Open mike 01/03/2025
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6:00 am, March 1st, 2025 - 63 comments
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- Unity is the answer to Europe’s defence woes
US President Donald Trump’s hostile regime has finally forced Europe to wake up. With US officials calling into question the transatlantic alliance, Germany’s incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, recently persuaded lawmakers to revise the country’s debt ...10 hours ago - Australian politics needs clearer national security boundaries
We need to establish clearer political boundaries around national security to avoid politicising ongoing security issues and to better manage secondary effects. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) revealed on 10 March that the Dural caravan ...11 hours ago
- Government must act decisively and ban engineered stone
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have reiterated their call for Government to protect workers by banning engineered stone in a submission on MBIE’s silica dust consultation. “If Brooke van Velden is genuine when she calls for an evidence-based approach to this issue, then she must support a full ban on ...16 hours ago - Tuesday 18 March
The Labour Inspectorate could soon be knocking on the door of hundreds of businesses nation-wide, as it launches a major crackdown on those not abiding by the law. NorthTec staff are on edge as Northland’s leading polytechnic proposes to stop 11 programmes across primary industries, forestry, and construction. Union coverage ...16 hours ago
- First-person view drones: transitioning from sport to battle
It’s one thing for military personnel to hone skills with first-person view (FPV) drones in racing competitions. It’s quite another for them to transition to the complexities of the battlefield. Drone racing has become a ...16 hours ago
- ‘There are no exemptions. Just eat it.’
Seymour says there will be no other exemptions granted to schools wanting to opt out of the Compass contract. Photo: Lynn GrievesonLong stories shortest: David Seymour has denied a request from a Christchurch school and any other schools to be exempted from the Compass school lunch programme, saying the contract ...16 hours ago - Nuclear Ukraine: Budapest Memorandum – what it says and is it relevant?
Russian President Boris Yeltsin, U.S. President Bill Clinton, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, and British Prime Minister John Major signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in ... 17 hours ago- A Palate Cleanser
Edit: The original story said “Palette Cleanser” in both the story, and the headline. I am never, ever going to live this down. Chain me up, throw me into the pit.Hi,With the world burning — literally and figuratively — I felt like Webworm needed a little palate cleanser at the ...18 hours ago- Do Americans really want urban sprawl?
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah Wesseler (Image credit: Antonio Huerta) Growing up in suburban Ohio, I was used to seeing farmland and woods disappear to make room for new subdivisions, strip malls, and big box stores. I didn’t usually welcome the changes, but I assumed others ...19 hours ago- Myanmar’s desperate condition: fragmentation, drugs, money-laundering and more
Myanmar was a key global site for criminal activity well before the 2021 military coup. Today, illicit industry, especially heroin and methamphetamine production, still defines much of the economy. Nowhere, not even the leafiest districts ...19 hours ago- The Hardest Word
What've I gotta do to make you love me?What've I gotta do to make you care?What do I do when lightning strikes me?And I wake up and find that you're not thereWhat've I gotta do to make you want me?Mmm hmm, what've I gotta do to be heard?What do I ...20 hours ago- Bernard’s Pick ‘n’ Mix at 6am on Tuesday, March 18
Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom3, NZ Herald, Stuff, BusinessDesk-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT-$, WSJ-$, Bloomberg-$, New York Times-$, The Atlantic-$, The Economist-$ ...21 hours ago- Gordon Campbell On Luxon’s Survival Chances, And The India FTA
Whenever Christopher Luxon drops a classically fatuous clanger or whenever the government has a bad poll – i.e. every week – the talk resumes that he is about to be rolled. This is unlikely for several reasons. For starters, there is no successor. Nicola Willis? Chris Bishop? Simeon Brown? Mark ...1 day ago- It’s been done before: pay for more defence spending with debt
Australia, Britain and European countries should loosen budget rules to allow borrowing to fund higher defence spending, a new study by the Kiel Institute suggests. Currently, budget debt rules are forcing governments to finance increases ...1 day ago- Feedback on work with engineered stone and materials containing crystalline silica
The NZCTU remains strongly committed to banning engineered stone in New Zealand and implementing better occupational health protections for all workers working with silica-containing materials. In this submission to MBIE, the NZCTU outlines that we have an opportunity to learn from Australia’s experience by implementing a full ban of engineered ...1 day ago- Big deal
The Prime Minister has announced a big win in trade negotiations with India.It’s huge, he told reporters. We didn't get everything we came for but we were able to agree on free trade in clothing, fabrics, car components, software, IT consulting, spices, tea, rice, and leather goods.He said that for ...1 day ago- A Return to a US Gilded Age?
