John Key’s anti-democratic government

Written By: - Date published: 9:31 am, September 17th, 2013 - 48 comments
Categories: accountability, assets, class war, david cunliffe, democracy under attack, greens, infrastructure, internet, john key, labour, national, nz first, privatisation, russel norman, Steven Joyce, telecommunications - Tags:

John Key and his ministers certainly don’t like democracy.

John Key Nat Billboard Corproate vote

This is shown yet again with their rush to sell Meridian.

Opposition Parties are lining up to tell it as it is.  RNZ reports:

Opposition parties say the Government is being arrogant as it pushes ahead with its plan to partially privatise its power companies.

Shares in Meridian Energy are due to go on sale later this month and the company will be listed on the stock exchange in late October.

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says the move is an extraordinarily arrogant one while a referendum on the matter is pending.

“John Key is desperate to sell the people’s assets. He’s pursued that plan relentlessly in spite of all the evidence, in spite of the fact that it doesn’t make any sense economically or fiscally, in spite of the referendum signed by 400,000 New Zealanders” says Dr Norman.

He told Morning Report the Government is acting like a “corporate raider”, asset-stripping state-owned power companies.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says the Government is being pig-headed and will sell the assets even if it means taking a loss.

He says taxpayers will suffer if the partial float goes ahead.

The Labour Party says both Forsyth Barr and Macquarie have revised down their valuations of Meridian Energy in recent days.

Meanwhile, government ministers try to claim it’s sensible financial management, and that they have a mandate to do it:

Prime Minister John Key says the partial float is about reducing debt and strengthening the company.

State-Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall says the referendum on the matter does not reflect the clear mandate the Government got during the last election to proceed with its mixed ownership model programme.’

Elections every three years is not the OK to do whatever you like once in government.  Democracy is an on-going process, and requires consultation with the people as circumstances change, and people learn more.

Key’s government is very much about top-down management.   And if there’s opposition to their plutocratic aims, then there’s all kinds of dodgy deals and arm twisting behind the scenes, as with Joyce’s broadband deals.  Otago Daily times reports, this morning :

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce has confirmed he persuaded would-be participants in a campaign fighting for lower internet prices not to take part.

The Coalition for Fair Internet Pricing claims a recent Government proposal for internet pricing sets the price for copper-based broadband services too high and will result in a windfall profit of $600 million to lines company Chorus, something they say amounts to an unfair tax.

Consumer NZ boss Sue Chetwin who is leading the group last week said leading telecommunications companies and business groups were supportive of the group but “came under considerable political pressure” not to take part.

A telecommunications industry source said both Vodafone and 2degrees had been involved in the coalition but had withdrawn suddenly in recent days.

A spokesman for Mr Joyce said the Economic Development Minister was advised of the campaign about a week before its launch on Thursday.

“He talked either specifically or as part of other conversations to three groups that he understood had been approached to be part of it because he wanted to be sure they were aware of the reasoning behind the Government’s proposal.

“They indicated they would make final decisions whether to participate in due course. He understands that none of the three ended up participating. He takes that to mean the campaign tends to fall apart whenever the other view has a chance to be represented.”

Yesterday, David Cunliffe was critical of Joyce’s “arm twisting”, as reported by Adam Bennett of the NZ Herald.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce’s “arm twisting” of would-be participants in a campaign fighting for lower internet prices is linked to the Government’s “shabby deal” over ultra-fast broadband with network company Chorus, Labour Leader David Cunliffe said today.

John Key was critical of the Commerce Commissions’ proposal for lowering Broadband pricing, saying they were interpreting the law incorrectly, and that it would bankrupt Chorus.  However, David Cunliffe has called Key on this:

Mr Cunliffe said Mr Key was grossly overstating the effect of the Commerce Commission’s ruling on Chorus.

“The Prime Minister is inappropriately meddling in a regulatory process which ought to be transparent and legally binding, and I note there are issues arising out of that which have yet to play out.”

Mr Cunliffe said Mr Joyce’s “arm twisting” over the Coalition for Fair Internet Pricing was interesting.

“One wonders why this Government is so intent on doing a deal for one telecommunications company not only at the expense of others but at the significant expense of the New Zealand public.”

