Leftie Kiwis

Written By: - Date published: 9:14 am, April 21st, 2016 - 66 comments
Categories: polls, us politics - Tags: , ,

Received political wisdom is that NZ is a conservative country, tending to the right. Interesting then, to see this data on our voting preferences re American presidential candidates (Stephen Mills in The Herald):

If only Kiwis could vote for president

There has been some debate among New Zealand political commentators about whether a candidate like Donald Trump could emerge in New Zealand.

Perhaps one already has.

What is clear is that New Zealanders would much prefer a Democrat won this year’s contest in the US. Given a hypothetical vote in the US presidential election in a UMR survey in early April, 82 per cent would go for Hillary Clinton and only 9 per cent for Donald Trump.
…
If the choice was between Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, New Zealanders would decisively elect the socialist senator from Vermont. He wins by 77 per cent to 8 per cent and even National voters prefer the avowed socialist by 76 per cent to 13 per cent.

Interesting!

New Zealanders are not too keen on Ted Cruz either. In a contest between Cruz and Clinton 72 per cent prefer Clinton and 14 per cent Cruz. If between Sanders and Cruz, Sanders wins 48-19 per cent, though 33 per cent are unsure of their vote facing this lower-profile match up. National voters veer a little right on this head-to-head but still prefer the socialist Sanders over Cruz by 39-28 per cent.

Perhaps there is hope for us yet.

We prefer Hillary Clinton to Bernie Sanders as well. Given that choice 55 per cent of New Zealanders go for Clinton and 25 per cent for Sanders.

Bother!

In an almost exact parallel to United States demographic breakdowns, younger New Zealanders were much more likely to go for Sanders. Among under 30-year-olds 39 per cent preferred Sanders and 34 per cent Clinton. Clinton had big leads among older age cohorts.

If only the young would get out and vote.

66 comments on “Leftie Kiwis ”

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  1. save NZ 1
    21 April 2016 at 9:22 am

    Interesting post. I wonder if Clinton wins in NZ due to Kiwis MSM not mentioning Sanders, therefore Kiwis have not heard of him. Older people in NZ probably still watch NZ ‘news’, where news is devoid of content.

    Apparently even the Guardian had reporting bias to Clinton.

    • weka 1.1
      21 April 2016 at 11:15 am

      When I asked my left voting elderly parents about Sanders vs Clinton, they said that they didn’t really know anything about Sanders. They’re reasonably thoughtful and informed people but they do rely on the MSM (TV, radio and newsprint mostly, not sure how much they look online). The fact that Sanders has had so little coverage is a disgrace in the US and here. But I also think it’s probably the NZ conservative element kicking in. Not political conservativism, just caution (hence the huge antipathy towards KDC). Liberals like my parents are still going to be a bit cautious about those that are perceived as more radical. However I’m pretty sure one of my parents, maybe both, would vote Sanders if he were actually being reported properly in the MSM.

    • Delia 1.2
      21 April 2016 at 1:20 pm

      I have read plenty about Sanders in the UK press.

  2. david 2
    21 April 2016 at 9:25 am

    Fatal flaw in your argument, you assume ‘left and right’ of politics is the same in New Zealand as in America.

    I find it an amorphous term, more a badge of tribal affiliations than an accurate reflection of views.
    E.g is Brexit progressive or neoliberal? Depends on who is supporting it, it seems; than based on principles.

    If you look at Democrat’s policies of charter school, common core, health system based on insurance companies, interventionist foreign policy, TPPP etc.

    The Democrats are in the ‘far right’ category in New Zealand’s political taxonomy.

    • Lanthanide 2.1
      21 April 2016 at 9:39 am

      +1

    • scotty 2.2
      21 April 2016 at 10:14 am

      Not sure about the relevance of where on the NZ spectrum the Democrats would sit .
      But the current National government is the most Right wing in New Zealands’ history.
      Some of our backward environmental laws and the ease at which private interests have usurped control over common water assets for example – would have Republicans dribbling all over their cheque books.

    • Mosa 2.3
      21 April 2016 at 10:21 am

      New Zealanders can’t make up their minds to be socialist or capitlist

    • Phil 2.4
      21 April 2016 at 1:06 pm

      To flesh out your comment a little bit, I perceive the NZ left-right spectrum as being very tightly economic-focused: tax, competition/privatization, trade etc.

