If the amount of toy throwing tantrums from Wayne Brown, Mautrice "millions of data points" Williamson, and Christine Fletcher in the last few days is any indication their ukelele band of aging boomer duffers on the council don't have their numbers to sell the airport shares or for their slash and burn budget.
Brown in particular was a complete blathering idiot again by naming the two “left” councillors who he thought got him over the line on the airport share sale. Immediately the heat went on the two councillors in question who then ran a mile from backing the mayor’s proposal. I mean, what did he expect? Then he resorted to crude threats, typical.
Maurice Williamson and Christine Fletcher were bot on RNZ this morning, Williamson attempting to scare the horses with weary 1990s TINA shroud waving and Christine Fletcher reprising Hyacinth Bucket while kicking the council sataff in the teeth, going so far as claiming she has been seeking “legal advice” about the the briefings from the council staff.
They are NOT happy. They thought the good old days of the pre-super city Auckland council dominated by C&R fogeys was back with a vengeance.
If Mayor "buckets" Brown response to the severe flooding was an indication….he should never be near any decision making. Ol' Nat failures Maurice Williamson and Christine Fletcher ditto.
Hopefully there are enough with sense..and ability, to put a halt to these TINA's….
At some point the golf courses are going to have to come back into the frame.
Selling the council’s golf courses would reduce the ongoing losses from running the courses of over $160 million per year and raise north of $4 billion in an asset sales process, which would lift the combination of avoided losses and interest savings to over $320 million a year.
Check out the number of councils that are in serious trouble either in governance or in finances or both.
Unfortunately, the 13 or so golf courses that Auckland Council owns are a bit like Eden Park – they suck up a lot of public $$$$$ but are run by the political elite who have the ability to mount campaigns to ensure that the flow of public money remains unabated.
Look what happened with Chamberlain Park golf course – unused to the point where Council was having to do everything to keep it going, but the minute there was a suggestion that the course be shared by reducing it to 9 holes and the waterway remediated and opened up for more local use, all hell broke loose.
The moans that this was the only course available to "working class" people soon vanished beneath a tide of financial support for a Judicial Review (which failed on all counts) and a political campaign (which failed to get any C&R people elected in the relevant Ward).
However, Covid and a few other things seems to have largely halted the plans for change and one has no faith that they will be pursued under this administration.
I don't necessarily support golf course sales – in general I don't support selling publicly owned land – you never get it back.
However, I do, most certainly, support repurposing those areas into more generally accessible parkland, sports and recreation areas and wetland remediation (January has taught us all how valuable these can be)
It's possible that there might be some housing conversion in some areas – though I'd be highly cautious about this – our green-spaces are too precious to be built over. And, while the air-port shares have been characterized as 'selling the family silver'; in reality, it's our green spaces which are the family silver of our cities.
Of course, if a private entity and/or community trust wants to purchase one of the golf courses – at full land and improvements value price – with a permanent covenant to prevent it being converted into any other use – I'd be willing to consider this. I note that those wealthy-golf-playing users are highly reluctant to consider this option.
There are some of them which are not suitable for housing development as they are in wet areas – Narrow Neck being the most obvious.
However they cost a lot to maintain and that includes a shedload of chemicals for weed control, fertalisers etc, so there is an ecological cost as well.
There is certainly a premium to be obtained for housing that abuts a golf course and in these days of using less, there is nothing scared about 18 holes.
The airport sale is not really a "budget proposal". It is a chance for Brown's rich mates to pick up shares that are a surefire bet to appreciate billions. This is what it is all about really.
I was listening to ZB yesterday (crazy I know but RNZ is boring in the afternoon) where they had a debate on the airport sale. Simon Barnet to his credit was arguing that the airport should be retained by the council. A finance expert texted in and said Auckland Airport was one of the key shares he would always recommend as part a balanced portfolio, along with the banks, power companies etc.
'The airport sale is not really a "budget proposal". It is a chance for Brown's rich mates to pick up shares that are a surefire bet to appreciate billions. This is what it is all about really.'
The shares are freely tradable on the stock exchange at present they have appreciated by 33% over the last 5 years so hardly stellar returns.
The AIA share price tanked in 2020 thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. So, the comparable performance over the last 5 years with NZ50G, for example, is arguably stellar.
There will end up being a rates rise considerably more than 4.5% but less than 10%, a bit more borrowing, and maybe some shares sold.
Aything less than total victory for the boomer ukelele band will infuriate the old duffer vote and the spewing in the Herald will be enormously funny to read.
Wayne Brown's lack of tranparency and accountability to the media (except for chosen lackies like Boresman at the Herald) appears to finally be becoming a story:
The guy has had a dream run with the media, with hagiographic coverage by NZME and a benefit of the doubt approach from the “B” team that is the rest of the MSM. It looks like they've begun to get a bit tired with that “B” team moniker.
If the non-NZME MSM decide to go to war with the mayor, things will start to get spicey.
Newshub also have the story – Brown apparently invited only "sensible" media and Newshub were excluded. Brown is using tame media as a propaganda machine and excluding others – he should go now.
Bernard would not be pleased when he saw the collection of dingbats and frootloops who were invited as VIP guests. The "Westmere Weirdo Collection" for a start. Lisa Praegar and her mates.
What was with his press conference? Watch it. Halting delivery, rude, sarcastic and gratuitously nasty. The guy is the complete ugly boomer. What a tosser.
He slammed Auckland transport for spending $ 11 million in tarting up the vodofone building they decided was their.new hq..plus for the huge annual lease they pay..and told them to get out of there..and move into the council building..
I don't have any problems with that..
And he slammed that troughing exercise the heart of the city..for what it is..
And I don't have any problems with that..
I would also have no problem with him clearing out the enormous amount of comms staff that council employs…(with them I have long wondered w.t.f. do they actually do all day..?
And what's with the fucken vehicles they buy…?
Why do they have to have massive diesel suvs to drive around in..?..suvs that never see mud on their tyres..and are really really expensive/polluting..
Give them vans…and nissan bloody micras to drive around in..
And yes…focus on the golf courses…and return them to public use..open spaces open to all..and any building on to be community focused…
And speaking of troughing..why is former mayor phil trough not in the gun for this blowout..?
Because the head of the Finance Committee of the previous Council was Councillor Desley Simpson. Former wife of a Nat MP, present wife of the previous National Party President. The finances were in her hands. She is now the Deputy Mayor.
