Open Mike 02/11/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 2nd, 2017 - 82 comments
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82 comments on “Open Mike 02/11/2017 ”

  1. Robert Guyton 1

    “The major failures confronting New Zealand today stem from the neoliberal economic agenda that has dominated the past four decades with its blind faith in ‘free’ markets, the increasing privatisation of public policy and the out-dated approach to measuring our economic and fiscal performance. As articulated by Treasury during the 1980s and 90s the neoliberal agenda has played a critical role in reinforcing class differences, in generating a low wage economy and in promoting the social conditions for child poverty and for what is best described as a major social deficit.”

    http://briefingpapers.co.nz/the-challenges-ahead-for-the-new-government/

    • tracey 1.1

      Fascinating article, thanks for sharing.

      Selective faith in free markets… cos when labour is short the market woukd rise the wages/conditions to attract workers but in NZ we important people to offset the usual market response and to retain profit margins

      • Carolyn_nth 1.1.1

        And in relation to the repeal of the 3 strikes law, one of the many problems now facing NZ is stated as:

        The archaic practices in justice and policing that have led to bulging prisons and incarceration levels that are among the highest in the developed world; and

        With an embedded link to a briefing paper on our prison system.

        • tracey 1.1.1.1

          But we need to read yesterdays announcement with Nash’s announced priorities. He gives me little (no pun intended) faith in a paradigm shift to funding/resourcing programmes proven to reduce recidivism, addictions, and so on.

          • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1.1.1

            Nash still seems to be a neo-liberal clingon.

            • tracey 1.1.1.1.1.1

              I was trying to make the point without saying that in light of the aversion of some to early criticism of the Labour/NZF C abinet.

              • Karen

                Any criticism of Nash is welcome by me! Or Shane Jones for that matter. Can’t stand either of them.

                Luckily Andrew Little will be leading the review of the Justice Department and Kelvin Davis as Corrections Minister will be working with him to reform the prison system. Andrew has already said that the planned new prison being will probably be canned.

                Nash is an idiot and will be stomped on if tries to overplay his hand. I hope that he will eventually lose that Police portfolio. I’d like to see one of the Māori MPs in that role.

    • DH 1.2

      I’m not a subscriber to the ideology excuse. It’s convenient to blame a belief system for the ills of society but also somewhat self-defeating. Followers are ideologues and followers only … follow. IMO behind the so-called neo-liberalism is plain old greed; thirst for power, money, influence, social status etc.

      If the political left really wanted to fight neo-liberalism they might take a leaf out of the old policeman’s book; follow the money.

    • Venezia 1.3

      Best analysis I’ve read about situation prior to election. Prof Ian Shirley taught me back in the day at Massey Palmerston North. Always clear and comprehensive explanations. I would like to read more of his recent writing.

  2. eco maori 2

    You no how I said I had been examining my past and a few Incidence that I took no notice of well here is one.
    Back in the day I had a M8 that I had known for 10 years through work .
    I use to have a cup of tea with this person and he and another guy whom was like a scientist really onto it guy well every time I wen’t over these two would be playing Chest .
    I new how the game was played and all the moves that the pieces can make and played a few games. I use to just watch tv while the battled away. Well one day I took on my M8 challenge and I played him and he whipped ass in three moves LOL.
    Well I took that challenge seriously and I was playing my wife my children a computa I was clocking up 5 hours a day playing chest . And after 2 weeks I kicked my mate ass 4 times I had met the Challenger head on and won so I gave up playing him. You see I had all ready made up my mind that playing game’s I.E crash bandicoot video games was a waste of my precious time that I needed to build my Maunga so my children got the run of there video games lol .
    Well there is a correction for my statements made yesterday which is I should have said that I try not to affect most people negatively, But some people get to feel the Thunder and some people are feeling the Thunder and they don’t even no it .
    And I will keep using the Thunder to fight for equal right’s for all and my fight for OUR Mother Earth P.S to my clients you are just innocent bystanders and I have OUR whole World as my witness . Kia Kaha

    • tracey 2.1

      Kia ora Eco Maori

      • eco maori 2.1.1

        Thank’s Tracy That’s the way Jack Promoting OUR science for our Moko to learn science is one of the tools we have to make OUR future bright Ka pai

    • ianmac 2.2

      “But some people get to feel the Thunder and some people are feeling the Thunder and they don’t even no it.”
      What do you mean by “the Thunder” eco Maori?

