Open mike 02/08/2022

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 2nd, 2022 - 99 comments
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99 comments on “Open mike 02/08/2022 ”

  1. Blazer 1

    An interesting critique of the Zelensky narrative (by of all media-a Sky Au journo) that raises some pertinent questions.

    https://youtu.be/KEPWgMXut_8

    • joe90 1.1

      Bernardi isn't a fucking journalist. Bernadi's a RWNJ.

      • tc 1.1.1

        Cory Bernadi is scomo without the rat cunning as scomo knew where his bread was buttered….Cory shat in that bed so murdochville is his new home.

      • Populuxe1 1.1.2

        Sky Australia is the perfect place for him. It's a Murdoch outlet after all.

        • mikesh 1.1.2.1

          Whether he is a RWNJ, or scomo without scomo's rat cunning, is beside the point. As always it's the message that matters, not the messenger.

    • Jenny how to get there 1.2

      Antifa in Ukraine

      Ilya is a Russian anti-fascist anarchist. She fled to Ukraine after a crackdown by the Putin regime on Russian civil society, and has joined the fight against Putin's bloody invasion. Ilya has been joined up with

      ….Putin's invasion is not a war between two states. It’s a war between Putin’s regime and Ukrainian society. In my opinion, the Ukrainian state is corrupt, oligarchic, and neoliberal. I’m not too fond of it. However, Ukrainian society has a lot more freedom and pluralism than its Russian and Belarusian counterparts – than almost all of its neighbors. Turkey is no better than Putin’s Russia, while Poland and Hungary have swayed considerably towards conservatism lately. The Ukrainian state exerts considerably less control over its citizens’ private lives. Since Russia decided to export its authoritarian Mordor-style regime, Ukrainian society needs protection."

      Ilya

      https://theins.ru/en/politics/251492?

  2. logie97 2

    A lot is being made of the Cost of Living Payment going to an unknown number of NZers overseas. Perhaps they should see it as the government just giving them back some of the tax they reckon they deserve to receive. After all, they'll get sod all of any tax cuts Luxon is promising.

  3. Visubversa 3

    The BNZ seems to be doing a big panic over tax residency status as a result of all this. I have never had a tax residency in other than New Zealand since I opened my account in 1973, but I got a "please update" email yesterday.

    • Graeme 3.1

      BNZ has been having kittens about tax residency and anti money laundering for about 6 months. It's taken a couple of days out of our lives filling in inane forms and proving our identities, all for it to not be loaded correctly by staff who haven't a clue what it's about and then having to be done again.

      AML (anti money laundering) has been a thing for 10 years or so but gather this round has been brought on by Ukraine war and ensuing sanctions

    • Matiri 3.2

      Rabo has been doing the same thing over the past few months.

    • Puckish Rogue 4.1

      Unfortunately management and head office are s**t scared of bad publicity…well when that publicity is right out in the open

      You'd think they best way to deal with something like this is to spray the prisoners with water and then let the cold weather take its course

      The problem is whenever this is suggested the reply is always something along the lines of H&S, its too dangerous because they may slip off the roof etc etc

      So instead 'negotiation' is used to bring the prisoners down, never mind how many tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of damages has been done

      Good times

      • Jimmy 4.1.1

        Mind you Trevor Mallard tried the sprinkler approach and that didn't work out too well! Best to just leave them up there, they will come down when they get hungry.

        I always have a bit of a giggle about these prisoners that go on hunger strike……it's only ever going to end one of two ways, either they quit and decide to eat again (which means they are not that dedicated to whatever cause they were striking for), or guards carry out their lifeless bodies once they have passed away.

        • Mac1 4.1.1.1

          They're all down now. The reasons why they did the overnight on the roof are not yet public.

          • Puckish Rogue 4.1.1.1.1

            Probably a number of factors including, but not limited to:

            boredom, being manipulated, genuine issues that aren't being addressed, imagined issues that aren't being addressed, just being dick heads, wanting to be transferred, not wanting to be transferred, over inflated sense of importance, diagnosed mental health issues, undiagnosed mental health issues, making a name for themselves, not getting enough visits, not getting skype calling etc etc

            Or something else entirely

            • Mac1 4.1.1.1.1.1

              I think you may have just covered it, apart from the guys who just went along with the others for the ride……

          • Foreign Waka 4.1.1.1.2

            The did not get access to the sports facility by what the news explained at 6pm. Yep, that's right they are in prison for a crime not on recreational grounds. Also in the news a soft knew reaction regarding the ramrads. Something got to give, it is just a matter of time.

