Open mike 04/11/2024
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6:00 am, November 4th, 2024 - 61 comments
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- Economic security and geostrategic competition: fostering resilience and innovation
Australia and other democracies have once again turned to China to solve their economic problems, while the reliability of the United States as an alliance partner is, erroneously, being called into question. We risk forgetting ...4 hours ago - Wednesday 26 March
Machines will take over more jobs at Immigration New Zealand under a multi-million-dollar upgrade that will mean decisions to approve visas will be automated – decisions to reject applications will continue to be taken by staff. Health New Zealand’s commitment to boosting specialist palliative care for dying children is under ...6 hours ago - She Works Hard For The Money
She works hard for the moneySo hard for it, honeyShe works hard for the moneySo you better treat her rightSongwriters: Michael Omartian / Donna A. SummerMorena, I’m pleased to bring you a guest newsletter today by long-time unionist and community activist Lyndy McIntyre. Lyndy has been active in the Living ...6 hours ago - The dangerous collapse of US strategic sealift capacity
The US Transportation Command’s Military Sealift Command (MSC), the subordinate organisation responsible for strategic sealift, is unprepared for the high intensity fighting of a war over Taiwan. In the event of such a war, combat ...7 hours ago
- Stadium Unfeasibility
Tomorrow Auckland’s Councillors will decide on the next steps in the city’s ongoing stadium debate, and it appears one option is technically feasible but isn’t financially feasible while the other one might be financially feasible but not be technically feasible. As a quick reminder, the mMayor started this process as ...7 hours ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes on Wednesday, March 26
In short in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on March 26:Three Kāinga Ora plots zoned for 17 homes and 900m from Ellerslie rail station are being offered to land-bankers and luxury home builders by agent Rawdon Christie.Chris Bishop’s new RMA bills don’t include treaty principles, even though ...8 hours ago - James (Jim) Grenon & Sinead Boucher’s Worlds Affect Us All
Stuff’s Sinead Boucher and NZME Takeover Leader James (Jim) GrenoonStuff Promotes Brooke Van VeldenYesterday, I came across an incredulous article by Stuff’s Kelly Dennett.It was a piece basically promoting David Seymour’s confidante and political ally, ACT’s #2, Brooke Van Velden. I admit I read the whole piece, incredulous at its ...9 hours ago - Gordon Campbell On The Americanising Of NZ’s Public Health System
One of the odd aspects of the government’s plan to Americanise the public health system – i.e by making healthcare access more reliant on user pay charges and private health insurance – is that it is happening in plain sight. Earlier this year, the official briefing papers to incoming Heath ...13 hours ago - Defence budget doesn’t match the threat Australia faces
When Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers stood at the dispatch box this evening to announce the 2025–26 Budget, he confirmed our worst fears about the government’s commitment to resourcing the Defence budget commensurate with the dangers ...15 hours ago
- It’s time for the ADF to train in Asia-Pacific languages
The proposed negotiation of an Australia–Papua New Guinea defence treaty will falter unless the Australian Defence Force embraces cultural intelligence and starts being more strategic with teaching languages—starting with Tok Pisin, the most widely spoken language in ...22 hours ago
- Here is the news at 4.30
Bishop ignores pawnPoor old Tama Potaka says he didn't know the new RMA legislation would be tossing out the Treaty clause.However, RMA Minister Bishop says it's all good and no worries because the new RMA will still recognise Māori rights; it's just that the government prefers specific role descriptions over ...22 hours ago - China’s shadow fleet threatens Indo-Pacific communications
China is using increasingly sophisticated grey-zone tactics against subsea cables in the waters around Taiwan, using a shadow-fleet playbook that could be expanded across the Indo-Pacific. On 25 February, Taiwan’s coast guard detained the Hong Tai ...23 hours ago
- Improving OIA enforcement
Yesterday The Post had a long exit interview with outgoing Ombudsman Peter Boshier, in which he complains about delinquent agencies which "haven't changed and haven't taken our moral authority on board". He talks about the limits of the Ombudsman's power of persuasion - its only power - and the need ...1 day ago - A Fist, an American Flag, and Fire
Hi,Two stories have been playing over and over in my mind today, and I wanted to send you this Webworm as an excuse to get your thoughts in the comments.Because I adore the community here, and I want your sanity to weigh in.A safe space to chat, pull our hair ...1 day ago - Tuesday 25 March
A new employment survey shows that labour market pessimism has deepened as workers worry about holding to their job, the difficulty in finding jobs, and slowing wage growth. Nurses working in primary care will get an 8 percent pay increase this year, but it still leaves them lagging behind their ...1 day ago
- Big Gun
Big gunBig gun number oneBig gunBig gun kick the hell out of youSongwriters: Ascencio / Marrow.On Sunday, I wrote about the Prime Minister’s interview in India with Maiki Sherman and certainly didn’t think I’d be writing about another of his interviews two days later.I’d been thinking of writing about something ...1 day ago - Economic security and geostrategic competition: tariffs don’t equal coercion
The Trump administration’s decision to impose tariffs on Australian aluminium and steel has surprised the country. This has caused some to question the logic of the Australia-United States alliance and risks legitimising China’s economic coercion. ...1 day ago
- NZ Government, an Atlas Network puppet, intent on ruining public healthcare
OPINION & ANALYSIS:At the heart of everything we see in this government is simplicity. Things are simpler than they appear. Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Behind all the public relations, marketing spin, corporate overlay e.g. ...1 day ago - China will need 10,000GW of wind and solar by 2060
This is a re-post from Carbon Brief by Wang Zhongying, chief national expert, China Energy Transformation Programme of the Energy Research Institute, and Kaare Sandholt, chief international expert, China Energy Transformation Programme of the Energy Research Institute China will need to install around 10,000 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar capacity ...1 day ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Tuesday, March 26
Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, Washington Post/$, Wired/$, ...1 day ago - Most people want a people-friendly city
With many of Auckland’s political and bureaucratic leaders bowing down to vocal minorities and consistently failing to reallocate space to people in our city, recent news overseas has prompted me to point out something important. It is extremely popular to make car-dominated cities nicer, by freeing up space for people. ...1 day ago