      • james 2.2.1

        You might be feeling it and not even knowing right now.

        • The decrypter 2.2.1.1

          james, —james -james –hold the ladder steady,, hold the ladder steady-

        • ianmac 2.2.1.2

          “Georg was a goat and his beard was yellow,
          And James was a very small snail.”
          A.A.Milne.

          • The decrypter 2.2.1.2.1

            Knew a thing or two did AA.Milne.

              • The decrypter

                Amazing, -knew bout –james, — also “Gerry I’m coming through”, Brownlee, ARHH !! –but did he know bout “button it sweetie” Paula? She would have a crush on our james me thinks.

                • Robert Guyton

                  Only if she rolled over in her sleep. I’m sure A.A. had something on Paula; the first paragraph of “Teddy Bear”?

                  https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/teddy-bear-by-aa-milne

                  • james

                    Nice to know that you are the kind of per son who is happy to “fat shame” a woman – classy.

                    “A bear, however hard he tries,
                    Grows tubby without exercise.
                    Our Teddy Bear is short and fat,
                    Which is not to be wondered at;

                    • The decrypter

                      He-He Robert.

                    • Robert Guyton

                      Oh, James, you are a duffer!

                      The last paragraph reads:
                      “A bear, however hard he tries,
                      Grows tubby without exercise.
                      Our Teddy Bear is short and fat,
                      Which is not to be wondered at.
                      But do you think it worries him
                      To know that he is far from slim?
                      No, just the other way about –
                      He’s proud of being short and stout.”

                      Sometimes I wonder if your head isn’t stuffed like a Teddy bears!

              • greywarshark

                Could be a little exercise to use each time a troll gets going – think up a suitable poem or piece of music for them. It would be like turning them into an art installation that we add to, and make them a feature that is less annoying and obstructive, and more inspirational so that we get creative. Also it would add to our artistic appreciation, so making a silk purse out of a sows ear, as traditionally spoken.

    • tracey 3.1

      Found the following part interesting cos we also do not know the value of their purchases and if they may be a small number but buying high end properties?

      “LINZ reported that five percent of buyers of 12,951 Auckland properties in the June quarter were not New Zealand tax residents, while 20 percent of properties were bought by 2,637 corporate or business entities. All but six of those entities stated they were resident in New Zealand for tax purposes, but no information was given on the ultimate residency status of the owners of those New Zealand companies or trust.

      So the actual percentage of properties that could involve people without permanent residency could range between five percent and 20 percent. The data itself is therefore not useful in determining the actual scale of the foreign buying.

      The simple answer is that no one knows exactly how much overseas capital has flowed into Auckland and how much of an impact it has had on prices, alongside the pressures of record high net migration and the lowest house building rate in history. It could be a lot or it could be not much.

      But it’s clear that the difference in New Zealand’s policies with Australia have been a factor in New Zealand prices outperforming Australia’s.

      • DH 3.1.1

        The LINZ data is even more flawed than that Tracey. It is reporting property transfers, not property sales, but the narrative from it is persistently that of sales. Even in their reports they transpose the word ‘transfer’ for ‘sale’ when they’re not all sales.

        A number of transfers would simply be change of title; transferring from an individual to a trust, family estate changes, business to business transfers etc. Just what the proportions are they don’t say and they absolutely should be saying because the data is untruthful without that information.

        • Karen 3.1.1.1

          Eugenie Sage is the new Minister in charge of LINZ. I am looking forward to her getting her teeth into that portfolio.

          • DH 3.1.1.1.1

            I hope she can make a difference. Labour have been very weak on numbers, they rarely pulled National up when they made shit up like that.

            The LINZ reports were pretty blatant and the response really should have been….

            “Hang on a minute, you keep saying that only 5% of sales were to foreign tax residents when your own data says that the 5% is of total transfers …. not total sales.”

            It’s pretty simple maths too, they only need to know how many houses were actually sold and that data is available elsewhere. LINZ report 48,603 property transfers from April 2017 to June 2017, somewhat more than the numbers of genuine sales the likes of REINZ report.

            If half of all property transfers were not sales, and there was no foreign content in those non-sales, then the true number would be 10% of sales were to foreign tax residents.

            It was a little convenient that the approach National took would invariably understate the true percentage of foreign buyers.

      • greywarshark 3.1.2

        @Tracey 8.17
        ‘outperforming’ – like on the highwire on a bicycle?