I have been trying to figure out the logic of Trump’s tariff policies and apparent desire for a global trade war. Although he does not appear to comprehend that tariffs are a tax on consumers in the country doing the tariffing, I can (sort of) understand that he may think ...1 day ago- France is prominent in efforts to shape Syria’s future, again
As Syria and international partners negotiate the country’s future, France has sought to be a convening power. While France has a history of influence in the Middle East, it will have to balance competing Syrian ...1 day ago- “Capital poor”
One of the eternal truths about Aotearoa's economy is that we are "capital poor": there's not enough money sloshing around here to fund the expansion of local businesses, or to build the things we want to. Which gets used as an excuse for all sorts of things, like setting up ...2 days ago- Pictures Tell The Story
National held its ground until late 2023 Verion, Talbot Mills & Curia Polls (Red = Labour, Blue = National)If we remove outlier results from Curia (National Party November 2023) National started trending down in October 2024.Verion Polls (Red = Labour, Blue = National)Verian alone shows a clearer deterioration in early ...2 days ago- High-impact climate risks, low-probability? Think again
In a recent presentation, I recommended, quite unoriginally, that governments should have a greater focus on higher-impact, lower-probability climate risks. My reasoning was that current climate model projections have blind spots, meaning we are betting ...2 days ago- Daddy
Daddy, are you out there?Daddy, won't you come and play?Daddy, do you not care?Is there nothing that you want to say?Songwriters: Mark Batson / Beyonce Giselle Knowles.This morning, a look at the much-maligned NZ Herald. Despised by many on the left as little more than a mouthpiece for the National ...2 days ago- Monday 17 March
Employers, unions and health and safety advocates are calling for engineered stone to be banned, a day before consultation on regulations closes. On Friday the PSA lodged a pay equity claim for library assistants with the Employment Relations Authority, after the stalling of a claim lodged with six councils in ...2 days ago- Luxon announces start of India trade deal talks
Long stories shortest in Aotearoa’s political economy: Christopher Luxon surprises by announcing trade deal talks with India will start next month, and include beef and dairy. Napier is set to join Whakatane, Dunedin and Westport in staging a protest march against health spending restraints hitting their hospital services. Winston Peters ...2 days ago- In a divided world, momentum behind negotiations grows
At a time of rising geopolitical tensions and deepening global fragmentation, the Ukraine war has proved particularly divisive. From the start, the battle lines were clearly drawn: Russia on one side, Ukraine and the West ...2 days ago- Mercury Lane, and Auckland Transport’s habitual failure
When the City Rail Link opens (circa 2026), all signs point to it immediately being a huge success. It will be transformational for Auckland, with ripple effects across the city. Thousands of people an hour will pour in and out of the new and upgraded stations. So, as well as ...2 days ago- Bernard’s Pick ‘n’ Mix at 6am on March 17
Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom3, NZ Herald, Stuff, BusinessDesk-$, Newsroom-$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT-$, WSJ-$, Bloomberg-$, New York Times-$, The Atlantic-$, ...2 days ago- 2025 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 9, 2025 thru Sat, March 15, 2025. This week's roundup is again published by category and sorted by number of articles included in each. We are still interested ...2 days ago- Maxing out – next steps for progressives
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The Government dominated the political agenda this week with its two-day conference pitching all manner of public infrastructure projects for Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories shortest in our political economy this week: The Government ploughed ahead with offers of PPPs to pension fund managers ...3 days ago- Eating Like Kings
You know that it's a snake eat snake worldWe slither and serpentine throughWe all took a bite, and six thousand years laterThese apples getting harder to chewSongwriters: Shawn Mavrides.“Please be Jack Tame”, I thought when I saw it was Seymour appearing on Q&A. I’d had a guts full of the ...3 days ago- David now turns to Rodney with a stricken face
So here we are at the wedding of Alexandra Vincent Martelli and David Seymour.Look at all the happy prosperous guests! How proud Nick Mowbray looks of the gift he has made of a mountain of crap plastic toys stuffed into a Cybertruck.How they drink, how they laugh, how they mug ...3 days ago- Fact brief – Is waste heat from industrial activity the reason the planet is warming?
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Some continue to defend David Seymour on school lunches, sidestepping his errors to say:“Well the parents should pack their lunch” and/or “Kids should be grateful for free food.”One of these people is the sitting Prime Minister.So I put together a quick list of why complaint is not only appropriate - ...3 days ago- Whistling Past The Graveyard.
“Bugger the pollsters!”WHEN EVERYBODY LIVED in villages, and every village had a graveyard, the expression “whistling past the graveyard” made more sense. Even so, it’s hard to describe the Coalition Government’s response to the latest Taxpayers’ Union/Curia Research poll any better. Regardless of whether they wanted to go there, or ...3 days ago- Jane Kelsey – Transforming neoliberalism
Prof Jane Kelsey examines what the ACT party and the NZ Initiative are up to as they seek to impose on the country their hardline, right wing, neoliberal ideology. A progressive government elected in 2026 would have a huge job putting Humpty Dumpty together again and rebuilding a state that ...4 days ago- Ain’t No Use
See I try to make a differenceBut the heads of the high keep turning awayThere ain't no useWhen the world that you love has goneOoh, gotta make a changeSongwriters: Arapekanga Adams-Tamatea / Brad Kora / Hiriini Kora / Joel Shadbolt.Aotearoa for Sale.This week saw the much-heralded and somewhat alarming sight ...4 days ago- Bernard’s Pick ‘n’ Mix on Saturday, March 15
Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom3, NZ Herald, Stuff, BusinessDesk-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT-$, WSJ-$, Bloomberg-$, New York Times-$, The Atlantic-$, The Economist-$ ...4 days ago- Is the New Zealand Healthcare System Doing Badly?
