Making s%*t up

Written By: - Date published: 8:02 am, March 15th, 2023 - 41 comments
Categories: Dr Deborah Russell, making shit up, Media, spin, tax, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

Is it just me or is Mike Hosking becoming more unbalanced?

An example from earlier this week came to my attention via this tweet from the excellent Lyin Ex Tobacco Lobbyist. It was based on an interview between Hosking and Chris Hipkins where Hosking attacked Hipkins for planning to introduce a top tax rate of 45c in the dollar based on a speech recently given by Associate Revenue Minister Deborah Russell.

I did what Lyin recommended and read the speech.

Nowhere could I find a suggestion that Russell advocated for a top tax rate of 45c in the dollar.  In face nowhere could I even find a reference to a top tax rate of 45c in the dollar.

Hipkins was clearly bemused at the line of questioning and had no idea what Hosking was referring to.  But Hosking chose to continue to badger Hipkins about a tax policy increase which was not actually announced or even hinted at.

The closest that I could find in the speech to a reference to increasing tax was a comment a the need to make sure that the wealthy pay their fair share of tax.  From the speech:

I do worry about the growing gap between the super wealthy and the rest in New Zealand – and around the world. In fact, it’s a global problem.

Some interesting work is being done looking at effective average tax rates paid by different sections of the population, which I understand will be published in the next few months. The High-Wealth Individuals Research Project looks at the amount of tax that they pay on their economic or comprehensive income. By economic income I mean income including non-taxed gains such as capital gains.

As you know, this is purely a research project and is not connected to Inland Revenue’s compliance function.

What will be interesting is to have a better understanding of how much tax is paid by the wealthy relative to their economic income compared with the middle class. The issue here is to better understand if our tax system is fair – that is, are those with more resources paying a similar or even lower rate of tax than those with fewer resources.

I understand this work also takes account of the impact GST as a proportion of income. I think it’ll be interesting analysis for us to reflect upon.

While not all taxes need to be progressive the overall system should not be regressive. The very wealthy should at least pay the rate middle income earners already pay. It should also be fair between taxpayers of similar means.

I’m looking forward to seeing the conclusions of the High-Wealth Individuals Research Project so we get a better understanding of how progressive our tax system actually is.

Hosking is clearly afraid at the Government performing this analysis, no doubt because it will show that the wealthy are not paying their fair share of tax.  But attacking Hipkins over something that his Minister did not say is a new low.

Lyin has lodged a complaint.  It will be interesting to see how this works out.

41 comments on “Making s%*t up ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Sanctuary 1
    15 March 2023 at 8:15 am

    ZB has had it's credibility badly dented recently with reality intruding into their dollar store Tucker Carlson routine, Hosking is probably feeling the heat. Climate change will do that to a man.

  2. Ad 2
    15 March 2023 at 8:24 am

    Well sure but why is Russell doing aspeech on tax when it's not her portfolio?

    Did she not understand what happened to Parker?

    • Sanctuary 2.1
      15 March 2023 at 8:33 am

      Probably for the same reason she has been utterly supine on representing her Waitakere constituents in the face of the casual bureaucratic indifference of Waka Kotahi/AT – she is an utterly gormless politician.

      I mean honestly – an actual politician would do a bit of political theatre and turn up at the AT HQ with a film crew in tow and demand to speak to the CEO and get some dates on when her constituents will get their roads repaired, that way she might actually increase her vote share instead of presiding over a steady erosion of Labour loyalty until she goes list only and some right wing populist jerk takes over as local MP.

      • mickysavage 2.1.1
        15 March 2023 at 9:04 am

        Bit tough. She has no control over AT who is primarily responsible for this. They have been working on the issue and access has improved considerably.

        • Sanctuary 2.1.1.1
          15 March 2023 at 9:27 am

          My view on this is doing nothing on the basis of deference to technocratic areas of responsibility is a bad look that cuts no ice with voters. If you don't want to lose to fake right wing populists who lump you in with the swamp they want to drain, then sometimes even middle class ex-academics have to hold their nose and do a bit of retail politics, political theatre ("I am getting into my car in two weeks and taking my dog for a walk and to buy an icecream in Piha, and if the road isn't open I'd like to see AT try and stop me") and bureaucrat bashing. AT is incompetent and incredibly unpopular with the Auckland public so laying into them in election year wouldn't hurt her re-election chances one little bit and might even get some action.

          Call it Chippie’s law of bread and butter politics.

