Open mike 05/05/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, May 5th, 2019 - 113 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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Step up to the mike …

113 comments on “Open mike 05/05/2019 ”

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  1. WeTheBleeple 1
    5 May 2019 at 7:18 am

    Damien Grant coming across as a patronising dipshit. Claims Greta Thunberg is too young to understand science. This autistic girl doesn't know – lol! I reckon she knows more science than Damien ever will.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/112369771/for-the-sake-of-the-planet-lets-not-put-teen-climate-activist-greta-thunberg-on-a-pedestal

    This gem: "We're not immune down here in Godzone. One of our leading climate experts is well known scientist Lucy Lawless, who was reduced by global warming to wearing not much more than a metal breast plate and leather skirt."

    He thinks it will distract from the real issue… which I believe is climate change.

    That;s right, women and children are a mere distraction to this twat. Men should be doing the mens work.

    What a prick.

    Just looked at his other article titles. What a completely vile prick.

  2. CHCoff 2
    5 May 2019 at 7:48 am

    Rumpty Dumpty

    In contrast, the Liberal Democrats, who lost heavily in 2015, were buoyant, with deputy leader Jo Swinson predicting three-figure gains.
    “Out and about across the country, the mood has been positive. If we can get into the triple figures of gains that would be a really, really good night,” she said.

    https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/national/17615360.tories-heading-for-a-really-tough-night-in-local-council-polls/

    " The party with the biggest surge was the centrist, pro-EU Liberal Democrats, which gained almost 700 council seats to more than double its total. "

    https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190504/p2g/00m/0in/024000c

    https://www.dw.com/uk/%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D1%96-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8-%D0%B2%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%BE-1300-%D0%BC%D1%96%D1%81%D1%86%D1%8C-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BC%D1%96%D1%81%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%85-%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%85/a-48599712

    May and Corbyn say big losses mean voters want them to deliver Brexit deal together

    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/may-and-corbyn-say-big-losses-mean-voters-want-them-to-deliver-brexit-deal-together-1.3880444

    • Andre 2.1
      5 May 2019 at 8:47 am

      All the commentary seems to be about the gains and losses. None of it seems to be about what the actual results are. Let's look at them:

      Cons 3210

      Labour 1887

      Lib Dems 1157

      Greens 208

      UKIP 30

      Other 1008

      Despite all the breathless hype about how many seats the Cons have lost, it looks to me like they've still got a near stranglehold on UK local politics. Or do numbers somehow work differently in the UK?

      • The Al1en 2.1.1
        5 May 2019 at 9:23 am

        calculating how Thursday's vote would translate across Britain, the projection of the national vote share puts Labour and the Conservatives both on 28%. Lib dems on 19% and others on 25%

        And Baldrick's had enough of Corbyn's labour.

        "Sir Tony Robinson quits Labour over Brexit and leadership"

        “I’ve left the Labour Party after nearly 45 years of service at Branch, Constituency and NEC levels,partly because of it’s continued duplicity on Brexit, partly because of it’s antisemitism, but also because its leadership is complete shit.”

        https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48152475

      • CHCoff 2.1.2
        5 May 2019 at 11:06 am

        Regards those numbers alone Andre

        As a broad guage they would show more are against the Cons as for, as far as proportionality of outcomed seats go, which is probably of itself again for the Cons, of even greater reflection of against than for in proportion of votes. Again as a guess, of what would be very traditional voting patterns, & 4 + decades of strident neo-liberalism form of free marketisms, showing perhaps a significant fracturing in the foundation of establishment.

        Then there is the current circumstances, which also seem to have alot of incontinuity in various ways. Too many more own goals and things could start to really unravel perhaps – i don’t know.

      • Drowsy M. Kram 2.1.3
        5 May 2019 at 12:31 pm

        Looking at (the number of) councils controlled [excluding Residents’ Association (2) and Independents (2)]:

        93 Tory councils (-44)
        60 Labour councils (-6)
        18 Lib Dem councils (+10)
        73 councils with no overall control (+37).

        Before these elections, Tory-controlled councils outnumbered Labour-controlled councils by more than 2-to-1, and Tories controlled ~55% of all councils. They now control ~38% of all councils, so the Tory 'stranglehold' on UK local politics is not what it was.

