Level 3 again … be kind

Written By: - Date published: 10:16 am, February 28th, 2021 - 136 comments
Categories: covid-19, health - Tags:

Auckland is back into level three lockdown.  The check points around the city have again been put in place and big events, including the round the bays run have been cancelled.

The caution is understandable.  The latest two cases, a son and his mother, were potentially exposed to the UK variant B117 thorough a family member who was a casual contact of the Papatoetoe student.  This shows how dangerous the virus is and why the cautious approach is the right thing to do.

There has been some social media blow back, and pointed words from the Prime Minister, against the young man for going to a gym after having had his covid test.  From Jason Walls at the Herald:

Aucklanders are back in lockdown for a full week and the rest of New Zealand is at level 2 after a person with Covid-19 visited public locations while symptomatic.

The new case – ‘Case M’ – is a 21-year-old student who attends the Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) and is the older brother of a Papatoetoe High School student. The man, who also works at Kerry Logistics (Oceania) Limited, went to MIT for three days and to the gym twice – including once after taking a Covid test – when he should have been isolating at home.

I get people’s anger.  There is no sign as yet if further transmission has occurred but human beings are spectacularly capable of doing the odd stupid thing.

There are reports that the virus is the UK variant which suggests that the infections are part of the Papatoetoe High School cluster.

The principal, Vaughan Couillault, has done an outstanding job of managing the school and has shown a level of compassion that we all need right now.

From Crystal Wu at Newshub:

Couillault says we shouldn’t judge others unless we’ve walked in their shoes.

“You don’t know their story, you don’t know what it’s like to be a person unless you’ve walked in their shoes.

“We don’t know whether the teenagers have to go to work because they’re the only income-earners in the family, we don’t know if there’s any other truma that the family’s experience – we don’t know any of that stuff.

“So we need to pull back from those positions of judgement and be far more understanding and supportive.”

Keep scanning and washing your hands.  And look after each other.

136 comments on “Level 3 again … be kind ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Anne 1
    28 February 2021 at 10:41 am

    Efeso Collins, Auckland City Councillor and long time Q&A panelist made some important points about the situation in South Auckland and I paraphrase:

    He pointed out that a majority of Sth. Aucklanders do not have English as their first language. He said Health authorities desperately need to acquire and train translators to visit these people because many of them don't understand what is required of them.

    He went on to say many in the Sth Auckland community are vulnerable to conspiracy theories and won't come forward because they don't believe in Covid and they are anti-vaccinations. He stressed the urgency of getting to these people and steering them to the reality of the situation.

    It was a brief but compelling interview conducted off-site so not sure it will come up online but will link to it if it appears.

    • Muttonbird 1.1
      28 February 2021 at 11:08 am

      I saw the headline yesterday and was going to post that article in response to yesterday's news.

      Thing is, when the same happened in August we were told it's racist to treat certain communities different from others by requiring them to enter mandatory isolation. This criticism came about because on hat occasion people were reported coming and going from the house of a family which was supposed to be self isolating.

      Then there was the Mt Roskill Church debacle and illegal gathering at funerals. In those cases it was because people either didn't know the rules or wilfully ignored them. Same thing here and it shows the message isn't getting through.

      Balancing the hard enforcement approach is the risk of driving Covid infected people underground.

      Local community leaders and activists appear to be asking the health system both to butt out and for extra support. They are clearly not able to do it on their own because some people aren't listening.

      If it's not dealt with the same thing will happen again and again. Not killer blows on their own but they mount up, and soon our great response will be for nothing with regard to both health and the economy.

      • Anne 1.1.1
        28 February 2021 at 11:58 am

        … there was the Mt Roskill Church debacle and illegal gathering at funerals. In those cases it was because people either didn't know the rules or wilfully ignored them. Same thing here and it shows the message isn't getting through.

        If Elfeso Collins is to to be believed (and his advocacy is highly regarded) then a large part of the problem is still the language barrier and the fact some of them are being fed conspiratorial lies.

        So, there is an urgent need to overcome these problems by contracting interpreters to help get the message through and to make a concerted effort to overcome the misinformation being spread among them.

        Together with a hard enforcement approach (when it is applicable) is inevitable because there have been too many cases now to ignore it.

    • weka 1.2
      28 February 2021 at 12:13 pm

      where did you see/hear the interview Anne?

      • Anne 1.2.1
        28 February 2021 at 2:42 pm

        It was the final segment of this morning's TV1 Q&A. You might be able to pick it up on Facebook but I don't do Facebook.