- Indonesia wants an aircraft carrier. No one knows why
When it comes to fleet modernisation programme, the Indonesian navy seems to be biting off more than it can chew. It is not even clear why the navy is taking the bite. The news that ...1 day ago
- tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-2287094456929079731
Chris Trotter is now on Substack visit him at christrotter418256.substack.com ...2 days ago - Australia should work with South Korea to secure undersea cables
South Korea and Australia should enhance their cooperation to secure submarine cables, which carry more than 95 percent of global data traffic. As tensions in the Indo-Pacific intensify, these vital connections face risks from cyber ...2 days ago
- Parliament says “no” to transparency
The Parliament Bill Committee has reported back on the Parliament Bill. As usual, they recommend no substantive changes, all decisions having been made in advance and in secret before the bill was introduced - but there are some minor tweaks around oversight of the new parliamentary security powers, which will ...2 days ago
- Bolt from the blue: what we know (and don’t know) about the US’s powerful F-47 fighter
When the F-47 enters service, at a date to be disclosed, it will be a new factor in US air warfare. A decision to proceed with development, deferred since July, was unexpectedly announced on 21 ...2 days ago
- Yesterday Once More
All my best memoriesCome back clearly to meSome can even make me cry.Just like beforeIt's yesterday once more.Songwriters: Richard Lynn Carpenter / John BettisYesterday, Winston Peters gave a State of the Nation speech in which he declared War on the Woke, described peaceful protesters as fascists, said he’d take our ...2 days ago - Can we now find out who the real Vladimir Putin is?
Regardless of our opinions about the politicians involved, I believe that every rational person should welcome the reestablishment of contacts between the USA and the Russian Federation. While this is only the beginning and there are no guarantees of success, it does create the opportunity to address issues ...2 days ago - The transatlantic world will never be the same
Once upon a time, the United States saw the contest between democracy and authoritarianism as a singularly defining issue. It was this outlook, forged in the crucible of World War II, that created such strong ...2 days ago
- 30% of doctors leave NZ after graduation
A pre-Covid protest about medical staffing shortages outside the Beehive. Since then the situation has only worsened, with 30% of doctors trained here now migrating within a decade. File Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories shortest: The news this morning is dominated by the crises cascading through our health system after ...2 days ago - Monday 24 March
Bargaining between the PSA and Oranga Tamariki over the collective agreement is intensifying – with more strike action likely, while the Employment Relations Authority has ordered facilitation. More than 850 laboratory staff are walking off their jobs in a week of rolling strike action. Union coverage CTU: Confidence in ...2 days ago
- The permanent Australia-China contest in the South Pacific
Foreign Minister Penny Wong in 2024 said that ‘we’re in a state of permanent contest in the Pacific—that’s the reality.’ China’s arrogance hurts it in the South Pacific. Mark that as a strong Australian card ...2 days ago
- Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes on Monday, March 24
Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, Washington Post/$, Wired/$, ...2 days ago - Gordon Campbell on Israel’s murderous relapse, and Peters’ sad decline
In the past week, Israel has reverted to slaughtering civilians, starving children and welshing on the terms of the peace deal negotiated earlier this year. The IDF’s current offensive seems to be intended to render Gaza unlivable, preparatory (perhaps) to re-occupation by Israeli settlers. The short term demands for the ...3 days ago
- 2025 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #12
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 16, 2025 thru Sat, March 22, 2025. This week's roundup is again published by category and sorted by number of articles included in each. We are still interested ...3 days ago
- Bullying a Chess Bot: More Martinian Shenanigans
In recent months, I have garnered copious amusement playing Martin, chess.com’s infamously terrible Chess AI. Alas, it is not how it once was, when he would cheerfully ignore freely offered material. Martin has grown better since I first stumbled upon him. I still remain frustrated at his capture-happy determination to ...3 days ago - Indian Summer
Every time that I see ya,A lightning bolt fills the room,The underbelly of Paris,She sings her favourite tune,She'll drink you under the table,She'll show you a trick or two,But every time that I left her,I missed the things she would doSongwriters: Kelly JonesThis morning, I posted - Are you excited ...3 days ago - Bernard’s Soliloquy for the week to March 23
Long stories shortest this week in our political economy: Standard & Poor’s judged the Government’s council finance reforms a failure. Professional investors showed the Government they want it to borrow more, not less. GDP bounced out of recession by more than forecast in the December quarter, but data for the ...3 days ago - Making sense of it all
Each day at 4:30 my brother calls in at the rest home to see Dad. My visits can be months apart. Five minutes after you've left, he’ll have forgotten you were there, but every time, his face lights up and it’s a warm happy visit.Tim takes care of almost everything ...3 days ago - A Response to ACT’s MRA-Style Rant
On the 19th of March, ACT announced they would be running candidates in this year’s local government elections. Accompanying that call for “common-sense kiwis” was an anti-woke essay typifying the views they expect their candidates to hold. I have included that part of their mailer, Free Press, in its entirety. ...4 days ago - Spread a Little Happiness
Even when the darkest clouds are in the skyYou mustn't sigh and you mustn't crySpread a little happiness as you go byPlease tryWhat's the use of worrying and feeling blue?When days are long keep on smiling throughSpread a little happiness 'til dreams come trueSongwriters: Vivian Ellis / Clifford Grey / ...4 days ago - Pick ‘n’ Mix at 6am on Saturday, March 22
Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, Washington Post/$, Wired/$, ...4 days ago - Siding with the Right Of the Right
ACT up the game on division politicsEmmerson’s take on David Seymour’s claim Jesus would have supported ACTACT’s announcement it is moving into local politics is a logical next step for a party that is waging its battle on picking up the aggrieved.It’s a numbers game, and as long as the ...5 days ago - Jam tomorrow, butter next week
1. What will be the slogan of the next butter ad campaign?a. You’re worth itb. Once it hits $20, we can do something about the riversc. I can’t believe it’s the price of butter d. None of the above Read more ...5 days ago - Why Do Cryptocurrencies Appear to Be So Valuable?