And Phil Goff returned substantial amounts of his Mayoral Office budget unspent. He was not a profligate Mayor.
Time to remember that as well as being a cu t, this guy is a proto-fascist, surrounded by people who will help him achieve that way of working , including ex-tobacco industry folk and others with similar moral values.
According to the story on the radio this morning, Te Whata Ora has inherited 270 middle managers they plan to rationalise to 110 and 200 comms staff they want to slash by a huge amount as well.
I wish the Ukrainians the best of luck in throwing out the russian invaders. Unfortunately it will not happen without the loss of many Ukrainian lives, which is appalling. No Ukrainian wanted or asked for this.
For those interested in the debate over Artificial Intelligence and its probable National Party role in election advertising I urge you to listen to yesterday's "The Detail" programme on RNZ.
National would be mad to continue using AI into the election campaign. As it is, they have a credibility problem. Running ads using AI would mean the integrity of National would be what was discussed in the media, not the content of the advertisments.
I really don't see why people are vexxing about this. Likely, every party will be using it at the next election. I think people are just jealous that National got in first.
From what I have seen, there doesn't appear to be any problem with using that technology. After all, even if real people are used in ads, people often aren't aware if the people actually believe what they are saying.
It would be a problem though, if AI were used, say to generate video of Hipkins confessing to be a pedo, or similar.
That is where I think the greatest danger lies, in that it is getting increasingly difficult for people to distinguish what is true and what is false.
But, I see no problem at all in the context for which it was used in those ads. As I said, everyone will be using it next time.
I suppose making up fictitious people saying what you want them to say is cheaper than going out and paying real people to do it, as they said on "The Detail" last night.
I suppose making up fictitious people saying what you want them to say
Isn't that what all advertising is?
How is it morally superior to pay an actor to pose in your advertisement, or pay for a stock image to illustrate your advertisement; rather than using an AI to generate the image?
No one supposes that the actor agrees with the content of the advertisement (Does the Briscoes lady really buy everything from that store?) – let alone a stock image – where the actor may not even know their image has been used.
Frankly, artificial intelligence is probably the only intelligence they have access to. It probably has more human qualities and charm than most of their MPs too. Luxon likely feels safer when it's rifling through the barbecue cutlery than when Nicola or Simian are grasping at steak knives.
I am not saying there shouldn't be concern about the use of AI. I think there is a danger we start to lose our sense of humanity.
For instance, songwriters such as bill Dillan, and Paul Simon wrote songs based on their life experiences and thoughts. It won't be long before the likes of ChatGpt can write content as well as that, but, not based at all on its own thoughts or beliefs.
I still am trying to understand why there is a problem in this context. The ads I have seen use AI generated pictures of people. So what? It is probably a lot less complex in terms of getting authorisation to use pictures etc. And certainly no copyright issues as per their experience in previous elections.
It is really no different than using a face of a real person that hardly anyone recognises.
A major advantage with using this sort of technology is that it can be adjusted to create an image with exactly the required expression, and exactly the right context in terms of background etc.
Having dabbled in projects requiring lots of stock images myself, it isn't that easy to find real content that meets the requirements exactly.
A major advantage with using this sort of technology is that it can be adjusted to create an image with exactly the required expression, and exactly the right context in terms of background etc.
That’s exactly one of the major concerns, i.e., it can be very quickly & easily personalised with personal information that’s already out there, especially on Social Media.
If you had actually listened to The Detail programme on RNZ (cf. @ 7 with link in article linked @ 7.2) you would have known this and you wouldn’t have wondered “why people are vexxing about this”.
Why should we engage with you if you don’t engage with us and the material we provide you?
I listened to most of that. And it really isn't saying anything different to what I have already said. That the technology has the capacity to be misused.
I think the real danger is the technology being used to create pics/video of real people rather than imaginary people.
I highly doubt that politcal parties will stoop to that level. But there probably is danger from some of the fringe elements because it is so cheap and accessible.
For instance, if Jacinda was still PM, I could imagine anti-vax crazies creating video of Jacinda stating that she knew the Covid Vaccine was poison, or something like that.
I agree that our legisaltion is well behind on that. But, as you have already said, there is current defamation laws etc.
We also have advertising rules here that control a lot of what can be broadcast, though the likes of Twitter has its own rules.
So long as AI isn't doing anymore than what traditional actors, or stock photos can do, then it should be controlled by existing laws.
An interesting situation could be if AI generated say a video of a character that looked very much like Hipkins or Luxon making some sort of imaginary statement in the future.
Is that defamatory? Because no-one knows what will happen in the future, as to whether that statement will ever be made or not.
You seem to be having problems reply to the right comments in the thread!? Why is that?
We also have advertising rules here that control a lot of what can be broadcast, though the likes of Twitter has its own rules.
Since you’re referring to Twitter and its ‘rules’ I’m taking you even less serious than before.
So long as AI isn't doing anymore than what traditional actors, or stock photos can do, then it should be controlled by existing laws.
You’re once again completely missing the point; governments and their laws & regulations are always miles behind new IT developments and most definitely with the latest GPT-AI improvements. It was discussed on The Detail. In any case, where have you been hiding and do you follow the news at all?
An interesting situation could be if AI generated say a video of a character that looked very much like Hipkins or Luxon making some sort of imaginary statement in the future.
You love your hypotheticals, don’t you? But you’re diverting away again from what has already happened, is already happening, and what we have been discussing here all along. Why don’t you stay on topic?
Is that defamatory? Because no-one knows what will happen in the future, as to whether that statement will ever be made or not.
And it really isn't saying anything different to what I have already said. That the technology has the capacity to be misused.
How do you know if you didn’t listen to all of it? In any case, this is a gross misrepresentation of what was discussed in that episode of The Detail.
I think the real danger is the technology being used to create pics/video of real people rather than imaginary people.
I highly doubt that politcal parties will stoop to that level.
You seem to have glossed over everything that others and we have discussed here, including the mock-up fast and furious 10 movie poster. You tell us with an honest face that those faces don’t resemble the real cast of the fast and the furious?
But there probably is danger from some of the fringe elements because it is so cheap and accessible.
You’re deflecting again; the National Party is not a ‘fringe element’.
For instance, if Jacinda was still PM […]
Strawman and red herring fallacies combined in one.
