Open mike 03/09/2024
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6:00 am, September 3rd, 2024 - 43 comments
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- Treasury warns deeper recession worsening Budget deficit
The gift that keeps giving: David Seymour has now opened a split in the coalition over the future of National’s promise to build a new medical school. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / TheKakaKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and ...5 hours ago - Weekly Roundup 22-November-2024
It’s another Friday and we’re inching closer to the end of the year. Here’s some of the stories that have caught our attention this week. This post, like all our work, is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew and made possible by generous donations from our readers and ...6 hours ago - Beyond Question?
Record Numbers: The Hīkoi mō te Tiriti, which began at the tip of the North, and the tail of the South, on 11 November, culminated outside Parliament on Tuesday, 19 November 2024, in one of the largest demonstrations in New Zealand’s political history.ACCORDING TO TE ARA, the Ministry of Culture ...6 hours ago - The Rush To Blame “The Activists”
Activists are such easy scapegoats. The right and center have been conditioned for decades to roll their eyes at all protests. The left are easily aggravated over students leading movements they see as belonging to grownups, who have more important concerns like the economy and whether the trains come on ...6 hours ago - Cutting Through An Inundation of Dipshit Racists
Hi,Watching New Zealand from afar offers a strange perspective. It can be a good thing — distance from Aotearoa helped keep me sane while I reported on abuse at New Zealand’s biggest megachurch over the course of a year. It helps fuel my silly podcast. But it can also be ...7 hours ago - This is bad news
The speech yesterday by Treasury’s Chief Economic Advisor warning that the books are in worse shape than forecasted looks like it’s part of a softening-up process for either more cuts or a longer wait to get back into surplus. The speech was a highly unusual public preview of Treasury’s Half-Yearly ...9 hours ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #47 2024
Open access notables Projected increase in the frequency of extremely active Atlantic hurricane seasons, Lopez et al., Science Advances: Future changes to the year-to-year swings between active and inactive North Atlantic tropical cyclone (TC) seasons have received little attention, yet may have great societal implications in areas prone to hurricane ...18 hours ago - Chicken Kiev
Chatting in the supermarket this morning, I found I needed to lunge for the chicken drumsticks.Coping mechanisms: who hasn’t felt a greater need for them lately?When it all gets too much, I turn to demonstrating handy butchery hacks.It wasn’t that she’d said anything wrong, our friend, not at all. We ...21 hours ago - The year is 2024 and it’s 1984
This is written in response to the highly significant open letter from a group of economists that was today addressed to Christopher Luxon. The year is 2024, and it’s 1984. The country is reeling from a record Olympic medal gold haul, while the globe grapples with the choice of the ...22 hours ago - The IPCA has failed
Back in 2022, RNZ took an in-depth look at the "Independent" Police Conduct Authority and its handling of killings by police. These are the most serious test of oversight, and you would expect the police's use of lethal force to receive the most severe scrutiny. But despite the police regularly ...1 day ago - Thursday 21 November 2024
The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti arrived at Parliament on Tuesday – the size is being debated but estimates range from 42,000 to 100,000. The Prime Minister is defending not attending due to some of the organisers being affiliated with Te Pāti Māori. The national gang patch ban came into force ...1 day ago - ‘These budget cuts are counter-productive and make no sense’
I spoke to former Productivity Chair Nana this morning about the letter he and a group of other economists sent to PM Christopher Luxon to urge the Government to urgently suspend cuts to spending and investment for the sake of the economy, struggling businesses and the wellbeing of vulnerable ...1 day ago
- ACT’s Astroturfing & A Co-ordinated Attack on Te Pati Māori
Unity on the Streets / Unity at the TableAfter the Hīkoi, all three right wing Coalition leaders came together to push the idea that the 42,000 - 50,000 + strong Hikoi was somehow less potent and brave, and more illegitimate than the energy and crowd displayed.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon 20-November: ...1 day ago - Durability of carbon dioxide removal is critical for stabilizing temperatures
This is a re-post from the Climate Brink The world is emitting over 40 gigatons of CO2 per year, contributing to an accelerating warming of the planet. The world needs to cut emissions rapidly to be remotely on track to meet our Paris Agreement goals of limiting warming to well-below 2C, and we ...1 day ago
