Lefties on The Standard – 2017 government edition

Written By: - Date published: 8:24 am, October 21st, 2017 - 46 comments
Categories: activism, election 2017, Politics, The Standard - Tags: ,

In the past few months we’ve had some posts dedicated to left-wing discussion. The kaupapa for the debate is in the original post here (please read if you haven’t taken part before).

The rules are:

– To comment you have to be left wing.

– No personal attacks at all  (not even if they are hidden in comments with good political points)

– Be kind. If you can’t be kind at least don’t be mean.

– Bear in mind the part of the Policy about not using language or tone that excludes others.

If you’re not sure if you fit the criteria, there is always Open Mike.

We can talk about whatever we like, but the big topic of course is that New Zealand finally has a new government. Congratulations to Labour, the Greens and NZ First and all the people who worked to make that happen. We changed the government. That’s huge, and I reckon it’s important to take the time to acknowledge that.

For me it’s taking a while for it to sink in and to make sense of what we’ve got and what it will mean. There’s still more to come as detail of the agreements, policies and positions is announced over the next few days. But we have something to both celebrate and consider more deeply in terms of being left wing. It’s been a very long time since there’s been a centre-left government. What now Standardistas?

46 comments on “Lefties on The Standard – 2017 government edition ”

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  1. Doogs 1
    21 October 2017 at 9:06 am

    “Once more into the breach”

    I like think of this more like the battle of Bosworth Field rather than Culloden Moor.

  2. Stuart Munro 2
    21 October 2017 at 9:23 am

    It was scary – but we have a result. I hope the coalition achieves and develops sufficient trust to endure – the Gnats would benefit from forty years in the wilderness.

    • Doogs 2.1
      21 October 2017 at 10:09 am

      I like that SM. Wandering, lost and stunned. Waiting for that ‘road to Damascus’ moment. It’ll take that long for them to get it.

  3. Ed 3
    21 October 2017 at 9:27 am

    There are powerful vested and hidden interests who will do everything they can to protect the neoliberal revolution, by fair means or foul.

    When Peters says this,….

    “Far too many New Zealanders have come to view today’s capitalism, not as their friend, but as their foe. And they are not all wrong. That is why we believe that capitalism must regain its responsible – its human face. That perception has influenced our negotiations.”

    …..there will be people wanting to stop a progressive government.

    Trotter’s article is well worth a read by all lefties.

    https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/10/21/dark-transactions-winston-peters-decision-to-go-left-has-already-set-his-enemies-in-motion/

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 3.1
      21 October 2017 at 9:21 pm

      One thing I noticed – Paddy Gower and other media immediately changed Peters’ comment (Gower within 10 minutes of him making the comment) to imply Peters opposes capitalism in general – they omitted the very important qualifier “…today’s capitalism”, which has quite a different meaning.

  4. ropata 4
    21 October 2017 at 9:34 am

    I would like to see real action against land bankers and property investors who leave houses empty. CGT is too weak, need a LVT with teeth or a more generalised TOP style wealth tax.

    So many of our social problems are made worse by homelessness and poverty and unreliable housing.

    • Patricia Bremner 4.1
      21 October 2017 at 12:11 pm

      untruthful, nasty poor journalism helped the neolibers.

      This has to be culled, with a good public broadcaster.

  5. WILD KATIPO 5
    21 October 2017 at 10:40 am

    Oh hello ,… not sure if I belong here ,., was up all night drinking red wine and commenting on this blogsite ,.. and doing a bit of online playing of the game of my choice,…so now after 10 hours drinking the veno I’m still standing,… commenting on this blogsite,… do I still qualify as a ‘ Leftie ? ‘….

    I’ll toddle off to bed soon , mind , @ 10.35 am – or 22: 35 hours in military terms ,… and what I’d like to know is , … will I be axed and censured from the public discourse because I confess to be a Rate A pisshead ?

    Or am I allowed here because certain individuals like a bit of ‘ rough’ to justify their latte drinking leftist ideals?

    Hell ! , – I sure hope not.

    Lets all hang together because we want to stick it to the far right wing neo liberal bastard globalists .

    I have a nice wee website I’d like to present to all you exalted ‘ Leftist’s ‘ ,… it was born out of the misery of an unsuspecting and naive pubic back in the 1980’s and 1990’s…

    And some would say vicious pseudo Nazi bastards…

    But hey ! ,… that’s up to you all to decide….. Here Tis ‘ ,…

    New Right Fight – Who are the New Right?
    http://www.newrightfight.co.nz/pageA.html

    • Patricia Bremner 5.1
      21 October 2017 at 12:19 pm

      Wildkatipo, You have celebrated, as some of us would like to xx

      I believe you are right about the Right.

