I'm impressed with the ANZ threatening to essentially disinvest from New Zealand due to the proposed increased capital reserves required by our Reserve Bank.
They will of course be lobbying hard for Westpac, Commonwealth Bank, and BNZ to follow with them. A proper capital strike.
ANZ is 61% owned by US shareholders. Westpac 58% US owned.
Hold tight Mr Orr.
Stay the course Prime Minister Ardern and Minister Robertson.
No one in Wellington would fail to see this as a threat close to that the IMF made in Muldoon's time.
Anyone on The Standard: withdraw your accounts from the ANZ and shift your mortgages to a local bank.
Send them a letter saying that you are doing it and why.
ANZ are now clearly the enemy of this government and its banking regulator and of New Zealand.
A former ANZ manager says staff were sacked for deleting emails from customer files because they didn't want to get bad feedback about their service.
The woman, who does not want to be identified, said human resources was told to call 85 employees into disciplinary meetings and "sack them on the spot".
I've never understood why anyone here would use any of them foreign banks – have felt that way since I first thought about it in the early seventies. I suppose it makes me seem like some kind of nationalist, yet I became internationalist in the sixties.
Anyway, it would be cool if the ANZ robots did vamoose, and the other invaders followed them. Someone would argue that we need foreign capital for investment, so the foreign banks are an essential conduit. My bias is toward resilience as a nation, and dependence on foreigners seems worse than dependence on nanny state.
Anyone who responds to a takeover by deciding to remain in captivity to the takers doesn't deserve much respect, do they? Poor praxis. Switch to a bank that didn't succumb (TSB, Cooperative) if you don't like Kiwibank…
Dunno Dennis, what about telling them your going to change and they give you so much free stuff it becomes not worthwhile changing, so you remain a customer and keep screwing them.
Does that actually happen?? Perhaps in a target market, such as young high-earners with mortgages living high on credit cards. The debt-is-cool syndrome seems to have been killed by the gfc (unless you look at slow learners).
its not difficult to understand….it was well displayed by the the subprime mortgage experience in the US….you change to the Aussie banks because they will advance the funds (perhaps at a better rate) you desire that the NZ owned institutions will not.
I never encountered that problem! Got all my mortgages from ASB before they sold out to Oz, repaid them no problem. Can't see why anyone else is unable to do the same. Never heard of kiwi banks refusing loans to kiwis. Are you suggesting that all our younger generations are so incompetent that our banks don't trust them??
thats an odd take…..theres plenty of anecdotes where kiwibank (and the like ) have declined finance where the Oz banks have obliged…sometimes they both offer but the best deal is from the Aussies…I can think of numerous examples in recent years from friends and family….you must also remember that the big 4 (oz banks) have the bulk of the market by volume ….even if they wanted the NZ banks cannot absorb that risk in the short term
I understand that competition in the market produces under-cutting, and foreign invaders with deep pockets win those battles, but I don't get why American banks, or British etc, don't feature. Too small a market to bother, I suppose.
I guess the Oz capture of our market was an easy local expansion. Perhaps kiwis are unpatriotic in banking because they think `they're all capitalists, so who cares?"
ANZ may well reduce their investment in NZ but it will have little to do with capital requirements or deposit insurance rather it is their exposure to the (esp)Auckland and rural mortgage markets that will drive it…markets they were instrumental in overcooking.
The RBNZ and NZ depositors have no obligation to underwrite the profits of ANZ (or any other) shareholders.
I am not surprised by the banks pushing back. You can't expect the banks to simply accept a doubling of the capital adequacy ratio, without any debate. On the face of it the doubling seems excessive, given that the banks were among the few in the world with no problems during the GFC.
This "view" that they are the enemy of the government simply because they contest the RBNZ governor's view is akin to dictatorship. In a democracy these things are (and should be) contestable. In fact the RBNZ recognises that because they have set up a submissions process. They don't just impose it.
The gist of the explanation in the media at the time (Bernard Hickey et al) was that banks here had been collectively prudent. Which is to say that they had adhered to traditional banking practice, whereas deregulation in the USA had induced a culture shift into competitive gambling via derivatives. That shift even pulled in British & European banks, as exemplified by various bank failures there…
Indeed, Blazer. Clearly Wayne has forgotten how close the banks here came to having a bank run, hence the need (at the time) for the Government guarantee.
I don’t recall any risk of a bank run in NZ in 2009. There was never any suggestion that the Aussie banks were a risk. The “run” was on second tier lenders such as finance companies. A number got a government guarantee, most notably Canterbury Finance.
By that, I meant sure no risk to banks here – here the concern was finance companies.
As for Oz there was no risk to banks, but for a temporaory confidence issue – the government guarantee indicated they saw no risk – because there was none.
Given the escalation of property values and mortgage repayments only affordable while interest rates are low and people retain jobs: there is a growing risk to banks on both sides of the ditch.
Essentially governments have to hold down the OCR so people can afford to own their properties at these values – economic policy has become hostage to these banks. The profits being made on the back of this are of windfall proportions – it is past time to increase the capital reserve ratios.
Billionaire trucking magnate Lindsay Fox, whose family investment fund owned 10 per cent of Bank of Queensland and also had an interest in cash-security firm Armaguard, told Rudd there had been unusually large cash withdrawals and a lack of deposits.
Rudd tells AFR Weekend: "This was big. We feared a run on the banks on the Monday and we knew from our own private contacts around the country there was a massive rush to cash on the Friday and they were fearing lines outside banks."
Across the road from the Brisbane offices of Rudd and Swan that week, an unusual, steady line of Queenslanders queued up at the Suncorp automatic teller machine.
Rudd's office was receiving phone calls from business people and concerned citizens signalling a crisis of confidence was beginning to engulf local banks
Keys arguments are all about the short term outcomes for him and the other employees (executives) not bank stability which is the prime role of the RBNZ.
“And so it was concluded that New Zealand had little choice but to follow suit. As a matter of economics, there probably was little real choice but to follow the Australian lead. But the timing was all about politics. Neither economic nor financial stability would have been jeopardised if we hadn’t had a deposit guarantee scheme announced before the banks opened on Monday morning. We’d have been much better to have taken a bit more time and hashed out some of the details with the Minister in his office in Wellington, not at campaign launches and then, as the day went on, airport lounges (at one point late that afternoon I – who’d talked to the Minister perhaps twice in my life previously – was deputed to ring Dr Cullen and get his approval or some detail or other of the scheme). But I guess it might have left open a brief window in which critics might have suggested that New Zealand politicians were doing less for their citizens and their economy than their Australian counterparts.”
I don't think they did get a government guarantee – isn't that the time when it was emphasised that if a bank did get into difficulties, then after reserves had been used, there would be a 'haircut' of a percentage of deposits before government stepped in. I may be wrong but I also thought there was a charge to government by the banks for that limited guarantee. The possibility of losing part of your money from a bank deposit was a surprise to many, and not surprisingly does not appear to be widely advertised by the banks. I believe that there was assistance given to banks at the time of the gfc – Bill English went oversees shortly after being elected telling potential lenders to the government how strong a financial position they had inherited from the previous government – some of the government borrowing at that time was to lend to banks (including I think the ANZ) because they were having difficulties borrowing . . .
If all banks have the same calculation of required capital, that may affect the margin they need to keep up their return on capital – and in New Zealand at least there are no effective competitors; our Finance industry has largely disappeared – due to not having held enough capital for tough times . . .
Talking about government regulation is possibly more palatable than talking about executive benefits though.
"I don't think they did get a government guarantee – isn't that the time when it was emphasised that if a bank did get into difficulties, then after reserves had been used, there would be a 'haircut' of a percentage of deposits before government stepped in. I may be wrong"
You are wrong. It was a full guarantee. It was necessary because the Australian Government was about too announce a guarantee of the banks in Australia that would not apply to New Zealand deposits in the bank subsidiaries in New Zealand. The "run" would not have been away from the bank itself. It would most probably have been from the subsidiary in New Zealand to the home bank in Australia. It would have been the only rational thing for a New Zealand depositor to do as the outflow of money from the New Zealand bank would have put their liquidity at risk.
They should never have included the likes of SCF in the scheme. What Cullen was thinking of is still hard to understand, or forgive.
Banks are not institutions there for the public good Wayne. They are privately owned corporations there to maximise the return to their shareholders. No more, no less.
As a result, if they doo not like the requirements of their existence in this country, then they know where the door is.
So you are saying the banks have no rights, that they can't even debate an issue central to their existence.
Of course New Zealand could run the economy as you suggest. Just impose whatever rules we like. But as most countries who have tried that option have found out, there are consequences.
That is why the RBNZ actually has a submission process, which is more than just window dressing.
If the Aussie banks (actually they all have New Zealand shareholders and are listed on the NZX) simply decamped, how do you think the NZ economy would look like the day after?
sounds like you like the banks there wayne surprise surprise – maximise profit that is what a bank is and does – even an ex cabinet minister knows that surely.
What other industry gets to choose the terms of their regulatory existence Wayne?
And not only that, when you look at recent history, the ANZ does not exactly fill people with confidence that they are there for them. Despite two ‘junior staffers’ raising the alarm over Hisco’s expenses, nothing happened and the ANZ hasn’t exactly covered itself in glory with the Royal Commission into Banking in Australia either.
They will use the system to their own benefit as far as they can push it.
ANZ does what the fuck it wants, and customers vote with their feet.
I see no reason why anyone should entrust a bank with their hard earned money if that bank will not guarantee that it is actually able of refunding these deposits.
And that is the crux of the matter right dear Wayne, it is not the banks money that they want to gamble with.
as for ANZ decamping, guess what, other banks – that have no issue with regulations and rules – will pick up that business that ANZ does not want.
That where your wrong Sabine but saying that most people think the same Your deposit legally is simply a claim or a debt on the bank and you are a creditor, what the bank does with that money is the banks call, its now the banks money In essence your just a creditor to the bank secured as much by capital holding requirements and deposit insurance It is totally warranted a bank has it’s say on capital requirements if it’s whole business is based on return on capital
There isn't a debate. If AD's summary is largely correct, ANZ is suggesting it might take the option of turning its back on NZ profits if their capital reserves are required to go too high.
I'm sure RBNZ will factor that into their reserves of fucks to give.
ANZ pulling out would give more opportunity to other banks to grow, including the local banks.
Well, if you had a system that simply imposed rules and laws without any submission process, that would be akin to dictatorship.
Which is why New Zealand doesn't run that way. All our laws and regulatory processes have extensive submission processes for those affected and for the public. It is a basic hallmark of democracy.
Legal people. Inorganic. And like the book & doco explained back in '03/04, psychopathic in accord with diagnostic practice.
Remedy: corporate charters that require consideration of the effects of corporate decisions on all affected stakeholders, and laws that enforce accountability on execs.
" All our laws and regulatory processes have extensive submission processes for those affected and for the public. It is a basic hallmark of democracy. "
Please explain the indecent use of urgency that occurred during nationals term in office.
Urgency is basically extended hours. Not like the system that used to exist in the 1980’s and 1990’s. These days all bills go through a select committee process with public submissions. The exception is tax bills. Governments (both National and Labour) tend to pass these in one sitting.
The only thing "akin to a dictatorship" here is ANZ – both in its internal structure of hierarchical authority and in its attempt to dictate to a democratically elected government. Any rights we give to private dictatorships should be contingent on them acting in ways that serve the public good. Once they cease to do that and focus predominantly on their own private good, we don't need to be excessively attentive to their rights.
Ultimately we need to democratise all centres of economic and political power – which means entities such as the ANZ wouldn't exist in the same way as they do now.
Did not see conversation last week but I recall that most shares are bought through a limited number of big global institutions including US-based ones. Does not mean the ultimate shareholders are American, or even not Australian. Just means the system is un-transparent.
