Labour’s housing plan is much better

Written By: - Date published: 4:03 pm, August 24th, 2014 - 65 comments
Categories: election 2014, housing, john key, national - Tags:

So National has announced its flagship policy, enhanced assistance for first home buyers through increased grants through Kiwisaver.

It is interesting that policies that Labour introduced and National opposed such as Working for Families, interest free student loans and Kiwisaver have all become mainstream policies and National is now afraid to take away their benefit, although some tinkering has reduced their effectiveness.

And National is using a variation of one of these mechanisms to seek popular support.  This is all part of the process where National wants to appear to no longer be the servants of the rich and powerful although that reality remains.

Some comments based in part on twitter feed responses which I have read so far:

  • The policy spend is small, only $218 million over 5 years.  That is less than $45 million a year.  Labour’s Kiwibuild capital commitment in the first year is $195 million and Universal Kiwisaver will cost $141 million in the first year under Labour’s fiscal plans.
  • The numbers are not huge.  Nick Smith estimates that the policy will result in a further 10,000 grants being made each year.  New house builds will be up to the market.  Labour’s Kiwibuild policy is to build 10,000 houses each year for the next decade.  And a variety of other policies including a Capital Gains tax will gradually ease crushing house prices in places such as Auckland.
  • The policy will disproportionately help those earning more as the size of the grant will be greater depending on income.
  • The policy only addresses demand without the supply of houses being increased and is therefore likely to drive prices up.
  • The extra $20,000 represents about 4 months worth of Auckland’s house inflation rate for the past 5 years.  Get that?  The benefit will soon be lost to continued inflation.

Like many other of National’s policies they are using a slight increase in funding for existing programmes to claim that they are doing something about a significant problem.  But there is no real thinking in the policy and apart from those fortunate to be earning above average wages the policy will not do anything about affordability.

So what would you prefer to have?  10,000 new houses built and many jobs created or more house inflation?

65 comments on “Labour’s housing plan is much better ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Weepus beard 1
    24 August 2014 at 4:17 pm

    National backs young Kiwis who are disciplined, save up and want to put a deposit down on a house. National values home ownership. That’s because it provides stability for families, strength for communities and security in retirement.”

    You know who said this, and it’s another lie. If it were true, why has his government presided over the obscene explosion in property speculation from both foreign buyers and domestic amateur landlords?

  2. Enough is Enough 2
    24 August 2014 at 4:34 pm

    The problem for us on the left is the sales pitch. Key is handing out cold hard cash. It’s simple and tangible. People know what they are getting.

    The green/labour policies are far better and more comprehensive but it involves people putting their faith in government to deliver on their promises to build 10000 houses in a year. That is a big leap of faith for people who have 30 years of been stung by neo liberal governments from both red and blue teams

    • JKV 2.1
      24 August 2014 at 8:26 pm

      [deleted]
      [lprent: A particularly stupid troll. ]

      • tricledrown 2.1.1
        24 August 2014 at 8:41 pm

        JKviper it still would be better than Nactional’s Policy of over crowded garages families living out of cars,Nationals policy is only going to make speculators and Bankers wealthy by putting more buyers into a market under supplied!
        Tories not understanding supply and demand Neanderthal thinking from National!

      • tricledrown 2.1.2
        24 August 2014 at 8:58 pm

        John Key viper labour built a house for you and your mum back in the fifties when Tories said it couldn’t be done !
        Look where you are now we johnny pulling up the ladder because you are in permanent Brain Fade Mode!

  3. Dumbrse 3
    24 August 2014 at 4:36 pm

    LABOUR = 10,000 new houses per year for the next five years. Before we rave and criticise the NATIONAL policy, would it not be wise to add some explanation as to how Labour intends to achieve its aim? For example, 10,000/12 = 27/day. Given the remaining policy development and the first completed house will take 10 months at best we are all of a sudden needing to complete 33/day for the next 50 months. Who, is going to be able to build at the required rate and let’s be certain about one thing, the rate will get worse, not better.
    So, Nationals build will inflame the current situation however Labours build is unachievable so which one will we vote for. More importantly, which policy has the better credibility ?

    • tricledrown 3.1
      24 August 2014 at 6:40 pm

      Dumbrse under the last labour govt their were 10,000 more house a year being built than now
      living up to your name again.
      modern n building techniques + kitset and prefabricated houses would make it easy to meet this goal we could build 50,000 a year!
      Dumbarse as usual you are full of it!
      The increase i depoosit requirements by National would be undermined by Nationals Dumbarse policy!
      Full of Shit Dumbarse !

