National’s fiscal ineptitude over Auckland transport

Written By: - Date published: 9:03 am, April 29th, 2018 - 32 comments
Categories: labour, national, phil goff, phil twyford, public transport, same old national, sustainability, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, transport - Tags: ,

Steven Joyce’s claim that there was a $11.5 billion hole in Labour’s budget is at one level correct.  But it was National’s ineptitude and failure to fund things which was the cause.

Take for instance Auckland’s Transport network.  After nine long years it is a mess.  If it was not for the extensive rail improvements that have come on line and the sanctioning of the completion of the ring route which the last Labour Government did not much would have happened if you exclude the construction of extraordinarily expensive but extraordinarily inefficient roads of national significance.  And National had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the realisation that the city rail link was a vital piece of infrastructure.

There is this big backlog of unfunded projects that need to be started on.  And paid for.

National’s last attempt had a $5.9 billion hole in its budget.  Labour has added other projects to the mix, toned down some of the really silly projects and come up with a proposal to fill the fiscal hole.

From Dan Satherley at Newshub:

Phil Twyford says National left a $9.7 billion “fiscal hole” in Auckland’s transportation budget, describing it as “another hand grenade in the bottom drawer that we’ve inherited”.

The Transport Minister on Thursday teamed up with Auckland Mayor Phil Goff to reveal a $28 billion plan to fix the city’s congestion over the next decade. It shifts much of the focus of the previous plan, developed by Auckland Council and National, from roads to public transport.

It’s a couple of billion dollars more than National was planning to spend, paid for by an upcoming fuel tax for the Auckland region.

“We have closed the funding gap,” Mr Twyford told The AM Show on Friday. “The programme of investment we announced yesterday is fully funded.”

National’s response to something that is pretty exciting is pretty turgid.

National’s Northcote candidate Dan Bidois thinks it is unfair to Northcote residents and they will not see any benefit.  From his press release:

A Government and Auckland Council plan to throw more cash at the city’s transport needs does nothing for people on the North Shore – in spite of forcing them to pay $15 more every time they fill up, National’s Northcote candidate Dan Bidois says.

“Today we’ve got proof that actions speak louder than words, and that despite what it says, Labour doesn’t really care about hardworking residents on this side of the bridge,” Mr Bidois says.

“They’ve got cash for trams down Dominion Road and cash for the south, east, and west of the city – but the North Shore seems to have fallen off the map – in spite of the massive new petrol tax. I’d like to ask Phil Goff and Phil Twyford, why that’s the case?

But as Simon Wilson points out there is a great deal for North Shore residents from ATAP including the following:

  • Construction of Penlink.
  • Improvements to Lake Road, Glenvar Road in Torbay and the Matakana Link Road.
  • Growth-related improvements in Silverdale, Dairy Flat, Wainui and Warkworth.
  • Road safety improvements.
  • Park and Ride improvements.
  • Improved infrastructure to allow more buses into the city centre, including those coming from the North Shore.
  • A new downtown ferry terminal, which will benefit passengers from the North Shore stops at Devonport, Birkenhead and Beach Haven.
  • The SkyPath over the harbour bridge will open and will link to a SeaPath running to Takapuna.
  • More wide shared paths for walking and cycling.
  • Technological improvements to traffic signalling and other services.

And the light rail is not yet funded and is not being funded by the regional fuel tax.

Jami Lee Ross claims the tax increases will cost Aucklanders hundreds of dollars a year.  Wilson estimates the increases will cost the average car owner between $2.33 and $2.76 per week.

Ross also thinks that all Labour is doing is repackaging National projects.  Some of them were but they were unfunded.  Having a gazillion projects ready to go but not being funded is not the way a responsible Government behaves.

And National is trying to drum up anti Auckland resentment in the provinces even though Auckland will only be receiving 38 percent of the National Land Transport Fund over the next decade, despite growing much faster than the rest of the country. It is estimated that around 55 percent of all population growth in New Zealand over the next 10 years is expected to be concentrated in the Auckland region.  Auckland has about a third of the country’s population.

The politics are pretty turgid and pretty ugly.  Drum up resentment both locally over paying more money and nationally because Aucklanders are getting too much.

But the city needs this.  Desperately.  If you want to build a future proof properly functioning city this costs.  And has to be planned for and funded.

32 comments on “National’s fiscal ineptitude over Auckland transport ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Nick K 1
    29 April 2018 at 9:29 am

    Penlink, Matakana, Wainui, Silverdale, Dairy Flat and Warkworth are not on or in the North Shore.

    • mickysavage 1.1
      29 April 2018 at 9:40 am

      They are of benefit to the North Shore. As is the city rail link because it will reduce congestion everywhere.

