Open mike 03/01/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 3rd, 2013 - 78 comments
Categories: open mike, uncategorized - Tags:

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

78 comments on “Open mike 03/01/2013 ”

  1. stever 1

    Does anyone in the National party agree with this:

    “the [National] vote doesn’t have to narrow down to rich people and those who think they will become rich. It can appeal to regular, modestly paid people, but only if it shows some awareness of the cost of living, and accepts that just because you’re claiming benefits – in or out of work – it doesn’t mean you’re scum.”

    Interested to know—because the govt drawn from that party does not seem to believe this.

    (The quote is from an interesting article:

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/02/iain-duncan-smith-polemic-politics-cynical?CMP=twt_fd

    abut the UK Conservatives and the Blue Collar movement within it

    • Marty 1.1

      Why are you asking that question here? Not like a dozen National voters are going to come to answer your question. Or was it rhetorical?

  2. AsleepWhileWalking 2

    Minister’s comments on sole parent budget cut spark outrage as welfare is targeted across Australiasia.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10857049

    “Single mothers have reacted angrily to “appalling” and “degrading” comments by Australia’s Families Minister, Jenny Macklin, who said she could survive on the A$35 ($43.81) a day Newstart allowance.

    Macklin was commenting on government changes that replace single parents’ payments with lower Newstart payments once the children turn 8. Welfare groups estimate some families will be A$60 to A$100 a week worse off.

    Corinna Taylor, a 43-year-old Brisbane mother of two who expects to lose A$90 a week, said it would force her to seek charity help or family loans, and make many single mothers rort the system.

    “I would challenge anybody to live on A$35 a day and not in some way have to rort the system.”

    The Government’s changes would put those in different circumstances in the same basket, she said. Office manager Cate Flaherty agreed.

    “As a single mother who’s always worked part-time and raised polite, considerate children I’m now being treated as someone who adds no more value to society than a junkie sitting on the couch all day,” she said.

    Flaherty says her budget will now be cut by A$230 a fortnight, almost double the drop of a non-working single mother. “We’ve copped a bigger hit than non-working single mothers … It’s made it harder for me to work.”

    Terese Edwards, of the National Council of Single Mothers and Their Children, said Macklin’s comments were “salt in the wound for these mums who face such an uphill battle”.”

    • AsleepWhileWalking 2.1

      The minister misses the point entirely when she states she could survive. Anyone on a low income knows there is a big difference between surviving and living.

      • rosy 2.1.1

        The minister misses the point entirely when she states she could survive.

        It’s also the time period she chooses to ‘survive’. Start in winter time with high electricity bills and last long enough for the washing machine to breakdown, the kids to grow out of their shoes and an unexpected root canal.

    • When I first heard this news I thought she must be a Minister in a Liberal State government, but I regret to say she is a Labor minister and former deputy leader of the Federal ALP.

      No doubt a focus group told her to say this …

    • bad12 2.3

      It would seem that Australian Labor see more votes to be gained from the ‘bash a bene brigade’ than what they would likely gain from beneficiaries themselves,

      Seems that the Aussies have taken a harder line than Paula Benefit has here, that should be said with a whisper as i am sure National will be looking at the changes across the Tasman with open admiration,

      Then again, after the roof-painting sickness beneficiary speech from Shearer, i wonder if there might be some admiring approval from many in the current Labour Caucus here…

    • Rogue Trooper 2.4

      The Man with the Blue Guitar

      (extract)

      The man bent over his guitar
      A shearsman of sorts. The day was green.

      They said, “You have a blue guitar,
      You do not play things as they are.”

      The man replied, “Things as they are
      Are changed upon the blue guitar.”

      And they said then, “But play, you must,
      A tune beyond us, yet ourselves,

      A tune upon the blue guitar
      Of things exactly as they are.”

