Open mike 04/09/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 4th, 2023 - 88 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

88 comments on “Open mike 04/09/2023 ”

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  1. Molly 1
    4 September 2023 at 7:51 am

    While our health ministry has announced a review on puberty blockers (but not yet produced a brief AFAIK), Channel 7 broke the silence in Australia last night.

    The Spotlight programme "Detransitioners" was shown at 7 pm.

    At present there is no link to the full programme, but some of the interviews have been posted on their YouTube channel.

    Here is one (9min):

    https://youtu.be/nTHw6a8bbLE?feature=shared

    • weka 1.1
      4 September 2023 at 9:19 am

      that's a very good interview.

      Snip starting at 6m, mostly the Australian paediatrician speaking,

      Dr: The problem is when the issues of harm and the stories of harm come about and people still do nothing, that’s when the true scandal is here.

      Journo: Do you think we’ve reached that stage now?

      Dr: Yes, it’s been here for a few years. There’s been clear stories of medical harm, regretting their treatments, the true realities of what the treatment is causing for children, the lack of any discussion around sexual function and fertility, what that does to children in the long term. These are all stories and information that’s been freely available, but we still in this country fail to acknowledge that… we’ve done nothing in this country to move the discussion forward.

      He goes on to say that he won't refer any of his patients to gender clinics. When has asked them how many of the clinic patients aren't deemed suitable for medical (hormonal and surgical) treatment, the clinic refused to say.

      For those still not getting it, as an example from my reading, a young lesbian struggling with her sexed body because she is a sexual abuse survivor and whose friends are telling her she is really a boy, won't be treated for trauma but instead will have her gender identity as a boy affirmed and be put on a transition pathway that includes blocking puberty, eventual removal of breasts, and possible reconstruction of genitals (imo this is still experimental surgery). Lifelong effects include dependence on medication, pain, physical dysfunction, impacts on fertility and sexual function. No treatment for the trauma, or affirmation that it's really ok for women to love women.

  2. Joe90 2
    4 September 2023 at 7:51 am

    Shouty dude nails it.

    (nsfw language)

    @DeeAngryScot

    My favourite take on Burning Man Festival so far

    Check out his TikTok for the full thing, bc fuk twitter blue

    https://twitter.com/DeeAngryScot/status/1698301288503496842

    Tens of thousands of people gathered for the Burning Man festival remained stranded in the Nevada desert on Sunday after storms that swept through the area, as authorities investigated a possible death and worked to open exit paths by the end of the Labor Day weekend.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/celebrities-flee-burning-man-mud-dj-diplo-and-chris-rock-hike-out/RPTKHMBX6JEZVO3GVGH4L5ODKA/

    • Francesca 2.1
      4 September 2023 at 8:28 am

      grifting on the grifters

      cannibalising the cannibals

      professionally angry(well you have to make a buck in the crowded social media world)

  3. Joe90 3
    4 September 2023 at 8:12 am

    Useless eaters, huh.

    /

    @NZQandA

    The ACT party has called for Pharmac to take a “productivity perspective” to decisions on who gets funded medicine – full interview with candidate Todd Stephenson:

    https://twitter.com/NZQandA/status/1698209741896389005

    • AB 3.1
      4 September 2023 at 11:04 am

      Went to the pharmacy to day to pick up a prescription. The young man handed smiled and said "I trust you have been economically productive today sir – it is a Monday and you are out and about. You seem to be an older gentleman but otherwise fit and sprightly. Do you have a timesheet or authorisation from your employer to be idle on a Monday morning? Your lingering painful death would be regrettable at a personal level, but makes sense economically".

    • Roy Cartland 4.1
      4 September 2023 at 8:41 am

      Is that real???

      • Muttonbird 4.1.1
        4 September 2023 at 8:55 am

        Yep, front page of The Herald. Imagine National Party HQ this morning…

      • Mike the Lefty 4.1.2
        4 September 2023 at 9:35 am

        A paid ad for the CTU.

        One can only imagine how much they had to pay for that on the front page.

        Still, I'm surprised the Granny Herald actually did it.

        I suppose money from your political enemies is still money.

        • Roy Cartland 4.1.2.1
          4 September 2023 at 11:42 am

          Holy heck, that's huge. And yes, I'm surprised the Herald ran it. Imagine the risk of lost revenue for them.