            • Puckish Rogue 4.1.1.1.2.1

              'The did not get access to the sports facility by what the news explained at 6pm.'

              I don't know with 100% certainty (being that I'm not in the Hawkes Bay) but if its like anywhere else the reason the crims didn't get to go out to the sports field is most likely due to short staffing

              The staffing levels in NZ prisons are dangerously low everywhere, emails have again been put out for anyone wanting to go onto secondments to other prisons

              There are always call backs available in Canterbury and its even worse in the North Island, as an idea check out the the job listings:

              https://mahi.corrections.govt.nz/jobtools/jncustomsearch.searchResults?in_organid=19420&in_jobDate=All

              About the only prison that doesn't have a listing is Invercargill, although strangely none in Canterbury are listed either

              Because we're running short we simply don't have the officers to run things over and above minimum entitlements

        • Drowsy M. Kram 4.1.1.2

          I always have a bit of a giggle about these prisoners that go on hunger strike……
          or guards carry out their lifeless bodies once they have passed away.

          What a hoot. /s

          • Jimmy 4.1.1.2.1

            You have to remember a lot of these people in there are in for very violent offences and are locked up to protect the public, so if they do decide to go on a hunger strike or do crazy stunts like this, and a few don't make it, is society better off or worse off?

            • Drowsy M. Kram 4.1.1.2.1.1

              I realise it's a bit of a giggle to you, but how many humans dying in custody would it take for you to consider the possibility that society was worse off?

              https://www.nzhowardleague.org.nz/

              • Puckish Rogue

                Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place

                • Jimmy

                  That must have been an eye opening experience working there. I hope you have not been too scarred by the experience. I can only imagine some of the 'people' you have had the unfortunate dis-pleasure to meet.

                  • Puckish Rogue

                    The thing is KM and Totara are really easy units to work in, you're at less physical danger

                    The flip side is you talk to people who do things you cant even begin to comprehend or imagine and they think its perfectly acceptable

                    This is one of the few times I won't give examples of what I'm talking about

                    The best thing you can do is not read their sentencing notes or their journals

                • Drowsy M. Kram

                  So at least 60 people, in your opinion – might you pause at 60, or carry on?

                  • Puckish Rogue

                    What is your point?

                    That you're a better, more moral person than I am?

                    That I'm borderline evil, sociopathic maybe?

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      What is your point?

                      That you're a better, more moral person than I am?

                      I don't know you Pucky, only what you write here. I’m disinclined to attribute behavioural traits to you on that basis alone – doesn’t stop some people though.

                      For the record, I’m opposed to capital punishment. It’s possible that could change, given the ‘right‘ circumstances, but I’d hope not.

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      I'm quite ok with people on here to judge me and you by our words on this subject

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      I'm way too woke to be comfortable with the idea of 60+ deaths at one unit in one prison – might it raise questions about competence?

                      https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/statistics/deaths_in_custody

                      That number of deaths would, however, represent a considerable saving to the tax payer, and some might find it a atisfying outcome.

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      Shame you can't ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I'd think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      Hang 'em high eh Pucky? So simple – and you'd be a hero. Makes you wonder why the death penalty was abolished in the first place – all those ambitions, thwarted – imagine the ‘fun’ you could have had with Peter Ellis.

                      Innocent people are too often sentenced to death. Since 1973, over 156 people have been released from death rows in 26 states because of innocence. Nationally, at least one person is exonerated for every 10 that are executed.
                      https://www.aclu.org/other/case-against-death-penalty

                      THE MISSION OF THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF EXONERATIONS is to provide comprehensive information on exonerations of innocent criminal defendants in order to prevent future false convictions by learning from past errors.
                      https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/ExonerationsContribFactorsByCrime.aspx

                    • Puckish Rogue []

                      You do know that one of the ways to get into treatment at KM is you have to admit your guilt

                      I'll also note that the Corrections Officers who were in the trial all thought Peter Ellis was innocent

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      You do know that false confessions occur in some child sex abuse crimes, albeit relatively rarely.