It is said that economists know the price of everything and the value of nothing. That may be an exaggeration but an even better response is to point out economists do know the difference. They did not at first. Classical economics thought that the price of something reflected the objective ...5 days ago - Awful optics: political fighting in Taiwan stalls part of defence budget rise
Political fighting in Taiwan is delaying some of an increase in defence spending and creating an appearance of lack of national resolve that can only damage the island’s relationship with the Trump administration. The main ...5 days ago
- The Independent Intelligence Review is finally out, and it’s a worthy sequel
The unclassified version of the 2024 Independent Intelligence Review (IIR) was released today. It’s a welcome and worthy sequel to its 2017 predecessor, with an ambitious set of recommendations for enhancements to Australia’s national intelligence ...5 days ago
- Law, culture, and the OIA
Yesterday outgoing Ombudsman Peter Boshier published a report, Reflections on the Official Information Act, on his way out the door. The report repeated his favoured mantra that the Act was "fundamentally sound", all problems were issues of culture, and that no legislative change was needed (and especially no changes to ...5 days ago
- A new US humanitarian agency must operate without political blinders
The United States government is considering replacing USAID with a new agency, the US Agency for International Humanitarian Assistance (USIHA), according to documents published by POLITICO. Under the proposed design, the agency will fail its ...5 days ago
- Worming Through Dangerous Times
5 days ago - Why is the Govt so afraid of borrowing?
Mōrena. Long stories shortest: Professional investors who are paid a lot of money to be careful about lending to the New Zealand Government think it is wonderful place to put their money. Yet the Government itself is so afraid of borrowing more that it is happy to kill its own ...5 days ago - The future of the Combined Space Operations initiative
As space becomes more contested, Australia should play a key role with its partners in the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) initiative to safeguard the space domain. Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States signed the ...5 days ago
- Dave’s Cats
Ooh you're a cool catComing on strong with all the chit chatOoh you're alrightHanging out and stealing all the limelightOoh messing with the beat of my heart yeah!Songwriters: Freddie Mercury / John Deacon.It would be a tad ironic; I can see it now. “Yeah, I didn’t unsubscribe when he said ...5 days ago - Friday 21 March
The PSA are calling the Prime Minister a hypocrite for committing to increase defence spending while hundreds of more civilian New Zealand Defence Force jobs are set to be cut as part of a major restructure. The number of companies being investigated for people trafficking in New Zealand has skyrocketed ...5 days ago
- Weekly Roundup 21-March-2025
Another Friday, hope everyone’s enjoyed their week as we head toward the autumn equinox. Here’s another roundup of stories that caught our eye on the subject of cities and what makes them even better. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Connor took a look at how Auckland ...5 days ago
- A special Hoon with Michael Wolff, author of four books on Donald Trump
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking with special guest author Michael Wolff, who has just published his fourth book about Donald Trump: ‘All or Nothing’.Here’s Peter’s writeup of the interview. Hoon: Trumpism ...5 days ago - Hoon: Trumpism dies with Trump says Wolff
5 days ago
- The ADF reserve system is obsolete. We need a dramatically expanded force
Australia needs to radically reorganise its reserves system to create a latent military force that is much larger, better trained and equipped and deployable within days—not decades. Our current reserve system is not fit for ...5 days ago
- Pick ‘n’ Mix at 6am on Friday, March 21
Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, Washington Post/$, Wired/$, ...5 days ago - Against All Reason: William Blake and the Private Fantasy Mythology
I have argued before that one ought to be careful in retrospectively allocating texts into genres. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) only looks like science-fiction because a science-fiction genre subsequently developed. Without H.G. Wells, would Frankenstein be considered science-fiction? No, it probably wouldn’t. Viewed in the context of its time, Frankenstein ...6 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #12 2025
Open access notables The severe 2020 coral bleaching event in the tropical Atlantic linked to marine heatwaves, Rodrigues et al., Communications Earth & Environment: Marine heatwaves can amplify the vulnerabilities of regional marine ecosystems and jeopardise local economies and food resources. Here, we show that marine heatwaves in the tropical ...6 days ago
- Elbridge Colby’s vision: blocking China
Elbridge Colby’s senate confirmation hearing in early March holds more important implications for US partners than most observers in Canberra, Wellington or Suva realise. As President Donald Trump’s nominee for under secretary of defence for ...6 days ago
- China’s military spending rises should prompt regional budget responses
China’s defence budget is rising heftily yet again. The 2025 rise will be 7.2 percent, the same as in 2024, the government said on 5 March. But the allocation, officially US$245 billion, is just the ...6 days ago
- Pressure grows for commonsense correction on safe local speeds
Concern is growing about wide-ranging local repercussions of the new Setting of Speed Limits rule, rewritten in 2024 by former transport minister Simeon Brown. In particular, there’s growing fears about what this means for children in particular. A key paradox of the new rule is that NZTA-controlled roads have the ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s Guests.