      • Darien Fenton 2.1.2
        15 March 2023 at 9:23 am

        Deborah is my local MP. I have no complaints. I am glad to have a Labour person in my rohe after boundary changes in the past meant I was in a National seat. I deliver leaflets for her which I do voluntarily – doubt you do. I am invited to her LEC meetings and kept informed. But then I guess you have to be actively involved to know what is going on rather than making comments like yours Sanctuary. I think our Labour MPS in the rohe and our Labour Councillors have been utterly brilliant and it’s not always about media opps.

        • Sanctuary 2.1.2.1
          15 March 2023 at 9:30 am

          Actually, it is always about media opps. If I were a electorate MP I'd turn up to the opening of an envelope. I remember the days when local MPs would call the mayor on your behalf and give them a serve if your planning permission was unaccountably held up. Local nobs would tut tut at political interference and would moan about it to anyone who would listen, and the locals would adore you and return you with massive majorities. Too often these days our MPs come from the same class as the bureaucrats they are meant to be chastising.

          • Darien Fenton 2.1.2.1.1
            16 March 2023 at 12:41 am

            If I were an electorate MP in West Auckland, I would turn up in my gumboots to give a helping hand, as indeed our Westie Labour MPs and local Labour Councillors have been doing, And I would be concentrating on ensuring locals get support through btw those "bureaucrats". I wouldn't waste my time calling Wayne Brown.

      • tWiggle 2.1.3
        15 March 2023 at 6:28 pm

        Sanctuary, Auckland Transport lists more than 20 road closures in West Auckland. Multiply Karekare times five. Each cut-off community wants things done yesterday. But in a large-scale event like this, they do have to be self-reliant. There is just not enough immediate resource for small communities at the ends of long roads. Repairs, rightly, should prioritise key roads and more densely-populated areas.

        Judging from the post you put up, looks like these communities probably aren't working well together to sort out the important stuff for themselves, like carpooling to minimise road traffic, for city workers, kids to school, and ill people to appointments.

        There was also significant flooding in parts of Henderson, a poorer community. Maybe the Waitakere MP is more focused on helping that group, over people likely to have greater personal resources.

    • mickysavage 2.2
      15 March 2023 at 9:05 am

      Why is Russell doing a speech on tax when it's not her portfolio?

      She is associate Minister for Revenue and I am sure the speech was vetted.

  3. Powerman 3
    15 March 2023 at 8:43 am

    Hoskin, Luxon and their ilk work on the principle that once the seed of an idea is planted it will grow and fester in the minds of the easily influenced. Totally unprincipled and lacking in integrity, just rabble-rousers.

    • Tricledrown 3.1
      15 March 2023 at 11:07 am

      This tactic has backfired everything Hipkins has done so far shows that he is after the soft National vote Thats why National are trying to portray him as extreme but like Simon Bridges ,Judas Collins it has backfired.Luxon's popularity wanes as he is seen as a perpetual whinger.

    • Thinker 3.2
      15 March 2023 at 3:31 pm

      Someone once said if you tell a lie that's big enough, people will believe it.

      That seems to be the strategy they're adopting.

      'nuff said.

  4. Tiger Mountain 4
    15 March 2023 at 8:44 am

    “Mi–cockskin” has to be one of the most degraded media channel figures to ever operate in this country. An employing class mouth for hire, with an obvious element of sadism in there too.

  5. tWiggle 5
    15 March 2023 at 9:18 am

    Like Tucker Carlson, the views he peddles aren't necessarily his own. They come from the media company. His father-in-law, the respected former media journalist Jon Hawkesby, said more or less that when asked how he could tolerate his SIL's opinions. On the other hand, Hoskings takes money, and large lumps of it, to sell nastiness and political slant. That puts him on a similar shelf to WhaleOil.

  6. Ad 6
    15 March 2023 at 9:31 am

    You can almost do an Obama-style Angry Obama Shadow to Russell here.

    The great majority of kiwis are terrible at discussing policy. So it is really important to track the content of Minister Russell's words as a growing body of evidence that supports strong progressive changes to the tax sources and income tax brackets:

    "I understand this work also takes account of the impact GST as a proportion of income. I think it’ll be interesting analysis for us to reflect upon."

    The government has essentially become addicted to GST income, and it is like a blood cancer on the poor. We know we need to wean government off it.

    "While not all taxes need to be progressive the overall system should not be regressive. The very wealthy should at least pay the rate middle income earners already pay. It should also be fair between taxpayers of similar means."

    We made a big signal with the harder Bright Line Test, and with the work on Trusts, and with the +$180,000 income rise. But make no mistake we were defeated internally on Capital Gains Tax and we are still coming for the rich if we get the numbers.