      By contrast, in the US there is a broad consensus about economic policy between the two major parties. The spectrum for left-right is much more about social conservatism and liberalism in areas where NZ policy is ‘settled’: abortion, justice and the death penalty, gun control.

  3. ropata 3
    21 April 2016 at 9:30 am

    The reality is politics bores most people, they have zero clue about policy, and just vote on fleeting impressions. Hence we have governments focused on PR and spin, but their actual policies are criminal.

    • James 3.1
      21 April 2016 at 10:49 am

      this

    • Nessalt 3.2
      21 April 2016 at 12:57 pm

      that’s not true, people resent politicians taking them for granted when they talk about “all” or “representing” under an MMP system. proportinality is good, but voters feel disengaged from about half of parliament and hate it when a leader is electorally unaccountable in an electorate as there is no measure of how grounded they are outside of their soundbites. dismissing people as uninterested is almost as fascinatingly moronic as bomber cursing out middle new zealand for not voting how he wants people to vote straight after an election.

      • ropata 3.2.3
        21 April 2016 at 5:01 pm

        The electoral consequences of voter ignorance

        Abstract
        A great deal of research has suggested that scholarly and popular concerns about low levels of citizen political knowledge are exaggerated. One implication of that research is that political history would have unfolded just as it did even if electorates had been more politically informed. This paper presents evidence that counters these claims, showing an infusion of electorally relevant information in twenty-seven democracies would have likely led to a lot of vote “switching”, ultimately changing the composition of many governments. The paper also directly and systematically examines what we might call the “enlightened natural constituency” hypothesis, which expects lower-income citizens to vote disproportionately for left parties once armed with more political knowledge. While the basic argument about how political ignorance disproportionately affects the left’s natural constituency is not new, the hypothesis has thus far not been tested. The analysis provides provisional support for the hypothesis.

        Highlights

        ► Large numbers of better informed voters would have switched their votes. ► Low income voters were more likely to switch compared with other groups. ► Left parties would have benefited if voters were better informed in many cases. ► Vote changes would have been great enough to alter the composition of governments in many cases

    • Whateva next? 3.3
      21 April 2016 at 10:46 pm

      Bang on ropata

    • Incognito 3.4
      21 April 2016 at 11:59 pm

      The reality is politics bores most people

      Politics is literally everywhere: at playgrounds, kindergartens, schools, workplaces, sport clubs, households, among flatmates, etc.

      It needs rebranding (and a new flag?).

      It’s a bit like sex; nobody wants to talk about it or discuss it but (almost) everybody is ‘interested’ in it!

  4. swordfish 4
    21 April 2016 at 9:34 am

    “We prefer Hillary Clinton to Bernie Sanders as well”

    So, the “received political wisdom” that we’re “a conservative country, tending to the right”
    is pretty much on the money, then ? 👿

  5. Lanthanide 5
    21 April 2016 at 9:37 am

    “Interesting!”

    Hardly. The democrats in the US are to the right of National in NZ.

    The Economist found in 2012 that most of the world would vote for Obama over Romney: http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/10/charting-us-election

    Unfortunately the actual voting app / large diagram seems to be broken, but you can see a small map in the article above.

  6. save NZ 6
    21 April 2016 at 9:43 am

    F**k Sanders, says Clinton aide, bragging “We kicked his a**” after massive voter purges and irregularities in NY primary
    Hillary staffer gloated to Politico reporter after beating Bernie in NY, amid accusations of voting problems

    http://www.salon.com/2016/04/20/fk_sanders_says_clinton_aide_bragging_we_kicked_his_a_after_massive_voter_purges_and_irregularities_in_ny_primary/

  7. Ad 7
    21 April 2016 at 9:47 am

    Any poll done on New Zealanders eight years ago on whether they preferred Obama over HR Clinton?

    • swordfish 7.1
      21 April 2016 at 10:56 am

      Yep … April 2008 Poll … 47% preferred Obama, 31% Clinton, 22% Unsure.

      Little difference between Labour and National voters:
      Lab: … Obama 47% / Clinton 33%
      Nat: … Obama 44% / Clinton 33%

      (National voters, incidentally, strongly preferred both Obama and Clinton to McCain in the Dem vs Rep match-ups: by 35 points (Obama) and 28 points (Clinton))

      And no appreciable Gender difference of opinion. New Zealand women were not markedly pro-Hillary.