        It will appear online eventually but don't have the time to look at present.

    • Sacha 1.3
      28 February 2021 at 6:59 pm

      Efeso Collins was advocating for local language-specific networks to be supported to communicate with the communities who already trust them, not central agencies hiring translators (which they already do).

      Impressively clear interview I thought (relevant part is from about 4m of 7m clip): https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/q-and-a/clips/quite-a-level-of-frustration-in-south-auckland-as-city-returns-to-alert-level-3-councillor

  2. Andre 2
    28 February 2021 at 10:53 am

    Further to the point about the possibility of the man going to work after being asked to self-isolate; what are we doing financially for those we are asking to self-isolate and forego their income for that period?

    All I've seen is a link to where people can apply for support.

    Seems to me it should be a highly publicised policy that those people asked to self-isolate will get their income replaced by the government, no ifs, buts, or maybes. Along with whatever support their employer needs in the case of a worker in a critical role being asked to self-isolate.

    A few people rorting a policy like this would be a very small price to pay compared to the huge costs across the rest of society when a new lockdown is needed.

    • Muttonbird 2.1
      28 February 2021 at 11:12 am

      As always, MSD is an outward-facing, inscrutable granite monolith. So designed to minimise the probability of people applying for support.

      Employers should be made to educate staff on the importance of isolating and not to worry about their pay if they are sick or have to get tested.

      They of course won't do this because employers don't trust staff, don't want to be closed, and it's all too hard.

      • barry 2.1.1
        28 February 2021 at 11:43 am

        The employers should be publicising it internally. The workers shouldn't have to go looking for support.

        In any case, it is counterproductive to be punishing people for partial compliance. The fact that he got tested and passed on the information about where he had been is already very helpful. If he were to be punished for going some place, then he is less likely to tell the tracers about it. If the cost of testing positive is $1000 fine then people won't get tested.

        And don't get me started on all the Aucklanders from other suburbs who have relocated to their holiday houses (potentially taking the virus with them). It is not just the poor kids from South Auckland that don't completely follow the rules.

      • weka 2.1.2
        28 February 2021 at 12:14 pm

        this is the test for Labour this year. Those that think the vaccine will save us are happy to muck on through. Those, like me, that believe the situation is complex and ongoing, want those systems sorted out now.

        • Muttonbird 2.1.2.1
          28 February 2021 at 12:31 pm

          Yes. This was an issue in August and it doesn't seems to have been resolved. If not now, when?

          • Incognito 2.1.2.1.1
            28 February 2021 at 12:48 pm

            How can this be a major issue? We have been testing here in NZ for over a year now. Even when somehow this information is not shared at the time of actual testing, it is common sense to await the result before continuing with BAU, I’d have thought. Use a traffic light system if you like:

            Red=stay home, isolate & wait, and get re-tested

            Green=go to work and live your life in good health and stay safe & well

            Orange=get tested, stay home & wait, etc.

            Do we also need to be told by health officials, the PM, and public servants, et cetera, to wash our hands after going to the loo and brushing our teeth before going to bed?

            • Muttonbird 2.1.2.1.1.1
              28 February 2021 at 12:54 pm

              It should be apparent but some people are exceptionally stupid. These are the ones who wreck everything for the rest. They need it spelled out with wall to wall coverage. That is civic responsibility and where to get financial help.

              What's being done so far isn't enough.

              A project like this is a marketing/graphics/campaign designer's dream.

              • Incognito …
                28 February 2021 at 1:31 pm

                Oh, I have been exceptionally stupid in my life, more than once.

                Perhaps the issue here with the latest community case was complacency because of ‘familiarity’, i.e. not properly judging the importance and urgency of some actions despite the abundance of information.

                An interview might shed some light on this before we (they) decide to radically overhaul the current system and cast everyone into MIQ for 28 days.

                • Muttonbird …
                  28 February 2021 at 1:41 pm

                  One thing to do would be to change the messaging so that to be asked to isolate and doing so is something to be proud of, incentivise it. And to be asked to isolate and not doing so is something to be ashamed of.

                  Certainly 'case M' is getting a boat-load of the latter.

                  Right now it feels like to be asked to isolate is a pain and/or you are somehow dirty.

                  • Peter chch …
                    28 February 2021 at 3:17 pm

                    Or more effectively, like China, criminalise it. But I guess as always we use the racism of low expectations to make excuses.

                    • Muttonbird …
                      28 February 2021 at 3:28 pm

                      I can't think of anything about the justice system in China which New Zealand should be considering.

