Open mike 02/11/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, November 2nd, 2019 - 66 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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

Step up to the mike …

66 comments on “Open mike 02/11/2019 ”

  1. cleangreen 1

    Jacinda needs to wake up as this climate change report in September says it all.

    How come freight road transport is still rising at an alarming rate of 6% annually while rail freight is still retreating?

    Trucks are now coming from al over the central North Island with logs and are still “double handling” before dropping logs to Napier port?

    Road transport claimed rail was “not viable because of double handling but trucks are now double handling too?

    So our road transport (GHG) ‘Greenhouse gas emissions’ are now rising, while if government switched to using rail freight they would would reduce road freight (GHG) emissions. Jacinda; “Lets do this”

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/09/25/new-un-climate-report-massive-change-already-here-worlds-oceans-frozen-regions/

    “Climate and Environment
    New U.N. climate report: Monumental change already here for world’s oceans and frozen regions
    Growing coastal flooding is inevitable, and damage to corals and other marine life has already been unleashed”

    • SPC 1.1

      There is the inconsistency of growing trees for GW mitigation when we transport the logs the way we do.

      • David Mac 1.1.1

        Water has been used to transport logs since we've chopped them down. I wonder if a tug with a purpose built net could deliver 100 truckloads to Marsden Point from the Far North in a few days.

        Hook the net onto a Chinese ship and they wouldn't need loading. The Chinese ship could be filled with something else, tow the logs home. Float them down a slipway in China, straight into drying racks then saws.

  2. marty mars 2

    Starting to hurt – I'm sure his pants would spontaneously combust in his wee fireside chat – what a turkey

    Donald Trump has insisted he has “done nothing wrong” and does not deserve to be impeached, and made the extraordinary suggestion that he appear on live TV to read the full transcript of his controversial phone call with the Ukrainian president in a “fireside chat”.

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/01/trump-impeachment-inquiry-ukraine-call-transcript

  3. 'November 2019' – Happy Blade Runner day.

  4. cleangreen 5

    I look forward to hearing from Don "the accused".

    As we should have heard from Hillary Clinton also in this way; – as she destroyed quote;"the sensitive government cellphone records" – FBI had ordered Hillary to supply them with before Hilary stopped wiping those records from her phone and covered it up by destroying the 30 000 files.

    So why did she do this after being requested by FBI to surrender the files to them?

    We know that the FBI/CIA are both historically corrupt.

    But is is puzzling why Hillary was so keen on destroying the files instead of being "transparent.

    So Donald trump is now challenging all by opening up the debate in public.

    This is refreshing as the Democratic party won't do this,

    As the impeachment inquiry was done under a "closed door policy" and Trump is opening it up for all to see and this is a positive move by trump..

  5. Marcus Morris 6

    My local paper recently published a review of Peter Dyer's book "The story of New Zealand's leaky home disaster". I then found this article on Stuff, reviewing the same book, https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/116236850/the-rottenomics-of-the-47-billion-leaky-homes-market-failure?fbclid=IwAR0UC0-Et8k8JJMqfy8dPNx7H2bK23sT84RbCYu94yfYtl5ru_bTd6AxeAY.

    I apologise if I have missed an earlier thread on this topic but surely this is an issue that is timely and shows again, quite clearly, how we shouldn't trust our economy to a party that still believes in the efficacy of the free market and self regulation. The Nat's will be using every tool at their disposal to discredit the Government over the next ten months and Dirty Politics will raise its head again. The leaky homes scandal goes on and on and it needs to be held up as a placard for all to see.

    • David Mac 6.1

      Dyer arrives at a fix price of 47 billion. It could only ever be a rough estimate. Leaky homes are NZ's housing herpes. I think we're stuck with it for 100 years. Even those builds deemed to be sound, in 50 years when another bedroom is being added on, there will be walls opened up lined in black fur.

      As time passes, it looks more and more like the home owner will be responsible for setting it right.

      The fiasco deserves to be a segment on 'Great technological disasters of the 20th Century.' at least Twyford just hasn't built many, we whacked up 1000's of these kid's garden forts.