- I Love My Leather Jacket
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- Economists call on PM to suspend budget cuts for the sake of the economy
Nicola Willis’ budget cuts are under fire from economists for having no clear rationale and worsening the recession. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 21: The news at ...1 day ago
- The end of policing by consent
National has appointed a new police commissioner. And he explicitly rejects policing by consent: Asked if he subscribed to policing by consent, he said he did not. “I don’t talk about policing by consent. I talk about trust and confidence, and it is fundamentally important that the police have ...2 days ago
- The Treaty Principles Bill: A Who’s Who
David Horatio Waterbed SeymourFringe politician and dweeb transformed successfully by ThinkTank money into a well-oiled soundbite robot.Currently programmed to say: Equal rights for all New Zealanders Equal rights for all New Zealanders Equal rights for all New Zealanders Was previously programmed to say:I am a proud libertarian andI am a ...2 days ago - Kinleith mill closure shows need for industrial strategy
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to deliver an economic and industrial strategy for regional manufacturing, rather than just expressing sympathy for job losses, following the announced closure of Kinleith mill in Tokoroa. “The closure Kinleith mill in Tokoroa is not just devastating for ...2 days ago
- 27% of kids going hungry, up from 21% in a year
One in four Kiwi children live in households where food runs out often or sometimes. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, November 20: The lead: The official annual Health Survey found sharp ...2 days ago - Transport modelling is an illusion
This guest post by Tim Adriaansen, an advocate for accessibility and sustainable transport, originally published on LinkedIn and cross posted here with permission. People prefer cars, right? Probably not. Here’s why. Granted, most people in English-speaking countries use a car to get around. This simple reality underpins our transport ...2 days ago
- Young Maori take over
Neither Wellington nor Parliament has ever seen anything like it before. The Police said there were more than 40,000 but however many there were, yesterday’s Hikoi to Parliament was a monumental event. It was almost three times the Foreshore and Seabed martch of 2004 and many,many times bigger than ...2 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On The Hikoi Aftermath
The euphoria from yesterday’s hikoi may be transitory, but is no less valuable for that. It is pretty rare for the left to feel itself to be in the overwhelming majority, and speaking as the voice of the people. Lest that momentum be lost, the organisers will no doubt be ...3 days ago - Sabin 33 #3 – Solar panels generate too much waste and will overwhelm landfills
On November 1, 2024 we announced the publication of 33 rebuttals based on the report "Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles" written by Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Andy Fitch, Matthew Ard, Kaya Sittinger & Samuel Lavine and published by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia ...3 days ago
- What’s the time Mr Seymour?
Mr David Seymour crawling up to the ceilingThe sun don't shine the sun don't shine the sun don't shine at allMamma Pappa say you should go to school, I don't know what forNow that I've grown up and seen the world and all its liesSong: Southside of Bombay"Ake, ake, ake" ...3 days ago - Submit to defend te Tiriti!
The Justice Committee has called for submissions on National's racist and constitutionally radical Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. Submissions can be made at the link above or by post, and are due by Tuesday, 7 January 2025. But I'd get in quick, in case National grows a spine ...3 days ago
- We need to talk about Kevin
All happy families are alike; each unhappy family has a Drunk Uncle Kevin in there somewhere. If your Kevin is anything like the ones I know, he was getting along happily enough without having to think too much about the Treaty Principles Bill apart from bloody good job, onya guys ...3 days ago - The hikoi
Like everyone else (everyone who wasn't there, anyway), I've spent the morning watching the hikoi march on Parliament. The pictures are astounding: parliament grounds and the surrounding streets are full, and there are still people backed up along Lambton Quay. The police are estimating 35,000 people, and that's a floor ...3 days ago
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A better world isn’t just possible, it’s desirable. And that’s how we should frame a lot of our conversations around making a greater Auckland. As an example take urban climate action. A climate friendly Auckland: Is free from congestion Enables people to travel how they choose Is filled with ...3 days ago
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3 days ago - Discount Code for Webworm Merch!
