Key opens rich mates’ marina, slaps local Maori

Written By: - Date published: 8:59 am, November 22nd, 2009 - 45 comments
Categories: Environment, john key, maori party - Tags:

Unbelievable. John Key has opened the environmentally destructive Whangamata Marina. This was a battle between rich property developers, against the serious concerns of local Maori, surfers, and environmentalists.

Key has come down firmly on the side of his rich mates. But not only that, he’s promised more marinas!

The building of marinas along popular coastal areas in the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty is set to become easier. The Prime Minister has given his support for future developments..

“I think it sends a very strong signal that New Zealand is a country for progress. We want to see development as long as it’s done in the right way and this is a tremendous example of that. It’s at one with the community and nature.”

John Key’s dream of draining Coromandel’s wetlands to build marinas for wealthy developers is an especially big slap in the face for local Maori. Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples are obviously too busy giving rich Maori a $2b subsidy, to prevent the Prime Minister from stealing the heritage of ordinary tangata whenua.

Settling on the side of the wealthy above ordinary Kiwis is becoming a hallmark of this government. Keep rolling like this Mr Key and people will start to see through that smirk.

45 comments on “Key opens rich mates’ marina, slaps local Maori ”

  1. Bill 1

    Kinda funny given that in recessions and during depressions a majority of people get poorer and a goodly number of those who had toys on the water for the weekend start to get rid of said toys. (Of course, the very rich get richer and buy bigger toys, but given the small numbers involved and the stupid size of their berths, that will have bugger all impact on marina development.)

    So, Johnny can give all the endorsements he wants, but people need to be able to afford to buy and maintain those yachts and what not prior to them demanding a marina.

    I’d take it more as another sign of a disconnect from reality rather than a serious threat to the integrity of the coastline…

  2. Chris 2

    Donkey did look kinda haggard and worn out on telly last night. A side effect of being PM, remembering the way Helen looked after a year of being NZ’s most effective and brillant PM.

    Captcha: Years.

    Funny how captchas can sum up your comment in one pithy word.

    • Tigger 2.1

      Well, he always looks kind of haggard to me…looks even worse in person than he does on TV (Clark I always though looked better up close than on camera) but his tone here is anything but lifeless. His trumpeting cry of how they won the battle is truly bizarre. Expect more of this as Key starts to play to ‘his crowd’ rather than keep everybody happy – a natural result of being in government for a year and having suffered from trying to please too many people. I welcome this Key – if he keeps this up he’ll at least start showing his true colour.

  3. jess 3

    No where in your post did you mention the locals who are neither maori nor surfers, nor environmentalists, who are also serverly impacted on by this marina and the possible future ones to come. Many of whom are strongly opposed these marinas, expecially as they laregly benefit wealthy visitors from outside the area, rather than local residents.

    Lets hope they remember john keys smirking face when it comes to the polls next time round.

    • Michael Foxglove 3.1

      jess, you’re absolutely right. All ordinary locals who will suffer from this development.

      It’s not fair that a bunch of wealthy developers can just by-pass the concerns of those who’ve live in the community permanently and have done so for years.

    • spot 3.2

      “Lets hope they remember john keys smirking face when it comes to the polls next time round….”

      Maybe they remembered Chris Carter and David B-P last time around.

      This post should be about the RMA, Environment Court, Marine Park legislation, DoC, Waikato (?) council etc etc

      Or is this what one or two posters here call a ‘dog whistle’?

      • felix 3.2.1

        No, that’s not what dog whistling means. Sheesh how do you people remember to breathe?

      • Zaphod Beeblebrox 3.2.2

        If your issue is with the time it took to make a decision on this Marina, you are absolutely right.
        Nick Smith claims he has fixed the problem- though I’ve got my doubts.

    • Andy B 3.3

      Hang on. Lets be the voice of reason here. And put the environmental concerns aside, of course.