            • Treetop 2.1.2.1.1.2
              28 February 2021 at 2:50 pm

              What about?

              If you need a Covid-19 advocate one will be supplied to you. The advocates role would be invaluable as an advocate works alongside a person through a process and not against them.

              • Incognito …
                28 February 2021 at 2:59 pm

                Ok, you seem to saying that some people need a nanny Covid-19 advocate to tell them to stay home and wait until they have been given the all-clear and a negative test result?

                • Treetop …
                  28 February 2021 at 3:25 pm

                  No. You are saying it and not me.

                  Have you heard of being supported in a situation to navigate it when requested?

                  • Incognito …
                    28 February 2021 at 3:38 pm

                    Ok, major misunderstanding here.

                    I strongly advocate people making simple decisions for and by themselves without (the need for) being nannied or mollycoddled.

                    To be told, know, and follow waiting at home until a negative test result is received is hardly equivalent to ‘navigating a complex and confusing system’ for which one would need a support person.

                    If you know that you need to be tested, have symptoms, can get yourself to the GP for a test, et cetera, you should also know that you must stay home until the negative result comes in.

                    • Treetop …
                      28 February 2021 at 4:14 pm

                      It does come through in your comments how you strongly advocate people making their own decisions. I see that you give clarification for simple decision making.

                      A good advocate does not make the decision or even influence it, they give the information required.

                      The 21 year old may have intended to not go to work but could not access the information on being supported financially. He may have understood that he had to isolate until the test result was known. As for going to the gym he might have thought he was ok as no one at the gym had become unwell since his previous visit.

                    • Incognito []
                      28 February 2021 at 4:25 pm

                      Now you’re conflating advocate and communicator. I am not in charge of giving contacts their information package and explaining it to them, MoH is.

                      A good communicator knows their target audience and packages the information in such a way that it has the desired impact.

                      When you conduct a poll or survey or a referendum for that matter, you and the questions have to be neutral and impartial.

                      OTOH, when you are a health official combatting a pandemic you have a certain outcome in mind. The message/messaging needs to reflect this.

                    • Treetop []
                      28 February 2021 at 5:26 pm

                      Giving out the correct information and communicating it to the recipient are equally important.

                      Do I understand the information to do what is required or if required?

                    • Incognito []
                      28 February 2021 at 5:39 pm

                      Yes

            • Poission 2.1.2.1.1.3
              28 February 2021 at 2:52 pm

              Do we also need to be told by health officials, the PM, and public servants, et cetera, to wash our hands after going to the loo and brushing our teeth before going to bed?

              Disaster preparedness is worst in ..

              younger New Zealanders, those who are not homeowners, those who speak English as a second language, Auckland residents, and those who live in larger households.

              https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/public-education/report-disaster-preparedness-survey-en-dec20.pdf

              • Incognito …
                28 February 2021 at 3:11 pm

                Ta

                That narrows it down considerably wink

                There’s an awful lot to take in but this was good to read:

                Māori have very similar levels of preparedness and knowledge to all New Zealanders.

            • weka 2.1.2.1.1.4
              28 February 2021 at 4:08 pm

              Do we also need to be told by health officials, the PM, and public servants, et cetera, to wash our hands after going to the loo and brushing our teeth before going to bed?

              No, because most of us were socialised into this as children. Covid is different.

              I also think that people following closely are vastly overestimating how much people who aren't following closely are taking in or even being exposed to.

              • Incognito …
                28 February 2021 at 4:12 pm

                Yes, I get that much about Covid is complex and confusing for many; it confuses me too. However, this case was all but complicated and confusing; he should have stayed at home until the negative test result was received. Not hard, not difficult, no need for a support person or translator, as simple & basic as wiping your bottom and washing your hands afterwards 🙂

                • Poission …
                  28 February 2021 at 4:15 pm

                  As he had been through MIQ in late December he would have been well briefed on continuing CV protocols.

                • Anne …
                  28 February 2021 at 6:54 pm

                  Actually this case is a good example of… why I do not agree with lowering the voting age to 16. Nor did I agree with the lowering of the drinking age to 18 when it was a topic still under discussion.

                  Those who advocate for these things are often the ones who gain by them either financially or some other way. They fail to take into account that a large proportion of 16 to 20 year olds have brains which are not fully mature until they are 25.