      • greywarshark 6.1.1

        Add to the leaky homes fungus-filled, there will be infrastructure failures because of low quality or too lean reinforcement or poorly fixed structures. That will result in spectacular failures similar to the 2011 CTV (Canterbury Television) building.

        https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/99420943/why-is-noone-being-prosecuted-for-the-ctv-building-collapse-tragedy (2017)

        We have a history of mismanagement and disasters in NZ, which were entirely preventable by following good and precautionary practices. This morning the Erebus disaster was discussed by Kim in an interesting and poignant recall of that history and the thoughts of a grand-daughter to remember the tragedy of the plane crash and deaths, and the caring of the people doing the recovery and identification work.

        https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018720412/granddaughter-of-erebus-victim-on-her-quest-for-the-truth

        • David Mac 6.1.1.1

          We fell prey to discount fashion.

          "I've got an easy and cheap way to build one of those houses from an exotic location. (where it never rains or quakes)."

          I think Erebus is like most of the incidents explored on that 'Mayday' TV show. Aircraft catastrophes so often seem to be 2 or more circumstances lining up in a row that leads to calamity.

          Faulty navigational data loaded before take-off, a Captain thinking he was 10 miles to starboard and a white-out blizzard blows in.

          With leaky homes, we organised the blizzard.

          Now we have a standards regime frightened of getting anything that resembles egg on it's face. Friend of mine had a final inspection done recently. He failed on many points, most of them 'Tough but fair enough, it's in the code'. But an imperfection in the paintwork??

          • Molly 6.1.1.1.1

            The LBP scheme fails in that it allows the regulatory authority to absolve itself of responsibility. As the only authority for building it should take full responsibility for the standard and compliance of the build. That is why we pay the fees and costs associated with consents. However, the LBP reduces local authority exposure to financial liability for future failures.

            Many LBP roles are supervisory or managerial, and I suspect there are multiple signoffs by the registered LBP when they have had very little or nothing to do onsite. There is a whole industry around the consenting process that has work outsourced by local authorities, that contributes very little to design and build quality and nothing in the way of considered planning.

            (A friend of mine also failed to get her compliance certificate until the second coat of paint was completed. Her basement toilet – however – was LBP certified, and never worked without backing up and spraying the small room with the result.)

    • Brigid 6.2

      "Builders who could not convince insurers their work was sound would not be able to operate"

      Yeah that'll fix it. Let insurance companies be the watchdog.

      God stiffen the bloody crows!

      • greywarshark 6.2.1

        From the link in 6.1

        The Wellingtonian met dozens of leaky home owners while researching Rottenomics. Their tales were harrowing.

        "If you don't have anywhere else to go, you are trapped inside a house that is making you sick. These homes have made a lot of people sick. You are not just sick, you are demoralised. It's a downward cycle," he said.

        Many lacked the money to fix their homes, and were trapped in decaying buildings.

        Mental health problems and suicide would result one would think, and their numbers are rising. And it is so dispiriting to live in such a lying society, one that used to say it was classless, and praise itself to the skies, and the 1984 events show that was just propaganda, with no commitment to keep it good for all.

        • Molly 6.2.1.1

          I know of a couple who purchased one of the Orewa leaking apartments while they were living and working overseas. Because the purchase was a rental investment, the IRD effectively reimbursed them a significant part of the remediation build as it acted as a major loss for that particular property, which reduced their overall income on their property portfolio.

          It always struck me as a major failure that those who invested in these properties – and had alternative living arrangements – were able to access those financial levers that owner occupiers could not.

          • greywarshark 6.2.1.1.1

            It seems to show an inherent bias in the system that looks after people in business making money from something, and those who are just providing for their essential living needs get the run-around. The citizen is not in the picture, and the very small businessman too has to manage without much concern about their welfare.

  6. greywarshark 7

    An interesting interview on Radionz with a deep-sea-cave diver. Clever stuff, and using tech innovations that could be crucial in understanding our seas.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018720417/cave-diver-jill-heinerth

    • Hopefully you stuck with RNZ @greywarshark for that wot followed (William Dalrymple). We might just be in time to prevent a repeat of it all. It doesn't have to be inevitable

      • greywarshark 7.1.1

        OwT I thought that Dalrymple was riveting.

