Open mike 04/08/2021

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 4th, 2021 - 115 comments
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115 comments on “Open mike 04/08/2021 ”

  1. Andre 1

    I'm a craven coward when it comes to needles. I'm not quite needle-phobic, but I totally get why some people are. I've had more vaccinations than most people will ever get, but it still takes me a huge effort of will to make the appointment and then front up to get jabbed.

    When that moment comes, usually I remember to say something about it. The people administering the jab then go out of their way to make it all go as smoothly as possible. Dealing with that kind of discomfort and outright fear is not an inconvenience to them, it's a part of their job, and they really are experts at helping people through it.

    In the piece below, an outright needle-phobic describes their experience and how they got through it.

    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/needle-phobia-covid-vaccination-trypanophobia_n_61004bcce4b00fa7af7c9500

    • dv 1.1

      I think the needles have become much sharper and finer too.

      • Andre 1.1.1

        I think that mostly depends on the properties of what's going in (or out) and how much. But yeah, a tiny syringe with a hair-thin needle is a lot easier to brace myself for than a caulking gun with a harpoon on the end of it.

        • Macro 1.1.1.1

          Had my first covid injection the other day day. Didn't feel a thing. The person giving the dose had to tell me that it has been administered. Turned down my lollipop 🍭 though. Only visible evidence was my sticker. 🏅

          • Andre 1.1.1.1.1

            Don't panic when you take the sticker off. Apparently it fades fairly quickly.

            https://twitter.com/freedominguez/status/1367646641403006983

            • Forget now 1.1.1.1.1.1

              I didn't get a sticker – not even the cotton bud & sticky tape kind that you get after blood tests. Didn't see any droplet of blood even uncovered, but that arm did get a bit sore whenever I lifted it above my head for long for a couple of days after (took maybe an hour for the soreness to develop – also with children, I keep a lot of stuff out of temptations up in high cupboards, so may reach up over my head more than average).

              Though I am delaying my second jab for a couple of months; the 3 week inter-dose interval seems a bit short, compared to the original 12 weeks recommendation. I have linked to the original (pre-print) PITCH study before, but this fortnight old Guardian summary is much less technical. It seems likely that a longer wait between jabs may mean less jabs overall (though study on comparative protection decay rates is ongoing rather than conclusive as yet).

              when compared with a four-week gap, a 10-week interval between the doses produces higher antibody levels, as well as a higher proportion of a group of infection-fighting cells in the body known as “helper” T-cells.

              https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/23/pfizer-vaccine-second-dose-has-sweet-spot-after-eight-weeks-uk-scientists-say

              • Andre

                The three week interval between Pfizer doses was merely what was used for the Phase 3 trials and therefore the Emergency Use Authorisation. I haven't yet seen any write-ups of whether that was based on actual data from Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials, or was merely Pfizer's best guess at a good interval.

                Then when an infection wave hit and vaccine deliveries were slow, the UK made the decision it was better to give more people the partial protection of the first dose rather than fewer people the protection of the second dose. At the time, is was purely a management and values decision, rather than a data driven one. So it's fortunate in that it's given us a natural experiment that seems to be working out well, but it's going to take a lot of number crunching to come to any conclusions about whether it truly was a good decision from an overall population health perspective. I have the sense the UK has had a lot more breakthrough infections than the US, but I've no idea whether that's due to the UK using a lot of Astra Zeneca, or differences in how hard they're looking for and reporting breakthrough infections.

                The only potential downside I can think of for you is if there's an outbreak in your area in the 5 to 10 week interval from now. Ie, when you would have been fully vaccinated if you followed the normal 3 week interval, and when the full vaccination protection kicks in two weeks after your planned 8-week interval. Seems to me you'd have to be really unlucky for that kind of bad luck to find you in that tight a vulnerable interval.

        • AB 1.1.1.2

          Was re-watching Ken Burns' American Civil War doco recently. Those field amputations of arms and legs without anaesthetic seemed a bit challenging. So I suppose we can be grateful that it's only a needle – and not looking helps! smiley

      • Incognito 1.1.2

        Phobia is not rational.

        • Andre 1.1.2.1

          Don't I know it!

          I'm eternally grateful my own rationality is strong enough to overcome my near-phobia on this topic. But I really feel for those that have a bigger obstacle to get over than I do.

    • WeTheBleeple 1.2

      Also needle phobic – which probably saved my life in the 80's…

      I also let them know I'm phobic when getting shots/blood tests etc. They're always really good about it. Only had one who was a clumsy oaf – Doctor not a nurse, go figure.

      1st shot Friday.

    • McFlock 1.3

      Had my first one yesterday.

      The vax centre was run really smothly – steady progress, everyone was almost disconcertingly friendly, and the actual process was quick and very mild – better than most flu shots, I reckon.

  2. pat 2

    Would you place your money in a bank if you knew you would get less back when you wanted it?

    • Andre 2.1

      Depends on what the alternatives are.

      • pat 2.1.1

        Fair enough…perhaps the question needs rephrasing….you have extra/spare money, what are you going to do with it?

