Open mike 01/10/2021

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 1st, 2021 - 103 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

103 comments on “Open mike 01/10/2021 ”

  1. Robert Guyton 1

    The Government is assigning itself the ability to delay local body elections as it chooses?

    https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2109/S00275/government-wants-power-to-delay-local-elections-through-2023.htm

    • Sabine 1.1

      from your link

      In a bill introduced to Parliament only yesterday, and now rushed through its first reading under urgency, the Government wants to empower itself to adjourn polling day multiple times without constraint – and not just in an election year, but the year after as well.

      “It would mean that the Government could delay every local body election next year, all the way through 2023…………….

      ………………………….

      “Granting this power under the cloak of Covid-19 is egregious.

      “Local body elections are conducted by postal ballot, not by in-person voting.

      Would you be comfortable with this if National were to attempt that, or worse even ACT?

      Personally i believe that no election should be postponed unless really there is a good reason given, and currently that is not the case. So the question remains, is our government expecting worse to come? Or is that just a line up all the ducks in a row type prep.

      What do you think Robert?

      • Pingao 1.1.1

        I think the government is allowing for a worst case scenario should the pandemic take a turn for the worse. It is only a temporary measure but I would be interested to see why it unlimited in how many times the local elections can be delayed and more detail on the thinking.

        • Sabine 1.1.1.1

          Then the government should openly discuss this and not use 'emergency' rule. The US had a full outbreak last year in many places and voted.

          And how do you know it is a temporary measure, as nothing in the article speaks of that. OR is that wishful thinking?

          Again, would you be comfortable if National or ACT or an N/A government were to do that?

          • Jimmy 1.1.1.1.1

            I agree!

          • Pingao 1.1.1.1.2

            Hi Sabine it says so in the Radio NZ article yesterday. I can't seem to post the link sorry. The RNZ story is less over-egged than the scoop story.

            National has done it with Canterbury Regional Council ECAN for several years but not for the public good – it was to keep the dairy farmers happy essentially so they could increase irrigation and not worry about pollution of waterways.

            As I said, I'd like to hear the detail of the reasoning. On the face of it it sounds sensible to have it be possible to postpone local government elections during a pandemic as a temporary measure. Even though it's a postal vote, it would still require many people throughout the country to travel and meet for it to happen.

        • Patricia Bremner 1.1.1.2

          yes

        • Robert Guyton 1.1.1.3

          I agree with Pingao. I am not anxious about this, but my Nat/ACT voting friends are.

      • AB 1.1.2

        Any external factor that significantly compromised participation by the voters would be a sufficient reason (e.g. war, natural disaster, pandemic). Any suspension should be time-limited and any extension should require justification by a court or in Parliament, or whatever. If ACT or National proposed something like that I would be fine with it.

        The press release smells of more Nat mischief-making. And if you remember what National did with suspending ECan, this line is real hypocritical doozy "National will keep fighting Labour’s attempts to diminish local democracy. "

        • Sabine 1.1.2.1

          So you would be ok with N/A government to do this too then?

          • AB 1.1.2.1.1

            The press release doesn't tell us what "this" is – it just scaremongers. I'd have to go and read the Bill and life is too short.

            I broadly outlined at 1.1.2 what I think would be acceptable, and if the actual Bill overstepped that, I would oppose it whoever did it. That's assuming I could even understand the Bill or muster the energy to try. Point is, I'm not going to get agitated into kneejerk expostulations after reading some Nat bullshittery.

            • Sabine 1.1.2.1.1.1

              In a bill introduced to Parliament only yesterday, and now rushed through its first reading under urgency, the Government wants to empower itself to adjourn polling day multiple times without constraint – and not just in an election year, but the year after as well.

              the point that i am trying to make – and this bill was introduced, unless we are now calling everything that is said by the oppostion a lie – is would you be ok with National/Act doing this, and would you then also call the opposition 'fearmongers' for pointing out that this might not be a totally democratic thing to do.

              I would also like to point out that last year we had elections. During a pandemic, with no one vaccinated and as always one single case away from lockdown.

              The US had local and federal elections last year, with Covid killing people left right and centre.

              So why do you think it would be ok? Consider also the fact that local elections are not in person but by mail.

              • AB

                I would want to know if "without constraint" is actually true. I'm not trusting a National Party press release to tell me that it is.