"Anyone on The Standard: withdraw your accounts from the ANZ and shift your mortgages to a local bank. "
Which one would you suggest? KiwiBank are saying that they may not survive if the new regulations are implemented as they won't be able to raise the new capital required. Their shareholders seem to be of the view that there is likely to be no economic return from any more investment.
I don't think they are going to be a very good bank to shift to in the new climate of RBNZ policies if that is the case.
Of course I know more about it than people who run the bank.
The GFC,I saw it coming.
The reality is the big banks rely on a tacit Govt Guarantee,the 'too big to fail' argument.
You saw the attempts of the National party when in power to undermine KB,Kiwisaver,the Cullen Fund..and the rewards for doing so are glaringly ..obvious.
I like my co-operative bank. Seriously i ditched ANZ a few years ago after some really fucked up customer service on their part and many emails/phonecalls and call in person to a branch. I have not missed it, i have no issue doing my banking, paying my bills and serving my mortgage.
so yeah, there really is no reason to stay with a bank that despises its customers and only views them as dairy cows to be milked while the going is good and dropped when the going gets tough.
Yes I had a similar situation with the ANZ. They didn't care about me, and I certainly don't need them; there are plenty of other money-fakirs where they came from, and the newer kiwi banks from building societies have a good grasp on the system and offer courteous and quick service, very helpful. https://www.sbsbank.co.nz/about-us/sbs-bank/history
Was Southland Building Society.
Banking day-to-day, TSB all the way – they routinely top the customer satisfaction rankings and have a decent-sized local branch offering foreign currency and other services. The Co-operative Bank is good too – have one investment account with them, and an under-used current account. No need to use foreign-owned banks.
Disclaimer: I don’t work for TSB or The Co-operative Bank, but do recommend these banks to friends.
I am pretty sure that the TSB is the only Kiwi bank that is separate from using some of the services of the big commercial banks. I think that Kiwibank uses Westpac as 'collecting'? bank.
Bank customer surveys/polls are at odds with Infused's "dog shit" 'evaluation', although to be fair those surveys don't include “dog shit" on their ranking scale.
ANZ CEO Hisco (what was his 'exit' package again?) should have been be dog tucker, but corruption is the new normal under Sir John 'Haven' Key’s ‘watch’.
Yes, something surely stinks, but it’s not “dog shit“.
They’re all shit: horseshit, bullshit, bird shit, chicken shit, stir shit. But ANZ is the worst shit of all and thick as bat shit; Sir John would know as he’s some kind of connoisseur of bat shit.
So why wasn't Cally-Jo at least given a motel room? Instead, she slipped through the cracks when standing in front of the people who should have helped, and she was holding a newborn baby.
Surely that lacks compassion – it lacks basic common sense. Why did this happen?
No shit?! You mean the guy is so powerful even out of govt that he can stop a govt department doing what it's supposed to do? Wow, folks will be impressed…
But the Nats and their friends in the media – I'm thinking Garner particularly – are attempting to cleanse the previous government's record on the erosion of social services and pretend that inherited social issues are something which mysteriously 'just were'.
This allows them to apply current negative headlines on social issues to the Labour government and accuse them of inaction, false promises, etc.
I haven't actually seen what the Nats propose to do on housing and social spending at all, have you? It’s a policy desert out there.
The current government has continued to make owning a rental property less desirable. In a country where renting is trending upward, without exception the many property managers I regularly speak with have had shrinking portfolios for 3 years. Over the past 3 months 4000 people required emergency housing, double the figure of 12 months ago.
This situation is a runaway train well on it's way to a washed out bridge. 'It's National's fault' is the response of empty, unimaginative, water treading time wasters.
What's the Action Plan Labour? Blame National? How many Cally Jo's will that house?
I guess those earthquakes we had in Christchurch several years ago were John Keys fault too! Lets hope the All Blacks win the world cup else poor old JK will get the blame for that too.
but a lot of the shit that people in christchurch had to endure was due to the willful incompetence of the then government.
Poor old JK, poor old JK had a choice to make in the years that he was PM, run a decent government for all, or raise GST on those that have to pay it – the end consumer, drop taxes on those that don't need it, sell every asset that was not nailed and glued to the wall, and allow for hte wholesale of NZ to the highest overseas bidder in order to advance his own little career.
Poor old JK, had a choice to be a prime minister, and instead he choose to pull ponytails, run bad soap jokes on the radio, cut the widowers benefit, cut study allowances for beneficiaries, and settled homeless people with tens of thousands of dollars of in debt for 'emergency housing' to the tune of 2000$ per week in a fucking motel – for this price they could have rented a proper house for homeless.
so keep your poor old jk to yourself, cause there is nothing that will make that man ever a decent human being, and his legacy to NZ is a squandered 26 million for the Laser Kiwi Flag (i would have loved that one!), children and families living in vans near football fields that have open toilets.
All blacks will play as good or as bad as they always do, other teams will do the same, and if JK is given half a chance he will crawl up the arse of that male blond knicker model who also played ball and pretend to me a man of the people.
a scum on the run – you cannot hide the truth martin – you are tainted and will never be clean.
The European far-right activist given money by the man accused of the Christchurch mosque killings has attempted to share it with victims of the attack.
Austrian Martin Sellner was sent $2500 last year by the accused gunman, who was then living in Australia. Fifty-one people were killed and dozens injured in the March attacks.
Victim Support said on Monday it has received a donation of $1242 from "a donor identified as Martin Sellner from a Gmail account.
A spokeswoman said Victim Support "does not believe it would be appropriate for us to receive this payment" and it would be returned to the donor or donated elsewhere.
The tribunal, backed by evidence and consensus from witnesses, determined institutional racism and individual racism exists in the health system.
The tribunal concluded both forms of racism were impacting on Māori health.
"The severity and persistence of health inequity Māori continue to experience indicates the health system is institutionally racist, and that this, including the personal racism and stereotyping that occurs in the primary care sector, particularly impacts on Māori.
"We accept that institutional racism is a determinant of health and wellbeing."
Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield agreed. "We have now some quite good evidence that racism at a range of levels does determine access, experience and outcomes in the healthcare system," said Bloomfield.
We know this or those of us interested know it. We must front up before it can be fixed but often I feel like Tariana
"Former Associate Health Minister Dame Tariana Turia sat through some of the inquiry. She is the chair of the National Hauora Coalition, one of the two main claimants.
"I got to the point I wanted to break down and bloody sob," said Turia. "I suppose I should just be grateful I haven't got much longer to live and put up with it. I want something better for my moko (grandchildren) and kids, and for our people.""
if ethnic groups are higher risk and they require information delivered a certain way to get cut-through/buy in or whatever – if your specialist isn't of that ethnic group or can't for whatever reason deliver to that higher risk group in the way that they can hear – who is supposed to change. Yes the majority rules and that means great swathes of people who aren't the majority could miss out. That seems to be the evidence – the report shows it is as much racism as anything.
It is well-established by now that the biggest influences on health outcomes (about 70%) are beyond the health sector – mainly poverty, social capital, etc. Too easy for us to say it's about people not looking after themselves.
Al Gore gets talked about a lot due to his championing the environment.
Jerry Brown was talking to Kathryn on 9toNoon this a.m. and he is also well versed in the problems and solutions through being in California which was an early adopter of change, and so able to take on board the size of the problem that we are still grappling with and trying to wriggle away from.
Gabby, the only "saddy" here is the one who called you that. Not worth considering or replying to, imo. His ‘comments’ above (if you can even call them that) say much more about him than about you.
Nice – so a post about health deficiencies and racism for Māori in our system where gabby says get off the p to help and I'm the bad one for calling them saddy?
good to know what side of the fence you are on, thanks for clarifying
Cool story, eh? Transcontinental trip to munch on lemmings. Good to see they provided a satellite's view tracking the trip so you can see its digressions & speed on the ice. Must be a food instinct motivating it (rather than a random trajectory).
The Southland environmental concerns are advancing. I got this message.
As you may be aware two motions on the topic will be debated at our meeting on 3 July 2019. The first motion is, ‘That the Council declares a Climate emergency’.
The second motion is ‘Environment Southland acknowledges that climate change is an important issue which we have to engage with. The Council commits to applying best practice and best science to its responsibilities and accords urgency to developing an action plan’. Please see our agenda.
As someone concerned about climate change you may be interested in a recently released report that was commissioned by all four Southland councils, Regional Climate Change Impact Assessment by the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA), which is available on our website.
So tomorrow. If anyone wants to give encouragement now is the time.
Was anyone else having an attack of the deja vus this morning as the PM explained how intense negotiations managed to persuade that philanthropic organisation Amazon to film the LOTR telly series here in New Zealand?
There were many, many interesting and challenging posts here on TS back then about the nefarious goings on in this sector….where are those commenters now?
Sadly, Rosemary, I have to say yes to an attack of deja vu. And yes, I was one of the commenters last round.
I live in South Wellington and knew a lot of people who were involved in the last round of the LOTR etc films saga – meaning people who were actually involved in the making of the films. These included quite a few NZers* who worked in the industry or benefitted from the making of the films by providing support services such as catering, renting out property etc.
But as well as NZers, there were many, many film industry people* from overseas who moved here 'for the duration' of from months to some years – taking up rental properties in the south and eastern suburbs of Wellington, educating their children in our local schools etc. This in turn provided some peripheral employment such as child care etc.but usually of a low wage nature.
However, the situation now is very different. Rental property in these suburbs (which range for poor to well heeled) is now extremely hard to get and rental prices have gone through the roof, leaving low income families, beneficiaries, students etc out in the cold, couch surfing, doubling up, many families etc, in crowded accommodation etc. AirB& B is partially responsible but just plain old scarcity of property is the problem. In my suburb, many people are turning garages into accommodation for family, or to make money out of AirB&B, and other forms of rental with question marks over resource consents, meeting sanitary codes etc.
I am not sure whether the Amazon venture will be based in Wellington, but it would seem likely that the facilities at Weka etc will probably be used. If these south/east Wellington suburbs (or any part of Wellington for that matter) are faced with the influx that we experienced during the LOTR film years then things are likely to get to even worse … I am not sure that these factors/ consequences have even been considered in making these decisions to continue to push the film industry here.
I have now reread the RNZ link and Queenstown is expected to feature in the venture. Considering their current accommodation crisis …madness????
* While there were certainly a portion of high paid film people involved in the LOTR etc film projects, ( eg actors, directors, producers, etc) many/most of the people employed were not high paid at all – whether NZers or from overseas.
Thank you vw for your full and considered response. I'm a bit of a looker -backer, (must be an age thing) and am increasingly finding today's hot topics uncomfortably familiar. So I go back and have a read what was being said back then by 'this side' about how the 'other side' managed this issue of putting butter on the paws of film companies….and I damn near choke on the irony.
I guess this is politics and the reality is (the PM did not to my recollection utter those words this morning…please don't tell me if she did or I'll be tempted to abandon all hope) that this is how the game is played.
Sadly, it will take a stronger government than this to turn this around so more benefit from these ventures.
The accommodation aspect had not occurred to me….and of course you're right. Where are these folks going to stay?
Being a more often than not house bus dweller, my first reaction would be for these visitors to rent some of the vast fleet of motorhomes we have in NZ. Not only from the rental companies, but there are a couple of outfits that facilitate private motorhome owners to rent their vans out. (Not us, under any circumstances.)
Of course Queenstown is on the list of places where campers are simply not welcome….
I suppose there are a couple of those unwanted Kiwibuild houses free….
I'm in this industry and accomodation will be a problem in Queenstown for the periods they will be shooting there. That's because there'll be a high proportion of non-locals involved.
Productions do make decisions based on things like the availability of accommodation. But it wouldn't be beyond them with a budget of this size to set up a temporary town!
Not so much in Auckland where most of the crew, production and extras will be local apart from a few heavyweights up from Wellington.