        • Andre 2.1.1.1

          As it happens, that's a live question for me. My reckons of the moment are:

          It's not going into investment property. Comments on this forum have persuaded me that tenants are a headache I just don't need, let alone compliance with all kinds of new regulations.

          It's probably not going back into the bank, they aren't interested in it enough to pay a reasonable return on use of that money.

          It's not going into financial bonds. They aren't paying much for the use of that money either. Even worse that market is a closed shop run by a predatory financial industry that help themselves to a huge slice of what meager returns are actually there.

          It's not going into crypto. Crypto is the ultimate example of something that has value purely because a bunch of people have deluded themselves it has value. In any kind of tangible terms, it's nothing more than a certificate of gratuitously wasted electricity. With an ongoing gratuitous waste of electricity just to keep that certificate's continuing cyber-existence.

          It might go into some kind of home improvement that lowers ongoing expenses or otherwise improves my life. Such as solar hot-water. But there's nothing really obvious that suits my home at the moment that doesn't have a lot of nonsense council regulatory bullshit to deal with.

          But most likely it will go into a stock market or something based on a stock market somewhere. Which is going to take quite a few hours of research in the current environment to choose something I'm comfortable with.

          • Jimmy 2.1.1.1.1

            You could go in to the stock market via a unit trust type fund. My Kiwi Saver growth fund is currently doing ok. It mainly invests in shares.

            • Andre 2.1.1.1.1.1

              Sure.

              But do you know exactly what that fund is invested in? NZ or overseas? What investment strategy do they really have? Growth companies or dividend companies or are they sector oriented (such as a green energy fund)? How much is in cash and fixed interest? For a lot of funds I've taken a close look at, what's on the label doesn't really match what's in the box.

              As it happens, I've got enough experience with stock markets that I've got strategies I'm comfortable with. But without that experience it would certainly be an intimidating shark tank, and some kind of unit trust or index fund is a good way to just dip a toe in that tank.

              • Jimmy

                If you are confident and know what you are doing, and have the time, invest in the sharemarket yourself, but for the majority of people, it is safer to go with the éxperts' that have the time and are able to invest in generally balanced portfolios and companies normal investors do not have access to. Milford Asset management or Fisher Funds seem ok.

          • mpledger 2.1.1.1.2

            Solar power is more flexible then solar water heating.

            • Andre 2.1.1.1.2.1

              That depends on a lot of factors, such as your power and water use profile, technical ease of installation, local regulatory factors, how much money you can put into it.

              A factor in my case is trees around the house. Yesterdays winds blew a lot of fairly big stuff onto my roof that would fairly likely have damaged any kind of panel, so cost and ease of repair is a significant factor for anything I might put on my roof.

              • Brigid

                Evacuated tube solar water heater then. Those tubes are pretty robust. Plumb it into a wetback in a clean burning wood burner and you'll never pay for hot water again.

                Spend your wealth on reducing your carbon foot print.

                • Andre

                  So far this year it hasn't got cold enough for me to feel the need to light a fire.Or use any heaters. So a wetback isn't going to do much for me.

          • lprent 2.1.1.1.3

            Personally I'd just look at the manged funds that are kiwisaver.

            As investment funds, even in the banks, if you pick the right risk levels they have offered reasonable returns. Personally I wouldn’t use bank kiwisavwe funds – they appear to be lousy pickers of profitable investments outside of property

            There is a lot of reasonably independent information about the fees and past performance rather than the usual bullshit and hype. They are also of a sufficient size to make decent sized investments widely as well – reducing the ability of analysts to screw up too badly.

            If you're over 65, you may not get the employer and govt enhancements, but you don't need to buy a first home to extract the money out either. And you can now continue in your favorite kiwisaver after starting to get super.

            Easier than trying to gamble on you own stocks as well. Don't know about anyone else – but I am chronically short of time.

            Brought the whole of stellaris a fee months ago because civ6 is getting boring at king level (I win too often). Haven't had more than&nbsp a few stray hours to make any mistakes with yet.

        • WeTheBleeple 2.1.1.2

          Slap solar on all property. Hell, work out a small enterprise and slap up some more to run it. Put up more to charge an EV. Power saving will be a far better return than any bank today.

          Get an EV. I'm just getting a bike for now, a vehicle would be nice.

          Convert lawn to food forest. Aiming for a cottage garden look with many species and support species so it looks beautiful but provides for the household. Extras always welcome at food banks and charity kitchens.

          Maybe, according to energy efficiency of housing, get a really efficient wood burner. For aesthetics, ambience, heating, and for dealing with food forest pruning.

          Invest in an engineer to bring some green-tech inventions of mine to life. Including designs to pull nutrients straight out of our dirtiest rivers.

          Invest in WeTheBleeple with an EV for clean comedy tours, and an engineer for clean BBQ's and clean(er) rivers.

          Water capture. With my own power, gardens and water, apocalypse be damned.

