Open mike 03/09/2022

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 3rd, 2022 - 152 comments
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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 …

152 comments on “Open mike 03/09/2022 ”

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  1. PsyclingLeft.Always 1
    3 September 2022 at 8:12 am

    Graham Philip was charged with seven counts of sabotage in May, relating to an alleged attack on New Zealand infrastructure late last year. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/taup%C5%8D-man-court-sabotage-charges

    Anti-misinformation group FACT Aotearoa had concerns about more than 170 candidates – about 5 percent of those standing for election.

    So RNZ approached some of these candidates, some of whom we knew from previous interactions and others who we spoke to for the first time.

    Gill Booth had put her hand up for the Teviot Valley Community Board in Central Otago.

    "I fell into this about 20 years ago and when I first heard about the New World Order – we'll go there – I didn't believe it because I didn't see how it could possibly work. And then I started watching this happen, especially in America, because it happened quite quickly over there," she told the group.

    The New World Order was a conspiracy theory formed on the belief a secret cabal was attempting to form a global authoritarian government.

    [overly long copypasta deleted]

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/473984/local-body-elections-why-some-fringe-candidates-seek-office-and-what-they-want-to-achieve

    These people…are not rational. And support/supported by people who are Definitely dangerous. Counterspin….Alp, white supremacist Arps etc etc.

    Good the journalists asking them questions. Revealing for sure. !

    • weka 1.1
      3 September 2022 at 11:03 am

      I like that you are putting up topics of interest most days. Can you please make sure your copy and pastes aren't so long as today? It makes it harder for people on a phone, and we prefer copypasta to be supporting arguments and commentary rather than being the main thing. Not an absolute, but something to be aware of. Thanks.

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.1.1
        3 September 2022 at 11:23 am

        Oh allgood. Looking at it afterwards ..Todays was maybe long. Re Interest…at times I wonder WHO is interested. (and I am def not a One Interest person , So thanks : )

        • weka 1.1.1.1
          3 September 2022 at 1:07 pm

          it's tricky in the FB/twitter age with no like button, but often people read without commenting 👍

    • Patricia Bremner 1.2
      3 September 2022 at 11:37 am

      Interesting post thank you yes from a digitally challenged 80 year old.

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.2.1
        3 September 2022 at 12:21 pm

        Thankyou and Wow Patricia. I would never have known. You have my Respect, and for your always active Leftness : ) (and I..dont give that lightly ! )

        Keep True : )

      • mary_a 1.2.2
        3 September 2022 at 1:52 pm

        I find your comments very interesting to read and give thought to Patricia, for which I thank you. Digitally challenged or not, you always get your message across concisely.

        I am deaf so alternative media such as TS and other (left leaning) sites with contributors such as yourself, give me a lot of pleasure, as well as keeping my 76 year old brain exercised hee hee.

        Take good care.

  2. Stephen D 2
    3 September 2022 at 8:38 am

    Stuff is doing great work highlighting the odd ones running for councils.

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.1
      3 September 2022 at 9:02 am

      Wellington mayoral hopeful claimed Covid vaccine dangerous, backed Trump rioters

      McKenzie also called the pandemic an “alleged disease”

      McKenzie also said those involved in the storming of the Capitol building in Washington “took some selfies, and did little or no damage”

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/129578231/wellington-mayoral-hopeful-claimed-covid-vaccine-dangerous-backed-trump-rioters

      Anti-vax group wanting to make NZ 'ungovernable' targets local body elections

      “Having all of those pretty dangerous people onboard [as candidates] I think is a worrying development,” said Dr Mona Krewel, a political scientist who has studied Voices For Freedom and other leading figures in the so-called freedom movement.

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/stuff-circuit/300660552/antivax-group-wanting-to-make-nz-ungovernable-targets-local-body-elections

      Hi Stephen D. Odd. Thats a bit of an understatement…. But yea Stuff has been doing good coverage. Keep watching !

    • mauī 2.2
      3 September 2022 at 10:45 am

      It should be concerning to anyone that a major media org is running a concerted smear campaign against candidates putting themselves up for democratic election.

      Never thought I would see it in new zealand, but here we are.

      • KJT 2.2.1
        3 September 2022 at 10:50 am

        Yes, the "smear campaign" against Labour/Greens, including the latest outright lies, is disturbing.

        However making the real views of candidates, like VFF, who are deliberately trying to hide them, clear, is a public service to Democracy.

      • Mac1 2.2.2
        3 September 2022 at 11:08 am

        The thing about "a concerted smear campaign" is its meaning- "2. damage the reputation of (someone) by false accusations; slander."

        The opposite to that is hopefully what the media do in a democracy. Are these candidates being slandered, i.e. having false and damaging statements made about them)?

        If they are, they have remedies in law and via the Press Council.

        • mauī 2.2.2.1
          3 September 2022 at 12:11 pm

          I'm not an expert on smear campaigns Mac, but this seems to fit the bill. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-body-elections/129677583/antimandate-doctor-running-for-wellington-city-council

          A doctor for 30+ years with her own charity, one might draw the conclusion from that, that she is therefore respected in the community and cares a lot for people and their health.

          But the media ignores anything positive, and paints the picture of someone angry, into conspiracies, with far right views.

          • Ad 2.2.2.1.1
            3 September 2022 at 12:21 pm

            Stuff is simply seeking to crush alternative media competition.

            Only a small and old minority now get their news from msm sites, so they know they are losing.

            This may not be a democratic renewal for the old left, but renewal it is.

          • Barfly 2.2.2.1.2
            3 September 2022 at 12:30 pm

            And Trump can say he has been a businessman for 50 years and even had a charitable foundation – but I am confident that he is absolutely

            "the picture of someone angry, into conspiracies, with far right views."

            They aren't mutually exclusive

          • Mac1 2.2.2.1.3
            3 September 2022 at 1:02 pm

            I read the article. What was written seems fair journalism.

            As for the question as to whether good people can go down rabbit holes- I've seen it happen with people I know.

            Indeed, I once gave a lift in a car to a pleasant, courteous hitch-hiker who laughed at my pleasantries and called me sir. He seemed to be a good man- in a hurry, but a good man.

            I found him in the paper next day as to why he was in a hurry- to get back to the Picton anti-mandate demonstration. He is now standing for a school board in Christchurch. He attended the recent protest in Christchurch whee the reporter in the Press described his actions in trying to destroy a counter-demonstration placard, and directing racist and homophobic insults at them.