Mr Cunliffe said the Government’s interference with the commission’s work was about doing a shabby deal with one company and was “more of the same for the National Government”.

Meanwhile John Key tries to smear Labour’s democratic, bottom-up leadership contest as being some sort of far left union manipulation.  It must be quite threatening for Key to now face a Labour leader selected by the Labour Party base of workers, and people who favour a leader who speaks about providing a “fair chance and a fair deal” for all kiwis.

The Labour and Green parties follow and support democratic processes

Meanwhile, Key’s government continues it’s plutocratic ways.

Hollow-men

 

48 comments on “John Key’s anti-democratic government ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Bill 1
    17 September 2013 at 9:38 am

    360 odd days and counting.

  2. Tracey 2
    17 September 2013 at 9:49 am

    The fish rots from the head…

    Note the claim last week by a National MP that there were 1200 properties in his electorate for sale under $500,000. In fact that was the number in the whole of Auckland… so where DO they learn this behaviour from?

    • dumrse 2.1
      17 September 2013 at 7:29 pm

      The fish started rotting the minute DC held them up and, they rotted away real quick if i recall. I guess the rest of the exaggeration lesson comes from the new Labour leader who keeps telling us how many people, was that 8, 16 or 18… Living in a 2.5 no make that 3 or was it 3.5 bedroom house. Make up your mind and at least maintain a consistent lie.

  3. tricledrown 3
    17 September 2013 at 9:58 am

    the 1% have more democratic “power” than the rest of us combined MRP shares at $2.17.
    National will have to sell the next 2 power co,s for even less!
    Firesale prices more corporate welfare.
    Meridian have already written off $476 million o f capital value as a result.
    $30 million to rio tinto for 1 more year guaranteed operation of Tiwae to get past election with out it being shut down.
    $40 million welfare to share buyers who will already be getting a firesale price!
    Total cost to tax payers for just the bribes $546 million.
    Goldman sacks fees $30 million.
    Nact sale promotion cost $30 million.
    Loss of value
    $476 million
    $500 to $1 billion closer to $1billion+
    True loss to NZ taxpayers close to $ 2 billion by the time each asset is flogged off at firesale prices!
    Even bungling Bills English says.
    Sales at the lowest end of predictions that doesn’t include the bribes and costs!

  4. Jilly Bee 4
    17 September 2013 at 10:02 am

    Here we go folks http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=11125498 and there’s more in the Herald, but that will do for starters.

    • karol 4.1
      17 September 2013 at 10:28 am

      JB, that’s the article I linked to, and quoted from in my post. Do you have a comment on it?

    • Tracey 4.2
      17 September 2013 at 10:36 am

      “”The unions decided the leader of the Labour Party,” Mr Key said at his post-Cabinet press conference.

      “The unions have been quite vocal historically about free trade agreements and if that has an impact that will be very sad.””

      Not that corporates determine Government policy… Warner Bros, Rio Tinto, Sky Casino and so on… OH the hypocrisy…or this http://www.businessnz.org.nz/aboutus

      Let’s play spot the brown face and the women

      BusinessNZ Council

      PRESIDENT

      Laurie Margrain
      (EMA)

      VICE PRESIDENTS

      Peter Davie
      (Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce)

      Peter McKee
      (Business Central)

      IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

      Philip Broughton
      (Otago Southland Employers Association)

      REGIONAL CEO’s

      Phil O’Reilly
      (BusinessNZ)

      John Scandrett
      (Otago Southland Employers Association)

      Peter Townsend
      (Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce)

      Kim Campbell
      (EMA)

      Raewyn Bleakley
      (Business Central)

      COUNCIL MEMBERS

      Graham Mountfort
      (EMA)

      Andrew Hunt
      (EMA)

      Derek Rankin
      (EMA)

      David Thomas
      (EMA)

      Tracey Chambers
      (Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce)

      Richard Stone
      (Business Central)

      Vaughan Renner
      (Business Central)

      Ray Anton
      (Otago Southland Employers Association)

