Meanwhile, in the real world…

Written By: - Date published: 7:44 am, April 23rd, 2013 - 27 comments
Categories: class war, housing, poverty, privatisation - Tags:

So, John Key, Bill English, and Steven Joyce are now devoting all their energy into trying to stop the asset sales programme collapsing after the Greens and Labour gave notice the excessive profits are going to end, and National confirmed they’re for real by suspending the sale. While the government’s wasting its effort on that, real families are suffering like this family:

Living in a mice-infested garage that floods in the rain, a Christchurch mother and her young children have been fighting for months to be deemed a top priority on the city’s state housing waiting list.

Amber Breiter, 22, has been in her mother’s standalone garage in Linwood with her 4-year-old son and baby daughter since January and cannot understand how her desperate situation is not judged “at risk” by Housing New Zealand.

There is no heating. There is no carpet. The door has no lock and when it rains, it floods.

After a HNZ assessment in February, the family was deemed Priority B – its housing needs were assessed as significant, persistent and ‘serious’.

‘At risk’ families are labelled Priority A, which means they have a severe and persistent housing need that must be addressed immediately.

Breiter believes she should have been deemed ‘at risk’ when she moved into the garage but HNZ told her there were “people in Christchurch who had a greater need than I did”.

In the past few weeks her hair has been falling out from stress and her children now sleep in bed with her because the noise of the rain “terrifies” them and water pools beneath her daughter’s cot.

While Breiter piles sheets up against the garage door to soak up the rain, Christchurch’s HNZ waiting list balloons.

The list currently sits at 270 (90 are priority A and 180 are priority B), up from 195 in February.

After four calls from Breiter in the past week and inquiries from The Press yesterday, HNZ plans to meet with the family today.

“The meeting may result in a change to her priority. However, this isn’t a guarantee that we can provide her with accommodation straight away,” HNZ tenancy services manager Symon Leggett said.

Breiter’s plight was highlighted in The Press in January, after she shifted into the garage because she could not afford the bills from her previous rental.

She cannot sleep inside her mother’s four-bedroom house because seven relatives are already there.

Since January, Breiter, who is on the domestic purposes benefit while she studies to become a security officer, has tried to secure a rental, but her poor credit rating is against her.

“I am very desperate and I will take whatever is offered. I feel like I have let my children down, that I have wronged them. This is not how they should be living.”

But what about King Gerry, you may ask. The people of Christchurch have their very own overlord for these situations. Well, here’s the latest sighting of Gerry, doesn’t look too concerned for the needs of the poor of Christchurch, does he?

king gerry dressed as a butler

27 comments on “Meanwhile, in the real world… ”

  1. Dv 1

    Key said he was going to send help to China for their earthquake.

    Any truth that he is to send CERA, QRC and Brownlie

  2. ordinary_bloke 2

    He’s all psyched up about representing Planet Aotearoa at Margaret Thatcher’s memorial service.
    That’s not how he looked when he wandered into our local Pak’n Save. He’s posing for the camera, and the hat looks like something out of an English (or Canterbury?) country hunt. Give him a break .. I mean how would YOU like to be given the role of Henry VIII in an earthquake ravaged town ?
    Don’t laugh. His next stop could well be Wellington.

    • rosy 2.1

      Did the taxpayer pay for the suit and the hat, as well as that glory trip, I wonder?

      Is HNZ subsidising rental units on behalf of high needs people, or is it building units, or waiting for an HNZ unit to become available? Christchurch is an extraordinary situation require extraordinary measures, right? Surely they’re not just waiting for something to come up?

  3. Agora 3

    Occasionally I pop over to KiwiBlog out of interest.

    This morning I seemed to have chanced on the internal
    ruminations of an expat Chilean Junta focusing on the
    Greens, but it turned out to be Farrar @ 9 AM on
    “Competing for the most lunatic policy”.

    A nice piece of dispassionate, even-handed, reporting, I thought.

    http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2013/04/competing_for_the_most_lunatic_policy.html

    • Rupert 3.1

      “A nice piece of dispassionate, even-handed, reporting, I thought.”