            A good man, though, seemingly………

            • PsyclingLeft.Always 2.2.2.1.3.1
              4 September 2022 at 8:28 am

              An associate of ?

              Christchurch mayoral hopeful Carl Bromley defends extremists

              https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/474068/christchurch-mayoral-hopeful-carl-bromley-defends-extremists

              • Mac1 …
                4 September 2022 at 2:10 pm

                Not according to Bromley.

                “When asked about Philip Arps, Bromley described him as "a man who has a story" but did not consider him someone he knew well or a close friend."

                • PsyclingLeft.Always …
                  5 September 2022 at 9:32 am

                  Not quite sure of the meaning here? Do you maybe think your hitcher was…. Arps !? (that would be a worry to have found out ! )

                  My Link was purely to show…the connectivity between all those within. Associates. Whether Mr Bromley does not consider him as such (maybe ..) Notwithstanding, he still Friends white supremacists Kyle Chapman…and Lee Williams.

                  Whose beliefs/actions are known.

                  • Mac1 …
                    5 September 2022 at 1:35 pm

                    I know he was Arps. It wasn't a worry but I found the two faces of the man interesting. That one seeks 'freedom' within the ranks of the far -right is also an interesting view of freedom.

                    The article you cited gives enough of Bromley's conservative views and opinions, especially the last paragraph. We have a member of VFF up here standing for counsel and her views were elaborated at length by a reporter. She wrote to the paper trying to dispute the paper's version of her views but the Editor stuck by the reporter saying the original account was sound.

                    • PsyclingLeft.Always …
                      6 September 2022 at 7:23 am

                      Mac 1, And was Arps ! Well thats good that you were not worried. And yea the 2 Faces. Psychopaths often present as that. (On that, there was a prison officer used to comment here …and found him quiet and no trouble. All very situational of course ! )

                      And yes re the Journalists. Some fantastic Investigative Reporters. On that… I can never understand the vitriol directed at MSM in general. The Rightwing think its all Lefty and Socialist…. and of course the Leftwing think its right biased and conservative. ."Some" are…but laughable really.

                      Anyway keep looking. And being Active : )

          • Incognito 2.2.2.1.4
            3 September 2022 at 2:19 pm

            … with her own charity …

            Wow! She cannot be bad or wrong, can she? It isn’t binary, B & W, but being selective often originates in and perpetuates binary attitudes and thinking and bias, of course.

            A written submission from Moala’s charitable trust, Pacific Child, Youth and Family Integrated Care Trust (PACYFIC), spreads conspiracy theories about the Pfizer vaccine. Moala is the chairperson of the trust.

            When people start using ‘their’ charities as political platform they should be de-registered as charities, as has happened with Family First NZ – it doesn’t mean that they have done ‘bad’ things and nothing ‘good’, but it means that they no longer meet the requirements and responsibilities of a charitable organisation.

            • alwyn 2.2.2.1.4.1
              3 September 2022 at 3:15 pm

              "When people start using ‘their’ charities as political platform they should be de-registered as charities".

              Does that apply to the "Charity" that is the Helen Clark Foundation? I cannot see anything about it that makes it a charity rather than a political platform. Some of what they produce is interesting but it certainly isn't related to charitable purposes.

              It is, none the less, on the Charities Register.

              • Incognito …
                3 September 2022 at 3:28 pm

                Still wasting precious time with silly biased questions, I see. To me, you’re becoming more and more of a diversion troll every time you comment here and make that sound of an old yappy snappy dog barking at birds & butterflies buzzing around that that tiny little head of yours.

                It is, none the less, on the Charities Register.

                There’s your answer.

                Have a nice day.

                • alwyn …
                  3 September 2022 at 5:58 pm

                  Oh dear. What a beautiful example of circular reasoning you offer.

                  I tried it on Family First NZ. It is apparently impossible to remove them as a charity by your reasoning.

                  I want to remove them from the Charities Register.

                  But you can't remove them. They are a charity. The proof is that they are on the Charities Register and are therefore a charity and cannot be removed.

                  Put them back. Their removal was wrong.

          • Shanreagh 2.2.2.1.5
            3 September 2022 at 3:44 pm

            But the media ignores anything positive, and paints the picture of someone angry, into conspiracies, with far right views.

            Private charities and being a Dr can never override the possibility that we may elect an angry person who is into conspiracies and with far right views onto our local body. Why would we need to have such people around, except to keep an eye on them so we can stop them fomenting evil with wild and wacky ideas? I'd rather the SIS or similar did that rather than the people of Wellington having to do this.

            We just want our potholes dealt to and our city competently managed. We don't need a 'side' of making the place ungovernable* which is apparently in their riding instructions.

            ** I'm sorry I'll read that again…apparently the word is not ungovernable it is 'resilient' – yeah right.

      • Populuxe1 2.2.3
        4 September 2022 at 8:02 am

        It's not a smear if it's true.

  3. dv 3
    3 September 2022 at 9:23 am

    Re candidates for councils

    Would it be useful to a post the an additive list of candidates with 'odd' views as they are discovered?

    • gsays 3.1
      3 September 2022 at 10:42 am

      Great idea.

      In the analysis I would like a ranking for all candidates as to their adherence to neo-liberal, market driven politics.

      The 'race to the bottom', cheapest tender wins the contract is causing everyday damage to our communities.

      • KJT 3.1.1
        3 September 2022 at 11:10 am

        Those ones usually out themselves.

        Claims that they will "cut rates, while providing more efficient services" are a dead giveaway.

        • gsays 3.1.1.1
          3 September 2022 at 7:03 pm

          It ain't the Actoids I am worried about.

          It's the reasonable, moderate sounding ones that still want to sub-contract everything rather than build local capability and resilience.

      • weka 3.1.2
        3 September 2022 at 1:08 pm

        completely agree.

    • Shanreagh 3.2
      3 September 2022 at 3:55 pm

      We could have a thread where all of the investigations can be collected so we get to know all the weirdos. Even if we can't vote everywhere many of us have friends and relatives who might be interested…though mine are probably already sleuthing.

  5. Belladonna 5
    3 September 2022 at 11:33 am

    I link with trepidation – since this is an opinion piece by Joyce – and therefore shines his own National Party focus on the recent Kiwi-Saver legislative u-turn.

