Open mike 01/11/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 1st, 2023 - 37 comments
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37 comments on “Open mike 01/11/2023 ”

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  1. Dennis Frank 1
    1 November 2023 at 6:12 am

    As far as I'm aware, Labour & the Greens still haven't adopted women's rights policies. Winston is showing them how to do it:

    Gender issues

    Amend the Building Act, to require in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all public sector organisations provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms.

    Amend the Sport and Recreation New Zealand Act to remove public funding from bodies that allow non-biological women to be selected unequally against biological women.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/10/election-2023-new-zealand-first-s-47-most-interesting-and-bizarre-policies.html

    Seems like sensible centrism, huh? Why is it so hard for leftists to stand up for women??

    • SPC 1.1
      1 November 2023 at 7:33 am

      As far as I'm aware, Labour & the Greens still haven't adopted women's rights policies.

      Only because you have not bothered to go to their sites and find out.

      The Building Act one is OK, but does not specify “what woman or girl means” so its careless and lazy.

      The amendment to the Sport and Recreation New Zealand Act has even worse wording … what does it even mean?

      • Dennis Frank 1.1.1
        1 November 2023 at 8:04 am

        Well I did assume that they would have publicised such a timely stand in the media since it has been a hot issue the past couple of years!

        Re meanings, I suspect politicians would rather follow a public consensus – and that would only emerge from sufficient public debate…

        • I Feel Love 1.1.1.1
          1 November 2023 at 9:39 am

          "Hot issue", bullshit. Aren't you always going on about "identity politics" & how that is "damaging to the left"? Jeez you're a shit stirrer sometimes. Well I bit I guess & I try to comment as less as I need to coz lifes too short than to be trying to get some lefties knickers in a twist about some faux outrage.

          • Dennis Frank 1.1.1.1.1
            1 November 2023 at 10:41 am

            Well I did disclose here (and reiterated once or twice) that discrimination against an elderly woman caused me to abandon my membership of the Greens a couple of years back. I don't agree that the minority rights of those pretending to be women ought to prevail over those of actual women.

            If you call that shit stirring you're evading the principle of minority rights, huh? I just want the issue dealt with suitably, so I pointed out that NZF (surprisingly) seemed to have the same intent. Why Labour & the Greens have failed to engage the issue, I'll leave to you for now…

            • Red Blooded One 1.1.1.1.1.1
              1 November 2023 at 1:39 pm

              How easy it is to demean people "I don't agree that the minority rights of those pretending to be women ought to prevail over those of actual women." when you look from a narrow, binary lens. Do you really think a Trans Person is simply "pretending to be a woman", you smug POS.
              No wonder this site is becoming less and less inclusive.

              • Dennis Frank …
                1 November 2023 at 2:33 pm

                No need to jump to the wrong conclusion: I pointed out onsite here a couple of years back when the issue first got hot that a user-defined public toilet ought to be configured in with the trad binary. The NZF policy seems headed in that direction, right?

                Fraud is considered distasteful by most people, even illegal. The rights of women threatened by this instance of it must be protected by our law. The rights of trans folk likewise. Separately! smiley

              • Incognito …
                1 November 2023 at 2:58 pm

                While I sympathise with your reaction, I do not consider your insult of DF as inclusive behaviour.

                The Mods have been trying their hardest to find a balance between stimulating robust quality debate and keeping the site as inclusive as possible. However, all commenters need to play their part in this, starting with self-moderating their language in and of their comments.

                Please be conscious of the effect your own comments may have here on TS.

                • Red Blooded One …
                  1 November 2023 at 3:15 pm

                  I apologize to you and this site, meanwhile anyone struggling with their minority status will still be able to read that they are a pretence and a fraud according to DF.

                  • Dennis Frank …
                    1 November 2023 at 4:00 pm

                    Not the person, the behaviour. Many of us heterosexual folk have trans folk as friends or family, so we can sympathise with their difficulties.