    "I’m looking forward to seeing the conclusions of the High-Wealth Individuals Research Project so we get a better understanding of how progressive our tax system actually is."

    Lock and load team we have your names and addresses.

  7. tsmithfield 7
    15 March 2023 at 10:21 am

    It is interesting though, that I haven't heard any senior Labour politician rule the idea out yet. I would have thought it would be easy to do this if it was a proposal they weren't even considering and had no intention to impliment.

    For instance, if an interviewer asked out of the blue if they were considering implimenting an 80% tax on income over say $100k, I am sure that would be ruled out straight away without any second thought.

    Time will tell I guess…

    • AB 7.1
      15 March 2023 at 10:49 am

      All you are saying is that a 45% rate is within the boundaries of the thinkable for Labour politicians. It implies nothing about whether they will actually do it or not.

      If politicians must now rule out everything that is thinkable for them, it leads to some potentially interesting interview questions for Nat politicians:

      • have you ruled out implementing a flat tax of 15%?
      • have you ruled out lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 10?
      • have you ruled out implementing citizens' patrols that can detain all people on the street who look like they might commit a ram raid?
      • Have you ruled out increasing the qualification age for superannuation to 75?
      • Have you ruled out making unemployment benefits time limited to 3 months?
      • Have you ruled out employers being able to fire at will at any stage of an employee's career?
      • Have you ruled out de-funding humanities education at universities?

      And so on and on. It's not bad as a propaganda technique – make the interviewee rule out something you suspect they are capable of thinking. But it's not something an actual journalist would do. And there you have the explanation – ZB is not a news service, it's a propaganda arm of the National/ACT coalition

      • tsmithfield 7.1.1
        15 March 2023 at 10:59 am

        It is probably a moot point. It will obviously become clear at the budget.

        Who knows, for all we know, he might have guessed a number that the government is thinking about.

        The examples you give above sort of make my point really. Most of those are so extreme that they would be ruled out immediately I think. And if they definitely are not in the thinking of a potential National government, I would expect those questions to be ruled out straight away.

        • AB 7.1.1.1
          15 March 2023 at 11:03 am

          And if they definitely are not in the thinking of a potential National government, I would expect those questions to be ruled out straight away

          We can always fine-tune the questions, but the intellectual dishonesty of the technique remains the same.

          • tsmithfield 7.1.1.1.1
            15 March 2023 at 12:01 pm

            But I really don't see why something wouldn't be ruled out if it isn't being considered at all. I don't see any downside to that. Not ruling something out doesn't mean it will happen. But it could mean it is being considered as a possibility.

            • Drowsy M. Kram 7.1.1.1.1.1
              15 March 2023 at 12:36 pm

              "Not ruling something out" "could mean" whatever one wants it to mean wink

              • tsmithfield …
                15 March 2023 at 12:55 pm

                True enough. But ruling something out is definitive, and leaves no room for doubt.

                • Drowsy M. Kram …
                  15 March 2023 at 1:35 pm

                  But ruling something out is definitive, and leaves no room for doubt.

                  Do you mean 'no room for doubt' that it won't happen, or 'no room for doubt' that the pollie/party wants voters to believe that it won't happen?

                  PM defensive after video reveals GST flip-flop
                  Prime Minister John Key has come under fire in Parliament this afternoon after a Herald video revealed he had ruled out a GST rise during his election campaign in 2008.

                  Oh! let us never, never doubt
                  What nobody is sure about! – Belloc (1897)

                  Belloc's poem, "The Microbe", might also be relavent to weka's post.

            • Craig H 7.1.1.1.1.2
              15 March 2023 at 2:51 pm

              For Labour at least, a lot of party policy comes from the party membership via policy committees and conferences. Ruling something out would be awkward if there is actually being work done on it and it appears in the manifesto. Easier just to not buy into that line of questioning at all.

      • Shanreagh 7.1.2
        15 March 2023 at 12:13 pm

        Yes it is an unprincipled gotcha type of question and that being the case totally expected from Mr H.

        The asking again and again often makes the person answering look shifty or as if they are covering up something when they cannot answer. In courtrooms for instance some Judges rule that this is badgering the witness.

        I don't know who listens to motomouth (demographics) but presumably it is seen by PM/Labour as being important to be there. Noting that in the end PM Ardern did not think it was worth it.

        I follow LETL on Twitter as well.

        I am glad they are taking a complaint.

    • Incognito 7.2
      15 March 2023 at 11:58 am

      Hosking used the pig-fucker trick-argument – denying is losing, silence is losing.

