National is now barking at Tahrs

Written By: - Date published: 1:38 pm, September 26th, 2018 - 157 comments
Categories: Conservation, disaster, Environment, national, same old national, spin, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, twitter, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

Is this evidence that National has gone full wingnut conspiracy crazy? Or a cynical exercise in harvesting email addresses? Or both?

Whatever the reason National has started a petition against a DOC planned Tahr cull. Here is the tweet:

What was the dastardly Government planning?

From National’s website:

The Government must halt its cull of 17,500 Tahr, due to start this weekend.

The Government is pushing ahead with the cull before even consulting with recreational hunters and the hunting industry.

Not only that, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage has also instructed DOC to cull bull tahr against specific advice from hunting representatives and expert tourism operators.

But rather than an evil plan by this Government to take away the rights of ordinary kiwis to hunt Tahr what the Government is doing is sticking to a plan that was formulated in 1993. By National.

https://twitter.com/Publicwrongs/status/1044755505954967552

And DOC had a Tahr control for parts of the South Island that the last National Government signed off in 2015.

Eugenie Sage set out the reasons for the cull in this press release. From the release:

A cull of introduced Himalayan tahr browsing conservation land in Kā Tiritiri o Te Moana/ the Southern Alps is needed to protect special alpine plants and their habitats, Conservation Minister, Eugenie Sage said.

“I have asked the Department of Conservation (DOC) to step up efforts to control Himalayan tahr on public conservation land in the central Southern Alps.

“Tahr numbers have reached damaging levels with an estimated population of 35,000 animals on public conservation land. That is more than three times the number of animals permitted by the long established Himalayan Tahr Control Plan,” Eugenie Sage said.

“Heavy browsing and trampling by mobs of tahr damages, and can potentially wipe out the native plants they feed on, including tall tussocks and iconic species like the Aoraki/Mt Cook buttercup. On thin mountain soils it also increases soil erosion risks.

“New Zealand cannot afford to lose threatened native plants unique to our alpine areas. We need to work together to bring the population back down to a sustainable level.

“I am in discussion with some leaders of the hunting sector and will be re-engaging with them soon to discuss various concerns and gain a common understanding of the data. I also want to address some of the misinformation that’s been circulated. To be very clear there is no plan to eradicate tahr.

“DOC will aim to remove 10,000 tahr over the next eight months to help prevent the current population increasing further. I intend to discuss with the hunting, commercial wild animal recovery operators and other members of the Tahr Liaison Group what a suitable target would be for these groups.” Eugenie Sage said.

“Even after this control work is done, there will still be ample tahr to sustain guided tahr hunting and tourist ventures,” Eugenie Sage said.

“The control work needs to happen urgently. There’s a real risk the total population will explode further with another summer breeding season unless control work is done now.”

I enjoyed the Twitter responses:

This is Republican gun rights right wing crazy rhetoric from National’s social media team.  They should be ashamed.

157 comments on “National is now barking at Tahrs ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Muttonbird 1
    26 September 2018 at 2:05 pm

    Further evidence that the National Party of New Zealand has absolutely zero idea about the New Zealand environment.

    They have allowed the pollution by dairy farmers of NZ waterways in the pursuit of profit. And they have allowed Kauri to perish by cutting research funding for its protection. My kids now cannot walk the tracks that my parents walked with me!

    Now they wish to turn NZ high country into a prolonged, barren, helicopter-hunting Schwarzenegger/Rambo paradise explicitly for the preserve of local and international gun-toting hunters.

    And this for the ‘preservation’ of a foreign species of goat.

    Green Party take note before jumping into bed with this Blue poison.

  2. chris73 2
    26 September 2018 at 2:10 pm

    Need to be careful about this, theres a helluva lot of hunters out there that won’t be liking this.

    Not saying its wrong but, on this, Labour should tread carefully

    • Ad 2.1
      26 September 2018 at 2:12 pm

      You really think Labour or the Greens will gain some of the hunter vote by stopping the cull?