”I have been exploring ChatGPT of late, so I shared the answer it had given to a question about the shortcomings of AI in decision-making:
‘AI's limitations in decision-making arise from its lack of common sense, emotional understanding, and creativity. It can perpetuate biases and discrimination due to flawed training data and struggles to handle unforeseen situations. Additionally, AI lacks ethical reasoning and may make decisions that are technically correct but ethically questionable. These limitations highlight the need for human oversight and intervention to ensure responsible and unbiased decision-making in AI systems.’
It’s well worth a read.
My own thoughts are that as long as businesses can monetise AI, which they have already, the horse has bolted. We’re just walking behind with a shovel.
My own thoughts are that as long as businesses can monetise AI, which they have already, the horse has bolted. We’re just walking behind with a shovel.
I think it will be up to individual countries and the various platforms such as twitter to set rules to control how the technology is used within the scope of their authority.
Here you can see russian media Fontanka SPB online bragging how russia gonna sell in St Petersburg the “elite” sweet cherry they stole from Ukrainian city Melitopol they attacked and occupied. All you need to know about russians.
They also add it is organized by “Zaporizhzhia authorities” which actually means “russia pawns on occupied territory” . Fkc you russia hope you choke on it
The Electoral Commission is investigating Sue Grey's Outdoors&Freedom Party and Brian Tamaki's Vision? Party, after both took $66k from the $4.1mi election advertising budget, then the next day merged into the umbrella Freedoms NZ Party with a third group.
'Under the Broadcasting Act, each registered party is entitled to a taxpayer-funded allocation for TV and radio advertising during the campaigning period…..But the Broadcasting Act also contains provisions for funding allocations to be delivered to a “group of parties” instead of each distinct party, if the commission deems those parties have joined forces."
Perhaps if they had merged even a few weeks later, the EC might have let it slide, but the NEXT DAY is a bit obviously pigs in the trough.
Sue Grey was that noisy lawyer shrieking about Baby W with the heart defect and untainted blood in front of the High Court. She is also under review by the Law Society for releasing the name of a boy who died of other causes, claiming he had died of the 'jab', which upset his family greatly.
Tamaki, who said 4-5 months ago 'I will not stand in the election…politics is not for me', also claimed that Gisbourne was flooded because of the number of searches from there for 'gay porn' – based on Brian's personal investigation of PornHub.
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Labour’s Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the leaders’ debate on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of the pundits rated him the winner against National’s Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New Zealanders start casting their ballots? The problem for Hipkins is that voters are all too ...
Buzz from the BeehiveNot long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
The D&W analysisMichael Grimshaw writes – Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes- Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving.They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
Buzz from the BeehivePoint of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements. There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
Alex Holland writes – In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
The Facts has posted – KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
Labour is in it for you. This election Kiwis will decide what kind of country they want New Zealand to be, who they trust to have their back, and how we can be better, together. This election matters. View our full Manifesto below. ...
The National Party's U-turn on water reform has left local councils high and dry and will drive up Kiwi's rates bills, Labour Party Local Government Spokesperson Kieran McAnulty says. ...
A re-elected Labour Party will continue to tackle discriminations still faced by members of the Rainbow community in areas ranging from surrogacy and adoption to blood donation. ...
National’s fiscal plan has failed to fill the massive fiscal hole in its dodgy tax scheme, it will mean more cuts to public services, more children being put into poverty and an end to action on climate change. ...
New Zealand First Policy Announcement:Law and Order New Zealand First believes that keeping society safe should be the priority of law-and-order policies. Every New Zealander deserves to feel safe, secure, and have their person and property respected. That is why New Zealand First continues to fix the flaws in ...
In last night’s leaders debate Labour Leader Chris Hipkins referred toaquote without giving any explanation of its content, which was about the ‘disease of co-governance’ that is perpetuated by the Māori elite, and he said it was racist. Then, without even examining the content, National leader Christopher Luxon agreed with ...
In last night’s leaders debate Labour Leader Chris Hipkins referred toaquote without giving any explanation of its content, which was about the ‘disease of co-governance’ that is perpetuated by the Māori elite, and he said it was racist. Then, without even examining the content, National leader Christopher Luxon agreed with ...
After years of criticising the Government on law and order, National have embarrassed themselves by conceding they have no new ideas and instead copied Labour’s Police policy announced three weeks ago, Labour Police spokesperson Ginny Andersen says. ...
Labour’s fiscal plan will continue its focus on carefully managing the books while protecting critical public services like health and education and investing to deliver high wage jobs and a low carbon economy. ...
New Zealand First today is announcing a policy on adjusting the rules and restrictions around access to the Job Seeker Benefit.New Zealand First’s policy is to introduce a capped time-period for any person to access the Job Seeker Benefit during their lifetime. Any individual will have the ability to access the Job Seeker ...
New Zealand First today is announcing a policy on adjusting the rules and restrictions around access to the Job Seeker Benefit.New Zealand First’s policy is to introduce a capped time-period for any person to access the Job Seeker Benefit during their lifetime. Any individual will have the ability to access the Job Seeker ...
National’s cuts to funding for beneficiaries will once again leave children and their parents with less, Spokesperson for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni said. ...
The Green Party will double the Best Start payment and make it available for every child under three years of age - and it will be paid for with a fair tax system. ...
Labour will fund more medicines for more New Zealanders by investing over $1 billion of new funding into Pharmac if re-elected, Chris Hipkins announced today. ...
Labour has just announced a policy to increase Pharmac funding by $1billion over four years to fund additional medicines.With the current Pharmac budget of $1.2billion per year and needing a further $213million, by Minister Verrall’s own admission, just to keep up with current costs - then this is nothing ...
Labour has just announced a policy to increase Pharmac funding by $1billion over four years to fund additional medicines.With the current Pharmac budget of $1.2billion per year and needing a further $213million, by Minister Verrall’s own admission, just to keep up with current costs - then this is nothing ...
This matter begins with the Pike River investigation being inadequate, inexplicably lengthy, and after millions of dollars, the evidence that should have been placed before the public still has not been. We have always believed that Pike River isacrime scene, and thataproper investigation would have come to that conclusion. Blue ...
This matter begins with the Pike River investigation being inadequate, inexplicably lengthy, and after millions of dollars, the evidence that should have been placed before the public still has not been. We have always believed that Pike River isacrime scene, and thataproper investigation would have come to that conclusion. Blue ...