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There were urgent moves yesterday at Parliament to try and defuse the tension building up over ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill. The Bill’s author, ACT leader David Seymour, told reporters that he understood the Justice Select Committee met yesterday to discuss how long it should take to consider submissions on the ...3 days ago
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4 days ago - Gordon Campbell On The Hikoi Arrival, And Tyler Childers
Politicians like to bang on all about the need to heal society’s racial/economic divisions, but in their actions they’re more keen on stoking those divisions, with the Treaty Principles Bill being the classic example. The Bill seeks to dilute the Crown’s responsibilities to Māori at the same time as it ...4 days ago
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4 days ago - Kaamos: Accepted
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This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Governments around the world face a conundrum. Virtually none are on track to meet their Paris climate commitments. That includes the United States, which committed to cut its emissions at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 but is only on track for 32-43% cuts ...4 days ago
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- Katherine Trebeck – An Alternative Economic Narrative
The era of neoliberalism has been destructive on so many levels, with a huge growth in wealth and privilege for the one percent. A hollowing out of the state; fraying of the safety net; inadequate government investment in infrastructure; and continued environmental degradation has resulted in damage on a vast ...4 days ago - In a Manner of Speaking
In a manner of speakingI just want to sayThat I could never forget the wayYou told me everythingBy saying nothingOh, give me the wordsGive me the wordsThat tell me nothingOh, give me the wordsGive me the wordsThat tell me everythingSongwriter: Winston TongNext Tuesday, the subscription price for Nick’s Kōrero will ...4 days ago - Monday 18 November 2024
The NZNO have announced a nationwide strike for December over its pay dispute with Health NZ, who have put a 1 per cent cap on pay rises. The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti and Treaty Principles Bill remain front and centre in the media, with the impacts of the Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke-led ...4 days ago
- Shipley warns Seymour’s bill is ‘inviting civil war’
The divisive Treaty Principles Bill is not just a risk for the National Party, it’s a risk to civil order and unity, warns a National Party grandee. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on ...4 days ago - A clearer network for the City Rail Link?
This post was originally published on Linked In by Nicolas Reid. It is republished here with permission. Auckland is now just a year or so away from having the keystone of its urban rail network complete. As I wrote about here, the City Rail Link will be a literal game changer for ...4 days ago
- National’s support base is wobbling
If ACT leader David Seymour intended the Treaty Principles Bill to drive a wedge into National’s support base, he may well already be succeeding. By midnight on Thursday after the Maori Party haka in Parliament, National MPs were being deluged with emails and messages from their members calling them out ...4 days ago
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- Grifter Eftpos Tamaki at it again
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Self-appointed “Bishop” and proto-fascist, Brian Tamaki was at it again on 16 November, blocking Auckland’s southern motorway, SH1.This time, the target of his ire wasn’t the Civil Unions Act; covid lock-downs; mask mandates; or ...5 days ago - Rip up a bill, lead a haka are words to live by
I cannot stop grabbing people by the lapels, or shoulders, or similar, and raving at them about the tiny miracles in my ears.I can hear again! There could not be a more satisfied customer in all the world.In a noisy cafe I am even catching words that Karren cannot, she ...5 days ago - Unintended Consequences
Take the baitYou pay the priceIt's much too lateFor good adviceYou know and I know that our good things' throughBecause there's consequences for what we doConsequences for me and youWriters: Kevin Robert Hayes, David Nagier, Bonnie Adele Hayes.Fallout from the first readingOne News began last night by saying that tens ...6 days ago - Thank you, driver!
Today, Saturday 16th of November, is Auckland Transport’s Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Saturday 16 November marks the third annual Auckland Transport (AT) ‘Bus Driver Appreciation Day’, and this year we are encouraging all of New Zealand to thank their driver or let the bus go first if you are in ...6 days ago
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Hi,If I was to accurately sum up my mental state over the week, I’d just say that I got a huge fright from my own shadow.I’d nipped out for an 11pm neighborhood stroll, just to calm down after a day of stress and screens. The Cure and Fazerdaze’s new record ...6 days ago - We Are Not Listening
The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...