Of the main criteria overseas productions consider:
New Zealand has a permanent advantage with shooting locations and particularly the variety of different and untouched landscapes in close proximity.
There's a temporary advantage with the incentive scheme and to a lesser extend the exchange rate. Also, our crews are good and cheap (weak worker representation).
Where we fail is, as always, infrastructure. Studio space is awful, most productions having to use commercial warehouse space rather than proper sound studios which are few and far between. No one want to take the risk although that might be changing.
Lastly, American producers love to be on set, and NZ is a long way from anywhere. Canada is much closer and Europe is exciting and they can take their families. We can't do much about that, though.
In short, NZ landscapes and money is what swung this epic production here. Hopefully I can get a decent piece of it.
One more thing to consider is how long will actual outdoor landscapes be required in film-making…
We're probably heading for a huge overshoot in residential accomodation in Queenstown. Too much development that's got a long way ahead of the local economy's ability to support. By the time this gets up and running all the builder's toys will be for sale on the road side, and To Let signs will be everywhere.
A lot of the new lower end hotels have been built to be easily adapted to worker accomodation as well, so the shift in tourism away from low yield markets could easily be taken up by a couple of film projects.
The tricky bit in Queenstown is where it's all based, most of the likely sites have been turned into housing. Although they could displace all the rental cars around Frankton (there's about 3Ha of them) but that's all next to the airport so difficult for a soundstage.
Oops, missed that bit – will blame that on massive head cold, not age! Also now noticed that the article also talks about building studios in Queenstown. Perhaps in a perverse way it could end up being a plus for the accommodation crisis there if as part of the agreement to build studios they had to provide an accommodation town as suggested by Muttonbird – but a permanent one, rather than a temporary one.
Empathy on the head cold but mine is in its easing stages. Just wait for Shane Jones and his provincial slush fund to swoop in and subsidise productions by underwriting both studio and workers' housing in that impoverished region.
Al Gore gets talked about a lot due to his championing the environment.
Jerry Brown was talking to Kathryn on 9toNoon this a.m. and he is also well versed in the problems and solutions through being in California which was an early adopter of change, and so able to take on board the size of the problem that we are still grappling with and trying to wriggle away from.
Surely the right wingnut as Americans like to say will be voting for Trump again
Those voters who believed Trump's campaign talk about bringing back the troops , diminishing the military spend and using the money for repairing run down American infrastructure, and voted accordingly , could very well be interested in Gabbard.
These are the voters disappointed by Trump, and not necessarily right wing, unless anti imperialism passes for right wing in your circles
Those voters sucked in by the Fifth Avenue Fraud's talk about bringing home the troops, diminishing military spend and putting the money towards infrastructure showed a remarkable capacity for hearing only what they wanted to hear and ignoring the massive red flags thrown up by King Con's other talk. So yeah, they may indeed be suckered again by a few bait words from Gabbard and ignore the ugly realities of her total position which includes being pro-droning, surgical strikes, and cool with torture.
But look at the names mentioned in the Buzzfeed article (and links within) that are enthusiastic about Gabbard. You don't reckon Tucker Carlson, David Duke, Ann Coulter, Matt Drudge, Mike Cernovich, Steve Bannon, Richard Spencer et al are right-wing?
Shouldn't be too hard on themselves going into 3 days to get things sorted that part of the world, look at Brexit for a comparision, even here it took a while longer to sort out the coalition govt.
Would have thought the approach would be having sorted a majority block that agrees as one that a clear signal should be sent to the populace in the picks, that a progressive step has been taken by the EU in response to the changed vote direction & preliminary bounds for what those might entail. Then that block by majority decides the best candidates that can combine that with the practicalities of the tasks. Then you have the unanimous confirmatory vote.
The old cart before the horse problem of politics is universal though.
Gordon Campbell on how the Americans are helping us realise the scale of the Operation Burnham fiasco.
Purely in terms of natural justice, it seems bizarrely unfair that the NZDF is feeding evidence to the inquiry heads that it is simultaneously denying to the legal teams representing the co-authors and the villagers. That is the definition of a whitewash, and whitewash jobs shouldn’t have to cost $7 million.
Apart from the excellent Paula Penfold, our television "reporters" rarely mention it, and our radio stations are virtually silent. Maybe one of these days Annie Goldson will do another of her Afghanistan-based documentaries on it….
Being considerate. National & Labour have supported plastic since it appeared here in the early 1950s. It's only fair, then, to give them the opportunity to switch from supporting plastic pollution to eliminating it. So the Greens are standing back to watch the Nat/Labs fall over themselves competing to be first to solve the problem. Courtesy in politics is a timely radical move, eh?
"She's already laughing at him!" That halfwit Ben Shapiro being owned back in 2011
A couple of days ago, some fool on this mostly excellent forum claimed that Shapiro "is no idiot or racist." Just watch this and see if you think he's anything other than a sad, deluded idiot….
Idiot ideologue goes after Bert and Ernie, Big Bird, and their dangerous ilk.
Long before Andrew Neil pulled his wings off, Ben Shapiro had been thoroughly humiliated by Connie Martinson and, in this disastrous appearance, by Thom Hartmann…..
This bloke is especially egregious, because he seems to think he's an intellectual. He's not anything of the sort—as his embarrasing interviews with Connie Martinson, Thom Hartmann, and Andrew Neil show, he lacks the wherewithal to defend his outrageous statements with any semblance of coherent argument.
Shapiro is the American equivalent of Mike Hosking: he's pushy, self-involved, unembarrassable, and overwhelms weaker souls by talking non-stop and very quickly.
On the nail Morrissey – I listened for a while to this Shapiro guy – just as you describe. Unpleasant and obsessed with his own opinion to the point of mania.
Its good to see that our scientists have shown their concern on human caused climate change
More than 50 of New Zealand's top scientists call on Government to declare climate emergency
More than 50 of New Zealand's top scientists are calling for a declaration of a national climate emergency.
Some 52 signatories are current and former winners of the prestigious Rutherford Discovery Fellowship, an $800,000 grant given to 10 researchers each year to help retain and develop New Zealand's top scientific minds.
Quentin Atkinson, a professor at the University of Auckland, said scientists needed to be more vocal and urgent in pushing for change climate change ka kite ano link below.
Did you notice that the stuff ups in railway in Auckland stopped after Eco Maori pointed out the shit I no it a bit hard for you people living in your glass houses to believe but the rednecks will do anything to cheat a win didn't you see the links to national in that group. trump is empowering them in many ways
The correction of house prices is good for KIWIs first home buyers.
The business servaye is running by business who back national just more manipulation by them.
Why did nike put that flag on there new shoes good job for the damage to the brand for putting a flag on there shoes that support the old slave trade in America.
Tuwharetua will not have been happy about all that waste water going into the taonga Taupo.
It's great that Tuwharetua IWI is working with Oranga tamariki to fix their troubled tamariki whanau.
Te puni kokiri is going back to focus on Maori wellbeing .
Its good to see Maori rising in our new government ka pai.
Tangata Whenua O Aotearoa being discriminated against because of their ta moko people have respect each other come on get on we have a beautiful country.
Lagarde was somewhat of a surprising choice to lead the ECB, having previously said she wasn't interested in any of the senior eurozone roles, including the ECB presidency. She would also be, not just the first woman to head the ECB, but the first non-economist and the first without any central banking experience
Once German defence minister, Ursula von der Leyen won the coveted presidency of the European Commission, however, the next most senior position available, the ECB presidency, was always going to be nominated by the other major European power, France.
Lagarde, a former French finance minister widely respected for her eight-year leadership of the IMF, was sponsored by French President Emmanuel ka kite ano link below.
Good story George Monbiot that is exactly how I see OUR Papatuanuku people's reality being manipulated by the billionaires money to suit their greedy goals of being untouchable. Ma te wa time are changing now .
After urging land reform I now know the brute power of our billionaire press
A report I helped publish has led to attacks and flat-out falsehoods in the rightwing media. It’s clear whose interests they serve
All billionaires want the same thing – a world that works for them. For many, this means a world in which they are scarcely taxed and scarcely regulated; where labour is cheap and the planet can be used as a dustbin; where they can flit between tax havens and secrecy regimes, using the Earth’s surface as a speculative gaming board, extracting profits and dumping costs. The world that works for them works against us.
So how, in nominal democracies, do they get what they want? They fund political parties and lobby groups, set up fake grassroots (Astroturf) campaigns and finance social media ads. But above all, they buy newspapers and television stations. The widespread hope and expectation a few years ago was that, in the internet age, news controlled by billionaires would be replaced by news controlled by the people: social media would break their grip. But social media is instead dominated by stories the billionaire press generates. As their crucial role in promoting Nigel Farage, Brexit and Boris Johnson suggests, the newspapers are as powerful as ever.
They use this power not only to promote the billionaires’ favoured people and ideas, but also to shut down change before it happens. They deploy their attack dogs to take down anyone who challenges the programme. It is one thing to know this. It is another to experience it. A month ago I and six others published a report commissioned by the Labour party called Land for the Many. It proposed a set of policies that would be of immense benefit to the great majority of Britain’s people: ensuring that everyone has a good, affordable home; improving public amenities; shifting tax from ordinary people towards the immensely rich; protecting the living world; and enhancing public control over the decisions that affect our lives. We showed how the billionaires and other oligarchs ka kite ano link below.
Its good that the rapid fire human killing guns are being taken off the streets.
Auckland is in a water shortage the people didn't take heed on conserving water they need a get the massage across with the media about the driest last 3 months in years.
That American Judge is discriminatory against the poor common people lettings a boy off serious charges because he is rich .?????
The microplasm bovine virus issue got blown out of the hemisphere because national tried to hide it swept it under the carpet the virus just kept on spreading.
I do think that our government needs to set up a climate change ministry to help people mitigate climate change issues.
Its cool that Oranga Rehua Marae program is getting a funding boost to help repair the damage caused by the Christchurch earthquake.
The Tuia 250 years since Captain Cook arrived celebration will or can be used as a tool to increase tangata whenua O Aotearoa mana wairua if we use it wisely.
Awesome to see te tamariki kapa haka going strong in Whakatane.
Ka pai to the tamariki of Ruatoki for their win in the kapa haka competition.
Mana Wahine gathering that is cool most Maori Wahine have great roles in our society' men just need to Show them the respect they deserve for gifting us Pepi.
Whanau more evidence that climate change is our reality .We have to stop burning carbon to protect our decendince mokopuna futures.
Giant heat dome over Alaska
All-time heat records are at risk in Alaska in the coming days as a massive and abnormally intense area of high pressure locks in and strengthens over the US region.
This heat dome is expected to produce temperatures near and above the highest values ever recorded for multiple days, particularly in southern parts of the state. It's the latest in a slew of record-shattering heat events in Alaska
Anchorage is predicted to match or best its highest-temperature ever recorded of 30 degrees Celsius (set in 1969) on five straight days between July 4 and 8. It could even flirt with 32C.
The US National Weather Service in Anchorage wrote that most of southern Alaska will be "downright hot with many locations in the 80s (high 20s) and even low 90s (low 30s)."
Activists say comments by Opec head prove world opinion is turning against fossil fuels
Greta Thunberg and other climate activists have said it is a badge of honour that the head of the world’s most powerful oil cartel believes their campaign may be the “greatest threat” to the fossil fuel industry.
The criticism of striking students by the trillion-dollar Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) highlights the growing reputational concerns of oil companies as public protests intensify along with extreme weather
Mohammed Barkindo, the secretary general of Opec, said there was a growing mass mobilisation of world opinion against oil, which was “beginning to … dictate policies and corporate decisions, including investment in clean energy.
He said the pressure was also being felt within the families of Opec officials because their own children “are asking us about their future because … they see their peers on the streets campaigning against Ka kite ano link below.
Mana Wahine its good to see more Wahine on the Papatuanuku stage with power. Kia kaha the men are making a big mess of our Papatuanuku at the minute.