      Major Companies Group

      ACC, AECOM NZ, AG Research, Air New Zealand, ANZ National Bank, ASB Bank, Auckland International Airport, Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd, Bank of New Zealand, BECA, BP New Zealand, Carter Holt Harvey Pulp & Paper, Chapman Tripp, Chevron NZ, Chorus New Zealand Ltd, Compass Group, Contact Energy, Countdown, Datacom group, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, Downer EDI Works Ltd, Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, Fletcher Building, Fonterra Group, Foodstuffs Group, Fuji Xerox NZ, Fujitsu NZ, Fulton Hogan, Genesis Energy, Gough Group, Hawkins Group, HSBC, IAG New Zealand, KiwiRail, Landcare Research, Lion, Lyttelton Port Company, Meridian Energy, Methanex NZ, Microsoft NZ, Mighty River Power, New Zealand Steel, Ngai Tahu Holdings Corporation, NIWA, NZ Aluminium Smelters Ltd, NZ Oil & Gas Ltd, NZ Post, NZ Refining Company, NZX, Opus International, Orion Health, Pan Pac Forest Products, Port of Tauranga, Ports of Auckland, PricewaterhouseCooper NZ, QBE Insurance (International), Ravensdown, Sanford, Shell NZ, Siemens (NZ), Silver Fern Farms, Skope Industries, Sky City Entertainment Group, Solid Energy NZ, Southern Cross Healthcare Group, Telecom NZ, Thales NZ, The Warehouse Group, Todd Corporation, Toyota NZ, Transfield Services NZ, Transpower, Unison Networks, Vero Insurance NZ, Vodafone New Zealand, Waterfront Auckland, Wellington Electricity, Westpac NZ,
      Z Energy Ltd, Zespri International.

      How many employees in this group get to “vote” for the measures pushed by them to government?

  5. tricledrown 5
    17 September 2013 at 10:07 am

    Tracy the outcome of the tv3 poll conducted during the show was 72% against govts policy.
    28% for.
    If the left can get the message out there they will win!
    National have been caught in a perfect storm where they are being found out.
    The distraction of floating the power co’s is playing into labours hands.

    • Tracey 5.1
      17 September 2013 at 10:10 am

      They need to keep selling so they can do a lolly scramble in the next budget (election year no less).

      I note regarding Meridian Key is reverting to the paying down debt line which he use din the last campaign to lure people into the sales and then didnt pay down any debt from the MRP sell down.

      It’s ok, we can TRUST key.

    • srylands 5.2
      17 September 2013 at 12:31 pm

      Good grief. It is not important. Most New Zealanders couldn’t tell you which power cos were Government owned and which were privately owned. Until all this hysteria started most of them had never heard of MRP either.

      It is a partial float of a couple of government owned power cos. Get over it. The only mistake the Government made is selling only 49%. That was an effort to dampen the hysteria by people that bought into the fiction that they were already “shareholders”. But it didn’t work. They should have gone for 100% – i.e the rational policy.

      Anyway, all the Government is doing is swapping one asset for another. Why on earth should a Government be running power cos? What next? Supermarkets?

      • framu 5.2.1
        17 September 2013 at 12:58 pm

        Why the hell should we get over it? – considering the majority of NZers are opposed maybe you should get over it and take your stinking thieving hands off our public assets

        get it into your somewhat location challenged head – you, nat, act and every other ticket clipping parasite who supports this policy are in the minority here.

        “fiction that they were already “shareholders”. ”

        fucking bullshit – am I for one am getting damn sick of this pathetic little distraction – we own it via the state, we receive a dividend via the state funding certain things for everyone. you don’t need a silly piece of paper to have ownership of a public asset – there are more forms of ownership under the sun than what you get via the stock market

        ” swapping one asset for another”

        well lets put aside that what the money is being spent on keeps changing – your arguing to sell a profit generating asset to fund a non profit generating asset – what a winner

        It IS important, because the majority deem it to be important – not you

        “What next? Supermarkets?”

        or maybe a straw man?

        • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 5.2.1.1
          17 September 2013 at 1:04 pm

          @ Framu
          +1 Well said

        • Macro 5.2.1.2
          17 September 2013 at 2:00 pm

          Couldn’t have said it better!
          These greedy pricks need to know that what they are doing is nothing more than theft from the common people – well we’re going to take it back.

