Note to DPF: stop playing victim and take some responsibility for your blog

Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, August 31st, 2009 - 61 comments
Categories: dpf - Tags:

It seems I’ve hit a sore spot with David Farrar over the business of death threats to Sue Bradford. He’s now claiming I’ve dived for the gutter. At the risk of starting a flame war I’d like to point out that if I was aiming for the gutter I’d turn up in the comments section of his blog.

Because despite his protestations he quite clearly facilitates the kind of thuggery that leads to this kind of threat.

Here, for example, are three comments made about Bradford on Kiwiblog yesterday:

Somebody needs to check the authenticity of these death threats against Comrade Bradford, I would not put it past the maggot to make them up in an attempt to gain the sympathy vote for her anti smacking bill.

Oasis split up, Kennnedy’s buried and Bwadford’s in (unjustified) fear of her life. It’s been a good week so far.

Being called a nasty piece of work by Supreme Whore Commissar Bwadford sounds like an honour.

You’ll note that none of them have attracted any comment from Farrar but I can tell you that if anything like that was written here about anyone (from the left, right or whatever) the comment would be deleted and the poster would be banned.

But not at Kiwiblog.

I’m sure David will say he’s too busy to read all comments but I’ve noticed every comment that is critical of him personally gets answered so I doubt that’s true.

Rather than provide a space for this bile to self-validate, David should (as I said in my last post) condemn it. He’s got the ear of these thugs and he should let them know their behaviour is unacceptable. They won’t listen to the Standard but they might listen to him.

But instead he writes a post in which he downplays the threats (what else could “While I am not sure I would classify the tweet as a literal death threat” be interpreted as?), remarks upon helping the police with a death threat made on his blog (I should bloody well hope he would!) and then spends the rest of the post engaging in a hysterical attack on me for being mean to him.

Nice one David, you seem to think personal responsibility is only for other people. How about you take some yourself and clean up that breeding ground for hate you call a blog?

61 comments on “Note to DPF: stop playing victim and take some responsibility for your blog ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. snoozer 1
    31 August 2009 at 12:57 pm

    If Farrar stopped providing a breeding ground for hate what would he have? Pictures of boobs from around the world and long stories of his latest trip or media appearance.

    reminds me of that scene in the simpsons:

    Carl: You ain’t thinking of getting rid of the dank, are you, Moe?
    Moe: Ehh, maybe I am.
    Carl: Oh, but Moe: the dank. The dank!

  2. graham 2
    31 August 2009 at 12:58 pm

    at least he is man enough to publish his name for all we know you are sue bradford

    • snoozer 2.1
      31 August 2009 at 1:14 pm

      For all I know, you’re Captain Bligh.

      Why should I take seriously anything you say when you can’t prove you’re not a tryannical 18th century naval officer?

    • Craig Glen Eden 2.2
      31 August 2009 at 1:24 pm

      graham, you are such a tough guy, why don’t you put up your full name and address. Stick to the issue tough guy the post is about inappropriate blog posting and the role blog sites should play in censorship. And hey when all said and done how do we know that you are not Farra’s Mother?

    • toad 2.3
      31 August 2009 at 1:51 pm

      graham, there will be lots of different reasons for people not wanting to post or comment on blogs using their real names:

      1) Public servant have to be seen to be politically neutral.

      2) People blog in work time and their employer would disapprove.

      3) There are wingnuts who will track bloggers down throught the electoral roll and harrass them

      Are three obvious ones that spring to mind. Nothing to do with being “man enough”.

      How would you fancy a late night in-person visit from the creature that calls itself Hurf Durf that hangs out at Farrar’s troll farm.

      • IrishBill 2.3.1
        31 August 2009 at 2:09 pm

        Don’t worry Toad, I’m big enough and ugly enough to look after myself. My main reason for anonymity is that I don’t want to become known entirely as a “that blogger from the standard” or, god forbid, one of those “celebrity bloggers” like David or Russell Brown.