        • foreign waka 4.1.2.2
          4 September 2023 at 6:48 pm

          20K and The Herald gladly took it. As for my take, I am not voting for labour. Underhand bowling moves, a character flaw.

          • Patricia Bremner 4.1.2.2.1
            4 September 2023 at 8:17 pm

            why didn't you complain about all the underhand National/Act cartoons ads etc? Chris Hipkins showed half a dozen today.

            • foreign waka 4.1.2.2.1.1
              4 September 2023 at 8:47 pm

              The add was not from a political party but the Union who spend 20k of fees for that. To which Chris Hipkins said it has nothing to do with Labour. Really?

              And herein lies the character flaw. The add is in itself very questionable if an organisation who lives of the money of wage earners is openly electioneering and takes sides in political terms to influence the public.

              We want to hear what the vision for NZ is but all we see is what it ought not to be.

              • SPC …
                4 September 2023 at 9:36 pm

                First you say the CTU/trade unions should not be involved in politics, despite their affiliation to the Labour Party. The Taxpayers Union is registered as a trade union and clearly aligned to the National Party. Not an issue?

                Second in some paradox then say Labour is to blame for what the union did, because of the affiliation to the Labour Party ….unions not being involved in politics …

                Does National not take donations from businesses?

                The idea that the union movements and workers have no political interest in the removal of the Fair Pay Agreement – which is akin to that in Oz, where wages are higher and working conditions better is absurd.

          • Anne 4.1.2.2.2
            4 September 2023 at 8:43 pm

            You never were going to vote Labour. I called Luxon a phony just now in that he pretends to be somebody he isn't. I call you out as a phony pretending to be an honest citizen when in reality you just make things up to suit some pitiful, personal little agenda.

            • foreign waka 4.1.2.2.2.1
              4 September 2023 at 9:13 pm

              OMG. How almost spiteful that comment is. I wasn't aware that the standard of discussion is dropping that low. But this seems to fit the issue at hand. For the record, I have been a fan of Helen Clark and Michael Cullen in years past. But this government is incapable of showing a vision, uniting people and providing some firm direction. So lets just look at some of the facts lately, shall we? For example, Immigration. What kind of policy is that where criminals are allowed to enter the county and NZ is now open to the underworld of other nations? Ok, Education. Why is it that we still have an issue with kids going back to school? No, I do not accept any more of this softly softly something. 40% functional illiteracy is unacceptable. Who will pay for their upkeep in 20 years time? Lets move to finance. The amount of money that is wasted on consultants is mind boggling. Meanwhile the infrastructure falls apart. No one talks anymore about the sewer and water pipes that fall into disrepair. To confronting? It must be election time. I will not go to the cost of living issue because this would take too long. Suffice to say that the decisions of this government has got us way beyond what was necessary, i.e. printing money like confetti. These points are wort a discussion and I want to know what the practical and real plans are to get a far better outcome than what we see. This is not for hobby professionals, we need the real McCoy here.

              So, with that said I doubt that a recovery out of this is in sight. Prove me wrong.

              • SPC …
                4 September 2023 at 9:37 pm

                So you believe right talking points about everything, and now the ad.

                Stupendous demonstration of herd thinking.

              • Anne …
                4 September 2023 at 9:39 pm

                Thank-you for proving my point fw. 🙂

              • Shanreagh …
                5 September 2023 at 3:43 pm

                I think you should ask your favourite party to drop off a supply of paragraphs to you.

                Then you can rewrite your stream of consciousness post above.

                smiley

      • Johnr 4.1.3
        4 September 2023 at 4:12 pm

        Three cheers for the CTU. I'd donate serious money if they did same for Seymour.

        One wonders what that lot are planning to wrap up into a nice little package of govt departments that they can sell off. Pharmac and the hospitals springs to mind. We've seen a precursor of this by the brown skid mark and the auckland airport shares.

        • Mike the Lefty 4.1.3.1
          4 September 2023 at 5:02 pm

          National are already whinging about dirty Labour party tactics.

          Yeah that's right!

          National.

          The party that in 2005 hired the Exclusive Bretheren to run a smear campaign against Labour and the Greens in Auckland suburbs.

          The pot calling the kettle black.

          • foreign waka 4.1.3.1.1
            4 September 2023 at 6:49 pm

            And two wrongs do not make one right. If someone takes the higher ground, better not show the character flaw.

