NATO escalation danger

Written By: - Date published: 3:17 am, June 8th, 2024 - 26 comments
Categories: nuclear war, Peace, Russia, Ukraine, war - Tags:

Cross-posted from Eugene Doyle Solidarity

The Armavir Incident – the destruction on 23 May of a key part of Russia’s nuclear defence – means the Doomsday clock is ticking closer to midnight.  Most people don’t even know that a long-distance Ukrainian/NATO drone attack on the Armavir radar station north of Georgia knocked out a Voronezh-DM radar which is designed to detect incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles from as far as 6,000 kilometres away. It is one of three similar attacks in recent weeks.

The strike,The Armavir Incident – the destruction on 23 May of a key part of Russia’s nuclear defence – means the Doomsday clock is ticking closer to midnight.  Most people don’t even know that a long-distance Ukrainian/NATO drone attack on the Armavir radar station north of Georgia knocked out a Voronezh-DM radar which is designed to detect incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles trumpeted by Newsweek as a great success, may have robbed the Russians of a couple of minutes of warning time, in the event of a strike coming up from the south. 

“Map Shows Ukraine’s Record-Breaking Hits on Russian Nuclear Warning Sites”  Newsweek reports.  The article, triumphalist in tone, fails to address the central issue: how crazy do you have to be to compress Russia’s decision-making window before it must decide whether to launch nuclear weapons at you?  And who thought this was a good idea at the very time that nuclear-capable F16s are about to arrive in Ukraine and the US, along with a clutch of client states, has announced their missiles will strike mainland Russia in the coming days or weeks?  Never in history has a nuclear power been attacked in this way.  Even at the height of the Cold War neither side was brainless enough to do what the Western countries are doing now: attack detection facilities and launch missile strikes on a nuclear power. 

We actually need the Russians to have really good missile detection systems; it keeps us safe.  The Americans have a superior system to the Russians: they have more geosynchronous satellites that hover over specific regions 24/7 and can pretty much instantly detect the heat signatures of missiles at launch.  Ground systems, like the Voronezh-DM at Armavir have to wait for the missiles to gain altitude and enter the radar fan (think of the beep-beep-beep sweep of a submarine sonar).  American nuclear scientists estimate that the time available to the Russian military and political decision makers may only be a third of that which the US enjoys. In the time it takes you to drink a cappuccino they have to decide if they need to empty their missile silos then go through all their launch procedures before they are incinerated. 

This may explain President Putin’s recent statement that all necessary decisions and authorisations have been made in respect to Russia’s preparedness.  It suggests a delegated decision structure that no longer requires political sign off.  There just won’t be time.

He’s just bluffing right?  Certainly America’s greatest military minds like Generals Hodges and Petraeus believe so; yet they have been wrong on pretty much everything to do with Ukraine, Iraq and Afghanistan.  Another US general worth quoting is Mark Milley, recent Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  He speaks of the “nuclear paradox,” that the closer the Russians come to losing in Ukraine, the higher the nuclear peril. Which begs the question: what do the Americans think they are doing? Is there any sound, discernible strategy guiding all this violence, all this escalation? Or are they doing what they did in Vietnam, in Iraq and in Afghanistan – fighting on, knowing they can’t win, but unable to admit it before the next Presidential election?  

Let’s be clear: even the conventional gear we are talking about is serious: German Taurus missiles, French Scalp missiles, British Storm Shadow missiles and an array of US missiles are hugely powerful.  They will do immense damage and kill a lot of Russians in Russia.  You might think that’s a good idea but imagine if any of these countries were hit in return by similar missiles.  

This morning I listened to Russian military analysts discussing what they saw as the need to hit British bases if Britain pushes ahead with plans to unleash Storm Shadows on Russian territory.  President Putin has also warned that missile strikes on Russia would result in counter-strikes. Is this posturing, empty threats and blackmail, as Western spokespeople claim, or are we about to witness something that could imperil us all? 

In war, what happens when an enemy shoots at you?  You shoot back, right?  What would happen if Russia fired missiles into the US?  They’d fire straight back, right?  So why is the West about to fire missiles into a nuclear-armed state and think they won’t fire back?  

The NATO decision to strike mainland Russia with missiles comes as Ukraine is losing on the battlefield and is at risk of a major frontline collapse. Western analysts acknowledge the country has almost run out of trained reserves, is funnelling conscripts to the front with minimal training, soldiers now have an average age of 43, they are suffering a 7:1 or perhaps even 10:1 shell deficit and are completely outmatched in airpower, missiles, tanks, drones and electronic warfare. 

The US response to the looming failure of its Ukraine strategy is to escalate. The plan was to crush Russia with sanctions, pour in hundreds of billions of dollars of weapons, take back all territory, turn Sevastopol into a NATO port and trigger regime change in Moscow – all these have clearly failed.

So what has changed since President Biden said he would not trigger WWIII by authorising nuclear-capable F16s? What we are witnessing is classic escalation but with a frisson of nuclear fission thrown in.  

The New York Times, normally a compliant outlet for Pentagon opinion said: “Until now, Mr. Biden has flatly refused to let Ukraine use American-made weapons outside of Ukrainian borders, no matter what the provocation, saying that any attack on Russian territory risked violating his mandate to “avoid World War III.”

Biden, the NYT said, had “ clearly crossed a red line that he himself drew.” Joe is the first US leader in history to authorise missile strikes against a nuclear power – supposedly within a limited geographic range north of Kharkiv; he is joined by the Germans, and the British and French who say “the Ukrainians” can strike anywhere on Russian territory. 