New Zealand faces a stark choice this election – vote for Labour to continue to confront the climate emergency with eyes wide open or bury your head in the sand alongside Christopher Luxon. ...
Labour is supercharging its plan to solve the public housing shortfall created by National, promising another 6,000 homes on top of what has already been committed says Labour Housing spokesperson Dr Megan Woods. ...
Labour will back migrant working families by introducing a 10-year multiple-entry parents’ and grandparents’ Super Visa, and make good on the Dawn Raids apology by providing a one-off visa for overstayers who have been in the country ten years or more, Labour’s Immigration Spokesperson Andrew Little says. ...
The Green Party is today welcoming Labour coming to the table to ensure an amnesty for overstayers, but only the Greens will ensure immigration settings actually reflect the reality of people who have been failed by our immigration system. ...
The Green Party is calling on Auckland Council to do more to protect urban trees and housing developer Aedifice Property Group to restore and replant the native forest it cleared, and protect all the remaining trees on Ngahere Road in Pukekohe after a significant number of native trees were cut ...
Latest Police data shows monthly ram raids have hit a two-year low, laying waste to Christopher Luxon’s false claim that there are two ram raids a day says Labour’s Police Spokesperson Ginny Andersen. ...
Free and healthy school lunches will be here to stay if Labour is re-elected, guaranteeing food for our kids who need it most and significant cost saving for parents. ...
The next Labour Government will build a new hospital in Hawke’s Bay, Labour leader Chris Hipkins and Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall announced. ...
The Green Party will keep up the fight to support exploited migrant workers, including pushing to end single employer visas, after the government picked up Green recommendations to improve immigration settings. ...
Green Party co leader James Shaw visited a home in Auckland today that has been upgraded with a wide range of energy improvements, similar to those that would be supported through the Green Party’s Clean Power Payment. ...
The Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s presence in New York today at the United Nations General Assembly is a contempt of New Zealand’s “caretaker government” convention. Despite the long-standing caretaker convention, Minister Mahuta is today at the UN to sign a highly contentious “Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement”, delivering a ...
The Pre-Election Fiscal Update Changes EverythingWithin an hour of this speech there is going to be a debate between the political parties that the media, under MMP, still think are the only parties that matter in this campaign. Both of those parties are riddled with inexperience, as evidenced by ...
National and ACT's tax plans don't add up, and that means deep cuts to the public services New Zealanders rely on, says Labour Campaign Chair Megan Woods. ...
The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said. “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today. Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today. “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
We’re careening towards the iceberg of runaway climate change. Here’s a comprehensive look at what each party is promising to do about it. For the past four weeks, I’ve been having election nightmares. There have been cameos from David Seymour in fluorescent lycra, and Winston Peters in a tophat and ...
The government subsidised pine on the East Coast for nearly 30 years, huge tracts of which ended up in the hands of foreign companies known for environmental damage ...
Vaping rates, particularly among young people, have rapidly risen. Our political parties are starting to take notice, but the next government must turn proposals into policiesOpinion: I knew the message about problem vaping was getting out there when the latest National Party election flyer appeared in my letterbox last week. It ...
Advocates say disability issues are at a "crossroads of regress" with neglect from political parties caught up in electioneering This election cycle, burning issues such as climate change, housing and migration have taken a back seat to the new hot topics of crime and the cost of living. But ...
New polling shows televised leaders’ debates are still reaching many eligible voters despite the decline in those watching linear television A Talbot Mills Research poll seen by Newsroom reveals just under 40 percent of eligible voters watched some or all of the first two leaders’ debates. TVNZ’s 90-minute debate on September ...
Scientist Mike Marden has spent decades researching the East Coast's erosion and knows the local soils like few others – and he also knows things have to change. Aaron Smale continues a series on the slow destruction of Tairāwhiti. Everywhere he looks he can see the risks and vulnerability in the landscape. ...
The one about the house where a Prime Minister supposedly locked his deranged son in the basement 212 The Terrace, Wellington! Nowadays it just looks like any of the big white wooden colonial piles next to each other on The Terrace, that long, anxious nerve centre of central Wellington ...
She’s just 22, but new world champion Para athlete Danielle Aitchison is already giving back – hoping to give kids with disabilities what she missed out on. Newly crowned world champion sprinter Danielle Aitchison is hurtling through a massive year of change – in the way she runs, in how ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emily McColl-Gausden, Research fellow, The University of Melbourne When the Black Summer bushfires swept across eastern Australia in 2019–20, thousands of animal species lived in the path of these megafires. You’d be forgiven for thinking water-dwelling animals like platypuses were spared. ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ French Pacific correspondent Defence ministers from several Asian and Pacific states are scheduled to meet in New Caledonia for two days during the first week of December, French Armed Forces in New Caledonia (FANC) commander General Yann Latil announced at the weekend. He added that French ...
A new Taxpayers Union – Curia poll in the Tāmaki electorate shows ACT’s Brooke van Velden mounting a strong challenge to incumbent National MP, Simon O’Connor. The two major candidates for the seat are locked in a statistical tie with 35% of ...
The Cabinet Minister was challenged on her party's record on crime, the cost of living, veterans and beneficiaries during a visit to territory normally considered a Labour heartland. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Australia’s emissions need to decline “on a much steeper trajectory” if it is to meet its declared commitment of a 43% reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050, the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and ...
“Tonight at the Taxpayer’s Union Tāmaki debate I put forward to voters why I should be the next advocate for their community in Parliament,” says ACT Deputy Leader and Tāmaki candidate Brooke van Velden. “After 63 years being represented ...
The youngest candidate in this year’s election is closing in on the Labour stronghold of Hauraki-Waikato. A Whakaata Māori exclusive poll has revealed that Te Pāti Māori newcomer, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, is just four percentage points behind Labour’s ...
The incumbent MP is just four points ahead of one of the youngest candidates in this year's general election, a poll conducted for Whakaata Māori is revealing. ...
The ACT party candidate is locked in a statistical tie with the incumbent in the previously safe National seat of Tāmaki, a new Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll reveals. ...