        10:05 William Dalrymple – the anarchic rise of the East India Company

        Across a 30 year writing career, Scottish historian, broadcaster and critic William Dalrymple has been preoccupied with the history and culture of India.

        It's the country he now calls home for half the year, spending summers in his native Scotland. With family connections to India dating back for generations, his latest book The Anarchy traces the 'relentless rise', dazzling heyday, and the sometimes shameful past of the East India Company.

        At the peak of its powers, this prototype for the vast multinationals of today exerted as much power and influence as any nation state.

        I remember Dalrymple saying that the East India Company had control over much of India and its wealth and industry, from a building in UK of 35? people. It was a fiefdom run for the benefit of scheming, wealthy people, and willing to squeeze the great continent of India dry. It had been going since Shakespeare's time until finally in thmid 1800's the Brits took control after it enabled the Great Bengal Famine, which is a similar stain to the Irish Potato Famine than the Lords and Ladies of Britain found acceptable to bring about.

        Dalrymple mentioned Brexit and I think Boorish and to me it is a case of deja vu. The Cons are going all out for wallet weighting. They have managed to screw the people, tighten welfare and bring people to a state of degeneration in England, and I don't know if in the Wales and Scotland kingdoms they have been able to limit the downfall.

        He points out that Brit made their loot (a Moghul word?) from stealing from India and from trading in the Carribean with slaves and sugar. So the might of Britain is tainted, and the people running the country are also, and no doubt have gifted their art of cunning thievery with low ethics through their family lines to the present Cons as exemplified in the swingeing swindlers in the UK Government.

        I think it might be a good idea to then listen to the interview with Lady Anne Glenconner and her remniscences? of her life and relationship with Princess Margaret. She was married to Lord Colin Tennent who was very rich.

        He would be similar to the top people in the East India Company and no doubt the present-day Cons. Lady Anne looks back wryly but fondly and draws a wise summary:

        "[At one stage] he took off to Africa .. the whole point was you got in a canoe, went off to look animals. This lady had broken her leg and she couldn't get into the canoe. Colin was absolutely furious, came back and said 'Anne, I've had the most ghastly holiday. I think I've behaved very badly.' I said 'Colin, I really don't want to hear'. It was sort of fairly endearing."

        Colin's temper was so bad he was banned for life from British Airways after an incident in California which involved him lying down on the plane kicking and screaming because there wasn't a first-class seat for him – then getting escorted off the flight by police.

        Wealth is sometimes the only difference between eccentricity and madness, Anne says.

        "If you're eccentric you have to have money, you can't be a poor eccentric. If you're poor then it's mad, if you're very rich then you're eccentric."

        https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018719473/lady-anne-glenconner-i-ve-got-a-hell-of-a-lot-of-very-good-stories

        • OnceWasTim 7.1.1.1

          Yep, well you can see where the neo-liberal blind faith is taking us. It's now so ingrained into 'the powers that be' that they often don't even realise that it drives them in everything they do. There's a generation that's grown up knowing nothing else.

          Dalrymple was a good way to end the week. Lest I offend some on TS, I opted for TDB with this:

          https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/11/02/the-daily-blog-open-mic-saturday-2nd-november-2019/

          • David Mac 7.1.1.1.1

            How do I avoid engaging with neo liberals if I want a phone, electricity and a car? It drives everything we all do.

            If I want a fishing boat and enough savings to get my kid through Uni I can't see how I can do it without engaging with neo liberal gameplay.

            I'm encouraging Xero, Contact energy, Spark, Nissan…aren't we all?

            • OnceWasTim 7.1.1.1.1.1

              You can't if you want certain products or services. But not everything has to be commodified and marketed. Education, knowledge, art, music for example doesn't have to be solely for the purpose of gaining a profit (above what it takes to support people actually providing it with a livable income) .