                    The issue is public policy, which ought not to condone deceit. Trans folk must consider how threatened women feel in such closed-in situations. Being narcissistic instead is unhelpful…

                  • Incognito …
                    1 November 2023 at 4:19 pm

                    I genuinely appreciate your reply, which shows you took my comment in the way it was intended (IMO, the apology wasn’t necessary, as you hadn’t offended me nor ‘the site’ that exists somewhere inside Lprent’s electronic hardware and, as such, has no feelings or emotions).

                    FWIW, I struggle with DF’s commenting behaviour, and I will deal with that when I have the time.

                  • Muttonbird …
                    1 November 2023 at 9:20 pm

                    I thought Dennis Frank's comment describing transgender people as, "those pretending to be women", was highly aggressive and exclusive.

                    Followed by that old classic, 'some of my best friends are trans'.

                    Keeping the site as inclusive as possible is a good policy but transgender people reading Dennis Frank's comments would be alarmed.

                    A forum is made up of member comment and moderation. Sometimes not in equal parts.

      • Dennis Frank 1.2.1
        1 November 2023 at 8:38 am

        I couldn't find any reference to the hot issue in either of those – just looks like leftist evasion fakery as usual. One expects relevant statements of principle.

        • SPC 1.2.1.1
          1 November 2023 at 9:00 am

          So you are claiming gender identity is the only women's rights issue. A ridiculous position to hold, one suspects/should know the Women's Rights Party has a broader policy position than that.

          https://thestandard.org.nz/the-womens-rights-party/

          • Dennis Frank 1.2.1.1.1
            1 November 2023 at 9:16 am

            Isn't it obvious to you that NZF adopted that policy due to the hot issue??

            And the WRP formed due to the left parties neglecting them! Getting real about this is the point I was making…

            • SPC 1.2.1.1.1.1
              1 November 2023 at 9:37 am

              Most of the Women's Rights Party policies are the policies of the Green Party and the Labour Party.

              Just because NZF adopted part of one policy of the Women's Rights Party does not make discussion about it, one about "Women's Rights".

              • Dennis Frank …
                1 November 2023 at 11:01 am

                I bet Weka & the others who have written into here on that issue the past year or two do see it as a women's rights issue. I'm puzzled that you can't.

                • SPC …
                  1 November 2023 at 11:12 am

                  As far as I'm aware, Labour & the Greens still haven't adopted women's rights policies.

                  You were the one claiming this.

                  Your meaning was obscure, it now seems you are arguing that "gender identity" is the only important women's rights issue.

                  As for the debate you talk about occurring here, I do not recall any participation in it from yourself.

                  • Dennis Frank …
                    1 November 2023 at 11:19 am

                    No, the issue compounds discrimination and minority rights, and I still haven't seen evidence that either Labour or the Greens have yet grasped this, so it was worthwhile to report the evidence that NZF has!

                    Re the posts of Weka & others commenting on the issue, I do recall contributing early on & saying that women will have to form their own lobby group to represent their collective rights (a la Women's Lib in the old days). After that I left it to the women onsite here to sort out.

                    • SPC …
                      1 November 2023 at 11:33 am

                      NZF being involved is sport of funny, they swing from being mainstream centre (super, anti large scale immigration, anti affirmative policies for Maori, anti indigenous rights status – UNDRIP for Maori) to adopting causes (Talley's/racing industry/anti vaccine mandate and a few others of recent social media times).

                      "Women's identity" is one of the few that can come under both categories.

                    • Dennis Frank …
                      1 November 2023 at 11:46 am

                      I figure there must be another Tracey Martin in their mix. I agree their policy mix is all over the park. That policy seems to me like it could only have been pushed thro by women.

  2. Dennis Frank 2
    1 November 2023 at 6:19 am

    Top capitalist anti-Trump takes a stand:

    Leon Cooperman, the hedge fund billionaire who has famously clashed with Sen. Elizabeth Warren over her proposed wealth tax, is cautioning voters against returning Donald Trump to the White House.