    • ianmac 3.2

      Thanks Pat.
      Bernard Hickey: “So the actual percentage of properties that could involve people without permanent residency could range between five percent and 20 percent. The data itself is therefore not useful in determining the actual scale of the foreign buying.”

      The previous Government was not trying to deceive us was it?
      Sadly the changes might take a long time to have an effect and meantime the dropping of capital value of houses will annoy some investors.

      • tracey 3.2.1

        And amidst it all please let us remember that

        A. Agents told us the market always slows pre election

        B. LVR by RB may be the factor in lower prices in Auckland although I note Wellington is up 10% year on year, not anything the “nothing to see here” Nats did

  3. mauī 4

    Max Blumenthal on the dangers for the left of the cynical russia narrative in us politics.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMq2PKjl6fc

    • 1. It’s always possible that the reason the American left is going after Russian influence on elections in western countries isn’t because they’re dupes of the establishment, but because they’re concerned about Russian influence on elections in western countries.

      2. Jamie Raskin is right. Instead of quibbling about this or that detail, the pro-Putin left needs to ask itself why it’s backing conservative authoritarian nationalists against liberal democracy. And if they won’t ask themselves, the rest of us should at least think about what the reasons might be.

      • greywarshark 4.1.1

        Can you just clear up the point – which country is the conservative authoritarian nationalists and which the liberal democracy vis a vis Russia and the USA? They both seem in a state of flux, and I’m not sure whether you are being ironic?

        • Psycho Milt 4.1.1.1

          Why are you confused? There’s a serious problem of left-wingers backing Putin but none I’m aware of left-wingers backing Trump. Context is important.

          Also: false equivalence ought to be embarrassing but apparently isn’t for a lot of people.

      • spikeyboy 4.1.2

        I think you might have the wrong end of the stick there. Its not about backing Putin or Trump or whoever. Its about how its possible to believe the fantasy which is #russiagate. Its a bit like reading the bible and thinking its a real story. Bush may have said “you’re either with us or against us” but there are more options. We may just think your story really sucks

    • joe90 4.2

      Definitely no Russian interference in the US. Not a bit.

      /

      1/ A Russian Facebook page organized a protest in Texas. Then a different Russian page launched the counter-protest. https://t.co/tKOZ6u6Yd0 pic.twitter.com/50F1GqGzPu— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) November 1, 2017

      2/ Heart of Texas, a Russian-controlled Facebook group that promotes secession, planned an anti-Muslim rally in May. https://t.co/tKOZ6u6Yd0— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) November 1, 2017

      3/ A separate Russian-sponsored group, United Muslims of America, advertised a “Save Islamic Knowledge” rally. https://t.co/tKOZ6u6Yd0 pic.twitter.com/vd0YMMrFdB— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) November 1, 2017

      4/ There were confrontations. Verbal attacks. It cost the Russians $200 to make this happen. https://t.co/tKOZ6u6Yd0 pic.twitter.com/VTGo6bFsHH— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) November 1, 2017

      5/ Again — $200. That's all it took. https://t.co/tKOZ6u6Yd0 pic.twitter.com/xNi3vIZq5W— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) November 1, 2017

      6/ Someone with a computer in Russia and $200 was able to create an event to "tear apart our society." https://t.co/tKOZ6u6Yd0 pic.twitter.com/Or257uPp6p— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) November 1, 2017

      https://twitter.com/TexasTribune/status/925861609628676096

      https://www.texastribune.org/2017/11/01/russian-facebook-page-organized-protest-texas-different-russian-page-l/

      • mauī 4.2.1

        So if I have this correct. Russia supposedly used some super mind control techniques to convince patriotic texans to be involved in large scale protests and counter protests inside the US from its troll farm somewhere in Russia all for the cost of $200?

        This would neatly fit in with the work they were doing with Pokemon Go I suppose where they were leading unsuspecting gamers to black lives matter events so they would end up voting for the Donald.

        It’s fucking ridiculous.

