Mubarak gone

Written By: - Date published: 10:12 am, February 12th, 2011 - 58 comments
Categories: International - Tags: , ,

Great news from Egypt: Hosni Mubarak has resigned. As I said a couple of week ago, Mubarak’s days were numbered when the army didn’t crush the protests against him. If you don’t control a monopoly on violence that you can exercise to eliminate threats, you’re not in charge any more.

Could we be witnessing a wave of democratisation, sparked by the oil/food crisis, like the one that swept Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall? Lets hope so.

But, remember, the army is now in charge and it was the army that overthrew the monarchy and created the dictatorship in the first place. Democracy may not be their goal.

This interview on RNZ with a Human Rights Watch activist, Daniel Williams, who was arrested by the army and interrogated by them for 36 hours is worth listening to. As Williams says “It’s not that the army is discovering this oppressive system. They created the system in this country”

Hopefully, it will be different this time, but it depends on the military men in charge and what different countries offer them. I predict that Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah is already on the blower offering financial assistance to ensure ‘stability’.

58 comments on “Mubarak gone ”

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  1. Cnr Joe 1
    12 February 2011 at 7:50 am

    well – Mubarak goodbye.

    • mickysavage 1.1
      12 February 2011 at 8:02 am

      Yep and congratulations to the people of Egypt. May your democracy be robust and inclusive.

      • luva 1.1.1
        12 February 2011 at 8:30 am

        I would hold back the congratulations for now. Great to see Mubarak gone, but who is in charge right now….the military? When are the free democratic elections going to take place?

        A few more hurdles to cross yet on the road to freedom

        • Bill 1.1.1.1
          12 February 2011 at 8:49 am

          Tanks and barbed wire still in place. And Maj. Gen. Safwat El-Zayat, a former senior official of Egypt’s General Intelligence and member of the Egyptian Council of Foreign Affairs has adivced that people should listen carefully to the anticipated communique #3.

          http://english.ahram.org.eg/~/NewsContent/1/64/5417/Egypt/Politics-/Army-and-presidency-at-odds–says-former-intellige.aspx

          See. That sounds like a lead in to a threat to me…I’m guessing communique #3 will amount to something like ‘Go home. Go back to your daily lives’ The army will take care of things from here on in. So, as you were.Or else!

          • Bored 1.1.1.1.1
            12 February 2011 at 12:47 pm

            Bill , see you posted this early today, I got the news recently. I was wondering where the army would sit, now they are in charge its all still rather uncertain as to whether the peoples demands will be met. Step one achieved with Mubarak gone, step two….who knows?

  2. ianmac 2
    12 February 2011 at 9:23 am

    There was a cartoon recently which showed a statue of Mubarak being topple but it was joined to another statue of another dictator being raised in its place. Pessimistic?

    • Anne 2.1
      12 February 2011 at 8:08 pm

      It was an Emmerson cartoon in the NZ Herald. As a cynic (born of years of observation and experience) I suspect he will ultimately be proven correct. If so, let’s hope it is a benevolent dictator.

  3. Jenny 3
    12 February 2011 at 9:43 am

    “Ripples from peoples power will spread across the Middle East”

    Kia Ora Gaza

  4. Jenny 4
    12 February 2011 at 10:04 am

    .
    Information is power. Here are two sources of the information needed by supporters of Egypt’s democracy movement all round the world:

    Watch Egypt’s fast moving events on your computer via Aljazeera TV’s live stream. Just click here.

    Get the latest news and analysis about Egypt at kiaoragaza.net, the website of New Zealand’s Gaza aid convoy network Kia Ora Gaza.

    captcha – ‘associations’

  5. Colonial Viper 5
    12 February 2011 at 10:33 am

    A very very sensitive time. There needs to be a group of military Generals and Colonels who have a greater vision of Egypt. And civilian leadership willing to drive that vision. Very very difficult time, although Mubarak hanging on and enforcing a bloody military crack down would have been bad, this juncture with him gone is where it could now all go really wrong for another 50 years.

  6. Jenny 6
    12 February 2011 at 10:34 am

    .
    Walk like an Egyptian

    “This is the first time in my life I feel free”

    Fireworks in Tahrir Square

    In Tahrir, protesters hugged, kissed and wept. Whole families took pictures of each other posing with Egyptian flags with their mobile phones as bridges over the Nile jammed with throngs more flowing into the square.

    Abdul-Rahman Ayyash, an online activist born eight years after Mubarak came to office, said he would be celebrating all night, then remain in the square to ensure the military “won’t steal the revolution.”

    “I’m 21 years old,” he said. “This is the first time in my life I feel free.”