        • jpwood 2.1.3.1
          5 May 2019 at 6:13 pm

          And of course not all council's are equal. The Conservatives do well in the large number of rural TA's with low population.

      • lurgee 2.1.4
        6 May 2019 at 6:29 am

        Despite all the breathless hype about how many seats the Cons have lost, it looks to me like they've still got a near stranglehold on UK local politics. Or do numbers somehow work differently in the UK?

        Numbers don't but keep in mind that only a selection of council seats are being voted on. There is a vote every year, with seats in different areas up for grabs.

        The seats being contested this year were in areas where the Conservatives are traditionally strong.

        Also, the huge swings you see in local body elections mean the picture changes rapidly. I'm pretty sure a few years back the Lib Dems were bragging about being 'the party of local government.' Now they are just a fringe group which is viewed as a safe protest vote.

  3. cleangreen 3
    5 May 2019 at 8:48 am

    CHCoff. Yes I read that to, so the voter doesn't like 'diddy-dallying around' for sure.

    So perhaps our NZ Labour coalition needs to take stock now here in NZ for their upcoming election next year.smiley

  4. James 4
    5 May 2019 at 9:22 am

    Hope those on here who shoot had a good start to game season.

    Stay safe and have fun.

    Tasty duck for dinner.

    • cleangreen 4.1
      5 May 2019 at 9:32 am

      Oh dear James did you get the cranberry sauce for it?

    • WeTheBleeple 4.2
      5 May 2019 at 9:45 am

      Yeah my Bro will be out there. Stay safe for sure.

      He loves a feed of duck goes and buys it off season. I think his wife merely endures it. cheeky

      • Andre 4.2.1
        5 May 2019 at 11:38 am

        If I ever fell off a ladder and hit my head really hard and developed a hankering for duck, I'd just wander up the road and grab one from the traffic-hazard horde of them outside the crazy duck lady's place.

        • One Two 4.2.1.1
          5 May 2019 at 11:45 am

          Why is she "crazy duck lady" ?

          • Andre 4.2.1.1.1
            5 May 2019 at 11:53 am

            Well, there was the time I was going down the hill well below the speed limit with a lot of my attention on the dude trying to back a trailer into a driveway further up the road, and she suddenly marches out into the middle of the lane from behind a bush to shake a road-kill duck at me. It was too close to stop for her, even if I hadn't had a moderately heavy trailer on, I had to swerve around her. Just as well nobody was coming the other way.

            • Ad 4.2.1.1.1.1
              5 May 2019 at 11:58 am

              They're worse than the village chickens.

              • Andre …
                5 May 2019 at 12:02 pm

                Yeah, at least the chickens just settle down and roost after dark. But the ducks will do a last-second suicide run right in front of you. Or even indulge in a session of duck gang-rape round and round in the middle of the road.

                • Ad …
                  5 May 2019 at 1:52 pm

                  There's still time to get to the community weeding on that Paturoa Road trail this afternoon.

    • mauī 4.3
      5 May 2019 at 1:08 pm

      Yes, we have had our first of the season too. A most enjoyable dinner feast which carried on till supper where we sucked the marrow out of the bones. My kids loved cracking the wishbone this morning as well. Wifey will boil what's left of the pathetic carcass after lunch, and then it will be buried to fertilise our new apple tree. We've advised our youngest to visit that spot for his morning tinkle for an added nutrient boost.

      Poor old Jimmy was our oldest cock and basically good for nothing in the end so it was almost a celebration last night seeing him go. Cock a hoop we were!

    • adam the dim 4.4
      5 May 2019 at 4:33 pm

      Is it because ducks have bigger dicks than the hunters, that they have to have a season?

  5. dv 5
    5 May 2019 at 9:51 am

    I note that The herald has an article about the mosque killer, with his name in the headline.

    How very sensitive!!! At least you have to pay to read it.

  6. Ankerrawshark 6
    5 May 2019 at 10:24 am

    So pissed off with the herald re naming the white supremicist murderer. Strengthens my resolve not to give them money. Actually the only thing that has really tempted me has been Steve braunias secret diary, which I love. I have started reading a few articles then paywall notification comes up. So I click off and actually it’s a good feeling. Like I ve avoided some harmful drug. Sad to loose Braunias, but will go to utube and watch other comedy

    • James 6.1
      5 May 2019 at 10:30 am

      Newsroom name him as well and give really good reasons for it – they will name him right they the trial.