      -Wallace (from the Blue Hotel)

      (We can’t see. But feel some awful thing)

      We had fed the heart on fantasies,
      The heart’s grown brutal from the fare;
      More substance in our enmities
      Than in our love…

      Yikes, oops, Yeats

      now on my way to the forum i was Way-laid; a brother from fellowship (well two actually, his father-in-law is Greco ;), and the childrens uncle’s, well, they’re padding around the ‘hood), anyway, we broke bread together over a cuppa tea before i cycled by my favourite second-hand bookshop and discussed The Sources with a socialist colleague, he’s a house painter too, since moving on from patching the bros’ through his Screen business, interestingly, another brother, same Father owns it now, anyway…make sure your’e connected, the writings on the wall. And thats the skinny 😉

  3. muzza 3

    Continuing with the* Who is David Shearer* theme, perhaps we can lobby Susan Rice for a personal reference!

    Remilitarizing Africa for Corporate Profit

    Africa: Carnage in the Congo
    Murder, Mayhem and the UN

    Warning – Both of the links are cut & paste to original articles, no offence, or propagation of violence/racism/stereotyping was intended!

    • bad12 3.1

      Those 2 links certainly put into context the previous ‘writings’ of one David Shearer and has me pondering whether or not His ‘aid work’ for the UN was not in fact a ‘front’ for intelligence gathering on behalf of one country or another’s intelligence service,

      The story, true or false???, told of Dave having an ‘idea’ while sitting on the back of a truck watching African kids scrabble in the dust for Dave’s tossed mango skins makes me also ponder whether Shearer has any empathy what-so-ever with those who find themselves living a life of less than what Dave manages…

      • Skinny 3.1.1

        Yes well it’s all very well sitting in comfort critiquing Shearer and his UN role. I found your post cynical to say the least. Give the guy a break after all he was out there making a difference in the third World. What are you doing? Sitting in your Y fronts at your comp with ya guts hanging out I bet lol.

        • bad12 3.1.1.1

          Was He really, making a difference that is???, it appears from here in front of the computer, wearing shorts and T, gut suitably overhung, that the same tribal wars are still occurring and each day the same amount of Africans die of starvation, disease, and, war-fare related injuries as they have done despite Dave’s best efforts,

          Then again if the diagnosis inherent in the articles linked to via the comment i previously made are in any way close to being ‘fact’ then there are plenty here in the ‘West’ who are putting one hell of an effort into ensuring that such remains the status quo…

          • Huginn 3.1.1.1.1

            Finding homes for orphans in Rwanda? That’s a difference made.
            I’m impressed with the way that the guy has morphed from ‘too nice’ into totally evil and Machiavellian in no time at all.

      • muzza 3.1.2

        Indeed B12, its a stretch to imagine that amongst the imperialist destabilisation/playing both sides, and UN complicity to genocide, including the awful crimes committed by so called UN peace-keppers in africa, corporate profiteering, private militarisation, monopolistic *racketeering*,that one David Shearer stands tall as a man of honesty/integrity, working for the benefits of the african people, against his own sponsors/employers!

        Thats is effectively what we are being *asked* to believe/accept!

        Edit: Skinny in case you were not being sarcastic, why should we give DS a break, we are being *asked* to believe that the new leader of the major opposition party in NZ, is something which he quite possibly is not, but should give him a *free pass*, so to speak!

        What sort of difference was DS making, and for whom exactly!

        • Skinny 3.1.2.1

          Muzza it was a bit of both. Shearer made a truck load of money at the UN. Few people know that 🙂

          He aren’t no Bill Rowling that’s for sure.

          • muzza 3.1.2.1.1

            Figured with the *hands down pants* comment you were not entirely serious, hard to tell over the virtual space eh.

            Yeah it would be a generous individual who would give DS the benefit of any doubt thats for sure, its blatant the way he was fast tracked, just as Key was, that this was/is a done deal, and he has very powerful backing, not talking about caucus, cos they are not the power, so much as the puppets!

            Hey but there is always Russel Norman waiting to pick up some votes eh, or when he get exposed, perhaps Kennedy Graham will be maneuvered (already) into position, and the greens turn out to the watermelons they obviously are!

            • marty mars 3.1.2.1.1.1

              well I’m going to ignore the stupid watermelon quip – so last year muzza – go for the upgrade mate.

              I’ve heard a couple of different end-games for these “powerful backers” of key – what’s your take on it muzza? Are they going to kill off most of us and leave the rest as slaves.

              • muzza

                Hi Marty, it my polite name for it, what would you prefer I used?