When it comes to global leadership trends, men with the big egos appear to be back; Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro to name a few.
But despite the trend, there’s also been moves to foster a more feminist approach to foreign policy
Lyric Thompson, director of policy and advocacy at the International Centre for Research on Women in Washington DC, says a feminist foreign policy is for all, the concept reflects that for the most part, foreign policy has been designed to reinforce the largely male-dominated and patriarchal structures in the global economy today.
“…it’s not saying only look at women, it’s saying look at the power structures that are expressed in a way that we organise everything from defence to trade to diplomacy and think about ways that we can restructure practice that enables a more equitable approach that is inclusive of folks that have historically been marginalised, including but not limiting to women
There’s a solar-storm on at the moment, and since the South Island is having a day and night with clear skies, that means Aurorae. I have just got back from a midnight visit to Tunnel Beach – southwards-looking over the Sea, and without the light pollution. Quite a few others ...
Michael Bassett writes – I’m not sure that it’s much comfort to anyone to know that the post-Covid surge in violent crimes, gang activity, ram raids, random shootings, thuggery and stabbings is occurring in other countries as well as New Zealand. These days, wagging school, out-of-control welfare and ...
Oliver Hartwich writes – Cast your mind back to mid-December. A new Prime Minister had just been sworn in, the new Government started its 100-day programme, and Christmas was only days away.Amid all the haste, a report landed that would have deserved our attention.I am talking about the ...
TL;DR: An unseasonally early icy blast at the same time as some long-overdue maintenance almost caused Aotearoa-NZ’s electricity system to black out this week. That’s because a quadropoly of gentailers1 have prioritised paying dividends from their rising profits and adding debt over investing in 1.5 GigaWatts of new wind farms ...
Hi,Before we crack into today’s Webworm, I wanted to acknowledge the fact that Israel is pushing into Rafah. Over 100,000 Palestinians are now attempting to flee the one place that was deemed “safe”.Trouble is, the place they’re fleeing to is already destroyed. Total annihilation is the end goal here.“Israel is ...
‘It has been said that figures rule the world. Maybe. I am quite sure that it is figures which show us whether it is being ruled well or badly.’ GoetheI was struck at a recent conference on equity for the elderly, how many presenters implicitly relied upon Statistics New Zealand. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveReporting on defence spending late last year, RNZ said the coalition government will have to make some tough calls this term to help the force address staff shortages and ageing infrastructure. “These are huge, huge amounts of government spending. It’s a significant proportion of the government’s ...
Peter Dunne writes – I am always wary when I hear that the Controller and Auditor-General has commented on or made recommendations to the government about an issue of public policy that does not relate strictly to public expenditure. According to the legislation, the role of the Controller ...
How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought NZ to the brink of economic and cultural chaos Chris Trotter writes – TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition ...
And why did the Crown not challenge the Tribunal’s jurisdiction? Gary Judd writes – Retired District Court Judge, David Harvey, has posted on his A Halflings View Substack an excellent summary of Justice Isacs’ judgment declining to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result?As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and ...
Macklemore isn’t someone I’d usually think about. Sure I liked his big hit from a few years back, everybody did it was catchy and cool with some memorable lines. But if I was going to think of artists who might speak out on political matters or world events, he wouldn’t ...
Another week goes by in the Luxon government’s efforts to roll back the past 70 years of social progress. The school lunches programme is to be downgraded by $107 million, and women need bother their heads no longer about pay equity, let alone expect ACC to provide adequate sexual violence ...
Brrr, the first cold snap of the year. Hope you’re rugged up nice and warm. Here are some stories that caught our eye this week… This Week on Greater Auckland On Monday, we had a post from a new contributor, Connor Sharp, who dug into the public feedback ...
Almost all of the Wellington City Council’s recommended zoning changes to allow many more apartments and townhouses in its inner-suburbs have been approved.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guest on geopolitics, ...
Open access notablesA Global Increase in Nearshore Tropical Cyclone Intensification, Balaguru et al., Earth's Future:Tropical Cyclones (TCs) inflict substantial coastal damages, making it pertinent to understand changing storm characteristics in the important nearshore region. Past work examined several aspects of TCs relevant for impacts in coastal regions. However, ...
Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result? As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and always answered “yes”, with very few ...
Thus far May has followed on from a quiet April in the blogging department, but in fairness, it has been another case of doing what I am supposed to be doing, namely writing original fiction. Plus reading. So don’t worry – I have been productive. But in order to reassure ...
Buzz from the Beehive A new government agency will open for business on July 1 – the Social Investment Agency. As a new standalone central agency effective from 1 July, it will lead the development of social investment across Government, helping ministers understand who they need to invest in, what ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The ...
Alwyn Poole writes – After being elected to Parliament in 2008 the maiden speech of Hipkins was substantially around education policy. He was Labour’s spokesperson for education 2011 – 2017. He was Minister for Education from 2017 until February 2023. This is approximately 88% of the time Labour ...
Eric Crampton writes – A fashion industry group is lobbying for protections. They make the usual arguments and a newer one. None of it makes sense. An industry group says it pumped $7.8 billion into the economy last year – that’s 1.9 percent of New Zealand’s GDP. ...
In December 2006, Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama overthrew the elected government in a coup. He ruled Fiji for the next 16 years, first as dictator, then as "elected" Prime Minister. But now, he's finally been sent to jail where he belongs. Sadly, this isn't for his real crime of ...
Don't like National's corrupt Muldoonist "fast-track" law? Aotearoa's environmental NGO's - Greenpeace, Forest & Bird, WWF, Coromandel Watchdog, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and others - have announced a joint march against it in Auckland in June: When: 13:00, 8 June, 2024 Where: Aotea Square, Auckland You ...
Seymour describes sushi as too woke for school meals. There are no fish sushi meals recommended by the School Lunches programme. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Government will swap out hot meals for packaged sandwiches to save $107 million on school lunches for poor kids. MSD has pulled ...
I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadenceBut I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeahBut it's on the table, the fire's cookin'And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'But I'm goin' hungry, yeahSome ...
The Ardern Government’s chickens came home to roost yesterday with the news that the country is short of natural gas. In 2018, Labour banned offshore petroleum exploration, and industry executives say that the attendant loss of confidence by the industry impacted overall investment in onshore gas fields. Energy Resources Minister ...
Hi,If you’ve been digging through the newly launched Webworm store (orders are being dispatched worldwide as I type!) you’ll have noticed the best model we had was Calvin.This is Calvin.Calvin.Calvin is 7, and is the son of my producer over on Flightless Bird, Rob — aka “Wobby Wob”. Rob also ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Climate change is everywhere. And when something's everywhere it can feel like it's nowhere. So how do we get our heads ...
Its a law like gravity: whenever a right-wing government is elected, they start attacking democracy. And now, after talking to their Republican and Tory and Fidesz chums at the International Democracy Union forum in Wellington, National is doing it here, announcing plans to remove election-day enrolment. Or, to put it ...
Yesterday Winston Peters focussed his attention on the important matter at hand. Tweeting. Like the former, and quite possibly next, orange POTUS, from whom he takes much of his political strategy, Winston is an avid X’er.His message didn’t resemble an historic address this time. In fact it was more reminiscent ...
Buzz from the Beehive A significant decline in natural gas production has given Resources Minister Shane Jones an opportunity to reiterate his enthusiasm for the mining and burning of coal. For good measure, he has praised an announcement from Genesis Energy that it will resume importing coal. He and Energy ...
“Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The political parties are legally obliged to make ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim.Extreme Left Auckland University of TechnologyEvidenceThe ...
Eric Crampton writes – I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes – Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
PNG Post-Courier New Zealand High Commissioner Peter Zwart and PNG Defence Minister Dr Billy Joseph welcomed a C-130 Hercules to Port Moresby this week to support Papua New Guinea’s response to the March 24 earthquake and recent severe flooding. “Papua New Guinea has requested New Zealand’s assistance to transport emergency ...
Grub Street King Luxon rode through the streets Of King’s Landing, and was troubled By the sight of hungry urchins in the mud. “Who would be the best of my Lords To deal with this negative optic?” He pondered. The answer came to him instantly. “Seymour!” he said to himself. ...
“The Bill does not provide environmental protection, good quality decision making, certainty, public participation or speed. It should be withdrawn.” ...
RNZ News Television New Zealand has breached its collective agreement with the E tū union when deciding on discontinuing programmes, the Employment Relations Authority has ruled. It was announced in March that 68 staff members who work for news programmes Midday and Tonight, consumer justice programme Fair Go, current affairs ...
Asia Pacific Report Barangay New Zealand’s Rene Molina has interviewed the country’s first Filipino Green MP Francisco Hernandez who was sworn into Parliament yesterday as the party’s latest member. This is the first interview with Hernandez who replaces former Green Party co-leader James Shaw after his retirement from politics to ...
An Australian Strategic Policy Institute report says Pillar Two could raise the industry to state of the art capability - or "crush" it "under the weight of the globe's biggest player". ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marlene Longbottom, Associate Professor, Indigenous Education & Research Centre, James Cook University ShutterstockThis article contains information on deaths in custody and the violence experienced by First Nations people in encounters with the Australian carceral system. It also contains references to ...
“Instead of following along countries that are investing in death and better ways of killing people faster, we need to invest in life and in making Aotearoa a fair, just and equitable place where everyone has what they need for a dignified life.” ...
MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI, TPM MP FOR TAI TOKERAU This Government will not waver in its mission to exterminate Māori. CHRISTOPHER LUXON Oh well look you know I don’t think that hard-working Kiwis want to hear language like that. It’s just really unhelpful rhetoric. My Government is genuinely committed to advancing outcomes ...
The body positivity movement started with women confronting the unrealistic expectations and unrepresentative portrayals of them in media and advertising. Men weren’t part of it … their bodies hadn’t been sexualised to the same extremes and they didn’t really need it. But now that’s changed. And in a warped sort ...
The New Zealand comedy legend takes us through her life in television, including the time she hugged Elton John and the unshakeable legacy of a girl named Lyn. In 1981, Ginette McDonald stood on the stage of Auckland’s St James Theatre and directly addressed Queen Elizabeth II. It was a ...
An essay by Lily Duval from the just-released anthology Otherhood: Essays on being childless, childfree and child adjacent.I was 22 when my friend Alice gave birth in the living room of our pokey Addington flat. She laboured in the blow-up pool for hours. Garish fish swam along the inflated ...
Ella Borrie on the best books about motherhood she’s come across so far. Over the past few years I’ve been drawn to books about motherhood. I’m fascinated by the joys and horrors of becoming a parent. The question of children also feels more pressing than it used to. It’s like ...
Out of gift ideas for mum? You can’t go wrong with a bottle of toilet cleaner and a new squeegee. Emily Writes is the writer and editor of Emily Writes Weekly. This week marks five years since I published a post on The Spinoff about Mother’s Day marketing titled ‘A ...
My husband is posted overseas for 12 months and I’m armed with an expensive, newfangled vibrator. Will I miss him? The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.A few days after my husband leaves, a new sex toy arrives at the front door. Nestled ...
Jaimie Baird’s new book Here Today Gone Tomorrow is a record of four decades of graffiti and street art in Wellington, told through more than 1,200 photographs. He spoke with Joel MacManus about what inspired the book. How did you first get interested in photographing street art? I remember ...
Editor Madeleine Chapman looks back at a busy week where food of all political leanings dominated. Sometimes you’re just going about your week thinking you’ve got a good handle on what might be coming as far as news topics and then someone (usually a politician) says something so ridiculous that ...
In a week of cold rain and frost, the climate in courtroom four upstairs at the Invercargill courthouse was simmering with restrained indignation. At times it felt like the famous Mexican standoff scene from Reservoir Dogs, or, as someone watching the proceedings described it, there was so much throwing of ...