    However, I did think that it contained useful information on the mechanics of the legislative process before a bill is introduced – especially over the duty of officials to highlight potential sore points (stakeholders who are impacted) – in the Regulatory Impact Statement.

    This was info that I didn't have about the review process which goes into legislation before it is introduced into the House – and thought it was worth sharing.

    Joyce's opinions about why this failed in this instance ('fail' being defined as the legislation being reversed 24 hours later, due to popular outcry) – are, as always, slanted by his political perceptions – consume at your own risk.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/steven-joyce-what-kiwisaver-stuff-up-says-about-the-state-of-the-government/JEJMRAWHAFVIG74P2QBR5YUQE4/?c_id=3&objectid=12549390&ref=rss

    • Bearded Git 5.1
      3 September 2022 at 11:45 am

      It's paywalled, thank goodness…I have had quite enough of “rons” Joyce.

    • Incognito 5.2
      3 September 2022 at 11:46 am

      This is the first time I hear it mentioned here, and AFAIK so far only one commenter (that would be me) has linked to one of the items covered in the RIS package. It beggars belief that nobody seems to have bothered to read the technical reasoning for the Bill as introduced in Parliament and it shows that the storm of protest had nothing to do with reason or evidence, for that matter.

      https://taxpolicy.ird.govt.nz/publications/2022/2022-ris-perm-bill

      • Belladonna 5.2.1
        3 September 2022 at 12:05 pm

        Point 69, in the RIS under the Managed Funds section is the one which should have had political antennae twitching. Not as a reason not to do it (if it was determined to be the best outcome), but that political management and control of the message would be needed.

        69. The preferred option will likely increase the fees charged to managed fund investors, resulting in reduced returns for savers and consequently
        reduce the future balances in KiwiSaver and other managed funds

    • Belladonna 5.3
      3 September 2022 at 11:56 am

      Sorry, didn't realize it was paywalled…

      Relevent quote

      In the normal course of events, every paper that goes up must be lodged by the middle of the previous week. That gives Treasury, the Prime Minister's Office, and every other affected government department time to offer their views on it and prime their minister with their concerns.

      Each significant paper must be accompanied by a Regulatory Impact Statement, which lays out in detail the impact of a decision on the relevant stakeholders. This was an innovation of the Key government, and its power is that it is written by officials rather than ministers, so it is where you look if you want to find a fish hook glossed over in the main Cabinet paper.

      Both Treasury and the Prime Minister's Office prepare short cheat sheets for their ministers highlighting the key elements of every Cabinet paper. An hour before Cabinet on Monday morning, senior Treasury officials sit down with the Finance Minister and his associates (including in this case David Parker) and discussed the key papers of interest at that day's Cabinet. At a similar time two floors higher, the Prime Minister's Office is taking their boss through a similar preview of the papers.

      As an added protection Cabinet also has senior ministers who act as sweepers. They are normally alert for things that might carry ramifications others haven't thought of that either worry their constituency or affect the Government's broader standing. They serve an important alarm-raising function for the wider Cabinet.

      Once the Cabinet decision is made, there are more protections around how the decision is announced. Ministers don't just dash off press releases themselves for significant economic matters. Any draft announcement involving government finances is shared with the Finance Minister's Office, and anything political with the ninth floor.

      • Incognito 5.3.1
        3 September 2022 at 12:08 pm

        I think it’s safe to say that this wasn’t your typical run-of-the-mill paper, it was a highly technical (aren’t all things related to Tax highly technical?) omnibus bill.

        Policy proposals in this omnibus bill fall into three categories; the first category is to set the annual rates of income tax for the 2022-23 tax year; the second category aims at improving current settings within a broad-base, low-rate framework to help ensure that taxes are fair and efficient and impede economic growth as little as possible; and the third category relates to proposals aimed at improving the settings for tax administration, the GST regime, KiwiSaver, and social policy rules administered by Inland Revenue.

        https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/document/BILL_125954/taxation-annual-rates-for-2022-23-platform-economy-and

        It never even made it to its First Reading!

        • Belladonna 5.3.1.1
          3 September 2022 at 12:55 pm

          Yes, I freely admit that the technicalities and financial implications of the various options are well over my head (luckily no one is about to appoint me Revenue Minister [joke])

          However, the impact on KS investors (and therefore political implications) was clearly signalled

          "resulting in reduced returns for savers and consequently reduce the future balances in KiwiSaver"

          That's the bit which needed political management and a clearly articulated message.

          • Incognito 5.3.1.1.1
            3 September 2022 at 2:10 pm

            At worst, it was a political misjudgement. Government seems easily rattled and spooked and they are not prepared to die in a ditch when someone screams ‘guppy attack!’. Sadly, though, the preferred option (by IRD) will never receive the due consideration and democratic debate it rightly deserved; it was judged, sentenced, and executed in and by the kangaroo court of public outcry where facts and reason are stopped at the door. It is so typical of National’s MO of political opposition, which is no different from their MO when in government.

      • Ad 5.3.2
        3 September 2022 at 12:35 pm

        Key would have fired Parker by now.

        Labour could certainly do with the risk aerials of Joyce right now.

        He's the guy who made MBIE, broadband fibre rollout, and Crown Infrastructure Partners. All three the biggest and longest lasting reforms of their day.

        • Jester 5.3.2.1
          3 September 2022 at 1:07 pm

          "Key would have fired Parker by now." – Yes but Ardern does not have the luxury of a deep talent pool. In fact, isn't Parker one of their most experienced ministers, and one of the few Labour ministers with actual real world experience outside of politics.

          • Ad 5.3.2.1.1
            3 September 2022 at 1:20 pm

            Agree.

          • observer 5.3.2.1.2
            3 September 2022 at 1:59 pm

            Nonsense. MPs like Barbara Edmonds and Deborah Russell are tax experts, more than qualified to be Revenue Minister.

            The "talent pool" jibe is a favourite attack line from the Right, and doesn't stand up to any serious analysis. National's "talent pool" delivered Bridges, Muller, Collins and Luxon – they all had CVs, only the talent was lacking.

            • Belladonna 5.3.2.1.2.1
              3 September 2022 at 2:29 pm

              Deborah Russell may have the financial and tax expertise, but comes across as just as much of an ivory tower intellectual as Parker.

