeps him happy. Keeps himself in the limelight.

    But, do they let him loose on the streets and in the Food Shops where he can handle anything that takes his fancy.

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    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
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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 ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 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
    5 days ago

  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days 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 ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    5 days 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
    6 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    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 might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    6 days ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    7 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago

  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week 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
    12 hours 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
    19 hours 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    6 days 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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