      • Herodotus 3.1.1
        24 August 2014 at 7:41 pm

        Sort your facts out before being abusive , labours policy is to build 100 k affordable homes for 1st time home owners. Labours policy is lacking substance. 3 years ago they were to be built for inxs of $450 k and when pushed the details did not match up given the plans that were presented. Now we hear that land is to be from existing land owned by state housing or to be acquired. So labour is to sell off state land that should IMO be used to build state houses. I hope that the land will be sold at a value representing the value of the land and not discounted/subsidy to make the appearance of a successful policy. There is nowhere I can find zoned land within Auckland for $500k / ha in areas like flat bush this is more likely to be $2m. Then you have to develop.
        Citation for your 50k pa housing. You have no idea the length of time for planning and then to develop with earth works and civics to prepare the land before construction commences.
        Prefab for nz industries would take away resources from supplying the remainder of the construction market, or are you thinking of importing building materials at the cost of nz industry ?

    • dave 3.2
      27 August 2014 at 5:09 am

      yes it is you move factory built homes modular construction and automation increased standardisation
      a factory can run 24/7 its very possible german prefads take automation to a new level

  4. Nick K 4
    24 August 2014 at 4:44 pm

    It’s nonsense for Labour to say they can build 10,000 new homes per year, for 10 years. There is just no capacity to do that. All construction workers are in Christchurch and only about two companies (Fletcher’s and Todd Group) have sufficient size to handle this and even they won’t be able to. If they are, then they will simply be increasing their bottom line with taxpayer money. It is a pipe dream and impossible to perform. During the building boom between 2004 – 2008, there was only one year where this number was achieved. But it’s not just the building work that needs to happen, you’ve also got to grant 10,000 consents really quickly each year for 10 years to even kick this off. And that’s just about impossible without an extra bureaucracy and lots of taxpayers money. Even if it’s managed, the construction work simply can’t happen for the reasons I’ve mentioned.

    Mind you, it’s election time, and just saying it sounds good. As National has illustrated this afternoon.

    • mickysavage 4.1
      24 August 2014 at 4:48 pm

      There is $191 million in capital set aside in the first year and the figure increases to $881 million in the second year with the figure then being between $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion in the years after that. With this sort of money behind the policy of course it is doable. It just takes a bit of will on the part of the Government to achieve it.

      • Colonial Viper 4.1.1
        24 August 2014 at 6:13 pm

        That and a quarter million Kiwis who are either unemployed or under-employed. Seems like we have all the resource we need.

      • Dumbrse 4.1.2
        24 August 2014 at 7:41 pm

        So, the policy is to bankrupt the country (just keep throwing money at it because that’s all it needs?) to build 10,000 houses per year. When will Labour acknowledge that 10,000 new houses per year for 5 years is unattainable. What is the estimate of time required to train the unemployed to a standard that will satisfy the requirements of the building inspectors? That of course assumes they all want to be carpenters, plumbers, electricians etc.

        It’s not the money, it’s the logistics. So, let’s hear how we are going to overcome some of the real hurdles given we are not importing any resources to achieve the aim. Never mind the issues behind the National policy, I’m betting a penny to a pound of goat shit they will actually produce more houses than Labour can hope to.

        • tricledrown 4.1.2.1
          24 August 2014 at 8:01 pm

          Dumbarse you must be right up Nick Smiths!
          Keep repeating Lie like your leader!
          We could easily build 50,000 more houses a year!
          A friend of mine I work with worked in factory in the UK that built 32 Houses a Week!
          Dumbledore!
          We were building 10,000 more houses a year under the Clark govt!
          Lying and living up to your name!

          • Dumbrse 4.1.2.1.1
            24 August 2014 at 8:33 pm

            My bad. I didn’t realise the Clarke Govt had a new home building policy that actually built 10,000 new homes each year. My Dumbrse alright.
            Then again, perhaps what you meant is that throughout the country 10k new private homes were built each year without any Govt assistance. If that’s the case then I’m also guessing that under Labours new housing policy that sort of private random building activity will be deemed illegal and everybody will have to build their house under the new labour policy. And, a friend of mine once said…. Never mind Dribbledown I don’t think you can grasp such complexities.
            Enjoy the rest of your evening.