By international standards the New Zealand healthcare system appears satisfactory – certainly no worse generally than average. Yet it is undergoing another redisorganisation.While doing some unrelated work, I came across some international data on the healthcare sector which seemed to contradict my – and the conventional wisdom’s – view of ...4 days ago- Europe can still prevent a Russian victory
When Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he knew that he was upending Europe’s security order. But this was more of a tactical gambit than a calculated strategy ...4 days ago- Labour draws a clear line in the sand on National’s privatisation binge
Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Over the last year, I’ve been warning about Luxon’s pitch to privatise our public assets. He had told reporters in October that nothing was off the cards:Schools, hospitals, prisons, and ...4 days ago- Australia’s disaster response should build resilience
When ASPI’s Cyclone Tracy: 50 Years On was published last year, it wasn’t just a historical reflection; it was a warning. Just months later, we are already watching history repeat itself. We need to bake ...4 days ago- Making it up as they go along
1. Why was school lunch provider The Libelle Group in the news this week?a. Grand Winner in Pie of The Yearb. Scored a record 108% on YELP c. Bought by Oravida d. Went into liquidation2. What did our Prime Minister offer prospective investors at his infrastructure investment jamboree?a. The Libelle ...4 days ago- Arbitrary or worse
Back in December, Lands Minister Chris Penk rejected proposals to recognise the proper names of Manawatū and Pito One. Both proposals were strongly supported by their communities and so recommended by Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa / New Zealand Geographic Board. Despite this, Penk rejected them. I was curious about ...4 days ago- The problems with PPPs
Here’s the excellent explainer on PPPs from over at that this chat was based on.Government's Investment SummitThis week, the Government is hosting a grand event aimed at trying to interest big foreign capital players in financing capital works in New Zealand, particularly its big rural motorway programme.Greater ...5 days ago- South Korea has acted decisively on DeepSeek. Other countries must stop hesitating
South Korea has suspended new downloads of DeepSeek, and it was were right to do so. Chinese tech firms operate under the shadow of state influence, misusing data for surveillance and geopolitical advantage. Any country ...5 days ago- PPPs are more expensive, slower & riskier than Govt DIY
Previous big infrastructure PPPs such as Transmission Gully were fiendishly complicated to negotiate, generated massive litigation and were eventually rewritten anyway. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesLong stories shortest: The Government’s international investment conference ignores the facts that PPPs cost twice as much as vanilla debt-funded public infrastructure, often take ...5 days ago- Friday 14 March
Woolworths has proposed a major restructure of its New Zealand store operating model, leaving workers worried their hours and pay could be cut. Public servants are being asked how productive their office is, how much they use AI, and whether they’re overloaded with meetings as part of a “census”. An ...5 days ago- Weekly Roundup 14-March-2025
Midway through March already? The years flying by. Here’s some things we saw this week that caught our attention. This week in Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt took a look at AT’s Upper Harbour Bus changes. For Wednesday we had a guest post by Malcolm McCracken exploring what ...5 days ago- Bookshelf: technology, globalisation and civilisational decline
Robert Kaplan’s book Waste Land: A World in Permanent Crisis paints a portrait of civilisation in flux. Drawing insights from history, literature and art, he examines the effect of modern technology, globalisation and urbanisation on ...5 days ago- Birds and Bees Grounded
Sexuality - Strong and warm and wild and freeSexuality - Your laws do not apply to meSexuality - Don't threaten me with miserySexuality - I demand equalitySong: Billy Bragg.First, thank you to everyone who took part in yesterday’s survey. Some questions worked better than others, but I found them interesting, ...5 days ago- Shit Yourself Happy
Hi,I just got back from a week in Japan thanks to the power of cheap flights and years of accumulated credit card points.The last time I was in Japan the government held a press conference saying they might take legal action against me and Netflix, so there was a little ...5 days ago- The Hoon around the week to March 14
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: on the week in geopolitics, including Donald Trump’s wrecking of the post-WW II political landscape; andHealth Coalition Aotearoa co-chair Lisa ...5 days ago- Bernard’s pick n’ mix at 6am for Friday, March 14
Here’s my selection of the top scoops, news, analysis, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$$$, The Press-$$$, Newsroom & NZ Herald on Friday, March 14.Top Six at 6amExclusive: 'Shake-up is necessary' - NZME's biggest shareholder backs board cleanout NZ Herald-$$$’s Shayne CurrieGovt considers gett… ...5 days ago- Snapshots from Tokyo
Hi,I just got back from a short trip to Japan, mostly spending time in Tokyo.I haven’t been there since we shot Dark Tourist back in 2017 — and that landed us in a bit of hot water with the Japanese government.I am glad to report I was not thrown into ...5 days ago- Why I Regret Going Paid On Substack
I’ve been on Substack for almost 8 months now.It’s been good in terms of the many great individuals that populate its space. So much variety and intelligence and humour and depth.I joined because someone suggested I should ‘start a Substack,’ whatever that meant.So I did.Turning on payments seemed like the ...5 days ago- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2025
Open access notables Would Adding the Anthropocene to the Geologic Time Scale Matter?, McCarthy et al., AGU Advances: The extraordinary fossil fuel-driven outburst of consumption and production since the mid-twentieth century has fundamentally altered the way the Earth System works. Although humans have impacted their environment for millennia, justification for ...5 days ago- For a waterbombing reserve, adapt ADF aircraft
Australia should buy equipment to cheaply and temporarily convert military transport aircraft into waterbombers. On current planning, the Australian Defence Force will have a total of 34 Chinook helicopters and Hercules airlifters. They should be ...5 days ago- Indonesia has cut funding for counterterrorism programs. Australia should step in
Indonesia’s government has slashed its counterterrorism (CT) budgets, despite the persistent and evolving threat of violent extremism. Australia can support regional CT efforts by filling this funding void. Reducing funding to the National Counterterrorism Agency ...5 days ago- Drawn
