Labour’s momentum – Nat’s fall

Written By: - Date published: 9:12 am, August 18th, 2017 - 87 comments
Categories: election 2017, jacinda ardern, labour, polls - Tags: , , , , ,

Last night’s 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll confirmed Labour’s momentum and, crucially, showed a fall for National. Jacinda Ardern and Bill English are tied as preferred PM. It’s anyone’s election.

What Jacinda Ardern has accomplished here is nothing short of astonishing. As a one-off bump in the polls it rivals Brash’s infamous Orewa speech. But Ardern’s rise is based on optimism and positivity rather than than racist dog whistles.

Jacinda Ardern has tapped in to the underlying mood for change, and given it a voice.

The Greens will bounce back. Their message is simply too important to be ignored.

87 comments on “Labour’s momentum – Nat’s fall ”

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  1. Gabby 1
    18 August 2017 at 9:18 am

    She seems to be steering clear of nat rad at the mo. Maybe justifiably wary of Sniggering Guyon, maybe she’s said ‘sure, but after Bingles, not before Jawsie.’

  2. Heather Grimwood 2
    18 August 2017 at 9:26 am

    Yes, the Greens will definitely bounce back…the passion of their commitment to urgencies for ecosystem and poverty can only prosper. and of course reinforce desire of all who care /grieve over these topics. Media hype must not be allowed to exaggerate import of their (Greens) recent poll figures.

    • dukeofurl 2.1
      18 August 2017 at 11:23 am

      So , you were saying the same thing when Greens were 15% ?
      ‘Media hype must not be allowed to exaggerate import of their (Greens) recent poll figures.”
      The reality is they have lost a lot of supporters, maybe not below 5%, but that could be around that number.
      BTW the media arent saying it, its a reputable poll thats saying it.

      • DSpare 2.1.1
        18 August 2017 at 12:23 pm

        dou
        That 15% was indeed treated with some scepticism at the time, in retrospect it was probably a rogue with the base support being closer to 12%. That said, there certainly has been a drop in people committed to supporting the GP in the polling period (12-16 August, immediately after Turei standing down as leader before the relaunch had time to be factored). The margin of error for this result would put the GP current support as likely between 2-6%, but many may have been adopting a wait and see approach to the relaunch (responding as undecided and replacing of of the undecideds who committed to Ardern’s Labour).

        About the only good thing from this poll for the Greens is that the trend line has to improve! As falling from 15 to 13 to 8 to 4% ratings in the space of a month would otherwise have them in negative numbers by election day. I fully expect this to be spun as a victory for the relaunch and Shaw.

        • dukeofurl 2.1.1.1
          18 August 2017 at 1:13 pm

          No it wasnt a rogue.
          Reid Research 13.5, Newshub 13, One News 15. Those are all within the margin of error for those numbers

          Please dont just make stuff up (‘base support being closer to 12%’) when the average of those numbers is close to 14%

          • Dspare 2.1.1.1.1
            18 August 2017 at 2:43 pm

            dou
            This graphical summary is a good depiction of how the polls indicated party preferences before Ardern took over Labour:

            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_New_Zealand_general_election,_2017#/media/File:NZ_opinion_polls_2014-2017-majorparties.png

            It is much the same as the one in the Original Post, but unlike that one; doesn’t yet include the last weeks polls (and does state a mean polling of 12+/-1% for the GP).

            Your sample is highly selective, and doesn’t control for differences in polling techniques. A better baseline selection for GP support would be to start back when Ardern was named deputy, till she became leader of Labour (March to August). This gives us: Roy Morgan; 13.5, 14.0, 14.0, 13.0 & 14.5 (13.8% mean), Newshub Reid Research; 13, 12.5 & 11.2 (12.2%) , One News Colmar Brunton; 15, 11, 9 & 11 (11.5%). This gives a combined mean of 12.6%; which might be slightly higher than the 12% average since last election (though still within the +/-1% range). But the 15% result is certainly; an outlier, if not definitely a rogue.

      • Heather Grimwood 2.1.2
        18 August 2017 at 5:07 pm

        to dof at 2.1: The media are repeating ad nauseam the results since first poll …. a very small sample. (I feel guilt in partaking of/furthering the conversation.)