                So far as any end game, IMO, the power backers simply play all sides, like any outcome based criminal would do. I don’t pretend to know what may/may not happen, but whatever has gone before, is happining/coming, I can’t honestly see what is going to prevent/stop it at the moment. People can stop, but most will not acknowledge/can’t/won’t see the threat, which makes it difficult, while others want to blow off the political situations as ineptitude etc, while refusing to entertain the notion, that just perhaps these politicians with the *back stories*, and even those who are not as prominent, are operating under another guise, while pretending to be Kiwis working for NZ. Why is that not a possibility to most, because when I see a huge mess (repeated corruptions) that NZ became some time back, I go looking for different possible explanations, which may or may not be wide of the mark…

                All I would say Marty, is have a look at whats happening around the world with the wars, kinetic military actions etc in any part of the world where peoples are being killed off, resources stolen, look at the global debt, and related austerity based policies, the financial control over commodities which are killing people off, ans environmental destruction, then ask if its not already happening, the killing and the slavery I mean!

                • Hey muzza

                  yes, but is there a point to it?

                  you have done lots of research and are watching this stuff avidly – is there a point to it and what is it? Obviously more of the same is an answer but why.

                  • RedLogix

                    I guess muzza is asking a perfectly legitimate question; if democracy is such a good thing … why is it delivering such crap outcomes for most humans?

                    • McFliper

                      Which raises the question “is there a better system?”

                      Can’t think of one that’s sustainable past one or two generations.

                  • muzza

                    Marty, in the eyes of any sane human being, there is no point in the murderous, genocidal/kleptocratic policies and systems which dominate the worlds population & environment, no point or purpose!

                    So why does it all not just stop?

                    My POV, because there are too many interests which want it that way. The, why currently seems clear enough, that in chaos comes opportunity to control, of all kinds, via all systems. Efficiency, peace human/environmental well being, seem not to be a feature of the *decision makers* mind-set, because if it were, we would not have a fraction of the global/local suffering. Why is it not a feature of the mind-set, are they being blackmailed, gun to head, or are they actually *in on it*, whatever *it* might be, the choices are few, when it comes to why governments are actively working against those they are apparantly working for.

                    There are not that many explanations for the continued state of despair/suffering etc, or the political complicity in it, that’s what people need to start examining and trying to understand. If we ever got to a critical mass of threat awareness, then perhaps the point (if there is one) will actually have to reveal itself.
                    If it turned out there was no *point/agenda*, at least we would be better positioned to force/demand positive change, instead of hoping it might arrive via the ballot box. It requires people to actively start thinking about the treachery in our country, the damage its done, and the damage it will do, and consciously/actively not stand for it any longer.

        • bad12 3.1.2.2

          Indeed, strong,stable,democratic Countries are very hard to fleece of their mineral wealth for next to nothing in dividends for the Country concerned,

          With the glaring exception of course being us lot via the National Government who have the ingenious policy of paying ‘them’ to take it away…

  4. Skinny 4

    Kiwi workers ripped off with yet another wet summer holiday break. Change the official holiday period to the 1st 2 weeks of Feb I say! 

    This is something the Labour/ Green parties could explore as a campaign policy. It’s seems to be a constant issue every year ‘wet weather.’ usually hot summer days arrive as the poor old worker returns to work. Any one agree?

    • RedLogix 4.1

      Absolutely. I always work through Christmas/New Year (I’m fortunate to be in an essential service industry that doesn’t ‘shut down’) … and usually take leave in February sometime. There’s often a nice spot of weather early December, but frankly the weather around late December, early January is just too damn unreliable. It seems to have been like this for a decade or more.

      The stupid part is that many people are compelled to take leave in a short window of opportunity … and if the weather is crap then there’s every reason to feel ripped off. A lot more flexibility around annual leave is well overdue in many workplaces.

      Along the same lines I have a European work colleague whose pretty appalled at how understaffed most organisations are in this country. It means that people are constantly under pressure and stress to juggle unexpected changes of roster, health and family obligations.

      And too many people feel uncomfortable asking for leave outside of the normal Christmas period because they’re not all that confident that being away from the job (and all the office politics) for 2-3 weeks mid-year is all that smart.