                      I’ll also note that if indeed “the Corrections Officers who were in the trial all thought Peter Ellis was innocent“, that didn’t do Ellis much good.

                      Since you touted the benefits of executing at least 60 imprisoned Kiwis, and mentioned being prepared to carry out the executions personally, are you also in favour of reinstating the death penalty?

                      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_by_country

                      Imho such a change would be regressive and out of step with many other democratic jurisdictions.

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      'You do know that false confessions occur in some child sex abuse crimes, albeit relatively rarely.'

                      I’ll also note that if indeed “the Corrections Officers who were in the trial all thought Peter Ellis was innocent“, that didn’t do Ellis much good.

                      – Again you are wrong. He had a much better time of it in prison than he otherwise would have.

                      Since you touted the benefits of executing at least 60 imprisoned Kiwis, and mentioned being prepared to carry out the executions personally, are you also in favour of reinstating the death penalty?

                      – Well obviously

                      Imho such a change would be regressive and out of step with many other democratic jurisdictions.

                      – My first consideration is to keep babies and children safe from paedophiles, shame you think paedos should be protected

                      – Says a lot about you

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      If you are suggesting that I think paedos should be protected from people who would 'execute' (murder) them, then yes – rule of law and all that. Your approach is too 'Top Gun' and Gung Ho! for my liking.

                      Just to be clear, if we followed the approach you are advocating, then NZ would reinstate the death penalty (removed from our statute books in 1961, except for the crime of treason which was repealed in 1989) and promptly execute at least 60 Kiwis? For starters?

                      https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/nz-behind-un-resolution-abolish-death-penalty

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      'If you are suggesting that I think paedos should be protected from people who would 'execute' (murder) them, then yes – rule of law and all that.'

                      – Just to be clear paedos cannot change, the best you can hope for is that they decide to be celibate and thats it

                      – The price you're willing to pay for the protection of paedos is that a baby or child will be abused

                      https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/research/reconviction_rates_of_sex_offenders

                      https://smart.ojp.gov/somapi/chapter-5-adult-sex-offender-recidivism

                      'Your alternative approach is too 'Top Gun' and Gung Ho! for my liking.'

                      – Maverick actually broke a number of laws, I'm advocating a course of action that could only happen after a change in the law, maybe you should try watching the movie

                      'Just to be clear, if NZ followed the approach you are advocating, then we would reinstate the death penalty (removed from our statute books in 1961, except for the crime of treason which was repealed in 1989) and promptly execute at least 60 Kiwis – for starters?'

                      – No you're not clear, they've been sentenced so no I wouldn't advocate for the death penalty for people that've already been sentenced (of course if new charges were to come to light that would certainly be different)

                      – Next time they commit the crime though

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      – Just to be clear paedos cannot change, the best you can hope for is that they decide to be celibate and thats it

                      Hmm – "paedos cannot change", and "they can decide to be celibate". Seems a tad contradictory to me, but you're the sexpert.

                      From your first link:

                      The re-imprisonment rate of adult sex offenders (35%) was twice that of child sex offenders (17%).

                      Pleased you “wouldn’t advocate for the death penalty for people that’ve already been sentenced” – let’s hope no new charges come to light.

                      Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                      Your ‘just getting started’ attitude frightens me.

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      'Hmm – "paedos cannot change", and "they can decide to be celibate". Seems a tad contradictory to me, but you're the sexpert.'

                      • I am compared to you. They cannot change their sexual attraction to babies and children, the best you can hope for is they decide to be celibate.
                      1. a person who abstains from marriage and sexual relations.

                        "he's attracted to women babies and children and yet he lives as a celibate”

                      'let’s both hope no new charges come to light.'

                      • No. Lets hope that the paedos you want to protect don't rape more babies or children in the future when they're released.
                    • Drowsy M. Kram
                      • No. Lets hope that the paedos you want to protect don't rape more babies or children in the future when they're released.