            • tricledrown 4.1.2.1.1.1
              24 August 2014 at 10:17 pm

              Dumbarse I am saying their isn’t the capacity to build that number of houses i don’t know how you could be any dumber than figure out that simple number!
              Your lying about the number of houses able to be built!
              Your Argument is full of leaks like the leaky building legislation National passed in 1991

            • tricledrown 4.1.2.1.1.2
              24 August 2014 at 11:48 pm

              Dumbarse suffering from uncontrolled diarrhoea
              Funny you should mention they will be paying for their own homes as they pay their mortgage off that money will be reinvested in building more new home (increasing supply )lowering the cost of the scheme and house prices overall!

        • Colonial Viper 4.1.2.2
          24 August 2014 at 9:08 pm

          So, the policy is to bankrupt the country (just keep throwing money at it because that’s all it needs?) to build 10,000 houses per year.

          Bankrupt the country?Foreign owners are taking $15B out of this country a year. Yet I haven’t heard a peep from you about that?

      • Herodotus 4.1.3
        24 August 2014 at 7:58 pm

        5000 houses in Auckland with a floor area of 125m2 with a site coverage for Auckland of 45% = 278m2 so for 5k =139ha then there are roads, reserves storm water areas, new schools etc you are talking about 225ha p.a just for Auckland, even at $500k to purchase the land this is $112m, build 5k dwellings is $1b. This is above the existing land being developed of 5000+ dwellings. This is a great area of land required each and every year. I hope that Kiwibuild is not being sent to the outer areas of Auckland. Eg Wellsford,Warkworth,pukekohe

        • Akldnut 4.1.3.1
          24 August 2014 at 11:57 pm

          “I hope that Kiwibuild is not being sent to the outer areas of Auckland. Eg Wellsford,Warkworth,pukekohe”

          But there’s an underutilised fucking highway to nowhere just sitting around north of Auckland. Wellsford would be the ideal place to build 10-20 thousand new cheap homes, drive down the price of rent and land in the area.
          Hell lets build them in Omana, that’s the reason for the highway in the first place.

          The list of places you name are the heart and soul of National heaven, BTW you missed Helensville!

    • Colonial Viper 4.2
      24 August 2014 at 4:51 pm

      the typical National Party “NZ is too useless to do it” crowd.

      This is why people should vote Labour, Greens or Mana, because unlike National, they believe in what our nation can achieve. Without having to import Filipino, Chinese or Irish workers.

    • Te Reo Putake 4.3
      24 August 2014 at 6:12 pm

      Funny Nick should mention Fletchers. In 1935 the first Labour government worked with that company to build state houses. Pretty sure there were Tories back then moaning it couldn’t be done, too.

      • Anne 4.3.1
        24 August 2014 at 6:24 pm

        Pretty sure there were Tories back then moaning it couldn’t be done, too.

        They were screaming it from the roof tops just like their National equivalents are today. And Labour did it!
        (wasn’t around but heard about it)

        • millsy 4.3.1.1
          24 August 2014 at 7:59 pm

          And then all those Tories queued up to move in….

        • tricledrown 4.3.1.2
          24 August 2014 at 8:23 pm

          Anne Yeah right when pathetic spinning wasn’t getting any traction you ran away crying in your beersies!
          Plan D for Dumbledore Dumbarses now for Nact numpties!

        • tricledrown 4.3.1.3
          24 August 2014 at 8:25 pm

          Brain Fade Anne like your lying leaders plan!

          • Anne 4.3.1.3.1
            24 August 2014 at 8:38 pm

            You need sorting tricledown.

            • tricledrown 4.3.1.3.1.1
              24 August 2014 at 8:48 pm

              Anne that’s all class Anne from the upper class are you!
              That’s very dangerous terriTory you stepping into no doubt you have connections that can carry out your criminal threat’s!
              Your mates at Whaleoil The SIS and GSCB!

              • Te Reo Putake …
                24 August 2014 at 8:57 pm

                You may have lost the plot a wee bit, tricledrown. You’re not making any sense, not least because Anne is not a Tory, let alone threatening anybody.

                • Anne …
                  24 August 2014 at 9:22 pm

                  Thanks TRP – more than a wee bit. 🙂

                  Had some abuse from him/her a few days ago too. Misinterpreted something I said somewhere along the track I suppose.

