Open mike 04/07/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, July 4th, 2016 - 72 comments
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72 comments on “Open mike 04/07/2016 ”

  1. Draco T Bastard 1

    This sounds remarkably like the National Party.

  2. Jenny 2

    C’mon let’s just find somewhere to have a nice to swim and relax to take our minds off it.

    https://www.facebook.com/GenerationZero/photos/a.302770503070954.92432.224306544250684/1306092879405373/?type=3&theater

  3. b waghorn 3

    key has just confirmed that he would give Winston the deputy pm job if that’s what it took to get back in at the next election.!!!
    Its the only time I’ve seen key answer a straight yes to a question.

    Labour needs to come out and rule Winston out and go full on with the greens, sit on the fence on this labour and you will get an Arse! Full of slinters.

    • Colonial Viper 3.1

      Labour won’t rule it out because Winston holds the balance of power. Key has just given the go ahead for a lot of potential National supporters to vote NZ First.

    • Bearded Git 3.2

      Why on earth would Labour rule Peters out when he will never go with Key? Key is showing his desperation offering Peters baubles this early in the piece.

      He knows that 30+13+9=52=more time on the beach in Hawaii.

      • Colonial Viper 3.2.1

        Key will have cleared this statement through his most influential members of Cabinet. This is not “desperation.” This is pre-election year positioning.

        In making this statement Key has beaten Little and the Greens to the punch and ensured that they cannot say the same.

        • McFlock 3.2.1.1

          If it were a specific prepared announcement, I’d agree.
          If it was something off the cuff in the lobby – don’t be so sure.

        • Bearded Git 3.2.1.2

          @CV Why can’t they say the same?

          • Colonial Viper 3.2.1.2.1

            Key has made a clear offer, through public channels to Winston. LAB/GR can’t make the same offer, weeks or months later, without bettering it, or risk looking like they were the last cab off the rank.

            • te reo putake 3.2.1.2.1.1

              Meh. They can offer him exactly the same or more likely, offer him something better. The Nat’s are assuming he wants the deputy Prime Ministership. I reckon he has other plans, more to do with succession.

              PS, given that National already made him deputy PM once, doesn’t that make National, by your logic, “the last cab off the rank”?

              • Colonial Viper

                Meh. They can offer him exactly the same or more likely, offer him something better.

                Will interesting to see what LAB/GR come up with, in that case.

              • North

                TRP !!! – ” PS, given that National already made him deputy PM once, doesn’t that make National, by your logic, “the last cab off the rank”? ”

                Belly laugh !

                But who knows re Winnie ? I would accord him taonga were he to despatch these charlatans. I reckon the wily prick’s got it in ‘im. On the right day. He’s an operator is Winnie. And we’re the better for him. Ackshully……Eckshully…….Errh……..

      • weka 3.2.2

        It’s entirely possible that Peters would choose National over L/G, esp if he’s being offered the right baubles.

        What is absolutely certain is that Peters won’t say before the election what the potential coalition partners are. The left believes it can’t be National at its peril. So do any leftish NZF voters.

    • ianmac 3.3

      The writing/polling must be telling Key that it is time to panic b waghorn. After all that nasty stuff against Winston in the past, a Uturn like that is huge.

    • Puckish Rogue 3.4

      It comes down to numbers so what is more likely,

      Labour/Greens and the rest they manage to drag with them getting to 51% of the votes or

      National and Winston getting to 51% of the vote and still having Peter Dunne, Act or even the Maori Party in reserve if needed

      If Labour/Green ruled out Winston then you can kiss any change of a Labour/Green government good bye

      • b waghorn 3.4.1

        If nat voters think Winston can get the numbers its buy buy dunne and Seymour , the Maori party will come home to labour if they survive.
        A vote for nat/nzf is a vote for fuck the climate us oldies are grabbing all the goodies.
        Winston will go with national because he will always go with the biggest party first, labour needs to get some guts.

        • Puckish Rogue 3.4.1.1

          I think its more likely Winston will go with National however I don’t think its 100% certain

          We know Winston wants the baubles of office, it comes down to who can offer him the bauble he truly wants

          However by cutting Winston out completely you’re asking Labour/Green to come up with nearly 50% of the vote between and then maybe Peter Dunne, maybe the Maori Party or Hone to make the rest

          Currently Lab/Green are on 42.5% of the vote, do you think the rest can make up the 7.5% needed that easily and if so where would that vote come from?

          Whereas (same Roy Morgan poll) National and Winston make 52% without Act, Dunne or the Maori Party so I’d suggest Labour/Green shouldn’t write off Winston at all

          • Draco T Bastard 3.4.1.1.1

            We know Winston wants the baubles of office…

            I think everyone misrepresents Winston when they say that. Winston is Old School Conservative and is in parliament to bring about what he thinks is best for the country. He won’t turn the baubles down but he’s not there for them.