      How exactly does a marina negatively impact the town? Further than environmental damage and potential damage to the quality of the surf, I can’t see that it does. What a marina does do is bring in more people from out of town that spend MONEY in shops and cafes and this MONEY will have a positive effect on the local community as the majority of people living in seaside towns work in the service industry or a retirees. I’m certainly not advocating a ‘trickle down’ effect of neo-liberalism because we know that doesn’t work. However, if business improves, it will hopefully mean that the benefits of more business are passed on to the workers. And yes marinas attract wealthy people and wealthy people are more likely to spend more money in the town which benefits it more. By restricting such development (other than for environmental reasons etc.), one is restricting the growth of business and, because we are a capitalist country, this adversely effects the workers. Development is important to grow the economy of small towns as well as the entire nation – every little bit counts.

      However, the environmental concerns are grave and the economic benefits do not necessarily out weigh these concerns.

      NOTE: I’m not making any judgment about whether the Whangamata Marina is positive or negative.

  4. Zaphod Beeblebrox 4

    I would assume that Marina construction is preformed somewhere between the high and low tide marks.

  5. Sam 5

    Crazy. Should never have gone ahead, but it proves that if you have enough money you can do anything you want.

    Here’s hoping it’s a spectacular flop and giant money sink – the town is already fucked from the recession so that’d be insult to injury. Some people might learn a lesson or two…

    • Zaphod Beeblebrox 5.1

      Price of oil when it starts to become scarce will probably sink it. Is nearly at $80/barrel and the recession is GFC has barely abated.

      • prism 5.1.1

        Perhaps then houseboats will tie up to it. Those who come will bring their commerce to the area if it is hit by recession. But I thought that most wanted it left a protected bit of coastline.

        • Zaphod Beeblebrox 5.1.1.1

          Good luck to them if they do. Not sure they will be able to afford to mooring fees

  6. NickS 6

    * rummage*

    Okay, there’s this concept in conservation biology that’s emerged in ecology, and developed more over the last couple of decades as a tool to quantify the utility of species and ecosystem to human needs called ecosystem services, helping to provide further grounds for conservation, and reducing externalities that emerge from damage to these services. In this case, wetlands are generally key habits for a wide range of species, along with filtering out sediment from freshwater inputs by reducing flow speed and reducing erosion. Which in effect reduces nutrient inputs, buffering downstream habits from major fluxes in nutrients, helping to prevent algal blooms and creating a bit of stability and so reducing the ability of invasive species to establish successfully.

    Of which, salt marshes from memory provide all of these services, and when close to human settlements, are quite useful in reducing nutrient loads from wastewater and providing habitat for commercial fish species. Which in the context of the Coromandel, with it’s small towns, and general lack of space for sewerage processing and people regularly fishing etc, along with storm surges and high rainfall, it thus seems fairly easy to recognise the utility and value of salt marshes. Which, in a rigorous economic analysis, taking into account the negative impacts of the marinas, typically discounted, I’d predict the value of the salt marshes in the long term would be nearly the same, if not more that than the marinas.

    There’s also the issues surrounding removing mangroves, of which similar points apply if memory serves me right…

    Unfortunately I don’t quite have the time/motivation to dig up the key references on this, but there’s is the 1997 review paper form Daily et al, ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: Benefits Supplied to Human Societies by Natural Ecosystems, of which pg 9 has some of the relevant details.

    • Sam 6.1

      That is a fantastic analysis, thanks so much.

      • NickS 6.1.1

        Cheers Sam, though I’d like to be able to back it up with a bit more literature. Particularly for my statement on the economic benefits of leaving the salt marshes vs turning them into marinas etc, since I’m a biology, rather than economics student, plus there’s still lively discussions over valuing ecosystem services in conservation biology etc.

        *cough cough*

        So, yeah, it’s a bit on the rough side 😛

        • Chris 6.1.1.1

          Robert Constanza is your man. Google him. He’s principally an economist but developed the idea of ecosystem services as a way of *forcing* economics to take into account provision of services provided by nature.

          The field is relatively young, but growing steadily. I can see a point in the future where benefit cost ratios will have to account for ecosystem services and disruption thereof.

          • NickS 6.1.1.1.1

            Name rings a bell, and looking at the partial publications list I can see why 😛

            Cheers, might try and read through a few of the papers and follow the citations on google scholar.

    • Draco T Bastard 6.2

      All the wealth we have comes from nature. In reality we cannot produce wealth – we can only change it from one form to another and changing it isn’t always beneficial.