              I admit that I hadn't heard of Barbara Edmonds until now (local Wellington MP & I'm up in Auckland). Her CV looks impressive, and I'd certainly like to see more of her in Government. Given that she's in the fairly safe Labour seat of Mana – Labour should be actively fostering her parliamentary career.

              She's currently Junior Whip (which is fairly impressive for someone who was only elected in 2020) – but appears not to be on any select committees (or, at least, I couldn't see any).
              She'd be a perfect junior partner for Parker in his Revenue Ministry – both with the technical knowledge and as someone who looks as though she has both feet firmly on the ground, politically speaking.

              • Drowsy M. Kram …
                3 September 2022 at 2:52 pm

                Deborah Russell may have the financial and tax expertise, but comes across as just as much of an ivory tower intellectual as Parker.

                Maybe it’s only me, but "ivory tower intellectual" jibes come across as just lazy. Anti-intellectualism is alive and well in Aotearoa – where’s it taking us?

                David Parker was born in Roxburgh and grew up in Dunedin. As a teenager, Parker attended Otago Boys' High School. He attended the University of Otago, studying law and business, and co-founded the Dunedin Community Law Centre.

                Before entering politics, Parker worked as a litigation partner in the law firm Anderson Lloyd Caudwell. He later had a business career in the agri-biotechnology field, including with Blis Technologies, where he was a manager.

                https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Parker_(New_Zealand_politician)#Before_politics

                • Belladonna …
                  3 September 2022 at 3:21 pm

                  The point I'm trying to make is that she doesn't come across as well-connected to the concerns of ordinary Kiwis.
                  Nor does Parker.

                  Geeks may be valuable (and essential) to any business-delivery process, but you don't put them out front to sell the product (Steve Jobs aside).

                  You can rail at anti-intellectualism (and I may well agree with you) – but your and my opinions aren't relevant, when it comes to selling policy to the vast majority of NZers.

                  • Drowsy M. Kram …
                    3 September 2022 at 4:21 pm

                    Russell was elected MP for New Lynn in 2017 (2,825 majority), and re-elected in 2020 with a "vast majority" of 13,134. If (as you posit @3:21 pm) "she doesn't come across as well-connected to the concerns of ordinary Kiwis", then presumably either "ordinary Kiwis" don't have much electoral clout in the New Lynn electorate, or they're not bothered that Russell (in your words) "doesn't come across… [etc.]"

                    "Sell the product" and "Selling policy" is intriguing (business?) framing – one would have thought that "tax cuts" would be an easy sell, but maybe not all tax cuts. She's a hard road finding the perfect tax cut policy. Still, no hurry eh?

                    You can rail at anti-intellectualism…

                    Anti-intellectuals – never around when you need them wink

                    • Shanreagh …
                      3 September 2022 at 4:38 pm

                      Anti-intellectuals – never around when you need them wink

                      Someone around here and there must have pulled themselves up by their bootstraps.

                      It is not a matter of the comms response per se but of controlling the narrative. An omnibus tax bill makes it difficult but then usually it was understood or a convention that you did not include potentially 'controversial' matters in the tax washing up bill or other omnibus or washing up bills.

                      So someone right down at IRD level has not actually really turned their mind to the implications of a malevolent view being taken. This has gone right through all the levels including the legislation cabinet committee right up to and through the House sub committees (Whips & the like) where egg spplatering stuff is usually able to be weeded out.

                      It has the feel of tiredness and over reliance on checks & balances.

                    • Incognito []
                      3 September 2022 at 4:54 pm

                      I disagree. IRD went through the appropriate consultation process:

                      26. The scope of the options is limited to measures the managed funds industry could implement and administer. Options two, three and four were consulted on in a public consultation paper which also asked for submissions on alternative options which led to option one (legislating to allow the current GST practices to continue) being submitted as the preferred option for one group of stakeholders.

                      73. The impacts of the non-monetised costs and benefits have been determined through public consultation and discussions with interested managed funds and tax advisors who work with the managed funds industry.

                      https://taxpolicy.ird.govt.nz/-/media/project/ir/tp/publications/2022/2022-ria-perm-bill/2022-ria-3-gst-managed-funds.pdf?modified=20220828034214 [finalised 25 May 2022]

                      As stated by Government, support suddenly evaporated, presumably because they got rattled after National decided to wage a campaign of fear. The big players – after all, we are still a FIRE economy – were never really in favour, obviously. Fairness considerations went out of the window.

                    • Belladonna …
                      3 September 2022 at 5:35 pm

                      If you're going to argue that you need to have popular appeal to get elected into a safe Labour seat – then we'll just have to agree to disagree.

                      New Lynn has been staunch Labour since before the days of Jonathan Hunt (i.e before I was born).

                      Surely you can see the difference in popular appeal between Russell and Kiri Allen, for example.

                      That's not to say that they don't both add value to the Government – but that they have very different talents.

                      You can sneer at 'selling' all you please. But all Governments know they have to sell policies to the electorate. And, have to do a better sales job than the opposition, come election time.

                      One of the greatest of challenges to democracy, is that the skill-set required to get elected, has little to do with the skill-set required to govern.

                    • Shanreagh …
                      4 September 2022 at 1:15 pm

                      @Incognito.

                      Yes you are quite correct. It did go out for consultation.

                      Perhaps the step about 'what would be the most malevolent or hostile connotation we can think of and let's build the answer to that in our publications' was missed.

                      In one workplace (Health sector) we always had fun grilling our CEO before public policy announcements and before public meetings finding these off the wall and wrong interpretations and questioning him on them. That admittedly is the big picture but you soon get into the habit of looking for them in everything…..

                  • Drowsy M. Kram …
                    3 September 2022 at 6:35 pm

                    If you're going to argue that you need to have popular appeal to get elected into a safe Labour seat – then we'll just have to agree to disagree.

                    Belladonna (@5:35 pm) – indeed we will just have to agree to disagree, as not too many Labour MPs increased their electoral majority by more than 10,000 votes in the 2020 general election. Think Chris Hipkins (an engaging, high-profile MP – hope you will agree) was the only one.

                    Imho, the "vast increase" in electorate votes for Russell suggests that your image of her (or at least your assumptions regarding the image of her that is prevalent amongst voters) as an "ivory tower intellectual" who isn't "well-connected to the concerns of ordinary Kiwis" isn't realistic.