    “It would be terrible for the country if Donald Trump were reelected,” Cooperman told CNN in a phone interview late last week. “He’s a divisive human being who belongs in jail.”

    It’s rare for a Wall Street figure to make such critical comments about Trump, at least publicly… the billionaire has previously said he voted for Joe Biden in 2020 “very reluctantly.” Cooperman told CNN he’s not thrilled with the prospect of a Biden-Trump rematch in 2024, calling them both “bad choices.” Cooperman said he expects neither Trump nor Biden will be their party’s respective nominee next fall.

    Cooperman added that if it is a Biden-Trump rematch, he likely won’t vote. “I’m looking for centrists, not radical left or right,” said Cooperman, who donated to Republican Chris Christie’s 2024 campaign over the summer, according to federal records.

    https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/30/investing/leon-cooperman-trump-biden/index.html

    High time other influential Americans spoke out about the future of their country – recent years they've all seemed gormless.

  3. AB 3
    1 November 2023 at 9:03 am

    Meh. Cooperman hates Trump more than Biden because he knows that of the two, Trump's chaotic, criminal, vulgar, proto-fascism is the bigger threat to continuing the neoliberal project that has so enriched him (Cooperman). That's because Trump probably can't win and takes the Republican Party off the table. Thus creating a better opening for Biden's timid efforts at ameliorating the worst cruelties of the project that has allowed Cooperman to wallow in wealth. If you are fooled into thinking Cooperman's pathology is 'centrism', there's no hope.

    • Dennis Frank 3.1
      1 November 2023 at 9:24 am

      He is quoted as saying he's looking for centrists! Centrism would only be a pathology if leftism were more credible, I suspect, however subjectivity rules that dimension.

      Given that the left parties betrayed the people by choosing to become neoliberal instead of socialist, I'm not surprised if he feels his wealth-creating enterprise benefits from both left & right govts…

      If you mean he's just being cynical, that's not the impression I got. Folks who take a moral stand when it seems solitary have guts.

      • AB 3.1.1
        1 November 2023 at 10:26 am

        There are no centrists in the US political system. Unless you are using the term "centrist" in an entirely relativistic manner, rather than in an historical or analytical one.
        There is of course a type of centrism that is better understood as ‘negotiation’ – mediating between different viewpoints. It’s a useful tool at times, but it’s not politics.

        • Dennis Frank 3.1.1.1
          1 November 2023 at 10:44 am

          relativistic

          Maybe. More to the point is the 40% of American voters who don't identify with either major party – so I use centrist to mean non-aligned – regardless how the rich dude meant it.

  4. scotty 4
    1 November 2023 at 9:25 am

    Great piece by David Williams highlighting the malevolent influence of the Tax Payers Onion in NZ politics.

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/chiding-in-plain-sight

    • Bearded Git 4.1
      1 November 2023 at 10:31 am

      Thanks for that Scotty-interesting indeed.

      Williams and Farrar are devious bastards. I'm sure the massive donations they received before the election (mostly from big donors and not from small donors as Williams claims-that is a lie) and the campaigns they paid for (3 Waters, Co-governance, anti-wealth tax etc) made a difference in the election result.

    • ianmac 4.2
      1 November 2023 at 3:03 pm

      Yes Scotty. A devious rotten bunch who repeats stuff with the help of the Media and in a insidious way persuades people that all is lost. eg

      Taxpayers’ Union headlines on poll-related press statements:

      Labour crashes and Winston's back
      National leads in Napier electorate
      National lead in Ilam Electorate
      National/Act could form government comfortably
      National Lead in Northland Electorate
      Voters torn in Auckland Central electorate
      Statistical tie between National and Act in race for Tāmaki
      Kiwis don’t believe Winston when he says he would not work with the Labour Party again
      Cost of Living Bites Taxpayers as They Head to the Polls
      Kiwis overwhelmingly support inflation-adjustment of income tax brackets
      Kiwis oppose Government’s plans to strip planning powers from councils

      • ianmac 4.2.1
        1 November 2023 at 3:16 pm

        I see that David Williams has posted the above report on the TPU as
        Part1 with Part 2 to come.