      EDIT:
      Changing a salt marsh to a marina probably isn’t beneficial but people like the NACTS believe that all development is so we end up with a loss of biodiversity and other damage to the ecosystem because of faulty belief systems.

      • prism 6.2.1

        NACT will have the answer to responding to their faulty belief systems. Change our belief systems to theirs and we’ll all get along. Any problems can be settled by taking a little sugar-coated mind altering pill.

  7. RedLogix 7

    That Rod Oram article linked to is an ear-popper. He starts out with:

    The Government has made an utter mockery of the emissions trading scheme. Such is National’s abuse of policy-making, consultation and parliamentary process, the country will pay dearly for the government’s ETS mistakes for years to come.

    and doesn’t really let up. This is pretty strong language from Oram; he’s usually a lot more measured.

  8. Macro 8

    I had to turn TV1 off with this news item and the one following it – That crowd have their noses so up the bottoms of NACT its disgusting! TV3 presentation was much less biased.
    What’s the chances that the whole sad entity will last more than 40 years?

  9. derek 9

    I get sick of seeing Key arrive in Army Helicopters , he thinks hes some kind of commander and chief with a marina mission accomplished look of smugness. They must cost a mint to fly compared to a normal commercial helicopter, is he using them because the costs are under the armies and not parliamentary ? He needs to get a NZ custom leather flight jacket made with a Hawaiian tour of duty emblem..

  10. Jared 10

    How is the Marina bad for locals? It will boost the boating industry in Whangamata, providing more jobs. Not to mention all the jobs provided in building the Marina, considering the cost, $10 Million, in a recessionary climate and in a small town, this would have been a very welcome boost. In this case id look to the judicial process which found Chris Carters over ruling fundamentally flawed. The Marina will give Whangamata a well needed boost, just as the Marina in Whitianga did.

    • Macro 10.1

      Jared – if you believe that – then you will obviously swallow any other tripe that these greedies feed you! The fact of the matter is that such “developments” NEVER produce the so called extra jobs that their proponents are always touting. How about all the jobs that are to be lost as a polluted harbour puts off tourists – the 100’s of surfers who won’t return because the marina has spoilt the wave etc? As for the environmental cost – well as far as the developers are concerned, that’s been externalised, and you can pay for that!
      Jared these developments are all about making the wealthy richer at everyone else’s expense – and that’s all!

      • Andy B 10.1.1

        I’m sorry Marco, but that’s an entirely ideologically based response. We need to wait and see before we can make judgments like this. However, going on what has happened with similar towns before (i.e. Whitianga), where a marina is built, it is fantastic for the town. The flow-on effect from the extra business and infrastructure that the marina provided/needed turned a sleepy sea-side village into a busy town (again, I’m not arguing for a ‘flow-on’ neo-liberal economic theory, but jobs are created when new business open up to serve the marina (i.e. mechanics, painters, maintenance etc.) as well as cafes, supermarkets etc). Other than environmental impact, how is this adverse for the town?

      • Jared 10.1.2

        The proof Macro is in the pudding. The impact of the Marina development in Whitianga spawned a boat building, maintenance, sales, and even flow on developments. All need employees, its that obvious. The Marina in Whitianga has absolutely boosted the town, your assertion that there is going to be a significant environmental impact is shaky at best.

        • Andy B 10.1.2.1

          Well, I’m not convinced on the environmental impact being negligible. I don’t know anything about it – so I won’t support Jared in his claim that the environmental impacts are not going to be ‘significant’. Also, I’m not sure how the surfies will react and whether they will not come to Whangamata anymore. Someone might need to do/should have done some research on whether the boaties would contribute more to the economy than the surfies do/will.

          However, we potentially stand to make more money in the long, long term by guarding our environment. It all depends on too many factors to guess.

          But, as we have seen with Whitianga (and I know that town reasonably well) the marina has been a huge success for the town and I’d be interested to see what people on both sides of the pro-Whitianga-Marina lobby would say now.

          But immediately, and for the predictable future, the growth for Whangamata will be huge. And if we didn’t take risks we wouldn’t be where we were today. That’s the theme of the post! Responsible Risk Taking (I think that’s one of the core values in the new curriculum). lol.