        The Standard is just a small part of my life and by staying anonymous I get to keep it that way. Readers can judge me on the quality of my writing and ideas and if they don’t like that too bad. I don’t get anything out of the standard other than the chance to have a bit of a public rant (maybe if I wasn’t anonymous I would be able to cash in a bit as a pundit as other bloggers have.) so I don’t feel I owe anyone my name if I don’t want to give it.

        [lprent: ditto. I’d have preferred to be anonymous as well. But as I was the domain name holder, I couldn’t be totally anonymous.

        However there really aren’t that many people who know who I am in real life.

        You usually have to be a family, a programmer or a political activist to know what in the hell I look like. lprent is my personality on the net. It is nice to be able to display the nicer parts of my personality there rather than my usual acid personality facets that I display when I’m working. ]

        • Adolf Fiinkensein 2.3.1.1
          31 August 2009 at 3:57 pm

          Don’t worry Irish. Tou’re quite safe.

          You ain’t no celebrity.

        • mike 2.3.1.2
          31 August 2009 at 8:32 pm

          “I’m big enough and ugly enough to look after myself”

          I knew it – your an EPMU bova boy…

  3. IrishBill 3
    31 August 2009 at 1:07 pm

    snoozer, I disagree, as much as I dislike his politics Farrar has a unique insider view of the current government, a lot of experience in the beltway and a good understanding of the process of government. He’s also got an amazing ability to produce mountains of copy.

    I’m not saying he shouldn’t blog from a right-wing perspective; I’m saying he needs to clean up the comments from the fringe nutters rather than give them a home. It would be good for his credibility and for the credibility of the right (especially the National party) and also for the credibility of the blogosphere.

    My concern is that he lacks the maturity or the political judgment to do so.

    • Swampy 3.1
      31 August 2009 at 9:22 pm

      This is all so high and mighty, “the credibility of the blogosphere”. What credibility? This is the political left trying to make out how politically pious they are. The Green party tries it on all the time.

      Turn the tables and sooner or later some leftie will be claiming their rights to free speech under the Bill of Rights, their rights to peaceful protest, to burn flags, etc etc etc.

  4. tc 4
    31 August 2009 at 1:08 pm

    DPF thrives on all of this like a badly behaved child craving attention.
    It takes all sorts and the unreasonable all know where they can have their views published, at kiwiblog. Having seen the man interviewed he’s rather underwhelming and not worth the effort even though TVNZ gave him such a soft touch instead of a grilling he deserved he still wasn’t convincing and I found him a little scary in a way all good catholic boys would understand.
    I’m guessing JK would be ‘comfortable’ with it, as I am comfortable that the KKK existing on the same planet as me but what can we do about that.
    Just a sad by product of free speech meeting the blog culture and like all badly behaved children I ignore him.

  5. graham 5
    31 August 2009 at 1:24 pm

    why do you guys hide your real names are you labour party presidents or something

    • Tigger 5.1
      31 August 2009 at 1:26 pm

      David Garrett, is that you?

    • RedLogix 5.2
      31 August 2009 at 1:40 pm

      No but from what he’s already said graham is a dairy farmer in Southland somewhere (and that’s general enough not to be an attempt to identify him). I’ve no reason to think graham is not a bona fide person with an opinion like the rest of us.

      He’s still learning however to use a spell checker, the rudiments of punctuation, grammar, debate and constructive argument, well enough to put together readable comments. In the meantime we’re trying to discourage him from dropping angry little one-liners all over the threads. Kind of like house-training a puppy, either he’ll learn soon, or get permanently banished to the kennels.

      [lprent: He already knows what it is like. Complained about it in e-mail as well. He did not like my response (your one is benign by comparison). However he didn’t piss me off enough that time to perma-ban him. ]

      • aj 5.2.1
        31 August 2009 at 4:05 pm

        Ahh thats interesting, he’s possibly the same person who appears in the letters column in the local rag, full of misinformation and barely contained venom and dislike for Bradford.