      You must be new to Kiwiblog. Take a seat, there’s a few things you probably should know…

  4. weka 4

    The govt has abandoned the people of Chch. It is more concerned with the city than the people that live within it. There is no excuse this far out from the quakes for the situations of people like in the article above. Shame on NZ for allowing this to happen.

    • Brian 4.1

      In a country as wealthy as this one is; it is indeed shameful.

    • Glg 4.2

      Of course, the people of Chch are not this Governments concern. It’s the (large) businesses in Chch that they are working for.

    • BrucetheMoose 4.3

      This story is only the tip of the iceberg. There are still hundreds living in garages, caravans, various improvised buildings and staying in overcrowded situations with relatives. Thousands of others are sticking it out by just staying in their busted homes, which may be more tolerable during summer, but it is miserable and wreaks havoc on their health during the bitter winter months. On top of this, there are the stresses imposed by dealing with a variety of financial difficulties and constant battles with insurance companies and EQC. This situation was meant to have been hopefully alleviated by a desperately required insurance advocacy service that was to be established by Brownlee and CERA. After stalling the issue and waiting for nearly a year for this service, Brownlee announces that an “Advisory” Service will be instigated in the next few weeks. In other words a diluted version of what was originally requested. A tiger with no bite. This blatantly shows how much importance the government and Brownlee really cares about the worst effected citizens in Christchurch. Meanwhile, the government is hell bent on land acquisition and undermining viable existing businesses during the process. Meanwhile, Brownlee goes on a weeks stint to a funeral the Governor General probably could have attended. The very man who was warned a year and a half ago of a looming housing and rental problem. His attitude, ignore it and quote, “leave it to the market” to sort it out. Yep, he looks like what he is in the photo – I present to you, Lord Fool of Canterbury.

  5. Seen this?

    http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2013/04/23/gordon-campbell-on-lurching-towards-the-centre-on-power-prices/

    Countering the failed Rogernomic$ right-wing market maniacs……

    Remember – follow the money!

    NZ Prime Minister John Key was a Wall St bank$ter (former head of Derivatives for Merrill Lynch, and a Foreign Exchange advisor for the New York Federal Reserve).

    John Key still holds shares in the Bank of America.

    NZ Prime Minister John Key is putting his mouth where his money is.

    Looking after investors – not the NZ public majority, many of whom are really struggling to pay their power bills.

    Remember!

    It was the collapse of the unregulated derivatives market – which arguably NZ Prime Minister John Key helped to set up – that has caused the current global financial meltdown.

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption / anti-privatisation campaigner’

    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate

    http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com

    • Mary 5.1

      When is Shearer and the rest of Labour going to start telling the public exactly how it is – along the lines for example of how Gordon Campbell’s doing it? We’re not seeing any of this kind of talk from Labour. They’re losing the war of words on this because they’re forever putting themselves on the back foot, defending the “bad commie” accusations. Come on you guys, be a proper Opposition, tell the public exactly what Key’s doing and why Labour and the Greens need to do what they’re doing. Throw some muck back at Key – call him an extreme right-wing monetarist who has no concept of how his behaviour affects average NZers. Go on, Mr Shearer, do it – I dare you. Because until you do you will keep losing the our support. You’re already looking like spoil-sports – by upsetting the moneymen’s grand plans for even bigger profits! How can that be? You guys need to make no apologies for upsetting the asset sales plan because it’s something that needs to be stopped at all cost. But Key et al are getting the public onside because (A) you’re getting in the way of government policy and (B) you’re “depriving” citizens of the opportunity of choosing to buy the shares. Boy o boy! This is easy stuff to counter. You should be all over them, but no, your softly, softly Mr Nice People approach leaves you on the back foot, defending and looking guilty. Please Mr Shearer, be the Opposition, for all of our sakes.

      • geoff 5.1.1

        This.

        Great comment, Mary.

        The cynical take is that Labour is behind this policy, not because it is anti-rent-seeking or anti-neo lib, but because they know that in some sense it is a bribe to the public and it will get them into government. Same with the housing policy. That didn’t have guts to it because it didn’t have anything in it for the truly poor and can also be seen as a cynical political bribe to get some of the swing voters.