      Checked the party vote breakdown in Fiordland/western southland, or Waitaki recently?

      • chris73 2.1.1
        26 September 2018 at 2:16 pm

        Quite the opposite, I think this has the potential to bite Labour in the bum.

        • Ad 2.1.1.1
          26 September 2018 at 2:49 pm

          So if the cull was stopped, what political advantage would there be to the government?

          • chris73 2.1.1.1.1
            26 September 2018 at 2:57 pm

            Well as I replied to muttonbird below:

            ‘A 2017 report published by the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council shows that while most registered hunters in New Zealand are men (153,341), women now make up 8 per cent (13,334).”

            So a bit less than what NZFirst got and bit more than what the Greens got at the last election’

            Those numbers are approximately worth 6% of the vote, numbers worth thinking about I’d have thought

            • In Vino 2.1.1.1.1.1
              26 September 2018 at 3:25 pm

              Oh, give it up, chris73. Hunters are usually dumb-arse twits who believe that a valid contest between man and Nature is them going out into the wild with a gun that they did not invent (some despicable brainy nerd did that) and cold-bloodedly murdering some dumb animal which does not have a gun to fight back with. They all have blue brains, and are going to vote National regardless of anything at all. Get real!

      • Gosman 2.1.2
        26 September 2018 at 2:18 pm

        National is attacking NZ First not Labour and The Greens on this issue.

      • Shane 2.1.3
        27 September 2018 at 3:44 pm

        No but they could sure lose a few.

    • Muttonbird 2.2
      26 September 2018 at 2:16 pm

      How many hunters are there chris? That like to shoot animals from hired helicopters?

    • Kevin 2.3
      26 September 2018 at 4:24 pm

      Well, they clearly haven’t been doing their fucking job, have they Chris?

      35,000 Animals when there should only be 10,000.

    • Gabby 2.4
      26 September 2018 at 7:46 pm

      They can hunt possums chrissy.

    • Cinny 2.5
      26 September 2018 at 8:11 pm

      Wonders where all those hunters have been while the introduced Tahr population has been bulging out of control? FFS.

      The fierce right wing exhusband had a grand ole time with the girls last weekend. Slagging off the government re the Tahr.

      He then went on to announce to his girls that he will be taking a chopper ride down south and a week off work to hunt them before they are all gone.

      After which he took them to the hunting store where he spent $1k on fancy new hunting gear for the trip.

      Did he buy them even an icecream over the weekend, nope…. told them he couldn’t afford it. He’s always put his own priorities first.

      Personally I’m mighty proud of how Eugenie Sage has been answering questions about this in Parliament over the last few days.

      Concerned hunters should watch question time then have a opinion, gather the real facts, rather than some nat propaganda to be used for nada but scoring political brownie points.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6XNVKcfnzY

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckFGS-WTW7U

  3. Ad 3
    26 September 2018 at 2:10 pm

    If you want to get a taste of multi-gun-rack-pickuptruck-camouflaged-goodoleboy weirdness, visit Te Anau in season. There, instead of eradicating big deer, there’s a whole organisation dedicated to keeping their numbers permanent in the form of the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation.

    http://www.fwf.net.nz/management-rationale/

    Personally I would get them all eradicated.

    • Muttonbird 3.1
      26 September 2018 at 2:18 pm

      Personally I would get them all eradicated.

      Hunters, you mean?

      Me too – starting with Cameron Slater.

    • Exkiwiforces 3.2
      26 September 2018 at 3:38 pm

      I think you would find there is a bit of money (mainly overseas hunters) involved with the Wapit deer. It’s one area I would love to hunt in as it’s quite challenging area to hunt in terms of terrain and weather as you really need to know what you doing as it will bite you.

      • Rae 3.2.1
        27 September 2018 at 1:23 pm

        Don’t think there are many full wapiti left, they have interbred with reds.