                      >80% don't – who protects them from your itchy execution finger?

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                    • Puckish Rogue []

                      So 20% do, you going to go along to the victims and their families and explain to them why you think its acceptable for this to happen?

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      …why you think its acceptable for this to happen?

                      Implying my opposition to your advocacy for the death penalty means that I think child sexual abuse is acceptable is pathetic – for the record (again), I think that child sexual abuse is unacceptable.

                      Sign this petition if it makes you feel better, but what you're advocating wouldn't fly even in the US ('Top Gun' reference!)

                      The death penalty: The past and uncertain future of executions in America

                      https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/facts-and-research/crimes-punishable-by-death/death-penalty-for-offenses-other-than-murder

                      Kennedy v. Louisiana Resource Page
                      When the law punishes by death, it risks its own sudden descent into brutality, transgressing the constitutional commitment to decency and restraint.

                      You could relocate to the likes of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, UAE or China to exercise you itchy execution finger – a move I for one would be comfortable with, if the (imho) extremist views you've expressed in this thread are more than shock jock bravado.

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                      Profiling Child Molesters: Thematic Differentiation of Crime Scene
                      Indicators and Correlations to PsychopathologyIndicators and Correlations to Psychopathology
                      [2021]

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      ' for the record (again), I think that child sexual abuse is unacceptable.'

                      • Whatever lies you want to tell yourself is your business but as the link you provided stated that 20% (I think it'll be more eventually) will reoffend and you're ok with that

                      You can sit there and think how much better you are, how much more of a moral person you are but know that the cost of what you believe are sexually abused children

                      Deal with it.

                    • Drowsy M. Kram
                      • Whatever lies you want to tell yourself is your business but as the link you provided stated that 20% (I think it'll be more eventually) will reoffend and you're ok with that

                      This "you're ok with that" lie of yours speaks to you character and becomes more pathetic with every repetition. It's clear evidence of the ease with which you lie and smear – deal with it.

                      I oppose the death penalty for any crime, including murder. Your hypothetical solution, i.e. the execution at least 60 Kiwis (for starters), is unethical and (thankfully) illegal. That there is not even a hint of reluctance to perform those executions yourself tells me all I need (or want) to know about you.

                      Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place

                      Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      'That there is not even a hint of reluctance to perform those executions yourself tells me all I need (or want) to know about you.'

                      – In my opinion if you want executions brought back you should willing to carry it out yourself not put it off onto someone else

                      – So tell me how many babies and children would it take to be raped to make you change your mind on this or is your mind made up?

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      My support for NZ law – killing by the State, or anyone, is illegal – won't change.

                      If (in your mind) that means I'm OK with the sexual abuse of children, then there really is no basis for further dialogue. You seem to be flogging a dead horse.

                      https://nzhistory.govt.nz/flogging-whipping-abolished

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      Considering you put paedos ahead of little kids tells me all I need to know about you and your priorities

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      Considering you put paedos ahead of little kids…

                      Are lies and smears all you’ve got?
                      You’re really giving this dead horse of yours a pounding – pathetic x3.

                    • Puckish Rogue []

                      Maybe you need to get off your moral high horse and understand exactly what your beliefs lead to

                      Ever thought of becoming a CO and spending time with the people you so piously defend?

                      Naah you probably think that's beneath you, much easier to criticise those who do it rather than roll up your sleeves and try to help at the coalface

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      Maybe you need to get off your moral high horse and understand exactly what your beliefs lead to

                      My belief is that current NZ law constraining you from executing Kiwis is sound. "New Zealand’s last execution occurred fifty [65] years ago, in 1957. Capital punishment was removed from our statute books in 1961 [National Govt, under Holyoake]" – maybe you need to understand why the reintroduction of the death penalty, that you appear to be gagging for, would be regressive.

                      Naah you probably think that's beneath you, much easier to criticise those who do it rather than roll up your sleeves and try to help at the coalface

                      I'm critiquing these (imho unhelpful) comments made by a fellow public servant on this site.

                      Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place [2 Augist @4:32 pm]

                      Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                      "I'm quite ok with people on here to judge me and you by our words on this subject" – roll up your sleeves and deal with it.