    • popexplosion 2.2
      18 August 2017 at 3:45 pm

      Polling is irrelevant as they don’t reflect split voting. I.e ACT voter says they vote ACT but vote NAT on the list. Greens who vote Green on the list can vote Lab in the electorate. So a true poll, credible and professional, would have the ability to ask for split voting intention. Duh, otherwise it’s a right-wing poll as it collect minor NAT parties, ACT, UF, MP, yet ignores LAB voters who party vote Green or NF.

      • popexplosion 2.2.1
        18 August 2017 at 3:47 pm

        Greens are denied acces to power by the establishment just look what biased media has done to their pols, had this Ben any other party… Collins, Bridges, high profile ministers who get into bother and everyone tipstoes around them.

  3. Bob 3
    18 August 2017 at 9:30 am

    “Jacinda Ardern has tapped in to the underlying mood for change”
    No, she has simply given Labour long overdue media coverage (by making herself available like John Key did) and has done so with policy announcements rather than complaining about what the other guys are doing constantly.

  4. Bearded Git 4
    18 August 2017 at 9:31 am

    It is excellent that, despite all of this volatility, TOP has no momentum at all; stuck at 2%. Vote for Gareth and waste your vote-maybe they should change their leader…….

  5. One Two 5
    18 August 2017 at 9:35 am

    Preferred Prime Minister..

    Options.

    A fiddling ex PM, or a lightweight careerist…

    Claytons choice for the personality cultists..

    • Kevin 5.1
      18 August 2017 at 9:43 am

      In 2008 you had the choice of a lightweight noob.

      And guess how the country voted.

    • red-blooded 5.2
      18 August 2017 at 1:06 pm

      Ardern is no lightweight, One Two.

      • One Two 5.2.1
        18 August 2017 at 2:28 pm

        Adern is a complete lightweight who could potentially become Prime Minister..

        None of ‘them’ are fit to run a country, which is why the country in controlled from offshore by the ‘money masters’..

        Adern is a shiney new wheel, the same way Key was back in 2008.

        Lightweights…all of them…unnecessary, accept to minds which are confined by orthodoxy!

        • simbit 5.2.1.1
          18 August 2017 at 5:12 pm

          How fucken hard is it to run an isolated, well-received country of under 5 million? Don’t diddle your reimbursement, don’t fiddle with any young kids, don’t get drunk in public, get some good advisers around you. Jeez wayne….

  6. Carolyn_nth 6
    18 August 2017 at 9:38 am

    Not a lot being said about the shift in un-decided voters between the last 2 polls – from 20% – 13%.

    So, for poll watchers, wouldn’t that mean, not so much a GP collapse in numbers of votes for them, but that there proportion of votes dropped as Labour picked up a lot of undecideds?

    • ScottGN 6.1
      18 August 2017 at 9:46 am

      It still amounts to the same thing C_n. If the Greens are to keep their heads above water they need to be taking some of those undecided voters too.

      • Carolyn_nth 6.1.1
        18 August 2017 at 9:54 am

        that’s true. And, more importantly pick up some who have given up voting. It’s not the same as the narrative about already committed voters deserting the GP.

        There is surely likely to be some bounce impact from recent positive media coverage of Ardern, at least in the short term.

        And the trouble with such hasty polls, is they are used by many mainstream journalists to promote their narrative, resulting in the publication of the polls further impacting on public opinion.

        A very good reason for restricting publication of polling during an election period.

        • dukeofurl 6.1.1.1
          18 August 2017 at 11:27 am

          Do you realise what you are saying ?

          Just because you would rather remain clueless about what the public is saying defies sanity. If it continued to say Greens 15% of course you would be saying ‘love it’

          • marty mars 6.1.1.1.1
            18 August 2017 at 12:53 pm

            hang on, you are the clueless one

            “And the trouble with such hasty polls, is they are used by many mainstream journalists to promote their narrative, resulting in the publication of the polls further impacting on public opinion.”

            did you read that? Please reread it because it answers your inane comment.

            • dukeofurl 6.1.1.1.1.1
              18 August 2017 at 1:07 pm

              That section is too silly for words.
              Hasty ? The last one was three weeks ago

              ‘promote their narrative’ ? Thats their job description ‘ commentators who comment’

              They are only saying what the polls results said- Greens out of parliament-

              They could change to 5.5% closer to the election date , will that make you feel better. In reality you dont want polls at all which show Greens voters have moved to other parties.