            • Puckish Rogue 3.4.1.1.1.1

              Have your cake and eat it too I suppose, arise Sir Winston…

            • North 3.4.1.1.1.2

              “He won’t turn the baubles down……but he’s not there for them.”
              Thank Christ someone’s got it right!
              Not persisting with this fucking rubbish that Winston’s some sort of shallow fucking bauble magnet.
              They ALL get about in flash cars etc etc etc. None of them turns down the baubles.
              And none of them gets about meaningfully like Winnie does.
              Much better bang for the taxpayer buck with Winnie! Thank goodness for Winnie in these crazy times!

          • b waghorn 3.4.1.1.2

            While a Labour government with Winston would be far superior to a nat Winston government , the time is not only right for a new style of government its needed.
            Hardly a day goes by without a story about climate change or the growing wealth divide .
            If lab/green gets to 45% by years end its all on .

    • Onesie 3.5

      “Winning ugly is better than losing tidy” JK.

    • Draco T Bastard 3.6

      key has just confirmed that he would give Winston the deputy pm job if that’s what it took to get back in at the next election.!!!

      National seem to have this idea that you can simply buy people and it will be alright. We see it with in the corruption in SheepGate and the offer of more tax cuts.

      But I don’t think that will work here. NZFirst’s and National’s policies are pretty much diametrically opposed and have been since the 1990s. And that is what it’s really going to come down to.

  4. Paul 4

    Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
    We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.

    It was 3 degrees in Auckland last night.

    Not very warm to be sleeping in a car.
    Not very warm to be sleeping in a container.
    Not very warm to be sleeping in a garage.
    Not very warm to be sleeping on the street.

    The mainstream media may think that A Polish TV presenter is a news items, but is not.
    The majority of the media are doing everything they can to support Paula Bennett and move homelessness off the headlines.

    “Try walking in my shoes, it’s not actually that easy.”
    This was the challenge TA set to Prime Minister John Key. But really it’s a challenge for us all.

  5. RedLogix 6

    How does this ageist crap get published? And how hard would it be to write 1000 words arguing why no-one under the age of 30 and who does not own property should be allowed to vote? Maybe it wasn’t such a smart idea to give women the vote either? FFS.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11668086

    A noxious little click-bait turd.

    • The Fairy Godmother 6.1

      Lets screen for psychopathy. Only people with a sense of community and concern for others allowed to vote. Now that could lead to some good decisions

      • Pat 6.1.1

        “The major problem—one of the major problems, for there are several—one of the many major problems with governing people is that of whom you get to do it; or rather of who manages to get people to let them do it to them.
        To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it.
        To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.”
        ― Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

      • Mrs Brillo 6.1.2

        +100
        (Unfortunately the psychopaths would then arm themselves and start firing.)

    • mauī 6.2

      Yep, a confronting article by a comedian, now let’s blame women..

    • andrew murray 6.3

      This issue goes to the essence of democracy.
      Despite what you suggest RL it should at least raise our awareness of the importance of choosing when, how and if we should exercise a vote on issues that are not of great importance to us but can be of very great importance to another group.
      I am not arguing that this is a great example, say in the way the treaty is to Maori or state housing is to homeless people… but it should stir in us a reminder that a true understanding of democracy is considerably more nuanced than mere majority tyranny.

    • Puckish Rogue 6.4

      I’m assuming its satire

    • TC 6.5

      Matt heath is neither funny nor intelligent and gets paid to fill up granny with what he considers edgy satirical musings.

      Another low level radio jock, move along folks.

      • Rodel 6.5.1

        TC..it’s not radio jock..or shock jock..it’s shock dick. Same as Mike , Paddy and Paul. (Barman says..’ Is this a joke?’) Yeah..OK. let’s move on.

    • weka 6.6

      Couldn’t get past the first few sentences (thankfully).

      “Unsurprisingly the Brexit vote was carried by older people. Only 19 per cent of those 18-24 wanted to leave.”

      Not a very bright writer then. How many in the 18 – 24 bracket didn’t vote at all? Of those that did, how many are in the socio-economic bracket that do well out of globalisation? Or more to the point, of those that didn’t vote, how many have been locked out of the gains of neoliberalism? How does that skew the youth stats, and how does that affect the argument that it was the oldies that allegedly sold out the UK?

    • I thought he made some valid points amongst the mirth.

    • Rosie 6.8

      You guys. Don’t read anything in the herald and take it seriously. I don’t know how but Matt Heath has appeared to end up as a columnist at this rag.