    (AP report stuff.co.nz)

  7. the sprout 7
    12 February 2011 at 10:45 am

    John Key loses another mate.

    I wonder how Egypt’s new administration will view Key’s endorsement of the billionaire dictator last week?

    • Colonial Viper 7.1
      12 February 2011 at 11:18 am

      The US must be happy that the wave of democracy they instigated with the Iraq war is finally happening.

      • Pascal's bookie 7.1.1
        12 February 2011 at 11:26 am

        Heh. Funnily enough when it first broke half the US right was running exactly this line. “Bush was right!”

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-z2D9lo9-8

        (yes, they sure do suck at music, them righties)

        The other half were shittin themselves about teh terrible mooslims. The folks with the smelly pants eventually won the argument and, last night at least, Fox was wall to wall ‘Oh Noes!!’ and
        ‘aaaargh’s.

    • Jenny 7.2
      12 February 2011 at 11:26 am

      “I wonder how Egypt’s new administration will view Key’s endorsement of the billionaire dictator last week?”

      Sprout

      Sprout, in response to the brutal insensitivity and vapid ignorance of our Prime Minister, the Egyptians would be well within their rights, if they downgraded New Zealand’s ‘Favoured Trading Nation’ status.

      Maybe this marks the time for the voters of New Zealand to follow the Egyptian people’s example and use our ballot to get rid of this affable clown, and the nasty right wing administration he fronts for?

      Maybe it is about time Key stopped meddling in politics, (a subject he, obviously, knows little about), and went back to his old job of money trading and speculation?

      As an Egyptian expatriate told the 500 strong, pro-democracy protest, called in Auckland last weekend:

      “I won’t tell you who to vote for, but no one should vote for someone who supports tyranny and corruption.”

      • Anne 7.2.1
        12 February 2011 at 8:23 pm

        Don’t worry. Murray McCully has galloped in on his pure white steed and expressed his delight at the overthrow of Mubarak. That should do it 😀

        Took his cue from Barack?

    • Deadly_NZ 7.3
      12 February 2011 at 9:53 pm

      And i see the Swiss have frozen his accounts problem is he probably got more around. the other problem he was just the head of the ‘machine’ all the others are still in power probably scared shitless they going to fall too. So look for a few people buying suitcases and plane tickets to one of the ever shrinking dictatorships left..

  8. dave brown 8
    12 February 2011 at 11:12 am

    The Revolution has Begun: let’s make it International and Permanent!
    http://amplify.com/u/apwzl

  9. Pascal's bookie 9
    12 February 2011 at 11:22 am

    Interesting article here on how this might affect Israel/Palestine:

    http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/02/10/why_the_egypt_revolution_is_good_for_israel?page=full

    Skinny:

    No settlement has been possible while the region is undemocratic. Having an undemocratic regime in Egypt has allowed Israel to avoid genuine negotiation. Game could be up. If so, then this is, ultimately, a Good Thing.

    I concur.

  10. Angus 10
    12 February 2011 at 11:28 am

    “The Revolution has Begun: let’s make it International and Permanent!”

    What utter Pollyanna-ish nonsense.

    When the caliphate gets restored, all you commies will be first up against the wall (after all the Jews & queers of course)

  11. Chris73 11
    12 February 2011 at 11:35 am

    So the militarys in control and no doubt Islam (not the religion of course but the hard-liners) will have a say in how things are run, not wanting to be cynical but I’d bet things are going to get worse for Egypt

    • Colonial Viper 11.1
      12 February 2011 at 11:45 am

      Yeah its a strong possibility Chris73.

      I hope that the Egyptians can get some good advice from the likes of Turkey, Malaysia and Indonesia. None of these Muslim influenced states have outstanding track records at democratic rule – but far better than what Egypt has been surviving under the last few years.

    • joe90 11.2
      12 February 2011 at 11:55 am

      Worse than this?.

      He simply was sitting in a Cyber Cafe, when two policemen walked inside and demanded the ID’s of everyone who was sitting there. When he refused to give it to them, they grabbed him, tied him up, dragged him out of the Cafe, took him to a nearby building where for 20 minutes they beat him to death, smashing his head on the handrail of the staircase, while he screamed and begged for his life, and as people around watched helplessly, knowing that if they did something, they would be accused of assaulting a police officer, which would pretty much guarantee them a similar fate. This went on for 20 minutes. Think about that. You are beaten to death, by those who swore to protect you, while the people in your neighborhood watched silently, and as your pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears. 28. Not yet married. Still having the rest of your life ahead of you. No More.