  4. greywarshark 6

    Amongst ways of managing the country better for better outcomes for all of us, this procedure from Harvard Business Review is probably behind the leaner and meaner, ‘cutting out the fat’ philosophy. It no doubt works when first reviewing a business or department and trying for more efficiency, but how often can it then be repeated still retaining good quality of resource, and good quality of adequate staff on reasonable wages?

    https://hbr.org/1991/05/profit-priorities-from-activity-based-costing
    Fully exploiting ABC as a guide to profitability, however, requires a conceptual break from traditional cost accounting systems and a willingness to act on the insights ABC analysis provides. Managers must refrain from allocating all expenses to individual units and instead separate the expenses and match them to the level of activity that consumes the resources. Very simply, managers should separate the expenses incurred to produce individual units of a particular product from the expenses needed to produce different products or to serve different customers, independent of how many units are produced or sold.

    Then managers must be prepared to act. First, they should explore ways to reduce the resources required to perform various activities. Then to transform those reductions into profits, they must either reduce spending on those resources or increase the output those resources produce. The actions allow the insights from ABC to be translated into increased profits at the bottom line.

  5. greywarshark 7

    I’m reading a book set in 11th century Britain, and these quotes refer to Wales at the time.

    …here in a half-barbaric Welsh landholder, no great lord, but a mere squireling elevated among his inferiors to a status he barely rated, at least in Norman eyes. It was the difference between them that Robert [the Norman] thoughtin hierarchies, and Rhisiart [the Welshman] thought in blood-ties, high and low of one mind and in one kinship, and not a man among them aware of inferiority, only of his due place in a united family…. p67

    [A bribe was offered by Robert to Rhisiart to persuade the village people to give up a religious treasure to Robert] ‘Money!’ said Rhisiart in the most extraordinary of tones, at once curious, derisory and revolted. He knew about money, of course, and even understood its use, but as an aberration in human relations. In the rural parts of Wales, which indeed were almost all of Wales, it was hardly used at all, and hardly needed. Provision was made in the code for all necessary exchange of goods and services, nobody was so poor as to be without the means of living, and beggars were unknown. The kinship took care of its helpless members, and every house was open as of right. p.69
    from A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters.

    The author Ellis Peters had made a study of Wales at that period and has a good take on conditions and practices. This approach of the Welsh sounds interesting and could serve us in the times to come. It should be noted that some of the Welsh found the English way of doing things and their moneyed way of life offered more opportunity for luxury and extravagance and the English were determined to absorb Wales, and were able to subvert them and take control of the land and people and ensure that their royalty died out.

    • syclingmad 7.1

      With respect, that is not the sort of model for society that I believe in, and looking backwards is not a roadmap for the future. Those were feudal times …

      Social enterprise is the way forward.

      • greywarshark 7.1.1

        syclingmad
        Perhaps you will be able to hop on your cycle and go towards the future with great confidence and belief that all will be well.

        I do not have such confidence and looking at how poorly we have applied knowledge and let standards slip up till now, I believe such lack of confidence is entirely justified. We are slipping back into colonial times in NZ with shonky and make-do houses, laws and lack of respect for those without money or the means to earn it. So good luck to you. I want to have a circle of mutual assistance for those who don’t hit the jackpot.

        • syclingmad 7.1.1.1

          I didn’t say I have confidence – I presented an alternative pathway forward. Circle the wagons isn’t the approach to succeed. And everyone has the resources to contribute in some way, even just employing the grey matter in creative and innovative ways is what we need into the future.

      • Robert Guyton 7.1.2

        syclingmad – can you tell me, in not too many words, what you mean by “social enterprise”?
        Thanks.

        • syclingmad 7.1.2.1

          Sure – re-imagining the way business is done. Thinking beyond profit. Impact on people and the environment.

          The sorts of initiatives and broader thinking espoused and put into action by Christopher Luxon. And before people start regaling me with stories of deplorable wages at Air NZ or shutting down maintenance facilities, Rome wasn’t build in a day, as they say.

          Derek Handley also advocates this approach.

          • Robert Guyton 7.1.2.1.1

            Thanks, syclinmad. Do you think neoliberalism will already have assimilated social enterprise and made it its own? Bastardised it to suit? Captured and corrupted it (It’s what neo-lib does 🙂

            • syclingmad 7.1.2.1.1.1

              See I don’t get hung up on the labels and the categorising. What we have is a mixed economy with a “capitalist” (I hate using that term) organising principle. It will ever be so. What we need to do is find a way to make it more compassionate for all its members and to care for the great provider – mother earth.

              So I choose to work within rather than throw rocks from the outside. Can it be done – who knows, but dire predictions for the climate sure hold everyone’s feet to the flames. And recruit everyone to this cause rather than exclude on the basis of ideology or past deed.