              • marty mars …
                18 August 2017 at 1:18 pm

                only the very silly or smarmy think the polls are only a record of events – they are used to push the narrative (this is the narrative they want to push because it fits their perception of things). They are used as evidence of things – when really they show the opposite or are unrelated to that which they are evidence for.

                This is well known 101 stuff – I’m surprised you don’t know or understand this dou.

                You seem wedded to the polls – that is silly – do you look at the map, tracing the route and then go, “well that was a nice tramp” of course not – same thing.

                • Dspare …
                  18 August 2017 at 3:02 pm

                  marty mars
                  You are correct about polls being used to; “push the narrative”. The problem is that if polls consistently show the GP below 5% they will lose further support because no one wants to waste their vote. That said, a bounce in the polls can be used by Shaw to sell the narrative of the relaunch being sucessful, and it is hard to see how the next poll can be worse (particularly as it is likely to be the Roy Morgan which historically overrates the the Green vote, compared to be CB which underrates it – except for that one 15% outlier).

    • swordfish 6.2
      18 August 2017 at 12:11 pm

      Not a lot being said about the shift in un-decided voters between the last 2 polls – from 20% – 13%. So, for poll watchers, wouldn’t that mean, not so much a GP collapse in numbers of votes for them, but that there proportion of votes dropped as Labour picked up a lot of undecideds? …

      … It’s not the same as the narrative about already committed voters deserting the GP.

      You may be indulging in a touch of wishful thinking here

      The Greens have plummeted from 15% down to 4% – trust me – that sort of catastrophic loss aint down to falling Undecideds

      (Undecideds incidentally fell from 16% to 9% – the rest were those who Refused to answer)

  7. Sable 7
    18 August 2017 at 9:41 am

    I would take these polls with a grain of salt. I would guess the Greens support is substantially better than this and polls only prove that small samples deliver “small opinions”.

    I’m not a Greens supporter but I do wish them well and hope for a change from last grim 9+ years.

    That said we need an unbiased MSM and in my opinion that’s really not the case in NZ anymore.

    • JanM 7.1
      18 August 2017 at 10:12 am

      Never was

    • Phil 7.2
      18 August 2017 at 3:26 pm

      polls only prove that small samples deliver “small opinions”

      Next time you’re getting a blood test from a doctor, ask them to take it all, rather than just one vial. Just to be sure.

      • DoublePlusGood 7.2.1
        18 August 2017 at 3:53 pm

        Blood is uniform; people are not. You need a better metaphor.

      • Sable 7.2.2
        19 August 2017 at 1:47 pm

        Yeah blood is measurable definitive polls as the most recent article on this site proves are anything but……

  8. The decrypter 8
    18 August 2017 at 9:42 am

    Still to flock over to the jacindaroller are all the browbeaten “twobob tories” women. Once in the secluded ballet box these unfortunates will seek out their saviour. All Aboard ladies.

  9. Enough is Enough 9
    18 August 2017 at 9:44 am

    This increases the chance of a Labour NZ First government which isn’t really the change of government I was looking for.

    Granted – better than what we have but not type of government that in my view will deliver the massive reforms we so desperately need

  10. CLEANGREEN 10
    18 August 2017 at 9:56 am

    I am a solid convert to Jacinda Ardern at 72yrs old!!!!!!!!!

    I see another strong leader like Helen Clark here, and I was taken by Helen also, so Jacinda could be our saviour along with Winston who was there the last time Labour booted out the nasty Nat’s.

    My families vote is now pretty well cast on a Labour/NZ First win now.

    Which is about it was when we came back home from Canada in 1999 and joined the Greens to get rid of the Nat’s then.

    Green party was then run by a very intelligent group of Sue Kedgley, Sue Bradford, Rod Donald/ Jeannette Fitzsimmons, and they actually was the remaining support party that helped eject the toxic Nat’s in 1999.

    Pretty much a repeat Election result is now happening again now thankfully.