      All just another symptom of the mean-spirited and narrow thinking of too many employers in this country.

      • Skinny 4.1.1

        Yes I agree many employee’s do feel compelled to take there summer holiday over the Xmas period.

         I think in Europe they take their summer break later than we do for the obvious reason of hotter more settled weather. Certainly would help seeing through the bleak winter months if we had a later official holiday period. I feel for the campers at the moment.

         The God botherer’s would have issues though.   

        • infused 4.1.1.1

          Always take my holidays in feb. Much nicer weather and less idiots on the roads.

          • felixviper 4.1.1.1.1

            Fewer idiots.

            • higherstandard 4.1.1.1.1.1

              You should read Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson, great fun for language pedants.

              • felixviper

                Oh I’m no pedant, but I do think that when calling other people idiots you should try not to appear too stupid yourself.

                Kinda ruins the effect.

      • Ennui in Requiem 4.1.2

        RL, should we not question the following? Absolutely. I always work through Christmas/New Year (I’m fortunate to be in an essential service industry that doesn’t ‘shut down’)

        Why the fekk is anything essential unless life and limb are threatened? Where do we draw the line on the commercial imperative and the human imperative on Christmas Day etc?

    • just saying 4.2

      It may well be that kiwi workers are ripped off with another wet Xmas/New Year, but I can’t see it changing because for many, maybe most families, the chance to join the gathering of the clan and visit friends and the chance to get away for a holiday are the same thing. And that almost inevitably happens at Christmas. When it happens at all*. Travel is expensive.

      *More than half of my street seem to have stayed home this Xmas. This working class suburb was a ghost town this time last year.

      • Skinny 4.2.1

        Yes but that will still happen but a month later when the weather is more likely to be better.

        • just saying 4.2.1.1

          Unfortunately, in my experience, people want to do Christmas at Christmas. Which is a pain really. But somehow it still seems valuable to me, that we have one festival that is shared by almost everyone at the same time. Just pity about the time.

          It rained every day while I was up in Auckland. Which is normal for Auckland. Still had a good time.

          • karol 4.2.1.1.1

            It seems to me that people are missing a crucial factor: the school year ends in December and starts at the beginning of February. And then a lot of workplaces close down because they figure e eryone is going on holiday…. and RNZ and all our news media think it’s time to slack off more than usual – cumulative effect.

            At my workplace, a lot of people choose to take their annual leave over this period because they have school age children. My workplace only closes for the statutory days.

            Hence, people like me, who work part time and have no young children, get called in to do some extra casual work over this period. I’m very happy with this, and to take some leave in February or March.

    • Bill 4.3

      Simple solution.

      If the legislation around annual leave was brought into line with stat days – where, if agreement can’t be reached, the employee determines when the day in lieu will be taken – then the current widespread compulsion to take annual leave in late Dec would end.

      So if workers wanted two weeks or whatever around Chinese NY or any other damned time they pleased in this multi-cultural country, they could.

      • Skinny 4.3.1

        Good point Bill certainly would get the NZ chinese votes closer to Chinese NY.

        Unfortunately far too many employee’s don’t have the guts to belong to a Union. Workers rights took a hit we have never recovered from since the introduction of voluntary Unionism. introduced.

        I doubt a Shearer led Labour will tamper with employment law in this regard?

    • Luva 4.4

      What exactly do you mean by official holiday period?

      What makes this time of year official?

      There are 4 stats but that doesn’t make those days in between any differnt from a working week in February?

      • Skinny 4.4.1

        Well the 2 weeks from Xmas is widely regarded as the ‘official summer holiday period.’ what planet are you from? Planet Key or something! You know what I mean smart arse lol

      • Bill 4.4.2

        Plenty of workplaces insist that annual leave is taken during this period and shut down completely.

  5. Dr Terry 5

    Will a Labour government in NZ “save us” from such woes? Politicians are, after all, politicians! So much hinges on influences the wider membership can (hopefully) bring to bear.

  6. lprent 6

    Bloody bingbot was slowing the site again this morning – I wish it would tell me what timezone it thinks I’m operating in. I have dialed back it’s entire time period.