              There's stuff and things that are part of the commons. Water, the air we breath, nature. Neo-libs would privatise and sell it all for a profit and as many ticket clippers as they can get away with if they thought they could keep the natives from getting restless. Especially failed pig farmers and perpetual growth merchants.

          • greywarshark 7.1.1.1.2

            As a matter of interest OwT – have you ever written a comment under a post by MB that criticises the tone and content of it? And was yours conspicuous by its absence?

            • OnceWasTim 7.1.1.1.2.1

              Not that I recall @greywarshark but it's possible. Do you mean – as in things going into a black hole? I've seen one or two people complain about their comments getting lost/censored but I don't think there's anything sinister in it.

            • OnceWasTim 7.1.1.1.2.2

              Oh – Do you mean as in https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/11/01/the-daily-blog-open-mic-saturday-2nd-november-2019/ now seems to have disappeared up it's own derriere?

              If so – here's the comment:

              IMHO, it's probably been a bit of a septem horribilis for some in Labour.

              As Shane 'mis-spoke', Labour seems to have 'mis-calculated', and all of it not that necessary given a little more forethought.

              While Ministers and senior public servants were 'inside the tent' pissing out and over each other, they mis-calculated the number 'outside the tent' now wanting to piss in.

              In a bicultural/multicultural society where its Anglo-Saxon Toffs (and even some of those lesser Noble Savage types) let it be known to their offspring who is an acceptable partner, and who isn't – under threat of their inheretance; where transactional relationships such as 'fuckbuddies', 'friends with benefits', 'Facebooked hookups', 'open relationships', 'swinging' and Married At First Sight matchmakers are all a bit of humour and acceptable; or even where its just more convenient to just wank oneself silly over a bit of porn (at the taxpayers' expense if possible)…..
              somehow the idea of parents and a few aunties and 'cousin sisters' getting together to suggest who might be suitable candidates for marriage is something we can't get our heads around.
              Apparenty, the latter should jump on the next plane out of here because the next thing you know, they'll be wanting to bring the whole village with them.

              The mis-calculation seems to have been the degree to which offense might be taken – not only from the loyal Labour supporters, but also from the sizable number who don't usually vote despite their eligability. They might even start to rival the Blue Dragons especially if eventually, they managed to get the whole bloody village here.

              My suspicions are that there are concessions that could have been negotiated (acceptable to the 3 partners in this marriage), and with egos remaining intact. Things that relate to the growing realisation that the neo-liberal religion is a failure.
              And if there weren't any concessions that could have been made, we ( either Labour, Labout/Green, Labour/Green/NZ1 supporters)are potentially in deeper shit than I imagined.

              • greywarshark

                Where I noticed that my comment vanished was on this from MB – TDB:

                https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/10/29/why-cannabis-euthanasia-should-be-a-referendum-and-why-abortion-should-not/

                Why Cannabis & Euthanasia should be a referendum and why Abortion should not

                I found fault with showing an image of Slavoj Zizek the 'peoples' philosopher but putting a saying attributed to MB beside it.

                I found fault with lumping important ethical matters together for a convenient package. Each needs separate consideration as they are about our life, which is special to us, and how we live it and others allow us to live it.

                And something else, can't remember. There is one comment shown, not mine which I would like to have seen even if there was no answering comment or a short disagreement.

                And interestingly the comment was from a prosaic materialist who seemed more concerned about drugs, police controls, and whether insurance costs could be brought down by having less drug-fuelled accidents.

                • OK. Actually I vaguely remember reading that now at the time because of TrevS's comment that is still there.

                  I'm not sure whether the site is as resilient as TS though (having a guru maintaining it). TDB probably has one or two woopsies from time to time.

                  In both cases (TDB and TS), I just see myself as a guest when commenting with the sites' owners having the prerogative to run them as they see fit. I'm just glad they both exist

                  • greywarshark

                    True about the sites, but when it comes to censoring, refusing opinions it is interesting how much self-criticism they will apply. It may of course be that they will take notice but not put or leave the comment up. I don't see it as a freedom of expression matter, more a willingness to see a wider spectrum as long as the commenter doesn't go on and too frequent.