  5. anker 5
    24 August 2014 at 5:28 pm

    Look the trolls are back! They must be thinking Dirty Politics has gone away.

    Giving people $20,000 is a very lazy dare I say it “dumbrse” idea.

    I guess it what rich people do when they have a problem. Let’s through money at it, rather than attempt to solve it.

    Its supply and demand. We have a housing crisis in Auckland because there is too little supply in part due to Ak growing but also to do with overseas and domestic speculators, who have had a free ride.

  6. Chooky 6
    24 August 2014 at 5:50 pm

    Lets face it …the housing crisis is one of artificial scarcity and unaffordability…(and not just in New Zealand)…It is a betrayal of the capitalist class of the New Zealand working class and youth. Only New Zealanders who have been living in New Zealand for several years should be able to buy houses or land.

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/aucklands-housing-crisis-investor-driven-not-shortage-nzier-bd-156835

    http://tonyalexander.co.nz/regular-publications/bnz-weekly-overview/housing-market/housing-shortage-was-foreseen-and-it-will-worsen/

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10418387/Winston-Peters-points-at-laundering-scheme

    http://campaign.labour.org.nz/overseas_speculation

    …i hope Labour’s legislation will be very tight indeed!…and restricted to New Zealanders who have lived here for a number of years… .because I hear of overseas students not just buying one house but several!…. when many New Zealanders struggle to find adequately paid work and save for one house for their family

    this is increasingly a problem not just in New Zealand

    http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/young-heads-look-to-solve-sydney-housing-crisis-20140703-zss5a.html

    http://www.sydneyalliance.org.au/sydney_s_housing_affordability_crisis_putting_young_lives_on_hold

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2597354/Chinese-fuel-UK-housing-shortage-Far-East-speculators-price-Britons-market-country.html

    http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2013/07/10/chinese-to-spend-billions-on-american-real-estate/

    • Mike the Savage One 6.1
      24 August 2014 at 10:54 pm

      Chooky – you raise some interesting and valid points.

      Indeed, we have housing shortage primarily in Auckland and Christchurch, and we know the reasons for that being so in Christchurch. As for Auckland, that is where most new migrants move to and also stay in New Zealand. We have had a stop or at least slow down of New Zealanders leaving for Australia, given the economic slowdown and lack of jobs there. So while more stay here to work and live, the inward migration stream has continued, from various places. There is also internal migration within New Zealand, so that people move from the neglected regions to urban centres, especially Auckland. And then of course we have some offshore buyers and developers here buying up more and more homes, to turn them into rentals. New Zealanders are becoming “tenants” in their own land. All this puts immense pressures on housing and its costs in Auckland, and that is the “crisis” we are talking about.

      What about naming the elephant in the room, that is to slow immigration, so that fewer come here, but not stop migration completely, as we will need some professionals to work in health, construction and horticulture and so forth.

      Yet we have had the highest internal migration gain in 11 years, and we build by far not enough homes for them. It is stupid to just let this continue. And also there should be incentives or expectations for migrants to move to the regions and other cities than Auckland.

      Labour does of course have a better policy on housing than the Nats, that is not hard to do, but some of their policy also seems to be flawed, as only state owned land can be used to build cheaply in Auckland, given the high section prices. That means Housing NZ land and so, and where do they then want to build more state housing? I think they are a bit dishonest, as the 10,000 homes per year are in substantial part probably going to be affordable apartments in blocks of apartments, and not the traditional quarter acre section homes. That may make some sense, but not everybody wants to live in smallish apartments.

      I prefer the Green’s housing policy, although that is also a bit short on details. They at least give clear committed numbers for additional state social housing and third sector housing they want to promote, unlike Labour. Also re Labour’s policy, why do they think it is justified to increase the accommodation supplement there by $50, but not so in Auckland, or other places, where rents have increased a lot over recent years?

      Some stuff to read here:
      https://home.greens.org.nz/policysummary/housing-policy-summary

      Strangely the Greens have not put housing up as a priority on their campaign website, which is a bit of a worry:
      https://www.greens.org.nz/

      Labours summarised housing policy:
      http://campaign.labour.org.nz/ending_the_kiwi_housing_crisis

      In short, all parties leave a bit to be desired, but Greens and Labour certainly have more committed policies, that will serve more in need than National’s smallish bit of housing policy. Also the Nats are hollowing out the purpose of Kiwi Saver, which should be about saving for people’s retirement. Using funds for housing seems to undermine that purpose.