                  The corollary to that would suggest that no-one should be allowed to… vote , drink or be trusted in a pandemic situation until they are 25.wink

                  • Incognito …
                    28 February 2021 at 10:19 pm

                    I hear you. However, I believe in giving young people agency and responsibility as long as it goes hand in hand with good education & coaching, cultural preparedness, and social safety nets in place 😉 Not only do we need to trust others, we should also enable people to trust themselves.

                  • KJT …
                    1 March 2021 at 9:40 pm

                    Most of covidiots I've run across are my age or older, unfortunately, not youngsters!

              • Incognito …
                28 February 2021 at 4:17 pm

                MoH and Government messaging around Covid needs to be timely, accurate and correct but also be understood by everyone. This may result in aiming the messages to the lowest denominator, whatever that means. However, this may result in many others switching off and blocking the messages altogether. It sounds simple to get it right but it isn’t.

                • McFlock …
                  28 February 2021 at 5:58 pm

                  Besides the entire second-language comms, alienated from healthcare system, and can't afford to miss a rostered shift issues affecting rational decision making, the "lowest common denominator" includes young adults, many of whom have essentially zero ability to think ahead.

                  As well as Audi-drivers fleeing to their bach when they might already be infected.

                  Every time there is a contact, there is a non-zero probability that the contact will have a brain-fade. There is only so much that the best messaging in the world can do.

                  This time we had a bad roll of the dice. It happens.

                  • Incognito …
                    28 February 2021 at 6:06 pm

                    Yes, all true. The system is under stress and fatigue will set in too and cracks will appear. Prevention is better than cure and that applies to lockdowns as well. There’s no cure for human stupidity but there are ways to mitigate it and clear and effective messaging is one of those ways, IMHO.

                    • McFlock …
                      28 February 2021 at 6:30 pm

                      I mean, that sounds all well and good, but then you work a small town with a university and you have to call an ambulance because a 20yo brained himself by failing to competently jump on the bonnet of a car out of impulse and something like this occurs on a weekly basis… there's a pretty steep drop off in the effectiveness of messaging once you get past 90% of folk.

                      Sure, good questions to ask – what advice was he given, was it in a manner he could understand, was consideration made for how he might deal with difficulities this causes.

                      But it's a bit like vaccine efficacy: there will always be a percentage of people who don't think ahead. Someone who thinks they're self-isolating if they throw a party at their flat instead of going out. Someone who doesn't think to change their routine.

                    • Incognito []
                      28 February 2021 at 10:12 pm

                      Again, all true. So, what do we do about it? More ambulances? It is always hardest to reach the last 10% as you say. Should we even try or use our resources better elsewhere?

                    • weka …
                      28 February 2021 at 11:30 pm

                      flashbacks to the Queenstown backpacker parties in lockdown.

                    • McFlock …
                      28 February 2021 at 11:31 pm

                      Basically, just accept we're going to always need ambulances to clean up moments of non-clarity.

                      Sometimes it'll be bad luck, sometimes silliness. Sometimes it gets to a level or a case that shows what you could be doing better.

                      The bigger problem isn't that a few people might or might not have had brain fades. The bigger problem is that the holiday home crowd now have their go-bags ready and the Audi with a full tank, so if someone says "Level 3 in 6 hours" they can get the kids and be out of town in two. Because the wealthy fleeing plague cities and taking the disease into the country centres is a tried-and-true tactic for epidemics to flourish.

                      It's almost at the stage where the cops will have to shut the roads before the announcement is made.

                  • weka …
                    28 February 2021 at 6:21 pm

                    I'm less worried about MoH and Govt messaging than what people are being told and given when they get a test. And sorry Incog, but I do think some people will need support to do what is required. We can talk about what people should do, but we also have to talk about why people aren't doing what is needed, and assumption that people are slack or selfish aren't going to increase the chances of people doing the right thing.

                    • Incognito …
                      28 February 2021 at 10:07 pm

                      No worries. I seem to give people more credit than they deserve, strangely enough. Indeed, some but not all people are slack or selfish or make genuine mistakes with huge consequences. I keep coming back to effective communication and education 🙂

                    • weka …
                      28 February 2021 at 11:31 pm

                      to which end, I wish we had a more coherent and on point MSM. Some of it does really well, it's the big players who are letting the side down.