        • Exkiwiforces 3.2.1.1
          27 September 2018 at 4:35 pm

          Doesn’t really surprise me IRT the Wapiti deer, as it was a concern that this could happen when I was a member of the NZDA in CHCH some 25- 30yrs ago when I was just starting out.

    • Rae 3.3
      26 September 2018 at 4:35 pm

      While there actually is no place for tahr and chamois in the mountains as nothing had ever grazed there before them, there is an argument can be made for small populations of deer in the bush, as there were browsers there until all the moa were wiped out. I believe there is a place for limited number of deer.
      I would probably still want a small population of tahr, mainly because they are in danger of extinction where they come from. Perhaps we could be a bit of a bank for them. Hunters, though want them in much greater numbers than is truly sustainable.

      • Jeremy 3.3.1
        26 September 2018 at 5:06 pm

        Tahr are in no danger of extinction. In fact, they are not even considered a threatened species.

        I suspect this is a calculated move by National to shore up voter support in Clutha/Southland.

        • Paul Campbell 3.3.1.1
          26 September 2018 at 5:21 pm

          Aren’t they technically noxious animals, and if you have then on your land you are required to eradicate them?

          Maybe we should crowdfund a fund to help eradicate them in the National Parks too? $200 a tail anyone?

      • Cinny 3.3.2
        26 September 2018 at 8:17 pm

        10k of Tahr is the recommended population, currently the population is over 30k in NZ. So there’s plenty of Tahr to go around even after the cull.

        The 10k limit law was made decades ago. When the nat’s were in government they sat on their hands for 2 years while doing a review into it and what happened after that? Sweet FA.

      • Tricledrown 3.3.3
        26 September 2018 at 10:37 pm

        Takahe grazed Rae

        • Rae 3.3.3.1
          27 September 2018 at 6:36 am

          Takahe do not browse as high as moa did, in fact I doubt they browse at all, The loss of moa in the bush has left a niche, one that well controlled numbers of deer can fill. It is just a notion that not many have thought of, seeing as moa were gone before we got here, but when I heard it, I thought it made sense. Still do.

      • Molly 3.3.4
        27 September 2018 at 7:04 am

        ” as there were browsers there until all the moa were wiped out.”
        What browsing animals were there?

      • Stuart Munro 3.3.5
        27 September 2018 at 4:45 pm

        The hunter’s role then would have to be less la Cavatina and more Haast eagle.

    • weston 3.4
      26 September 2018 at 7:25 pm

      Well if you kill it you should eat it i reckon ad …….still wanna go ahead ?

      • gsays 3.4.1
        26 September 2018 at 8:31 pm

        Do you know how they taste Weston?
        I am curious if the goat tag carries on through to their flavour.

        • weston 3.4.1.1
          26 September 2018 at 9:12 pm

          who knows really gsays personally i dunno why ads worried about people who like wapiti quite a noble beast that tries to mind its own business waaaaay down in the wilderness of westland scarcely a bother except to busybodies .what you reckon ?

        • Kate 3.4.1.2
          26 September 2018 at 11:57 pm

          Tahr tastes more like mutton than goat. I’m pretty sure they are classified as sheep.

        • Exkiwiforces 3.4.1.3
          27 September 2018 at 4:31 pm

          Young Tahr are very good for eating, old bulls and nannies are like eating an old boot.