Following a poll last week which depicted Chlöe Swarbrick in a battle to hold on to Auckland Central, another seat in the city has been confirmed as balanced on a knife edge. In a battle among the parties of the right in Tāmaki, sitting MP Simon O’Connor leads Brooke van ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University If the Reserve Bank does push up interest rates again, the most likely next date is its next board meeting, on Melbourne Cup Tuesday. The November 7 meeting is especially ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack Francis Kelly, Honorary Research Fellow, School of the Built Environment, University of Technology Sydney The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability has shared its final report. In this series, we unpack what the commission’s 222 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Austin, Lecturer in Theatre, The University of Melbourne Sarah Walker/MTC Emerging from one of Australia’s most enduring and significant theatrical partnerships between director Susie Dee and playwright Patricia Cornelius, My Sister Jill is a contemporary homage to George Johnston’s ...
There’s been a strong outpouring on social media after it emerged that polling booths wouldn’t be handing out the orange man “I voted” stickers during this year’s election. And while many have claimed this to be a new decision, the Electoral Commission told The Spinoff the stickers weren’t actually given ...
BioTechNZ has called on the next Government to leverage the use of biotechnology to transform the economy, lift the performance of New Zealand industries, and create high-value jobs. The organisation, whose members all share a desire to maximise the ...
More than 4000 men are diagnosed and over 700 die from prostate cancer every year. That’s more than twice the road toll. Men’s lives matter too. The Prostate Cancer Foundation today welcomed statements by the National Party relating to prostate cancer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gemma McKibbin, Senior Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock In its 2017 final report, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse identified that there was no large-scale national early intervention service in Australia for people worried ...
Cyclone Gabrielle highlighted the need for better regulations on forestry, after woody debris was washed into waterways and caused widespread damage and flooding. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The referendum on the Indigenous Voice to parliament will be held on October 14. A national Essential poll, conducted September 27 to ...
Time to invest in infrastructure for a modern, flourishing, resilient tomorrow. The New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils hosted its 34th AGM and Community Awards Dinner on the weekend of the 16th – 17th September 2023 in Wellington. Twenty-four ...
The first day of advance voting yesterday saw 56,557 people cast their ballots, according to the Electoral Commission. That’s a big drop on day one of advance voting in 2020, when 92,434 people took part. Given the exceptional, Covid-impacted circumstances of the last election, however, a more instructive comparison may ...
With New Zealand on track to fall 114 million tonnes short of the 2030 emissions reduction target, and billions of dollars likely needed to pay for it, political parties have debated their climate policies. ...
With New Zealand on track to fall 114 million tonnes short of the 2030 emissions reduction target, and billions of dollars likely needed to pay for it, political parties have debated their climate policies. ...
The science is clear, the effects are profound and the toll of Long Covid and reinfections can’t be ignored, writes Freya Sawbridge. On August 15, mandates ceased for masks in healthcare settings along with isolation for positive cases. That marked the end of the final two pandemic restrictions. Anyone wanting to ...
Jubi News in Jayapura Director Latifah Anum Siregar of the Democracy Alliance for Papua (ALDP) has emphasised the importance of raising awareness about human rights violations in Papua during a discussion at the launch of five Jubi Documentary films. The event took place at the St. Nicholaus Ambassador of Peace ...
· New Zealand First will put an end to the use of conscience votes in parliament and return democracy to the people. · New Zealand First has always believed that important decisions that change the social fabric of our country forever should not ...
Mike Minogue watched the new documentary on Israel Adesanya and recognised how hard it is to leave bullies behind. It would have been an entirely satisfactory piece of work. Imagine a documentary that unfolds with behind the scenes footage of the once unknown subject’s journey from utter obscurity, all the ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is questioning the Government’s decision to provide corporate welfare to the wood processing sector, both in the form of direct hand-outs and the Government playing bank manager by providing loans when this could easily be left ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack Pascoe, Research fellow, The University of Melbourne Back to Country, CC BY-NC-ND For saltwater people of Australia’s east and west coasts, humpback whales hold important lore in the form of stories. For the Yuin people of the east ...
The cost of repairing Wellington’s Town Hall has blown out again, with projections now forecast at $250-$330 million, up from a previous estimated completion cost of $182m. The Town Hall has been closed since it was damaged in the 2013 Seddon earthquake. The first cost estimates for repairs were $43 ...
In 2020 the pandemic briefly made the media central to our politics. A debate three years on shows how much that has changed.If you want to know just how far media has fallen as an area of interest for our political class, here are some realities to consider. Act’s ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. The Labour Government was elected with 50 per cent of the vote three years ago, but current opinion polls show their vote could halve in this year’s election, which would be one of the biggest plunges in political history. ...
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If the amount of toy throwing tantrums from Wayne Brown, Mautrice "millions of data points" Williamson, and Christine Fletcher in the last few days is any indication their ukelele band of aging boomer duffers on the council don't have their numbers to sell the airport shares or for their slash and burn budget.
Brown in particular was a complete blathering idiot again by naming the two “left” councillors who he thought got him over the line on the airport share sale. Immediately the heat went on the two councillors in question who then ran a mile from backing the mayor’s proposal. I mean, what did he expect? Then he resorted to crude threats, typical.
Maurice Williamson and Christine Fletcher were bot on RNZ this morning, Williamson attempting to scare the horses with weary 1990s TINA shroud waving and Christine Fletcher reprising Hyacinth Bucket while kicking the council sataff in the teeth, going so far as claiming she has been seeking “legal advice” about the the briefings from the council staff.
They are NOT happy. They thought the good old days of the pre-super city Auckland council dominated by C&R fogeys was back with a vengeance.
If Mayor "buckets" Brown response to the severe flooding was an indication….he should never be near any decision making. Ol' Nat failures Maurice Williamson and Christine Fletcher ditto.
Hopefully there are enough with sense..and ability, to put a halt to these TINA's….
IMO….
It was good to see Mike Lee come out solidly against the sale of the airport shares.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2023/05/30/guest-blog-mike-lee-councils-airport-share-privatisation-will-disinherit-future-generations-of-aucklanders/
Still one guy in there with a memory.
At some point the golf courses are going to have to come back into the frame.
Selling the council’s golf courses would reduce the ongoing losses from running the courses of over $160 million per year and raise north of $4 billion in an asset sales process, which would lift the combination of avoided losses and interest savings to over $320 million a year.
Check out the number of councils that are in serious trouble either in governance or in finances or both.
All is not well.
Unfortunately, the 13 or so golf courses that Auckland Council owns are a bit like Eden Park – they suck up a lot of public $$$$$ but are run by the political elite who have the ability to mount campaigns to ensure that the flow of public money remains unabated.