    • Foreign Waka 2.2
      1 March 2021 at 7:07 am

      Barry – A few people rorting will not do anywhere near as much damage as i.e. Harvey Norman making more profit than before the pandemic and not returning the subsidy. Now there is a rort if here ever was one. Any payment should go to the people having suddenly no income. Because it is precisely the normal taxpaying population paying back the billions. User pay should be going both ways.

      https://channellife.co.nz/story/harvey-norman-nz-financial-results-exposed

      • greywarshark 2.2.1
        1 March 2021 at 4:05 pm

        Incognito you are the voice of fresh air – a mixed metaphor I know. Thank you for trying to keep us kind even though we know that things are being done wrong, or not at all. It's how to be firm and insist, understanding the problems of the people you are communicating with – that's the important bit. And perhaps have a call centre with translators who will explain clearly and understandably. It would help if people wanting tests could book by phone, be given an address just for them, and only have to wait about 20 minutes, not hours in a queue. How do they go to the loo, the adults and the children? And does anyone go down the queue with water for those with cups, and little sannies. Who is being caring about the South Auckland people in these small ways? (Reading what Populuxe 1 says, someone may have come forward but it must be available to all not just one’s own.)

        About not turning nasty. I complained to the authorities about TDB the time that the church members had persisted on meeting at the start of the Covid lockdowns. Bradbury had a derogatory post about it, and I felt just as he said. But he went over the top – he chose an image showing a tall guy standing pointing a gun in front of him. I thought that was a disgraceful incitement to violence, but my complaint got passed down the line and ultimately it was judged as not too serious and nothing was to be done. (Also it was close to election date and would have disrupted the run-up to that important event.) It is hard for the authorities to control this sort of 'free speech' or dodgy behaviour.

        Those who want to keep the peace and others likewise, won't go hard out on the culprits. Many have very hard lives, where they are on the edge, maybe struggling with depression. Ask for better response from the authorities is the way I think. Someone was rung three times unsuccessfully, but they should have been visited, and tracked down. Perhaps a few nights in an isolation unit would be the appropriate threat.

  3. Populuxe1 3
    28 February 2021 at 11:53 am

    Actually I think that's selling South Auckland short. Marae have been looking after their communities, the Sikhs have been doing food parcels for months, the Pacific leaders forum are pushing testing and vaccines, and in general people are cooperating.
    Assuming the messaging isn't getting through or is being ignored is condescending. If it wasn't being taken on board, things would be a hell of a lot worse. A lot of the people most at risk are airport workers and they know the score. These are isolated examples of doing the wrong thing in a community – sort of like the mass 10pm range rover exodus to the batches of Coromandel and Omaha that probably won't get anywhere near the attention.

    • Muttonbird 3.1
      28 February 2021 at 12:35 pm

      No-one is arguing white flight to Coromandel isn't totally wrong but I'd still say the stay home messaging has to get through to everyone. Community leaders and the MoH having done well still haven't done enough, and proof of that is this failure.

      • Incognito 3.1.1
        28 February 2021 at 12:57 pm

        This case was a 21-year old student at MIT, which means there is no language barrier although there may be socio-cultural (and financial?) factors or circumstances that contributed to this brain implosion. Going to the gym straight after your test has nothing to do with earning income or going to work unless he was a personal trainer or something, which he was not, AFAIK.

        • Muttonbird 3.1.1.1
          28 February 2021 at 1:25 pm

          South Auckland is both the most exposed to Covid-19 because lots of people work at the border, and the most vulnerable to Covid-19 because of health and housing issues.

          If there is difficulty ensuring everyone is on board and compliant because of language, socio-cultural, and financial factors then more support needs to be targeted there.

          • Incognito 3.1.1.1.1
            28 February 2021 at 2:44 pm

            Agreed. I think Government has been relying too much on a simple basic messaging & communication strategy of ‘one-size-fits-all’, e.g. provide the main message in English and then one has to click for a translation. It would indeed be more effective if they were to tailor their messaging and not just in language but also tone and culture. I shouldn’t have to tell the PM how to suck egg.

    • georgecom 3.2
      28 February 2021 at 12:36 pm

      a few more thoughts to add. Yes language and culture an conspiracy theories are factors. And yes when South Auckland leaders of whatever persuasion educate people about covid19 they are doing a good job.

      That said, South Auckland businesses may close for good due to this lock down, south auckland people may lose their jobs due to this lock down. South Auckland people have a real interest in doing the right things. When you looked at the tv coverage of people getting covid tests, many non pakeha faces there. people doing the right thing, let down by a few doing the wrong thing.

      ps can you replace the scarecrow picture with an updated one please saying something along the lines of “if told to self isolate, damn well do the right thing and stay at home”

  4. weka 4
    28 February 2021 at 12:16 pm

    A few comments on twitter this morning about people being tested for covid and not being told as part of the testing to self isolate when they leave the clinic. I'm guessing there is inconsistency in what information is being provided, but telling people to self-isolate and how they can do that (including financially) seems like a baseline for containment. Otoh, clinics and medical people are under the same stresses as everyone else, so I see this as something that needs to be improved over time. We're here for the long haul.