      They said, “they would be back if it took a 1000 years.”

      So we need your commentary to remind us of their worldwide threat.

      So have some food and sleep, ready for the coming battle. Prebble just fired the first salvo.

  6. millsy 6
    21 October 2017 at 10:44 am

    According to Newshub, The Greens are going to get the Land Information and Conservation portfolios.

    Good start. Jan Logie (the minister-presumptive), will probably throw the miners and drillers out of our conservation estate, kill all this privatisation of DOC, and make it more accessable to ordinary NZers. Probably also try and reduce some of the rack and ruin that some of our parks have fallen into over 9 years. I hope the tinfoil hat wearers in NZ First didnt get their way on 1080 (and the Greens on flouride for that matter) though.

    • weka 6.1
      21 October 2017 at 10:56 am

      Green policy is to support non-1080 methods where possible 🙂

      • WILD KATIPO 6.1.1
        21 October 2017 at 11:07 am

        … ”Green policy is to support non-1080 methods where possible ” …

        Yeah , and when I was a young – un… I used a military police 1rst world war hickory baton to belt possums over the head before I skinned them after chasing them up the other end of the cage traps . Pretty humane. I always checked the eyeballs to see if they were dead, however before I skinned them… that was , after I gave them a good 20 minutes of lying in a sack to be sure , to be sure,… reckon I knocked back the possum population by a fair bit to protect the forest and bird weka introductions in the Waitakere ranges…

        I used to make vests and moccasins out of their skins… traded a few for an M16 bayonet at the time as I recall…

        Young people , dontcha know…

        Up to all manner of hijinks…

        • weka 6.1.1.1
          21 October 2017 at 11:17 am

          It’s a thing with killing possums for sure. I’ve seen possums assumed dead wake up again. NZ will need to get ahead of the animal rights issues if non 1080 methods are to increase.

          • WILD KATIPO 6.1.1.1.1
            21 October 2017 at 11:29 am

            Tbh …. these days I even hate the thought of killing an ant.

            Yet whether we like it or not ,… to fill our fat belly’s … something has to die,… be it either sugar cane , a Frisian bull or a pipi… what a peculiar world we live in …. unless we are going to eat rocks and dirt…

            • weka 6.1.1.1.1.1
              21 October 2017 at 1:08 pm

              I agree, everything dies and helps other things to live. I’m ok-ish with animals being killed where necessary (if it’s not the possums then whole species are going extinct). But I think we have a responsibility to do it as humanely as possible.

              I also think we have an obligation to limit human populations so that the rest of nature isn’t so burdened supporting us.

          • millsy 6.1.1.1.2
            21 October 2017 at 11:48 am

            Possum skins rendering plants are actually quite dirty as well. Lot of pollution there.

            • weka 6.1.1.1.2.1
              21 October 2017 at 1:09 pm

              True, although I think that could be cleaned up. Some R and D needed.

            • gsays 6.1.1.1.2.2
              21 October 2017 at 5:33 pm

              Hey millsy, what is tinfoil hatty about being opposed to 1080 use?

              I am agin it because of the painfully cruel way that it kills.

              The only justification for it is in ‘economic’ terms. A mindset that dominates too many decisions in our ‘race to the bottom’.

              • weka …
                21 October 2017 at 9:05 pm

                I”m guessing it’s a reference to some people thinking 1080 is benign beyond how it kills the animal while others think it’s not 😉

          • Stuart Munro 6.1.1.1.3
            21 October 2017 at 12:42 pm

            The electric traps are pretty good – no pelt damage, no poison, a bit expensive but an advanced solution.

            • weka 6.1.1.1.3.1
              21 October 2017 at 1:10 pm

              Are they being used by the fur and pelt harvesters?

              • Stuart Munro …
                21 October 2017 at 8:54 pm

                Mostly not so far – the unit cost is a bit higher than other methods.

                The appeal is in part that everything is recoverable in some way – which poison doesn’t achieve. Pelts are not damaged.

                Depends a bit on priorities but these traps would be a good fit for managing rural or semi-rural populations down.

                Poison is cheaper but it comes with a few other issues.

                This is the device http://www.electropar.co.nz/zap-trap/

                There are similar CO2 powered repeat killers available too.

                • weka …
                  21 October 2017 at 9:03 pm

                  Ideally it would be treated as pest control and resource harvesting (meat, pelt, fur, fertiliser).

                  Website is a bit light on detail. What are the risks for other animals or children?