                • Sabine

                  chances are that without that Press release you would not even know about it.

                  That is why any government of any stripes and colors needs an opposition.

        • Robert Guyton 1.1.2.2

          I agree with AB.

      • GreenBus 1.1.3

        Can we trust National? At your peril IMHO and same with Rimmer. I think Labour and Jacinda in particular has won some well earned brownie points for handling covid and would be almost be trusted to do the right thing for Aotearoa and not put one over us. Except the anti vaxxers will see only evil Govt domination strategy, but that's their problem.

      • Pete 1.1.4

        "A good reason" is the sticking point . That's always a matter of opinion.

        The easiest thing is to never have a postponement. Elections should go ahead. If there are extraordinary circumstances? Tough.

        Say it's Election Day tomorrow and there's a big earthquake tonight. Most will still be able to vote. Every area is bound to have some able to vote. The main problem? Some polling staff may not be available.

    • Gezza 1.2

      Bastards!

    • Incognito 1.3

      Hard to tell what they’re barking at this time.

      https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/all

    • Incognito 1.4

      It appears that National and ACT want more time. In fact, National will vote for it, as stated by Chris Bishop during the debate in Parliament:

      So we'll vote for this bill, but with—

      I quite liked the response by Julie Anne Genter:

      Finally, when it comes to the changes to the Local Electoral Act, it will be interesting to see. It's pretty obvious that if we were in a situation of a level 3 or level 4 lockdown, we wouldn't be able to have public meetings. We wouldn't be able to run a normal local body electoral campaign. So I think this is a pretty reasonable provision that has a number of safeguards attached to it. I don't for one second believe the sort of bizarre conspiracy theories that were being peddled by Chris Bishop asserting that the Labour Government is going to use this power to somehow get an advantage in the Wellington mayoral race and not have to hold a by-election. I mean, that just sounds, quite frankly, a little bit deranged—although I guess that is where that party's getting to. They're really desperate at their 20-25 percent or less in the polls and making all sorts of random accusations.

      https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20210929_20210929_28

    • Craig Hall 1.5

      He's a bit late – https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2001/0035/latest/LMS350017.html is the relevant legislation, and it was added in May 2020. Maximum delays are 6 weeks at a time, although they can be delayed.

      The Chief Electoral Officer can delay the general election as well, circumstances requiring.

  2. Stephen D 2

    It’s rare I agree with Chris Trotter, but he’s on the money with this one.

    http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2021/10/thoroughly-planned-and-carefully.html

    “And its target, plainly, was the huge number – well over 400,000 – of National Party voters who defected to Labour in last year’s general election. The voters who rewarded Jacinda Ardern for getting them (and the rest of New Zealand) through the worst (or so they thought!) of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

    Because, as Key the political strategist understands with crystal clarity, these are the only people who matter to National. Their sheer numbers represent something pretty close to 20 percent of the electorate. Win them back and National instantly regains electoral competitiveness. Fail to win them back, and National has no viable pathway to power. Clearly, Key is of the view that the present leader of the National Party either cannot, or will not, grasp this – the central reality of contemporary New Zealand politics – and he intends to do something about it.”

    • Ad 2.1

      This government needs more challenge the longer it deprives its citizens of rights.

      But I'd be surprised if Key has moved the dial at the next opinion poll.

      [user name and e-mail address fixed]

      • AB 2.1.1

        "…it deprives its citizens of rights."

        More accurately – it deprives its citizens of some rights while protecting other, higher priority, rights. (Namely the right to life.) Support from the community is a result of this tradeoff being widely accepted.

        In fact, all that high vaccination rates do is shift this balance of rights. The likelihood of dying reduces, therefore lockdowns don't improve the right to life to a degree that will justify the loss of the right to freedom of movement.

        Further, the reason our right-wing comrades dislike lockdowns is that they appear not to prioritise rights in the same way. Specifically, they seem to prioritise their right to freedom of movement over other people's right to life.

        • Foreign waka 2.1.1.1

          Rights as in human right, the right to be able to make a living and have a roof over the head, food on the table and clothes on their back is universal. There is no trading off with something or someone.