              • Robert Guyton

                How can a person think “beyond profit”? Is that profit with a small “p”, ’cause every organism seeks to profit from its actions; few want to lose. Actually, none.

            • weka 7.1.2.1.1.2

              Neoliberalism is well skilled at coopting and bastardising social justice and Good Things. I like the idea of subverting that. No reason we can’t colonise them.

      • Molly 7.1.3

        “Social enterprise is the way forward.”

        Unfortunately in this capitalist framed society, social enterprise will be as cynically used by some entrepreneurs as “greenwashing.”

        There was a great site for advertising awards for ads highlighting the appropriation of good intent, but random delivery (but I can’t recall the name), but did find this one on Youtube:

        https://youtu.be/5jx0ZjAXWwQ

        • syclingmad 7.1.3.1

          By some, maybe. But I’d rather be trying to subvert for the better than being perpetually disappointed that the revolution hasn’t happened yet …

          • Molly 7.1.3.1.1

            I’m not being clear, so I’ll try to clarify.

            I’ve been following the social enterprise movement for a while now, and agree with the stated intent of many of those disseminating the information, and have been heartened to see some of the (usually overseas) examples of social enterprise.

            However, despite those examples, have been cynical about the use of this term in regards to NZ, because the few workshops I did attend were more about creating standard business opportunities rather than true social enterprise.

            It is not “subversion” if it appropriated and used to bolster the same attitude towards growing business and what constitutes success.

            I support – like you – a change, but I am trying to be vigilant that the change I support is fundamental and not just window dressing. I will be heartened to see true social enterprise take place in NZ, and would be very glad to see government support in the way of grants or tax rebates for businesses that follow a robust new model. A step up from Maryland recognising B-Corps in the US.

            It has been a while since I checked the number of B-Corps in NZ, but they have increased. Interestingly, a cluster around Christchurch that didn’t exist before, but may be reflective of the growth in community that has happened since the 2011 earthquake.

  6. ianmac 8

    As our local paper diminishes so they have pulled out Sports reporters. As she gave me a haircut my barber pointed out that the children’ sports teams that her husband’s work sponsored, would no longer get the exposure. So should they pull the sponsorship?

    • Sacha 8.1

      Do they now get local exposure via Facebook etc rather that the chip-wrapper?

    • Molly 8.2

      Well, if they consider the children purely as running billboards then I guess so.

      If they consider the benefit that their contribution makes to community wellbeing, with the added kudos afforded their business by the team members, their family and their supporters – well they should keep contributing. As sacha points out, they will still get their support noted on social media.

      • ianmac 8.2.1

        I wonder if the big sponsors for the All Blacks would still sponsor if advertising stopped?

  7. eco maori 9

    Many Thanks to Forbes Magazine and CNN new’s for seeing the Great Potential of OUR great Lady leader and prime minister Jacinda Ardern and showing the man that crowned her Winston Peters OUR coalition government is the BEST . Kia Kaha

  8. Sanctuary 10

    Has anyone else seen Susie Ferguson’s twitter post? I am sure Standard readers would like to wish her a trouble free operation and a speedy recovery.

    • veutoviper 10.1

      Here is a link to Suzie’s twitter post on her announcement at the end of Morning Report today that she is having major surgery tomorrow – a possible hysterectomy – due to long term endometriosis. She will probably not be back on air this side of Christmas.

      https://twitter.com/SusieFergusonNZ/status/925819569855328256

      RNZ are apparently putting together an article or something on endometriosis etc which will then be put up on their website.

      Kim Hill, Mihingarangi Forbes, John Campbell and Philippa Tolley will be filling in on Morning Report.

      I have not had this awful condition but have family and friends who have had it. And I know that we have a couple of absolutely excellent (female) doctors/surgeons here in Wellington who are experts in endometriosis. So hoping Suzie will be well looked after and back to full health in the near future.

      EDIT – here is a link to the Endometriosis Support NZ website with a good explanation of Endo.

      Yes guys – there is no reason why you should not also have a look and find out more.

      http://www.nzendo.org.nz/about-endometriosis/index.html

      • greywarshark 10.1.1

        Thanks for putting that up vv and I’m sure we all wish Suzie well. It is good if we have the means to do away with painful debilitating chronic conditions.