    • Scott Yorke 5.3
      31 August 2009 at 1:42 pm

      graham – Pot kettle black.

      What’s your full name then?

  6. schrodigerscat 6
    31 August 2009 at 1:42 pm

    As a dairy farmer from Southland, does he live in a subsidised house in Wellington?

  7. Ianmac 7
    31 August 2009 at 1:46 pm

    Last year I sometimes read DPF but the comments were so rabid that now I don’t bother. A pity really as other points of view are valid, or could be.

  8. Bart 8
    31 August 2009 at 1:49 pm

    I now just read Farrar’s posts but don’t bother going into the comments. He often gives a good account of the right’s view, and I often find myself agreeing with him.

  9. greenfly 9
    31 August 2009 at 2:04 pm

    Mr Farrar is mild-mannered and kindly to all and sundry, no matter how despicable their comments, – until you imply that he is carrying too much weight. At that point he will ban you for life.

  10. no leftie 10
    31 August 2009 at 2:32 pm

    “if anything like that was written here about anyone (from the left, right or whatever) the comment would be deleted and the poster would be banned.”

    And that’s a good thing?

    David can speak for himself (and is) but why the need to crush views you don’t agree with? A lot of the comments on Kiwiblog are drivel but it’s a blog – surely you don’t go there looking for wisdom.

    How about letting people have their say? Disgree and fight back by all means but deleted and banned?

    • IrishBill 10.1
      31 August 2009 at 3:49 pm

      Abuse and threats aren’t views.

      • no leftie 10.1.1
        31 August 2009 at 5:08 pm

        That’s the crux of the ideological debate here isn’t it. Your comment earlier….

        “he needs to clean up the comments from the fringe nutters rather than give them a home”

        Why?

        I suspect DPF doesn’t feel the need to maintain such rigid control over the views of others.

        “Lacks maturity”? For allowing others to have their say without hitting the delete button whenever they say things he doesn’t agree with.

        I would have thought respecting the views of others is sure sign of maturity.

        [lprent: Exactly the point about the sewer that Irish was making. Not only is there a high density population (ie thick), they also display a lot of the traits of a little gang shouting down any contrary opinions – including using that nice little bully device – the kudos system.

        In other words many people in the sewer do not respect other peoples views. Here they are required to because we enforce a standard of behavior that prevents the ‘level’ of debate dropping to a mutual wanking society.

        We don’t actually delete many comments here unless you’re already banned for stupid behavior.

        When I see stupid behavior, I usually leave a nasty black comment on it and flag them for auto-moderation. But you know that – it is where your comments go at present*.

        Bad behavior includes going off and making stupid comments about groups of people purely for effect – eg homophobic, sexist, racist etc. You can say opinions about those things without being stupid about it. The banished who seem to frequent the sewer usually were not.

        *Ummm I should review your setting. I’ve been letting through most of them – so I guess you’ve worked out the standard now.]

        • IrishBill 10.1.1.1
          31 August 2009 at 5:48 pm

          Once again, abuse and threats are not “views”. We are happy for commenters to hold some pretty far-right views here without moderating them (just ask Redbaiter) but we don’t tolerate the level of abuse David does. That’s because we refuse to give the nutters who regularly use that kind of language any validation. If they have a point to make they can make it without resorting to filth if they can’t we show them the door.

          People get banned here for their behaviour not their politics.

    • Pascal's bookie 10.2
      31 August 2009 at 4:41 pm

      no leftie, deleting someone’s comments and banning them from a blog isn’t preventing them from having their say, nor is it crushing their views.

      They can go start their own blog. But they don’t have to cause dpf is quite happy make them welcome on his.

      • no leftie 10.2.1
        31 August 2009 at 5:48 pm

        “deleting someone’s comments and banning them from a blog isn’t preventing them from having their say”

        This has to be a joke – a very bad one.