                    Tbh, I'm not seeing any basis in fact for the above comments/memes about Russell's defects as a politician – seems to be a paucity of commentary to that that effect, which really make me wonder.

                    • Belladonna …
                      4 September 2022 at 12:11 am

                      Really, you can't judge by majorities in safe seats – the opposition frequently puts up less-than-stellar candidates – since there's no chance of winning. And particularly not in 2020, due to the Jacinda bounce.

                      A better indicator is the difference between their electorate vote and the party vote – which is around 1K for Russell (virtually identical margin in 2017 & 2020). It was notably better for David Cunliffe – the previous MP – throughout the entire time he held the seat. Which says to me that she's not particularly personally popular in the seat.

                      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Lynn_(New_Zealand_electorate)#2020_election

                      It's difficult to find other Labour politicians in safe seats, who don't also have a high national (and therefore local) profile – it's not realistic to compare her to Ardern, Robertson, or Woods.

                      Having heard Russell in person, and in the debating chamber, she doesn't come across to me as a warm, relatable character.

                      Now, YMMV – and you are entitled to your own opinion (as am I).

                      Having looked her up on the parliamentary website, it turns out that she is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Revenue – who knew? – so is (apparently) part of Parker's team. And, clearly didn't see the political implications of the bill, any more than he did. Which doesn't argue for someone well in touch with political realities (as opposed to financial theory)

                      So, what about Barbara Edmonds, then?

                  • Drowsy M. Kram …
                    4 September 2022 at 1:34 am

                    Having heard Russell in person, and in the debating chamber, she doesn't come across to me as a warm, relatable character.

                    Thanks for your evaluation Belladonna, believe it or not I do now understand that to you, Russell:

                    "comes across as just as much of an ivory tower intellectual as Parker",

                    "doesn't come across as well-connected to the concerns of ordinary Kiwis",

                    and is comparatively lacking in

                    "popular appeal".

                    Comes across to me as a well-intentioned hit job, tbh, apart from "geek."

                    So, what about Barbara Edmonds, then?

                    Can you elaborate – does Edmonds also come across to you as someone lacking a warm, relatable character?

                    • Belladonna …
                      4 September 2022 at 10:34 am

                      No. You named Edmonds as a potential revenue minister. I said I knew nothing about her (she's Wellington, I'm Auckland), but her CV looked impressive.
                      I'm assuming that you have more knowledge than I do.

                    • Belladonna …
                      4 September 2022 at 10:36 am

                      And, what evidence can you provide – apart from 'popularity' in a safe Labour seat – and I've demonstrated that the stats show she's not particularly popular, even there – that Russell is a popularly relatable figure. I used Kiri Allen as a benchmark.

                  • Drowsy M. Kram …
                    4 September 2022 at 12:00 pm

                    And, what evidence can you provide – apart from 'popularity' in a safe Labour seat – and I've demonstrated that the stats show she's not particularly popular, even there – that Russell is a popularly relatable figure.

                    I can imagine why Russell's popularity relative to Kiri Allan might be your benchmark – thank goodness they're on the same team.

                    Despite Russell's multiple perceived political handicaps (an "ivory tower intellectual" who lacks "popular appeal" and doesn't come across as a warm, relatable character "well-connected to the concerns of ordinary Kiwis"), in 2020 she was re-elected as MP for New Lynn with a 13,134 majority, the largest in the history of the seat – well done that woman.

                    No. You named Edmonds as a potential revenue minister.

                    Belladonna, like you (@5.3.2.1.2.1), I had next to no idea about Edmonds (a new MP) – perhaps you are confused.

                    • Belladonna …
                      4 September 2022 at 12:38 pm

                      Nope. Not confused. You named her as a potential revenue minister – in your original comment.

                      "Nonsense. MPs like Barbara Edmonds and Deborah Russell are tax experts, more than qualified to be Revenue Minister."

                      I assumed that you had more knowledge of her than a cursory glance at her CV. As we all know from the Sharma drama – a CV doesn't necessarily reflect political ability.

                    • Belladonna …
                      4 September 2022 at 12:42 pm

                      "in 2020 she was re-elected as MP for New Lynn with a 13,134 majority, the largest in the history of the seat – well done that woman."

                      Hope you're prepared to eat your words when she plunges – as she inevitably will – in 2023.

                      I note you haven't engaged with the points I made about safe Labour seats, and the difference between personal and party vote, being significantly reduced in comparison to the previous New Lynn MP.

                      Continuing to re-state that a healthy majority in a safe seat makes an MP ‘popular’ fails to convince.

                  • Drowsy M. Kram …
                    4 September 2022 at 12:50 pm

                    Continuing to re-state that a healthy majority in a safe seat makes an MP ‘popular’ fails to convince.

                    Not suggesting that Russell was/is a popular MP; my ‘engagement’ consists of suggesting that Russell is not an unpopular MP, all the more remarkable given that some choose to characterise her as an “ivory tower intellectual” who lacks “popular appeal” and doesn’t come across as a warm, relatable character “well-connected to the concerns of ordinary Kiwis“,

                    Nope. Not confused. You named her as a potential revenue minister – in your original comment.

                    You may have to eat your words Belladonna – unless of course you can provide a relevant quote to substantiate your assertion.

                    The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.
                    – Russell

                    • Belladonna …
                      4 September 2022 at 12:55 pm

                      I just gave you the quote.

                      Here it is again

                      "Nonsense. MPs like Barbara Edmonds and Deborah Russell are tax experts, more than qualified to be Revenue Minister."

                  • Drowsy M. Kram …
                    4 September 2022 at 1:05 pm

                    I just gave you the quote.

                    Here it is again

                    "Nonsense. MPs like Barbara Edmonds and Deborah Russell are tax experts, more than qualified to be Revenue Minister."

                    Thank you; I did read the quote you gave me. Can you please do me the courtesy of reading who wrote it?

                    • Belladonna …
                      4 September 2022 at 1:19 pm

                      Apologies – you had engaged so consistently on this issue – I'd conflated you with the original poster.

                      We'll leave it at the fact that neither of us knows anything about Barbara Edmonds, apart from her CV.

            • Ad 5.3.2.1.2.2
              3 September 2022 at 2:44 pm

              Those Labour tax experts have only been delegated IRD makework projects and taking near nothing off Parker's load. Parker's failure to properly delegate is as dog-in-a-manger.