7 days ago - More lawlessness from National
On Tuesday, sick of government stonewalling, the Waitangi Tribunal issued a rare court order, ordering the Minister of Health to release unredacted documents within 48 hours showing its reasoning for disestablishing Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority. The government's response to the lawful order of a court? Yeah, ...7 days ago
- National’s tyrannical “foreign interference” law
Yesterday, under cover the the biggest political fight of the year, National quietly - covertly, even - introduced anti-foreign interference legislation. The bill is the product of a years-long work-program aimed at countering shit like this and this, and there's unquestionably a need to do something to counter foreign states' ...7 days ago
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A few months ago, I was in an audience watching a Haka-Kapa and as I watched children dance and sing and sway and shout and beat, I couldn’t help but think “The Haka represents the best of us.”Yes, yes - there will be a thousand voices that rush forth to ...1 week ago
- Adding up the climate cost
St Mary’s Bay housing left hanging: Climate risk is systemically underestimated in the climate scenarios used by central banks, and a new report warns 10,000 houses are set to become uninsurable in Aotearoa. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in ...1 week ago
- Auckland chafing at Bishop’s housing intensification orders
One of the major problems the Government has in implementing its ‘going for housing growth’ strategy is that it isn’t giving much funding help to councils. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and ...1 week ago - Friday 15 November 2024
The Treaty Principles Bill continues to dominate political news, with it passing its first reading in the House. Parliament was briefly suspended and Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke suspended for 24 hours after leading a haka that was joined by opposition MPs and the public in the gallery. Willie ...1 week ago
- Weekly Roundup 15-November-2024
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- Are We The Waiting?
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Day One of the Treaty Principles Bill…and everyone got what they wanted, and did what they liked. Heated words were exchanged. Culturally appropriate acts of outrage were performed. David Seymour got to play the victim card. Willie Jackson got kicked out of class. A comically red-faced Mr Speaker bellowed “Order, ...1 week ago
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- The PM gets some extremely valuable legal advice for free
You can pay a great deal of money for the services of a KC. So just what would some peerless legal writing from 40 or so of them be worth, do you reckon?Priceless, that’s what. It’s not even the half of it, but this is my favourite part of the ...1 week ago - D-day for the government
The government's Treaty Principles Bill is up for its first reading today - bought forward in a rush in a desperate effort to avoid the hikoi which is currently marching on Wellington. But the Prime Minister won’t be there for it – he’s literally running away to Peru! But he ...1 week ago
- 97% of submissions did not want no-cause evictions, Trump chooses a Russian spy for US Intelligence ...
Good morning, and I’m sorry I’ve been away for a couple of days.I’ve been focusing on the Hikoi, and also testing out sentiment on the Treaty Principles Bill. It’s complicated, and the Treaty Principles Bill will be debated in the House today. The Government’s own lawyers have told them the ...1 week ago - Government must vote down ACT Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to vote down an ACT Party Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights by making it easier for employers to fire workers. Last week ACT MP Laura Trask’s Employment Relations (Termination of Employment by Agreement) Amendment Bill was ...1 week ago
- Seymour causes thousands of unjustified absences by forcing kids to fight for their rights instead o...