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In Melbourne’s hardscrabble western suburbs where AFL – Aussie rules football – is a state religion, Callum Donaldson has been quietly grafting away, four months into an odyssey that he hopes will take him to another promised land: the NRL. It was a solid 2023 for the softly spoken 20-year-old ...
Pacific Media Watch Television New Zealand Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to investigative journalism and Pacific communities in a ceremony at Government House, reports 1News. She has been the Pacific correspondent for 1News since 2002, breaking many ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tuesday’s budget will respond to the deepening public agitation over Australia’s housing shortages by pouring new money into crisis accommodation for women and children, social housing and infrastructure. A specially-convened national cabinet late Friday ticked ...
By Kaneta Naimatu in Suva Journalists in the Pacific region play an important role as the “eyes and ears on the ground” when it comes to reporting the climate crisis, says the European Union’s Pacific Ambassador Barbara Plinkert. Speaking at The University of the South Pacific (USP) on World Press ...
Aldora Itunu is back in the Black Ferns squad after a three-year absence. The last of her 24 internationals was an underwhelming loss to France (7-29) in Castres to conclude the disastrous 2021 Northern Tour. The powerhouse prop won a Rugby World Cup in 2017 and thought she was done. ...
The fight to control major transport policy and projects in Auckland has burst into the open again, with councillors rejecting Mayor Wayne Brown’s latest attempt to steer things more under his influence. Councillors from the left and right broke ranks on the mayor’s bid to control Auckland Transport more directly ...
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By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Authorities in the small town of Boulouparis have commemorated Armistice Day on May 8 with a new memorial honouring New Zealand soldiers who were stationed in New Caledonia during World War II. The ceremony took place in the township on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Dehm, Senior lecturer, international migration and refugee law, University of Technology Sydney The High Court unanimously ruled today that the Australian government can keep asylum seekers in immigration detention indefinitely in cases where they do not “voluntarily” cooperate with their own ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Munro, Lecturer, Creative Industries and Digital Media, University of South Australia Twenty-four hours after the release of Macklemore’s pro-Palestine protest song Hind’s Hall on social media on May 7, the video had already notched up over 24 million views. In ...
Failing to anticipate the complexity of the consenting system is being cited as the the current builder's shortcomings, an Infrastructure Commission review says. ...
Failing to anticipate the complexity of the consenting system is being cited as the the current builder's shortcomings, an Infrastructure Commission review says. ...
350 Aotearoa is calling the Environment Select Committee’s decision to allow oral submissions from just 40% of individual, unique submitters who asked to speak to the committee ‘a disgraceful blight to democracy’. ...
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I'm impressed with the ANZ threatening to essentially disinvest from New Zealand due to the proposed increased capital reserves required by our Reserve Bank.
They will of course be lobbying hard for Westpac, Commonwealth Bank, and BNZ to follow with them. A proper capital strike.
ANZ is 61% owned by US shareholders. Westpac 58% US owned.
Hold tight Mr Orr.
Stay the course Prime Minister Ardern and Minister Robertson.
No one in Wellington would fail to see this as a threat close to that the IMF made in Muldoon's time.
Anyone on The Standard: withdraw your accounts from the ANZ and shift your mortgages to a local bank.
Send them a letter saying that you are doing it and why.
ANZ are now clearly the enemy of this government and its banking regulator and of New Zealand.
Very well said Ad, absolutely agree with you.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/113898959/anz-manager-85-staff-out-the-door-for-deleting-emails
+100
Thanks for info about USA holding Ad. Now we know what is screwing us.
I've never understood why anyone here would use any of them foreign banks – have felt that way since I first thought about it in the early seventies. I suppose it makes me seem like some kind of nationalist, yet I became internationalist in the sixties.
Anyway, it would be cool if the ANZ robots did vamoose, and the other invaders followed them. Someone would argue that we need foreign capital for investment, so the foreign banks are an essential conduit. My bias is toward resilience as a nation, and dependence on foreigners seems worse than dependence on nanny state.
In praxis franko, some of us may have been posb customers who got taken over.
Anyone who responds to a takeover by deciding to remain in captivity to the takers doesn't deserve much respect, do they? Poor praxis. Switch to a bank that didn't succumb (TSB, Cooperative) if you don't like Kiwibank…
Dunno Dennis, what about telling them your going to change and they give you so much free stuff it becomes not worthwhile changing, so you remain a customer and keep screwing them.
Does that actually happen?? Perhaps in a target market, such as young high-earners with mortgages living high on credit cards. The debt-is-cool syndrome seems to have been killed by the gfc (unless you look at slow learners).
Not me I'm a low earner , no debt, go without the crap and save.
its not difficult to understand….it was well displayed by the the subprime mortgage experience in the US….you change to the Aussie banks because they will advance the funds (perhaps at a better rate) you desire that the NZ owned institutions will not.
I never encountered that problem! Got all my mortgages from ASB before they sold out to Oz, repaid them no problem. Can't see why anyone else is unable to do the same. Never heard of kiwi banks refusing loans to kiwis. Are you suggesting that all our younger generations are so incompetent that our banks don't trust them??
thats an odd take…..theres plenty of anecdotes where kiwibank (and the like ) have declined finance where the Oz banks have obliged…sometimes they both offer but the best deal is from the Aussies…I can think of numerous examples in recent years from friends and family….you must also remember that the big 4 (oz banks) have the bulk of the market by volume ….even if they wanted the NZ banks cannot absorb that risk in the short term
I understand that competition in the market produces under-cutting, and foreign invaders with deep pockets win those battles, but I don't get why American banks, or British etc, don't feature. Too small a market to bother, I suppose.
I guess the Oz capture of our market was an easy local expansion. Perhaps kiwis are unpatriotic in banking because they think `they're all capitalists, so who cares?"
not sure about the Yanks but weve had the Poms here…they sold out.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10641807
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Bank_of_New_Zealand
And the Indians and Chinese have shown up recently
not sure about the Yanks but weve had the Poms here…they sold out.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10641807
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Bank_of_New_Zealand
And the Indians and Chinese have shown up recently
https://bankdashboard.rbnz.govt.nz/balance-sheet
Because the local banks are utter shit
ANZ may well reduce their investment in NZ but it will have little to do with capital requirements or deposit insurance rather it is their exposure to the (esp)Auckland and rural mortgage markets that will drive it…markets they were instrumental in overcooking.
The RBNZ and NZ depositors have no obligation to underwrite the profits of ANZ (or any other) shareholders.
https://bankdashboard.rbnz.govt.nz/asset-quality
Hear hear Ad.
I think ANZ would rather we talked about their discomfort with Maria Folau and her support of her husband.
Don't let the door hit their backside on the way out.
I wonder if Mr Brownlee is available to show them some shortcuts through the airport.
I am not surprised by the banks pushing back. You can't expect the banks to simply accept a doubling of the capital adequacy ratio, without any debate. On the face of it the doubling seems excessive, given that the banks were among the few in the world with no problems during the GFC.
This "view" that they are the enemy of the government simply because they contest the RBNZ governor's view is akin to dictatorship. In a democracy these things are (and should be) contestable. In fact the RBNZ recognises that because they have set up a submissions process. They don't just impose it.
How were they among the few with no problems during the GFC?
They had to be Govt guaranteed,that is a huge leg up.
The gist of the explanation in the media at the time (Bernard Hickey et al) was that banks here had been collectively prudent. Which is to say that they had adhered to traditional banking practice, whereas deregulation in the USA had induced a culture shift into competitive gambling via derivatives. That shift even pulled in British & European banks, as exemplified by various bank failures there…
Indeed, Blazer. Clearly Wayne has forgotten how close the banks here came to having a bank run, hence the need (at the time) for the Government guarantee.
I don’t recall any risk of a bank run in NZ in 2009. There was never any suggestion that the Aussie banks were a risk. The “run” was on second tier lenders such as finance companies. A number got a government guarantee, most notably Canterbury Finance.
You're usually wrong.
SPC,
Do you actually recall anything about the Aussie banks being at risk, or are you just being contrarian.
You're usually wrong, but right about that. Shy agreemeent with right wingers syndrome.
By that, I meant sure no risk to banks here – here the concern was finance companies.
As for Oz there was no risk to banks, but for a temporaory confidence issue – the government guarantee indicated they saw no risk – because there was none.
Given the escalation of property values and mortgage repayments only affordable while interest rates are low and people retain jobs: there is a growing risk to banks on both sides of the ditch.
Essentially governments have to hold down the OCR so people can afford to own their properties at these values – economic policy has become hostage to these banks. The profits being made on the back of this are of windfall proportions – it is past time to increase the capital reserve ratios.
Glad you said that SPC – we should know this but it seems to go in one ear and out the other any time it is pointed out.
Well Aussies remember.
Billionaire trucking magnate Lindsay Fox, whose family investment fund owned 10 per cent of Bank of Queensland and also had an interest in cash-security firm Armaguard, told Rudd there had been unusually large cash withdrawals and a lack of deposits.
Rudd tells AFR Weekend: "This was big. We feared a run on the banks on the Monday and we knew from our own private contacts around the country there was a massive rush to cash on the Friday and they were fearing lines outside banks."
Across the road from the Brisbane offices of Rudd and Swan that week, an unusual, steady line of Queenslanders queued up at the Suncorp automatic teller machine.
Rudd's office was receiving phone calls from business people and concerned citizens signalling a crisis of confidence was beginning to engulf local banks
https://www.afr.com/news/economy/the-gfc-remembered-ten-years-ago-it-was-all-about-saving-the-banks-20180924-h15spj
Keys arguments are all about the short term outcomes for him and the other employees (executives) not bank stability which is the prime role of the RBNZ.
Are you joking?
The entire US banking and insurance system was bailed out. +/- 100%.
Ergo the entire central banking cartel was bailed out.
RBA / RBNZ / et al.
Here's some evidence of that, One Two.
https://youtu.be/n0NYBTkE1yQ?t=147
@Wayne
The Government guarantee was introduced to prevent a run of deposits across the Tasman, where there was a depositors guarantee.
At the time, there was also a higher demand for NZ hundred dollar notes as more money was being withdrawn locally.
“And so it was concluded that New Zealand had little choice but to follow suit. As a matter of economics, there probably was little real choice but to follow the Australian lead. But the timing was all about politics. Neither economic nor financial stability would have been jeopardised if we hadn’t had a deposit guarantee scheme announced before the banks opened on Monday morning. We’d have been much better to have taken a bit more time and hashed out some of the details with the Minister in his office in Wellington, not at campaign launches and then, as the day went on, airport lounges (at one point late that afternoon I – who’d talked to the Minister perhaps twice in my life previously – was deputed to ring Dr Cullen and get his approval or some detail or other of the scheme). But I guess it might have left open a brief window in which critics might have suggested that New Zealand politicians were doing less for their citizens and their economy than their Australian counterparts.”
https://croakingcassandra.com/2018/10/12/looking-back-to-the-deposit-guarantee/
as usual Waynes memory is selective
I don't think they did get a government guarantee – isn't that the time when it was emphasised that if a bank did get into difficulties, then after reserves had been used, there would be a 'haircut' of a percentage of deposits before government stepped in. I may be wrong but I also thought there was a charge to government by the banks for that limited guarantee. The possibility of losing part of your money from a bank deposit was a surprise to many, and not surprisingly does not appear to be widely advertised by the banks. I believe that there was assistance given to banks at the time of the gfc – Bill English went oversees shortly after being elected telling potential lenders to the government how strong a financial position they had inherited from the previous government – some of the government borrowing at that time was to lend to banks (including I think the ANZ) because they were having difficulties borrowing . . .
If all banks have the same calculation of required capital, that may affect the margin they need to keep up their return on capital – and in New Zealand at least there are no effective competitors; our Finance industry has largely disappeared – due to not having held enough capital for tough times . . .