        • Barfly 5.3.2.2
          3 September 2022 at 1:18 pm

          Is Joyce still looking for his $11,000,000,000 hole?

          • Ad 5.3.2.2.1
            3 September 2022 at 1:26 pm

            NZ net Crown debt is $127 billion and rising in billions weekly, heading from 15-20% of GDP to 50% of GDP.

            Ardern is digging a hole for us 10 times larger than anything Joyce forecast.

            • Incognito 5.3.2.2.1.1
              3 September 2022 at 2:01 pm

              With a few more global pandemics and a few more foreign invasions of sovereign nations you could be right, but otherwise not so much.

              https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/crown-accounts-reflect-government%E2%80%99s-balanced-fiscal-management

              • Ad …
                3 September 2022 at 2:16 pm

                Every small state government faces headwinds.

                Only a few hold course.

                • Incognito …
                  3 September 2022 at 2:22 pm

                  I agree that this Government appears to have lost its course, but not (yet) its (social democratic) compass and/or captain. We need all hands on deck, working together, not shouting at each other and blaming the captain for steering into a shit storm.

                  • Ad …
                    3 September 2022 at 2:32 pm

                    As I point out below, evaluating your successes and failures is the basic of leadership. You often confuse criticism with disloyalty and it makes for really bad writing.

                    The question Labour as the government is: what do you focus on now to improve? They have far fewer options than one might think.

                    • Incognito …
                      3 September 2022 at 2:50 pm

                      Thanks, Ad. I really appreciate your honest and constructive criticism of my bad writing, which is one reason why I’ve stopped writing Posts here (the other main ones being time & energy).

                      However, you’re way off the mark with your comment about conflating criticism and disloyalty. Personally, the two are inextricably linked in that I cannot be loyal if I cannot criticise – anybody who is versed in being his/her own worst critic would know what I mean here.

                      Have a nice day.

              • Stuart Munro …
                3 September 2022 at 7:19 pm

                The weather may deliver us a curve ball of comparable proportions.

                This is evidently the warmest & wettest NZ winter on record.

                When we reach summer, if it is in any way comparable to Europe's it is going to kill a good few businesses.

            • observer 5.3.2.2.1.2
              3 September 2022 at 2:04 pm

              You aversion to truth would make Joyce proud.

              Of course debt has increased, and of course you know why, and of course you know how it is forecast to track in future. But you have to play this game, where you constantly mistake being contrarian for being clever, It really isn't.

              If you support major cuts in spending, say so. Then join ACT.

            • Poission 5.3.2.2.1.3
              3 September 2022 at 2:10 pm

              Certainly removed the operating balance fast from 16.1 billion yr end 21 to a forecast 27.76 b deficit in 22, those rainbows and butterflies are very unsustainable.There is a good reason why the south pacific peso has depreciated 6% in the last month,one being finger pointing by investors.

              • Ad …
                3 September 2022 at 2:37 pm

                Headline unemployment and interest rates are still good here, sheltered by Australia. With the June figure so flat, the 15 September GDP announcement better be good.

                • Poission …
                  3 September 2022 at 2:59 pm

                  Our 10 year yield on the secondary market is over 4% (worse then italy ) which shows currency risk,and increasing yields are a measure of fewer buyers.

                  Unemployment is low everywhere,its a good measure of the constraint on travel,and emigration from constrained economies.Australia has a property and construction crash (fewer permits in July) along with double figure electricity and gas increases (which have not showed up in the data) Iron ore prices have collapsed (as have most intensive conversion production centres both across Europe and China shut down.

                  There are a few chickens starting to arise now,with transports say treasury in the budget update flagged the increase in RUC and fuel levy in next budget to repay the 2.4b loan due in April 24,since then there is an obvious problem.

                  24-25 there are significant refinancing (debt roll over ) at higher rates,blowouts on capital imports due to $ going south etc.

          • Robert Guyton 5.3.2.2.2
            3 September 2022 at 6:47 pm

            It's at the non-brain end of brain-stem.

          • Jester 5.3.2.2.3
            4 September 2022 at 1:54 pm

            The only thing Joyce got wrong in the end was that he underestimated.

        • PsyclingLeft.Always 5.3.2.3
          3 September 2022 at 2:00 pm

          wtf ? ! Who else couda/woulda Key have "fired" from.. national? And didnt…

          https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/john-key-says-national-did-not-ask-mike-sabin-to-quit-after-mp-resigns-due-to-personal-issues/EXFM3AF2VXCF5V57CEYVPQP7BQ/

          And now…apart from continually bagging Jacinda Ardern ..youre praising up Steven …Joyce ?

          Yesterday Steven Joyce claimed there was a giant hole in Labour’s books. We asked a lot of economists and accountants whether the claim was correct.

          https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/05-09-2017/the-11-7-billion-dollar-question-steven-joyce-and-grant-robertson-cant-both-be-right

          National has brought us here before. A vote for Labour is a vote for Kim Dotcom. Iwi/Kiwi. Dancing Cossacks. It was disgraceful then. It’s disgraceful now.

          https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/06-09-2017/the-critical-questions-raised-by-steven-joyces-missing-billions-fiasco

          I really dont know what angle you are running here …..

          • Incognito 5.3.2.3.1
            3 September 2022 at 2:03 pm

            When you spin, the angle changes all the time, from left to right, from up to down, and round and round it goes.

            • Barfly 5.3.2.3.1.1
              3 September 2022 at 2:32 pm

              Yes and as the RW is constantly vomiting garbage and filth while they spin you end up with a hell of a mess all over the place.

          • Ad 5.3.2.3.2
            3 September 2022 at 2:28 pm

            Joyce just set out clear Cabinet paper decisionmaking processes, so I pointed out that Joyce has the credibility to state that. No angle.

            The harder question to answer now is:

            In what policy field can Labour make a plan convincing enough to turn its current car-crash around?

            The policy fields Labour have politically ruined are:

            health, tertiary education, tax, debt management, violent crime, local government, water, electricity, housing, banking, poverty alleviation, transport, broadcasting, public information access, firefighting, and democratic strength.

            They remain strong in: foreign policy, disaster management, social security, and employment.

            Much of that balance is in poor political management, some in legislative design, the rest is simple inexperience and failure to execute. All well-forecast problems in 2017.

            But they still have a year to run.

            What should they do now?

            • Stuart Munro 5.3.2.3.2.1
              3 September 2022 at 7:36 pm

              Sort out the bollocks around tiny houses.