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      "I'm quite ok with people on here to judge me and you by our words on this subject" – roll up your sleeves and deal with it."

                      I want paedoes executed, you want to protect paedoes.

                      I don't mind everyone knowing how I feel about this subject, are you?

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      I want paedoes executed, you want to protect paedoes.

                      You want at least 60 paedos executed (for starters), and would carry out the executions yourself.

                      In NZ, the death penalty was abolished before you were born – imho your advocacy for capital punishment is regressive.

                      I believe your proposed 'solution' to the evil that is child sexual abuse is itself evil ("That I'm borderline evil, sociopathic maybe?" – 2 August @9:14 pm) – that's not going to change, and so our ideas on how best to decrease the incidence of child sexual abuse are irreconcilable.

                      On at least one thing we do agree – "I'm quite ok with people on here to judge me and you by our words on this subject", and will continue to remind readers here of your words.

                      Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place

                      Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                      Btw, did you get the Tom Cruise reference in my previous comment – a bit oblique maybe.

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      So do it then.

                      Put a new post up explaining how you want to protect paedos, explain how at least 20% (and thats low in my opinion) will reoffend, explain what reoffend means and then post my solution to paedos

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      you want to protect paedos

                      I believe in the rule of NZ law that protects all Kiwis from execution by the State – you don’t. Apart from paedos, are there perhaps other groups you might consider adding to your fantasy execution list?

                      Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place

                      Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                      Female perpetrators of child sexual abuse: A review of the clinical and empirical literature – A 20-year update [January 2022]
                      https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1359178921001415

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      Put a new post up explaining how you want to protect paedos, explain how at least 20% (and thats low in my opinion) will reoffend, explain what reoffend means and then post my solution to paedos

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      Put a new post up explaining how you want to protect paedos…

                      Won't respond to your demand unless you can provide a quote that shows I think child sexual abuse is acceptable. No weasily inferences or deductions on your part – just a direct quote.

                      I don't need to protect paedos from execution by you – NZ law protects them. A professional, rational CO would understand why that is. Imho your comments in this thread are a disgrace.

                      Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place

                      Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      Put a new post up explaining how you want to protect paedos, explain how at least 20% (and thats low in my opinion) will reoffend, explain what reoffend means and then post my solution to paedos.

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      Won't respond to your demand unless you can provide a quote that shows I think child sexual abuse is acceptable. No weasily inferences or deductions on your part – just a direct quote.

                      Imho your comments in this thread are a disgrace – over to you.

                      Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place

                      Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      Put a new post up explaining how you want to protect paedos, explain how at least 20% (and thats low in my opinion) will reoffend, explain what reoffend means and then post my solution to paedos.

                      You won't post because you know people on here will side with me (a known conservative) more than you

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      You won’t post because you know people on here will side with me (a known conservative) more than you

                      Maybe most people reading this would be happy if (at least) 60 child sex offenders "suddenly died in custody" (“a good start“), but it seems like a slippery slope. If you can't see that then fine, and under NZ law it's a moot point anyway – no rational CO is going to risk facing multiple homicide charges just to exercise an itchy execution finger.

                      Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place

                      Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      Too gutless to make a post and (correct me if I'm wrong) certainly too gutless to put on a uniform and deal with these people face to face

                      What use are you?

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      I'm critiquing these (imho) disgraceful comments; it’s not personal.

                      Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place

                      Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      You made it personal:

                      'Hang 'em high eh Pucky? So simple – and you'd be a hero. Makes you wonder why the death penalty was abolished in the first place – all those ambitions, thwarted – imagine the ‘fun’ you could have had with Peter Ellis.'

                      You won't even create a post because you know you'll lose, you who won't even put a uniform to see what prison is really like yet you'll happily 'critique' those who do

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      Why did the NZ Parliament abolish the death penalty?
                      Here's (one reason) why.

                      Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place

                      Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                      I’m sure you’re a winner in your own mind, but this one was ‘lost’ before you were born – deal with it.

                      New Zealand’s last execution occurred fifty [65] years ago, in 1957. Capital punishment was removed from our statute books in 1961 [National Govt, under Holyoake]”

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      Well done, you support something that happened over 60 years ago and won't ever come back, so stunning and brave of you to make this stand

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      Thanks PR, in the same vein your advocacy for mass executions is stunning and brave – what you are proposing would certainly be a first in NZ.