        • dumrse 5.2.1.3
          17 September 2013 at 7:43 pm

          Did the left win the last election ? No, so fuck off and wait your turn then you can sell whatever you want.

          • framu 5.2.1.3.1
            18 September 2013 at 7:53 am

            Did national win the last election?
            Is basic math a bit too much for you?
            How much % is a majority?
            Do you even understand how mmp democracy works?

            You seem to be arguing for elected dictators.

            you need to get it through your head that…

            1) democracy is an ongoing thing – the govt has to turn up every day and try to win the public to its platform
            2) national didnt win the election
            3) the vast majority of NZers dont want asset sales
            4) democracy isnt about having turns

            so perhaps you should “fuck off”, grow up, educate your self and come back with an argument that shows why assets should be sold despite it not being popular. Because thats the issue – its not national won, you lost (because that didnt happen anyway), its about the govt doing something the majority dont want.

            But im not holding my breath – Considering the sterling effort you made above it might be best to check youve even managed to put your pants on the right way round first.

            Why do you hate democracy so much? could it be that you dont understand how it works

      • Draco T Bastard 5.2.2
        17 September 2013 at 1:51 pm

        They should have gone for 100% – i.e the rational policy.

        Selling any percentage of the power companies is completely irrational as it will leave the country worse off. We just have to look at telecommunications in NZ to see that. $17b taken out in dividends over the last 20 years and now we’re having to pay taxpayer money to upgrade the network – an upgrade that would have happened with that $17b if we hadn’t sold.

        Why on earth should a Government be running power cos?

        Because it’s the most efficient way to get power out to the populace with the economies of scale making it cost minimal amounts per household to cover running costs and no dead-weight loss of profit (that $17b of dividends that Telecom took out is a loss to the country as proven by the fact that we’re now having to pay taxpayer dollars to get the network upgraded).

        The facts disprove everything about economics that you believe.

      • Tracey 5.2.3
        17 September 2013 at 2:05 pm

        “Until all this hysteria started most of them had never heard of MRP either.”

        How very superior of you. It’s not the ignorant masses you say are out there that bother me, but the manipulative and deceitful folks like you srylands. How many times have you lied on this blog to bolster your points? Do valid arguments need lies to prop them up? Key seems to think so.

  6. fender 6
    17 September 2013 at 10:08 am

    Key thinks he has a mandate to do anything he likes, surprising that he hasn’t fired bullets at protesters…yet.

  7. Jilly Bee 7
    17 September 2013 at 10:09 am

    And that’s not all – he was whingeing and wailing about how the unions had elected David Cunliffe as leader – ummmmmm 20%!!! Can’t find actual Herald article and quote – the Aunt is quite a good read this morning.

    • karol 7.1
      17 September 2013 at 10:29 am

      Again, JB, I linked to that article in my post.

      • Jilly Bee 7.1.1
        17 September 2013 at 11:13 am

        Sorry Karol – I’ve got a tad carried away this morning with what is happening – already. Just a general comment that at last someone is calling the Government to account for their shonkey deals (pun probably intended!). I need to come down to earth a bit and read all posts far more carefully. The same for my earlier comment at 4.

    • framu 7.2
      17 September 2013 at 1:02 pm

      which the logical follow up question from the journo should have been – “you do know 20% isn’t a majority”

      this after key bizarre claim that national won the election should have the MSM publicly questioning his grasp of basic addition

  8. Linz 8
    17 September 2013 at 10:17 am

    Key this morning on TV3: “The referendum is a referendum asking a question whether someone wants assets sales or not, not whether they want the programme stopped. That’s a different question actually.”
    He’s an idiot if he thinks he can get away saying something like with that. It might have sounded clever in a strategy meeting, but the public will see it for what it is and will resent being taken for fools.

  9. aerobubble 9
    17 September 2013 at 10:25 am

    Thatcher unleashed impunity upon politics, not since WWII had it had wings. Welcome to vulture capitalism, where disaster capitalism follows in its shadow. Impunity politics can be seen as Pestilence, horsemen of the Apocalypse.

    Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death. Thatcherism reintroduced impunity, the disease meme back intot he body politic. Wars based on impunity in the middle east, on the planet, on resources (on fish even whipping out the cod fisheries of the N.atlantic). Now the middle east uprisings, due in part from the famine from food price spikes. And now the finale, Fukushima, the impunity of capitalism, of a company inadequate to the crisis, in a world where profits come before the planet. Reeking death on ecosystems for thousands of years.

    Welcome to the capitalist apocalypse. Key’s impunity, is National party hollow vision for New Zealand.

    Cavaet, any relation to religion is merely accidental as Christianity long since sucked up all the classic cultural warnings given from generation to generation and put it in a book claiming it came from their Gawd, no, the notion of the four horsemen is timeless, when human created disasters happened their had to be a disease of the mind, exaggeration that spent treasuries on war, loss of food production and then finally the inevitable consequence of death on large scale. It is no surprise to me that Hitler mixed impunity with faith, and no surprise George Bush Junior did so again.

  10. karol 10
    17 September 2013 at 11:37 am

    So it looks like Cunliffe is leading on Chorus at Question Time today:

    1. Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE to the Prime Minister: Does he still think that Chorus “will go broke” if his Government does not intervene to change the pricing for access to the old copper-based broadband network as proposed by the Commerce Commission; if so, why?

    With Parker following up with his own question:

    4. Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister of Finance: Did the Treasury provide advice as to whether he should support or oppose overruling the Commerce Commission’s draft determination on copper broadband pricing given that the Treasury has previously advised against subsidising big business such as the $30 million Tiwai subsidy which has “no economic justification”?

    • richard 10.1
      17 September 2013 at 1:53 pm

      At last! A leader of the opposition who asks serious questions

      • karol 10.1.1
        17 September 2013 at 2:22 pm

        Slightly shaky/nervous start from Cunliffe with his mind on “caucus”. But he kept calm, took a deep breath and kept on facing Key with the facts.

        And Cunliffe got some support from leaders of other opposition parties.

        And Cunliffe recovered and delivered a solid performance.

        Ice broken – Key may keep up with his nasty routine, but his smile could fade before too long.

        • aerobubble 10.1.1.1
          18 September 2013 at 4:18 pm

          Key was set to attack, and later govt attacks, were about the Labour caucus. So no, I don’t think Cunliffe slipped, he may in fact have making the encounter memorable, make himself look sympathetic, and also undermining Key inevitable attack on Labour.

          On that note, the Labour caucus division isn’t since those who didn’t vote for Cunliffe about half of the thirty odd MPs, merely indicate how out of touch they were with the party. And so
          its actually quite good for National to attack ‘division’ because its blather, its meaningless, in a week, a month, six months time, Cunliffe will still be leader, leading Labour into the next election.

  11. Stick it Key 11
    17 September 2013 at 1:09 pm

    Where the sun dont shine you fascist Telling me that this govt has the right to reduce the bag limit for fishing for the good of the fish stock
    You ignorant bastard you and your sort have been allowing gross negligence in the managing of the nations fisheries ever since you brought in the quota system
    WTF you think u know it all get out of my country or [deleted] while stealing my right to fish

    [lprent: One of the things we do not allow is advocating violence to anyone. Read the policy. ]

  12. Draco T Bastard 12
    17 September 2013 at 1:39 pm

    He told Morning Report the Government is acting like a “corporate raider”, asset-stripping state-owned power companies.

    This government is asset stripping the state and it’s doing it so that a few people can become richer while the majority of people drop further into serfdom (it’s the natural result of the commons being fenced).

    New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says the Government is being pig-headed and will sell the assets even if it means taking a loss.

    The country will take a loss but National’s rich mates will be much better off and National really doesn’t care about the increased poverty it will bring about. Hell, they probably like that bit as it will help lower wages.

  13. Sable 13
    17 September 2013 at 2:04 pm

    The mainsteam media is calling Cunliffe’s campaign a “lurch to the left”. At least that’s the headline on Yahoo NZ today. As per usual they are Keys little scribes…..