Look what happened with Chamberlain Park golf course – unused to the point where Council was having to do everything to keep it going, but the minute there was a suggestion that the course be shared by reducing it to 9 holes and the waterway remediated and opened up for more local use, all hell broke loose.
The moans that this was the only course available to "working class" people soon vanished beneath a tide of financial support for a Judicial Review (which failed on all counts) and a political campaign (which failed to get any C&R people elected in the relevant Ward).
However, Covid and a few other things seems to have largely halted the plans for change and one has no faith that they will be pursued under this administration.
I'm aware of that Chamberlain debate, and agree white old people are NZ's most effective lobbyists.
Political noise ought to be generated about any asset sale.
But if the airport share sale fails as a budget proposal, the Mayor is going to need a Plan B. And he will need it very fast.
The Mayor needs to test whether he can get more Councillors to support golf course sales, not airport sales.
I don't necessarily support golf course sales – in general I don't support selling publicly owned land – you never get it back.
However, I do, most certainly, support repurposing those areas into more generally accessible parkland, sports and recreation areas and wetland remediation (January has taught us all how valuable these can be)
It's possible that there might be some housing conversion in some areas – though I'd be highly cautious about this – our green-spaces are too precious to be built over. And, while the air-port shares have been characterized as 'selling the family silver'; in reality, it's our green spaces which are the family silver of our cities.
Of course, if a private entity and/or community trust wants to purchase one of the golf courses – at full land and improvements value price – with a permanent covenant to prevent it being converted into any other use – I'd be willing to consider this. I note that those wealthy-golf-playing users are highly reluctant to consider this option.
There are some of them which are not suitable for housing development as they are in wet areas – Narrow Neck being the most obvious.
However they cost a lot to maintain and that includes a shedload of chemicals for weed control, fertalisers etc, so there is an ecological cost as well.
There is certainly a premium to be obtained for housing that abuts a golf course and in these days of using less, there is nothing scared about 18 holes.
However, if you're selling off the golf course for housing, then there is, no-longer an 18-hole golf course for the housing to abut.
The airport sale is not really a "budget proposal". It is a chance for Brown's rich mates to pick up shares that are a surefire bet to appreciate billions. This is what it is all about really.
I was listening to ZB yesterday (crazy I know but RNZ is boring in the afternoon) where they had a debate on the airport sale. Simon Barnet to his credit was arguing that the airport should be retained by the council. A finance expert texted in and said Auckland Airport was one of the key shares he would always recommend as part a balanced portfolio, along with the banks, power companies etc.
Just like the power generators, shift the dividend from public to private hands with a manufactured 'the sky will fall if we dont'.
We can all see how that worked out with them shelling out 3bill more in dividends than profit I.e. loading up debt on essential utility entities.
'The airport sale is not really a "budget proposal". It is a chance for Brown's rich mates to pick up shares that are a surefire bet to appreciate billions. This is what it is all about really.'
The shares are freely tradable on the stock exchange at present they have appreciated by 33% over the last 5 years so hardly stellar returns.
The AIA share price tanked in 2020 thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. So, the comparable performance over the last 5 years with NZ50G, for example, is arguably stellar.
Who are the council going to sell them to ?
Would the land be covenanted to stop massive in fill housing which will stuff the city even more than its currently being stuffed up ?
I take it you've never seen a masterplan before.
Pop over to Hobsonville.
I’ve seen hobsonville it is fkn hideous
There will end up being a rates rise considerably more than 4.5% but less than 10%, a bit more borrowing, and maybe some shares sold.
Aything less than total victory for the boomer ukelele band will infuriate the old duffer vote and the spewing in the Herald will be enormously funny to read.
There is a mathematical equation around airport shares I am still unclear on..
As 20% owners of airport shares council is responsible for 20% of the interest paid annually on the large debt the airport owes..
How much is that each year .?
And is that separate from or factored into/deducted from the dividend paid out to council..?
And re council debt…why is a one-off large rate rise a third rail..?
We are talking about real estate that has had massive increases in value..
The amount asked for in such a one-off (to clear debt)…would be chump change compared to the profits those owners have enjoyed..
And why can't commercial rates be amped up to something realistic..?
Once again this would be chump change in their annual overheads..
Why the third rail…?
Is anyone arguing for this..?
If not..why not…?
Wayne Brown's lack of tranparency and accountability to the media (except for chosen lackies like Boresman at the Herald) appears to finally be becoming a story:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/300893959/auckland-mayor-wayne-brown-cherrypicks-journalists-to-best-convey-his-message-on-major-council-budget-update
The guy has had a dream run with the media, with hagiographic coverage by NZME and a benefit of the doubt approach from the “B” team that is the rest of the MSM. It looks like they've begun to get a bit tired with that “B” team moniker.
If the non-NZME MSM decide to go to war with the mayor, things will start to get spicey.
Newshub also have the story – Brown apparently invited only "sensible" media and Newshub were excluded. Brown is using tame media as a propaganda machine and excluding others – he should go now.
I have to say – I didn't have "Wayne Brown loses Bernard Orsman" on my bingo card this week.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland-mayor-wayne-browns-final-budget-plan-offers-lollies-in-exchange-for-selling-the-councils-airport-shares/LY63R6HZSVCOPPJNOAHJA65X7Y/
I read the orsman piece..
In it the claim is made that council pays out $100 million each year in interest..and receives back $23 million in dividend…(!)
If that claim is true..(and I know that in some years no dividend was paid…but you don't get that payout leniency with interest due..do you..?)
If that is true..it is economic madness for council to continue to own those shares…
How can it not be..?
And a breakdown of the last ten years could be useful..
How much was paid out in interest by council in those years..?
against how much was paid in dividend to Auckland council..?
That should bring things more sharply into focus..
Bernard would not be pleased when he saw the collection of dingbats and frootloops who were invited as VIP guests. The "Westmere Weirdo Collection" for a start. Lisa Praegar and her mates.
Holy shambolic ramble batman!
What was with his press conference? Watch it. Halting delivery, rude, sarcastic and gratuitously nasty. The guy is the complete ugly boomer. What a tosser.
What is the word for a male 'karen' ..?
Kevin.
Wayne will do.
I saw the highlights reel…
He slammed Auckland transport for spending $ 11 million in tarting up the vodofone building they decided was their.new hq..plus for the huge annual lease they pay..and told them to get out of there..and move into the council building..