Military experts dismiss the fiction that these missiles will be unleashed by Ukrainians. German Taurus missiles, French Scalp missiles, British Storm Shadow missiles and various US missiles use super-sophisticated dynamic guidance and navigation systems to enable command and control centres in Western Europe or the US to support things like terrain contour matching, evasion and target confirmation. These are all run by elite, highly trained personnel from each of those countries.  Open war between NATO and Russia could erupt as a consequence.  

How has the media responded to the risk that Western countries may trigger missile strikes against their own territories? Let’s look at the headlines:

“Last chance to impress for Olympic hopefuls”, “Three suburbs might get a metro”,  “Exclusive: Rupert Murdoch’s new wife excited about Australian visit”,  “What is the point of Super Rugby bonus points?”, “Starmer on ropes over £2000 tax rise”.

You get the point.  Our media is keeping us in a deep, deep sleep. We need facts, analysis and an insistence on dialogue and diplomacy before it is too late. George Orwell knew all about this problem. Homage to Catalonia, written the year before the outbreak of WWII, finishes with this description of his train journey back to London:

“Down here it was still the England I had known in my childhood: the railway-cuttings smothered in wild flowers, the deep meadows where the great shining horses browse and meditate, the slow-moving streams bordered by willows, the green bosoms of the elms, the larkspurs in the cottage gardens; and then the huge peaceful wilderness of outer London, the barges on the miry river, the familiar streets, the posters telling of cricket matches and Royal weddings, the men in bowler hats, the pigeons in Trafalgar Square, the red buses, the blue policemen – all sleeping the deep, deep sleep of England, from which I sometimes fear that we shall never wake till we are jerked out of it by the roar of bombs.”

Eugene Doyle is a Wellington-based writer and community activist. He is a 2023 Absolutely Positively Wellingtonian. His first demonstration was at the age of 12 against the Vietnam War.

26 comments on “NATO escalation danger ”

  1. tsmithfield 1
    8 June 2024 at 7:34 am

    This is just repeats a lot of the typical Russian apologist lines.

    Firstly, the reference Ukraine/Nato with respect to the drone strikes is inaccurate as Ukraine uses its own drones for deep strikes to target Russian infrastructure. Russia already targets Ukrainian infrastructure with much more powerful weapons, so tit for tat is entirely fair in the framework of the war.

    Secondly, the US as a key member of NATO has already expressed its concerns about targeting Russian nuclear radar systems for the reasons given in this article. So, targeting these specific assets is not something NATO approves of, for the reasons given.

    Thirdly, a number of NATO countries have given permission for Ukraine to use NATO weapons to target Russian troops and assets in the border areas where Russia is massing to attack. This again is entirely reasonable. Otherwise, Ukraine has to just sit there and wait for Russia to attack.

    The same with F16s which will likely be used as air defence. The Russians currently use FAB500 or bigger with glide modifications that allow their aircraft to drop these from well behind Ukrainian territory. And Russia's strategic bombers launch missiles at Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian targets from within Russia. Why shouldn't Ukraine have the ability to defend against these sorts of attacks with effective air defence that would be enhanced with F16s?

    The approach you suggest is that Ukraine should just soak up all this sort of shit without response. It is simple for Russia to avoid all these losses. Just get the fuck out of Ukraine and stop trying to invade a country that was posing no threat whatsoever to Russia.

    Finally, Russia has been blustering with veiled threats since the start of this conflict. The west has been steadily pushing back on the supposed red lines calling Russia’s bluff. In the end, Putin has no interest in being toasted in a nuclear conflict. So, as the evidence has shown to date, these veiled threats are bluster and nothing more.

    Reply
  2. SPC 2
    8 June 2024 at 9:22 am

    I am sure this will all be discussed soon as per a gathering on 15 and 16 June 2024 in Switzerland called a Summit on Peace in Ukraine.

    https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/fdfa/fdfa/aktuell/dossiers/konferenz-zum-frieden-ukraine.html

    It is about that – peace in Ukraine – because defeat of Russia and removal of Putin was not the point of any contest over "Ukraine" – as to whose orbit the nation state was in.

    Generally it is appropriate that nations choose it for themselves, without foreign interference – but not always. Obviously Russia wanted a buffer state within its orbit – but many locals wanted a future in the EU.

    Russia's decision to acquire the less Ukrainian area, Crimea and also enable de facto independence in parts of the Donbass, was and is a breach of international law – thus sanctions. The continuance of sanctions and Ukrainian focus on strengthening its military (and ties with NATO), led to the 2022 invasion – and declaration of the ICC

    https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-ukraine-icc-judges-issue-arrest-warrants-against-vladimir-vladimirovich-putin-and

    https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/03/russia-ukraine-icc-issues-arrest-warrants-for-top-russian-commanders-for-alleged-war-crimes-and-crimes-against-humanity/

    For the EU (and UK) the matter is one of declining trust in both the USA security guarantee and Russian restraint.

    Any nation has the right to ask for help defending itself from aggression.

    Those doing this then have the right to help Ukraine target Russian military capability active in support of its Ukraine campaign. This does not extend to Russia's separate defence capabilty or nuclear defence.

    What Ukraine itself does separate to that is a consequence of Russian action in Ukraine (targeting its infrastructure). The "nuclear defence" is extreme and is sure to be discussed a week from now.

    Reply
  3. joe90 3
    8 June 2024 at 1:22 pm

    We actually need the Russians to have really good missile detection systems; it keeps us safe.