    • Incognito 4.1
      28 February 2021 at 12:20 pm

      As I just said (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-28-02-2021/#comment-1781125), it does depend on the type of contact these individuals are; not everyone is required to self-isolate for 14 days. However, everybody is supposed to stay home until negative test result is received.

      • weka 4.1.1
        28 February 2021 at 6:22 pm

        what's the difference between self-isolating until a negative result and staying home until a negative result?

        • Treetop 4.1.1.1
          28 February 2021 at 7:46 pm

          No difference apart from the classification of contact. Which to me is unreliable.

          Too simple to not have a 14 day isolation for every contact with a case.

          This is the case in MIQ, you could be a potential case over a 14 day period.

          • weka 4.1.1.1.1
            28 February 2021 at 9:13 pm

            right, so people who are awaiting test results should be being told to self-isolate (and all that entails) until they get cleared. It appears that sometimes people are not being told this. This strikes me as a problem if it is in fact a requirement to SI.

            • Incognito 4.1.1.1.1.1
              28 February 2021 at 10:02 pm

              People awaiting a test result should be staying at home until they receive a negative test result. It seems odd that some are not told this but even so, common sense should have a say in this too, IMHO. You don’t put a gun to your head and pull the trigger unless you have checked that it is not loaded.

          • Incognito 4.1.1.1.2
            28 February 2021 at 9:57 pm

            No difference apart from the classification of contact. Which to me is unreliable.

            In what way is it unreliable?

            Too simple to not have a 14 day isolation for every contact with a case.

            Why should Casual Contacts, for example, have to isolate for 14 days?

            • Treetop 4.1.1.1.2.1
              1 March 2021 at 9:29 am

              It is unreliable because a person can have more than one classification. They can start off as a casual contact, go to a casual plus contact and then become a close contact.

              Not in the year class but sits on the bus with a pupil who is a close contact.

              As well when it comes to the day 5 test being negative it is not targeting the whole family as a bubble for a casual contact. 5 day testing can miss a case. Some confusion over who has to isolate with the classifications.

              When it comes to a casual contact isolating for 14 days the UK strain has a long tail, contact tracing becomes harder to do with bigger exposure numbers, a school, a supermarket, a tertiary institute.

              The 3 day level 3 lockdown was to give time to contact trace and find the source.

              The current level 3 lockdown is done because of not initially knowing the source of contact for case M and the time case M was infectious and the bigger numbers who could have been exposed since last Tuesday with other cases and in the case of M a few days earlier.

              • Treetop …
                1 March 2021 at 10:03 am

                I forgot the close plus contact.

                The different levels of lockdown seem to be explained well.

                See the differculty I am having with the contact classifications I could not even write them all down. Start with your classification of contact, add another layer of testing and another layer of isolation for yourself.

                Then apply the contact, testing and isolation to a family member.

                It would be easier to have bullet points for the classifications of contact, testing and isolation and what is required at each stage.

                And the links you supplied are Guidance and issues with not being able to obtain information on Heathline.

              • Incognito …
                1 March 2021 at 11:09 pm

                In my books, “unreliable” means that it cannot be relied upon and I think this is not the case at all. The system is flexible and it should be. It works as intended.

                Cases do not self-categorise, MoH officials do this after they conduct an interview. As was the problem with the latest cases, sometimes people are not forthcoming with information possibly because they forget.

                Identified cases are supposed to receive an information pack.

                When new information comes to light, officials act on it, which sometimes means re-categorisation of existing cases.

                A similar thing happens with so-called “historic cases”.

                It doesn’t really matter that all these different things confuse you as long as you follow the rules that apply to you personally. If you do that, the system will be as reliable as it can be.

        • Incognito 4.1.1.2
          28 February 2021 at 9:38 pm

          There are differences in stringency and limiting vs. avoiding contact with others and contaminating/infecting others. The other difference is, of course, the duration, which is 14 days for self-isolation or quarantine vs. an unspecified but usually much shorter time while waiting for a test result.