  7. b waghorn 7
    24 August 2014 at 6:00 pm

    There’s plenty of houses in nz we just need to revitalize the province s . maybe make it more atractive for people to retire in small town nz.

    • Colonial Viper 7.1
      24 August 2014 at 6:14 pm

      this is also true

      Cramming 1/3 of NZ pop. in 0.3% the land area (Auckland) is always going to be a hiding to nothing.

      • tricledrown 7.1.1
        24 August 2014 at 6:54 pm

        Especially as we have seen with earthquake prone NZ!
        we have a lot of underutilized infrastructure in the regions.
        Base Hospitals are needed for aged care that’s the only hindrance!
        Most regions have good base hospitals!

        • Chooky 7.1.1.1
          24 August 2014 at 7:36 pm

          personally I dont think the regions will welcome competition for housing from new immigrants!

          …it is hard enough for the locals to buy a house given low wages..that is if they are lucky enough to have a job …this idea would not be a winner in the regions!…quite the contrary!.. imho

      • Chooky 7.1.2
        24 August 2014 at 11:48 pm

        @CV …spreading Auckland’s problems into the regions and other New Zealand cities is no solution at all !

    • RedLogix 7.2
      24 August 2014 at 9:06 pm

      Yes – I’m a big fan of regional NZ.

      Many of our smaller towns are really nice places to live – especially at retirement age.

      • Chooky 7.2.1
        24 August 2014 at 11:45 pm

        @ redLogix….yes they are really nice places to live for young New Zealanders and returning New Zealanders precisely because they have NOT been spoiled and corrupted like Auckland…lets keep it that way !

  8. infused 8
    24 August 2014 at 7:46 pm

    I find the title of this post quite funny. As if it would ever read, National’s House policy is better!

  9. Brendon Harre 9
    24 August 2014 at 9:39 pm

    There is a really good discussion of the flaws in National’s plans and how Labour might be able to provide 10,000 houses a year for $350,000 here at.

    http://www.interest.co.nz/news/71607/new-package-help-about-90000-lower-and-middle-income-first-home-buyers-over-next-five-yea#comment-786423

    Especially read the comments -they are a little less abusive and more enlightening than some here.

    • Brendon Harre 9.1
      24 August 2014 at 11:32 pm

      By my count only four bloggers supported National’s housing policy on Interest.co.nz and three of them were wavering. While ten were hard against it. Given that Interest.co.nz is a business website (so more right-wing) and this was meant to be the policy that broke the tide of negativity National have been under, this is a huge failure.

      If Labour are brave they can capture a positive upswing by filling out the details of there own housing policy and continue to take the media attention away from National.

      • Chooky 9.1.1
        24 August 2014 at 11:43 pm

        +100 Brendon Harre …yes this could be a winner for Labour….like education, availability and affordability of quality housing is a crucial issue for young New Zealanders and returning New Zealanders !

        • Brendon Harre 9.1.1.1
          25 August 2014 at 12:22 am

          : ) Thanks for agreeing Chooky. I can see where you are coming from re foreign buyers of land and would agree with you. But if I was Labour I would focus on the positives of new housing supply measures in the coming campaign rather than a clamp down on foreign buyers.

          Labour have already announced that policy, it is now time to tell us how KiwiBuild would work and what other new supply measures they have in mind. These have much more potential to be exciting and attention grabbing.

          • Chooky 9.1.1.1.1
            25 August 2014 at 8:06 am

            @ Brendon Harre …personally i dont think it acceptable to have quality New Zealand housing stock being snapped up by foreigners and leaving ordinary New Zealanders out in the cold dependent on developers’ new crap cheap builds…high rise , cookie cutter new subdivisions ( probably built by immigrant labour )..It is socially divisive, will encourage resentment and racism and it is unfair…Labour must be strong on restricting housing for New Zealanders first!

            …..New Zealanders are the owners of New Zealand and we can change the law immediately after the Election to make existing housing built up by generations of New Zealanders available for New Zealanders, especially young New Zealanders ( not overseas students buying up multiple houses or foreign tax evaders, money launderers and speculators) …anything else is a betrayal of New Zealanders!