    • dukeofurl 1.2
      29 April 2018 at 12:48 pm

      North Shore had its super expensive at the time Busway, its the rest of Aucklands turn.

      Anyway, Bennett isnt Nationals transport spokeswoman, why was she even doing a soundbite.
      It was of course as her role as the Northcote election supremo for national that she got in a free party political soundbite.

  2. Wayne 2
    29 April 2018 at 9:43 am

    Labour did not do the CRL, did not let a single contract for it. It was all done by National.

    As for North Shore. All those projects were already announced. But all motorway improvements have been dropped due to left’s hatred of anything to do with four lane divided highways. Thank goodness that the current motorway projects are continuing for another 4 to 5 years. But after that nothing.

    Even though for instance 4 lanning Tauranga to Katikati would be far and away the best way to improve the safety of that road. I travel on it regularly in both a car and on a bike. Probably the least safe road in NZ, especially when I am on my bicycle. It is a ride that is bound to create at least one heart stopping moment. My wife says I am playing Russian roulette!

    • mickysavage 2.1
      29 April 2018 at 9:57 am

      Wayne …

      National fought the CRL all the way, refused to fund it, refused to do anything to support it. It took a Labour Mayor of Auckland to force their hand by going ahead with the project anyway.

      It was Labour policy and Green policy years ago. National had to be dragged kicking and screaming to eventually support it because it was clear that the network throughput was going to max out.

      The work should have been started years ago. As it is we will likely strike the situation where at peak times there will be no capacity until the CRL is completed.

      As for the other projects Penlink has been on the books for years, well before the time National took over.

      Some of the other projects may have been announced BUT THEY WERE NOT FUNDED.

      As for motorways talk to any urban designer and they will confirm that pandering to the private motor vehicle is the best way to kill a city.

      It is good to see that you are supporting cycleways 😀

      • Wayne 2.1.1
        29 April 2018 at 10:10 am

        So how come the Labour govt 1999 to 2008 didn’t start it when they could have.
        National did not do it 2009 to 2011, but that was during the GFC. National committed to it in 2011.

        As with all infrastructure projects in NZ it is taking several years. Even when construction starts it still takes 5 years, we are quite a lot slower than Australia. I don’t see that changing under the current government. Maybe it is largely a function of having a relatively small population so the workforce on each project is relatively small.

        • Pete 2.1.1.1
          29 April 2018 at 10:19 am

          Even when construction starts it still takes 5 years which means in Auckland that by the time a new road is finished there are the best part of another 200,000 people in the region.
          Does that mean anything to how the new road has solved congestion?

        • mickysavage 2.1.1.2
          29 April 2018 at 10:21 am

          Maybe they did not start work on the CRL last term because they were really busy doing the double tracking and the electrification after decades of neglect?

          And National’s “commitment” to the project had a couple of conditions that meant that it was not going to happen any time soon.

          • dukeofurl 2.1.1.2.1
            29 April 2018 at 1:14 pm

            MS is right. The CRL couldnt really be started until the electrification was complete.
            No doubt the start on tunnelling would have happened earlier if labour was elected in 2008 , made sense as an infrastructure project to alleviate GFC effects.

            national only ‘committed to CRL’ a year out to 2017 election. Not 2011 as Wayne says. ( oh yes they were inspirational noises only back then.
            “14 September 2016
            An historic milestone was reached today with Mayor Len Brown signing an agreement with Transport Minister Simon Bridges on funding for the City Rail Link.             ” Brown was about to leave office !

            Previously it was set a big target for passengers numbers and hope it doesnt happen ( but it did ahead of time)

            • Wayne 2.1.1.2.1.1
              29 April 2018 at 3:12 pm

              Must have been a lot earlier than 2016. Construction started near the beginning of 2016. The actual detailed plan, the consent and all the land purchases must have taken at least 2 years.
              My recollection is the political commitment was made some time during the second term (2011 to 2014).

              • Wayne …
                29 April 2018 at 3:23 pm

                To add to this. I do recall Mayor Len saying the work could start prior to the actual final fiscal deal between govt and the city since the city would put its money up first. Mayor Len relied on the political promise as effectively ensuring that a fiscal deal would actually be done even if it took a bit of time.

                • Ad …
                  29 April 2018 at 4:25 pm

                  You probably recall Joyce opposing all rail redevelopment across Auckland since 2009. He’s on record.

                  You probably also recall your colleagues in Parliament comparing the City Rail Link to a Simpson’s episode: “Monorail? Monorail”. Yes, the monorail song, brought to you by a Minister of your government, instead of facts.