The State would like to remind you that they are in control. They manage your employment prospects, and can destroy the job market you and yours rely on by mass-cancelling construction projects, cutting funding, and firing a good chunk of our public servants. They wield the mechanisms that provide scrutiny ...1 week ago - The Weight of the World
As the weight of the world Hangs on your shoulders The weight of the world Starts to take over again And over again All that you once loved, now you hate So slowly relearn how to meditate To have and to hold And never let go Can you feel it ...1 week ago - Thursday 14 November 2024
The Treaty Principles Bill is set to have its First Reading in the House today, as the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti continues. More than 40 KCs have written to the Prime Minister and Attorney-General outlining their “grave concerns” about the substance of the Treaty Principles Bill, while an academic and ...1 week ago
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- An opportunity for a pro-growth tax switch
As the Hikoi against it swells into the tens of thousands, KCs call on National to kill off ACT’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 14: The ...1 week ago
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The Government has passed legislation to remove agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) while Aotearoa’s reputation on climate action plummets. ...20 hours ago - Failed boot camp experiment must end
As legislation to set up boot camps passed its first reading, the Green Party urged the Government to abandon this failed policy experiment for the good of our rangatahi. ...21 hours ago
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The Ministry of Health has today released an evidence brief regarding the use of puberty blockers in gender-affirming healthcare, amid moves by the government to limit access. ...21 hours ago
- Release: National doesn’t care about manufacturing
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- Release: Youth mental wellbeing no longer a priority for Child Poverty Minister
Louise Upston has revealed her diminished vision for vulnerable youth against a backdrop of snubbed advice, scrapped priorities, shifted goal posts and thousands more children projected to fall into poverty. ...1 day ago
- Release: National’s lack of climate action taking NZ backwards
National Government’s backward-looking climate policy has seen New Zealand fall seven places on the Climate Change Performance Index to 41 out of 63 countries measured. ...1 day ago
- Release: Simple reason for drop in emergency housing
When the Government says it has reduced the number of people in emergency housing, what it means is it is stopping people from accessing it in the first place. ...1 day ago
- Govt’s child wellbeing strategy ‘shallow and shameful’
The Government is turning its back on children by not only weakening child poverty reduction targets, but also removing child mental wellbeing as a priority focus in their Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy. ...1 day ago
- Release: A historic win for Samoan communities
Labour warmly welcomes the Restoring Samoan Citizenship Bill as it passes its third reading, before becoming law. ...1 day ago
- Government plan to reinstate live animal exports a “national disgrace”
The Government has taken a giant step backwards by reinstating live animal exports. ...2 days ago
- Pasifika justice as Member’s Bill passes final reading
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- Release: Minister of Education thinks New Zealand ends at the Bombay Hills
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- Economists sound alarm on Government’s slash-and-burn approach
A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. ...2 days ago
- Release: Smoking numbers up under Costello’s watch
National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...2 days ago
- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...2 days ago
- Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions
Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament
Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons
Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...4 days ago
- Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill
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- Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...1 week ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Te Tiriti
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon
As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation
The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
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https://norightturn.blogspot.com/2024/09/climate-change-least-cost-to-who.html
No Right Turn sums up the CoC pretty well:
And a $33Billion example…
Including his pet hate and a dogwhistle for his fellow fckwits….
Cycleways can/are also Walkways. And never mind our Planet burning….drill and mine, it will all be someone else's problem !
Well, it becomes ever more obvious why the CoC are delaying the Cook Straight ferry replacements–these vandals actually want to sever rail connection between the North and South Islands.
RUCs got slapped on EV owners immediately–do the fossil fuel people hate them or what…–while ICE cars are a couple of years out from RUCs if ever, given the difficulties of enforcement and admin. This is NZ’s version of MAGA and hopefully enough new gens will get into politics and voting for 2026 to boot them. But…it is going to be a hard several years with people in cars, tents, Doctors surgeries closing, boot camps, de funding of NGOs and all the rest of their vindictive agenda.
This country is now officially a “Tale of two cities”.
Yea, they certainly seem ideologically opposed to anything Sustainable..and everyone except the special Few. (IE cronies/funders, et al)
The RUC ICE thing was raised here recently….and the comments were, rather than helping the poor (ha) it was enabling the rich on their lifestyle blocks/boats/ etc…
Still, as with the "Tea and Toast", People need to Get Up, Stand Up.
Protest, and make your voice heard.
When I was part of the discussions at NZTA around RUC policy about 10 years ago, we always saw the existing petrol tax regime as incredibly regressive.
The reasons were that the FED was a tax on fuel consumption instead of travel, and that wealthier people that could afford newer, more fuel efficient cars were paying a disproportionately lower amount of tax.
The FED was always a weak (and bad) proxy for road use.
At least RUC somewhat correlates to the amount you use the road and the wear and tear you cause.
So if you own a Porsche Cayenne and use it to drive to your beach house every weekend, you'll pay for it.
Exactly.
RUC give much better tools to incentivise more responsible vehicle choices. It's a simple matter to graduate the charge based on weight, with a couple of graduations below 3.5 t , and probably dimension as well. Other jurisdictions don't have a problem with this.
When FED was dreamt up most vehicles used around 20 l/100km, now it's quarter to half that, and getting less if you've got the money.
To be fair, it's still regressive: a lower income taxpayer will still end up paying a higher proportion of their income on RUC than a rich prick and his Porsche.