              The climate crisis is going to hit us much sooner and much harder than we are prepared for. A more ascetic lifestyle, which also reduces pressure on conventional housing will offend only property speculators and slumlords (who would not vote Labour on a bet).

              Labour should have been building for the lower income quartile all along.

        • Drowsy M. Kram 5.3.2.4
          3 September 2022 at 2:30 pm

          Key would have fired Parker by now.

          Interesting opinion. Key (8+ years as PM) removed Worth, whereas Ardern (<5 years as PM) has dismissed Curran and Lees-Galloway. Others fell (or were pushed) on their swords, albeit temporarily.

          Worth's conduct "[did] not befit a minister and I [Key] will not have him in my Cabinet'' [June 2009]

          Smith resigned from all his Cabinet portfolios on 21 March 2012…

          On 1 May 2014, he [Williamson] resigned his ministerial portfolios after making what the Prime Minister, John Key, called, "A serious error of judgement."

          Key said Collins had been 'unwise' and placed on her second final warning.
          …
          On 30 August 2014 Collins resigned her Cabinet positions following the leak of another e-mail written by Slater in 2011.

          On 24 August 2018, Prime Minister Ardern dismissed Curran from the Cabinet…

          On 30 August 2018, Whaitiri had to "stand aside" from her ministerial portfolios…

          Ardern accepted his resignation, stating that she "accepted Clark's conclusion that his presence in the role was creating an unhelpful distraction from the Government's ongoing response to Covid-19 and wider health reforms." [July 2020]

          On 22 July 2020 Lees-Galloway was dismissed from his immigration, workplace relations and ACC ministerial portfolios by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after admitting an inappropriate but consensual relationship with a person working in one of his agencies.

        • Bearded Git 5.3.2.5
          3 September 2022 at 2:31 pm

          Let's remember the gst changes proposed were actually a good idea, where foreign owned banks had to pay 225 million dollars a year to the government and which should have come out of their profits and not charged to their customers. So Parker thought people would favourable to the change. The media, including RNZ's Checkpoint (WTF) portrayed the reforms as a wealth tax or a tax on Kiwisaver which was wrong, shallow and pathetic. The standard of journalism on RNZ's Checkpoint is atrocious. FACTS AND BALANCE are often missing.

          • Ad 5.3.2.5.1
            3 September 2022 at 2:40 pm

            Couldawouldashoulda doesn't work.

            The question for Ardern is what specifically does she do to turn this around, enough to have a shot at 2023?

        • Blazer 5.3.2.6
          3 September 2022 at 4:56 pm

          Interesting reforms there Ad.

          Going line by line' through MBIE's expenditures is quite ..telling.

          How much was pumped into Chorus by the Govt to keep it afloat?

          Crown Infrastructure Partners…does that work where Crown carries the risk?Usually it does.

  6. arkie 6
    3 September 2022 at 12:54 pm

    Good news!

    Tipler argues the voting age should be lowered from 18: that would have an impact on government and council decisions that most affect young people, such as the availability of good public transport, or addressing climate emissions.

    Now, a Government review has reached the same conclusion.

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/pro/lower-voting-age-and-longer-terms-for-local-councils-govt-review

    Make it 16 petition here

    https://twitter.com/NZGreens/status/1565525824081575936

    • Poission 6.1
      3 September 2022 at 2:38 pm

      Thats great now they can face their full responsibilities as adults in court.

      • arkie 6.1.1
        3 September 2022 at 2:44 pm

        What are you talking about? Current law allows children as young as 10 being charged in court:

        No child should ever appear in an adult court and should never be sentenced to life imprisonment, youth justice experts say.

        In a paper released last week they are calling for four urgent law changes to remove children aged between 10 and 17 from being dealt with in the adult court completely.

        They also want to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility and remove the ability for children to be remanded into police cells.

        https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/126848630/law-change-wanted-to-prevent-children-ending-up-in-adult-courts

        • Poission 6.1.1.1
          3 September 2022 at 3:01 pm

          Thats indictable offences,presently the ram raiders ,car lifters etc appear in youth court.

          • arkie 6.1.1.1.1
            3 September 2022 at 3:15 pm

            And according to youth justice experts that just where they should be appearing.

            What more would you like to see 'achieved' by the use of the adult court system regarding this criminal menace?

            • Poission 6.1.1.1.1.1
              3 September 2022 at 3:19 pm

              So they are not mature intellectually or morally to appear as an adult in court,but they can vote fucken hilarious.

              • arkie …
                3 September 2022 at 4:41 pm

                How do we currently test voters intellectual and moral maturity other than to have lived past their 18th birthday? I know plenty older that fail to exhibit this maturity, and they’re in the Parliament! Under such thinking surely those who are of age but do not vote should have it revoked henceforth, for not exhibiting the requisite maturity?

                Universal suffrage means just that, and encouraging youth involvement and engagement with politics by lowering the age to 16 is social good. They will only have one election to vote in while they are below 18 anyway, after that they’re intellectually and morally mature right?

                • weka …
                  3 September 2022 at 6:23 pm

                  if the issue is maturity, why 16 and not 15? Or 14? or 12?

                  • arkie …
                    3 September 2022 at 6:32 pm

                    Very good point, the line is arbitrary. I think the reasoning behind 16 is because the education of registering and engaging with the process could be part of the year 11 curriculum, the last year of schooling that is mandatory.

                    • weka …
                      3 September 2022 at 6:56 pm

                      do they teach those things already?

                    • arkie …
                      3 September 2022 at 7:30 pm

                      I'm not certain. From a cursory look online the beginning of educating around of the NZ political process begins around year 10 / level 6.

                    • weka …
                      3 September 2022 at 7:56 pm

                      I can't see the problem with teaching it in the last year of school and then them voting at 18. Unless they're intending to register students while still at school.

                    • arkie …
                      3 September 2022 at 8:39 pm

                      Not every student continues High School after Year 11, they'll miss out on learning an important civic process. Apparently the social studies class is elective past year 10 and how teachers approach the curriculum is left up to individual educators more than other subjects. If schools are to teach the next generations what is needed for our society then surely civics should be a mandatory topic.

                    • weka …
                      3 September 2022 at 8:48 pm

                      I quite agree. One of my main objections to lowering the age at this time is the lack of civics education.