      Particularly strong support for Obama from Maori, Pasifikas and those under the age of 45 (more or less mirroring Obamas key demographics in the US)

  8. Colonial Viper 8
    21 April 2016 at 9:56 am

    Received political wisdom is that NZ is a conservative country, tending to the right.

    NZ regional conservatism has very little to do with right wing neoliberal economic ideology.

    In that sense, both the Labour and National Parties have been hijacked – by the neolibs – for their own ends.

    John Key was spot on when he described NZers in general as being socialist.

    We are. And no political party in Parliament today is really able to speak to that constituency.

    They all primarily aim to speak to the pundits and the press gallery as if they are the constituents that they represent.

  9. Redbaiter 9
    21 April 2016 at 10:02 am

    Received political wisdom is that NZ is a conservative country, tending to the right. Interesting then, to see this data on our voting preferences re American presidential candidates

    When is the Labour Party going to realise that their portrayal of National as a far right cabal looting the country is doomed to failure and they need a new strategy?

    This survey shows NZers would never vote for such a party, and therefore that they do vote for National sends the message that they do not see National as such a party.

    Keep telling the voters that they’re stupid and wrong, that will win the election for you.

    • save NZ 9.1
      21 April 2016 at 10:18 am

      Or maybe the Nat lite strategy is not working anymore, being the lessor of two evils… Note to Labour, Sanders concentrates on getting taxes off the super wealthy not the middle class, he refuses to take corporate donations and wants to reform the political system against lobbyists buying policy, is firmly against TPP….

      The Democrats need to stop being the “lesser of two evils” party — starting now

      “According to a report from Pew Research Center, the least financially secure Americans largely preferred Democrats in 2014, but a majority of them did not vote. There is an understandable political apathy among lower class Americans — not to mention voter suppression, which tends to hurt poor people and minorities. After all, both parties supported corporatist trade deals that eliminated working class jobs, both parties supported Wall Street bailouts, both parties are largely dependent on big money donors — it goes on and on.

      When Sanders announced his candidacy last year, he barely registered in the national polls, and Clinton had a enormous 60 percent support. Today, Clinton and Sanders are just about tied in national polls (according to HuffPost Pollster, 47.9 to 44.1 percent). Sanders’ egalitarian vision has energized many Americans who had lost faith in the political process — and while Clinton’s hold on delegates may be insurmountable, her hold on the Democratic Party is not.”

      http://www.salon.com/2016/04/18/the_democrats_need_to_stop_being_the_lesser_of_two_evils_party_starting_now/

      • Ad 9.1.1
        21 April 2016 at 4:47 pm

        Sanders is not Obama.
        Sanders lost against Clinton for a very simple reason.
        More people voted for Clinton.

        Don’t be Burned by sentiment.

        You win elections by getting more votes than they did.

        • RedLogix 9.1.1.1
          23 April 2016 at 4:57 am

          Clinton is more of the same,Bernie might not be. Sod your sentiment Ad.

        • Colonial Viper 9.1.1.2
          23 April 2016 at 9:15 am

          You win elections by getting more votes than they did.

          Tell that to Gore.

          “Democracy” in the USA does not work the way you think it does. Just look at the reports of massive Democratic voter suppression in NY targeted against likely Bernie supporters.

    • Colonial Viper 9.2
      21 April 2016 at 10:24 am

      When is the Labour Party going to realise that their portrayal of National as a far right cabal looting the country is doomed to failure and they need a new strategy?

      I’m picking sometime after losing the 2020 election.

      • Expat 9.2.1
        21 April 2016 at 11:08 am

        “I’m picking sometime after losing the 2020 election.”

        What, after they’ve been in for a full term already, I can’t see that happening,

        History says Key is gone in the next election, the Nats are tired and boring, run out of ideas and the voters are recognising NZ has lost it’s identity and respect as a clean, green country.

  10. swordfish 10
    21 April 2016 at 10:04 am

    I read recently that Democrats abroad (those eligible to vote in the various State primaries) have gone heavily for Sanders. In Germany, for example, close to 70% headed in the Vermont Senator’s direction. A specific example: 556 US citizens living in Berlin cast a vote in the Wisconsin primary and 79% chose Sanders over Clinton.