                  You probably also recall the City Centre Access Plan, which was several million worth of stalling City Rail Link.

                  You will also probably recall that the only reason City Rail Link got going is because Mayor Brown was approached by Precinct Properties (then AMP) to demolish the downtown shopping centre and put in basement structures that would have stopped any rail extension. So Mayor Brown cut a deal to get them to redesign their foundations, and got the job going regardless. Zero support from your government.

                  You might also recall how none of your colleagues supported Labour’s dedicated busway through the North Shore. Most successful transport system in Auckland over nearly two decades.

                  We have had it with your lot wrecking Auckland ever since they tore up the tram tracks under Holland and Sir John Allum. We now have a motorway-dominated mess that moves nothing at peak hour when we all need it, which is at the feet of National. It is going to be a Labour government that turns this mess around into a functioning city.

      • Wayne 2.1.2
        29 April 2018 at 10:11 am

        So how come the Labour govt 1999 to 2008 didn’t start it when they could have.

        National did not do it 2009 to 2011, but that was during the GFC. National committed to it in 2011.

        As with all infrastructure projects in NZ it is taking several years. Even when construction starts it still takes 5 years to do any major project. We are quite a lot slower than Australia. I don’t see that changing under the current government. Maybe it is largely a function of having a relatively small population so the workforce on each project is relatively small.

        • Marcus Morris 2.1.2.1
          29 April 2018 at 10:44 am

          I guess you will be giving National all the credit for the Waterview Tunnel despite its planning being well underway during Helen Clark’s time in office. To give Stephen Joyce his due, he did widen it to three lanes each way.
          Clearly you have forgotten the number of times Len Brown pleaded Auckland’s transport case with the PM during his time as mayor. The CRL could have been started years ago and been much nearer completion.

          And on the subject of the “Grand” National schemes -over the busy summer holiday season I towed my caravan twice from Auckland to Whangarei return. I am very conscious of impeding traffic flow and look to move to the extreme left whenever it is safe to do so. On those two journeys I was amazed and delighted to be able to take advantage of the numerous and regular passing lanes. A four lane highway from Warkworth to Whangarei indeed!! As others better qualified than I am have said – construct more passing lanes.

          There is no question that that the southern side of the Brynderwyn’s is an issue that will not be easy to solve and is a major impediment to free traffic flow.

          Bill English’s holy grail of a “budget” surplus was only achieved through massive underspending on infrastructure from transport to hospitals to education as well as contributions to the Super Fund. We now have a government which is taking its responsibilities to the nation as a whole seriously. Thank goodness for that.

          • Wayne 2.1.2.1.1
            29 April 2018 at 11:44 am

            I do accept that Waterview was essentially started under Labour, in their last term. The project was reviewed by Steven Joyce in 2009 who opted for a shorter tunnel but of 3 lanes instead of 2. I think most people would agree that was the right decision.

            The CRL contracts were let in 2012 (I think). So if there was delay by National it was 2 years (the middle of the GFC).

            Labour talked about the CRL a lot between 2005 and 2008 but didn’t actually do anything about it. Instead they had a Royal Commission on the governance of Auckland. The core recommendation was the single city, which was implemented by National, broadly along the lines set out by the Commission.

            • Draco T Bastard 2.1.2.1.1.1
              29 April 2018 at 12:04 pm

              The CRL contracts were let in 2012 (I think). So if there was delay by National it was 2 years (the middle of the GFC).

              More lies.

              National didn’t come to the table until 2016. Just two years ago when the CRL construction needed to be started in 2012.

            • dukeofurl 2.1.2.1.1.2
              29 April 2018 at 1:23 pm

              Do you even live in Auckland anymore Wayne.

              Shorter tunnel is nonsense.
              Joyce tried to kill the whole tunnel and revert back to trenches and bridges and overpasses. Yes he added an extra lane ( plus an expensive link to the CBD motorway which meant an extra lane was a necessity and widening all the way to Western Springs)

              Once his final design was settled I think the contractors said there wasnt enough skilled staff and equipment to do the other RONs and a traditional surface motorway to Waterview.
              Back to a full bored tunnel it was with the fill going to an old railway quarry at Wiri.

              It was billions extra spent because Joyce wanted his car from Airport to city and onto lower North Shore not to have to go through traffic lights.
              These tunnel boring machines are great as existing community is destroyed by having surface motorway cut through them.

              • Wayne …
                29 April 2018 at 3:15 pm

                Yes, I do. I regularly use the tunnel. All the things you say are bad about it are actually good.