      • Rae 3.4.2
        27 September 2018 at 1:22 pm

        I’ve eaten tahr and chamois (the chamois, a young one, was one of the most delicious things I’ve eaten, it was a roasted leg, the tahr, not so much, probably because it was a bull).
        I have lived in the sorts of areas where all the objection is coming from, seen and met some of the obese Americans being choppered in to shoot them (hunting is not a description I would use for it) so I know both sides of this story.
        Nothing ever grazed the mountain tops before chamois and more particularly, tahr were introduced, takahe as someone else posited, grazed tussock land, so while I do like the odd bite of wild game, I accept, fully, that tahr and chamois don’t really have a place here.
        Deer as I have said, fill the browser niche left by moa, but their numbers need to be kept small otherwise we end up again in the situation as it was, especially in South Westland in the 60s where the forest was being devastated by their numbers and they were becoming runty and sick from their being too many of them. When the ground cullers weren’t able to cope and Sir Tim Wallis came up with the notion of shooting them from choppers, their numbers got cut back severely and from there came the live recovery and the advent of deer farming here.
        There were still quite a few helicopter operations and meat works were taking wild shot deer for export to Germany until someone contaminated a carcass with 1080. That would have been around the turn of this century, can’t recall exactly when, but it’s generally acknowledged that it was someone employed in the deployment of 1080, doing a bit of hunting on the side, accidentally contaminated it.
        The main objection to 1080 comes from the hunting fraternity who do not wish to see numbers so far reduced that it becomes difficult to find them and from the horror of seeing deer that were in the throes of dying from having consumed it. As much as I admit that we don’t really have anything else to counter possums, stoats, rats etc other than 1080, it is truly, truly hideous seeing the agony an animal has to go through before dying of it.

  4. Gosman 4
    26 September 2018 at 2:17 pm

    It is quite clear that National is using this as a wedge issue to drive between NZ First and one of their key support base in the outdoor hunters community. This is just smart politics.

    • Muttonbird 4.1
      26 September 2018 at 2:20 pm

      Divisional politics?

      It just hasn’t worked for National, and the proof of that is them sitting on the opposition benches slowly fading away.

      • Gosman 4.1.1
        26 September 2018 at 2:37 pm

        Ummm… they have only been in opposition for under a year. I don’t think you can claim it is or isn’t working yet. Labour spent a number of years initially trying to attack John Key’s credibility and that made no dent. That is the definition of wasted effort. If National doesn’t shrink NZ First support base as a result of these attacks THEN you can claim it is a failure.

        • Muttonbird 4.1.1.1
          26 September 2018 at 2:56 pm

          I’m pretty sure alienating NZF is one of the major reasons for the Nats being in opposition right now. Can’t see why you’d double down on that unless you had idiots at the helm.

          • Gosman 4.1.1.1.1
            26 September 2018 at 3:05 pm

            I’m not a member or a supporter of National. I don’t know why you think this is my approach.

          • chris73 4.1.1.1.2
            26 September 2018 at 3:05 pm

            How many of NZFirsts voters thought that by voting for Winston he’d keep National honest

            Half? 40% 30% maybe, reinforce the notion that a vote for Winston is a vote for Labour and most of those voters will likely look elsewhere or abstain, either way it will make it harder for Winston to hit 5% which makes it more likely for National

            • Muttonbird 4.1.1.1.2.1
              26 September 2018 at 3:19 pm

              NZF is centrist. The vote is split and they have already shed the cantankerous, RWNJ, old fuddy-duddy vote after GE2107.

              The very stupid Nats are not going to pick up any more disgruntled NZF voters by protecting a Himalayan goat.

              That is plainly stupid and even the extreme idiots at Kiwiblog get this.

              Not you though…

              • chris73 …
                26 September 2018 at 3:27 pm

                The problem is neither us know who is right until the next election happens but its good to see you getting an education by spending more time at kiwiblog

                Its good to broaden ones horizons

                • Muttonbird …
                  26 September 2018 at 3:35 pm

                  Reading Kiwiblob only diminishes one’s horizons. But I do it for the good of social consciousness in myself and other good people.

                  On the vote – it was pretty clear. The NZF vote was split and the right of that voter base went to National artificially boosting their numbers but that was massively outweighed by the female vote deserting National and going to Labour under Ardern.

                  Women can vote too now in case you hadn’t noticed 🙂

            • You_Fool 4.1.1.1.2.2
              26 September 2018 at 3:26 pm

              I think most of NZF’s vote were by people who wanted Winston to keep either National or Labour honest. They are people who reject Nationals neo-lib big buisness must wring every last cent and fcuk anyone else idealology, but also fear the science and reasoned positions of the Greens, and to a lesser extent Labour.