      • Blondie 11.2.1
        12 February 2011 at 1:21 pm

        @ joe90

        Oh god….. that story is awful, the pics are even worse. I’m speechless. God. I can’t imagine how the people of Egypt must feel….. and even now, while they celebrate Mubarak’s downfall, they must wonder what more is to come. Terrifying.

    • Marty G 11.3
      12 February 2011 at 12:19 pm

      The egyptian military is secularist – as is the norm in the middle east. They’re not going to get in bed with militant islam. And the muslim brotherhood aren’t as extreme as al qaeda et al

  12. DJames 12
    12 February 2011 at 11:37 am

    It wont be a easy change. The good thing is that Egyptians and their military are more educated now about democracies and why they’re the gold standard. Going for gold is not always easy but it’s worth it.

  13. Olwyn 13
    12 February 2011 at 12:08 pm

    Is the fall of the Berlin wall the best image of a transition to democracy Eddie? I know the outcome was a mixed one, but the rapid advance of corporatism did leave economies largely made up of mafia millionaires, hookers and mail order brides. And if a recent radio game is anything to go by, the last trend at least continues. The people in Egypt I think have taken a major step but have a long way to go yet. Anti-spam word: markets (eerie)

  14. Anthony C 14
    12 February 2011 at 12:09 pm

    The focus on toppling Mubarak probably means the mechanism behind will sweep into power.

    It’s probably the great thing about dictators – they’re an easy target, and a great scapegoat for a regime.

    I’ll hold judgement until free and fair elections are held.

    • Bored 14.1
      12 February 2011 at 12:51 pm

      Well spotted, but importantly the people know they can prevail against anybody if its more of the same. See Joe below, its spreading, Yemen is in uproar, Saudi Arabia next week.

    • Jenny 14.2
      12 February 2011 at 1:02 pm

      Viva l’ Audace

      Nothing succeeds like success.

      New horizons have been opened for the people of Egypt and the whole Middle East, and anything is possible.

      I agree that, it is not a foregone conclusion. But I am optimistic that the final outcome will be a vast improvement on the brutal regime that has oppressed the Egyptian people for so long.

      After suffering so much, I have faith that the Egyptians will not allow one oppressive dictatorship to be replaced with another.

      So Anthony C I think this is a time to celebrate the Egyptian people, and their new found freedom and wider horizons.

      After all if the Egyptian people can topple such a deeply entrenched dictator, all his henchmen are just as surely, answerable to the will of the people as well, if not more so.

      Viva viva

      captcha – “staying” as in, free from tyranny.

      • Jenny 14.2.1
        12 February 2011 at 1:23 pm

        .
        “Euphoria in Arab states”

        Radio New Zealand transcript

        Nobel peace prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei says Mr Mubarak’s resignation is the greatest day in his life.
        Asked if he was going to run for the presidency, Mr ElBaradei said he was just happy to see Egypt liberated.
        “My message to the Egyptian people is that you have gained your liberty,” he said in an interview with Al-Jazeera television. “Let’s make the best use of it and God bless you.”

  15. joe90 15
    12 February 2011 at 12:36 pm

    #Yemen

    In #Yemen, police are firing on civilians…please retweet #Jan25 #Feb17 #SidiBouzid http://tiny.cc/1ksgl

  16. ianmac 16
    12 February 2011 at 5:50 pm

    Wonder how much Mubarak actually knew about the day to day running of his country? Always thought that GW Bush was a figure-head and the real power, like Cheney, was a lot less visible.
    Is it possible that even now the real power in Egypt is out of sight and therefore will remain?

  17. Jenny 17
    12 February 2011 at 10:29 pm

    “The day of Departure”

    Exactly a week ago an estimated 1 million Egyptians joined protests dubbed the “Day of Departure”.

    They were only out by one week

    “Farewell Friday”

    Pro-democracy activists dubbed yesterday’s protests “Farewell Friday”. Only two days earlier Mubarak looked unshakeable and immovable. But with massive industrial strike actions, and millions protesting in the Streets of every city and town, Egypt’s people finally forced Mubarak to resign amongst scenes of jubilation.

    Following Mubarak’s announcement, our correspondent in Tahrir Square, said: “Tonight, after all of these weeks of frustration, of violence, of intimidation … today the people of Egypt undoubtedly [feel they] have been heard, not only by the president, but by people all around the world.”
    “The sense of euphoria is simply indescribable,” said our correspondent at Mubarak’s Heliopolis presidential palace, where at least ten thousand pro-democracy activists had gathered.

    “I have waited, I have worked all my adult life to see the power of the people come to the fore and show itself. I am speechless,” Dina Magdi, a pro-democracy campaigner in Tahrir Square told Al Jazeera.