  8. SPC 8
    15 March 2023 at 10:36 am

    45%

    Australian income tax rates for 2021–22 (residents)

    Income thresholds
    Rate
    $18,201 – $45,000 19%
    $45,001 – $120,000 32.5%
    $120,001 – $180,000 37%
    $180,001 and over 45%

    It’s Mike Hosking’s guilt – maybe he is on more than $180,000, and we have no CGT, a GST that does not exempt food, nor 3-4% stamp duty on property. He knows the haves are in a different class to those who do not own property. And Oz has fairer rules than we do.

    • Tricledrown 8.1
      15 March 2023 at 10:55 am

      Hipkins is the ultimate pragmatist and Narissist Hoskings crying Wolf like Fucker Carlson another Narcissist has been found out .Hoskings the Strawman can't keep lying about Hipkins because as we have seen Hipkins has reset Labour so as not to scare the horses ie middle of the road policies because Hoskings is desperate and has no evidence that Hipkins is non other than a devout centerist.Showing Hoskings the Narcissist frajile ego needs attention of any sort to feed his massively over blown ego so he thinks he is relevent.

  9. Shanreagh 9
    15 March 2023 at 12:01 pm

    OMG Hoskings is a toad.

    The only thing I can think of is that there may have been questions after the speech by Hon Russell and some person has got the wrong end of the stick. I have heard this happen say if someone asked 'if a change to the upper tax rate was being looked at would 45c be the upper rate' or if someone misheard.

  10. newsense 10
    15 March 2023 at 12:33 pm

    Lying has a cousin in the Auckland Mayor’s office now?
    How much is the conservative movement beholden to the tobacco lobby?

    Did notice that Chris Bishop neglected to tell the Spinoff about his tobacco credentials.

    Is the right’s message really so difficult to take they need people who literally sold death to help spread it?

  11. tc 11
    15 March 2023 at 12:39 pm

    The title of this post could be there marketing slogan just add ' ….since 2002' when music stations started denting their audience and Paul holmes comes to the rescue amongst others.

    A code of conduct with heavy fines on the management is long overdue to put the onus on the broadcaster. They're the ones deliberately misrepresenting things and abusing their right to broadcast. Mikey does as instructed not that he needs much direction on such matters being very experienced in spin.

  12. Leighton 12
    15 March 2023 at 12:44 pm

    Busy month for ZB's complaints team. I'm waiting for a response to my complaint about Mike and his wife's deliberate undermining and underplaying of expert advice about Cyclone Gabrielle. I suspect I'm not the only complaint they received about that particular day of broadcasting.

  13. tc 13
    15 March 2023 at 3:44 pm

    Misinformation firm 'NewsGuard' launches here and in Oz.

    It's given Murdoch's 'Australian' , the ABC and guardian Australia full marks in all 9 criteria it applies…..wow full marks.

    Interested to see how granny, tvnz, tv3 and stuff rate. Imagine what ZB's would be with their roster of spin doctor's.

  14. Antony Cotton 14
    15 March 2023 at 7:46 pm

    One Day Calmer will bit Hosking like it did to Carlson Ingram and Hannitt. I can't wait for that day. If can happen Carlson it can happen to Hosking. I think Hosking my aggront now than ever. Can't wait for Hosking Mutch McKay from TVNZ who is advising Luxon and Du Plessis Allan to end up like Carlson Ingram and Hannitt. Christopher Luxon is no better than McCarthy in USA

  15. James Simpson 15
    16 March 2023 at 9:11 am

    We can only hope that Hosking is correct.

    That sounds like an excellent tax policy

  16. Peter Bradley 16
    19 March 2023 at 11:34 am

    Hoskings is a highly skilled commentator and effective advocate for the political right. He doesn't need to be accurate or truthful because his focus is on motivating his listeners and the voter base of the NActional party.

    Complaining will make no difference and he will continue to make claims about Labour raising taxes. Like most center left party's Labour will attempt to make denials and assurances that it won't raise taxes.

    Instead it could make the case for raising taxes and argue that this is a necessity to support building a future for our children and grandchildren. The economic evidence is there and the advocates and supporters for higher taxes and redistribution are also there. Labour should make the appeal to champagne socialists in NZ – the middle class who are comfortable with paying more – we do exist!

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    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Youth justice programme expands to break cycle of offending
    The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Major milestone with 20,000 employers using Apprenticeship Boost
    The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Government supporting wood processing jobs and more diverse industry
    The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said.   “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Government backing Canterbury’s future in aerospace industry
    The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Updated forestry regulations increase council controls and require large slash removal
    Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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