          Half this stuff is already done or in the pipeline, but no harm in lending out good ideas to invest in self.

          • pat 2.1.1.2.1

            Is solar on the roof 'growth ' however? …we currently have power to pretty much every home, solar on the roof is replacing that which exists, it can be considered maintenance (or substitution), it dosnt necessarily) expand output……that is not to say it is a bad idea.

            • WeTheBleeple 2.1.1.2.1.1

              Well, if you're paying a power bill every month, which is par for the course of living in a dwelling, solar is an investment. An investment that will return, in savings, more than any bank is offering. I'm not so sure about growth, cancer is a growth, and growth of economy a cancer of the planet.

              But, as one saves in one area it frees money for another. It's possible to markedly improve ones lot over time using very little starting capital. Any economist worth their salt understands that spending money to reduce expenditure is a wise investment. Those things we get that save or earn for us are true assets.

              The rich love to have their money working for them. This they say is working smarter. A lot of it is plain mooching, but within the rules yadda yadda. Adding nothing to the planet or society, but greedily extracting all they can. Housing, shares in corporation who use dodgy supply chains and glossy PR, planet's got no more time for that garbage. Sure, invest, but do it with ethics. Intangible value is still value.

              • pat

                As said its not necessarily a bad idea but i am talking in aggregate…..for example NZ could indeed grow for a considerable period but only at the expense of other parties, but in total the growth has reversed,

                You will see it as an investment that provides a return but the return is less than what it has replaced and it will become increasingly so everytime it occurs…..ultimately we will do without that which we cannot afford as more and more 'money' chases less and less goods.

                • WeTheBleeple

                  Perhaps. I think ultimately the rich will have to tighten their belts as their level of consumption is simply ridiculous. But those, like me, slowly building resilience into systems will continue to accrue the benefits of working with nature, community, peers and those I might help up.

                  It's going to be a brave new world, like it or not. How that shapes up will depend on both individual and government effort. The rich, who cares about these people anymore, they suck.

                  I had one complaining recently her maid was no longer available as she had to care for her covid stricken father and had no health insurance (USA). She's the employer but failed to see the problem was her own cheapskate employment namely get a Mexican to do it and screw the paperwork and insurance.

    • Incognito 2.2

      What money?

      The verb “place” implies a voluntary act, one which might be based on informed consent and thoughtful consideration (and calculation).

      Are you serious?

      • pat 2.2.1

        Deadly serious.

        I realised it would be taken as a reference to the current housing market but it is a more comprehensive question…..what do those (including on our behalf e,g, managed funds) do with savings? and why?…they seek return, even if only small , however if that return disappears what then will happen?…under the metaphorical mattress?

        Return (interest) requires growth of output (that can be substituted by credit growth, but only temporarily) so when growth ceases (id argue it has in reality) there is no longer the possibility of return (in aggregate)…the current monetary system ceases to function.

        We (the public) just havnt realised it yet .

        What follows?

        The basis of our existence (supply of goods and services) currently requires confidence that those numbers on the bank statement can be traded for (crucially) available goods and services.

        • WeTheBleeple 2.2.1.1

          Just as an aside.

          Recently I had 2 accounts with matching balances, except one was $1000 in debit, the other $1000 in credit.

          I was charged $6 (for the month) on the debit.
          I was given $0.10 interest for the credit.

          Banks, pfft. Who'd invest in banks?

          • Jimmy 2.2.1.1.1

            That's how banks make their money and record massive profits! They love customers that owe them money.

            • alwyn 2.2.1.1.1.1

              Indeed they do. The term for a person who pays off their credit card in full every month and never exceeds their credit limit is a freeloader.

              It isn't meant in a complimentary way of course. And they don't really like you that much.

              As far as WTB's story above goes, I'd invest (buy shares in) any Bank that had lots of customers like him. Those are the good customers to have.

              Or they are mugs, if you prefer the term.

              • WeTheBleeple

                It was one of those 'interest free' student loans (with monthly fees). But, when no longer a student, they pounce!

                I'll go in, pay it off and shut it down. Cheeky buggers.

                • alwyn

                  Hey, it happens to everyone. And I wasn't meaning to refer to you specifically as a mug. It is the way the Banks tend to think though.

                  I am very much on the side of the freeloaders. I put everything I can on my credit card, providing the person I'm buying from doesn't charge extra, and then let the Bank automatically debit the full amount due on the card at the last possible date. I don't have to worry about having enough money in my current account except on the actual day the credit card payment will be charged so I am much less likely to go into an overdraft situation..

                  It is simply too much trouble to try and keep track of all the fine details of where my money actually is all the time. I probably take a great deal more care than most and I still miss things though. You can't ever win.

              • Jimmy

                I am a freeloader then. I had never heard that before.

                • alwyn

                  That is the polite word. In the US a more common term is deadbeat.

                  • Jimmy

                    Teenagers at school should be taught how to use a credit card, paying off monthly is smart use of money. Not sure what they charge now on balances not paid monthly, 19%? 21%?

                    Like you, I put everything on the credit card and pay off on the last day.