            • Gabby 4.1.3.1.1.1
              5 September 2023 at 12:13 am

              However, what's sauce for the goose IS sauce for the gander. The Nats love them some sauce.

            • Shanreagh 4.1.3.1.1.2
              5 September 2023 at 3:47 pm

              What is the higher ground of which you speak? And, am I correct that you seem to be ascribing it to the Nats, those of the bottom feeder mentality.

              Pretty low ground I would have thought to call any fellow human being 'a bottom feeder'. Especially from one who ostensibly espouses a Christian ethos, even allowing for the fact that churches of the type he attends are ones called prosperity churches. .

    • Mac1 4.2
      4 September 2023 at 8:49 am

      Saw this poster on a street in Wellington's Taranaki Street last night, Luxon looking like a cross between Muldoon and Mussolini. Too much risk is right, considering the likes of who would be in cabinet, ref. Joe90 at #3 above.

      • Mike the Lefty 4.2.1
        4 September 2023 at 9:39 am

        You have to be very careful what sort of pictures you use on posters, billboards.

        I remember way back in 1975 there was a rather bad picture of Bill Rowling used on posters that when a small moustache was drawn on it made him look uncomfortably close to Hitler, and of course the Rugby Men for Rob did exactly that thinking it was a huge joke.

      • Mac1 4.2.2
        4 September 2023 at 7:53 pm

        And 24 hours later, the message at the bottom of the poster on Taranaki Street has been torn away.

        So much for some people's idea of Freedom.

    • Ad 4.3
      4 September 2023 at 9:32 am

      +1000

      Luxon's roadmap for foreign buyers is building yet another cliff up to foreign super-elites to own us all. That's reminiscent of neither Mussolini nor Muldoon but I fundamentally object to policies of deliberate wealth disparity.

      • Roy Cartland 4.4.1
        4 September 2023 at 11:48 am

        It's amazing they can run a whole article without bothering to ask if there's any truth to the statements. Not that Nats would admit that there is, but it would be journalistic to get them to deny it. Surely?

    • joe90 4.5
      4 September 2023 at 12:34 pm

      Viva Il Dope!

  5. Roy Cartland 5
    4 September 2023 at 8:38 am

    This is an excellent and crucial watch. The doctor in question argues only facts. The scariest bit is that these clinics place the onus of medical knowledge on the confused child. It's a vicious ploy for money.

    -meant to reply to comment 1 –

  6. Ffloyd 6
    4 September 2023 at 9:49 am

    The National party was such a cringeworthy affair. Goes to show that money cannot buy class.
    I felt second hand embarrassment for the Luxon family of the glorious locks. ‘Didn’t get them from dad’ It was flat out hilarious. Only in 🇺🇸 America…. oh,wait… Manukau. Ok then. Still hilarious.

    Just needed pom poms, ra ra skirts, swinging blonde ponytails (just for key) and seventy six trombones.

    Does Luxon think deep down that he will be President of the Worlds newest tax haven to be. Just joking.

    Instead ,if there is no justice in this world, he will be elected just a lowly Prime Minister.

    Apparently there were no policies, no costing and a sprinkling of fairy dust from the ever so dim Willis, who is confident that everything will add up because she says so.

    The whole show was just plain tacky. I did feel sorry for the kids however. Not so much for the wife who made me gag. Although that could have been the glass of wine I had just consumed…….The wine was the best bit by far.

    • Blazer 6.1
      4 September 2023 at 10:03 am

      Did you see John Campbell interviewing Luxon's wife and kids?

      The wifes nose grew as she spoke about Christophers compelling attribute…..'authenticity'!

      • AB 6.1.1
        4 September 2023 at 10:22 am

        Good on her for trying. I think authentic and ethical were the ones she mentioned. My partner immediately commented that the opposite of those attributes must have been very prominent in the word clouds generated from focus groups.

    • ianmac 6.2
      4 September 2023 at 10:10 am

      Claire Trevett usually backs the right but today she said this:

      It was a different experience watching National’s launch on-screen to being there in person. It was very slickly produced and clearly produced to look and sound good on television. Those who watched it on screen said it did indeed look and sound high-energy.

      From the back of the theatre, however, it seemed surprisingly subdued and low on energy.