    A system that can be destroyed by a propeller-driven UAV isn't going to keep anyone safe.

    /

    Reply
  4. Tiger Mountain 4
    8 June 2024 at 2:45 pm

    US Imperialism has not been able to tolerate a socialist country just offshore–Cuba–and has run a substantive spoiler campaign and blockade since its inception over 60 years ago, including an attempted invasion.

    Yet US Imperialism has over 700 publicly discoverable military bases and spy facilities outside of its own borders. And who knows how many more secret ones and attack based satellites. US personnel butt right up against all sorts of countries, particularly Mid East, China and Russia.

    It is inter-imperialist machinations and the creaking NATO that have led to this situation.
    Some of the boneheads here that automatically choose 5 Eyes for some reason, need to realise that nukes are indeed now back on the agenda.

    Internationalists say…neither Washington, Moscow or Beijing, but it seems there are hot heads that suck up to the yanks regardless.

    Reply
    • Belladonna 4.1
      10 June 2024 at 10:01 am

      What! Cuba has the right to exist, but Ukraine does not?

      The US was rightly condemned for the attempted (and poorly executed) invasion of Cuba.

      Why should Russia not be condemned for the attempted (and bloodthirsty, in terms of collateral damage) invasion of Ukraine?

      Seems there are hotheads that suck up to the Kremlin, regardless …

      Reply
  5. aj 5
    8 June 2024 at 3:12 pm

    It's worth bearing in mind that the use of first strike nuclear weapons is on the table for the USA and it's closest friends, according to this fount of wisdom, who scarily echoes the sentiments of a significant number of US politicians and some members of the armed forces.

    Lindsey Graham: Israel Should Do ‘Whatever’ They Want to Palestinians Like When U.S. Nuked Japan

    “When we were faced with destruction as a nation after Pearl Harbor, fighting the Germans and the Japanese, we decided to end the war by the bombing, Hiroshima [and] Nagasaki with nuclear weapons,” Graham told NBC’s Kristen Welker. “That was the right decision.”

    “Give Israel the bombs they need to end the war,” he added. “They can’t afford to lose.”

    https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/graham-israel-bomb-palestinians-hiroshima-nagasaki-1235019216/

    Reply
  6. barry 6
    8 June 2024 at 4:39 pm

    While there is an element of truth, in that Russian early detection of ballistic launches is a good thing, the rest is overblown. The F16s may be nuclear capable but they will operate from/by a non-nuclear Ukraine, and will not have nuclear warheads.

    Ukraine cannot defend itself unless it is able to stop Russia launching missiles or invasions across the border. Russia's radar systems support its forces in Ukraine and have to be seen to be a legitimate target. There may be a cease-fire at some stage, but until then Ukraine has the right to fight the enemy where they are.

    Reply
  7. Scud 7
    8 June 2024 at 9:43 pm

    FFS,

    This Muppet obviously hasn't read the Lisbon Protocols & the Budapest Memorandum for starters!

    Ukraine has abandoned Nuclear Wpns & other WMD's IAW the above.

    Yes the F16's are probably Nuclear Capable but without the necessary cards in the black boxes IOT make carry Nukes, they are just plain vanilla F16's!

    Lastly NATO & the US have abandoned it 1st & 2nd Nuclear Attack Response to a flexible response which does not mean a all out or part Nuclear response! This is already open source information btw.

    My assumption atm,

    The recent attacks on the Russian OTHR sites, is to allow Ukraine to do deep strike attacks with its Long Range UAV's on Russia's military & logistic bases, & it's critical infrastructure like oil refineries, rail yards etc while slowly degraded Russian Air Defence IOT give the F16's & Mirages the best chance to exploit their advantage against the Russian Military when they enter service sometime this yr from memory.

    The Western Aircraft wouldn't be the game changer that everyone is expecting, because the lack the critical mass ie numbers but it will allow them to achieve local Air Superiority over the Battlespace & help facilitate the deep strikes behind Russia lines which is slowly paying dividends which is slowly separating the Teeth from its Tail. Which is bad news for the poor Russian Baggie/ Squaddie at the front.

    As for the Plucky Ukrainians they are hanging in there.

    Reply
  8. UncookedSelachimorpha 8
    10 June 2024 at 2:28 am

    A worthy strike by Ukraine, may they make many more.

    Russia doesn't nuke other countries because it would itself be destroyed. That is the only reason they don't, not because they haven't been provoked enough, or are waiting for X or Y red line to be crossed.

    Russia's behaviour shows they are not restrained in any way by morality or concern for humanity. Fear of mutual destruction is all that restrains them, and that metric hasn't changed despite their threats and whining.

    Reply
  9. Jono 9
    11 June 2024 at 10:33 am

    Just LOL Scud..

    Let's apply your logic to the Cuban missile crises…….

    Kennedy starts addressing the USA public over activities in Cuba (How dare they…Cuba is a sovereign Nation that can do whatever the hell it wants..clearly it is Not a Threat).

    Kennedy then orders a blockade of all Cuban ports..totally against UN and international law.(How dare they Again…please we need the international community ..including NZ..to send as many weapons as possible to Castro to stop this aggression..and if possible..the more Americans dead for their action serves them right)

    Kennedy says he will use all means possible to "defend American interests" (See …I told ya..Kennedy is a tyrant interested in bullying states..what a wacko)

    Honestly Scud…go buy a mirror and chant March 20 2003..and your issues will be resolved.