              So this whole try and take votes of NZF by National will only really work if they can show they won’t be ultra-right wing and all tea-party ish

              I am not holding my breath

              • chris73 …
                26 September 2018 at 3:29 pm

                John Keys government for center-right, the closet government we’ve hard to ultra-right was the Labour government under Lange

              • Gosman …
                27 September 2018 at 8:51 am

                Like most political parties NZ First is a coalition of different interest groups, some of which will be at odds over key areas of policies. NZ First has carefully cultivated the outdoor recreation sector such as fishermen, hunters and the like. These people are far more likely to be right leaning on such things as individual liberty. They certainly don’t support more restrictions on their activities.

            • Gabby 4.1.1.1.2.3
              26 September 2018 at 7:51 pm

              Not much hope of keeping the gnatz honest chrissy.

          • Chuck 4.1.1.1.3
            26 September 2018 at 5:44 pm

            “I’m pretty sure alienating NZF is one of the major reasons for the Nats being in opposition right now.”

            Winston played Labour and National off against each other. Jacinda was prepared to give more than Bill, along with the acting PM role it was never in doubt.

            Although you are correct in saying “alienating NZF voters”…Winston has done that to at least a couple of % of his supporter base.

            “It just hasn’t worked for National, and the proof of that is them sitting on the opposition benches slowly fading away.”

            The last poll had National about or above the result they achieved on election night Muttonbird. Lets revised things in say 6 to 12 months time…if National slide down to the high 30’s than the mid 30’s than what you have said will be correct. At the moment you are blinded by your partisan support

            • Muttonbird 4.1.1.1.3.1
              26 September 2018 at 6:59 pm

              That’s a very narrow set of outcomes you have proposed. If National can’t form a government on 47% then a drop to low 40s would be terminal never mind 30s.

              In short, they have burned all their friends and if current strategy is anything to go by they are doubling down on the attacks.

              No way NZF is ever going to go into government with National ever again. They killed the Maori Party and Seymour is toast in 2020.

              • Ngungukai …
                26 September 2018 at 7:36 pm

                I-Predict 2020 Election Labour 39%, NZF 12%, Greens 6%, National 37%, Others 6% IMHO.

              • Chuck …
                26 September 2018 at 8:38 pm

                None of us can foretell what will happen in 2020. Jacinda Ardern is THE current Government. She must retain that or otherwise, it will be a slaughter.

                NZF will do whatever is necessary to ensure it retains the luxury of Government. If that means supporting National, they will just be like old mates again.

        • Robert Guyton 4.1.1.2
          26 September 2018 at 6:47 pm

          No dent??
          We got rid of him, didn’t we?
          Good job.

    • mickysavage 4.2
      26 September 2018 at 2:24 pm

      Do you think they actually believe what they are saying? Or do you think they are not actually responsible for the policy which the cull is being conducted? If the answer to either is no then they are being hypocritical.

    • miravox 4.3
      26 September 2018 at 4:13 pm

      I think you’re overthinking National’s tactics. It’s a straight out publicity stunt and they might just be relieved if it doesn’t get picked up by the media.

    • Graeme 4.4
      27 September 2018 at 7:02 am

      Na.

      soimun is being played like a piano by Collins and Slater and will do, or has to do, anything to avoid being criticised by either of them.

      The “wedge politics” is playing out entirely within the National Party as he tries to cling onto the leadership.

  5. Gosman 5
    26 September 2018 at 2:43 pm

    I am amazed that for people supposedly interested in politics enough to comment frequently on this blog many people fail to identify the political purpose of a political party doing something.

    • arkie 5.1
      26 September 2018 at 2:47 pm

      You egg. People are rejecting this politicking because it is hypocritical. You fail to understand that people disagree with NZ Politics being performed this way.

      • Gosman 5.1.1
        26 September 2018 at 3:04 pm

        No, a bunch of left wing people who would never support National reject this political tactic. They aren’t trying to appeal to you.