            • Brigid 2.2.1.1.1.2

              They make most of their money charging interest on loans they create. Commonly known are mortgages

          • pat 2.2.1.1.2

            At least you can sleep on a mattress.

        • McFlock 2.2.1.2

          So let's say putting money in the bank costs money.

          That doesn't mean the end of the economic system. It just means that banks won't make their money from lending yours, unless they provide you with some benefit other than paying interest.

          Security, for one. Sure, there is a known cost for that security, just as you'd have to pay the guards to watch your treasure chests if you stored your cash like a merchant in Thief . But being able to know that if you put $50 in today means you'll get $45 back in two years guaranteed is possibly worth something.

          Universality in payments – cash is good, but not as good as cards, e-transactions, person-person direct credits… old style wire-transfer companies like Western Union charge for that, so do banks.

          I'm sure there are other benefits, like not getting mugged as you walk out the factory on pay day.

          • pat 2.2.1.2.1

            First off banks dont lend your money (deposits)…..they are security.

            Secondly if you have zero or negative interest rates what are you doing?…..destroying money, just as you do when principal is repaid…..difficult to increase money supply (growth) when you have a structural mechanism that works in the opposite direction…the expected consequence is that deposits will exit the banking system should this occur (one reason CBDCs are being set up currently)

            Zero / negative interest rates are an admission that there is no projected growth in the future and as said without growth there is no interest……no return= no investment….thats everything, pension funds, managed funds, etc.

            Everything we have designed our societies around is based on the expectation there will be more tomorrow.

            Those railing against Degrowth as a strategy may not know it but its already happening.

            • McFlock 2.2.1.2.1.1

              Except the managed funds will move even further away from bank deposits than they already have.

              Don't get hung up on thresholds. Interest rates are pretty darn low at the moment, and the rest of the economy is still ticking along nicely.

              • pat

                It is apparent you have no counter argument….fair enough, we wont get hung up on our and our offsprings future, we'll just buy another inflated bit of real estate and pretend its all good.

                Managed funds dont frequent bank deposits….but bonds on the other hand.

                Ask yourself why that might be….particularly if youre thinking of investing in crypto.

                • McFlock

                  lol Andre summarised crypto pretty well.

                  My argument is that banks aren't anywhere close to being the only investment around town. Their rates are fixed according to their priorities, which aren't always the same as the macroeconomic conditions (any more than the bookie's favourite is always the same as the horse most likely to win).

                  Sure, property is an option. Or local startups, or cowdfunded investments like Pledge Me.

                  Just because one part of the system is cooling down it doesn't mean the entire system is screwed. Heck, it could be what's stopping the entire thing from overheating, if another part (property) is still running far too hot.

                  • pat

                    You have completely missed the foundation of the point

                    agregate

                    adjective
                    /ˈaɡrɪɡət/
                    ECONOMICS
                    denoting the total supply or demand for goods and services in an economy at a particular time.

                    • McFlock

                      Well, you started with a simple "Would you place your money in a bank if you knew you would get less back when you wanted it?"

                      so, the answer was yes, if they offer some other service.

                      Now you seem to be plugging a sort of reverse of the "banks create money from thin air" thing, where negative interest destroys money? And that this will lead to an end to economic growth and the collapse of the system as we know it? Is that your point?

                      ^”aggregate”

                  • pat

                    follow the thread….it has progressed.

                    I note your original comment was under 2.2.1 so you know that.

                    • McFlock

                      Mate, I'm still trying to figure out what it might mean to have "spare money" and be in a position to "invest".

                      But if the banks start charging people money to keep deposits, people won't do it if they don't have to.

                    • Incognito []

                      Mate, I’m still trying to figure out what it might mean to have “spare money” and be in a position to “invest”.

                      QFT, which is why I asked whether Pat was serious (and they are). When you have a mortgage, for example, banks force you to have all your ‘business’ with them and a big chunk of your wages disappear straight into a black hole.

                    • pat

                      Banks require your wages/salary to be deposited (usually)….they currently dont determine whether it remains there.

                      A considerable portion of the population lacking 'spare' money simply highlights the issue.

                    • pat

                      @ McFlock

                      Do you contribute to Kiwisaver?…if so would you continue to do so if the balance was reducing rather than growing?

                    • McFlock

                      So I switch out my kiwisaver choice. How does that destroy money?

                    • pat

                      You changing your provider or fund dosnt…..negative returns do however.

                    • McFlock

                      No they don't. Negative returns just mean I made a loss. It's not like burning $50 notes.

                    • pat

                      In aggregate…think systemic.

                      with negative rates 'you' havnt made a loss….everyone has made a loss….it isnt zero sum, its a slow motion default by the issuer.

                      A straight forward explanation in the link.

                      https://www.businessinsider.com.au/how-negative-interest-rates-would-work-2015-11?r=US&IR=T

                    • McFlock

                      That article discusses several different mechanisms. A negative OCR rate is not the same as paying less than face value for returned notes, is it?