        [lprent: there are a lot of other media outlets, blogs, talkback, letters to the paper, …. So not joking. ]

        • Pascal's bookie 10.2.1.1
          31 August 2009 at 6:27 pm

          As Lynn says, nope, not a joke.
          Blog moderation is not a freedom of speech issue. the only way it could be is if the state was moderating blogs and deleting content it didn’t like. If it’s the blog owner doing it it’s absolutely fine.

          TV3 wouldn’t let me have a half hour to rant on the network. The Catholic Church will defrock priests who say certain things from the pulpit. Newspapers decline to run ads and letters. None of this is stopping people from having their say.

          Especially today when it is so damn easy to set up a blog and write whatever the hell you like.

          Saying that someone can’t write some things on your blog isn’t oppressing them in any way shape or form. It just isn’t.

          To claim otherwise is the joke.

          • no leftie 10.2.1.1.1
            1 September 2009 at 8:36 am

            Thank you for the lesson in doublethink – where BLOCKING people’s views allows people to express their views.

            Very illuminating.

            Oh and the “joke” remark was irony intended to point out the absurdity of the statement “deleting someone’s comments and banning them from a blog isn’t preventing them from having their say”.

            • Pascal's bookie 10.2.1.1.1.1
              1 September 2009 at 9:06 am

              What have you got against property rights? Are you sure you’re not a leftie?

              It’s quite simple and there is no double think. A blog owner can stop you saying shit on their blog, but that doesn’t stop you expressing it elsewhere. It’s very easy to say it elsewhere. So the view is not being suppressed.

              If I ask you to publish something, and you refuse to do so, are you oppressing me? Do I have a right to demand that other people use their freedom of speech to publish what I want to say? It’s absurd.

              Just say it yourself, no one is stopping you.

              And for the record, dpf does ban people and I’m pretty sure he’s deleted comments, so you’re wrong on all counts.

            • felix 10.2.1.1.1.2
              1 September 2009 at 9:06 am

              Which part of “free speech” are you having trouble with, guy?

              Can I bowl round to your house anytime I like and do whatever I want, disregarding your wishes? No?

              But I have something to say! Stop oppressing me! I demand the right to stand on your couch and shout at you!

              See the problem?

              Do you not understand that a website is private property?

              Do you think every website owner in the world owes you a soapbox? Why? Get a blog and make the rules. No-one’s stopping you.

              edit: snap

  11. Brett Dale 11
    31 August 2009 at 2:55 pm

    I think the Standard look in their own back yard and some of the comments directed at certain people and certain countries and cultures for that matter.

  12. randal 12
    31 August 2009 at 4:27 pm

    actually dpf reminds me of a map of tasmania.

    • outofbed 12.1
      31 August 2009 at 4:43 pm

      Randal
      I know I am going to regret this but however..
      In what way does DPF remind you of Tasmania?

      • Akldnut 12.1.1
        31 August 2009 at 9:00 pm

        oob I think he’s refering to aussie slang about whats hiding in a womans pants, A map of tassie & a C%#T!

  13. Red Rosa 13
    31 August 2009 at 4:44 pm

    Certainly there are some robust comments posted here – many, maybe most, posted by the Right!.

    But they pale by comparison the worst of the Kiwiblog rants. As previous commentators have pointed out, some of these are scarily like the rabid American Right. From the people who gave you Timothy McVeigh…….

    It is worth exploring this a bit more. If there is an American Communist Party these days, they could probably meet in a phone box. But there are plenty of well paid Michelle Malkins and Ann Coulters to crank up the Rebel Flag Wavers and the Patriots.

    And the Republican Party certainly isn’t slowing them down.

    No doubt, all said better recently on ‘The F Word.’ post. These people are alive and well in NZ.

  14. singularian 14
    31 August 2009 at 5:52 pm

    It’s laughable that with so many ‘smart’ people posting here that you have so little understanding of the psychology of the interwebs, unless………

    Words used by OP and ‘left’ commetors on this thread –

    gutter, breeding ground for hate, creature, troll farm, fringe nutters, rabid, bile.