    • greywarshark 6.2
      5 May 2019 at 9:05 pm

      Radionz did a piece on Media Report this morning about the NZ Herald paywall. Some things that I noticed. Their spokesperson says they intend to have a wide range of opinions. That having Hosking on one side, and Simon Wilson on the same subject with a different view is regarded as good journalism. When questioned – 'Isn't that merely columnists arguing with each other' or something similar; apparently that's okay.

      Another thing we should all take in, the NZ Herald is not an “organ of record”. It is not the job of newspapers/media today to be an “organ of record”. (So those who call it fish'n'chips wrap are right on).

      https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018693163/tapping-the-readers-for-revenue

  7. One Two 7
    5 May 2019 at 11:42 am

    How the FDA manipulates the media

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been arm-twisting journalists into relinquishing their reportorial independence, our investigation reveals. Other institutions are following suit:

    “It has been brought to our attention that there has already been a break in the embargo…. Third-party outreach of any kind was and is not permitted for this announcement. Everyone who participated agreed to this,” she wrote.

    “Moving forward, we will no longer consider embargoed briefings for news media if reporters are not willing to abide by the terms an embargo…. We take this matter very seriously, and as a consequence any individuals who violated the embargo will be excluded from future embargoed briefings with the agency.”

    Violate the rules, even in spirit, and you'll be left out in the cold with the rest.

  8. cleangreen 8
    5 May 2019 at 11:47 am

    URGENT We are this morning getting scammers trying to get us to link to a phony xtra email account to upgrade our outlook mail server, and the email address comes from a account on a gmail server jmkattah1 at gmail.com so why did tis scammer think we would fall for a scammer using another server other than the xtra email server?

    Beware folks dont’ fall for this sealing of our date for them to profit from. at a phony account named support at xtra.co.nz

    [lprent: removed email addresses ]

  9. Ad 9
    5 May 2019 at 11:55 am

    I'm looking forward to Trump, Bolton and Pompeo explaining the purpose of U.S. foreign policy in South America.

    Venezuela is looking like another win for Russia and a straight loss for the United States. Putin sees the crisis in Venezuela as another opportunity just as Syria was: it can portray itself as a force to be reckoned with, a force capable of keeping U.S. power in check.

    Russia is in this decade consistently confronting the U.S., wherever it can be done, at a reasonable cost. It's grounded in Putin's idea of a new world in which the U.S. doesn't have the freedom to overthrow regimes anymore, because Russia is there to stop it. Russia has strong and deep roots to defend in Venezuela both commercially and militarily.

    Undermining Washington's stated agenda in Venezuela is also a great moment to retaliate for the 2014 revolution in Ukraine. That brought a U.S.-aligned government to power right next to Russia. Now Russia gets to return the favour. Although Venezuela is not as close, it's still filled to the brim with accessible oil.

    I have zero sympathy with President Trump's foreign policy, because it is incoherent, without purpose, and not in our interests. But I also have no sympathy for Putin either, and these games bear a remarkable similarity to those I grew up with in the 1970s.

    Come on Bolton and Pompeo, tell us all what you wanted again when you took the job.

    • RedLogix 9.1
      5 May 2019 at 12:21 pm

      I have zero sympathy with President Trump's foreign policy, because it is incoherent, without purpose, and not in our interests. But I also have no sympathy for Putin either, and these games bear a remarkable similarity to those I grew up with in the 1970s.

      Absolutely. As every year passes the need to escape these hegemony games becomes more desperate. It's easy and lazy to play outrage games, anyone can point fingers and screech. Much harder to step back and ask yourself the question 'what is the path forward?'

      We are right on the brink, authoritarian regimes gaining dominance, new generation military technologies upsetting the old balance of power, and a complete loss of both moral authority and credibility in the west. Not to mention climate change, environmental breakdown, trade wars and unstable mass migrations. These are all global problems that can only be solved by action at a global scale, with a global mandate.

      We are at the end of the second major phase of globalisation, the first ended with WW1&2, the second might easily be an order of magnitude or more worse. We are at the point where the nations of the earth have to consider the catastrophic consequences of failing to act in the universal interests of all humanity.