  11. swordfish 11
    18 August 2017 at 10:41 am

    Historically, Nat leaders have a tendency to poll higher (& hold a more commanding lead) in the Colmar Brunton Preferred PMs vis-à-vis Reid Research – so – with it all tied up at 30 / 30 in this latest CB – it would nae entirely surprise me if the next RR has Ardern out in front (quite apart from any further momentum)

    • DSpare 11.1
      18 August 2017 at 11:52 am

      swordfish

      Do you have any idea when the next Roy Morgan poll results are due out? They have been usually good at getting them out monthly (compared to Colmar Brunton’s haphazard schedule – I guess as 1News commissions them), maybe they are too busy with Australian politics at the moment to bother with NZ.

      • swordfish 11.1.1
        18 August 2017 at 12:57 pm

        By Sunday at latest, I suspect (though don’t entirely rule out later today – RM have a bit of a penchant for releasing on a Friday)

  12. lurgee 12
    18 August 2017 at 11:25 am

    I’m confused. Are polls reliable this week, or unreliable? They seem to be telling us something we want to hear and something we don’t want to hear. I don’t know whether to attack them or not.

    • marty mars 12.1
      18 August 2017 at 12:55 pm

      the polls are for people that like polls – they bear some resemblance to reality as a map does to the territory – hmmm terror tory – I like that – might try to mapp that one for wayne on one of his comments lol

      • dukeofurl 12.1.1
        18 August 2017 at 12:59 pm

        What an idiot you are. They-opinion polls- are used for all sorts of things.
        Yes its a poll 5 weeks from the voting date, but for small parties they are fairly accurate

        • marty mars 12.1.1.1
          18 August 2017 at 1:03 pm

          oh dear you are really struggling aren’t you lol – have a lie down buster before your fu fu valve bursts again

        • left_forward 12.1.1.2
          18 August 2017 at 1:19 pm

          Just discuss the issue man – all your name calling distracts from everything else you say.

          • lurgee 12.1.1.2.1
            18 August 2017 at 3:34 pm

            I’m not sure there really was an issue, other than my wry poke at the way some people are completely inconsistent. Polls I like = valid and robust, polls I don’t like = vile heinous lie-mongering.

            Applies to a lot more than polls, of course.

          • simbit 12.1.1.2.2
            18 August 2017 at 5:15 pm

            I’m embarrassed no ones called me a name. Anally. Root. The pollsters. And Jim was a Catholic. Hmmm, are you still a virgin if…

    • Tracey 12.2
      19 August 2017 at 10:54 am

      You probably need another poll to tell you what to think about polls

  13. james 13
    18 August 2017 at 12:13 pm

    Its all very interesting.

    I think that any green comeback will be at the cost of (primary) labour.

    Having said that – I think they will only come back a little. I think they will get over 5% – but not by a huge amount. 7-8% feels about right.

    Jacinda – Hard to argue that she isn’t going anything other than a bloody good job at the moment.

    • lurgee 13.1
      18 August 2017 at 3:38 pm

      It’s a bit of an indictment of our political maturity that replacing Little with Ardern leads to a 13% surge. It isn’t like she’s unleashed oddles of awesome policy or promised everyone a Unicorn.

  14. McFlock 14
    18 August 2017 at 12:49 pm

    The thought occurs that the dirty politics hounds will next be set on Labour in the full frenzy that attacked the Greens. But Labour probably doesn’t have any obvious nat-bait skeletons in the closet (and they sure as fuck won’t volunteer them now).

    So, with the heat elsewhere the greens will recover – maybe not to 15%, but 8-10% feels reasonable.

    Some of that might be at the expense of Labour, but I suspect the nats will be pushing shit up hill unless they can find some genuine dirt. And the effort they waste on Labour is effort the nats aren’t putting into new policies or campaigning ideas.

    Anyone know if the nats are ripping off the Beatles this time?

    edit: but the hounds won’t attack NZ1, because both sides will probably need Winston…

    • Bearded Git 14.1
      18 August 2017 at 12:56 pm

      Agreed McFlock…and 40+8= a Lab/Gr government without the need for NZF. This could easily happen.

      • lurgee 14.1.1
        18 August 2017 at 3:41 pm

        Disagree. Where do the votes come from?

        If Labour is to get to 40% and the Greens recover to 8%, that’s another 7-8% needed. Are they really going to steal most of NZ1st’s votes? Or will a chunk of National’s vote suddenly realise that all this time they supported social democracy and / or the environment.

        I’d like it to happen, but I can’t see how it happens.