Speilmeister: Christopher Luxon’s prime-ministerial pitches notwithstanding, are institutions with billions of dollars at their disposal really going to invest them in a country so obviously in a deep funk?HAVING WOOED THE WORLD’s investors, what, if anything, has New Zealand won? Did Christopher Luxon’s guests board their private jets fizzing with enthusiasm for ...6 days ago
- S&P downgrades 18 councils, blaming Govt
Christchurch City Council is one of 18 councils and three council-controlled organisations (CCOs) downgraded by ratings agency S&P. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories shortest: Standard & Poor’s has cut the credit ratings of 18 councils, blaming the new Government’s abrupt reversal of 3 Waters, cuts to capital ...6 days ago - Recession ends – Economic challenges remain
Figures released by Statistics New Zealand today showed that the economy grew by 0.7% ending the very deep recession seen over the past year, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “Even though GDP grew in the three months to December, our economy is still 1.1% smaller than it ...6 days ago
- Maybe there’s a connection?
What is going on with the price of butter?, RNZ, 19 march 2025: If you have bought butter recently you might have noticed something - it is a lot more expensive. Stats NZ said last week that the price of butter was up 60 percent in February compared to ...6 days ago
- I, too, got a few things wrong
I agree with Will Leben, who wrote in The Strategist about his mistakes, that an important element of being a commentator is being accountable and taking responsibility for things you got wrong. In that spirit, ...6 days ago
- Commandments & Cures
You’d beDrunk by noon, no one would knowJust like the pandemicWithout the sourdoughIf I were there, I’d find a wayTo get treated for hysteriaEvery dayLyrics Riki Lindhome.A varied selection today in Nick’s Kōrero:Thou shalt have no other gods - with Christopher Luxon.Doctors should be seen and not heard - with ...6 days ago - Australia needs greater defence self-reliance, and extra funding
Two recent foreign challenges suggest that Australia needs urgently to increase its level of defence self-reliance and to ensure that the increased funding that this would require is available. First, the circumnavigation of our continent ...6 days ago
- Pick ‘n’ Mix at 6am on Thursday, March 20
Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, The Atlantic-$, The ...6 days ago - Gordon Campbell on Winston Peters’ bad trip, and the return of the PPPs zombie
According to RNZ’s embedded reporter, the importance of Winston Peters’ talks in Washington this week “cannot be overstated.” Right. “Exceptionally important.” said the maestro himself. This epic importance doesn’t seem to have culminated in anything more than us expressing our “concern” to the Americans about a series of issues that ...7 days ago
- Climate Fresk – a neat way to make the complexity of climate change less puzzling
Up until a few weeks ago, I had never heard of "Climate Fresk" and at a guess, this will also be the case for many of you. I stumbled upon it in the self-service training catalog for employees at the company I work at in Germany where it was announced ...7 days ago
- Japan and Australia can fill each other’s defence gaps
Japan and Australia talk of ‘collective deterrence,’ but they don’t seem to have specific objectives. The relationship needs a clearer direction. The two countries should identify how they complement each other. Each country has two ...7 days ago
- Release: Kiwis lose faith in job market
Confidence in the job market has continued to drop to its lowest level in five years as more New Zealanders feel uncertain about finding work, keeping their jobs, and getting decent pay, according to the latest Westpac-McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index. ...7 hours ago - Greens question Govt commitment to environmental protection with RMA reform
The Greens are calling on the Government to follow through on their vague promises of environmental protection in their Resource Management Act (RMA) reform. ...2 days ago - Release: Govt must tackle meth use crisis
New data shows methamphetamine use is spiralling out of control while the Government sits on its hands. ...2 days ago
- “Make New Zealand First Again”
“Make New Zealand First Again” Ladies and gentlemen, First of all, thank you for being here today. We know your lives are busy and you are working harder and longer than you ever have, and there are many calls on your time, so thank you for the chance to speak ...3 days ago - Release: Govt’s continued lack of action on Gaza condemned
Hundreds more Palestinians have died in recent days as Israel’s assault on Gaza continues and humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, is blocked. ...5 days ago
- Release: National at sea over Defence jobs
National is looking to cut hundreds of jobs at New Zealand’s Defence Force, while at the same time it talks up plans to increase focus and spending in Defence. ...6 days ago
- Release: National standards returning by stealth
It’s been revealed that the Government is secretly trying to bring back a ‘one-size fits all’ standardised test – a decision that has shocked school principals. ...6 days ago
- Release: Kiwis still struggling as economy stumbles along
Kiwis aren’t feeling any better off despite figures showing a very slight growth in GDP in the December quarter. ...6 days ago
- Greens call for compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe
The Green Party is calling for the compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe, a 77-year-old kaumātua on hunger strike at the Spring Hill Corrections Facility, after visiting him at the prison. ...1 week ago
- Another failed ETS auction, another indictment on the Govt’s climate credibility
The ETS auction’s failure today is yet another clear sign that the Government is failing us all on climate action. ...1 week ago
- Release: Luxon quick to give away principled position on nukes
Christopher Luxon seems to have thrown New Zealand’s principled anti-nuclear advocacy under a bus. ...1 week ago
- NZ must act on Israel’s slaughter of children