  7. gsays 9

    More weasel words from the state.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/117080021/were-committed-to-safe-staffing-levels–tdhb

    The DHB has a green, yellow red system to know the levels of 'busyness' in its ED. A system DHBs wanted implemented for exactly this reason.

    The notion that they need an enquiry is dishonest, stalling and borderline neglectful.

    Mandatory nurse/patient ration of 1 to four. Simple, unambiguous and easy to implement. Just need to open the purse strings.

    • Sacha 9.1

      If we want the health system to never change how it does things, by all means set a fixed ratio across the board.

      Or we could spend the same money doing things smarter and keep the staff increases for areas like ED where I agree it is the most sensible answer.

      • greywarshark 9.1.1

        Or we could spend our money in constant testing and workshops and committees working out what was needed last year, and five years later implementing part of that. That would be smart if you are one of those who want to provide less and less good service and help to citizens and turn the country eventually to private service, with basics for those who can't afford it. Then wait for those with a humane and ethical sense and some money, to start a charity hospital etc. as the hospital in Christchurch.

        https://charityhospital.org.nz/our-services/

        https://charityhospital.org.nz/

      • gsays 9.1.2

        I was talking in the context of ED when I mentioned the ratio. This is from a 30 year veteran of our local ED.

        They have seen many 'smart' initiatives come and go, almost exclusively imposed from above. The beauty of the ratio is that it is simple.

        That doesn't mean no other initiatives, but a ratio is an excellent measure of any initiative.

  8. greywarshark 10

    The Government’s plan to help older New Zealanders live well, Better Later Life – He Oranga Kaumātua 2019 to 2034, was launched by Seniors Minister Tracey Martin today.

    “Better Later Life takes a fresh look at what is required to ensure everyone gets the chance to live well as they get older and help ensure we create opportunities for everyone to participate, contribute and be valued as they age,” Minister Martin says.

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1911/S00007/better-later-life-launched.htm

    How good it would be if there was a Minister for Parents and Young Adults who was devoted to getting the resources they need to help them in their important tasks, so – 'we create opportunities for everyone to participate, contribute and be valued '. We have our ideas arse-about! We lay out deck chairs for the old age pensioners who are to be kept healthy so they can please themselves what they do for the community, of course remembering that taking interest in one’s own family is doing stuff for oneself. Some though may have to pick up their family from the total failure of the government's failure to have a well-run enterprising, sharing, distributive economy of a country that aims for vitality, creativity, well-being and opportunities for all its citizens.

  9. SPC 11

    The logic for the encouragement to vaping is to give nicotine addicts an alternative to tobacco (given the tar in tobacco is a carcinogen). Which sort of ignores the existence of nicotine patches and the fact that vaping is also a new means to addict young people to nicotine who have never smoked before.

    Then there is the fact that vaping is itself not without risk – so encouraging it is encouraging a product that will harm its users.

    For mine, vaping should only be allowed by prescription and only for tobacco addicts.

    There is growing evidence that vaping THC is particularly dangerous. And as time goes by the so called extent or degree to which vaping is deemed safer than tobacco is narrowing – as more reports come in of lung damage (and vaping is still fairly recent so this is a salutatory warning).

  10. greywarshark 12

    Edit
    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/402337/cockleshell-design-still-part-of-dunedin-council-s-plan
    This Dunedin plan fits in with what I see as 20th century thinking. Nice design, grand in line with a Sydney Opera House special look. But those days are over, and more money than we know where to look, is going to be needed to resettle people and establish new transport routes with lots of planning and perhaps innovative engineering when the tide comes in and comes in and stays.. Where do these business people actually go to in their heads at night my lovely? A song coming on!

    We have a possible fire starter in the back wings of Nelson city on the Council table, with some ratepayer money and some private, and they have encouraged Ngati Koata to invest also, and a keen lot of councillors all excited about its future for tourism. Where will tourism be in 10-15 years and will they have recovered the $50 mill envisaged when it is to be built over 10 years?

    Do people remember the little harnesses that parents put on toddlers to ensure they didn't stray back in the 1960-70s? We need big ones for pollies local and central now.