    Reply
    • Scud 9.1
      11 June 2024 at 2:43 pm

      Your mate Tsar Poots, isn't going to use Nuclear Wpns, as he is a dumb arrogant Slavic Muppet at last chance saloon with a pair 2's at Blackjack Table trying to bluff the soft liberal democracies of the West into not supporting Ukraine & allowing them to carry out deep strikes into the Russian Military Rear Area & further ie attack Russia's economy logistics hubs.

      I've seen this type of Batshit Bullshit Bluffs & threats etc while doing Chap7 Peace Enforcement Stabilisation Peacekeeping in East Timor 99-00 with TNI & it's backed Militia & later by the stupid thugs (I'll call them that as they weren't a Military Force on either side) in Sth Sudan when that imploded when the UN Peacekeeping Mission back in the 2000's couldn't do it's fucking job.

      Poots is applying the stupid inward looking Russian logic again on the West again and the liberal left/ peace movement & people like you have taken it hook line & sinker.

      Reply
      • Scud 9.1.1
        11 June 2024 at 3:30 pm

        P.S

        Here's a book for you on the Cuban Missile Crisis to read.

        Nuclear Folly,

        A New History of the Cuban Missile Crisis

        By Serhii Plokhy.

        He specialises in Cold War & Nuclear History.

        Reply
        • Jono 9.1.1.1
          11 June 2024 at 3:52 pm

          Good..I will read it..

          But the point still stands.

          The situation has changed because the NATO has given the green light to attack Russian territory.

          Up until this announcement the area in dispute was dombass..thus fighting should be there.

          This is clearly escalation on Natos part(because they can't handle the Fact Ukraine is losing badly)..but yet again rather than resort to diplomacy(Def an option)

          The reverse would be if russia gave saddam weapons to strike LA or NY when everyone thought Iraq was the battleground.

          The whole situation is actually in reverse in your head…Putin can turn KIEV to fire by non nuclear means…forcing the collective west into the abyss of using nukes…and Putin knows they won't because the Nato and the Collective West would be committing suicide.

          Reply
          • Scud 9.1.1.1.1
            11 June 2024 at 6:29 pm

            Ukraine has been twice stab in back with Russia's guarantees once with USSR when it finally got it's independence post WW1 in the early 1920's when it signed away Eastern Ukraine to the Soviets and for Ukraine to be invaded again later on.

            Then when it surrendered it's WMD's under the Lisbon Protocols & Budapest Memorandum in exchange for security guarantees from Russia that it will invade or interfere with its economic & internal affairs with the US & UK providing the Security guarantees should be stupid enough to invade Ukraine in the future.

            In other words Ukraine like the rest of Eastern Europe including both Sweden & Finland don't trust a word nor anything the Russia signs on a piece of paper.

            Reply
  10. Jono 10
    11 June 2024 at 4:23 pm

    Scud..here's some reading for you..

    A 1996 NY Times article explaining why NATO expansion is madness.

    https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/25/opinion/wrong-time-to-expand-nato.html

    Reply
    • Scud 10.1
      11 June 2024 at 6:19 pm

      Well you better ask why Eastern Europe asked to join NATO & the EU then?

      Or why Sweden & Finland suddenly abandon decades or in the case of Sweden centuries of neutrality & asked to join NATO when Tsar Poots invaded Ukraine?

      Or why Ukraine asked for Security guarantees when it signed the Lisbon Protocols & Budapest memorandum when it surrendered it's WMD's?

      The answer is quite simple!

      Reply
      • Jono 10.1.1
        11 June 2024 at 6:30 pm

        Your right the answer is quite simple..the U.S.A can fool them into being Proxies for their anti Russia agenda when the inevitable reaction comes. That way..the Military Industrial Complex of Raytheon,Lockheed Martin etc can makes $$$ out of U.S taxpayers….under the guise of "defense".

        Reply
        • Ad 10.1.1.1
          11 June 2024 at 9:10 pm

          Sweden has its' own home-built military-industrial complex and won't be needing US companies at all. It's got everything from Saab JAS 39 Gripen single-engine supersonic fighters to Carl Gustav recoilless rifles, AT4 shoulder-fired anti-tank weapons, Gotland-class submarines, and RBS15 anti-ship missiles. It also cooperates with other military producers, with one example being the Stridsvagn 122, the Swedish version of the German Leopard 2 tank.

          Finland gets its stuff from Sweden, France, Germany and Israel. It has retained conscription for decades and has a very focused and large ground force.

          And actually Finland and Sweden sought to join NATO after decades of cooperation-without-membership because they could see it was in their national security interests to do so. Both populations were heavily polled by politicians before doing so.

          Reply
        • Scud 10.1.1.2
          11 June 2024 at 9:53 pm

          No they simply don't trust Russia! Be it from Imperial days, USSR Days and now under Tsar Poots!

          Plus most of the Eastern Europe countries don't rely on the US Military Industrial Complex either for most of their equipment either btw.

          See Ad's comments below,

          Poland is sourcing it's MBT's from Sth Korea, plus it's builds it's SPG Guns which Ukraine uses etc. Couple of other nations have rebuilt/ redesign several ex Russian Tanks, IFV's, SPG's, Mi's, Hind's & Mig's to NATO's STANAG.

          Both the Poms, Frogs & German's build decent cruise missiles which the Ukraine is using to good effect amongst its locally made Neptune Missiles & it's reverse engineered Russian cruise missile.

          Reply
    • Belladonna 10.2
      11 June 2024 at 10:03 pm

      Nothing more recent than 1996?
      I think that most would accept that the geopolitical landscape in Europe has changed radically since then….