    • SPC 4.3
      1 November 2023 at 4:13 pm

      It's an upgrade of the Whaleoil/Kiwblog being assisted by certain beltway people to run lines/create stories for the MSM.

      That said it appears the idea of running a right wing pac "Taxpayer Union" (Citizens and Ratepayers) was a Young Nats dream (adapting a Tory UK idea) years before that.

      But the purpose was/is the same, create a campaign/message to the public for the MSM to notice. Obviously connecting it to a Free Speech Union (public comment on race, sexuality, religion and the threat of men consorting in women's areas).

      Then there was the focus on the Kiwi Iwi reprise via celebrity golfer Peter Williams touring the provinces on the Three Waters and co-governance TU dime.

  5. Anne 5
    1 November 2023 at 10:11 am

    Chris Bishop is a prat – or should I say brat – of the highest order. And he's No 3 in seniority on their parliamentary list. What kind of effing idiots must the rest of them be?

    The thought of someone like this moron having any legislative jurisdiction over the population fills me with horror:

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/501414/chris-bishop-spoken-to-by-christopher-luxon-on-strongly-worded-email-comparing-hamas-attack-to-holocaust

  6. Anne 6
    1 November 2023 at 10:57 am

    Seems to me to be a good analysis on the current political situation in Israel:

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/31/netanyahus-political-future-looks-shakier-in-midst-of-israel-hamas-war

    Netanyahu needs to be ousted – and fast.

    • SPC 6.1
      1 November 2023 at 11:46 am

      He was gone for a while, he was supplanted as PM by Barak, Sharon and Olmert but came back after the end of the peace process (2000) and its replacement the disengagement policy (this expired after Abbas allowed Hamas to contest the last ever PA election and this leading to the division of Gaza and WB).

      So BN returned, as the most well known opponent of the peace process, to run an occupation regime. Which is now in its most right wing form. BN uses Hamas to justify continuing occupation of WB and they use him to justify their river to the sea campaign.

      It is surprising Gantz joined the unity government without requiring the National Security Minister to be replaced first. And a commitment for new elections after the war vs Hamas is over.

      • Anne 6.1.1
        1 November 2023 at 1:13 pm

        Thanks for the reminder.

        It was always going to end in horrific bloodshed. God only knows what is gong to happen now. One thing is certain: electing ultra right-wing populist politicians is not only a danger to the countries concerned, but they are a danger to world peace in general. I guess that doesn't even need to be said.

    • Belladonna 6.2
      1 November 2023 at 12:15 pm

      And are you also calling for elections in Gaza – after all, there haven't been any since 2005.

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    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #36

    A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 1, 2024 thru Sat, September 7, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is about how peopele are not born stupid but can be fooled ...
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    4 days ago
  • Time for a Change

    You act as thoughYou are a blind manWho's crying, crying 'boutAll the virgins that are dyingIn your habitual dreams, you knowSeems you need more sleepBut like a parrot in a flaming treeI know it's pretty hard to seeI'm beginning to wonderIf it's time for a changeSong: Phil JuddThe next line ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Six.

    The “double shocks” in post Cold War international affairs. The end of the Cold War fundamentally altered the global geostrategic context. In particular, the end of the nuclear “balance of terror” between the USA and USSR, coupled with the relaxation … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Buried deep

    Here's a bike on Manchester St, Feilding. I took this photo on Friday night after a very nice dinner at the very nice Vietnamese restaurant, Saigon, on Manchester Street.I thought to myself, Manchester Street? Bicycle? This could be the very spot.To recap from an earlier edition: on a February night ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies, Excerpt Five.