    In Japan the vote to date has been 1190 to Sanders / 176 to Clinton.

    Astonishingly, Sanders is even beating Clinton in Israel.

    Seems to be the same in New Zealand. On Super Tuesday … Among American Democrats in Wellington the Bern absolutely trounced Hillary by 21 votes to 6 (presumably leaving the former First Lady reeling) … http://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2016/02/new-zealand-feels-the-bern/471390/

    • Wayne 10.1
      21 April 2016 at 11:09 am

      swordfish,

      This is is not a reflection on New Zealanders, rather it reflects the nature of the US citizens, many of whom are students, who are in New Zealand. Seemingly the same applies elsewhere, including in the US.

      As I have indicated before that part of the Democratic Party that supports Hillary Clinton quite comfortably maps across much of the National Party, and the conservative part of Labour. So the level of her support among New Zealanders is no surprise to me.

      Conversely I am not surprised that left activists on this site prefer Sanders. I would note that many students shift right, at least to some extent during their lifetimes.

      On a similar theme Winston Peters support keeps getting renewed. Although his older supporters may die, there are new retirees every day. Once people retire, the pull of the two traditional parties seems to lessen and Winston becomes a realistic option for their support. I have certainly observed this in my wider family.

      • adam 10.1.1
        21 April 2016 at 12:11 pm

        Does this you will make a come back with New Zealand first Wayne?

        Note: Tongue firm in cheek on that question.

  11. TC 11
    21 April 2016 at 10:15 am

    Ditch the whole left/right meme and align policy to equality, social justice and concepts voters can identify with.

    Johnny and his DP brigade love to dumb it down to lefty communism when it suits so change that conversation to poverty, equality etc

    Stop boring the crap out of people with pointless philosophical positioning.

    • Tautoko Mangō Mata 11.1
      21 April 2016 at 10:54 am

      We need the enthusiasm AND IDEAS from those young people who participated in the road blocks on TPP signing day. We need to LISTEN to THEIR vision of what they want for THEIR future. Bernie Sanders makes sense to the youth of USA. Here in NZ we don’t need just a watered down version of the status quo, the “don’t frighten the horses” approach. We need boldness.-
      We will pull out of the TPP if elected.
      We will raise the top tax rate if elected.
      We will implement a financial transaction tax if elected.
      We will have zero fees for tertiary training/study, etc

  12. Ian H 12
    21 April 2016 at 10:27 am

    One great thing about NZ politics is that whereas the religious right dominates the republican party in the US, our right wing parties, including our most right wing party ACT, are all socially liberal.

    In the US the culture wars are about social issues. Their political axis divides social liberals from the social conservatives. Abortion and gay marriage form their political dividing line. NZ is almost completely on the liberal side of that political line. The political axis in NZ is drawn at right angles to theirs and is economic. Our division lines involve things like taxes and asset sales.

    There seems to be about 5% support in the electorate for socially conservative Christian type politics, which probably is just about enough to get a right wing Christian party off the ground here. But every time someone has tried to form such a party it has ended in kiddy fiddling or bad poetry. Wonderful! Although I must say probably bad for Labour.

    National has been fortunate not to be beholden to a moral conservative party for its majority. Whereas people look at Labour with suspicion because of fear of the Greens, National has not been saddled with such a scary coalition partner. ACT does scare people a bit, but as they are marginal and depend on a deal with National for their electoral survival it is clearly National who are in control.

    • Redbaiter 12.1
      21 April 2016 at 10:43 am

      Ian H-

      National have completely capitulated in the battle of ideas.

      NZers are left wing only because the National Party willingly submits to the left’s rule over discussion and comment and refuses to argue for any alternative ideas.

      National are gutless far left scum.

      Far worse than Labour who at least have the guts and integrity to allow a political ideology to underpin their party and their policies.

      • swordfish 12.1.1
        21 April 2016 at 12:29 pm

        “National are gutless far left scum”

        OMG This ^^^^, Sooooo much This !!!
        (as some of the younger, more impulsive Wellington feminists on twitter might say)

  13. Colonial Viper 13
    21 April 2016 at 10:34 am

    One great thing about NZ politics is that whereas the religious right dominates the republican party in the US, our right wing parties, including our most right wing party ACT, are all socially liberal.

    Ahhh, that’s the “received wisdom.”