          As for protecting everybody's right of expression or their belief, that stands to vote. In a true democratic society any vote casted will have to be accepted. In case of vaccination, once the majority (90%?) of people is, normal life ought to resume. There will always be a risk to catch something but people also need the freedom to go about their daily life's. We had 500 people die each year from the flu before Covid. Even though vaccination is available. Everybody knows the risk and as adults with a conscious mind we have to take responsibility.

          o.ac.nz/otagomagazine/issue45/inbrief/otago664450.html#:~:text=Research%20by%20the%20University%20of,biggest%20single%20infectious%20disease%20killer.

    • Gezza 2.2

      I think Sir John has basically pulled the rug out from under Judith Collins. Just a question of time. She’s been shafted by her former boss.

    • Sabine 3.1

      when you run R in places of D in order to 'win' and then wake up to the fact that indeed R's are R's.

      • Craig Hall 3.1.1

        Some of that is a natural consequence of the R Party becoming so extreme that previous Rs have defected to D.

    • AB 3.2

      Maybe someone needs to take Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin aside and quietly explain that unless they support Biden's bill:

      • they will face a contested primary next time round and the Democratic party will endorse their opponent in that primary
      • the Democratic party will initiate a full audit into all their donations, donors and financial affairs generally and the results will be made public

      And then, even if they back down and support the bill, do these things anyway.

      • Craig Hall 3.2.1

        Manchin faced a contested primary last time he ran, won heavily, and then his opponent from that primary was the D candidate in the other WV senate seat in 2020 and got trounced in the general election.

        Sinema is toast however.

    • weston 3.3

      Who cares hopefully their rotten system will go broke an hopefully they wont bore us to death with the details for months like they did last time !!

  3. chris T 4

    This is no slight on any particular party. As it is all MPs. (That comment was aimed at Incognito btw, before he bans me again lol)

    Was watching the AM show this morning and it happened to be David Parker who got the question any random MP could have.

    You say you feel peoples pain during lockdown, are MPs on 80% wages again like last time? (That wasn't the wording, but was the gist of it)

    Full pay was the answer.

    Sorry to be cynical but find it a bit annoying, to see MPs from all sides chanting we are all going through this, while they are on full pay and half are probably in Welly, deciding whether to go to Logan Brown or Whitebait today.

    • Gezza 4.1

      Yes, that will probably piss some viewers right off.

    • alwyn 4.2

      They will be awfully hungry if they turn up at Whitebait for lunch.

      It closed permanently in, if I remember correctly, March 2019.A shame. It was a great place to eat although very expensive.

      I suspect you are not a Wellingtonian.

      • chris T 4.2.1

        I suspect you don't understand I am a Wellingtonian, but just can't afford to eat at ponsey places, and don't note down which have shut

      • chris T 4.2.2

        Fair enough though. Replace that one with the other ponsey place Winston eats at

        Green Parrot?

        Charge about 30 bucks for a breakfast, ffs

        • chris T 4.2.2.1

          Just looked.

          22 bucks for a cheese omelette and 20 bucks for fried eggs. I mean wtf?

        • garibaldi 4.2.2.2

          It must be licensed for him to have breakfast there?

          • alwyn 4.2.2.2.1

            A gorgeous comment. Now just come and clean the coffee of the keyboard of my computer. I was just having a cup when I read this.

            Their serving hours are apparently from 11 am until midnight. The opening time should suit Winston's night-owl habits but closing at midnight sounds as if it could be a problem for him.

            Thanks for the laugh though.

              • alwyn

                Along with friends I used to go there in the 1960's when I was a student at Vic and afterwards when I was working but still single. The staple item we had was the mixed grill. As far as I can see from the 2009 review it didn't change in the 40+ years from when I went there to 2009 and probably hasn't changed since.

                As Joe's review puts it " Steak, chops, lambs fry, bacon, sausages and meat patties, served with traditional New Zealand salad and chips.". I certainly wouldn't think of trying to eat such a plateful today. It was enormous. The only places I have seen meals that large since then were in outback roadhouses in Australia where they had such meals for the road train drivers.

                I can't think of any occasion I have been to the Green Parrot in the last 50 years. Even nostalgia isn't going to get me back these days though. Giving up eating there is probably why I'm not any heavier than I was in those days of my youth.

                Thank you for the link. That certainly is a place that picked a menu for its target clientele and never changed it.