But at least they'll be taxed on the same basis that isn't necessarily dependent on income. It became a charge for use rather than a tax on consumption.
Whether that's fair given the absolutely enormous top-ups given to transport out of crown funding is a different question entirely
Fair like for people who own light diesel vans and similar, as are now paying RUC?
You might think it will be fairer…IMO it wont benefit us poorer ones..much, if at all.
I don't disagree with your assertion. Universal RUC might be more equitable and at least more strongly linked to actual road use, but it's still extremely regressive and will still disporportionally affect poorer people.
Where does anyone think the poor will find hundreds of dollars to pay RUC. What will happen is what happens with deisel vehicles now, you take the risk of not paying or disconnect the speedometer or install a switch to turn it off and on if stopped by by police. The overall tax take will fall.
I'm picking cheaper rates for GPS monitored rucs,
As a near full-time public transport user, I strongly object to all the GST I have to pay on everything funding anything to so with more roads (being on a benefit, it's a bit difficult to call myself a hard-working taxpayer, but benefits are still taxed, it's just a giant money-go round, but that's for another day).
Especially since they've made it quite clear that public transport fares are going to 'have' to increase, and once again it's those at the bottom of the heap- and aren't going to get any use out of these roads- who pay the price.
Perhaps I should take up smoking and buy an investment property?
Hi Kay. In case you or others didnt see my other reply, here are some more Links also.
IMO well worth having your voice heard. And Like Minds too….
I'm waiting for the penny to drop that a very large proportion of that $33 billion isn't actually going into the road that Simeon drives on, but into 3 Waters infrastructure below the road, and the palaver that's involved in working on that under-road infrastructure. Not quite so much on rural regional highways, but once you get into town it could be most of the project.
In the much re-heated Queenstown Package it's going to take four years, and $250 million to remodel one intersection. Going to be fun.
But 3 Waters investment is still useful right?
Yes, probably more than the road over it.
It's the way that the inground infrastructure gets bundled in with, and labeled and cost allocated as roading. National, and others, are very quick to criticise the cost of cycleways, when most of the cost is what's under the cycleway.
Back in the bad old days 3 Waters upgrades were standalone projects and the bane of road users, possibly part of the reason 3 Waters projects get pushed back. Now 3 Waters, power and telecoms gets bundled in with roading projects cranking up the cost and timeframes.
Yep. Decades (I'd say many?) of, out of sight, out of mind are going to come into sight and mind big time !
Rates..already heading skyward will increasingly hit Superannuitants, and others on fixed incomes. Rents. Insurance.
New Mum's Tea and Toast are safe after Nicola mad Willis and Dr frustrated Reti step in stopping the maddening decision.
yea right Nic and Shane….I'm sure the backlash had a bit to do with it..
And hey guys…there are quite a few more mad ideas you creeps at NACT1 have made. Change them !
It's only a mad/bad idea when the public backlash (read: politically embarrassing) just isn't worth the fight anymore.
But of all the issues out there to kick up a serious fuss about, why is this the only one?
Ah..first up, Climate/Anti Fast track March ? Plenty more..maybe look?
And sadly…some people maybe need more..”motivation” to get activated? Not quite sure how bad it will get..before they do.
Doesnt have to be marching.
Even phone calls/emails/join groups ?
https://www.publictransportforum.nz/about
Other ideas?
I stand corrected.
I see this as part-protest, part media beat-up with quiet endorsement from “certain people”.
Timeline:
Well, of course. My point…dont complain quietly, get Motivated..and Activated !
Something to cheer about for some of us in the provinces.
Feilding High School 1st XV in the semis of the top four rugby schools in the country after beating Palmy Boys in the Hurricanes final 15-14, keeping PNBHS scoreless in the second half.
"Not bad for a co-ed school from a hick town" was heard on the sideline at full time.
FAHS play Hamilton Boys in Palmy on Friday arvo. Nelson College vs Kelston BHS in the other semi.
Meanwhile Mankura maitain a period of high achievement with their team in the girls top four against Hamilton Girls.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350399757/feilding-high-school-through-national-top-four-rugby-finals
I wonder if it's the farm boy boarders effect,
In the past yes, this years boarders vs day boys fixture at Feilding Ag the day boys had a rare win.