  7. Morrissey 7

    URGENT REQUEST

    Could someone (or as many people as possible) please click on to the Media Lens site link…

    http://www.medialens.org/

    Could you please post up if you succeed in getting through to the page , or if the following message appears…

    Forbidden
    You don’t have permission to access / on this server.

    I suspect this site is under attack, but it could be just my computer.

    Thanks,

    Morrissey.

  8. NoseViper (The Nose knows) 8

    Tom Lehrer’s work and wit has been one of my interests for a long time. I was just reading his Wikipedia bio and thought this was an interesting quote.

    In 2003 he commented that his particular brand of political satire is more difficult in the modern world: “The real issues I don’t think most people touch. The Clinton jokes are all about Monica Lewinsky and all that stuff and not about the important things, like the fact that he wouldn’t ban land mines… I’m not tempted to write a song about George W. Bush. I couldn’t figure out what sort of song I would write. That’s the problem: I don’t want to satirise George Bush and his puppeteers, I want to vaporize them.”[13]

    Gene Weingarten of the Washington Post interviewed Lehrer off the record in a February 2008 phone call. When Weingarten asked if there was anything he could print for the record, Lehrer responded, “Just tell the people that I am voting for Obama.”[23]

  9. NoseViper (The Nose knows) 9

    Morrissey 7
    I get the same Forbidden message you received.

  10. Bill 10

    About 8 days ago the ‘subscriptions’ that dropped comments into my email stopped working. Just been and had a look and I’m apparently still subscribed to…well, actually all posts now and not just the ones I’ve commented on. But nothing comes through (and no, they ain’t landing in spam or junk)

    Anyone else been experiencing this annoyance?

    • bad12 10.1

      One mans annoyance being another’s blessing, yeah the same happened in my email as well, but, seeing as i can’t ever remember asking to be notified every time a comment appeared in a post i had commented in i’m happy the emails stopped…

    • karol 10.2

      Yes, the same happened to me. Also, I lost the WYSIWYG from the reply boxes. It meant I was stimulated to learn that awkward long code for links. After a few wrong attempts, I think I have just about grasped it.

    • lprent 10.3

      Ah shit.. I forgot to do the mail server permissions to the gateway. Another task for today.

  11. Rogue Trooper 12

    The Messenger

    The messenger awaited a desperately long time
    the long-for herald of victory or annihilation
    was delayed-the tragedy was without any ending

    In the background the chorus scanned dark prophecies and curses
    the king-a dynastic fish-thrashed in an inconceivable net
    the second indispensable person was missing-fate

    The epilogue was probably known by an eagle an oak the wind
    a sea wave
    the spectators were half-dead breathing shallowly as stone
    The Gods slept A quiet night without lightning

    Finally the messenger arrived in a mask of blood dirt lamentation
    uttering incomprehensible shrieks pointing with his hands
    to the East
    this was worse than death because there would be no pity
    no fear at all
    and in the last moment everyone longs to be pardoned

    -Herbert.
    from Poland (translated by John et al;)

  12. Rogue Trooper 13

    This is the Stone

    it’s when you want to shrug it all off:
    the gross pap of warm anaesthetised brains
    hotels ringing with stale tongues
    the bland translations of headlines
    walls everywhere

    when money’s sensual brutality
    chats warmly in your veins
    when your possessions assert their tyranny
    mocking you from corners

    where is the moon’s still wash
    over uncluttered landscapes?
    where are your lovers’ mouths
    which stopped your mouth so neatly?
    in this dreamless city you put them away

    now you turn to a window
    which mimics you in ice
    your face a marble of loss
    your hair a curtain of dust:
    this is the stone you work on

    -Alison Croggan (from Blue Sky Mining Country; 2 Minutes To Midnight)

    • Ennui in Requiem 13.1

      Phase shift…..if I work all day in the Blue Sky mine there’ll be food on the table tonight……..if the Blue Sky mine wont come to my rescue who’s gonna save me…….

  13. Morrissey 14

    Sir Paul picks on a darkie in Florida

    Watch what happens when this pathetic old man—let’s call him “Sir Paul”—tries to harass a young black man in Florida.

    At 2:41 Sir Paul snarls at the young man: “A typical punk black. That’s all you are.” Sounds just like the language that used to be heard daily around the Television New Zealand studios until 2005.