    “The moment is not only about Mubarak stepping down, it is also about people’s power to bring about the change that no-one … thought possible.”

    In Alexandria, Egypt’s second city, our correspondent described an “explosion of emotion”. He said that hundreds of thousands were celebrating in the streets.

    Protests were also reported from the cities of Mansoura, Mahalla, Suez, Tanta and Ismailia with thousands in attendance.

    Now that’s something.

    18 days that shook the world

  18. kriswgtn 18
    12 February 2011 at 10:33 pm

    2 words sum it up for me

    People Power

    • Chris73 18.1
      12 February 2011 at 10:43 pm

      Shame that in Egypt it’ll be:

      Military Power

      • T 18.1.1
        13 February 2011 at 5:09 am

        Conscript Army. Lots of overlap between ‘People’ and ‘Military’. The Generals may want power, but it’ll be difficult if they can’t get their footsoldiers to intimidate the civilians. The civilians of Egypt will be emboldened after their victory against Mubarak. It’ll take a lot to intimidate them now. It’ll also take a massive pay rise for the footsoldiers to reliably intimidate their friends and families. The military gets their money from the US and various business interests in Egypt.

        • Carol 18.1.1.1
          13 February 2011 at 9:11 am

          There were some skirmishes between protesters and the army who tried to dismantle barricades yesterday. Protesters resisted and the barricades remained.
          http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201121217639448807.html

          Also a core of protesters are staying in Cairo’s square until their main demands are met.

          They are also setting up a “Coincil of Trustees” (of the revolution). They want an on-going dialogue with the military rulers, to ensure their demands are met. They have about 3 main demands they are prioritising to be met first. As I recall they are:

          1) all political prisoners to be freed.
          2) lift emergency laws
          3) dismantle security aparatus

          The CoT say they will bring the people out on the streets again if their demands aren’t met.

          As someone said on AlJazeera this morning, the protesters have been very well organised from the beginning.

          I saw a programme on AJ Live online this morning about the Egyptian bloggers. They are pretty fearless. Some have already done stints in prison. And they have managed to develop an engaged network of activists through social networking and street protests.

          They say it is difficult for the authorities to stop them because they don’t have a single leader, are networked, and very IT savvy.

          • Colonial Viper 18.1.1.1.1
            13 February 2011 at 10:23 am

            I thought those protesters in the square were well organised too. Mubarak’s resignation was announced, and the protestors had fireworks ready to celebrate!

        • Chris73 18.1.1.2
          13 February 2011 at 9:12 am

          True but there’ll be the hard-core professional army as well, hard to see the army giving up 50-60 years of power

          • Rosy 18.1.1.2.1
            13 February 2011 at 9:17 am

            There was some talk of a little bit of a disconnect between the generals and the soldiers. It’s possible the generals won’t really be sure if the foot soldiers will support them if they do anything too hardline.

            • Carol 18.1.1.2.1.1
              13 February 2011 at 9:39 am

              This is the impression I have gained from watching Al Jazeera in the last few days:

              I don’t think the problem is a military dictorship for the foreseeable future in Egypt. The problem is the strong connection with, and influence from, the US military & its government: the Egyptian army relies on funds, training and resources from the US for its power. That is at least part of the reason the army has treated the protesters softly. The US doesn’t want to be supporting violent repression in the face of such a strong demonstration of people power and desire for democracy.

              The US government has been caught off-guard by the rise in people power, and have been struggling to develop a consistent line. Obama’s first efforts was to support the plan put in place by the Republican presidents a while back, to have a transition to Suileman. This was clearly out of touch with the mood of the Egyptian people. I think the Egyptian top brass & the US had agreed a couple of days ago that Mubarak would go and Suileman would take charge.

              Obama in his statement just prior to Mubarak’s TV speech, seemed to be expecting him to stand down. Mubarak defied them by refusing to stand down fully in that speech, saying that he would not give in to “outside pressure”. After another day of behind-the-scenes struggle and negotiations, he stood down, leaving the US-supported entities still in charge: the army generals and Suileman.

              Obama then made a kind of victory speech, aligning the protesters’ call for democracy with the sentiments/beliefs of US citizens. Now, behind the scenes, the US will be maneuvering to get their people into electable positions in a new look Egyptian democracy – as in Iraq. The US government will then mobilise all its propaganda (and black-ops) machinery to promote its people into positions of power in the new Egyptian government.