I don't have any problems with that..
And he slammed that troughing exercise the heart of the city..for what it is..
And I don't have any problems with that..
I would also have no problem with him clearing out the enormous amount of comms staff that council employs…(with them I have long wondered w.t.f. do they actually do all day..?
And what's with the fucken vehicles they buy…?
Why do they have to have massive diesel suvs to drive around in..?..suvs that never see mud on their tyres..and are really really expensive/polluting..
Give them vans…and nissan bloody micras to drive around in..
And yes…focus on the golf courses…and return them to public use..open spaces open to all..and any building on to be community focused…
And speaking of troughing..why is former mayor phil trough not in the gun for this blowout..?
Because the head of the Finance Committee of the previous Council was Councillor Desley Simpson. Former wife of a Nat MP, present wife of the previous National Party President. The finances were in her hands. She is now the Deputy Mayor.
And Phil Goff returned substantial amounts of his Mayoral Office budget unspent. He was not a profligate Mayor.
Thank you for clarifying that…
So she would have approved a.t. spending $11 million on refurbishment..and $6 million (!) in lease payments each year..?
And the purchase of all those remuera tractors..?
And if she was running finances how was it not in this crisis situation just before the election..?
Under her watch…
Lets face it, Brown is just another National Party Poodle.
Time to remember that as well as being a cu t, this guy is a proto-fascist, surrounded by people who will help him achieve that way of working , including ex-tobacco industry folk and others with similar moral values.
According to the story on the radio this morning, Te Whata Ora has inherited 270 middle managers they plan to rationalise to 110 and 200 comms staff they want to slash by a huge amount as well.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/491097/te-whatu-ora-to-decide-fate-of-hundreds-of-jobs-on-friday
It seems stories of bloated DHB bureaucracies full of overpaid middle managers getting fat on the taxpayer dime may not have been far from the mark.
Ironic it is a Labour government taking the razor to the PMC when all the hot air on the issue always comes from the right.
In another item of interest, I read the Ukrainian government has begun turning off all CCTV cameras and blocking mobile phone signals.
That most likely signals the movement of units from rear areas to forming up points preparatory to an assault.
Slava Ukaini!
I wish the Ukrainians the best of luck in throwing out the russian invaders. Unfortunately it will not happen without the loss of many Ukrainian lives, which is appalling. No Ukrainian wanted or asked for this.
So check out how tight this town is.
The Mayor is the son of a senior Council official who was ousted and paid out massively, just before the election.
A major petition calling for the resignation of the Council chief executive was launched by an employee in a company owned by a sitting councillor.
That same business also employs the Mayor's mother.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/southland-top-stories/132193092/councillors-employee-set-up-petition-calling-for-gore-ceos-resignation
And of course as a result of no-one talking to each other at the council, they now have to put up their rates with no public consultation.
That is one divided town.
The sitting councillor and the Mayor were both on the same ticket at the last election.
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/southland/challenger-takes-lead-gore-mayoral-race-still-too-close-call
A lot of people in Gore not happy about the state of their town and the inability / unwillingness of the old guard to do anything about it.
A repost from yesterday.
For those interested in the debate over Artificial Intelligence and its probable National Party role in election advertising I urge you to listen to yesterday's "The Detail" programme on RNZ.
National would be mad to continue using AI into the election campaign. As it is, they have a credibility problem. Running ads using AI would mean the integrity of National would be what was discussed in the media, not the content of the advertisments.
I really don't see why people are vexxing about this. Likely, every party will be using it at the next election. I think people are just jealous that National got in first.
Yeah, right! I was very jealous of Chris Luxon, as not everybody can afford holidaying in Te Puke.
From what I have seen, there doesn't appear to be any problem with using that technology. After all, even if real people are used in ads, people often aren't aware if the people actually believe what they are saying.
It would be a problem though, if AI were used, say to generate video of Hipkins confessing to be a pedo, or similar.
That is where I think the greatest danger lies, in that it is getting increasingly difficult for people to distinguish what is true and what is false.
But, I see no problem at all in the context for which it was used in those ads. As I said, everyone will be using it next time.
Your reply contains a strawman fallacy, as there are already NZ Laws to protect people against defamation and false allegations.
You seem to be one of the Three Wise Monkeys.
I don't see any problem..in this case..of/from using ai images over stock photos…
Where's the problem..?
Exactly. As I pointed out below, AI images can be created to exactly match the requirement for the ad or whatever.
Not always that easy to do with stock images.
I suppose making up fictitious people saying what you want them to say is cheaper than going out and paying real people to do it, as they said on "The Detail" last night.
Isn't that what all advertising is?
How is it morally superior to pay an actor to pose in your advertisement, or pay for a stock image to illustrate your advertisement; rather than using an AI to generate the image?
No one supposes that the actor agrees with the content of the advertisement (Does the Briscoes lady really buy everything from that store?) – let alone a stock image – where the actor may not even know their image has been used.
The jealous chestnut this early in the election cycle, you tory's are really shitting yourselves 'ant ya.
Who you calling a tory..?…
Heh..!
Frankly, artificial intelligence is probably the only intelligence they have access to. It probably has more human qualities and charm than most of their MPs too. Luxon likely feels safer when it's rifling through the barbecue cutlery than when Nicola or Simian are grasping at steak knives.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/technology/this-election-year-we-need-to-brace-ourselves-for-ai
Way scarier scenarios than The War of the Worlds (the radio version).
I am not saying there shouldn't be concern about the use of AI. I think there is a danger we start to lose our sense of humanity.
For instance, songwriters such as bill Dillan, and Paul Simon wrote songs based on their life experiences and thoughts. It won't be long before the likes of ChatGpt can write content as well as that, but, not based at all on its own thoughts or beliefs.
You’re deflecting and there’s obviously no point in having a convo with you on this topic.
I still am trying to understand why there is a problem in this context. The ads I have seen use AI generated pictures of people. So what? It is probably a lot less complex in terms of getting authorisation to use pictures etc. And certainly no copyright issues as per their experience in previous elections.
It is really no different than using a face of a real person that hardly anyone recognises.
Commentators seem to be unconcerned about the way National is using the technology, but rather about its potential to be misused.
And people don’t seem particularly bothered about the way National is using the technology.
A major advantage with using this sort of technology is that it can be adjusted to create an image with exactly the required expression, and exactly the right context in terms of background etc.