  10. tanz 10
    24 August 2014 at 9:49 pm

    why doesn’t the govt simply stop allowing foreign investors from buying up our homes? This is the main cause of the problem, they are the main competitiion against Kiwi first home buyers. Yet the govt does not address that side of the issue;

    • Chooky 10.1
      24 August 2014 at 11:36 pm

      +100 tanz…that is the crux of the issue

      …and this! ….buying up New Zealanders’ land and property for corrupt tax evasion and money laundering

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10418387/Winston-Peters-points-at-laundering-scheme

      ..why is John Key and NACT allowing this to happen?…which political parties are going to stop this?!

      • Rich 10.1.1
        24 August 2014 at 11:44 pm

        It is possible that it is mandated from above I guess, there is after all a proxy US-Sino cold war brewing. Now with the qualification that I’m not into economics or an insider on Real Politik it has just occured to me that part of that war might be to extract Chinese capital from China.

        • Chooky 10.1.1.1
          25 August 2014 at 12:12 am

          @Rich…possibly…( personally i would be more worried if it was mass immigration and buy up from Israel) ..but whatever the reasons (“Real Politik” or just plain developer and John Key NACT politician business greed)…what is happening is not democratic and it is not in the interests of New Zealanders and especially young New Zealanders, to not be able to afford to buy the housing stock built up by previous generations of New Zealanders.

          It is not moral that overseas investors can speculate on New Zealand housing stocks, use it for tax evasion and money laundering….and create a scarcity of New Zealand housing and make New Zealand housing unaffordable for New Zealanders.

          • tanz 10.1.1.1.1
            25 August 2014 at 12:38 am

            agree one hundred per cent, Chooky. No one except Peters seems to want to discuss the overseas investors problem re our housing stock, I find the silence from the main players on this most strange. The Kiwisaver thing is a band aid fix, it will change nothing.

            • Rich 10.1.1.1.1.1
              25 August 2014 at 9:48 am

              It will change something, it will push the prices higher, even if only marginally. Great for housing stock investors.

  11. Ad 11
    24 August 2014 at 10:29 pm

    Key had the moment this afternoon to crush the left like fucking bugs.
    Come out with something bold and big, put a line underneath two hard political weeks, electrify tv news that night as there was nothing else on at all, regain control and momentum.

    Instead, he shows that his team have not the whit to so much as roll up the newspaper and strike.
    Goddamn weak policy platform.

    His capacity to hit back hard seems to have deserted him. Even Ipredict has no change in outcome.

    Ball is now back in your court, Mr Cunliffe, to rule the coming televisual week.

  12. mike 12
    25 August 2014 at 8:14 am

    So National introduce a housing policy which is good or bad depending on your perspective. However on the radio news yesterday afternoon Cunliffe rather than making his point about the policy, and reiterrating Labour’s policy tells a blatant lie by saying that the National Govt had introduced the 20% Loan to Value Regulations?
    What is wrong with the guy? This is treating the electorate like idiots. Not that smart.

  13. Ad 13
    25 August 2014 at 10:24 am

    Cunliffe and Twyford need to hit back hard this week on housing policy and rollout.
    Ideally on a brownfield site in Auckland where the big pressure is.

    Exceedingly foolish for Key to lead with housing policy with four weeks to go. Almost any other policy and he would have been fine. Cunliffe should focus on housing for the head to head debate, because he will win.

    Fight back in the media hard team!

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • At a glance – Climate scientists would make more money in other careers
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 hours ago

  • Chris Trotter: Nostalgic for a joyous Left
    I WAS A CAPTAIN COOK MAN, Grant Robertson was a Robbie Burns man. If you know anything about the great student pubs of Dunedin in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, those allegiances should tell you a lot. While I was at varsity, the “Cook” had a reputation for entertaining more ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 hours ago

  • Spray, spray, spray. There we go. Problem solved.
    Good old WD40. Is there nothing it can't do?Door squeaking? No problem, WD-40.Chewing gum stuck to the carpet? No worries, WD-40. Crayon marks? Spanner rusted up? Zipper won't undo? WD-40. WD-40. WD-40. It can even waterproof your shoes, I hear.(More Than A Feilding makes no warranty as to the efficacy of WD40 ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    8 hours ago

  • Taxpayers might be piste off, as govt lending to ski field is lifted to $50m – but more corporate ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The distributions of two dollops of corporate welfare have been proudly announced in government press statements today, but neither mentions or relates to the further taxpayer funding for ski fields on the skids. The government’s official website tells of $7 million being provided to boost aerospace ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    9 hours ago