    Because even though Trump admits that he’s not much of a church goer, US Republican evangelists have been voting for him in droves, ahead of uber faithful Christian Cruz.

    • Ian H 13.1
      21 April 2016 at 1:02 pm

      This US election is unusual and I don’t think left vs right is the best way to view it.

      We are seeing tremendous disillusionment with politics right across the political spectrum in the US. And fair enough too – the US government is a total mess in a way which really has nothing to do with left and right. It is perceived over there mainly as a problem with the influence of money on politics. From my point of view the main problem is that their constitution sucks and their system of government has broken down and simply isn’t working properly, but you’d never get an American to admit there was anything wrong with their “oh so perfect” constitution.

      Trump and Sanders are the big news in this election. Both lay claim to being mavericks independent of the usual party political money machines and they owe much of their popularity to that claim and not to how far left or right they are.

  14. srylands 14
    21 April 2016 at 11:45 am

    “Received political wisdom is that NZ is a conservative country, tending to the right. ”
    _____________

    Says who?

    New Zealanders generally want a significant role for government and a strong social welfare safety net. There is simply no way that a right party would win an election. We currently have a centre-left Government. That is not going to change any time in the next decade.

    • framu 14.1
      21 April 2016 at 12:50 pm

      ” There is simply no way that a right party would win an election.”

      thats why they spend so much on PR and marketing – the fact that the rights policies are unpopular is known and admitted by the right all ready. Its why act poll so low and why national swallow all those dead rats in o4rder to gain power.

      ” We currently have a centre-left Government.”

      no, we dont (not by a local yardstick anyway)

      please tell me your smart enough to know theres a difference between the advertising and the reality – for everything

      • Expat 14.1.1
        21 April 2016 at 1:37 pm

        ” We currently have a centre-left Government.”

        No, we have a Govt that masquerades as centre left, while introducing right wing policies.

        Your right about the PR, but not too many are smart enough to distinguish the difference, not with the reinforcement by most media outlets.

    • scotty 14.2
      21 April 2016 at 1:27 pm

      “We currently have a centre-left Government.”?

      As evidenced by the current strength of ACT.

    • Redbaiter 14.3
      21 April 2016 at 2:50 pm

      “That is not going to change any time in the next decade.”

      Not as long as the spineless progressive surrender monkey JK has anything to do with it that’s for sure.

      You can take the boy out of the state house, but you can’t take the state house out of the boy.

    • Matthew Whitehead 14.4
      22 April 2016 at 5:57 pm

      We currently have a liberal government. That isn’t a centre-left government, it’s a right-wing government that pivots away from its conservative base on the odd social issue for PR reasons.

  15. Magisterium 15
    21 April 2016 at 12:57 pm

    (T)o go from America — amid the G.O.P. primaries — to Down Under is to experience both jet lag and a political shock. In New Zealand and Australia, you could almost fit their entire political spectrum — from conservatives to liberals — inside the U.S. Democratic Party.

    Or as Paul Quinn, a parliamentarian from New Zealand’s conservative National Party, once told a group of visiting American Fulbright scholars: “I will explain to you how our system works compared to yours: You have Democrats and Republicans. My Labor opponents would be Democrats. I am a member of the National Party, and we would be … Democrats” as well.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/28/opinion/friedman-elephants-down-under.html

    • Phil 15.1
      21 April 2016 at 1:15 pm

      I prefer the old Two Ronnies view of US politics:

      In America they have the Republican Party, which is a lot like our Conservative Party. Then they have the Democrat Party… which is a lot like our Conservative Party.

      • Expat 15.1.1
        21 April 2016 at 1:43 pm

        That’s actually a pretty accurate description, how ever, one is more extreme than the other.

        I just prefer the “Two Ronnies” to the comical Trump, he’s funny, but not in a laughable way.

      • Te Reo Putake 15.1.2
        21 April 2016 at 7:10 pm

        As unionist Bill Andersen used to quip that American politics was “the evil of two lessers”. But the Democrat party currently has millions of supporters who are voting to be lead by a socialist, so lets not tar the whole party as being right of centre.

        • Ad 15.1.2.1
          21 April 2016 at 7:31 pm

          If they are lucky, Sanders will turn into a genuine democratic renewal for the Democrats.

          That will take skilful leadership from Sanders during the Democratic Convention, and immediately afterwards. While he’s now left it far too late to get a good position in a future Clinton Cabinet, he could still have a very positive role to play for the Democratic Party.