      That could have been down to the venue – a large theatre which National did not manage to fill, or to the differences in the party base: Labour’s supporters chant and whoop, while National’s are more prone to polite clapping and save the whoops for special occasions.

      So as usual National has all the expensive glossy bells and whistles but lacks substance.

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-christopher-luxons-campaign-launch-mission-to-look-like-a-prime-minister-in-waiting/RCSBWNDML5FHNG5PSAGU6KYN2Q/

    • Roy Cartland 6.3
      4 September 2023 at 11:53 am

      I thought it was pretty unauthentic to have American-accented kids banging on about how "kiwi" they were. Piss off, you haven't bothered to live here long enough to make an attempt at the accent, you have no idea what you're talking about.

      (And no, this doesn't apply to adult immigrants, who are net contributors. Their kids are millions of times more kiwi than these Yankee phonies.)

  7. Reality 7
    4 September 2023 at 10:05 am

    Observations from yesterday's Sunday programme. The PM came over as completely natural, genuine, with a quirky sense of humour, likeable, and dedicated to do his best for NZ.

    Luxon came over as pompous, self-important, and as if he had pre-scripted everything he said (as if he had been PR advised). Tried too hard to be likeable.

    • Roy Cartland 7.1
      4 September 2023 at 12:08 pm

      "Likeable". Jesus wept.

      • Patricia Bremner 7.1.1
        4 September 2023 at 3:49 pm

        Even more so, when talking to the press about the CTU page of Luxon, and Bishop's bleat about nastiness. Chris Hipkins laughed and explained that is what happens when you put yourself up for office with dodgy numbers.

        He said if Labour had called a press conference for each attack ad there would have been many, and he produced NP member ad, Tax grp ads and a National Party one, and laughingly commented about them and attacks by Ground Swell Tax payers Union and the Thompson Group, all offshoots of the National Party.

        The quiet reflection of the reporters when he said he thought the complaint was actually running a diversion over their failed numbers spoke volumes.

        Is it possible for some skilled body to put that stand up on here?yes

  8. PsyclingLeft.Always 8
    4 September 2023 at 11:25 am

    There is much talk about the "squeezed middle" (right wing/NAct talk mostly).

    I remember there was this from..2020.

    The number of New Zealand retirees getting their superannuation while earning more than $100,000 has topped 30,000 – costing taxpayers more than half a billion dollars each year.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nz-super-costs-up-as-nz-retirees-on-100k-passes-30000/SNSRX3N637F4W3LSCSQ236QJJQ/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMItcWE-8ePgQMVWXErCh0KywkqEAMYASAAEgIXqvD_BwE

    I have had, the, IMO Misfortune… to work with a range of these. (Maybe not on $100 K? )

    Anyway…NAct supporter/voters to a man (and woman)

    Also…mostly inveterate haters of : Bene's, (the Irony ! ) Maori, Socialists, Greenies etc; etc;

    IMO total self interest and selfish…jerks.

    And quite keen to "punch down"….

    Oh and FYI for those who “reckon” Im in some kind of “echo chamber” I sure as fuck push back…..

    • Roy Cartland 8.1
      4 September 2023 at 11:56 am

      I want to agree… Somewhere… But I can't seem to find the point you're making. Can you clarify? (Genuine q)

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 8.1.1
        4 September 2023 at 12:15 pm

        Oh sorry. I had better say..I am definitely not going on at Superannuitants in general !

        Its just the whole "squeezed middle", entitled "Retired" set…who are also on… quite a good income, even over a $100 K and claiming "their" Super… while as I say..punching down on the "bottom feeders."

        And..they would not ever see the Irony of any of that.

        • Rosielee 8.1.1.1
          4 September 2023 at 12:59 pm

          If they are earning over $100.000 their pension amount will be minimal.

          • PsyclingLeft.Always 8.1.1.1.1
            4 September 2023 at 1:11 pm

            First paragraph in the link….

            The number of New Zealand retirees getting their superannuation while earning more than $100,000 has topped 30,000 – costing taxpayers more than half a billion dollars each year.

            https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nz-super-costs-up-as-nz-retirees-on-100k-passes-30000/SNSRX3N637F4W3LSCSQ236QJJQ/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMItcWE-8ePgQMVWXErCh0KywkqEAMYASAAEgIXqvD_BwE

          • James Thrace 8.1.1.1.2
            4 September 2023 at 3:28 pm

            No.