    • Andre 9.2
      5 May 2019 at 12:25 pm

      It could be as simple as an electoral survival strategy for Dolt45 2020. Foreign wars almost always cause American voters to rally around the sitting president.

      The world can only hope the US electorate has learned from the debacle of fabricated reasons for the Iraq war and subsequent disaster.

      • joe90 9.2.1
        5 May 2019 at 12:39 pm

        Or tRump parroting the last person he spoke to.

        WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump contradicted his own top advisers Friday by suggesting Russian President Vladimir Putin was not meddling in Venezuela.

        "He is not looking at all to get involved in Venezuela, other than he’d like to see something positive happen," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday. "I feel the same way."

        His remarks came just days after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Russia of propping up the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is in the midst of a political showdown with opposition leader Juan Guaido. The Trump administration has pushed hard to oust Maduro in favor of Guaido, calling Guaido the legitimate leader of Venezuela.

        https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/03/donald-trump-putin-not-meddling-venezuela-contradicts-pompeo-bolton/1090693001/

        • Andre 9.2.1.1
          5 May 2019 at 1:29 pm

          Well, yeah, in a lot of ways it might be better if Pootee really is pulling the strings on this one. It might save the Venezuelan people the agony of a proxy war that Bolton and Pompeo would probably happily unleash on them.

          • Macro 9.2.1.1.1
            5 May 2019 at 2:00 pm

            I'm convinced that the chump hasn't a clue what he is doing. He will parrot the last thing he heard, and that is the current position on what ever until his next utterance. I gather he spends most of his "executive" time (which is considerable ) either watching faux news and tweeting, or trying to think up slur nick names for democrats. As for foreign policy…. whatever is good for Donald, has to be good for America (ie if there isn't a buck in it for Donald – then he is not interested) – and that's about it .

      • Ad 9.2.2
        5 May 2019 at 1:40 pm

        I get mild waves of dark hope when I see President Trump's consistently low polling with the economy going absolutely gangbusters. I know that this economy-v-popularity shearing-away has been occurring under Obama as well.

        Most mainstream media are deeply skeptical of Trump as well, which accentuates the trend.

        So I'm far less sure that this Commander In Chief would get a big poll bump from an invasion or war (even though I still have a reflexive Avengers-style impulse for Someone To Fix It).

        • Andre 9.2.2.1
          5 May 2019 at 2:02 pm

          I'm kinda hopeful the US public wouldn't get sucked in by fabricated justification for war in Venezuela. There hasn't been anywhere near the decades of demonisation there was towards Iraq, nor a recent deep national trauma to leverage off of. On the other hand, Bolton and Pompeo may just think they could swing it.

          As far as media skepticism goes, it doesn't go anywhere near far enough. It needs to start right at the headline, because that's the only part of a story many people read. Usually the headline repeats the Liar-in-Chief's latest bs and doesn't get to the facts until deeper in the story. That's helping perpetuate the sea of misinformation we're getting drowned in. Instead the headline needs to start something like "Trump falsely claims …" or "Trump lies about …"

          https://thinkprogress.org/donald-trump-headlines-lies-media-matters-study-a279ff0fcca2/

        • Macro 9.2.2.2
          5 May 2019 at 3:15 pm

          There is a growing resistance movement in the US following the 2016 election and it hasn't gone away. It is being led by women who realise that under this current administration many of their rights are being whittled away. Abortion is one such topic, but their are many more including health. I saw a recent in depth analysis of the 2018 mid terms* where there was a huge increase in voter turn out over previous mid terms, and leading that turn out were women. Black women in particular almost solidly voted democrat. Even amongst married women there was a swing to Democrat over Repugnant – indicating that many married women were no longer voting in deference to their husbands. There are now numerous online communities dedicated to encouraging increased activism towards more progressive policies called The Action Alliance:

          here is a list:

          https://talk.whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/t/the-action-alliance-resources-for-the-resistance/4513

          * I'm sorry I can no longer find the link but if and when I do I'll post it.

          • Macro 9.2.2.2.1
            5 May 2019 at 3:49 pm

            As an example – here is just some of the action:

            WASHINGTON — Former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards is starting a new women’s political action group, partnering with Planned Parenthood and other advocacy organizations to continue the legacy she began during her time there.