                      Let's say it's made compulsory in the last two mandatory years of school. Then they still can't vote until 18. How is that a problem?

                    • arkie …
                      3 September 2022 at 9:07 pm

                      It's not necessarily a problem, other than that it may be against the Bill of Rights. In the Newsroom article Dr Bronwyn Wood, Senior Lecturer at the School of Education at VIC says:

                      "One of the strongest arguments I have for why youth should vote is that they inherit the policies and their consequences formed by adults for a much longer time than the adults themselves. So Brexit was strongly opposed by the younger generation but the older generation got what they wanted – which seems quite unfair.

                      On the other hand, though, she says youth are poorly set up to understand the nuances of political party positions at 16. "Arguably many adults still don't understand these either – but in the meantime many youth don't want, or feel confident, to vote at 16. Any campaign to lower voting age therefore needs to have a package of educational support."

                      A mandatory education program accompanying any change seems to be common across those making the recommendation.

                    • weka …
                      3 September 2022 at 11:24 pm

                      The inheriting policies argument takes us back to why 16 and not 14. Or 5 (I asked about the rationale on twitter once and someone I respect said they think all children should have the right to vote 😳)

                    • arkie …
                      4 September 2022 at 1:04 am

                      Yeah that's not a sensible argument and not one I'd support.

                      I guess an idea why 16 could be that it is the next age threshold below 18, that society already uses for a variety of rights, it's not 14 because that seems a lot younger to society. All these thresholds aren't static, as we've seen with alcohol purchasing laws, it takes society to think it makes sense, and I think the argument that 16 is too immature to vote is not particularly strong. But we shall see what happens.

                      Regarding what is possible at different age thresholds, this is informative: https://www.cab.org.nz/article/KB00001126

                  • Poission …
                    3 September 2022 at 6:43 pm

                    Why not 25 that is when the Brain is fully developed.

                    • weka …
                      3 September 2022 at 6:54 pm

                      is that a serious suggestion?

                    • Poission …
                      3 September 2022 at 7:09 pm

                      It has better rational arguments then bottom trawling for voters here and abroad (the latter being those with nz residents living abroad) if you cannot attract more the 1 in 12 voters with your policies,maybe the wisdom of the masses holds.

                    • weka …
                      3 September 2022 at 8:50 pm

                      fuck sake, it's like pulling teeth trying to get people to state their position clearly.

    • Blazer 6.2
      3 September 2022 at 3:31 pm

      Asking if 16 y.o's can exercise good judgement….whatabout the 'Ufindell effect'?cheeky

      • arkie 6.2.1
        3 September 2022 at 4:42 pm

        Well in that particular example the lack of good judgement by all involved, seems to extend to the present day!

  7. Ad 7
    3 September 2022 at 2:55 pm

    So here's the energy crash course for Europe: Russia has now permanently shut down NordStream.

    Nord Stream 1: Gazprom announces indefinite shutdown of pipeline | Gazprom | The Guardian

    How will 'leader' v 'fast follower' v 'petrostate to the South play out now?

    And will it be enough of an effect to stabilise its climate shock?

    • arkie 7.1
      3 September 2022 at 3:06 pm

      Search for alternatives perhaps?

      Yemen’s former Foreign Minister, Abu Bakr al-Qirbi, who said that French Foreign Legion, a French military force comprising of foreign nationals, has arrived in Yemen’s Shabwah province to secure control of the Balhaf gas facility.

      …

      In July, Paris and Abu Dhabi signed an energy cooperation deal for the joint production of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

      According to reports from earlier in the year, the energy cooperation between the two countries is aimed at securing control over Yemeni gas resources through the Balhaf facility, which is owned by French multinational oil and gas company TotalEnergies SE.

      https://thecradle.co/Article/news/14486

    • Poission 7.2
      3 September 2022 at 3:16 pm

      The G7 also placed a cap on Russian oil (the nordstream event was likely a reaction as the maintenance was timed for the meeting) as Europe controls 90% of the insurance,a no sail requirement is now in place.

      https://twitter.com/AsstSecEcon/status/1565738230154231808?cxt=HHwWgIC8uf2nz7orAAAA

      It excludes Oil to Japan from its Sakhalin field.

    • Blazer 7.3
      3 September 2022 at 3:32 pm

      Nordstream2 is available ,a more modern ..option!

  8. Muttonbird 8
    3 September 2022 at 5:13 pm

    It is almost too depressing to report but Heather Stupidity-Allen yesterday came out with two unhinged clangers:

    1. ‘All mask wearers are merely signalling their support for Jacinda Ardern.’ I don't know about you but I wear a mask so I reduce the chances of catching a virus. I'm a freelance contractor and mask wearing in contact situations helps keep me and my family safe and food on the table. Perhaps the hundreds of millions of asian people who practice mask-wearing are also left wing conspirators?
    2. ‘Rather a VFF/Anti-vaxxer for council than a Green.’ This is something she said which 1ZB has actually used as a promo for her show. Her argument, and clearly NZME’s argument is the Green candidate is actively and ideologically for destroying the economy and would do more damage than an anti-science, white-supremacist.

    I get that Stupidity-Allen has to say dumb shit to appeal to her audience of racists and crystal-clutchers in order to keep her job, but it must hurt bad when she reflects at the end of each day on the monumental garbage just spouted.

  9. Poission 9
    3 September 2022 at 7:37 pm

    France announces that the 32 nuclear reactors idled for maintenance and parts,will be operating by winter,decreasing some generation risk in Eurozone.

    https://twitter.com/quakes99/status/1565697494373527553

    Boris Johnston outlines one of the UK policy response to the energy shortage.

    https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1565327392868106249?cxt=HHwWkoC8kY2-lLkrAAAA

    Which is not as silly as it sounds,large savings to be made by replacement of more efficient appliances b4 winter.

    • Muttonbird 9.1
      4 September 2022 at 8:25 am

      Which is not as silly as it sounds, large savings to be made by replacement of more efficient appliances b4 winter.

      It is extremely silly.

      How is it not silly to spend £20 on a kettle to save £10 in the first winter, a winter of 250% increases in energy prices? You are immediately £20 worse off and still £10 worse off a year after purchase.

      More than that, it is out of touch in the face of household energy bills rising by hundreds of pounds in the coming winter. He is rightly being ridiculed for it.

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    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
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    7 days ago
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    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

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    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
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