            It doesn't matter how much you earn, the super amount remains the same.

            Its why I am a fan of income testing (not asset testing) with superannuation paid by IRD as they can easily verify whether in any one fortnight your income will break the threshold of say, $150k p.a. ($5769 gross per fortnight).

            If it's good enough to penalise low paid beneficiaries for any dollar over $150 a week they earn, it's good enough to penalise those over 65 for every dollar over $2,884.50 they earn.

            Not a fan of asset testing otherwise the single widow that doesn't work living in a mortgage free home will not receive pension, therefore no way to pay their bills, and being forced to sell their own home just generates additional poverty.

        • foreign waka 8.1.1.2
          4 September 2023 at 7:07 pm

          You do know that max tax applies? Yes? Essentially, those who have gained an education, worked and contributed are taxed at max rate once 48K pre tax is reached. 8 hrs at living wage rate per week is still ok before the jump to max tax happens. So before you go on with those 100K earners (which cant be many) it is those who still can work and do so – not by choice but necessity -to make end meet with an inflation rate of averaging 18% who are immensely affected. Interestingly, as a tax payer you get treated as an individual, as a pensioner you are a herd animal.

          • PsyclingLeft.Always 8.1.1.2.1
            4 September 2023 at 7:23 pm

            those 100K earners (which cant be many)

            Hello ? In the link….In 2020 it was 30,000. Maybe re read it all…and my comments.

            I repeat..its those "punch down" types…you know who.

            Anti all : Bene's, (the Irony ! ) Maori, Socialists, Greenies etc; etc;

            But quite OK… with their own Super Bene…..

            • foreign waka 8.1.1.2.1.1
              4 September 2023 at 9:37 pm

              2020, there were 792000 pensioners, 30000 would comprise 3.79%.

              40% of retirees live off the pension only. This is where the focus ought to be in my view. What kind of country does NZ want to be? How will the future look like with 40% leaving school and unable to read comprehensively and AI being introduced. How will this impact on the living standard? Where are the discussions about how this will affect the future of all people in NZ.

              Relating to my comment prior:

              How much can a pensioner earn before it affects the pension NZ?

              the first $160 of combined income a week (before tax) doesn't affect your payments. for every $1 you get over $160, your total NZ Super or Veteran's Pension payment is reduced by 70 cents.

              I don't know what "punch down" types are. All I know is that many older people are scared that they cannot meet their rates, rent, electricity and food bills. Many actually don't if they wouldn't continue working.

              "And New Zealand has one of the highest rates of people aged 65+ still working 24%. This compares to the UK rate of 10%, Australia 12%, USA 19%, Japan 20% and Iceland 35%"

              https://retirement.govt.nz/policy-and-research/retirement-income-policy-review/

              • SPC …
                4 September 2023 at 9:57 pm

                There is every chance those on $100,000 a year plus already own their homes and maybe a rental and have some super savings.

              • Francesca …
                5 September 2023 at 2:22 pm

                Well then string me up .I’m on the pension and I also earn well over $160 a week .This affects my tax, but not my pension This goes through an old school type accountant, who is absolutely by the book , and all information goes to IRD.You are talking nonsense.
                The pension only becomes abated when there is a non qualifying partner included

                • foreign waka …
                  8 September 2023 at 12:34 pm

                  Facts 2023 Francesca. Fact. I posted links to the IRD website and stats above, these are not interpretations of the current tax law. But I appreciate that a person on their own gets more pension. The tax – and I can reassure you that is a FACT – after earning more than 48K including the pension is the top rate like someone earning 180K. It wont hurt if you earn 100K but it sure does on 50K.

          • SPC 8.1.1.2.2
            4 September 2023 at 9:55 pm

            18% inflation rate.

            Fact check

            Untrue.

            You do know that max tax applies?

            No, coz it aint so.

            The top rate kicks in at over $180,000. Income tax applies at the marginal rate – super + interest/dividends/rent + work income ….

            • foreign waka 8.1.1.2.2.1
              8 September 2023 at 12:37 pm

              The links supplied are official links and not an interpretation. Facts and not "I want this to be true". But hey, you live with what you belief, its all good.