    Military politics as a distinct “partial regime.” Notwithstanding their peripheral status, national defense offers the raison d’être of the combat function, which their relative vulnerability makes apparent, so military forces in small peripheral democracies must be very conscious of events … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Leadership for Dummies

    If you’re going somewhere, do you maybe take a bit of an interest in the place? Read up a bit on the history, current events, places to see - that sort of thing? Presumably, if you’re taking a trip somewhere, it’s for a reason. But what if you’re going somewhere ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Home again

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Dead even tie for hottest August ever

    Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:The month of August was 1.49˚C warmer than pre-industrial levels, tying with 2023 for the warmest August ever, according ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 7

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the debate about how to responde to climate disinformation; and special guest ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Have We an Infrastructure Deficit?

    An Infrastructure New Zealand report says we are keeping up with infrastructure better than we might have thought from the grumbling. But the challenge of providing for the future remains.I was astonished to learn that the quantity of our infrastructure has been keeping up with economic growth. Your paper almost ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago
  • Councils reject racism

    Last month, National passed a racist law requiring local councils to remove their Māori wards, or hold a referendum on them at the 2025 local body election. The final councils voted today, and the verdict is in: an overwhelming rejection. Only two councils out of 45 supported National's racist agenda ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Homage to Simeon Brown

    Open to all - happy weekend ahead, friends.Today I just want to be petty. It’s the way I imagine this chap is -Not only as a political persona. But his real-deal inner personality, in all its glory - appears to be pure pettiness & populist driven.Sometimes I wonder if Simeon ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • Government of deceit

    When National cut health spending and imposed a commissioner on Te Whatu Ora, they claimed that it was necessary because the organisation was bloated and inefficient, with "14 layers of management between the CEO and the patient". But it turns out they were simply lying: Health Minister Shane Reti’s ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • The professionals actually think and act like our Government has no fiscal crisis at all

    Treasury staff at work: The demand for a new 12-year Government bond was so strong, Treasury decided to double the amount of bonds it sold. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 6-September-2024

    Welcome to another Friday and another roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. As always, this and every post is brought to you by the Greater Auckland crew. If you like our work and you’d like to see more of it, we invite you to join our regular ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    7 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies; Excerpt Four.

    Internal versus external security. Regardless of who rules, large countries can afford to separate external and internal security functions (even if internal control functions predominate under authoritarian regimes). In fact, given the logic of power concentration and institutional centralization of … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    7 days ago
  • A Hole In The River

    There's a hole in the river where her memory liesFrom the land of the living to the air and skyShe was coming to see him, but something changed her mindDrove her down to the riverThere is no returnSongwriters: Neil Finn/Eddie RaynerThe king is dead; long live the queen!Yesterday was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • Bright Blue His Jacket Ain’t But I Love This Fellow: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power E...

    My conclusion last week was that The Rings of Power season two represented a major improvement in the series. The writing’s just so much better, and honestly, its major problems are less the result of the current episodes and more creatures arising from season one plot-holes. I found episode three ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    7 days ago
  • Who should we thank for the defeat of the Nazis

    As a child in the 1950s, I thought the British had won the Second World War because that’s what all our comics said. Later on, the films and comics told me that the Americans won the war. In my late teens, I found out that the Soviet Union ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    7 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #36 2024

    Open access notables Diurnal Temperature Range Trends Differ Below and Above the Melting Point, Pithan & Schatt, Geophysical Research Letters: The globally averaged diurnal temperature range (DTR) has shrunk since the mid-20th century, and climate models project further shrinking. Observations indicate a slowdown or reversal of this trend in recent decades. ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live at 5pm

    Photo by Jenny Bess on UnsplashCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with special guests:5.00 pm - 5.10 pm - Bernard and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Media Link: Discussing the NZSIS Security Threat Report.

    I was interviewed by Mike Hosking at NewstalkZB and a few other media outlets about the NZSIS Security Threat Report released recently. I have long advocated for more transparency, accountability and oversight of the NZ Intelligence Community, and although the … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • How do I make this better for people who drive Ford Rangers?