    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8JOi1q5ugs

  11. greywarshark 13

    What do you do when you live next door to people who do everything at the top of the decibel range? I can sympathise with this woman, having had such things happen, separately, and am lucky now that the man next door doesn't fly into many rages outside, telling his phone to fuck off. I can ignore it when it is just a few minutes of loud conversation.

    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/world/pet-cockatoo-centre-adelaide-neighbourhood-dispute-cleared-wrongdoing

    A pet cockatoo at the centre of a bitter neighbourhood dispute because of its screeching has been cleared of wrongdoing, in a case described by an Adelaide judge as "completely unjustified"….

    In the claim, she said the family's cockatoo screeches, their dogs bark "day and night", their young children play outside and "often scream as loud as they can" and the man whistles while he mows the lawn…

    Investigations by the City of Prospect council disproved the allegations, including a report that found the noise generated by the cockatoo was not excessive and there was no cause for complaint.

    The family, however, lodged a counter-claim, alleging the woman harassed them by needlessly calling the police to their property 15 times in five months, including six times because of "loud talking on Christmas Day".

  12. greywarshark 14

    Have guns, will shoot. Civilians or police, guns should be kept to the minimum, and knives etc are practically impossible to control.

    A 7 year old girl is out of intensive care in Chicago after being shot in the neck in a gang confrontation.

    The girl was one of several people shot in US cities during Halloween night activities. In the San Francisco Bay area community of Orinda, California, police said four people were killed in a shooting at a party. And in the eastern Utah community of Roosevelt, one man was fatally shot and a second man was stabbed to death at a party.

    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/world/young-girl-shot-in-neck-trick-treating-us

  13. greywarshark 15

    Are inmates still having to share cells. Changing back to single cells would be a significant and practical start. The guy up for violence has probably been threatened as a low-life in the system by the others for attacking a child. Get real government, pull your finger out and fix these blatant, obvious defects.

    Building a big credit balance from taking down reasonable welfare measures is loopy and anyone impressed by these savings is a degenerate, even when they look okay on the outside.

      • greywarshark 15.1.1

        Jail could be described as society admitting failure with socialisation. Some should be kept in for life, in some sort of isolation with safe communication with others, and some should be held for a month with the rest of the sentence suspended. There should be no double bunking.

        There should be the question – What do you want to do that is positive for you, and will help you to not get back in prison? And for some it will involve going to a different location so they are away from the situation that brought them back to prison.

        • Blazer 15.1.1.1

          What if they reply a Penthouse,a Porsche and some poontang?

          • greywarshark 15.1.1.1.1

            We could look at things, try things, differently – those things you mention are small-fry to desire compared to the very nasty crimes that have brought these people to be imprisoned, even taking drugs, (I'm not up with the street terms so imagine 'poontang' is some drug). If they can learn self-control, set themselves goals, acquire some idea of empathy for others including for their own inner consciousness, through holding those things in min

            This approach would also push for other less materialistic, less immoral or debauched thinking and encouraging more spiritual, naturistic, self-respecting and reflecting thinking. That would possibly be found in the Maori programs, but would encourage both personal growth and then being involved in group experiences, both passive and active as in haka, sports of a non-contact nature where old ways of anger and bullying did not find direct expression in violent acts. Often getting an ex-con to talk to such prisoners and run discussion groups where mindsets shift could be a major step to finding a new way.

            New ways have to be found in everything. The old ways have brought us to the brink of ruin.

  14. Eco maori 16

    Kia Ora Breakfast.

    Papatuanuku is a real miracle that humans are literally turning into a nightmare

    There were heaps of fireworks getting lit were I was yesterday nite and the night before.

    A digger stuck in the mud I can remember someone give a bull CV first day he got the digger stuck.

    Early Child Education is a very important mahi.

    Ka kite Ano

  15. Eco maori 17

    I hope all countries can attend this vital meeting in Madrid as some with less putea will have bigger problems than wealthier countries hence their voices need to be heard.

    Greta Thunberg asks for lift back across Atlantic as climate meeting shifts to Madrid

    Swedish teenager needs help getting back to Europe following the COP25 meeting’s move from Chile to Spain.