                  • Stuart Munro …
                    21 October 2017 at 11:37 pm

                    They’re quite well designed – pets wouldn’t get into the zapping part – requires climbing. Children can get anywhere but they’d need to make a serious effort. They have been trialed – no bird kills was a feature. These days a smart trap is quite doable – one that only works within the target weight/size band.

    • weka 6.2
      21 October 2017 at 10:57 am

      The Greens having LINZ is interesting!

    • adam 6.3
      21 October 2017 at 11:35 am

      I’d rather see Jan Logie be given the state services. It’s a hell of a mess, and I can’t think of anyone else with the smarts and perseverance to fix it up like Jan could. Make Ron Mark the associate minister, that one – two punch would be great.

      Mind you it will take more than 3 years. I’m really worried, that the rot will continue unless it has someone with the right skill set to stop it, and change the culture.

    • lprent 6.4
      21 October 2017 at 11:39 am

      *sigh*

      Remember that anything a minister wants to do still has to get past the full cabinet.

      Think of it as being able to stand up and explain clearly and with incontrovertible facts in hand why a course of action should be taken.

      In other words a slogan won’t cut it because they are invariably mindless drivel that hasn’t been thought through.

      If I put my skeptical hat on, I can only think of one good convincing discussion here on any of the topics you just sloganed, and that was back in 2010. Which means that without more detailed information, that I would automatically oppose all except for limiting mining company access to conservation lands.

      Perhaps if you want the minister to have support, then you’d be better off helping to provide some argument and facts. As it stands right now, few of these things have either the legalities discussed, nor the budgets with which to deal with them. Both the time and money to do them would require it to be taken from some other area.

      It is like the slogan about “decriminalisation of abortion” I saw around here a few days ago. Despite supporting abortion reform through other acts, I’d automatically oppose “decriminalisation” – ie removing the crime of aborting a fetus from the Crimes Act.

      It would mean (for instance) that a person throwing someone else down the stairs thereby causing a abortion of a fetus would merely incur assault charges. Something that hardly seems commensurate with the levels of anguish that such an act causes on the mother or the people associated with the family. That putting abortifacients in a town water supply would merely be a case of dangerous behaviour or pollution.

      Final acts like the Crimes Act aren’t there for the legally illiterate to play around with. They are effectively reserve powers that define the surrounding edge of what is acceptable behaviour in our society. Changes to them need to be cautious to make sure that the change doesn’t give a free pass to some nutter doing something that is truly reprehensible.

      Besides, just using mindless slogans usually raises false hope and expectations about the degree of what is feasible at any point in time. Because social change to not cause massive aggravation and pain should be incremental rather than the revolutionary single point in time that kills people.

      • weka 6.4.1
        21 October 2017 at 2:14 pm

        “Remember that anything a minister wants to do still has to get past the full cabinet.”

        How does that work with the ones outside of cabinet?

        • lprent 6.4.1.1
          21 October 2017 at 6:28 pm

          It doesn’t in any formal way. There may be some informal contacts of soliciting general support and preventing rebellion in the backbench.

          • weka 6.4.1.1.1
            21 October 2017 at 6:46 pm

            I meant what was the process for ministers outside cabinet to get cabinet approval. I’ve since heard Shaw explaining it on the Nation, so might put up a post.

            • Ad 6.4.1.1.1.1
              22 October 2017 at 8:22 pm

              They would get a paper drafted through the relevant Department, and put the advice and recommendations up.

              Note that 90% of cabinet decisions agree with the advice.

              They would need to be particularly careful in a tight MMP government that they had the numbers in Cabinet to get it passed.

              Some of that work could be done beforehand if a smart and well connected Department ensured that there was multiple cross-Departmental eyes over the draft before it is put up as business.

              If it’s a particularly big matter it would be worth asking the PM if DPMC could get involved.

              The rest is up to them.

      • Wainwright 6.4.2
        22 October 2017 at 10:04 pm

        We shouldn’t talk about decriminalizing abortion because some wackjob might put abortion drugs in the town water supply? Fucking bizarre argument there.

  7. Incognito 7
    21 October 2017 at 12:01 pm

    I have wondered about this for the last few days and I am still none the wiser as to what or how “capitalism with a human face” might look like …

    • Siobhan 7.1
      21 October 2017 at 12:46 pm

      “Capitalism with a human face refers to the usage of supposedly ethical procedures to soften the blow of capitalism.” a random quote from some chap called Sam Thomas, but to my mind the best definition around.

      Though as a close second I do like this…’capitalism with a human face’ has been looked up 422 times, is no one’s favorite word yet, has been added to 1 list, has no comments yet, and is not a valid …
      (my bolds)

      I suspect this will be a ‘concept’ much debated and, I suspect, eventually derided amongst ‘Lefties’ in the coming years, both here and worldwide.