            • Dean Reynolds 2.1.2.1.1.3
              29 April 2018 at 3:15 pm

              Wayne, the most significant road congestion solution the North Shore has ever had was the dedicated bus lanes beside the Northern Motorway, put in place by the last Labour Govt. Why didn’t National extend these to Silverdale?
              Phil Twyford’s plans now allows for this

    • Anne 2.2
      29 April 2018 at 10:32 am

      My wife says I am playing Russian roulette!

      I’m sure she’s right. Can’t say I’ve seen you peddling along Lake Rd which is a blessing. Anyone who cycles along that cycle-way is definitely courting disaster. We all told them so, but the old North Shore Council took no notice.

      • Wayne 2.2.1
        29 April 2018 at 11:48 am

        Anne

        An cycling injury late last year (Taupo Cycle Challenge) prevented cycling over the summer. When I cycle I tend to do 2 or 3 circuits of Bayswater/Devonport to ensure I mostly get left hand turns. I rarely go from Bayswater to Takapuna on the cycle, though the lane is not too bad, even if a bit tight.

        This last summer it was swimming every day.

        • Anne 2.2.1.1
          29 April 2018 at 6:22 pm

          Yes, swimming is my default position too though didn’t make it every day. Years of dog related injuries have come back to bite me big time. We’re very lucky to have beaches close by where we can exercise in the water instead. 🙂

    • AB 2.3
      29 April 2018 at 10:39 am

      “due to [the] left’s hatred of anything to do with four lane divided highways”

      If Wayne is going to lose it and make up lies about the “the left”, then I feel quite justified in talking about “the right’s hatred of public transport” and offering the (probably apocryphal) quote from Margaret Thatcher as evidence,
      “A man who, beyond the age of 26, finds himself on a bus can count himself as a failure.”

      • Draco T Bastard 2.3.1
        29 April 2018 at 11:45 am

        +111

      • Anne 2.3.2
        29 April 2018 at 11:50 am

        Nothing apocryphal about that AB.

        It has been the general attitude to public transport for the past 30 plus years. A common refrain “I wouldn’t be seen dead on a bus”. Thankfully the stupidity of such a mindset is changing and for the better.

        To my mind it is/was a direct effect of neo liberalism and the ‘one-up-man-ship’ attitudes associated with it and is hopefully going to disappear.

    • Draco T Bastard 2.4
      29 April 2018 at 11:44 am

      Labour did not do the CRL, did not let a single contract for it. It was all done by National.

      But they did have a plan for it. National fought that plan when they were in opposition and cancelled it when they got into power. Then, when it became obvious even to the dullards in National that it was needed they funded it – about five years later than what the Labour plan and reality called for.

      But all motorway improvements have been dropped due to left’s hatred of anything to do with four lane divided highways.

      It’s not a hatred of four lanes, as you well know, but a realisation that roading isn’t the answer and hasn’t been for decades.

      National likes roads though as the inefficiency of them increases profits for their donors.

      Even though for instance 4 lanning Tauranga to Katikati would be far and away the best way to improve the safety of that road.

      Removing the road would probably be even better. Not only would there be zero accidents on it but doing so would reduce GHG emissions improving safety for generations to come.

      Probably the least safe road in NZ, especially when I am on my bicycle.

      My own experience with cycling around Auckland (Rata St, New Lynn and Lincoln Road (Said to be one of the busiest in the country)) is that four-laning a road won’t make it any safer for cyclists. The cars and trucks will still be 2 to 4 inches away from your handle bars.

  3. mary_a 3
    29 April 2018 at 11:37 am

    Ha ha that Jamie-Lee Ross has a sense of humour after all. Stating all Labour is doing re infrastructure is repackaging National projects, is a right hoot. What projects would they be then JLR … after nine years?

    • dukeofurl 3.1
      29 April 2018 at 1:24 pm

      Even the Holiday highway wasnt completed in the nine years- they cut other safety improvements instead.

  4. Tamati Tautuhi 4
    29 April 2018 at 11:40 am

    Problem was the Natzi’s didn’t have a plan ?

    • Draco T Bastard 4.1
      29 April 2018 at 2:45 pm

      Of course they had a plan. It just didn’t involve actually doing anything except giving government money to their cronies.

  5. CHCOff 5
    29 April 2018 at 7:48 pm

    Study traffic flows, work with businesses in the areas for alternating business hours through the week. Flexibility and We’re All In This Together are the memes here.

    Put the majority of the saved money into public sports club culture development as a foundational plank for self-governing & high participatory communities.

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    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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 days ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    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
    3 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours 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
    17 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
    18 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
    18 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
    19 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
    19 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
    21 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
    1 day ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
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