    • Tracey 13.1
      17 September 2013 at 2:10 pm

      after this corporate arse-licking gvernment anything is a lurch to the left.

      lurch to caring
      lurch to house the poor
      lurch to feed children
      lurch to sensible economics
      lurch to fair wage for a fair days work
      lurch to safe working conditions
      lurch to save the environment
      lurch to innovation and diversification

    • aerobubble 13.2
      18 September 2013 at 4:31 pm

      Lurch to the left, well you have nothing to worry about Cunliffe is harmless, Chorus Causus, Key is smoking mad for nothing.

  14. Ad 14
    17 September 2013 at 5:19 pm

    The Labour base has been refreshed on the meaning of democracy. But the upcoming local government elections, and the impending asst sales referendum, will throw cold water on the concept again until October 2014’s elections – because of their inherent futility.

    The left have made massive efforts to keep popular collective voices alive. But 10 years after the Foreshore and Seabed debate, the Maori Party that resulted are walking dead.

    Cunliffe is a start – all going well – but it will need far more than he to revive the idea of democracy in New Zealand.

    There is no doubt the latent will to collective consciousness is there – and far more technologically possible – but does not yet exist.

    • Draco T Bastard 14.1
      17 September 2013 at 5:50 pm

      But the upcoming local government elections, and the impending asst sales referendum, will throw cold water on the concept again until October 2014′s elections – because of their inherent futility.

      Oh, I think it’d be more adding fuel to the fire as more people realise that their democracy isn’t and start demanding it.

  15. Paul Campbell 15
    17 September 2013 at 8:51 pm

    Selling your power company? then it would be bad time for someone to suddenly announce cheap fusion. …..

    http://www.dvice.com/2013-2-22/lockheeds-skunk-works-promises-fusion-power-four-years

    • Colonial Viper 15.1
      17 September 2013 at 11:06 pm

      It’s all bullshit, fusion has been 10 years away for the last 50 years, wake me up when someone can demonstrate a 10MWe plant (the equivalent of a small wind farm) working continuously.

      • Paul Campbell 15.1.1
        18 September 2013 at 8:48 am

        normally I’d agree with you – but Lockheed’s skunkworks have a certain reputation, I can’t imagine them announcing anything unless they were certain they have it locked up

        • Colonial Viper 15.1.1.1
          18 September 2013 at 8:55 am

          I always think the game with these things is the congressional appropriations game. “With just another 5 years of funding and $250M…”

          Having said that, the “Skunk Works” has delivered on some pretty amazing stuff, most of which we probably don’t have any idea of yet.

          IF there is a breakthrough in accessible fusion power generation…expect it to be limited to US military and govt use only for many years.

      • Murray Olsen 15.1.2
        18 September 2013 at 3:39 pm

        Fusion power was 10 years away 50 years ago, but with recent advances it’s only 40 years away today. Every time they make an advance, they find more than one new problem. I’m dubious about this one as well.

  16. tricledrown 16
    17 September 2013 at 11:02 pm

    Serialyarandfraudster.
    Timr you did some economic history back in the 1880,s.
    Even the right whingers realised that you couldn’t have 5 power lines from five different generators that you couldn’t havr five different water or sewage lines to and from your house.
    It was tried you tell me how successful it was!
    Back then they realised it would be better if everyone owned utilities because the evidence proved it was more effecient!
    The free market myth that competition is good even back then when adam smith was imposing his unscienfic wrath of nations on us,Adam smith reckoned that competition only workef if their were at least 5 genuine competitors in the market.
    Where dors that happen anymore if it ever did.

  17. tricledrown 17
    17 September 2013 at 11:22 pm

    Flim flam Key roll up roll up I have this free market snake oil it will make your future brighter.

  18. tricledrown 18
    17 September 2013 at 11:36 pm

    Srylands supermarkets would be good at least we would have another competitor in this monopoly driven private sector!
    Meridian write down of $476 million dirty deal to get meridian sale over the line before next election.
    If meridian sold that power at a profit meridian would be worth a billion dollars more than it is now!
    Don’t tell me your masters didn’t tell you that little minded minion!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    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
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
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  • Taupō takes pole position
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  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
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  • Government backing mussel spat project
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  • Government focused on getting people into work
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  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
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  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
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  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
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  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
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  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
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  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
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  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
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  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
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  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
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  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
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  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
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  • Navigating an unstable global environment
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  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
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  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
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  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
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  • Joint US and NZ declaration
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  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
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