        But then, I though Ardern might give Labour a boost of 4 or 5%, so what do I know?

    • marty mars 14.2
      18 August 2017 at 1:01 pm

      yes the gnats want to drop ardern and labour – they could go, “oh we’re the underdogs now” and try and energise their staid fanbase. I can’t see them attacking Ardern – and I bet that is really irking them. So the Greens will recover a bit. Winnie had better drop the toddbomb soon – those texts need to come out and see the light of day.

  15. Robert Glennie 15
    18 August 2017 at 1:25 pm

    I don’t think the Greens have suffered terminal damage. There is too much anger on the left spectrum that I think they will be back, but in reduced size. They might get 10 M.P.’s and shed the difference to Labour. Any loss of M.P.’s from National will probably drift towards N.Z. First.

    Labour can get bigger still, but that will require some bold policy releases, such as – and not necessarily suggesting that these policies happen, but as an indicator of the level needed – renationalizing the electricity sector or electrifying the main trunk line as a matter of priority.

    • Tracey 15.1
      18 August 2017 at 1:34 pm

      Dont be too sure. English can walk on a beach with his wife and make an awful pizza but he has been English for too long. For years he has been the man shutting the wallet shut but suddenly his ego is involved and it is a monster lolly scramble

      • lurgee 15.1.1
        18 August 2017 at 3:59 pm

        I don’t think we should under estimate the appeal of English’s dull reliability. When Kelvin Davis compared him to a rock my immediate rection was that rocks have many admirable qualities – enduring, weighty, reliable – and these are also qualities people associate with English. He might not be charismatic, but I think people also quite like that. He comes across dull and dependable. It will take a lot to shake that impression – and a lot of the stuff that political obsessives like us are All Fired Up about are not going to register with the electorate at large.

        They say generals are always ready to fight the last war – and I wonder if Labour have finally found, in Ardern, a candidate that might have been useful against John Key. But Bill English presents a different problem, and I’m not sure, yet, if she will prevail against him.

        • Tracey 15.1.1.1
          18 August 2017 at 6:15 pm

          That is how it was spun. I understood he said he had tthe personality of a rock

          • lurgee 15.1.1.1.1
            18 August 2017 at 8:02 pm

            Didn’t need spinning. Like I said, it was my gut reaction when I heard it.

            They’ll be calling him Basalt Bill next.

          • In Vino 15.1.1.1.2
            18 August 2017 at 8:09 pm

            But it reminds me of 1984 when debating face to face, stolid Muldoon was gracefully outmanoeuvred by eloquent Lange. Jacinda is alive and creative. I think Bill has trouble in both those aspects.

            • lurgee 15.1.1.1.2.1
              19 August 2017 at 8:35 am

              Muldoon was clearly bonkers. Basalt Bill is too rock like and impervious to be properly bonkers. Even his religious tendencies are probably a bit dull.

        • WILD KATIPO 15.1.1.2
          18 August 2017 at 9:36 pm

          lurgee

          … ” He comes across dull and dependable ” …

          Yep ,… just like a cardigan wearing bureaucrat.

          Except that in his case hes not the dull dependable bureaucrat that carry’s on , quietly keeping the wheels turning in the background , – but an out of control hyper one that has aspirations of Lords and Ladies and serfs living in mud huts and tending to the gentry’s every need…

          • lurgee 15.1.1.2.1
            19 August 2017 at 8:39 am

            I’m not convinced your analysis is entirely rational, fact based or likely to be shared by the population at large.

            I think the left are so used to being brutalised by John Key’s slick emptiness that we’re looking at his polar opposite and completely underestimating him.

            I have a horrible suspicion that a lot of people will opt for Boring Bill over Jazzy Jacinda this time, deciding she’s too much of a wild card at this time.

            If that happens, may I add, I hope Labour are sensible and realise she’s already done enough to guarantee she retains the leadership until next time, when she can have a proper go at it.