                      Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place

                      Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                      The child sex offender ‘treatment’ you are proposing is, however, illegalplease select a different treatment.

                      DOES SEX OFFENDER TREATMENT FOR ADULTS REDUCE REOFFENDING?
                      New Zealand evidence
                      Studies have found that child sex offender treatment for adults in New Zealand is effective.
                      Three separate studies have assessed the child sex offender treatment programme provided by Corrections in its special treatment units at Rolleston and Auckland Prisons. The researchers found that child sex offenders who completed the programme, were significantly less likely to be charged or reconvicted for a sexual offence than untreated child sex offenders.
                      https://www.justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Publications/Sex-Offender-Treatment-for-Adults.pdf. [Sept 2016]

                      Treatment Interventions for Perpetrators of Sexual Violence

                    • Incognito []

                      The research could quite possibly do with an update, but the message seems clear enough:

                      “The evaluation shows that participants who completed the community-based programmes had a 5.2 percent recidivism rate, compared against the recidivism rate for untreated child sex offenders of between 16 to 21 percent,” says Jared Mullen, General Manager Policy Development.

                      The community-based programmes are funded by a number of agencies, including Corrections, Child, Youth and Family, and other community funding sources.

                      “It’s reassuring to know that effective programmes for this type of offending are available and being delivered in New Zealand, both in prison and in the community,” says Jared.

                      “However, we should remember that there’s no such thing as a cure for sex offending – no matter how good a therapeutic programme is, some participants will re-offend at some stage. All programme graduates need to maintain life-long vigilance against slipping back into old patterns.”

                      In New Zealand, treatment options for child sex offenders fall into three main groups: prison-based sex offender treatment units (such as Kia Marama at Rolleston Prison and Te Piriti at Auckland Prison), community provider programmes, and individual intervention through a psychologist.

                      The prison-based programmes have consistently evaluated well, with a 2002 Canadian review 1 of sex offender programmes putting Kia Marama alongside the most effective treatment programmes available internationally, on the basis of Kia Marama’s evaluation document, And There Was Light.

                      https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/research/child-sex-offender-treatment

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      Thanks Incognito (@11:19 am) – I have next-to-no experience in this area, but imho the idea of initiating mass executions in NZ is extremely regressive, and to advocate for same is disgraceful.

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      'but imho the idea of initiating mass executions in NZ is extremely regressive, and to advocate for same is disgraceful.'

                      Advocating (legal) executions for paedophiles is, to me, less abhorrent than advocating for a system that you know will mean children and babies get raped

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      Advocating (legal) executions for paedophiles is, to me, less abhorrent than advocating for a system that you know will mean children and babies get raped

                      Yes, we agree that advocating for (unprecedented) mass executions and advocating for child rape are both abhorrent (disgusting and repugnant); not going to quibble about the lesser of two evils.

                      But it seems unlikely (to me) that the Government-funded system currently affording you employment as a CO is deliberately facilitating child sexual abuse – if I genuinely believed I was working for such a system, then I would quit – you know, get some guts and all that.

                      Would also quit if I was working for a system when it deliberately initiated mass executions ("a good start") – it's just personal principle.

                      Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place

                      Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      'if I genuinely believed I was working for such a system, then I would quit – you know, get some guts and all that.'

                      Yet you don't have the guts to make a post outlining your views and beliefs what those beliefs lead to

                      From the link you provided 20% will reoffend (and it'll be more than 20% in reality)

                      Get some guts, make a post and see what everyone else thinks

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      No electable political party supports what you're advocating (mass executions within the NZ penal system) – your extremely regressive 'treatment methods' for kiddy fiddlers” will not be implemented.

                      Imho these comments of yours are simply impotent macho bluster – if you genuinely believe that mass executions of child sex abusers would be "a good start", then please relocate to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, UAE or China, where your itchy execution finger might make a difference.

                      Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place

                      Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      'then please relocate to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, UAE or China, where your itchy execution finger might make a difference.'

                      And who'd replace me, you?