        • Muttonbird 5.1.1.1
          26 September 2018 at 3:13 pm

          Looks like identity politics from Bridges (I’m a hunter therefore I will not vote Labour). Something which RWNJs have railed against for some time…until it seems useful.

        • arkie 5.1.1.2
          26 September 2018 at 4:00 pm

          Yes, the “bunch of left wing people who would never support National on this site reject this political tactic” and you were just amazed by our lack of support for National playing politics…

          What’s your point, egg? You think this is smart politics, but you don’t support National? Who do you support then? You spend enough time attempting to divert from and defend them.

          • In Vino 5.1.1.2.1
            26 September 2018 at 7:39 pm

            arkie: good question. No response likely to my mind, because you are asking honesty from a sleazy, slippery, sly, pin-pricking, punctilious, pompous, devious, diverting, double-talking, meretricious troll.

    • Tricledrown 5.2
      26 September 2018 at 9:21 pm

      Gossip boy, Yet you don’t vote for National but blindly defend them at every opportunity.

      • Gosman 5.2.1
        27 September 2018 at 12:39 am

        Nope. I have attacked National on numerous occasions. I recently called Simon Bridges a moron or words to that effect.

  6. McFlock 6
    26 September 2018 at 2:52 pm

    A few things come to mind:

    1) if tahr numbers are 3.5 times the legislated level, where were the nats on this? Did the tahr suddenly boom in number overnight? Or did the nat minister of conservation simply ignore an inconvenient law, without even bothering to change it?

    2) a few years ago I’d thought that tahr were endangered in their native lands, but it turns out the himalayan tahr aren’t. But DoC do have a habit of wanting to eradicate unique breeds (thinking some pigs and horses) into extinction just because they might not “belong” here.

    3) if numbers are booming, why would hunters be pissed at a cull? Obviously there are far to many for recreational hunters to handle.

    4) on that note, I guess there are two types of hunter: the ones who like to track and search and “hunt”, and the others who just want to blaze away in an overpopulated or farmed area. Surely it’s no fun without a bit of a challenge…

    • You_Fool 6.1
      26 September 2018 at 3:06 pm

      3) if numbers are booming, why would hunters be pissed at a cull? Obviously there are far to many for recreational hunters to handle.

      This is what i don’t understand either… who is meant to be upset that the numbers are being reduced by 10k from the already way over-populated 30k? Esp. when the cull is more to try and keep the numbers somewhat steady, as opposed to growing rapidly when the breeding season kicks into gear….

      To answer my question, I assume it is industrialised hunting tours who charge an arm and a leg to take people with more money than sense out for some

      BIG GAME HUNTING (TM) (c)

      and not the everyday go bush sort of hunter, even though National are trying to pretend it is this second sort that will get hurt by this….

      • McFlock 6.1.1
        26 September 2018 at 3:19 pm

        Yeah – the sort who charges thousands to make sure their client bags something decent in a half-day outing with minimim discomfort and inconvenience.

        • You_Fool 6.1.1.1
          26 September 2018 at 3:22 pm

          It reminds me of how the opposition by Farmers to environmental concerns is actually only a thing for big multi-national farms run by conglomerates and not actual farmers. Actual farmers, if they stopped listening to National’s spin, would realise that most, if not all, Green Party policy is not that bad for them, and actually stuff they are doing anyway. The big industry-like farms have issues with it because they can’t drain all the money out of the land in 5 years… Real farmers are there for a life-time, or more…

    • Ngungukai 6.2
      26 September 2018 at 3:20 pm

      Many Tahr have come off the Pill in recent years hence we have had an explosion in Tahr numbers ?

    • JC 6.3
      27 September 2018 at 12:15 am

      …….”But DoC do have a habit of wanting to eradicate unique breeds (thinking some pigs and horses) into extinction just because they might not “belong” ….

      SOME Reading for you!

      “This management regime has become the generally accepted “status quo”. In 2004 a revised Kaimanawa Wild Horses Working Plan was prepared to reclarify the goals and objectives of this regime and guide its implementation until 2017.