    As delegates to the COP25 climate summit scramble to adjust to a last-minute change of venue from Santiago to Madrid, one of the highest-profile attendees has stuck out a metaphorical thumb on social media to ask for a lift across the Atlantic.

    Teenage Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who was speaking in California during a stop on her low-emissions journey from Sweden to Chile, tweeted that she was now in need of a ride to Spain.

    Thunberg, who refuses to fly because of the carbon emissions involved, had been travelling by boat, train and electric car when the new venue was announced

    “It turns out I’ve travelled half around the world, the wrong way:)…If anyone could help me find transport I would be so grateful,” she tweeted from Los Angeles.

    Thunberg arrived in New York for the UN climate summit in August after a 14-day journey across the Atlantic in a sailing boat. Since then she has been travelling via train and an electric car borrowed from Arnold Schwarzenegger.

    Harjeet Singh, of environmental group ActionAid International, said moving the summit from Chile to Spain with only four weeks’ notice “presents real barriers to participation” for delegates from the southern hemisphere.

    “Hotels in Madrid are already full. Last-minute flights are expensive. Visas can be difficult to obtain at short notice. This sudden decision is likely to shift the balance of power towards the wealthier countries of the global north,” he added in a statement.

    It is the second time that UN authorities have had to scramble to find a new meeting place. Brazil originally welcomed the gathering then backed out after rightwing president Jair Bolsonaro took office.

    Teresa Ribera, Spain’s ecological transition minister, said on Twitter on Saturday: “Dear Greta, it would be great to have you here in Madrid. You’ve made a long journey and help all of us to raise concern, open minds and enhance action. We would love to help you to cross the Atlantic back.”

    Ka kite Ano link below.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/03/greta-thunberg-asks-for-lift-back-across-atlantic-as-climate-meeting-shifts-to-madrid

  16. Eco maori 18

    We can see evedince of Ancient cultures collapseing I always thought that they collapsed because of their environment being compromised and not being able to sustain the population. Now here is the evidence of climate change collapseing society's

    SCIENTISTS have stumbled across what could answer the mysterious and sudden collapse of the powerful Mesopotamian Empire some 4,000 years ago.

    Mesopotamia was a huge empire that spanned much of the Middle East, including modern day Iraq, Kuwait, eastern Syria, south eastern Turkey and bordering regions. A kingdom settled on fertile lands within the Tigirs-Euphrates, Mesopotamia suddenly collapsed over a relatively short period time, eluding scientists and researchers through the age

    Now, however, a study’s findings may point towards a potential answer: that Mesopotamia was caught up in a giant dust storm that the empire couldn’t cope with, resulting in inability to grow crops, famine and mass social upheaval.

    Dr Tsuyoshi Watanabe of Hokkaido University, involved in the study, said in a statement: “Although the official mark of the collapse of the Akkadian Empire is the invasion of Mesopotamia by other populations, our fossil samples are windows in time showing that variations in climate significantly contributed to the empire’s decline.

    Ka kite Ano link below.

    https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1198516/ancient-history-latest-news-mesopotamia-iraq-syria-middle-east-dust-storm-archaeology-scie/amp

  17. Eco maori 19

    Kia Ora 1 News.

    Smog carbon Air pollution is a big problem in most cities.

    We need to stop burning stuff to protect our futures environment.

    A new River Queen for Kaiapoi the locals seen quite happy.

    Ka kite Ano.

  18. Eco maori 20

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.

    I think that Iwi should be included in the discussion on our Wai Awa and Tangaroa.

    Catfish are in our Awa they are a fast breeders.

    Good to see someone savings some of the native fresh Wai species of Aotearoa.

    Ka pai to Waitaha for getting there Kapa Haka going.

    Ka kite Ano.

  19. Eco maori 21

    Kia Ora Breakfast.

    You can not run a country like a business they are totally different business people run country for the wealthiest first and the rest get budget cuts.

    That's good the insolvency laws change to protect the small businesses that are owed money for their services.