The Green Party is calling on Government MPs to support Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence and illegal actions in Palestine, following another day of appalling violence against civilians in Gaza. ...1 week ago
- Release: Still no certainty for disability communities
One year on from the Government’s abrupt and callous changes to disability funding, the community still has no idea what the future holds. ...1 week ago
- Green Party backs volunteer firefighters in their call for ACC recognition
The Green Party stands in support of volunteer firefighters petitioning the Government to step up and change legislation to provide volunteers the same ACC coverage and benefits as their paid counterparts. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Palestine: A Call to Action Against Israels Treacherous Attack
At 2.30am local time, Israel launched a treacherous attack on Gaza killing more than 300 defenceless civilians while they slept. Many of them were children. This followed a more than 2 week-long blockade by Israel on the entry of all goods and aid into Gaza. Israel deliberately targeted densely populated ...1 week ago
- MP Views: Living Strong, The Economy, Servicing Our Nation, The Golden Egg, and 4 Year Terms
Living Strong, Aging Well There is much discussion around the health of our older New Zealanders and how we can age well. In reality, the delivery of health services accounts for only a relatively small percentage of health outcomes as we age. Significantly, dry warm housing, nutrition, exercise, social connection, ...1 week ago
- Shane Jones has no shame
Shane Jones’ display on Q&A showed how out of touch he and this Government are with our communities and how in sync they are with companies with little concern for people and planet. ...1 week ago
- Release: National botches health funding numbers
Health Minister Simeon Brown’s claim that the Government has put $16.68 billion into the health system over three years is wrong. ...2 weeks ago
- Government tramples on the rights of disabled migrant children
The Green Party is condemning the Government’s move to tighten access to visas for disabled children. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Auckland needs second harbour crossing
Labour supports Minister Chris Bishop’s call for input on the second Waitematā Harbour crossing. ...2 weeks ago
- Speech: Barbara Edmonds’ speech to NZ Investment Summit 2025
I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak to you today about how we make overseas investment work for all New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour does not support PPPs for prisons
Labour does not support the private ownership of core infrastructure like schools, hospitals and prisons, which will only see worse outcomes for Kiwis. ...2 weeks ago
- Dunedin Futures report should be a wake-up call
The newly released report on the South Dunedin Future Programme must be a wake-up call for our Government. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Members’ Bill makes wage theft a crime
Workers will now be able to go to the Police and report their employer if they are not being paid wages they’re owed. ...2 weeks ago
- Missed opportunity to stop the stealing of Māori land
The Green Party is disappointed the Government voted down Hūhana Lyndon’s member’s Bill, which would have prevented further alienation of Māori land through the Public Works Act. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour supports sanctions against Israel’s illegal occupation
The Labour Party will support Chloe Swarbrick’s member’s bill which would allow sanctions against Israel for its illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt procurement plan cuts wages and trashes the environment
The Government’s new procurement rules are a blatant attack on workers and the environment, showing once again that National’s priorities are completely out of touch with everyday Kiwis. ...2 weeks ago
- Procurement proposals pose risk to people and planet
The Green Party is concerned by the impact the Government’s proposed changes to procurement processes could have on people and planet. ...2 weeks ago
- Just six Government MPs needed to pass Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill
With Labour and Te Pāti Māori’s official support, Opposition parties are officially aligned to progress Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in Palestine. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour’s approach to Māori economy benefits all
Under Labour, the Māori economy went from strength to strength according to the latest report released by MBIE. ...2 weeks ago
- 20 Years of Success Down the Drain: Govt Gut Whānau Ora
Te Pāti Māori extends our deepest aroha to the 500 plus Whānau Ora workers who have been advised today that the govt will be dismantling their contracts. For twenty years , Whānau Ora has been helping families, delivering life-changing support through a kaupapa Māori approach. It has built trust where ...3 weeks ago
- Green Party launches petition to allow Pacific whānau visa-free access
The Green Party is launching a petition calling on the Government to extend visa-free travel to visitors from Pacific Island nations. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Labour welcomes reinstatement of Heath NZ board
Labour welcomes Simeon Brown’s move to reinstate a board at Health New Zealand, bringing the destructive and secretive tenure of commissioner Lester Levy to an end. ...3 weeks ago
- NZ’s Public Health system dealt yet another blow
This morning’s announcement by the Health Minister regarding a major overhaul of the public health sector levels yet another blow to the country’s essential services. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Chris Hipkins’ State of the Nation address
Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa It is a great pleasure to be here with you this morning. ...3 weeks ago
- NZ First Introduces Bill to Remove Woke ‘DEI’ Regulations from Public Service
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I remember going down to the Auckland Democrat party for the Biden win, preparing for exultation.