    Who’s indulging in the language of hate again?

    catchpa – crashing – you ain’t wrong.

    • felix 14.1
      31 August 2009 at 5:58 pm

      How would you accurately describe the comments section of Kiwiblog?

      What words would you use?

      • checker 14.1.1
        31 August 2009 at 6:10 pm

        How would you accurately describe the comments section of Kiwiblog?

        “Partisan” “Trollish” “Occasionally insightful” “Opinionated” “At times vile” “Bizarre”

        ….. or in one word “Standardlike”

        • The Voice of Reason 14.1.1.1
          31 August 2009 at 6:54 pm

          “Standardlite” more like.

          I’m, ahem, comfortable with the moderation on this site. It’s quality versus quantity. Kiwiblog is just a spew of right wing bile most of the time, lightened by occasional bursts of intelligence from the more thoughtful righties and those lefties who can be bothered trying to lift the debate out of the gutter.

          • Mothers4Justice 14.1.1.1.1
            31 August 2009 at 7:25 pm

            Speaking of the gutter where is that dad4justice bastard as he needs another smack in the head?

  15. vto 15
    31 August 2009 at 7:46 pm

    Its pretty rare that I read dpf anymore. All too predictory and its easier to have a contrary view and something to harangue folk about on here.

    Rabid right and loony left are equal in their hatreds from what I have seen. It’s just that the rabid right let it all hang out more easily.

  16. Scott Yorke 16
    31 August 2009 at 8:51 pm

    There is a difference between The Standard and Kiwiblog.

    DPF’s posts are often interesting and informative, even if I often disagree strongly with them. But the comments left by readers often make me want to be ill. All too many are homophobic, misogynist, or racist. I’d have said calling Sue Bradford a maggot was a low point, but there are too many others to compete for that title.

    Now I admit I often find the level of debate in The Standard somewhat lacking in subtlety, and the insults dished out are often petty. But more often than not the insults tend to be directed at the ideas expressed by others, not the people themselves.

    And I know there will be exceptions to this. But they’re infrequent. I could go on to Kiwiblog on any given day and probably find 20 or so posts that clearly cross the line. You’d be lucky to get more than a few a day on this site.

    That’s the difference.

    DPF can do what he likes with his site. But we’re also entitled to judge him by the behaviour he condones, and often actively enables.

  17. Mothers4Justice 17
    31 August 2009 at 9:03 pm

    So say all of us.
    Sin Bin Thanx.

  18. willaspish 18
    31 August 2009 at 9:23 pm

    It’s reassuring to see Dave and his Farrasites sticking to the script.

  19. Mothers4Justice 19
    31 August 2009 at 9:31 pm

    Indeed, Farrasites are not to be confused by Standardmites.

  20. outofbed 20
    31 August 2009 at 9:43 pm

    I See D4J has discovered the Torr network

  21. Swampy 21
    31 August 2009 at 10:31 pm

    This blog The Standard was originally set up to counter Kiwiblog in the political spectrum. Every so often the Standard tries to convince us that they hold the moral high ground in the political blogosphere, by seizing opportunities to create some kind of issue around something happening on another blog, most often Kiwiblog.

    Essentially, this appears to suggest the views of the Standard is that the EFA should have gone a lot further and banned political blogging as well.

    • felix 21.1
      31 August 2009 at 10:59 pm

      I haven’t noticed anyone trying to ban you and your late-night spamming sessions, despite your having next to nothing constructive to add to any topic and very little demonstrated interest in engaging in thoughtful discourse with anyone.

    • Pascal's bookie 21.2
      1 September 2009 at 5:15 am

      “Essentially, this appears to suggest the views of the Standard is that the EFA should have gone a lot further and banned political blogging as well.”

      This comment suggests swampy is a halfwit.

  22. randal 22
    2 September 2009 at 11:59 am

    swamp is flogging red herrings. posting death threats has nothing to do with the EFA. swampy is either a mate of humpty dumpty or he is just another ignorant map of tasmania.

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    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

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