          If you really want to know the differences, check out these two PDFs, for example:

          https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/pages/guidance-for-casual-plus-contacts-25feb21.pdf

          https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/pages/guidance-for-close-plus-contacts-factsheet-26feb21.pdf

          HTH

  5. woodart 5
    28 February 2021 at 12:43 pm

    yeah, cause covid has just happened and nobody has heard of it…oh wait, its been around for a YEAR. sorry folks, after a YEAR, ignorance is NO excuse. the language excuse has worn very thin, after a YEAR, surely every person in the country, no matter what language they use, should be well aware of the danger and the things NOT to do. bollocks about having to go to work because of being the only earner, is yet another copout. where were these sole money earners last year, when the whole country spent a month in lockdown, living in a cave with a bag over their heads? sometimes the victim does need blaming, not handholding.

    • weka 5.1
      28 February 2021 at 6:24 pm

      I don't know what the L3 rules are, I'd have to look them up if we went into L3 here.

      • Sanctuary 5.1.1
        1 March 2021 at 7:15 am

        Well look them up then, it isn't hard to find. Problem solved. Next question?

        This lockdown is a deja vu of all the others. Political axes are ground. The most emotionally damaged people from it appear to be the media and their ecosystem of moaning minnies from various lobby groups who inhabit a world of continual chaos, conflict, anger and panic. The performatively perplexed get another chance to strut the social media stage to pontificate their puzzled perplexity to anyone who'll listen. And every amateur public health expert gets to outline in forensic detail exactly the prescription for success.

        It is all a bit tedious to the 90% of us who understand the rules, know what to do, and get on with it and do it.

  6. Peter 6
    28 February 2021 at 12:44 pm

    David Seymour's onto it. Again.

    The one who wants us to be free of Government, who wants Government to treat us as responsible adults and the outbreak?

    I'll translate his words into him wanting armed soldiers knocking on people's doors to enforce isolation. Am I exaggerating and twisting his words and intent? No, just doing a Seymour.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300240992/covid19-politicians-call-for-a-stronger-approach-to-ensure-people-selfisolate

    • Muttonbird 6.1
      28 February 2021 at 12:49 pm

      Worse, I think he wants a private militia to do the door-knocking.

      Collins has gone off script too, now asking for Maori and Pacific communities to be vaccine prioritised.

    • Sanctuary 6.2
      1 March 2021 at 7:21 am

      Seymour would only want these rules to apply to lower class people in South Auckland.

  7. Muttonbird 7
    28 February 2021 at 1:52 pm

    That energy you spend giving your opinion on something that's already happened is a bit of a wasted energy.

    – Papatoetoe High School principal

    Can't agree with this. Energy spent giving your opinion on something that's already happened may prevent it from happening again.

    It’s the most important time to give your opinion.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-anger-at-breach-fears-about-conspiracy-theories-during-lockdown/FD37KPUOA7AN3FVCCFMJMSJFHI/

    • Incognito 7.1
      28 February 2021 at 4:07 pm

      I think that context is important, as usual:

      Couillault said despite this, Kiwis should move forward and focus on doing the right thing for themselves and the broader community.

      He agreed with the Prime Minister that while frustration was understandable, attacking the latest case was not helpful.

      "That energy you spend giving your opinion on something that's already happened is a bit of a wasted energy."

      However, post-hoc analyses are essential to learn from and avoid future mistakes, if any.

  8. Pataua4life 8
    28 February 2021 at 2:14 pm

    Watch as JA suddenly disappears from the 1.00pm briefing. Lockdown fatigue will start killing all that political capital and JA 's masters will want her insulated from the backlash.

    • Muttonbird 8.1
      28 February 2021 at 2:24 pm

      I don't get this. First you say she's there too much. Then not enough.

      Please make up your mind!

    • David 8.2
      28 February 2021 at 2:46 pm

      Even before the last alert level yo-yo she had backed away from all her regular unscripted media appearances …. oh, except to publicise a lost teddy.

    • AB 8.3
      28 February 2021 at 3:44 pm

      "Lockdown fatigue will start killing all that political capital"

      You wish. Judith Collins seemed quite chirpy-happy on the telly this morning too – so you are keeping dubious company. Pataua is a nice spot – you could go for a walk by the estuary and be grateful that someone cares enough to have saved what the Americans would call your 'ass'?

  10. shanreagh 10
    28 February 2021 at 10:34 pm

    I had made another comment but had to delete it as it would not let me edit to correct a mistake.

    Trying again.