Having dabbled in projects requiring lots of stock images myself, it isn't that easy to find real content that meets the requirements exactly.
That’s exactly one of the major concerns, i.e., it can be very quickly & easily personalised with personal information that’s already out there, especially on Social Media.
If you had actually listened to The Detail programme on RNZ (cf. @ 7 with link in article linked @ 7.2) you would have known this and you wouldn’t have wondered “why people are vexxing about this”.
Why should we engage with you if you don’t engage with us and the material we provide you?
sigh
Selective quotes from selected sources aka confirmation bias.
In other words, nothing to see here folks, move on aka the Three Wise Monkeys.
I listened to most of that. And it really isn't saying anything different to what I have already said. That the technology has the capacity to be misused.
I think the real danger is the technology being used to create pics/video of real people rather than imaginary people.
I highly doubt that politcal parties will stoop to that level. But there probably is danger from some of the fringe elements because it is so cheap and accessible.
For instance, if Jacinda was still PM, I could imagine anti-vax crazies creating video of Jacinda stating that she knew the Covid Vaccine was poison, or something like that.
I agree that our legisaltion is well behind on that. But, as you have already said, there is current defamation laws etc.
We also have advertising rules here that control a lot of what can be broadcast, though the likes of Twitter has its own rules.
So long as AI isn't doing anymore than what traditional actors, or stock photos can do, then it should be controlled by existing laws.
An interesting situation could be if AI generated say a video of a character that looked very much like Hipkins or Luxon making some sort of imaginary statement in the future.
Is that defamatory? Because no-one knows what will happen in the future, as to whether that statement will ever be made or not.
You seem to be having problems reply to the right comments in the thread!? Why is that?
Since you’re referring to Twitter and its ‘rules’ I’m taking you even less serious than before.
You’re once again completely missing the point; governments and their laws & regulations are always miles behind new IT developments and most definitely with the latest GPT-AI improvements. It was discussed on The Detail. In any case, where have you been hiding and do you follow the news at all?
You love your hypotheticals, don’t you? But you’re diverting away again from what has already happened, is already happening, and what we have been discussing here all along. Why don’t you stay on topic?
QED; strawman fallacies galore from you.
At what point did you stop and why?
How do you know if you didn’t listen to all of it? In any case, this is a gross misrepresentation of what was discussed in that episode of The Detail.
You seem to have glossed over everything that others and we have discussed here, including the mock-up fast and furious 10 movie poster. You tell us with an honest face that those faces don’t resemble the real cast of the fast and the furious?
You’re deflecting again; the National Party is not a ‘fringe element’.
Strawman and red herring fallacies combined in one.
It looks like the PMs office was advised in late January about attendance data being held up. Interestinger and interestinger.
Could Hipkins be caught up in a breach of priveledge by extension if it turns out he was aware of the breach and didn't do anything about it?
700 Hawkes Bay properties to be bought out, thousands more affected.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300894282/maps-revealing-hawkes-bay-red-zones-released-to-residents
Aroha out to the people of Hawkes Bay.
Replying to MtL at 7.
Lianne Dalziel has a very thoughtful column on today’s Newsroom.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/fear-and-loathing-on-the-campaign-trail?utm_source=Newsroom&utm_campaign=ec227fb1d5-Daily_Briefing+1.06.2023&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_71de5c4b35-ec227fb1d5-47886425
”I have been exploring ChatGPT of late, so I shared the answer it had given to a question about the shortcomings of AI in decision-making:
‘AI's limitations in decision-making arise from its lack of common sense, emotional understanding, and creativity. It can perpetuate biases and discrimination due to flawed training data and struggles to handle unforeseen situations. Additionally, AI lacks ethical reasoning and may make decisions that are technically correct but ethically questionable. These limitations highlight the need for human oversight and intervention to ensure responsible and unbiased decision-making in AI systems.’
It’s well worth a read.
My own thoughts are that as long as businesses can monetise AI, which they have already, the horse has bolted. We’re just walking behind with a shovel.
Exactly. It is very difficult, if not impossible to control this as there are lots of places in the world not subject to controls. This sort of stuff popping up on twitter all the time now.
I think it will be up to individual countries and the various platforms such as twitter to set rules to control how the technology is used within the scope of their authority.
Are you kidding us? Elon Musk is going to protect us from mis- and dis-information spreading that’s enormously facilitated by GPT-AI!?
Imperialism has always been a criminal enterprise.
/
@MargoGontar
Here you can see russian media Fontanka SPB online bragging how russia gonna sell in St Petersburg the “elite” sweet cherry they stole from Ukrainian city Melitopol they attacked and occupied. All you need to know about russians.
[…]
@MargoGontar
They also add it is organized by “Zaporizhzhia authorities” which actually means “russia pawns on occupied territory” . Fkc you russia hope you choke on it
https://twitter.com/MargoGontar/status/1663965738833461256
The Electoral Commission is investigating Sue Grey's Outdoors&Freedom Party and Brian Tamaki's Vision? Party, after both took $66k from the $4.1mi election advertising budget, then the next day merged into the umbrella Freedoms NZ Party with a third group.
'Under the Broadcasting Act, each registered party is entitled to a taxpayer-funded allocation for TV and radio advertising during the campaigning period…..But the Broadcasting Act also contains provisions for funding allocations to be delivered to a “group of parties” instead of each distinct party, if the commission deems those parties have joined forces."
Perhaps if they had merged even a few weeks later, the EC might have let it slide, but the NEXT DAY is a bit obviously pigs in the trough.
Sue Grey was that noisy lawyer shrieking about Baby W with the heart defect and untainted blood in front of the High Court. She is also under review by the Law Society for releasing the name of a boy who died of other causes, claiming he had died of the 'jab', which upset his family greatly.
Tamaki, who said 4-5 months ago 'I will not stand in the election…politics is not for me', also claimed that Gisbourne was flooded because of the number of searches from there for 'gay porn' – based on Brian's personal investigation of PornHub.
Herald article on EC opening investigation
We’re not allowed to post imbedded YouTube clips?
Sad.
any way here’s some external links to reactions other than Simon Bridges’ at Wayne Brown’s diverse meeting yesterday to his budget:
Inside the Brown meeting
Johnsons all!
And here is the Mayor’s speech:
And who amongst us can argue with that? It is indeed a pity Mayor Brown did not invite children to hear his words…