      In 2010, the herd was reduced to 300 – the minimum number agreed in the plan. ”

      here.https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/animal-pests/kaimanawa-horses/

      As for the Pigs….

      https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/southland/pigs-may-fly-mayor

      https://www.rarebreeds.co.nz/aucklandpigs.html

      https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/animal-pests/tahr/

      And Nat petition ….

      http://www.hawea-hunting.co.nz/tahr-hunting/

      http://www.hawea-hunting.co.nz/hunting-packages-and prices#Tahr%20Hunting%20Prices%20New%20Zealand

      • McFlock 6.3.1
        27 September 2018 at 1:15 pm

        The mayor saved the pigs from DoC, no?

        As for the horses, in the 1990s they were reframed from “protected species” to “pest” in the 1990s. And reduced to the minimum allowable number (what other species does doc treat like that?). You reckon the horse population exists for any reason other than DoC aren’t allowed to kill them all?

    • Graeme 6.4
      27 September 2018 at 7:14 am

      One of the effects of the earlier culls, which were pretty brutal, I’ve seen lots of movie/video of tahr being machine-gunned from helicopters, was to dramatically improve the trophy quality. This led to the current trophy hunting industry.

      With the increase in numbers quality is going down and good heads are harder to find. Tahr are easier to find but there’s a lot of poor quality animals. They’ve also spread out and allowed more operators to enter the industry and created opportunities for less skilled hunters to get an animal.

      Another cull would probably help the trophy industry, but will make it harder for the weekenders. Hunting tahr is bloody hard, and skilled, work without a helicopter.

  7. Robert Guyton 7
    26 September 2018 at 3:18 pm

    Eugenie Sage gave the Nat’s a real stropping in the House today – she’s feisty-as! National are over-egging this pud and their bullet-soaked rhetoric is going to hurt them, I reckon. In the House the Nat asking the questions/levelling the accusations claimed that the ammunition suppliers were denying DoC the bullets needed for the operation – that sounds…Good Ol’ Boyish to me. The funniest response from Eugenie involved her pointing out that the legislation around tahr control was a National Party one and they had failed to attend to their own requirements. Go, the feisty Greens!

  8. Brutus Iscariot 8
    26 September 2018 at 3:19 pm

    Weird stuff from Soimun. No-one gives a farg, numbers of Tahr are out of control and even after this cull there will be plenty to go around for hunters.

    • weston 8.1
      26 September 2018 at 7:53 pm

      Yeah but we are relying on doc for the numbers arent we Brutus ?I have heard that the deerstalkers assoc has admitted there are too many tahr but thats about all the sources thats filtered through to my neck of the woods .Would help if media interviewed a larger cross section of interested parties so that we could be better informed …but they dont !and our state broadcaster RNZ definitely doesnt

  9. Robert Guyton 9
    26 September 2018 at 3:20 pm

    Mack Daddy’s comment was funny:
    “Devastated at losing their Roads of National Significance, National forlornly look to save any kind of tahr they can.”

  10. Robert Guyton 10
    26 September 2018 at 3:22 pm

    And full credit to MICKYSAVAGE’s header:
    National is now barking at Tahrs

  11. AsleepWhileWalking 11
    26 September 2018 at 4:57 pm

    HaTahrs back off!

  12. JessNZ 12
    26 September 2018 at 5:41 pm

    I wish being wrong deterred National voters, but they don’t care about the facts, certainly when it’s National’s failure to adhere to their own conservation ruling. All they want is simpleminded ammunition to appear in the news!

    The petition has appeared on my FB feed with the description ‘Do they want to kill everything in this country.. cats.. tahr… there are only 35000 left and they want to kill around 25000 of them.’

    I find the issue of culling for conservation disturbing myself, but I can’t even…

  13. mac1 13
    26 September 2018 at 5:43 pm

    Cue Simon Bridges for a photo op with a tahr.

    Camo gear, scoped rifle, dark glasses, boots.