It was so close it became terrifying.
Harris had such a post-Convention surge, and I was preparing for hope.
Now I just want to pull the covers over my head.
The dumbing down of American society began many decades ago. Now it is paying dividends. Too many of them will believe the moon is made of cheese if the fascist Trump or one of his acolytes told them so. It's tragic but what can anyone do.
We're not particularly smart here either.
I suppose if you want to find a silver lining in the dark cloud, I think Luxon was gambling on our economy turning the corner in 2026.
If I were Luxon and Trump got in, I'd be reaching for my brown trousers…
Listening to RNZ's coverage of the US election, tariffs seem to be an issue.
Trump is touting them and Harris may introduce some for political reasons.
Who benefits from the no tariffs situation we are in now?
It occurs to me the citizenry don't benefit, the price we pay for milk and cheeses would be an example as would timber/building products.
$100 a metre for a laminated 120 x 120nn post bears that out as does the MASSIVE decline in the quality of the timber on sale (knots).
The traditional reason for having tariffs is protecting your local industries from being outcompeted by cheaper (or better) foreign imports. So, it's in effect a tax on consumers that subsidizes domestic businesses.
Removing them has kind of like an international game of chicken: I might want have tarriff free exports to your country, but in return, I'll need to remove my tarriffs on yours to make it worth your while.
Trump's made them popular again because they're seen as being supportive of American manufacturing and "punishing" China. But unfortunately, his dumb hick supporters are a) unaware just how distributed global manufacturing is and how reliant how much of their supply chain is on foreign goods and b) too economically and mathematically illiterate to realise how steeply it'll increase the cost of living.
Canada is showing NZ through the WTO that it doesn't give a damn about trade rules and will protect its dairy farmers no matter what.
It's the small and weak like us that need rules.
MBIE and MPI need to start gaming out which of our industries are most vulnerable to tariff increases.
Harris and Trump are closely aligned on trade protection, just like Biden and Trump.
Not so closely aligned:
"Harris has criticised Trump’s sweeping plan to impose tariffs on imports, calling it a national tax on working families which will cost each household $4,000 a year.
She is expected to have a more targeted approach to taxing imports, maintaining the tariffs the Biden-Harris administration introduced on some Chinese imports like electric vehicles.
Trump has made tariffs a central campaign pledge in order to protect US industry. He has proposed new 10-20% tariffs on most imported foreign goods, and much higher ones on those from China.
He has also promised to entice companies to stay in the US to manufacture goods, by giving them a lower rate of corporate tax."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy343z53l1o
Biden in May directed tariff increases against China in this year alone on $18billion of imports.
This just builds on the Biden-Harris moves against China in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and Infrastructure Reduction Act.
Both are just trying to outbid each other.
…..And Trump has well outbid Harris with his "new 10-20% tariffs on most imported foreign goods" that according to Harris will cost people $4k a year.
There is no equivalence. Tariffs are central to Trump's campaign. Trump is much worse than Harris on trade.
The dumb Biden tariffs on EV's are luddite and only serve to protect the dinosaur auto-industry in the US. But Trump will double-down on these.
Yep. Elon Musk is obviously very keen to have the US EV market protected. Therefore the Trump super-support by him.
BYD has overtaken Tesla now (revenue) and there will be a lot more EVs flooding the market going forward.
Basically all of them. Our entire foreign and economic policy framework is predicated on the basis of a rules-based international order that promotes and free trade and protects New Zealand's sovereignty.
On that basis we have about as much change of winning a trade war as we do winning a shooting one.
Our dairy, tourism, film+gaming, wine, and tech industries are all internationally competitive and have near-zero subsidies.
It's our remaining niche manufacturing industries that would be the most vulnerable.
Is this an intentional, joke?
The answer to Simon Shepard's question, is – Yes The whole world should be terrified of tariffs
Economic Crisis > Mass Unemployment > Protectionism > Tariffs > Trade Wars > Shooting Wars > Imperialism > Fascism > Genocide
(Not always in that order)
The answer to KJT's question is – Probably Not.
My question is – will economic trade wars become shooting wars?
What could a megalomaniac like Trump in his second term do as President, that he failed to do in his first?
What will China do with its massive army of unemployed?
(Probably the same thing Germany did with them)
'
Oct 26th, 2024
9 Apr 2018
Trade Wars Hurt Everyone
Mehdi Hasan in his debate 'Is Trump a Fascist', says, 'in the comments some guy asked if I knew anyone he could marry in the UK, (presumably to gain UK citizenship).
Friends of mine in the US are telling me that they are considering moving to NZ
We don't know how lucky we are:
They talk about moving to NZ for politics, but no one ever does.
Maybe NZ protection of its key manufacturering isn't dumb. Our exports are weak enough already.
I'd be leery of anyone arguing that there's an inevitable chain of events that starts off with tariffs and ends with genocide. But the historical evidence certainly suggests that times of economic crisis massively increase the risk of Bad Things (TM) happening.
Depends on who's "mainstream" you're talking about. Neoliberism? For sure. It's promised a whole lot over the last 40-odd years and delivered nothing. Keynesian economics? Still orthodox and still working out just fine.