            • foreign waka 8.1.1.2.2.2
              8 September 2023 at 12:38 pm

              The links supplied are official links. I referred to facts and not "I want this to be true". But hey, you live with what you belief, its all good.

  9. Blazer 9
    4 September 2023 at 12:20 pm

    Pot calling the kettle black….Chris Bishop rails against CTU ads featuring Luxon.Americanised,attack ads,nasty …he says.

    Election 2023: Council of Trade Unions rolls out attack ads targeting Christopher Luxon, National hits back | Newshub

    • bwaghorn 9.1
      4 September 2023 at 3:39 pm

      National relentlessly negative for 6 years, ctu points out that millionaire cei is out of touch with kiwis , and they start crying,

      • foreign waka 9.1.1
        4 September 2023 at 7:08 pm

        No matter how the opposition is described, this was a dirty move. Full stop. And it shows a serious character flaw.

        • Blazer 9.1.1.1
          4 September 2023 at 8:56 pm

          'a serious character flaw'!Are you serious ?

          These are politicians ffs.laugh

          • foreign waka 9.1.1.1.1
            4 September 2023 at 9:38 pm

            No, this was the Union living off contributions from wage earners doing electioneering.

            • SPC 9.1.1.1.1.1
              4 September 2023 at 9:49 pm

              Only from union members (and unions affiliated to the Labour Party) not all "wage earners"

              And why, to retain the Fair Pay Agreement.

  10. joe90 10
    4 September 2023 at 1:00 pm

    Apparently there's a cost of living crisis but don't spend your tax relief pittance on easing your cost of living crisis.

    /

    Q+A

    @NZQandA

    National’s finance spokesperson Nicola Willis @NicolaWillisMP says their tax on foreign buyers will not be inflationary if New Zealanders “choose to save” that new money in the economy.

    https://twitter.com/NZQandA/status/1698086315835949466

  11. Ffloyd 11
    4 September 2023 at 1:02 pm

    Chris the Lesser appears to have a very short memory. He just needs to look back at Keys days where our politics descended into the gutter. Dirty Politics. David Cunliffe. Paula Bennett gleefully publicising the benefit details of two young women who dared to stand up to her. Totally humiliating them. And the list goes on if you care to look. Verbal abuse was common from the braying national asses. So he needs to go back and do a bit of revision and see keys time in Parliament for what it truly was. Thugs mentality. Then he can put his dummy back in. He looks like he needs a good sleep.

  12. Adrian 12
    4 September 2023 at 1:40 pm

    On the weekend a finance/property commentator on radio or maybe TV,( QandA ? ), as I recall, said the value to a landlord of the return of tax deductible interest should be worth about an 8k on average to an owner. Its essentially a tax cut. Now I have a COI here as we own a renter, a house we physicly built on my own for my mother in law, which is now rented within the whanau at a below average rate, but I do not believe mortgages for leverage should be tax deductible.

    Now nowhere have I heard commentary that this means that in Luxon's scheme Willis has theoreticly given him a $56,000 tax advantage and herself who apparently has 5 houses, gets $40.000.

    100K for just the 2 of them. Now that's what corruption looks like boys and girls.

    P.s. not sure about the Willis 5 houses, only heard about that a few days ago. Can anyone confirm please.

  13. Ffloyd 13
    4 September 2023 at 4:21 pm

    Weka. Apologies. New to this. Was referring to Chris Bishop spitting the dummy and accusing Chris Hipkins of dirty politics by being behind the publishing of Chris Luxons rather large photo in the Herald with accompanying article. He offered no proof relating to his accusation which in itself could be seen as libellous.

    • Incognito 13.1
      4 September 2023 at 5:19 pm

      You say that you’re “New to this” but as far as I can tell you’ve made 982 comments on this blog site since 29 Nov 2011!?

    • Anne 13.2
      4 September 2023 at 5:24 pm

      Best way to ensure readers know who or what you are referring to, is to respond to someone involved in the subject matter by hitting the 'reply' button first. For instance , I knew who you were referring to because I posted the link in the first place.

      Its easy to forget to hit 'reply', in which case you end up out of the conversation and risk no-one knowing what you're talking about. 😉

  14. Ffloyd 14
    5 September 2023 at 2:23 pm

    Point taken. If I hit reply my device doesn’t let me use text so I can’t continue from that point.

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    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

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

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

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

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

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