  4. Gezza 5

    Jojo's first day thru The Gate

    https://vimeo.com/268920247

  5. dv 6

    Sobering

    Auckland Hospital is preparing to with deal with an average of six Covid-19 deaths a week next year, even with a 90 per cent vaccination rate.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300420299/covid19-auckland-hospital-rapidly-preparing-for-border-reopening

    • Jimmy 6.1

      I would trust their projections over Shaun Hendy's any day.

      • Macro 6.1.1

        I would trust their projections over Shaun Hendy's any day.

        🙄 I think you will find if you were to read the short Stuff article linked to above that their projections are based on Shaun Hendy's modelling.

      • Incognito 6.1.2

        The modelling was for Auckland DHB only, so case numbers would be higher for the whole city.

        Since you seem to know, what were Hendy’s predictions again for the ADHB under similar assumed conditions? Or are you just trolling again?

        • Herodotus 6.1.2.1

          My response if you followed the path is 6.1.1.2 which was replying to Macro 6.1.1. (which refers to Hendy's moddelling) I thought that was how things were am I wrong in that and if so perhaps you could be so kind as to point out where my error is ?

          How is that trolling ? and if so then almost every comment on this site as I read them follows a similar pattern, are most contributors here also trolling and deserve the same attention ?

          • weka 6.1.2.1.1

            Incog was replying to someone else.

            • Herodotus 6.1.2.1.1.1

              OK thanks it is tough living in Auckland, many are on edge 🖖, perhaps a Game of Thones, Chernobbyl (Things are tougher for others) or Star Trek binge is required to settle down !!

              • weka

                I just watched The Expanse (rewatched the first few series and then saw the last one for the first time). Fantastic stuff.

                I suspect that attending to people's stress is being under valued atm. Hard to tell though, the MSM are reporting selectively. Would love to see some research on how a range of Aucklanders are going.

              • SPC

                Could always try Vigil'ant, with gratitide, sponsored by nuclear free TVNZ On Demand.

      • Patricia Bremner 6.1.3

        That is one hospital Jimmy.surprise

    • SPC 6.3

      the most realistic one was 90 per cent of eligible people vaccinated, with some controls still in place including constraints on the countries people could come from, and some level 2-style restrictions.

      The article simply said the hospital made an assessment based on this scenario, and that others in Auckland and nationwide were doing the same.

      Others have noted this is one scenario in the Hendry recent modelling.

      Whether they made any variation based on local health demographics or urban setting is not stated.

      They do say they and other hospitals will need more ICU nurses.

      One wonders if Andrew (washing my hands over and over again) Little will blame Health Boards for lack of such nurses – given his tactic of placing blame on medicinal marijuana industry if people suffer at the end of the interim regime.

  6. joe90 7

    Here's hoping this pig of a man is held to account for his vile, misogynist bullying.

    After Stuff published a story about the case in April, a collection of more than 70 advocates and academics wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern calling for action. The documents outline how the Judicial Conduct Commissioner Alan Ritchie chose to investigate their concerns as a complaint.

    The documents, available only to complainants in the Judicial Conduct Commission case, centre on a series of complaints about the Hawke’s Bay-based Judge Callinicos, arising in April this year.

    The first relates to the case of Mrs P, a domestic abuse victim wrongly convicted of perjury in the district court in 2018, an ordeal that saw her lose her job as a teacher and spend a year living in a garage on home detention.

    […]

    At the same time, unbeknownst to the public, there had been multiple other complaints about Callinicos’ behaviour during hearings in another Family Court case about a child named “Moana” in Oranga Tamariki care.

    Those complaints also revolved around bullying – three social workers involved in the case were so badly treated they had to have psychological support – and what the judges describe as a “disproportionate” response to the Oranga Tamariki lawyers who appeared before Callinicos.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/126546393/bullying-excessive-partisan-and-demeaning-supreme-court-justice-slams-judges-treatment-of-abuse-victim

    • alwyn 7.1

      Weren't those three the social workers who were caught up in the Department lying to the Court?

      I hope that this does not turn into another affair like that of Peter Mahon. Will we get another Judge who has embarrassed the Crown being destroyed by the rest of the Justice system.