      You know, Matt Heath of Deja voodoo fame? “I’m on P and I’m alright”

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efK01bgoa1s&noredirect=1&oref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DefK01bgoa1s%26noredirect%3D1&has_verified=1

      and “Beers”

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfNIOlX-K0s

      and Back of the Y fame:

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_of_the_Y_Masterpiece_Television

      (Vaseline warriors. Just don’t go there)

      Matt Heath and Chris Stapp were a bit edgy back in the day, and had some agreeable anti authoritarian things to say but it’s strange how life has marked a trajectory course for this guy from coarse comedic gigs into shitty radio Hauraki and then into newspaper columnist.

      Don’t waste your cells on this stuff.

  6. Morrissey 7

    “Elie Wiesel: Break Your Silence and Come with Us to Gaza!”

    When Elie Wiesel spoke at Saint Louis University on December 1, 2009, three women challenged him to break his silence about Gaza and to travel with them on the Gaza Freedom March to see for himself the devastation caused by Israel’s Operation Cast Lead in December 2008 and the ongoing siege.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4wkR1IUUE8

    The old hypocrite has just died, without ever going to Gaza.

  7. Morrissey 8

    Mideast Quartet reports through the ages

    1943….
    The latest Mideast Quartet report blames the German government for its disproportionate use of force in the Warsaw Ghetto, but also severely criticizes the Jewish victims for inciting the violence.

    1955….
    The Mideast Quartet has condemned the Ku Klux Klan for its disproportionate use of lynching in the states of Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee, but has also severely criticized the incitement by Negroes.

    1976….
    The Mideast Quartet has condemned the South African government for disproportionately killing hundreds of protestors in Soweto, but it has also severely criticized the incitement by the victims.

    1980….
    The Mideast Quartet has condemned the U.S.-backed El Salvador regime for its disproportionate killing of Archbishop Romero and four American nuns, but it has also severely criticized the Archbishop and the nuns for inciting the violence in the first place, with all that provocative peacefulness and prayer and social work.

    1989….
    The Mideast Quartet has condemned the Chinese government for its disproportionate killing of several thousand protestors in Tiananmen Square, but it has also severely criticized the victims for inciting the authorities.

    ad nauseam….

    http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/71039/mideast-quartet-report-equally-blames-israelis-palestinians-stalled-peace-process/#5dJ596hG2TJHj2mf.97

  8. adam 9

    Prostitution. Why has the left been so bloody awful on this issue? I have to admit my views have changed over time, I applauded the law change in New Zealand. BUT – No longer!

    A industry after some 13 years, has only got worse. The gangs and violent individuals still control the trade. These individual have now be legitimised. How many Thai and Filipino women are here as sex slaves? My sources say somewhere between 500 to 2,000. Slaves. You get that? Slaves in a so called free democracy. The commodification of women hurts us all. It is vial to women, and damages us all at a base sociological level.

    But worst of all, brown and women of colour get it in the neck. Transgenders are getting it in the neck. This industry is an abominations and a blight. The users of prostitutes are the ones we should punish. Women are suffering because of this trade. And New Zealand is a key apologist in it’s growth and extension.

    • You bring in Third Worlders, they bring the Third World with them. Slavery is still common in some of the places we’re allowing immigration from. We can stop the immigration but we won’t stop the slavery.

      • adam 9.1.1

        Are you saying because we accept immigration, we have to accept slavery as well Psycho Milt? I’m a tad confused by your statement.

        • Psycho Milt 9.1.1.1

          I’m saying that people bring with them the things that they consider normal where they come from. I did it in the countries I’ve lived in, and others do it when they come here. Which means we should be very picky about accepting immigrants from Third World countries, because a lot of stuff is accepted in those countries that we don’t want to see here – human trafficking, for example.

      • Sabine 9.1.2

        it happens world wide, not just the third world.
        in fact it happens in OZ as much as in Germany or the US.

        http://www.state.gov/j/tip/what/

    • Sabine 9.2

      Prostitution and Slavery are not the same thing.

      A women or a man who chooses to sell sexual services to like minded men and women is a prostitute.

      A women or a man who is trafficked, pressed into forced labour or sex work is a slave.

      Once we establish this, we can focus on human trafficking and slave labour and we can talk about those that buy slaves.

      The current Transphobia in the States and elsewhere (it has replaced the Homophobia a bit) is what is killing Transmen and women, not the sex trade they work in – with consensual partners/customers.