            Richards is cofounding the group, called Supermajority, with Alicia Garza, a cofounder of Black Lives Matter, and Ai-jen Poo, the director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. They will officially launch the new organization Monday morning.

            The plan for Supermajority is to partner their organizations, among others, to teach 2 million women how to be political activists. The group will emphasize the intersection of issues affecting different racial and socioeconomic groups in the US, Richards and Poo told BuzzFeed News Saturday. In collaboration with its separate education division, Supermajority will train women on how to participate in politics and activism in their communities, both online and on the ground.

            One of the main goals of the group is to create a “women’s New Deal for gender equality,” the cofounders said, an agenda that their members can push candidates and legislators to adopt. The group will also focus heavily on mobilizing voters during the 2020 primary and general elections, Richards said, but she added that it was too early to say whether the group would endorse a candidate in the Democratic primary for president.

            https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/emaoconnor/cecile-richards-alicia-garza-supermajority-activist-group

            • Macro 9.2.2.2.1.1
              5 May 2019 at 3:56 pm

              And from She The People

              Eight Democratic presidential candidates faced the same basic question today in Houston: Why should women of color vote for them?

              The first-ever She The People Presidential Forum — organized by and centered on questions from women of color — served as a repeated reminder of the key role that minority women play in Democratic politics.

              "Women of color voters in this country are 20 million strong. Our votes matter," Democratic operative Leah Daughtry warned the candidates. "You put us last on your list; we put you last on our list."

              "Remember: We're a powerful voting block," She The People founder Aimee Allison said at the beginning of the event.

              "Our hope is to advance a national conversation to help voters distinguish which candidates stand with and stand for women of color in our communities. And let me tell you something: The candidate that does that best and most consistently will win the nomination and the White House in 2020."

              The questions put forward to California Sen. Kamala Harris, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro and others made it clear that many women of color may not be won over by campaigns tailoring their message toward moderate and independent white voters in swing states. Topics included abortion rights, gentrification, voter suppression, transgender rights, racial disparities in criminal sentencing and police shootings of unarmed black men, among others.

              New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker repeated his pledge to choose a woman as a running mate, should he become the Democratic nominee.

              https://www.npr.org/2019/04/24/716861455/democratic-candidates-pressed-on-priorities-by-women-of-color

    • Wayne 9.3
      5 May 2019 at 1:25 pm

      The Maduro regime will not survive. It may not go now, but it will fall over within a year or two.

      Venezuela is not going to become another Cuba. Within a reasonably foreseeable time the standard rules of democratic politics will prevail. And a more normal market economy will be re-established.

      So if you view this as a East/West contest, then the East will soon lose. Russia will be unable to seriously support the Maduro regime. As soon as a significant part of the armed forces decides to step back, then its all over for Maduro. Probably some sort of negotiated departure for key regime figures.

      So Russia needs to be careful. If it wants a reasonable level of future influence in South America, they won't fully back Maduro. They may see him as too much of a lost cause.

      • Ad 9.3.1
        5 May 2019 at 1:48 pm

        I view it primarily as a ruined country brought on by a resource curse paired with populist socialism, who have chosen wrong and narrow international partners.

        The closest to a reasonable transition out of militarily managed chaos I've seen in my lifetime is South Africa. And even that is no triumph. There are other small successes, but nothing of this size.

        Since 1952, those wars with direct United States military or heavy CIA involvement tend to leave the locals far, far worse off: Vietnam, Nicaragua, Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, etc.

        It's getting very close to elements of the Iranian 1979 revolution, because the Russian oligarchy will be asking: will the Rosneft oil contracts survive Maduro?

        • KJT 9.3.1.1
          5 May 2019 at 2:03 pm

          A ruined country bought on by deliberate US economic warfare, destabilisation and sanctions.

          The most competent Government, which Maduro's probably isn't, would struggle with the weight of economic power the USA has bought against them.

          However, if incompetence was the grounds for toppling an elected Government, the USA, would be first in line. For both incompetence and corruption.

      • KJT 9.3.2
        5 May 2019 at 1:57 pm

        "standard rules of democratic politics will prevail".

        The standard rules for South America, don't you mean?

        Where a democratically elected, mildly socialist Government, (the amount the Chavistas used for income redistribution, was about the same as those well known communists, the NZ National party) is violently replaced by US backed, Fascist Dictators?