  • The police know they suck at the OIA
    In recent years I've done a long series of posts poking into police OIA data and how it hides how badly the police suck at carrying out their obligations under the Act. And in a response to a recent request, it seems the police have been doing the same. A ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    9 hours ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s disdain for the Press debate
    Christopher Luxon evidently thinks this election is SO in the bag that he can afford to spurn the still-undecideds, the entire South Island, and the old Christchurch money that still reads the Press and shops at Ballantynes. We should all shed a tear for the National Party candidates across the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    11 hours ago

  • ELIZABETH RATA: Two Treaties of Waitangi – the Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Elizabeth Rate writes – There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly, the parliamentary ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    14 hours ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: When it's ok to borrow to invest
    Mayor Wayne Brown, a Northland land-banker himself, appears relaxed about borrowing to invest in land but not in, for example, transport infrastructure and services. File photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: You couldn’t make this stuff up. A mayor determined to cut council debt by selling shares in a monopoly business because ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    14 hours ago

  • How well do our Rapid Transit Stations perform
    As we invest in our public transport network, it’s critical that we not only invest in transformative projects like the City Rail Link, but that we also get as much use as we can out of the network we already have – which will also maximise the outcomes of those ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    16 hours ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Ten reasons Labour’s support has halved
    The Labour Government was elected with 50 per cent of the vote three years ago, but current opinion polls show their vote could halve in this year’s election, which would be one of the biggest plunges in political history. Most polls have Labour on about 26 per cent. And the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    17 hours ago

  • Elizabeth Rata: Two Treaties of Waitangi: The Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Commentary There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly the parliamentary representatives who inserted the word ‘principles’ ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    17 hours ago

  • Climate Emergency!
    It’s hard not to become a bit blasé towards climate change headlines. Flooding kills hundreds - blah. Catastrophic droughts - blah blah. One-in-a-hundred year events happening every year - blah blah blah.The earth had its highest temperature on record - again. Think we’ve read that one.So many articles telling us ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    17 hours ago

  • The Kākā Project: The economics of sufficiency
    The Kākā’s climate correspondent and had a chat with environmental historian and author Catherine Knight about why ‘feel good' actions like recycling and owning an electric car are unlikely to be enough to create a transition to zero emissions, let alone a just one. Knight says comments like ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    18 hours ago

  • Chippy misses a chance
    National leader Christopher Luxon has pulled out of any rescheduling of tonight’s Press debate, which has had to be cancelled because Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has Covid. The cancellation has given National an excuse to avoid a debate, which was always going to be a risk for Luxon. But ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    19 hours ago

  • The Angry Majority.
    The People's Champion vs The People's Prosecutor: It is the news media’s job to elicit information from politicians – not to prosecute them. Peters’ promise to sort out TVNZ should be believed. If he finds himself in a position to carry out his threat, then it will only be because ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 day ago

  • Verrall is chuffed by govt’s latest push into pay equity while Woods enthuses about an $11m spend ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The headline on a ministerial press statement curiously expresses the government’s position when it declares:   Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers. Is it not enough to declare just one commitment? Or is the government’s commitment to pay equity being declared sector by ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • A very worthy coalition partner for Seymour and Luxon
    There have been 53 New Zealand Parliaments so far. The 39th of them was elected in 1978. It was a parliament of 92 MPs, most of them men. The New Zealand Music Awards that year named John Rowles Male Vocalist of the Year and — after a short twelve months ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Labour still protecting the status quo
    Aotearoa has a cost of living crisis. And one of the major drivers of this crisis is the supermarket duopoly, who gouge every dollar they can out of us. Last year, the Commerce Commission found that the duopoly was in fact anti-competititve, giving the government social licence to fix the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s myths about the desolated state of the economy
    Familiarity breeds consent. If you repeat the line “six years of economic mis-management” about 10,000 times, it sounds like the received wisdom, whatever the evidence to the contrary. Yes, the global pandemic and the global surge in inflation that came in its wake occurred here as well – but if ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
    Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: The ‘recession’ has been called off, but some households are still struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    6 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    7 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    7 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 week ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Youth justice programme expands to break cycle of offending
    The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Major milestone with 20,000 employers using Apprenticeship Boost
    The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Government supporting wood processing jobs and more diverse industry
    The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said.   “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Government backing Canterbury’s future in aerospace industry
    The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Updated forestry regulations increase council controls and require large slash removal
    Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-10-03T11:24:12+00:00