    It’d make another great Caption contest.

    “Me Tahrzan. You game.”

  14. Macro 14
    26 September 2018 at 6:45 pm

    How the F**K does this stupidity by National fit with Bill’s $70m policy announced just days before the last election to make NZ predator free by 2050?

  15. JustMe 15
    26 September 2018 at 7:08 pm

    It’s truly amazing that all of a sudden, and now that they are so firmly in Opposition, that the NZ National Party MPs are so concerned about the Tahr cull.
    I am sure they most certainly lacked a voice of condemnation whenever there was a Kaimanawa horse cull especially when a cull of say the Kaimanawa horses or any other introduced animal was happening whilst there was a National government.
    It does appear National are very selective – oops I mean they suffer from selective amnesia when it suits them – as to their past antics when it came to the environment of New Zealand.
    National’s Simon Bridges almost relegated the Maui dolphins to extinction because all he could see was dollar signs for himself and National when it came to off-shore mining exploration.
    In 2014 this is what happened: A petition to “Sack Simon” climbed to more than 23,000 people following the revelation Mr Bridges offered the 3000km sq of the West Coast Marine Mammal Sanctuary for petroleum exploration. Mr Bridges told the Bay of Plenty Times the protest was unlikely to change anything.
    “There’s negligible risk to the Maui dolphin from petroleum activity and over 40 years of this on the west coast of the North Island or Taranaki there has not been a single reported incident where a Maui dolphin has been hurt by petroleum work.”
    The marine sanctuary is home to the critically endangered Maui’s dolphin, of which there are only 55 in the world.

    We all know National had a cavalier attitude when it came to the environment. They pursued money because it’s a God to them. They worship money more than they would ever care about what happens to the waterways of New Zealand.
    And so for National to ‘suddenly’ care about something shows a shallowness that is rampant through-out the whole National Party political system.
    I wouldn’t trust a National MP ever again. They are too selfish, self-centred, ego-ridden, greedy and a mess.

  16. Ngungukai 16
    26 September 2018 at 7:29 pm

    WE just need National to go Anti-1080 and that will F&*k everyone up even Eugene Sage and the Greens ?

  17. Michael 17
    26 September 2018 at 8:29 pm

    The Nats’ campaign seems to have worked: Sage has backed down. It seems like a replay of the campaign they waged to stop Megan Woods from putting an end to oil and gas exploration. Labour may be in government but it’s never in power.

  18. cleangreen 18
    27 September 2018 at 5:59 am

    National are hollow barking dogs.

    National = no substance.

  19. esoteric pineapples 19
    27 September 2018 at 8:37 am

    This is a good example of why hunting and trapping would never be able to replace 1080. If they can’t keep 35,000 tahr under control, how could they manage to eradicate all the possums, let alone the rats, mice, stoats etc

  20. solkta 20
    27 September 2018 at 8:53 am

    That’s tahrable.

  21. Doogs 21
    27 September 2018 at 11:39 am

    Check your dictionary people – the word is ‘thar’ which is a Nepali word for a variety of goat. Th other word ‘tahr’ is a political Greek/Turkish boundary line.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    54 mins ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – 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’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 hours ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 hours ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 hours ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 hours ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    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
    7 hours 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
    7 hours 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 ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    8 hours 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
    10 hours 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
    11 hours ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step 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 third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s 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. Here‘s 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. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen 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 Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours 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 ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    19 hours 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 ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours 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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    20 hours 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 ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    21 hours 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 ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    21 hours 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 ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    21 hours 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 ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    21 hours 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 ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    21 hours 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
    22 hours 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 ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    23 hours 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 ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    23 hours 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, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    23 hours 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, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    23 hours 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
    23 hours 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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 ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day 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
    1 day 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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    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
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    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. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. 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 ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days 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
    2 hours 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
    2 hours 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
    3 hours 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
    3 hours 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
    4 hours 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
    6 hours 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
    17 hours 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
    23 hours 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    7 days 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
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-19T03:54:05+00:00