          My captcha is “guard” – rather appropriate for a post about the environment.

  11. Macro 11

    The proof Jared is that in the past 25 years of neo-liberal economics in NZ our economy has lost jobs at an alarming rate, (hidden by redefining unemployment statistics by successive governments) and whereas we had an economy equivalent per capita to GDP to Australia in the 1980s – our economy which has followed a far more neo-liberal path has suffered to the extent that NZ’s reral economy is now about 30% worse per capita than Australia. So you suppose that the boat building industry of Whitianga is going to suddenly flow on down to Whangamata? Only if the jobs in Whangamata are cheaper. Result? More unemployment in Whitianga.
    As for the environmental cost – that is well documented and why the previous minister canned the “development”. There is only 5% of the original wetland of NZ remaining – and that salt marsh was part of it! As the inhabitants of New Orleans found to their cost you destroy wetlands at your peril.
    We do not have a democracy in this country anymore – it is a corporatocracy – the multinationals control what is to be done.

    • Andy B 11.1

      Yep. I agree with your part on neo-liberalism. However, specifically in regard to this case, there won’t be a loss of jobs in Whitianga because there will still be demand there too. Its not about boaties choosing which marina they want go in. There will be an entirely new market spring up in Whangamata because there is the demand there. Economics 101 > demand=supply. I know that there will be no drop in market in Whitianga because there is a backlog of people waiting to get berths there. Whangamata is a new market and all the infrastructure/services etc that is required will be created becasue the market demands it. It has nothing to do with creating unemployment – each new business created creates employment that takes unemployed people and puts them in work! Woot! I don’t know where you get the idea that people are just gonna sail over to Whangamata. The reality is, to keep a marina running, the boat maintenance infrastructure is a required service and as long as boats are in there, there will be demand. People aren’t going to take their boats to Whangamata to get them fixed – it would cost more because of fuel & time etc. The price for maintenance would have to be much, much lower than those at Whitianga to stop that happening. And I can’t see that they would be at all.

      Is corporatocracy a neologism? Don’t you mean plutocracy? And yes, of course we do. Welcome to capitalism. It is inevitable that money becomes concentrated within the wealthiest portion of society – its all about capital and self interest.

      There is no such thing as democracy and there never has been in any nation.

      • Andy B 11.1.1

        Ok. Corporatocracy isn’t a neologism!

        Reading the definitions on wikipedia, it would mean that Private-Public partnerships are a form of corporatocracy!

        Interesting. Going on the definition, the EFA helps prevent a corporatocracy occurring.

        Captha: “Poor” (cause thats what corporatocracy/plutocracy makes us!)

  12. Macro 12

    “Welcome to capitalism. It is inevitable that money becomes concentrated within the wealthiest portion of society its all about capital and self interest.”

    Actually it isn’t inevitable that money becomes concentrated within the wealthiest. – it is under neo-liberal economic policies. But that is not the only way we can structure economies, and it wasn’t the case before 1984 in NZ when we had one of the most egalitarian economies in the world – now we are second only to the USA in unequal distribution of wealth.
    Your contention that a new market will spring up in Whangamata presupposes that there is an increasing demand. There may be. Certainly there will be an existing demand – but where did those boaties go before? Whitianga? Tauranga? Whangamata?
    Yes I do have economics 101 in my degree. I found on further study however that much of economic theory was based on ill-founded assumptions and much of it still is.

    The EFA has little effect on the pulling of strings unfortunately – witness the current silence by the NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development after being muzzled by Fonterra and Toyota after its initial criticism of the ETS on the 2nd November
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/3085273/A-costly-exercise-in-hypocrisy
    and that’s just one example.

  13. Andy B 13

    The concentration of money with the wealthy is inevitable in the version of capitalism that we’re currently in. I should’ve been clearer. You might be interested in this lecture by the head of Economics from Harvard that he gave to the London School of Economics this year. Its called Capitalism 3.0 (search it in iTunesU). He notes (his name has escaped me) that neoliberalism is the primary form of capitalism for Developed nations. Although we are moving through to Capitalism 3.0 – I can’t tell you what that is yet because I haven’t listened to the entire lecture. It will be interesting to see what he does say capitalism 3.0 will entail. I have a feeling it will be better that neoliberal economics that we have at the moment.