  16. Tracey 16
    18 August 2017 at 1:33 pm

    So… when people said ” …but there is no alternative to National” they realky meant a leader I like? Just observing tgat it is not about poolicy, not really

  17. Tracey 17
    18 August 2017 at 1:36 pm

    Didnt NZF halve its support in the previous poll but no headlibes of NZF imploding or ravaged or collapsing

  18. Michael 18
    18 August 2017 at 2:28 pm

    Labour appears to have taken votes off the Greens, and perhaps NZ First, but there’s no real evidence that Nats are switching over to it. I think the Nats’ base is stronger, in the sense that they are reliable voters, whereas people prepared to switch to Labour from the Greens are more likely not to vote at all (as are disillusioned Labour supporters who don’t like NZ First’s xenophobia). If Labour wants to form a popular, and hence legitimate, government, it needs to come out with a credible, progressive alternative to neoliberalism. So far in this campaign, it hasn’t. As a result people, like me, who loathe neoliberalism, have no reason to vote for Labour under Ardern.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 18.1
      18 August 2017 at 2:46 pm

      I too want a complete renunciation of neoliberalism – and this isn’t on offer this election. But less neoliberalism – which the Greens and Labour do offer to a degree, in contrast to NAct, is still better than more neoliberalism. So I hope people get out and vote for the lesser evil (you know, you get less evil that way).

      • WILD KATIPO 18.1.1
        18 August 2017 at 9:40 pm

        Excellent. And that’s the reality. We have to work with what we’ve got and try and improve on it. Its all got to start somewhere.

    • ScottGN 18.2
      18 August 2017 at 2:48 pm

      Poll last night showed National dropping 3% which presumably went to the Labour Party.

      • Dspare 18.2.1
        18 August 2017 at 2:54 pm

        ScottGN
        That 3% could have gone to NZF, and more NZF voters could have gone to Labour (possible via undecideds). It is hard to say for sure from blunt averages.

        • ScottGN 18.2.1.1
          18 August 2017 at 3:01 pm

          That is absolutely a possibility. However I think it’s more likely soft National urban voters are starting to move to Labour.

      • lurgee 18.2.2
        18 August 2017 at 3:52 pm

        I’d tend to view the ‘drop’ as variation around the true figure.

        National have been as high as 49% in May and as low as 44% (oh, to be as low as 44%!!) which might suggest the figure is somewhere in between – maybe a touch closer to the 44% end, as intervening CB polls were 47%, and the overall trend seems to be a bit down.

        But National on 45 or 46% could be very tricky for Labour.

  19. greywarshark 19
    18 August 2017 at 5:09 pm

    Tracy Watkins sounding definite.
    The Green Party has plummeted from 15 to four percent in the latest political poll after the rise of Labour’s Jacinda Ardern and the resignation of Greens co-leader Metiria Turei….

    It’s not just National that’s hurting from the Ardern effect either – the Greens have been crushed, now sitting at 4 per cent. They could be wiped out of Parliament.
    I bet she didn’t foresee the Greens at 15% and why she should be willing the out of Parliament on the basis that there is no volatility before elections, I don’t know.

    Recap: Labour surge, Greens slump in latest poll
    Last updated 20:22, August 17 2017

    Bill English is shown in link having a meal with three undecided voters. They’re obviously not needy Labour voters, he is talking and they are sitting listening with a small tablefull of toothsome dishes in front of each. Hungry Labour voters would be tucking in unceremoniously. Yeah, yeah, right on Mr English. Good one. Have the staff got doggie bags? You could get a lot of good votes that way.

    20 minutes plus
    Chat with Cheesy

  20. Zeroque 20
    18 August 2017 at 8:38 pm

    I find it difficult to see how a Winston and Labour coalition could work, would be great if it could. Just seems problematic, progressive versus conservative.

    • WILD KATIPO 20.1
      18 August 2017 at 9:45 pm

      Naw…. recall the Helen Clark era?… Peters was a Foreign Minister, – and a bloody good one at that.

      • lurgee 20.1.1
        19 August 2017 at 8:50 am

        Wasn’t he investigated for massive sleaze? Owen Glenn, who he just happened to back as Honorary Consul? Donations from the Vela family while he was in charge of racing? I can’t even remember how that one turned out.

        Anyone coalescing with Winston should be very careful. He’s entirely highly toxic. You will recall, I’m sure, that after his stint as Foreign Minister Labour lost power and NZ 1st lost their representation in parliament.

        • Tracey 20.1.1.1
          19 August 2017 at 11:00 am

          So are Collins and Bennett. They just have better cover and voters who dislike law breaking, self interest and sleave in every other party.

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    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

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