    Home, home again to a long warm embrace. Plenty of reasons to be glad to be back.But also, reasons for dejection.You, yes you, Simeon Brown, you odious little oik, you bible thumping petrol-pandering ratfucker weasel. You would be Reason Number One. Well, maybe first among equals with Seymour and Of-Seymour ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • A missed opportunity

    The government introduced a pretty big piece of constitutional legislation today: the Parliament Bill. But rather than the contentious constitutional change (four year terms) pushed by Labour, this merely consolidates the existing legislation covering Parliament - currently scattered across four different Acts - into one piece of legislation. While I ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Nicola Willis Seeks New Sidekick To Help Fix NZ’s Economy

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    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Inflation alive and kicking in our land of the long white monopolies

    The golden days of profit continue for the the Foodstuffs (Pak’n’Save and New World) and Woolworths supermarket duopoly. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 5:The Groceries Commissioner has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The thermodynamics of electric vs. internal combustion cars

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    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Three.

    The notion of geopolitical  “periphery.” The concept of periphery used here refers strictly to what can be called the geopolitical periphery. Being on the geopolitical periphery is an analytic virtue because it makes for more visible policy reform in response … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Venus Hum

    Fill me up with soundThe world sings with me a million smiles an hourI can see me dancing on my radioI can hear you singing in the blades of grassYellow dandelions on my way to schoolBig Beautiful Sky!Song: Venus Hum.Good morning, all you lovely people, and welcome to the 700th ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • I Went to a Creed Concert

    Note: The audio attached to this Webworm compliments today’s newsletter. I collected it as I met people attending a Creed concert. Their opinions may differ to mine. Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • Government migration policy backfires; thousands of unemployed nurses

    The country has imported literally thousands of nurses over the past few months yet whether they are being employed as nurses is another matter. Just what is going on with HealthNZ and it nurses is, at best, opaque, in that it will not release anything but broad general statistics and ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago
  • A Time For Unity.

    Emotional Response: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses mourners at the tangi of King Tuheitia on Turangawaewae Marae on Saturday, 31 August 2024.THE DEATH OF KING TUHEITIA could hardly have come at a worse time for Maoridom. The power of the Kingitanga to unify te iwi Māori was demonstrated powerfully at January’s ...
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  • Climate Change: Failed again

    National's tax cut policies relied on stealing revenue from the ETS (previously used to fund emissions reduction) to fund tax cuts to landlords. So how's that going? Badly. Today's auction failed again, with zero units (of a possible 7.6 million) sold. Which means they have a $456 million hole in ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Two.

    A question of size. Small size generally means large vulnerability. The perception of threat is broader and often more immediate for small countries. The feeling of comparative weakness, of exposure to risk, and of potential intimidation by larger powers often … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Nicola Willis’s Very Unserious Bungling of the Kiwirail Interislander Cancellation

    Open to all with kind thanks to all subscribers and supporters.Today, RNZ revealed that despite MFAT advice to Nicola Willis to be very “careful and deliberate” in her communications with the South Korean government, prior to any public announcement on cancelling Kiwirail’s i-Rex, Willis instead told South Korea 26 minutes ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
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  • Satisfying the Minister’s Speed Obsession

    The Minister of Transport’s speed obsession has this week resulted in two new consultations for 110km/h speed limits, one in Auckland and one in Christchurch. There has also been final approval of the Kapiti Expressway to move to 110km/h following an earlier consultation. While the changes will almost certainly see ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 week ago
  • What if we freed up our streets, again?