Talking about government regulation is possibly more palatable than talking about executive benefits though.
"I don't think they did get a government guarantee – isn't that the time when it was emphasised that if a bank did get into difficulties, then after reserves had been used, there would be a 'haircut' of a percentage of deposits before government stepped in. I may be wrong"
You are wrong. It was a full guarantee. It was necessary because the Australian Government was about too announce a guarantee of the banks in Australia that would not apply to New Zealand deposits in the bank subsidiaries in New Zealand. The "run" would not have been away from the bank itself. It would most probably have been from the subsidiary in New Zealand to the home bank in Australia. It would have been the only rational thing for a New Zealand depositor to do as the outflow of money from the New Zealand bank would have put their liquidity at risk.
They should never have included the likes of SCF in the scheme. What Cullen was thinking of is still hard to understand, or forgive.
Banks are not institutions there for the public good Wayne. They are privately owned corporations there to maximise the return to their shareholders. No more, no less.
As a result, if they doo not like the requirements of their existence in this country, then they know where the door is.
+1 yep – pretty basic stuff
Kevin,
So you are saying the banks have no rights, that they can't even debate an issue central to their existence.
Of course New Zealand could run the economy as you suggest. Just impose whatever rules we like. But as most countries who have tried that option have found out, there are consequences.
That is why the RBNZ actually has a submission process, which is more than just window dressing.
If the Aussie banks (actually they all have New Zealand shareholders and are listed on the NZX) simply decamped, how do you think the NZ economy would look like the day after?
so you are saying… the starting line for bull…
sounds like you like the banks there wayne surprise surprise – maximise profit that is what a bank is and does – even an ex cabinet minister knows that surely.
What other industry gets to choose the terms of their regulatory existence Wayne?
And not only that, when you look at recent history, the ANZ does not exactly fill people with confidence that they are there for them. Despite two ‘junior staffers’ raising the alarm over Hisco’s expenses, nothing happened and the ANZ hasn’t exactly covered itself in glory with the Royal Commission into Banking in Australia either.
They will use the system to their own benefit as far as they can push it.
well its really simple right?
ANZ does what the fuck it wants, and customers vote with their feet.
I see no reason why anyone should entrust a bank with their hard earned money if that bank will not guarantee that it is actually able of refunding these deposits.
And that is the crux of the matter right dear Wayne, it is not the banks money that they want to gamble with.
as for ANZ decamping, guess what, other banks – that have no issue with regulations and rules – will pick up that business that ANZ does not want.
You have heard of the 'market provideth' mantra?
That where your wrong Sabine but saying that most people think the same Your deposit legally is simply a claim or a debt on the bank and you are a creditor, what the bank does with that money is the banks call, its now the banks money In essence your just a creditor to the bank secured as much by capital holding requirements and deposit insurance It is totally warranted a bank has it’s say on capital requirements if it’s whole business is based on return on capital
Would that mean a lot of debt being written off waynee?
There isn't a debate. If AD's summary is largely correct, ANZ is suggesting it might take the option of turning its back on NZ profits if their capital reserves are required to go too high.
I'm sure RBNZ will factor that into their reserves of fucks to give.
ANZ pulling out would give more opportunity to other banks to grow, including the local banks.
"…akin to dictatorship."
What blithering nonsense.
Well, if you had a system that simply imposed rules and laws without any submission process, that would be akin to dictatorship.
Which is why New Zealand doesn't run that way. All our laws and regulatory processes have extensive submission processes for those affected and for the public. It is a basic hallmark of democracy.
In our democracy, roughly how many votes does each bank ‘get’?
oh you….shh….one vote per account held?
+1
Corporations are people too doncha know! (shouldn't be)
Legal people. Inorganic. And like the book & doco explained back in '03/04, psychopathic in accord with diagnostic practice.
Remedy: corporate charters that require consideration of the effects of corporate decisions on all affected stakeholders, and laws that enforce accountability on execs.
Yeah, yeah, lets trust the ANZ! Lol . I am about to move my Kiwisaver fund from them……………
" All our laws and regulatory processes have extensive submission processes for those affected and for the public. It is a basic hallmark of democracy. "
Please explain the indecent use of urgency that occurred during nationals term in office.
Urgency is basically extended hours. Not like the system that used to exist in the 1980’s and 1990’s. These days all bills go through a select committee process with public submissions. The exception is tax bills. Governments (both National and Labour) tend to pass these in one sitting.
The only thing "akin to a dictatorship" here is ANZ – both in its internal structure of hierarchical authority and in its attempt to dictate to a democratically elected government. Any rights we give to private dictatorships should be contingent on them acting in ways that serve the public good. Once they cease to do that and focus predominantly on their own private good, we don't need to be excessively attentive to their rights.
Ultimately we need to democratise all centres of economic and political power – which means entities such as the ANZ wouldn't exist in the same way as they do now.
'ANZ is 61% owned by US shareholders. Westpac 58% US owned.'
As I alluded to last week and was told that was nonsense.
ANZ has not bothered adhering to capital requirements for the last 5 years anyway.
Their departure would be great.Totally independent from ANZ Australia when it suits,and totally dictated to when it doesn't.
Maybe a trade off threat to prevent an inquiry as per the revelations across the Tasman.
Be a test of Govt resolve .
Did not see conversation last week but I recall that most shares are bought through a limited number of big global institutions including US-based ones. Does not mean the ultimate shareholders are American, or even not Australian. Just means the system is un-transparent.
"Anyone on The Standard: withdraw your accounts from the ANZ and shift your mortgages to a local bank. "
Which one would you suggest? KiwiBank are saying that they may not survive if the new regulations are implemented as they won't be able to raise the new capital required. Their shareholders seem to be of the view that there is likely to be no economic return from any more investment.
I don't think they are going to be a very good bank to shift to in the new climate of RBNZ policies if that is the case.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/113913216/kiwibank-warns-investors-may-starve-it-of-investment-under-reserve-bank-plans#comments
Kiwibank is for all intents and purposes Govt owned.
It can raise capital easily.
Why do you think the Big 4 banks are so profitable?What can they do,that KB can't?
Did you bother to read the article I linked to?
You clearly think you know more about it than the people who run the bank. What gives you such confidence and why should we believe you?
Yes I read it.
Of course I know more about it than people who run the bank.
The GFC,I saw it coming.
The reality is the big banks rely on a tacit Govt Guarantee,the 'too big to fail' argument.
You saw the attempts of the National party when in power to undermine KB,Kiwisaver,the Cullen Fund..and the rewards for doing so are glaringly ..obvious.
I like my co-operative bank. Seriously i ditched ANZ a few years ago after some really fucked up customer service on their part and many emails/phonecalls and call in person to a branch. I have not missed it, i have no issue doing my banking, paying my bills and serving my mortgage.
so yeah, there really is no reason to stay with a bank that despises its customers and only views them as dairy cows to be milked while the going is good and dropped when the going gets tough.
SAME. Find Cooperative Bank great Sabine @ 1.7.2 Get a few dollars back each year and no fees.
Yes I had a similar situation with the ANZ. They didn't care about me, and I certainly don't need them; there are plenty of other money-fakirs where they came from, and the newer kiwi banks from building societies have a good grasp on the system and offer courteous and quick service, very helpful.
https://www.sbsbank.co.nz/about-us/sbs-bank/history
Was Southland Building Society.
https://www.sbsbank.co.nz/about-us/sbs-bank/leadership/corporate-governance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBS_Bank
Banking day-to-day, TSB all the way – they routinely top the customer satisfaction rankings and have a decent-sized local branch offering foreign currency and other services. The Co-operative Bank is good too – have one investment account with them, and an under-used current account. No need to use foreign-owned banks.
Disclaimer: I don’t work for TSB or The Co-operative Bank, but do recommend these banks to friends.
http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/7876-satisfaction-with-new-zealand-banks-remains-high-201902142231
I am pretty sure that the TSB is the only Kiwi bank that is separate from using some of the services of the big commercial banks. I think that Kiwibank uses Westpac as 'collecting'? bank.
Tsb are dog shit. Kiwi bank have no cash no infrastructure and no one who knows anything
Bank customer surveys/polls are at odds with Infused's "dog shit" 'evaluation', although to be fair those surveys don't include “dog shit" on their ranking scale.
ANZ CEO Hisco (what was his 'exit' package again?) should have been be dog tucker, but corruption is the new normal under Sir John 'Haven' Key’s ‘watch’.
Yes, something surely stinks, but it’s not “dog shit“.
They’re all shit: horseshit, bullshit, bird shit, chicken shit, stir shit. But ANZ is the worst shit of all and thick as bat shit; Sir John would know as he’s some kind of connoisseur of bat shit.
Ha – penny just dropped re Key's off the cuff "thick as bat shit" assessment.
Co-operative Bank: https://www.co-operativebank.co.nz/
TSB: https://www.tsb.co.nz/about/history
Snap!
TSB consistently wins customer service awards compared with the other banks in NZ. No idea what they are like for mortgages.
and snap
You need to read the fine print on that survey to see how bogus it is
“Bogus“? Care to explain why, or are you only capable of flinging infused shit?
Is Consumer NZ's methodology also “bogus“?
“Local banks have outstripped the big four Australian banks for service…”
“Aussie-owned banking giants ANZ and ASB ranked last.”
https://www.interest.co.nz/business/93065/consumer-nz-survey-finds-tsb-co-op-bank-and-kiwibank-customers-are-happy-anz-and-asb customers are less so.
John Key bet against our currency in the past to gain. He has no loyalty to us.
ANZ has always worked against NZer's best interests, and do need reining in from excessive capital creation through marginal house and farm loans.
Hisco has shown a small sample of the entitled self interested way bankers live.
The Government should immediately institute a Banking Commission as in Australia.
Two words.
John Key
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/07/duncan-garner-lack-of-compassion-from-a-government-that-promised-to-end-homelessness.html
No shit?! You mean the guy is so powerful even out of govt that he can stop a govt department doing what it's supposed to do? Wow, folks will be impressed…
His is an enduring legacy.
I think the average person in the street is starting to realise how much the last government dropped the ball/did sweet FA.
The enduring legacy of Key is 9 years of austerity and the creation of a multitude of problems associated with underfunding everything.
The homelessness issue is just the tip of a pretty rotten iceberg.
Yes.
But the Nats and their friends in the media – I'm thinking Garner particularly – are attempting to cleanse the previous government's record on the erosion of social services and pretend that inherited social issues are something which mysteriously 'just were'.
This allows them to apply current negative headlines on social issues to the Labour government and accuse them of inaction, false promises, etc.
I haven't actually seen what the Nats propose to do on housing and social spending at all, have you? It’s a policy desert out there.
The current government has continued to make owning a rental property less desirable. In a country where renting is trending upward, without exception the many property managers I regularly speak with have had shrinking portfolios for 3 years. Over the past 3 months 4000 people required emergency housing, double the figure of 12 months ago.
This situation is a runaway train well on it's way to a washed out bridge. 'It's National's fault' is the response of empty, unimaginative, water treading time wasters.
What's the Action Plan Labour? Blame National? How many Cally Jo's will that house?
Gosh, you mean the government still hasn't fixed the homelessness problem? They've been in power more than a year now!
I guess those earthquakes we had in Christchurch several years ago were John Keys fault too! Lets hope the All Blacks win the world cup else poor old JK will get the blame for that too.
nope the earthquakes were not his fault.
but a lot of the shit that people in christchurch had to endure was due to the willful incompetence of the then government.
Poor old JK, poor old JK had a choice to make in the years that he was PM, run a decent government for all, or raise GST on those that have to pay it – the end consumer, drop taxes on those that don't need it, sell every asset that was not nailed and glued to the wall, and allow for hte wholesale of NZ to the highest overseas bidder in order to advance his own little career.