      • Anne 7.1.1

        I hope that this does not turn into another affair like that of Peter Mahon. Will we get another Judge who has embarrassed the Crown being destroyed by the rest of the Justice system.

        It is a bit disingenuous to equate the Peter Mahon case with the current case. To begin with, it wasn’t the justice system who were embarrassed by Mahon's Erebus judgement. It was the PM of the day RD Muldoon who, together with a few Air NZ chiefs, set up the inquiry with the expectation that Mahon would follow the agreed line and come down with an erroneous judgement. He refused to play ball and came down with the truth so they destroyed the man and his professional integrity. It killed him.

        It was among the lowest and most corrupt times involving a former PM in the history of this country.

        • alwyn 7.1.1.1

          Muldoon wasn't actually involved in the matter. He also never commented on the subject, at least while the enquiry was going on and in the appeals later on.

          The Government, and a Minister, are of course responsible for Orangi Tamariki. I don't think anyone in the Cabinet was directly responsible of course. They were probably lied to like everyone else.

          The fix certainly seems to be in to nobble Judge Callinicos though doesn't it. He had the nerve to point out the totally inappropriate behaviour of a couple of judges who are senior to him and that just isn't done.

          • Anne 7.1.1.1.1

            Muldoon wasn't actually involved in the matter.

            Nonsense.

            I had cause to follow the tragedy closely from the night it occurred through to the release of the Justice Mahon report and beyond. I've read a great deal of material over the years pertaining to the matter.

            As Justice Mahon said: it was "an orchestrated litany of lies" and it went all the way to the office of the PM, Rob Muldoon. He was in it up to his neck from the start. The whole affair was premised on the desire of the government and Air NZ to avoid all culpability. So, they tried to pin the blame on the pilots who had been supplied with wrong coordinates. That, in a nutshell, is what happened.

            It will go down in history as the moment when Muldoon and his cohorts hit the bottom of the barrel.

    • Nic the NZer 7.2

      Who was the judge who convicted her of perjury?

    • Sabine 7.3

      totally being called out for lying, being found out for lying makes people look bad. Indeed. Generally those that do the lying. But then who knows. Words only mean what ever someone means when they use them.

    • Patricia Bremner 7.4

      yes

    • Shanreagh 7.5

      I don't know about the perjury case but the case involving 'Moana' is/was far from straightforward.

      The judgment, as reported, by Callinicos J in that case was very careful. The three social workers and the dept itself did themselves no favours in their focus despite them saying, often, that their 'focus was on the child'. When questioned this came down down to that what they really they meant their focus 'was on the child as long as doing the best for the child did not contradict or conflict with the social workers own views'. It was clear that the judge had misgivings about the advice that they were putting forward to him.

      In fact it does not surprise me at all that these social workers have hitched themselves to the perjury case. A bit like paraphrasing the Mandy Rice-Davies quote 'Well they would do (say) that wouldn't they?"

      • Shanreagh 7.5.1

        From a newsroom article….https://www.newsroom.co.nz/judges-examination-she-was-in-the-box-just-crying

        1 'A woman who appeared in a Family Court hearing brought by her ex-husband over a challenge to a separation of assets told Newsroom earlier this year that comments about her character by Judge Callinicos, including that she was “inherently dishonest”, manipulative and devious, had amounted to “sustained hounding and bullying”.

        2 The judge found for her ex-husband, awarding him further assets, and he won a large award of costs, ultimately leading to her bankruptcy.

        Paras 1& 2 appear to be about Callinicos. Not clear if this judgement was taken further.

        3 The woman was then wrongly convicted by another judge of perjury over a document and sentenced to a year’s home detention, ending her career. This conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal, in which three justices declared her conviction a miscarriage of justice and questioned the reasoning and comments by the lower court judges.

        Para 3 relating to perjury was not Callinicos.

  7. francesca 8

    New report on transgender in sport

    A wide-ranging review of transgender inclusion in non-elite sport in the UK has concluded the current policies are not fit for purpose and require a reset.

    The Sports Councils Equality Group (SCEG) said "for many sports, the inclusion of transgender people, fairness and safety cannot co-exist in a single competitive model".

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/58732146

  8. Johnr 9

    Just heard an add on natrad that Kim Hill will be talking to Peter Thiel, tomorrow morning, I hesitate to use the word 'interview' these days

    • garibaldi 9.1

      WellJohnr if you can't handle an intelligent interviewer then stick to your stupid mate Hosking.