          I would not wish another incoherent Occupy/Black Lives Matter charismatic glug glug upon the efforts of Sanders’ loyal followers.

        • Matthew Whitehead 15.1.2.2
          22 April 2016 at 6:06 pm

          That’s more revealing about democratic voters than democratic candidates, however.

          Sanders had to run as an independent to get into national politics because the Democratic Party institution is designed to weed out candidates like him.

  16. Delia 16
    21 April 2016 at 1:19 pm

    I found that heartening, had just about given up on many New Zealand voters,nice to see somethings, are just to ‘out there’ for them.

  17. The Real Matthew 17
    21 April 2016 at 1:46 pm

    The Herald may have a poor standard of journalism but it has nothing on this blog piece!

    The majority of the Democrats would be to the right of National let alone the Republican Party. Why are these results are being portrayed like they are? Who knows but it’s a good laugh.

  18. One Anonymous Bloke 18
    21 April 2016 at 5:31 pm

    This government is “right wing” insofar as it is bought: not a government of ideas or, a government of self-interest, policy auctions and back-handers.

    The first rule of Cabinet Club is you do not talk about Cabinet Club.

    • Incognito 18.1
      22 April 2016 at 12:24 am

      The first rule of Cabinet Club is you do not talk about Cabinet Club.

      What’s said in the pub stays in the pub AKA mum’s the word.

      At the end of the day, when you wish to feel really relaxed and comfortable, unruffled, and downplay anything that might upset your peace of mind you can always bring up the excuse Ich habe es nicht gewusst.

  19. Michael 19
    22 April 2016 at 6:22 pm

    If you look at Hillary Clinton’s record and policies, she’d be in the National Party here. She’s a socially liberal centre-to-centre-rightist. Pretty similar to the more centrist faction of National. Just shows how far to the right the US political system is. Bernie’s policies are probably somewhere inbetween Labour and the Greens, with a little bit of NZF thrown in.

  20. DS 20
    22 April 2016 at 10:30 pm

    Pretty much everyone in New Zealand would fit within the US Democratic Party. The only sorts who’d fit with the Republicans would be the outer fringes of ACT, the Sensible Sentencing Trust, Destiny Church, and the National Front.

    Fun fact – since World War II, when the Democrats are in power in the US, National tends to be in power here, and when the Republicans are in power in the US, Labour tends to be in power here. This rule has held during 1949-1953, 1957-1960, 1961-1969, 1972-1975, 1977-1981, 1984-1990, 1993-1999, 2001-2008, and since 2009.

    • Colonial Viper 20.1
      22 April 2016 at 11:02 pm

      “Pretty much everyone in New Zealand would fit within the US Democratic Party”

      Sure, because most Kiwis are bankster loving war mongering arms dealing foreign country Wall St deregulating destabilising bastards

      • DS 20.1.1
        23 April 2016 at 1:09 am

        I suppose it never occurred to you that if the Democrats encompass virtually the entire New Zealand political spectrum, that means the Democrats themselves have a pretty broad range of opinions.

        No doubt there are plenty of “bankster loving war mongering arms dealing foreign country Wall St deregulating destabilising bastards” in the party. There are plenty of people who are not.

        • Colonial Viper 20.1.1.1
          23 April 2016 at 2:11 am

          Dude who cares who is “in the party”; have you never noticed who runs the party, its establishment, its hierarchy and what kind of creepy corporate malfaesants donates to the leaders of the party FFS?

          BTW most NZers would be considered commie loving hippies in the Democratic Party, with our belief in free socialised healthcare and universal guaranteed pensions for all.

          • DS 20.1.1.1.1
            23 April 2016 at 2:51 am

            Ted Kennedy was as Establishment as they come. He was also a big supporter of free socialised healthcare.

            (Obamacare is itself an attempt to replicate universal healthcare via the private sector. Obama went with that because, you know, it was all that had a chance of actually passing).

            • Colonial Viper 20.1.1.1.1.1
              23 April 2016 at 9:19 am

              Ahhh yest the US system which is totally compromised by corporate bought politicians.

              Also this talk about Obama did the best he could…laughable.

              This is why AMericans are turning en masse away from the establishment.

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    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    14 hours ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    7 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    1 week ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
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