      As for the sex workers that are trafficked in to NZ and OZ, they are equally often from Russia, the Eastern Block and are blond and on a tourist visa. They call it a working holiday. The chinees/thai you won’t see much as they often work from brothels and would equally be on a holiday / work visa. But again, you also have many on student visas that choose the trade freely to make extra cash. In fact, there are a few NZ Women who work the trade to not get in to a student loan. You also have a few single mothers working from home so as to suplement winz or replace it. The sex trade is complex, and it is not Prostitution at fault when what angers you is human trafficking. Humans are trafficked world wide and they are equally abused for sexual services as their physical labour. But i agree we should go after the buyers more then the victims.

  9. amirite 10

    Labour and Greens should avoid being dragged into an anti-immigration debate trap. National is busting to paint them as racists as soon as they mention anything about immigrant numbers or suggest any tinkering with immigration.

    This article is an indicative of National’s dirty little plan:
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11668148

    • North 10.1

      Yeah, the National Party the biggest mongrel racists in the world……including that waspish-tongued foppish boy Finlayson. The Left has to be very very careful. Those racist-in-their-guts-bastards are just aching to set up people from the other side as racists. To disguise their own racism.

      It’s disgraceful but they’re into it. We must be very careful……hopefully a figure will emerge……a sports star, whoever. Who will say what I believe most people of colour of any age know……you’re real lucky if you’re not discriminated against in this country.

  10. Poission 11

    Hunt for the wilderpeople takes 50% more per theatre in the US then Independence day on independence weekend.

    http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/

  11. joe90 12

    A rather long read from David Brin on wholesale theft, corruption, and the seemingly never ending global financial crisis.

    Secret bankers be warned: “Panama Papers” were the first shots of a “Helvetian War.”

    Here’s a long one — a major posting about the coming war that no one seems to have on their scopes or horizons. Although this scenario was loosely described in fiction, it may take the world’s powers by surprise. And it will not need their permission. A few small nations could decide on this desperate course, tomorrow.

    […]

    == The Great Heist of National Wealth ==

    Let’s step back and deal with this the way that I am paid to do, with scenario and metaphor. Almost a decade before I wrote The Transparent Society, my novel EARTH (1989) foresaw a traumatic event occurring around the year 2025. The “Helvetian War” would start to unfold when a dozen newly-democratic but poor nations grow tired of asking politely for the return of trillions of dollars that were looted from them by former, kleptocratic leaders. The war scenario may be fictional, but the cassus belli is all-too real.

    “Global Financial Integrity recently found that developing economies lost $7.8 trillion in cash from 2004 to 2013 because of maneuvers like those allegedly perfected by Mossack. Illicit outflows are increasing at a rate of 6.5% a year, twice the rate of global GDP growth,” says Time Magazine journalist Rana Foroohar, adding that this drain might prove a contributing factor to the slowing economies of many developing countries, which could set off a global recession.

    The problem is global. Ukraine is seeking ways to recover vast amounts that senior officials stole during former President Viktor Yanukovych’s four years in office. “Even taking a conservative estimate of the scale of fraud for just VAT and public procurement, one ends up with a figure of $30 billion.”

    http://davidbrin.blogspot.co.nz/2016/07/secret-bankers-be-warned-panama-papers.html

  12. adam 13

    Sometimes Chris Trotter Hits the nail right on the head.

    Today was one of those days.

    http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2016/07/alone-and-friendless-curious-fate-of.html

  13. Morrissey 14

    Good to see him writing something sensible for a change. It’s not that long ago that he was joining in the gang-banging of a U.K. government-designated target…..

    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-15062013/#comment-648684

    And few who heard it could ever forget, or forgive, his windy admonition of all those lily-livered liberals who dared to question the integrity of a lynch-mob in the Deep South….

    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-19072013/#comment-664870

    • In Vino 14.1

      In the immortal words of George Dubya, I think Chris is often misunderestimated by passionate Lefties. Chris is dispassionate, and has better historical knowledge than most of us others. When he tells us things we don’t like hearing and backs it with material we don’t know about, some of us get all grumbledy and spongy pud.

      You are wrong in recognising this as ‘something sensible for a change’. He is usually sensible- it is not a change- but passionate lefties get upset and revile him.

      In my old age, I have come to distrust people who say they are passionate – they use it as an excuse to break the rules, and ride over others.

      When we have learned as much history as Chris knows and understands, we may have the right to slag him off.

      Learning a lot of history is not easy. Learning from that history and suggesting better courses is a rare gift.

      Lay off the criticism and try to learn. This is not the only good thing Chris has recently written.

      Sorry to sound snobby, but Chris is in my opinion one of the very few literate and knowledgeable people that the NZ Left has.

      The good news is that the NZ Right don’t appear to have any at all.

      • Gangnam Style 14.1.1

        Good article. This in the comments could be a something those right wing trolls should take note of “Watch the middle classes squeal as they join the working class wages and precariousness.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    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
    17 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
    20 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
    20 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
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

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

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

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

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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