      • Johnr 9.1.1

        As it happens I rate Kim Hill the best there is and am an avid listener.

        I am sure Kim will do the best job that she can within the confines that I suspect her employers place upon her.

        As for hosking I have tried to listen to him twice of late to see what all the criticism was about. I couldn't last the distance, he's daft as a brush and the negativity is on the wrist slashing scale

        • Gezza 9.1.1.1

          Sharp analysis of The Hosk. 5 minutes max of his hi-speed rabbitting on arrogant rants with their the too frequent & irritating radio ads is about all I can stand before I have to switch the damn radio off to preserve its life.

        • garibaldi 9.1.1.2

          My apologies Johnr. Yes she is the best there is, in fact she is a gem.

    • JO 9.2

      Thiel meets steel.

  9. DS 10

    Shit:

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-outbreak-complete-carnage-reports-of-huge-gathering-in-west-auckland/OURNRWTZY7WN7SUDM4GXECS4PE/

    This has the potential to cost Jacinda the next election. The perception of the Covid response being held hostage by criminals is a terrible look.

    • cricklewood 10.1

      Yeah Police letting these things happen is ridiculous, especially if they decide to come down hard on Tamaki's flock tomorrow… and then if they don't more and more ordinary people are going to go well fuck it why should I follow the rules if all these other groups don't have to, it's damn close to a no win situation now.

    • McFlock 10.2

      Yeah, but turning up with enough cops to arrest/disperse everyone in that particular crowd would probably have bigger risks for killing people than the stupidity of the gathering.

      Not sure which way I'd go on that one.

    • weka 10.3

      that's a shockingly badly written article. Are journos restricted in their movements under L3?

  10. DukeEll 14

    why make stupid, fatuous, throw away promises if you don't want people to remember them?

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

  11. Muttonbird 15

    Today's AFR:

    …corrupts?

    Not only is Gladys Berejiklian common-or-garden Liberal corrupt, but she managed to bring death and economic pain to nearly 20million people.

    That is quite some political legacy.

  12. SPC 16

    Lewandowski has been replaced as head of the MAGA PAC after rumours of an affair with the North Dakota Governor (brunette with no running name).

    As to her interest

    Corey bragged multiple times about how powerful he is, and how he can get anyone elected, inferring he was the reason Trump became President,”

    She wants to run for President. As to the rumours she said “she was of a God fearing family”.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/kristi-noem-affair-allegations-lewandowski/2021/09/29/859ad8da-2154-11ec-9309-b743b79abc59_story.html

    • Pete 16.1

      This from last weekend:

      Trump donor: Corey Lewandowski made unwanted sexual advances

      "A Donald Trump donor is accusing Corey Lewandowski, one of the former president’s longtime top aides, of making unwanted sexual advances toward her at a Las Vegas charity event over the weekend.

      Trashelle Odom, the wife of Idaho construction executive John Odom, alleges that Lewandowski repeatedly touched her, including on her leg and buttocks, and spoke to her in sexually graphic terms. Odom said that Lewandowski “stalked” her throughout the evening.

      "A Trump spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment, though word of the incident has shaken the former president’s inner circle, several people familiar with the discussions said."

      https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/29/corey-lewandowski-sexual-advances-allegations-514650

      —————————————-

      I wasn't sure why there is perturbation in Republican ranks at first until I considered it a bit. The actual assaults, the predatory behaviour, is nothing. It's just Trumpian, such behaviour has been accepted, okayed by all and sundry including all the religious Trump supporters.

      The concern will be about the impact on the fund-raising, the money coming in.

      The world they populate?

      "Soon after the November election, a business colleague of Donald Trump’s close ally Corey Lewandowski offered a whistleblower and convicted ex-banker an expensive deal: In exchange for a $300,000 fee up front—plus another $1 million if successful—the two men would push the then-president for a pardon, according to the ex-banker and an associate who heard the pitch."

      https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/02/corey-lewandowski-allegedly-pitched-more-1-million-trump-pardon/617980/

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  • Relentlessly negative
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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    7 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    8 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    9 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    10 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    12 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    13 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    13 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    14 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    15 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    18 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    2 days ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
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