        Once Labour is in power I don’t think they’ll try to do much more than 3rd way, Blairite fluffy nonsense.
        Will the Green’s hold their feet to the flames?

        I’d like to think that their hand will be forced by circumstance to actually make proper changes to the system. For example, if interest rates were to go up significantly, the veil on this fake economy would be lifted and half the population would have to declare bankruptcy because they couldn’t pay their mortgage.

      • Murray Olsen 5.1.2

        Good post, Mary. Labour since the 80s have always sounded like they were apologising to the bosses. Bugger the bosses – they’ve already got NAct to look after them. Labour needs to stress that it exists for the workers and forget those who get upset. Then it can move a lot more to the left and fight alongside Mana and the Greens for the things that really matter. That’d be a great start.

  6. Glg 6

    Of course any moment ‘the market’ will step in and fix everything. Right?

    • vto 6.1

      ha, not here it wont because it has abandoned the free market and put in its place the biggest collectivist and interventionist approach ever in our history…… Oh, sorry, that was for the property owners in the CBD.

      Out in the suburbs we get the full blast of free market approach.

      For business and National Party supporters – intervention and far left madness straight out of North Korea.

      For the people – the free market.

      This government is freakin’ twisted man. It’s like they are high on drugs all the time – always positive about their own position while talking absolute gibberish and making no sense whatsoever.

  7. aerobubble 7

    Someone on NR pointed out that Thatcher tightly regulated (funding it sufficiently) the privatized electricity market in the UK. Labour and National both did not, and haven’t privatized it as SOEs are still controlled mostly by govt (and even after the partial sale will control 51% of mighty river).

    So aside form the lazy arse way parliament runs this country, what other nonsense is being passed off by National. Well Key says huge amount of wealth were wiped off the share market due to Labour and Greens policy announcement, which Key went on to say would not achieve anything rather disingenuously in my view since just by speaking they have cause huge losses. Well let’s look at those losses, turned out its a bubble in electricity assets, would you say that a bubble in housing pricing were burst was a huge loss? Artificial holding up pric bubbees isn’t a value government should be worried about. But where did the money for that bubble come from? Well consumers of electricity paying too much, so all through the GFC we’ve been paying too much, taking food from out of the mouths of our families (or cars!).

    Turn out that suppliers who are also retailers in the electricity market have an unfair market position.
    This got me to thinking, when the wealthy rig the system they always fail to notice that they also weaken it, the fact that if 100,000 homes in S.Auckland all turned to do their washing at peak hour in the middle of winter you can be damn sure the prices of electricity will jump in Epsom through the next year, and that why the wealthy need smart meters. When you have a necessity like power, its only a matter of time before a unethical immoral revolutionary conservative seizes on the value and privatizes it extorting the poorest, unlike Thatcher in the UK electricity market but hey she needed to build up a victory to push through total fiscal monetary implosion (aka like you can always say Musullini got the trains to run on time). In the post Thatcher world worrying about actually doing any social good to build up trust before pushing hard right is long forgotten, all you need is a smile and a wave and MSM will come slobbering over you like a pet dog.

    So when you ask where has all your hard earned over charging for electricity gone, well in dividends to government to pay for year on year lower taxes favoring the wealthiest.

    And when Key says trust him, the market will become competitive very soon and look how National have gotten prices down, remember the prices are down because of the GFC crushing economic activity, and that Key isn’t going to change that, and even if the final rebound comes (which I believe won’t happen until fundamental thetcherites have been put to the metaphorical sword) the prices will again leap. Key will be long gone from the stage by then anyway, why trust
    a promise from a politician that can come true anymore than one that can’t when it occurs after they left office.

    So banking goes hyper-asset bubble, housing does, now even electricity assets, and we’re all paying through the nose, and what’s Key’s answer – do nothing and pooh pooh any honest debate.