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Resource Management (Prohibition on Extraction of Freshwater for On-selling) Amendment Bill (Debbie Ngarewa-Packer) The bill does exactly what it says on the label, and would effectively end the rapacious water-bottling industry ...6 days ago- Fabian Fundraiser – Twilight Time
Twilight Time Lighthouse Cuba, Wigan Street, Wellington, Sunday 6 April, 5:30pm for 6pm start. Twilight Time looks at the life and work of Desmond Ball, (1947-2016), a barefooted academic from ‘down under’ who was hailed by Jimmy Carter as “the man who saved the world”, as he proved the fallacy ...6 days ago- It’s time to rethink foreign aid
Foreign aid is being slashed across the Global North, nowhere more so than in the United States. Within his first month back in the White House, President Donald Trump dismantled the US Agency for International ...6 days ago- Thursday 13 March
Nicola Willis has proposed new procurement rules that unions say will lead to pay cuts for already low-paid workers in cleaning, catering and security services that are contracted by government. The Crimes (Theft by Employer) Amendment Bill passed its third reading with support from all the opposition parties and NZ ...6 days ago- Personal Link: The Cool One is Gone.
Most KP readers will not know that I was a jazz DJ in Chicago and Washington DC while in grad school in the early and mid 1980s. In DC I joined WPFW as a grave shift host, then a morning drive show host (a show called Sui Generis, both for ...6 days ago- Who Are You?
Who are you?Who, who, who, who?Who are you?Songwriter: Peter Townshend. Read more ...6 days ago- IMF calls for Capital Gains Tax or land tax
Long stories shortest: The IMF says a capital gains tax or land tax would improve real economic growth and fix the budget. GDP is set to be smaller by 2026 than it was in 2023. Compass is flying in school lunches from Australia. 53% of National voters say the new ...6 days ago- 5 Reasons Labour Are Doing Well
Last year in October I wrote “Where’s The Opposition?”. I was exasperated at the relative quiet of the Green Party, Labour and Te Pati Māori (TPM), as the National led Coalition ticked off a full bingo card of the Atlas Network playbook.1To be fair, TPM helped to energise one of ...6 days ago- Visualizing daily global temperatures
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink Good data visualizations can help make climate change more visceral and understandable. Back in 2016 Ed Hawkins published a “climate spiral” graph that ended up being pretty iconic – it was shown at the opening ceremony of the Olympics that year – and ...6 days ago- How Russia will reassess its ties with North Korea after Ukraine
An agreement to end the war in Ukraine could transform Russia’s relations with North Korea. Moscow is unlikely to reduce its cooperation with Pyongyang to pre-2022 levels, but it may become more selective about areas ...6 days ago- Government’s Investment Summit
This week, the Government is hosting a grand event aimed at trying to interest big foreign capital players in financing capital works in New Zealand, particularly its big rural motorway programme. Financing vs funding: a quick explainer The key word in the sentence above is financing. It is important ...6 days ago- Gordon Campbell On Winston Peters’ Battle Against The Phantom Legions Of The Woke
In a month’s time, the Right Honourable Winston Peters will be celebrating his 80th birthday. Good for him. On the evidence though, his current war on “wokeness” looks like an old man’s cranky complaint that the ancient virtues of grit and know-how are sadly lacking in the youth of today. ...6 days ago- Haul from the 2025 Regent Booksale
As noted, early March has been about moving house, and I have had little chance to partake in all things internet. But now that everything is more or less sorted, I can finally give a belated report on my visit to the annual Regent Booksale (28th February and 1st March). ...6 days ago- The threat spectrum
Information operations Australia has banned cybersecurity software Kaspersky from government use because of risks of espionage, foreign interference and sabotage. The Department of Home Affairs said use of Kaspersky products posed an unacceptable security ...6 days ago- My life as a dog
6 days ago- Understanding ’ndrangheta operations in Australia
The ’ndrangheta, the Calabrian mafia, plays a significant role in the global cocaine trade and is deeply entrenched in Australia, influencing the cocaine trade and engaging in a variety of illicit activities. A range of ...6 days ago - A Palate Cleanser
- Release: Still no certainty for disability communities
One year on from the Government’s abrupt and callous changes to disability funding, the community still has no idea what the future holds. ...16 hours ago - Green Party backs volunteer firefighters in their call for ACC recognition
The Green Party stands in support of volunteer firefighters petitioning the Government to step up and change legislation to provide volunteers the same ACC coverage and benefits as their paid counterparts. ...16 hours ago - MP Views: Living Strong, The Economy, Servicing Our Nation, The Golden Egg, and 4 Year Terms
Living Strong, Aging Well There is much discussion around the health of our older New Zealanders and how we can age well. In reality, the delivery of health services accounts for only a relatively small percentage of health outcomes as we age. Significantly, dry warm housing, nutrition, exercise, social connection, ...1 day ago - Shane Jones has no shame
Shane Jones’ display on Q&A showed how out of touch he and this Government are with our communities and how in sync they are with companies with little concern for people and planet. ...3 days ago
- Release: National botches health funding numbers
Health Minister Simeon Brown’s claim that the Government has put $16.68 billion into the health system over three years is wrong. ...4 days ago
- Government tramples on the rights of disabled migrant children
The Green Party is condemning the Government’s move to tighten access to visas for disabled children. ...4 days ago
- Release: Auckland needs second harbour crossing
Labour supports Minister Chris Bishop’s call for input on the second Waitematā Harbour crossing. ...5 days ago
- Speech: Barbara Edmonds’ speech to NZ Investment Summit 2025
I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak to you today about how we make overseas investment work for all New Zealanders. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour does not support PPPs for prisons
Labour does not support the private ownership of core infrastructure like schools, hospitals and prisons, which will only see worse outcomes for Kiwis. ...5 days ago
- Dunedin Futures report should be a wake-up call