    It is likely that these boaties had swing moorings around Whangamata before hand and in places close buy. People also do move about marinas and their berths are rented out to other people. There is so much demand for these berths. Most boaties whose boat is big enough and can afford it would prefer to be in a marina. Which is why rarely do we see an empty marina (the only marina I’ve ever seen empty in NZ is Marsden Point – but that was a week after it opened, so most people simply hadn’t got there yet). The market for marina berths is huge. Because demand is so great, and supply is so small, the price is ridiculous. A berth at Whitianga (in 2007, I think) would cost in excess of $150,000 and that isn’t even that expensive for a berth. At Gulf Harbour, I think I saw some at $200,000+ – all this does is illustrate my point that demand is such that it would create the infrastructure/business to create jobs. People wouldn’t go to so much trouble to build a marina if they thought that people wouldn’t buy into it – particularly when it costs such a large amount to build.

    So my point is that there is such demand for berths that there will be new jobs created because the infrastructure/business etc is required to service the market. And that is a fact.

    I’m not suggesting that what we call ‘economic theory’ is always correct (look at the trouble it has got us in atm! Keynes etc.), but I think supply=demand of some form is one of the truisms of economics. Sure, sometimes there is more supply and not enough demand (although rarely) and often too much demand and not enough supply, but in a country like NZ where it seems entrepreneurs are a dime a dozen, someone will fill the hole where there is suitable demand.

    Of course, I’m just trying to demonstrate that there are many positive outcomes of the marina as well as negative ones. I don’t actually have an opinion. Just arguing a point!

    EFA – just musings.

  14. We went through all this ten years ago in the Far North. There is a small marina in Whangaroa harbour, underused and under maintained, an eyesore. Due to public protest action over a planned 160 berth marina for Mangonui harbour in 1998, there is no marina in Mangonui harbour (but who knows now with Mayor Wayne Brown). Our Harbour protection group’s research and surveys of visitors to Doubtless Bay showed that boat owners tended to bring their own supplies with them (party up and piss off), real jobs created would be about 3 (cleaning and security), evironmental and visual pollutionhigh, chances of developers crapping out due to remote location and leaving a rusting unfinished sitehigh. Visitors overwhelmingly came for our relatively unspoiled land and seascape. US studies over the life of a marina show the problems they can cause. Marinas may suit some areas but imposing these tossers boat parks on communities that are divided on their merits does little good in the long run.

    • Jared 14.1

      Opposition is typical with large scale development in small town areas. Whitianga experienced similar opposition with the Waterways project. Opposition doesn’t necessarily mean the project is bad, in this case, it was always going to be opposed, but thats how development works in the Coromandel, the locals want no change.

      • Zaphod Beeblebrox 14.1.1

        Don’t think you can stop development totally, but its type, scale and environmental effects that need to be considered.

        These are really big and difficult decisions. Key needs to be really careful here. If they promote one or two really over the top or environmentally destructive proposals, they will promote a large backlash, which will doom even good quality, well thought out proposals. They will also piss off lots of local iwi and hapu.

        They also need to consider what is likely to happen to our coasts as we see more storms and higher sea levels. Bad decisions now could cost us big time in the future. Look at the leaky homes saga.

        • Andy B 14.1.1.1

          Agreed. Kinda what I was saying above with needing to take all factors into account before saying yes or no. Including job creation scope. Some little marinas will only have several staff, but the more berths there are, the more staff are needed to service the marina and the boaties. It is my impression that the Whangamata Marina will be big particularly because the town is already well developed and this also means that it will be full and (hopefully) maintained.

  15. Swampy 15

    The marina was approved by your friends in the Labour Government, oops it seems there was a little disagreement with Chris Carter pandering to some Maoris and trying to overturn the process then his replacement Benson-Pope being a bit more sensible about it.

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    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep 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 thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats 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. Heres 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. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen 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 ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    22 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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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, ...
    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, ...
    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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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
    3 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
    3 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 ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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 ...
    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 ...
    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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    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
    9 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
    11 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
    12 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
    13 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
    13 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
    13 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
    16 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
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
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