  8. Andy-Roo 8

    And meanwhile, in the real world, I just posted this to my parents – who are living in a house with stuffed foundations and a leaking roof, which cannot be fixed right now because…

    • EQC is responsible for land damage within 8 meters of the house and the garage. This covers most but not all of your section
    • EQC are not responsible for foundation repairs to your house, your insurance company is, but in your case this is covered by EQC’s liability for the first 100K of damage covered by your insurance policy any way
    • In order to fix the foundations of your house, EQC / the Insurer are cooperating on a geotech programme. This is taking place in two stages, an area wide assessment and where required an individual site assessment driven by the need to fix foundations. In other words – they will not do this until they need to, and what triggers a “need to”, is plans to work on your foundations.
    • Right now EQC are stating that work on your foundations can not commence until issues with the retaining wall are addressed. Because no work can take place on your foundations, I very much doubt that there are any plans to do a site specific geo tech assessment of your property
    • Remediation of the retaining wall is not an EQC responsibility. Paths, driveways etc (and I am betting that this includes retaining walls) are specifically excluded from EQC coverage. These may or may not be covered by your insurance company depending on the type of policy that you have.
    • Given the proximity of the retaining wall to the house, (about 5m), you need to demonstrate that the retaining wall repairs meet whatever standards EQC and your insurance company deem to be appropriate. They are very specific on this point in the attached document. Here is the cleft stick… You almost certainly have to get a structural design for the wall done to prove this, and may very well have to get a geotech assessment as part of this process despite the fact that EQC will have to do a geotech assessment in order to repair the foundations. Wall first, then foundations – and if they are bastards, which they are – you pay for geo tech (if it is needed) before the wall is fixed. They don’t need to pay for geo tech for the foundations until you fix the wall, part of which process probably requires you to pay for geotech…

  9. Wayne (a different one) 9

    Eddie it’s about time you “got in real world”.

    This is nothing, but economic sabotage!

    From Milford Asset Management (who would have more economic nouse than mumbles and wussell and the whole left contingent thrown together):

    This is wanton and deliberate sabotage of our economy on the part of the Greens and Labour.

    In conclusion, to save $700m per annum from our total electricity bill the direct and indirect costs of such a scheme would be in the order of the following; $2.5bn in additional debt servicing costs, $450m reduction in dividends, $4.5bn asset write-downs from State owned enterprises, $1bn of capital destruction of the listed power companies and a reduction of $100m of dividends per annum to New Zealand shareholders.

    Well done the left – lets go F..K New Zealand once and for all – to save less than a dollar a day off a power bill!

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 9.1

      Milford Asset Management has a conflict of interest much?

      BERL don’t agree with them.

    • Murray Olsen 9.2

      Yep, the whole model is wrong. It should all be run by a single government department. Having private rentiers running any of it is pure economic sabotage. However, in the interests of class peace I would be prepared to let private companies build generating capacity and lines to supply the free market superheroes of Epsom, Remuera etc. They can burn their copies of Atlas Shrugged and The Road to Serfdom to keep warm until it’s all up and running. Better that than using socialist electricity, after all.

    • Colonial Viper 9.3

      Funny enough, after all that economist bullshit from the Gaynor, ordinary NZers are going to be better off.

      $4.5bn asset write-downs from State owned enterprises, $1bn of capital destruction of the listed power companies

      Gaynor, all this shows is that those assets were wrongly valued. Whoever did (or used) those valuations (YOU?) didn’t take into sufficient account future risks and uncertainties.

      This is simply an expected reversion to the mean, mate.

      I hope your clients aren’t too upset with you for FUCKING UP your advice to them.

  10. BrucetheMoose 10

    And they say black is slimming?

    • Colonial Viper 10.1

      LOL. But no doubt someone is going to be upset with your ‘weightist’ reference.

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    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    1 day ago
  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago
  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats why they introduced the Recently Deleted folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Heres how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on Edit. Select Show Recently Deleted. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose Recover to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    2 days ago
  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    2 days ago
  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    2 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    2 days ago
  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    2 days ago
  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    2 days ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    2 days ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    2 days ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    2 days ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    2 days ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    2 days ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    2 days ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    2 days ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    2 days ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    2 days ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    3 days ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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