The newly released report on the South Dunedin Future Programme must be a wake-up call for our Government. ...5 days ago
- Release: Members’ Bill makes wage theft a crime
Workers will now be able to go to the Police and report their employer if they are not being paid wages they’re owed. ...6 days ago
- Missed opportunity to stop the stealing of Māori land
The Green Party is disappointed the Government voted down Hūhana Lyndon’s member’s Bill, which would have prevented further alienation of Māori land through the Public Works Act. ...6 days ago
- Release: Labour supports sanctions against Israel’s illegal occupation
The Labour Party will support Chloe Swarbrick’s member’s bill which would allow sanctions against Israel for its illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories. ...7 days ago
- Release: Govt procurement plan cuts wages and trashes the environment
The Government’s new procurement rules are a blatant attack on workers and the environment, showing once again that National’s priorities are completely out of touch with everyday Kiwis. ...7 days ago
- Procurement proposals pose risk to people and planet
The Green Party is concerned by the impact the Government’s proposed changes to procurement processes could have on people and planet. ...7 days ago
- Just six Government MPs needed to pass Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill
With Labour and Te Pāti Māori’s official support, Opposition parties are officially aligned to progress Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in Palestine. ...7 days ago
- Release: Labour’s approach to Māori economy benefits all
Under Labour, the Māori economy went from strength to strength according to the latest report released by MBIE. ...1 week ago
- 20 Years of Success Down the Drain: Govt Gut Whānau Ora
Te Pāti Māori extends our deepest aroha to the 500 plus Whānau Ora workers who have been advised today that the govt will be dismantling their contracts. For twenty years , Whānau Ora has been helping families, delivering life-changing support through a kaupapa Māori approach. It has built trust where ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party launches petition to allow Pacific whānau visa-free access
The Green Party is launching a petition calling on the Government to extend visa-free travel to visitors from Pacific Island nations. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour welcomes reinstatement of Heath NZ board
Labour welcomes Simeon Brown’s move to reinstate a board at Health New Zealand, bringing the destructive and secretive tenure of commissioner Lester Levy to an end. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ’s Public Health system dealt yet another blow
This morning’s announcement by the Health Minister regarding a major overhaul of the public health sector levels yet another blow to the country’s essential services. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Chris Hipkins’ State of the Nation address
Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa It is a great pleasure to be here with you this morning. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ First Introduces Bill to Remove Woke ‘DEI’ Regulations from Public Service
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill that will ensure employment decisions in the public service are based on merit and not on forced woke ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ targets. “This Bill would put an end to the woke left-wing social engineering and diversity targets in the public sector. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour outlines priorities of next Govt
The next Labour Government will prioritise jobs, health and homes so Kiwis and Kiwi businesses have the opportunity to thrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Refreshed team to drive Labour’s 2026 priorities
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has unveiled a new economic team as part of a caucus reshuffle. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour calls for end to police referrals to Destiny programmes
Police have referred 20 offenders to Destiny Church-affiliated programmes Man Up and Legacy as ‘wellness providers’ in the last year, raising concerns that those seeking help are being recruited into a harmful organisation. ...2 weeks ago
- Good Riddance: Prebble Resigns from Waitangi Tribunal
Te Pāti Māori welcomes the resignation of Richard Prebble from the Waitangi Tribunal. His appointment in October 2024 was a disgrace- another example of this government undermining Te Tiriti o Waitangi by appointing a former ACT leader who has spent his career attacking Māori rights. “Regardless of the reason for ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour calls on Govt to condemn Israel’s aid blockade
The National Government needs to publicly condemn Israel’s cutting off of aid supplies to the war-ravaged people of Gaza. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Mark Mitchell missing in action
Police Minister Mark Mitchell is avoiding accountability by refusing to answer key questions in the House as his Government faces criticism over their dangerous citizen’s arrest policy, firearm reform, and broken promises to recruit more police. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Fewer houses, consents down under National
The number of building consents issued under this Government continues to spiral, taking a toll on the infrastructure sector, tradies, and future generations of Kiwi homeowners. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt urged to rule out any involvement in AUKUS
The Green Party is calling on the Prime Minister to rule out joining the AUKUS military pact in any capacity following the scenes in the White House over the weekend. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: PSA survey proves Govt’s cuts are hurting patients
The National Government’s decision to cut jobs and freeze recruitment of health care workers is hurting frontline services and harming patients. ...2 weeks ago
- Government levels another blow at kaupapa Māori education
The Green Party is appalled by the Government’s plan to disestablish Resource Teachers of Māori (RTM) roles, a move that takes another swing at kaupapa Māori education. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Labour PR: More clarity needed for homebuyers
The Government’s levies announcement is a step in the right direction, but they must be upfront about who will pay its new infrastructure levies and ensure that first-home buyers are protected from hidden costs. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: More clarity needed for homebuyers
The Government’s levies announcement is a step in the right direction, but they must be upfront about who will pay its new infrastructure levies and ensure that first-home buyers are protected from hidden costs. ...3 weeks ago
- Greens welcome pause of works at Lake Rotokākahi and call for council to work constructively with m...