    What amazes is why we are not taking about crime dropping in Aotearoa.

    That's cool A containerised education unit to educate tamariki about wool great quality's as we change to a carbon neutral society wool will become very important in our society. A lot of Aotearoa natural export will be sort after as well.

    I can remember when the 2 tennis Stars were new to the TV scene's.

    Our birds are very important part of our wildlife I like all birds species they can do what humans dream.

    Ka kite Ano

  20. Eco maori 22

    Aotearoa has a mild stable environment we should be grateful for the great weather we have.

    In Climate Lessons, a scientist explains what their research has taught them about climate change.

    We live on a collection of islands that straddle the cool waters of the Southern Ocean and the warmth of the subtropical Pacific – stretching all the way from the warm beaches of Northland to the rugged and windswept beauty of Stewart Island, with large mountains ranges running down the spines of both Te Ika a Maui and Te Wai Pounamu. This stark combination of geography and topography has a significant influence on how we experience the present impacts of climate change, and what we can expect into the future.

    It has been my life's work to use climate models to make predictions about New Zealand's future, but even more importantly to try and understand what they are telling us about how the world works. I believe that for us to make important decisions based on model predictions, we need to really understand them, and this matters even more as Artificial Intelligence becomes widespread in our lives.

    Ka kite Ano link below.

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/117080103/climate-lessons-how-global-warming-affects-new-zealands-wind-and-rain

  21. Eco maori 23

    You see all thing need to be respected and protected our Glacier provid water for billions the stability of local weather and trap carbon more than forest do.

    Glacial rivers absorb carbon faster than rainforests, scientists find

    ‘Total surprise’ discovery overturns conventional understanding of rivers

    Seascape: the state of our oceans is supported

    Ellesmere Island in Canada

    In the turbid, frigid waters roaring from the glaciers of Canada’s high Arctic, researchers have made a surprising discovery: for decades, the northern rivers secretly pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at a rate faster than the Amazon rainforest.

    The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, flip the conventional understanding of rivers, which are largely viewed as sources of carbon emissions.

    It was a total surprise,” said Dr Kyra St Pierre, a biologist at the University of British Columbia and lead researcher on the project. “Given what we know about the rivers though … the findings are intuitive when you think about it. But we were initially very surprised to see what we did.”

    The discovery came from time spent collecting meltwater samples on Ellesmere Island, in Canada’s Nunavut territory, where several glaciers flow into Lake Hazen. The team of researchers also gathered samples in the Rocky Mountains and Greenland.

    “We have a pretty good understanding of the state of glaciers globally,” said St Pierre. “One thing we don’t know much about is the meltwaters and what happens when it … flows into rivers and downstream lakes.”

    In temperate rivers, a bounty of organic material – plant life and fish – results in higher levels of decomposition, meaning the bodies of water emit a far greater amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than they absorb.

    But glacial rivers, with their milky appearance and silt-laden composition, are not very hospitable to aquatic life, leading to far less organic decay – and little carbon output

    Ka kite Ano link below.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/25/scientists-glacial-rivers-absorb-carbon-faster-rainforests

  22. Eco maori 24

    Kia 1 NEWS

    That's awesome that Aotearoa and Australia are going to work together on tangata whenua issues I think Australia has a lot to do to give equality for their Tangata Whenua Aotearoa still has a bit to do to as well .

    Droughts and Global warming are hand in hand.

    Ka kite Ano

  23. Eco maori 25

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.

    Its great to see Maori standing for Council seats. But you see Wairoa And Te Tairawhiti had very strong economy's in the 1970s there economy have not been nurtured at all by previous Government hence high unemployment that is not good for tangata.

    Cool Shotover adventures is introduceding Maori Culture into their operations.

    Ka pai to the 2 Maori playwrights writers winning their prize it will be good to see there mahi.

    Ka kite Ano.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • At a glance – Does CO2 always correlate with temperature?
    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 ...
    2 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 hours ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    5 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    6 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    10 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    11 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    12 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    13 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    15 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    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
    5 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
    5 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
    4 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
    9 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
    11 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
    11 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 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. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T07:59:23+00:00