    • fenderviper 14.1

      What a charming guy that Republican voter is. He’s not even fit to become bait on the hook of that fishing rod.

    • Ennui in Requiem 14.2

      Wots dis Sirs shit???????? Cheekie fekkin honkey!!!!!

    • NoseViper (The Nose knows) 14.3

      What a choice for a knighthood – Sir Paul Holmes. Paul Henry will be next for the honour no doubt.

  14. Rogue Trooper 15

    what follows is a wee awry sermon from the non MSM MSP (very funny :), i can take a roasting and laugh at myself for a while, yet it’s the future for people that makes me sad, particularly considering the climate and what follows; “roastings” becoming normal was one reason I stopped watching television comedy, life is funny enough without people clowning around at some “others” expense, and when discussing the Keiser’s “comedy” today the chap responding said one thing Max outlined Five years ago was that “They” intended to “nickle and dime” people…
    (find a penny pick it up, and all day you’ll have good “luck”, well todays “penny” is a 10 cent piece and I’ve picked up three in the last three weeks, as well as quite a few butts before I broke even, to “afford” a Holiday and then, eventually, gave up Finally, (Cold Turkey; Alan Carr, Quit Smoking, or don’t, it don’t bother me none) and what today in The West is not predominantly “vanity”?

    -Chatty Man

  15. lprent 16

    Testing re-edit yet again (bug in it when running wordpress 3.5 code)

    Ok – that seems to have disappeared

    Now completely quiescent. Sending the fix..

  16. Rogue Trooper 17

    Dom
    -student allowances cuts to go ahead, to be felt most by poorer students, lost potential
    despite higher loan repayments and fewer borrowing (not wasted on the young)

    -“Anarchy in Afghanistan”-Warlord holds the key to peace, more “civilized” than Nato?
    supports segregated education, not discrimination. ANA-“yanks” buy another Uniform made by “the hands of others”.
    Conclusion-Join Hands; Siouxsie
    (when the “Spirit” is weak, culture, flight and fear are willing)
    Aussie manufacturing land Downunder-“no manufacturing sub-sector recorded expansion activity”
    Grave implications for New Zealand Made to become less “appealing”. Has the Teflon Donkey seen the price of Margerine? It’s sliding out the door.

  17. Rogue Trooper 18

    RNZ-Enola Gay…it didn’t have to turn out this way…Could have waved goodbye to The House of The Rising Sun…;) (ahhh, the power of suggestion); We’re a Garage Band, in a garage land.

    Oh Well, Heaven, Time to Stop Making Sense. Thank You For Sending Me An Angel to beat these Slippery People Burning Down The House making Flippy Floppy in the Swamp like Casual Gods.well, What A Day That Was.

    -Genius Of Love (Tom Tom Club)(i’m going home now to listen to The Essential Ozzy bark at the
    Moon) Bye

  18. Rogue Trooper 20

    The Ford of Heaven
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/aug/04/china

    -Ford Madox Ford (The Good Soldier)

    Food For Thought
    http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/80202.Jesus_for_the_Non_Religious
    or
    Sister Morphine
    http://painkiller-addict.com/

    -Faithfull

  19. Rogue Trooper 21

    Inconceivably Small
    http://books.google.co.nz/books/about/Nanocosm.html?id=u43EFWVbyyIC&redir_esc=y
    Big Changes
    outcome?
    Pray http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prey_%28novel%29

    -Michaelangelo (Emmylou Harris, Wrecking Ball)

    getta rythm…when you get the blues…getta rythm…but don’t step on my Blue sandal shoes
    (if I were a carpenter…Doin My Time…As Long As I Live…They Call Me The Breeze…That Old Wheel…(wish i had A Backstage Pass)…but is there something not “Right” about The Man They Love To Hate? I don’t think so Tim, maybe he could be an Architectural Clinical Psychologist;NOT

    -John (Angel And The Badman) who prays somebody sees his potential and knocks on his Caravan door. (yet “bums” are like families…everybody’s got one)

  20. Rogue Trooper 22

    quietly, just saying (testing)

  21. Rogue Trooper 23

    am i aloud to keep my smileys 🙂

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    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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
    18 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
    21 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
    22 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
    24 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

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