After months of mana whenua protecting their wāhi tapu, the Green Party welcomes the pause of works at Lake Rotokākahi and calls for the Rotorua Lakes Council to work constructively with Tūhourangi and Ngāti Tumatawera on the pathway forward. ...3 weeks ago
- The week in review
New Zealand First continues to bring balance, experience, and commonsense to Government. This week we've made progress on many of our promises to New Zealand. Winston representing New Zealand Winston Peters is overseas this week, with stops across the Middle East and North Asia. Winston's stops include Saudi Arabia, the ...3 weeks ago
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- Government has work to do to build trust on gene tech bill
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https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360597372/covid-inquiry-bullying-claims-four-resignations-concerns-acknowledged
The witch hunt is not going well I suspect those resigning from the role aren't finding the negative outcomes required by act and nzf.
BHN interviewed Penfold, the stuff journalist who broke the story.
Good riddance. I was one of those patient advocates who crossed paths with her a few years back, and can vouch that everything negative said about her is very much true.
She literally has blood on her hands.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360597881/pharmac-ceo-sarah-fitt-resigns-after-months-pressure-stuff-understands
Can I ask why? Was she rude, or just adamant that the cost-return case for the treatment you were advocating forvwas too weak to meet Pharmac's funding requirements?
A brand switch situation where people were seriously harmed, including some deaths. Having read through 1000s of pages of OIAs, they knew full well in advance what was likely to happen, AND that it's potentially dangerous to switch brands of that particular medication, but hey, they'd save money (they didn't).In the end they had to reverse their decision. Fitt's attitude towards us was absolutely appalling, and she will not be missed.
Supposedly they'd learned their lesson, but the recent scandal with HRT patches was nearly identical to their behaviour with us. They've had to reverse that too.
Thanks for the info, I do remember some press coverage of this.
Fireworks as Zelenskyy-Trump meeting breaks off. Zelenskyy 'disrespected the US' and 'not ready for peace,' Trump says.
‘You know, it’s not about me. He hates Ukrainians. He thinks that we are not a nation. He.. shared this with your team also, but with all the Europeans in media, officially…, he always said that there is no such country, such nation, such language and such life like Ukrainian.
No, he really doesn’t respect all the Ukrainians, and he wants to destroy us.’
Brave man, standing up for his nation.
Mind you, Trump was pissed off that Zelenskyy used the public press fest to put his case, not just doing the handshakey-smiles stuff, according to yhe RNZ news just now.
you can see where it breaks down in this CNN coverage. Trump's body language says it all, utter bully and hypocrites given the starting point about diplomacy. You can't be a bully and a diplomat.
https://youtu.be/z2s2pogllis?si=UNS9KKoRXlWTIaHB
Out loud…
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:mohietgx33nvutkpomevuxbp/post/3ljb7v5uwv22r?
+100
We can recall that Trump's former campaign manager Manafort worked for the previous Ukraine President and jailed, then deposed and escaped to Russia.
We can recall those US and other activists jailed for conspiracies to alter the US election.
Trump loathes Zelenskyy over a decade.
But Starmer and Macron aren't forming an alternative deal.
The full quote.
14 European leaders have come out in support of Zelensky taking on Trump so far including Pedro Sanchez in Spain early….I'll give you one guess who hasn't….Starmer.
Yep. Nothing from Starmer – as yet. I asked yesterday on OM how long the softly, softly approach would last. 24 hrs?
What a disgraceful episode of tyrannical bullying from a deranged president and his bunch of thugs. And to claim Zelensky was the one who was starting WW3… words fail me.
Starmer wants a FTA with the US and some sort of tech co-operation as well (thus their agreement on low regulation AI).
So that means he should pander to the lying thugs Trump/Vance?
Do me a favour.
What, keep you ignorant of his motivations?
His reasoning would be that UK support for European security requires the UK to maintain its economic strength.
Well see what happens in London this weekend.
Zelensky wasn't the one who tried to "start WW3": he was coming to peace terms with Russia in the Istanbul talks a few weeks after the special military operation began. It was the USA's envoy Boris Johnson who flew there to sabotage the peace process.