                      If that gets passed on, the bank is getting paid to borrow money. Maybe paying me for the same service doesn't seem so sensible if it can be paid by the govt to get more bonds. It might even start paying people to borrow from it, for cars or businesses or homes. As long as they pay less to people to borrow bank cash than the bank pays the government, the bank still makes money. People borrow and spend rather than save. There's still money going around the economy.

                    • pat

                      A negative OCR (or bond) is effectively the same as paying less than face value on a note.

                      The bank isnt being paid to borrow money, it is being charged to hold it at the central bank to encourage them to lend it out…..but in an contractionary environment there are a dearth of takers….the risk of default or losses is too high. And whose money is being held there?…depositors.

                      How long will it remain there when the balance is decreasing?

                      Of course there may be compulsion to capture those savings in the system and the loses are then unavoidable….and the Bastille may be stormed again.

                      And yes there is still money going round the system, but increasingly less and at a slower velocity.

                    • McFlock

                      A negative OCR (or bond) is effectively the same as paying less than face value on a note.

                      Only if you knew you were going to get less than the face value back when you wanted access to the money.

                      Lower income folks have dealt with negative interest rates for decades: they're called "bank fees", and they're a much bigger effect on income than the interest you're supposed to get from the bank for your deposit.

                      The difference is that the poor pay even more to borrow money than they pay to have the bank hold it for them.

                      Also, depositors' money isn't held in the RB settlement accounts. The banks' money is. Deposits are guaranteed by the government for most banks, no?

                      But the main question is whether overall negative rates would have a cooling effect on the economy. Well, no. Surely the opposite? The flipside of charging people to be in credit is that you pay them if they are in debit. So banks borrow more from the RBNZ so their accounts are in debit. More money in the economy.

                      RBNZ seems somewhat phlegmatic about the prospect.

                    • pat

                      "Also, depositors' money isn't held in the RB settlement accounts. The banks' money is. Deposits are guaranteed by the government for most banks, no?"

                      The banks money are the deposits…and its not guaranteed (see bail in) though there is talk of deposit insurance in the future but that can be potentially made invalid by bail in.

                    • McFlock

                      holy shit, you're right. We're apparently the only country in the OECD without deposit guarantees. Although govt's slowly progressing on that front.

                      But in a negative OCR environment, the banks are still being paid to borrow, rather than being paid to be in credit. So they'll be able to either take that profit or pass on that cheaper credit to retail borrowers (more borrowers = more business = more profit). Essentially a cash injection into the domestic economy from the Reserve Bank.

                    • pat

                      "A negative OCR would mean the Reserve Bank of New Zealand charges retail banks, such as ANZ, to deposit their funds, or excess reserves, with them overnight. By doing this, the central bank is incentivising these banks to lend out more money to their clients, even if it’s at a reduced rate. "

                      And OCR is thin end of the wedge…..negative yielding bonds are when things get interesting.

                      https://www.anz.co.nz/personal/investing-kiwisaver/tips-tools/news-and-views/What-a-negative-Official-Cash-Rate-could-mean-for-you/

                    • McFlock

                      By doing this, the central bank is incentivising these banks to lend out more money to their clients, even if it’s at a reduced rate.

                      Didn't I say something similar?

                      Banks borrow from RBNZ. People borrow to spend rather than saving in the bank. People with too much spare cash (lol) find more random things to spend on – companies, luxury goods, property. Goods companies increase inventory assets or facitilies rather than cash+lean production.

                      If that goes too far, they'll push up interest rates and shift the balance back towards saving for them that can.

                    • pat

                      "Banks borrow from RBNZ."

                      Banks could (until recently) get cheap funding from the RBNZ via the TLF, but that was barely used.

                      Banks create credit , the only funding they need is to meet their reserve requirements, not for lending.

                    • McFlock

                      ok, so I'll rephrase it to "banks [minimise their deposits at RBNZ. Banks lend the non-deposited funds to people and companies at a lower rate than they otherwise would have]. People borrow to spend rather than saving in the bank…." etc

                    • pat

                      There are rules to be met around what banks have to keep at the RBNZ.

                    • McFlock

                      Which means that even if your concerns about negative interest rates were bang on the money, the impact of them would be limited by those rules.

                    • pat

                      the effect would be restricted to the reserves you suggest….not really because if you read any of the links I have posted you will see there are flow on effects through the system, but even more so as i stated earlier it is the thin end of the wedge…experience to date suggests that to have the desired effect (spurring growth through risky lending) then the rates need to be deeply negative (-4% or more) ….and if the OCR is negative then bonds will follow (though they may even without a negative OCR) and that is where the slow motion default occurs.

                      In short, the RBNZ is buggered whichever way it goes.

                    • McFlock

                      Either the flow-on effects will be more significant than RBNZ expects, or it needs to go lower than -4% to have the desired effect, surely?

                      OCR is one accelerator/brake on the economy, applied gently. If things start going south, RBNZ can lift back into positive OCR.