      • Incognito 7.1.1
        21 October 2017 at 1:25 pm

        Thanks.

        To me “capitalism with a human face” sounds like a red herring or an oxymoron; it’s not a ‘concept’ as such but a myth-in-the-making IMHO.

        My quote would be something like this:

        Capitalism with a human face is like smoking filter cigarettes instead of ones without filter – it is still bad for your health and on top of that it produces heaps of litter.

        Where did you get your second quote from?

      • Incognito 7.2.1
        21 October 2017 at 2:21 pm

        Yes, that was very informative and helpful, thank you!

        I now look at the future with much more optimism, which means I can loosen-up on the self-medication 😉

        • weka 7.2.1.1
          21 October 2017 at 2:24 pm

          Lol.

          I do think that the statement from Peters is significant for NZ. This is mainstream, conservative NZ saying ‘enough!’. We should take advantage of that.

  8. Roy 8
    21 October 2017 at 1:53 pm

    Many labourites and greenies I know seem to be aware that we mustn’t let our guard down, now more than ever. The right of this country, and the world generally, have nothing to offer – so they’ll focus their energy and considerable resources into the dirtiest politics yet. Trump-on-Slater-oil dirty. We’ve got to be ready to dismiss and counter the coming onslaught. It’s working in the UK, but only by momentum et al’s constant efforts. If we can do that, we’ve got this.

    • weka 8.1
      21 October 2017 at 2:20 pm

      I agree. Not only are the right not wasting any time with the strategy to bring down the left, but we have a centre/left govt not a left wing one. So what do we want to have happen?

      I’d like to see some support thrown Labour and the Greens’ way to find their feet and establish themselves solidly with mainstream NZ. But there’s also the issue of how the left holds them to account too. I don’t know what I think about this yet. I caught some flak earlier in the year for writing a post critical of Little and Labour’s position on Māori, so it’s going to be interesting to see if it’s ok now to critique them or not. On the other hand, let’s hope the relentless Labour-bashing finds a more proactive and solutions-based focus.

  9. Karen 9
    21 October 2017 at 2:15 pm

    I have been a bit busy and just now catching up with everything that has happened in the last few days. I am mostly relieved as there will be lives saved because of this change of government. Although personally I wanted a Labour/Green coalition with no need for NZF, I am still feeling very hopeful that there will be some progressive policy from this new government.

    One thing I haven’t noticed anyone talking about is the ethnic/gender makeup of this new government. I am particularly encouraged to see 20 of the 63 government MPs are Māori (13 in Labour, 6 in NZF and 1 in the Greens).

    There are 6 Pasifika, plus an Indian, a Chinese and 1 with mixed Indonesian/Chinese/Dutch heritage (all in Labour), plus an Iranian in the Greens. 46% of our new government are women (the Greens do best by far in this with 75% of their MPs). Looking at LGBTQI are at least 6 (maybe others I don’t know about). Sad we lost Mojo Mathers as she was a great representative for the disability community.

    Still can do better but this new government is starting to look more representative.

    • weka 9.1
      21 October 2017 at 2:17 pm

      Nice one writing that up, thanks.

    • eco Maori/kiwi 9.2
      21 October 2017 at 10:42 pm

      Yes this is the time to correct a lot that is wrong’s in our society but don’t over do it as this could chase away some of our voters and the big picture is that we need all the supporters we can get to keep the momentum for change going as it will take a few years to correct all the wrongs and one would start to plan for the long term 9 years now . . What the right and business don’t realize is they will benefit from a more equal society. Because the lower income people will have more disposable in come so they spend more and whom gets that money .Our sports team will benefit as more people will be able to afford to participate in sports. Our exports will boom as the rest of the world will no that we are not { bullshit artist } and that we are truly clean and green and they will pay a premium for our products. The right don’t realize that intelligent people around our world will pay a premium for our products because they believe in the cause of saving mother earth for our Moko/ grandchildren there are many gains for being a society of more evenly distributed wealth for everyone. Look around our world and you will see good examples of this Kia kaha

  10. Patricia 10
    22 October 2017 at 11:48 am

    Here is an idea for the new government.. What about providing an UBI for the people of Kaitaia. Having employment would not be relevant and it would not be means tested. it would be a test case. Say everybody over the age of 16 being provided with a weekly amount which is the equivalent of the same current weekly universal superannuation amount and on the same terms eg increased by inflation and wage indexation every April. Everybody under that age would receive $100.00pw. Kaitaia is a depressed economic area with most schools being decile one. I am sure the town would flourish. It would be such a good test for a UBI for all.

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  • 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
    17 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
    20 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
    1 day 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

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

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