I'm not sure that Fred Dagg, John Clarke in real life, is someone we should be copying. He moved from New Zealand to Australia in 1977 before he was 30 and never came back.
When he talked about being lucky he seems to have had the "Lucky Country" of Donald Horne in mind.
Right now we are in the fastest net migration to Australia that we've ever had.
Might have something to do with Ardern negotiating with Australia for about 380,000 New Zealanders getting the right to apply for Australian citizenship without becoming permanent residents first.
When I moved to Australia in 1989 you were automatically given Permanent Residence when you arrived. That was the only category they had for people arriving with a NZ Passport.
I don't remember how long you had to live there before you could get Citizenship. It wasn't very long though.
I am amazed at the number of people I know in Australia who were born here but have lived in Australia for many years (more than 40 in some cases) and are never coming back to live here but have never bothered to take out Australian Citizenship.
Up until JA negotiated the fast track citizenship deal with Aussie the cost of getting Australian citizenship was horrendous. My family forked out well over 10 thousand for their citizenship just before the fast track deal. (My G'daughter is off to Uni and wants to join the RAN). And if there was even a small error in the application – like a date a day out or the flight number incorrect you had to reapply and the pay full cost again.
The people I am talking about were living in Australia prior to February 2001 when the Australian Government changed the rules. Prior to that date, and it was still the case if you were living in Australia on 22/02/2001 it was easy, and quite cheap to become a citizen.
I can only assume that your family moved to Australia after February 2021. For people in that situation it did get very hard. For those who were there in Feb 2021 it remained easy, and those are the group I was talking about.
Sorry. In the second paragraph the two references to 2021 should have been 2001.
They have been in Australia for 14 years.
They have my sympathy. When the Australian Government brought in the 2001 changes the new scheme allowed New Zealand citizens to go to Oz and work there without problems. However they provided no path at all to citizenship and cut off all the benefits for children. That was not pointed out by our then Government (in NZ) at the time and it wasn't widely known. Instead our PM said that nothing had changed. That was the one thing I never forgave Helen Clark for, her concealing this. It wasn't her fault it happened but she should have explained what it really meant. Did your family understand how hard it would be when they left NZ?
I could have taken citizenship when I was there with no trouble and, IIRC a couple of hundred dollars. It was completely routine during the period up to 2001.
The outflow will quickly reverse when the dispute between the Western powers and China breaks out into open armed conflict and Australia becomes a target for Chinese missiles.
There is a lot to be said about a peaceful little country at the bottom of the world with an independent foreign policy.
Not only will the outward flow of New Zealand citizens reverse, they will be joined by the best and brightest of Australians.
Russia's best and brightest are leaving the country in record numbers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_emigration_during_the_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine
If there's war between the United States and China, immigration won't be the highest of our concerns.
"What will China do with its massive army of unemployed?"
I've been asking a similar question for years with respect to all the surplus men resulting from the one-child policy and female feticide.
"unaware just how distributed global manufacturing is and how reliant how much of their supply chain is on foreign goods"
That would be all the appliances that can't be repaired-toasters, jugs etc. Or the larger items like fridges, freezers, driers that don't last like they did when Aotearoa had manufacturing capability.
Once again, not serving the public at all well. Another way of undermining our resilience as a nation.
You could just as easily argue that in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, it's better for the public to pay $3000 for a fridge that's made in China and designed by a Korean company, than $6000 for an equivalent fridge that's manufactured here.
As a taxpayer and consumer, I'd be happy with the government helping build capability in our manufacturing sector, but only if there was some public good generated by it.
Because at the moment, businesses are the first to put their hand out for taxpayer cash, but still want to be able to exploit their staff. Or avoid covering the environmental costs of their activities. Or even just pay their fair share of tax.
I'm not a big fan of privatizing the benefits of government activites but publicizing the negative externalities.
Buying that 'more expensive ' locally made fridge is a tad of a false economy.
If, by some miracle we started local manufacturing, there would be a need for more businesses sprouting up to supply the componentry needed for the fridge.
More better paid jobs therefore more dollars in your pocket to buy said fridge.
I also ask again, who these tariffs benefit?
Classically it is primary producers but the fisheries are foreign companies and crews, a lot of the forestry is foreign owned and even fruit growers employ foreigners and sell to foreigners, where is the benefit to the citizens?
Not asking you directly just broadening my original question.
Like I said, manufacturers. It's basically a subsidy paid for by consumers, who either have to accept the tariff added price for (more expensive) foreign goods or pay the premium for stuff that's manufactured domestically.
The argument for doing so, as you outlined before, is that it stimulates the economy and creates jobs.
The 1974 Commonwealth games were a BFD so mum bought the biggest, flashest, colour TV she could find.
It was was manufactured in Aotearoa and I don't think it ever needed fixing.
As a final year apprentice I was earning a little less than minimum wage.
Mum’s telly was a Phillips K9.
https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/707725
What a flashback!
We had one if them but on a swivel base.
29 inch, it was a monster. You still had to get up to put it on the other channel.
76 million votes cast already.
53% Women 44% Men 3% Other
This gives hope for Harris.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/early-vote
Looks like I will be using my birthday book token towards this new history of NZ identity, by Michael Belgrave, interviewed on RNZ Saturday. Seems a very timely analysis of NZ's colonising past, and the Maori response since then, in particular. I remember the huge impact James Belich's history Making Peoples had on me when I first read it.