        • Psycho Milt 9.3.2.1
          5 May 2019 at 3:42 pm

          Pretty much. Whenever any on the right use the terms democracy, freedom or liberty with reference to a Latin American country, they mean right-wing authoritarian nationalism, and not the relatively mild dose the US is suffering from either.

  10. Cinny 10
    5 May 2019 at 12:33 pm

    Crikey, there's a very interesting discussion on radio live between Jenny Marcroft and jlr.

    Apparently paula is flat out actively campaigning for leadership behind the scenes…..but she'd never admit it….

    Here's the link discussion to finish at 1pm. They do an hour of politics with different guests every Sunday from noon.

    https://www.magic.co.nz/home.player.talk.html

  11. Andre 11
    5 May 2019 at 1:07 pm

    How viruses can become our friends: too much of our research and development has gone towards straight chemical answers to biological problems. But we're starting to see more efforts towards subtler responses, such as helping our own immune systems fight problems with immunotherapy drugs like Keytruda to fight cancer. Then there's also the largely unexplored world of using tailored viruses to fight bacterial infections. The growing problem of antibiotic resistance may be a useful kickstart to opening up that field.

    https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-my-husband-became-a-poster-child-of-the-post-antibiotic-superbug-era?ref=home

    When we're facing a widespread problem caused by an introduced micro-organism, I reckon there's a good chance we'll find fighting it with a tailored or even engineered virus may be the most effective response. Kauri dieback strikes me as an example close to home outside of human medicine.

  12. Andre 12
    5 May 2019 at 1:19 pm

    Agent Drumpfov doesn't even feel the need to hide it anymore. Nowadays he's openly spending hours on the phone with Pootee, with no record anywhere of what was said.

    https://thinkprogress.org/trump-boasts-about-his-great-relationship-with-putin-after-their-latest-private-chat-d271937cfb8b/

    • RedLogix 12.1
      5 May 2019 at 1:39 pm

      Better they talk than the alternatives …

      • Andre 12.1.1
        5 May 2019 at 3:16 pm

        Well, it would be if we had any reason at all to think the nepotistic narcissist placed any value whatsoever on anything other than his direct personal interest.

    • RedLogix 12.2
      5 May 2019 at 1:39 pm

      Better they talk than the alternatives …

    • joe90 12.3
      5 May 2019 at 3:10 pm

      Well, someone had to brief the Russian president about the Mueller Report.

      • adam 12.3.1
        5 May 2019 at 4:59 pm

        M:R, how that working out for ya?

        • McFlock 12.3.1.1
          5 May 2019 at 5:04 pm

          better than initially "not summarised"

        • Grant 12.3.1.2
          5 May 2019 at 5:28 pm

          Madam I’m Adam. Exemplar of the Christian virtues. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: "charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity."

        • joe90 12.3.1.3
          6 May 2019 at 11:35 am

          tRump's desperation in wanting to prevent Mueller and McGahn from testifying is a pretty good indication of how it's working out.

          • adam 12.3.1.3.1
            6 May 2019 at 7:45 pm

            I'm not the one who ignored the biggest transfer of wealth in history.

            I just did not buy into a crazy loony conspiracy theory about Russia.

  14. greywarshark 14
    5 May 2019 at 6:29 pm

    Why I think we have to keep practicality and kindness in our thinking.

    left-hand palm wrote a post in 2010.

    http://lefthandpalm.blogspot.com/2010/02/most-depressing-story-i-have-ever-read.html

    The most depressing story I have ever read.

    This was part of it, after it referred to some more modern and equally sobering cases.

    Michael Hammond and his sister, Ann, whose ages were given as 7 and 11, were reportedly hanged at King's Lynn on Wednesday, 28 September 1708 for theft. The local press did not, however, consider the executions of two children newsworthy. (3)

    One of these grisly little footnotes of British barbarity that shows that our 12 year old tearaway is not without antecedents; and that, for all that they might satisfy those with a taste for the mortification of young flesh and the trauma of young minds, harsh penalties do not, infact, deter people who are desperate enough.

  15. Morrissey 15
    5 May 2019 at 8:46 pm

    The New York Times fails to do its job, yet again.

    https://twitter.com/Joannahausmann/status/1112800714252865536

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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    18 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
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    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. ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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. ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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. ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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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