      Reply
  11. Jono 11
    11 June 2024 at 11:35 pm

    For something more recent go to mearsheimers famous 2015 lecture:

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JrMiSQAGOS4&t=3557s&pp=ygUYTWVhcnNoZWltZXIgMjAxNSB1a3JhaW5l

    Bucharest 2008 Nato summit..more recent than 1996 is the red line. MINSK TALKS were attempts to solve Ukrainian civil war while also offering ukraine neutrality..thus Putin actually tried 14 years of diplomacy.

    Reply
  12. SPC 12
    12 June 2024 at 6:27 am

    The mayor of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv has said that the situation there has been "calmer" since Russian missile launchers shelling it were hit by Ukrainian fire.

    Ihor Terekhov's comments came nearly two weeks after the US and other Western nations gave the go-ahead for Ukraine to hit targets inside Russia near Kharkiv.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv22jek87dno

    Reply

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    The election promises of ‘better economic management’ are now ringing hollow, as NZ appears to be falling into a deeper recession, while other economies are turning the corner. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy and the housing market are slumping back into a deep recession this winter, contrasting ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Scrutiny week off to rocky start
    Parliament’s new “Scrutiny” process, which is supposed to allow Select Committees to interrogate Ministers and officials in much more depth, has got off to a rocky start. Yesterday was the first day of “Scrutiny Week” which is supposed to see the Government grilled on how it spends taxpayers’ money and ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • The choice could not be more stark’: How Trump and Biden compare on climate change
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Barbara Grady Illustration by Samantha Harrington. Photo credits: Justin Lane-Pool/Getty Images, Win McNamee/Getty Images, European Space Agency. In an empty wind-swept field in Richmond, California, next to the county landfill, a company called RavenSr has plotted out land and won ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Differentiating between democracy and republic
    Although NZ readers may not be that interested in the subject and in lieu of US Fathers Day missives (not celebrated in NZ), I thought I would lay out some brief thoughts on a political subject being debated in the … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago

  • Bernard's mid-winter pick 'n' mix for Monday, June 17
    TL;DR: Chris Bishop talks up the use of value capture, congestion charging, PPPs, water meters, tolling and rebating GST on building materials to councils to ramp up infrastructure investment in the absence of the Government simply borrowing more to provide the capital.Meanwhile, Christopher Luxon wants to double the number of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • You do have the power to change things
    When I was invited to come aboard and help with Greater Auckland a few months ago (thanks to Patrick!), it was suggested it might be a good idea to write some sort of autobiographical post by way of an introduction. This post isn’t quite that – although I’m sure I’lll ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago

  • Turning Away – Who Cares If We Don't?
    On the turning awayFrom the pale and downtroddenAnd the words they say which we won't understandDon't accept that, what's happeningIs just a case of other's sufferingOr you'll find that you're joining inThe turning awayToday’s guest kōrero is from Author Catherine Lea. So without further ado, over to Catherine…I’m so honoured ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Dissecting Tickled
    Hi,Tickled was one of the craziest things that ever happened to me (and I feel like a lot of crazy things have happened to me).So ahead of the Webworm popup and Tickled screening in New Zealand on July 13, I thought I’d write about how we made that film and ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand Webworm Popup + Tickled!
    Hi,I’m doing a Webworm merch popup followed by a Tickled screening in Auckland, New Zealand on July 13th — and I’d love you to come. I got the urge to do this while writing this Webworm piece breaking down how we made Tickled, and talking to all the people who ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • What China wants from NZ business
    One simple statistic said it all: China Premier Li Qiang asked Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell what percentage of the company’s overall sales were made in China. “Thirty per cent,” said Hurrell. In other words, New Zealand’s largest company is more or less dependent on the Chinese market. But Hurrell is ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Review: The Worm Ouroboros, by E.R. Eddison (1922)
    One occasionally runs into the question of what J.R.R. Tolkien would have thought of George R.R. Martin. For years, I had a go-to online answer: we could use a stand-in. Tolkien’s thoughts on E.R. Eddison – that he appreciated the invented world, but thought the invented names were silly, and ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    4 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #24
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, June 9, 2024 thru Sat, June 15, 2024. Story of the week A glance at this week's inventory of what experts tell us is extreme weather mayhem juiced by ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Sunday Morning Chat
    After a busy week it’s a good day to relax. Clear blues skies here in Tamaki Makaurau, very peaceful but for my dogs sleeping heavily. In the absence of a full newsletter I thought I’d send out a brief update and share a couple of posts that popped up in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • The Book of Henry
    Now in the land of Angus beef and the mighty ABsWhere the steaks were juicy and the rivers did run foulIt would often be said,This meal is terrible,andNo, for real this is legit the worst thing I've ever eatenBut this was an thing said only to others at the table,not ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Is ocean acidification from human activities enough to impact marine ecosystems?
    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 the Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is ocean acidification from human ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Happiness is a Warm Gun
    She's not a girl who misses muchDo do do do do do, oh yeahShe's well-acquainted with the touch of the velvet handLike a lizard on a window paneI wouldn’t associate ACT with warmth, other than a certain fabled, notoriously hot, destination where surely they’re heading and many would like them ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Still doing a good 20
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past somewhat interrupted week. Still on the move!Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Coalition of the Unwilling?
    What does Budget 2024 tell us about the current government? Muddle on?Coalition governments are not new. About 50 percent of the time since the first MMP election, there has been a minority government, usually with allied parties holding ministerial portfolios outside cabinets. For 10 percent of the time there was ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago

  • Of red flags and warning signs in comments on social media
    Somewhat surprisingly for what is regarded as a network of professionals, climate science misinformation is getting shared on LinkedIn, joining other channels where this is happening. Several of our recent posts published on LinkedIn have attracted the ire of various commenters who apparently are in denial about human-caused climate change. Based ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • All good, still
    1. On what subject is Paul Henry even remotely worth giving the time of day?a. The state of our nationb. The state of the ACT partyc. How to freak out potential buyers of your gin palace by baking the remains of your deceased parent into its fittings2. Now that New ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • The looting is the point
    Last time National was in power, they looted the state, privatising public assets and signing hugely wasteful public-private partnership (PPP) contracts which saw foreign consortiums provide substandard infrastructure while gouging us for profits. You only have to look at the ongoing fiasco of Transmission Gully to see how it was ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • The Illusion of Power: How Local Government Bureaucrats Overawe Democratically-Elected Councillors..
    The Democratic Façade Of Local Government: Our district and city councillors are democratically elected to govern their communities on one very strict condition – that they never, ever, under any circumstances, attempt to do so.A DISINTEGRATION OF LOYALTIES on the Wellington City Council has left Mayor Tory Whanau without a ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago

  • Lowlights & Bright Spots
    I can feel the lowlights coming over meI can feel the lowlights, from the state I’m inI can see the light now even thought it’s dimA little glow on the horizonAnother week of lowlights from our government, with the odd bright spot and a glow on the horizon. The light ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 14-June-2024
    Another week, another roundup of things that caught our eye on our favourite topics of transport, housing and how to make cities a little bit greater. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Connor wrote about Kāinga Ora’s role as an urban development agency Tuesday’s guest post by ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    7 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to June 14
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s moves this week to take farming out of the ETS and encourage more mining and oil and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Climate policy axed in broad daylight, while taxpayer liabilities grow in the dark
    In 2019, Shane Jones addressed the “50 Shades of Green” protest at Parliament: Now he is part of a government giving those farmers a pass on becoming part of the ETS, as well as threatening to lock in offshore oil exploration and mining for decades. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Rage Bait!
    Hi,Today’s newsletter is all about how easy it is to get sucked into “rage bait” online, and how easy it is to get played.But first I wanted to share something that elicited the exact opposite of rage in me — something that made me feel incredibly proud, whilst also making ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    7 days ago

  • Bernard's Dawn Chorus and pick 'n' mix for Friday, June 14
    Seymour said lower speed limits “drained the joy from life as people were forced to follow rules they knew made no sense.” File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, June 14 were:The National/ACT/NZ First ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Friendly but frank talks with China Premier
    It sounded like the best word to describe yesterday’s talks between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and his heavyweight delegation of Ministers and officials and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and New Zealand Ministers and officials was “frank.” But it was the kind of frankness that friends can indulge in. It ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #24 2024
    Open access notables Wildfire smoke impacts lake ecosystems, Farruggia et al., Global Change Biology: We introduce the concept of the lake smoke-day, or the number of days any given lake is exposed to smoke in any given fire season, and quantify the total lake smoke-day exposure in North America from 2019 ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live
    Photo by Mathias Elle on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with special guests:5.00 ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Geoffrey Miller: China’s message to New Zealand – don’t put it all at risk
    Don’t put it all at risk. That’s likely to be the take-home message for New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in his meetings with Li Qiang, the Chinese Premier. Li’s visit to Wellington this week is the highest-ranking visit by a Chinese official since 2017. The trip down under – ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 week ago

  • The Real Thing
    I know the feelingIt is the real thingThe essence of the soulThe perfect momentThat golden momentI know you feel it tooI know the feelingIt is the real thingYou can't refuse the embraceNo?Sometimes we face the things we most dislike. A phobia or fear that must be confronted so it doesn’t ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Gordon Campbell on how moderates empower the political right
    Struth, what a week. Having made sure the rural sector won’t have to pay any time soon for its pollution, PM Christopher Luxon yesterday chose Fieldays 2024 to launch a parliamentary inquiry into rural banking services, to see how the banks have been treating farmers faced with high interest rates. ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 week ago

  • Bernard's Dawn Chorus and pick 'n' mix for Thursday, June 13
    In April, 17,656 people left Aotearoa-NZ to live overseas, averaging 588 a day, with just over half of those likely to have gone to Australia. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, June 13 ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Our guide to having your say on the draft RLTP 2024
    Auckland’s draft Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) 2024 is open for feedback – and you only have until Monday 17 June to submit. Do it! Join the thousands of Aucklanders who are speaking up for wise strategic investment that will dig us out of traffic and give us easy and ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    1 week ago

  • The China puzzle
    Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrives in Wellington today for a three-day visit to the country. The visit will take place amid uncertainty about the future of the New Zealand-China relationship. Li hosted a formal welcome and then lunch for then-Prime Minister Chris Hipkins in Beijing a year ago. The pair ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • Fossil fuels are shredding our democracy
    This is a re-post of an article from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler published on June 3, 2024. I have an oped in the New York Times (gift link) about this. For a long time, a common refrain about the energy transition was that renewable energy needed to become ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Life at 20 kilometres an hour
    We are still in France, getting from A to B.Possibly for only another week, though; Switzerland and Germany are looming now. On we pedal, towards Budapest, at about 20 km per hour.What are are mostly doing is inhaling a country, loving its ways and its food. Rolling, talking, quietly thinking. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Hipkins is still useless
    The big problem with the last Labour government was that they were chickenshits who did nothing with the absolute majority we had given them. They governed as if they were scared of their own shadows, afraid of making decisions lest it upset someone - usually someone who would never have ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Exercising with the IDF.
    This morning I did something I seldom do, I looked at the Twitter newsfeed. Normally I take the approach of something that I’m not sure is an American urban legend, or genuinely something kids do over there. The infamous bag of dog poo on the front porch, set it on ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Helm Hammerhand Anime: First Pictures and an Old English ‘Hera’
    We have some news on the upcoming War of the Rohirrim anime. It will apparently be two and a half hours in length, with Peter Jackson as Executive Producer, and Helm’s daughter Hera will be the main character. Also, pictures: The bloke in the middle picture is Freca’s ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago

  • Farmers get free pass on climate AND get subsidies
    The cows will keep burping and farting and climate change will keep accelerating - but farmers can stop worrying about being included in the ETS. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, June 12 were:The ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Six ideas to secure Te Huia’s Future
    This is a guest post by our friend Darren Davis. It originally appeared on his excellent blog, Adventures in Transitland, which features “musings about public transport and other cool stuff in Aotearoa/ New Zealand and around the globe.” With Te Huia now having funding secure through to 2026, now is ...
    Greater AucklandBy Darren Davis
    1 week ago

  • The methane waka sinks
    In some ways, there may be less than meets the eye to the Government announcement yesterday that the He Waka Eke Noa proposal for farmers to pay for greenhouse gas emissions has been scrapped. The spectre of farmers still having to pay at some point in the future remains. That, ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • At a glance – Does positive feedback necessarily mean runaway warming?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Climate Change: Farmers get what they wanted – for now
    Since entering office, National has unravelled practically every climate policy, leaving us with no effective way of reducing emissions or meeting our emissions budgets beyond magical thinking around the ETS. And today they've announced another step: removing agriculture entirely. At present, following the complete failure of he waka eka noa, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Presumed Innocent?
    The blue billionaireDistraction no interactionOr movement outside these glazed over eyesThe new great divideFew fight the tide to be glorifiedBut will he be satisfied?Can we accept this without zoom?The elephant in the roomNot much happens in politics on a Monday. Bugger all in fact. Although yesterday Christopher Luxon found he ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Gordon Campbell on our doomed love affair with oil and gas
    What if New Zealand threw a fossil fuel party, and nobody came? On the weekend, Resources Minister Shane Jones sent out the invitations and strung up the balloons, but will anyone really want to invest big time in resuming oil and gas exploration in our corner of the planet? Yes, ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 week ago

  • Building better housing insights
    This is a guest post by Meredith Dale, senior urban designer and strategist at The Urban Advisory. There’s a saying that goes something like: ‘what you measure is what you value’. An RNZ article last week claimed that Auckland was ‘hurting’ because of a more affordable supply of homes, particularly townhouses ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    1 week ago

  • Putin would be proud of them
    A Prime Minister directs his public service to inquire into the actions of the opposition political party which is his harshest critic. Something from Orban's Hungary, or Putin's Russia? No, its happening right here in Aotearoa: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Public Service Commission will launch an ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Resources for debunking common solar and wind myths
    This is a repost from a Yale Climate Connections article by SueEllen Campbell published on June 3, 2024. The articles listed can help you tell fact from fiction when it comes to solar and wind energy. Some statements you hear about solar and wind energy are just plain false. ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Juggernaut
    Politics were going on all around us yesterday, and we barely noticed, rolling along canal paths, eating baguettes. It wasn’t until my mate got to the headlines last night that we learned there had been a dismayingly strong far right result in the EU elections and Macron had called a ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Numbers Game.
    Respect Existence, Or Expect Resistance? There may well have been 50,000 pairs of feet “Marching For Nature” down Auckland’s Queen Street on Saturday afternoon, but the figure that impresses the Coalition Government is the 1,450,000 pairs of Auckland feet that were somewhere else.IN THE ERA OF DRONES and Artificial Intelligence, ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • Media Link: AVFA on post-colonial blowback.
    Selwyn Manning and I discuss varieties of post colonial blowback and the implications its has for the rise of the Global South. Counties discussed include Palestine/Israel, France/New Caledonia, England/India, apartheid/post-apartheid South Africa and post-colonial New Zealand. It is a bit … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago

  • Policy by panic
    Back in March, Ombudsman Peter Boshier resigned when he hit the statutory retirement age of 72, leaving the country in the awkward (and legally questionable) position of having him continue as a temporay appointee. It apparently took the entire political system by surprise - as evinced by Labour's dick move ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • School attendance increases
    School attendance data released today shows an increase in the number of students regularly attending school to 61.7 per cent in term one. This compares to 59.5 per cent in term one last year and 53.6 per cent in term four. “It is encouraging to see more children getting to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • Record investment in public transport services
    The Government has announced a record 41 per cent increase in indicative funding for public transport services and operations, and confirmed the rollout of the National Ticketing Solution (NTS) that will enable contactless debit and credit card payments starting this year in Auckland, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This Government is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • GDP data shows need to strengthen and grow the economy
    GDP figures for the March quarter reinforce the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  Data released today by Stats NZ shows GDP has risen 0.2 per cent for the quarter to March.   “While today’s data is technically in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Women continue to make up over 50 per cent on public sector boards
    Women’s representation on public sector boards and committees has reached 50 per cent or above for the fourth consecutive year, with women holding 53.9 per cent of public sector board roles, Acting Minister for Women Louise Upston says. “This is a fantastic achievement, but the work is not done. To ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Government supporting Māori business success
    The Coalition Government is supporting Māori to boost development and the Māori economy through investment in projects that benefit the regions, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka say. “As the Regional Development Minister, I am focused on supporting Māori to succeed. The Provincial Growth Fund ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Better solutions for earthquake-prone buildings
    Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced that the review into better managing the risks of earthquake-prone buildings has commenced. “The terms of reference published today demonstrate the Government’s commitment to ensuring we get the balance right between public safety and costs to building owners,” Mr Penk says.  “The Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago

  • Prime Minister wraps up visit to Japan
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has just finished a successful three-day visit to Japan, where he strengthened political relationships and boosted business links. Mr Luxon’s visit culminated in a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio followed by a state dinner. “It was important for me to meet Prime Minister Kishida in person ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Major business deals signed on PM’s Japan trip
    Significant business deals have been closed during the visit of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to Japan this week, including in the areas of space, renewable energy and investment.  “Commercial deals like this demonstrate that we don’t just export high-quality agricultural products to Japan, but also our world-class technology, expertise, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Strategic Security speech, Tokyo
    Minasan, konnichiwa, kia ora and good afternoon everyone. Thank you for the invitation to speak to you today and thank you to our friends at the Institute for International Socio-Economic Studies and NEC for making this event possible today.  It gives me great pleasure to be here today, speaking with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • National Infrastructure Pipeline worth over $120 billion
    The National Infrastructure Pipeline, which provides a national view of current or planned infrastructure projects, from roads, to water infrastructure, to schools, and more, has climbed above $120 billion, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says. “Our Government is investing a record amount in modern infrastructure that Kiwis can rely on as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Making it easier to build infrastructure
    The Government is modernising the Public Works Act to make it easier to build infrastructure, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk announced today. An independent panel will undertake an eight-week review of the Act and advise on common sense changes to enable large scale public works to be built faster and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • NZ enhances North Korea sanctions monitoring
    New Zealand will enhance its defence contributions to monitoring violations of sanctions against North Korea, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today.  The enhancement will see the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) increase its contributions to North Korea sanctions monitoring, operating out of Japan. “This increase reflects the importance New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Speech to Safeguard National Health and Safety Conference
    Good afternoon everyone. It’s great to be with you all today before we wrap up Day One of the annual Safeguard National Health and Safety Conference. Thank you to the organisers and sponsors of this conference, for the chance to talk to you about the upcoming health and safety consultation. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Ōtaki to north of Levin alliance agreements signed
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone for the Ōtaki to north of Levin Road of National Significance (RoNS), following the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) signing interim alliance agreements with two design and construction teams who will develop and ultimately build the new expressway.“The Government’s priority for transport ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Improvements to stopping Digital Child Exploitation
    The Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is making a significant upgrade to their Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System, which blocks access to websites known to host child sexual abuse material, says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden.  “The Department will incorporate the up-to-date lists of websites hosting child sexual ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New vaccine research aims to combat prevalent bovine disease
    A vaccine to prevent an infectious disease that costs New Zealand cattle farmers more than $190 million each year could radically improve the health of our cows and boost on-farm productivity, Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard says. The Ministry for Primary Industries is backing a project that aims to develop ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Making it easier to build granny flats
    The Government has today announced that it is making it easier for people to build granny flats, Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop say. “Making it easier to build granny flats will make it more affordable for families to live the way that suits them ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • High Court Judge appointed
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Auckland King’s Counsel Gregory Peter Blanchard as a High Court Judge. Justice Blanchard attended the University of Auckland from 1991 to 1995, graduating with an LLB (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts (English). He was a solicitor with the firm that is now Dentons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Health workforce numbers rise
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says new data released today shows encouraging growth in the health workforce, with a continued increase in the numbers of doctors, nurses and midwives joining Health New Zealand. “Frontline healthcare workers are the beating heart of the healthcare system. Increasing and retaining our health workforce ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Government to overhaul firearms laws
    Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has today announced a comprehensive programme to reform New Zealand's outdated and complicated firearms laws. “The Arms Act has been in place for over 40 years. It has been amended several times – in a piecemeal, and sometimes rushed way. This has resulted in outdated ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Government delivers landmark specialist schools investment
    The coalition Government is delivering record levels of targeted investment in specialist schools so children with additional needs can thrive. As part of Budget 24, $89 million has been ringfenced to redevelop specialist facilities and increase satellite classrooms for students with high needs. This includes: $63 million in depreciation funding ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Major health and safety consultation begins
    A substantial consultation on work health and safety will begin today with a roadshow across the regions over the coming months, says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden.  This the first step to deliver on the commitment to reforming health and safety law and regulations, set out in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Growing the potential of New Zealand’s forestry sector in partnership
    Forestry Minister Todd McClay, today announced the start of the Government’s plan to restore certainty and confidence in the forestry and wood processing sector. “This government will drive investment to unlock the industry’s economic potential for growth,” Mr McClay says. “Forestry’s success is critical to rebuilding New Zealand’s economy, boosting ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government cancels forestry ETS annual service charges for 2023-24
    Annual service charges in the forestry Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will be cancelled for 2023/24, Forestry Minister Todd McClay says. “The sector has told me the costs imposed on forestry owners by the previous government were excessive and unreasonable and I agree,” Mr McClay says. “They have said that there ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Speech to the LGNZ Infrastructure Symposium
    Introduction Thank you for having me here today and welcome to Wellington, the home of the Hurricanes, the next Super Rugby champions. Infrastructure – the challenge This government has inherited a series of big challenges in infrastructure. I don’t need to tell an audience as smart as this one that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government boosts Agriculture and food trade with China
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