Fake news, Morrisey.
The story behind 2022's secret Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations
"People don’t tend to focus on one thing. And say it was Boris Johnson who came there and just waited, the Ukrainians from doing a deal with Putin. That is just naive, right? This is just too simplistic. Zelenskyy was in charge. He had options that he was looking at.
And the failure of the West to sign on to this would be treaty. It was certainly one important issue. The fact that now Kyiv was not taken, and he could be receiving military support from the West was another important issue. The outrage following the discovery of the atrocities the Russians committed at Bucha helped Zelenskyy rally public support for the continuation of war. And it was a pretty, I would say the deal that the Russians were trying to arrive at certainly was not a very pretty deal for Ukraine.
So I don’t think that Sam and I are blaming Zelenskyy for it. For taking the options that he did in the end."
Fake news, Morrisey. Putin was bogged down and facing a fightback he never expected or prepared for.
This NPR interview backgrounds Putin's and Ukraine's positions at the time of those talks.
"People don't tend to focus on one thing. And say it was Boris Johnson who came there and just waited, the Ukrainians from doing a deal with Putin. That is just naive, right? This is just too simplistic. Zelenskyy was in charge. He had options that he was looking at.
And the failure of the West to sign on to this would be treaty. It was certainly one important issue. The fact that now Kyiv was not taken, and he could be receiving military support from the West was another important issue. The outrage following the discovery of the atrocities the Russians committed at Bucha helped Zelenskyy rally public support for the continuation of war. And it was a pretty, I would say the deal that the Russians were trying to arrive at certainly was not a very pretty deal for Ukraine. [including weird demands to remove Ukraine language usage, cultural genocide].
So I don't think that Sam and I are blaming Zelenskyy… for taking the options that he did in the end."
"Zelenskyy was in charge…"
That's the most untrue statement I've seen all day. What was Boris Johnson sent there for if Zelenskyy was in charge?
It seems to be the consensus from a number of expert sources in the US, UK and European countries that the Vance/Trump outburst was a premeditated ambush to bully Zelensky out of office and replace him with someone more amenable to them.
Judging from some comments I've seen, Zelensky was "tense" when he arrived for the meeting which suggests he knew what was coming. My fervent congratulations to him for standing up to the thugs.
Covered here.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/volodymyr-zelenskyy-donald-trump-clash-in-oval-office-leaves-ukraine-us-ties-strained/DL6O4MPUK5FVTLEX47FOBXCA4U/
If I were him, I would worry about a convenient 'accidental' death while in Trump's control. I certainly hope he brought his own food and drink.
YouTube is awash with critical reaction to the bullies Trump and Vance – I could link to any one of a couple of dozen videos – but this one will do: Rick Wilson of the Lincoln Project – 6.40 mins long.
To my mind, Zelenskyy is now the leader of the free world! Trump is an utter disgrace!
Trump and Vance are indeed disgraceful, but as Sangar Enjeti points out, they're correct in this case. Zelensky can be seen foolishly claiming that Russia will eventually invade the United States, and that there is no crisis in providing Ukrainian men for the frontline. But the most eloquent commentary on this disaster is purely visual: the Ukrainian ambassador burying her face in her hands as she listens to Zelensky digging his own grave.
Take your bullshit and fuck off morresy, he was set and ambushed by a couple of gutless slugs.
I agree with you about the character of Trump and Vance. That doesn't change the fact that Zelensky made a fatal mistake in Istanbul during the spring of 2022 when he allowed himself to be bullied out of making peace with Russia.
Do you think that Washington's envoy of war, Boris Johnson, was any less thuggish than Trump when he threatened Zelensky on that occasion?
Havnt seen it but if it was Johnson we'll he needs chucking in the same hole as trump and putin
And Biden, who sent Johnson on his mission of death for hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians.
Zelensky didn't claim Russia would invade the US, he implied that in the future the US would have the same difficulties in being at war. As far as I can tell he also didn't say there was no crisis in the Ukraine military.
Zelensky wasn't he one raising his voice and talking over the others, nor did he engage in aggressive body language.
I heard him admit to recruitment issues…the bully boys were shouting over him at the time ..
And while the mafia style stand-over/extortion over Ukraine's minerals is a new low …I have noted here before that american mining crews on the ground in Ukraine would provide a security presence for Ukraine…
Another interesting aspect of this is that it is my understanding that the areas with the most minerals..are currently occupied by the invaders .
I see trump treating Ukraine as a pawn in the carve-up of the countries minerals between him and Putin…
(Putin will withdraw to a point agreed by him and trump…and trump will be able to claim that this is a victory…from his peace plan..)
This is the grand plan here…
So really it's just good old common garden thievery going on , ?
Your youtuber is a personal friend of Vance.
Unbelievable the little bit I could stomach watching, Zelenski can hold his head high , those clowns need a smack in the head.
China’s defence ministry warns Taiwan ‘we will get you, sooner or later’
'…a China expert behind the Sinocism newsletter, said on Friday that Beijing’s language towards Taiwan “appears to be getting harsher”. The readout of this year’s Taiwan affairs work conference, held earlier this week, did not include a goal to “promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations”, which had been part of the 2023 and 2024 readouts.'