    This guest post is by Tommy de Silva, a local rangatahi and freelance writer who is passionate about making the urban fabric of Tāmaki Makaurau-Auckland more people-focused and sustainable. New Zealand’s March-April 2020 Level 4 Covid response (aka “lockdown”) was somehow both the best and worst six weeks of ...
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    1 week ago

  • New Bill to crack down on youth vaping

    The coalition Government has introduced legislation to tackle youth vaping, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2) is aimed at preventing youth vaping.  “While vaping has contributed to a significant fall in our smoking rates, the rise in youth vaping ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Interest in agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review welcomed

    Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have welcomed interest in the agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review. The review by the Ministry for Regulation is looking at how to speed up the process to get farmers and growers access to the safe, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Bill to allow online charity lotteries passes first reading

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government is moving at pace to ensure lotteries for charitable purposes are allowed to operate online permanently. Charities fundraising online, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust and local hospices will continue to do ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Tax exempt threshold changes to benefit startups

    Technology companies are among the startups which will benefit from increases to current thresholds of exempt employee share schemes, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Revenue Minister Simon Watts say. Tax exempt thresholds for the schemes are increasing as part of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024-25, Emergency ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Getting the healthcare you need, when you need it

    The path to faster cancer treatment, an increase in immunisation rates, shorter stays in emergency departments and quick assessment and treatments when you are sick has been laid out today. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has revealed details of how the ambitious health targets the Government has set will be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Targeted supports to accelerate reading

    The coalition Government is delivering targeted and structured literacy supports to accelerate learning for struggling readers. From Term 1 2025, $33 million of funding for Reading Recovery and Early Literacy Support will be reprioritised to interventions which align with structured approaches to teaching. “Structured literacy will change the way children ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Survivors invited to Abuse in Care national apology

    With two months until the national apology to survivors of abuse in care, expressions of interest have opened for survivors wanting to attend. “The Prime Minister will deliver a national apology on Tuesday 12 November in Parliament. It will be a very significant day for survivors, their families, whānau and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Rangatahi inspire at Ngā Manu Kōrero final

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    12 hours ago
  • Driving structured literacy in schools

    The coalition Government is driving confidence in reading and writing in the first years of schooling. “From the first time children step into the classroom, we’re equipping them and teachers with the tools they need to be brilliant in literacy. “From 1 October, schools and kura with Years 0-3 will receive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s misleading information is disappointing

    Labour’s misinformation about firearms law is dangerous and disappointing, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says.   “Labour and Ginny Andersen have repeatedly said over the past few days that the previous Labour Government completely banned semi-automatic firearms in 2019 and that the Coalition Government is planning to ‘reintroduce’ them.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Govt takes action on mpox response, widens access to vaccine

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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Next steps agreed for Treaty Principles Bill

    Associate Justice Minister David Seymour says Cabinet has agreed to the next steps for the Treaty Principles Bill. “The Treaty Principles Bill provides an opportunity for Parliament, rather than the courts, to define the principles of the Treaty, including establishing that every person is equal before the law,” says Mr Seymour. “Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government unlocking potential of AI

    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced a programme to drive Artificial Intelligence (AI) uptake among New Zealand businesses. “The AI Activator will unlock the potential of AI for New Zealand businesses through a range of support, including access to AI research experts, technical assistance, AI tools and resources, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government releases Wairoa flood review findings

    The independent rapid review into the Wairoa flooding event on 26 June 2024 has been released, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced today. “We welcome the review’s findings and recommendations to strengthen Wairoa's resilience against future events,” Ms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Promoting faster payment times for government

    The Government is sending a clear message to central government agencies that they must prioritise paying invoices in a timely manner, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly says. Data released today promotes transparency by publishing the payment times of each central government agency. This data will be published quarterly ...
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    1 day ago
  • Acknowledgement to Kīngi Tuheitia speech

    E te māngai o te Whare Pāremata, kua riro māku te whakaputa i te waka ki waho moana. E te Pirimia tēnā koe.Mr Speaker, it is my privilege to take this adjournment kōrero forward.  Prime Minister – thank you for your leadership. Taupiri te maunga Waikato te awa Te Wherowhero ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Interim fix to GST adjustment rules to support businesses

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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Strong uptake for cervical screening self-test