  9. Puckish Rogue 11

    Well now the left certainly can’t complain about the situation they’ve found themselves in:

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/342833/unemployment-falls-as-wages-rise-from-equity-deal

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/98450261/qv-reports-first-yearonyear-price-drop-since-2011

    That’s a pretty good situation to come into I’d say

    🙂

  10. Sanctuary 12

    Kiwiblog these days:

    First post of the day: Sun spots! Will they drive a wedge in the coalition between Labour and the Greens?

    145 comments denying climate change, 68 more blaming sunspots on Winston, 113 demanding a military coup against the communists.

    Second post of the day: Will NZ First/Green tension over rival favourites in the Great British Bake off bring down the coalition?

    120 comments calling the Greens communists. 100 more denying climate change.

    Third post of the day: Halloween – Will Jacinda’s distribution of lollies cause coalition tensions with the social conservatives of NZ First?

    45 comments claiming Jacinda was spotted on a broom flying over Wellington, 148 comments of even more vile women hatred, 98 demanding euthenasia of all NZ First voters over 65, and 102 making an incredibly lame comparison between socialism and free lollies.

    • lprent 12.1

      Yeah it is a pretty boring zone for misogynist dickheads there at present.

      I have had to curtail my reading at kiwiblog because they are too boring.

  11. stunned mullet 13

    “45 comments claiming Jacinda was spotted on a broom flying over Wellington, 148 comments of even more vile women hatred, 98 demanding euthenasia of all NZ First voters over 65, and 102 making an incredibly lame comparison between socialism and free lollies.”

    😆 It’s like an episode of the Goon show.

    • greywarshark 13.1

      The Goon show were weird but funny. These people are weird and off-putting, even scary. The loons show.

    • “They’ve already got a measure of underemployment in there, which counts people who are working less than full time who would like to be working more hours,” Crampton said.
      “They’re already tracking this. If it’s something you care about, you should be tracking the underemployment measure.”

      Need to be tracking the over employment figure as well – those working more than 40 hours per week.

      Crampton said it was important that the Government Statistician not be seen to be making changes at the request of her political masters.

      “They shouldn’t be under any pressure to redefine measures with a change of government.”

      The government does need to be confidant of the information that they’re getting from a state department and just because they meet ILO standards doesn’t mean that they’re at best practice. In fact, saying that they meet standards sounds remarkably like an excuse not to better themselves.

      Former Reserve Bank special advisor Michael Reddell said the merit of existing measurements was the fact they can be compared internationally “and that isn’t something to sacrifice lightly”.

      Meeting standards is the minimum needed, exceeding them is what we need to be doing if at all possible (and it usually is).

      Standards aren’t static no matter how much some people seem to think that they should be.

      And there’s a serious question about those standards actually being good enough.

      “From a macro policy perspective, it usually doesn’t matter much which measure one uses – they all usually (but not always) move quite similarly cyclically – and so people like the Reserve Bank will sensibly prefer the series with the longest run of data (current official measure).”

      Translation from EX-RBNZ governor: The RBNZ regularly ignores data it doesn’t like.

      “But they are independent and they measure things independently and it’s one of the checks and balances on our government system.”

      They may be independent but the last government still managed to use them to lie after a change in the statistic gathering/interpretation dropped the unemployment rate by ~0.5% which they claimed as a government success. This would probably explain the lack of belief in those statistics.

      • Incognito 14.1.1

        The problem as I see it is that RBNZ, Treasury, and Statistics NZ, for example, produce reports and press releases that are not easily digestible for general consumption by the general public. So, complex information gets reduced down to singular indices such as CPI, GDP, and Unemployment that are really aggregate measures and thus completely misunderstood by most if not all.

  12. eco Maori/kiwi 15

    Our nation’s employment insurance organization is charging me insurance cost based on $31.720 but they forecast my income for 20018 at $22.466 and we no that if I get injured they are not going to pay me out 80 % of 31.720 they will pay me 80 % of 22.466.
    There excuse is that is the minimum charge out rate WTF my reply was I will agree to disagree with that Policy Ka pai

  13. Andre 16

    Heh. Seth Meyers gets his chance to ask Sarah Huckabee Sanders some questions.

    https://youtu.be/65vOUdre1nI

  14. Puckish Rogue 17

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11939417

    9th in the world but behind Rwanda, not quite sure how that works

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  • 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
    6 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 ...
    6 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    7 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
    8 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
    9 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    12 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    12 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
    12 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
    12 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    14 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    15 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    17 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 ...
    2 days ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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
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