                      Someone so gutless they won't even put up a post because they're scared of the reactions they'll get

                      Yeah right

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      Someone so gutless they won’t even put up a post because they’re scared of the reactions they’ll get

                      Haven’t stopped commenting in this thread yet, and don’t intend to while comments remain open, because I believe your advocacy for mass executions within NZ penal system is extremely regressive, and disgraceful – a boil that needs to be lanced, so to speak.

                      And who'd replace me, you?

                      Doubt I'd be eligible – is it your contention that any replacement hired by Corrections would also advocate mass executions?

                      Tbf, the idea that an applicant for a CO position could harbour ambitions of carrying out mass executions within the NZ penal system probably never crossed the minds of your interviewers, and yet here are your words, in black and white.

                      Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place

                      Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      'Doubt I'd be eligible – is it your contention that any replacement hired by Corrections would also advocate mass executions?'

                      – Its my contention that anyone who hasn't got the courage to put a new post on here certainly wouldn't have the courage to step foot on the floor and tell prisoners what to do

                      'Tbf, the idea that an applicant for a CO position could harbour ambitions of carrying out mass executions within the NZ penal system probably never crossed the minds of your interviewers, and yet here are your words, in black and white.'

                      – Unlike you I stand by my words so keep posting them here or, if you've got the guts, a new post tomorrow morning

                      – Also sorry (not sorry) to burst your bubble but within Corrections Officers my views, not yours, are mainstream

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      Unlike you I stand by my words…

                      Like you, I stand by my words – advocating (on a left-leaning political blog, no less) for mass executions within the NZ penal system is extremely regressive, and disgraceful; a boil that needs to be lanced.

                      …so keep posting them here

                      Thanks – I most certainly will.

                      Also sorry (not sorry) to burst your bubble but within Corrections Officers my views, not yours, are mainstream

                      If these views really are mainstream among (a majority of?) Corrections Officers, then (imho) the Minister of Corrections should be made aware (if he isn’t already) – OK if I email this thread to his office, or will you?

                      Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place

                      Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                      office.davis@parliament.govt.nz

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      Good, then the Minister’s office will receive this thread twice. [Oops, your reply seems to have disappeared?]

                      Don't know why you're so insistent that I should put up a new post – this thread is going OK as far as I'm concerned.

                      Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place

                      Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      'Good, then his office will receive this thread twice. [Oops, your reply seems to have disappeared?]'

                      – I'm shaking in my boots

                      'Don't know why you're so hot and bothered about me starting a new post – this one is fine as far as I'm concerned.'

                      – As course this is fine for you, no one else is reading it.

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      I don't mind how many people apart from you and me might read this thread or this email – hopefully at least one other person.

                      To the Office of the Minister of Corrections (the Hon Kelvin Davis)

                      It has come to my attention today that a NZ Corrections Officer who is advocating for mass executions within the NZ penal system, also believes that this view is mainstream among COs.

                      Normally I would dismiss such regressive advocacy as right-wing bravado, but he is an insider and, as such, perhaps his insights into work-related attitudes among COs should be taken seriously.

                      I would appreciate some reassurance from you, or your office, that advocacy for mass executions of prisoners is not widespread among Corrections staff. If these extremely regressive views are, in fact, widely held, then in my opinion this would constitute a metaphorical boil in need of lancing.

                      The following two direct quotes (made by the anonymous NZ Corrections Officer who drew this to my attention, and who has assured me that he will also be providing your office with the relevant thread) sums up the advocacy that I find so disgraceful. The entire thread (and a link to same) is appended at the end of this email.

                      "Considering my last shift was in Kia Marama I could name at least 60 people whose deaths would make NZ a much better, safer, place"

                      "Shame you can’t ask the families of the victims what they think but if 60 child sex offenders suddenly died in custody I’d think its a good start

                      I know what your next question is going to be and the answer is yes I would be willing to carry out the executions myself, if the death penalty was reinstated"

                      Sincerely, a concerned citizen [gave my real name in the email]

                      Well, that's done – don't expect anything beyond an acknowledgement but will let you know.

                    • Puckish Rogue

                      I'll wait with bated breath, thats sarcasm if you weren't sure

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      smiley

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      Tēnā koe,

                      Ngā mihi nui o te wā ki a koe.