  19. Locus 19
    13 February 2011 at 1:45 am

    This was not just a one shot uprising. This revolution has been building for years. The Egyptian people, who so completely demonstrated that they have nothing to lose, will not let army generals or a dictator run the country. The military will only be tolerated while it allows the people to build the democratic framework they want. Their transition to democracy is going to be a huge challenge, but I am very optimistic. Just look at the passion! For every Egyption under the age of 50 this was a life changing moment. For the first time in their lives they discovered they have the power to make things change. They won’t waste this chance.

  20. Tiger Mountain 20
    13 February 2011 at 9:38 am

    The best indicator of future behaviour is often past behaviour, particularly regarding military regimes. How many times has Bainimarama now reneged on elections for Fiji?

    Strikes and continued mass action will be required for the Egyptian people to ensure further progress.
    Any alliances they may have with sections of the military surely cannot be relied on. Many have lost their lives already and one shudders to think about revenge action from the security forces. Safety in numbers and seeking international solidarity, including opening the borders with Gaza need to be pursued.

    The yanks will ultimately not countenance their local enforcer Israel being compromised, which is what will happen as freedom for Egyptian people increases.

  22. HC 22
    13 February 2011 at 11:18 am

    “EDDIE” I totally share your hope but am realistic and at the same time fairly sceptical that there will be the changes happening that the protestors actually went on the streets for in their millions. Mubarak came from the military as basically all previous presidents since King Faruq was overthrown. The military is around 400000 strong and also has a sizeable reserve. It owns land, companies and has a fair share in the whole Egyptian economy that it controls. The present government will apparently stay in power for time being, and it remains to be seen what kind of constitution will be drawn up, who will form parties running for an election and when such a vote will indeed take place. The Defence Minister is not known for being a reformer, and he will make sure that his military forces – especially the large number of officers – will be looked after well. The army has been breaching human rights also, and who will address those crimes in future? I doubt that the military leadership even want to go that far and have any established body look at past human rights breaches. So I feel the fools are dancing and not realising that nothing substantial at all has changed. State media remains untouched, state institutions and businesses will more or less return to what they did before. Marches of millions are impressive, but that may not be enough to change fundamentally the social and economic realities in a country like Egyt. Corruption is yet another problem, that is widespread. It will not be defeated easily.

    • Carol 22.1
      13 February 2011 at 11:25 am

      There was a guy on AlJazeera this morning who had recently written a book saying that Egypt was on the brink of revolution. He was asked why the Egyptian people had such a favourable attitude to the military. He said that the army censored any opinions criticising it. The author said that, in the past he had been interviewed my Egyptian media. His statements criticising Mubarak were published in full. However, his criticisms of the Egyptian military weren’t published.

    • Colonial Viper 22.2
      13 February 2011 at 11:31 am

      At this stage I feel that taking all privileges from the military is out of the question.

      Backing the most powerful and wealthy in the society to feel into a corner, particularly if many of them have control of big guns is not wise. Further, a well led secular military can act as a buffer against religious extremism, and as a grounding influence for political stability. From that respect they are quite handy to have around.

      Governmental rule which is fair, democratic, and observes due process and human rights would be an excellent start. The excesses of extreme wealth and nepotism curbed while new, real opportunities for every day Egyptians to participate in are created. Closing down of secret jails and clandestine security units.

      Yes, corruption etc will continue to be a serious problem, but in a way, that really is a known quantity.

      I hope a principled civilian administration with strong leadership can emerge to work productively with the military Generals over this transition period.

  23. HC 23
    13 February 2011 at 12:20 pm

    Who will hold accountable those thousands of secret police officers, the Presidential Guard, the general police force for the torture, beatings and numerous human rights breaches that happened? I hear and see nothing of the sorts like a “Truth and Reconciliation” body that was established in South Africa after Apartheid was abolished and free elections followed. With the military in Egypt holding the strings there is going to be only very little “progress”.

    Due to the Egyptian economy and particularly the military being very dependent on foreign “aid” the US will also ensure that no kind of “democracy” will get established that may bring in a government led by the Muslim Brotherhood. Here we will eventually see again the quiet cooperation between the US, the Egyptian military and the elite in Egypt that has upheld the system that was until two days ago for over 30 years.

    It remains to be seen whether the new opposition and supposed mass movement will realise this in time and take the necessary action. Also bear in mind that this uprising was initially started by the rather middle class professionals and students, of whom many do not find the jobs and opportunities they feel they deserve. They have laptops, internet access, mobile phones and can access Facebook, Twitter and other online communication forums. It is not so much the average factory worker, the street cleaners, the peasants and low paid service providers who enjoy an income to afford such means.

    Hence it is hardly a true groundswell “revolution”.

    Let us see where their loyalties will lie!