                      Personally, I think giving the govt some preferred low interest bonds for infrastructure is a better idea than focusing on OCR as the main tool. I'm not quite full social credit by any means, but some solid public investment in housing in particular might be an idea.

                    • pat

                      I fear you are missing the intent of negative rates…..it isnt designed to assist public policy, it is designed (hoped?) to force high risk lending to promote growth…..what good outcomes do you see there even if it achieves its desired effect, despite the fact it has failed to date where it has been implemented.

                    • McFlock

                      Yeah the OCR is strictly a tool to heat up or cool down economic activity.

                      I just figure might as well kill two birds with one stone if they're looking to keep bunging money into the economy.

                      Trouble is that the current economy is skewed in a couple of different ways – unemployment down, labour shortage, house prices through the roof, but non-property inflation is still quite low. So money is going into property rather than pay packets. Which means employees aren't spending more.

                      A lot of this might be covid and the global economy, but it might also be a byproduct of the housing market.

    • Ad 3.1

      The number of people unemployed in New Zealand has been dropping by more than 1000 a week in recent months.

      Looking forward to seeing the government feeling the pressure like everyone else of not being able to get overseas staff, having to pay more such as to nurses, and having their service offering affected by simply having their staff poached all the time.

      When you get down to 4% the kinds of people left for labour are those who have a combination of: been in jail, been on drugs, have no qualifications, have mental illness or substantial disability, have no work discipline like turning up, and need vast amounts of training and support $$ put into them to get them useful and functioning for sustained work.

      That's a good pressure for employers and public service alike to face up to. See if we can get to 3% and do real deep good for the country.

      • pat 3.1.1

        would be even better if we managed to get a fair number of rentiers doing something productive as well…..and that 4% figure is only of those available and actively seeking work, so your description may be somewhat inaccurate.

        • arkie 3.1.1.1

          Also a 30hr a week position is classified as a full time job, so the level underemployment is not be measured and will still be an issue.

          • pat 3.1.1.1.1

            the narrative must not be challenged…..we are an economic superstar and the economy is firing on all cylinders.

          • Sacha 3.1.1.1.2

            Under-employment is measured.

            • arkie 3.1.1.1.2.1

              Right.

              About the underemployment measure

              Underemployed people are those who are employed part-time (working less than 30 hours a week) and have both the desire and availability to increase the number of hours they work.

              https://www.stats.govt.nz/reports/characteristics-of-the-underemployed-in-new-zealand

              So, as I was saying, those working 30+hrs/week who have the desire and the availability to increase the number of hours they work are not classified as underemployed. Perhaps I should have said underemployment is not measured accurately.

      • Stuart Munro 3.1.2

        When you get down to 4% the kinds of people left for labour are those who have a combination of: been in jail, been on drugs, have no qualifications, have mental illness or substantial disability, have no work discipline like turning up, and need vast amounts of training and support $$ put into them to get them useful and functioning for sustained work.

        No doubt you have this information from employers who, by lying their asses off, managed to almost entirely supplant NZ workers from many of our major industries. These employers are mostly greedy, dishonest, abusive, unreliable, incompetent, and strangers to the truth. Small wonder that they struggle to attract workers – and the way to do so begins with respect – not slagging everyone off.

        • Ad 3.1.2.1

          No I get this information from working for many years in one of the largest private employers in New Zealand who face labour shortages every day at every single level of the business.

          We pay well over the odds, have deep, multi-year extensive programmes taking in recommended individuals from MSD, Corrections, MoJ, NZDF, NZTA, iwi corporates, and others, and have massive training programmes that cost tens of millions to run to help these people function.

          It ain't lack of respect that stops people getting good jobs.

          • Stuart Munro 3.1.2.1.1

            I'm sure what you write is consistent with your experience. What I wrote is consistent with mine.

            There are a significant group of employers who have illegally, and in a way that is frankly racist, avoided employing NZ staff for a good long while now.

            Nor is it unheard of for institutional recruiting to create its own problems.

          • Brigid 3.1.2.1.2

            " largest private employers"

            Warehouse? McDonalds?

            Does this large private employer offer 'good jobs'?

          • Sacha 3.1.2.1.3

            Lack of respect is exactly what stops many disabled people from getting jobs they are perfectly capable of doing.

      • AB 3.1.3

        "When you get down to 4% the kinds of people left for labour are those who …"

        Impressive list that maybe tends towards stereotype. Either way, I think "60 or over" might possibly be added to it. Though the fact that it used to be "55 or over" is an improvement.

  3. Forget now 4

    Not enough toilets to cry in! Does the new Dunedin hospital need to be designed with specially designed individual staff-distress rooms (because seeking out the least sterile place imaginable in a hospital, and touching your watering eyes there, seems like a really bad idea for an ED nurse)? I am guessing that they don't want to go to the shared staff-rooms and weep in front of their already stressed colleagues.

    Pressure of high patient numbers and low staffing levels routinely meant staff went into the toilets to cry, emergency department health and safety representative Anne Daniels said.