Before anyone throws the other common slur, the team isn't stacked with island boys with 5 o'clock shadow either.
Good to see, had to wait till I was playing under 19s at yellows to play Pnbhs. The FAHS 1st 15 wasnt near good enough in warrant a match in my day. They've done a great job for a bunch of years now every since the Whitelock brothers.
We've just had, what was dubbed 'The Royal Visit'.
Sam Whitelock came back to FAHS to do his book launch. A surprisingly humble and entertaining speaker.
And as an aside, such is the state of local club rugby, Feilding Yellows have merged with Oroua. Making for interesting bedfellows, games split between Johnson Park and the Kimbolton Domain.
Surely you mean Feilding Old Boys, but nothing like a cold wet afternoon in Kimbolton with a bit of sleet in the air…
But yeah club rugby is in big trouble think there we 3 under 21's teams at Yellows when I was playing then A's B's 3rds 4ths and Pressies place. Pretty sad to see the decline really sadly the powers that be don't seem to care that much. Bit foolish really need a big base to have a tall pyramid.
Yep, sorry got the wrong Feilding team. A cold arvo in Kim certainly sorts the wheat from the chaff.
I have heard a whisper that there are plans afoot to encourage youth towards clubs at the expense of school/1st XV rugby. Not sure where they have originated, I heard it from a high school principal. Makes sense as the youngsters don't do an 'apprenticeship' once they leave school, maybe some age grade stuff.
The game PNBHS fear so much, it is only ever played as part of the national competition at the end of the year (about once a decade or less).
Last year Scots "cheated" their way to a win to save PNBHS from "two" defeats in 2 years.
Yeah I saw that, was a complete disgrace from Scotts and the old boys club that run the game.
NACT1 MSD cut the funding to Advisory/Help services..but are still directing Clients to them ? Wtaf?!
Is anyone really surprised at this???
News item (3 Sept) says government to raise tourist visitor levy from $35 to $100.
Never thought I'd see that happen. Cue the usual howls of outrage from tourist industry reps, who will claim overseas tourists will be frightened off, or some such.
But it's long past the time when we should have imposed such a charge. If NZ's mountains, lakes and other scenery are worth visiting, they are worth protecting.
A levy is one way to do that.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350401436/tax-tourists-visiting-nz-will-almost-triple
Of course, the Tourist Industry is crying foul, poor things.
If people really want to come to NZ, they'll pay it. I recall something about a long-haul levy imposed by the UK government a few years back. Has it specifically stopped us from travelling there?
Ketamine delusion.
/
Elon Musk engaged in one of his regular habits on The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter, amplifying a controversial tweet by commenting that it was “interesting” — this time a right-wing account that called for democracy to be replaced with a government system run by “high status males” and “aneurotypical people.”
The account that originally shared the post in question, @AutismCapital, has many recent tweets that show support for former President Donald Trump, criticize Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, or otherwise promote those on the right and take swipes at those on the left.
The screenshot of text, apparently from 4chan, that was shared by @AutismCapital said:
https://www.mediaite.com/online/elon-posts-tweet-agreeing-with-call-to-replace-democracy-with-republic-run-by-high-status-males/
Why a republic? Let's have a system run by one hereditary male without the waste of elections, committees, parliaments, councils. Inbreedng should take care of the need for 'aneurotypical' brains and the consenting masses will have a cult consensus figure to adore.
Google gives this compelling argument. "One benefit of an absolute monarchy is the ability of the monarch to accomplish much-needed tasks without having to first get the consent of a legislature. For instance, if a road needs to be built, all the monarch has to do is command it to happen, and it will be done.
King Simeon, arise!
There could be palace coup led by Prince David the Pretender.
Even scarier!
More US larceny.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/350401143/us-government-seizes-plane-used-venezuelan-president-citing-sanctions
So, so pleased that the Marlborough District Council has voted unanimously to retain its Māori ward at a meeting attended by the largest public gallery in a long time. https://insidegovernment.co.nz/marlborough-council-votes-for-maori-wards/
What a waste of resources now to have to go to a referendum in 2025.