What's the bet that Beijing will do like Putin and imagine Taipe has threatened them and invade in retaliation?
That would first require US military bases to evacuate in Guam, Korea, Japan, Hawaii, Australia, and across the Pacific.
Italics another Trump lie.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/28/china-defence-ministry-taiwan-threat
Maybe it would be a good idea for China Taipei to cease allowing the United States to use it as a pawn in Washington’s program of endless provocation of China. Stopping those massive U.S.-run "war games" would be a smart move.
NAct1's project castles are either the sky variant..or a sand base combination. Either way, their wish list is not good for the our NZ Environment or the great majority of NZ People.
A lot of their planned idiocy…might yet not be possible. I hope.
WTAF…..
Lol. I wonder what Nicky No Boats thoughts are? A penny for them : )
I sincerely hope there are Ructions : )
Peter's says they will be smaller, but will they be cheaper? Lots of laughs to come I think.
Hyundai probably have a couple of keels already laid down, easy to knock a few meters off bow to stern measurements to fit Peter's claims
😆
Interesting times to come for the coalition : ) Surely a gift for our Opposition parties? Surely ?
A nice move, China and South Korea are the ones making these ferries – the Swedes bought some from China recently.
The words of disquiet about Chinese Cook Islands play showing disrespect for Enzed were quickly given extra meaning.
Winston doing what Winston does best. (apart from looking after Winston : )
If Winston gets his way it’s because no other boat builder trusts Willis and National and have added in pretty high contingencies like all money paid up front. If that’s the case how long can Nikki No-Boats last before transitioning to Nikki No-Jobs?
"If that’s the case how long can Nikki No-Boats last before transitioning to Nikki No-Jobs?"
One election mate just one…..
I'm sure someone is looking at the T shirt possibilities already : )
Surely, Nicky No Jobs is a sell-out.
Already "Nikki no jobs"..
Construction industry, civil service, Teacher aides, Doctors, Scientists. Wellington coffee shops.
The only real difference between the Coalition of Cockups, and Trump 2025, is the COC'up are more discreet about it.
As corporates move from greenwash towards Trump, customers move away from them.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/feb/28/trump-consumer-protests-companies?CMP=us_bsky&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Bluesky#Echobox=1740753619-1
From your link "It’s unclear what the consequences of the current backlash will be."
If this movement is at all effective, rather than just petering out like so many do, my pick of what the consequences will be:
In short, the self-styled champions of freedom, free speech and free markets actually intend to destroy all three. These people are not even proper capitalists, they're fascist gangsters.
The empire of wealth.
.
Chinese crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun’s legal troubles seem to be fading away. In March 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged him with manipulating the market. After Trump was elected, he dumped $30 million into the President’s World Liberty Financial crypto scheme. Now a federal judge has granted him a stay in the SEC’s investigation.
[…]
Trump’s family has been cooking the WLF crypto scheme for a long time, but it finally bore fruit after his election and thanks, in no small part, to a big push from Sun. The way WLF worked, its founders would retain 70 percent of the project’s “governance” tokens and would only get a big payout if the token hit a certain threshold of investment.
Around the same time he bought the banana for $6.2 million, Sun “invested” $30 million into WLF. It pushed the coin into the threshold it needed to release cash into Trump’s pocket and netted the President around $18 million. Sun came on to WLF as an advisor. Then he dumped another $45 million into the company. According to Bloomberg, that means Trump has received around $56 million in total “fees” from Sun related to WLF.
https://gizmodo.com/sec-drops-charges-against-chinese-billionaire-after-he-pumps-30-million-into-trumps-crypto-scheme-2000569966
The thing is a lot of countries signed up to nuclear anti-proliferation treaties allowing USA to keep their nuclear arms and them not to develop nuclear arms under the basis that the USA was a trustworthy ally. If the USA is not going to be that trustworthy ally then a lot of countries are going to start developing nuclear weapons. But the more countries that have these weapons the more likely there is to be an accident or stupid aggression. Trump is just stupid.
it's a death cult, they seek power and they don't care about life.
After today it is clear "the west" no longer exists. It is the strongman and the fascists against those who seek to defend decency in Europe, Canada, and the ANZAC nations.
Rearmament must now be the priority. Everything else can wait.
You mean like they "defended decency" over the last seventeen months during the genocide in Gaza, the Occupied West Bank, and Lebanon?
What did "Europe, Canada, and the ANZAC nations" do in that time that comes even close to the heroism and morality of tiny Yemen?
Here I agree with you, Morrisey, although somone's pulling the Houthis strings too. Proxy wars between Shiite and Sunni factions in the middle east.
Who's "pulling the Houthis' strings"?
Is it those all-powerful Moscow masterminds, the same evil-doers that have been running Trump as a Manchurian candidate for the last twenty years?
Stribg-puller: The Shiite power providing them with arms.
utter fucking chaos. I'm starting to think this isn't even an attempt at authoritarianism, but just a bunch of toddlers burning down the playground.
Stonekettle briefly on disgruntled, fired US Federal employees with lots of sensitive information being recruited by Russia and China.
https://bsky.app/profile/stonekettle.bsky.social/post/3ljbkyejm722i