    I am hoping that 'someone' is asking these recalcitrant Aucklanders why they have been ignoring the lockdowns and requirements around their specific cases. Framing it, not in a horrible way, but out of concern to find a better way. There is a way of questioning, cannot remember the name, but it appeals to one's better nature …… Talks people through what happened so they get a sense of where they may have erred and seeks answers from them as to what might work for their peers etc to help them obey the lockdowns etc. There may be cultural problems with a (any) line of questioning ……

    I sense that employers may be lacking as well. Just because someone turns up for their shift in Papatoetoe surely should not signal to the employer that they are correctly there. Especially if the employer employs High school students or the siblings of high school students.

    Some of the employers are big enough to be able to put in place special H & S briefings, contact MOH etc about these students/siblings and also have information on hand, that they, the employers, have sourced about how to apply for wage subsidies etc.

    • lprent 10.1
      28 February 2021 at 11:23 pm

      I had made another comment but had to delete it as it would not let me edit to correct a mistake.

      Yeah, I can see it in trash and the repeated events. Which operating system or type of device?, which browser?, and what was the re-edit doing?

      I can have a look in the database and logs to see what was happening – but usually it is better to find out what the bug looked like to the user.

      I suspect that you might have gotten caught by the fact that the primary comment editor is what you see is what you get editor. But the re-edit is different – it is pure HTML (basically to allow people who know HTML a chance to fix formatting issues).

      Ummm. I can see a report about something similar in early February. In that case from someone quite familiar with the site. I’ll have a look at it in a few days (waiting on a software tool I need).

      • shanreagh 10.1.1
        1 March 2021 at 10:30 am

        Thanks…..I have an ancient set-up on the way to an upgrade. Mac OS X 10.8.5 running the appropriate Firefox edition. I have never had a problem editing on here, in fact it is one of the simpler MBs to post and edit/correct on.

        • lprent 10.1.1.1
          4 March 2021 at 11:34 pm

          Couldn't see anything obvious (finally got some time). Nothing in the logs. I'm inclined to think that it is just client side javascript acting up.

          I usually just suggest clearing the browser cache and (these days) suggesting that restarting the computer might be a good idea if it has been on or largely in sleep for months.

  11. Stuart Munro 11
    28 February 2021 at 10:50 pm

    I just saw a pretty good meme about all this – graffiti on a wall

    I get locked down – but I get up again…

    I just hope it wasn't the virus singing it.

  12. Sanctuary 12
    1 March 2021 at 7:43 am

    Listening to RNZ, it seems obvious that the opposition strategy is now to try and drive a wedge between South Auckland and the rest of Auckland/NZ by attacking the trust model and demanding authoritarian, intrusive and coercive state powers be mainly applied to the irresponsible and undeserving seething masses of ignorant brown people in South Auckland.

    In other words, it is National applying their usual welfare policies to COVID.

  13. Ad 13
    1 March 2021 at 10:42 am

    Everyone ready for Level 4?

    Risk is pretty high now.

  14. greywarshark 14
    1 March 2021 at 4:20 pm

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/437369/covid-19-gps-denied-dhbs-leftover-vaccines-it-s-just-soul-destroying

    Some South Auckland GPs were turned away when they tried to get vaccinated for Covid this weekend after spare doses became available.That's despite them working on the frontline of the outbreak of 15 people centred around Papatoetoe High School that has sent the city back to alert level 3.

    The city's district health boards (DHBs) had leftover vaccine after a week of border worker rollouts so offered it to health workers before it spoiled.

    But several South Auckland GPs who turned up to get a dose were denied one, leaving them distraught.

    This makes me sad, our GPs are on the front line too and are VIPs when it comes to sickness treatment, but under a system that has a fair amount of private enterprise thinking, rather than the let's all pull together and share this sort of thing happens, there is no excuse for it though. Probably the strict requirements of the contract don't specify working closely with GPs so it doesn't matter. Machine-minds again. And perhaps the idea is that only working people from South Auckland are at risk, and the GPs work has not registered in minds.

  15. David 15
    1 March 2021 at 5:59 pm

    Sit in traffic for 8 hours to get back into Auckland – go through a police checkpoint.

    Break every lockdown rule known – close the largest city in the country and the police and political response is meh, oh well.

    • Treetop 15.1
      1 March 2021 at 7:31 pm

      Do you know what happens in a queue if someone runs out of petrol and they have no way of paying for more?

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 27

    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    29 mins ago
  • Ticket To Anywhere

    You got a fast carAnd I want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAny place is betterYesterday’s newsletter, Trust In Me, on the report of abuse in state care, and by religious organisations, between 1950 and 2019, coupled with the hypocrisy of Christopher Luxon ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 hour ago
  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    18 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • 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
    18 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
    21 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
    23 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
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-27T00:55:42+00:00