                      Thank you for your email to the Hon. Kelvin Davis, MP for Te Tai Tokerau.

                      If your email is concerning one of his portfolios we will forward your correspondence onto Wellington for his team to action at k.davis@parliament.govt.nz

                      If your email is regarding an issue within the Te Tai Tokerau Electorate we will be in contact as soon as is possible. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

                      Please accept this as acknowledgement of your correspondence.

                      Nākū noa,

                      The Office of the Hon Kelvin Davis

                      MP for Te Tai Tokerau

                      Minister of Corrections
                      Minister for Children
                      Minister for Te Arawhiti – Crown/Māori Relationships
                      Associate Minister of Education (Māori Education)
                      Deputy Leader of Labour Party

                      Authorised by Hon. Kelvin Davis MP, Parliament Buidings, Wellington

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      Email this morning, from a person (!) – will keep you informed:

                      Thank you for raising this, I have sent to our Wellington team to take a look into.

                  • Puckish Rogue

                    'Like you, I stand by my words – advocating for mass executions within the NZ penal system is extremely regressive, and disgraceful; a boil that needs to be lanced.'

                    No you don't.

                    You stand by your words when it suits you but you don't have the guts to start a new thread

                    'If these views are mainstream among Corrections Officers then (imho) the Minister of Corrections should be made aware – OK if I email this thread to his office, or will you?'

                    Sure I will

              • Jimmy

                It is pretty hard to get in to prison these days with a lot of judges giving very 'soft' home detention type sentences to reduce the prison numbers. But to be honest, if all the recidivist rapists, murderers, drug dealers and violent offenders that are in prison were suddenly 'wiped out' tomorrow (and I don't know how many that would be), I wouldn't lose any sleep.

        • Puckish Rogue 4.1.1.3

          'Mind you Trevor Mallard tried the sprinkler approach and that didn't work out too well!'

          I'd use it differently, spray them to make them wet and let the cold take care of the rest.

          No tents or supporters for the guys on the roof

          'Best to just leave them up there, they will come down when they get hungry.'

          Problem with that is the amount of damage they can do while up there, the potential for injury (I couldn't care less if they hurt themselves but you know what the medias like…) and that its the prisoners decision to come down which means in this situation they have control

          One way officers used to end hunger strikes was by cooking various foods and letting the smells do their thing or by making a very sweetened cup of tea/coffee but yeah with hunger strikers we actually monitor what they eat and drink, a real time consuming pain in the butt

  4. DB Brown 5

    A 60 year treaty of friendship with Samoa (as of yesterday) – that's awesome. We're there celebrating this event and with gifts. Lovely story.

    Also, embedded in the article is a rare clip – Our opposition leader not tripping over himself and politicking well.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129452293/pm-jacinda-ardern-announces-funds-for-rebuild-of-historic-market-climate-change-projects-in-samoa

  5. joe90 6

    Out with the old half-wit, in with the new one.

    /

    https://twitter.com/RuthHen05786097/status/1554223524142792708

    • Stuart Munro 6.1

      The Conservatives should be more grateful – Starmer will never cobble together a majority while Nicola Sturgeon holds the North.

  6. Ha! Natz Bennet, a Luxon/Muller lookalike, lasted less than 10 minutes into QT today!

    But at least he found the exit without assistance! (Or at least, I hope so!)

    • Peter 7.1

      Dammit, I missed that. I've seen him before where he demonstrated a remarkable lack of intelligence. He simply didn't 'get' stuff.

  7. Robert Guyton 8

    Did anyone watch this??

    Every body should!!

    Kiri – amazing!!

    Question 11 – Hon Paul Goldsmith to the Minister of Justice

    (can't link).

  8. Stephen D 9

    The Greens are probably right, Part Two.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/01/climate-endgame-risk-human-extinction-scientists-global-heating-catastrophe?utm_term=62e8ba27a84b101beef408793622657a&utm_campaign=FirstEdition&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=firstedition_email

    ”The risk of global societal collapse or human extinction has been “dangerously underexplored”, climate scientists have warned in an analysis.”

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    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
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    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
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    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
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    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
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    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
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    7 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
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    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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