    More than 80 per cent of New Zealand women being tested have opted for a world-leading self-test for cervical screening since it became available a year ago. Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti and Associate Minister Casey Costello, in her responsibility for Women’s Health, say it’s fantastic to have such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document sets ambitious direction

    Regulation Minister David Seymour welcomes the Ministry for Regulation’s first Strategic Intentions document, which sets out how the Ministry will carry out its work and deliver on its purpose. “I have set up the Ministry for Regulation with three tasks. One, to cut existing red tape with sector reviews. Two, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Māori Education Advisory Group established

    The Education Minister has established a Māori Education Ministerial Advisory Group made up of experienced practitioners to help improve outcomes for Māori learners. “This group will provide independent advice on all matters related to Māori education in both English medium and Māori medium settings. It will focus on the most impactful ways we can lift ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government welcomes findings of NZ Superannuation Fund review

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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • First of five new Hercules aircraft takes flight

    Defence Minister Judith Collins today welcomed the first of five new C-130J-30 Hercules to arrive in New Zealand at a ceremony at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base Auckland, Whenuapai. “This is an historic day for our New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and our nation. The new Hercules fleet ...
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    2 days ago
  • Have your say on suicide prevention

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    2 days ago
  • Action to grow the rural health workforce

    Scholarships awarded to 27 health care students is another positive step forward to boost the future rural health workforce, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “All New Zealanders deserve timely access to quality health care and this Government is committed to improving health outcomes, particularly for the one in five ...
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    3 days ago
  • Pharmac delivering more for Kiwis following major funding boost

    Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our Government assumed office, New ...
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    3 days ago
  • Sport Minister congratulates NZ’s Paralympians

    Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has congratulated New Zealand's Paralympic Team at the conclusion of the Paralympic Games in Paris.  “The NZ Paralympic Team's success in Paris included fantastic performances, personal best times, New Zealand records and Oceania records all being smashed - and of course, many Kiwis on ...
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    3 days ago
  • Government progresses response to Abuse in Care recommendations

    A Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care. “The creation of an Office within a central Government agency was a key recommendation by the Royal Commission’s final report.  “It will have the mandate ...
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    6 days ago
  • Passport wait times back on-track

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says passport processing has returned to normal, and the Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is now advising customers to allow up to two weeks to receive their passport. “I am pleased that passport processing is back at target service levels and the Department ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • New appointments to the FMA board

    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister has today announced three new appointments and one reappointment to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) board. Tracey Berry, Nicholas Hegan and Mariette van Ryn have been appointed for a five-year term ending in August 2029, while Chris Swasbrook, who has served as a board member ...
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    6 days ago
  • District Court judges appointed

    Attorney-General Hon Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new District Court judges. The appointees, who will take up their roles at the Manukau Court and the Auckland Court in the Accident Compensation Appeal Jurisdiction, are: Jacqui Clark Judge Clark was admitted to the bar in 1988 after graduating ...
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  • Government makes it faster and easier to invest in New Zealand

    Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour is encouraged by significant improvements to overseas investment decision timeframes, and the enhanced interest from investors as the Government continues to reform overseas investment. “There were about as many foreign direct investment applications in July and August as there was across the six months ...
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  • New Zealand to join Operation Olympic Defender

    New Zealand has accepted an invitation to join US-led multi-national space initiative Operation Olympic Defender, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. Operation Olympic Defender is designed to coordinate the space capabilities of member nations, enhance the resilience of space-based systems, deter hostile actions in space and reduce the spread of ...
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  • Government commits to ‘stamping out’ foot and mouth disease

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  • Improving access to finance for Kiwis

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  • Prime Minister pays tribute to Kiingi Tuheitia

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  • Resource Management reform to make forestry rules clearer

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  • More choice and competition in building products

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  • Joint Statement between the Republic of Korea and New Zealand 4 September 2024, Seoul

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  • Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the goal for New Zealand and Korea

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    1 week ago
  • International tourism continuing to bounce back

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    1 week ago

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