Poor old JK, had a choice to be a prime minister, and instead he choose to pull ponytails, run bad soap jokes on the radio, cut the widowers benefit, cut study allowances for beneficiaries, and settled homeless people with tens of thousands of dollars of in debt for 'emergency housing' to the tune of 2000$ per week in a fucking motel – for this price they could have rented a proper house for homeless.
so keep your poor old jk to yourself, cause there is nothing that will make that man ever a decent human being, and his legacy to NZ is a squandered 26 million for the Laser Kiwi Flag (i would have loved that one!), children and families living in vans near football fields that have open toilets.
All blacks will play as good or as bad as they always do, other teams will do the same, and if JK is given half a chance he will crawl up the arse of that male blond knicker model who also played ball and pretend to me a man of the people.
Wow…you must feel better after that rant. It's amazing he has been out of politics for how long? Brings to mind a song from Frozen…."Let it go…..".
Out of interest, who is the blonde knicker model who also played ball?
That handshake was cursed, man.
Don't let fake “human rights defenders” smear Nils Melzer
https://twitter.com/caitoz/status/1145645207796367361
a scum on the run – you cannot hide the truth martin – you are tainted and will never be clean.
shameful so shameful
We know this or those of us interested know it. We must front up before it can be fixed but often I feel like Tariana
Best to link to the actual information …
https://waitangitribunal.govt.nz/inquiries/kaupapa-inquiries/health-services-and-outcomes-inquiry/
thanks for doing that for me and so graciously too – you're a credit to your name
Health outcomes arent the same for people with different risk factors and lifestyle choices- food , alcohol, smoking being the biggies
My specialist says that around 1/3 of his patients dont attend the clinics he runs for ongoing monitoring.
They wont have the same outcomes as those who do.
here's the challenge though
if ethnic groups are higher risk and they require information delivered a certain way to get cut-through/buy in or whatever – if your specialist isn't of that ethnic group or can't for whatever reason deliver to that higher risk group in the way that they can hear – who is supposed to change. Yes the majority rules and that means great swathes of people who aren't the majority could miss out. That seems to be the evidence – the report shows it is as much racism as anything.
It is well-established by now that the biggest influences on health outcomes (about 70%) are beyond the health sector – mainly poverty, social capital, etc. Too easy for us to say it's about people not looking after themselves.
Al Gore gets talked about a lot due to his championing the environment.
Jerry Brown was talking to Kathryn on 9toNoon this a.m. and he is also well versed in the problems and solutions through being in California which was an early adopter of change, and so able to take on board the size of the problem that we are still grappling with and trying to wriggle away from.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018702246/california-governor-jerry-brown-on-climate-action
Such a significant report is hard to summarise. Fortunately, Gabrielle Baker has been following this whole Tribunal hauora process for over a decade: https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/02-07-2019/landmark-findings-on-maori-health-lay-a-clear-challenge-to-the-crown/
Keep them off the P and away from Bobbybrown then Tariana.
Gabby for PM – no nonsense here. Straighten up and fly right!
yep gappy for pee minister all right – urine it
saddy is that what you did – get off the pee – lol didn't think so – keep trying there you never know
Gabby, the only "saddy" here is the one who called you that. Not worth considering or replying to, imo. His ‘comments’ above (if you can even call them that) say much more about him than about you.
Nice – so a post about health deficiencies and racism for Māori in our system where gabby says get off the p to help and I'm the bad one for calling them saddy?
good to know what side of the fence you are on, thanks for clarifying
The great arctic journey.Fox travels from Svalbard to Canada in two and a half months.
https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/ecology/2019/06/arctic-fox-across-polar-ice-makes-record-run-svalbard-canada-25-month
Cool story, eh? Transcontinental trip to munch on lemmings. Good to see they provided a satellite's view tracking the trip so you can see its digressions & speed on the ice. Must be a food instinct motivating it (rather than a random trajectory).
The Southland environmental concerns are advancing. I got this message.
As you may be aware two motions on the topic will be debated at our meeting on 3 July 2019. The first motion is, ‘That the Council declares a Climate emergency’.
The second motion is ‘Environment Southland acknowledges that climate change is an important issue which we have to engage with. The Council commits to applying best practice and best science to its responsibilities and accords urgency to developing an action plan’. Please see our agenda.
As someone concerned about climate change you may be interested in a recently released report that was commissioned by all four Southland councils, Regional Climate Change Impact Assessment by the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA), which is available on our website.
So tomorrow. If anyone wants to give encouragement now is the time.
Kia kaha Robert.
Was anyone else having an attack of the deja vus this morning as the PM explained how intense negotiations managed to persuade that philanthropic organisation Amazon to film the LOTR telly series here in New Zealand?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/393416/very-high-level-talks-secure-filming-for-lord-of-the-rings-tv-series
Of course the promised repeal of the nasty Hobbit Enabling Act…. https://thestandard.org.nz/a-rushed-law-is-a-bad-law/ is not going to happen.
'Parties have reached a consensus.'
There were many, many interesting and challenging posts here on TS back then about the nefarious goings on in this sector….where are those commenters now?
https://thestandard.org.nz/tag/the-hobbit/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umj0gu5nEGs
As the saying goes…consensus changes nothing, nor does consensus lead to improvements
Consensus = Status Quo
Gosh! Someone tell the Green Party.
Sadly, Rosemary, I have to say yes to an attack of deja vu. And yes, I was one of the commenters last round.
I live in South Wellington and knew a lot of people who were involved in the last round of the LOTR etc films saga – meaning people who were actually involved in the making of the films. These included quite a few NZers* who worked in the industry or benefitted from the making of the films by providing support services such as catering, renting out property etc.
But as well as NZers, there were many, many film industry people* from overseas who moved here 'for the duration' of from months to some years – taking up rental properties in the south and eastern suburbs of Wellington, educating their children in our local schools etc. This in turn provided some peripheral employment such as child care etc.but usually of a low wage nature.
However, the situation now is very different. Rental property in these suburbs (which range for poor to well heeled) is now extremely hard to get and rental prices have gone through the roof, leaving low income families, beneficiaries, students etc out in the cold, couch surfing, doubling up, many families etc, in crowded accommodation etc. AirB& B is partially responsible but just plain old scarcity of property is the problem. In my suburb, many people are turning garages into accommodation for family, or to make money out of AirB&B, and other forms of rental with question marks over resource consents, meeting sanitary codes etc.
I am not sure whether the Amazon venture will be based in Wellington, but it would seem likely that the facilities at Weka etc will probably be used. If these south/east Wellington suburbs (or any part of Wellington for that matter) are faced with the influx that we experienced during the LOTR film years then things are likely to get to even worse … I am not sure that these factors/ consequences have even been considered in making these decisions to continue to push the film industry here.
I have now reread the RNZ link and Queenstown is expected to feature in the venture. Considering their current accommodation crisis …madness????
* While there were certainly a portion of high paid film people involved in the LOTR etc film projects, ( eg actors, directors, producers, etc) many/most of the people employed were not high paid at all – whether NZers or from overseas.
Thank you vw for your full and considered response. I'm a bit of a looker -backer, (must be an age thing) and am increasingly finding today's hot topics uncomfortably familiar. So I go back and have a read what was being said back then by 'this side' about how the 'other side' managed this issue of putting butter on the paws of film companies….and I damn near choke on the irony.
I guess this is politics and the reality is (the PM did not to my recollection utter those words this morning…please don't tell me if she did or I'll be tempted to abandon all hope) that this is how the game is played.
Sadly, it will take a stronger government than this to turn this around so more benefit from these ventures.
The accommodation aspect had not occurred to me….and of course you're right. Where are these folks going to stay?
Being a more often than not house bus dweller, my first reaction would be for these visitors to rent some of the vast fleet of motorhomes we have in NZ. Not only from the rental companies, but there are a couple of outfits that facilitate private motorhome owners to rent their vans out. (Not us, under any circumstances.)
Of course Queenstown is on the list of places where campers are simply not welcome….
I suppose there are a couple of those unwanted Kiwibuild houses free….
Plenty of billionaires' holiday palaces to rent to taxdodging movie companies.
I'm in this industry and accomodation will be a problem in Queenstown for the periods they will be shooting there. That's because there'll be a high proportion of non-locals involved.
Productions do make decisions based on things like the availability of accommodation. But it wouldn't be beyond them with a budget of this size to set up a temporary town!
Not so much in Auckland where most of the crew, production and extras will be local apart from a few heavyweights up from Wellington.
Of the main criteria overseas productions consider:
New Zealand has a permanent advantage with shooting locations and particularly the variety of different and untouched landscapes in close proximity.
There's a temporary advantage with the incentive scheme and to a lesser extend the exchange rate. Also, our crews are good and cheap (weak worker representation).
Where we fail is, as always, infrastructure. Studio space is awful, most productions having to use commercial warehouse space rather than proper sound studios which are few and far between. No one want to take the risk although that might be changing.
Lastly, American producers love to be on set, and NZ is a long way from anywhere. Canada is much closer and Europe is exciting and they can take their families. We can't do much about that, though.
In short, NZ landscapes and money is what swung this epic production here. Hopefully I can get a decent piece of it.
One more thing to consider is how long will actual outdoor landscapes be required in film-making…
…anyone seen the trailer for Lion King?
Thanks for that M/bird. Hope you get a piece of the action and moolah to match.
We're probably heading for a huge overshoot in residential accomodation in Queenstown. Too much development that's got a long way ahead of the local economy's ability to support. By the time this gets up and running all the builder's toys will be for sale on the road side, and To Let signs will be everywhere.
A lot of the new lower end hotels have been built to be easily adapted to worker accomodation as well, so the shift in tourism away from low yield markets could easily be taken up by a couple of film projects.
The tricky bit in Queenstown is where it's all based, most of the likely sites have been turned into housing. Although they could displace all the rental cars around Frankton (there's about 3Ha of them) but that's all next to the airport so difficult for a soundstage.
Auckland: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/393416/very-high-level-talks-secure-filming-for-lord-of-the-rings-tv-series
Oops, missed that bit – will blame that on massive head cold, not age! Also now noticed that the article also talks about building studios in Queenstown. Perhaps in a perverse way it could end up being a plus for the accommodation crisis there if as part of the agreement to build studios they had to provide an accommodation town as suggested by Muttonbird – but a permanent one, rather than a temporary one.
Empathy on the head cold but mine is in its easing stages. Just wait for Shane Jones and his provincial slush fund to swoop in and subsidise productions by underwriting both studio and workers' housing in that impoverished region.
So yesterday it was Winston accusing people of being anti-immigration.
Today Labour handing out subsidies to the entertainment industry they said were evil for 9 years in opposition to the richest man in the world
You couldn't make it up
I also noticed Ardern is only half ditching the hobbit law and people still can't strike
Chris T go back to Sauron and lick his boots.
Al Gore gets talked about a lot due to his championing the environment.
Jerry Brown was talking to Kathryn on 9toNoon this a.m. and he is also well versed in the problems and solutions through being in California which was an early adopter of change, and so able to take on board the size of the problem that we are still grappling with and trying to wriggle away from.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018702246/california-governor-jerry-brown-on-climate-action
Tulsi! The winner from the first debate.
Funny video with two, yes two good jokes about Meghan McCain.
Yup, she's quite the hit with the right-wingnut and MAGA crowd.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/rosiegray/tulsi-gabbard-maga-debate
??
Surely the right wingnut as Americans like to say will be voting for Trump again
Those voters who believed Trump's campaign talk about bringing back the troops , diminishing the military spend and using the money for repairing run down American infrastructure, and voted accordingly , could very well be interested in Gabbard.
These are the voters disappointed by Trump, and not necessarily right wing, unless anti imperialism passes for right wing in your circles
Those voters sucked in by the Fifth Avenue Fraud's talk about bringing home the troops, diminishing military spend and putting the money towards infrastructure showed a remarkable capacity for hearing only what they wanted to hear and ignoring the massive red flags thrown up by King Con's other talk. So yeah, they may indeed be suckered again by a few bait words from Gabbard and ignore the ugly realities of her total position which includes being pro-droning, surgical strikes, and cool with torture.
