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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 days ago

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

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 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
    3 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • Sad tales from the left
    Michael Bassett writes –  Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • In Whose Best Interests?
    On The Spot: The question Q+A host, Jack Tame, put to the Workplace & Safety Minister, Act’s Brooke van Velden, was disarmingly simple: “Are income tax cuts right now in the best interests of lowering inflation?”JACK TAME has tested another MP on his Sunday morning current affairs show, Q+A. Minister for Workplace ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Don’t Question, Don’t Complain.
    It has to start somewhereIt has to start sometimeWhat better place than here?What better time than now?So it turns out that I owe you all an apology.It seems that all of the terrible things this government is doing, impacting the lives of many, aren’t necessarily ‘bad’ per se. Those things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Auckland faces 25% water inflation shock
    Three Waters became a focus of anti-Government protests under Labour, but its dumping by the new Government hasn’t solved councils’ funding problems and will eventually hit the back pockets of everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 8:06 am today are:The Government ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Small accomplishments and large ironies
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • The Song of Saqua: Volume VII
    In order to catch up to the actual progress of the D&D campaign, I present you with another couple of sessions. These were actually held back to back, on a Monday and Tuesday evening. Session XV Alas, Goatslayer had another lycanthropic transformation… though this time, he ran off into the ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

  • Accelerating the Growth Rate?
    There is a constant theme from the economic commentariat that New Zealand needs to lift its economic growth rate, coupled with policies which they are certain will attain that objective. Their prescriptions are usually characterised by two features. First, they tend to be in their advocate’s self-interest. Second, they are ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    7 days 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
    9 hours 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
    14 hours ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
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  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
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  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
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  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
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  • Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
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  • Tenancy rules changes to improve rental market
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  • Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with China
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  • Freshwater farm plan systems to be improved
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  • New Fast Track Projects advisory group named
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