    Last Thursday, after a nurse told her there were no toilets free to cry in, Ms Daniels lodged a provisional improvement notice (Pin) with the Southern District Health Board.

    The notice, an action under the Health and Safety at Work Act, requires a workplace to display the notice and take steps within eight days to address the safety issues raised or face possible further action…

    SDHB senior staff met Ms Daniels and emergency staff and management on Monday to discuss the Pin and will meet again tomorrow.

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/health/someone-will-die-ed-staff-take-legal-action-work-conditions

    Meanwhile, the DHBs deny taking the NZNO to court is antagonistic, insisting their relationship remains good.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/448342/nursing-union-dhbs-at-odds-over-impact-of-employment-court-action

    • Ad 4.1

      That Southern DHB has had a massive report last month into systemic failures including at a governance level.

      Not quite sure how the Chair Pete Hodgson survives.

      Hey Minister: how does a full merger of all DHB's assist this situation when we are so deep in a service hole?

      • McFlock 4.1.1

        Didn't he only get the job recently?

        • Forget now 4.1.1.1

          Getting on for 9 months now; McFlock, Cull was getting a bit sick to do the job:

          https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/hodgson-named-new-head-sdhb

          But it's not just the SDHB, it is the entire health system – though the old Dunedin hospital in particular does have its own issues. This may at least coax them into long overdue action, which to me is more important than who gets saddled with the blame.

          The next step would be prosecution under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, which has severe penalties for running an unsafe workplace. The officers of the DHB are individually liable (and legally cannot be insured), and face fines of up to $300,000. If they're found to be reckless – which a long history of ignoring safety complaints should establish – then they could go to jail. Which you'd think would provide an incentive. And it also shows what else nurses could do if their concerns about safe staffing continue to be ignored. DHB's can either address them cooperatively through the bargaining process, or they can defend themselves against prosecution by WorkSafe. Their choice.

          http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2021/08/one-way-of-fixing-it.html

          • McFlock 4.1.1.1.1

            Time flies, huh.

            The worksafe prosecution will probably arrive just in time for the DHB to be disestablished [he said pessimistically]

    • gsays 4.2

      I hope the Dunedin nurses get a better result with their PIN than what our DHB came up with.

      In short a unit to take the excess when it gets busy. They were a bit vague on how it will be staffed.

      Does anyone know the outcome of the PIN at Wellington Hospital?

  4. dv 5

    Employment rate high so increase interest rates!!!

    So cost more to borrow, so can't won’t employ more!!!!

  5. greywarshark 6

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/448417/nz-naive-to-shut-down-marsden-point-australian-analyst

    The government has received starkly different advice, but the latest and most substantial advice downplays the risks.

    The head of the Northern Australia Strategic Policy Centre Dr John Coyne is aghast.
    "They're very naive," he said.

    "They're buying into a very dated view of globalisation, and they certainly haven't learned the lessons from Covid-19, around secure supply chains and national resilience."

    The pandemic disproved assumptions that global supply chains could readily deliver, whether it was vaccines or oil, he said.
    "If you listen to the oil companies, they'll tell you that all the risk is under control."

    But they could not manage the complexities, when conflicts could escalate very quickly, trade splits were deepening, and one natural disaster might pile on top of another, he said.

    "If the oil refinery in New Zealand closes, you are totally reliant on oil companies doing the right things … a really dangerous proposition."

  6. Incognito 7

    It is easy to see how conspiracy theories form, take shape, and grow. It can start with a plausible story that one starts to believe as true and accurate and then helps to spread. When it comes to Auckland’s so-called ghost houses I have been guilty of this too (and on the record here).

    The Jackal has just penned a blog on this and makes a few misinformed statements.

    http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2021/08/people-could-live-in-those-ghost-houses.html

    In 2015, Vector found around 8000 homes in Auckland – or 1.6 per cent of all dwellings at the time – were unoccupied, meaning they had used less than 400W of power a day for 100 days or more.

    Most of them were in northern beach suburbs and Waiheke Island, which led the company to conclude they were holiday homes and baches.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland-council-wants-to-fill-thousands-of-ghost-houses-but-may-have-to-get-around-privacy-concerns-first/S42YSJRWJP6OJZVTOWEAIQSVLI/

    Unfortunately, and despite good intentions, legalistic bureaucracy seems to sink any efforts to get to the bottom of this.

    His [Auckland mayor Phil Goff] plan is to ask power company Vector to locate homes not using any electricity.

    But Vector says it can't share that data with the Council due to privacy obligations

    "Under current contract provisions and our privacy obligations, we cannot use this data for non-network related activities or projects."

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/01/push-for-people-to-allow-homeless-to-live-in-empty-investment-properties.html

    But wait, there’s more!

    While Goff believed that Watercare would also be able provide data on vacant houses, the organisation said this was not possible.

    A spokeswoman said that its meters were not set up to measure zero water use.