But look at the names mentioned in the Buzzfeed article (and links within) that are enthusiastic about Gabbard. You don't reckon Tucker Carlson, David Duke, Ann Coulter, Matt Drudge, Mike Cernovich, Steve Bannon, Richard Spencer et al are right-wing?
Andre thinks those dastardly Russians are controlling her, francesca. Pay him no mind.
Shouldn't be too hard on themselves going into 3 days to get things sorted that part of the world, look at Brexit for a comparision, even here it took a while longer to sort out the coalition govt.
https://www.euronews.com/2019/07/02/eu-leaders-seek-to-break-stalemate-on-top-jobs.
Would have thought the approach would be having sorted a majority block that agrees as one that a clear signal should be sent to the populace in the picks, that a progressive step has been taken by the EU in response to the changed vote direction & preliminary bounds for what those might entail. Then that block by majority decides the best candidates that can combine that with the practicalities of the tasks. Then you have the unanimous confirmatory vote.
The old cart before the horse problem of politics is universal though.
Has anyone else read this compelling Report?
Gordon Campbell on how the Americans are helping us realise the scale of the Operation Burnham fiasco.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1907/S00010/gordon-campbell-on-the-uss-operation-burnham-evidence.htm
Apart from the excellent Paula Penfold, our television "reporters" rarely mention it, and our radio stations are virtually silent. Maybe one of these days Annie Goldson will do another of her Afghanistan-based documentaries on it….
https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/10/review-of-he-toki-huna-new-zealand-in.html
https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-disturbing-story-behind-willie.html
Where are the Greens in leading the way to stop plastics at their source ?
There is so much more to do than just banning plastic carry bags.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/07/02/end-of-life-plastic-solutions-not-as-important-as-sources-greenpeace/
Being considerate. National & Labour have supported plastic since it appeared here in the early 1950s. It's only fair, then, to give them the opportunity to switch from supporting plastic pollution to eliminating it. So the Greens are standing back to watch the Nat/Labs fall over themselves competing to be first to solve the problem. Courtesy in politics is a timely radical move, eh?
Banning further oil drilling tackles the source.
"She's already laughing at him!" That halfwit Ben Shapiro being owned back in 2011
A couple of days ago, some fool on this mostly excellent forum claimed that Shapiro "is no idiot or racist." Just watch this and see if you think he's anything other than a sad, deluded idiot….
Idiot ideologue goes after Bert and Ernie, Big Bird, and their dangerous ilk.
Long before Andrew Neil pulled his wings off, Ben Shapiro had been thoroughly humiliated by Connie Martinson and, in this disastrous appearance, by Thom Hartmann…..
Thanks I hadn't seen that one Morrissey, it's always nice to see bigots being exposed for the morons that they are.
This bloke is especially egregious, because he seems to think he's an intellectual. He's not anything of the sort—as his embarrasing interviews with Connie Martinson, Thom Hartmann, and Andrew Neil show, he lacks the wherewithal to defend his outrageous statements with any semblance of coherent argument.
Shapiro is the American equivalent of Mike Hosking: he's pushy, self-involved, unembarrassable, and overwhelms weaker souls by talking non-stop and very quickly.
On the nail Morrissey – I listened for a while to this Shapiro guy – just as you describe. Unpleasant and obsessed with his own opinion to the point of mania.
Its good to see that our scientists have shown their concern on human caused climate change
More than 50 of New Zealand's top scientists call on Government to declare climate emergency
More than 50 of New Zealand's top scientists are calling for a declaration of a national climate emergency.
Some 52 signatories are current and former winners of the prestigious Rutherford Discovery Fellowship, an $800,000 grant given to 10 researchers each year to help retain and develop New Zealand's top scientific minds.
Quentin Atkinson, a professor at the University of Auckland, said scientists needed to be more vocal and urgent in pushing for change climate change ka kite ano link below.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/113946213/more-than-50-of-new-zealands-top-scientists-call-on-government-to-declare-climate-emergency
Kia ora Newshub.
Did you notice that the stuff ups in railway in Auckland stopped after Eco Maori pointed out the shit I no it a bit hard for you people living in your glass houses to believe but the rednecks will do anything to cheat a win didn't you see the links to national in that group. trump is empowering them in many ways
The correction of house prices is good for KIWIs first home buyers.
The business servaye is running by business who back national just more manipulation by them.
Why did nike put that flag on there new shoes good job for the damage to the brand for putting a flag on there shoes that support the old slave trade in America.
Ka kite ano.
Kia ora te ao Maori news.
Tuwharetua will not have been happy about all that waste water going into the taonga Taupo.
It's great that Tuwharetua IWI is working with Oranga tamariki to fix their troubled tamariki whanau.
Te puni kokiri is going back to focus on Maori wellbeing .
Its good to see Maori rising in our new government ka pai.
Tangata Whenua O Aotearoa being discriminated against because of their ta moko people have respect each other come on get on we have a beautiful country.
Ka kite ano
Some Eco Maori music for the minute.
https://youtu.be/tgIqecROs5M
Its good to see that there are more Wahine getting on power on the Papatuanuku stage. Congratulations
OPINION: After some intense horse-trading, International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde has been anointed Mario Draghi's successor as president of the European Central Bank. That signals a continuity of European monetary policy that won't please Donald Trump.
Lagarde was somewhat of a surprising choice to lead the ECB, having previously said she wasn't interested in any of the senior eurozone roles, including the ECB presidency. She would also be, not just the first woman to head the ECB, but the first non-economist and the first without any central banking experience
Once German defence minister, Ursula von der Leyen won the coveted presidency of the European Commission, however, the next most senior position available, the ECB presidency, was always going to be nominated by the other major European power, France.
Lagarde, a former French finance minister widely respected for her eight-year leadership of the IMF, was sponsored by French President Emmanuel ka kite ano link below.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/world/113980452/christine-lagarde-to-inherit-an-ailing-eurozone-and-an-unhappy-donald-trump
Some Eco Maori music for the minute
https://youtu.be/hlfQVvsNLFk
They play the same games no matter where Eco Maori goes
Good story George Monbiot that is exactly how I see OUR Papatuanuku people's reality being manipulated by the billionaires money to suit their greedy goals of being untouchable. Ma te wa time are changing now .
After urging land reform I now know the brute power of our billionaire press
A report I helped publish has led to attacks and flat-out falsehoods in the rightwing media. It’s clear whose interests they serve
All billionaires want the same thing – a world that works for them. For many, this means a world in which they are scarcely taxed and scarcely regulated; where labour is cheap and the planet can be used as a dustbin; where they can flit between tax havens and secrecy regimes, using the Earth’s surface as a speculative gaming board, extracting profits and dumping costs. The world that works for them works against us.
So how, in nominal democracies, do they get what they want? They fund political parties and lobby groups, set up fake grassroots (Astroturf) campaigns and finance social media ads. But above all, they buy newspapers and television stations. The widespread hope and expectation a few years ago was that, in the internet age, news controlled by billionaires would be replaced by news controlled by the people: social media would break their grip. But social media is instead dominated by stories the billionaire press generates. As their crucial role in promoting Nigel Farage, Brexit and Boris Johnson suggests, the newspapers are as powerful as ever.
They use this power not only to promote the billionaires’ favoured people and ideas, but also to shut down change before it happens. They deploy their attack dogs to take down anyone who challenges the programme. It is one thing to know this. It is another to experience it. A month ago I and six others published a report commissioned by the Labour party called Land for the Many. It proposed a set of policies that would be of immense benefit to the great majority of Britain’s people: ensuring that everyone has a good, affordable home; improving public amenities; shifting tax from ordinary people towards the immensely rich; protecting the living world; and enhancing public control over the decisions that affect our lives. We showed how the billionaires and other oligarchs ka kite ano link below.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/03/land-reform-brute-power-billionaire-press-attacks
Kia ora Newshub.
Its good that the rapid fire human killing guns are being taken off the streets.
Auckland is in a water shortage the people didn't take heed on conserving water they need a get the massage across with the media about the driest last 3 months in years.
That American Judge is discriminatory against the poor common people lettings a boy off serious charges because he is rich .?????
The microplasm bovine virus issue got blown out of the hemisphere because national tried to hide it swept it under the carpet the virus just kept on spreading.
I do think that our government needs to set up a climate change ministry to help people mitigate climate change issues.
Ka kite ano
Kia ora te ao Maori news.
Its cool that Oranga Rehua Marae program is getting a funding boost to help repair the damage caused by the Christchurch earthquake.
The Tuia 250 years since Captain Cook arrived celebration will or can be used as a tool to increase tangata whenua O Aotearoa mana wairua if we use it wisely.
Awesome to see te tamariki kapa haka going strong in Whakatane.
Ka pai to the tamariki of Ruatoki for their win in the kapa haka competition.
Mana Wahine gathering that is cool most Maori Wahine have great roles in our society' men just need to Show them the respect they deserve for gifting us Pepi.
Ka kite ano
Whanau more evidence that climate change is our reality .We have to stop burning carbon to protect our decendince mokopuna futures.
Giant heat dome over Alaska
All-time heat records are at risk in Alaska in the coming days as a massive and abnormally intense area of high pressure locks in and strengthens over the US region.
This heat dome is expected to produce temperatures near and above the highest values ever recorded for multiple days, particularly in southern parts of the state. It's the latest in a slew of record-shattering heat events in Alaska
Anchorage is predicted to match or best its highest-temperature ever recorded of 30 degrees Celsius (set in 1969) on five straight days between July 4 and 8. It could even flirt with 32C.
The US National Weather Service in Anchorage wrote that most of southern Alaska will be "downright hot with many locations in the 80s (high 20s) and even low 90s (low 30s)."
Ka kite ano link below.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/114010402/alaska-set-for-record-heat
'Biggest compliment yet': Greta Thunberg welcomes oil chief's 'greatest threat' label
Activists say comments by Opec head prove world opinion is turning against fossil fuels
Greta Thunberg and other climate activists have said it is a badge of honour that the head of the world’s most powerful oil cartel believes their campaign may be the “greatest threat” to the fossil fuel industry.
The criticism of striking students by the trillion-dollar Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) highlights the growing reputational concerns of oil companies as public protests intensify along with extreme weather
Mohammed Barkindo, the secretary general of Opec, said there was a growing mass mobilisation of world opinion against oil, which was “beginning to … dictate policies and corporate decisions, including investment in clean energy.
He said the pressure was also being felt within the families of Opec officials because their own children “are asking us about their future because … they see their peers on the streets campaigning against Ka kite ano link below.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/05/biggest-compliment-yet-greta-thunberg-welcomes-oil-chiefs-greatest-threat-label
Some Eco Maori music for the minute.
https://youtu.be/5Yj4j_lZMBo
Mana Wahine its good to see more Wahine on the Papatuanuku stage with power. Kia kaha the men are making a big mess of our Papatuanuku at the minute.
When it comes to global leadership trends, men with the big egos appear to be back; Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro to name a few.
But despite the trend, there’s also been moves to foster a more feminist approach to foreign policy
Lyric Thompson, director of policy and advocacy at the International Centre for Research on Women in Washington DC, says a feminist foreign policy is for all, the concept reflects that for the most part, foreign policy has been designed to reinforce the largely male-dominated and patriarchal structures in the global economy today.
“…it’s not saying only look at women, it’s saying look at the power structures that are expressed in a way that we organise everything from defence to trade to diplomacy and think about ways that we can restructure practice that enables a more equitable approach that is inclusive of folks that have historically been marginalised, including but not limiting to women
Ka kite ano link below.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights/audio/2018702171/feminist-foreign-policy