This is the sort of stuff you need to read going in to the Treaty debate. So much falls through the cracks in the top-level rhetoric thrown about. Potted-history only goes so far, as we have seen in debate in The Standard. An overview which takes in account our changing ideas in the the last decade will help shape constructive, informed debate.
I'll have to read it over summer, but a theory of NZ identity without the massive ideological and funding force of the NZ state (including all its media and arts institution ideology and funding) through the 20th century – rather than a set of "social contracts" – would seem pretty weird.
“Making Peoples” is a life changing different perspective for some people. The rarest book of all is one that you loan and is returned…and so far Jamie Belich’s tome has always come back. But I recommend Library editions etc. also of course.
Belgrave’s latest book was also ‘reviewed’ recently by Rob Campbell: https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/10/30/are-we-becoming-aotearoa-or-just-getting-back-on-a-colonial-track/
Just skimmed thru it at the bookshop: a drier read than Belich, with a few pages each on a particular topic. But looks comprehensive. Now to ferret the token out.
How many in depth History books of New Zealand have been written by women and more specifically women who had three children by the time they were 23 years old?
Claudia Orange?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360473666/ex-us-ambassador-slams-sir-john-keys-trump-endorsement-says-harris-will-sweep
key getting a public smacking for exposing his money only world veiw.
Wouldn't be an issue if the media didnt publish his opinions which surprised nobody as Shonky is all about the money.
Donkey the puller was bad for this country. His comments and opinions about trump, sum up how willing he is to be playing the skin flute for corporate interest.
"I'm mates with REALLY rich people"
Well done to the Black Caps. Incredible result.
India were hoisted by their own petard by putting out turning tracks for the last two games which turned it into a lottery. And, we got the right side of the tosses (for a change) which was crucial.
I heard Simon Doull making the point that India has traditionally done well by putting out flat pitches, and their superior spinners were able to make much better use of those than the opposition ones. However, the nature of these pitches was such that any spinner was going to do well, as turned out to be the case.
However, that doesn't take away from our incredible result given the conditions including the heat which was in the mid thirties and feeling like around 40 degrees due to the humidity.
After sleeping on the result, I've come to the conclusion that India didn't even come second.
Bowling them out for 46 and then out batting a much vaunted Indian batting lineup. Apart from a few blunders we outfielded India.
Our bowlers really stepped up to the challenge, Santner being a wonderful revelation in the second test.
In short, a fine all-round team effort, where every player stepped up and outplayed the opposition.
Bring on the poms!
Conway must be sweating on his position with the rise of Young and Williamson returning to the team.
Neither Young nor Williamson are openers, Conway is settled and safe as NZ opener.
He also has a higher average and strike rate than Latham who is also under no threat of replacement.
I agree. Conway had a few good scores in the series in India. Probably no need to change him right now. Though, he does have a few technical deficiencies that I think opposition sides are looking to exploit these days.
tsmith…yes I forgot about the tosses….we were very lucky there.
(p.s your "for a change" is pure Trumpism. You must realise that the toss of a coin is entirely random.)
(p.p.s Glad I have my Hagley Oval tickets)
Women will save the world.
.
Maia Sandu
@sandumaiamd
Moldova, today you are victorious. Together, we’ve shown the strength of our unity, democracy, and commitment to a dignified future. Thank you, dear Moldovans, at home and abroad. Walk with pride—you are freedom, hope, and resilience. I am proud to serve you all.
https://x.com/sandumaiamd/status/1853209669390516499
The pro-western incumbent Maia Sandu has won a second term in office in the Moldovan presidential election, preliminary results have shown, marking a significant boost for the country’s EU aspirations and a clear rebuke to Moscow.
The runoff election was seen as a crucial indicator of whether the country’s long-term geopolitical alignment will be with Russia or Europe.
The pro-western incumbent, Sandu, who has intensified the nation’s efforts to break away from Moscow’s influence, was facing the Kremlin-friendly political newcomer, Alexandr Stoianoglo, from the Socialist party, in the second round of voting on Sunday.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/03/moldovans-vote-in-presidential-runoff-amid-claims-of-russian-interference
he runoff election was seen as a crucial indicator of whether the country’s long-term geopolitical alignment will be with Russia or Europe.
It should be with both. Russia and Europe should be aligned. Only Russia seems to have realised this. What is it with the Europeans: are they stupid, or just paranoid.
Tankiesplaining Poots' imperialist Russia to people 🇲🇩 who endured more than a century of first Tsarist, and then Soviet Russia's thuggery….lol..
/
Republican women have come to the party it seems.
Reproductive rights are a nonpartisan issue.
.
The latest poll from the Des Moines Register and Mediacom delivered a gut punch to those inside Donald Trump’s orbit Saturday night, several people familiar with the reaction told CNN. The former president has been fuming privately over the numbers, arguing the highly anticipated poll should never have been released.
Trump’s advisers have sought to assure him the survey is not accurate, blasting it as way off and telling him there’s always one poll that stands out. His long-standing pollster issued a memo Saturday night arguing it was a “clear outlier.” But the gender breakdown showing women are driving a shift toward Vice President Kamala Harris has privately concerned Trump’s allies, with a focus on the poll’s finding that Iowa women favor Harris over him, 56% to 36%.
https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-harris-election-11-03-24/index.html
"We will make our country heel" Donald Trump acceptance speech
(Did I spell that right?)