    Any research would be complicated by blocks of flats with shared water meters or single properties with multiple meters, she said.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland-council-wants-to-fill-thousands-of-ghost-houses-but-may-have-to-get-around-privacy-concerns-first/S42YSJRWJP6OJZVTOWEAIQSVLI/

    So, on the preponderance of very little and a lot of bias and ‘common sense’ many, myself included, have jumped to conclusions. No wonder we jump up & down because the authorities do next-to-nothing, as usual …

    • weka 7.1

      Sorry, which is the inaccurate bit?

      • Incognito 7.1.1

        The conclusions drawn from the Census data regarding the number of ghost houses in Auckland, for example.

        It is challenging to quantify the number of unoccupied dwellings.

        https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2021-04/tax-housing-4417128.pdf [very interesting document entitled Taxation of vacant land and vacant dwellings from Treasury to the Minister of Finance (Grant Robertson)]

        Other than residents that were away on Census night, there is no other information explaining why 22,000 dwelling were empty. Obvious reasons are that the unoccupied dwellings are being repaired or renovated, or they could be baches or holiday homes.

        https://taxworkinggroup.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2019-02/twg-bg-4037441-taxing-vacant-property.pdf [document entitled Taxing vacant property, a Position Paper of the Tax Working Group]

        https://www.hud.govt.nz/assets/News-and-Resources/Proactive-Releases/4-BRF2021010838-Improving-housing-supply-more-information-REDACTED.pdf [a third document, for good measure; search on “Vector” (one hit)]

        • pat 7.1.1.1

          ". It is difficult to accurately quantify the number of unoccupied houses. 2018 census data suggested there were close to 200,000 empty homes nationwide on census night, with approximately 39,000 unoccupied dwellings in the greater Auckland area, but this data is likely to overstate the size of the issue."

          It is difficult…but not impossible if the will is there

          "In considering whether to recommend a tax on vacant properties, the most recent Tax Working Group referenced this study and recommended not doing further work. The Group noted that international evidence showed limited effectiveness of such taxes in reducing the number of vacant properties. MBIE is now working with the Electricity Authority to try and obtain electricity usage data more broadly, as part of an Energy Poverty initiative (in partnership with HUD, EECA and others). We understand that little progress has been made on this, in part due to concerns about commercial sensitivity of the data."

          Our old friend 'commercial sensitivity'

          "Wise Group has been in discussion with HUD and its predecessors since 2016, seeking funding for the development of the Empty Homes initiative. The original proposal sought funding for $2 million, over 2 years, to undertake a proof of concept and subsequent rollout of the initiative. In late 2019, Wise Group approached HUD with a unique unsolicited proposal to identify the scale of empty homes in Auckland, and to test property owners’ appetite and willingness to rent these properties to middle income families/New Zealand’s key workers. Ministers agreed to allocate $500,000 from the Budget 2019 homelessness contingency towards this initiative, as a grant. In consultation with HUD, Wise Group has refined the proposal to focus on Waikato instead of Auckland, and a grant offer was provided to Wise Group on 24 December 2020. 163. If the offer is accepted, the project will commence from 31 January 2021 and HUD will receive the first report back in early April. Wise Group's preference is not to do any significant announcement until the project is underway. HUD will keep Ministers updated on progress and results."

          We'll get round to it but lets try somewhere likely to be a little less contentious and where we might get more favourable results…..and too late to impact the next election.

        • weka 7.1.1.2

          I'm still not getting it. What's the conspiracy theory? Or the problem? That people say there are empty houses when there aren't? Or the reasons for them being empty?

  7. Patricia Bremner 8

    At the end of our 6 year motorhome exploration of New Zealand, we lived parked on our property( a 2 bed unit) while we stripped out the unit kitchen and bathroom, as it had been 21 years since the last revamp.

    That work, plus flooring and painting took 8 weeks. Doubtless there are many revamping properties before sale or retirement? Homes are empty for a variety of reasons. Not all are second homes either. 40 000 does not seem too many out of 540 000 properties. Stats may be misleading at times.

    • McFlock 8.1

      Most renos use more than 400W of power a day, surely? Lights, tools, etc?

      Would 400W even cover a hot water cylinder?

      • Andre 8.1.1

        As an engineer, I have no idea what is meant by "400W a day", and I get really wary of any journalist that misuses units that way.

        Daily electricity consumption is charged in kilowatt-hours. My average daily consumption is about 5 kWhr per day, averaging 208 watts over 24 hours. But my peak half-hourly consumption is up around 1 kwhr, meaning I'm using upwards of 2000 W continuously for that half hour. That happens when pizza is in the oven, or the 1800W water heater has just kicked on at 11pm.

        • McFlock 8.1.1.1

          hmmm.

          Fair call.

          I was just viewing it as watt-hours, i.e. running a 1kw heater for just under half an hour.

        • Incognito 8.1.1.2

          As an engineer, I have no idea what is meant by “400W a day”, and I get really wary of any journalist that misuses units that way.

          This time, it doesn’t seem to come from a journalist; it is also quoted in Government and Treasury documents. It was a joined (?) MBIE/Vector report, which I’m still trying to track down.

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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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