  24. joe90 24
    13 February 2011 at 12:46 pm

    Hence it is hardly a true groundswell “revolution”

    A wee snippet that could well have come from Maddows how the right explains Egypt.

  25. HC 25
    14 February 2011 at 12:06 am

    Ha – just read on Al Jazeera’s English website and the BBC News website that the military is now trying “to clear” Tahrir Square of the last staunch protesters!? Any questions and any further ideas or comments, dear folk???

    • Colonial Viper 25.1
      14 February 2011 at 12:17 am

      A little bit dodgy, nevertheless the disturbances seem minor. What would inspire some confidence is if the authorities suspended the state of emergency which has been in place for 30 years.

      Its not surprising that at the moment, many of the protestors remain dubious of the military’s longer term intentions. Mubarak is gone, but his oppressive state machinery is unchanged.
      And in the background the Americans are negotiating with the Egyptian military, whom they have long standing assistance ties with.

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    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 5, 2024 thru Sat, May 11, 2024. (Unfortunate) Story of the week "Grief that stops at despair is an ending that I and many others, most notably ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • The Gods Must Be Woke.
    Last night the largest solar storm in decades resulted in Aurorae being seen across Aotearoa, causing many to ask why?Why was the sky pink? What was all this stuff about the power grid? Have we, as so many have wondered since the election, reached the end of days?I had a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • More road
    We have been on the road in England, squeezing down narrow lanes, flying up the M6, loving hedgerows and villages and cathedrals, liking the 21st century less.There have been moments when it’s felt like a movie trope. The pub in Exford, lovely seventeenth century bar, almost more dogs than people, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Seeing the Aurora Australis
    There’s a solar-storm on at the moment, and since the South Island is having a day and night with clear skies, that means Aurorae. I have just got back from a midnight visit to Tunnel Beach – southwards-looking over the Sea, and without the light pollution. Quite a few others ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    2 days ago

  • Welcome to the current welfare mess
    Michael Bassett writes – I’m not sure that it’s much comfort to anyone to know that the post-Covid surge in violent crimes, gang activity, ram raids, random shootings, thuggery and stabbings is occurring in other countries as well as New Zealand. These days, wagging school, out-of-control welfare and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A shovel-ready autopsy
    Oliver Hartwich writes –  Cast your mind back to mid-December. A new Prime Minister had just been sworn in, the new Government started its 100-day programme, and Christmas was only days away.Amid all the haste, a report landed that would have deserved our attention.I am talking about the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Why we almost blacked out and how to fix it
    TL;DR: An unseasonally early icy blast at the same time as some long-overdue maintenance almost caused Aotearoa-NZ’s electricity system to black out this week. That’s because a quadropoly of gentailers1 have prioritised paying dividends from their rising profits and adding debt over investing in 1.5 GigaWatts of new wind farms ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • What Is Instagram Trying To Sell Us?
    Hi,Before we crack into today’s Webworm, I wanted to acknowledge the fact that Israel is pushing into Rafah. Over 100,000 Palestinians are now attempting to flee the one place that was deemed “safe”.Trouble is, the place they’re fleeing to is already destroyed. Total annihilation is the end goal here.“Israel is ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago

  • Precious Little Excitement: Warner Brothers, Peter Jackson, and Gollum
    Back in February 2023, I made the cardinal mistake of getting my hopes up. Warner Brothers declared that fresh Middle-earth movies were in the works: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/02/24/it-never-rains-but-it-pours-warner-brothers-and-impending-tolkien-adaptations/ My assumption, based on which rights were available, and what had already been done, was that this was a stab at either the Angmar ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    4 days ago

  • Do We Need a Population Census?
    ‘It has been said that figures rule the world. Maybe. I am quite sure that it is figures which show us whether it is being ruled well or badly.’ GoetheI was struck at a recent conference on equity for the elderly, how many presenters implicitly relied upon Statistics New Zealand. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago

  • No, the govt will not be cutting back on every budget – and the Defence vote is among those to be ...
    Buzz from the Beehive Reporting on defence spending late last year, RNZ said the coalition government will have to make some tough calls this term to help the force address staff shortages and ageing infrastructure. “These are huge, huge amounts of government spending. It’s a significant proportion of the government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The Treasury and productivity
    Late last week The Treasury released a new 40 page report on “The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections” (productivity forecasts and projections that is, rather than any possible fiscal implications – the latter will, I guess, be articulated in the Budget documents). In short, if (as it has) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • The Controller and Auditor-General’s role
    Peter Dunne writes –  I am always wary when I hear that the Controller and Auditor-General has commented on or made recommendations to the government about an issue of public policy that does not relate strictly to public expenditure. According to the legislation, the role of the Controller ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • More harm than good
    How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought NZ to the brink of economic and cultural chaos   Chris Trotter writes –  TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Real reason Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Chhour
    And why did the Crown not challenge the Tribunal’s jurisdiction?   Gary Judd writes –  Retired District Court Judge, David Harvey, has posted on his A Halflings View Substack an excellent summary of Justice Isacs’ judgment declining to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Losing confidence in the integrity of NZ elections
    Bryce Edwards writes – Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result?As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Macklemore's Pro-Palestinian Protest.
    Macklemore isn’t someone I’d usually think about. Sure I liked his big hit from a few years back, everybody did it was catchy and cool with some memorable lines. But if I was going to think of artists who might speak out on political matters or world events, he wouldn’t ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on miserly school lunches, and the banning of TikTok’s Gaza coverage
    Another week goes by in the Luxon government’s efforts to roll back the past 70 years of social progress. The school lunches programme is to be downgraded by $107 million, and women need bother their heads no longer about pay equity, let alone expect ACC to provide adequate sexual violence ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 10-May-2024
    Brrr, the first cold snap of the year. Hope you’re rugged up nice and warm. Here are some stories that caught our eye this week… This Week on Greater Auckland On Monday, we had a post from a new contributor, Connor Sharp, who dug into the public feedback ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to May 10
    Almost all of the Wellington City Council’s recommended zoning changes to allow many more apartments and townhouses in its inner-suburbs have been approved.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guest on geopolitics, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #19 2024
    Open access notables A Global Increase in Nearshore Tropical Cyclone Intensification, Balaguru et al., Earth's Future: Tropical Cyclones (TCs) inflict substantial coastal damages, making it pertinent to understand changing storm characteristics in the important nearshore region. Past work examined several aspects of TCs relevant for impacts in coastal regions. However, ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Losing confidence in the integrity of NZ elections
    Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result? As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and always answered “yes”, with very few ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • The Song of Saqua: Volume VIII
    Thus far May has followed on from a quiet April in the blogging department, but in fairness, it has been another case of doing what I am supposed to be doing, namely writing original fiction. Plus reading. So don’t worry – I have been productive. But in order to reassure ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago

  • Pretending to talk other people’s languages
    Fakes can come in many forms.A Rolex, for instance.A tan can be fake. Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • What’s new? A social agency with an emphasis on “investment” instead of “wellbeing” – b...
    Buzz from the Beehive A new government agency will open for business on July 1 – the Social Investment Agency. As a new standalone central agency effective from 1 July, it will lead the development of social investment across Government, helping ministers understand who they need to invest in, what ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Following the political money
    Bryce Edwards writes –    “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Hipkins would rather no one remember that he was Minister of Education
    Alwyn Poole writes –  After being elected to Parliament in 2008 the maiden speech of Hipkins was substantially around education policy. He was Labour’s spokesperson for education 2011 – 2017. He was Minister for Education from 2017 until February 2023. This is approximately 88% of the time Labour ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Fashionable follies
    Eric Crampton writes –  A fashion industry group is lobbying for protections. They make the usual arguments and a newer one. None of it makes sense. An industry group says it pumped $7.8 billion into the economy last year – that’s 1.9 percent of New Zealand’s GDP. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Justice for Bainimarama!
    In December 2006, Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama overthrew the elected government in a coup. He ruled Fiji for the next 16 years, first as dictator, then as "elected" Prime Minister. But now, he's finally been sent to jail where he belongs. Sadly, this isn't for his real crime of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • March for Nature in June
    Don't like National's corrupt Muldoonist "fast-track" law? Aotearoa's environmental NGO's - Greenpeace, Forest & Bird, WWF, Coromandel Watchdog, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and others - have announced a joint march against it in Auckland in June: When: 13:00, 8 June, 2024 Where: Aotea Square, Auckland You ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Thursday May 9
    Seymour describes sushi as too woke for school meals. There are no fish sushi meals recommended by the School Lunches programme. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Government will swap out hot meals for packaged sandwiches to save $107 million on school lunches for poor kids. MSD has pulled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • The non-woke $3 Lunch.
    I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadenceBut I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeahBut it's on the table, the fire's cookin'And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'But I'm goin' hungry, yeahSome ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Labour’s chickens come home to roost
    The Ardern Government’s chickens came home to roost yesterday with the news that the country is short of natural gas. In 2018, Labour banned offshore petroleum exploration, and industry executives say that the attendant loss of confidence by the industry impacted overall investment in onshore gas fields. Energy Resources Minister ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Calvin Reviews Lord of The Rings
    Hi,If you’ve been digging through the newly launched Webworm store (orders are being dispatched worldwide as I type!) you’ll have noticed the best model we had was Calvin.This is Calvin.Calvin.Calvin is 7, and is the son of my producer over on Flightless Bird, Rob — aka “Wobby Wob”. Rob also ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • Climate Adam: How to visualise Climate Change (ft. Katharine Hayhoe)
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Climate change is everywhere. And when something's everywhere it can feel like it's nowhere. So how do we get our heads ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • The wrong direction
    Some good news on climate change today: the energy transition away from fossil fuels is picking up speed, and renewables now make up 30% of global electricity supply. Meanwhile, in Aotearoa, we're moving in the opposite direction, with Genesis Energy announcing that it will resume importing Indonesian coal. Their official ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • National hates democracy
    Its a law like gravity: whenever a right-wing government is elected, they start attacking democracy. And now, after talking to their Republican and Tory and Fidesz chums at the International Democracy Union forum in Wellington, National is doing it here, announcing plans to remove election-day enrolment. Or, to put it ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • No Tikanga Please, We're Lawyers.
    Yesterday Winston Peters focussed his attention on the important matter at hand. Tweeting. Like the former, and quite possibly next, orange POTUS, from whom he takes much of his political strategy, Winston is an avid X’er.His message didn’t resemble an historic address this time. In fact it was more reminiscent ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Member’s Day
    Today is a Member's Day, and it seems we've entered the slowdown as things emerge from select committee. First up is the committee stage of Greg O'Connor's Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) (Overseas Travel Reporting) Amendment Bill, which will be followed by the second readings of Stuart ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Hurrah for coal – Shane Jones welcomes Genesis Energy’s import plans as natural gas production s...
    Buzz from the Beehive A significant decline in natural gas production has given Resources Minister Shane Jones an opportunity to reiterate his enthusiasm for the mining and burning of coal. For good measure, he has praised an announcement from Genesis Energy that it will resume importing coal. He and Energy ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Following the political money
    “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The political parties are legally obliged to make ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • A Left-Right ranking of universities in NZ: a practical guide for students and parents
    Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim. Extreme Left   Auckland University of Technology Evidence The ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  •  Inflation and GST thresholds
    Eric Crampton writes –  I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Green Party grapples with persistent scandals
    Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes –  Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • A law school to be avoided – Auckland University of Technology
    Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • 17 people in Malaita stand in way of China’s takeover of the Solomons
    Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the Hamas Ceasefire Offer, and Mark Mitchell’s Incompetence
    With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Wednesday May 8
    Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • A few PT announcements
    There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Green Party grapples with persistent scandals
    Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • At a glance – Tree ring proxies and the divergence problem
    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
    7 days ago

  • Nothing to sneer at
    Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • Still on their bullshit
    When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • Drawn
    A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • A nod and a wink that will unnecessarily cost Aucklanders tens of millions per year
    Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Correcting the Corrections announcement – a fiscal farce that should bother the OECD
     Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  •  Like it or not, the Kiwis are either going into ‘Pillar 2’ – or they are going to China
    Chris Trotter writes –  Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • A balanced and an unbalanced article
    David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Deeply unserious country
    Every bit of this seems insane. And people wonder why productivity is falling through the floor. Energy News reports that the Environment Court finally threw out Allan Crafar’s appeal against a solar farm. From the story: Consent was granted in 2022. Crafar appealed November 2022. On what grounds? That ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students
    The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…  Gary Judd KC writes –  I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/?p=77196
    The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    7 days ago

  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Tuesday, May 7
    TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • HM Prison Aotearoa.
    A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • COVID-19 Inquiry terms of reference consultation results received
    “The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • The Pacific family of nations – the changing security outlook
    Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests  Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues  Ladies and Gentlemen,  Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru    It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • NZ and Papua New Guinea to work more closely together
    Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Driving ahead with Roads of Regional Significance
    The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • New Zealand congratulates new Solomon Islands government
    A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office.    “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand supports UN Palestine resolution
    New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Speech to the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium
    Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • $571 million for Defence pay and projects
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Climate change – mitigating the risks and costs
    New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Getting new job seekers on the pathway to work
    Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Accelerating Social Investment
    A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Getting Back on Track
    Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with  your Board and team, for hosting me.   I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • NZ – European Union ties more critical than ever
    Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith,   Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States,   Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us.   Ladies and gentlemen -    In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Therapeutic Products Act to be repealed
    The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Decisions on Wellington City Council’s District Plan
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Rape Awareness Week: Government committed to action on sexual violence
    Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston.  “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Smarter lunch programme feeds more, costs less
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Report provides insights into marine recovery
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